All posts in Trucks

Basic Types of Trailers to Know About

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/09/08 in Trucks with Comments Off

There are a wide range of trailers manufactured for commercial and transport purposes. There are several trucks with varying load capacities and for each type there is a different trailer that can be attached to it. Each trailer has a category of applications linked to it.

While loading your truck by attaching a trailer, there are various factors to consider like the load bearing capacity of the truck and the road guidelines, the size and the cargo to be carried. While considering the total weight, do not forget to add-up both the weight of the trailer as well as the freight that is to be shipped within it.

These trailers are generally classified into 14 basic types. Here is a list:

#1. Flatbed trailer

There are one of the most commonly used trailers because of their versatility. They are used for all types of freight. It has load capacity of 40,000 pounds and a length of 48 to 53 ft. It is an open container with no cover over the cargo that is being shipped.

#2. Dry trailer van

These are also known as enclosed trailers. It is just like a flatbed trailer but with a box around it. The best feature about is that it is waterproof and it protects the cargo from rain and dew during transit. It is mainly used by the grocery stores, clothes stores, electronics industries, and all such organizations that have products that can be damaged by rain.

#3. Refrigerated trailer

Some items need to be kept in a restricted and controlled environment continuously. For such items, refrigerated trailers are used. Stuff like frozen food, pharmaceuticals, and dairy products are to be shipped by such a trailer.

#4. Speciality trailers

This is a category of trailer built specially for transporting a particular type of cargo. For example, the air-tight tank trailers built for hazardous liquids and the inert material trailer for transporting natural gas and LPG. There are discreet regulations to be followed while making such trailers to match the safety requirements of the trailer during transport of hazardous and inflammable materials.

#5. Side-kit trailers

This trailer is equipped with a side wood panel and are used to transport loads that are packed like sand, gravel, dirt, wood, bricks, and all such materials. All the materials that are to be transported in free-form without a packaging is hauled in side-kit trailers. It is generally a flatbed style with a 4-5 ft side panel attached to the deck.

#6. Double drop trailers

There are extendable trailers that enables you to extend the trailer length to fit in longer cargos. They are designed exclusively to handle excessive lengths as well as weights. Though the heights if this type of trailer is low.

#7. Stretch RNG trailers

This is the type that carries extra-long objects that cannot fit into double drop trailers or flatbed trailers. The loads generally are low in weight. But in case the load is more, the truck may need to attach more axles in order to prevent the trailer from slacking in the middle.

#8. Multi-car trailers

These are most commonly used to transport automobiles. There are 2 types in this section of trailers- single layered and double layered. The weight allowance for such a trailer is high and that lets you carry 8 cars at a time. This is also used as a mobile home as that would need an equally high load capacity to be able to carry all your heavy belongings.

All these above-mentioned types are the most commonly used types of trailers. If you are hiring a freight trailer for the first time, it is necessary that you know the basic use of each trailer type to pick the right one for your cargo.

Towing Power: 4 Truck Tips to Increase Your Torque

by Anica Oaks on 2016/10/26 in Trucks with Comments Off

Torque is what gives your truck low-end power to muscle through deep sand and tow heavy trailers. While many newer trucks have excellent horsepower, they often lack the ability to transfer that power to the wheels at lower speeds. Here is a look at four tips you can use to give your truck massive power when it is needed the most.

1. Have It Professionally Tuned

New vehicles often come with complex computers that manage the entire mechanical system. While these processors can save you money on gas or diesel, they could be limiting your torque. Truck owners should find a local garage that offers custom tuning to those who want as much power out of their vehicle as possible. In many cases, these services can be finished in just 15 or 20 minutes, and they could increase your truck’s torque by as much as five percent.

2. An Aftermarket Exhaust System

Anyone who plans on towing a trailer from Hillsboro Industries with their truck should consider upgrading their exhaust system. While it might not seem like the exhaust does much to alter your engine’s power, it is actually one of the most common areas where low-end strength is lost. Stock exhaust systems bottleneck the air coming out of the engine, and this prevents new air from being drawn in as efficiently as it could. Aftermarket systems are designed to pull air out as quickly as possible without causing any backflow.

3. Install a Performance Chip

Depending on the model you have purchased, your truck might already have a performance chip inside it. These small devices plug into your OBD-II port and give you full control over many aspects of your engine. A performance chip essentially allows you to tune your truck without heading into a garage. Many modern chips also allow you to create specific settings depending on what type of driving you plan on doing.

4. Cold Air Intake

Installing a cold air intake is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your torque, but you should first make sure these devices are legal in your state. Because they alter a truck’s emissions, some states have decided to ban them. This upgrade lowers the temperature of the air that is going into your engine to make it as dense as possible.

Many of these tips and upgrades will not only make your truck more powerful, but they could even improve its efficiency. That makes them an excellent investment for practically any driver.

An Insight into Diesel Refueling Solutions

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/05/02 in Trucks with Comments Off

Once upon a time, diesel was considered an excessively polluting fuel. However, with the new technologies that oil companies have been introducing over the last few decades, the carbon footprint produced by diesel engines has been significantly reduced. Modern diesel vehicles with improved filters and catalytic converters are less harmful for the environment that they used to be. In order to make their vehicles more efficient, owners of diesel machines have to pump and keep their diesel in a safe way.

Proper Adblue treatment

As we have already stressed out, the production of diesel fuel is today organized in line with some high ecological standards. The introduction the Adblue diesel is one of those innovations that help diesel-powered engines stay competitive in the global automotive race. This type of diesel emits substantially less exhaust gases than old diesel fuels. However, due to its specific chemical properties, Adblue requires a special treatment. For instance, people who have private properties or ranches far away from gas stations need to transport fuel to such locations. In order to store their Adblue diesel, they need to have adequate dispenser units. This is why everybody who needs to use diesel on their own needs to have first-class shut-off nozzles (go for stainless ones), as well as reliable hoses and hand guns.

Refuel diesel on the go

Although there is hardly a town without a gas station, you sometimes have to take some diesel with you. For instance, if you are traveling abroad and you know that fuel is much less expensive in your country, it is practical to bring your fuel with you. The money you save this way can be used to afford your family a more exciting holiday. In addition, the abovementioned owners of remote ranches and farms might need to transport some diesel and make a fuel stash.

The best option to take some diesel with you on vacation is to choose one of those portable diesel refueling tanks. Today they are made in accordance with highest safety standards and, what is even better, they can be bought at quite popular prices. In addition to tanks, it is important to get the right trailer, too. Make sure that the tank is made from polyethylene and that it has venting breathers, which will keep the fuel quality on a high level. When it comes to trailers, on the other hand, galvanized steel is the best material.

Equipped with spare items

If you need to transport fuel and fill the tank(s) on your own, you should never run out of spare parts, too. No matter how efficient diesel type you have in your tank, you can do nothing if your hose swivel is leaking. What every privatediesel refueler needs to have in the trunk is a hose swivel, accompanied by anti-leakage gaskets, as well as cartridge filters and a level indicator. Not being only one of these pieces with you can result in improper tank filling and inadequate diesel storage. Here you can learn more about proper fuel storage.

Moreover, today you do not have to waste your time on local stores, but you can order all those items online. That way you will spend less fuel on from-store-to-store rides and get all the diesel-refueling accessories in one place. What is more, most of these items are cheaper on the web than in local stores.

As a result of rapid development of oil industry, car owners can rely on improved features when it comes to fuels. In addition, owners of diesel-powered vehicles have become ecologically acceptable drivers, too. Now they can safely use and store diesel on their own. However, it is vital to follow the rules and get the right equipment. That way your health, your properties and your vehicles will be properly protected.

Do You Drive For Work? Steps You Can Take To Stay Safe On The Road

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/10/21 in Trucks with Comments Off

Ask any truck driver knows, driving for a living can take a toll on a person. Driving can be a dangerous job, and truck drivers must always be on their toes. If you drive for work or are thinking of doing so, there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road.

Get The Right License

The first thing that you must do is to make sure that you have the right license. Earn your commercial driver’s license from a school that belongs to an association like the Commercial Vehicle Training Association. You will be taught good habits and will learn how to keep yourself safe on the road. To get started, you can find out about the commercial licensing here.

Take Care Of Yourself

As a truck driver, you need to take care of yourself. Long hours on the open road can be taxing on the mind and body. It can be difficult to eat right on the road, but try to make sure that you do. Stopping at a grocery store, buying fresh foods, and storing them in your cooler is far healthier than eating at every greasy spoon along the way. Staying healthy is a key component in staying safe.

Get Enough Sleep

While you are at it, make sure that you are getting enough sleep. You may be tempted to push it through the night to make better time, but you put yourself and everyone on the road in danger when you do so. Stop to rest when you feel like you need to. Arriving at your destination safely is more important than arriving early.

Understand Your Truck

Any truck driver worth their salt knows their rig. Whether it is your own or a company-owned truck, you should have a close relationship with your vehicle. Know its parts, and know how it operates. Perform an inspection before every trip. Check your wheels, your brakes and lights. Make sure your truck is well-maintained. If it is a company-owned truck, be sure to follow the maintenance policies and procedures laid forth by your employer.

Driving for long-hours across the open road is as safe as you make it. While there are certainly things out of a driver’s control, there are many things that you do control. Make sure you have the right license, keep your rig maintained, and stay on top of your health. When you do these things, you make the road a safer place for yourself and every driver you share it with.

5 Extraordinary Facts About The Trucking Industry In The USA

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/05/15 in Trucks with Comments Off

The United States Department of Transportation or the USDOT controls all forms of transportation in the US, including airlines, shipping, railroads and of course, trucking. You may not know this, but most of your goods are delivered thanks to the US truckers. Especially if the transport involves some heave objects for consturction or building. Trucking is a an essential form of transportation that proves itself extremely prolific for the country. Here are some interesting facts about the trucking industry, and about the advantages of being a truck driver.

The Most Lucrative Form Of Transport

This will certainly come as a surprise, but the trucking industry is actually the one form of transport that brings the most to the economy. There are currently about 3 and a half million truck drivers in the United States. And according to the ATA report or the American Trucking Administration, this industry holds 67% of all domestic transportation of goods. This is by far more than a half of the entire goods that are being transported by trucks.

Improving Technology Actually Helps The Trucking Industry

In this modern day of age technology is improving rapidly fast. One would think that man made jobs are simply dying out. It is exactly the opposite in the trucking industry. Satellite communication and GPS help drivers stay in touch with each other and their superiors. Radio connection is still also used as one of the basic forms of communication. Apart from the improvement of the working conditions, modern technology also makes the travel much more interesting for the drivers. Plus, the modern times recognize the equality of genders, so a large number of ladies are making sure that the freight gets to its destination in time.

One Of The Most Dangerous Jobs Of All

As previously mentioned, women are also a part of the trucking industry as the drivers themselves. Still this job career is one of the most dangerous ones. The transport last for days and you are depending on the conditions on the road. The largest number of accidents are rollovers. The drivers must be fully concentrated and well rested, which sometime is not an option if you want to follow your schedule, which you must do. Therefore, a good organization of driving and resting shifts can indeed come in handy.

Combination With Other Forms Of Transport Or The Intermodal Transfer

Trucking does not only consist of driving the inventory from point A to point B. Truckers can also b a part of a transport chain, meaning that they are the missing link between airplanes and boat shipment. This is called the intermodal transfer. There were about 13 million intermodal container transports in 2012, which is a positive increase from the previous years.

The Largest Amount Of Goods Is Transformed By Trucks

Driving trucks or popularly called ‘trucking’ is becoming on of the most popular job in the US. This is way the largest amount of freight is being transfered exactly bu the trucking industry. According to the US Department of Transportation there was a 12 and a half billion tons of freight transported by the trucking industry with the value of 10 and half milion dollars. By the year 2040 these numbers could easily double.