Useful Post-Earth Day Infographic about Diesel Emissions in Trucks

Posted on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 at 7:33 pm.

Thanks to Equipment World for the great infographic. Hopefully we can continue to find a balance of health and productivity as the trucking industry grows.

Wear & Tear: Frequently Replaced Parts on Class 8 Trucks

Posted on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at 3:53 pm.

Stuff breaks. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, your truck will lose lug nuts, mudflaps and mirror brackets. A five-hundred horsepower diesel engine humming at cruising speed causing constant vibration, in combination with the force of the tires on the road, can wear down just about any part of the engine not directly connected to the engine block. Weather is also a huge factor in a parts life. Ice and snow weight down parts of a truck and can bend the brackets on your quarter and full tandem fenders. Salt from the roads can corrode plastic and metal products quickly. Luckily, there are steps you can take to minimize these losses and products you can purchase with a proven track record of road sustainability.

When evaluating a product, one of the best places to start is by looking at the installation or mounting method. If something requires you to drill make sure to carefully map out the location and mark where the drill holes will be made. After the holes are made, fully secure any washers and bolts to prevent rattling and wear. Even if it doesn’t feel like your truck is shaking, it still is sending constant vibration through the hood, cab and axles. After a product is installed, check it once you’ve driven the truck for a while to see if there is anything that is rattling or moving.

Dealing with poor weather and road conditions is unavoidable but this doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it. Though chrome plastic looks good, stainless steel is a better fit for truckers consistently in harsh winter conditions. If there is a product on your vehicles exterior that can be switched to stainless steel it probably should. Most of the larger pats i.e. grills and visors are already made of stainless steel. Items such as mirror covers and rear axle covers tend to be plastic.

The most frequently replaced parts on a truck, barring special circumstances, are lights and their related housings and accessories. LED technology has come a long way over the last decade but bulbs still short out and rocks are still heavy. The easiest way to avoid a light related disaster is to keep a few spares of each type you are currently running. This way, you won’t have to worry about finding the right ones at the next truck stop. Another advantage is you can show a DOT officer that you are prepared in the event of a lighting outage. This can definitely decrease your chance of being fined on the spot.

In summary, it is important to know what breaks on your truck and at least have an idea how to replace it. Keeping spares of frequently replaced parts will minimize downtime and keep your truck looking sharp. Choose the right product for your trucks uses: you probably don’t want a twenty inch bumper on an off-road dump truck. Semi truck floor mats might be a better investment!

How Important is Sleep For Truckers?

Posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 at 9:23 pm.

Sleep is one of our most basic needs and is commonly overlooked as the source of reoccurring health problems. Truckers live life on the clock and can sometimes shift sleep to the bottom of the priority list. The issue is: When  our work starts to affect our health where do we draw the line? Below is a list of some common sleep related problems and possible solutions:

Sleep Apnea: This is increasingly becoming an issue for truckers. According to a study posted in the journal SLEEP more than forty percent of truckers suffer from sleep apnea. This condition can result in increased blood pressure, grogginess in the mornings and headaches. Sleep apnea is caused by consistent pauses in breathing throughout the night called “apneas” and periods of low breathing called “hypopnea.” It can be genetic but its primary cause is obesity. If you feel you are experience daytime sleepiness, blurred vision or excessive fatigue consider getting a sleep study done to test for sleep apnea. If you aren’t alert you could be a danger behind the wheel. Check with your health insurance company or employer to see if a sleep study is part of your health care coverage.

Fatigue/Daytime Sleepiness: Working hard can tire even the most healthy people out by the end of the work day. Usually, you can just sit back, relax and sleep it off. This is not always the case with truckers. Schedules can include day and night driving at unpredictable intervals which can throw off ones circadian rhythm (natural sleep cycle.) Poor sleep habits account for both fatigue and daytime sleepiness. Drivers are required, by law, to rest a certain amount but sometimes this isn’t enough. Truckers have always tried to remedy this through coffee, junk food and, unfortunately, illicit substances. The best way to avoid these issues is to be very honest with yourself in estimating your ability to drive safely. Money comes and goes, your safety and the safety of others is much more important. 6.5% of all OOS violations can be attributed to working over the 14 hour limit. Truckers are five times more likely to die on the job than the average worker. Don’t add to the statistics and drive tired.

Some useful points to remember brought to you by the Mayo Clinic:

1. Stick to a sleep schedule - Sometimes all it takes is seeing how much sleep you’re missing on paper to make a change. Track your sleep habits and adjust where necessary.
2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink – This means cut down on the junk food and soda. Coffee is fine if it isn’t heavily sweetened. Replace one meal or snack a day with high protein/low-fat option. Protein bars are a very affordable and convenient option for transitioning to a healthier diet.
3. Create a bedtime ritual – Take a few minutes to wind down before hitting the hay. Try to avoid electronics and right before going to sleep.
4. Get comfortable – Don’t skimp on a matress to save a few bucks. You spend more time on it than anywhere else!
5. Manage stress
6. Include physical activity in your daily routine – This is the hardest and most important step for drivers. More about trucker fitness.

If you have any helpful information regarding sleep problems please share in the comments below. Happy napping!

Truckers Talk: Who represents your best interests? OOIDA, ATA or other groups?

Posted on Friday, January 18th, 2013 at 10:07 pm.

America was founded on the idea that everyone has an equal voice in the way the country is governed. Your vote is worth as much as anyone else’s. The first line of the Declaration of Independence begins with, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

Sometimes voting isn’t enough though, so it becomes necessary to seek the help of large organizations with similar interests to our own. This way, we are able to contribute additional time and money to a cause in addition to our relatively insignificant vote. It can also be a way for you to meet like-minded individuals with similar career goals and interests. This is also a double edged sword, because when you agree with someone you are inherently disagreeing with another. In the trucking industry, your network is very important for business, so growing it quickly should be a top priority.

Is it worth it for a business to join an organization like the ATA, OOIDA or even the NRA? Are the benefits of gaining the trust of some worth losing others? We asked truckers and industry veterans  what they thought and here’s what they had to say:

Username greatdane1009 on a popular trucking forum stated,

“Truckers are a diverse group, and most of them operate on word of mouth. If you piss one guy off and he happens to be a “truckstop cowboy” -one of the drivers who spends more time gossiping at a truckstop than actually driving-you could hurt a small part of your market.”

He then went on to explain how the best way to make a difference in your life is to keep it local. Help the people you see every day, volunteer at a local animal shelter, or even sponsor a sports team. If you can find a way to make a difference in your community you’ll certainly see faster results.

Lets say you don’t represent a business and you’re acting out of personal interest. You’re dead set on standing up for something but don’t know who to trust. Luckily, there are plenty of resources for following the paper trail of major advocacy groups. A good place to start is www.opensecrets.org, a website dedicated to displaying spending habits, lobbying issues and employee work history. For instance, if you were looking up the NRA (National Rifle Association) you’d see this page outlining how they allocate their funds.

Some of the other perks to joining a large organization can be member benefits; for instance, AARP members get discounts at the movies, on groceries and vacation packages. OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Driving Association) members get service discounts and product discounts as well. Regardless of your beliefs, saving a little money might make a membership worthwhile.

Logos to look out for:

From left to right you have the Humane Society, The ATA, OOIDA, and the NRA. Regardless of if you choose to sign up for an organization, make sure you know where your values lie and if making a statement will be beneficial to you or your business. We’ve seen recently in the news how Chick-fil-a was slammed for making a statement about their hiring practices and companies values. Are most drivers willing to take a pay cut to make a statement? My guess is no, because you gotta pay the bills. This nation believes in the power of choice so choose wisely.

Ways Truckers Make A Difference On The Road

Posted on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 2:21 pm.

Truckers don’t just move freight from point A to point B like some sort of automated delivery system. Over the years they have created a robust network of unwritten rules and codes to help one another out as they tackle the roadways. These have evolved out of necessity; most motorists don’t understand how to maneuver around trucks and pin truckers with a negative stigma. One example of truckers using their network to help out was to stop a drunk driver speeding through traffic. Some other simple ways truckers help each other and motorists out are as follows:

1. Dimming your lights when passing at night – It can be blinding having your fog lights and headlights blaring as you cross the two hundred foot mark. Most truckers will follow up with a tap of the break lights so signify, “Thank you.”
2. Turning off your headlights at a truck stop – Truckers have to sleep and nobody wants to have high-powered LED headlights beamed into their bunk during all hours of the night.  Also, at no hours of the day should you use your jake brake at a truck stop. Many drivers have to sleep during the day so be respectful.
3. Be speedy in fuel lines regardless of your schedule – Just because you have time to lollygag doesn’t mean everyone else does. Its a time sensitive industry, be mindful of your peers.
4. Don’t have your fog/flood lights on when around other vehicles – These lights are especially powerful and can blind motorists at night.

In addition to the unwritten rules of the road, there is tons of slang phrases for frequently encountered situations and objects. You are most likely to hear these get thrown around in radio conversations and on internet forums specifically for truck drivers. Some of the most popular ones are, bears – police officers; backslide – refers to a return trip; chicken lights – excess lights covering a truck; hammer lane – left lane aka fast lane; what’s your 20? – asking someones location. There are plenty of others and as with all the slang, it changes as the generations pass. The newest social networks have become very popular among truckers. Instead of CB radios, many truckers are using Skype, Twitter and Facebook to stay in touch with others. It broadens your communication range and can put you in contact with potential business partners you otherwise would have never run into. Truckers are ever resourceful and will keep looking for ways to improve life on the road for themselves and their families.

Preventing Theft From Your Class 8 Truck

Posted on Monday, November 5th, 2012 at 9:39 pm.

I was reading an article about a massive walnut heist, where 82,000 pounds of walnuts were stolen, and couldn’t believe theft on this large of scale can still happen in these United States. I also couldn’t believe how aggressive squirrels are getting these days. Sheesh. But in all seriousness, protecting your vehicles goods should be a number one priority. It creates a sense of security for you as a driver and your customers. If people feel their goods will be protected they will be more likely to continue doing business with you. There are plenty of proactive ways you can insure your shipment reaches its destination safely. We’ll start with the simple things you can do and move on to the bigger investments:

1.) Knowledge is Power – Know where you are going to be driving through, which stops are safer, and if there are any reported crimes in the area. With a little planning and research you can potentially stop a catastrophic event. Also, if you or your company has GPS tracking installed on trailer units, make sure to inform the authorities in the event your vehicle is apprehended.

2.) Bring Man’s Best Friend – I understand this won’t work for all trucking companies and owner/operators, but it can be a great way to quickly let potential criminals know you don’t want to be messed with. There is a reason a home with a dog is less likely to be burglarized. The same goes for your truck. The downside is you’ll need to bring the appropriate supplies and be prepared to stop and allow for bathroom breaks. Also, make sure to keep the cabin at an appropriate temperature if you are leaving your pet for an extended period of time.

3.) Anti-Siphoning Devices and Locking Gas Caps - These are both relatively cheap ways to keep your most precious cargo (diesel) under lock and key. Locking gas caps will keep people from getting in that aren’t supposed to and anti-siphoning devices will stop anyone who has access to your tank from filching off a few gallons. Anti-siphoning devices are traditionally used on standing reserves to keep people from taking more than they are allotted. They can be easily applied to most tanks used on Class 8 trucks and can save you a lot of money if fuel theft is rampant in the areas you frequent.

4.) Concealed Weapons License – In 49 of the 50 United States, citizens can apply for a Concealed Weapons License, giving them permission to carry a firearm in public places, including the cab of their commercial vehicle with exceptions being for companies that prohibit their employee’s from carrying. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work well for truckers who travel through more than one or two states. According to the federal laws, you must be certified in each state in which you are carrying a concealed firearm. So when you cross into a state where you are not certified, you gotta hid the blunderbuss.

Stay safe everyone!