Your Guide To The Perfect ELD For Your Fleet Needs

Aside from compliance requirements, there are a couple of things to consider before purchasing your dream ELD. Taking the time to know what game-changing features that make your job a whole lot easier will save you time and money.

The ELD Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations:

Requires ELD use by commercial drivers who are required to prepare hours-of-service (HOS) records of duty status (RODS).

Sets ELD performance and design standard, and requires ELDs to be certified and registered with FMCSA.

Establishes what supporting documents drivers and carriers are required to keep.

Prohibits harassment of drivers based on ELD data or connected technology (such as fleet management system).

Provides recourse for drivers who believe they have been harassed.

Three Add-Ons for the ELD Feature Checklist

#1 Instant Messaging

There is no requirement for having an instant messaging feature including with your ELD, but this feature would enable all parties to stay in direct communication during a route. Streamlined communication between drivers and dispatch aids in dissolving miscommunication and confusion. Similar features can be found in apps like the TruckLogics app.

#2 Dash Camera

For some, the use of a recording device may seem like a disaster waiting to happen but, 100% of truck drivers who were falsely accused of being at fault of a truck-passenger accident would agree that they wished there were proof to show they weren’t to blame. 

Not only does a dash camera protect individuals and companies against fraudulent claims, but it also can be used for education purposes in training processes for more effective coaching.

There are also a number of insurance carriers who recognize the benefits dash cameras have on the safety and reward forward-thinking companies with reduced subsidies and premiums.

#3 Safety Alerts 

Many ELDs have features that help in improving safety on the road, but there are some that take it a little further in offering alerts on not just speeding, but hard braking, and lane departures.

ELD Exemptions

There are exceptions to the new mandated requirements. Even though it seems as if the world is going full-on electronic, time cards and paper RODs fall in line with those being exempt. 

Drivers who operate under the short-haul exceptions are able to continue using timecards, and those who use paper RODs less than 8 times over a 30-day span are exempt as well. The 30-day period is not restricted to a single month but does apply to any 30-day period. 

Drivers who operate a vehicle manufactured before 2000, based on the VIN they qualify to no have to make the transition along with drivers conducting drive-away-tow-away operations, in which the vehicle being driven is the commodity being delivered. At this time, with the exemption being likely to change, transporters of livestock and insects are not required to have an ELD and are not required by the FMCSA to carry documents regarding the exemption. 

Meeting ELD Compliance

When searching for the perfect ELD device there are several aspects to consider. The main aspect transporters should look for is whether or not the device is registered at FMCSA.

A compliant ELD solution will provide:

1. Separate accounts for administrators, both non-drivers and drivers.
2. Integral Synchronization with the Electronic Control Module (ECM).
3. Automatic recording of information such as; location, date, time, engine hours, vehicle miles, and driver identification.

Although there are basic compliance requirements for ELDs it is wise to make sure the selected device offers the use of cellular networks, USB, and even Bluetooth. 

The cellular network feature is vital in transmitting data between engine-connected vehicles and smartphones and tablets. The most reliable way of transmitting information is through the use of US and Bluetooth, in the event that there is no cellular service. 

Our Recommendation

KeepTruckin is our number 1 recommendation. It has all these features and more! Plus, as the biggest ELD provider on the market, they have the most integrations with other trucking solutions. For instance, if you use TruckLogics, the market-leading TMS, you can import your mileage and fuel information for quick IFTA reporting.

Learn more about TruckLogics and KeepTruckin today!

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Here's How to Easily Keep Your Truck Maintenance Up to Date in 2021

Keeping your truck up-to-date with service intervals can be difficult, especially if you’re always on the road or overseeing lots of vehicles.

But it’s no secret that well-maintained, up-to-date vehicles will have fewer breakdowns, get better gas mileage, and cost you less money.

So how do you keep track of truck service intervals and keep them running longer? Here are our top tips for keeping your truck service intervals up-to-date.

Track mileage from your computer

It's not good enough just to have paper logs or ELDs. Neither of those can send you automated updates to remind you of service intervals. What you need is a software that tracks your mileage ahead of time-based on dispatch information, and then applies that to the specific truck running the route.

Fortunately, our sister product TruckLogics does just that. When you enter dispatch information, you can attach a truck or trailer and TruckLogics will keep track of how many miles it has run. Depending on the service interval preferences, TruckLogics will send you automatic updates when it’s time for truck or trailer maintenance.

Track all kinds of maintenance

But what if you want to check electrical components every several months, in addition to getting the tires serviced every several thousand miles? TruckLogics can send you reminders about that too. 

TruckLogics tracks service based on the parameters you choose, whether mileage or time. You can even enter notes about what needs to be done and select a preferred vendor to perform the maintenance.

Use TruckLogics

If you’re a company driver, owner-operator, or fleet manager, using TruckLogics can help you keep track of your service intervals.

By employing TruckLogics powerful maintenance scheduling tools, you won’t have to ever forget another oil change, annual registration fee, tune-up -- or anything else -- again.

Get a 15-day free trial today! There is no obligation and no payment information required.

 

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Starting a Trucking Company? Here's What You Need to Know

Trucking is a huge industry in America today. In fact the number of trucking jobs in America has increased by over 30,000 since April 2020.

You’ve decided to take advantage of that.

Are you set on starting a trucking company, but don’t know where to start?

You’ve come to the right place.

Check out this guide for everything you need on how to start a trucking company.

How to Start a Trucking Company

Paperwork

When starting a trucking company, the first step is to form an LLC.

Owning a trucking company as an LLC will protect you as a business owner and offer tax advantages.

To form an LLC, most states require that you appoint a registered agent. This person will accept and send legal documents on your behalf and act as the direct point of contact with the state.

You’ll also need an EIN, or Employee Identification Number, for your LLC. This number is unique to your business and required for many aspects of operation, such as submitting certain tax forms.

After that, there’s more paperwork coming your way. Obtain necessary business licenses and permits, including USDOT Number, MC (Motor Carrier Operating Authority) Number, UCR (Unified Carrier Registration), and IRP (International Registration Plan).

How to Run a Trucking Company

Once you’ve gotten started owning a trucking company and have a truck, maintenance and growth are the name of the game!

Above all else, the best answer for how to run a trucking company is consistency.

Owning a trucking company requires awareness at all times. Track your expenses, stay tax compliant, and understand your finances.

Missing deadlines or expiration dates can cause you to lose good standing with the IRS. Plus, you’ll accrue penalties and affect your cash flow.

At this point, you may have mastered how to open a trucking company, but maintaining one is a whole new beast.

Let’s talk about the tools, such as owner-operator trucking software, that can help get you there.

Trucking Business Software

The best way to stay on top of your trucking company is with trucking business software.

Take advantage of technology when you’re starting a trucking company. There are many things to keep track of and monitor.

Utilizing a trucking business software makes it easy to keep it all in one place.

TruckLogics is a trucking business management software designed for leased operators, owner-operators, small fleet managers, mid-size fleet managers, and large fleet managers.

No matter where you fall in the trucking business world, TruckLogics is here to help you succeed.

Independent owner-operators can utilize this owner-operator trucking software to control their entire business from one place by managing dispatches, tracking income & expenses, scheduling maintenance, sending invoices, and more.

Plus, leased operators can take advantage of recordkeeping features like profit & loss reports or compliance records for maintenance and trip details.

On top of all of that, fleet managers have the added benefit of accessing TruckZone, which keeps fleet details organized and accessible.

Track maintenance, stay on top of finances, and so much more. Get started with a trucking business software solution right away when starting a trucking company. It can make or break your business.

Take TruckLogics for a test drive with a 15-day free trial.

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How To Set Up Your Trucking Business For Success

Starting a trucking company is a great step into the ever-growing trucking industry.

Truck drivers account for about 6% of full-time jobs in the US, which will only grow as consumer demand for products does.

Owning a truck might be nice, but owning a successful trucking business is where you really want to focus.

Here are 3 tips for success as an owner-operator, leased operator, or fleet manager in the trucking industry.

Tips for Owning a Trucking Business

Understanding the Industry

Keep up with the latest news regarding the trucking industry. Stay on top of trends.

Plus, it’s important to have an understanding of what your future customers want and know how to take care of them better than your competitors.

Consider how you find customers who will give you repeat business, and determine what you need to do to keep them.

Understanding Business

Business is all about maximizing profit and minimizing expenses.

The trucking business is the same.

For starters, be sure you’re finding the best-paying loads. You can do this by knowing the current lane rates, researching which freight markets are hot, and always looking ahead to your next load.

Focus on cutting costs where you can, but more importantly, know where to step ahead and grab profit.

Stop throwing money away on unnecessary things. For instance, did you file your Form 2290 yet this year? If not, you’ve missed the 2290 due date and will face severe IRS penalties that only get worse with time. 

File now over the phone with TSNAmerica at 803.386.0320 to keep your money in your pocket.

Managing Time and Paperwork

Most importantly, your trucking business’s success depends on your ability to juggle all things at once.

Luckily, we know of the perfect tool to help you.

TruckLogics is a trucking company software program designed to take the paperwork out of trucking business for owner-operators, leased operators, and fleet managers.

With tons of unique features, you won’t believe how easy it makes your day-to-day tasks.

Owner-operators can use TruckLogics to manage their entire business. 

From managing dispatches and tracking income & expenses, to scheduling maintenance and sending invoices, it’s the one-stop-shop for your trucking business to make it happen.

Plus, leased operators can use TruckLogics to streamline record-keeping. Track income, run profit & loss reports and keep compliance records for your maintenance and trip details.

TruckLogics even has tools for fleet managers, including access to TruckZone, which keeps fleet details organized and accessible. You can even set automatic reminders for vehicle maintenance.

It truly is an all-inclusive trucking company software program.

Owning a trucking business can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be! Sign up for a free 15-day trial and give TruckLogics a test drive today.

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2020: The Year of The Electric Semi?

Electric semi-trucks are coming soon.

Volvo and Peterbilt have already rolled out fully electric semi-trucks. Daimler and Tesla have plans to release theirs sometime in 2020.

Tesla has generated significant buzz and pre-orders from large trucking companies. Could this be the beginning of the end for fossil-fueled semi-trucks?

Some experts aren’t so sure.

The future of electric trucks: Tesla semis

For starters, Tesla has made bold claims of fully electric semi-trucks with a 500-750 mile range.

Tesla's statements about their semi-trucks have been controversial, to say the least. Competitors like Daimler say it's impossible. Martin Daum of Daimler said:

"If Tesla really delivers on this promise, we'll obviously buy two trucks: one to take apart and one to test, because if that happens, something has passed us by. But for now, the same laws of physics apply in Germany and in California."

Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill Gates also weighed in on the issue saying, “Eventually batteries might work for a truck, but it’s a far more difficult problem because the weight is a lot higher there.”

Daimler, Peterbilt, and Volvo meanwhile are all promoting day cab models with expected ranges well under 500 miles.

Daimler quotes about 250 miles, Peterbilt about 133 miles, Volvo about 186 miles.

Startups: Nikola semis & Xos Trucks

There are a number of other companies with plans extending farther into the future.

For instance, newcomer Nikola is planning both fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell semi-trucks for the near future.

The release date projected for Nikola semis is around 2022.

Xos Trucks (formerly Thor Trucks) also had plans to push out electric trucks with a 100-mile range this year, but so far there is no word on when that will actually happen.

Will Tesla semis overtake diesel?

What do you think? Will diesel ever be phased out? Will trucking become entirely autonomous?

One thing is for sure. Until that happens, you’ll still need a trucking dispatch system. Have you heard about our sister product TruckLogics?

They offer dispatching, invoicing, IFTA compliance and so much more. You can get a 15-day free trial with no obligation!

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Everything You Need to Know about IFTA– in a Webinar!

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Guess what we’ve been up to...

If you guessed preparing 1st Quarter IFTA returns, then you’re right!

As the April 30th deadline for IFTA approaches, we’re getting busier by the day.

But even in the midst of IFTA madness, we still found time to guest star on a webinar yesterday!

That’s right–our very own processing specialist to the stars, Amber Tabb, co-hosted a TruckLogics webinar yesterday. You’ve probably heard us mention TruckLogics before.

Our good friends and partners, TruckLogics is a cloud-based business management solution with packages for any and every kind of transportation professional out there.

Whether you’re a company driver, leased operator, owner-operator, or fleet manager, TruckLogics has an affordable package with exactly the features you need to streamline recordkeeping and have a healthier bottom line.

We often recommend TruckLogics to our clients! Their One-click Trip Sheets feature makes keeping up with trip data a breeze, which not only helps you at the end of each quarter– it helps us too! The more organized your trip sheets are, the easier the filing process. Plus the risk of errors is lowered significantly!

If you missed Amber’s appearance on this informative webinar, have no fear! Here’s a recording of the session.

No time to watch? Here are some of the topics we covered and the minute you can find them at:

• 1. IFTA Basics (4:30): Who needs IFTA? How do you stay IFTA compliant? What filing services does TSNAmerica offer for IFTA?

• 2. Temporary Permits (5:50): TSNAmerica can help you obtain temporary trip and fuel permits if you need to travel interstate but don’t have the appropriate IRP or IFTA licensure. 

• 3. Business Startup Services (6:25): Whether you just need an EIN or USDOT# or you’d like to obtain your own operating authority, we can help with all of the many forms you’ll need to file. 

• 4. Other Services (9:55): We can file IRP and UCR renewals, annual HVUT returns, and State Use Tax licenses and quarterly filings (like NY HUT, KYU, Oregon Weight-Mile & NM Weight-Distance). 

• 5. How you can get on our Deadline Reminder List (17:35): We remind all of our clients of upcoming deadlines via phone and email. Call us to learn more! (803.386.0320)

Best of all, we were able to get a special deal for our TSNAmerica clients! If you’d like to try TruckLogics, you can get a free 45 day deluxe trial with promocode TSNA. There’s no credit card required. Simply create a login and see how you like it.

If you need help with your 1st Quarter IFTA filings, don’t wait another day! We won’t bite (unless you wait until the day before it’s due). Call us now at 803.386.0320 to get started now! You can also send us a message via live chat or email at support@tsnamerica.com.

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