Keeping on top of changes in the trucking industry is quite a job. Weigh stations, construction zones, and trucking industry regulations keep many truckers scratching their heads. Listed here are some recent updates to help truckers navigate the roadways.
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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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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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Thumbs down to Stephen Franklin and Darnell Little, the authors of the Chicago Tribune article Bone-Weary Haulers Raise Risks on Road (subheading: As truckers struggle to make ends meet, they push the limits of endurance and highway safety).
The article, published December 10, 2006, uses anecdotal stories, incomplete statistics and ignorance of the trucking lifestyle to paint truckers as sleepy menaces. A more appropriate title for the article might be “The Hassles Truckers Handle Make Trucking Hard.” But that wouldn’t be nearly as eye-catching. Read the rest of this entry »
You may start noticing IdleAire representatives writing down information on trucks that are idling in the truck stop parking lot.
IdleAire is doing a survey of idling trucks and, as part of the survey, IdleAire reps will be writing down DOT numbers and unit numbers of the idling trucks. According to IdleAire customer service, IdleAire reps will be writing down the information on idling trucks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until further notice. IdleAire employees received and email with the information about the idling survey. Read the rest of this entry »
Trucking and taxes go hand-in-hand. But trucking companies and owner operators in trucking who have an ICC number or who are leased to a carrier that has an ICC number can save on sales tax in some states.
Some states, like Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire, have no sales tax at all for any retail purchases. Read the rest of this entry »
You drive your truck and I’ll drive mine. That tends to be the code of the road among truckers. But now, the American Trucking Association (ATA) doesn’t want you to drive your own truck. They want the government to start making more decisions for you. And that doesn’t sit to well with many drivers and owner operators.
The ATA proudly announced this month that they petitioned the US DOT, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to limit the maximum speed of heavy trucks to 68 miles per hour in the interests of safety. Read the rest of this entry »
If you have to ask that question, you’re probably not a trucker. A weigh station is not a place to get your car or boat or camper weighed. It’s a place where the states enforce federal and state weight regulations. It’s also where the states enforce log book (hours of service) regulations and permit requirements such as IFTA, registration, and various state permits.
There are different types of stations truckers have to deal with. There’s your plain, ol’ regular weigh station- such as you‘ll find in Ohio, Illinois, Georgia and most other states. There are ports of entry- such as you‘ll find in Wyoming, Arizona and Utah. There are agricultural inspections- such as you’ll find in Florida and California. There are immigration check points- found mostly in the southwest. There are check stations and random roadside inspections and pull-out areas- which you‘ll find scattered throughout the country in unmarked and mostly unknown locations. You can’t count on “the enforcers” being where you expect them to be at all times.
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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 »
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