Hustle Transportation Inc.

11/03/2023

Snow, ice and sleet can be incredibly dangerous to drive on, so professional truckers always follow these tips:

Check your truck’s condition before any trip.
Carry a winter driving kit.
Start slow – and stay slow.
Leave extra space around your truck.
Be proactive in avoiding hazards.
Stay calm, cool and confident behind the wheel.
Watch out for black ice.
Know what to do if you skid.
Use extra caution in mountainous terrain.

10/12/2023

Roadway safety is the responsibility of all drivers, but you can take certain steps to ensure you’re doing your part. When driving near or around a semi-truck, be sure to:

Drive defensively
Operating a vehicle probably comes second nature to you. But, no matter how comfortable or skilled you are behind the wheel, it’s important to remain alert at all times — especially around large trucks. Semis are bigger in size and weight, making them slower to react to avoid collisions. Pay attention to vehicle locations, traffic flow, vehicle signals and weather so you can anticipate problems and have plenty of time to safely change course if necessary.

Keep a safe distance
Driving close to a semi puts you at greater risk for being hurt by sudden stops, tire blowouts or roll overs caused by strong wind. So, whether you’re behind, in front or beside a large truck, leave plenty of space for merging, swerving and maneuvering. It’s best practice to keep at least a four-second following distance between you and the trailer in case of a sudden stop.
Avoid blind spots
The right side of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is the largest blind spot for a truck driver — sometimes blocking their view for three or more lanes. Other areas of concern include directly in front of the cab, behind the trailer and certain zones along the driver’s side. Avoid spending time in these zones to ensure the driver can see you.

Pass quickly
Passenger vehicles typically travel faster than semis, so it’s not unusual to pass a lot of trucks along your route. Practice safe passing by driving closer to the shoulder rather than the truck, and speeding up instead of lingering.

Don’t cut a large truck off
Semis have much longer stopping distances — up to two football fields when traveling 65 mph. To prevent a rear-end collision, make sure you can see the entire front end of the truck before merging in front of it.

Dim the bright lights
When traveling near or past a semi, make sure your bright headlights are dimmed. Bright lights reflecting off large truck mirrors can cause two seconds or more of temporary blindness when traveling at 55 mph. The general rule of thumb is to lower your bright lights when you’re one block (or closer) behind a semi.

Always signal
As mentioned, trucks require more time to react to motorists stopping, turning or merging lanes. Because of this, it’s important to signal the driver at least three seconds or more before upcoming changes. This timing allows the truck driver to slow down or move over.

10/07/2023

Did you know the production and use of retread tires saves the trucking industry more than $3 billion annually? As new tire prices continue to increase, fleet managers are searching for ways to reduce costs, while still operating safe and dependable vehicles. The use of recap tires is one solution fleets have found to combat this issue, and many are seeing benefits from utilizing them.

Retreading was introduced in the early 1900s as a method to replace old, worn-out tread with new, reliable material. Today, there are more than 850 retread plants in North America that together produce millions of tires each year. While each plant may follow specific procedures or use specially designed machinery,

10/06/2023

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), “More than 5 million truck and bus drivers share America’s roads with more than 250 million motorists.” With that many heavy-duty vehicles and personal cars on the road, safety is a major concern. To help protect all drivers, the FMCSA developed the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program to monitor commercial carriers and encourage better on-road performance.

The program applies to carriers that have a Department of Transportation (DOT) number and uses information collected through roadside inspections and crash reports. When an accident or traffic violation occurs, the data is entered into the CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS), kept on file for two years and categorized. This data is used to determine a carrier’s CSA score.

10/06/2023

09/29/2023

1. Watch out for school traffic.
For local truck drivers who spend significant time driving in cities, school traffic should be top of mind. Kids being back in school means:

More school buses on the streets.
Crossing guards in the roads.
Parents dropping off and picking up their kids in school zones.

Even if you’re driving through rural country roads, it’s important to pay close attention to ‘school bus stop ahead’ road traffic signs. Be prepared to stop for buses dropping off or picking up students.
2. Keep an eye out for farmers and equipment.
Fall is when crops are harvested and fields are winterized. That means combines, tractors, trailers and other farming equipment are out on the road.
Agricultural equipment and machinery normally run slow, so give them ample space when you are behind them.
3. Check your headlights and taillights.
The days are getting shorter, which means you will spend more time traveling at dusk or when it’s dark out. Prepare for longer nights by ensuring your headlights and taillights are in good working condition.
4. Be cautious when driving through fallen leaves.
Leaves that are on the road or piled on the side of the street can be some of the most dangerous fall driving hazards.
Wet leaves stick to the pavement and make it as slippery as ice. Dry leaves can conceal potholes, bumps, ice, puddles and other hazards.
Drive through leaves the same way you would on ice or snow:

Increase your following distance.
Look to see if the leaves are glistening with moisture when light hits them.

Leaves piled on the side of the road are also prime playgrounds for children. Make sure you are aware of the leaf piles as you drive through city streets and pay careful attention to any movement you see.
5. Be on the lookout for animals, especially deer.
Deer are more active in fall because it’s their mating season. Other animals are also moving more, as they look for new habitats.
Adjust your driving by:

Being on the lookout for reflections on the side of the road or in the woods, as they may be a deer’s eyeshine caused by the headlights.
Driving a bit slower through wooded areas where wildlife is more active.
Adjust your scan pattern to check the sides of the road every six to eight seconds.

6. Keep your sunglasses close.
Autumn sunrises and sunsets can be very bright. The sun is lower in the sky, producing significantly more glare for truckers.
These solar conditions make it difficult to see other vehicles and the roadway ahead or around the truck. Be sure to always have a good set of sunglasses with you and adjust your visors properly.
7. Prepare yourself for fog.
Fall mornings are much cooler, and fog is much more likely to form. This is especially true at higher elevations.
Driving in fog can be unpredictable and catch you off guard. Be sure to:

Slow down.
Double your seven-second following distance.
Have your low-beam headlights on.

8. Pay attention to weather forecasts while trip planning.
Fall is a transitional period for Mother Nature, which means you can quickly go from sunny and dry to dark and snowy.
Preparing for weather changes starts with trip planning. Pay extra attention to weather forecasts and changing conditions, especially on longer runs. Also, be sure to have your truck driver emergency kit.
If you’re driving through the mountains, be extra cautious. This is the time of year when rain can quickly turn to sleet or snow. Be mindful of shady spots on the road where black ice can form and aware of bridges that can ice up before the roads do.
9. Pack your chains.
Chain laws go into effect in September for Colorado and California and shortly thereafter for the rest of the country.
Be sure your chains are in your truck and in good condition. It’s also never a bad idea to brush up on the proper way to put tire chains on your semi-truck.
10. Take extra care when coupling your trailer.
When the weather gets cold, the grease on the fifth wheel thickens up. This means it may take more time for the jaws to engage when hooking up to a trailer.
Be patient when hooking your trailers. Always make sure you hear the jaws are fully engaged before driving away.

09/29/2023

From DOT to OTR and RGN, a lot of abbreviations are used in everyday communication within the trucking industry.

09/28/2023

What does regional mean in trucking?

Regional truck drivers haul freight within a specific region of the country. This could be the West, Midwest, Northeast or any other geographical division within the U.S.

Regional driving configurations typically encompass 4-5 states, or a roughly 1,000-mile range.

What is considered local trucking?
A local truck driver hauls freight within a small geographical area, usually within one or a couple states.
Local driving configurations often span only a few hundred miles.

Regional vs local: Six key differences

1. Driving distance.

Regional trucking involves hauling freight across an entire region of the country, whereas local trucking is confined to smaller areas, typically within a city or state.

2. Home time.

Regional drivers usually get home a few times per week, or, at least, once per week. Local drivers are almost always home every night.

3. Time on the road.

Regional drivers spend more time on the road hauling long-distance, single stop loads. In contrast, local drivers usually have routes with frequent stops.

4. Type of route.

Regional driving configurations usually involve mostly interstate and highway driving, while local drivers often spend more time driving through cities.

5. Type of equipment.

Regional drivers operate sleeper trucks, that provide drivers a place to sleep since they don’t get home every day. Local drivers typically use day cabs designed for shorter routes since they get home every day.

6. Earning potential.

Since local drivers get home every day, they often do not earn as much as regional drivers who get home less frequently.

09/22/2023

Why are they called semi-trucks?
A semi-truck is a truck or tractor with its own engine capable of towing one or more semi-trailers with cargo. The semi-trailers attach to the tractor and cannot move on their own. Semi-trucks with the attached semi-trailers are variously known as “tractor-trailers” and “18-wheelers.” You may also hear them referred to as big rigs, semi-tractor trailers, or simply “semis.”
Trucks are harder to drive than the average car.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. They are also longer, wider, and taller than the standard passenger car or SUV. They are also more complex machines, with technology and braking systems that are not the same as other vehicles.
What does this mean? It means that heavy trucks are much more difficult to drive. Truckers must complete specialized training and pass tests to receive a commercial driver’s license (CDL) before legally operating a semi-truck. Depending on the type of cargo they wish to haul (e.g., hazardous materials), they may also need certain endorsements added to their licenses before hitting the road.
There is currently a truck driver shortage.
Trucking is one of the oldest occupations in America, but people hired as long-haul truck drivers don’t stay in the profession for long. NPR reports that the turnover rate for long-haul drivers has been at 90 percent for over a decade. In other words, for every 10 truckers, nine will leave the profession within just one year.

There are reasons why retention is difficult. Being a long-haul trucker means long periods away from family, not the best exercise and diet routine, and not a lot of quality sleep. The shortage also makes the job stressful since fewer drivers mean more demanding schedules for those who remain. It’s also a dangerous profession. According to NPR, truckers are 10 times more likely to be killed on the job compared to the average U.S. worker.

09/21/2023

Freightliner is the top semi-truck brand in North America, selling more than 70,000 Class 8 trucks annually and holding just under a 40% market share. Freightliner's Class 8 truck line is the Cascadia. Depending on the engine, the Cascadia has between 350 and 605 horsepower and up to 2050 lb of torque.

09/20/2023

Semi truck horns are one of the loudest sounds on the road. They have to be able to be heard over the roar of engines, brakes, and tires.

Semi truck horns are usually mounted on the cab of the truck, with some located on the front bumper or grille. The horns are usually made out of metal or plastic and can range in size from small to large. Most semi truck horns have a volume range of 85-115 decibels (dB), which is equivalent to a jet taking off at 25 feet away.

For comparison, most car horns average around 110 dB, while a rock concert can reach up to 120 dB. The reason semi truck horns are so much louder is because they need to be heard from further away than car horns. Semi trucks typically travel at higher speeds than cars and need to alert other vehicles quickly when they are about to pass.

Different Types Of Semi Truck Horns
Semi truck horns come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some common types include:

Air Horns: These are some of the loudest and most popular semi truck horns available. Air horns use compressed air to create their sound and can produce volumes up to 150 dB.
Electric Horns: Electric horns use electric current to create their sound, and they can be mounted on both sides of the cab for dual sound output.
Bullhorns: These horns feature two tubes that project sound forward in a cone-like shape for maximum distance.

The Benefits Of Semi Truck Horns
Semi truck drivers rely heavily on their horn for safety purposes. It is important for them to be able to alert nearby vehicles when they need room for passing or when they need other drivers’ attention in order to avoid potential accidents. The loudness of the horn also serves as an extra deterrent against reckless drivers who may not pay attention otherwise.
Conclusion: How Loud Are Semi Truck Horns?
Semi truck horns are typically much louder than car horns, ranging from 85-115 decibels (dB). Different types such as air, electric, and bullhorns vary in volume but all serve important safety functions by alerting nearby vehicles quickly when passing or needing attention.