Happy Thanksgiving Trucking Nation

First and foremost, we at Truck Services of North America would like to wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! We know a lot of you are still on the road working this holiday season, but we’d just like to take a second and let you all know that we appreciate you and what you do. Without you truckers, this Thanksgiving wouldn’t be possible, so thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication, and for keeping America running.

Thank A Trucker This Thanksgiving

Yes, we know—you are a trucker. But that’s why we’re thanking you! We know all the long hours and hard work you do just to make this holiday possible. Because let’s face it, without you, we wouldn’t have the delicious turkey on the table, the stuffing, the apple pie, and heck, we wouldn’t even have the table itself. So thanks for working hard to make sure all of us are able to celebrate this joyous occasion with a delicious meal and those most dear to our hearts.

Thanksgiving Support

But now to the real meat of the blog. We’ll be offering Thanksgiving support! We’ll be out of the office on Thursday November 26 and Friday November 27, but we’ll be providing email support at support@tsnamerica.com all holiday weekend. If you need anything at all give us a shout! 

So remember folks, even though it’s Thanksgiving weekend, if you need some help with your UCR registration, 2290, or anything else trucking related, we’ll be happy to help you out. Enjoy your thanksgiving, and a special thanks for all that you do, Trucking Nation!

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Truck Driving Tips To Help You Stay Alert On The Road

Early mornings, late nights, long days, and crazy sleep schedules while on the road can make it difficult to stay alert.

Staying awake and alert for long periods of time plays a critical part in your safety and productivity as you Keeping America Trucking.

Here are 10 truck driving tips to help you stay alert on the road.

Truck Driving Tips To Help You Stay Alert On The Road

1) Avoid Exhaustion

NEWS FLASH! You and your fuel tank can’t be on “E” prior to your next haul! Adequate sleep is necessary to avoid exhaustion and reckless driving while on the road.

Take more frequent naps and get as many hours of sleep as possible. The more rested you are the more alert you will be!

2) Stay Away From Large Doses of Caffeine

Many drivers depend on caffeine to get them through the day. Although a cup of coffee here and there won’t hurt, too much caffeine will lead to a caffeine overload and ultimately put your health at risk.

Go easy on the caffeine, please!

3) Don’t Eat Large Portions of Food

As tempting as it may be, you can’t eat it all. A full belly will make you sleepy and cause you to not be fully alert while on the road.

4) Excercise

Taking a quick 5-minute walk at your next truck stop or rest area will give your body a new-found boost of energy that you need and even help you burn a few calories.

5) Take a Nap

Jumpstart your next drive with a quick 15-20 minute nap before hitting the road. Sleeping for less than one hour gives your body the energy it needs to stay awake longer.

6) Avoid Lights with High Contrast

The high contrast between pitch black and bright lights causes your eyes to feel sleepy. Be cautious when driving and avoid looking directly into bright lights.

7) Turn the Volume Up

Let’s get this driving party started! Upbeat music helps keep your energized, especially when you sing along with it.

8) Take Vitamins

The best vitamins to take for a boost of energy are Vitamins B & C! Take them alongside a healthy meal and get the energy you need for the long haul.

9) Open the Window

If you’re like me, a crisp breeze at night from outside will help keep you alert. Studies show that cold air gives your body a temporary boost and keep yous awake longer. Give it a try!

10) Pull over if you are tired

This one is a “no-brainer”. If you find yourself becoming tired or distracted during your haul, simply pull over and rest. Your safety, along with the safety of other drivers and haulers on the road, is extremely important.

Always get rest when needed!

Get Rest & Renew Your UCR

We now offer UCR filing services! Simply call (877) 520-8640 and one of our expert representatives will renew your UCR for you! 

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So. What Happens If I File IFTA Late?

Well. That depends on how late you are. And since there are four quarterly deadlines each year, it’s easy to forget to file IFTA. We wouldn't recommend that, though. No need to fork out more money towards taxes than you already are.

If you file IFTA one month late.

In the first month, you will be slapped with an additional fee of $50 or 10% of the tax you owe, whichever is greater. That $50 might not sound like much, but let’s put it in perspective.

The actual amount you will owe for IFTA will vary widely, depending on factors like the miles you drove in each jurisdiction and how much fuel was purchased and consumed.

So, for example, let’s say you would have owed $300 for the quarter. This is already a lot to be forking out. But after forgetting for that first month, you will be looking at another $50 penalty on top of that. After a month, you already owe $350.

If you file IFTA more than one month late

But let’s say you fail to file IFTA even longer. Well, you’re going to get another .4167% tacked on each month.

So if you forget to file IFTA for three months, you’ll owe $353.75.

Are you starting to see why it’s important to file IFTA on time? When these kinds of unnecessary expenses pile up, they can sink a business.

And did we mention that your base jurisdiction reserves the right to suspend or even revoke your IFTA license? That’s right. Not filing your IFTA form can get you in big trouble.

Generate your IFTA quarterly report form in minutes

The easiest way to avoid paying these unnecessary late penalties is to generate your IFTA quarterly report form with our sister-product Express IFTA. They make it simple it for you.

Express IFTA is user-friendly, and it does all the complicated calculations for you. Just input your information and Express IFTA will generate a highly-accurate form you can file with.

Best of all, you’ll get a report starting at just $19.90.

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