Important Information About Bucket Truck Inspections!

For every fleet of bucket trucks, inspections are necessary in order to meet the rules and guidelines implemented by the big three agencies that deal with health and safety issues for every employee directly engaged in heavy equipment operations. These agencies are: the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which require annual inspections to maintain compliance with industry standards.

Importance of Inspections

An exhaustive regular inspection helps fleet managers know and identify problems at an early stage before they can develop into a more major operation-stopping problem. When defects are discovered earlier, the huge cost of repairs caused by major failures can be avoided. By obtaining competitive bids for inspections and tests, more companies can experience savings and receive professional servicing for their bucket trucks and other such equipment.

DOT Required Structural Inspection

A licensed professional who is approved by the DOT is the only person who can conduct bucket truck structural inspections. These are required inspections by the DOT for meeting industry standards. This inspection consists of testing the 13 areas of the bucket truck which include: the platform; elbow structure; lower and upper booms; turntable; rotation bearing; pedestal; chassis; and outriggers. Included with these inspections are the equipment's general parts - operation placards and load rating chart.

OSHA Required Acoustic Inspection

Another set of tests that are required by OSHA to meet industry standards that focuses on the steel and fiberglass structure of the bucket truck is the acoustic inspection. The objective of conducting such inspections is to search for damage ranging from outriggers to chassis by the use of sensory devices that detect noises.

During the inspection, a sensory device is attached from the outriggers up to the bucket which lead to a computer. With the permission of business owners or the fleet company's representative, the bucket will be loaded up to 150 percent more than the specified load limit; this load is applied to the boom. The computer then checks the level and nature of the sound which the components have emitted to the sensors and generates the ratings automatically.

ANSI Required AC and DC Inspection

Bucket truck AC or DC dielectric inspection is ANSI's functional and operational test that is required annually to meet industry standards. With this type of inspection, managers can verify the strength of electrical insulation for bucket truck parts such as the FRP lower and upper boom including digger derricks FRP extensions; bucket and bucket liners; upper control system; and tool circuits.

Certification

When defects are detected and found during the above inspections, the vehicle is classified accordingly. Any vehicles that must be repaired are required to re-test and undergo the above mentioned inspections for certification.

Bucket truck inspections set by these three agencies to meet industry standards should be complied with not only because it is required; it must be complied with to increase operational efficiency and overall safety. In order to save money and time, be sure that a thorough inspection is done with every bucket truck in the fleet!

Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. Click here to find out more about Altec Bucket Trucks.

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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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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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Important Sources of Information About Dump Truck Sales!

Trucks are perhaps the most important heavy-duty vehicle at the current time. They are primarily employed in the transportation of material from one location to another.

Ample information regarding dump trucks can be collected through meaningful research. It is possible to identify a few good sources to get some helpful information in order to look for dump truck sales from a reputable dealer.

Web-based Information

The best source of information about the attributes and the multi-functionality of dump trucks can be found through online researching. There are many great sites that contain good data, details and specifics about used vehicles that is necessary for a business that is planning to purchase these vehicles from a dependable dealer. Browsing several websites to amass relevant material or visiting discussion forums and blogs is a great way to find out more about these vehicles. Online forums and blogs provide links that will lead to the websites of many different dealers. Moreover, the internet is a rapidly evolving source that is continuously updating its information.

Heavy-Duty Truck Magazines

Another good way to obtain information that is readily accessible to everyone is magazines. They are not only a good tool that provides the details and specifications of some of these heavy-duty vehicles but are also useful for other research. Reading these truck magazines may truly add to the learning experience of people who are seeking ideas to expand and improve their business. Therefore, reading magazines may not only help in the search for the proper used dump truck but may also prove to be an interesting and informative reading experience.

Magazines are widely available almost anywhere in the world. They can be obtained by means of subscription or by picking one up at a convenience store or kiosk that sells this type of magazine. Updated versions are released at scheduled times. They may be distributed every quarter, once a month or weekly.

Books

The original source of information is always the best. Books are great sources for facts about dump trucks. These publications contain extremely reliable facts about specific aspects of these vehicles such as pictures of parts and accessories. Books can provide a wealth of information that will assist in any purchasing process.

Local Auctions

Another popular way to find quality vehicles are through auctions. Many advantages can be gained by going to an auction. A wide range of options and services are readily available at these competitive sales. By attending local auctions that offer dump trucks sales, it will be easy to find interesting details about these vehicles and where the dealers are located.

These are just few of the ways to find important features about dump trucks. Asking friends, family, business associates, or neighbors about the most trusted dealers based on their own personal experience is a good way to get necessary information. The very best source of facts and details is the suggestions that are obtained from friends. The sources of information may vary from one point to another; eventually they all lead to a reliable and reputable dealer where the proper vehicle is waiting to be purchased. Be informed and the ability to find dump truck sales to fit business needs will take place!

Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. To find out more about Dump Truck Sales, go to the main website at: http://www.centraltrucksales.net/home.

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Choosing a Truck Driving Job Part II - You and "Your People" Are the Most Important Factor

In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we talked about different factors and considerations which will affect your experience at any company you go to work for, including:

The Elusive "Best Trucking Companies" and the Mythical "Perfect Trucking Company"
Competition and Politics Within Each Trucking Company
Different Divisions Working Together, or at Times, Working Against Each Other
Competition Within The Company

In part two, we're going to talk about people. Ask any member of any successful team, "What is it that made you so successful?" If they really understand the dynamics of any team, the answer is usually the same - "Having the right people". It's no different within trucking companies, which are indeed teams, although they may not always seem like it. You will likely discover that at any company there are people who don't like you, people who don't care about their jobs, and people who aren't very good at what they do. Does this sound like a team? Does the company seem to be functioning like a team? Well, the reality of it is simple - being on a team doesn't mean that everyone gets along, everyone cares about the team, and everyone is good at what they do. It simply means that everyone is working together to make the company function - even the jerks - which every team has.

So what you have to do at any trucking company is to make sure that you are the best driver you can be, the best person you can be, and surround yourself with the best people you can find. Even in a large company, there will only be a very small group of people that you will be working with directly. From the time you first head out on the road, there may only be 10-15 people that you ever have direct contact with for the entire first year! Having the right people is absolutely critical to your success and happiness at any trucking company you work for.

"Your People" Can Make All The Difference

So one of the biggest factors that determine whether or not you will be happy at a particular company will be the people you are surrounded with. If you have an outstanding dispatcher, almost any company can be a great one for you to work for. I've been there. If you're getting great miles, great loads, being treated well, and getting home on a good schedule, then the company is a great one to work for, right? Pretty much!

If you're not getting along with your dispatcher or he/she is not doing a good job, you're not going to get the loads you'd like to be getting and life at that company is not going to be good. Here's a huge piece of advice - get to know your dispatcher's boss! Understand that dispatchers in general do not have much authority. Normally, the load planners make the ultimate decision about which load the driver gets assigned to. At times, you're going to need more help. Often times your dispatcher's boss will have more pull with the load planners than your dispatcher will. If you get to know the boss, you may be able to get more help when help is needed. Maybe you're not getting enough miles. Maybe you keep getting stuck in the Northeast. Maybe you need to get home a little bit early or stay home a day longer. Your dispatcher will not always have the authority to make this happen - but the boss usually will. Get to know the boss and work together with your dispatcher and the boss as a team. If you really want things to go well for you, take the attitude that you will do favors for them first! Prove yourself as a driver. Run hard, be safe, and be reliable and they will normally take good care of you in return. If, on the other hand, you get stuck with a dispatcher that just doesn't care about the drivers, and believe me there are some like that, then that same boss is the one you will turn to when you'd like to try working with a different dispatcher.

Always keep in mind that there will not always be good freight available, either. Some of the factors that will greatly affect the amount of freight available at any given time include:


The economy
The region of the country you are in
The day of the week it is
The time of the year
The number of drivers in your area waiting on loads
and a whole assortment of other factors

You have to take the good with the bad and understand that things won't always go your way.

The driver's work ethic and attitude

This is the most important factor of all. Over the years I came to realize that most companies can be good companies to work for if you understand the things I've said above, the things I will say in the next few parts in this series, and you are a kick ass driver! But if you're lazy, hard to get along with, unreliable, unsafe, inflexible, or have unreasonable expectations, you will not be treated well by your company and you will not be happy working there.

Whenever a driver would approach me in a truckstop and complain about how horrible the company is that he/she works for, the first question I always asked myself is "what is this driver doing wrong?" Is it always the driver's fault when things aren't going well? Of course not! Some companies are just crappy companies to work for. Or at least, some of the people within those companies are crappy to work with - like certain dispatchers or load planners. But the vast majority of the time, whenever a driver complained about their company and I sat down and listened for a little while, the truth would eventually come out. Often times it was things like:

I've told them I want to be home every friday by 5:00 and they don't do it half the time
I told them I hate the northeast and they keep sending me there
I'm from Florida and I hate the snow. I don't wanna drive in it and I told them I won't
I can't see good at night and I told them I don't like driving at night and they keep giving me loads that I can't deliver on time
I hate driving through the mountains and I told them keep me in the midwest but they won't

I always thought, "SHOCKING! that things aren't going well for you! You've stated your demands so clearly!" Obviously you're seeing the pattern here. The driver feels his/her demands aren't being met so is refusing to do anything he/she doesn't want to do. I've seen this over and over a thousand times. Sit down and listen to the drivers that are unhappy and 90% of the time it's their own fault. They aren't willing to do the things that other drivers are willing to do to get the job done for the company. And hey, this is coming from a truck driver!!!! If I was a dispatcher or a load planner for 15 years, that would be totally different. But I drove for 15 years and I'm telling you that most of the time the driver either doesn't get along with people or doesn't understand the trucking industry in general, how it works, and what is expected of him.

Unreasonable driver expectations in my opinion is the number one reason for the high turnover rate in the industry, and the number one reason that those drivers that are unhappy, are unhappy. Not always of course. And much of the turnover can be traced to poor company policies or poor employees within these companies. But knowing what you can do to help yourself as a driver is the most important thing that will influence your driving career. If you will do your job, most of the time things will work out well.

Do These Things And You Will Be Much Better Off:

Be safe
Be efficient
Be cooperative
Be very patient
Work hard
Communicate well with your company
Prove yourself as a driver first, ask favors second
Learn to understand your company and the trucking industry in general
Surround yourself with the right people
Get to know the right people
Have discipline
Be responsible
Take the good with the bad
Learn to handle that rig like a Jedi!
Learn all of the factors that affect the freight you will get, like:


The economy
The season of the year
The region you are in
You're ability as a driver
The company's freight lanes
the people you surround yourself with
your attitude
and many others...

If you understand these things and you're doing your job the best you can, then overall you will be in a good position to succeed at any company you drive for. In the next few parts of this series we'll talk about some of the factors in your life that will help you determine the best type of job for you.

I sure hope you'll leave some comments on this post, and all of our posts. Your comments help us improve the site and put up the content that will help you the most! Thanks a lot!

About The Author

Brett R Aquila
15 Year Truck Driving Veteran
Owner - http://www.truckingtruth.com - the largest, most honest, and informative site on the web for those considering becoming a truck driver. We have tons of resources on our site, including:

Trucking Articles Trucking Driving Blogs From Many Different Authors Truck Driving Schools Free Truck Driving Schools Truck Driver's Forum Truck Driving Jobs Companies With CDL Training Advice, Tips, and Stories And Much More!

You can even make money with your own blog on TruckingTruth! We have several authors and are always looking for many more! So if you're considering becoming a truck driver, TruckingTruth is the place to go. You will not be disappointed!