Nov 19, 2018

Tips for improving your fuel economy

You know the old saying that a little bit goes a long way? Well that couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to your fuel economy. By making some simple changes and slight adjustments to how you run your truck, you can save thousands of dollars every year. Not sure how that’s possible? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite ways you can improve your fuel economy:

Use cruise control. You’ll save valuable fuel when you’re not accelerating and decelerating frequency.
Watch your speed. You may think that faster equals better, but that’s not the case when it comes of your fuel. Driving faster not only causes you to burn through your fuel more quickly, but at a rate that costs your more in the long run.
Install after-market products designed for aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The trucking industry, as a whole, has embraced the importance of improving fuel economy. There are several products on the market to help you do this, such as trailer skirts, aerodynamic mud flaps and deep angled bumpers.
Compare pricing before filling up. You can easily compare fuel prices right within your Trucker Path app.
Maximize your time when you stop. Every time you stop to use the restroom, fill up or grab some food it costs you unnecessary drive time, acceleration and deceleration. Doing all these things at the same stop will save you valuable time and money.
Minimize your idling time. Leaving your truck running for extended periods of time when it’s not necessary wastes fuel.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Every 1 psi drop in air pressure will reduce your gas mileage by 0.2-0.4 percent. This adds up quickly.
Inspect your truck regularly. Conducting thorough pre-trip inspections will help you catch fuel leaks, issues with your engine fan, tire misalignment and other problems – all of which can reduce your fuel efficiency.

Have you made any of these changes recently and seen a difference in your fuel efficiency? We’d love to hear what you’ve done and how it has helped!

Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with loads of savings and giveaways [p]National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) is this week! This year, the trucking industry will come together from September 9-15 to honor professional drivers nationwide. We want to thank you for all your hard work and commitment to your careers. Without you and your integral role as a truck driver, life would get tough fast for the rest of us. Many of the things we take for granted, including access to medical supplies, fuel, food and clean water, would all be gone in a matter of weeks without trucks and truck drivers. What you do matters, and we are so grateful for you.[/p] [p]As a professional driver, there are several rewards and freebies you can take advantage of as part of NTDAW. These include:[/p] <ul> <li>[p]Denny’s - Participating Denny’s travel center locations will offer professional drivers scratch-off cards with various diner discounts and prizes through September 30. Drivers will also receive a 10 percent discount key tag that can be used until December 31, 2019. (<a href="https://www.truckersnews.com/dennys-to-show-appreciation-to-drivers-in-september/">https://www.truckersnews.com/dennys-to-show-appreciation-to-drivers-in-september/</a>)[/p]</li> <li>[p]Pilot/Flying J - Throughout the month of September, Pilot Flying J stores will have money-saving offers and daily giveaways via the myPilot® app. Pilot Flying J Truck Care is also offering free mid-trip inspections, valued at $50, to help professional drivers and trucking companies prepare for Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week. The company is also handing out a combined 100 million myRewards® loyalty points to more than 60,000 drivers, including 2,000 daily winners. To enter, professional drivers can simply swipe their myRewards® loyalty card when purchasing diesel fuel at participating travel centers in the United States. Additional details can be found here: <a href="https://www.pilotflyingj.com/driver-appreciation/">https://www.pilotflyingj.com/driver-appreciation/</a>[/p]</li> <li>[p]Love’s Travel Centers - Love’s is celebrating NTDAW all month long with many food, drink, and merchandise deals as well as the opportunity to win 10,000 My Love Reward points. One driver will win 1 million points. Use the following link for more details: <a href="https://www.truckersnews.com/loves-appreciates-trucker-drivers-throughout-september/">https://www.truckersnews.com/loves-appreciates-trucker-drivers-throughout-september/</a>[/p]</li> <li>[p]AmBest Truck Stops - Specific AmBest members are hosting driver appreciation events. Check out the full list here to find one near you: <a href="https://am-best.com/News-Events/Driver-Appreciation-Days">https://am-best.com/News-Events/Driver-Appreciation-Days</a>[/p]</li> <li>[p]Southern Recipe - Vote for your favorite truck driver chef recipe for a chance to with $2,000 here: <a href="http://southernrecipe.com/truckdriverappreciation/">http://southernrecipe.com/truckdriverappreciation/</a>[/p]</li> </ul> [p]Many carriers around the country are also hosting their own driver appreciation events this week. Be sure to check out their social media pages to find out the details. Know about a NTDAW event happening that you want to share with other drivers? Leave the details in a comment below.[/p] [p]Here’s to a great National Truck Driver Appreciation Week![p]

Sep 10, 2018 • Community

Life after the military: Top reasons why veterans should consider truck driving In honor of Veteran’s Day, we want to take a moment and thank those of you who have served our country in the military. You are the men and women who have made many sacrifices for our freedom and we are so grateful for your service. We know that transitioning to civilian careers isn’t always easy and we are especially thankful to those veterans who have chosen trucking as their next step.[p] If you’re a military veteran starting on a new career path, you might be surprised to learn that many of the skills you learned in the military transition over to the trucking industry seamlessly. Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider a truck driving career as a military veteran:[p] Quick transition. Once you decide to embark on a career in trucking, it won’t take long before you’re able to get behind the wheel of a truck. Programs at many truck driving schools can be completed in only a few months.[p] Get credit for your military driving experience. If you already have a CDL from your time in the military, many companies will factor in your driving experience to give you a higher starting pay rate. For veterans with military driving experience without a CDL, you may be eligible for FMCSA’s military skills test waiver. This program allows veterans with two years of military driving experience to waive the skills test portion of the CDL test.[p] Your G.I. Bill matters. G.I. Bill benefits can help you pay for driving school. It may also provide you with payments as you go through company training.[p] Job security. The trucking industry has a significant shortage of drivers. There are many driving opportunities available - all you have to do is choose a company that’s a good fit for you.[p] It’s a chance to see the country. If your job in the military gave you the opportunity to travel the world, a job in trucking will allow you to continue exploring new places. Many drivers get into trucking because they want the opportunity to visit different places across the United States.[p] Steady pay and great benefits. A trucking job with a reliable company will provide you with a consistent paycheck and an array of benefits, such as health insurance options, retirement planning, paid vacation and bonus pay opportunities.[p] Quality home time available. Truck drivers are known for being away from home for extended periods of time. While this is often true, particularly for over-the-road drivers, you’ll find that many carriers offer several home time options. Some companies can get you home every weekend while others offer regional routes to get you home even more frequently.[p] You already have what it takes. Teamwork. Leadership. Self-discipline. Situational awareness. All of these characteristics are ones you’ve built during your military career and they’re the same qualities that make the best drivers in the trucking industry.[p] As you can see, there are several reasons why many military veterans have chosen truck driving as a second career. Good luck on your journey and we hope to see you out on the road!

Nov 11, 2018

Get ready for National Hunting and Fishing Day [p]A driver’s time off the road is invaluable. Whether you spend that time relaxing at home or working on your favorite hobby, it’s important to find something you enjoy doing to recharge. Many drivers enjoy spending their off time hunting and fishing. Maybe you love the quiet and solitude of the hunt or the rush of adrenaline you get when you snag the “big one”. National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is always celebrated the fourth Saturday of September, is the perfect time to get outdoors in the name of conservation. You can also take the NHF Day Challenge by taking someone with you and showing them what you love about hunting, fishing or target shooting. [p]If this is your first year participating, here are some tips for a successful NHF Day: [p]Hunting <ul> <li>Brush up on your shooting skills ahead of time at a range nearby.</li> <li>Review firearm safety rules as well as laws and regulations in your state. If you’ve never been hunting before, take a hunter safety course.</li> <li>Buy a hunting license.</li> <li>Plan and research the area you intend to hunt. For some of the best hunting spots near you, check out the interactive map at nhfday.org (<a href="https://www.nssf.org/hunting/where-to-hunt/">https://www.nssf.org/hunting/where-to-hunt/</a>).</li> <li>Learn more about the game animal or bird you intend to hunt. Get to know their habits and how to track them.</li> </ul> [p]Fishing <ul> <li>Decide what kind of fish you want to catch and what kind of bait you’ll need.</li> <li>Research lakes nearby that have fishing potential. This interactive map (https://www.takemefishing.org/where-to-fish-and-boat/#/) not only helps you locate bodies of water near you, but it also tells you what species of fish you may be able to catch.</li> <li>Buy a fishing license.</li> <li>Check the weather. Although you can catch fish in nearly any kind of weather conditions, an overcast sky is ideal.</li> <li>Make sure your equipment is in good, working condition, dress in thin layers and wear appropriate foot gear.</li> <li>If you’re fishing from a boat, don’t forget to pack your life jacket.</li> </ul> [p]Are you planning to take advantage of NHF Day? Let us know where you plan to spend the day and whether you’re #teamhunt or #teamfish.

Sep 21, 2018