Looking out at the new year, it seems that 2016 will have a lot of changes.
Some things never change and some things change at the speed of light. The trucking industry is no different and 2016 trucking trends will show this. The driver-shortage will keep capacity tight while motor carriers will try to attract and retain seasoned and safety-minded professional truck drivers. These 6 things are what will drive 2016 trucking trends. Read the rest of this entry »
Keep yourself safe by having a fully-stocked emergency kit in your truck.
Whether you are new to the trucking industry or are a seasoned veteran, you should always keep a well-stocked emergency kit in your truck. If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, an emergency kit can help you to diffuse the situation and get you back onto the road faster. Here’s a basic list of what supplies you should make sure to have before setting out on the road. Read the rest of this entry »
It probably won’t surprise you to know that studies have shown that motor vehicle drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a “safety critical” accident than those who don’t. In addition, those dialing a phone number were six times as likely to be in an accident. Given that, it certainly won’t surprise you to know that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations prohibit texting and hand-held mobile phone use while operating a commercial motor vehicle involved with interstate commerce. Read the rest of this entry »
Daimler introduces the medium-duty engine to the American market!
Three years ago, Daimler introduced the 5-liter DD5 and 8-liter DD8 medium-duty diesel engines to the European market. Two weeks ago, Daimler Trucks of North America announced that their Detroit Powertrain plant will begin manufacturing medium-duty diesel engines for the American market. Starting next year, proprietary diesels will be available in the Freightliner M2, with the first engines being manufactured in Daimler’s Mannheim, Germany plant. Full U.S. production is slated for the end of 2018, at which point Daimler’s medium-duty engines will be available in DTNA’s Western Star, Freightliner, Custom Chassis and Thomas Built Bus brands. This marks a shift from the current Cummins medium-duty engines. However, according to Martin Daum, president and CEO of DTNA, Cummins engines will still be an available option on the market. Read the rest of this entry »
Take the time to schedule phone calls with your family while you’re traveling.
Did you know that Thanksgiving Day sees the more traffic on the road than any other day of the year? If you are a truck driver, you may already have known this and are dreading having to drive on this day. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind so that your day is hopefully less stressful and, most importantly, safer!
You may be anticipating the high traffic volume on Thanksgiving Day, but make sure to also be extra cautious on Thanksgiving Eve. It’s become progressively more popular to go out for drinks the night before Thanksgiving. This is why restaurants and bars have come to call Thanksgiving Eve “Black Wednesday”, since they make such large sales on this day. If you are driving on this day, keep in mind that there will be drivers on the road who have made the bad decision to drive home while intoxicated. Watch other drivers on the road and keep your distance if anyone doesn’t seem to have total control of their vehicle. Stay alert, and stay safe! Read the rest of this entry »
Make sure your truck is prepared for this winter.
It can be difficult to find time in a hectic driving schedule to perform preventative maintenance on your freight truck. But doing that maintenance now will save you from having bigger problems down the road. If you check that every part of your truck is working properly and up to date, you can ensure that your winter driving will be a lot smoother. Read the rest of this entry »
Driving through a city is difficult and requires more awareness.
Truck drivers are in a constant state of rushing to get products delivered from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. This kind of pressure means that truck drivers must always be extra careful when they’re on the road, especially when driving through a city. A city provides unique driving challenges to big trucks. The roads are smaller, traffic is heavier, and drivers and pedestrians are in close quarters with each other. A trucker has to be fully alert to make it through a big city while also keeping his time. If you are a new truck driver, here are some helpful tips from the seasoned experts. Read the rest of this entry »
A Sprinter Van provides high quality, reliable transportation.
If you are moving freight, but it’s not large or heavy loads, you should consider buying or renting a Sprinter Van from Baltimore Freightliner. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans are reliable, sleek, and come with various features. There are several reasons to go with this trusted brand of reliable mid-sized vehicles.
Our Sprinter Vans are available in a wide variety of different sizes and styles. Need something smaller than a bus to comfortably carry 18 passengers? Try the Mini-Bus. Need a chassis that can connect to a larger trailer to pull more weight? Try the Cab Chassis. Need to transport your work crew from site to site? Try the Crew Van. With all the different models of sprinter vans available, you are sure to find a van that it the right size and serves the right function. Read the rest of this entry »
Are you ready for the trucking lifestyle?
Are you interested in pursuing a career in the trucking industry? How do you know if it’s the right career choice for you? It is not an industry where you can just try it out and take a chance. You need to go to truck driving school and you need to get familiar with the workings of the trucking industry. One of the best ways to learn about trucking is to ask truck drivers about their experiences in the trucking industry. Some truck rivers love the experience of traveling across the country, but others like to stay local. To make it in the trucking industry you need the right personality and lifestyle of truckers. Read the rest of this entry »
Now is a better time than ever to purchase a Freightliner truck. Many businesses are finally beginning to climb out of the recession and increase their sales. With increased sales and more productivity comes a need to update or add on to your business’s fleet of trucks. However, depending on your budget and your business, you have a few ways in particular you can go about it. Some people prefer to save money and go with a used truck, others want to opt for a brand new truck. Which of these options will work best for your business’s own unique needs? Let’s take a look!
Some people prefer to save money and go with a used truck, others want to opt for a brand new truck. Which of these options will work best for your business’s own unique needs?
If you’re the owner of a fleet who is planning to expand slowly and steadily rather than right away, or if you’re on a tight budget, buying used might be the right choice for you. Used doesn’t have to mean outdated or unreliable, and many used trucks do offer most of the same features as the latest models. The biggest benefit of buying used? Obviously, the price. If you’re not ready or willing to jump into buying something fresh off the lot, go with a used truck. Read the rest of this entry »