May 10, 2019 • Carriers

Industry Update - May 10, 2019

Industry Update - May 10, 2019

By Jeremy Feucht

Did you Know?

On May 11, 1947, the BF Goodrich Company announces their invention of the tubeless tire. The invention was proven capable and a patent was granted to BF Goodrich in 1952. During testing, it was shown that the tubeless tire was easier to change, more efficient and offered a better ride.

Trucking tip of the Week

We are coming up on graduation week across the nation. This means, the start of the 100 deadliest days of the year on the road. Generally stretching from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the 100 deadliest days of the year on the road coincides with family vacations and good weather. Couple this with free time from new drivers, free time and three holidays (Memorial Day, 4^th of July and Labor Day) means speed and alcohol tend to play major factors in many crashes. Be safe out there!

Truckers to the Rescue

We all know how much truckers due to help those in need in the US. A trucking company out of Cedar Rapids, IA, stepped up to help out some with cancer this week. West Side Transportation decorated a trailer and named it Convoy for a Cure to raise $10,000 that they donated to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Iowa City, IA.

Technology and Safety

In a not so surprising bit of news, ELDs, as of now, have not made the roads any safer. While they have reduced the number of hours of service violations, the number of wrecks and the issues with vehicles have not decreased to the extent that was predicted. Hours of service issues have decreased as much as 50% but unsafe driving habits actually increased by nearly 44% for Owner-Operators from December 31, 2017 to late September 2018.

Infrastructure

The 2017 report on structurally deficient bridges has been released. These reports are always a year behind and are released by the Federal Highway Administration. The report shows that nearly nine percent of all bridges in the US are deficient. Of the National Highway bridges, that number drops to just over three percent. Both of these numbers are slight decreases from the 2016 numbers.

TagsSafety Truckers Infrastructure Did you Know Technology Trucking Tips transportation Cancer West Side Transportation Summer ELDs

Christmas for Truckers [p][b]Christmas for Truckers[/b][/p] [p]Trucking is a demanding job that requires round the clock commitment. It is often several months before truck drivers can meet their friends and family, which also means that most truckers spend their time on the road during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other major holidays. [/p] [p]However, there is no need to worry if you are a truck driver out on the field during the holiday season. There are still ways to enjoy the Christmas spirit.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Christmas on the Road [/b][/p] [p]You are not alone during the holidays, especially with all the other truckers who share the same grief. There are always a few feasts going on at truck stops, where you can either eat for free or get massive discounts. [/p] [p]You may also enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner with your family and friends before or after Christmas Day. It is not necessary to match the exact dates since it is the thought that counts. [/p] [p]So, this Thanksgiving, we’d like to give thanks to our hard working truckers out there. Because of you, we enjoy delicious Thanksgiving meals and have goodies to look forward to every Black Friday. If we bought it, truckers brought it. [/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Trucker Gift Suggestions[/b][/p] [p]Here are some gift suggestions you may give to fellow truckers.[/p] <li>Weighted Blanket - These blankets can help calm a restless body, reduce feelings of anxiety, and improve sleep troubles.</li> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/tp-blog-christmas_for_truckers_2020-1.jpg" alt=""] <li>Beanie Hat - Helps warm during winter</li> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/tp-blog-christmas_for_truckers_2020-2.jpg" alt=""] <li>Personalized Mud Flaps - Drive in style with these. </li> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/mudlflapstp1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> [p][b]Final Thoughts[/b][/p] [p]This Christmas, if you can’t be with family, there are a lot of ways to still enjoy the holiday mood. You can make this Christmas memorable by giving others some gifts, planning a delightful Christmas dinner with your best trucking buddies, or volunteering together at a truck stop to make the rookie drivers feel at home. Christmas is a time to be grateful for all the blessings you have received all year. Counting your blessings and thinking about all the good things that happened to you in the past year can help promote positivity and good vibes. [/p] [p]Lastly, all of us from Trucker Path, would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! [/p] [p]How will you spend your Christmas? Share your plans in the comments section below. [/p] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Aldous Aldwin[/b][/p]

Dec 23, 2020 • Community

Lease Purchase Trucking [p]If you're a company driver, lease purchase trucking is a way for you to become an owner operator and eventually be your own boss, but consider all the factors before signing on. [/p] [h2] Lease Purchase Trucking[/h2] [p] You might consider a lease purchase trucking agreement if you've been a company driver for a few years now and you like the idea of <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-become-an-owner-operator/">becoming an owner operator</a> in order to earn more and create a more flexible schedule, right? We don't blame you! [/p] [p] The road to becoming an owner operator and running your own trucking company can be a bumpy one (though not nearly as bad as some of the California interstates) but as long as you understand the costs and have a plan, you can indeed succeed! [/p] [h2] What is Lease Purchase Trucking? [/h2] [p] Lease purchase trucking is when a carrier decides to become an owner operator by making payments on a truck leased to a trucking company. This end goal is to pay off the truck, generate a reputation for being a reliable carrier and then once the truck payments and term agreement expire, you can venture out to grow your <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-start-a-trucking-company/">trucking company</a>. [/p] [p] Lease truck payments can range anywhere from $300 to upward of $1,200 per week depending on if you choose a used or new truck and the trucking company you sign on with. [/p] [h2] Things to Consider in a Lease Purchase [/h2] [p] Trucks, like any piece of equipment, will require repairs and the costs to cover are the responsibility of the owner-operator. Truck repair costs can be up to $17,000 annually for an average OTR truck driver logging 100,000 miles. Therefore you must be extra cautious when considering a used truck lease purchase. [/p] [p]If the truck is used, be certain to review the repair records of the truck and double-check if another driver previously ran the truck as a lease. These might seem like common sense but being thorough in your examination of a used truck can save you from making a potentially disastrous mistake. [/p] [p]When you agree to a truck lease purchase, the company you sign with will ultimately decide your revenue because they decide your loads. Make certain that there is ample freight available and check load boards like <em>Truckloads</em> for regions and routes that they want you to haul through to see if there are enough loads to haul. [/p] [p] Keep in mind which <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/types-of-truck-freight/">type of truck freight</a> equipment you will be hauling. On average, flatbed loads are the highest paying truck load with freight often being oversized heavy machinery or other large goods for construction. [/p] [p] While most drivers haul dry van, consider the type of truck equipment you'll be using and if the company has the loads for it regularly or not. This can have a tremendous impact on your success as you transition for lease trucking into running your own trucking company. [/p] [h2] Use Truckloads Free Load Board [/h2] [p] As we mentioned before, you can use our free load board <em>Truckloads</em> to search for loads based on location and equipment type to double-check that there are ample loads available in a given area and for a specific freight type. Once you finish paying off your leased truck and have your <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucking-authority/">own trucking authority</a> without being signed to a company, you can use Truckloads to help you find the perfect loads to fit your needs. [/p] [video id=snyBYpnuhWw] [button text="Try Truckloads for Free" href="https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/free-load-board/?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=truckfreight&utm_campaign=Aug10" width="250px"]

Oct 19, 2017 • Carriers

Industry Update - March 1, 2019 <h4>By Jeremy Feucht</h4> <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h3> An engine in a semi is designed to run 24/7 for 1,000,000 miles before needing to be completely rebuilt. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h3> In the cold weather, increasing the air pressure in your tires is a good idea. This helps ensure that cold air does not affect the safety of your tires. In cold weather, air molecules huddle together thus reducing pressure. Be careful though not to over inflate your tires as it makes for an incredibly rough ride and reduces your control over the vehicle. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Weather</u></strong></h3> Good portions of the west and mid-west saw record breaking snow fall for the month of February. This snow fall shut down portions of highways through Washington, Oregon and Idaho in particular. However, these states have not called for Declarations of Emergency because it only affects a portion of the state. Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, however, have all declared a <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations">State of Emergency</a> due to a lack of fuel, heating oil and propane for its citizens because of the continued poor weather across their entire state. Propane carriers are usually exempted from hours of service rules this time of year anyway, but fuel haulers will now be granted this exemption until the middle of March. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Legislation</u></strong></h3> The age restriction for interstate driving may change 21 to 18. In a rare move of bipartisanship in both the US House and US Senate, a piece of legislation called the “<a href="https://www.young.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DRIVE-Safe%20Act%20FINAL%20Draft.pdf">DRIVE Safe Act</a>” looks like it will be pushed through. The act itself does not simply opening the doors for those that are 18 to immediately go long haul, but that does not make it any less controversial. While it is endorsed heavily by the ATA to slow the increasing driver shortage, it still allows younger people, with significantly less driving experience, to drive dangerous vehicles. The legislation would require those under 21 to log significant hours both on duty and behind the wheel as an apprentice before being able to do so on their own. This is the same bill that was introduced in March of last year but has more backing this go around. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>I</u></strong><strong><u>ntermodal and Trucking at Odds</u></strong></h3> Lobbyists for the intermodal transportation entities had a chance to have their voices heard this week in DC. Looking to head off the desire for bigger and heavier trucks hitting the roadways, rail and waterway experts were called upon for a <a href="http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=73829#.XHl43vZFw2x">hearing with the US Senate Transportation and Safety subcommittee</a>. Members of the Senate subcommittee though did press back on some of the strategies that ocean liners are beginning to practice using such as “street turns.” A street turn is using the empty container that was picked up at port and using it to haul a load back towards, or even back to, the port.

Mar 01, 2019 • Carriers