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In June of 2017, brake system violations and adjustment issues together accounted for over 41 percent of vehicle out-of-service violations during the International Roadcheck. Most of these violations could have been avoided through regular maintenance and upkeep. Here are 10 tips from Bendix to make sure your breaks are in tip top shape to keep you on the road. Pre-Trip Readiness: Walk around the vehicle daily to visually inspect brake components and listen for audible air...
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Colorado East Bank and Trust was acquired by TBK Bank, SSB in 2016, and as a result, Colorado East Insurance Agency recently merged with Triumph Insurance Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of TBK Bank. The merger was announced January 1, 2017. As a result of the merger, Triumph Insurance Group now features not only new agricultural insurance product lines including crop, crop-hail, and farm & ranch operations, but also various general property and casualty product lines. Kathy...
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Having the right driver is just as important as having the right truck. With someone who understands how to drive efficiently and safely, you can be at ease knowing your cargo, your employee, your truck, and other drivers will be safe from harm. Why is it important? First of all, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requires employers to obtain a three-year driving, employment, drug/alcohol history on each...
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New Technologies In July, Gorilla Safety released a GPS tracking device that not only transmits location, but also type of equipment used, cargo hauled, fuel usage, and vehicle maintenance. In the case of an accident, the device sends real-time data and estimates the severity of damage, which can then be used to improve accident response times for first responders. For platooning, advanced driver assistive systems, or ADAS, technologies use vehicle-to-vehicle, V2V for short, communication systems to link...
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Winter weather has hit many parts of North America this season, creating dangerous conditions for motorists. During adverse weather, we urge drivers to stay off the road, but for those who must go out, here is a list of tips that America’s Road Team compiled just for you: Buckle up: Safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% and are a simple way to increase your safety on the road. Slow Down: brakes are less...
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The risks, dangers, and sometimes tragic outcomes of drowsy driving are alarming. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA for short, estimates that at least 100,000 police-reported crashes annually are the direct result of driver fatigue. That means an average of 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries are a result of fatigue-induced accidents. With the end of Daylight Savings Time and a special event hosted by the National Sleep Foundation, the Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, on November...
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Freight brokers have a lot of responsibilities, from matching shippers and carriers to making sure each piece of cargo gets to the right place. Another essential task in this busy industry is bookkeeping. Freight brokers who don’t prioritize bookkeeping can end up losing money in the long run. Here are seven common bookkeeping mistakes freight brokers make and how to avoid them. 1. Attempting to DIY In order to save money, many business owners insist on handling...
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5.3. That’s the average mileage of class 8 trailer-tractors across America. Modifying Driving Habits The most effective way to improve your mileage is to improve the driving nut behind the wheel. In other words, drive more efficiency. So how do you do that? Stay at or below the speed limit. At a speed limit of 65, driving 70 miles per hour will only save you four seconds per mile, however you lose nine percent more fuel going at a...
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DALLAS – Sept. 1, 2016 – Triumph Insurance Group today announced the completion of its acquisition of the assets of Dallas-based Southern Transportation Insurance Agency, Ltd. Triumph Insurance Group is a subsidiary of TBK Bank, SSB. Aaron Graft, vice chairman and CEO of TBK Bank, explained, “Triumph is a leading financial services provider to small businesses in the transportation sector. This acquisition further solidifies that position.” Triumph Insurance Group’s footprint and product offering for clients in the...
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Buying aftermarket parts can be risky and is rightfully so. Valuing at $30.1 billion, the fact that the same Original Equipment Manufacturer, OEM for short, part can be available through several different manufacturers is just part of the problem. All this creates a challenge for fleet managers to know exactly which part best fits as a replacement for the truck at various points in its life cycle. If you’re still looking for a non-OEM replacement, then...
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Whether you’re a seasoned driver or someone who just received your CDL, there are truck driving tips you should always keep in mind. Following these tips will help you from getting into accidents and protect you as well as others around you. Let’s get to it. Tip #1 – Think bigger You’re not in a plain ol’ car anymore. Whether you drive a dry van, flatbed, reefer, or bulk, your new machine is over five times bigger than...
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On May 5, 2016, many schedule contractors received a notice of the government’s continual examination of compliance to the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Schedule contractors are required to comply with this act by verifying the country of origin for all of their products. If you are a government contractor, here are a few tips to help you stay compliant. Abide by the TAA The TAA states that the product produced by government contractors needs to be wholly grown,...
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Fleet Advantage has made public its second quarter 2016 Truck Lifecycle Data Index, TLDI, comparing all-in operating costs of early model Class 8 trucks to all-in operating costs of current model year replacements. Results from the research indicate that fleet operators can reduce costs by up to $18,816 by replacing a 2011 cab or $9,521 for a 2014 cab. The savings stem from better fuel efficiencies, up to 14 percent, and a reduction of maintenance and...
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DALLAS – July 19, 2016 – TBK Bank, SSB today announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement to acquire the assets of Dallas-based Southern Transportation Insurance Agency, Ltd. through its wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Triumph Insurance Group, Inc. Subject to customary regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016. Aaron Graft, vice chairman and CEO of TBK Bank, explains, “Triumph is a leading financial services provider to small businesses...
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When asked what a motor carrier is, most people think of big 18-wheel rigs, which is correct. But, motor carriers are more than just the three-axle tractors hauled by your favorite trucker. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration defines a motor carrier as any business using a unit or a combination of units with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds, or heavier, for interstate commerce. That means someone carrying tools and/or materials...
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When you search for freight broker training courses on Google, you will inevitably find pages and pages of results. How can you decipher which one is best for your freight brokerage? More importantly, how can you determine which one will provide the best return on your investment? Let’s take a look at a few of the key features to look for when choosing a freight broker training program for your business. Experience The goal of any freight...
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In preparation for a busy summer driving season, Bridgestone Americas is helping drivers prepare their tires by educating them on the importance of proper tire care and maintenance. “At Bridgestone Americas, we’re committed to being a good corporate citizen, and raising awareness for the importance of tire safety is one key way we can help improve the lives of those we serve with our products,” Gordon Knapp, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas, said. “This is an...
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Purchasing a truck can be a significant expense, even for the most established trucking companies. As with most vehicles, acquiring a truck typically requires either a lease or a purchase. Which is the wisest investment? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons associated with each option to help you make a more informed decision for your business. Leasing Leasing is essentially financing the use (or deprecation) of your truck, as opposed to a...
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a trucker’s life expectancy is 16 years shorter than a normal life expectancy. That outlook seems bleak for many, so the transportation industry has shifted its focus. With multiple resources now available for health and overall wellness, truckers can overcome the health risks that typically come with the job. Trucker Exercise One of the most difficult aspects about staying healthy as a trucker is the lack of exercise...
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When most people go to buy trucking insurance, they expect the obvious questions: How many trucks do you own? Where is your company domiciled? What commodities do you haul? What is your travel radius? Insurance companies use this information to formulate your premium. But, what else goes into rating a commercial trucking policy? What other factors are driving your rates? The answer is … there are several other factors companies use when considering a risk. Some examples...
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The tonnage shipped by the trucking business rose to an all-time high in February, with rates for truckload shipments up ticking slightly from a year ago. The American Trucking Associations’ seasonally-adjusted truck tonnage index rose 7.2 percent in February from a month earlier.* ATA’s chief economist attributed February’s strong volumes to shippers playing “catch-up” after winter storms in January held up some shipments. Many analysts had predicted a lackluster 2016 for the freight business, especially in...
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The next stage of trucking safety could bring more automation to minimize human error in the vehicle. Although, new technologies will reduce direct human input when driving, the human operator will continue to play a central role in fleet safety. “The next big leap for active safety systems will be the addition of active steering,” Alan Korn, director of advanced brake systems and integration at Meritor Wabco, said. “In certain environments, the driver is going to...
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Snow, ice and sleet can make the best drivers nervous. The Federal Highway Safety Administration, also known as FHSA, estimates that 17 percent of weather-related crashes occur during snow or sleet, 13 percent happen on icy pavement and 14 percent take place on snowy or slushy pavement. While statistics prove that wintry conditions present dangerous situations, drivers can help minimize risks to themselves and others through better awareness and driving. No. 1 – Driving too Fast The most...
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The American Trucking Association released an analysis of data from the Department of Transportation showing that long- and short-term rates of truck-involved fatalities are declining. In their report, a total of 3,903 truck-involved fatalities were accounted for in 2014, a decline of 61 from the previous year. At the same time, the number of miles driven by trucks rose to more than 279 billion. As trucking demand increases, trucking companies and organizations improve safety practices to...
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics announced its December 2015 jobs report, and it is good news for the trucking industry. December experienced the largest job gain in more than two years for the transportation industry. The overall transportation industry sector added more than 23,000 jobs in December, which is the largest increase since November 2013 when more than 30,000 jobs were added to the economy. Overall, U.S. payrolls grew by 292,000, which...
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As the economy continues its rebounding with steady growth across multiple industries, small businesses throughout the country are feeling the positive effects. No industry is experiencing growth more than the trucking industry though. According to a report done by Sageworks, a financial analysis software company, trucking is now the fastest-growing small-business industry in the U.S. This...
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DALLAS, (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:TBK) announced today that it has completed its initial public offering of 6,700,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $12.00 per share. Triumph’s common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 7, 2014, under the ticker symbol “TBK”. Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P., Evercore and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as joint book-runners for the offering. Keefe Bruyette &...