Archive for December, 2013

What is a Short Haul Driver?

Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

Sometimes truck drivers aren’t in it for the long haul, but rather the short haul. To know what a short haul driver is, you first have to know what an air-mile is. One air-mile is equivalent to one nautical mile, and one nautical mile is equivalent to about 1.15 miles. So, an air-mile is slightly greater than a mile as most people know it. A short haul driver drives within a 150 air-mile radius of their home base, or drives within 100 air-miles and completes their duty day within 12 hours.

This is important because federal regulations mandate breaks based on distance traveled for truckers. Drivers who exceed the 150 air-miles radius have to take a 30-minute break “within the first eight hours of on-duty time or at the ‘earliest safe opportunity’ if the eight-hour threshold had been exceeded by the time the driver first learned he or she was ineligible for the short-haul exemption, FMCSA says.” This break requirement also applies “to short haulers who qualify for the exemption under the 100 air-miles, 12-hour limits, too.” If a short hauler does not take a 30 minute break before exceed the exemption limits, they are in violation of the regulations. The exception is if a driver misses a break for unforseen reasons, which they have to account for in their log.

 

short haul break

 

Evan Transportation was founded in 1992 by Jerry Wolfarth, who at the time had over 25 years of experience in the trucking and transportation industry. The initial operation consisted of a few trucks and drivers who were dedicated and professional. The goal of the company was to provide excellent, dependable service.

If you need materials and products moved in the Mid-Atlantic region, contact Evan Transportation. We hire professional drivers with excellent driving records, and maintain a fleet of trailers and vehicles that are reliable and ready to roll.

Contact us today for all of your freight shipment needs or call us at 443-673-3365

Before you hit the road, check us out on FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn and YouTube!

Source

http://www.overdriveonline.com/warning-for-short-haulers-exceeding-distance-time-limits-makes-30-min-break-mandatory/

What is a Jack-Knife Accident?

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013

A jack-knife accident is the name for an accident where the trailer exceeds a 45 degree angle relative to the tractor. The end result is that the tractor can’t rectify the sharp angle between itself and the trailer, and it usually ends up with the tractor at a 90 degree angle or greater relative to the trailer.

A jack-knife accident is caused when the wheels of the trailer start to skin and the trailer begins to move faster than the cab. There are several factors that can cause a tractor trailer to jack-knife. Slippery wet or icy roads are the most common culprits in jack-knife accidents. The loss of traction can cause the trailer to slide out in one direction or another, especially if the trailer is empty and lighter. Hard braking can also cause the trailer to jack-knife if it doesn’t slow down in time.

So how do truck drivers prevent the trailer from jack-knifing? The first step is to always be on the lookout for trailer swing. If the trailer seems to be moving out in one direction or another, let go of the brake and increase speed if necessary to pull the trailer back in line. If the tractor itself is jack-knifing, it may be because of sudden acceleration. Let go of the accelerator and steer out to regain control. Another way to prevent jack-knifing is to brake before turns instead of during turns, which prevents the trailer from going faster than the tractor.

 

jack-knife accident

 

Evan Transportation was founded in 1992 by Jerry Wolfarth, who at the time had over 25 years of experience in the trucking and transportation industry. The initial operation consisted of a few trucks and drivers who were dedicated and professional. The goal of the company was to provide excellent, dependable service.

If you need materials and products moved in the Mid-Atlantic region, contact Evan Transportation. We hire professional drivers with excellent driving records, and maintain a fleet of trailers and vehicles that are reliable and ready to roll.

Contact us today for all of your freight shipment needs or call us at 443-673-3365

Before you hit the road, check us out on FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn and YouTube!

 

Source

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/vehicle-towing/maneuvers/how-to-avoid-jackknifing1.htm

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/facts-about-trucks/

What Is Ice Road Trucking?

Thursday, December 12th, 2013

If you’re familiar with the TV show Ice Road Truckers, you probably know about the wild ride that is ice road trucking. And while it may be dramatized on the show, there are definitely real risks in ice road trucking.

Ice road trucking is the method that small towns and mining operations in the far north of Canada and Alaska use to keep their camps supplied during the winter months. The northern territories in which these towns are found are filled with lakes, and during the summer months, ferries keep the supply lines open. During the winter these lakes freeze over, making ferry transport impossible. Instead, the snow is plowed off the surface of the frozen lakes and exposed to the sub-freezing air, which can reach temperatures of negative 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the ice under the plowed areas very thick and allows it to support the weight of semi-trucks. Ramps are built to connect bodies over water over land using a frozen mix of snow and lake water. The trucks can then use this icy highway to deliver supplies where they are needed.

Naturally, using ice as a construction material for a highway has its drawbacks. Speeds are limited to about 15 miles per hour, though some truckers exceed this at their own risk. The mass of the truck can actually create waves below the surface of the ice which can cause it to break away from shore. Expansion and contraction due to temperature changes can create large cracks in the ice. Highways that pass through mountainous regions are vulnerable to avalanches. Because these highways pass through such remote locations, it can be difficult and time consuming for emergency responders to arrive in the event of an accident. Overall, ice road trucking isn’t for the faint of heart. However, it is the most cost efficient method of delivering supplies to these high-latitude towns and mining operations.

 

ice road trucking

 

Evan Transportation was founded in 1992 by Jerry Wolfarth, who at the time had over 25 years of experience in the trucking and transportation industry. The initial operation consisted of a few trucks and drivers who were dedicated and professional. The goal of the company was to provide excellent, dependable service.

If you need materials and products moved in the Mid-Atlantic region, contact Evan Transportation. We hire professional drivers with excellent driving records, and maintain a fleet of trailers and vehicles that are reliable and ready to roll.

Contact us today for all of your freight shipment needs or call us at 443-673-3365

Before you hit the road, check us out on FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn and YouTube!

Source

http://voices.yahoo.com/what-ice-road-trucking-exactly-3319976.html?cat=27

http://juneauempire.com/state/2013-06-01/avalanches-plague-ice-road-truckers-highway#.UqoIpfRDvNw

Tips For Safe Winter Truck Driving

Thursday, December 5th, 2013

Winter weather can bring dangerous road conditions that make safe driving even more of a priority. While you can control the weather, you can control how you prepare for it. Here are some tips for truckers that will help with preparation for winter weather.

 

Start Planning Before Winter

When the weather is good take note of safe places to park and places to chain up and chain off. Keep these locations in the back of your mind, or better yet, write them down, so when you need to make an emergency stop you know where you can go.

Monitor the Weather

These days you can use lots of different sources to keep tabs on the weather, from your radio to your smartphone. Check the forecast before you go and make a plan for your trip. If snow is in the forecast, calculate your speed at 25mph in order to avoid running out of driving hours or hitting them before you can get to a safe spot. You can only take advantage of the “extra two hours of driving for unforeseen traffic or weather” if it is unforeseen. If you knew about bad weather ahead, use of these hours won’t fly with DOT.

Pre-Trip and En Route Inspections

Make sure all lights work and are clean. Draining air from the truck’s tanks and trailers will reduce the chance of condensation building up in the air lines and freezing your brakes. Make sure you have the proper equipment for chaining in bad weather conditions and personal equipment to keep you warm if you’re waiting for a tow.

Know Your Limits

Safety is the best policy. If you’re inexperienced with the weather conditions ahead, better to pull over and wait for the plows and salt trucks to come through. Or look for a mentor with more experience who can guide you through.

 

winter truck driving tips

 

Evan Transportation was founded in 1992 by Jerry Wolfarth, who at the time had over 25 years of experience in the trucking and transportation industry. The initial operation consisted of a few trucks and drivers who were dedicated and professional. The goal of the company was to provide excellent, dependable service.

If you need materials and products moved in the Mid-Atlantic region, contact Evan Transportation. We hire professional drivers with excellent driving records, and maintain a fleet of trailers and vehicles that are reliable and ready to roll.

Contact us today for all of your freight shipment needs or call us at 443-673-3365

Before you hit the road, check us out on FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn and YouTube!

Source

http://blog.gordontrucking.com/bid/113299/Professional-Truck-Driver-Winter-Driving-Tips