Category: driver safety

Consejos De Seguridad Para Camiones Justo A Tiempo Para La Temporada De Huracanes

Posted on October 4, 2022 by - Commercial vehicle safety, driver safety, Driver safety improvement, Spanish, Spanish 2290

Como muchos sabrán, la temporada de huracanes ya está aquí e impacta muchas áreas en los Estados Unidos. La industria del transporte a menudo lleva a los camioneros por todo el país, por lo que es posible que muchos tengan que conducir a través de estas áreas propensas a huracanes. Si este es tu caso, es fundamental conocer algunos consejos de seguridad antes de ir.

Con la tecnología actual de detección del clima, es poco probable que un huracán se nos acerque sigilosamente con tanta frecuencia que sepamos de antemano que se acerca un huracán y cuál será su trayectoria proyectada. Esto nos da tiempo para prepararnos para las duras condiciones climáticas que provocan los huracanes. A continuación, encontrará algunos consejos útiles para mantenerse seguro durante un huracán si finalmente tiene que conducir por las áreas afectadas.

1. Empacando lo esencial. Es importante empacar su camión con elementos esenciales como agua y alimentos no perecederos, una linterna o lámpara de cabeza, un cargador de teléfono portátil, diferentes tipos de baterías, ropa de lluvia y cualquier manta y ropa abrigada en caso de que baje la temperatura. Estos son elementos importantes si se queda varado o atascado en su camión durante unos días debido al mal tiempo.

2. Inspeccione su vehículo antes de la salida. Antes de partir, asegúrese de que su camión esté en buenas condiciones de funcionamiento. Se recomienda que los conductores inspeccionen los lados del pasajero y del conductor del motor, los frenos delanteros, las ruedas delanteras, el eje de dirección y la suspensión trasera, el lateral y la parte trasera de la cabina, el eje de transmisión, el área de la quinta rueda, la parte delantera/lateral /parte trasera del remolque y la suspensión del remolque antes de partir. Estos son especialmente importantes durante las malas condiciones climáticas para que no se descomponga en medio de una mala tormenta.

3. Prepárese para retrasos o cambios en las rutas. Cuando las condiciones climáticas son lo suficientemente malas, las carreteras se congestionan para los procedimientos de evacuación y, a veces, incluso se invierten los carriles para ayudar en este proceso. Las malas condiciones climáticas pueden hacer que el tráfico se mueva más lentamente, lo que provocará demoras y posibles accidentes. Trate de encontrar la mejor ruta posible o planee tiempos de viaje más largos si no hay una mejor ruta disponible.

4. Tenga en cuenta el clima y las condiciones de la carretera. Planifique cambios de ruta de última hora si un huracán cambia de rumbo repentinamente. Además, preste mucha atención mientras conduce a cualquier peligro en el camino, como ramas caídas, árboles y otros escombros. También existe la posibilidad de inundaciones en las carreteras y es importante evitar estas condiciones. Al conducir en una rampa o girar, asegúrese de reducir la velocidad. Si las condiciones climáticas son demasiado ventosas, es importante saber cuándo es seguro detenerse y detenerse para evitar volcarse e hidroplanear.

Aquí en ExpressTruckTax, queremos asegurarnos de que sus viajes se realicen sin problemas y de manera segura, especialmente durante la temporada de huracanes. Asegúrese de revisar su vehículo antes de partir y conduzca con precaución cuando las condiciones climáticas no sean ideales y la visibilidad sea baja. Esté atento a los anuncios meteorológicos ya que el clima puede cambiar muy rápidamente. Asegúrese de seguir estos importantes consejos y manténgase seguro.

Maneje Y Manténgase Seguro: Consejos Importantes Para Camiones Que Debe Saber Este Verano

Posted on June 20, 2022 by - driver safety, driving safety, Spanish, Spanish 2290, Spanish Form 2290

Al conducir un camión, hay varias cosas que todo conductor debe saber para mantenerse seguro en la carretera. ExpressTruckTax está aquí para brindarle algunos consejos útiles para garantizar que se mantenga seguro este verano y que los demás a su alrededor también se mantengan seguros. Conducir un camión grande puede ser una gran responsabilidad, por lo que siempre es bueno recordar que difiere significativamente de conducir un automóvil estándar en muchos aspectos.

Un semirremolque tiene una mayor distancia de frenado que un automóvil estándar, por lo que es importante mantener una gran distancia entre usted y el vehículo que tiene delante. Esto evita que el vehículo sea chocado por detrás si no tiene una distancia lo suficientemente grande para detenerse cuando conduce detrás de alguien. Si te aseguras de mantener la distancia, no sólo te mantendrás a salvo, sino que también mantendrás a los demás a salvo. Esto también es cierto para detenerse en señales de pare o intersecciones.

También es importante revisar los espejos y los puntos ciegos al conducir. Un semirremolque tiene puntos ciegos especialmente grandes en el lado derecho y en la parte trasera. Debido a esto, es importante permanecer en el carril derecho cuando sea posible para evitar que las personas pasen por su lado derecho. Si no los ve, eso puede poner en riesgo tanto a usted como al otro conductor.

Otra cosa importante para recordar es que entregar un semirremolque es muy diferente a entregar un vehículo normal. Al girar, es importante recordar que girar requiere mucho más espacio que en un automóvil normal. Es importante revisar los espejos y los alrededores para asegurarse de que sea seguro girar. Si no revisa minuciosamente, corre el riesgo de chocar con otro vehículo y causar lesiones graves.

Conducir a una velocidad segura es otra cosa importante que debe recordar al conducir un camión. Esto garantiza que, si necesita detenerse, pueda hacerlo de forma segura sin pisar los frenos para evitar chocar contra el vehículo que tiene delante. También es importante mantener una velocidad segura al girar o conducir en carreteras con curvas para evitar que su vehículo vuelque.

Recuerde siempre usar el cinturón de seguridad cuando conduzca un vehículo. Esto es especialmente importante para prevenir lesiones graves si ocurriera un accidente porque muchas muertes relacionadas con el tráfico ocurren debido a la falta de cinturón de seguridad.

Mantenerse concentrado en la carretera y no distraerse con cosas como su teléfono también es importante mientras conduce. Hablar o enviar mensajes de texto mientras se conduce sin usar las funciones de manos libres es ilegal en muchos estados. Esto se debe a que promueve la conducción distraída y muy bien podría provocar un accidente.

Al conducir un camión, es importante tener a mano su Anexo 1 sellado en caso de que lo detengan. Si no tiene su Anexo 1 en su camión, existe una buena posibilidad de que reciba una multa o sea sancionado. Para evitar que esto suceda, debe de hacer su Formulario 2290. La mejor manera de hacerlo es con ExpressTruckTax. Con ExpressTruckTax, puede hacer su Formulario 2290 con facilidad y recibir su Anexo 1 sellado en minutos. ¿Qué estás esperando? ¡Haga el Formulario 2290 con ExpressTruckTax hoy!

Drive Safe And Stay Safe: Important Trucking Tips To Know This Summer

Posted on June 20, 2022 by - ”trucking company”, driver safety, driving safety, Improve Trucker Safety, Trucker Safety

When driving a truck, there are several things every driver should know to stay safe on the road. ExpressTruckTax is here to give you some helpful tips to ensure that you stay safe this summer and that others around you stay safe too. Driving a big truck can be a big responsibility so it is always good to remember that it differs significantly from driving a standard car in many ways. 

A semi-truck has a greater braking distance than a standard car, so it is important to keep a large distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This prevents the vehicle from being rear-ended if you don’t have a big enough distance to stop when driving behind someone. If you make sure to keep your distance then you will not only keep yourself safe but also keep others safe too. This is also true for stopping at stop signs or intersections.

It is also important to check mirrors and your blind spots when driving. A semi-truck has especially large blind spots on the right side and back. Because of this, it is important to stay in the right lane when possible to prevent people from passing on your right side. If you do not see them then that can put both you and the other driver at risk. 

Another important thing to remember is that turning in a semi-truck is a lot different than turning in a regular vehicle. When turning it is important to remember that turning takes a lot of extra space than in an ordinary car. It is important to check your mirrors and surroundings to make sure it is safe to turn. If you do not check thoroughly, then you run the risk of hitting another vehicle and causing serious injury. 

Driving at a safe speed is another important thing to remember when driving a truck. This ensures that if you need to stop you can do so safely without slamming the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of you. It is important to also maintain a safe speed when turning or driving on curved roads to keep your vehicle from tipping over. 

Always remember to wear a seatbelt when driving a vehicle. This is especially important for preventing any serious injuries if an accident were to occur because many traffic-related deaths occur due to the lack of a seatbelt. 

Staying focused on the road and not being distracted by things like your phone is also important while driving. Talking or texting while driving without using hands-free features is illegal in many states. This is because it promotes distracted driving and could very well lead to there being an accident. 

When driving a truck it is important to keep your stamped Schedule 1 on hand in case you get pulled over. If you do not have your Schedule 1 in your truck then there is a good chance that you will receive a ticket or be penalized. In order to keep this from happening you must E-file Form 2290. The best way to do this is with ExpressTruckTax. With ExpressTruckTax, you can file your Form 2290 with ease and receive your stamped Schedule 1 in minutes. What are you waiting for? File Form 2290 with ExpressTruckTax today!

Cold Weather Safety Tips For Truckers!

Posted on November 2, 2021 by - driver safety, Driver safety improvement, driving in severe weather, winter weather

The holiday season is approaching, which means the temperature outside is dropping fast throughout the country.

As these temperatures continue to fall, it’s important to be prepared for difficult driving conditions. 

Here are some tips and tricks to help keep you safe and warm this winter!

Keep Proper Supplies At Hand 

In case you find yourself stranded in the cold, it’s important to have the proper supplies to keep you warm and get you back on the road.

Here are some important supplies to keep in your cab that may help you this winter:

  • Extra coats, jackets, and gloves
  • Spare Blankets
  • Jumper Cables
  • Snow scrapers
  • Flashlights

Inspect Your Vehicle Before You Head Out

Freezing temperatures can often be harmful to your truck and cause further issues. Because of this, it’s important to give your truck a quick inspection before you head out so you don’t find yourself stranded and cold on the side of the road later!

Check your tire pressure, engine oil, antifreeze levels, and any other parts of your vehicle that you may be wary of. No one knows their truck better than you do!

Avoid Black Ice If You Can

Black Ice is a layer of ice that forms on top of roads and is often hard to detect. Hitting a batch of this ice can result in your tires spinning or skidding across the road.

If you hit a patch of black ice, don’t panic! Instead of mashing down on the brake and locking up your tires, try to keep the steering wheel straight and don’t hit the brake. Only make subtle turns until you pass the patch of ice, or else you could find yourself spinning out of control.

Black Ice is typically seen in the early morning and late evenings when the sun isn’t shining directly on the road. So, if you’re on the roads at this time, try to keep an eye out and avoid driving over it if possible! 

If you think Black ice may be around, give yourself some extra space between other vehicles just in case they don’t see it and lose control!

Stay Safe And Bundle Up!

Everyone here at ExpressTruckTax wishes you safe travels during the upcoming season. As the demand for food and gifts skyrocket, we wish safe travels to all of our truckers out there!

Thank you for all that you do to keep this country moving forward!

Keep Your Holiday Cargo Safe with These Tips

Posted on November 3, 2017 by - Cargo, Cargo theft, driver safety, preventing cargo theft, Truck theft, Trucker Safety, trucker safety education

Happy November! We are officially cruising through the Holiday season and while we may be
excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas it’s important for truckers to realize that black Friday and a major retail boom is also on its way.

That means you may be hauling cargo that’s more enticing to thieves, so be sure to take measures to protect yourself from theft. But there’s no need to feel paranoid, it’s easy to increase your security by taking a few precautions.

How To Protect Your Cargo

1. Always Be Aware

No matter what you’re hauling, someone might want to take it. From a shipment of laptops to Q-Tips, if a thief thinks they can take it and sell it, then they will. Heck, sometimes they may just even want your truck.

Keep your wits about you and study your surroundings at all times, no matter what day it is or what time it is. Even though the highest rates of cargo theft happen on weekend nights, they can occur at any time, even in broad daylight.

If someone seems sketchy to you take note of what they look like and what they are wearing so you can accurately describe them to the police should you need to.

Remember that someone could be listening to you, so keep what you’re hauling to yourself. Never post it on social media for the world to see.

2. Put Yourself In Safe Surroundings

When you park your truck pick a well-populated area, and at night make sure you’re under lights. If you can, always be sure to park in range of security cameras. You can also back up against a wall or surface to block your trailer doors when you stop. Just be sure to back up extremely carefully to prevent damage.

If you aren’t sure if your terminal will have proper lighting, locked fencing, or security after hours you can call ahead and ask. If their security isn’t up to your standards then make arrangements to park in a safer location.

3. Plan Ahead

Think about your moves before you make them. Never just leave your truck unattended and idling, because that gives people more than enough time to jump in it and speed off. Keep your truck locked at all times, no matter if you’re inside or outside of it.

 

ExpressTruckTax supports trucker saferty education

Also, make sure the padlocks on your trailer doors are secure and look into purchasing vehicle locks like king pin locks, air brake valve locks, glad hand locks, or seals.

Try to minimize the time that your trailer will be sitting full of cargo. Try to make your delivery by the weekend. Make sure that your cargo will never sit in your lot for 24 hours because that gives a lot of thieves time to make a plan of action.

Check your route in advance to make sure it isn’t taking you through a bad part of town. Google maps is a good tool to use and look at

4. Hire The Right Team And Educate Them

Make sure you run background checks on your drivers, don’t just hire anyone. Then educate them on how to protect themselves and cargo to create a safety. For example, explain how it’s best to fill up before you pick up cargo to prevent thieves from following them for hours.

Be sure to track your drivers by placing GPS units on their rig or trailers. This way you will be aware of their location at all times and will be able to track the location of the vehicles if they are stolen.

Stay Safe

Rates of cargo theft increase during the holiday season but the risk actually occurs all year. People like to take whatever they can get their hands on, even if it seems boring and invaluable to you. You can keep your cargo safe by keeping your wits about you, making secure decisions in advance, and by staying in safe locations.

If you have any security tips please add them to the comment section below and visit ExpressTruckTax for more trucking blogs.

The Total Eclipse Will Totally Stop Traffic

Posted on August 11, 2017 by - accident prevention, driver safety, driver tips, Rookie Driver, Solar Eclipse. Total Eclipse, traffic, Traffic Jam, truck driver, Trucker, Veteran Driver, Wrecks

The Total Solar Eclipse Traffic Nightmare
The total eclipse/traffic nightmare

If you haven’t already heard you should be aware that a major total eclipse will occur on Monday, August 21st, that will make areas of 12 different states in its path become completely dark for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This will happen around 2:43 PM EST in Columbia, SC.

Now, this is a historic event because it’s the first total eclipse from coast to coast since 1918. An entire generation has lived and passed without witnessing an event like this, and it’s the first total eclipse since the interstate system was even created. So, what can you expect traffic to be like?

Solar Eclipse Traffic

Schools and businesses are allowing people to take the day off in order to travel and see the eclipse. Meaning millions of people from all across the nation will be traveling to the 12 states where the total eclipse can be witnessed. You should expect major congestion and a few stand still traffic jams.

If you’ll be out on the road that day be prepared. Top of your fuel and give yourself enough time to account for the influx of traffic. Remember when extra people are on the road more wrecks occur, so slow downs and delays can be expected. Some major roads will actually be closed, like Interstate 57 corridor in Illinois for example.

The 12 states where you can see the total eclipse include:

An example of a traffic jam expected to be caused by the total eclipse.
 

Oregon
Idaho
Wyoming
Nebraska
Kansas
Missouri
Illinois
Kentucky
Tennessee
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

Some people will plan ahead and make a trip out of this event and find a place to stay overnight to enjoy the eclipse the next day, but others will hop in their car for a spur of the moment journey. If they travel the day of the eclipse they will avoid having to pay for a hotel and taking extra time off work.

Also, if people are in traffic during this event they may whip out their phones to try and snap pictures on their phones. This will be a major cause of distracted driving and could result in accidents. Even though parking on the shoulder is illegal, people are expected to pull off on the side of the road to watch the event, which could result in even more accidents.

Plus, the sky will go completely dark in the path of the eclipse. We hope that people remember to turn their lights on if they are driving during it, but they may not. Watch out for yourself and others. Have your lights on auto or remember to turn them on to see other drivers on the road.

State troopers from all across the country will be out looking for dangerous drivers to keep the roads safe, so be sure to be on your best driving behavior. Don’t follow other vehicles too closely, speed, or drive distracted to avoid getting pulled.

If you want to view the eclipse we recommend finding a truck stop on your route and giving yourself enough time to make it there and park before it starts. Parking on the side of the road could be dangerous and is not advised. You could also take the day off and travel with your family to see it since it will be a once and lifetime beautiful event. We hope it doesn’t get rained out.

However, if you don’t care about the eclipse and don’t want to deal with the hassle of travelers we recommend sticking to the back roads to avoid traffic. Also, check your route in advance to avoid closed roads. Don’t let extra mass of other drivers rial you up with road rage, stay calm and keep on truckin’. 

Enjoy The Eclipse

Whether you will be participating in another hard day’s work or taking the time to enjoy the eclipse remember to drive extra safely and prepare for hordes of traffic. This is a major event that millions will flock to from coast to coast. 

For more trucking blogs visit ExpressTruckTax.com and please share your thoughts about the eclipse and potential traffic in the comment section below.

The Trucker’s Guide To Driving In Teams

Posted on May 26, 2017 by - covering more miles, driver safety, driving teams, partner driving, rookie truckers, sleeping on the road, trucker sleep, truckers, trucking teams, veteran truckers

You often think of trucking as a solo activity, just a man and his truck. However, these days there are a lot of female drivers and even team drivers. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, but driving with a partner is surprisingly different from going down the road alone. We decided to look into team driving ourselves to get the full scoop.

What To Consider For Team Driving 

The concept is pretty simple. You have two people in a truck instead of just one, and you drive in shifts while the other person sleeps. This works wells because both people can drive up to 11 hours per day, meaning the truck covers more miles in less time. As long as you can sleep while another person drives then this system should work out pretty well.

More miles comes with more money, so that’s a big incentive but that money is also split between both drivers. Some married couples have rigged the system by driving together to take home all of the pay!

The most important thing when it comes to driving in a team is pulling your weight. Split the driving hours evenly, help with the loading and unloading unless you need sleep. Do your part to keep the rig clean and don’t eat all your partner’s snacks without providing food for them as well.

Now if you like your personal space then team driving probably isn’t an option for you. Think about it, trucks aren’t very big and you’ll have to split the space. Some people just casually place stuff in bins, and others develop an even storage system. Do what works for the team.

That’s another thing to consider, you won’t be able to do everything the way you want, you’ll have to work with another person. You’ll have to decide who drives during the day or at night, when to stop, and more. We’ve heard of some cases where drivers don’t want to stop and some people have had to use the bathroom in bottles. That happens on solo drives too though.

Driving tired is the equivalent to driving drunk. If you drive tired you’re risking your passenger’s life. Also, you should let your partner sleep, so he will be refresh and energized to safely drive you. This means that you may not be able to blast loud music or take phone calls all the time. You’ll have to adjust your personal driving preferences for your partner.

Other things that come into play are if you’re a smoker and your cleaning habits. If you’re a little messy and you get paired with a neat freak you might have a problem. Also, if you don’t smoke and your partner does, but you refuse to let them smoke in the cab tensions could quickly escalate.

With all this partner talk how do you even find one? That’s easy companies can assign one to you and work out the details and paperwork to agree to, or you can put an add out to find one yourself and handle the details yourself.

When you get a random partner, we hope you like them. Keep in mind that you could also get a partner of the opposite sex. This is mainly an issue for women because lady drivers need to feel comfortable with their partner.

Is Team Driving For You?

While it can be nice to have a buddy on the road, especially when you need some help, most drivers prefer to drive either with a pet or totally alone because they don’t want their personal space compromised. However, if you can trust your partner and be a respectful driver yourself, why not cover more ground together?

For more trucking tips visit ExpressTruckTax.com and please share your thoughts about team driving in the comment section below.