Category: Carriers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has informed Congress that implementing the Carrier Safety Measurement System resulted in more carriers categorized as mandatory for investigation than using SafeStat.

FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro summarized the agency’s 2011 fiscal year record for compliance reviews on high-risk carriers in her March 30 letter to congressional appropriations and transportation committee leaders.

The agency deployed CSMS under its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program to help identify carriers posing the highest safety risk and carrier’s specific performance problems better than the previous SafeStat system.

Under CSMS, carriers deemed high risk for two consecutive months are labeled “mandatory,” as opposed to SafeStat Category A or B. FMCSA prioritizes carriers as mandatory for an on-site investigation if it has not conducted an investigation in the previous 24 months.

Between the agency starting CSMS in December 2010 and the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2011, FMCSA and its state partners conducted 4,262 investigations of high-risk carriers. The agency also uses roadside performance data to identify additional mandatory carriers each month.

During FY 2011, 9,868 carriers had mandatory status. In future congressional reports, the agency will provide additional statistics on mandatory high-risk carriers and investigations conducted, Ferro wrote.

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SHANGQIU, Henan Province, China — Great Dane has struck up a new partnership with Henan Bingxiong Refrigerated Truck Co. – otherwise known as Ice Bear – a manufacturer of insulated and refrigerated trucks. As part of the partnership, Ice Bear officials say they will leverage Great Dane’s global operating resources and engineering talent to grow the company’s position in the domestic Chinese market.

As part of the announcement, Ice Bear officials say the company has also partnered with Baird Capital Partners Asia and CCI.

“We are excited to have Baird, CCI and Great Dane as partners as we continue to grow our business,” said Jianqing Lu, CEO, president and chairman of the board at Ice Bear. “The global relationships, operating resources and industry expertise of these investors make them a significant asset for our company and our customers.”

“We are thrilled to be investing in Ice Bear alongside Baird,” said Bill Crown, president and CEO of Great Dane. “Mr. Lu and the entire Ice Bear team have built a leading company in the China market. Our leading market position in the refrigerated truck and trailer market will allow us to bring enormous resources to Ice Bear, and help them capitalize on the growing need for cold chain solutions in China.”

“For the last three years we have been working closely with Great Dane and CCI on identifying opportunities in the cold chain industry in China,” said Brett Tucker, partner at Baird Capital Partners Asia. “We believe Great Dane’s wealth of operating and industry experience, combined with our on-the-ground investment and operating team in China, will bring significant value to Ice Bear. We look forward to working with Ice Bear management to accelerate the company’s growth and expand its market leadership.”

As part of the transaction, Tucker and Dean Engelage of Great Dane will join the board of directors at Ice Bear.

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Trucking associations provide a wide variety of benefits to members and inform the public about the trucking industry. Many associations accept individual truck drivers and owners of trucking companies as members. The associations offer such benefits as discounts on truck parts, news publications and legal services. Many associations’ websites provide frequent news updates on the trucking industry.

National Truckers Association is a professional organization that informs members in the trucking field about business practices and transportation legislation. Members receive trucking industry news by email, exclusive job listings, private message board and truck insurance discounts. Members also receive information on health insurance companies, truck repair companies and others that offer special services to trucking businesses.
American Trucking Associations is composed of state trucking associations and was founded in 1933. The group reports on legislation that affects trucking businesses, conducts research and promotes educational opportunities to members. The group has 11 committees that focus on different aspects of transportation policy. The committees include the environmental committee, which focuses on environmental issues like air pollution, and the hazardous material committee, which focuses on safely transporting hazardous materials. There are four different kinds of membership, but all members receive a fuel price list, weekly economic newsletter and access to online seminars.

America’s Independent Truckers’ Association was founded in 1997 to provide truckers with general information on trucking as well as discounts on trucking supplies and repair services. The association partners with other companies to offer members and nonmembers such benefits as tire discounts. Membership is not required to access most of the information, but members receive more discounts on products and services. The free information available to the public includes facts about conducting background checks and a directory of attorneys. You can choose from four kinds of membership levels. All members receive prescription drug benefits and roadside assistance discounts. Membership fees range from $59.99 to $180.00 a year.

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A federal judge has sentenced a Philadelphia trucker to 18 months in prison for falsifying his logbook in connection to a sentence he was already serving for vehicular homicide.

On May 7, U.S. District Court Judge James Knoll Gardner sentenced Valerijs Nikolaevich Belovs, 58, on 15 counts of making false statements in connection with a falsified log book, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Philadelphia judge also fined Belovs $1,000, levied a $1,500 special assessment and prohibited him from operating a commercial vehicle without court permission.

In October, Belovs pleaded guilty to the charges for 15 false logbook entries made in the 13 months leading up to his Jan. 23, 2009 crash. Three days before the crash, he had left Guadalupe, Calif. with a load of broccoli bound for South Philadelphia and New Jersey’s produce markets, according to the U.S. transportation inspector general.

Belovos had kept four logbooks, each falsified to fit possible situations with authorities. One example cited was that on Jan. 22, he said he had been in his sleeper berth in Wyethville, Va., when he actually had been driving to Pennsylvania.

The day of the accident, Belovs had been eastbound on Interstate 76 in Philadelphia when he rounded a curve and encountered stopped rush hour traffic. His Kenworth rear ended a car, causing a crash chain reaction for four more vehicles. The driver of the car Belovs hit died, his passenger sustained serious injuries and four other commuters were treated at local hospitals.

The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas sentenced Belovs to 23 months in prison and a $300 fine on April 26, 2010. He had pleaded guilty to various state charges, including a vehicular homicide department.

The U.S. DOT’s Office of Inspector General reported that, though the truck had a seven-week old inspection sticker, the brakes were severely worn. Belovs drove for Victor Kilinitchii of Philadelphia, who leased drivers to the three trucks he owned. The sticker had been provided by Philadelphia’s Pratt Auto, which was owned by Joseph Jadczak Jr. of Milton, Del.

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Car insurance is required for anyone who drives a vehicle. A new driver such as a teenager will typically be listed on his parents’ auto insurance policy. Auto insurance policies can vary from insurer to insurer, so it is important to compare prices to see which company offers the better value for the price. Comparing auto insurance for new drivers is a cost-effective measure that can be done by following a few simple steps.

Obtain a price or rate quote from a couple of different insurers to compare. A price or rate quote can be obtained online at an insurers website or by visiting a local insurance agent. Be prepared to provide some basic information about the vehicle and the person being insured.

Research available coverages. Coverage on a car insurance policy can vary from insurer to insurer. Keep in mind that most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage. See what the price difference is for full coverage on each price or rate quote.

Look at the available discounts. Each insurer will have many of the same types of discounts available for car insurance policies. There should be a section on the quote for the discounts that are being applied to the premium.

Consider the cost of the policy when a different deductible is selected. A deductible can range from $250 up to $1000 or more, depending on what a person wants to pay. Select the deductible that seems appropriate and affordable for the insured person.

Find out if an insurer charges a higher premium or applies a higher rate if an insured has a ticket or a violation. Depending on the insurer, they may forgive the first minor violation before applying a higher premium rate.

Look at the billing schedule for each rate quote and see if there is a discount for paying the premium in full each year. Most insurers offer this option, but you may need to ask, if this information does not appear on the billing schedule.

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Truck loading ramps may be composed of different materials depending on the projected use. While aluminum is the standard material of construction, newer plastic ramps are also making an entry. Most ramps have a serrated surface, which helps for better traction. Bike loading ramps especially are extra wide to help you walk the bike into the truck. With a lot of companies manufacturing and selling truck loading ramps, choosing the right model can be a difficult job. Understanding your specific requirements is the key to making the right decision.

Clarify the purpose. List out the materials you are going to move using a truck-loading ramp. This will help you decide upon the criteria that you need to keep in mind while choosing the right ramp. If you are going to move loads using a heavier loading machine, the ramp will need to be sturdy enough to bear the weight of the loading machine, too.

Search for models. Search on sites like Discount Ramps, Auto Anything and Ramp Connection. Find the category of truck loading ramp that suits your particular purpose. Especially focus on the visuals provided — it will help you check how the system looks and works.

Study and compare features. Scrutinize the characteristics of the ramp based on the requirements you listed out in the first step. Repeat this process with different company models and evaluate similarities and differences. Most models for a specific application will have similar technical specifications — the differences will be with respect to other features like simplicity of installation and maintenance. Compare models for ease of cleaning and storage. Ramps that can be easily dismantled to the smallest sizes will take up less storage space. If a company provides you with detailed drawings on how to install the ramp, it will prove to be of greater value in the end — even untrained staff can set it up at your premises. Also evaluate safety features — these can vary between models.

Evaluate flexibility of design. If, for a given function, there are two or more companies that have the right products, check which one of them is open to providing you customization. This ensures you get a model that built to your specific requirements; this results in optimum utilization of the ramp.

Compare prices and offers. Check the prices quoted by different companies. Find out if there are any special offers or discounts provided. Carefully study the fine print regarding warranty period.

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As freight volumes drop, finding the right load is no longer just about locating those that pay the most. The most important factor to consider is finding a return load. This is the key to making a profit. Load boards are a valuable resource when it comes to finding loads and planning trips, but you need to exercise your judgment to make good use of all that information. It’s best to provide services to a targeted market depending upon the capabilities of your truck. This narrows down your hunt and allows you to concentrate efforts on building up your services to cater to the specific requirements of clients.

Trucking load boards provide access to a wide range of information; of which, matching loads to trucks is an important aspect. Visit websites like Getloaded, 123LoadBoard and Internet TruckStop. Doing some research into the way these load boards function so you can get the most value from use.

Select the right load board. Find out if they have a free trial period and make use of it. Compare the features of each service to find the easiest to use and most reasonably priced. Read testimonials provided by people who have used the load boards. Ask friends in the trucking community their opinion. Select the load board that’s most meets your needs and sign up by paying the monthly fee.

Select the right load. Log on to the load board and search for available loads. Consider the capabilities of your truck and personnel while choosing a what loads to haul. Find loads that pay reasonably. Don’t blindly jump at ones that are highest paying — consider the more important criterion of finding a return load, which can drastically cut your costs. Use the tools provided by the load board to match outbound and return loads.

Once you’ve found a load that appears to meet your criterion, research the shipper. Visit the websites of companies you’re interested in doing business with. Find out how big the company is and details of the products they ship. Again, it’s a good idea to canvas other trucker friends get their input and experience hauling for a particular shipper. Was pay timely? Where they made to wait to load, unload freight. Were their trucks overloaded? Were delivery expectations reasonable? Get the scoop from other drivers wherever possible.

Get in touch with customers who have loads that work for your business. Send an email providing details of your truck service and your contact information. Fix an appointment to discuss business. When communicating with potential client, present relevant information about your truck service. Ask questions regarding the type of cargo hauled to be sure you have the proper equipment to handle the job. Inquire about the frequency of loads, the value of the freight, lead time and payment terms. Use this information to determine your quote.

http://rightnowloads.com/

As freight volumes drop, finding the right load is no longer just about locating those that pay the most. The most important factor to consider is finding a return load. This is the key to making a profit. Load boards are a valuable resource when it comes to finding loads and planning trips, but you need to exercise your judgment to make good use of all that information. It’s best to provide services to a targeted market depending upon the capabilities of your truck. This narrows down your hunt and allows you to concentrate efforts on building up your services to cater to the specific requirements of clients.

Trucking load boards provide access to a wide range of information; of which, matching loads to trucks is an important aspect. Visit websites like Getloaded, 123LoadBoard and Internet TruckStop. Doing some research into the way these load boards function so you can get the most value from use.

Select the right load board. Find out if they have a free trial period and make use of it. Compare the features of each service to find the easiest to use and most reasonably priced. Read testimonials provided by people who have used the load boards. Ask friends in the trucking community their opinion. Select the load board that’s most meets your needs and sign up by paying the monthly fee.

Select the right load. Log on to the load board and search for available loads. Consider the capabilities of your truck and personnel while choosing a what loads to haul. Find loads that pay reasonably. Don’t blindly jump at ones that are highest paying — consider the more important criterion of finding a return load, which can drastically cut your costs. Use the tools provided by the load board to match outbound and return loads.

Once you’ve found a load that appears to meet your criterion, research the shipper. Visit the websites of companies you’re interested in doing business with. Find out how big the company is and details of the products they ship. Again, it’s a good idea to canvas other trucker friends get their input and experience hauling for a particular shipper. Was pay timely? Where they made to wait to load, unload freight. Were their trucks overloaded? Were delivery expectations reasonable? Get the scoop from other drivers wherever possible.

Get in touch with customers who have loads that work for your business. Send an email providing details of your truck service and your contact information. Fix an appointment to discuss business. When communicating with potential client, present relevant information about your truck service. Ask questions regarding the type of cargo hauled to be sure you have the proper equipment to handle the job. Inquire about the frequency of loads, the value of the freight, lead time and payment terms. Use this information to determine your quote.

http://rightnowloads.com/