Tag: trucking industry

Knight-Swift Announces Major Merger with U.S. Xpress

Posted on March 21, 2023 by - Insutry news, merger, Truck Industry News, trucking news

Knight-Swift Transportation has officially announced an agreement to acquire U.S. Xpress Enterprises. This is not the first time the company has merged with another, however. In 2017, Knight Transportation and Swift Transportation merged to create Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. The difference between this merger is that U.S Xpress will keep its brand and continue to operate separately. 

U.S. Xpress was purchased by Knight-Swift for $6.15 a share, for a total of about $808 million. The acquisition is officially expected to close in the second or third quarter of the year and will pay around $291 million in cash at closing. This will be the biggest deal for Knight-Swift since it acquired AAA Cooper Transportation in 2021. 

In this acquisition, Knight-Swift will assume the acquired company’s debt of $484 million. The debt was caused by a multi-year decline in financial revenue. Ultimately U.S Xpress stockholders were pleased with the high closing stock price after the acquisition was complete.

 While the company will be acquiring U.S. Xpress’ accumulated debt, this acquisition is expected to add roughly $2.2 billion in operating revenue to Knight-Swift. This will also cause their truckload fleet to have a total of 25,00 tractors and 93,000 trailers. 

 This merger is expected to help U.S. Xpress significantly and reduce the turnover rate of employees, which had been happening during the company’s financial decline. This merger is also expected to increase the revenue of both companies to avoid any further financial decline from either company.

Are You Ready For This Year’s Mid-America Trucking Show 2023?

Posted on March 21, 2023 by - MATS, MATS Opportunities, mats truck shows, Mid America Trucking Show, Mid America Trucking Show 2023

It’s that time of year again! Every year towards the end of March, the Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS) is held in Louisville, Kentucky. 

What is MATS? 

MATS is the largest heavy-duty trucking trade show in the world where members of the trucking industry gather to show off the latest technology, equipment, products, and services. The event will feature numerous informative panels from industry experts and market leaders as well as live performances from Elvie Shane and Tony Justice.

History of MATS

In 1972, the Mid-American Trucking Show was founded to make heavy-duty trucking shows accessible to the eastern half of the United States. The show was geared towards owner-operators and fleets and aimed to be more accessible than trucking shows previously held in California and Massachusetts. The first MATS in 1972 had around 4,000 attendees and 83 exhibitors. Since then the event has grown to be the largest heavy-duty trucking show in the world with over 58,000 attendees and over 850 exhibitors. 

When is the Mid-America Trucking Show 2023? 

This year MATS is being held from March 30th to April 1st at the following location:

Kentucky Expo Center 
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville, KY 40209

The show’s hours are as follows:

Thursday, March 30th (VIP): 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 30th: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, March 31st: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 1st: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Know Before You Go

Registration

Before you head to MATS you should register in advance. There are three registration options available: attendee registration, exhibitor registration, and media registration. Attendee registration is geared toward trucking professionals looking to improve their business and see what’s new in the industry through interactive exhibits, educational panels, and networking. Exhibitor registration is geared toward company personnel looking to present their company’s products and services through interactive exhibits or booths. Media registration is designed for the media and influencers looking to partner with MATS.

Featured Events

MATS is loaded with all kinds of events for its attendees to experience while at the show. There will be many informative industry experts holding educational panels to help attendees stay up-to-date on industry topics. 

Attendees have the option to attend the VIP Executive Breakfast for an additional $100 on top of their registration fee. The event will feature networking opportunities and informative talks from executives from industry-leading companies.

The MATS Ride & Drive event allows attendees to test drive industry vehicles with the latest technology. Participation in this event is free but attendees must sign up at each truck’s respective booth for an opportunity to drive it. The drivable trucks featured in this event include a Kenworth W900 Limited Edition, a Western Star 57X, a Western Star 49X, and a Kenworth T680 Signature Edition.

MATS attendees also have the option to attend the PKY Truck Championship, showing off the industry’s best custom trucks, and the MAC Trailer Winter Nationals Championship Pulling Event on Saturday evening. 

For more information on the event visit https://truckingshow.com/.

Founder of Love’s Travel Stop Passes Away at Age 85

Posted on March 8, 2023 by - truck stop, trucking industry, trucking industry facts

When traveling down the interstate, seeing a Love’s Truck Stop isn’t an uncommon sight. With over six hundred stores in 42 states, and numerous rewards under its belt, including Corporation of the year in 1991 and the President’s Award for Service to God and Country in 1996, it’s not hard to see that it is a very successful business. The company owes its success to its founder, Tom Love who passed away on March 7, 2023, at the age of 85.

In the mid-1960s, Tom and his wife Judy leased an abandoned service station to open their first gas station which later developed into a chain of gas stations located near Oklahoma City. In an attempt to diversify his products and revenue, he got the idea to attach convenience stores to his existing gas stations. As a result, his gas stations became the first to offer grocery items and self-service gasoline in the 1970s. The first Love’s travel stop was opened in Texas in 1981, catering to both truckers and motorists alike. 

Today Love’s offers a wide array of services including roadside assistance for commercial trucks, emergency roadside vehicles, truck maintenance, parking, hot and fresh food items, shower facilities, restaurants, and even hotels at some locations. It is the largest business in its industry and is still family-owned. Tom’s love of sports also managed to get Love’s as one of the partners of his hometown’s NBA team the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Tom Love’s legacy will continue to live on in his widely popular business that continues to offer a number of convenient services for truckers and motorists alike. He contributed a lot to the trucking industry by providing truckers with places to park, take showers, purchase food, and even repair their trucks if needed. Love’s Truck Stop even goes as far as giving away millions of My Loves Rewards points during Trucker Appreciation Week for truckers to use at any Love’s location. They also hold Christmas giveaways for a number of useful items. During Christmas, they have donated to the St. Christopher Truckers Fund, a charity that helps truckers and their families when illness or injury causes them to be out of work. Even after Tom Love has passed, Love’s continues to make a positive contribution to the trucking industry helping truckers around the country.

Trucking Industry Trivia with ExpressTruckTax!

Posted on February 23, 2023 by - expresstrucktax, trucking industry, trucking industry facts

Do you think you know everything about the trucking industry? Whether you have been driving a truck for years now or just getting started, it’s time to test your knowledge about trucking. Who knows, you might learn a few facts about trucking that you didn’t know before.

Q: How long does a typical semi-truck engine last?

A: A semi-truck engine can last up to around one million miles, while a typical car engine usually only lasts around 200,000 miles.

Q: What does the word “semi” actually refer to?

A: The word “semi” actually refers to the trailer pulled by trucks. This is because it only has wheels on one end. Semi-truck refers to the truck and the trailer combined. 

Q: What is the distance it takes for a semi-truck to come to a complete stop?

A: The distance it takes for a semi-truck to come to a complete stop is around 720 feet, which equals the length of two football fields. 

Q: True or False? Semi-trucks get into fewer accidents on the road than regular cars?

A: True. Semi-trucks get into three times fewer accidents than regular noncommercial vehicles. 

Q: How long is the average truck and trailer?

A: The average truck and trailer are around 75 feet long.

Q: How much does a semi-truck cost?

A: The average semi-truck can cost anywhere between $80,000 and $200,000 depending on the brand and if you are buying it new or used.  

Q: What average speed should a truck drive to save fuel?

A: If you drive your truck at speeds of around 65 miles an hour, you will consume over twenty-five percent compared to if you were to drive around 75 miles an hour. This is good to know especially with fuel costs being high.

Q: How many miles does the average trucker travel in a year?

A: On average, a truck driver travels around 100,000 miles in a year. 

Q: True or false: Interstate highways that run East-West have even numbers and those that run North-South have odd numbers?

A: True. If an interstate has an even number (Example: I-80) it will run East-West and if it has an odd number it will run North-South (Example: I-85). 

Q: How much has emission from heavy trucks been reduced since the 1980s?

A: Emission from heavy trucks has been reduced by around 95% since the 1980s. Clean diesel technology has made it possible for around 60 modern-day trucks to put out the amount of emission equivalent to one truck in the 1980s.

How many of these questions did you know the answer to already? Even if you didn’t know many of these answers, there’s always something new to learn about the trucking industry. ExpressTruckTax is here to help drivers in the trucking industry file Form 2290 for their Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. This must be filed by drivers of trucks weighing 55,000 pounds or more annually to the IRS. Hopefully, you knew that already. If not, it is not too late to file your Form 2290 and avoid any additional penalties. What are you waiting for? File your Form 2290 today and who knows, maybe learn even more about the trucking industry from us in the future!

Clientele Spotlight: Black History Month 2023

Posted on February 3, 2023 by - Black History Month, trucking industry, trucking industry facts

Here at ExpressTruckTax, we are dedicated to helping guarantee truckers and trucking companies a simple and easy Form 2290 filing experience. We also acknowledge the amazing efforts drivers put in to keep our nation running. It is officially February, which means it is Black History Month. 

Black History Month was first suggested by Black United Students at Kent State University in 1969 and was soon adopted as a celebration around the country. In 1976 it was recognized by President Gerald Ford during the United States bicentennial, urging Americans to honor Black Americans and their accomplishments throughout history. In recent years, the trucking industry has seen steady growth in the amount of African American drivers in the industry. This means the industry is becoming more diverse and inclusive as a whole. 

As far as contributions to the transportation industry go, there have been many significant and impactful contributions made by African Americans throughout the years. One of these important figures is Garret Morgan who became known as the “Father of Transportation Technology” because of his invention of the traffic signal in 1923. 

Another important contribution to the transportation industry was made by Frederick McKinley Jones, who invented the mechanical transport refrigeration unit which is seen in today’s reefer freight haulers. He won the National Medal of Technology in 1991 for his invention. This has made it possible for trucks and train cars to transport fresh and frozen foods long distances. 

Meredith Gourdine also made an important contribution to the transportation industry with his development of an exhaust purification system in 1967. This invention is known as the catalytic converter, which helps minimize harmful emissions released into the air. 

In the mid-1970s through the 1980s, Dr. Gladys West, a famous African American mathematician programmed a 7030 Stretch computer. It was designed to map the shape of the earth and aided in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). 

Here at ExpressTruckTax we value and celebrate our African American clients and want to make sure they all have the best filing experience possible. We also want to take the time to highlight some of our fantastic African American clientele and business owners that have generated their 2290 or 8849 Forms with us. We want to hear about your filing experiences!

If you would like your business featured, or want to shout out an African-American-owned trucking company you love, reach out to support@expresstrucktax.com.

We will feature these businesses through a Facebook post upon your approval. 

Happy Truck Driver Appreciation Week From ExpressTruckTax

Posted on September 15, 2022 by - driver appreciation week, national truck driver appreciation trucker, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Trucker Appreciation

This week, the week of September 11th-17th, we are celebrating something special. It is a time to celebrate some of the nation’s essential workers and recognize the important work they do every day. This week is none other than National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, a week where we celebrate all of the hard work truckers put into transporting the essential goods we need to their destinations. A majority of the goods we receive are transported and delivered by truck drivers, so it is important to recognize your efforts in doing so. 

We at ExpressTruckTax would like to thank truckers for all of the hard work you do every day. You are what helps keep America moving, traveling thousands of miles each year. We would also like to thank you for choosing ExpressTruckTax for all of your Form 2290 filing needs. Without you, there would be no ExpressTruckTax.

Form 2290 is an IRS tax form filed by drivers of vehicles weighing 55,000 pounds or more for the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT). This form is filed annually and the deadline to file is August 31st. ExpressTruckTax knows drivers are generally on the road, busy transporting essential goods. To make sure we give drivers the best filing experience so that they can get back on the road as quickly as possible, ExpressTruckTax has created a filing experience uniquely designed to meet the needs of truck drivers. The filing process is designed not to take long to file Form 2290 and can be completed in a few simple steps. 

ExpressTruckTax makes it fast and easy to file Form 2290. Simply enter your business information including your Employer Identification Number (EIN), vehicle information including your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), any credit vehicles you plan to claim if any, and your payment information. To provide drivers with even more convenience, ExpressTruckTax now offers the option to pay your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax directly from ExpressTruckTax alongside your filing fee using a credit or debit card. This process is designed to be fast so that drivers can get their Stamped Schedule 1 in minutes and get back on the road instead of spending the day waiting at an IRS office. Even though the Form 2290 deadline has passed, drivers can still file Form 2290 with ExpressTruckTax. 

ExpressTruckTax appreciates everything that truckers do and is designed to provide them with the simplest filing experience so that they can get back on the road as quickly as possible. What are you waiting for? File your Form 2290 with ExpressTruckTax today for a quick and easy filing experience!

FAQ Friday: What are the Benefits of Partnering with ExpressTruckTax?

Posted on July 29, 2022 by - Frequently asked questions, Partners

What is Form 2290?

Form 2290 is an IRS tax form for the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT). This form must be filed annually by drivers of vehicles weighing 55,000 pounds or more.

Why is Form 2290 Important?

Form 2290 is important because, after filing, drivers receive a Stamped Schedule 1, which is required to get a vehicle’s tags and registration. 

Who Needs a Copy of the Stamped Schedule 1?

It is important that a driver carry a copy of their Stamped Schedule 1 in their truck in case they are pulled over. It is also important that the carriers and associations that drivers drive for get a copy of the Stamped Schedule 1 as well. These carriers and associations typically request copies of these Stamped Schedule 1’s to have for their records. 

How can ExpressTruckTax benefit Carriers and Associations?

ExpressTruckTax offers a special feature that carriers and associations gain by becoming partners with ExpressTruckTax. ExpressTruckTax offers a helpful option for carriers and trucking associations where they are able to partner with ExpressTruckTax. Every affiliate that decides to partner with ExpressTruckTax gets its own Form 2290 filing portal where drivers can go to file. Not only that but the Stamped Schedule 1 will be automatically sent to the driver’s carrier or association after filing.

The best part is that it is completely free to those who partner with ExpressTruckTax and open one of these portals and the portal will feature the carrier or association’s logo. If a partner does not want a portal, they can opt-in for a backslash site which is a link they can give drivers to file Form 2290 through ExpressTruckTax.

Each carrier or association that partners with ExpressTruckTax will be added to a list that drivers can go to when filing their Form 2290 and select the carrier or association they drive for. Upon selecting a carrier or association, the driver’s Stamped Schedule 1 will be sent directly to the carrier or association once Form 2290 is accepted.

Become a Partner Today!

There are many benefits that come from carriers and associations partnering with ExpressTruckTax. It is helpful to both carriers and associations and the drivers that drive for them. By providing drivers with a designated place to file, it will guarantee that all of the Schedule 1s will be received to avoid fines. What are you waiting for? Partner with ExpressTruckTax today!

Happy Memorial Day from ExpressTruckTax!

Posted on May 27, 2022 by - expresstrucktax, Happy memorial day, Memorial Day Weekend, Truckers remember

As the weather starts to get warmer with the first signs of summer, it is once again time for a very important day! ExpressTruckTax and our amazing support team want to wish you all a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! At ExpressTruckTax we know many truckers have relatives in the military or are veterans themselves. 

This Memorial Day we honor all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America and their families in the trucking industry. 

We hope you enjoy this day and hope you take some time to relax with your family and friends. Enjoy the finer things in life while honoring the brave souls who have fought, and are still fighting, for the freedom of our great nation!

If you don’t have the weekend off and are working, don’t forget that the roads can get a little crazy with everyone traveling for the summer. If you’re out driving your truck and hauling goods, make sure you stay safe out there and enjoy an amazing Memorial Day weekend regardless!

How The Trucking Industry Is Becoming More Sustainable This Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2022 by - Earth Day, EArth Day 2022

April 22nd, 2022 is Earth Day! A day about celebrating the planet we call home. As part of an effort to help to save this wonderful world, many industries are striving to reduce their emissions. The Trucking Industry accounts for nearly a quarter of the emissions in the United States. In spite of this, the industry has been shifting towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for the past few years. 

In order to help the trucking industry become more sustainable, there have been many strides made toward this goal.

Reduction of Trucks Driving With Empty or Less Than Full Loads

When a truck drives with an empty or less than full load, not only is it not cost-effective, but it also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. When a truck has a full load, it is more cost-efficient for customers and makes sure that our transportation resources are being utilized to their full potential. 

Improvement of Truck Aerodynamics

If a truck is more aerodynamic it can not only reduce a truck’s drag but can make the vehicle more efficient overall. Redesigning a truck’s shape, and the distance between the truck and the trailer, among other factors that are constantly being improved. Improving trucks like this can shorten delivery times and potentially help decrease the amount of fuel consumed. 

Advanced Technology

Advancements in technology have allowed trucks to have sensors that collect data such as idle times for truck engines and even tire pressure and analyze it to improve the entire transportation industry.  Some advancements in technology can even help with route planning. This software can analyze data to predict weather conditions and traffic to help drivers choose the best route that consumes the least amount of fuel and is more time-efficient. 

Alternative Fuel Sources

This is one of the most discussed ways to help reduce emissions in the trucking industry. Many companies are pushing toward more eco-friendly fuel options such as biodiesel, but the push towards getting electric vehicles has been a major focus. Many automotive companies are pushing to make electric and alternative fuel vehicles more accessible to the trucking industry as a whole since electric vehicles have lower carbon emissions.

How You Can Make A Difference This Earth Day?

We all have to remember that Earth is important and how we take care of it is up to us. Making sure truckloads are full and trucks are not left sitting idle can be one way to reduce carbon emissions but there are many more. The trucking industry is very important and helps people get the goods they need. Everyone has a role to play in helping the environment, including those in the trucking industry. 

Clientele Spotlight: Celebrating Amazing Women During Women’s History Month

Posted on March 3, 2022 by - Women in Trucking, Women In Trucking Association, Women’s History Month

As the weather grows warmer, March is not only a month to admire flowers and celebrate St. Patrick’s day, but it is also a month to celebrate the achievements, talents, and accomplishments of women. 

In honor of Women’s History Month, ExpressTruckTax wants to take the time to highlight some of the amazing women in the trucking industry/ women-owned businesses that have generated their 2290 or 8849 Forms with us.

If you would like your business featured, or want to shout out to a woman-owned trucking company you admire, reach out to support@expresstrucktax.com.

We will feature these businesses through an Instagram and Facebook post upon your approval.