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Lifestyle Trucker News

Notice a Fake Drivers License

A fake drivers license isn’t hard to identify, yet so many people don’t know the distinguishing characteristics to look for. The exact details of a fake drivers license vary slightly from state to state but there are some basic things that can tip you off right away. Check out the information contained inside this article to understand how to notice a fake drivers license right away.

In a fake drivers license, one of the first things to look for is a hologram or any type of security stamp or marker. These things are costly for people to duplicate and are often left out in the hopes that the person checking the ID won’t notice, or won’t think to look for that. It’s going to be in a different location in every state and will vary a little bit but there should be something.

Another obvious marker of a fake drivers license is uneven text or slanted writing. People who create fake drivers licenses don’t have the same quality machines that the real ones are made with and consequently that translates to a cruddy job on the fit and finish of the license. If you notice that there are typos or text that isn’t lined up appropriately then that should raise your suspicion.

Make sure that the photo matches exactly with the person what you are checking, or it could be a fake drivers license or a license that belongs to someone else. Many times when people order a fake drivers license they will not have an actual photo of themselves on it because the person counterfitting it doesn’t have time to wait for an actual picture or the facilities to take a picture.

In addition to the photo make sure that the personal details are correct too. A fake drivers license will often have the physical descriptive characteristics improperly listed, stating that someone is much taller than they actually are or that they have different color eyes or hair so make sure to pay attention to this as well.

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Checking a License Plate Status

Though many private citizens believe that vehicle license plate information may only be obtained by law enforcement officials, the task of gathering data on an assigned license plate is relatively easy. The search for license plate data will usually provide registrant name and address information, vehicle registration and expiration date, vehicle make and model, VIN number, title information, and the lien holder’s name if applicable. While this information is protected by the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994, you may still receive adequate amounts of information to complete your search.

Record and write down the license plate number. You must record the license plate number in the same format as it appears on both the vehicle registration paperwork and the vehicle license plate itself. If the number/letter combination displayed on either the registration or license plate does not match then notify your state’s department of licensing or department of motor vehicles immediately.

Visit the department of motor vehicles, department of licensing, or appropriate government agency in person. You may visit the vehicle licensing authority to obtain information on a specific vehicle license. You may either visit on a walk-in basis or use the appointment system available in some states. The amount and type of information you receive will be subject to the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, a federal statute that governs the release and use of personal information on licensed motor vehicle operators. You may either receive requested information immediately or after waiting a specified time period after paying the appropriate fees.

Visit the website of the appropriate government agency. Many state licensing authorities have made a number of driver and vehicle licensing services available online. Visit the web site of your appropriate state authority to complete a license plate query. For example, Wisconsin residents can visit the state department of transportation website to obtain information on the license plate expiration date, and the vehicle year and make. In many states users may also renew expired registration and license plates through use of the same state licensing website.

Run a reverse license plate search. The use of private investigators and organizations that specialize in obtaining background information on businesses and individuals can provide information on a license plate by conducting a reverse license plate search. You must provide the name and address of the business or person to begin the search. The company then uses this data to generate a report to include information regarding the vehicles owned by or assigned to the person or business. You may also use a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to obtain license plate information. Many of these private search companies advertise online and can also be found in the white pages of the local phone directory.

Monitor local police activity using a commercially available police scanner. Police scanners have long been available for use by the general public. You can use the scanner to obtain information on a licensed vehicle by listening to the reported activity discussed over the frequency in use. If your query involves a police-related incident or investigation then information regarding related motor vehicles may be discussed over the scanner.

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Can I Find a DAC Report on Myself?

A truck driver’s DAC (Drive-A-Check) report highlights his employment history with other truck driving companies, as well as his motor vehicle record, or MVR. If negative information is in the DAC report, it can prevent the driver from gaining employment as a trucker. A trucker is entitled to one free copy of his DAC each year. DAC reports were originally issued by US Investigations Services, a commercial services business. In 2008, USIS merged with HireRight, a company that provides on-demand background checks. As of 2011, HireRight is responsible for issuing driver DAC reports

Contact HireRight at 800-381-0645 to request a copy of the USIS Consumer Report Request Form. This form can also be downloaded and printed from the USIS website (see link in Resources).

Complete the request form by entering information, such as your name, Social Security number, date of birth and contact information. In Section 3 of the form, select the options that are labeled “Employment History Information” and “Motor Vehicle Report Information.”

Submit the completed form, along with the required processing fee, to the address that is listed on the form. As of March 2011, the processing fee for a DAC report is $10. If you are entitled to a free copy of your DAC report, specify this in Section 4 of the request form. Wait to receive a copy of your DAC report in the mail. This can take up to 15 days from the date your request is received and processed by HireRight.

Alternatively, you can apply for a copy of your DAC report online if you don’t want to mail in a request form (see link in Resources). For an online request, a valid credit card is needed. Upon submitting an online request form, your DAC report will be mailed to you within 15 business days.

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Clear Abandonment From a Dac Report

A DAC (“Drive-A-Check”) report is a combination driving and employment record for truck drivers. This report shows how many tickets and accidents you have, how well you performed in the past, who you’ve worked for, and if you’ve ever abandoned a truck. This last can be a particular problem, since it’s a serious black mark against you and against your performance. It is possible to clear or change an abandonment, but you will often need legal assistance to do so.

Review your DAC report to see what is and isn’t on it. If you don’t have a reported abandonment, then there’s no reason to go any further because there’s nothing for you to remove.

Contact the company that claims you abandoned a truck. If you did not abandon a truck then ask the company to review the records and to change the entry. If there is a contention, then attempt to negotiate the label of an abandoned truck being changed due to circumstances. As an extreme example, if the truck was hijacked then you didn’t have much choice about leaving it. If there’s a cause for the abandonment to be changed, attempt to get it changed. If necessary, hire a legal representative to fight the company in court to change this.

Contact HireRight, the company that manages the DAC reports, and inform them of the change made to your record from the employer in question. Once the original incident has been changed with your former employer, you need to be sure that it’s also changed on the DAC report. Once again, legal representation is always helpful to have on your side.

Continue working. If you did in fact abandon a truck and there is no way around the fact, then you can’t get it removed from your record. However, the DAC report only goes back approximately 10 years. Additionally, when a company goes out of business, their information is supposed to be removed from the DAC report.

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Find Good Movers

The items you’ve accrued in your home often hold sentimental value and financial worth. That’s why you should be careful when it comes to finding movers. After all, movers are responsible for handling these items and, in some cases, packing and unpacking them. To ensure that your items are handled with utmost care and are not damaged, broken or stolen, you must hire a good moving company with an upstanding reputation.

Call local real estate agents for recommendations. They work closely with movers, packers and various moving-related companies and likely have a list of reputable movers.

Look in your phone book or online for moving companies in your area.

Contact moving companies and ask them how long they’ve been in business. Hire a company that has been around for at least 10 years and has positive reviews online and is spoken highly of.

Ask questions. Ask for the company’s address, their website and for references from clients. Ask for their DOT (department of transportation) and MC (moving company) license numbers.

Go to SaferSys.org to verify that the company’s DOT and MC license numbers are real and in good standing. While looking at the numbers, verify that the contact information matches the information the company gave you.

Request that the company come to do an in-home estimate. Moving companies that refuse to do this should be disregarded. It’s only possible to get an accurate estimate if the movers have actually seen the items they’ll be moving.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

Types of Transportation

Types of Transportation By Rosallee Scott, eHow Contributor When planning a vacation, it is imperative that you plan not only how to get there, but how you are going to get around once you reach your destination as well. There are many modes of travel that you can use when seeing the sites in one city or traveling to multiple cities during one adventure. Vacationing is all about making the most of your time visiting and touring new or familiar favorite places again, and depending on what you consider exciting, there are many ways to accomplish your goals.

On Foot
There are many types of transportation that will get you to your destination, but few that offer the adventures that walking offers. This is where the old idea of backpacking through Europe became such a popular goal in life (see Resources).

Renting Cars

There is always the option of renting a car at almost any city that you choose to visit. This allows you to get places faster but still on your own time and schedule.

Public Rides

Buses, trains, subways, taxis and other chauffeured automobiles give you the leisure of having someone else who knows the area drive you around. Most popular hotspot cities even offer these types of transportation with guided tours, so all you have to do is sit back and look during your vacation.

Air Travel

Planes are still one of the most popular means of getting to a particular destination fast. This includes public flights, private jets and even helicopter tours.

Water Traveling

Another popular vacationing travel ideas is on the water. Everything from riverboat tours and whale watching voyages to long cruises, offers all the conveniences of home with different types of transportation to see the world in a whole different way than you would on land.

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How to Sleep in a Semi Truck

One of the biggest challenges of long-distance truck driving is how to schedule your rest. It can be very easy to fall asleep while driving, and when you’re paid by mileage, sleep can become a secondary priority. Some drivers have started teaming with their spouse or another driver in order to maximize miles while still getting some rest. Sleeping in a moving semi-truck is challenging, but there are options to make it easier.

Add extra padding to your bed. There is a lot of road vibration, and the constant weight shifting can make it difficult to sleep and cause health problems over time. Adding extra padding can make it easier to sleep and protect your neck and shoulders from impact trauma.

Drive with people you trust. Driving with someone you are not familiar with is more likely to keep you on edge and prevent you from getting proper rest. Your partner should respect the fact that you are sleeping by keeping the radio at a low level and driving slowly over speed bumps and rough terrain.

Wear a sleep mask. Sleeping during the day or facing the glare of consistent headlights can prevent you from getting proper rest. A sleep mask will cut out the uninvited light and make it easier to sleep in bright conditions.

Use earplugs. The road and engine noise can be very disruptive, especially when combined with the radio or a backup beeper. Earplugs or a set of white-noise headphones can eliminate that distraction.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

Improve Your Public Transportation Experience

If it pains you to think about riding the bus or taking the subway to work, think about taking a few simple measures to improve your public transportation experience while reducing the cost of your commute.

Don’t incite “commuter rage.” Have your electronic fare card, paper fare transfer or cash/coins ready before you board the bus, subway or light rail so you aren’t left with an annoyed driver and a line of angry people behind you while you fish through your wallet.

Sit in a window seat, if one is available. If you are claustrophobic, shy or just tired, gazing out the window is a good way to relax in the midst of a commuter crowd.

Bring an activity to improve the quality of your ride. Whether you use your commute to read a book, pay bills or work on your laptop, you’ll enjoy your travel experience more when you use your time wisely and multitask on your ride.

Be observant, reporting shady characters to the transit driver, a security guard or police officer if you are followed, harassed or assaulted while using public transportation.

Buy some antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer. Public transportation is not known for being the cleanest way to travel, so come prepared to wipe off dirty or wet seats. Clean off your hands after your travel experience in order to prevent the spread of community germs.

Keep an inexpensive pair of earplugs to store in your briefcase or bag in case you want to work or read on your commute. LuggageOnline.com sells sets of inexpensive, disposable earplugs in a small travel case (see Resources below).

Bring your MP3 player or portable radio and headphones so you can block out crowd noise and enjoy your music during the ride. Invest in a pair of foldable, noise-canceling headphones at TravelProducts.com (see Resources below). The headphones reduce noise up to 20 percent more than similar products.

Strike up a conversation with your neighbor. Socializing is a great way to pass the travel time, and you may make a new friend who lives or works near you.

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How Do I Verify a Moving Company?

In a single 2004 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operation, agents arrested owners and employees of 16 Florida-based moving companies for a scam in which the companies gave a low-ball estimate, then demanded two to three times the amount in cash before they delivered the household’s possessions. Sadly, this scam is not uncommon. Fortunately, federal and state governments (along with the Better Business Bureau) offer several resources to help you verify that your mover won’t take your money and run.

Before the Move
Start by visiting Protectyourmove.gov, a website set up by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to protect consumers from moving fraud. This site is the most comprehensive resource for verifying interstate movers. Click on “Search Movers & Complaint History” on the top toolbar and search for the moving company you’re considering. This will allow you to confirm that the company has insurance and is licensed. You’ll also find the number of complaints the USDOT has received about the company, with the complaints divided by category. Write down the company’s USDOT and MC numbers and save them. If your move doesn’t cross state lines, however, you’ll need to check with your local Better Business Bureau or movers association. Find contact information for these organizations listed by state under “State/Local Resources” on the site’s top toolbar. Finally, low-ball, over-the-phone estimates are a red flag that something isn’t right, so ask for an on-site inspection before your mover gives you an estimated price.

Moving Day
When the moving truck arrives, check the USDOT and MC numbers painted on the side of the truck against the numbers you wrote down when verifying the moving company. If the numbers differ, or if you can’t find the numbers on the truck, ask the movers for an explanation before they begin loading the truck. If something seems fishy, don’t allow loading to start until you are satisfied. Read all paperwork before signing it.

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Freight Loads

Find Truck Freight

When you are a trucker who is paid by the mile, you know that if your wheels aren’t turning, you’re not earning. It’s a fact of life in the trucking world. That means scheduling loads back to back is crucial. Sometimes finding that next load can be a challenge though. If you don’t know where to look for loads, you’re going to spend valuable time sitting. Once you learn the ins and outs, however, you’ll be able to find loads with ease.

Purchase a subscription to a freight load board an online listing of available freight nationwide. Average fees range from $35 to $50 per month. These boards contain hundreds of loads for you to choose from. You can sort loads by point of origin, destination, type of freight and other variables. One examples of these board is findfreightloads.com.

Purchase a subscription to an online freight load board and list your services there. Many shippers use these boards to locate an available truck to haul their loads. This improves your odds of finding freight because shippers are able to view your information and contact you directly when they have a load. To list your services, purchase a membership to the board, choose the “post” option and enter your contact information and the types of loads you can haul. Click “save” when done to post your services.

Stop in a nearby truck stop and use one of the free computerized load boards. A limited selection of loads are listed on the boards, with more available when you purchase a subscription. Truck stops are a great place to get a line on available freight from other truckers who are already loaded and headed out of the area. Load boards in truck stops scroll freight listings continuously. When you see a load that matches your needs, jot down the contact information and call the company immediately.

Use a freight broker a business or an individual who matches drivers with loads. While brokers charge for their services between 5 and 11 percent of the transportation charge if the load pays enough, you’ll still make money and avoid the losses that downtime brings. Choose a reputable broker by checking the company’s Better Business Bureau rating or running a credit check on the company.

Contact local companies directly to ascertain if they have outgoing loads in need of a driver. When a company is having a hard time scheduling a pick up, it’ll jump at the chance to get its freight out of its yard and onto the road when you call.