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An owner-operator's No. 1 challenge today is keeping more of their hard-earned money. We’d like to tackle this problem by listing four key steps that help owner-operators hold onto the revenue they generate. Before looking at your expenses, you will need to understand them fully. Look at your expenses over the past 60 to 90 days. If you have an ATBS Profit and Loss Statement, this tool will serve as your expense road map. If you don’t have an ATBS Profit and Loss Statement, you will need to calculate every expense in your business and personal life. Once you have a strong sense of the money coming in and going out the door, you can get started planning how to lower your expenses and increase your profit. Step 1: Personal Expense Allocation Your first expense strategy is to identify the total funds you have each month after you’ve paid your trucking expenses. A typical owner-operator will have gross revenue in the range of $14,500 a month and truck expenses of $9,250 per month, leaving a net income of $5,250 a month. Owner-operators should allocate approximately 60% of their net income for all personal expenses. If you exceed 60%, then you might need to review your list of personal expenses and cut back. Step 2: Cover Taxes and Retirement – Then Have Fun The next step is to divide the remaining 40% of your net income into three areas including; 25% for Tax Estimates,10% for Retirement, and 5% for Fun and Unexpected Expenses. If you have the discipline, remain committed to saving as much as possible by maximizing the retirement bucket whenever possible. It is remarkable how quickly you can reach retirement goals by putting away as much money as you can early in life. Step 3: Tend Your Financial Garden Understanding your expenses is not an annual task; it’s a task that should be addressed every month if possible. We’ve compiled a list of the biggest expense areas that are opportunities for an owner-operator to consider: 1. Credit Card Debt. If you have credit card debt, consider paying it as soon as possible. Credit Cards are good cash management tools but they are typically one of the worst ways to rack up debt because of high interest rates. A monthly credit card bill includes information on how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you only make minimum payments. It also tells you how much you would need to pay each month in order to pay off your balance in three years. 2. Extra Cars. Does your family have more than one car? If there are extra or unused cars and trucks in your driveway, consider selling them immediately especially if you are making a payment; not only will you save on car payments but you will save on car insurance, taxes, and gas purchases. 3. Luxury Expenses. One of the “low-hanging fruits” in your financial garden is the “Entertainment and Food” expense. Decide to eat at home more often and find entertainment that does not cost a lot. You’d be surprised to find that most public museums, zoos, and art houses offer “free days” throughout the year. 4. Unnecessary Expenses. Review your housing expenses and look for unnecessary expenditures such as cable TV, home phone, and Starbucks coffees. Consider calling the competition to ensure you are getting the best rate possible. 5. Comparison Tools. Be vigilant with your Smartphone bill and your insurance bills. It’s no cost to inquire and some sites make comparing fast, and easy. Step 4: Fuel Expenses Owner-operators face high fuel expenses and we’ve compiled some ways to save money on fuel: Slow down Find the “sweet spot” of your engine Be smart with braking Minimize idling Use your carrier's fuel network Take advantage of fuel-saving cards and app Owner-operators live with the day-to-day challenge of rising costs. This means today’s owner-operators need to continually focus on ways to be smart with their money. From expenses at home to fuel expenses on the road, each expense is an opportunity to either save money or waste money. At ATBS we hope you take the time to consider ways to save money.

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate was officially put into place on April 1, 2018. It was at this point that commercial motor vehicle drivers would be placed out of service if their vehicle was not equipped with an ELD. The ELD Mandate was put into place in order to simplify the tracking of a driver’s Hours of Service (HOS) and simplify the enforcement of the HOS rules. Since the ELD Mandate, some things have changed in terms of hours of service. Certain violations are no longer seen as often and other violations are now easier to get caught for. With a lot happening since the implementation of the ELD Mandate, let’s take a look at how hours of service violations have changed in the ELD Mandate Era. What hours of service violations are still in effect? Here is a list of the HOS violations that are very much still in effect with the ELD Mandate: Going over the 14-hour limit Truck drivers have 14 hours after coming off duty to complete their driving for the day. Going over the 11-hour driving limit Within the 14-hour limit, truck drivers are only allowed to drive for 11 hours within that time frame. Not taking a 30-minute break Also within the 14-hour limit, a driver must take a 30-minute break before 8 hours of driving time has passed since the end of their last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes. Going under the 10 hours off duty Once a driver goes off duty, they must stay off duty for at least 10 consecutive hours in order to reset their 14 hour clock. There is flexibility with this rule by using the 8/2 or 7/3 sleeper-berth split. Learn more about the rules by clicking on the links. Going over the 60/70 limit Truck drivers can only be on duty for 60 hours in a 7 day period or 70 hours in an 8 day period. After, you must take 34 consecutive hours off duty if you want to refresh your driving cycle completely. Prior to the ELD Mandate, all of these HOS rules had to be tracked on paper logs. This made it hard for drivers to accurately keep track of all of them. Drivers also had the ability to falsify their on-duty and off-duty time which made it hard to enforce. ELDs make it really easy to accurately track all of these HOS rules and violations. What hours of service violations are no longer as common? Even though the ELD Mandate didn’t get rid of any HOS violations, these specific violations were a lot more common when hours were kept on paper logs. Form & Manner Violations When there were paper logs, form & manner violations were one of the most common violations. Now that there are ELDs, there is less information that a driver has to put in manually. This means there is a smaller possibility of a driver getting caught for a form and manner violation because almost everything is being tracked and inputted automatically. Falsification of Records Because hours of service data is being tracked by an electronic device, it is very hard to falsify your records. It used to be possible for a driver to log whatever hours they wanted when that information was being kept on paper logs. Now, all of this information is being tracked automatically as you drive which makes it hard to falsify. Missing Logs Violations Missing logs violations used to be common because there was a lot of paper that needed to be kept track of. ELDs have significantly reduced the chance of losing a paper log. All of the HOS logs are now just kept organized within the ELD which means if you don’t lose or destroy the ELD, you shouldn’t lose those logs. *As of 2024, FMCSA also no longer requires drivers to carry a printed ELD manual or instruction sheet, as long as that information is available digitally. What are the penalties for violating the hours of service rules? Violating HOS rules can lead to a variety of penalties for both the driver and the carrier. If a driver is caught over their HOS, they may be placed out of service until the driver has spent enough time off duty in order to be back in compliance. Depending on the severity, the driver could also be assessed fines by both state and local law enforcement officials. Driver’s and carrier’s CSA scores can also take a hit if they aren’t complying with the HOS rules. We go into a lot more detail on CSA scores here . The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration may also force civil penalties onto the driver or the carrier. These penalties can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the severity. If a carrier is caught with a pattern of violations, its safety rating can be downgraded. Patterns of violations that are caused by a carrier knowingly and willingly allowing HOS violations can lead to federal criminal penalties which may result in fines or complete shutdown of a carrier. How do you get caught violating hours of service rules? There are a few ways to get caught violating the hours of service rules: If you drive for a carrier they will keep track of your hours and are able to see if you are in violation. If the police see that you are violating HOS you will be placed out of service until you are in compliance and could end up with a ticket. The DOT can catch you violating HOS rules at a weigh station or if your company happens to get audited. The DOT may allow some violations to go without penalties as long as you are not way over the limit. The last and worst possible way to get caught violating HOS would be if you were to get in an accident while operating over the HOS limit. If you are operating over an hours limit, you will be held civilly and criminally liable if an accident were to occur. The consequences can include fines, license suspensions, and possibly even jail time. Even if the accident isn’t your fault, a prosecutor will be able to say that you shouldn’t have been on the road during that time and the prosecutor will be correct. The HOS rules were put into place as a safety measure so getting in an accident while violating the rules means you have caused exactly what the HOS rules were set out to avoid. Hours of Service Exemptions There are exemptions to the hours of service rules that you need to keep aware of. These are just a few of the more common exemptions that you may be eligible for permanently or on a one-off basis. If driving conditions are affected by weather or an emergency, drivers are permitted to exceed the 11 hour maximum driving time by two hours. However, they may not go past a 16 hour-limit. Another common exemption is the 30-minute break exemption. Short-haul drivers who qualify for the 150 air-mile radius provision can be exempt from taking the 30-minute break. A driver may be able to extend their 14 hour shift to a 16 shift, as long as the 11 driving hours are not exceeded if that driver started and stopped their workday at the same location for at least the five previous workdays. This rule may be invoked once per 34-hour reset and the driver must be relieved from work after the 16th hour. Lastly, a driver’s HOS rules may be temporarily lifted if they are helping with direct emergency assistance. A governmental Declaration of Emergency has to be issued and the driver has to be providing support to state and local efforts to save lives, property, or protect public health or safety. Even with these rules suspended, a driver is still expected to act in good judgment and not operate their vehicle if they are under conditions that could lead to a clear hazard to others on the highways. Stay Compliant to Avoid Hours of Service Violations The ELD mandate has made it easier to keep track of the HOS rules. However, it has also made it easier to get caught being in violation of them. Even if you don’t like the rules, stay compliant in order to avoid unnecessary penalties and fines. It’s tough being told what to do and how long to drive, especially when you have been driving for many years. However, these rules were put into place for your safety and the safety of others in mind. So be safe, stay compliant, and you will be able to avoid those hours of service violations. Sources: https://eldmandatefacts.com/6-common-hos-violations/ https://www.samsara.com/fleet/eld-compliance/hours-of-service https://www.jjkeller.com/learn/hours-of-service-faqs http://www.arnoldsafetyblog.com/what-happens-if-i-violate-the-hours-of-service-rules/

Every so often, truck drivers are put through a DOT inspection to make sure they are complying with all of the rules. These inspections are carried out by a state police officer or a DOT inspector. There are six levels of DOT inspections that can last somewhere between 15-60 minutes. Make sure you are aware of these six levels so you know what to expect during your next inspection. Level 1: North American Standard Inspection The level one DOT inspection is the most common level, and the most thorough. This level of inspection includes a complete check of both the driver and the vehicle. The DOT official will inspect the driver’s documents including license, medical certificates, logs, HOS documentation, inspection reports, and Hazmat endorsements. The driver will also be checked to make sure they aren’t under the influence of any drugs, alcohol, or any other hazardous material. The official will also do a complete check of the vehicle, including the cargo being securely fastened. You should expect the following elements to be checked: seat belts, brakes, suspension, tires, windshield wipers, headlamps, turn signals, steering wheel, and fuel systems. This level of inspection usually takes between 45 - 60 minutes to complete. Level 2: Walk-Around Driver and Vehicle Inspection The level two DOT inspection is very similar to the level one inspection. The only difference between level two and level one is that the official who is checking your vehicle will only inspect items that can be checked without physically getting under the vehicle. The level two inspection only takes about 30 minutes to complete. Level 3: Driver-Only Inspection The level three DOT inspection is a driver-only inspection focused on the driver’s credentials. With this inspection, drivers are checked for: Driver’s License, Endorsements, Medical Card, Skill Performance Evaluation certificate, RODS, HAZMAT requirements, Vehicle Inspection Report, and HOS documentation. They are also checked for things like seat belt usage, and use of drugs and/or alcohol. This inspection usually only takes about 15 minutes to complete. Level 4: Special Inspection The level four DOT inspection involves a one-time check of a specific item. This inspection is done to confirm or deny a possible trend carried out in DOT inspections. There is no average length of time this inspection usually takes because the item being checked varies. Level 5: Vehicle-Only Inspection The level five DOT inspection involves only the vehicle inspection from the level one DOT inspection. This inspection has to be conducted without the driver being present. The vehicle-only inspection includes brakes, fuel, cargo, exhaust, steering, lighting, suspensions, tires, steering wheel, trailer, windshield wipers, emergency exits, engine, and battery. A vehicle-only inspection can take up to about 30 minutes to complete. Level 6: Enhanced NAS Inspection for Radioactive Shipments The level six DOT inspection is for those who are hauling radioactive freight. This type of inspection involves an enhanced level one inspection, with a check of the radiological shipments and requirements and an enhanced out-of-service criteria. The vehicle, the cargo, and the driver must be defect-free before they can leave for delivery. A special decal will be given to those that meet the level 6 inspection criteria. It is given at the point of origin of the shipment and removed at the point of destination. Each decal is valid for one trip only. This inspection takes the longest amount of time at about 60 minutes to complete. Are you ready for your next DOT inspection? Keep all of this in mind so you are prepared the next time you are stopped for a DOT inspection. This way you will know what you need to keep an eye on so you don’t ever fail an inspection. If you are following all of the rules and maintaining everything with your truck and trailer, there should be no reason to worry about not passing any level of a DOT inspection.

Greetings, fellow drivers! It’s an exciting time of year for sure…summer is here now, and the weather has gotten quite a bit warmer around much of the country. I find this particularly exciting because I can get out again and exercise with my dogs on my 30-minute breaks, and I can wear athletic shoes instead of clunky boots and heavy coats. I really missed getting outdoors daily, stretching, and just enjoying movement during the long driving shifts. I realize that I have slacked off a bit (well, more than a bit) since the weather got cold, and it’s actually pretty apparent in a concrete way, as I recently reviewed the results of my yearly lab tests (you know— A1C, cholesterol, and all that good stuff). Now I know for certain that those daily exercise sessions really do have a significant impact on my overall health. In fact, I truly thought the best part of my daily exercise routine was all about walking and/or jogging, and that’s why I inadvertently regarded exercising in the truck (which obviously involves some ingenuity to make up for lack of space) as fairly ineffective and inconvenient, in general. But since then I’ve changed my mind…or my entire mindset, actually! There are plenty of other good ways to stay fit while you’re in the truck, even though they may not feel as exciting or impactful as some of the full-on outdoor activities. Some research and discussion with my doctor has, in fact, shown to be beneficial, and I’d like to share with you what I learned: mixing your exercise routine is extremely effective, and it can actually be fun to develop and implement new habits and techniques into your daily routine! In fact, a mixture of cardio, strength training, resistance exercises, and high-intensity workouts will optimize your results. Equipped with this new knowledge and a mindset that now accepts that it’s not always possible to do those preferred outdoor activities, as well as a healthy dose of motivation after seeing my less than perfect numbers from the lab, I’ve set out to create a more consistent and effective plan for daily exercise, and it includes a bit of everything from walking outside, to lifting free weights, to resistance training and strength exercises, high-intensity exercise, and now my new favorite…Yoga! Now, in case there is anyone out there who needs ideas or even a little inspiration, please note the following fun fact: Exercising in the truck doesn’t have to be all about pull-ups or sit-ups. You can incorporate some really good yoga moves to help with toning and stretching, and overall joint health. Now I do carry a yoga mat with me, but it’s not really for the faint of heart because a lot of us don’t like to pull that mat out in public and get busy on the side of the truck stop or somewhere else! But my research has keyed me in on some trending exercises that can be done in bed! Now keep your mind out of the gutter, and let me share a link with you: https://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/stretching-yoga/yoga-in-bed The good news about doing these exercises is that the majority of the space we have in our truck is actually the bunk area. Yoga is excellent for winding down and relaxing before bed, too. There are lots of apps out there that you can download for free, and they offer techniques that range from beginner to advanced, so you can learn progressively throughout the year! I also strongly recommend getting a fitness tracker (I use an Apple Watch) to keep track of workouts, steps, calories, etc. It plays a huge role in keeping me accountable and motivated, and it may do the same for you. Of course, be sure that you’re physically fit enough to do the types of exercises that you enjoy and, as always, consult your physician if you have any questions about your physical condition and ability to exercise regularly and safely.

A fuel surcharge is a mechanism in the trucking industry that helps balance the fluctuations in the cost of fuel. Incorporating a fuel surcharge into transportation pricing became a widely accepted practice in 2005 after fuel spiked above $4.00/gallon for the first time in U.S. history after Hurricane Katrina. This spike in fuel prices would have put the trucking industry out of business if the fuel surcharge hadn’t offset the additional cost of fuel. In today’s world, there are a variety of sources for fuel information and the fuel surcharge is calculated in many different ways. For simplicity, we will look at the most common method to calculate a fuel surcharge. The Fuel Surcharge Equals: The current price of fuel: $3.47/gallon (as of 6/9/25) The base price of fuel in a shipping contract: $1.25/gallon The increased cost of fuel: $3.47 - $1.25 = $2.22/gallon Divided by the average miles per gallon of a truck = 6.5mpg The fuel surcharge is $2.22 divided by 6.5 = $0.34 cents per mile. So, if a shipping contract offers to pay $2.00/mile base rate, plus a fuel surcharge, you would get paid $2.34/mile based on the example above. You often hear Independent Contractors who say they “make money” off of the fuel surcharge. The higher the price of fuel, the more they make! How can that be? To win this game you have to get better fuel economy than the mpg the fuel surcharge is based upon. Let’s say we are hauling a load 1,000 miles and the fuel surcharge is paying us $0.34 cents per mile based on the calculations we did above. That means we will get $340 to pay for the higher fuel cost. Let’s compare what we get with 7mpg versus what we get with 6mpg. At 7 MPG If we need to travel 1,000 miles at 7 mpg we will need to buy 143 gallons of fuel This means the cost of fuel at the pump is 143 gallons times the price of fuel at $3.47 which equals $496. But our fuel surcharge compensation is $0.34 per mile times 1,000 miles which equals $340 So the net cost of fuel after our fuel surcharge is $496 minus $340 which equals $156. Where we save money is with our base rate built on the cost of fuel being $1.25 times the amount of gallons needed to travel 1,000 miles at 6.5 miles per gallon which is 154 x $1.25. This equals $192. So we only paid $156 when the base price was $192 which means we “made” $36 in profit. At 6 MPG If we need to travel 1,000 miles at 6 mpg we will need to buy 167 gallons of fuel This means the cost of fuel at the pump is 167 gallons times the price of fuel at $3.47, which equals $578. But our fuel surcharge compensation is still $0.34 per mile times 1,000 miles, which equals $340 So the gross cost of fuel after our fuel surcharge is $578 minus $340 which equals $238. Where we lose money is with the base price of fuel being $1.25 times the amount of gallons needed to travel 1,000 miles at 6.5 miles per gallon which is 154 x $1.25. This equals $192. So we paid $238 net for fuel when the base price was $192 which means we “lost” $46 in potential savings. The chart below shows this scenario at different Miles per Gallon where 6.5 miles per gallon is the average miles per gallon of a truck. One thing to keep in mind is that fuel prices typically adjust faster at the fuel pump than fuel surcharges adjust in shipping contracts or the spot market. This means that in a falling fuel market, you will pay less for fuel than the fuel surcharge is paying until fuel levels off. This can mean a windfall of cash during falling fuel prices. On the contrary, when fuel prices rise, you will be left with a cash deficit until fuel prices level off. This is something to be prepared for with extra cash in your savings account so you can weather the fuel cost increases. Overall, the fuel surcharge is a fair mechanism to level the playing field and take the risk away from truckers during times of fluctuating fuel prices. The fuel surcharge can be a difficult thing to understand when it comes to calculating rates and what is fair. So, make sure you take time to read and understand how you will be compensated for the excess cost of fuel!

Stress is a part of life, but as truck drivers, we deal with a unique set of circumstances. Whether it's navigating through a congested city, stopping traffic to dock at a customer, or getting a routine inspection by the DOT at some point, there can be pressure and anxiety associated with trucking. How we respond in these moments will contribute to our success and peace of mind, or dissatisfaction, if we allow it. So, here’s my quick and simple formula for managing stress, I hope it helps: Accept Acceptance allows us to recognize that we are choosing to focus on one emotion, yet we are capable of choosing another. Life is going to throw us curve balls, and we don’t need to worry about things outside of our control. Don’t waste valuable mental energy ruminating over something that can’t be changed. Remember that we’re human, and it’s okay to have an impulse to give in to anger and stress. Often we behave in patterns, and creating new patterns of behavior and trying to condition ourselves to have new initial reactions, takes practice. It’s a skill. Take responsibility for your emotions. Anger can sometimes be the result of a victim mindset if our perception is one of injustice. Life is happening “for us,” not “to us”. This segues nicely into the next step. Select We should ask ourselves, how do we want to respond? Are we responding in haste, thoughtlessly, or otherwise limited? There is an infinite number of responses we can have. How often do we consider one response, or even two? I strive for wisdom, grace, and tact, but as a human, I find it challenging sometimes. There’s one thing that we do have supreme control over, and that’s how we choose to respond to situations. Learning how to take charge of this power should not be undervalued. Selecting is understanding that our thoughts create our emotions, and becoming aware of different perspectives is the same as becoming aware of different thoughts. A quick example to illustrate my point is as follows: Someone cuts you off in traffic. One response may be, “What a jerk, this guy is being reckless and inconsiderate of other vehicles on the road”. Another response could be, “There might be an emergency, possibly a hurt child or pregnant woman”. Even a third response, “That guy must really have to use the bathroom”. Notice how each one of these could influence our behavior and temperament. Embrace So something happens, we have an impulse to respond, we’ve considered multiple different responses, and have settled on what we feel is the best perspective. Now it’s time to embrace our choice. We may need to set little reminders for ourselves until sitting in a new emotional state becomes a habit. I have set reminders on my phone asking, “How do I want to respond?” or maybe a post-it note, or jewelry, that reminds you of this incredible power. Get creative, and if you want more information on why this is so important consider these implications: The negative health effects of stress. People say “Don’t stress, you’ll give yourself an ulcer”. That goes deeper than we know. Our thoughts can make us sick, but is the opposite true? People say “laughter is the best medicine,” and don't realize that this is truer than we know. Emotions are hormones and chemicals in the body. “Research has found a link between an upbeat mental state and improved health, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk for heart disease, healthier weight, better blood sugar levels, and longer life.” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018) I’m convinced that if more people knew how this worked, everyone would be shifting their emotional states to reap these benefits. Thanks so much for reading and remember, how do you want to show up today? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018, November 1). Positive emotions and your health . National Institutes of Health. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/08/positive-emotions-your-health#:~:text=Research%20has%20found%20a%20link,sugar%20levels%2C%20and%20longer%20life.

Truck dash cams are becoming more of a necessity in our current climate. It can sometimes feel overwhelming to integrate new technology into your truck or fleet. However, there are many benefits for truckers to use a dash cam in a variety of different situations. Here is our list of the top 5 benefits of using a truck dash cam and the key features to look for when purchasing your own dash cam. Evidence of an Accident This is the main and most popular reason to get a truck dash cam. If you happen to get in an accident, using a dash cam video will be your strongest piece of evidence to prove the accident wasn’t your fault. Without the video evidence, there is a chance the other driver can say the accident was your fault, even if it wasn’t, and you are forced to pay for the repairs. However, keep in mind that if the accident is your fault, the video evidence will be used against you. Keeping Your Truck Safe at All Times Many dash cams can be set to record even without the engine being on. This allows you to be away from your truck or sleeping and still be able to keep track of any activity. Having the ability to record when you are away allows you to monitor your assets, keeping your truck safe and secure. Your dash cam allows you to catch anyone who vandalizes or tries to break into your truck. For example, a dash cam is perfect for when you return to your parked truck and there is a ding on the bumper because you are able to go back to the video and see who caused the damage. This allows you to have peace of mind when it comes to leaving your vehicle, knowing that your dash cam will protect your truck while you are away. Aiding in Emergency Responses Live telematic dash cams are a great investment for anyone who may need emergency responses in the future. With the ability to record your GPS location and initiate a call to emergency services, you will be fully taken care of with this function. In case of an emergency or breakdown, live telematic dash cams can pinpoint the exact location of your vehicle and automatically make an emergency call. Having the support of this feature can accelerate the response times for emergency services. This has the potential to save lives and prevent any further damage if an emergency does arise. Insurance Savings Insurance claim history can significantly impact a driver's monthly payment. In order to prevent negative claims from showing up on your insurance, having a dash cam will allow you to have recorded evidence in case of an accident. Providing the evidence from the dash cam footage has revolutionized the way claims are handled, making claims smoother and quicker to process. The transparency and fairness that the dash cam provides to an insurance claim helps protect a driver's motor vehicle record, leading to lower rates and preventing fraudulent claims. Training and Coaching Utilizing dash cams as a part of your fleet's training and coaching will enhance your driver behavior, lower your company costs, and save you time in the long run. Some fleet managers fear that their drivers may feel that they are not trusted by their supervisors. However, by setting up an intentional implementation process that includes drivers, you will create and promote a culture of safety. Being able to view your drivers' interactions on the road provides opportunities to celebrate positive behaviors that drivers are demonstrating or to engage in constructive feedback to mitigate risky driving behaviors in the future. Additionally, with the GPS features found in some dash cams, managers are able to make real-time decisions in supporting their drivers. Incorporating dash cams into your fleet will lead to higher levels of driver accountability with training development opportunities. Furthermore, it will enhance logistics and improve road safety in your company. Key Features If you are ready to purchase a dash cam, here are a few things to consider. The price can range from as low as $40 and as high as $500 depending on the available features. There are several companies that make dash cams including Garmin, Thinkware, and Blackvue. Trying to find a dash cam that meets your needs and doesn’t break the bank can be overwhelming. We have put together a list of some key features to keep in mind when choosing your next dash cam. Video Quality Important for ensuring that whatever your dash cam records is visible and clear to the viewer. Look for high-quality (HD) video resolution, a wide-angle lens, and night vision capabilities. Battery Life and Durability Crucial for ensuring that your dash cam has a long life cycle. You will want to find a dash cam that has sufficient battery life to last through your driving hours. Some dash cams come with an auto-start feature that will automatically record when you start your truck. Having this feature will help you ensure that your dash cam is always on and ready to go. When it comes to durability, research the dash cam's ability to withstand extreme conditions such as, heat, cold, and the vibrations from your truck. Power Another important feature to keep in mind when finding the right dash cam for your needs. There are two options to consider when it comes to powering your dash cam. The first is by using the vehicle’s electrical systems that turn the dash cam on automatically when the ignition is started. The second is a manual turn-on, where the driver or fleet manager has to turn the dash cam on themselves. Parking Mode A feature that some dash cams have. This mode is important because the dash cam can record incidents even when the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle is parked, movement on or around the truck will trigger the motion detector on the dash cam causing it to turn on and begin recording. This feature will help you identify incidents of vandalism or break-in attempts when you are away from your truck. ELD Integration An electronic logging device that is capable of recording a driver’s driving hours and duty status automatically. This feature can help you streamline your trucking logs. Loop Recording How most dash cams work. This means that when the memory card is full the camera overwrites the oldest videos and replaces them with the newer ones. This ensures that recording always happens and you don’t need to remember to delete old footage. G-sensors Used to detect sudden changes in direction or impact, similar to an accident. When there is an accident detected, the dash cam will automatically lock the relevant footage, ensuring that it is kept in your files. By doing this, the G-sensor prevents the video recording from being overwritten in the loop recording process. Many dash cams come with this feature. GPS A feature that will help you in every drive that you have. The basic function of GPS is to provide directions to your next location. However, the GPS feature in dash cams is more extensive. It will detect upcoming route complications and recommend alternative routes. Furthermore, it will provide a record of the vehicle’s speed, helping you maintain safe driving habits. This feature is not only beneficial for truck drivers but fleets as well. Providing drivers with a dash cam with the GPS feature allows your company to better understand driving patterns, how they impact fuel consumption/vehicle performance, and help you improve delivery efficiency. Future of Dash Cams Similar to all other technology, dash cams will continue to evolve in the future. Some of the key features that are projected to continue to modernize the dash cam industry are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning capabilities. These technologies have the ability to analyze real-time footage to detect risky behaviors like drowsy and distracted driving, or traffic signals and speeding violations. They provide in-cab audio and visual alerts that warn the driver of these detected behaviors or violations to help drivers ensure safe driving habits. Additionally, the use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) will continue to enhance safety. This technology will provide real-time collision, lane departure, and forward-collision warnings to help prevent accidents before they occur. Lastly, the Cloud Connectivity feature will cover more powerful connectivity. This will lead to real-time video streaming and data analysis for fleet managers allowing them to have quicker response times and seamless integration with previous fleet management systems. Dash Cam Laws By State Although there are not many negatives when it comes to getting a dash cam for your truck or fleet, it is important to be aware of the laws and regulations that each state has regarding dash cams. For example, privacy concerns when you record video and sometimes audio may infringe on someone's privacy rights. You can find more information about these laws here: Dash Cam Laws By State . Are you ready to purchase a truck dash cam? If you are ready to purchase a truck dash cam, make sure to keep all of this in mind while you are making your decision on what truck dash cam to purchase.

If you own a small business or are an independent contractor, you’re well aware of the headaches and stresses that cash flow can cause. The fluctuations can make it difficult to pay your employees, purchase new equipment, expand your business, or even stay afloat. Often these fluctuations in cash flow seem out of your control; clients pay you on their terms (30, 60, sometimes 90 days) or pay you on delivery, which often happens after you really need funds. But there are things you can do to improve cash flow and understanding your options is what is truly important. Consider these five cash flow tips: Have a cash flow plan.  This may seem obvious, but many small businesses and contractors do not have a plan. List out your expenses and the cash you need to conduct business and then plan for and around it. If you create a cash flow plan you’ll likely put yourself in position to account for those items you need before your customers pay, easing the cash flow crunch.  ATBS provides invaluable benchmarking data to help you make the best choices for your business. Offer discounts to your top customers.  Identify your top five customers and offer them discounts for early payment. Often these discounts are not huge, but large enough that customers may take advantage of them. You may have seen these discount terms on invoices; they often look like ‘1% 10, net 30’ where your customer will get a 1% discount for paying in 10 days versus the normal 30 day terms. That 1% may be just the incentive you need to put cash in your account early, putting it to good use. Consider credit card payment options.  You may be able to work with your customers to pay early using a credit card. In this scenario, your customer still enjoys a 30 plus day payment term (since they don’t have to pay their card balance right away) while you enjoy fast invoice payment. You will need to pay a discount to the credit card company – often between 1.5% to 3% - but this is less than the cost to borrow money from a traditional lending institution and puts that cash to work for you faster. Take advantage of invoice financing or factoring.  Invoice factoring, sometimes  also called accounts receivable financing , is where you sell your invoices to a third party – a factoring company or factor – who pays you up front the bulk of the invoice amount and then manages the collections. The factoring company doesn’t charge a huge fee – often comparable to credit card discounts – and you can get your cash fast. Do your research to see if this method is the best choice for your company. Consider a line of credit.  Depending on your company history or personal credit scores, you may be able to establish a line of credit. This would give you access to cash as you need it and before your customers pay their invoices. In this scenario, you will need to be careful to manage this line of credit, using invoice revenue to pay down your balance so as not to get ‘over your head’ in debt. That old saying that ‘cash is king’ is not an exaggeration. Cash is a huge necessity to grow and sustain operations for small (and larger) operations alike. These five tips are just a few that can help you free cash to grow your small business. Image source:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmrosenfeld/

The use of cell phones and tablets is essential for success in the trucking industry. One reason for this is because of the ever-growing number of trucking-specific apps. Truckers now have access to the weather, live traffic reports, diesel prices, and their business, all in the palm of their hands. These apps for truckers allow for easy access to information, improved business operations, and an overall increase in quality of life. If you are interested in increasing your efficiency and happiness on the road, here are 12 popular apps that are perfect for any trucker. T he Best App for ATBS Clients The ATBS Hub Mobile App The ATBS Hub Mobile App makes working with us even easier! With this app, you’ll be able to easily call or email your business consultant, track your Per Diem deduction , and scan or import receipts, settlements, and other documents with just a few taps. Have questions about the ATBS Hub Mobile App? Click here! Trucking Apps Trucker Path Trucker Path is considered by many to be one of the most popular trucking apps. The app is currently downloaded by over 600,000 truckers who use it for pretty much anything trucking-related. Trucker Path provides many features including navigation, parking status, fuel prices, weight stations, etc. Truck Smart Truck Smart is an app that is brought to you by TA Petro. Truck Smart is another all-purpose trucking app that can fulfill many different needs. It can be used to reserve parking reservations, know fuel prices in advance, and submit service requests. Drivewyze Drivewyze Free provides essential in-cab safety alerts, sponsored in part by state agencies in collaboration with Drivewyze, along with insights to optimize fleet performance. It is provided to the entire commercial trucking industry at no cost. Greenlane Greenlane is a strategic fueling app that offers deep diesel discounts. Save an average of 50¢ per gallon and as much as $1.30 off of the cash price at their growing network that includes: Love’s, TA, Petro, Speedway, Sunoco, Stripes, Maverick, and Kum & Go. Greenlane is free to use with no applications, credit checks, or fees, ever! Mudflap Mudflap is an app that focuses on independent Mom & Pop truck stops. These truck stops are usually 20 cents cheaper than major chains and paying for fuel through Mudflap saves you an extra 25 to 50 cents per gallon. They do all of this while charging no fees. Weigh My Truck The Weigh My Truck app revolutionizes how professional truck drivers weigh their trucks. You can weigh your truck, pay with your smartphone, and have your scale tickets sent directly to your email while also keeping track of your weighs directly in the app. Trucker's Slide Calc Trucker's Slide Calc is an app to help semi truckers quickly slide their single, tandem, and tridem axles. It also makes it easy to calculate individual axle weights with weighbridge/whole-truck scales. Business Apps Truckstop Load Board App Truckstop delivers software solutions that support the entire freight-moving lifecycle, from matching to payment, and everything in between. As non-stop innovators, they’re always improving and growing to make Truckstop the best place for brokers and carriers to work together. DAT Load Board App DAT provides a load board app free for all DAT subscribers. The app posts around 637,000 loads every business day. It includes features like spot market rates, saved searches, sort options, and company reviews. BigRoad BigRoad is an electronic logbook for owner-operators, drivers, and fleets. The app allows drivers to easily track hours of service by calculating the time for you. BigRoad will also send notifications for any errors or violations to help you avoid fines. TNTRUCK App T he TNTRUCK Mobile App is where owner-operators can get fast and easy quotes for trucking insurance , manage drivers and units, as well as access certificates and account information 24/7! General Apps Weather Channel App The weather channel app provides information on exactly what you would expect…the weather! What separates this weather app from others is the ability to look at weather forecasts two weeks in advance. This app also provides alerts and notifications with weather updates in whatever area you are currently in. Windy As the name suggests, Windy is another weather app that is especially good at tracking and providing updates on the wind across the country. The app allows you to look multiple days ahead in order to plan your route accordingly and avoid areas of high wind. The Rolling Strong App Rolling Strong is a health and wellness company that focuses specifically on professional drivers. They offer an app that provides drivers with exercise and meal plans while on the road. A subscription to the company also comes with online coaching from the Rolling Strong trainers. Today, it’s important that you take advantage of what your mobile devices can offer. All of these apps can improve your business and your life, with little to no cost. Take a look at all of these apps and see how much easier it makes your time as an owner-operator.

As an owner-operator truck driver, you work long hours. You are often on the road for weeks at a time. Being able to take a week or two off to recharge throughout the year is important. Unfortunately, it requires not only finding the money in your budget but also the time to be off the road. Planning When to Take a Vacation Many Americans have the luxury of taking time off whenever they want. They just need to have vacation days saved up. Owner-operators, on the other hand, need to be doing a lot more planning. Your vacations should revolve around freight cycles. When freight demand is high, it’s in your best interest to be running. However, when things are slow, and there isn’t as much freight to be moved, vacations are manageable. January and February typically are the slowest months of the year for freight. If you are looking to optimize your productivity and also your income, then vacations after the New Year are your best option. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a day off during the summer months, it just means you should be ready to run hard following your time off. Budgeting for the Time Off We often talk about budgeting, or a profit plan here at ATBS, and its importance. By setting up and following a budget you can be confident that you will be spending less money than you earn. If you are planning to take a vacation, then it’s important to be able to pay for it upfront so that it doesn’t cause you to go into debt. One way to plan ahead is by adding a line item in your Profit Plan a few months prior to taking the time off. Unless you have a large amount of disposable income each month, this likely means you will need to cut something out of your budget. This will help make up for the additional amount being allocated to your vacation. Alternatively, you can also choose to increase your income to pay for the vacation. Picking up a couple extra loads each month leading up to your trip could make up for the cost of being off the road. The Bottom Line Taking time off now and then is a good idea for your emotional and mental well-being. Remember that vacation takes a good amount of planning so that you can cover the costs involved and also afford to be out of the driver's seat. Image Source - https://www.flickr.com/photos/34022876@N06/

When it comes to diesel fuel, you may have control over how much fuel you use or how efficiently you use it but you don’t have very much control over exactly how much you have to pay for it. However, thanks to the ever-growing list of fuel cards and smartphone apps, you now have the tools you need to ensure you are paying the lowest price possible for fuel during your next fill-up. In this article, we will go over some of the fuel cards and apps you can use to help reduce how much you are actually paying for fuel. How Do Fuel Cards Work? Fuel cards are designed to offer carriers and drivers per-gallon discounts on fuel and other services specific to trucking. Companies that offer fuel cards set up partnerships with truck and fuel stops in order to drive sales through discounts. Then when the fuel card provider sends one of its member drivers to a partnering truck or fuel stop, the fuel card provider receives a percentage of the fuel sale. The discounts offered usually vary depending on location and change daily. These cards function the exact same as a credit card except they provide you with a discount on fuel. There is very little effort that goes into creating savings on fuel for yourself. What Kinds of Fuel Cards Are There? There are many different types of fuel cards offered by a variety of companies. Some fuel cards are offered by truck stops, some are offered by fuel providers/oil & gas companies, some are offered by trucking and driver associations, and some are offered by companies whose only service is their fuel card. Each fuel card will offer its own discount amount, partner with its own truck stops, and have its own additional discounts and benefits. Some fuel cards are better for different types of truckers, some are better for those who live in certain areas of the country, some are better for individual drivers, and others are better for small fleets. These are all things you will have to consider if you want a fuel card for the first time or are looking to switch cards. How are Fuel Savings Calculated? Per-gallon fuel discounts are negotiated between the truck stop and the fuel card provider. The two models of savings that are most commonly offered by fuel card providers are “retail-minus” and “cost-plus.” Retail minus is a fairly simple concept. A certain amount of money is deducted from the per-gallon price of fuel every time you use the card. Those savings are passed directly to the fuel card user. Cost-plus is a little more complicated as it’s based on the Oil Pricing Information Service’s base price of fuel for each location. Added to the base price are taxes, transportation costs, and other fees. However, this price is lower than the retail price being offered at the truck stop and most of the time ends up being cheaper than the retail minus price as well. Some fuel cards will offer a “better of” option where it will provide the card user the better discount between retail-minus and cost-plus. What are Other Reasons to Use a Fuel Card? Fuel cards often have more benefits other than discounts on fuel. As previously mentioned, some fuel cards offer discounts on other services such as maintenance, tires, document scanning, lodging, and other common expenses. If you use a fleet card for your small fleet, you can control who uses the card, what the card can purchase, how much it can purchase, etc. This leaves you with much more control than a normal credit or debit card. When you use a fuel card, it will automatically keep track and provide you with important information and documentation that will help you with things like IFTA filing. This will save you a lot of time not having to gather this data and information yourself. What Fuel Cards Do We Recommend? Based on conversations we’ve had with our owner-operator clients, we’re able to recommend a few fuel cards that we often hear about. • NASTC Quality Plus Network • P Fleet CFN Fuel Card • OOIDA’s Truckers Advantage Fuel Card • EFS Fleet Card • RTS Fuel Card Program • Axle Fuel Card • TVC Pro-Driver Fuel Card These are just a few of the many fuel cards and programs that are available to you. The fuel programs listed above provide a variety of options and services. When beginning your search, feel free to start with our recommendations and use them to find the fuel card that best fits your specific needs. What Can I Use as an Alternative or in Addition to Fuel Cards? There are a few types of alternatives to fuel cards that can help get discounts on fuel. Most of these alternatives are simply apps you can download on your phone. Greenlane is a strategic fueling app that offers deep diesel discounts. Save an average of 50¢ per gallon and as much as $1.30 off of the cash price at their growing network that includes: Love’s, TA, Petro, Speedway, Sunoco, Stripes, Maverick, and Kum & Go. Greenlane is free to use with no applications, credit checks, or fees, ever! Mudflap is an app that focuses on independent Mom & Pop truck stops. These truck stops are usually 20 cents cheaper than major chains and paying for fuel through Mudflap saves you an extra 25 to 50 cents per gallon. They do all of this while charging no fees. Fuelbook is another free app that automatically looks up fuel prices for you to see where it's being sold at the cheapest price. They look at over 7,000 truck stops nationwide and update the app six times daily. They make it easy to compare prices and decide where to stop for fuel. GasBuddy and Fuelio are other apps similar to Fuelbook that help you compare prices and find the cheapest places to stop. When it comes to reducing the price you’re paying for fuel, you have many different options. If you aren’t taking advantage of any of these cards or apps, now would be a good time to start. Driving with fuel efficiency in mind while using these different options to save on the price of fuel will really help you reduce the amount you are spending on your biggest cost as an owner-operator. --- Sources • https://www.rtsinc.com/guides/how-does-trucking-fuel-card-work#:~:text=Fuel%20cards%20are%20basically%20partnerships,%25%2C%20of%20the%20fuel%20sales. • https://www.tcsfuel.com/blog/how-a-fuel-card-works/ • https://fleetlogging.com/fuel-cards-for-truckers/

In this article, we want to share some ways for you to manage your trucking business during an uncertain freight market. Now would be the best time to start looking at your operation and identify areas where you can generate and save money. By following these tips, you can help make sure you get yourself and your trucking operation through uncertain times. In addition, by getting into the habit of managing your business for times like these, you’ll reap the benefits in the future when the market gets steadier. Be Flexible With Your Operation If you have been an owner-operator for a while, you know that the market goes through its ups and downs. You might also know that the best way for your business to operate during good times might be different than how it needs to operate during bad times. With freight rates being uncertain, it’s time to look into how your business will operate best right now. This means looking into different types of freight or areas of the country that you may not usually operate in but might have higher demand during the current trucking market. On the flip side, if you find a market that is helping you stay successful, there is a chance that operating like this isn’t going to stay profitable forever. You may have to be flexible and look ahead to different markets if the one you are operating in looks like it isn’t going to continue to work out for you based on changing conditions. Don’t allow yourself to get trapped in a situation that was once profitable, but is now a place where you won’t be able to make enough money to keep your business afloat. Most importantly, you have to stay informed and understand the market changes as they are happening. You can do this by talking to other drivers about what is working for them, listening to trucking-specific satellite radio shows to stay informed, asking the fleet you may be leased to about freight changes, reading trucking blogs, and looking at data from Truckstop and DAT . Overall, be flexible and know that what’s working in the present may not be what works best for you in the future. Understand Your Financial Situation During uncertain times, it will be more important than ever that you are completely aware of your finances. This means keeping an accurate and up-to-date profit and loss statement and knowing your break-even point. If you haven’t already done these things, now would be the best time to start. Your profit and loss statement will allow you to see areas where your business is operating well and areas where you can improve. From your profit and loss statement, you will be able to come up with your breakeven point, which is how much money you need to make to at least cover your costs. With that breakeven point, you can look at it on a per day, week, month, and yearly basis. With that breakeven point in mind, you need to be realistic with your revenue expectations and know that you may not earn as much as you would during a really strong economy. This means you can't be picky with your load selection. You aren’t going to be able to choose loads based on whether or not you think it’s “cheap freight.” You need to use your break-even point as your guide in deciding what loads to take. Your decisions will have to be made by looking at the big picture and deciding whether or not you’re earning a profit on this load, and if not, is it getting you to another area or to another load where you will be making a profit? Reduce Costs After you have looked at your financial situation and analyzed your profit and loss statement, you will know areas of your business where you are able to reduce costs. One number that will surely jump out at you is fuel, as it’s one of your biggest expenses. Luckily, fuel is an expense that you actually have some control over. Even though you can’t control the price of fuel, you will be able to have some control over how much you are using. We have an entire article dedicated to the top 25 ways for truck drivers to improve their fuel efficiency . These are changes that you will be able to make immediately in order to save money on fuel. Unlike fuel, truck and insurance payments are costs that you may not have much control over. However, there are other non-essential costs that you will be able to try to reduce. Food and drink is one that comes to mind. These are obviously essential to stay alive, but going out to eat every night isn’t. If you can, try buying groceries and cooking for yourself in the truck. Buying groceries can be a lot cheaper, and healthier, than eating out at restaurants for every meal. Other non-essential costs might be unnecessary upgrades to your truck, service providers you aren’t using, and a variety of personal things you might be spending money on that you don’t need. Preserve Your Cash Along with reducing your costs, preserving your cash is important so that you have enough money to make it through uncertain times. Look for all sources of cash in your business and personal life, so that you can increase your cash reserves. You can start by looking for places where you could delay or reduce payments. This can include vendors where you spend money in your business like truck payments, insurance coverages, and maintenance work. Check to see if you can delay or pay for some of these services or products in 60 or 90 days instead of 30 days. Are there other places you might have cash such as excess maintenance reserves, stockpiles of parts or supplies, or things sitting around your house that you don’t need? Make every effort to convert unused things into cash so that you have the money to get through the uncertain times. A good goal to build towards is having three to six months of living expenses in a cash reserve. Build Relationships During uncertain times, forming relationships with people you can trust is a great way to get yourself, and the people you are working with, through to the other side. If you have been using the spot market for a while, now might be the time to look into contracted freight or to look into leasing with a carrier in order to have some security with your freight. The spot market is not as consistent or as reliable during an uncertain freight cycle. Leasing onto a carrier, or forming a partnership where you are on a dedicated route can provide some consistency when things are uncertain. This way you aren’t going week by week not knowing if you are going to find a load on the spot market that is going to earn you a profit. By leasing with a carrier, or having a dedicated route, you will not only save time by not having to find loads on the spot market, but you will feel a little more confident that you are going to be able to make enough money each week. It may also be a good idea to form a relationship with a business service provider that knows the trucking industry, like ATBS, to help you run the business side of your trucking operation. This is the best way to make sure you are keeping an accurate look at your business’ financials and you know how you are performing month over month. With ATBS, you will also be able to ask questions about how you can improve your business or how your business is operating compared to others. During uncertain times, allow yourself to focus all of your attention on doing what you do best, which is moving freight across the country, and let a business service professional handle all the accounting , bookkeeping, taxes, paperwork, and other tedious back-office duties. Bonus: Don’t Panic Tough times don’t last, but tough people do! The trucking industry, and the economy in general, is a cycle that is going to go through good times and bad times. Just by reading this article, you are helping yourself get through these more challenging times. You can take these lessons learned during the uncertain freight times now and apply them forever to keep your business profits maximized during all cycles By following these ways to manage your business during an uncertain freight market, you will hopefully feel a bit more confident that you will be able to get through. If you are feeling concerned and need somebody to help you better manage your business during the changing times, feel free to give us a call at 866-920-2827 or send us an email at info@atbs.com . We want nothing but the best for those in the trucking industry that we work alongside with!