FMCSA Sends Out Warning: In recent months, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it has received “numerous inquiries regarding companies using aggressive marketing tactics to sell supervisor training to employers who may be subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug and alcohol testing requirements. Please note that the…
Depending on how the segment is counted, the market for full-size cargo vans is up about 12% over last year. Plumbers, electricians and other skilled trades people are replacing old, worn trucks, partly because there aren’t any good used ones on lots. Some tradesmen are buying “tall utility vehicles” with…
Freight Contract: Freight companies provide transportation internationally, domestically and within the same city. They ship everything from tangible products to liquid food items to hazardous chemicals. Businesses rely on freight companies to transport inventory from suppliers and to ship finished products to customers. In both cases, the company signs a…
You know, discussing a survey that discerns a growing long term focus among U.S. consumers on fuel economy is kinda like saying research confirms people enjoy saving money – leading to a ubiquitous “um, duh!” reaction for many. Yet for fleets that rely on light and medium-duty trucks, such a…
CDL: To operate a commercial motor vehicle, you must provide proof that you are medically capable of the task without risk of incident due to poor health. The Department of Transportation provides specific requirement for those holding a CDL license. Take these steps to see that you meet the qualifications…
Most states require liability insurance coverage. With liability insurance, damage to another person’s property is covered, but not damage to your own property. Liability insurance also covers the medical expenses of the other driver, but not your own. If you are the responsible party in the accident, the other driver…
The Truck Marketing Institute trains the truck industry in how to sell, lease and purchase light Ford pickup trucks. They use a process called Precision truck training, which is a five-course training session. A career in truck driving requires you complete a training course that teaches you to drive a…
Custom truck ground effects allow truck owners to add custom fenders, hoods, spoilers and grills to their trucks to change the appearance and make them look fast or sporty. Most trucks are intended for work use; however, those who put ground effects on their trucks typically do not use them…
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) determine what regulations commercial motor carriers must follow in terms of safety. A commercial driver must perform a pre-trip inspection of his vehicle each day, to make sure all parts meet DOT regulations. Safety of the driver…
The Drug & Alcohol Policy: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was created to minimize the amount of commercial motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths. To hold or obtain a commercial driver’s license ,CDL, a driver must pass drug and alcohol tests periodically. Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem…
Weather and Transportation Perhaps the most important impact that weather has on travel is its effect on the physical process of traveling long distances. When traveling by air, weather is extremely important as an unexpected storm can easily cause delays, sometimes up to several days considering on the size and…
The federal government and many states have passed laws governing the hauling of steel coils by trucks and the various safety precautions that must be undertaken when transporting steel coils. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines steel coils several ways, including as metal rolls, coils, spools or coated electrical wire….
Semmi Truck Dimensions: Tractor trailers or semi trucks, to which they often are referred, can come in a variety of sizes. Federal regulations, however, mandate a specific limit in dimensions on interstates. Federal Rules on Weight The gross maximum weight of a semi truck on federal interstates is 80,000 pounds….
A trucker route broker is legally known as a freight broker. The broker arranges delivery between the shipper and the person or company receiving the product. To legally become a freight broker, you must register, apply and obtain an approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety…
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Number is a unique number assigned to passenger and cargo carriers. The Department of Transportation uses the DOT number for a variety of purposes, including monitoring a carrier’s safety record, carrying out audits and investigating crashes. A USDOT number must be prominently displayed on…
Online training is a convenient and common way for professionals to enroll in classes that can be taken during any time or day of the week. Students studying to become freight brokers can take online training to prepare for licensing and to learn the basics of the freight brokerage business….
Bond Broker: The billions of dollars that pass through U.S. securities exchange groups daily are used to buy stocks, mutual funds, securities and bonds. Bond brokers are responsible for handling the sales of these bonds, issued by corporations to raise capital. Bond brokers are highly qualified and highly knowledgeable about…
Federal Tax Laws on Trucking Full-time truck drivers are aware of the federal laws that govern the transportation industry. It is always important to brush up on tax laws so operators can best take advantage of tax deductions and know ahead of time about new regulations and taxes in the…
Trucking Software: The trucking system has implemented information systems technology and software to make operations more efficient and resourceful. There are Windows-based software packages that trucking companies can integrate into their business. These software packages have many user-friendly interfaces. There are no federal regulations governing the use of software for…
Getting a surety bond released essentially means terminating it, because you have successfully performed the duty the surety bond was meant to insure. It is fairly simple to release a surety bond: all you need to do is apply to the bond producer, or broker, who arranged the surety bond….
A freight broker company brings together a shipper that needs to transport goods and an authorized carrier who wants to provide the service, according to “Entrepreneur” magazine. QuickBooks accommodates the bookkeeping needs of a freight broker company with its estimates, which users can seamlessly roll over into invoices. In addition,…
Loss prevention in any business is an important topic, especially in challenging economic conditions. In difficult times, business owners look for any means to cut expenses and flows of money out of the business that stifle profitability. The trucking industry is no different. Plus, it is faced with the additional…
Good logistics managers need sophisticated information systems to track and manage their material as it moves from factory to retail shelves. Increasing complexity and volume make information systems absolutely vital. There are many specialized software programs that help logistics workers know where their products are and when they are expected…
Logistics refers to the transportation of goods and merchandise raw materials or finished products from the point of production to the point of final consumption. Different modes of transportation like road, rail, water and air can be used for the effective management. Every mode of transportation requires a different set…
The trucking industry employs more than 10 million people in the U.S. and brings in well over $600 billion in gross revenues every year, 5 percent of the U.S. GDP. The trucking industry is dominated by a few big companies, but there are thousands of small businesses and independent truckers…
