Monday, 22 September 2014

Tractor Trailer Safety – Avoiding Road Accidents

Tractor trailer accident is very common on the highways. There are about 500,000 accidents on the average every year in the United States involving large trucks that are about 80,000 pounds in weight. As a result, highway accidents involving tractor trailer trucks end up in fatalities. Truck driver safety has become a major concern among the authorities and even the owners of cargo trucking companies recognize the problem.

Tractor trailer trucks need skillful drivers

Trailer trucks can weigh almost 25 times heavier than a regular vehicle and it requires professional truck driving skills and responsible drivers to maneuver large trucks on the highways. Because of the size and weight of cargo trailer rental trucks, it is not easy to take control over the vehicle while it is on the road.

Truck drivers admit that a big truck requires a skillful driver. For instance, it may take about 300 feet before a large truck can completely stop when running at 55 mph. Taking control over a large vehicle requires a higher level of driving skills, that is why most southeast trucking companies are getting more peculiar about setting a high standard when hiring truck drivers for their companies. This is one way of reducing the risks of highway accidents involving big trucks like a tractor trailer or large cargo trucks.

Upgrade a trailer truck driver skill

While your drivers are already professionals, you can upgrade their skills and experience by sending them to attend driving trainings and seminars that are usually conducted by the transportation authorities within your state. It helps to keep them updated about the latest traffic rules and highway driving regulations to ensure that your fleet are safe in the hands of your trusted and skilled employees. Some of these seminars will teach commercial truck drivers on how to manage a driver’s fatigue syndrome and techniques on how to drive under certain climate conditions that can increase the hazards of driving on the highways. Your drivers will become more responsible and will likely become confident on how to respond to contingencies during road accidents or emergency situations.

Comply with maintenance requirements

Trucks with an actual weight of 4,500 kg or more are required to undergo through a daily inspection routine. By conducting a regular maintenance check-up of your fleet, you can detect any potential problems on the vehicles prior to dispatch on the road. Some road accidents are caused by faulty mechanical issues that are preventable by performing a regular maintenance checkup on vehicles. This is a safety regulation process that you can internally implement within your organization to avoid the common risks of accidents on the road. Bigger companies usually have their own teams of mechanics who conduct an inspection on each truck before they leave and upon arrival.  Trucks that need repairs are usually impounded for overhauling to ensure that they are in safe and good running condition. 

Road accidents involving trucks are usually preventable. It usually takes responsible driving and proper maintenance of the vehicles and the observance of road safety standards that can reduce the risks of highway accidents.

Logistic Solutions Among Southeast Trucking Companies

The use of logistics among the southeast trucking companies is important because of its significance in improving the productivity of their business while enhancing the efficiency of their services. Among the major operational contributions of trucking logistics include the improvement in the management of truck driver routes, optimizing the fuel consumption, improving the green supply chain of the business and to make the trucking services highly efficient in meeting the demands of customers.

Generally, the use of logistics in trucking companies involves research and planning on how to improve the company’s business operations. Operational managers will find it highly convenient in selecting which truck to dispatch in servicing a customer according to their transportation needs and booking the right truck driver with the proper driver qualification for a particular fleet. Logistics improve the freight management of trucking companies, making their operation smooth and orderly.

Trucking logistic is a recognized means of reducing the economic expenses involved in managing trucking services. By using modern logistic technology, trucking companies are able to plan their operational productivity and expenses better. As a result, it eliminates the risks of incurring unnecessary operational expenses, leaving more savings for the business in the process.

According to studies, trucking companies are able to cut down operational expenses by 10% by adapting logistic technology in business operation. By adapting logistic technology, goods are transported in time, with companies having the capability of monitoring the arrival and delivery of the goods in real time. It is also easier to measure the productivity costs and savings, as well as in managing employee productivity and efficiency of the service by a trucking company. Owing to the distributive efficiency across all areas of the business operation, savings are generated by the trucking company, making them capable of offering their services to their customers at a lower and more reasonable fee.

Common logistic services used by trucking companies are the following:

1.    Logistic outsourcing. It allows the trucking company to obtain logistic tools for warehousing, managing inventories, cross-docking, freight and transportation solutions.

2.    Logistic management software. The software is used as a tool for various data monitoring and management processes that help in automating the business chain of services within the organization. The tool helps in facilitating the workflow of the business, thereby resulting in service efficiency and productivity.

3.    Logistic management. This process basically manages the operational planning, implementation and control of the various aspects of trucking services. This logistics process enables the trucking company to provide efficient transportation services that can satisfy customers.

If your trucking company business needs logistics technology, third party logistics service providers are numerous that can provide valuable tools and solutions for your business. Trucking companies in the transportation industry are investing in logistics tools because it makes their business more responsive to their customers’ needs. Logistics technology can bring significant difference in improving the workflow performance and operational services in the trucking industry that helps trucking companies more responsive to the demands of their customers.

Thursday, 18 September 2014

Maximizing The Use of A Cargo Trailer Rental Service

A cargo trailer rental service comes very handy every time you need a transportation solution in moving your belongings. Whether you are moving to a new home or going on a long trip and need to take more goods with you around, a cargo trailer is something that you should always consider about hiring.  It is a safe mode of transporting goods that you can take with you around or a transportation service to hire in delivering goods for you. By renting out a cargo trailer instead of a truck, you have a flexible way of taking your possessions or properties with you without the need of hiring a driver. It is easy to attach it to your car and let it trail wherever you go.

Why hire a cargo trailer?

Travelers and movers opt for hiring a cargo trailer because it is easy to take it with them. Your goods are safe as they are enclosed and locked inside the trailer and it is convenient to take it with you even in long distance drive. You need to have something to tow it with, however, that can be easily arranged with the truck company that will provide you the cargo trailer. This type of transportation solution is a safe choice because it can withstand travelling with any kind of weather condition, whether it is raining or snowing, and it can have more room left for you to sleep and take a rest break in between long drives.

Considerations when using cargo trailers

An important consideration for hiring a cargo trailer rental service is the size of the towing vehicle you will use with it. Check the vehicle manual for its towing load capacity and include the weight of the trailer in your calculation. Likewise important is determining the amount of goods that you will be taking with you and how big is the space that you will need for transporting your stuff. If you will be driving a long distance, a cargo trailer is a better choice than taking a utility trailer because the latter has an open top that does not guarantee the safety of your belongings in case there will be a sudden change on the weather condition. Utility trailers are only good when you are hauling bigger items and short distances.

 How to find the best cargo trailer rental service

Whether you are in need for a long or short haul trucking service, a cargo trailer remains to be a good option for you because of its versatility in style and sizes. Trucking rental services can offer you different types of trailers that you can select according to your needs. If you are unsure which will be best for your transportation needs, you can discuss your preferences and purpose for needing a cargo trailer. Most of these trucking rental services are experts in the industry and can help you make the best solution.

You can also save more for the rental fee by choosing to rent the truck on a weekday. Weekends usually have more rental requests and trucking companies usually charge higher in this case. You can also maximize cargo trailer services and fees by searching for companies that offer perks and special deals for their customers. If you are lucky enough, you just might find special offers like waived charges, free fuel or additional free day to use the vehicle.