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ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The Truckload Carriers Association has opened up nominations for their popular Best Fleets to Drive For survey once again.
The survey-slash-contest requires owner-operators and company drivers to nominate the fleets they drive for — that's not only a good way to get on your boss's good side, it could also be good for your paycheck as the annual driver pay at past finalists has risen by at least 10 percent over the past five years.
But it ain't no pick-a-winner-out-of-the-hat type contest.
After a company is nominated and chooses to continue with the survey and contest, its "policies and processes are scrutinized, from benefits and professional development, to driver and community support, to safety record and company culture," TCA explained.
Last year's Best Overall Fleet for Company Drivers was Grand Island Express out of Nebraska. According to Grand Island President Tom Pirnie, the competition "forces a carrier to examine, in depth, its recruiting, HR policies, procedures and benefits. A review of maintenance and safety practices and results is also necessary."
And that's a good thing, even if you don't win. "The whole process will give you a benchmark as to how you compare to your competition. It will bring positive change to your company," Pirnie said. "The competition can supply renewed energy and focus on company improvements. Setting goals and working on improvements can upgrade the communications and morale of all the associates, including the drivers themselves. Winning or placing in the top 20 creates company pride and unity."
The deadline to nominate your company is November 1, 2013, and you can get the forms here.
And don't forget about the all-Canadian version of Best Fleets to Drive For, expected sometime in 2014.
If you drive a big truck, you know the importance of maintenance and the occasional need of replacing parts. This can be a very expensive endeavor, to purchase new parts every time you need them. A good way to save money is to purchase used heavy truck parts. Used parts are a good choice for the trucker doing their own repair work and also for repair work that is done in a shop. Some shop owners will offer used parts to help save money.
Challenges of Buying Used Parts
The biggest challenge will be in finding a decent big truck salvage yard with the right kind of used heavy truck parts. Many will have smaller vehicles, but not big rig parts. You will have to locate a yard with your particular make and model. This isn't an easy or quick task. You may have to search far to find the exact parts you need.
The other challenge in buying used, is that the parts will not be guaranteed or come with a warranty like a new part. That's the price of buying used. But, the cost savings over the new parts are worth the time and trouble, to locate the right parts that work.
It helps to be knowledgeable with the mechanics of your big truck in order to find the right parts. You will know what to look for, if you are mechanically inclined. You will save yourself a lot of future trouble if you know to avoid certain things. Repairing a semi truck isn't like repairing a small car.
There are a lot of different situations you may encounter along the way on any repair job. One challenge is that if you drive an older rig, you will have to find a used part, rather than a new one for replacement because the part is no longer manufactured. This is why big truck salvage yards are in demand.
The main reason it is so hard to find a salvage yard for big trucks is because it truckers tend to keep the trucks even when they are inoperable. Very few trucks actually end up in the yards, so used parts can be extremely hard to find. When a big truck needs to be repaired, it's normally a time issue and the repair needs to be made as soon as possible. Many times if a truck is wrecked, instead of hauling it to a salvage yard, the owner may keep it and piece it out themselves, or just park it, because it is cheaper than having it towed to a salvage yard.
Buyer Beware
These parts can present issues from a big truck salvage yard: engines, axles, alternators, rear ends, transmissions, and fuel tanks. These are risky purchases especially if you don't know the history of the truck. This is why it is wise to either have some mechanical knowledge or have someone with you who is experienced with the mechanics of big trucks. You will want to ensure these parts are functioning and won't give any trouble down the road.
Catherine MacMillan is the editor of http://www.smart-trucking.com/ - covering many aspects of the trucking industry. Find out more about Big Truck Salvage at her site.
There are weigh in stations called ports at many locations where trucks have to pull in by law. The amount of time it takes to complete the process depends on how many trucks are in front of you and what they plan to do. Trucks can randomly be pulled aside to be inspected, and this can quickly eat away at the amount of time you have left to get your delivery to its destination.
An innovative way to get around this hassle is to enroll in the Prepass program. This will allow you to save time, fuel, and money. With the Prepass program you have a monitor in your cab that is read by the port. The information for their truck is recorded electronically so the driver is not required to pull into the station.
The electronic signal in the cab is activated approximately one mile before the semi truck approaches the exit for the port. The information about the truck and the weight of the truck and the load are sent to the terminal. Once this has all been processed the driver will get a green light in their cab and they can proceed.
If for some reason the information can’t be read or there is a problem with the information the driver will get a red light, and they have to stop. There are also some types of loads that have to stop regardless of the Prepass process being in place. These specifications vary by state so make sure you are aware of them if you driver over the road. For example some states require all oversized loads to stop at the port and others require all trucks hauling hazardous materials to stop.
Not everyone is eligible to get a Prepass authorization though. Each individual has to be carefully reviewed based on their length of time with a CDL, their driving record, and even the overall record of the carrier that the individual is employed for even if they are an owner operator. Prepass has the right to revoke authorization at any time when they are conducting reviews. This means if any of your credentials that earned you approval have changed you may no longer be eligible to use the service.
A Prepass transmitter and program only costs $15.49 per month, and it can be paid monthly or annually by mail or online. It is very convenient to purchase and most truck drivers will tell you that the amount of time and fuel they save each month is much more than what they pay for the Prepass.
Most employers who have fleets of trucks will even cover the cost as it adds up to big savings for them as well. Owner operators will have to pay the charge on their own, but it is an eligible deduction for income tax purposes.
There are currently more than 415,000 semi trucks in the United States using the Prepass option. There is no cost for the transponder that goes into the cab of the truck. It is very easy to place the transponder on the windshield of the truck without damaging it in any way. There is also no lengthy contract that has to be signed. The customer can cancel their Prepass agreement at any time and simply return the equipment and pay their outstanding bill in full.
If you are interested in signing up for the Prepass program you can contact them for an application to be mailed to you. They also have one online that you can submit electronically. As soon as they can verify all of the information on the application and get your account approved you will be sent the transponder and instructions for installing it. If your application is denied you will be notified of the reason why by mail as soon as the decision has been made.
When it comes to driving a truck, there are plenty of expenses that come with the territory. The bottom line for a truck driver is the gross amount of money he or she makes less their expenses. Cutting down on various expenses can really help to increase the amount of revenue they are able to keep for themselves.
The most expensive investment for a truck driver is the truck so getting a good deal on a quality piece of equipment is important. The industry tends to have an abundance of used trucks on lots and you can get one that is in good condition for a reasonable price. New trucks are more expensive but they come with a better warranty and you have the peace of mind that it hasn’t been through too much wear and tear.
Getting a good interest rate on your truck is going to lower the cost of your overall payments. It is a good idea to pay extra on your truck towards the principal when you can. This will help you to pay it offer sooner and it will reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Investing both time and money in routine maintenance is a good way to save money. Your truck will run better with regular oil changes and taking the time to check over all your hoses and lines will prevent you from having to buy expense parts on the road. Having the right amount of air in the tires will also save you on fuel expenses.
Pay close attention to the cost of fuel when you are driving over the road. You may be able to save several cents per gallon by going to another truck stop. Many of the chain truck stops offer fuel cards that will also save you money. Each time you use your card you can save a few cents per gallon. They can also offer a points system where you can buy meals or other items from inside.
Showers can become expensive for truck drivers, with many truck stops charging up to $7 for one. Most of them offer the shower for free if you get a set amount of gallons of fuel. It may be more cost effective to get fuel each morning instead of filling up at one location so you can take advantage of free showers. That is one expense that really adds up fast.
Food is another cost that truck drivers find puts a dent in their wallet. It is a good investment to get a small refrigerator for your cab. You can store lunch meat, fruits, snacks, and drinks in there. This is also more convenient than having to stop to get something to it. This will also help you eat healthier because many truck stops offer fast food options as well as a restaurant.
Truck drivers do need some hot meals though, and these can be eaten at any truck stop restaurant. There are also small stove tops that operate on butane you can buy for your truck. They work great for heating up meals you can enjoy in your truck instead of having to pay for a meal in the restaurant.
There are plenty of personal supplies a truck driver needs to carry with them. Paying for these items at a truck stop is very expensive. Pack plenty of soap, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, and razors so you won’t run out. You should also carry plenty of clothing so that you don’t have to pay to do laundry at truck stops.
A good way to prepare is to pack a very large duffle bag with all of your travel supplies. Carry a smaller duffle bag with one change of clothes, your personal hygiene items, and a couple of towels. You can conveniently carry in the small duffle bag and leave the majority of your supplies in your truck. This is also a good safety measure in case you happen to leave your bag behind.
