May 03, 2019 • Carriers

Industry Update May 3, 2019

Industry Update May 3, 2019

By Jeremy Feucht

Did you Know?

On May 1, 1931, Herbert Hoover dedicated the Empire State Building in New York City. The tallest building at the time would not have been possible without the use of cranes, trucks and other specialized equipment. Demolition of the Waldorf hotel which stood in the spot where the Empire State Building would be built, began in 1929. Soon after, cranes and cement mixers were sent in to help with the construction of the 102 feet tall building.

Trucking tip of the Week

Allergies are a big problem for some this time of year. If you have any allergies, make sure you keep documentation in your truck. Bees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets are all out beginning this time of year as are mosquitos and ants. Pollen counts are high as well which can bring on asthma systems. Know your body and make sure you are taking proper care to ensure your wellbeing.

Danger on the Road

A bad wreck in Denver last week cost the lives of four people during rush hour traffic. It is being reported now that the company involved, Castellano 03 Trucking, LLC out of Houston, TX, had a history of brake issues in their recent past. Since 2017, the company has been hit with at least 30 violations regarding their brakes.

General

In one of the worst stories you will hear, Falcon Transport abruptly went out of business last week leaving drivers stranded miles away from home. The company had recently been purchased by a private equity firm after having been run by its founding family for 115 years. 550 employees were immediately laid off. But that wasn’t the only company that shut its doors in the last week. Williams Trucking out of Alabama also notified its drivers it was shutting down as of May 1 leaving 50 drivers out of work.

Women in Trucking

Treana Moniz has been named Women in Trucking’s May Member of the Month. Moniz has held her CDL since 2007, she has over 675,000 safe driving miles to her name. In 2018, she was name Eastern Company Driver of the year. Find more on her story here.

TagsSemi-Truck dangerous roads Did you Know Trucking Tips Falcon Transport Allergies Women in Trucking Denver

Industry Update - November 8, 2019 <h4><strong>By Paul DeCoste</strong></h4> <h3><strong>Did you Know?</strong></h3> Less than two weeks ago <a href="https://www.macktrucks.com/trucks/anthem/">Mack unveiled their brand new</a>, all-black, Mack Anthem truck. Debuted at the North American Commercial Vehicle in Atlanta on October 28<sup>th</sup>, this new model catches eyes with an all-black bulldog hood ornament, a spacious interior and much more. Mack promoted the truck with the phrase “Back in the Black”, a good omen to the goal of making good money as a driver. Truck fan or not, this blacked out semi is a beast. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Trucking Tip of the Week</strong></h3> Its that time of the year, watch out for snowy and impassible roads. <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/trucker-was-stuck-on-snowy-road-for-three-days-before-calling-wyoming-police/">This driver was stuck on a two-lane roadway for three days before calling local police for help</a>. Make sure your truck is prepped for icy roads and freezing conditions. <h3></h3> Trucker Path’s weather feature on the navigation app can help you out here as well! <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Industry Update</strong></h3> Owner-operators in California are using this week and next <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/owner-operators-truck-drivers-plan-protests-over-ab5/566626/">to protest the new Assembly Bill 5</a> that has the potential to eliminate lots of owner-operator jobs in the state. Although there doesn’t seem to be any centralized leadership with the protests, there were 50 people protesting outside of the State Senator’s office on Monday. <h3></h3> The controversial AB 5 bill will require owner-operators to be classified as employees with a trucking company, rather than expand their own small businesses as a contractor. This bill is allowing exemptions for certain contractor jobs like freelance writers and graphic designers. Owner-operators are looking to obtain similar exemptions. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Laws and Regulations</strong></h3> The owner of <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-jersey-trucking-owner-slapped-with-two-year-sentence-for-2-million-tax-evasion-scam">several New Jersey trucking companies, Tito Viteri</a>, was recently sentenced to two years in federal prison for a massive tax avoidance scheme. He is responsible for evading personal and corporate taxes for more than nine years. Tito owned eleven trucking companies which were collectively known as Viteri Trucking Companies. <h3></h3> In total, Tito evaded $2.3 million worth of taxes and is now paying the price for it. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Hours of Service Update</strong></h3> Regulators accepting comments on a petition to exempt small carriers from the upcoming ELD mandate. If you have any suggestions on how the FMCSA should approach the new ELD mandate, find more information and submit your response at this link: <h3></h3> <a href="https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/labor/challenge-eld-rule-resurfaces-fmcsa_20191105.html">https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/labor/challenge-eld-rule-resurfaces-fmcsa_20191105.html</a>

Nov 08, 2019 • Carriers

Start a Trucking Company With One Truck [h2]Start a Trucking Company With One Truck [/h2] [p]Yes, it's possible to start a trucking company with one truck! Learn the steps to success here. [/p] [p]The <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucking-industry-trends/">Trucking industry trends</a> and experts expect freight revenue to grow by 75 percent over the next nine years. [/p] [p] With the trucking industry eclipsing over $726.4 billion in revenue for 2015, starting a trucking company now can be extremely lucrative. The trucking industry serves as a pillar in keeping things going and as long as people have demand for products, moving freight will be necessary for years to come.[/p] [p]Don't be intimidated by the larger trucking companies with thousands of truck drivers and investors to provide capital. 90 percent of trucking companies are small fleets of six trucks or less so there's space in the industry for you to start a trucking company with one truck.[/p] [h2] 1. Apply for Trucking Authority - Trucking Company Forms[/h2] [p]Paperwork, documentation, and forms. They're tedious and might seem redundant but are necessary for you to get your trucking company started and earn <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucking-authority/">trucking authority</a>.[/p] [p]If you haven't already been assigned a US DOT number, you will need to register for a DOT number form before you can apply to obtain trucking authority. Keep in mind the old [a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/form-mcs-150-and-instructions-motor-carrier-identification-report"]MCS-150 form[/a] is now only for updating existing US DOT number and not for obtaining a US DOT number.[/p] [p]To get a US DOT number you will need to use the new [a href="https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov/UrsRegistrationWizard/"]Unified Registration System[/a]. The processing time can take 20-25 business days according to the FMCSA.[/p] [p]If you already have a US DOT number and wish to apply for operating authority you can do so by [a href="http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/PKG_REGISTRATION.prc_option"]completing this registration form[/a] and paying the associated $300 fee.[/p] [h2] 2. Choosing a Process Agent[/h2] [p]You will need to choose a process agent who can represent you in regards to court papers. You will need to have a process agent for each state your trucking company operates in. They are used if there ever is an issue where court papers are to be served to your trucking company in a state other than the state your company is registered in.[/p] [p]The FMCSA has a [a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/process-agents"]list of process agents to choose from here[/a]. The process agent is responsible for completing [a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/registration/1996/boc-3-1-18-2017.pdf"]Form BOC-3[/a] on behalf of your trucking company.[/p] [h2]3. Truck Insurance[/h2] [p]Once you've established your trucking company you will need to make sure that it's properly insured. Liability insurance is required for trucking companies to cover potential damages or injuries caused by operating a commercial vehicle.[/p] [p]Shop around and get several quotes before making a decision on which insurance provider is best for your trucking company. [a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/insurance-requirements"]Here is a detailed overview of the FMCSA insurance requirements[/a] to help get you started.[/p] [h2]4. Buying or Leasing a Truck[/h2] [p]When starting your trucking company you can buy or lease trucks depending on what suits your needs best. If you have the working capital upfront to cover the cost and want to operate a small fleet with a few trucks, buying several trucks at once from a dealer might result in a discounted price per vehicle.[/p] [p]You can also look into leasing trucks which often times keeps the monthly costs down and can even have a lease-to-own option available. However, there are usually restrictions that apply to leasing that vary by dealer. You will want to take the time to search and compare dealer options and offers before choosing.[/p] [p]Lastly, there is also the option to purchase used trucks which can help save you upfront but can be costly down the line. You may find a used truck that is a few years old with over 400,000 miles on it for $40,000 to $50,000 less than a new one.[/p] [p]It might be a great deal but remember, on average, truck repairs cost an estimated $15,000 annually according to the ATRI and with used trucks, that number can be even more. [/p] [h2]5. Choosing the Right Truck and Trailer Equipment [/h2] [p] Choosing the correct equipment to haul <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/types-of-truck-freight/">truck freight</a> can have a tremendous impact on your trucking companies earning potential. Although freight rates fluctuate week-to-week, typically flatbed truck loads pay the highest rate on average. [/p] [p] That is not to say that a reefer, van or step deck load won't ever pay a better rate. Rather it's just an overall average to consider before choosing the equipment type for your truck. Keep in mind that location also plays a major factor in determining freight rates. [/p] [p]<strong>Looking ahead</strong>: when you're trucking company is set up, you can find truck freight to haul on free load boards like <strong>Truckloads</strong>. Customize your truck load searches by <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/what-is-deadhead/">deadhead</a> location and the trailer equipment type for you. [/p] [button-green href="https://truckloads.truckerpath.com/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=startonetruckcompany"]Find Freight Today[/button-green] [video id="snyBYpnuhWw"] [h2] 6. International Registration Plan (IRP)[/h2] [p] By registering your vehicle through the IRP in your home state, you will be allowed to haul interstate loads as well as freight through Canada without having to worry about additional registrations. You will be provided an apportioned license plate and cab-cards now display all jurisdictions that you cover. [/p] [p] The IRP registration fee for your apportioned plate will vary depending on state and vehicle weight, but typically the price ranges from $1,500 - $2,000. [a href="https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/about/webstate.cfm"]Use this list to determine what the cost will be for your state.[/a] [/p]

Dec 14, 2017 • Carriers

Industry Update - May 17, 2019 <h5>By Jeremy Feucht</h5> <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h3> We are just under 7 months away from the final deadline of the ELD mandate. The grandfather clause that allowed drivers to continue to use their AOBRDs will expire on December 16, 2019. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h3> We are seeing record amounts of rainfall across the US. While stopping a big rig is difficult enough on dry roads, add in wet pavement after a hot spell, and vehicles with the best tires and breaks can have trouble stopping. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Autonomous Vehicles</u></strong></h3> More trouble for the autonomous vehicle industry as a <a href="http://fortune.com/2019/05/16/latest-fatal-tesla-crash-involves-autopilot/">Tesla was involved in another fatal accident</a>. The investigation results have become available in the fatal wreck and it has been determined that the autopilot was engaged but did not detect a semi. On March 1, a Tesla collided with the semi at about 68 mph while crossing a highway in Delray Beach, FL killing the driver of the Tesla. Events like this will further delay autonomous trucks from entering the industry. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Tariffs </u></strong></h3> Tariffs have been a common theme recently, but we may see a change to that. The <a href="https://menafn.com/1098536915/Trucking-Cheers-US-Agreement-with-Mexico-Canada-to-Lift-Tariffs">US has agreed to lift tariffs</a> on Mexico and Canada in regard to steel and aluminum that is manufactured in those countries. Further helping the trucking industry is that the agreement also includes the removal of retaliatory tariffs placed on US goods by Mexico and Canada. The removal of these tariffs should help reduce the costs to consumers and increase margins for the manufacturers which in turn should help stabilize or even increase rates paid to drivers. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>FMCSA Seeking Comments</u></strong></h3> Last year, the FMCSA requested comments for a pilot program allowing those 18-20 years old with military experience to drive interstate. This week, the FMCSA is now requesting comments from anyone who would like to have their voice heard on allowing those 18-20 years old and without military experience to drive interstate. Currently those 18-20 can drive big rigs commercially, they just can only drive intrastate. If you would like to read the request by the FMCSA and comment, you can do so <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FMCSA-2018-0346-0001">here</a>. Comments must be received by July 15, 2019.

May 17, 2019 • Carriers