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Tips for Truckers Buying Truck Insurance

Being a truck driver presents many opportunities to see places that most people never get to see, but it also comes with great responsibilities, like having the best insurance for the truck. Many truck drivers struggle with finding the right insurance that will allow them to work, make a profit, and be covered in case of an accident. Because the trucking industry is so vast, here are some tips for getting the best commercial truck insurance.

First

The driver should know and understand all the terms of the coverage they are getting. This type of insurance is not like the typical car insurance because it usually has clauses within it that concerns the “cargo” within the truck as well as other aspects of driving that only relate to trucking. The coverage that is chosen should protect the driver, the vehicle, whatever is being carried, and the other car. This may be under the term of “uninsured” or “underinsured” driver. Ideally, the other driver should have their own insurance, but many drivers do not have insurance, so being prepared for that problem is advisable.

Second

The deductibles on the insurance policy will make a big difference if the driver ever needs to use the policy. As with most insurance policies, the deductable determines how much the driver will pay monthly. If the driver decides to have a small deductible of $500, their monthly payments will be significantly higher than the driver who has a deductable of $10,000. On the other hand, if both drivers are in an accident, the driver with the higher monthly payments will only have to pay the $500 deductable, and then the policy will pay for everything else. The driver with the lower monthly payment will have to pay the $10,000 before the policy pays for any other needed repairs. While the lower monthly payment can look tempting when choosing a policy, the driver needs to pick a payment and deductible that they can afford. If they do not have a huge amount of money in their savings account, they may want to consider the higher monthly payments as opposed to a large lump sum bill when an accident occurs.

Third

Just like everything else, drivers want to save money on insurance. Having a safe driving record that is perfect or nearly perfect is a great way to get a lower rate. If a driver has traffic tickets or an accident on their record, they will want to do what they can to take those off their record. Making certain that they follow all the rules of the road and drive safely is also an excellent way to keep their record clear of problems. Insurance companies like to insure drivers with clear records because they are normally less risky with their vehicles. Keeping the truck updated and cleaned will also allow the insurance company to see that the driver cares about the performance of the truck and how well it runs. This will show the company that the driver is careful when driving.

Fourth

Any driver who is looking for insurance knows that they need to get quotes from many different companies. There are companies that will give different discounts for various policies, like life, home, and a second car. Insurance companies are always competing with each other for more business, so taking advantage of that is smart as well. Share one of the lowest quotes with them and see if they can beat it. If they cannot, keep looking. Trying this method with a few companies could lead to an unbeatable rate and deductable that cannot be beat.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

CARB extends trailer fleet registration

The California Air Resources Board on July 1 announced that trailer fleet owners have an extra 30 days – until Aug. 1 – to register their fleets if they want to take advantage of a flexible phase-in option for a new California regulation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas regulation requires tractors with 53-foot or longer trailers that travel in California to be equipped with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay-verified aerodynamic technologies, including low rolling-resistance tires, skirts and fairings.
“CARB has designed this regulation so that flexible options are available to businesses for planning purposes,” said Mary Nichols, CARB chairman. “This way, businesses can add this equipment and start saving money on fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Fleets with 21 or more trailers may take advantage of a flexible option that allows fleet compliance to be phased in over five years, from 2011 through 2015. To take advantage of this phase-in option, owners must submit a compliance plan to CARB that includes a list of trailers in the fleet and the scheduled percentage of trailers to be brought into compliance each year. Fleets with 21 or more trailers that do not choose this option must bring all of their pre-2011 model year trailers into compliance by Jan. 1, 2013.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

Minnesota shuts rest areas in budget battle

Truckers cannot park at an estimated 67 Minnesota rest areas after state officials shut the facilities down along with most state services at midnight June 30 until a funding crisis is resolved.

John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association, said he was unaware of accommodations made for truckers coping with the situation.”Truck drivers are caught between a federal government eager to do its job with hours-of-service and a state unwilling to provide the resources to do the job,” Hausladen said.

The current shutdown is under a Democrat governor and a Republican majority in both legislative branches. In 2005 an eight-day partial shutdown of Minnesota state services was under a Republican governor and a Democrat majority in the state House and Senate, he noted.

The Minnesota State Patrol is fully operational for roadside enforcement, but weigh stations staffing is likely to be minimal, Hausladen said.

The Minnesota DOT posted that permits for oversize and overweight trucks will be available, but it had halted all highway construction and closed work zones.

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokesman had no comment when asked if truckers would be afforded any leniency from HOS enforcement in Minnesota during the shutdown.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

DOT offers $527M in grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation on June 30 announced that $527 million will be available for a third round of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) competitive grant program, which funds innovative transportation projects that address job creation and making a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area.

In the FY11 budget President Obama signed in April, $527 million was directed to DOT for critical investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure. States, cities, local governments and other partnerships and groups will have until this fall to prepare their applications for the TIGER program, which has funded high-impact projects including roads, bridges, freight rail, transit buses and streetcars, ports, and bicycle and pedestrian paths.

The previous two rounds of the TIGER grant program provided $2.1 billion to 126 transportation projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Demand for the program has been overwhelming, and during the previous two rounds, DOT received more than 2,500 applications requesting more than $79 billion for transportation projects across the country.

Projects will be selected based on their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improve energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and improve the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. DOT also will focus on projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and spur rapid increases in economic activity.

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Lifestyle Newbies Trucker News

Is Truck Driving suited for You?

Truck driving is not for the faint of heart. You must be able to manage your stress, time, and energy well to succeed. I have seen many, many times the simple mistakes that can be made when a driver gets cocky or is stressed or distracted. Accidents happen, people get hurt, and drivers lose their jobs. Depending on the severity of the accident, some even lose their license. It’s not something to take lightly. The following advice will help to keep you on the road and on track.

Stress management is very crucial. Whether it’s something as simple as changing the radio station or pulling off the road for 30 minutes, you must remember to take time for yourself, no matter how hot the load is. Many companies will tell you safety comes first, but then once you sit down in the driver’s seat, they tell you otherwise. “The load has to be there. Why are you not moving?” Don’t be afraid to tell them you’re tired. Talk to your dispatcher.

If something is going on at home that you need to address, tell them. Most will work with you or refer you to someone you can talk to about what is bothering you. The main thing is to get it off your chest. Take a moment to breathe. Take a nap if you need to. Take a walk around the rest area or go inside the truckstop for a cup of coffee. It’s amazing what a little fresh air can do for your stress levels.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

$5 million in DOT funds for North Dakota

The U.S. Department of Transportation on June 27 announced $5 million in emergency funds available to the North Dakota Department of Transportation to begin restoring federal-aid highways damaged by flooding.

Minot damage was just the latest in relentless flood events throughout the state caused by snow melt and heavy spring rains of unprecedented magnitude affecting at least 43 of the 53 counties throughout the state. In Minot, at least 10,000 people were evacuated as water began spilling over the town’s emergency levees.

The Souris River, which flows from Canada through north central North Dakota back into Canada, reached uncharted levels and inundated thousands of homes and businesses. Crews continue to work to protect homes and critical infrastructure.

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Trucker News

Congress eyes broker bill

For the second year running, Congress is considering a bill trucking and broker organizations say will mitigate unscrupulous broker practices.

On June 24, U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) introduced the “Fighting Fraud in Transportation Act,” after working on it with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, American Trucking Associations and Transportation Intermediaries Association.

Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president, said current law provides too much opportunity for fraud. “Too often, we’ve seen deceitful brokers get away with collecting payments from shippers, but cheating truckers out of what is rightfully theirs,” he said.

TIA, the third-party logistics association, said the federal broker bond requirement has been $10,000 since the mid-1980s. In recent years, some transportation associations pushed for requiring escrow accounts and upping bond to $500,000, while there was a Congressional move to demand brokers disclose profit margin on invoices.

The trucking and brokers industries compromised with a $100,000 bond requirement and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator would have the option of reconsidering that amount every five years.

The bill would demand the U.S. Department of Transportation establish an annual screening of registered motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders and list only those with current operating authority.

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Lifestyle Newbies Trucker News

FMCSA plans driver onboard monitoring study

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to assess commercial motor vehicle drivers’ responses about onboard monitoring systems via a questionnaire as part of a field test study.

FMCSA plans for 500 CMV drivers to participate in a questionnaire.

The goal of the questionnaire and study is to determine whether onboard monitoring and feedback will reduce at-risk behavior among CMV drivers and improve driver safety performance. The purpose of the questionnaire portion is to assess CMV drivers’ acceptance of onboard monitoring systems being evaluated in the study.

A series of four questionnaires will be conducted in the baseline (no feedback), intervention (receiving feedback) and withdrawal (no feedback) periods. These questionnaires will address the CMV drivers’ expectations, experiences and attitudes toward onboard monitoring systems and assess changes in their perception over the 18-month study period.

All study questionnaires will be available in both paper and electronic form. The results will be summarized and integrated into the rest of the larger study report that evaluates the effectiveness of onboard monitoring systems in improving safety and driver performance.

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Trucker News

FMCSA inspector charged with bribery

Bribery involves offering or accepting something of value in a situation where the person who accepts the bribe is expected to perform a service which goes beyond his or her normal job description. For example, a motorist being ticketed for parking in the wrong place might offer a bribe to the police officer to ask him or her to tear up the ticket.

A federal court has indicted a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration border inspector for allegedly taking a bribe in exchange for providing a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance decal for a truck without inspection.

On June 8, a U.S. District Court grand jury indicted Eric Hernandez, an FMCSA safety specialist. The Laredo, Texas, court charged he sold a driver a Level I CVSA sticker knowing the vehicle lacked the corresponding inspection. The state public safety department heard of the alleged incident, then obtained video footage of it before arresting Hernandez. The FMCSA subsequently placed him on administrative leave. State and federal inspectors issue the CVSA decal to trucks passing roadside or periodic inspection.
An indictment is a grand jury’s formal charge that it found sufficient evidence the defendant committed the crime to justify a trial. The investigation is ongoing.

There exists, however, a fourth position, the social-personalist one. It holds bribery to be a moral issue, that is, it affects both the good of society and the good of persons—the good of society by its impact on the ideals of the society, the good of persons by involving them in acts unworthy of their nature

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Lifestyle Newbies Trucker News

Trucking Routing Software

Truck routing software enables trucking companies to run operations that make the best use of equipment, personnel and resources. The result is a saving of time, reduction of the cost of fuel and better customer servicing.
With routing software, employee time is utilized effectively, from regulation considerations to routing administration. In addition, the environment is helped through reduced emissions due to routes that are efficient. Local road condition information can be current and observance of routing regulations in multiple areas preempts fines.

Factors
Routing for trucks involves more than just finding the best roads. It also means making sure that the truck will fit on the road. It also includes knowledge of regulations of such things as permits and taxes. The efficient use of the truck includes limiting the number of trips with no loads to carry. Routing can be regional, national or international.

Benefits
Customers are better served due to an enhanced ability to accommodate and coordinate customers’ wishes. Greater delivery-time efficiency and accuracy is possible. Input allows for increased quality of company decisions.

Considerations
The software company provides installation, training and maintenance. An inventory of the trucking company resources is made. These include the trucks and personnel. The internet can be used for current planning. The software program should adapt to the the company’s way of operating, not vice versa.

Prevention/Solution
Use of GPS as an integrated part of the routing software provides real time tracking. If the directions turn out to be wrong, then correcting the information and providing new information can be quick and efficient.