All posts in On the Road

5 Reasons to Get Your CDL License

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/11/07 in On the Road with Comments Off

If you have been considering getting your Commercial Driver’s License? There is no reason to delay especially if you are considering a career in driving a semi-truck or some other kind of big rig vehicle that requires you to have a CDL license. With that said, a new career is waiting for you, and all you have to do is pass a few tests. Here are the top five reasons to get started on your CDL today.

Drive Big, Drive Everything

A Commercial Driver’s License allows you to drive any vehicle weighing over 10,000 lbs. Whether it’s commercial semi-trucks, double or triple trailer vehicles, hazardous material tankers, or a local school bus, a CDL means you are qualified to drive the biggest commercial vehicles available anywhere in the United States. Having a CDL also makes it easier to purchase your own semi-truck (Source: Access Trucks).

Getting Started is Easy

Getting your new career underway is very easy. First, obtain your state’s CDL manual which can be found at your local DMV. Next, decide what kind of vehicle you want to get licensing in and what kind of job you’re pursuing. Bus drivers require a different class of license then semi-truck drivers. Next, simply apply for the Commercial Learner’s Permit at your local DMV and start driving with an instructor. Finally, when you feel comfortable on the road, take the final exam. The test involves a three part skill exam and a short written section. Many states even allow you to retake the test multiple times if need be.

Inexpensive to Get

Acquiring a CDL takes very little time and money. You can obtain your license in as little as four to six weeks. Most CLP training programs cost a mere $4,000. The internet is full of manuals and practice tests that are completely free. There are trucking companies everywhere eager for more drivers. Many will even reimburse your full tuition costs once you’re hired.

Pay Increase

After only a month of schooling, you can expect to make $35,000 to $40,000 a year. Within three years, that amount can climb up to $50,000. The demand for truckers is real, and drivers with experience can expect great compensation.

Work benefits

Trucking companies take great care of their drivers. Benefits include medical, dental, 401k plans and even paid vacation. It’s your truck with your rules. Dress how you want and make your own schedules to get the job done. Another nice benefit is that you get to travel a lot. The only real downside is that depending on who you work for, you may not be home very much, but if you enjoy the open road, this can be a huge benefit.

With the job market being at a low point to where jobs are scarce, getting your CDL license can only help you. It will make you a more marketable employee in the long run, especially if you are looking to make a career in driving bigger vehicles. If you are over 18 years old, you can get started on your CDL by obtaining a state only license. If you are 21 or older, a lucrative career driving on the interstate is waiting for you.

How To Prepare Your Teen For The Road Before They Get Their Permit

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/10/29 in On the Road with Comments Off

Is it time for your teen to start driving? Getting your teen their driver’s permit can lead to some high anxiety, but by managing it properly you should be able to escape with both your child and your car relatively unscathed.

Enroll Them in a Driving School

While giving your child driving lessons is a fantastic bonding opportunity, it should never replace the hiring of an actual driving school. Driving schools teach a teen to drive properly from the ground up according to North Shore Driving School Ltd., a driving school in Burnaby. Whether we realize it or not, many of us internalize some bad habits while driving, and we don’t want to pass that along to our children! Moreover, there are some issues — such as parallel parking — that can be very difficult for a non-professional to teach.

Teach Them Practical Skills for Driving

Many parents focus on the basic techniques of driving without concentrating on more practical issues, such as how to get from point A to point B. Before your teen gets their permit, make sure they know some basics: how to get directions if they’re lost, how to properly fill up their tank and how to navigate around a parking lot. Think about the things that you wish you had known before you began driving in earnest!

Make Sure Your Insurance Coverage Is Sufficient

Let’s face it: a teen is probably going to get into at least one wreck, even with you in the passenger seat. This is a time when a low deductible policy is for the best. Most teenagers won’t get into serious accidents but may instead scrape, dent or otherwise damage the vehicle at slow (sometimes achingly slow) speeds.

Don’t Forget About Responsible Driving

More than just teaching your child how to drive, you should impress upon them the importance of knowing when to drive. Of course, every teen should be taught not to drink and drive, but they should also be taught about how dangerous it is to drive while talking on the phone or to drive while tired. As a parent, you’re undoubtedly aware that children are always tired — and young drivers are more likely to get into accidents when drowsy.

The professionals at the driving school can offer you further tips on how to prepare your teenager properly for the trials ahead. With just a little coaxing, they should be ready to hit the road!

Diesel vs Gasoline Engine: The Bitter Impasse

by Anica Oaks on 2014/10/27 in On the Road with Comments Off

On October 17, 2002, the Banks Dodge Dakota Sidewinder rolled onto five feet of white potash salt in the shadow of the hazy Silver Island Mountains at Bonneville, Utah. It carried a 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine with 1,300 lb-ft of torque. Three days later, it would set a world speed record of 222 mph. Before the trials, company president Gale Banks announced, “Diesel has a negative image in many quarters. We intend to erase that image.”

The lines were drawn.

Citius, Altius, Fortius: Diesel’s Low-End Torque

Diesel engines create immense amounts of torque for the reasons of turbocharger boost (optional), stroke length, and average effective cylinder pressure. Most diesel powertrains are made with forged components to withstand the high compression ratios – 20:1 is typical – and are thus capable of transmitting the extra torque from a long piston stroke. As Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”

Big Bang, Small Package: Gas’s Power-to-Weight Ratio

In January 2014, Nissan unveiled a 400-horsepower 1.5-liter engine small enough to fit inside a hiking backpack. The engine, destined for the ZEOD RC, weighs only 88 pounds. Such technology proves that gasoline engines are capable of tremendous power-to-weight ratios, which are becoming increasingly important as western nations adopt suburban lifestyles and lightweight cars.

Built to Impress: Diesel’s Long-Lasting Reliability

In May 2005, Mercedes grabbed three E-Class sedans off the production line, gave each an experimental V6 CDI diesel engine and raced them around a Texas track for 100,000 miles. Each car ran for 30 days at an average of 140 mph, averaged 18 mpg and satisfied CARB emission standards. None broke.

Modern diesel engines are the posterity of the compression-ignition powerplants used to motivate great marine steel carriers. Their lower RPMs, mechanical ignition systems and heavy-duty components guarantee years of use. Plus, they average 20-30 percent better adjusted fuel economy than their gas counterparts. If they do break, aftermarket parts like front-end conversions and brake upgrades are available from Pure Diesel Power.

Popularity Contest: Gas’s Availability

Diesel-powered cars make up 2.8 percent of American passenger vehicles. Gasoline is America’s pet, and the reason is simple: price. A Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, for instance, costs $4,500 more than the base V6 model. The payback period extends far beyond the average length of new car ownership.

As of now, gasoline engines remain the most versatile and widely used engines in America. But thanks to clean-diesel exhaust fluids, noise cancellation technology and icons like the Sidewinder, diesel may not have long to wait.

How to Prepare Your Truck for a Long Road Trip

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/10/24 in Trucks with Comments Off

Before heading out on the road and putting hundreds of miles on your truck during a long road trip, there are several steps to take to ensure that you prepare your truck for the distance ahead. Many people forget to inspect the truck and make minor repairs before driving for several hours, which can put excessive wear on the vehicle and cause mechanical issues. To prepare your truck and keep it in great condition, there are a few steps to take ahead of time.

Check Fluid Levels

The engine oil, washer fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid and coolant should all be checked ahead of time to ensure that the engine runs properly. Refill the fluids that are low and replace filters that have become worn over time with the help of a professional mechanic. You will want to have a complete system flush after so many thousands of miles. Doing this will help your truck drive better especially when you are ready for a long road trip. The other reason is, as the fluids age, it can be really hard on the system of your truck if you let old fluid just sit in there. You will especially want to change out your anti-freeze every so often or it will eventually freeze if it is too old.

Inspect the Tire Pressure

To increase your fuel efficiency and prevent flat tires while driving, it’s crucial to inspect your truck’s tire pressure and refill it at a local gas station. This especially needs to be checked before you leave for a long road trip. You also want to keep your tires at an even pressure or your low tire pressure warning light can go off because of the uneven pressure. You should also check the wear on the tires with a tire tread depth gauge or by placing a penny in one of the grooves. Make sure that a spare tire is available in the vehicle and that you learn how to change a tire before leaving on the trip.

Look at the Brakes

An expert should inspect the brakes before going on a road trip to ensure that they still have plenty of padding left and can function properly without grinding until you return. Make sure that the pedal doesn’t feel softer than normal in the truck or squeal, which is often a common sign of deterioration and wear that has occurred.

Conduct General Maintenance

From oil changes to replacing your air filter, it’s important to conduct general maintenance on your truck each month to ensure that each part continues to function properly (Source: 99 Truck Parts & Industrial Equipment Ltd.). With routine inspections and care for the vehicle, it will work to maintain the function of the transmission and allow everything to run smoothly.

When leaving for the open road with your truck, there are a few steps to take to prepare the vehicle to ensure that it functions well with excess use. You can preserve the truck and extend its lifespan with the right maintenance and repairs performed for a vehicle that you can continue to use for many years.

7 Ways To Upgrade Your Truck

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/10/13 in Trucks with Comments Off

Men love their trucks. They especially love their big trucks. Usually the bigger the better. Most trucks are manufactured with great equipment. However, if you want better options, here are seven upgrades that are worth considering.

Body Lift

A body lift is an inexpensive upgrade that costs between $110 to $600. It uses urethane blocks, which are stacked on the body mount; the mount lifts the body over the frame. The vehicle does not need any modifications because the lift forms a gap between the frame and the truck’s body (Source: Tonka 4-Wheel Drive Ltd.). The average installation time for a body lift is usually six to eight hours.

Wheel Splash Guards

Most drivers purchase mud guards because they display cartoon characters to other drivers, but mud guards also protect other vehicles on the road. They block gravel, sand, rocks, or mud that flies from your tires when you drive. Splash guards cost anywhere from $20 to $200.

MP3/iPod Features

Your truck can play tunes from your iPod or MP3 player if you have the proper hardware. You will need an audio cable, a retrofit kit, or transmitters. A cable will cost around $10, but more advanced hardware could cost around $300. The first way might be cheaper, but if you want good quality sound you will want to consider getting the more advanced hardware installed. The custom system will allow you to enjoy all of your personal music with higher sound quality.

Tailgate Protector

Through the year, a tailgate withstands plenty of abuse because various objects are dragged into the bed. It gains wear and tear because boxes move back and forth when you drive on the highway. A tailgate protector protects the top of the tailgate and the load surface. The cheapest tailgate protectors cost $30, and the most expensive protectors cost around $150.

Custom Wheels

New wheels can improve the appearance of your vehicle or change the way it drives on the road. You will usually pay $75 for each wheel. However, if you want stylish wheels, you could pay as much as $500 per wheel.

Running Boards

A running board is a simple device that can help you get out of your truck easier. Some boards have advanced algorithms, so they function whenever a truck door opens and closes. This especially comes in handy when you truck has a body lift on it, especially for those who are short enough that they have trouble getting in your truck.

Truck Racks

A truck rack is very helpful during the summer because it can hold all of your beach accessories. The rack add compartments to your truck bed; the compartments will help you store more items efficiently. A truck rack can also transport lumber to project sites and a kayak for vacation purposes.

How To Maintain Your Truck After You Buy Your Upgrades

A plan of attack must be established, so design a schedule so that you can maintain your oil, brakes, fluids, interiors, windows, and tires. The emission control systems, however, will require professional services periodically.

Overall, upgrading your truck is a smart idea because most accessories will improve how your vehicle operates.