Posted by Steve Robinson Jr. on Wed, Jul 28, 2010
There are many ways you can drive defensively to help steer clear of less careful drivers. This is especially important around semi trucks and tractor trailers. Due to the size of these trucks and the conditions the drivers work in, it is absolutely important that you use great caution when driving around these large vehicles on the road. An important factor in preventing these types of accidents is to understand the danger.
InjuryBoard has developed this article to provide you with important information and simple techniques that will help you and your family stay safe and prevent accidents when on the road.
Drive with Caution Around Trucks on the Road
Tractor trailers are less maneuverable, start more slowly and take longer to stop than other vehicles. They are particularly susceptible to adverse road conditions. The average semi truck with trailer can range from 12,100 pounds to 80,000 pounds. That means a large commercial truck like an 18-wheeler weighs about 25 times the average automobile – up to 40 times more than some small cars. If a tractor trailer strikes a semi truck in the rear, it does not stop or slow appreciably. When you factor in the size of the truck with the speed and weight, you can see why the possibility of other vehicles becoming part of an accident is great. In fact, tractor trailer accidents account for an eighth of all traffic fatalities.
Safety Tips to Avoid Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Pay attention, and treat trucks differently than you would other vehicles -- A truck’s size and weight can affect the driver’s ability to brake and stop the truck, and his/her ability to change lanes. It is not easy for truck drivers to stop quickly, making tailgating extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is important to keep a safe distance between you and the truck at all times, especially when changing lanes in front of a truck. If you must pass a truck, do it in a hurry, with your full attention on the road. And when possible, don’t drive next to a truck for any extended length of time.
Stay visible and anticipate the low visibility of the truck driver -- Trucks have large blind spots, with limited visibility next to and behind them. Try to stay in the trucks visibility; if you cannot see the driver or his/ her mirrors, chances are he/she is unable to see you. Pay attention to the trucks turn signals, if the truck is signaling to turn, the driver may not see you and may turn in front of you. Do not rely solely on your lights or horn to notify the driver of your presence, but also slow down your vehicle to stay out of the path of the truck.
Take extra care when driving in adverse conditions -- In addition to the issues with the truck driver’s visibility and the size and weight of the truck, adverse driving conditions can affect all vehicles on the road. Consider the road circumstances and slow down in rain, smoke, or fog and take more caution when driving at night. A wet road can make it more difficult for your vehicle to stop and makes it extremely difficult for a truck driver to stop his vehicle. Smoke and fog can make it more difficult for drivers to see the road and decrease the time you will have to respond to a dangerous situation on the road. Also, take the design of the road into account since trucks may have difficulty navigating a narrow entrance/exit ramp on a highway or making a tight turn. You may need to speed up or slow down to give the truck more room to maneuver. Take caution when you are entering a highway from an entrance ramp and merging into a fast paced highway, where trucks may have trouble slowing down to allow you to merge in.
If you have to stop on a highway, pull completely off the road -- Drivers with a flat tire tend to change the flat right near the road, not wanting to park their car in the dirt and muck off the shoulder. This also follows when you need to pull over because of vehicle malfunction or if you have been in an accident. It is best to get as far off the road as possible without going into a ditch, and if awaiting help remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened. If it is difficult or impossible to move your car to a safe area and you have no other alternative, you may want to get out of your car and leave the situation. In this case, take all precaution to avoid traffic on the road and get as far as possible from moving traffic.
Avoid “road rage” -- Do not get aggressive or take out “road rage” against a truck. Drivers may feel the desire to retaliate by cutting the truck driver off or braking suddenly. However, this is a dangerous reaction. Cars and SUVs are designed and tested against collisions with other like-sized vehicles, not against giant trucks that weigh tons. If a trucker is driving aggressively, slow down and let him pass or get off at the nearest exit. It is also important to report aggressive or faulty truck drivers when possible.
Try to expect the unexpected -- There are many things that you cannot prepare for on the road. One of the biggest is other drivers. Other vehicles on the road may drive in a manner around trucks that can cause accidents the truck driver cannot avoid, like changing lanes in front of the truck and stopping suddenly or following too closely and striking the back of the truck. It is important to not only keep your distance from trucks on the road, but also other drivers that may cause accidents. Trucks also have tire “blow-outs” that send all or most of their tires into the road around them. It is not uncommon to see pieces of truck tire tread scattered on the highway as we drive. When judging a safe distance between you and trucks and other vehicles on the road, keep this in mind as well.
BOTTOM-LINE ADVICE -- Driving cautiously and patiently while working to avoid an accident is the best way to keep you and your family safe.
Posted by Steve Robinson Jr. on Fri, Jul 23, 2010
Do you offer services for both the household and business customer?
Yes, Apple Truck And Trailer has services for both the household and business customers.
Do you offer RV/ Boat/ Motorcycle/ Construction Equipment parking?
Apple Trailer Rental offers parking for large equipment, used trucks, and construction equipment.
What is a Ground Level unit?
A ground level unit is a storage unit, located directly on the pavement or compact surface. This gives you the ability to load your belongings directly from a vehicle or truck, with easy walk in entry.
What are office hours?
The office hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. Saturday and Sunday we are open by appointment only.
How far in advance can I book a reservation?
We give you the flexibility to book a reservation up to 30 days in advance to help you plan ahead.
What are the payment terms?
Apple Trailer Rental strives to make your storage experience hassle free, including paying your bill. Our leases are month-to-month but we also offer the flexibility of long-term leases. We also offer AutoPay. We can automatically charge your Mastercard®, Visa®, Discover®, or American Express® each month.
Do you accept credit cards?
We accept several major credit cards, including MasterCard®, Visa®, Discover®, or American Express®.
What sizes are available?
We offer a wide range of sizes to accommodate your needs. Sizes range from 20, 40, 45, 48 and 53 feet.
Posted by Steve Robinson Jr. on Wed, Jul 21, 2010
Steel Storage Containers
20ft, and 40 ft - High security storage delivered to your site.
Our cargo containers are convenient & secure, exactly what you need in a steel storage container. Storage containers for rent, and purchase delivered to your site.
Container delivered to you provides secure ground level access.
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Sizes range from 20 to 40 lengths and 8 widths.
We have local inventory, service, sales, dispatch and delivery.
Container Leasing Available
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Posted by Jason Krasinskas on Tue, Jul 20, 2010
Box trucks provide affordable, versatile transportation for businesses of all sizes. These common vehicles are used for a wide variety of tasks, such as delivering products to customers, moving inventory between warehouses and retail stores, and bringing equipment to job sites.
Also called cube trucks, cube vans, or box vans, box trucks consist of a cab – the passenger compartment and engine – and a separate "box" for cargo. This two-piece construction differentiates them from cargo vans, which are more like passenger vans (with their one-piece construction.) They're part of the larger category of medium-duty trucks, along with flatbed trucks, refrigerated trucks, utility trucks, and more.
Medium-duty trucks don't fall into the same category as full-size tractor rigs. They're not as powerful, and the bed or cargo area is permanently attached, not interchangeable the way tractor trailers are.
Most box trucks fall into GVW (gross vehicle weight) rating classes 3 through 6 – up to 26,000 pounds. Some reach class 7, but these larger models require a commercial driver's license (CDL), which could be a drawback for some buyers. Most small businesses buy class 3 and 4 trucks.
This Buyer's Guide will help you prepare for a box truck purchase by giving you essential information, such as the following:
- Do you want gasoline or diesel?
- What features are most important?
- How much can you expect to pay?
When buying a medium-duty truck, the most important questions relate to your business – not the trucks. Before you talk to a single dealer, sit down and think through your needs and expectations.
What will you be carrying? It doesn't get much more straightforward than this: what will your typical load be? What about your absolute maximum? These answers will determine what type of body, the size of the body, and the load rating you'll need.
Where will you be carrying it? The primary factors to consider here are the total mileage you'll put on the vehicle and the type of driving you'll be doing. Your needs for long-distance highway driving will be much different than your needs for quick trips around a city or off-road hauling.
When gathering this information, you should make sure the truck you buy can meet your current needs as well as your projected growth. Depending on the use it gets, a new medium-duty truck can easily last 10 years or more if well maintained, so you'll want one that can grow with your business.
Gasoline vs. diesel trucks
One basic decision to make before buying a box truck is whether you want a gasoline or diesel engine. Note that this is really only an option at the lower end of the medium-duty truck range: class 3 trucks are fairly equally split between gas and diesel, and some smaller class 4 trucks are available with gas engines. At larger capacities, you'll find almost exclusively diesel trucks.
Diesel engines have more power at low RPMs, making it easier to start from a standstill with a heavy load. They also last longer than gasoline engines if properly maintained.
Gasoline engines are far less expensive to purchase. They're also quieter and pollute less than diesels do, but that advantage is smaller than it used to be because of improved diesel technology.
Historically, diesel was cheaper than gas, but soaring oil costs have raised prices on both fuels to the point where they're essentially equal in many parts of the country. Diesel engines get marginally better mileage than do gas engines, but the higher cost of oil changes and other routine maintenance can cancel that savings out.
If you're buying class 3 trucks for very low mileage operation, a gasoline truck can save you money. In most cases, though, a diesel is a better long-term investment for your business.
Four-wheel drive trucks
Most box trucks are two-wheel drive (2WD), since they rarely go off-road and 2WD provides better gas mileage. If you plan on doing regular off-road driving, though, four-wheel drive (4WD) is invaluable for getting around on low-traction surfaces like mud or loose gravel. Don't buy 4WD lightly: in addition to the gas mileage hit, you'll also pay a premium up front – up to several thousand dollars.
Medium-duty trucks: basic types and options
One of the significant differences between buying a car and buying a commercial truck is that commercial truck dealers can work with you to design exactly the truck you want. Give them the details on the types of loads you need to carry, typical trips, and what frustrates you about your current trucks if applicable.
Types of medium-duty trucks
Box trucks – basic enclosed boxes with roll-up rear doors – are the most common type of medium-duty truck, but there are many other types of bodies to choose from:
Refrigerated trucks – If you need to keep your cargo cold, you'll pay more up front and in operating costs for a refrigerated truck.
Flatbed trucks – Good for carrying larger items as well as loading and unloading with cranes, flatbed trucks can include fixed or dump beds.
Utility trucks – Designed for mobile maintenance and tradesmen, utility trucks are lined with bins and racks for storing tools, spare parts, and other equipment.
Landscape trucks – Partially open, with space to store mowers, bins, blowers, weed whackers, and more, landscape trucks often include sloped ramps and fold-down sides for easy access.
Box trucks are generally measured by the length of their cargo area. The most common sizes are from 14' to 26'. Both smaller and larger vehicles can be found, but they're rare – larger trucks are much more expensive and harder to drive, and smaller trucks don't provide the capacity most businesses are looking for.
There are two significantly different cab configurations for these trucks. Conventional high cabs sit behind the engine, providing better long-distance visibility and comfort for extended highway driving.
Cabover designs put the cab over the front axle and in front of the engine, providing far better visibility and maneuverability in tight spaces. In these designs, the cab tilts forward to grant access to the engine.
Almost all box trucks have roll-up doors in the back – similar to garage doors. One option to consider is a liftgate, a powered platform that raises and lowers your cargo from the street to the back of the truck. If you'll be using your truck mainly at loading docks, you won't need one, but for on-street deliveries a liftgate is a huge time-saver.
Other extras in the cargo area can include translucent ceilings for light, electric lights, and rail systems along the walls that make it easy to secure cargo when necessary.
In the operator's cab, you have a range of familiar options to choose from. These include automatic or manual transmission, A/C, bucket seats, CD players, and other comfort and convenience options similar to those available in new cars. Some medium-duty truck models offer the choice of regular or crew cabs, which add an extra row of seating.
When evaluating the cost of these extras, keep in mind the amount of time your drivers will spend in the truck over its lifespan. A small additional expense now can mean increased comfort for your employees for years to come.
Pricing
Medium-duty truck pricing is enormously varied, since the segment ranges from very basic 14' box trucks to 26' refrigerated trucks loaded with extras.
Keep in mind that the price ranges in this section are general guidelines: prices vary according to the size of the truck, the options you select, dealer inventories, and your location, so all pricing examples are only approximate.
Light-duty class 2 trucks can go for $25,000 to $35,000, but most commercial dealers start with class 3 trucks. You'll find it hard to get a new class 3 truck for under $35,000, although it's possible; more typical are prices of $35,000 to $45,000. Pricing for new class 4 trucks runs from $36,000 to $60,000 and higher if you really load them up with extras. Class 5 trucks range from $40,000 to $70,000 and class 6 from $50,000 to $85,000.
Refrigerated trucks carry a steep premium – $20,000 or more above the base cost. Other bed options may add $1,000 to $5,000, and highly customized configurations can cost much more.
This brings up the element of "buyer beware" when buying any used vehicle. Only buy from a dealer who offers at least some warranty to make sure you don't waste money on a lemon. Because of the longevity benefits, diesel trucks are often a better choice if you're buying an older vehicle, but if they haven't been properly maintained, they can be a disaster waiting to happen.
Used medium-duty truck pricing spans a huge range, just like used car pricing. A year-old 16' truck with only a few thousand miles on it may go for $35,000 instead of its $40,000 new price. But if you buy that same truck when it's four to five years old, with 50,000 or 100,000 miles on it, you could get it for $12,000 to $20,000.
Older trucks go for even less – you could find a 10-year-old truck that still runs for as little as $5,000, but you probably wouldn't want to count on it.
Financing
Know how you'll be paying for your truck before your start shopping: if you're like most small businesses, you'll want to finance your vehicle over several years. Be sure to ask each dealership what financing options they can provide, but consider other options as well. At a minimum, check with your business bank to see what terms it can offer on a vehicle loan.
In addition to reducing the up-front cost of a truck, financing your truck over three or five years can help you think more about the longer-term benefits of different models and options, and less about the bottom-line cost. For example, $1,500 may seem like a lot for a cabin upgrade, but when you look at it as $25 per month over five years, it's a small price to pay for the comfort and safety of your employees.