Are you taking time for your health? When working long hours on the road and rushing to that next drop it is easy to let the little things, like healthy eating and exercise, slide. Perhaps this is the reason (or at least a contributing factor) that truckers have an average life expectancy several years shorter … Continue reading “The 5 Essentials of Health and Wellness for Truck Drivers”
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Teens and Big Trucks: Should They Be Allowed to Drive?
Should teens be able to drive big trucks? Right now you can’t drive a rental car until 25, but you can start driving 80,000 pound trucks at 21 interstate and intrastate(in most states) at 18. If a new law passes, younger drivers may soon be able to drive heavy trucks across state borders. Proposed regulation … Continue reading “Teens and Big Trucks: Should They Be Allowed to Drive?”
Hours-of-Service and Safety- Are the New Rules Working?
Those HOS (hours-of-service) rules can certainly get in the way, but the good news is, they seem to be working. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report examining the most recent round of HOS changes (implemented in 2013) and the FMCSA responded to the report and agreed to move forward with the changes. … Continue reading “Hours-of-Service and Safety- Are the New Rules Working?”
The Latest Stats in Trucking
Have you taken the chance to review the Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics for 2015? This handy guide is released yearly by the FMCSA and gives those working the transportation industry an insightful look into the state of the industry. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to check it out, we’ve … Continue reading “The Latest Stats in Trucking”
CARB Compliance Issues- A Deeper Look at Low Rolling Resistance Tires
If you drive a box type trailer in California (including dry van and refrigerated van trailers) you likely are aware of the low rolling resistance tire regulations that are currently being phased in. What you might not know however is how these tires work and how using them impacts you. Keep reading for all the … Continue reading “CARB Compliance Issues- A Deeper Look at Low Rolling Resistance Tires”
A Safer Tomorrow Starts Today- 3 Changes Every Trucker Should Make
Here at Western Truck Insurance Services, we want you to “Travel with Care”. We all know that transportation is a risky industry (truck drivers are 5x more likely to die in a work related accident than the average worker), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to reduce your risks and increase your safety. Today … Continue reading “A Safer Tomorrow Starts Today- 3 Changes Every Trucker Should Make”
Do You Have an Accident Prevention Plan?
If you don’t have an Accident Prevention Plan, each day on the road is just an accident waiting to happen. This might sound extreme, but the truth is, trucking is an industry with a lot of safety risks and potential hazards; if you aren’t actively preventing accidents, the potential for injury, including serious injury and … Continue reading “Do You Have an Accident Prevention Plan?”
What Insurance, Permits, Etc. Do I Need to Get Started?
One of the biggest questions we encounter from new drivers is, “What do I need?” Interstate truckers need a variety of permits, registrations, insurance policies, etc. to ensure they are in compliance with various state and federal laws. We can help you with the specifics for your situation (just give us a call), but this … Continue reading “What Insurance, Permits, Etc. Do I Need to Get Started?”
Navigating CA CARB Regulations- 6 Essential Resources
If you drive a tractor-trailer in California, you’ve likely heard about the new regulations from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The new environmental regulations have been slowly taking effect over the last several years and are now starting to impact small fleets and solo drivers. If you aren’t yet impacted by CARB regulations, you … Continue reading “Navigating CA CARB Regulations- 6 Essential Resources”
EOBRs: Coming Soon to a Truck Near You?
Do you use an EOBR? It sounds like something out of a futuristic movie, but for many truck drivers an electronic on board recording device (EOBR) is simply part of their day to day, helping track hours of service, providing information to their employer about safety, and sometimes even offering navigational help. Since the … Continue reading “EOBRs: Coming Soon to a Truck Near You?”