The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was created to minimize the amount of commercial motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths. To hold or obtain a commercial driver’s license , CDL, a driver must pass drug and alcohol tests periodically. Drug and Alcohol Testing • FMCSA regulations require CDL holders to pass…
The trucking industry uses its own specific terms to communicate within the industry and to the freight industry at large. There are terms for all of the tools, gear, drivers and other workers who are associated with trucking. Just like any other industry, the trucking industry has borrowed terms from…
The truck driving profession is one that is least hit by unemployment, and thus is a popular choice for many who need steady income and job security. Anyone can become a truck driver, however, getting the best training can be a challenge. Read on to find out more about truck…
Truckers who own their own rigs lose money when they don’t have freight loads. Income is lost when the truck is not running or driven empty. Finding a freight load available near the location where the last load was dropped is essential. Working with a freight broker or online load…
When using a freight broker to arrange a load, verification of the broker’s surety bond is essential. You can get bond information online, but the FMCSA can’t tell you if the bond has pending claimants. The best way to determine satisfactory bond coverage is to contact the freight broker’s bonding…
An owner operator is a truck driver who owns his own truck and operates as an independent contractor for a variety of companies. An owner operator chooses his own loads, manages his own schedule and works for whomever he likes. The job can be rewarding financially, if the operator manages…
Hauling freight with a truck is common practice; unfortunately, you can’t just throw a bunch of stuff in the back of a truck and drive away; loose cargo can fall out, so it needs to be properly secured first. Follow safety precautions and secure the load to the truck before…
Logistics sales representatives act as a liaison among the clients, trucking carrier, and the receiver. Negotiating fair rates and managing the movement of a client’s goods are the driving force of a logistics company. Logistics sales training is important to the success of a company. Training Objectives Logistics training includes…
Logistics is a term that is frequently used to describe shipping and delivery service. The word “logistics” actually originated in the military, being used to define troop and equipment movements within and across theaters of operation. The phrase “logistics services” has been adopted to private sector uses, and in many…
Starting your own logistics business can provide a stable, lucrative future if you plan responsibly and take advantage of opportunities when they make themselves available to you. Most industrialized companies require some form of logistics machinery in order to function properly, and you can forge an enterprise by catering to…
A reefer truck is a truck or van usually 1 ton or larger that has a refrigerated unit built either directly on the frame or is transported by trailer. It’s refrigerated by diesel-powered generators and liquid carbon dioxide, or CO2. Reefer trucks range from simple ice cream trucks to large…
Truckers who own their own rigs lose money when they don’t have freight loads. Income is lost when the truck is not running or driven empty. Finding a freight load available near the location where the last load was dropped is essential. Working with a freight broker or online load…
Flatbed trailers hauling cargo on the highways may look similar, but each type of trailer has its own features and benefits. Before you purchase a trailer, in considering the various shipments you may haul take into account the weight, dimensions and contents. Also, you need to know the U.S. Department…
The US Department of Labor suggests that almost every product a consumer buys has been shipped by truck or cargo van at some point during the shipping process. Put your straight truck and cargo van to use. Straight trucks and cargo vans get a lot of use during holiday seasons…
A trucking company can serve a variety of industries, from auto transporting and freight delivery to truck leasing or construction subcontracting. You can specialize in large fleet logistics or move single loads for consumers and businesses. No matter what kind of trucking company you engage in, you must secure the…
The freight carrier industry is an important part of consumer goods reaching retailer shelves. Independent drivers and freight companies transport about 70 percent of all the goods that hit our shelves. Hotshot trucking allows you the freedom to work for the freight carriers that you choose. Significance: Hot shot truckers…
Deciding what type of trailer will suit your needs is an important first step in choosing a trailer. Since the gooseneck trailer centralizes the weight in the truck bed it has the capability to carry more than a standard hitch trailer. A 40-foot gooseneck trailer is the longest option available…
A lowboy trailer or double-drop trailer refers to a type of flatbed trailer that has a well or middle section that is of lower height, according to Entertainment Transportation Network Inc. Flatbed Trailers o One of the features that differentiates flatbed trailers from one another is the trailer bed height….
Expand your options as a truck driver by getting an interstate trucking authority, a business license that allows you to travel across state lines. You choose which clients you wish to serve (consumers or businesses) and what sort of cargo you want to transport. Instructions (1) Decide whom you…
The Intermediary Between the Factory and the Transportation A freight brokerage is a business that connects a manufacturing company that has goods needing transport with a carrier company that actually ships the goods to the consumers. This business serves as the go-between for the manufacturers, transporters and customers, with…
Truckers use online load boards to plan their trips according to the best profit potential. The boards allow load bearers to post their payloads on various sites for free — with the required delivery dates and price — then truckers scan the site for cargo, their delivery prices, deadlines and…
If you own your own rig or just have the desire to manage a trucking business, be prepared to balance your on-the-road time with a laundry list of tasks that are required to run an efficient day-to-day operation. Happily, there are many benefits associated with this type of work, from…
A freight trucking business can take a variety of forms. You can specialize in large fleet logistics, or transport vehicles and move single loads for consumers and businesses. Secure the proper permits and insurance certificates before you open, no matter what kind of trucking operations you offer. State and federal…
A freight broker provides the communication link between an authorized freight carrier and the person or company that needs freight moved from one place to another. Many institutions provide training in freight brokerage, but it is not mandatory to have an educational background to broker freight. People who have worked…
A freight shipment is a large-scale movement of goods, which can be loose or secured on pallets. Freight charges change frequently, sometimes as often as once or twice per year, often due to higher gas prices. If you are a business that needs to save on shipping charges, there are…
