Driving With Underinflated Tires: The harsh winters of Central New Jersey can really do a number on heavy-duty vehicles and their tire pressure. In fact, the weather can be to blame for loss of tire inflation pressure (PSI) and decreased fuel mileage. Basic tire maintenance can help truckers avoid missing deadlines due to underinflated tires. Check out what you need to know about changing temperatures and tire PSI. Changes in air temperature can impact how fast air molecules can move within the tire, causing a fluctuation of PSI. So, if you’re a trucker starting out in Florida for a delivery in New England, you will likely notice a dramatic change in PSI by the time you get there. Hot tires not only affect pressure but also the sound of a tire. In fact, warm tires after a long drive can experience a 15 percent increase in inflation pressure compared with cold tires. As the driver, it’s impossible to know the exact pressure rating of your tires by sight. You must be on the lookout for common signs of under-inflation including: The TPMS light illuminates on the dashboard You get reduced steering and handling You have longer stopping distances You [...]

Safety Throughout the Year - As the owner of a fleet of vehicles, whether construction or transportation or something in between, you know the importance of safety – all the year through. But as 2019 comes to a close, it’s especially important to give ourselves reminders of why safety is critical when it comes to managing your fleet. With the holidays comes more traffic on the roadways, which means you must focus on creating safer roadways for everyone out there. Think about creating a safety culture of sorts at your company to place a big priority on staying safe, both for your drivers and for everyone else on the road. It should be a way of life. Make that your New Year’s resolution as a responsible fleet owner! Guaranteed, you will see the ripple effects extend far beyond what you thought could be possible. Here are a few ideas for you to implement. Create a Safety Program with Rewards Rewarding people is always a nice incentive, a great motivator if you will. Safety should be at the core of who you are and what you deliver. Train your employees to put safety at #1. To move this along, reward members [...]

Summertime Tips for Truckers  - With summer comes warmer temperatures and more people on the roadways taking trips. This is a great time of year but also dangerous as we contend with soaring temps and increased traffic. Here are some ways truckers can stay safe this summer. 1.      Check the Brakes You may not realize it, but the temperature can have a big impact on your brakes. Brake fading can happen when the temperature outside gets hot. This is due to the loss of friction because brake components are no longer able to absorb the heat, which leads to increased stopping distances and decreased brake life performance. Routine maintenance is a must to ensure brake fading doesn’t occur. 2.      Keep Your Tires Inflated Properly The summer heat can cause tire blowouts. That’s because tires tend to inflate with rising temperatures. When those inflated tires make contact with hot surfaces such as asphalt pavement, that friction, combined with high speeds, can result in blowouts. Make sure your tires are properly inflated, especially in summer. Regular maintenance of your tires will also extend their useful life. 3.      Protect Yourself From the Sun Many truckers don’t realize the level of sun exposure [...]