Fire Extinguishers are Required Safety Equipment for your Truck(s)!

Fire extinguishers are required by law on all trucks, truck tractors, and buses - except those in driveaway-towaway operations. Per the Code of Federal Regulations 393.95:

A power unit that is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding (see 177.823) must be equipped with a fire extinguisher having an Underwriters' Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more.

A power unit that is not used to transport hazardous materials must be equipped with either:

• A fire extinguisher having an Underwriters' Laboratories rating of 5 B:C or more
• Two fire extinguishers, each of which has an Underwriters' Laboratories rating of 4 B:C or more

The fire extinguisher(s) must be filled and located so that it is readily available for use. The extinguisher(s) must be securely mounted to prevent sliding, rolling, or vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle.

Not only should you be carrying and mounting fire extinguishers as per the law, you should also know how they work, what the ratings mean, and be sure to know how to use them should the need arise.

Classification of Fire Extinguishers:

Class A: used for ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, plastics, and textiles.

Class B: used for flammable liquid and gas fires, such as oil and gasoline. They deprive the fire of oxygen and interrupt the fire chain.

Class C: used on fires that involve electrical equipment, which means that the fire extinguisher uses electronically nonconductive materials.

Class D: used on combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, sodium, and others).

For trucks, buses, and truck tractors not transporting hazardous materials, one extinguisher rated 5 B:C or more or two extinguishers rated 4 B:C or more are required. This means that the extinguishers are rated for classes B and C fires - Class B meaning it/they can be used on flammable liquids and gases, and class C meaning that it/they can be used on electrical equipment. The 4 and 5 mean that the extinguisher has 4 or 5 square feet of coverage. 

Your truck must have a fire extinguisher (or two, depending on how you are meeting the legal requirement) and it must be securely mounted and easily accessible. You can't just throw the extinguisher behind your seat or leave it covered with tools in your toolbox. If your truck doesn't meet or exceed the legal guidelines, we offer fire extinguishers and mounting equipment to meet your needs. If you are looking for something specific and can't find it on our site, call us at 1-866-490-7278 and we'll help you find what you need.

At East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales, we strive to make your job safer and easier everyday. We have a variety of available safety equipment for your truck. No matter what truck you drive, we have the parts you need. Check out our towing parts, car hauling parts, DOT compliant Hi Vis Gear, or view our great selection of specials today!

Why Your Business Needs Customer Reviews

Your Best Salesperson Should Tell Your Story

You know your company has the very best product and/or service in the industry; however, no one seems to know this but you. In this era of frenzied business competition, how do you make sure people know what you do for your customers? Of the many forms of advertising and marketing, only one can change how someone "feels" about your company. Only one speaks to people, because it's by a real person. Your best salesperson should tell your story. You need your customers to share their stories - you need customer reviews, testimonials, and recommendations. With these references, you are now the star, instead of simply another player on the field.

There is no doubt that it can be difficult to get great customer reviews - if you simply sit back and wait for them. While customers may indeed love what you do for them, it's always hard to get someone to submit a great review on their own, and especially if you give them nowhere to do so. Negative reviews seem to be another story - we'll get to those later.

The truth is you have to ask for customer reviews. Somewhere you have an email list of people your company deals with. Write a personalized email (no bulk emails) to your customers asking for their thoughts on your products/services. When you get a good review back; and you will, simply ask the customer if it would be OK to use their review. Happy customers will likely agree to this, as they already appreciate what you do for them, and probably wouldn't mind influencing others as well. It's simply human nature to be an influencer. It makes us feel good about our purchasing decision when people act on what we tell them. With permission, use those reviews on your web pages, literature, and anywhere people see your company in public.

If you don't have time for this, find someone that does. Much as referrals carry weight for job interviewees, they are essential to your business for the same reason. Each customer interaction is an interview. You are "hired" or "fired" on the purchaser's review of your business' resume. If it is filled with recommendations, chances are good you'll be getting the job.

The beauty of this customer review system is that it also allows you the chance to correct any problems your company might also have. As much as we dislike getting negative feedback, it is a necessary part of business. Each one should be viewed as an opportunity. If you get a negative review from a customer, and it truly was something that was your fault, and an area you can improve upon; do so. Then communicate the steps taken to the customer. You become a stronger company with every review - be it negative or positive.

With that said, we at East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales would love to hear from you. Please leave a review on Facebook, Google, or contact us and let us know about your experience and what we can do to improve our relationship with you. As stated above, our best sales person is a happy customer.