Mistakes Newbie Truckers Make

7 Unfortunate Mistakes Newbie Truckers Make

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Unfortunate mistakes newbie Truckers make can be life threatening. Any driver knows how easy it is to make a mistake on the road. However, this knowledge comes with experience. Rookie drivers tend to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors repeatedly. Such mistakes often cost drivers and company’s time, money and sometimes even health. If you are just starting out on your way to becoming a truck driver or planning to hire an inexperienced employee, this information can prove very valuable.

  1. Flexing Your Truck Muscles

Sitting behind the wheel of a huge machine makes you feel powerful. However, it is hardly a reason to flex your big metal muscles. Bully truckers on the road are extremely dangerous. They intimidate other drivers and provoke accidents. If you feel as if you are about to get your revenge on some intolerable driver at the adjacent lane, think twice. Don’t allow yourself to become a bully.

  1. Falling for the “Ideal Job” Trap

When you are looking for a job, you tend to hear all types of offers, including those that sound too good to be true. Most likely, they are. Recruiters use all kinds of tricks to attract new drivers to the jobs no experienced driver is ready to take because of a low pay, long hauls, bad equipment, and etc. Be very cautious of the “ideal job” offers and always do independent research.

  1. Thinking Life on the Road is Cheap

Even if you come home every night, the life on the road is not cheap. You need to pay for food and other services throughout the day. Truckers who don’t try to save on the road end up wondering where their salary went. Try to limit your spending at the truck stops by buying food at the grocery stores or taking it with you from home.

  1. Avoiding Smart Advice

Any newbie driver should have a couple of conversations with experienced truckers. Any professional truck driver has a trick or two to share. Rookies are often so sure of themselves that they overlook the valuable advice experienced coworkers have to offer. If you are planning to hire a new driver, try to arrange a talk with an expert.

  1. Taking All Advice to Heart

This is the other side of the advice coin. While there are many truck drivers out there, only a few are truly professional. So taking everything every driver tells you seriously is a big mistake. If the information sounds off, make sure to double check it.

  1. Not Asking For Help

All people are hesitant about asking for help. Rookie drivers must learn to overcome this fear. Asking for assistance is part of becoming a professional trucker. If you have questions, make sure to voice them. Otherwise, you might find yourself in an unpleasant situation, which is entirely your fault not because you are inexperienced, but because you didn’t ask for help.

  1. Not Clarifying the Job Requirements

Not all trucking job are created equal. Working in each company has its nuances. Before signing up for a job, make

TransIT Truck mobile apps

TransIT Truck Mobile Apps Released

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Irving, TX: TransIT, LLC the leader in transportation software development today released the new Android and iOS mobile apps. TransIT Truck Mobile Apps are free combination app for the TransIT Web App. Mobile apps enable each truck operator to receive dispatch, manage loads, send paperwork, check calls, and more. If you are an owner operator, small, medium, or large trucking company and have a need for low-cost, efficient trucking management system please sign up now by going to http://www.transittms.com/. Once signed up, your account will be set up to use.

TransIT is a completely web/cloud based Trucking Management System. There is no need for local hardware except your computer to work on. TransIT can save up to 97% in the trucking operation cost. TransIT is a simple user-friendly Trucking Management System. New mobile apps are added bonus to the original web app and enable dispatch, safety, service to always in touch with operators. Current TransIT users may download the apps from transittms.com website or from the app stores listed below.

For Android app Click Here

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.transit.android

For iOS app Click Here

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=1217340843&mt=8

 

K L Zach

Operations Manager

TransIT, LLC

(972) 827-7869

www.transittms.com

 

 

How to Choose the Best Trucking Company

How to Choose the Best Trucking Company

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You’ve got your license, passed the exams, and are ready to conquer the trucking world. Now you face a stressful task of finding the best trucking company to work for. Once you ask Google about various options, you get plenty of negative responses for any company you consider. How is it possible to tell a good company apart from an unworthy one? Here are few tips to make your search easier.

  1. What Freight?

All trucking companies work pretty much the same way. They try to deliver their freight as fast as possible by spending the least amount of money in the process. Before choosing the right company for your needs, determine which freight you’d like to work with. More often than not, your pay depends on the freight you haul. Tankers can help you earn more money, while dry vans are the cheapest.

  1. What Time?

How much time are you willing to spend on the road without coming home? Do you want to sleep in your bed every night or is once a week good enough for you? Once you determine this, your choice of the trucking companies will be easily narrowed down.

  1. What Size?

Many people believe that working for a large company is the best way out. However, there are pros and cons to working in big, medium, and small companies.

 

  • Big companies

The main advantage of working in a big company is ongoing work. You’ll doubtfully be waiting for freight at any location. The work is always available. Some big companies offer CDL training or other benefits that smaller companies can’t provide. However, the wages they pay are often not too high. At the same time, you are just “one of the many” so there is no consideration for some of your needs

 

  • Medium companies

Medium-sized carriers often offer higher wages than bigger companies do. They also have better relations between the workers. The director or owner is easier to access and speak to if you have any issues. Meanwhile, medium-sized carriers are not always ready to offer you the type of job you are looking for.

 

  • Small companies

The rate in the small companies varies, but it’s often higher than in the bigger companies. Each driver in the small company is highly valued and the owners are ready to offer some benefits in order to keep you working. However, a small company doesn’t have too many drivers. Accordingly, if you need a break or a day off, you might not get it since there is no one to replace you.

 

  1. What Kind?

 

What kind of a truck do you prefer to drive? A brand new and shiny vehicle or an old piece of bolt bucket that needs constant maintenance? If this issue is important to you, make sure you check out the equipment before choosing a certain company.

Whatever company you end up choosing, you might make a mistake. This is not a big problem. There are plenty of companies out there so eventually you’ll find the best one for yourself.

 

 

 

choosing best truck parking spot

How to Choose the Best Truck Parking Spot

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Choosing the best Truck Parking Spot is tricky and requires a bit more patience. Whether you are an experienced trucker or a newbie, you are always in need of good tips to make your time on the road as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible. If your company is using trucking software to plan your trips, you’ll probably be spending less time on the road than the coworkers whose bosses are trying to save money on the newest technologies.

While the company owners are looking for ways to maximize their profits, it’s up to you to take care of yourself while you are behind the wheel. What can be complicated about choosing a parking spot, you’ll ask. Absolutely nothing if you find a nicely equipped rest stop. Unfortunately, not every road or even every state is ready to provide good parking solutions for a trucker. The trucking software can help your owners plan your stops, but it’s up to you to make them comfortable and safe.

  1. Before choosing the rest stop to park, make sure you think of a list of things to do while you are there. Do some quick planning beforehand. Try to take care of such things as fuel, restroom visits, and eating at one stop. Otherwise, you’ll be losing time looking for another rest area.
  2. Take advantage of all the services at the rest area. Most of the time even the most experienced truckers don’t know how many things they can use at a rest stop.
  3. Use a rest area instead of a truck stop. Rest areas allow you to pull through to a parking spot so you don’t have to back up. More accidents involving trucks happen at the truck stops than at the rest areas.
  4. When you have a choice, never park at the end of a row. End of a row is a high traffic area. At the same time, many tired drivers choose the end of the row. By avoiding it, you’ll keep your truck safe.
  5. Try to park so you don’t have to back out. Obviously, you’ll have to back out many times throughout your careers, but each time puts you into a certain danger. Try to minimize this danger whenever you can. Choose a “pull through” or a “back into” option when parking.
  6. When choosing a parking spot, make sure you don’t park across from the trucks that will need to back out. By not parking this way, you are taking your truck away from the “line of fire”.
  7. If you don’t have a choice of a spot and need to park next to an oddly parked truck. Make sure to write down its name and the DOT number.
  8. Try to find the spot with a lot of space around you. Such spaces are usually available in the back of the parking lot. Think about the safety of your vehicle rather than the extra 3 minutes it will take you to walk to the café.

If your company is advanced enough to use trucking software, ask for help when planning your stops. The more convenient the truck stops and rest areas are, the more chances you and your vehicle will be safe.

 

truck driving tips

7 Truck Driving Tips You Should Review

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Even the most experienced truck drivers can practice dangerous behavior on the road. After all, truckers are human too and their road behavior may depend on many factors. However, forgetting to act safely behind the wheel can lead to unfortunate consequences, some of which won’t be easy to fix. So even if you are a seasoned trucker, you might benefit from reviewing these simple rules.

Rule #1: Always Wear the Seatbelt

When you are on the road, you are in danger 100% of the time. Many drivers neglect to wear a seatbelt when they drive “just for a few minutes”. It only takes a second to get into an accident. While you should review you seatbelt-wearing habit, you should also think about your passenger. It’s your responsibility to make sure that the passenger’s seatbelt is fastened.

Rule #2: When in Doubt, Reduce Speed

This goes for adverse roads, bad weather conditions, and dark streets. You must reduce your speed by 30 % when you are on a wet road. A snowy road signals about reducing your speed by at least 50%. Obviously, driving on an icy road should be extremely slow and cautious. Don’t forget that the roads get especially slippery when it just starts to rain or snow.

Rule #3: Going on a ramp? Reduce Speed

Exit and entrance ramps must be approached at a slow speed. Many truck accidents occur on the ramps when the driver can’t evaluate the curve sharpness and enters at a high speed. Don’t follow the speed limit you see on the signs before the ramp. These signs are for smaller vehicles. You should reduce the speed even further in order to avoid a rollover.

Rule #4: Loaded Trailer? Reduce Speed

A loaded trailer has a high center of gravity, which means any sudden speed changes can cause load shifts. As a result, a truck can skid or even, roll over. Consider adjusting your braking distance when you carry a load. A driver of a heavily loaded trailer should consider a 20 % braking distance increase.

Rule #5: Watch Out for Work Zones

If you see a work zone, you should immediately adjust your manner of driving. Many deaths in work zones are caused by truckers driving large vehicles. You need to be extra careful about the speed when you are entering a work zone. Be ready for sudden lane closures and always be prepared to stop.

Rule #6: Don’t Forget About the Signals

A recently conducted study showed that more than 600,000 lane-change accidents happen on the USA roads every year. They can be avoided just by using the turn signals. It’s imperative to show your intent to make a lane change before doing it. This is a simple truth, but unfortunately, many truckers disregard it.

Rule #7: Look In the Mirrors

Checking the mirrors is one of the first things you learn when you start driving a vehicle. For some reason, it’s one of the rarest things some drivers do when they are on the road. The mirrors have to be checked at least once every 8 seconds to avoid accidents.

 

Trucking Jobs-6 Different Types of Trucking Jobs

6 Different Types of Trucking Jobs

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Most people believe that a truck driver is simply a guy (or a gal) sitting behind a wheel of a large vehicle and driving hundreds of miles a day. Essentially, this is true. However, not all trucking jobs are created equal. They vary in intensity and pay as well as benefits. Whether you are just starting out on your way to becoming a trucker or getting ready to change professions, you might want to get a better idea of the various types of trucking jobs.

  1. Long-Haul Trucker

These truckers work with heavy trucks carrying various loads. They usually drive for long periods of time, be it within the state or interstate. The work schedule of long-haul truckers can vary greatly. Some come back home the same night, others travel for days or weeks at a time. Long-haul drivers often work in teams in order to avoid layovers.

  1. Pick up and Delivery Trucker

These truckers work with all types of trucks from heavy to light. They usually have regular routes for pickup and delivery of various goods. They make several stops a day and have more interactions with the clients/customers than the long-haul drivers have. Such truck drivers can earn more money if they also have sales skills.

  1. Specialized Truck Drivers

These truckers transport unusual loads, including oversized or sensitive materials. They work both within the states and between them. Such drivers often need extra training to learn how to operate the equipment that handles the specialized loads. Depending on the type of the load, various permits might be required.

  1. Hazardous Load Truck Drivers

These drivers require training to learn how to handle hazardous loads. They need to know the characteristics of the materials they are carrying and how to handle them safely, as well as how to act in an emergency. Hazardous load truck drivers must pass an extra test when applying for CDL.

One of the highest paid hazardous load truck drivers are tanker drivers. They have to deal with liquefied or gaseous loads. The high wages come from the danger such truckers face if the load is not handled properly. The containers these drivers carry can be either pressurized or non-pressurized. Such containers make the driving harder. Meanwhile, tank truck drivers risk their lives.

  1. Refrigerated Truck Drivers

These truck drivers deal with refrigerated containers. They haul them to different destinations, both within the state and out of it. Temperature sensitive loads need special attention since they can spoil if carried too slowly. That’s why such truck drivers are obliged to keep to the time limits.

  1. Flat Bed Truck Drivers

These drivers operate flatbed trucks that are usually used to load construction materials, such as pipes, wood, timber, and more. Improperly fastened cargo is one of the main reasons for accidents caused by the truckers.

Before choosing a trucking job, make sure you have the proper permits and ask yourself whether you are ready to execute dangerous tasks.

 

How to Start a Trucking Business with trucking management software

How to Start Trucking Business

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The global marketplace is expanding and the need for the product transportation is growing faster than light. Trucking business is on the rise and opening your own trucking company can be a profitable endeavor. You have the dream, the goal, the funding… what’s next? It may be the time to Start Trucking Business with trucking management software.

  1. Decide Which Trucking Business You Need

You can choose from two commonly used trucking company operating standards.

  • Company that uses sub-contracted drivers

This is a cost-cutting option, which has you using drivers who are employed by another company. You own the business and deal with the contracts while your drivers are managed by someone else. While such business requires significantly less spending, it brings lower profits. However, you can still find profit maximizing solutions by working with trucking management software.

  • Company that uses privately hired drivers

This is a more common type of trucking business that requires substantial initial funding. You hire your own drivers, deal with contracts, buy equipment, cover insurance costs, etc. You exercise full control over your business and the drivers.  Accordingly, you get higher profits. Such business owners benefit from trucking management software to cut operating costs and get fuller control of their company.

  1. Draft a Business Plan

Just as any other startup, a trucking company needs a good business plan. Outline the information about your goals, timelines, and strategies. Determine which accounts you will be servicing. Mention your profit-generating plans and approximate deadlines. Underline your goals, values, and wishes.  Include purchasing trucking management software in your plan since it will help you reduce the costs and improve the output.

  1. Get a commercial driver’s license (CDL)

Even if you are not planning to drive a truck yourself, you need to make sure that all your private truck drivers have valid commercial driver’s licenses.

  1. Obtain the Necessary Documents

 

  • Federal DOT number and Motor Carrier Authority Number
  • IRS tax form 2290
  • International registration plan
  • International fuel tax agreement
  • BOC-3 filing

 

  1. Get Insurance

Since trucking business carries certain hazards, the insurance requirements for it are rather strict. You need to closely study your insurance requirements and purchase the policies. It’s better to consult with your local expert. Make sure all you truck drivers have health insurance as well.

 

  1. Buy the Equipment

If you decide to hire drivers on your own, you need to acquire the vehicles. Depending on your initial funds, you can evaluate how many trucks you can afford. Remember, that most of the trucking businesses start small. You can expand your fleet as your company grows.

Before choosing the right vehicles for your company, consider the type of cargo you are planning to carry. You might need additional equipment for various types of cargo. You can also consider leasing the trucks instead of buying them. Consider using trucking management software to help you service your fleet on a regular basis.

 

  1. Find Customers

Building a client base is hard work, so start as soon as possible. Make a list of potential clients and pick up the phone.  Be ready to start with small local contracts.

Make sure to take full advantage of your business by using trucking management software. In the modern world of technologies, having an online assistant is vital to keeping up with the workload.

Women in Trucking

Women in the Trucking Industry

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When we talk about truckers, we tend to imagine a 200-pound guy with a crew cut sitting behind a wheel of a huge vehicle with his large elbow sticking out the window. This stereotype is a thing of the past. Ever since the trucking business started experiencing a rise in popularity, more and more women are thinking of getting on to the bandwagon.

Being a Trucker is a career, which is becoming attractive to women in North America. The work hours, the benefits, and the freedom that trucking offers women of all ages is truly impressive. If 50 years ago a woman driver might have had serious trouble surviving in the male-dominated world of trucking, the 21st century is slashing the stereotypes thanks to the shortage of the truck drivers on the roads.

Women in trucking can take advantage of larger salaries. While in the female-dominated professions, males can count on more benefits, the same works when the tables are turned. In order to attract female truckers, many companies are raising pay and offering additional perks just to get them working. Women can count on tuition reimbursement programs just as men do.

Many fleet operators are happy to hire women since they have a lower accident rate. Surprisingly or not, women do not get into accidents as often as men do. Moreover, when it does happen, the damage is usually much smaller. Now, only about 5 % of all truckers are women, but more and more fleet owners realize the advantages of hiring a female truck driver. Some companies have more than 10 % of women truckers working for them.

Becoming a truck driver is a great opportunity to travel. Getting on the road is usually a big advantage for women who used to be homemakers. While a truck driver is a great career for a young woman, it’s also a solid choice for housewives, whose children are old enough to take care of themselves. More often than not, such women are looking for ways to earn money without spending years on education.

At the same time, there are some disadvantages to becoming a truck driver for a woman, and the main one is safety. Even though men face the same safety problems as women do, they often have an easier time dealing with it. Knowing how to protect her is a skill a woman can master just as well as a man can.

Another disadvantage of the life on the road is, well, life on the road. Women are usually tied to a home and family and have a harder time being away for weeks at a time. That’s one of the major reasons why women don’t take up truck driving. Most of the time, it is either suitable for girls, who are just out of college, or for middle-aged women.

Trucking has plenty of benefits to offer female drivers. That is why we should expect to see more of them behind the wheel in the near future.

 

Self Defense for Truckers on the Road

Self Defense for Truckers on the Road

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While it might seem that you are safe when locked in your vehicle, truckers often face security threats that make them consider self-defense. Defending yourself when you are a trucker is tricky. Each state has its own set of laws about weapons. One state might allow you to carry a firearm while another will frown upon a Taser. Some truckers go through over 40 states in one month and keeping all the requirements in mind is not just frustrating but often impossible. What can a truck driver do to keep himself safe without breaking the law?

  1. Carry a Stun Gun

Stun guns and Tasers are probably as close as you can get to carrying a firearm without actually holding a deadly weapon. Most of the states have loyal laws regarding the stun guns. If a Taser or a stun gun are your choices for self –defense, be careful when entering the following states:

  • Connecticut – Legal, but only at home
  • Hawaii – Illegal
  • Massachusetts – Illegal
  • New Jersey – Illegal
  • New York – Illegal
  • Rhode Island – Illegal
  • District of Columbia – Illegal

 

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Compact

Cons:

  • Costly
  • Illegal in some states

 

 

  1. Buy a Baseball Bat

Striking weapons are another good option for a trucker’s self-defense. However, carrying a baseball bat in the driver’s cabin might be suspicious. Truckers are subjects to various searches and finding a baseball bat lying around can cause certain problems.

In order to minimize the suspicion factor, you might want to carry the bat together with a glove. The main disadvantage of a bat as a striking weapon is its size. You might not have enough room to maneuver a bat when you need to defend yourself and, just like any other weapon, it can be turned against you by an attacker. You can consider other “harmless” things to become your defense weapons, such as brooms.

Pros:

  • Legal
  • Moderately-priced

Cons:

  • Bulky
  • Might be suspicious

 

  1. Get a Pepper Spray

This compact and effective self-defense weapon can be very useful for truckers. Manufacturers claim that the pepper spray is legal in all the states. However, there are some restrictions as to the strength of it. By doing some research and studying the restrictions closely, you can buy a great weapon that won’t cause any suspicion while being surprisingly effective. Pepper sprays are often disguised as pencils, pens or other things that allow you to wield them unexpectedly. This weapon can be used up to 20 feet away from the attacker.

Pros:

  • Legal
  • Versatile
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Affected by the wind
  • Some risk of explosion

 

  1. Master hand-to-hand Self Defense

This is one of the most useful ways to protect yourself since you don’t need any extra weapons to deal with an attacker. At the same time, this method can’t be used against you. However, it requires you to take classes and get yourself into a good shape. Can there be a better reason to start exercising?

Pros:

  • Always with you
  • Completely legal
  • No extra expenses

Cons:

  • Time consuming
what is takes to be a truck driver

Do You Have What It Takes To Become a Truck Driver?

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Not many little kids dream of becoming a truck driver when they are having fun on the local playground. However, with time, the priorities change, and they find themselves searching for a career that doesn’t involve saving lives or jumping with a parachute.

A truck driver is a solid job with certain benefits that are attractive to many people. However, as it is with many other jobs, there are specific skills you need to master in order to become a high-paying trucker.

So, whether you are thinking about a career change or already found yourself behind a wheel, you must be wondering if you have what it takes to become a good truck driver.

Education

While you don’t need to get a Ph.D. to become a truck driver, most of the companies will check if you have a high school diploma or good GED scores.

Health

Truck driver is a job with many hazards. You need to be healthy enough to handle them. While high blood pressure or a smoking habit won’t keep you from getting a job, you must be healthy enough to pass a DOT physical.

Clean Driving Record

Don’t hope to get a high-paying trucker job if you have a poor driving record. This doesn’t include a couple of parking tickets you got 10 years ago, but a reckless driving charge can put an end to your career before it even starts.

Stamina

Long and boring driving hours can take a toll on your nervous system. If you don’t know how to entertain yourself and alleviate stress, this job might not be for you. Truck drivers face hazardous road situations every day. They require stamina to literally keep their sanity.

Desire to Learn

Driving a truck is not just about turning the wheel and listening to your favorite audio books all day long. There are many things you must learn before getting into the vehicle. Before becoming a truck driver, you need to pass Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Exam.

Experience

If your driving experience ends with driving from your home over to the friend’s house, you’ll have a hard time becoming a good truck driver. Ask yourself, do you know enough about driving to conquer interstate highways? Perhaps you need to get some driving experience first.

Independence

A truck driver is a job that gives you independence and a certain amount of freedom. You won’t have someone looking over your shoulder and correcting your mistakes. Most of the time you’ll be on your own, making your own decisions. Accordingly, you should master a good work ethic.

Alcohol –free life

Truck drivers must pass random alcohol and drug tests. That’s why you’ll have to forget about wild alcohol parties. In fact, CDL holders have lower alcohol limits than regular drivers. If you fail a drug test, you can say goodbye to the truck driver’s career.

Family Issues

Many truck drivers spend more than half of their lives on the road. Before becoming a truck driver, consider whether your family is ready to deal with not seeing you for weeks at a time.