The Truck Driver’s Checklist

Over the road truckers face a difficult challenge when it comes to what to take to work. While they will be traveling, truckers aren’t going on a vacation, and space is often limited. In addition to their personal items, truckers should make sure they have with them the things that they will need to do their jobs well. For instance, truckers will need logbooks, and tools for recording in them properly.

Newbiedriver.com is a great resource for truckers who are not sure what to bring with them on the road. Maybe they’re just starting out in the trucking industry, or maybe they have switched from being a local driver to going on overnight trips. Whatever the case, this great web has the perfect truck driver checklist with suggestions for truckers considering what to bring.

The truck driver’s checklist includes one of the most important categories of items that truckers should not forget which is their personal items. Of course, this does include toiletry items like soap and other items that you will need for the shower including flip-flops, but it also includes those items that you can’t live without. This means your pillow, your sheets, your blankets, etc.

While you’ve probably gotten used to packing these kinds of items when you’ve gone camping or on trips, you’ll also need a few things that are specific to the life of a truck driver. For instance, you’ll need some tools, such as a wrench, bungee cords, electrical tape, and flashlights in case you need to fix something on your truck yourself.

Also, as a trucker, you’ll need to complete various forms for your company. If you aren’t used to doing all that paperwork, you should know that it is very easy to loose papers, especially while you are driving in a truck. For that reason, you should keep extra sheets and pens handy, as well as briefcase of folder to hold them. An organizer is also a great idea. Finally, when packing everything, you need to realize that conditions will vary on the road. This means that you should prepare for as many circumstances as possible while still trying to keep a limit on what you are packing. Visiting Newbiedriver will give you a good idea of how to start that packing process, as well as some lists.

Green Tires

 What have you been doing to live a “greener” life? As scientists have continued to urge people to try to respect the environment in their day-to-day lives, many people have attempted to make chances. But making lifestyle changes of this caliber can be difficult. How could you get buy without paper towels, paper plates, and other paper products? What if your neighborhood does not have a recycling program?

 Most people wish they could make a positive impact on the environment without having to change much of their lifestyles. Truck drivers are among those that are often targeted for living less than green lifestyles, as truck emissions are among the greenhouse gasses linked with global warming.

 But now there is a way for truck drivers to make a positive difference on their environment without making much of a change. They don’t need to throw in the trucking towel or switch to the Sham-Wow from paper towels, all they have to do is make a new selection when choosing tires.

 This is because the EPA has provided a list of green tires that will reduce the harmful emissions and fuel savings. Among those truck tires are two Michelin brands—the Michelin X One XDN2 drive tire and the Michelin X One XTE trailer tire.

 For years, the Michelin tire brand has been one that truckers have been able to trust. Well known for service and quality, Michelin tires are some of the best that truckers can have on their trucks and trailers.  But now, truckers can make the choice to go with Michelin for both their trucks and their trailers, not only choosing a sturdy tire, but also making a positive choice for the environment.

 Of course, truckers who do not like Michelin brand tires can check out the EPA’s list for other green tires on  the SmartWay list, to find other products that they can purchase in order to not only save the environment, but also to save money on fuel. The EPA has been able to construct this list after tire manufacturers sent them information about the tires they create.

 Although buying new tires is a part of every trucker’s life, it now has the opportunity to change the trucker’s lifestyle to a “greener one” without a great deal of effort. Instead of having to stop using paper towels while driving their trucks, truckers can now get green just by buying some of the most durable tires around.

Filters For Trucks

While a semi-truck requires some specialized knowledge and know-how if you’re going to keep it running well, the trick to having a long lasting semi-truck are rather simple. In fact, one of those tricks is simply being sure to keep up with scheduled maintenance and the replacement of disposable filters for trucks.

The fuel filter is an important example of one of those parts. Fuel filters protect fuel injectors, a component that works rather like the heart in the human body, pushing the life force—fuel in this case—to the other components that will use it. Long trips take a toll on injectors, as they are constantly working metering fuel. Other than the injector, Diesel injection systems consist of a variety of parts that must fit to together with precise tightness or risk malfunctioning. Fuel injector systems not only keep the truck going, but they also play a vital role in keeping fuel and engines clean, as well as having an environmental impact.

In order to keep parts like the fuel injector and fuel transfer pipe safe from corrupting materials, like water, a fuel filtration system is used. By placing a screen made of a sturdy material in the line from the tank to the pump, harmful contaminants can be caught much more easily. Many filtration systems even use two filters, a wider one and a finer one, in order to catch contaminants. Some are even designed to protect against water.

Changing the fuel filter, then, is an important part of semi-truck maintenance. While different types of semi-trucks require different amounts of filter changes, it is important to routinely change your filter no matter what you drive. If you don’t the filter could become clogged, loosing its positive affects.

One important name in filters is Fleetguard, or Cummins Filtration, which has been making filter products since the mid-1900s. The leading manufacturer of filtration products and exhaust systems for heavy-duty trucks, Cummins Filtration sets standards for quality and customer service by producing top-of-the-line parts and allowing customers to access orders online. With easy access to top-of-the-line products, truckers should find changing their fuel filter easier than ever.

Although it’s just s simple step in semi-truck maintenance, changing the fuel filter can keep your truck going for longer, and with quality and easy to access filters from Cummins Filtration, it will be easier than ever for you to keep your truck maintained and ready for the road.

Mack Museum

Whether you’re looking to learn a little bit about the history of trucking or you just want to feel more confident about buying a Mack, visiting the Mack museum will introduce you to the impressive past of one of the most popular truck manufacturers in the world.

Often called “The Greatest Name in Trucks,” Mack has long been America’s leading truck manufacturer, as well as a name that people trust. At the Mack museum, truckers and their families can see how this manufacturer got so far.

Truckers and their families will be fascinated by this illustrious brand’s start as they visit the museum and view the first vehicle to ever be called a Mack—one of the open air busses that the Mack brothers built for tourists to peruse Chicago and New Orleans in the early 1900s.

In addition to the bus, visitors will also see early Mack trucks made deliveries while other companies were still relying on horse drawn carriages, as well as Mack’s contribution to war—the 1918 AC manufactured for WWI, which earned the company’s vehicles the names of Bull Dog.

But while looking at these early models can be interesting, and speak to the longevity of Mack as a manufacturer, truckers and their families can also view hundreds of photographs at the museum, as well as records indicating when certain trucks were build. The museum even allows truckers to contact them when seeking information about a particular model of truck. Displayed in conjunction with the America on Wheels exhibit, truckers who visit the Mack Museum will not only learn the history of Mack, but also the importance of the transportation industry in America since its early days.

Visitors to the Mack Museum can find the institution in Allentown, PA, a convenient route for truckers and their families who tread the major highways nearby. The museum is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

]]> http://houstontruckdeals.com/mack-museum/feed/ 0 http://houstontruckdeals.com/buying-used-trucks/ http://houstontruckdeals.com/buying-used-trucks/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:22:18 +0000 Truckin http://houstontruckdeals.com/?p=1117

Buying Used Trucks

For many truckers and those looking to become involved in the trucking industry, a used truck is a cost-effective and practical way of getting into or investing in the trucking business. But although many web sites hale the benefits of buying a used truck, truckers who choose this option should act with care. While good deals are certainly to be found, truckers should not be hasty. The fact of the matter is that trucking is a specialized field, and many trucks are specialized, which might make them difficult to apply to your business. Also, many used trucks have been run hard and constantly, so being sure that you get a truck with a lot of life still in it is important.

For instance, box trucks are usually available with hydraulic lifts, ramps, and other accessories that might be beneficial or necessary to you. If you’re searching for a used truck you want to make sure that the truck is not so old that these accessories are not standard if you need them. In addition, you will need to make compromises when you purchase a used truck, but you must be sure that these compromises that are not essential to what you need in your truck. In other words, don’t get carried away by the price and advertisements, but make sure you actually get what you need.

Trucks also have other amenities, like heated seats, air conditioning, and stereo options that are a good place to start saving. Like cars, trucks that don’t have these amenities are usually cheaper, even when purchased used. It’s even cheaper, from time to time, to add your own features to the truck after the purchase than to buy them on a used model.

While used car sales are high, used truck sales aren’t quite as booming. That’s because many trucks are specialized, and truckers know that trucks are often run until they can barely limp by their previous owners. That being said, there are many good used trucks out there, and buying a used truck is probably the best bet for many truckers, but truckers need to be cautious when examining this option.

Travel Grooming

Are you looking to look your best while on the road? If the answer is yes, then Global Trucker is the place for you. The online shopping mall has tons of 12-volt grooming products designed for men and women who want to look their best while traveling across the country.

For most people, hair care is an important part of their personal grooming regimen. You know that messy hair can be frustrating, whether you’re driving a truck all day or going on a family vacation. In addition, travel isn’t necessarily the best method to keep hair looking top-notch. Instead, leaning back on the seat can mat hair while wind through the cab doors can whip it. Quick showers in truck stops are also far from a way to make sure you’re hair is always looking best.

That’s why Global Trucker has a whole line of electric hair products just waiting to be used by today’s stylish truckers. For instance, the RoadPro hairdryer has a foldable handle that makes it perfect for storage, in addition to its powerful air stream, which is perfect for drying wet hair quickly, an advantage in colder months. In addition, the company claims the hairdryer has another function for truck drivers; it defrosts windows. With a 90 day warranty and an eight inch power cord, this hair dryer is sure to take away the sting of cold hair and frosty windows.

In addition to the hair dryer, Global Trucker’s other hot ticket hair care item is the curling iron, which comes in a variety of different designs from quite a few manufacturers. For instance, the web site Con Air, Marine Pro, and RoadPro models. Plugging into the cigarette lighter, these curling irons are ready to go for looking good on the go.

While hair care may be an important part of personal grooming, shaving is another daily routine that many men have to do before they will be seen each day. Lucky for them, Global Trucker’s electric shavers can be recharged for use without batteries. In addition, the Wind and Go model allows truckers to simply wind a handle on the back of their razor to power it for shaving.

Whether you like to look your best whenever you’re traveling, or you have someone to impress, looking great on the road has never been easier due to the 12-volt and non-electric products featured on Global Trucker’s web site.

Custom Seat Cushions

Can you put a price on comfort? Well, AirHawk did, and it’s less than $100. Truckers sit for long periods of the day, and while this might seem comfortable to someone who works in construction or standing for long periods of time, it can actually be quite stressful.

The AirHawk Comfort Seating System uses dry floatation technology to reduce stress and increase comfort for the driver. By using this technology that has been a part of the medical world for years, AirHawk ensures that truckers will have a comfortable ride on their custom seat cushions.

Traditional vehicle seats are stable, meaning that pressure is increasingly placed on the trucker’s spine. With the Dry Floatation technology, air can be transferred from one chamber to another, which distributes the pressure from a trucker’s weight evenly, instead of concentrating on one area.

The technology increases blood flow, absorbs shock, and adjusts to the shape of the trucker instead of forcing a trucker to inadequately adjust to a vehicle seat. Truckers can easily install the custom seat cushions into any vehicle. They can blow it up themselves, and easily move the custom seat cushion cushion from vehicle to vehicle.

Because it is inflatable, some may worry that it can be easily damaged. In the rare event of damage, however, AirHawk includes a repair kit that can easily patch any punctured areas. Also, the one-year limited warranty allows truckers to be sure that they’re getting a quality product. And because the comfort seating is made of polyvinyl it is easy to clean and dry if it gets dirty or wet.

For truckers that spend long amounts of time driving, the AirHawk Pro Comfort Seating is the perfect system to reduce pressure on the back and make driving a little easier again.  You can now purchase one for under $100.00.

Trucker Websites

We have Google, Yahoo, MSN, and even Dogpile, but most trucker’s probably don’t realize they have a search engine just for them. AutoElf is a search engine for Truckers truckers that allow them to research and discover information about their field.

Sometimes everybody needs a break, and the few hours you get to spend lounging around your living quarters before your next shift begins is the perfect time for you to just relax. Many truckers now carry laptops with them on the road to keep professional logbooks, communicate with other truckers or their companies, and check load boards for consistent hauling. Still others use those laptops to keep in touch with friends and family via AIM, Facebook, Myspace, or e-mail, but sometimes you’re sick of the news, tired of Myspace, and ready to kill sometime.

The Internet is a great resource for information that is designed both for the curious researcher and the person who just wants to be entertained. But how do you know what’s out there, and what will interest you? That’s where a good search engine comes in. And if you’re a trucker who would like to kill a little bit of that time looking at organizations, topics, and products that cater to you, then a specific search engine is necessary.

Called the leading automotive directory and search engine by its designers, Auto Elf was designed to help truckers and others in the automotive industry find what they’re looking for and fast. The directory is a great way for truckers’ to check out what’s new in their industry. With topics such as associations and clubs, dealership, driving, employment, and buying and selling, automotive enthusiasts will have plenty to peruse while they’re relaxing.

If you’re the kind of trucker who likes everything with wheels, this search engine is great for researching information and products about your hobbies. For instance, the directory allows you to check out different reference material for motorcyclists and go-kart fans.

In addition to having some fun, the AutoElf directory can be used for rather important tasks as well. Truckers can check out the buy and sell link to examine a variety of commercial and private vehicles. Employment links, and Auto Elf’s Career Center, allow truckers who are thinking about changing it up a bit look at other job descriptions. The driving link allows truckers to check out driver safety programs and learn more about driving different kinds of vehicles via advertised e-books and courses. Whether you’re looking for products to buy or material to reference, the directory side of the search engine is a quick and easy way for you to kill time or find quick information.

In addition to its directory, however Auto Elf is praised as a search engine. Truckers can quickly find what they need by typing a key word into the search box, and the site looks through the while directory to help the trucker find his or her information fast. Designed to help those in the automotive industry find what they’re looking for fast, the Auto Elf is a great, free tool for truckers to use whether they’re seeking information or fun.

Truck Vents

When you’re driving down the highway, you’re hands probably aren’t free most of the time. They’re on your wheel, clutching your CB, or making a call on your cell phone. When you get warm, you want to switch on your truck vents, but you probably can’t free up a hand to plug in the fan and fiddle for the switch.

While many companies make in-cab fans, not everyone makes a fan with a remote control. The Fan-Tastic vent, however, which is available at the Trucker’s Mall, is the exception. Described as the result of technology evolution, customer needs, and twenty-one years of experience, the company’s vent is probably the most user friendly ever developed.

With just the touch of a button, trucker’s in the Captain’s chair can raise the fan’s protective dome and select a speed, instantly filling the cab with air. The Radio Frequency Handheld Remoteallows drivers to choose an automatic setting that will quickly set the fan to work. However, the automatic setting is now factory pre set. Instead, trucker’s can choose a comfort temperature choice, and the fan’s blades will immediately speed up or slow down to maintain that pace. Of course, the fan has a manual setting as well, in which truckers can choose on of fourteen blade speeds.

To make sure that the fan doesn’t fall during the rough road journey, truckers can place the fan in the custom cradle, which fits onto the cab’s wall. Lightweight and easy to install, the cradle securely holds the fan while the vehicle is in motion or idling, insuring that the fan does not fall and injure the driver or itself. Truckers can place the cradle at the most convenient location for them, or wherever the breeze will be directed in the way they want it to go. Of course, truckers who want to move the fan can easily do so without the cradle as the fan will operate from anywhere within the room.

Not only does the truck vent allow drivers to circulate air within the cab, but it also features reversible airflow. A switch allows truckers to decide whether they want to push air out or pull air in. The rain sensor is another added feature that makes the vent one of the most impressive in the market. When a sensor on the fan becomes wet, the dome will shut and the blades will stop. Of course, if a driver likes to operate the fan in the rain, an override switch is available.

Available in a variety of models and designs, this product is one of the world’s most technological truck vents. Developed for truckers’ who want to easily maintain their comfort, the easy to install product can be purchased from the Trucker’s Mall and shipped within just a few days. So whether you want to be prepared for spring or are just always a little warm in your cab, ordering this fan is a great way to enhance the quality of your driving experience

Truck Refrigerators

What’s cooler than having a fridge in your living quarters or stopping at truck stops throughout your journey? Of course, having a fridge that pops right open next to you when you’re driving down the highway. The Console Fridge by Daddy Cool is just the type of product that truckers with a constant need to quench their thirst or an incurable taste for ice cream and other cool treats need. Specially designed for each vehicle, the custom console fridge can also be placed in your personal vehicle. So, if you’re going camping or heading out for a day at the beach, checking out the prices on console fridges is certainly worth the missed moments of your day.

Specially designed for Ford trucks, this console is perfect if you’re driving a pick up, a  super-duty pick up for a construction or other commercial company or any other vehicle. The fridge is a six-gallon tank, large enough to hold a variety of sodas, in addition to a snack a little ways down the road.  Fleet owners should look into the fridges for their fleet of work trucks because they eliminate the breaks that drivers need during the day. Instead of stopping at truck stops and gas stations to buy something to drink and to purchase a snack, truckers with consoles in their trucks can simply pull out the snack or drink and consume it on the road. This saves time for the fleet owner and money for the trucker—a win-win situation.

On hot days when the weather is an issue, the truck refrigerator can also help your workers from getting too overheated in the warm summer sun. Water is an important cure to exhaustion, or over heating. Keeping the fridge stocked with cold water on warm days can be a great way of encouraging your workers to take in enough fluid as not to be affected by the extreme heat.  Although this innovative truck refrigerator allows truckers to access food and drink whenever they need refreshment, some who use their consoles for organization may fear the fridge. But with slots for CDs, pens, pencils and the like, the fridge might actually be an aid in organization.

While a cool beverage doesn’t necessarily seem like a necessary component for a cross-country voyage, it is a luxury that many can rationalize. By keeping cold water with you on hot days, you decrease the chance that you or a worker might over heat, keeping you safe and saving you hospital bills. Thus, while this kind of fridge may seem like a luxury, it is the perfect fit for drivers who might need a cold refreshment, but who don’t want to take the time to stop. The Console Fridge is manufactured in New Zealand and you can contact the manufacturer to fine out how to purchase one. To compare this fridge to others check out 12-Volt Products.