Truck Drivers and Their Lives

Truck drivers endow with a crucial service to manufacturing civilizations by conveying ready merchandises and raw resources over territory, characteristically from industrialized plants to trade or delivery hubs. Truck drivers are besides accountable for the examination and preservation of the truck they drive. Others, for instance Driver/Auctions employees, are also accountable for deals and purchaser services.

In order to prevent driver fatigue, many countries have laws limiting the amount of time truck drivers can work, and while strictly enforced in most developed countries, many underdeveloped countries either lack such laws or do not enforce them.

Drivers' operational hours in the EU are synchronized by the EU directive with No 561/2006, which came into obligation on April 11, 2007. According to this directive, the non-stop energetic driving time does not have to go beyond 4.5 hours.

The driver is obliged to make at least 45 minutes of break, after these 4.5 hours of driving. There is also another alternative- 2 brakes, one of which takes 15 and the other one 30 minutes.

This directive says also that the entire driving time for the month should not exceed 224 hours per month or 56 hours per week. There is also another point in the directive, which says that the driving time should not exceed more than 90 hours in a fortnight (2 weeks).

As a consequence of functioning in the closeness of trucks and regularly additional means of transportation or boats as well, truck drivers have an amplified exposure to emissions commencing from engines. This contact takes with it an amplified danger of cancer and can make worse definite lung illnesses, for example asthma.

The majority of companies nowadays make the most of the satellite truck following or trailer tracking to help in fleet organization, and for greater than before efficiency. This provides a driver with the contribution to the information as of a bill of lading into a uncomplicated dot surrounding substance show display.

This in addition helps the driver to converse with their correspondent, who is usually accountable for determining and notifying the trucker of their pick-up and doze off sites. The truck driver inputs the data, by means of a keyboard, into a computerized system of pre-arranged letters and messages identified as macros.

This article explains many things about the life of truck drivers today and how hard it is today to work this profession. A great part of the American Economy earns from truck drivers. We can say that this is truck driving is its back. Find out more facts in this article. Free cdl practice test. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Au_Johnson

Mini Trucks Offer a New Driving Alternative

If you wish win the fight against high cost and possibly some winter blues, look at buying Japanese mini trucks. Duane Hunt, founder of Flatlanders Mini Trucks Sales, recently got into the business of selling these Japanese trucks. What makes these trucks so special is the fact they can be used for heavy driving as well as every day and street driving.

"They are practical, reliable, economical and affordable," said Hunt.

Hunt believes that these vehicles come from the class of 50s and 60s. As on date, you would find a lot of these trucks having 660 cc engines, a touch more than what is used in running motorcycles. In essence, this then becomes one of the most fuel-effective alternatives.

Robin Holma, owner of High Energy Performance Trucks in Estevan, introduced these Japanese mini trucks to Hunt. Robin believes that these trucks offer the advantages as mentioned below.

1)Easy to operate
2)Low maintenance costs
3)Efficiency in fuel consumption and use.

"I took one for a week and drove it pretty much everywhere, and it cost me about $14 in fuel," said Holma. Some of the Japanese manufacturers include Daihatsu, Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Subaru.

A lot of people who have used these trucks vouch for the fuel efficiency of these trucks. Some people have even claimed that these trucks give them a mileage of about 22 kilometers per liter, something that was out of thoughts for locally made trucks.

"I took one for a week and drove it pretty much everywhere, and it cost me about $14 in fuel," said Holma. Some of the Japanese manufacturers include Daihatsu, Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Subaru.

A lot of people who have used these trucks vouch for the fuel efficiency of these trucks. Some people have even claimed that these trucks give them a mileage of about 22 kilometers per liter, something that was out of thoughts for locally made trucks.

Apart from them being fuel efficient and friendly on the environment, people believed that they are absolutely super-cool to drive. You could get these trucks in a cost range of about $6000 to $12000. With costs you would also find that these trucks are designed to carry variable payloads and are fitted with their own accessories.

Descriptions and pictures of the mini trucks are received prior to ordering. This is indeed a safe process because all these trucks are serviced and on arrival, are checked for their safety.

Prior to being sold, each of these trucks is approved by Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). All the accessories like the cooling system, transmission and other performance metrics are checked for these trucks upon arrival.

This, Hunt believes makes it very easy for people to get these trucks and start using them. With warranties for 30 days, and an extra warranty available for a year, surely these trucks cannot miss your eye.

Jim Warren writes of Japanese Mini Trucks. Topic areas include maintenance, as well as custom design and owner news alerts. Visit http://japaneseminitrucksguide.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Warren

Things to Verify When Buying a Trailer Truck

If you are planning to put up a towing business or if you just need your own truck for your towing service, you should consider buying your very own trailer that fits your needs. The following tips can help you find the most affordable and durable trailer that will suit your needs.

a. Before you buy any type of trailer, you should have a good idea of what you want to haul. Check the length and width of the vehicle that you want to haul. Make sure that the weight of your trailer fits that dimensions of the vehicle that you want to tow. Note that trailers are often rated using the GVWR or the Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio. This means that the weight of what you want to haul plus the weight of the trailer should be no more than 70% of the GVWR.

b. Check the width of the equipment. If you want equipment trailers, take note of the fact that it comes in two forms of deck styles. If you opt for a deck over, the trailer bed is positioned above the wheels with a width of anywhere between 77 and 83 inches. On the other hand, if you opt for a low boy, the bed is usually situated in between the wheels with a width of 102 inches.

c. Determine how you will haul the trailer. You have to bear in mind that different trucks have different capacities to tow as well. You have to note that most compact trucks have a towing capacity of 3,000 to 7,000 pounds. If you have a full-size truck, you should note that they can have a much higher towing capacity to as much 12,000 pounds. However, some full size trucks will only have a towing capacity within the range of 8,000 to 10,000 pounds.

d. If you want to buy new trailers, look for Factory-Direct Manufacturers. Note that if you buy a trailer from a dealer, you will have to pay for his mark-up and commission in addition to the original price of the trailer. If you buy from a factory direct manufacturer, you will eliminate the middle man and you will be able to save a large amount of money. However, you should watch out for those dealers who pretend to be factory direct manufacturers.

e. If you can, look for trailers with radial tires. Although radial tires may cost more, they are far more suitable for towing services because of their durability and resilience. Note that if you are planning to tow huge vehicles, avoid using bias or grade tires.

TrucknTow wish to provide the best trucking and towing accessories at the best prices. For more information visit TrucknTow.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ace_Smith

Why Some Truck Drivers Get Road Rage

Turn on the television to watch the news and you're likely to see at least one story of injuries or deaths caused because of road rage. Do truck drivers get road rage? Unfortunately, some of us do.

Most people are aware of drivers that get upset because of traffic. They are seen nearly every day on the road screaming at the people in front of them who aren't going fast enough. Quite often, however, road rage turns dangerous and lives are lost.

Aggressive driving isn't anything new. Drivers with Road Rage are seen driving too closely behind another vehicle, speeding, changing lanes without ensuring they are clear, forgetting to signal that you're changing lanes, or being rude to other drives. Aggressive driving becomes road rage when the driver who is already frustrated with traffic overreacts or retaliates with some type of violence.

Various media sources have reported the incidences of road rage, many of them which have ended in loss of life, but need not characterize each accident as being the result of road rage. If you happen to notice an actual case of road rage where a driver is purposely trying to run someone off the road as well as if a person is exhibiting impaired driving, contact the authorities to alert them. Many cell phones can be used to do this simply by dialing #77.

Drivers who drive the farthest are often the most like to react if they are confronted with aggressive or rude drivers. Unfortunately that means that many truck drivers, who have been on the road for hours trying to deliver a load, sometimes are guilty of road rage.

Of course, the best course of action when someone is driving poorly is to not become emotionally involved if someone cuts you off or is going to slow. Not all cases of road rage happen while drivers are on the highway. Some occur in parking lots where people are vying for the same parking spot.

Road rage seems to be an epidemic in the country. Women are as likely to have problems in this area as much as men. The drivers come from all walks of life and are in all age groups.

What can be done about this problem? Some professionals recommend having those guilty of road rage attend a support group. Other suggestions are to require each person found guilty in court of road rage to attend anger management courses. In either case, something needs to be done.

Do truck drivers get road rage? Truck drivers are as human as the next person. They will have episodes where they get frustrated by the way others on the road are driving. If they realize they have a problem, they may want to seek help from professionals.

This special report was brought to you by The Trucker Blog If you would like more information on how to make more money, stay healthy on the road, and other articles dedicated to Truckers go to TheTruckerBlog.com.

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How to Buy a Used Budget Jeep - Body Check

By Henri Cormier

First you need to decide on your budget as this will play a big part in the make and model Used Jeep you will be able to afford. For this article I'm working on a budget of $5,000. You think that's not a lot of money, however you can pick up a nice budget Jeep for that price range and still have a few dollars to make it your own. I will cover the making it your own in my next article. In this price range you are looking at an early 90's Wrangler in the US or YJ's in Canada. Once you've found a potential Used Jeep here are the areas you'll want to check out.

Verifying the Outside of a Used Jeep Body
Jeeps have their rust problem areas that will be affected differently depending on where you are located, aka rust belt or not. Starting from the front of the Jeep working your way back, first run your fingers underneath the front fenders where the fender flares meet the metal fender. What you're looking for here is rust, holes and/or loads of bondo. Water, dirt and salt gets stuck between the fender flare and fender and basically rots it out. This is easily repaired of the fenders can be replaced. Use this as a negotiating tool in your offer. Next is to get a visual of where the front fenders attach to the body or tub. This should be a straight seam. If it is bulging be aware there is rust between the panels that will need to be addressed. Another good spot to check from outside the Jeep is the windshield frame. Check in bottom center of the windshield where the seal meets. Look for signs of repair and buckling of of the seal. Also, if the Jeep has a softop, check the top channel where it is attached via screws to the windshield frame. This needs to be properly sealed or water will seep in from under the channel and into the windshield frame rotting it from the inside out. Last trouble spot from the outside to do a visual is in the rear. The rear quarter panels have a seam that joins to the bottom of the floor just under the rear swing tailgate. This seam is also prone to rust and will buckle. If the Jeep you're looking at has no seam there be very weary and ask many questions. There should be 2 rubber flaps under the rear quarter panel just under the rear lights. Pull these back to see if there are chucks of mud and other crap stuck there. This is a catch all area for mud, water and salt that will rust the Jeep from the inside out if not cleaned thoroughly.

Verifying the Inside of a Used Jeep Body
Inside the Jeep there are a few areas to check. First don't be afraid to pull up the carpets. starting from the front again you want to lift the carpet and check where the front floor panel joins to the side of the tub. Pretty much where the Jeep logo is stamped. There are 3 seams in that one location that are very prone to rust. Next is to check under the carpet
for the seat brackets. Make sure the floor is sound and ask questions if you see signs of patching. Also check under the Jeep where the mounts go through the C-channel. Next is the roll cage. This is an important safety item. Again pull the carpet and double check where the cage is bolted to the floor. Check the seatbelt mount as well as water, mud and salt will gather at these locations, settle and rot. Also check under the Jeep for patching from
the underside to cover any holes or weak spots. Last is to lift the rear seat and carpet to check the floor, seat mounts and seatbelt mounts.

As always, don't be afraid to spend some time under the Jeep looking at all the seams, patching and anything that looks chopped or "booty fab". Depending on what you see from the outside, I would also suggest getting under the dash with a flashlight to see if any water got in there via the air ducks or rotted windshield frame. Rust under there could be well hidden and cause bad grounds, cracked/frayed wires and general electrical gremblins.

This would conclude the body check. Jeeps will have trouble spots and in this price range you will most likely have to put up with some body work and preventative maintenance to help reduce the rust and rot. Depending on your skills, tools and comfort level, these can be used as negotiation tools to get a better price on something you can easily fix. If you're not so comfortable at least you now know where to check and what to look out for so you not buy a money pit.

This part one of a six part series I'll write. Stay tuned for:

- How to buy a Used Budget Jeep: Frame Check
- How to buy a Used Budget Jeep: Engine & Drivetrain Check
- How to accessorize your Used Budget Jeep
- How to build a mild offroading Used Budget Jeep
- How to upkeep your Used Budget Jeep

Hope this was informative and helps you discover the Jeep addiction!

Henri Cormier is an avid Jeep builder and fabricator of all offroad vehicles. Owner of http://www.JeepinCentral.com where you can buy all your Used Jeep Parts for your budget Jeep and Auto-Salvage-Project.com where you can buy your next repairable salvaged Jeep project. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henri_Cormier

Drop Deck Trailers - Two Levels For Your Loading Convenience

By Marilee McCormack 

Drop deck trailers offer a much easier loading option than most other designs of trailer that are available. The floors on these trailers drop down one level once they are clear of the tractor unit or truck. The most common types of these trailers include flatbeds and curtain siders. They typically have a body with wheel wells which project into the actual cargo space. They are designed to be raised or lowered on the wheel set, which will bring the floor of the trailer body flush with the floor section of the dock. It is possible to arrange the suspension so that it is adjustable, and can be further adjusted to accommodate the various heights of loading docks that are common.

One of the best ways to purchase drop deck trailers is to find a reputable online website that offers these products for sale. You can go to your favorite or preferred manufacturer, or you can visit a site that lists multiple types of trucks and trailers, their sellers' contact information and other information that is pertinent to purchasing and/or using these specific trailers. One of the most common manufacturers is Raven, who produced the all aluminum 48 foot by 102 foot step deck in 1999. This particular trailer features a tandem number of rear axles, aluminum floor and air ride suspension.
While this is one design of drop deck trailers, there are of course several others. There are many manufacturers who produce these trailers. A newer model, the Manac 2009 version, has a 53 foot by 102 foot body with air ride suspension, steel composition and many other features.

Whether you are looking for new or used drop deck trailers, you can find many online. When you are shopping online for these, or other trucking necessities, it is best to find a site that has specific searches. After all if you are looking for a flatbed version then you should not have to weed through various other styles in order to find exactly what you need. A better way is to locate a site that offers specific search criteria. You simply put in the information about the trailer that you need and you are presented with multiple listings that match exactly what you are looking for. Not only does this save you time, but if you are purchasing used trailers then it can also save you money.

Marilee McCormack is the managing editor for Truckertotrucker.com which specializes in Trucks Sales. In addition to editing, Trucking SEO and Website Marketing Services are offered. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilee_McCormack

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