Month: November 2010

Owner Operator Jobs and Its Impact on the Economy!

Post author By admin
Post date November 30, 2010

The trucking system has been playing an obvious and vital role in the economies of the countries because it is the most important mode of transport of goods in any country. The nation’s progress and trucking system go hand in hand as the profitable trucking system generates high revenues for the country. An efficient owner operator would be able to cater to the requirements of the country both in the case of material delivery and monetary benefits. For any economy to flourish supply chain plays the major role. And if the supply chain is strong and available at the right time then it will prove as a great asset for the country to survive and progress in this competitive world. Trucking system is directly and indirectly affecting the economy of every country at a much deeper level. “The logistic of any country can suggest the future progress of any country”. stright truck freight is the most popular mode of transferring goods from one place to another.

Therefore, it is expanding enormously in every developing and the developed country. With the growing trucking industry there are ample of jobs generated within the country everyday. People looking out for the jobs of drivers, helpers, cleaners and loaders can be easily adopted by this advancing industry. Such large scale job opportunities generated will help share the load of the country fighting against unemployment. Increased employment in turn will surely enhance the economy of any country. A normal truck transport service may require a bundle of other industry and services to come together to accomplish the final task of freight transfer. Packaging company will do the packaging of goods to be transferred. Loading people will load the truck. Driver will drive the vehicle to the required destination. Mechanics and engineers will take out the fault if any occurs on the road. Petrol stations will fill and earn from the fuel needed to drive the truck.

Thus we see how many individuals and companies are benefited from the single task of freight transportation. The demand and supply chain of trucking industry will widely affect the demand and supply chain of other industries related to it. But to maintain an effective transport system in the country, the government of the country has to actively participate to improvise the trucking industry. This can be achieved by developing good road networks and safety regulations on the road. This step will make the trucking industry deliver more timely and profitable business for themselves and the country as a whole.

However to maintain such a system the country requires fund which are raised in the form of income taxes, sales taxes, Fuels taxes etc. Other way to generate funds can be toll taxes and fares taken from the ones who use the road networks. Thus we see that at every step country’s economy and the trucking industry are very much dependent on each other. If one flourishes it will make the other one strong too.

Tags intermodal, Owner Operators

Newbies

Different Truck Types for Different Purposes

Post author By admin
Post date November 29, 2010
No Comments on Different Truck Types for Different Purposes

All over the world Trucking Industry provides fast and reliable solutions for carrying freight loads and delivering logistics services. To fulfill different task as per the requirement many new innovations and technologies have been introduced in this sector. The Trucks used for varied purposes are designed intricately so that they can perform the jobs efficiently without the loss of the time, material and lives.
There are many different types of trucks meant for different purposes:
Flatbed Truck: As the name suggests the flatbed truck has a complete flat cargo body. There are no sides and roof attached to it. With this truck easy loading and unloading of heavy loads is possible. Construction equipments and a heavy load which have irregular shapes are best to be carried on the flatbed truck. The truck comes in both types rigid and articulated.
Straight Truck or Box Truck: This is the most commonly used type of truck which can perform the transport of usual goods. This truck is known by many different names: Box truck, Bob truck, Cube truck and Cube van. The cargo space of the truck is an enclosed area of cuboid shape. The Straight truck comes in small and big sizes ranging from 4 to 7 m in length. Box Truck Freight is mostly used to haul goods that should be protected from wear and tear through the journey such as furniture and electronic appliances. Panel truck is also a kind of straight truck that does not have any windows on the cargo box. It is used to carry consumer goods like diapers, laundry, tinned food packages etc.
Semi Trailer Truck: The truck is known differently at different places of the world. Semi Tractor truck Prime Mover, Transfer truck and Big-rig are the common names given to the Semi Trailer Truck. The truck is an articulated vehicle which has a towing engine and a semi trailer. There can be possibly more than one trailer attached to one engine. The main feature which makes the trailer truck different from an ordinary truck is that the trailer is not completely attached to the engine but is fixed at one point on the rare axle of the towing engine. It works in such a way that all the weight of the trailer is not put on the towing unit but a part of it is taken up by the connecting axle.
18 Wheeler Truck: This is again a semi trailer truck which has 18 wheels to carry heavy freight
Dump Truck: A dump truck as the name suggests is used to carry the loose materials like gravel and sand. These goods can be easily dumped with the use of Dump truck at the site of their usage such as construction sites. The back of the truck is hinged with an open box bed which runs with hydraulic operation. The bed can be lifted easily to dump the goods on the ground.
Tanker Truck: The truck is widely used to carry liquid freights or bulk cargo. They come in wide ranges as per the need.

Tags load board, logistics, trailer

Lifestyle

Is Truck Leasing Venture Feasible for Enterprising Truck Drivers?

Post author By admin
Post date November 28, 2010

For many drivers, working for a company may not be enough, and they always keep thinking of going ahead with a freight business of their own. However, these want-to-become owner-operators get discouraged when the face the reality about their financial potential. Giving recognition to such demands, many trucking companies have incorporated lease options, lease purchase and drive to own options for drivers who are not in a situation to fulfill their dreams through conventional financing modes.

The question arising here is whether leasing a truck would be able to bring you financial gain? The answer to this question mainly depends on your own conditions and the perspective you look from.

From the perspective of the truck driver, leasing a truck is the perfect option for them when they are not able to pay a hefty down payment and related start-up costs. Most carriers have come out with leasing opportunities for enterprising drivers, and thousands of drivers have been attracted by such offers. Although the terms vary from one carrier to another, but most of them claim benefits for drivers in a number ways, including low deposits, low down payments, sometimes there are no down payments, no long-term contracts, pride of ownership, chance to drive higher specifications equipment, incentives on completion of lease and convenient credit standards. This allows lease operators to enjoy the taste of ownership without involving high financial risks. Most of the carriers market their leases as ‘walk-away’ leases, which mean that drivers can walk out of the lease in case the set-up does not work for some reason.

Some of the drivers have experienced truck leasing as a financial loss. Contrary to their expectations of fulfilling their dreams, these drivers have come to experience limitations and malpractices on the part of carriers, like low mileage, baseless deductions and complicated lease contracts drafted to benefit the carriers. Sometimes, the carriers tend turn the advantage of truck leasing completely in their favor. In such cases the drivers end up owing more to the carriers than they have been able to earn from their driving. Some of the main complaints recorded by drivers about their leasing carriers include large payments, over-charging for fuel taxes, inflated insurance fees, huge deposits, repair accounts and carrier-dictated repairs with rates decided by the carrier.

In addition to these complaints, drivers also charge that the method to clear repair and tire reimbursements is mostly not mentioned in the lease agreement, and sometimes the carriers make it almost impossible for the drivers to get these funds by fixing very high limits for minimum expenses.

And to aggravate the scene further, many carriers who promise a ‘walk-away’ lease, fail to release the funds collected from the drivers for deposits or repairs, in case the driver wants to leave the contract for any reason. Such experiences have led to the drivers questioning whether truck leasing opportunities are real opportunities or simply an easy way to a more complicated financial disaster.

Even though there have been instances that prove that leasing a truck may be a big gamble for drivers, but another side of the same story reports that there are numerous truck drivers who have turned their logistics business into a profitable enterprise. Therefore the drivers are primarily left with their own conscience to get to their personal conclusion.

Tags expedited, freight, FTL, LTL, trailer leasing, tucking

Newbies

Best Practices For Efficient Load Safety

Post author By admin
Post date November 27, 2010

Although the practices followed differ a little every time with the type of commodity, location and rules pertaining to the specific sites but the general guidelines for the loading of the trucks carrying freight will be more or less the same. The safe loading of the tuck is essential to avoid any injuries to people and loss to the goods. The box truck freight that reaches the destination intact and on time is profitable to all associated with the activity.

Load restraining is the most crucial step in the loading of commodities. Load restrain helps the goods to stay in their place while the truck is moving. The best load restraint practice should be able to handle maximum force in the forward direction, followed by the force of weight sideways and rearwards. Partial weight force should be restrained vertically too.

There are few facts that should help to get the best load restraint for your trucks carrying freight:

Use of rope is an ineffective way to restrain loads as the tension it can bear is very less, though it may look very strongly tied.
It is not that the chances of loosing the goods are higher in a speeding truck; it is even more when the truck is slow.
Long webbed strap should be used in restraining the load, as the short chains could not be tied around well.
An assumption that the heavy weight load is able to restrain itself is very wrong. Both the heavy as well as light loads are likely to fall in a similar way.
If A load while loading is retrained well then it can withstand the same even when fully tilted and will never dislodge even in the worst of braking and swerving.
Load accidents are likely to happen when the journey is of city areas where the speed is low, because the restraint applied in such cases are less than for regular long distance travel. Therefore the same load restraint should be used irrespective of the journey.
The common assumption of checker plate deck providing more restraint than smooth plate deck is very wrong. Both are slippery the same way. The grip on the deck as well as rack can be efficiently attained by putting a strong rubber load mat underneath the load. Wood timber is effective as well.
Use of Conveyor belt is not as effective as rubber mat, as the conveyor belt provides slippery surface.
Lashings should be regularly checked during the journey as they tend to loosen up after the load settles.
In case the deck and the load both are slippery. Proper calculated webbing strap of required lashing capacity should be used. Inefficient lashing capacity may prove hazardous.

If proper loading techniques are followed especially the application of effective load restraint with specified performance standards it is to benefit all the parties involved; the forwarder or the consignor, the receiver or the consignee and the freight forwarding or the trucking company

Find more loads on our trucking loadboard

Tags bobtail, box truck, cargo van, dry van, flatbed, reefer, straight truck

Freight Loads

Reefer Trailer Freight Loads

Post author By admin
Post date November 14, 2010

What is the difference between a 48ft Reefer Trailer and a 53ft Reefer Trailer, and why does this slight difference in length mean so much to reefer owner operators and how they get paid. Many shippers will not load a 43ft reefer trailer and only request to load a 53ft reefer trailer and for new truckers making a decision on what trailer to lease or buy is very important.

FindFreightLoads.com is a trucking loadboard and 24/7 Dispatching service that has available freight loads of all types of reefer trailers, from 43ft reefer trailers to 53ft reefer trailers and we have reefer loads nationwide, like california reefer loads we also match with backhaul reefer shipments by shippers and brokers.

Tags reefer trailer

Freight Loads

Hotshot / Straight Truck Trailer Loads

Post author By admin
Post date November 14, 2010

There has been an increasing demand for hotshot drivers or 24-26ft straight truck trailers. New rules and regulations for long haul drivers have forced many owner operators to sell their larger 43-53ft Van and Reefer trailers and get a smaller trailer to cut costs.

FindFreightLoads.com Hotshot loadbard has all acquired new shippers posting hotshot deliveries in California, Nevada, Texas, Florida and soon to most of the US.

Tags bobtail, hotshot, straight truck

Business

Choptank Transport

Post author By admin
Post date November 13, 2010

Choptank Transport was founded in 1984 as a one-truck operation, but the roots can be traced back much farther. Choptank’s parent company, AW Sisk, began in 1891 and today, is still the oldest company existing in Caroline County. Over the years, Choptank matured into a fully integrated sales, logistics and warehousing operation with over 100,000 square feet of space right here in Preston, MD. To handle the growing demand of freight movement, Choptank was founded as an asset-based freight management broker. By 1999, Choptank had truly evolved into a thriving member of the logistics community. Today, Choptank continues to have one the fastest growth rates in the industry and stands out for its exceptional service and capabilities. Serving the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Choptank has over 10,000 carriers under contract who share our commitment to superior service and reliability. By offering premium pay, fast settlements, Comchek® advances, 24 hour dispatch, and excellent dispatch-carrier relations, we are able to retain high level, quality carriers.

Choptank Transport uses FindFreightLoads.com loadboard to post freight and find owner operators. For more information you can visit Choptank Transport

Tags carriers, choptank

Trucker News

2010 Intermodal Expo – Truck Show

Post author By admin
Post date November 13, 2010

Produced by the Intermodal Association of North America – November 13-16 2010

http://www.intermodal.org/events_files/expo_files/index.html

Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) is the premier trade association representing the combined

interests of the intermodal freight industry. IANA programs and services keep members informed of industry trends, crucial legislative and regulatory issues, and provide educational forums, networking opportunities, news and vital industry information. And Members enjoy substantial discounts on all IANA publications, products and meeting and seminar registrations!

For more links on upcoming trucking show expos and events visit: http://www.truckinginfo.com/industry-events/index.asp

Tags truck expo, truck show

Newbies

Just Getting Into the Trucking Business?

Post author By admin
Post date November 13, 2010

So your thinking of becoming a truck driver but dont know where to start? There are many types of trailers and loads you can haul from 48ft flatbed trailers to Reefer trailers to smaller 24-26ft straight truck (bobtail trailers). You can driver interstate or intrastate…which loads are good for you, and which loads make the most money?

For most loads brokers or shippers will want a driver to have some expierience and probably want them driving approx 4-6months of over the road experience. Other manufactures need their loads deliveried ASAP and will let a driver haul a load with little experience.

A good place to start is with the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) new drivers checklist. Once you have got your experience under your belt you will probably have lots of questions about your next steps like What is a reasonable/acceptable starting pay per mileage? or what other expenses you may have as a owner operator.

To find new loads you can get wireless access at truck stops an get on a trucking loadboards to find available loads. FindFreightLoads.com is a great loadboard that will dispatch loads over the phone so you dont need a computer or internet access when your over the road.

Another great place to start when your a new owner operator is trucking forums, they are a great place for newbies and experienced drivers give great feedback.

Tags hotshot, loadboards, Owner Operators, Resources

Top 10 Questions & Answers