Cars On-Line

Valuable Skills you need to Succeed in the Trucking Industry

Being a truck driver involves much more than sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle and driving all day. There are plenty of skills needed in order to do a great job at it. The image of truck drivers isn’t the best in society, and many drivers strive to change that mentality by always offering fast, friendly service.

Excellent communication skills make a great truck driver. You have to be able to talk with your dispatcher in order to get the right loads and to work out any delivery or pick up problems. You will also encounter people as you go about your job and you need to be able to get along well with them.

Navigation is a large part of driving a semi truck as there are particular roads that can be used and those that can’t. Truck drivers have to be able to read maps so they can find their destination. They also need to look for clearance information relating to bridges and bypasses to ensure their truck and trailer aren’t too tall to fit under them.

Truck drivers need to be responsible and reliable. Driving a semi truck can be dangerous for yourself and for other people on the road. Paying attention to the activity going on out there is going to help prevent accidents from happening. Obeying the rules on the road and following the speed limit is very important.

Motivation is very helpful for truck drivers because it helps them to get their job done correctly. It can be too easy to turn off that alarm and go back to bed when you are tired, but knowing you have a delivery to make is going to help you get moving. Truck drivers also need to be motivated to take care of their own health needs so they can perform as best as possible out there.

Organization is a key skill for successful truck drivers to do. There is plenty of paperwork that has to be done on a daily basis. The log book needs to be filled out correctly or you can end up in trouble with the law and with your employer. Trip packets have to be completed with all of the necessary paperwork or it can delay your pay for the work you completed. You also have to keep track of your expenses so you are able to use them as deductions on your income tax return.

It is useful if the truck driver has a basic understanding of how their semi truck operates. This way they can identify any problems that may be prevented as well as complete some of the necessary repairs. While this isn’t a necessity of the job, it definitely comes in handy and it can save a great deal of money for expensive repairs by a professional.

Truck drivers may be male or female, and they vary in age as well as experience. Having many of these skills will help ensure the individual does well in their role as a professional truck driver. These skills will also help keep the job enjoyable because no one wants to work in a profession where they aren’t happy. Working to improve any of these skills will result in parts of the job becoming easier and completed more efficiently.

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Team Truck Drivers

Many truckers out there prefer to drive their rig alone, but others enjoy having a friend or their spouse to be on the road with. The idea behind team truck drivers is to get deliveries made faster. They truck is able to go further in a 24 hour period because you have two drivers that can drive. They can each drive all of their hours of service and then switch or drive in timed shifts.

Most team truck drivers decide to drive in full shifts so that the other person can get sufficient rest. Basically the team will stop at regular intervals so each can eat, shower, and use the bathroom. Each person that makes up the team has to keep their own log book of their hours of service, both on duty and off duty.

This is one of the few times when it is acceptable to have more than one log book in a semi truck. Generally this practice is banned so that truck drivers can’t be accused of running with more than one set of books in order to manipulate the hours of service regulations.

The biggest advantage to having team truck drivers is they can get deliveries to the destination in half the time of a solo driver. Most trucking companies send their team trucks on routine routes because they want to keep the customer happy by always having the deliveries completed on time.

Many team truck drivers are sent over the road with hazardous materials because they are on the open road for less time. The truck is generally on the move instead of being stopped for hours at a time due to the hours of service regulations that will result in a solo driver parking the hazardous load and waiting until they have new driving hours.

There are a couple of downfalls to the concept of team truck drivers though. First, many people have their own way of doing things and this will carry over to taking care of the truck. It can create issues when each person wants things to be done their own way. Secondly, it can make it difficult for couples because even though they are in the truck for many hours per day together, they get very little time to actually spend together.

It can also be difficult to stay with a set schedule when there are traffic hold ups, delivery delays, and other unforeseen events. If the team truck drivers aren’t doing their finances together such as best friends driving together it can be tricky to divvy up earnings. Most trucking companies pay team truck drivers half of the overall miles completed for a given trip to avoid such issues but this is dealt with on a company by company basis.

Many trucking companies place new drivers with an experienced driver to show them the ropes over the road. This type of team truck driving can be very uncomfortable and strained. Since neither person knows the other they may find it difficult to get into a routine that works for both of them. It is also hard for the new driver to learn because he or she should be sleeping during that period of time. Likewise, the experienced driver may find it difficult to sleep with someone so inexperienced behind the wheel of the semi truck.

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Should Trucks from Mexico be allowed in the United States?

The issue of trucks from Mexico being allowed to enter the United States is one that comes with plenty of controversy attached to it. The volumes of letters that various political offices have received from truck drivers and business owners in the trucking company indicate that this is not a welcomed change in the field of the trucking industry. Many are afraid it will compromise the contracts they have in place as the workers from Mexico will be willing to haul the loads for a lower price.

Even with such resistance, a pilot program was allowed to move forward in September of 2007. This allowed an initial 859 carriers from Mexico to begin entering the United States for work. This project is being monitored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is not known if the program will be able to continue as there is already a motion on the floor of the United States legislation to bring it to a halt.

The biggest complaints from regular citizens seem to be with the concern that they don’t believe trucks coming from Mexico will be safe. Under the initial pilot program agreements, all of the drivers must be able to read and write English at an acceptable level. This way they can safely navigate with the road signs, talk to law enforcement, and complete necessary paperwork.

There are no restrictions on the products that the trucks from Mexico can bring into the United States or take back to Mexico. Many are concerned that this allows them to haul hazardous materials. They also worry about the possibility of more semi trucks being used for drug trafficking purposes under such an agreement. Many people believe it is not safe to have individuals from other countries coming into the United States with the ability to haul dangerous materials. With the risk of terrorist attacks being possible with the use of such products on semi trucks it is definitely something to think about.

Yet there are some positive attributes to the thought of allowing trucks from Mexico into the United States. There is a shortage of qualified truck drivers to keep up with the demand for the amount of freight to be hauled. With the new hours of service laws, it is taking even longer for the work to be completed. With the additional trucks it is hopeful that it will help the overall industry.

Under the outlined plans only a specific number of trucks would be allowed to enter the United States from Mexico. It wouldn’t be an open door policy as many in the trucking industry have been lead to believe. The qualifications of the drivers will be carefully reviewed and the trucks will have to meet inspection requirements for the United States before they can enter.

In addition, the trucks are to be inspected by their independent carriers every 90 days. This is to be in effect for the first three years of the program. At the border there will be scales and inspectors as well. They will work for the United States and they will have the authority to deny any truck coming from Mexico access into the United States.

They also have the authority to inspect the qualifications of the driver of the vehicle. There will be an electronic monitoring system in place to check licensing requirements. This process is expected to introduce 200 new jobs by the end of 2007. It is believed it will be virtually impossible to fake the credentials to drive a semi truck into the United States with the electronic process in place.

It is also believed that this agreement with Mexico could result in trucks from the United States being able to freely travel into Mexico. This could generate millions of dollars in revenue due to the fact that it would allow the border to become an area of free trade. This is likely to be a controversial issue that continues in the political arena for quite some time.

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Tips to Help Truck Drivers Stay in Shape

It is hard for most people to find the time in their day to stay in shape, but when you drive a truck it can be even more difficult. Your job is difficult but it also requires you to stay in your seat for hours each day. Over time this can lead to a very unhealthy lifestyle, heart problems, and becoming overweight. There are some great ways for truck drivers to stay in shape though.

Most over the road truck drivers stop to eat and rest at truck stops. Park at the end of the parking lot and walk inside to eat, shower, and relax. This exercise each time you stop will really add up in no time at all. Instead of sitting inside the truck stop and watching TV go for a walk around the area. This will give you some fresh air, exercise, and the chance to stretch out your legs.

Getting in and out of a big truck can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. Many truck drivers jump down instead of using the stairs. As a result they risk injuries to their knees and to their back. It is also important to wear quality shoes or boots that offer plenty of support for the arches in your feet.

You might be able to walk when you are making your deliveries as well. It depends on the rules that are set up at the place where you deliver. Many of them have rules in place where the driver’s have to stay in the cab at all times for safety reasons. If that is the case you can use that time to do paperwork or to take a nap.

It is possible to keep some basic exercise equipment in the cab of your truck. Lifting weights is a good exercise routine to incorporate into your day about three times per week. You can easily store the weights under your bed when you aren’t using them. There are some other types of exercise equipment that fit well into the cab of your truck as well that you may be interested in purchasing.

Getting sufficient sleep each nigh is important, and this can be difficult when you drive a truck. You may have deliveries at off hours and that means your sleep schedule is broken up rather than all at once. Make sure you have a comfortable mattress and pillow so you can sleep comfortably. Never accept loads that require you to work when you should be sleeping. Not only is this going to affect your overall health, it is illegal and you could find yourself in serious trouble if you get inspected or you are involved in an accident.

The foods you eat are very important to your overall health. Instead of grabbing fast food all the time, try to eat a good meal that offers you plenty of nutrients. Look for truck stop restaurants that offer you a quality salad bar full of fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also install a small refrigerator in your truck and stock up on nutritious foods for you to eat for meals and healthy snacks.

You need to make sure you eat enough during the day to keep up your energy levels. A person’s metabolism can slow down if you skip meals. Don’t starve yourself all day and then eat one large meal. It will be hard for your body to digest and you won’t have the energy you need to get through the day.

Most truck driver’s have a couple of days off in between runs. Use this time at the gym, playing sports, or doing yard work. There are so many different ways you can get the necessary exercise and stay in shape. Driving a truck is a rewarding career for those who really enjoy it. Yet if your health deteriorates you won’t be able to drive a truck so do all you can to stay fit now.

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Ways to Increase your Fuel Mileage on a Semi Truck

Can you imagine being happy with getting six to eight miles per gallon in your vehicle? Most of us would not be impressed at all, especially considering the cost of fuel these days. Yet for professional semi truck drivers, striving for increased fuel mileage is very important. Getting six to eight miles per gallon means the semi truck is operating very efficiently. Some of them only get four miles per gallon, and that needs to be changed because the drivers are simply throwing money away.

Those who drive for a company don’t worry too much about the cost of the fuel or how many gallons they get per mile because they get paid based on the number of miles they drive. Owner operators pay very close attention to these figures because they have to cover all the costs of their own fuel. In many cases this cost can be as much as 40%PRCTG% of the gross earnings per month.

There are some factors that will affect your fuel mileage in a semi truck that you really can’t control. They include the wind and the weight of the load you are hauling. The cost of fuel per gallon is also something that you won’t be able to do much about. There are some ways you can increase your fuel mileage though that aren’t going to cost you very much to implement.

Many semi trucks offer a heavy drag in order to pull a standard size trailer. These can be modified to still offer enough power but without the weight. Many owner operators like to add chrome and nice accessories to their semi truck. Try to avoid too much of it, especially those pieces that are quite heavy as they will add weight and increase the amount of fuel your truck consumes.

The amount of air in the tires will affect your fuel mileage as well. They should be routinely checked to ensure they don’t have too much or not enough air. If you seem to have a tire with a continuous air leak in it, have the tire repaired or replace it.

The amount of air that is moving underneath the semi truck is important as well. Too much air means you are fighting it as you drive down the road. There are special designed pieces you can place under your truck as well as on the roof of it in order to cut the amount of resistance you are driving against.

There are some hybrid models of semi trucks on the market right now that offer a great way to save money and increase fuel mileage. Since they will run on solar power during the day, the only fuel that will be consumed is when the energy cells have run out or the sun has gone down. You can expect to see many more hybrid semi trucks on the road in the years ahead.

Think about the weight of a semi truck before you purchase it because it is going to affect your fuel mileage. The heavier a truck is the more fuel you are going to need to move it. Sure, having all those accessories inside of the truck is nice, but if you want to make a decent profit you need to compromise. Make sure you have plenty of comfort since you will likely spend a great deal of time in your semi truck. However, you need to make sure you are getting one of the higher rates when it comes to your fuel mileage.

Incorporating these various types of ways to increase your fuel mileage in a semi truck is very important. Even increasing it by one mile per gallon will significantly add up fast if you drive several thousand miles per month. The cost of fuel continues to get higher and higher so you need to do all you can to keep overhead costs as low as possible.

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