Archive for June, 2008
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Buying a 4X4 truck can be an overwhelming task. You could go for a well established manufacturer, but there are still much more options to consider nonetheless. And it doesn’t really matter who you are or where you are from, chances are that you are going to need a truck at least one in your lifetime. Now, if you’ve got the financial means to purchase one, that ’s very good. If you don’t, you can always consider truck rental or truck leasing. And here are some pointers that could lead you in the right direction if you intend on purchasing a truck.
SIZE
How big a truck do you need? Do you need it for carrying things around from time to time, do you need it for your business? With these things in mind, decide upon the size of the truck that would be enough for you.
PRICE
Now I know you will instantly think of the price, so I needn’t tell you to watch out for the price. What you should know though is the fact that the price of a truck can vary greatly, depending on the model. It can go from affordable to very expensive, just like a car would.
ENGINE
Remember that one of the most important things to consider about a pickup truck is its engine. Most trucks possess a V6 engine. This engine relies on a fair enough amount of fuel. However, most full sized trucks usually have V8 engines that deplete the gas tank very fast. In this case, you should definitely consider a diesel engine.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT CAN CARRY
Will you be using the truck to transport people from one place to another? Maybe you’ve thought about starting a business like that. In this case, it ’s advisable to buy an extended truck that can carry 8 or more people.
If you don’t have the means to actually buy a truck, you could always consider truck leasing, or truck renting. Truck renting is suitable for cases in which the purchase of a new truck isn’t justified. And here are some things to think about when leasing for short term:
1. Check all the prices and rental terms. You won’t lack companies which will offer leasing and rental services.
2. Be careful with the details. Don’t sign the contract for a rental until you are very clear about hidden costs and rental requirements. If there are any extra per mile fuel charges, make sure you know about them.
3. Make sure you check out the rental insurance. You want to make sure who is the insurance issued to.
4. Remember the time and place of the truck return. If you plan on going out of town, remember to take a map with you, so you won’t get lost.
Someday in your life, you will feel the need of a truck after all, they are one of the most important means of transportation on land. Whether you just want to move a few things or an entire house, you can surely find a truck that will suit your needs. Nowadays, many businesses make their deliveries with a 4X4 truck.
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Commercial trucks and busses present dangers which are unique to their size. Because of this, it would seem reasonable that driving larger vehicles requires special skills and knowledge. Prior to the implementation of the Commercial Driver’s License program, however, anyone with a driver’s license could legally drive a tractor trailer or bus.
In states that did have a classified licensing system, the driver might not have been skill tested on a representative vehicle. This resulted in many drivers operating motor vehicles that they may not have been qualified to drive.
In addition, many unsafe drivers were able to obtain licenses from many different states. This allowed them to spread convictions for various driving related crimes out among multiple driving records in multiple states and continue to drive.
Fortunately, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was passed. The goal of this important piece of legislation was to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and busses are qualified to operate large vehicles. The secondary goal of the act was to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from the highways.
This act allows the states to retain their right to issue a driver’s license; however, it establishes minimum national standards which must be met when licensing commercial motor vehicle drivers. In addition, the law makes it illegal to have in one’s possession more than one commercial driver’s license.
This piece of legislation requires states to adopt testing and licensing standards for potential truck and bus drivers. These tests are meant to check a person’s ability to operate the vehicle which he or she plans to drive for a living.
This act does not, as critics might suggest, require drivers to obtain a separate Federal commercial driver’s license. This legislation merely requires states to upgrade their testing and licensing standards to the minimum Federal standards.
The legislation places requirements on the commercial motor vehicle driver, the employing motor carrier, and the states themselves. All drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a commercial motor vehicle since 1992. The states are required to administer both a knowledge test and a skill test. These tests can be administered by third party testing groups, like driver’s schools. There is also a grandfathering provision which allows states to “grandfather” drivers with good records from the skills test. This makes drivers who are already safe and without any convictions to skip some of the red tape. Commercial motor carrier groups are required to employ licensed individuals and to maintain good records.
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Vacuum and sweeper trucks are often referred to as street cleaners. They are rarely used by sanitation companies to clean the street. It is really uncommon to see a vacuum and sweeper truck on road side. It is unique in nature. However they offer valuable services to sanitation companies. Since it is not a common vehicle, banks and traditional financial institutions may not be willing to provide vacuum and sweeper truck financing. But there are some genuine financing companies that have experience in equipment financing. They can understand the need of this vehicle and can provide financial assistance.
There are various types of vacuum and sweeper trucks. Liquid vacuum trucks are used to remove liquid wastes including dangerous liquids. The removed liquid wastes can then be transported and disposed by the truck in some other location. The construction companies and environment cleaning up organization can find it very useful. They can remove even oily liquid wastes and leave the place neat. They save much time in cleaning process. However their specialized nature adds cost to it. Hence many companies prefer vacuum and sweeper truck financing to acquire them.
Semi solid vacuum and sweeper trucks perform the same functions of liquid vacuum trucks. But they have the ability to clean semi liquid wastes along with removing the liquid wastes. They save much time and effort in cleaning tasks. They help leaving the place tidy. Due to their sophisticated nature, they carry a high price tag. Hence semi solid vacuum and sweeper truck financing is often desirable.
All street sweeper trucks are used to clean any surfaces. Government organizations and sanitation companies find them very useful. They have added advanced features like flexibility and high cleaning capability. They have rotating brushes and powerful water jets to clean the street thoroughly. Due to their sophisticated nature, they are quite pricey. Hence many companies look for vacuum and sweeper truck financing to acquire them.
Vacuum and sweeper trucks provide invaluable service for sanitation companies to clean any surfaces with less effort. Their advanced features ensure fast cleaning. They have ability to clean any type of wastes. Though essential, they are quite costly and the sanitation companies hesitate to buy it on their own. They can receive only negative answer from banks and traditional financial institutions. However the valid financing companies that have greater experience in the field can offer necessary help.
Vacuum and sweeper truck financing is becoming easier nowadays due to such reliable financing companies. They accept online application form and they provide fast approval for the desired amount so that the company can acquire the truck quickly. Sometimes the company can acquire the vehicle even on the same day of application.
These financing companies do not require any cumbersome procedures and so the sanitation companies can get the amount they require to buy vacuum and sweeper truck easily. Since the financing companies offer assistance at low interest rates, they can repay the amount in easy installments. The truck can also help generating higher revenues. Hence investing ion this truck is not an expense but a way to earn more profits.
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
When you are looking at bumpers for your car, you may not know what you really need them for. This is a great question and you can get an answer.
When you are looking for a bumper for your car and your auto parts needs, you will need to look for certain things with your bumper. This may include what kind of car you are driving so that you can get the right bumper for your car as well as the auto parts that you may run across. You can go looking for these auto parts in other places too.
This may include the auto parts store in the area that you live in. Car bumpers are popular auto parts that many people will need with their cars. So it is easy to find there. If you are not finding the one that you need in the auto parts store, you can have it ordered for you and pay for it when it gets in to the store.
You may also buy it from the Internet if you are willing to pay for the shipping costs that may be associated with the auto parts. This can be pretty high if you are not ready for it and are not willing to shell out the money for it.
The last place that you can look is in the local junk yard. This will have many cars and auto parts that you can pick from for your bumper needs. You may be able to get one for a great low price if you are willing to go and take it off of the car that you are working with. This can be an ordeal, but you can do it in a weekend if you have the right tools and the right auto parts for it.
Take some time and find the bumpers that are right for you and what you are working with. This will make sure that you have a great help if you are ever in an ascendant in your car or if you accidentally hit a small poll in your parking area. You want to get the right auto part from the start so that you can make sure that is stays on your car and that you are getting the most out of your auto parts and bumper. You are in control of what your car will look like and what it will stand up to.
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Saturday, June 21st, 2008
he owner of Toledo Mack Sales & Service, which sued Mack Trucks Inc. for trying to unfairly take over its business, will get its chance to argue its anti-trust claim in U.S. District Court in Toledo.
A federal court of appeals ruled in favor of the Toledo firm yesterday, saying the firm had sufficient evidence for a jury to find that Mack dealers may have entered into an unlawful conspiracy to fix prices that hurt Toledo Mack, a franchisee.
A federal district court had ruled against the local firm.
Toledo Mack sued in 2002, accusing Mack Trucks, of Allentown, Pa., of costing it more than $1 million by selling to potential customers and competitors for less and on better terms.
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Friday, June 20th, 2008
A federal court of appeals has reinstated an Ohio dealership’s allegation that Mack Trucks violated antitrust laws by limiting competition among its dealers.
In 2006, a federal district court judge threw out Toledo Mack Sales and Service claim that Mack Trucks tried to block it from selling outside its immediate territory.
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that Toledo Mack had presented enough evidence that the Sherman Anti-Trust claim should have gone to jury.
“It was a very favorable opinion,” said Wayne Mack, an attorney for Toledo Mack. “They have affirmed everything we were saying that there was evidence that Mack Trucks had conspired with dealers to limit competition.”
A court date for the anti-trust claim has not been set.
Toledo Mack, a trucking dealership since 1982, filed a complaint in 2002, claiming that Mack sold trucks and parts at lower prices directly to potential customers of Toledo Mack and other dealerships, according to court documents.
Mack admitted it might have sold trucks and parts to some franchises and customers at lower prices than it sold similar items to Toledo Mack. But it said the sales were not part of an organized program to discriminate against the dealership, and the other distributors were not direct competitors of Toledo Mack, according to court documents.
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Thursday, June 12th, 2008
Trucks are involved in thousands of accidents each year, and the type of accidents involving trucks (semi-trucks, vans, dump trucks, fire trucks, and tractor trailers) can be very serious due to the size of the vehicles involved and the potential danger of what the truck may be carrying. As a result of the tremendous size and weight of these vehicles, collisions that involve trucks often cause serious injuries and fatalities to people in smaller passenger vehicles. Another significant difference between an auto accident and an accident involving a semi-truck or a tractor trailer is that the truck is usually owned by a company, either large or small.
The government has created more laws to make trucking safer and to reduce the risk of accidents, and trucking companies have increased safety procedures, training, and awareness for their trucking staff; however, due to the growing number of trucks on the road, the number of truck accidents has increased.
People involved in a truck accident could be eligible for compensation, and there are now many lawyers who are experienced in dealing with truck accident claims.
If you or a loved one is involved in an accident involving a truck, you should obtain the following information as soon as safely possible after the accident: • A copy of the police report, including the report number and the name of the investigating officer(s)
• License plate number of all vehicles involved
• Any company names or identification information on the cab and trailer
• Driver information including name, driver’s license number, and insurance information
• Insurance information for the truck and trailer owner
• Length of skid marks if visible
• The condition of the truck’s tires
• Road conditions at the time of the accident • Names and contact information of any witnesses
• Names and contact information of anyone taking pictures or questioning witnesses/participants In addition to gathering the above information: • Take photographs of all vehicles involved and of the scene of the accident (if possible)
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Obtain a copy of your medical examination report
• Contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible You should also be aware of what not to do if involved in a truck accident: • Do not make statements without first discussing the situation with an attorney. If asked to give a statement to police, only state specific facts. Do not state opinions or accept responsibility for the accident
• Do not sign anything other than the police report (after thoroughly reading it) Federal laws that govern the trucking industry are different than automobile laws, and these differences drastically change the way an accident is handled. You need someone on your side that understands the complexity of trucking law and is prepared to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
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Monday, June 9th, 2008
Semi-trucks and other oversize and overweight vehicles will not be allowed to go through the Silverthorne stretch of Interstate 70 westbound due to water damage under the road.
The 2 miles just west of Silverthorne are restricted to one-lane traffic after the Colorado Department of Transportation found a sinkhole.
The sinkhole was caused by “significant erosion” under the interstate caused by heavy water flow from the Old Dillon Reservoir.
Oversize/overweight vehicles are being diverted to State Highway 9 via US 285. Semi-trucks (not oversize/overweight) will be detoured off I-70 at US 6 and may use either the Dillon Dam Road or Swan Mountain Road to State Highway 9 and back to I-70 at Frisco.
CDOT crews will be drilling later this evening to determine the damage and see if the road is safe to be re-opened.
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