Category: Carriers

Categories
Carriers

Applying for Interstate Trucking Authority

Decide whom you want to work for. A common authority lets you work with the public with a moving company, for instance. To do interstate trucking for businesses, you’ll need contract authority.

Determine what goods you want to transport. You need household goods authority to work as a mover. General commodities is appropriate for work with trucking companies. To arrange transport between states without taking responsibility for the cargo, get a broker authority.

File for a USDOT number. This is issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). They regulate safety measures for commercial transportation activities.

Fill out the OP-1 form with the FMCSA for obtaining interstate operating authority. This shows you’ve got adequate insurance to cover property loss or damage and personal injuries.

File the BOC-3 form. This designates you have a process agent in all 50 states who’s willing to receive and forward legal documents to you.

File the BOC-3 form. This designates you have a process agent in all 50 states who’s willing to receive and forward legal documents to you.

Expect the interstate trucking authority registration process to take at least 30 days. Once you get your license, you must register it with the Single State Registration System. This is something you’ll have to do yearly.

http://rightnowloads.com/

Categories
Carriers

Trucker’s Safety

Truck driving can be a very demanding profession. Drivers are required to pick up and drop off loads at designated times that sometimes do not allow for much rest. Since truck drivers are primarily paid by how many miles they drive, it is important for them to get their loads delivered as quickly as possible, so that they can move on to the next job. While fast delivery is important, truck drivers should also consider safety the No. 1 when on the road.

Trucker Fatigue

A large safety concern for truckers is suffering trucker fatigue. This is when a driver becomes very tired while driving due to lack of sleep, resulting in a possible loss of coordination and response time. While it is very important for drivers to deliver their loads on time, it is also important that the driver factor in enough time to sleep. When a driver feels tired, he should pull over and either take a nap or rest. Do not try to push through or supplement little sleep with energy drinks or pills that could cause you to experience a sugar crash, thus making the fatigue worse.

Inclement Weather

Truck drivers are very often required to drive deliveries through ice, storms or other inclement weather. Before departing for your delivery destination, check the weather for your chosen route so that you will be aware of any potential weather hazards. Do not try to drive through heavy rain or bad road conditions as this could cause an accident. Pull over and wait for the bad weather to pass or choose a less hazardous route. If the hazard cannot be avoided, make sure that all safety equipment on your truck, such as snow tires or chains, radios and windshield wiper blades, are in good working order.

Radios

Because many truck drivers work alone, it is important that they have and use a CB radio. This radio will allow the driver to communicate with other drivers as well as receive emergency dispatches. Emergency frequencies can be used to contact local authorities in case of an accident or to receive important weather alerts. You can use the radio to talk with other drivers to help alleviate some of the symptoms of fatigue, as well as to warn them of any hazards or accidents that you may have already encountered on your route.

http://rightnowloads.com/

Categories
Carriers

Car Carrier Jobs

The car carrier industry is a booming business, with high growth due to Internet sales of vehicles. These transactions between sellers and buyers all around the United States mean a higher demand for vehicle transport than ever before. Car carrier companies are hiring truck drivers, dispatch operators and customer service representatives.

Function
There are many opportunities in the car carrier industry for truck drivers because these long-haul jobs can require being on the road for two weeks at a time, and many drivers do not prefer that sort of schedule. Car carrier companies nearly always hire drivers with previous truck driving experience because of the complex nature of this work. The drivers typically follow complicated routes around the country, picking up and delivering cars and other vehicles at numerous locations. They are also responsible for the actual loading and unloading of all the vehicles. Some drivers put in nearly 3,800 miles a week.

Considerations
Car carrier drivers must have a Class A commercial driver’s license, or CDL, which requires drivers to pass a written test and a driving skills test with a commercial truck. People interested in becoming a truck driver can obtain training from a truck driving school, and many commercial trucking companies offer paid training for their new hires. Since car carrier companies nearly always hire experienced drivers, acquiring training and some experience at a commercial trucking company is an excellent option.

Types
Other car carrier jobs include dispatch and customer service. Customer service representatives respond to emails and phone calls from potential customers asking for quotes, then take customer orders. They explain the system to people who are unfamiliar with how it works, and also answer questions from current customers about shipping dates. CSRs must be friendly and polite, with good communication skills to impart information about vehicle transport. Dispatchers schedule the shipping orders, creating the most efficient route possible, often arranging pick-ups and deliveries for one driver across the entire country. Because the work is so complicated, dispatchers must be well-organized and have a solid familiarity with U.S. geography.

Benefits
Average annual earnings for auto transport drivers in 2008 was about $31,000, with the highest salaries topping out at about $41,000. The median hourly rate for customer service representatives in the transportation industry was about $12.50, and for dispatchers about $14.50. Most positions are full time, although some part-time dispatch opportunities are available, and some employers allow dispatchers to work from home. Full-time positions provide health insurance, paid vacations and holidays, and a 401k plan.

Warning
Because companies vary in reputation, potential applicants should investigate customer reviews of the companies they are interested in before applying. At least one car carrier company has been convicted of fraud and forced to pay nearly $100,000 for reimbursement to customers, while several have only 1 1/2 or 2 stars out of 5 possible in numerous reviews. See the Resources section below for a link to car carrier reviews.

Categories
Carriers

Carrier Technical Training

The Carrier Corporation, Technical Training is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. Carrier Technical Training was established in the early part of the 20th century by William Carrier to find innovative solutions to heating, ventilation and air conditioning problems.

Accreditation
Carrier is accredited by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET); to gain this accreditation Carrier showed it had met the good practice standards developed by IACET and the American National Standards Institute. Carrier is also an accredited trainer for North American Technical Excellence.

Classes
The classes provided by Carrier are available as classroom-based, online or self-learning courses, using materials such as DVDs and CDs often used as learning materials for non-classroom-based study. Courses available through Carrier include NATE core prep classes and HVAC mechanical troubleshooting.

Skills
Carrier teaches skills covering the majority of roles available in the HVAC industry, from HVAC technical skills through to sales and marketing classes. Carrier Technical Training offers some courses that carry college credit.

http://truckerhunt.com/
http://www.findfreightloads.com/

Categories
Carriers Owner Operators

Driver Careers

Route driver careers involve transporting people or items according to an assigned route. If you enjoy driving and being able to travel during working hours, you may want a career as a route driver. All you need are a valid driver’s license, a chauffeur’s license or a commercial driver’s license, and a clear driving record. You will receive training on how to operate the vehicle, safety rules and the route you will be responsible for driving.

Shuttle Bus Drivers

If you want to transport a small amount of people at a time, consider a route driver career as a shuttle bus driver. These vehicles usually carry up to 16 passengers at a time and are used by hotels, airports and car dealerships. If you work for a hotel, your route consists of driving passengers back and forth between the hotel and the airport and assisting them with loading and unloading their luggage. Airports use shuttle bus drivers to pick up passengers to transport them to and from parking lots and the airport.

More route driver careers that involve driving a shuttle bus include tour guides, who take passengers on scheduled routes and answer questions, and working for hospitals that provide transportation for patients. Hospitals employ shuttle drivers to transport patients who are disabled or unable to drive, and you may be required to assist them as they board. Although the salary for this route driver career varies, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary was $21,550 in May 2008.

Package Delivery Drivers

Driving a truck is another route driver career. You can work as a delivery driver who picks up and delivers packages in a specific region along a specified route. You load your truck with packages to be delivered to businesses and households along a certain route and pick up packages and take them back to a distribution center to be shipped. Your duties include handling receipts and payments, and depending on the load, you may have assistance from another employee. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for package delivery drivers was $27,000 in May 2008.

Transit Bus Drivers

Another route driver career involves operating transit or intercity buses. This position requires picking up and dropping off passengers at stops on a designated route and sticking to a schedule. You interact with customers regularly because you are responsible for collecting fares and answering questions about routes and directions. You record your daily trips and submit trip reports, as well as reporting mechanical problems or significant delays in your schedule. As a bus driver, you need a passenger vehicle endorsement on your driver’s license that involves passing a written examination and skills test. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for bus drivers was $34,000 in May 2008.

Categories
Business Carriers

Measuring Logistics Performance

Logistics, also known as supply chain management, is the study and operation of supplying services or products to places of need. In real-world situations in which time and money are of great importance, it’s often essential for a company or organization to measure the performance of their logistics. However, because of the complex processes involved in logistics, there’s no single way in which to measure how a company is performing in terms of their logistical operations. Instead, there are a number of measurements, each describing the performance from a different angle.

Measure supply reliability. This measurement tells a company how reliable the shipping method is in terms of preserving or maintaining products in their original state. Low measures of supply reliability can indicate improper shipping or packing methods. Calculate this measurement by subtracting the number of defective parts per average delivery from the average number of parts delivered per delivery and then dividing by the average number of parts delivered per delivery. The result will be a percentage indicating the number of parts delivered soundly per each shipment.

Compute the variation in transit time. This metric indicates the reliability of the shipment time. Used in conjunction with basic shipping-time statistics, this metric can tell a company how dependable their shipment method is. Calculate this value by subtracting the minimum transit time for a given period from the maximum transit time for a given period and then dividing by the average transit time for the given period. Lower values for this value indicate better performance.

Calculate the service reliability. Service reliability indicates the number of successful (in terms of providing the service promised) shipments. Divide the number of shipments delivered successfully at most four hours later than promised by the total number of shipments. The result will be a percentage. Percentages closer to 100% indicate better service.

Compute transportation utilization. This measurement shows how well a company is using its transportation resources. Divide the amount of time transportation devices (ships, trucks, and so on) are loaded during transit by the amount of time devices are in-transit regardless of whether they are loaded. The result will be a percentage. Percentages closer to 100% indicate better utilization of transportation devices.

Categories
Carriers Trucker News

Distribution & Logistics Careers

Distribution and logistics are an important part of commerce. These functions control the way products move between the supply source and the store shelves. Without them, there would be a noticeable shortage of goods overnight. It can be a challenging job, but one that offers a variety of positions for many types of background, education, and training.

Distribution Careers
Distribution refers to the network of suppliers, warehouses, freight forwarders and delivery systems responsible for product movement. This includes all aspects of shipping, from trucking companies and railroads to air freight delivery. The final leg of a distribution journey is handled by local delivery vehicles running packages back and forth across town. Products that began as raw materials in a factory arrive in packaging that stock clerks place on store shelves.

Distribution careers cover every aspect of the process. Cargo agents, freight brokers, dispatchers, truck drivers, stock clerks, shipping and receiving employees, and distribution managers all play a part. All require a different level of knowledge and expertise. Consequently, pay scales vary greatly, as does the potential for career advancement.

Educational requirements vary as well. Warehouse workers, delivery drivers, dock hands and stock clerk jobs typically require a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Distribution managers, custom brokers, supply chain supervisors and transportation planners will often require a two-year associate or bachelor’s degree in a related study.

Pay scales start at minimum-wage entry level wages and can reach into six figures for high ranking executives, with profit-sharing, performance bonuses and lucrative retirement programs.

Logistics Careers
Logistics is a term borrowed from military strategy. It refers to the task of placing personnel and equipment at a location on a pre-determined schedule. A career in logistics includes several aspects of routing, scheduling, time management and oversight related to the movement of goods and materials from point of origin to point of delivery.

According to the Education-Portal website, which cites data compiled by the Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech University, logistics and distribution account for nearly half of a company’s marketing budget and more than a quarter of its overall operating costs. Precise delivery of products and materials is key to the survival of any manufacturing, wholesale, or retail business.

Educational requirements include an associate’s degree in applied science or a bachelor of science degree in supply chain management. This kind of background gives you the knowledge and skills to handle acquisition, inventory management, strategic planning of delivery systems, and cost-analysis of logistics operations. Pay scales vary depending on the scope of a company’s business. But these technical jobs generally start at a higher rate of pay than many of the lower-echelon distribution positions.

Career Outlook
A look at the 2009 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website illustrates the wide range of requirements and career opportunities in distribution and logistics. Annual incomes vary from the low $20,000 range for package handlers to between $50,000 and $65,000 for high-level management and technical positions, such as supply managers and logistics coordinators.

U.S. employment figures from 2009 reflect numerous jobs across the industry. First-line managers alone accounted for more than 200,000 positions. You’ll usually earn more if you work for a Fortune 500 company that handles a large volume of international products and materials. Technical vocations such as logisticians earned a median annual salary of $70,400 in 2009.

Categories
Carriers Newbies

Salary and Benefits of a Letter Carrier

There were 324,990 letter carriers in the U.S. in 2009, according to a May 2010 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These federal government employees sort and organize mail for their individual routes. They then deliver the mail using the most efficient routes. Some letter carriers work rural areas in trucks, while many in urban areas deliver mail mostly on foot. These workers must be at least 18 years old and in excellent physical shape. They usually get paid by the hour.

Median and Average Wages

  • The median wage for all letter carriers in the U.S. was $25.90 an hour, or $53,860 per year, according to the May 2010 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average wage was slightly less, at $24.16 per hour or $50,250 per year. The middle half of letter carriers, between the 25th and 75th percentile, earned hourly rates between $22.17 and $26.26, or annual wages that ranged between $46,110 and $54,610.

Average Wages by State

  • Letter carriers earned their highest wages in the District of Columbia at $25.35 per hour, or $52,720 per year. They also earned above-average rates in California, at $25.09 per hour or $52,190 per year, and in Massachusetts, at $24.94 an hour $51,870 per year. These government workers earned closer to average wages in Michigan, at $24.06 per hour or $50,040 per year. Those in Missouri earned slightly less, at $23.52 per hour or $48,930 per year.

Average Wages by Non-Metropolitan Area

  • Letter carriers’ salaries can also vary regionally in more rural areas. For example, those in the Southwestern area of Wyoming earned the highest annual wages of rural carriers, at $25.26 per hour or $52,550 annually, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. The second highest rural hourly rates were in North Central Colorado, at $24.77 or $51,520 per year. Those in North Central Massachusetts earned wages closer to the national average, at $24.13 per hour or $50,190 per year. Postal carriers earned somewhat lower wages in the Eastern region of North Dakota, at $21.14 per hour or $43,970 annually.

Benefits

  • Letter carriers enjoy certain benefits from the United States Postal Service. Most full-time workers receive hospital and life insurance, retirement plans, and paid holidays and vacations. They usually earn time-and-a-half when working overtime, according to July 2011 data from the National Association of Letter Carriers. They also earn premium pay on holidays. Moreover, these mail workers receive 13 days of leave during their first three years of employment, according to the Postal Employee Network. Leave or sick days increase to 20 days after three years, and to 26 days after 15 years. Letter carriers also get tax-free flexible spending accounts for covering out-of-pocket health of day care services.

Job Outlook

  • Jobs for letter carriers are expected to decline 1 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to December 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Automated machines have shortened the time these workers spend sorting mail, which will have a negative impact on jobs. Most job opportunities will be as a result of an increasing population.
Categories
Carriers Lifestyle

How to Get Truck Driver Training

Truck driving is an occupation that consistently posts the most job openings. Regardless of the state of the economy, goods need to be transported and that means the trucking industry needs drivers. To join the ranks of this growing profession, however, you need to get truck driver training. These steps explain how that’s done.


1

Obtain a driver’s license from the state in which you reside.
2

Initiate the process of obtaining a Commercial Driver’ License (CDL) by getting a state CDL permit. That is done by taking a written examination at your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (or your state’s equivalent), which covers general knowledge and a combination vehicle and air brakes tests.
3

Consider completing the optional endorsement examinations for hazardous materials, double and triple wide trailers and tankers. Upon obtaining these endorsements, your temporary instruction permit (TIP) will reflect that you are licensed to run that type of machinery.
4

Research truck driving schools online or through your local Yellow Pages to find a training facility that best suits your needs. Compare the type, quality and duration of each school’s training program. Websites, such as cdl truck training.com list training centers by state.
5

Choose between a private school, public institution or one operated by a motor carrier. Private schools generally are run by for-profit organizations and train those with an interest in the trucking profession. Public institutions are government funded and include community colleges and vocational training schools. Motor carrier training is operated by trucking companies.
6

Select a truck driver training school that offers practical and hands-on driving instruction, and then be an attentive learner so you can find a great truck driving job when you complete your training.
7

Search for a job with a trucking company. Websites, such as integritytds.com, help drivers secure a job sometimes even before they have completed their training.

Categories
Business Carriers

How to Become an Expediter Truck Service With a Small Truck or Cargo Van

Expediter services transport time-sensitive freight for manufacturers around the country. Often a company needs to send products quickly. Expediter vehicles can deliver to areas that large vehicles are unable to because of regulations or limited space. You can start your own expediter company if you have a van or small truck, but you must make sure you have the necessary licenses before you begin.

Talk to other expediters about their work. A successful expediting company requires dedication and you could be away from home for days delivering freight. Talking with others will help you decide if expediting is right for you. You can find expediters to talk to by going to local truck stops and online forums.

Apply for a free Employer Identification Number . Your EIN is your business Social Security number for taxes. File for your EIN using your business name.

Incorporate your company. According to the Internal Revenue Service, “LLCs are popular because, similar to a corporation, owners have limited personal liability for the debts and actions of the LLC.” An LLC will suffice in most states for personal asset protection although as the owner, you will have to guarantee any debts that the company incurs. Apply for incorporation through the secretary of state in your home state. The cost varies from state to state.

Apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation number. Each motor carrier must have a USDOT number. File for your USDOT number under your business name. There is no cost to receive a number.

Contracting with an established company (lease-on) with your small truck or van to gain first-hand knowledge about everything from paperwork to potential earnings. As a lease owner, you will have the opportunity to know the load’s gross revenue. Do not contract with a company with the intention of stealing their client base. Most company’s have a “no-compete” clause in their contracts, which prevent you from legally obtaining freight from one of their customers for at least two years. Look in your local newspaper’s classified ad section to find a local company to lease with, or apply with a company online.

Apply for operating authority . The U.S. government requires all interstate carriers to obtain Motor Carrier (MC) number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. After you receive your MC number, you will need insurance as well as hiring process agents. A process agent represent your company and cab accept legal documents for you in every state. It costs $300 to apply for your MC number. The cost of insurance will depend on the amount of coverage, your driving history and the amount of time you’ve been in the business. You can locate a service that provides process agents through the FMCSA. A process agent service will cost $50 or less.

Apply for any local permits your city or county requires.
Find customers by visiting local businesses. When you visit, be professional and sell your business. The only thing you have to offer is service; make promises and then deliver. Be sure to tell them what kind of equipment you have, a small truck or cargo van limits the type of freight you can carry.

Need DAC Report?http://dacoff.com/