Category: #TruckTechTuesday

#TruckTechTuesday: Fleetmatics and ExpressIFTA

Posted on August 11, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, ExpressIFTA, Expresstrucktax.com, IFTA, New GPS


It’s #TruckTechTuesday, Trucking Nation! And you know what that means, we’re going to talk about how to make your trucking experience better with apps and accessories.

This week, it’s all about trucker-centric GPS. These are specialized GPS systems that help truckers follow the right roads, stay safe, and avoid violations of the trucking rule book. One of the best trucking GPS systems on the market right now is Fleetmatics.

Fleetmatics is a GPS solution to save you on fuel costs, and it can potentially save you some on your insurance premiums. This GPS is designed specifically for trucker safety, and it’s GPS files are trusted by ExpressIFTA!

When you use Fleetmatics in order to haul goods from place to place, you get more than just a GPS system. You can also create detailed digital trucking logs, fuel and mileage logs for IFTA, and it will help you avoid roads not made for trucks. That means no more turning around, or finding yourself at a loss for where to go. That can definitely save you time, and fuel! Plus, since it’s integrated with ExpressIFTA, there’s no guess work when it comes to filing for your fuel taxes.


And that’s not all. You can also get real-time HOS status information, both on the road and in the office. Plus Fleetmatics is all about staying compliant with the entire trucking handbook. It can even send proactive alerts to drivers in real time that can help prevent violations. And it can send alerts to ExpressIFTA, and you can upload all of your GPS information to ExpressIFTA as well! In fact, Fleetmatic’s GPS output is the only one ExpressIFTA currently accepts.

Over the past five years, Fleetmatics has saved drivers over $2 Billion in fuel savings and has prevented millions of moving and rule book violations. Not to mention, the digital logbook is a lifesaver for when you use ExpressIFTA to file for your fuel taxes. Because trust us when we say that keeping detailed records will save you in the long run.

With everything Fleetmatics has to offer, along with ExpressIFTA accepting their GPS files exclusively, it’s no wonder so many people in the trucking industry rely on it to get them safely from place to place. And to record some very detailed, by-the-book trucking, fuel, and mileage logs that will save you so many headaches along the way.

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

And if you find yourself with any questions about the e-filing process, we’re here for you. Just give our support legends a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

It’s #TruckTechTuesday, Trucking Nation!

Posted on July 28, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, express truck tax

That means even more trucking awesome concept trucks, truck accessories, and truck-tastic apps for our road warriors.  


As the world of technology becomes bigger and bigger, the trucking industry can bring you better and safer truck accessories, concept trucks, and apps to make the industry even better.  


Because trucking is so much more than just hauling goods, it’s a livelihood and it’s the backbone of this great American Nation.

Trucking Awesome (Truck Concepts)

This week in Trucking Awesome, ECS brings a monocoque truck frame to the table.  The company aims to use this frame to reduce the weight of heavy vehicles and improve overall road performance.  



The stiffness and stability of the frame will accomplish this nicely.  Plus, with reducing the weight of the vehicle (by a whopping 30%), ECS aims to reduce the resources used in all processes of production.  

This means there will be less metal used, less fuel consumed, and a less-involved vehicle manufacturing process, all by making the frame more stable.  Plus, ECS will reduce the carbon footprints of future vehicles.  Something our environment desperately needs.  

Truck Accessories

When you’re on the road for most of the week, your truck tends to become your home.  And like a home, you need to be able to make it as comfortable as possible.  Especially since, as a trucker, you have to keep track of several different things in order to continue operating your vehicle.  

That’s where truck accessories like a laptop mount come in handy.  Instead of having your laptop in your lap and hunching over it, this system allows you to mount it in your sleeper.  That way you don’t have to hunch and struggle to remain comfortable at the expense of your back.


Since the mount is adjustable, it can work with virtually any size truck and virtually any sized laptop.  It’s a small price to pay for the added comfort of being able to sit up straight to file your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

Apps for Road Warriors

Thanks to ExpressTruckTax, members of OOIDA now have their very own portal to e-file their Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes and their State-Specific IFTA.


That means members of OOIDA can e-file with ExpressTruckTax, leaders in the truck tax industry, and reap the numerous returning user benefits they offer, including their unparalleled USA-based support legends.  

The whole process takes less than 15 minutes, and most returns are accepted instantly.  And that’s it, you’ll get your Stamped Schedule 1 and get back to your life.  No paper, no calculations, and no wasting time.  Just streamlined filing for OOIDA members.

So download the app today for either Android or iOS.

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

If you find yourself with any questions about the e-filing process, we’re here for you. Just give our support legends a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

#TruckTechTuesday: Fuel Technology

Posted on July 21, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, Expresstrucktax.com, IFTA

Happy #TruckTechTuesday, Trucking Nation!

As the world continues to become computerized and tech-centric. Everything seems to be getting a tech makeover. Especially big rigs!

And because of that, the trucking industry is becoming a lot safer, and more environmentally friendly. Not to mention, trucks are becoming more user-friendly, and truckers are having a much easier time staying connected with each other and their dispatch offices.

Over the past few years, there have been leaps and bounds made in order to make trucking lives easier, and the road much safer. Here’s some technology that is revolutionizing the trucking nation.

Trucking Awesome (Truck Concepts)

Continuing our series of truck-tastic concept trucks, the Freightliner Cascadia Evolution is a technological revolution for the trucking industry. 

 

It features a Detroit DD15 engine, which is one of the most advanced, aerodynamic, and fuel efficient engine enhancements to ever happen to trucks. The DD15 delivers a 7% improvement in fuel economy, which is greater than any other engine on the market to date.

Not to mention, it is also equipped with a first-generation aerodynamic package, which decreases the Cascadia’s wind resistance by 5%. Meaning the Cascadia is equipped with the very best aerodynamic upgrades in the industry.

With this new truck, Freightliner aims to push the trucking industry toward making trucks more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, and safer for their drivers. Their goal is to constantly evolve above the competition and bring some excellent trucks to the table. Trucks that are not only fun to look at, but trucks that actually change the way the industry hauls goods.

Truck Accessories

Often times when you’re hauling goods, you find yourself travelling to higher altitudes. And as everyone who drives a truck knows, higher altitudes means colder weather.

When this happens, side mirrors often take a hit, freezing or frosting over from the cold in high altitudes. And if you are driving truck, this can be dangerous. But West Coast found a way to combat that with heated mirrors.

These are fantastic for anyone travelling into cold climates or high altitudes. When your mirrors frost over, instead of having to pull off the road to handle them, simply turn on your heated mirror and let them defrost themselves while you continue to drive.

No more wasting time or pushing the boundaries of road safety. Now you can rest easy!

Apps for Road Warriors

Since third quarter IFTA began on July 1st, if you haven’t already filed, you will need to file soon. That’s where this week’s app for road warriors comes in. File your quarterly fuel tax with ease, by using the ExpressIFTA tax calculator. 

 

With this app, you’ll always know what you have to pay without breaking out that dusty old calculator. Let ExpressIFTA calculate it for you based on where you’ve gone and how long your trip was.

And even if you’ve already filed this quarter, the next quarter begins in October. So trust us when we say, the ExpressIFTA calculator is an app that will get you through every quarter with ease.

So download the app today for either Android or iOS, and file your IFTA and get back to your life!

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

We’re here for you If you find yourself with any questions about the e-filing process. Just give our support legends a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

And don’t forget, if you file with us and “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll be entered to win a portable blender that you can take on the road with you!

#TruckTechTuesday: Driver Safety

Posted on July 7, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, Expresstrucktax.com, TruckLogics

Happy #TruckTechTuesday, Trucking Nation! Time to explore the growing world of big rig technology.

Technology for big rigs is still a growing market and many of the trucks and accessories are still in their concept phases, but that doesn’t make them any less cool.

And there are actually a lot of accessories on the market that help truckers with braking, visibility, backing up, and avoiding collisions with other drivers.

Meet the technology that is trying to make the Trucking Nation better!

Trucking Awesome (Truck Concepts)

Introducing the VolvoBeeVan, a somewhat miniature big rig that placed the driver at the center of the vehicle. 

The way Volvo designed this rig, the driver sits front and center. That means way more visibility and a much better view of the road. And it’s safety features are basically off the charts!

When a driver exits their vehicle, the doors slide open and reveal hidden steps that will help them to get their feed on the ground safely. Then inside the cab, the truck is insulated to shield the driver from the outside environment.

And it also includes a sleeper, dinette table, and some spacious personal storage. For Volvo’s new concept vehicle, the driver is the main concern and everything is done for their comfort and safety.

Truck Accessories

Since semi-trucks are so large, being able to see behind the trailer is often a difficult task. But Hawkeye has a solution for that: their wireless backup camera. 

 

They’ve been putting backup cameras on cars for ages, so why not trucks? It can help truckers visualize the great unknown (behind their trailer) much better than their large mirrors ever could.

The display is three inches high and it isn’t very invasive, especially in a big rig with a large cabin. And it’ll improve the safety of your vehicle!

Apps for Road Warriors

Managing a business on the road can be difficult. Keeping up with drivers, dispatches, goods, and paychecks is basically a nightmare. But at TruckLogics, they have the solution.

TruckLogics is a business management software (and smartphone app) that can help you manage your business virtually anywhere! It’s basically the ultimate solution to manage any trucking business.

The app can be used by both owner-operators, fleet managers, leased operators, and drivers. This allows for monitoring, real-time status updates and it helps you keep your records all in one place on their secure US-based server.

Get started today and manage your business with ease!

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

We’re here for you If you find yourself with any questions about the e-filing process. Just give our support legends a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

#TruckTechTuesday: Safe Trucking

Posted on June 30, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, HVUT, Schedule 1, Truck Tax

It’s #TruckTechTuesday again, Trucking Nation! That means we get to explore the exciting world of technology that’s geared specifically toward heavy vehicles.

While the world of truck technology is fairly new, the market is growing astronomically. With both large companies (like Wal-Mart, Volkswagen and Peterbilt) and small—virtually unheard of—companies (like AirFlow, Peloton, and Haishan Deng) working to make the trucking industry better.

Trucking Awesome (Concept Trucks)

We’ve been talking a lot about trucks with sleek bullet-like designs, and while there are more similar concepts closer to being released, this week we’re changing the pace. Introducing The Chameleon by Haishan Deng.

The Chameleon is a centipede-esque truck with a segmented body that allows the truck to adjust in order to fit any container size. Not to mention, on top of that, the body of the trailer is constructed out of a soft tarp-like material that allows the truck to absorb energy during an impact.

This truck concept would revolutionize the truck industry! Due to it’s material, the truck is more lightweight so it will lessen the blow of impacts with other vehicles as well as cutting back on fuel intake. That means roads and the environment will both be safer once this truck becomes a reality.

Truck Tech Accessories

There are a lot of accessories out there for truck drivers. From dash cams to Peloton, both of which we’ve already talked about in previous blogs, truck extensions are getting really high tech.

But this week we’re going somewhat old school with Talon’s digital tire pressure monitoring system.

Monitoring tire pressure is a serious problem in big trucks. But with Talon, their device allows you to monitor the tire pressure of up to 22 wheels at a time. That means you can have some peace of mind out on the open road.

Plus, it can also monitor the temperature of your trailer, and it alerts you if that temperature or if the air pressure in any of your tires becomes too low.

Apps for Road Warriors

With Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Season beginning tomorrow, this week’s app is our very own ExpressTruckTax app, available for free for your iOS & Android devices.

With ExpressTruckTax, you get so much more than an e-filing system, you get the best value in the Trucking Industry!

And we have an app! That means you can e-file from virtually anywhere. That and you get the same great ExpressTruckTax product and support. You can even pull up your Stamped Schedule 1 from your phone!

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

We’re here for you If you find yourself with any questions about the e-filing process. Just give our support legends a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

Happy e-filing, Trucking Nation!

#TruckTechTuesday: Trucks, Tech, and Apps Galore!

Posted on June 23, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, Expresstrucktax.com, Truck Tax, truck tech, trucking news

Happy #TruckTechTuesday, Trucking Nation!

As the world of technology continues to grow, there are more and more areas that are providing excellent tech. Now the technology world has become so huge, that it has expanded beyond phones and computers to heavy vehicles.

Now we live in a world where technology is working to make trucks better. Through truck extensions, truck apps, and new truck concepts, the tech industry is trying to turn trucks friendly for our environmental future.

That and new tech makes your truck look really cool! Which is what we talked about in our previous Truck Tech Blog.

Trucking Awesome (Concept Trucks)

Last time we talked about BulletTruck from AirFlow, but this week’s truck looks even more sleek. Introducing Peterbilt’s trucking awesome concept truck, Sentinal.

Peterbilt refers to it’s concept truck as the new American dream. And if that picture is any indication, they definitely aim to deliver an extravagant truck basically drowning in luxury. Plus, it’s design makes it more aerodynamic (which is great for your fuel mileage)!

In fact, the design could improve fuel economy and range of long haulers by 25%! And this truck concept is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.

Truck Extensions

This week’s truck extension is a little bit of a wild card because is is both an app and a truck extension. The extension is called Peloton, and it is a trucking app concept built by Peloton Technology. 

 

Peloton is an automated vehicle technology company that is working to connect collision avoidance technology, and prevent the most common truck accidents. They also provide a reduction in aerodynamic drag by linking two trucks together in what they call a platoon. And on-road testing showed that they were saving fleets a lot of fuel!

So in addition to the added safety of travelling in packs, automatic braking, and generally being really, really cool, Peloton will also save you a lot of money in the long haul.

Apps for Road Warriors

Perhaps one of the most influential apps of the summer is the FMCSA Guide Rules and Regulations app by Wright Media, which you can download from both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

Now it might not sound like much, but consider this: this is the first mobile guide to everything you need to know about the FMCSA Rules and Regulations. That means you get instant access!

You can look up any rule or regulation just by using their search feature. No more searching through bulky books and trying to figure out the rules.

And, this app includes their new “Fuel Dawg” feature where you can locate the best diesel prices from thousands of truck stops based on your GPS location!

But wait, there’s more! This app also includes the latest trucking job opportunities, and access to contact those trucking company directly. It was even featured in our ExpressTruckTax IFTA blog about hot summer apps!

If you have any questions, comments, or more #TruckTech you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing trucking stories and learning about new truck tech!

As always, if you find yourself with some tax questions, give our dedicated support team a call at 704.234.6005 or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24 hour support in both English and Spanish!

And don’t forget! You only have 7 more days left to pre-file. If you want to be entered to win a ExpressTruckTax Swag Bag and save a little money of the e-filing price (with the promo code PREFILE), then don’t delay, pre-file today!