Your mirrors – a crucial driving tool!
September 21, 2011 by Amber · Leave a Comment
Your Mirrors – a Crucial Driving Tool!
Trucks often have only the use of side-view mirrors, making them a crucial driving tool. The special towing mirrors that are larger and extend farther away from the cab than car mirrors require proper adjustment to ensure a full spectrum of vision and prevent blind spots as much as possible. Knowing how to set these outside mirrors to eliminate blind spots is a crucial part of being a defensive driver.
Positioning Your Mirrors
The following procedures for correctly positioning mirrors will help you eliminate blind spots and avoid potential accidents.
1. Adjust the driver’s side mirror. Place your head against the window. Start with the mirrors in a perpendicular position to the cab. Begin pulling the mirror in toward you and stop as soon as you can see a sliver of your truck in the right side of the mirror.
2. Move you head to a normal position. Begin pulling the top of the mirror down. Keeping your head straight, look to your left and move the mirror until you can see the road behind you.
3. Adjust the passenger side mirror. Move your head to the right until it is in the center of the cab. Start with the mirrors in a perpendicular position. Move the mirror toward you until you can see a sliver of your truck in the left side of the mirror.
4. Move your head to a normal position and pull the mirror down until you can see the ground next to the trailer in the bottom of the mirror. You have less peripheral visibility in this mirror, so it may have to be tilted down more than the other mirror.
5. Sit in your normal position and reassess both mirrors. If you think your vision falls short, bring your mirrors up and out a bit. Be careful not to compromise the visibility of the part of the road behind your periphery, as this is the crucial blind spot area.
Checking Your Blind Spot
Those driving trucks must effectively drive with blind spots even when their mirrors are correctly positioned. However, this method should ensure that the mirrors are positioned outward enough to minimize them.
Changing Lanes
When changing lanes, always indicate to other drivers your intention of changing lanes or turning by using your directional signals. Check outside mirrors carefully for vehicles and before making the lane change, make sure to take a direct look with a “lean and look”. This will reduce the risk of a lane change accident.
Highway Use Tax: Form 2290
August 13, 2011 by Amber · Leave a Comment
The Internal REvenue Service advised truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles that their next federal highway use tax return, usually due August 31, will instead be due on November 30, 2011.
Because the highway use tax is currently scheduled to expire on September 30, 2011, this extension is designed to alleviate any confustion and possible multiple filings that could result if Congress reinstates or modifies the tax after that date. Under temporary and proposed regulations filed today in the Federal REgister, the November 30 filinf deadline for Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, for the tax period that begins on July 1, 2011, applies to vehicles used during July, as well as those first used during August or September. Returns should not be filed and payments should not be made prior to November 1.
To aid truckers applying for state vehicle registration on or before November 30, the new regulations require states to accept as proof of payment the stamped Schedule 1 of the Form 2290 issued by the IRS for the prior tax year, ending on June 30, 2011. Under federal law, state governments are required to receive proof of payment of the federal highway use tax as a condition of vehicle registration. Normally, after a taxpayer files the return and pays the tax, the Schedule 1 is stamped by the IRS and returned to filers for this purpose. A state normally may accept a prior year’s stamped Schedule 1 as a substitute proof of payment only through September 30.
For those acquiring and registering a new or used vehicle during the July-to-November period, the new regulations require a state to register the vehicle, without proof that the highway use tax was paid, if the person registering the vehicle presents a copy of the bill of sale or similar document showing that the owner purchased the vehicle within the previous 150 days.
In general, the highway use tax applies to truck, truck tractors and buses with a gross taxable weight of 55,000 pounds or more. Ordinarily, vans, pick-ups and panel trucks are not taxable because they fall below the 55,000 pound threshold.
For trucks and other taxable vehicles in use during July, the Form 2290 and payment are, under normal circumstances, due on August 31. The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight, and a variety of special rules apply to vehicles with minimal road use, logging or agricultural vehicles, vehicles transferred during the year and those first used on the road after July.
Last year, the IRS received about 650,000 Forms 2290 and highway use tax payments totaling $886 million.
PROPER PASSING TECHNIQUES
July 8, 2011 by Amber · Leave a Comment
Quick decisions and good judgment are essential for safe passing. Before you make a decision to pass another vehicle on a two-way road, you must consider the following:
- Traffic around you – Look for approaching traffic as well as for vehicles coming onto the highway or turning into the passing lane. There should be at least twice the distance you will actually need to pass between you and any oncoming vehicles. Passing safely requires the cooperation of both drivers, the one passing and the one being passed. You should only consider passing if you are driving at least 10 mph faster than the vehicle that you would like to pass, and you can do so safely and legally. It is also important to look to the rear to make sure no vehicle is passing you or close behind you in the left lane.
- Road conditions - Look for hills, curves, intersections, construction zones, traffix signals and other road conditions that may affect your ability to safely pass.
- Weather conditions - Extra precautions are necessary during inclement weather and twilight hours. Oncoming vehicles may not be easily visible at these times, especially if they aren’t using their headlights. Check for sufficient road traction. Avoid passing on a slippery road.
Know your load and your road
June 27, 2011 by Amber · Leave a Comment
The worst feeling for a driver is the feeling of being out of control. For a professional truck driver, the feeling often comes as the result of an unplanned jackknife. An unplanned jackknife can go from recoverable to out of control in a fraction of a second. Once the angle between the cab of the tractor and the trailer reaches 15 degrees, recovery is virtually impossible.
A jackknife can occur at almost any speed, but speed too fast for conditions is the most frequent cause. Tractor skid results from a variety of causes including wheel lockup and over-braking.
There are several factors to consider before you start your next trip to help avoid a jackknife situation.
First, think about the condition of your vehicle.
- Do a thorough pretrip inspection, especially of brakes and air lines.
- Consider the current weather conditions and those you will be driving in. We often think of jackknifes being more of a cold weather problem caused by snow or ice, but summer rain after a long dry spell can cause oily buildup to be especially trecherous.
- Maintain safe following distance.
- Give yourself time to react gradually and to apply your brakes accordingly. Sudden, sharp movements and brake action may cause a jackknife.
Know your load and your road.
- Weight distribution of the load may affect braking action.
- Type of road surface, uneven lane changes, or road-to-bridge surface changes may all contribute to loss of control, which can result in an overreaction and ultimately a jackknife.
As has been noted, a variance of 15 degrees between the tractor and trailer can place you out of control. You must regain traction and steering control before you get to that point. Steering control and traction can only be achieved if the tires are rolling, not skidding. This concept applies to every axle from the steering axle to the back trailer axle. Stay off the service brakes and do whatever is necessary to release the trailer emergency brakes. Take your foot off the accelerator. Countersteer only as much as necessary, don’t oversteer. Aim your line of sight to where you want to go and steer in that direction. When you have a little traction, accelerate slightly to pull the trailer back into alignment.
There are about 5200 commercial vehicle unintentional jackknifes every year. Fortunately, 76% of them involve property damage only, but 19% involve injuries and 5% involve one or mor
Keep Your Cool, Avoid Road Rage
June 20, 2011 by Amber · Leave a Comment
We all have good days and bad days, but does a bad day excuse hurting or even killing another motorist? No matter what the circumstances, the professional driver must keep moods under control.
We all are capable of losing our tempers, especially when we see some of the risky or thoughtless things other drivers do. The mark of a truly professional driver is learning how to handle anger without endangering others or self.
Since 1987, the number of miles of roadway has increased 1%, while the number of miles driven has gone up 35%. More vehicles, bigger vehicles, more congestion, slower travel in urban areas and more frustration have all resulted in senseless acts of road rage. The peak moment for aggressive driving comes not during gridlock but just before, when traffic is moving briskly. That’s when lane changes or cutting others off raises the blood pressure and incites anger.
What can you do to control your own temper and keep from being the object of someone else’s anger? First, learn to anticipate others’ actions. Keep your focus on driving, not on the radio, cellphone, telematics, or the occupants in the car beside you. Try to avoid congested areas at rush hour. Tone down the level of noise in the cab of the truck. Make it a point to take deep breaths to help keep your senses alert. Be aware of the traffic around you. As passenger vehicles have gotten bigger, the attitude of the drivers has changed. They feel more invincible and thus take more risks. This may explain the way some professionals drive!
Your own physical condition may play a big role in your moods and how well you react to others. Avoid fatigue. The world always looks better to a well-rested person. Eat sensibly. Fast food or junk foods can cause drastic swings in blood chemistry. Sweets cause a spike in blood sugars followed by an inevitable plunge that can alter your mood. Eat balanced meals, easy on the coffee and spicy foods that can upset your stomach and your day.
The best advice – keep a positive outlook on life and keep your cool.
