Categories
Carriers Newbies

Used Fleet Truck Sales Launched by Schneider

Schneider National recently expanded its tractor purchase offerings for owner-operators, fleets and wholesalers.

In addition to its Schneider Finance division, which provides options to current and prospective Schneider National owner-operators on new and used trucks, Schneider also now offers used fleet trucks. Owner-operators and fleets who purchase used fleet trucks are not required to lease the units with Schneider National.

Most trucks are 2005 to 2007 model years and range from $20,000-$35,000. All trucks for sale have been serviced and maintained to Schneider’s standards for preventive maintenance and have a history of excellent fuel mileage.

Schneider’s Used Fleet Truck Sales offers trucks just coming off of the road and has a current inventory of more than 800 units available at 18 Schneider locations across the U.S. and Canada. More than 100 trucks are available in the Northeast as replacement units for those impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

In addition to standard over-the-road truckload units, Schneider Used Fleet Truck Sales also has more than 60 bulk, flatbed, agricultural and oil field trucks for sale; more than 50 day-cab units and more than 100 UltraShift automatic transmission trucks. More than 300 used trailers are also available.

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Categories
CDL Owner Operators

Penalty for Driving Uninsured

Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry automobile insurance, but this does not mean every driver does. According to the Insurance Information Institute, all states have a percentage of uninsured motorists among their drivers, from New Mexico’s high of 29 percent to Massachusetts’ low of 1 percent. To put teeth into the law, most states have imposed penalties for driving without insurance, as have many countries around the world.

Reasons
As unemployment rises, so does the rate of uninsured motorists. Most people who drive without insurance do so for financial reasons. In an economic crisis, more people can be expected to get rid of their insurance payments by getting rid of their car insurance. Other drivers believe that they do not need insurance because they have never had an accident. Still others cannot get insurance because of their past driving record or immigration status.

Monetary Penalties
Many states and foreign governments punish uninsured motorists by imposing fines. In the United States, fines can range as high as $5,000 for a repeat offender, with the specific dollar amount varying from state to state. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, large fines for first-time offenders is the best way to enforce insurance requirements.

License or Registration Suspension
Many jurisdiction impose additional penalties for driving without insurance, including taking points from a driver’s license, suspending the driver’s license, suspending the uninsured’s vehicle registration and/or impounding the vehicle.

Jail
Some drivers can be jailed for repeatedly not carrying car insurance.
Driving without insurance can send you to jail. While no state mandates jail time for a first offense, many give the court the option of jail time for repeat offenders. However, while high fines were found to be an effective deterrent, jail time for noncompliance was not. This is probably because motorists do not believe that the penalty will be enforced.

Other Penalties
A relatively new penalty imposed on uninsured motorists is depriving them of the right to sue for noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering. These so-called “no pay, no play” laws have been proposed in more than 20 states, and enacted in eight, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

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Categories
Business CDL

Trucking Company hiring process

Although from the outside looking in most people would make the mistake of thinking of Trucking as something anybody can do, this is one of the reasons so many get into trucking and fail miserably. And while those that do succeed at it may look ordinary from the outside there are some very unique things going on inside that make the Trucker a real success. I want to talk about this a little here as you may be considering getting a CDL in Trucking, and branching out further into the Trucking waters, such as becoming an owner operator O/O.

Define your needs. By determining exactly what you need from a transportation service, it is much easier to look for companies that can accommodate those requirements. Along with defining the sizes and quantities of the goods that must be transported to buyers, also think in terms of the frequency of the shipments, the delivery dates that are routinely required, and the shipping hours at your warehouses. Don’t forget to consider the distance involved in transporting goods to all your current customers, as well as to areas where you hope to establish a presence.

Develop a listing of trucking companies in the area. Step 1, compile a list of all transportation companies in the local area that potentially could fill your needs. Omit any transportation companies that do not fit your requirements. For example, if you routinely ship out amounts that will not take up a whole trailer, don’t spend a lot of time dealing with trucking firms that only deal with truckload orders; focus on companies that specialize in LTL or less than load business.

Contact each trucking company on the list. Talk with them about your needs and verify they can provide the care you require. Make arrangements for a representative or salesperson to visit you on site for a more in depth discussion and to submit a bid or proposal for your business.

Meet with representatives of each company. Ask them hard questions about how they handle situations such as rush shipments, or how they track shipments that get lost in the shuffle. Ask for a quote on pricing in writing, as well as the terms and conditions that will be in force if the two of you decide to do business. Also ask about discounts and price breaks if you commit to using the trucking company for a certain amount of time, or generate a certain level of business volume.

Narrow your options to three or four of the best candidates. At this point, invite each of these final candidates to review their bids and see if they might be willing to adjust the pricing to make the offer more attractive.

Make your final selection. After reviewing all relevant factors, choose the trucking firm that provides the best balance between service and price. However, hang on to the other bids just in case the final selection does not perform up to expectations.

Categories
Carriers Owner Operators

Truck Driving

Significance
Without the trucking industry, the U.S. economy would nearly come to a grinding halt. Trucks transport everything that we consume and use on a daily basis, from manufactured goods to food. Trucks transport our mail all over the country. Trucks bring the fuel we put into our cars. Trucks support the way of life that we have become accustomed to in the United States.

Types
There are many types of trucks used in the transportation industry, including box trucks, straight trucks, flat-bed trucks, reefers (refrigerated units), tankers and carriers. However, there are basically only two types of truck drivers: owner/operators and company drivers. Owner/operators own or lease their own truck, and sometimes one or more trailers. Company drivers are employees of a trucking company, and do not own or maintain the equipment.

Benefits
Although truck driving is a dangerous and difficult profession, it offers some benefits that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in any other industry. These include:
-Freedom from a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. job
-Front-row views of some of the nation’s most beautiful territories
-For owner/operators, independence and the ability to control your own success
-Job security.

Misconceptions
Recruiters often use misleading sales pitches to lure new, inexperienced drivers. Since they are salespeople, recruiters often inflate the benefits of working for their companies. Benefits such as lots of sightseeing, lots of family time and above-average compensation will be high on their list of selling points. While you do get to see lots of places, the one place you probably won’t see much is your home, unless you drive local routes.

Also, companies may promise to ensure that their drivers are always driving legally, within the federal regulations for driving-time limits and allowable load weights. The reality, however, is that unscrupulous companies often set up loads and time limits that cannot be humanly accomplished unless a driver does drive illegally. Furthermore, if you are that unfortunate driver and you get caught, these companies will take no responsibility for making you break the law. In most instances, you can be stuck with huge fines to pay out of your own pocket.

Warning
The truck-driving industry holds the highest rate of roadway fatalities of any profession. Several driver-related factors contribute to the level of danger, including inexperience, road rage, distractions (radios, cell phones, computers), fatigue and poor health (obesity, age, complications from abuse of stimulants ranging from caffeine to cocaine).

While a number of accidents involving trucks and automobiles are caused by the truck driver, the operators of passenger vehicles can also contribute to the dangers on the roadway. However, as a truck driver responsible for carrying thousands of pounds of weight in a load, you must be proactive. You must constantly anticipate automobile drivers’ errors in order to keep your load safe, your equipment free from damage and most importantly to save lives, including your own!

In addition to the dangers of truck driving, this career can also have detrimental effects on your emotional well-being. The lonely lifestyle of a truck driver can cause emotional fatigue and depression. The divorce rate among truck drivers is substantially higher than in any other industry, due to long periods of separation and pressure on the spouse who remains behind to manage the family in the driver’s absence. It’s crucial to consider the long-term effects that truck driving can have on you and your family.

Potential
A career in the truck-driving industry holds a high degree of potential for many who enter this challenging and difficult line of work. With a lot of personal sacrifice, it can be a lucrative career, especially for those who have the determination and business sense to enter into the realm of owner operator driving. Even without owning your own truck, there are many transportation companies that offer above-average pay, incentives and benefits for drivers with several years of driving experience, stellar safety and driving records and the dedication to meet and exceed customer and company expectations.

Categories
Carriers CDL Owner Operators

Driving Tips for Beginner

A driving school will help you improve your driving skills but it takes time to get lots of experience under your belt. So what can you do in the interim to make sure you’re on the right track? If you continue to implement these tips into your driving routine, you will become a skilled individual behind the wheel of a car.

New drivers acquiring their license are eager to grab the keys and hit the road for their first legal cruise. Often these drivers are teenagers with minimal first-hand experience with the rules of the road. While driver’s safety courses are a great help to beginning motorists, remembering a few tips for driving a car will help keep these novices safe as well as protect their passengers and those who share the road with them.

Prepare Before Starting
Some drivers are in such a hurry that putting on a seat belt and adjusting the various settings on the car doesn’t happen until they are driving down the street.
Once seated in the car, the next step should be to put on the seatbelt, adjust mirrors, seats, steering wheel tilt and other personalized settings within the car, according to the Unofficial DMV Guide website. Preferably, these actions should be completed prior to starting the engine.

Learn the Signs
Most likely a beginning driver has learned many of the basic traffic signs and the meanings associated with them. However, there are many of these signs that are regularly encountered on the roads and highways that may not be clear for beginners. Take the time to memorize what these symbols mean and how they can affect everyday driving.

Signals
Turn signals should be used on all occasions in which the driver’s intentions may not be clear. Just because the driver knows where he is going doesn’t necessarily mean anyone else does. Turn signals should also be used to indicate lane changes. In addition, beginning drivers should become accustomed to checking over their shoulders to make sure people are out of the way for turns and lane changes. Remember that other drivers may not be paying attention and it is up to you to keep yourself safe from a collision.

Passengers and Seatbelts
Beginning drivers often like to take friends on a ride to show off their newly found freedom. Count the available seat belts in the car, and do not allow more people in the car than there are belts, according to Teen Driving. It is illegal to drive or ride in a car without seat belts fastened. It is also unsafe.

Volume Level
Teenagers tend to love listening to music. Often they listen to music at louder volumes than other people do, especially when driving. This is a bad idea that can lead to dangerous situations. Cars have horns and emergency vehicles have sirens to warn other drivers of imminent danger or to alert them to move out of the way. If a radio is set at a high volume, it may drown out the horns or sirens and the driver may be caught unaware

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Categories
Trucker News

Mid-Michigan towing company fights breast cancer with pink truck

A Mid-Michigan towing company is fighting breast cancer in an eye-catching way.

“The looks and staring, you don’t realize why they’re staring at you until you think about it twice and then you realize you’re in a giant pink truck. It’s kind of an eye catcher,” said Raymond Darabos, driver for Tim’s Towing. Her name is Lady Luck and she brings out the softer side of the men who work at Tim’s Towing in Linwood.

“You have green and yellow trucks then you drive a pink truck. It’s a lot different,” Darabos said.

Lady Luck is a true diamond in the rough story. Her good looks were hidden beneath a coating of rust and disrepair – before the guys at Tim’s spent weeks transforming her into the vibrant pink truck you see today.

“We actually mixed our own color of paint for it. Lady Luck pink and painted everything on it,” said Matthew Ballor of Tim’s Towing.

The inspiration came from Ballor’s grandmother. She battled and survived breast cancer before losing her life to a different cancer later on.

“She went through the whole fight. She was a tough lady. She’d love it. She’d probably want to take a ride in it,” Ballor said.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, 10 percent of the proceeds from every call Lady Luck goes on will be donated to Making Strides for Breast Cancer.

It’s an effort close to driver Darabos’ heart, too. “I have family that have survived and lost breast cancer, so it kind of relates to me also,” he said.

“Once we bring it out there you just hear all these stories how it affected their families. Even themselves just hearing their stories, you’d like to think it helps a customer,” Ballor said.

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Categories
Trucker News

Sod truck driver in fatal March school bus crash scheduled in St. Lucie County Court today

The traffic case of the driver of a sod truck involved in the fatal school bus accident on March 26 is scheduled to go before a county judge at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the St. Lucie County Courthouse.The bus driver, Albert Hazen, of Port St. Lucie, was cited for being at fault in the accident. Hazen was fined $1,000 and his license was suspended for six months for failing to yield while making a left turn onto Midway Road, from Okeechobee Road.As he turned, the sod truck hit the school bus.

The Florida Highway Patrol wrote up truck driver Charles Cooper, 24, of Virginia, for technical violations: not properly filing out a state-required trip travel log. And the truck brakes needed adjustment, according to an FHP accident report. However the report said that didn’t contribute to the collision.Cooper’s case goes before County Judge Philip Yacucci. Cooper is represented by a private attorney.The parents of a student killed in the accident, Aaron Beauchamp, have filed a lawsuit against Cooper and the company he worked for, Cypress Truck Lines.

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Categories
Trucker News

New Trucking Alliance Bids for Leadership on Safety

The small group of trucking companies that agitated for mandatory electronic onboard recorders in the recent highway bill is on a mission to apply the same laser focus to a half-dozen additional safety initiatives, including mandatory speed limiters and improvements to drug and alcohol testing.
“I didn’t feel that there was any other issue, ever, probably within my lifetime in trucking, that was more important to get done and get done as soon as possible than to get an EOBR mandate,” said Steve Williams, chairman of the eight-member Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, known for short as The Trucking Alliance.Williams, chairman and CEO of Arkansas-based truckload carrier Maverick Transportation, helped launch the group in 2010 for the sole purpose of getting Congress to pass the mandate. The alliance was motivated not just by their shared commitment to the mandate, but also by frustration with the regular order of trucking business on Capitol Hill, which they found too slow and tenuous.Now that recorders are the law – the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has one year to finish the rule and three years to put it into effect – the alliance is doubling down.

Its agenda for the next two-year congressional cycle is to promote hair testing for drugs, creation of a drug and alcohol clearinghouse, mandatory speed limiters, higher financial requirements for would-be truckers and consideration of alternative compliance methods for determining safety fitness.None of these issues is new. Some of them already have been proposed as rules. And all are on the safety agenda of the American Trucking Associations.But the Alliance intends to push them using a new business model for truck lobbying, a model created out of impatience with the style of representation that ATA brings to Washington.

ATA is a federation of state trucking associations and operating groups such as the Truckload Carriers Association, as well as its trucking company members. The policy agenda that ATA’s professional staff carries to Congress and the regulatory agencies is shaped in a committee process that reflects the interests of the broad-based federation.Williams, a former chairman of ATA and current chair of the association’s research arm, the American Transportation Research Institute, was not satisfied with how onboard recorders fared in this process.
“ATA has to lobby a laundry list of issues that are collectively important to everyone but have different levels of importance to different factions within the industry,” he said.

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Categories
Trucker News

Driver says trucking job numbers at Port of Gulfport inflated

A full-time truck driver at the port, Mark Whetstine, said the number of trucking jobs being counted at the port is seriously inflated.Port executives claimed 1,363 trucking jobs before Hurricane Katrina, in an action plan submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for grant money being used to create jobs. Trucking jobs were included under the category “others” in the port’s post-Katrina job numbers. The port listed 812 jobs under “others.”

The most recent job numbers lump in truckers with vendors, with a total of 602 jobs listed in that category Whetstine estimates 10 to 15 trucks work the port daily, with other truck drivers in and out for shorter periods of time. Most of those drivers do not live on the Coast, Whetstine said, or even in Mississippi. If they were not hauling cheese from Gulfport to New Orleans, they would be hauling some other load for one of the big, out-of-state trucking firms that do business at the port.
“What do they consider a trucking job?” he said. “That’s the thing.”

Only a few of the trucking companies that work out of the port are based in Mississippi.Colonial Freight Systems, a Gulfport company, has 25 to 30 drivers who serve the port. “That’s our bread and butter,” said Colonial agent Susan McBride. She said eight of her drivers live in one of the six Coastal counties, and the others are scattered along the route.Fayard Fast Freight, also based in Gulfport, has 10 to 15 drivers who work locally, including at the port, transportation director Jerry Talton said.

He said two to three drivers a day usually work a full day at the port, depending on whether a ship is docked.If the port plans to count hundreds of truck-driving jobs as part of the total jobs its expanded West Pier will create, there could be a problem.According to HUD, out-of-state truckers would not meet the economic-benefit requirements, tied to the federal funding, for job creation on the Coast.

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Categories
Trucker News

Suspected drunk driver in Boston sprays cologne in his mouth after hitting dump truck

Boston Police officers arrested a North Attleboro man in Dorchester Saturday night on drunk driving charges, after the man sprayed cologne into his mouth, presumably to cover up the smell of alcohol.

A man driving a gray vehicle struck a parked Boston Water and Sewer dump truck just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday night near the intersection of Dudley and Belden streets, police said. The truck driver went to the vehicle to get the driver’s information, but the driver fell asleep during the conversation, according to police reports.At one point, the man attempted to drive away, but was unable to leave because of the damage to his car, police said.

The truck driver told officers that he saw the man spray cologne into his mouth, presumably to mask the smell of alcohol. When Boston Police arrived, officers also saw the man spraying cologne on his body, according to a report.Officers said that in addition to bloodshot eyes and a lack of balance, the man’s breath smelled like alcohol. Officers arrested Hoi Ngo, 40, on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

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