Archive for month: September, 2014

How Successful Fleets can Mitigate Increased Insurance Cost

By Chris Mitchell – Wood Gutmann & Bogart Insurance Brokers

It’s time to get back to fundamentals. I’m talking about safety. We all want drivers productive and healthy and our equipment working to profitably grow operations.

There are signs the economy is improving. We’re focused on helping grow you grow your operations; it’s been a long time coming. An improving economy means more work and potentially more accidents for our members. Now is the time to ensure programs are in place to create a best in class operation and reduce the likelihood of experiencing a loss that could cripple the business. Read more

We set-up shop at the Truckers Wanted Truck Show (a Latino trucking industry focused show) on Sunday, August 10, 2014 in Whittier. I spent the day discussing CCTA membership benefits and discounts with all the truckers who stopped by the booth. This show was a great opportunity to showcase the American Alliance Authority & Compliance, since it was a job fair, there were many new CDL holders who are just getting started, who were present at the show. Read more

August is traditionally a slow news month in the trucking industry, unless you are into reading recycled stories designed to simply raise your blood pressure (gotta keep ginning up the masses someway to appear relevant when there is nothing new to report). One significant reason for the lack of major (trucking related) news is that both congress and the White House disappear from Washington and go on “vacation” during the month of August.

Members of congress return to their districts during August or embark on lavish overseas trips of “national importance” to their constituents (a.k.a. junkets) leaving a void in the national news reporting cycle. Personally, I have always liked the idea of congress taking extended vacations – anytime congress is not in session, they are not passing more laws further restricting our freedom (yeah, I’m that jaded). Read more

Just a reminder that all registered owners or lessees of commercial motor vehicles operating at 10,001 pounds or more Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGVW) registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are required to declare the gross/combined gross weight at which their vehicle(s) will operate. The only exception to this regulation is pickup trucks with no body type modifications and an unladen weight under 8,001 pounds and a GVWR of 11,499 pounds and under. Read more

On July 11th the Obama Administration imposed duties on steel pipe coming from South Korea and seven other countries.

The duties ranged from 9.89% to 15.75%. The majority of the pipe is used in the oil industry. Read more