Trucking Business

Contrary to what you may have heard, you won’t be able to run 2,000 pounds overweight in Wyoming.

Recent trucking publications have put out some information that can be easily misinterpreted. The publications indicate that Wyoming will allow overweight trucks 2,000 pounds for chains, tarps and donnage. That 2,000 pounds only applies to non-divisible loads- permited loads and/or super loads. If your load is divisible, you don’t get the allowance.

Enforcement officers at both the Evanston I 80 east bound port of entry and at the Cheyenne I 80 west bound port of entry confirm that the 2,000 pound weight tolerance applies only to non-divisible loads.
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Tags: Overweight, Wyoming, Trucking Publications, Overweight Trucks, Non-divisible Loads, Enforcement Officers, Weight Tolerance

Any trucker will tell you, it’s no fun to be broke down on the side of the road. A road call from a truck shop service truck or a tow by a heavy wrecker can be extremely costly. A truck driver who knows his truck and carries the right supplies may keep a road side break down from turning into a massive road expense.

For a trucker who doesn’t know much about his engine, it’s a good idea to spend some time in the truck shop asking questions if the mechanic seems approachable. Some mechanic shops will run you out but many don’t mind questions so long as you’re trying to learn (as opposed to trying to tell the mechanic how to do his job). Even if your engine is under warranty, that warranty won’t do you much good on the side of the road- and any dealership that’s worth it’s salt will let you turn the busted parts in later as warranty returns.
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The consensus was “we don’t support toll increases no matter how minor” at the first of three public hearings on the Ohio Turnpike Commission’s proposed toll rate increases .

For truckers, the proposed increases are fairly small- $2.50 increase across the board for the trucking classes. Class 8 and 9 trucks (65,001-90,000 lbs) currently pay $31.00 to travel the length of the Ohio toll road. Class 6 and 7 trucks (42,001-65,000 lbs) currently pay $25.75. But no trucker wants to pay more. Read the rest of this entry »

That’s the slogan for this year’s CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) Brake Safety Week [PDF File]. From August 27 through September 2, 2006, the CVSA is focusing on brake safety. This is part of the CVSA’s annual Operation Air Brake Campaign.

Anyone who has seen a truck driver flying down the Grapevine, Black Mountain, Snoqualmie, or any other well-known down grade with a trail of smoke behind him and terror in his eyes knows the importance of good brakes. We all know the smell of burning brakes- which can be avoided by planning for the down grade and using engine brakes when your truck brakes are in good condition. But if your tractor or trailer brakes go, nothing is going to stop you except- if you’re lucky- a truck escape ramp. Keeping your brakes adjusted is just plain smart. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are paying the heavy use tax ( IRS Form 2290 PDF ) in 2006 and plan to sell your truck during the tax period, you’ll have a pleasant surprise starting this year. You can apply for a credit when you sell the truck- meaning you’ll get a pro-rated portion of the tax back.

In previous years, you had to pay the $550 tax and if you sold your truck during the tax period, you did not get anything back. You could provide the form to the person you sold the truck to so that they didn’t have to pay the tax in addition to what you already paid. But once you paid the tax, your money was gone.

Now if you sell your truck, you can apply for a credit on the money you paid out. This also applies to trucks that were destroyed in a wreck or that were stolen. This policy is in effect for the tax period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. It does not apply to trucks sold, destroyed or stolen prior to July 1, 2006.
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If you’re looking for fuel in Bakersfield, Ca, over the weekend, don’t look at the Flying J.

The Flying J website currently lists the Bakersfield, California, location as “out” of fuel. But in reality, they are digging up the fuel islands to comply with the ever-changing California laws.

The truck stop has a wide area around the fuel islands that is roped off with cones and caution tape, but truckers have been knocking the cones down and heading up to the fuel islands for easy parking. The entrance to the truck stop is extremely cramped when the cones and caution tape are set up.

The manager at the Flying J says the pumps should be up and running on Monday, July 17. Anyone needing to fuel there would be wise to call ahead and check, however. The number is 661-392-5300. Or you can check online at www.flyingj.com.

Gasoline and RV islands are not included in the construction. RVs will not be able to purchase diesel until the construction is completed.

Tags: Bakersfield, Flying J, California, Truck Stop, RVs, Diesel

A driver who needs to send or receive a fax on the road will find that one page can cost more than a cup of coffee…

Prices to send and receive faxes are sky high at truck stops. Let’s face it; they have a fairly captive audience. Big rigs can’t just park in the lot for the local copy store and send a fax. And very few truckers have fax capability in their trucks.

These are some options truckers have for faxing from the road:
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Tags: Fax, Truck Stops, Truckers