Ask An Expert - Towing and Hauling Tips with Mark Hellwig

Hellwig Suspension Products CEO, Mark Hellwig has been in the load and sway control business his whole life. Over the years he has learned a few things about towing and hauling.

Mark shares a few tips and pieces of advice for proper and safe towing and hauling in this video.

Safety Tools Truck Drivers Need to Have

Truck drivers perform an important but dangerous work. Safety then should always be a top priority whether on the road or loading and unloading the boxes and crates they're required to deliver. The task proves to be more tiresome particularly if the driver works alone with no companion to help in the loading and unloading aspect.

In the U.S., trucks are among the vehicles that often get involved in road accidents. In 2000 alone, the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that more than 450,000 big trucks encountered accidents.

Currently, there are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. handling different types and sizes of trucks. These people should have undergone the necessary CDL or commercial driver's license training that is one of the important qualifications considered by companies when hiring truck drivers.

Trucks need to have the right safety tools that will allow them to fix problems during their travel and navigation devices to guide them when locating their destination. For those who transport huge boxes, they also need to have the proper equipment such as levers for loading and unloading purposes.

GPS navigation device - This is a very important tool that helps drivers locate the place they're going to. With its small monitor, drivers will be able to view a map of their area of destination. There are also units that have voice features and tell drivers the streets they can take.

Vehicle backup camera - As it's hard to monitor a truck's blind spots, having a backup camera is very helpful. This is normally attached on the top part of the license plate and is connected to a monitor positioned on the dashboard or sun visor. With this tool, a driver can easily check what's behind the truck while backing up or moving along the highways before changing lanes or making turns. It's an affordable device that's a must today for all types of vehicles.

Jack and tire iron - You never know when you'll get a flat tire or your tires experience low pressure the reason why having a jack in your truck is very important. The CDL training course will teach you the right way of changing tires so this should not be a problem in case you encounter flat tires during your travel.

Tire chains - Also known as snow chains, these devices are meant to provide traction when you're driving through snow and ice. These are fitted in the drive wheels of the vehicle and are required by transportation authorities during snowy conditions. Usually, they are sold in pairs. When these are in place, you have also to reduce your speed to ensure the safety of your vehicle.

Other than these devices, a truck driver traveling on long hauls should also bring along water, food and extra clothing. There are times when you need to travel through desert areas or places wherein there are no restaurants along the highways so it's always best to be ready.

Getting your CDL training should provide you with the appropriate knowledge on truck driving safety and the tools you need to have while traveling. So never ignore its value for it will benefit you for the long term.

By Kalyan Kumar 

For great information on CDL training, visit Truck-School.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kalyan_Kumar

At A&T Road Service, we not only do we provide reliable 24-hour road service; We Also Provide::

• In-House TOWING
• Fully Equipped Mobile Repair Units
• Tire Replacement
• Load Adjustments
• Welding
• Fuel Delivery
• Lock-Outs
• Vehicle Storage
• Hydraulics
• DOT & BIT Inspections
• Crane Inspections
• Glass Replacement
• Vehicle Rentals
• Liftgate Repairs and Service
• Tens of Thousands of Parts In-Stock

We are centrally located in Fairfield CA which is approximately 45 miles from San Francisco or Sacramento and about 50 miles from Stockton. We regularly service Fairfield, Vallejo, Rio Vista, Napa, Vacaville, Travis AFB, Winters, Dixon, Davis, Benicia, St. Helena, Calistoga, Suisun City, Green Valley, Crockett, Hercules, San Pablo, Richmond, Concord, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Boyes Hot Springs, Sonoma, Allendale, Cordelia, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, Novato, American Canyon, Truck Scales and much more. We’ve even gone as far as San Jose, the South Bay and the Peninsula because we always answer the phone 24/7. Solano County is our home turf, but readily service Napa County, Yolo County, Contra Costa County, Sonoma County, Sacramento County, and San Joaquin County, Alameda County and Marin County. We also have been known to travel to San Francisco County, Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. In fact, if you need immediate service, we will travel where ever we need to in order to take care of your problem. We are at your service and we mean that sincerely.

A&T “Mobile” Truck Road Service is a part of the BIT Inspection Program and is able to do inspections for you on-site. We are DOT Certified and all BIT inspections are performed utilizing DOT/BIT Inspectors. A&T “Mobile” Truck Road Service meets all requirements under Title 49 of the DOT Inspectors Guide.

You can find more information about the CalBit Program and the requirements at their website. 

Contact A&T Road Service at: 707- 427 - 1386

Need a tow? Call 1-800-434-1205

Who Must Stop at Scales?

California's "Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facilities" are commonly called weigh stations or truck scales. These facilities are operated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), not by Caltrans. However, Caltrans receives many inquiries about weigh stations. This page is designed to answer some of those questions. The links provide access to the on-line California Vehicle Code (CVC).

CVC Section 2813 outlines who must stop at weigh stations and inspection stations:

2813. Every driver of a commercial vehicle shall stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection of the size, weight, equipment, and smoke emissions of the vehicle at any location where members of the California Highway Patrol are conducting tests and inspections of commercial vehicles and when signs are displayed requiring the stop. Every driver who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection when signs are displayed requiring that stop is guilty of a misdemeanor.

CVC Section 260 defines "commercial vehicle" (bolding added):

260. (a) A "commercial vehicle" is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

(b) Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit and housecars are not commercial vehicles. ...

(c) Any vanpool vehicle is not a commercial vehicle.

(d) ...

CVC Section 410 defines a "motor truck" (bolding added):

410. A "motor truck" or "motortruck" is a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

CVC Section 471 defines "pickup truck" (bolding added):

471. A "pickup truck" is a motor truck with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 11,500 pounds, an unladen weight of less than 8,001 pounds, and which is equipped with an open box-type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length. "Pickup truck" does not include a motor vehicle otherwise meeting the above definition, that is equipped with a bed-mounted storage compartment unit commonly called a "utility body."

Learn more at: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/cvef/weigh-stations

Take a close look at a heavy Wrecker Truck

Before continuing work on my class 8 wrecker model project I thought I would get some good pictures of a real wrecker, especially the business end.

PAYLOAD PROBLEMS: HOW MUCH CAN I (REALLY) TOW? RV Truck & Trailer

🚦Towing capacity is frequently misunderstood. The fact is there are so many acronyms and various factors based on the truck, it’s easy to get confused. To make things worst, the truck manufactures promote their highest possible tow rating for an entire class of truck and then put an asterisk that it only applies to a dually truck.

To know how much RV you can really tow, we must first address the limitations you’ll likely reach long before towing capacity. This video will break down GVWR, GCVWR, GAWR, UVW (dry weight), Payload and then Towing Capacity. This video also discusses the consequences of towing over the GVWR or GCVWR. This is not intended to scare anyone. Rather, after extensive research, these are the situations RVers have shared.

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhJLsShZt8McryMf_DHLZQ

Understanding Trailer Hitch Receiver Classes - Know Before You Tow

Learn which hitch is right for you, your truck, and towing equipment.

RV Towing at A & T BIG RIG TOWING SERVICES

North Bay Truck Center and A&T Road Service heavy-duty towing. We think this is the most flexible and useful rig to tow the biggest trucks on the road, along with big buses and large RV units.

Adding a heavy-duty truck and trailer towing service to our existing North Bay Truck Center full-service heavy and trailer truck service and repair shop and A&T Road Service’s onsite 24-hour minor repair service seemed like a perfect fit. It has proved to be true. We are adding to our fleet of tow trucks and outfitting them for maximum flexibility to handle almost any job. We also offer short and long-distance heavy-duty trucks, trailer towing, and trailer transport. Anywhere in Northern California or locally in Solano County, A&T Road Service has the towing capability and fleet strength to get you to your destination.

Call us 24/7 at 1-800-434-1205

In NTSB top transport issues, technology's pace quickening, human error in sharp relief

Technology is the unifying theme running through NTSB's updated Most Wanted List this year as well as the related recommendations the agency has.

All indications in the National Transportation Safety Board's latest "Most Wanted List" of problems to fix in transportation point to one thing: in many ways, technology across that broad industry isn't just advancing, it's accelerating. It is both problem and solution.

Learn more at: https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21703470/in-ntsb-top-transport-issues-technologys-pace-quickening-human-error-in-sharp-relief

Decoding Dashboard Warning Lights | Consumer Reports

You might have noticed the gallery of icons on your dashboard when you start your car. Consumer Reports’ expert explains what those warning lights mean. Check out https://www.ConsumerReports.org for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1Nlb1Ez