Autumn Safety for Commercial Drivers

Autumn Safety for Commercial Drivers

Leaves on the Road

While the fall foliage is breathtaking enough to bring tourists out in droves, they're sure to be a pain once they hit the pavement. Especially after it rains, they can stick to the pavement and cause slippery conditions. The leaves may not be the only thing on the road, either - they can hide other more dangerous debris as well. If you see leaf patches on the road, slow down and avoid sudden breaking or swerving, since the leaves can cause hydroplaning or force your swerve into a spin. After safely navigating the area, be sure to call highway patrol or local authorities to alert them to the leaf debris so they can address potential hazards.

Shorter Days - Longer Nights

The sun is already setting earlier each day. Less daylight means more travelling in the dark. Most drivers know that nighttime driving is inherently more dangerous, so remember your nighttime driving tips. Make sure all of your lights are operational before every trip, and that your headlights are in good condition. Increase your following distance - distance judgments are more difficult at night for both you and other drivers on the road. Check your mirrors frequently and be sure to keep them and your windshield and other glass clean.

Harvest Time

Fall is harvest season, and across the United States farmers will be gearing up for the annual harvest. In some states this process has already begun - with more tractors, combines, and trucks on the road. Tractors in particular more extremely slowly - other drivers should be aware of their presence and only pass when no other traffic is present. It can be a pain to be stuck behind a slow moving tractor while waiting for a chance to pass, but risking an accident is not worth it.

Winter is Just Around the Corner

It may not feel like it, but in a few weeks most of the United States will start feeling the chill of winter. While the holidays might still seem far off now, it is best to start preparing for weather before it gets here. You never know when you'll get an early frost or snowfall. Truckers should be prepared for icy conditions in addition to slick leaves and other dangers. Also be sure to check your maintenance schedule and make sure your truck is good to go.

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales is here for you - we'll help you find any parts you need. Supplying you with the everyday tools you need to get the job done safer and easier is our number one priority. We carry OEM Jerr-Dan parts, Hi Vis Gear, lighting and electrical parts, DOT compliant work safety equipment, and more! Check out all of our towing parts online or give our experts a call today at 1-866-490-7278!

ELD Data Collection May Help Truckers Avoid Roadside Inspections

Data Collected May Help the Trucking Industry in Other Ways

Mention ELDs in any freight yard or truck stop and you are bound to hear to a wide array of opinions from those that praise them to those whose language is best left out of print. The fact is that they are with us to stay and thanks to some of the data mining experts at 'Keep Truckin', you might find they are a more valuable asset than you would have ever believed.No one in the trucking industry, carrier or driver, benefits from time spent going through roadside inspections, especially, a time-consuming Level 1 inspections.

'Keep Truckin' has discovered that by carefully studying information collected by their units that the risk of being subjected to this nuisance can be greatly reduced.

The company began by focusing on four key areas:

• Inspections by cargo types
• How violations vary from state to state
• Most common types of violatons
• Time period of inspections

Inspection by Cargo Types

Shoaib Makani, CEO and founder of 'Keep Truckin' explained: "Nobody actually notices it, but the fact is that certain cargo types do get a lot more Level-1 inspections. There can be many factors at play, but we analyzed all data from 2016, and a few categories kept coming on top. We hope fleets can use this information to maintain smoother operations and prepare their vehicles for Level-1 inspections." 

Carriers Most Likely to be Inspected in Descending Order are:

1. Driveaway-Towaway operations
2. Fresh produce
3. Chemicals
4. Household goods
5. General freight

The least likely to be inspected are those carrying coal, coke, or livestock.

How Violatons Vary State to State

While the regulations contained in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) are supposed to be uniformly used in the calculation of BASIC scores. Research by the American Transportation Institute has determined otherwise and this finding is supported by the ELD data.

Makani noted - "Violations are a big problem for fleets and CMV drivers. With our data, we found that different states may have varying degrees of strictness. And, if you are operating in states like Connecticut, Idaho, and Louisiana, you need to be more vigilant. Having proper tracking systems and electronic logs in place can help fleets and drivers prevent violations."

Most Common Types of Violations

Noting the above, it should not be a surprise that the most commonly cited violations also vary from state to state. But it was discovered that overall the most commonly occurring violations were:

1. All mandatory lamps should be capable of being operated at all times (704,167 violations).
2. Parts and accessories must be in safe and proper operating condition at all times (293,118 violations).
3. Every commercial motor vehicle must be operated in accordance with the laws, ordinances, and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is being operated (190,337 violations).
4. The motor vehicle should be free of oil and grease leaks (189,981 violations).
5. The pushrod stroke must not be greater than the values specified (181,320 violations).

Time Period of Inspections

Perhaps the most valuable bit of information that can be discovered from studying ELD reports is that depending on your location the majority of inspections seem to occur during set time periods.

As examples, 'Keep Truckin' offered this breakdown from the State of Kansas. In Johnson County, 78.6% of inspections occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, in Belleville, KS, 80% of inspections take place between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. In Sedgwick County, 53% of inspections are between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. 

Being aware of what inspectors are most focused on for a given location and the times that your rigs are most likely to be inspected can be invaluable in maintaining a positive safety score. After all the easiest check to pass is the one you never drive into.

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales will guarantee the BEST customer service and the BEST price on your towing parts and car hauler parts. Getting the right part for the job is critical in the towing and auto transport industries - which is why we carry a variety of products that are safe and efficient and will fit your needs. Shop online for towing supplies, auto transport supplies, or give us a call at 1-866-490-7278 today! We focus on providing you with great products and service to help grow your business. 

Hi Vis Clothing is a Must for Today's Work and Play

Most towing professionals, car haulers, and other commercial drivers know about Hi Vis clothing– and when they must wear it. Some people call them reflective vests – some call them safety jackets. Most truck drivers know that they should always wear it – because it could save your life by making you more visible while you’re working on the road. Hi Visibility clothing isn’t just for emergency responders, towing professionals, and road crews – anyone working on state or national roadways in the United States is required to wear Class 2 or Class 3 ANSI/ISEA approved hi visibility clothing.

So who is required to wear Hi Visibility Gear? Accident site investigators, airport baggage handlers and ground crew, car haulers, emergency responders (including Police, Fire, and EMS), Forestry workers, Miners, Parking workers and toll-gate personnel, paving crews, railway workers, survey and flagging crews, towing professionals, and utility workers. Hi Visibility apparel is also recommended for bicyclists and motorcyclists since it makes them more visible in roadways. Hi Vis vests, Hi Vis t-shirts, Hi Vis jackets, and Hi Vis rain gear are all great choices to make sure you’re seen on the road.

Remember – Hi Visibility garments are made that way and certified by manufacturers for a reason… because adding reflective stripes to uniforms or other garments does NOT make them ANSI compliant. Hi Vis Clothing must offer high visibility during daylight and nighttime hours and must have one of the fluorescent colors as the background: Lime Green, Orange, or Red – in order to meet the standard. There are additional requirements as well about the types of materials used and how bright and/or reflective the materials are.

Take a few minutes to check your Hi Visibility vest, t-shirt, jacket, or pants occasionally to make sure that they are still in good condition, that all of the reflective tape still works properly, and that there are no rips and tears that might disqualify your gear from meeting the ANSI/ISEA standards.

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales offers customizable GSS Safety Hi Vis Gear – vests, t-shirts, jackets, and pants – with NO minimum order. Add your logo to your Hi Vis gear for a competitive price!

GSS Safety is a manufacturer specializing in ANSI-ISEA approved Hi-Visibility apparel: including vests, t-shirts, waterproof jackets, waterproof rain gear, and accessories. GSS products have been tested by most international standards and each of their products

These products are made with premium materials and are both durable and affordable. Ripstop fabrics are offered with some styles, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. GSS offers a selection of Hi Vis gear with Comfort Reflective Tape, which provides more flexibility over solid tape.

Check out the full selection of available Hi-Vis gear online or give us a call at 1-866-490-7278 to order your customized Hi Vis apparel today!

Training Announcement: National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training

Law Enforcement - Fire - EMS - Transportation - Towing & Recovery - Communications

A new coordinated, multi-disciplinary training program developed through the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) is available for all emergency responders and those supporting traffic incident management operations. This training puts police, firefighters, state and local departments of transportation, towing and recovery professionals, medical personnel, and other incident responders on the same page, leading to a safer, faster, integrated responder team.

Save Lives

– Faster incident response and clearance times result in fewer secondary crashes.

– Training results in less exposure of responder team to moving traffic during recovery.

Save Money

– Less congestion leads to fewer freight and travel delays in backups.

– Fewer secondary crashes save on insurance claims.

– Faster cleanups lead to cost savings for incident personnel.

Save Time

– Smarter response techniques cut congestion clearance time – decreasing delays.

Training is provided at NO COST. Receive 4 hours of in-service credit through DCIS, OEMS, OR VDFP. 

Date: September 16, 2017

Time: 8:00am – 12:00pm

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales

2906 Elmhurst Lane – Portsmouth VA 23701

To Register, contact: Jim Stanek at James.Stanek@VDOT.virginia.gov

*When registering, please provide agency, rank, name, and email address*

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales is your Auto Transport Equipment and Towing Parts Superstore. We have been a part of the towing and auto transport communities for more than two decades. Stop by our store at 2906 Elmhurst Lane, Portsmouth VA 23701 and check out our wide selection of wreckers and rollbacks.  You’ll find the highest quality products to keep you on the road and earning money. We offer custom length towing chains, time saving 4 point tie-down systems, and led light bars.

Come Visit Us at the Dallas Tow Show!

Come visit us at the Dallas Tow Expo!! We are at Booth 627. The tow show is being held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX 76051.

Tow Show hours are Friday 8/18 and Saturday 8/19 11:00AM - 5:00PM. We have great deals and would love to meet and greet our customers in person. Hope to see you there!

SmartLINQ - Peterbilt's Built-In Monitoring System

Here to Help You Stay on the Road

SmartLINQ is a factory installed diagnostic system in all new Peterbilt trucks – including all of the new Petes on our lot!! – and it is designed to help you stay on the road. SmartLINQ helps drivers, fleet owners, and vehicle service and maintenance coordinators by remotely keeping track of engine and aftertreatment diagnostic codes, notifying the appropriate parties of problems that need to be addressed, and instantly giving the driver an easy to understand alert with directions on how to proceed.

The online portal for SmartLINQ, through PACCAR, allows the fleet owner or truck maintenance person to view all of the fleet’s trucks color coded to show their current engine health, allows for customized notifications 24/7/365 of alerts from trucks, and tracks the vehicles through North America.

All new Peterbilt trucks come with a complimentary two-year subscription (longer with applicable warranties) to SmartLINQ. Whenever repairs are needed, SmartLINQ provides contact information for the closest three Peterbilt dealerships in order to get the repair handled quickly and efficiently. The system can be set to connect with these dealerships automatically so they can be prepared for you with the necessary parts and service to get you back on the road.

Drivers will see easy to understand fault codes that say whether they can keep running as normal, seek repairs immediately, or stop engine immediately, depending on the severity of the engine or aftertreatment issue. SmartLINQ will, at the same time, send their information to the PACCAR back office, which generates the email notifications via user-friendly text and graphics to convey the problem and what needs to be done to solve it.

SmartLINQ is designed with you in mind: affording maximum up-time, streamlining fleet service management, and ensuring trucks are running at their best so you can keep on truckin’.

More information about SmartLINQ

Need a new Pete? Check out ourinventory online or call 1-800-849-2178!

East Coast Truckand Trailer Sales – Our Sales Team is Here to Serve You!

U.S. Senate to Consider Bill Opposing Increases in FET

H.R. 2946: Heavy Truck, Tractor, and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2017

A new bill has been introduced to U.S. Congress that will seek to repeal the federal excise tax (FET), which is at present 12 percent. The FET on heavy duty trucks dates back to 1917 when it was introduced to defray the cost of World War I. The tax on new heavy duty trucks later grew from 3 percent in 1917 up to the 12 percent we see today.

The 12 percent FET on the purchase of heavy duty trucks is a burdensome tax – higher than taxes for all other vehicles, and when combined with recent federal emissions and fuel-economy mandates, can add up to thousands of extra dollars when purchasing a new truck. At its present 12 percent, the FET depresses heavy duty truck sales and, as a result, slows companies from replacing their old fleets with new cleaner and more fuel-efficient trucks.

Truck purchase prices have been hiked which directly impacts the cost of food, consumer goods, as well as other products. “This is taxation on American jobs”, said the bipartisan group of U.S. House members led by Sen. Cory Gardner. The truck FET affects more than 1,800 commercial truck dealers in America and the National Automobile Dealers Association and American Truck Dealers which has over 7.3 million Americans employed in the U.S. trucking industry. The difficulty and complexity of administering FET forces truck dealers to spend their time and effort navigating complicated IRS regulations associated with collecting the tax.

The move has the full backing of American Truck Dealers, commercial trucking, towing, and auto transport companies and should be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee when they draft legislation to reform the overall tax code.

Given the current financial condition of the Highway Trust Fund, and the possibility of an infrastructure bill, increasing the FET remains a prospect. Lately, reports published by different government and NGO gatherings have proposed expanding this tax by an extra 1 to 10 percent. However, Congress should oppose any further increase in the FET and consider lowering it if not eliminating FET to deal with detrimental impacts on safety, the environment, and the trucking industry. Congress should include H.R. 2946 in its upcoming tax reform bill. Lowering or – hopefully – eliminating the FET will help the industry grow.

East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales has a huge selection of trucks and trailers on the lot – we have what you’re looking for. Check out our car haulers, wreckers, and rollbacks in inventory today and give us a call at 1-800-849-2178. Our in house finance department works with over 30 different lender types to get you on the road faster. Let us get you in the truck you need today!