Archive for the ‘Drivers’ Category
Monday, July 14th, 2008 |
Buying a used RV isn’t as simple as it may seem. It can be especially difficult are you are going to be living in the motorhome or 5th wheel for any amount of time. It could be likened to buying a car and a house at the same time, except this house has wheel and goes 65 miles per hour, and this car has a stove and shower.
For this reason, it is crucial to have some great checklists to go over to ensure you find any problems there might be. Sellers usually won’t tell you each and every issue they know of. Some sellers will try to hide known problems. As the saying goes: “Buyer Beware”.
Using your checklist to look over used vehicles at the Used RV Dealer is equally important. The dealer makes his commission no matter how long the RV runs for you, so it’s really up to you to make sure you get a good rig!
So let’s save you time, money, and frustration and give you some of the key things to look over when viewing a used RV, Camper, Motorhome, Class A B or C, or 5th Wheel for the first time:
Oil Analysis - As with any vehicle, oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Checking the oil is a great start to ensure the integrity of the engine. If the oil smells burnt, is unusal in color or consistency, is too low or too high, you may have a problem on your hands.
Rust - Rust is the natuaral breakdown of iron or a metal with iron in it. Rust is much worse in parts of the country with snow and salt on the roads. Purchasing RV’s from the south can help with rust problems, but they will usually cost a bit more. Do a complete rust check. If there is structural rust on the frame, AVOID THE RV AT ALL COSTS. You are buying an RV at the end of its life.
Service Records - Thses will show whether the previous owners did regualar maintenance, on the rig. It will also show you how many previous owners there have been. And, if they don’t have any paperwork- why not?
NOTE: If the VIN number on the service records or receipts does not match the vehicle you are purchasing then obviously that paperwork is meaningless.
Financing your RV - Many companies offer better financing for certain preferred builders and even certain models, especially those that have the lowest depreciation. The purchase of any used rv for business should not be done without a thorough evaluation of the finance options that are attached to it. Some banks won’t finance a commercial vehicle until it has passed a DOT inspection, some offer lower rates for “occasional use”, and some charge a higher percentage rate if you plan to “live aboard”.
RV Insurance - this can be a real “dream breaker”. How will you tell your family that you you got a great deal on the rv for them and fixed it up real nice, but…well nobody will insure it cause it’s too old, or the brakes are after market, or there was a recall on it. Rv converters, how would you like to finish your rv repairs with $30,000 in renovations only to learn it’s uninsurable with normal companies due to “gross vehicle weight issues”.
In my opinion, learning enough about RV’s to make an educated buying decision is just good common sense. What you learn before you get the RV will certainly carry over into what you’ll need to know to keep your new rig in tip-top shape while you are on the road later.
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Thursday, June 26th, 2008 |
If you are in the trucking business, you will probably want to get some sort of protection for your drivers, trucks, and the load that they pull. Insurance premiums may be expensive, but in the long run it can cost you less than having to replace an entire rig and the load it pulls as well. Here is a helpful guide to getting truck driver liability insurance.
1. Make sure the driver has truck liability insurance.
Truck liability protects the driver from having to cover the cost of damage due to accidents. This is a federal requirement and not having this is punishable by law.
2. Check your coverage for general liability.
You can never be too careful when you are on the road so some insurance companies offer coverage for accidents and injuries incurred both while away from your rig and while driving.
3. Find out about coverage for your load as well.
It may be a good idea to check on whether or not your load is insured while you are hauling it. Things can get a little tricky here. Most insurance companies will be very hesitant about offering coverage for theft on target items such as clothing, electronics, and jewelry. And if they do offer to cover these items, it will probably mean that you have to pay a very high premium. If your company hauls these items regularly, you will definitely want to find out about this insurance, as paying for the cost of the load out of your own pocket may break your business? bank.
Finally, when you apply for insurance, make sure that you fill out the forms honestly and truthfully. You also have to submit the dollar value of your rig. Remember, do not undervalue or overvalue it! If you set its value too high, it will raise your premiums, and if it is too low, your coverage will only cover the rig to the amount that you disclosed.
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Monday, December 10th, 2007 |
While pickup trucks are becoming more and more popular in urban areas, they will never leave their rural roots.
Farmers have relied on trucks for years and will continue doing so, with the only change being the updated trucks as technology advances. While a city driver looks for a truck that has style while still providing some towing capacity, a farmer needs a truck that can get the job done.
There was much to be in awe of at the 2007 Canadian Western Agribition. Ford, GM and Toyota all brought out their heavy-hitters in pickups to display to potential customers. While all provide the standard options and necessities for a Saskatchewan farmer, each has its own advantages. Another thing to remember is that buyers most often remain loyal to their brand - a Ford driver will never go for a Toyota, while a Chevy guy wouldn’t cross over to a GMC, no matter how close the two manufacturers are.
While there are vehicles available for urban or rural driving in every line of pickups, there are also the workhorses that are the heavy hitters, designed to work hard and get dirty. For example, Ford carries the Ford F-150, which is a 50-50 mix between rural and urban customers. But then there is the Super Duty line, available in the F-250, F-350 or F-450.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
Unionized railway workers and truckers Friday decided to withhold their plan to stage a strike early in the morning over wage hike and job security, dispelling concerns over a possible paralysis of the logistics system.
Following the decision to put the strike on hold, thousands of unionized rail workers and truck drivers, who had gathered at a Korea Railroad warehouse in central Seoul, returned to work Friday morning.
The unionists had planned to launch a general strike at 4 a.m.,
but withdrew the threat despite unsuccessful negotiations with Korea Railroad and the government.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 |
A four-vehicle accident tied up traffic for hours early Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Mesquite Boulevard and State Route 95.
Two of the four drivers involved were taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center for what is believed non life-threatening injuries, according to the Lake Havasu City Police Department.
The accident occurred at 10:45 a.m. when a 64-year-old man was speeding southbound on SR95 in an empty dump truck and attempted to stop at the Mesquite intersection and went into a spin, according to police. The truck crossed into the oncoming lane striking a 1994 Oldsmobile van driven by a 70-year-old woman, who had to be extricated from the vehicle and transported to the hospital. The driver of the dump truck also was injured.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 |
A passenger bus collided with a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer rig in northeastern Arkansas, killing three people.
The Tornado Bus Co. bus was westbound on Interstate 40 about 10 p.m. Sunday when it veered across the median into eastbound lanes. State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said the bus slammed into the oncoming pickup, then the 18-wheeler slammed into the bus.
Arkansas authorities said the pickup’s driver Danny Okurily, 40, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was killed in the accident, as were two bus passengers. Their identities haven’t been released.
Bus driver Felix Tapia, 28, of Brownsville, Texas, and tractor-trailer driver David Rice, 45, of Mars Hill, North Carolina, suffered minor injuries.
State Police haven’t said how many others were injured, but Sadler says a Tornado Bus manifest listed 44 passengers and a driver aboard the bus headed from Chicago to Dallas. The accident happened 10 miles east of Forrest City.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 |
A woman is dead after her car crossed the centre line of State Highway One and collided head-on with a truck and trailer unit last night.
Police said the accident happened just after midnight near the Bay of Plenty township of Atiamuri, about 25km south of Tokoroa.
The female driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, was killed instantly.
The truck driver was uninjured.
A section of SH1 was closed for nearly six hours overnight as a result of the crash,
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 |
A 55-year-old woman died after a loose flatbed trailer slammed into her car Wednesday.
The crash happened on Highway 99W. Police said the trailer came loose from a truck and crossed the center line.
The truck driver, 23-year-old of Eugene and his two passengers were not hurt.
State police were investigating.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 |
The Peoria police officer injured in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend has been released from a local hospital and likely will return to duty next week.
The truck’s driver, Mitchell E. Slock, 43, of 1811 W. Kingsway Drive, Apt. E1 was heading east on Willow Knolls when he failed to yield to the emergency vehicle, witnesses told police.
Slock and his passenger, his wife, Leanne F. Slock, 43, were taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment. Mitchell Slock was listed in fair condition Monday; Leanne Slock was released the same day of the accident.
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