Archive for July, 2012

Landstar System reported record second quarter revenue and earnings per share.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration erred when it preserved the 34-hour restart and 11-hour driving limit in driver work rules, truck safety advocates told a federal appeals court.

Indiana State Police have stepped up enforcement of what are being called “hot trucks” — refrigerated trucks found to be delivering food that’s not being kept at the proper temperature.

On July 1, a new state law went into effect that gave the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Indiana State Police the authority to stop suspected “hot” trucks,

Truck and trailer parts giant FleetPride has acquired the assets of Midwest Brake & Wheel and Gille Company.

Bosselman Boss Truck Shops’ newest location is in Bellemont, Ariz., at I-40 Exit 185.

Diesel prices are up for the fourth week in a row, according to weekly figures released Monday by the U.S. Department of Energy, and are nearing $4 per gallon in some areas of the country.

Submitting International Fuel Tax Agreement Quarterly Tax Returns just got easier for Kansas-based motor carriers, thanks to the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Kansas IFTA Quarterly Filings application.

The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association named Beth Barkovich as the director of membership development.

Think of a tire casing as a foundation. It’s the foundation of the whole tire, but also the foundation of a successful tire-cost management program.

The American Truck Historical Society’s first Historic Highway Convoy is scheduled for September 6-15 on Route 66 from Illinois to California

Three young men believe they have a better way of helping fleets find drivers.

Governors in some Midwestern states are easing trucking regulations for trucks providing relief to farmers hard-hit by the continuing drought.

The U.S. Department of Energy now says an expected shortage of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel and gasoline in the Northeast will not be as bad as initially feared.

The value of cargo thefts in the second quarter dropped, according to FreightWatch International, with a drop in the number of metal thefts.

The American Trucking Associations’ June tonnage index had its largest month-to-month gain so far this year, thanks to a larger-than-estimated loss the previous month. Tonnage is still up year over year.

Standards-testing authority ASTM has a new voluntary standard for biodiesel, designed to meet the needs of customers using ultra-low-sulfur diesel and new diesel engine and after-treatment technology.

Durable goods orders rose more than expected last month, by 1.6%, but it was largely due to a surge in aircraft orders. These long-lasting manufactured products, such as washers and dryers, toasters and aircraft, make up a major source of trucking freight.

Rush Enterprises, which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, reported $17.4 million in net income for the second quarter, up from $12.5 million the same quarter a year ago.

Universal Truckload Services, Warren, Mich., will acquire LINC Logistics Company, an asset- third-party logistics profider, in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $335 million,

Used-truck pricing stayed high in June, even as new-truck orders fell, according to Chris Visser, senior analyst for American Truck Dealers Official Commercial Truck Guide.

The 78-year history of Old Dominion Freight Line, a major less-than-truckload and logistics provider based in Thomasville, N.C., is chronicled in a new book,

The Pete Store, one of the largest truck dealers in the United States, opened The Peterbilt Store – Delaware, a full-service truck dealership in Seaford, Del.

The recession continues to squeeze small business operatives in a number of ways, forcing entrepreneurs to be smarter about the way they work. With rising fuel costs added to the mix, this is especially the case for those who operate transport companies or vehicle fleets.

Of course, one of the most obvious things you can do is compare van insurance quotes on a site like MoneySupermarket or streamline your administration costs at an office level, but one group believes some of the most successful firms out there are the ones who are maximising their profits on aftersales products and customer retention.

According to The Warranty Group, a company that specialises in marketing, administrative, underwriting and compliance solutions for a range of international clients, dealerships of all kinds that have the most impressive 2012 profitability are investing as much time as they can in selling warranties, service plans and other added value products wherever possible.

Sales and marketing director Ian Simpson said it was clear that maximising aftersales revenues was becoming increasingly important to those looking to ride out the worst of the global economic crisis as this was a great way to create a crucial source of income at a time when margins continue to remain low.

“Importantly, products such as these create an on-going aftersales link between dealer and customer. A customer who has bought a service plan is one who is going to come back to you time and again, and the same is true of warranties if you move to capture warranty claims,” Mr Simpson explained.

Of course, these kinds of options are not always possible for fleet managers, transport operatives or even smaller one man band businesses offering courier solutions. One option might be to use your vehicle or vehicles to sell advertising space. There are many different advertising companies who will take you up on this and the monthly income this provides could provide a very steady extra slice of profit for your books.

Another option is to increase awareness of your services in the cheapest way possible. Nowadays it’s incredible easy to set up a simple website yourself that has all the necessary details on there for people to get in touch. Free options like Weebly are used by many businesses – big and small – so if you aren’t online, perhaps it’s time to increase your exposure.

If you already have a site, think about using the power of social media to promote your offering. For example, most people have a Facebook page that is linked to all their friends and family – but do all the people they are linked to know that you have a business that may come in handy some time?

Sponsored Blog Post

© 2012, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: customer service, money super market, social media, transport companies, trucking business, trucking fleets, vehicle fleets, weebly

Truth About Trucking

CDL training standards is one of the many major problems in the trucking industry today, which leads to a new driver leaving a truck driving career within six months.

Recent CDL school graduates face many obstacles and all too often, their chosen career does not work out as they had hoped.

For the most part, it is not their fault and the blame for “failure” falls squarely on the shoulders of the trucking companies.  We are seeing a rise in one of the most deceitful practices by the truck transportation industry toward new, inexperienced drivers: the company owner operator lease agreement.

I received the following letter by mail a few days ago from a driver requesting assistance concerning this issue:

“I have been driving for nearly two years as an owner operator under my company’s lease purchase plan after they told me that this is “where the money is.”  I came right out of their CDL training school and have been stuck in this lease ever since. “

“They talk you into it and tell you that’s where the money is, but they don’t tell you that when you sign up, you will pay for your training even if you work for them a year.  The Government pays them and you pay them, and your loan ends up being about $7000-$8000.”

“I need to get out of here! I am only making $400-$600 per week, just like most of their company drivers and they are running between 40-50 new driver applicants through their school per week.”

“I wished I had known about you two years ago, but I just recently found your site and everything you say is TRUE!  This “starter company” as you call them, is a job from Hell!”  Can you help me find another company to drive for where I can make some real money?” 

Many times I have discussed the government subsidy programs which aid in these motor carrier practices and due to the continual hardships brought on by the 2008 recession, motor carriers are pushing harder than ever before to divert drivers from a company-driver position, into the position of an owner operator.

The largest liability for a trucking company belongs to the on-going costs and expenses of the truck: insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc.  If the company can talk you into becoming a highly paid owner operator so you will pick up all of these expenses, all the better for them.  Another practice that falls in line with these company owner operator lease programs, is the constant turning-over of the drivers, usually done by cutting their miles and starving them out.

The trucks used by these motor carriers for their owner operator lease purchase programs, have been paid off many times over, by former would-be owner operators who fell for their sales pitch.  Although there are some trucking companies who offer a decent truck lease plan, I believe that overall, drivers should stay away from company lease programs.  For the most part, they are designed for the driver to fail.

Our survey took place over a 15 month period, receiving 3,611 respondents and resulted in 72% of those responding, believing that the company owner operator lease agreement is deceitful.

It is best to retain your truck through an outside lending source and stay away from the trucking company owner operator lease plan.  I recommend Lone Mountain Truck Leasing as one source for outside commercial motor vehicle financing.

As we see a rise in the desperate maneuvering by motor carriers to sway drivers into becoming an owner operator, I felt it was time to reiterate the real truth about trucking.

© 2012, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: cdl training, commercial motor vehicle financing, lease agreement, lone mountain truck leasing, owner operator, owner operator lease purchase, trucking, truth

About twelve years ago, while on a real-life run with a produce-hauler, I watched as he drove 19 miles off route to weigh his load — at the consignee’s request. While he backtracked, I thought that this was a great argument for on-board scales.

American Trucking Associations and its allies have asked a federal appeals court to strike four provisions of the hours-of-service rule that is scheduled to take effect next July.

The trucking interests told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration erred when it limited the 34-hour restart to once a week and required each restart to include two rest periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

TravelCenters of America LLC has completed the installation of bulk Diesel Exhaust Fluid dispensers at 100 of its TA and Petro Stopping Center branded locations. These 100 locations offer DEF fueling at more than 400 fuel island lanes.

Trucking and shipping interests are weighing in against a plan by the New York State Thruway Authority to hike truck tolls by 45%. In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, American Trucking Associations and other trade groups said the proposed rate hike must be stopped.

Accuride Corp., supplier of components to the commercial vehicle industry, announced that its Gunite business unit is consolidating North American production into the Rockford, Ill., facility where the unit is based.

Volvo Trucks has partnered with the Greensboro, N.C., Children’s Museum to open a new permanent exhibit featuring a Volvo VNL 670. The interactive display allows children to get behind the wheel and explore all aspects of the truck and its sleeper cab

Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday declared a state of energy emergency in Michigan due to the limited availability and temporary shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel in areas of the Upper Peninsula caused by a shutdown of the West Shore Pipeline in Wisconsin.

Kenworth of Buffalo has relocated its Syracuse, N.Y., dealership to a larger facility located at Interstate 90 (New York Thruway) Exit 35, also accessible to I-81, State Routes 11 and 481, and the Syracuse airport.

The 2012 Expedite Expo will take place this weekend, July 27-28, at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, Ohio.

truck driver convention

As of this date, attendees from 18 U. S. States have registered for the 2nd Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention in October which is being held in Kansas City, Missouri.

As per last year, the 2012 convention will also see attendees from Canada and for the first time, we will welcome a professional truck driver from Mexico to the event.  

Roberto Faustino Hidalgo Rivas is planning his first trip to the United States to join in the uniting of truck drivers and industry professionals.

The convention will be held on October 27th — 28th, 2012 at the Harrah’s Hotel & Casino, with a “Welcome Reception” on Friday evening, October 26th and is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors.

Harrah’s has set aside a block of discounted hotel rooms, specifically for attendees and you can take advantage of these special rates by booking your room as soon as possible.  For room reservation, contact Linda Pearson at: 816-889-4226 and provide the Group Code: S10TRUC.

This year’s truck driver convention will host four buffets, six guest speakers, a “Pride in Your Ride” contest and $5,000 worth of prizes to be given away to our professional drivers, donated by Cobra Electronics.

Cobra Electronics

The COBRA Prize-Give-Away includes:

6 — 29 LX BT — LCD CB Radio w/Bluetooth
4 — 8000 Pro HD — 7″ Trucker Navigation Systems
4 — 6000 Pro HD — 5″ Trucker Navigation Systems
4 — CWA BTH1 Plus — Heavy-Duty Bluetooth Headsets
4 — CWA BTH8 — Lightweight Bluetooth Headsets

Full seating is limited to 500 and the deadline for registration is tentatively set for August 15th, 2012.

© 2012, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: Cobra Electronics, kansas city, missouri, pride in your ride contest, social media, sponsors, truck driver convention, trucking

If you take the plunger out of one of today’s fuel injectors and hold it in your hand, the warmth of your hand will make the metal expand so you can’t get the plunger back inside the barrel.

In the first year after adopting electronic logs, Cargo Transporters, Claremont, N.C., had not only reduced out-of-service violations related to hours of service, but it also had improved its CSA “Driver Fatigue” BASIC score and was able to cut its compliance staff by 50%.

For many years, Western Star Trucks played last fiddle in truck sales symphonies, with U.S. Class 8 market share numbers of 1% and less. The company’s share climbed a bit when it was bought by Freightliner in 2000.

North Carolina-based Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. has announced a 4.9% increase to its base rates, effective Aug. 6.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is going to take on three central questions in its analysis of the hot-button issue of crash accountability.

Are police accident reports reliable enough to determine accountability? Are the benefits of determining accountability worth the costs – as much as $3 million a year? And how should the agency manage the process, giving the public a chance to participate?

Diesel and gasoline prices rose again this week, by 8.8 cents and 1.6 cents, respectively, reports the Energy Information Administration. Oil prices tumbled 4.2% Monday due to returning worries about Europe’s debt crisis.