Month: June 2013

Categories
Trucker News

OTR vs Regional vs Local Trucking Jobs

When you decide you want to become a truck driver, it’s important that you weigh all of your options. For instance, did you know that you have a choice between over-the-road (OTR), regional and local trucking jobs. Let’s discuss what each of these terms mean and some of their pros and cons.

Over-the-Road or OTR Trucking Jobs

Over-the-road trucking refers to jobs that take you across state lines and all over the country. If there’s a road, and you can drive on it, these jobs will take you there. The good thing about OTR trucking jobs is that they tend to pay quite a bit more than other types of jobs. However, you aren’t home very much and this can put a strain on you and your family.

Regional Trucking Jobs

Regional trucking jobs will take you across a couple of states, but never from coast to coast. So, if the company you work for is based in California, you may take trips to Nevada and Arizona. These jobs tend to pay less than OTR gigs but you will still be home most evenings and won’t be kept away from your family as much.

Local Trucking Jobs

Local trucking jobs usually only have you running about the state, but often even more localized than that. You will definitely be home every evening but you sacrifice the earnings potential that a regional or OTR job would give you.

Categories
Carriers

Define an OTR Driver

An over-the-road driver, or OTR driver, can be defined as a person with a transportation job which involves driving a semi-trailer truck long distances. These long-haul drivers might work regionally, or they may travel to any of the 48 states and to parts of Canada.

Function
OTR drivers pick up and deliver freight, some on dedicated routes which have the same trips each week. Others drive different routes with each new transport order.

Life on the Road
These drivers live in their truck cabs when they’re on the road, which may be for many days or even weeks at a time. During their breaks, outside of sleeping, they might eat at a cafe, chat with other drivers, or get some exercise.

Licensing
Driving a semi-trailer truck requires a class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). Training to obtain the license can be acquired at driver training schools, and some employers provide paid training for new hires.

Payment
OTR drivers usually are paid by the mile. They are legally allowed to drive 70 hours in 8 days, with an 8-hour break required after 10 consecutive driving hours.

Considerations
Because of the payment structure, most OTR drivers prefer jobs in which they can drop off a trailer and pick up a new loaded one, rather than being involved in the loading and unloading process.

Categories
Freight Loads

Flatbed Trucking Jobs

Flatbed trucks are versatile options for transporting outsize loads and items needing little or no protection from the elements. A major advantage of the flatbed truck is it allows offloading without the need for a loading dock, and from any side or from overhead. This allows cranes and forklifts easy access to lift and remove material. The flatbed truck also offers many different job opportunities for truckers, ranging from over-the-road long hauls to local short-drive deliveries.

Oversize Loads
Oversize loads are any material exceeding the width of the flatbed trailer and certain prescribed heights determined by the U.S. Department Of Transportation. Flatbed trucking is useful for moving completed large industrial machine components, constructed structures such as generator houses or small office units, and various building materials. Moving oversize loads involves strict attention to traffic conditions and plenty of clearance when turning, passing and going under and over bridges and viaducts.

Local Delivery
Flatbed trucking for local delivery means getting material to construction sites, homes and businesses. With a flatbed truck, you can make local deliveries and return in less than one business day. An additional skill often needed for the local delivery flatbed driver is operating a forklift with the flatbed truck. The driver can move pallets of material to different locations and quickly offload the cargo with the forklift.

Long Haul
Long-haul flatbed trucking usually involves any distance requiring more than one day to complete. Long-haul flatbed trucking can involve anything from oversize loads to just a small pallet of material requiring expedited delivery. Just as with oversize loads, the advantage of shipping by flatbed is easier offloading when the cargo arrives at its destination. Whether by machine or by hand, having access to all sides of the cargo makes it easier to remove the material quickly and safely.

Lowboy
Lowboy flatbed trucks are used as vehicle transports and often as an alternative to a tow truck. Lowboy flatbeds have hydraulically assisted beds that lift and move from front to back. With an attached power winch, the lowboy can quickly load cars, trucks and industrial machinery. The lowboy offers the advantage of being able to load and unload itself with no additional machinery. Lowboy operator jobs involve training not only in how to drive the lowboy, but also in how to secure and move various pieces of related equipment.

Safety
As with any trucking job, the most important factor in flatbed trucking is safety. Adhering to accepted rules of the road and local laws and regulations is paramount for the truck driver. In any trucking job, including flatbed trucking, the truck’s safe operation is crucial to getting the cargo, the truck, the driver and everyone else on the road to their destinations without incident.

Categories
Trucker News

How to Get Grant Money for Truck Drivers

When applying for available grants, you must be creative with your application and make your idea stand out amongst the others. Open grants change often so make sure to check back once in a while to ensure you don’t miss an opportunity.

Go to the U.S. government grant website, Grants.gov. Search for the type of grant you are looking for. Open grants are constantly changing. If you cannot find a grant to fit your needs, check back in a few weeks. If you are unclear on how to use the search function, the government website has created a tutorial for you. Use the advanced search function. This will allow you to limit your search to agricultural and transportation grants that are available.

Read the specific criteria to apply for the grant chosen. Some grants require you to either complete certain criteria or be involved in the industry. Make sure you are qualified to apply for this grant. Don’t apply for grants you are not eligible for. They will overlook your application and move on to someone who is qualified.

Register on the site. You must register to complete grant applications.Download a grant application package. After clicking on the “Apply for Grants” link, you can download this package.

Complete the grant application package. You cannot submit your application until every field on the form is completed. Use your creativity to make your application stand out. If you have questions about filling out this application, the grant website has a helpful FAQ section.

Save and submit your package. After you complete all your information in the package, clicking “Save and Submit” will automatically upload your application to the website.

Write down your tracking number. This number will be displayed after your application has successfully been submitted to the website. This will be used to track the progress of your application.

Check the status of your application. You can go back to the grant website and enter your tracking number to view the status of your completed application.

Looking for loads to haul? click here.

Categories
Freight Loads Trucker News

What Can an OTR Driver Deduct on Taxes?

Over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers can take advantage of numerous deductions related to their job. Employees can deduct ordinary and necessary job expenses when filling out income tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These deductions include anything that has to do with your business of being an OTR employee that is a common and acceptable expense for your trade. If your company reimburses any expense, you cannot claim it on your taxes.

Office Expenses
Your truck is your office if you are an OTR driver. Typical office supplies deductions include pens, paper clips, folders and envelopes. Also deduct any fees for making copies of your paperwork and postage if you must mail your paperwork to your employer. If you subscribe to any trucking magazines, you can deduct the subscription fees. Deduct business-related cell phone expenses and any long-distance charges from a landline from your taxes. You can also deduct any business-related Internet access charges, including air cards and charges from a truck stop Internet kiosk.

Truck Expenses
Even if your company owns your truck, you can deduct any expenses that you have because of it this includes your citizens band radio, stereo and speakers and if you have them your television and refrigerator. Your truck cleaning supplies are deductible as well as cab curtains and mattresses for your sleeper rig. If you purchase chrome items to place on your company truck, you can deduct the cost from your taxes. Tarps, straps and load locks are also deductible unless you receive reimbursement.

Personal Expenses
Uniforms, special footwear such as steel toed boots and laundry cleaning expenses are deductible. Deduct commercial driver’s license renewal fees and doctor’s fees for your Department of Transportation medical physical. You can deduct the fees for showers and motels while on the road. Prescription glasses are deductible, as is the cost of any nonprescription sunglasses. As of 2012, OTR drivers can claim a $59 per day per diem for any full days they are on the road. You must count the days you leave and the days you return as partial days and prorate your per diem. Retain your logbooks with your tax records for proof of your per diem deduction.

Considerations
Keep all of your receipts for items you buy for your job, truck or self to substantiate your deduction claims in the event of an audit. You must retain records for a minimum of three years, and in certain circumstances, indefinitely. Keep copies of your W-2 forms until you begin receiving Social Security in case the IRS incorrectly documents your wages. The IRS does not specify how you must keep your records, but it recommends that you sort them by year in a manner that will make retrieval of certain records simple.