Trucking Company Catches $75,000 Fine for Moving Banned Carp

Trucking Company Catches $75,000 Fine for Moving Banned Carp
Posted: Jan 23, 2014 03:28 PM | Last Updated: Jan 23, 2014 03:57 PM

EDMONTON, AB — An Edmonton trucking company and a truck driver from Markham, ON, got some hefty fines last week after being caught hauling invasive, banned carp into Ontario.

On Jan. 25, 2012, a truck carrying grass carp and bighead carp from Arkansas entered Canada via the Ambassador Bridge at the Windsor-Detroit border.

At the time, the Canada Border Services Agency contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources to assist with the inspection of the truck and seized all of the fish after they discovered that some of the grass carp were still alive, according to a report from the Toronto Star. 

It’s been illegal to possess live invasive fish such as bighead, grass, black and silver carp in Ontario since 2005. All four types of fish, known as Asian carp, threaten Ontario’s lake system because they reproduce rapidly and replace native species of fish. 

But only a month after the Jan. 25 incident, the same truck and driver again entered Canada at the Ambassador bridge, this time carrying 6,350 kgs of bighead carp, some of which were still alive. Officers held the truck until all the fish were dead.

Alltheway Trucking Inc. and Yong-Sheng Zhang were each found guilty last week under the federal Fisheries Act for possessing live invasive fish. The company has been fined $70,000 while Zhang was fined $5,000.

Here’s an entertaining video of one Asian carp species, silver carp, which jumps when scared by boat vibrations. 

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Iowa-based flatbed carrier transitions to employee-owned company

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Trucking company head admits stealing 401k money

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NAFTA graft: Cross-border trucking company officers indicted

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FMCSA slaps cease-and-desist on “illegal” bus company Sky Express

Reacting strongly and swiftly after discovering that ?unsafe, illegal bus company Sky Express, Inc is attempting to operate and sell tickets under different names, including 108 Tours and 108 Bus, the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) late Friday said it had isssued a cease-and-desist order against the firm. The order was placed in effect immediately.

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What?s more, said FMCSA, as part of its investigation of Sky Express and the agency?s ?commitment to pursue enforcement action against unsafe ?reincarnated? bus companies, it  has subpoenaed the records of three websites that have sold tickets for Sky Express and several other bus companies. Those websites are www.gotobus.com, www.taketours.com and www.2001bus.com.

Back on May 31,FMCSA issued an unsatisfactory safety rating and placed North Carolina-based Sky Express out-of-service for violating multiple federal safety regulations. Per that out-of-service order, Sky Express is prohibited from operating in interstate and intrastate commerce.

Sky Express was involved in a fatal crash on I-95 about 30 miles north of Fredericksburg, VA, that killed four passengers and injured dozens of others on May 31. That crash underscored once again the danger of drowsy driving by operators of commercial vehicles.

According to a report posted online that day by The New York Daily News, the bus, which was carrying 59 passengers and had left Greensboro, NC at 10:30 PM Monday, ?strayed off a highway and hit an embankment around 5 AM. The report noted that ?The only person who wasn't hurt was the driver-- and he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, said Sgt. Thomas Molnar of the Virginia State Police.?

?Every day, across the country, we are focused on getting bad actors off the road,? said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. ?Our goal is to create a tight net of enforcement so that when consumers select a bus company and purchase a ticket, they can be confident their bus trip will be a safe one.?

FMCSA noted that last month, along with state and local law enforcement partners, it conducted more than 3,000 surprise passenger-carrier safety inspections over a two-week period that resulted in 442 unsafe buses or drivers being removed from the nation?s roadways.

The joint strike force issued out-of-service citations to 127 drivers and 315 vehicles during the unannounced inspections that took place from May 1 ? 15, 2011.

?We are relentlessly targeting unsafe and illegal bus companies,? added Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. ?This [cease-and-desist and subpoena] action sends a strong message that the U.S. Department of Transportation will utilize every legal and enforcement tool available to shut down unsafe bus companies and protect passengers and motorists.?

A recent FleetOwner video featured FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro discussing why the annual Roadcheck safety-enforcement effort serves to remind all highway users how vital safe operation is on the road.

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Finding the Right Haulage Services Company

Obtaining the correct heavy haualge company is a job to be done very carefully. The transporting of hard drives, houses, cranes and other vast goods is essential to you and the economy. There are tons of companies in business but not every freight transporter may be good for your business enterprise.

Expensive break downs and badly serviced equipment can lead to unnecessary expense and a lot of money at risk if delays transpire and are not dealt with professionally and quickly.

Some merchandise and goods are time delicate and mistakes simply cannot be tolerated. Merchandise being transported to a dock or train station to be moved abroad can not wait for a difficulty with transport for delivery; the problems have to be dealt with quickly.

This is an important consideration when considering a heavy haulage company. Does the company you're considering have the necessary experience, equipment, permits, driver skills and insurance? Can they deliver the goods on time and to a high enough standard?

These are all important things to consider when choosing the right heavy haulage company. Often it will take quite a bit of research and speaking to many companies, but it is important that you choose a suitable company.

Major haulage involves permits, routes may be difficult and require special thought and attention; all this can lead to an increase in costs and require a premium service.

Knowledgeable freight solutions should have the individuals, equipment, and the necessary permits in place to guarantee to get your merchandise delivered promptly.

Transferring freight is a job which needs to be carried out with many security features for the protection of the public, the individuals doing the job and the manufacturer. Targeted visitors can be disrupted with heavy haulage so times and routes have to be arranged.

Large fines may be levied if freight is transported with no correct paperwork.

You may want to be able to track your expensive shipment, this maybe something that you customer insists on. So make sure that your chosen heavy haulage company can provide you with the necessary service.

Seasoned freight services should understand what is expected leaving you to concentrate on your organization. A dependable producer should get your merchandise delivered promptly.

Let a home freight services company handle your haulage needs. No matter whether you are importing, exporting, or necessity large haulage for domestic transporting there is a freight solutions company out there to help you.

Smiths Mechanical specialise in heavy haulage throughout the UK. Boasting a specialist vehicle and trailer fleet providing both ridged and articulated combinations covering a wide range of weights and lengths. So if you are looking for a heavy haulage company look no further than Smiths Mechanical Heavy Haulage.

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Important Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Heavy Haulage Company

Choosing the right heavy haulage and transportation is very important. It often takes quite a bit of research to make sure you select the right company for you. After all your load is precious to both you and your customer.

When doing a simple internet search for potential haulage companies it is easy to become overwhelmed by the vast number offering services throughout the UK and Europe. But how do you choose the right one? What should you be looking out for? And how can you be sure that they have the necessary equipment to handle your goods/loads? We have compiled a list of questions that you need to consider when choosing the right heavy haulage company, so read on and find the right company for you.

Do your goods require handling in certain way?

More often than not, you will find that your load/goods will need to be handled with great care, whether these goods are fragile computer components or a delivery of vehicles. Make sure that your selected haulage company can handle the load with the care that it deserves. This requires making sure that they have necessary equipment and driver training. Experience is also an important factor when considering the handling of goods. Does your heavy haulage company have the necessary experience in handling your types of goods?

Are your goods to be delivered in specific time scale?

Heavy haulage companies have different views when it comes to transportation logistics. Some can pick up goods en route to other pick-ups or drop-offs. Make sure that if you have an agreed time scale with your client that your haulage company can match this. Make sure they understand the route in full before receiving a quote for the transportation.

Does your chosen company have necessary insurance?

One of the single most important factors to think about when choosing the correct heavy haulage company is the load that they will be carrying. For example they maybe collecting a multimillion pound jet engine, if this is the case make sure that they are insured to carry goods to this value. If not then look elsewhere. There are many companies out there that would be able to do so and it is not worth the risk.

Lastly, when getting quotes for haulage companies make sure that you have at least 3 and that you give the same requirements. This way you can be sure that you are getting the best possible price for your transportation needs.

Smiths Mechanical specialise in heavy haulage throughout the UK. Boasting a specialist vehicle and trailer fleet providing both ridged and articulated combinations covering a wide range of weights and lengths. So if you are looking for a heavy haulage company look no further than Smiths Mechanical heavy haulage.

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How to Choose a Truck Leasing Company

Each year, thousands of companies face the challenge of finding attractive financing to acquire business equipment. Many of these companies approach the lease sourcing process seeking the lowest rate. While securing a low rate is a worthwhile goal in choosing a lease arrangement, it alone is not a reliable standard for obtaining the best lease transaction or lease experience.

Choosing the right lessor will help you avoid hidden fees, substandard lease terms, slow approval, and even the lessor's inability to fund your deal at the eleventh hour.

Following these 10 simple rules will help you avoid pitfalls and create a long-term financial relationship with a lessor that will work for and grow along with you.

1.Find a leasing company that specializes in financing the type of equipment you want to finance.

2.Look for a company that has highly skilled professionals, seasoned in your type of business, that have sufficient resources and the flexibility to meet your specific needs.

3.Only deal with lessors that have high integrity, have an extremely good understanding of leasing and the product they are selling you and understand the market you are in.

4.Ask for and check customer, vendor and bank references of the lessor.

5.Avoid high-pressure sellers, as your chances of being misled are very high. If the lessor misrepresents themselves in any way, you can be confidant that your leasing experience will be negative.

6.Avoid giving deposits or advance rentals before receiving firm quotes in writing. Many disreputable companies will promise low rates in order to obtain deposits only to raise rates later while holding your deposit "hostage".

7.Google the leasing companies name along with your sales representative. Many disreputable, even well-known scam artists continue their illegal business, hoping for new customers that are naïve about their past transgressions.

8.Be careful when your lease is a $1.00 buyout. Make sure it is indicated in your lease documents and not just told to you. A few leasing companies instruct their sales team to say it's a $1.00. when it is in fact 10% or higher at lease end.

9.Avoid "Evergreen Clauses" or auto-renew clauses that automatically renew your lease after the initial agreed upon term unless you notify the company in writing prior to your lease end that you intend to end the lease on the agreed upon terms.

10.Lastly, like anything, look for a company that's been around for a while and has established credibility in the field.

Ultimately, the qualities you look for in any successful business apply here as well. Does the leasing company have a good reputation? Do they have experience and expertise? Do they have the ability and most importantly, the funds, to perform? And finally, can you establish a good, long-term, mutually-beneficial relationship with the leasing company that will help your company grow and prosper? If the answer to these questions is yes, you have found your leasing company.

TrucklendersUSA is a Truck Leasing Company which provides commercial truck leasing suitable for strong, average or even challenging credits. Contact us for Leasing A Truck you need. We even offer programs for start-up companies.

How to Pick a Truck Leasing Company

As a trucker, you're a very busy person. Not only are you on the road, busy with transportation for your business, but you're also loaded down with paperwork for both personal and professional matters. If you've ever worked as an employee for a trucking company, you know what it's like to have someone else take care of the ins and outs of your business, someone to handle the maintenance and processing of other paperwork, someone to take care of the business aspect of trucking so you could concentrate on the road. While owning your own trucking business may be better than working as an employee because of the freedom and income it allows you, it's also more work.

That's why finding the perfect company to lease you your next truck is so important. Some leasing companies go out of the way to earn the trust and respect of their customers. These companies arrange for maintenance and repairs, often file the associated paperwork, take care of government DOT inspections, and arrange for the truck to be washed on a regular basis. Lease providers can also be beneficial by offering fuel cards that allow business owners to track their expenses.

Lease companies can do this because they are the truck's owners. They want to make sure that their investment stays in good condition. As a trucker, however, you benefit from this investment because you don't have to be responsible for or keep track of these types of business transactions, although insuring that the lease companies adequately take care of these issues is important in case of liability or other legal problems.

Even before you get on the road with a leasing company, they can help you through the process of finding the right vehicle. Many lease companies have officials who are trained to help you find the right commercial vehicle at a price that you can afford.

Monthly payments, interest rates, and the stability of the company are all important factors to check before deciding on a company to lease your truck, but convenience is another important characteristic. If you get a great interest rate, but have to stay on the phone for over an hour each day to correct some problem your lease company made, then it probably won't be worth the slightly lower rate. When choosing a lease company, can focus not only on the numbers, but also on the attitude and the service. Lease companies that go a step above in trying to satisfy the customer keep you free to deal with challenges as a new business owner. They also make life easier on you when you need verification of your fuel or maintenance expenses. Although money might be the bottom line, checking out your lease company's amenities is important before you sign that paper.

Truck Leasing resources available at Trucker To Trucker which specializes in Trucks For Sale.

Three Important Criteria to Marketing a Truck Washing Company

Owning and operating a truck wash can be a great business. You see, although many businesses and industries have suffered in the recent recession, the trucking companies are making money and doing fine. In fact, there is a shortage of truck drivers, which might be of interest to you if you're looking for a job right now. Now then, as long as the truck wash is doing excellent work and good quality, and charging a fair price their referrals and word-of-mouth will get out and keep them quite busy.

However, getting busy in the first place is rather difficult. And if you are a new truck wash that is just starting out most truckers don't know you are there, and they aren't willing to stop until they hear something positive about your operation and the quality of work. Therefore it's important to learn the secrets of marketing a truck wash. Since I have quite a bit of industry experience, let me explain to you three very important tips you need to know below;

1. Use the C.B. for Referrals
2. Contact Dispatchers from Companies
3. Co-Market with Truck Stops Within 100-mile Radius

Okay so, we all know that using the CB or Citizens Band Radio for anything other than communication is against the law. You can't blast advertisements on it, as that's not its purpose. However, that doesn't mean that a happy customer who just got his truck wash, perhaps an independent owner operator truck driver can't brag about how nice his truck looks after you've just washed it.

Every time a customer comes up and tells you that you've done a wonderful job, tell them thank you, but tell him that you'd rather he get on the CB and brag about his clean truck. In other words you are suggesting that the truck driver spread the good cheer, and refer you some additional business. Believe me they will, and they might drive for another 50 to 100 miles down the freeway telling everyone within earshot what a great job you did.

Next, it makes sense to contact the dispatchers from all the companies that own a large number of trucks. Anytime you see a driver who is satisfied from a large trucking company, ask them for the phone number of their dispatcher. Then put in a call to the dispatcher along with some sort of a discount program if they referred their drivers to come to you with a voucher for payment for their truck wash.

Lastly, it makes sense to make deals with all the truck stops within a 100 to 200 mile radius. Remember most of these truck drivers drive all day and all night, and they are looking for some point to take a break, get a truck wash, a bite to eat, and get back on the road. Indeed I hope you will please consider all these tips and think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 24,222 articles by July 22, 2011 at 2:22 PM is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..

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Guides On How To Choose a Moving Company

Knowing the ways of how to choose a moving company is very important. First of all, you have to make sure that the company can totally be trusted and is well-trained. Otherwise, things can really get disastrous. Aside from the possibility of having damaged furniture, there is a high chance that your expensive possessions such as your jewels will be stolen as well.

Of course, you need to do your research first in order to look for several firms that are suitable to your interest. The moment you have searched for them in your directory you should get some ideas about them. After spotting them, you might want to look at the details by going to their websites. As a matter of fact, a company who has a website proves a gained reputation and that should be an edge. Here, you can look at their certifications and their rates.

Whatever you need, always verify that you have requested for the exact services suitable for this. For instance, you will never need a colossal truck if the things you wish to move to your home are not that huge. Nevertheless, a professional who knows how to handle international shipping should be hired if you plan to transfer some of your furniture to another nation.

With regards to the rates of the services, sometimes paying something that can be a little expensive is still worth it if that is the way to assure you that no items will be broken or stolen. Also, more charges are required if you intend to request for shipping and the size of the load can also indicate the price as well. Take note that shipping to another country is typically expensive most especially if the items are huge.

If you are not yet familiar with Better Business Bureaus website, you should try to visit it online. The benefit that this website can provide you is giving you a list of all those firms that have some complaints filed on them. Therefore, it is wise to look for another company if the previous one that you have chosen is among the list of the website.

Some websites can also assist you in narrowing down your choices like those sites listing the comments of several clients who were deceived by some companies. It can be excellent strategies to prevent yourself from being tricked if you view these websites that have feedback from previous clients are displayed.

You also have to know that movers should have met some requirements before they can be authorized to do their duties. To assure yourself that the company you have hired has the authority to move your things, you can always get in touch with your local state agencies. Failing to do this recommendation may also lead to broken or stolen things.

How to choose moving company can be accomplished easier if you know how to search for some firms on various search engines. When you find one, you will usually locate some links to which you can view the company's rates as well as the feedback of its previous clients. It is wise to invest enough time on doing this since it is definitely worth it to avoid unwanted incidents. Finally, take note that there are also firms making bogus recommendations where they will pretend to be one of their customers and provide a positive comment. Remember that it is still your responsibility in searching for the right movers.

Browse websites for more information before Movers Vancouver. Full service moving company Vancouver moving company providing residential and office moving, boxes, and storage facilities.

How to Choose the Right Moving Labor Company

Choosing the right moving labor company can be difficult to do. With the growing number of startup companies, many are proving to be unreliable or simply poor choices. Moving can be a stressful process and trying to find a quality moving company should make your life easier not more difficult. Here are some tips to help you choose the right moving labor company quickly and effectively.

1. Pay Attention to Legality Claims

There are a lot of moving labor companies that spend a lot of their advertising time talking about being "legal". Ironically, these are often the same companies that are skirting the line between ethic and unethical practices. If a company does not have any legal problems, they probably won't bring it up anyways. You don't see big name brands telling everyone that they are "legal", they just are. One of the growing concerns is identity theft and the easy way to protect yourself is by staying informed. The easiest way to do this is to do a quick online search with the Better Business Bureau to make sure that there the company has a solid history.

2. Understanding What "Movers Insurance" Really Is

There are some companies talk about providing movers insurance, which is an important issue to discuss. However, some will not tell you much more about what the insurance actually is or what it covers. The only insurance that you need to make that a moving company has is liability insurance and care and custody insurance. This will ensure that your belongs are protected at all times that they are being handled and transported. Additionally, in order to make sure that you covered, the moving company should be able to show you documentation related to their insurance.

3. Knowing What They Can and Cannot Do

Law and restrictions will vary from state to state in regards to what a moving company can and cannot do. For example, in some states moving companies cannot drive rental trucks, which means that either you will need to drive or they must bring their own truck. By knowing the laws of your state, you will be able to avoid penalties and fines that can end up costing your thousands of dollars. This can be a tricky ordeal to handle, but one of the easiest way to handle these issues is to ask the same questions to several perspective moving labor companies. If one says they can do it and two say that it is illegal, then it is safe bet that you should avoid the first one.

Choosing a moving labor company should make your life easier not more difficult. By following these 3 tips, will be well on your way to choosing a legitimate company that will be able to make your move a little less stressful. Remember to avoid companies that make legality claims, make sure that the movers have the proper insurance and can document it, and make sure to know what they are legally allowed to do and what they cannot do.

Get help loading and unloading your Pods unit or moving truck. Find professional moving labor near you.

Trucking Company Owner Operator Lease Survey in Final Stage

truck owner operator

In order to create current and updated data concerning company truck lease options, we began our owner operator lease purchase program survey on November 9th, 2009.  Before the recent recession, studies showed that these programs resulted in an 87% failure rate for truck drivers, a statistic that I first began to publicize nearly five years ago.

As truckers were hit hard by the recession, the job-hopping that was so common in trucking before, eased up due to the economic turmoil and we saw this rate fall to 57% as reported in our survey update in April, 2010.

As of April 3rd, 2010 we had received 1,711 responses to the survey, resulting in the fifty seven percent stat.  As of this writing, the survey has pulled in 3,486 responses and I will be bringing this survey to a close on February 3rd, 2011.  It will take me a few months to sort through all the data and post the final results.

Trucking secrets are no longer insider information, thanks to the power of trucking social media.  Although there are company lease drivers who have done well with these lease programs, the majority of these trucking company lease purchase programs are designed for the driver to fail.  The 87% failure rate study was reported several years ago by an independent accountant but I wanted to bring this issue to an updated level, thus the reason for our survey.

If you have been involved with a trucking company lease purchase plan or know someone who has and have not taken the survey, you can do so by February 3rd, 2011.  Whether the result was positive or negative, we would like to get as many responses as possible before the survey closes.

With nearly 3,500 responses to date, I feel that this is a decent number to provide a more updated statistic on what is widely known among veteran truck drivers as being one of the biggest scams in trucking.

We will let you know the final results of our trucking company owner operator lease purchase program survey once all data has been reviewed.

© 2011, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

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The Differences between Owner Operators and Company Drivers

There are thousands of trucks out there on the road each day, hauling goods and supplies to various locations. Some of these drivers are owner operators and others are company drivers. The jobs they do may be the same but there are plenty of differences that separate the two. If you are interested in driving a truck you want to take a look at what each one has to offer.

For those who have just received their CDL, becoming a company driver is generally the best option. At least in the beginning as it will allow you to decide if operating a semi truck is really where your interests lie. It will also help you gain work experience and built a reputation for being a quality truck driver.

Company drivers are provided a truck by their employer. They are generally paid by the hour if they drive locally and by the mile if they drive over the road. The company is responsible for the truck payment, the insurance, and all the repairs. They also pay for the fuel expenses. Many company drivers find they get to be in late model trucks because they replace the older ones in the fleet on a regular basis.

Some expenses that a company driver will have while on the road are food, showers, and phone calls. Some employers offer a per diem which is an amount per day they allow for such expenses. This per diem is added to their paycheck so the driver still needs to pay for it out of their pocket and then be reimbursed. If the driver doesn’t spend the amount offered per day then they can generate some additional income as well.

Most company drivers have the option of buying health insurance and they may be eligible for paid vacation time after they have been with the company for awhile. The specifics of these offers depend on the specifications of the company.

Owner operators are able to generate more income than company drivers, but they also have a high overhead. They are responsible for their truck payment, truck repairs, insurance, and maintenance expenses. Still, they have the freedom to haul what they want to through a broker or by leasing their truck to a company. They have more say in the loads they haul than a company driver.

They also have to pay for their own meals, showers, and fuel. An owner operator needs to make sure they put enough money away to cover their taxes as none will be taken out of their paychecks. They also need to have money ready for repairs should the need arise. Owner operators have to secure their own health insurance and if they take any time off, they won’t be paid for that period of time.

There are many legitimate expenses that an owner operator can take on their tax return. It is important to keep all receipts and to categorize them into the different areas of deductions. Being prepared for the end of the year filing is important so this paperwork should be carefully maintained.

There are many exciting jobs out there for truck drivers, but the decision to be an owner operator or a company driver is an important one. The decision is going to affect the amount of money you can earn, your expenses, and the responsibilities you will have in the trucking industry.