Monthly Archives2017 January

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Tired truckers are everyone’s problem. And no trucker wants to drive tired. Some truckers insist that if you plan your trip properly, you should always be able to find parking. Other truckers understand that no matter how much you plan, truck parking can be elusive. Truck stops fill up, usually later than earlier. But truckers can’t force themselves to be tired according to a plan. Laying in bed wide awake when your plan calls for sleep doesn’t make for a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, looking for a place to park is simply part of being a truck driver.

Most drivers avoid parking in weigh stations like the plague. It’s understandable. But, if you’re tired, maybe it’s not such a bad idea. The following is a guideline to some states’ policies toward truckers parking at weigh stations- what’s allowed, what isn’t and what the truckers can expect.

California

There is no official policy in California about parking at the weigh stations. And there is no official policy at any of the weigh stations, so you may run into a rogue officer who prefers hassling truckers to letting them sleep. But, in general, you are safer to park at California weigh stations than you may have thought.

Truckers who are looking for a safe place to park should consider parking at the Banning weigh station. There is no official policy, but the consensus among most of the officers at the Banning truck scale is that they would rather have drivers park to rest at the weigh station than have tired drivers on the roadway. If you do want to park, you’ll want to cross the scale, park, and go inside to inform the officers that you’d like to take your break. That way they will know that your truck is not “unattended.” Unattended trucks have a 4-hour time limit after which the truck will be towed. Officers at the Wheeler Ridge weigh station agree. Tired truckers are dangerous, and they’d rather that truckers take their break at the weigh station than drive tired. At Wheeler Ridge, it is not necessary to inform officers that you’ll be parking for a while.

California weigh stations with less room do not allow parking. For instance, trucks are not allowed to park at either San Onofre nb or San Onofre sb. Trucks are also not allowed to park at the Truckee weigh station. Same goes for Conejo nb and Conejo sb. But even that is not set in stone. Officers at the Conejo nb scale say that if they are not busy and if a trucker comes in and tells them he’s tired, they may use their own discretion and allow the driver to park and take his break. Both the Conejo nb and Conejo sb scales will, however, lock their gates during closed hours- unless there are out of service vehicles parked. Do Not plan on parking in the ramps when the weigh station is closed.

Florida

Truck parking is allowed- in fact, it is welcomed- at any of Florida’s “super coops,” such as the weigh stations in Pensacola, Wildwood and Flagler Beach. Parking is limited at other Florida weigh station locations, like Hopewell or Bunnell, and so drivers should not expect to be able to find parking at those scales. Florida DOT officers say that drivers can park at any of the Florida “super coops” without fear of chancing an unwanted inspection. If an officer sees something that is clearly a safety violation- like a flat tire- the driver will be notified of the violation before he or she leaves the weigh station and it will have to be fixed. But officers will not ask a driver who has been parked at the weigh station for his or her logbook, nor will they pick the vehicle for an inspection. Unless, of course, the driver parked there because he or she was put out of service- if a driver was put out of service for a log book violation, they may ask to see the drivers logbook before that driver is allowed to leave the weigh station.

Georgia

Truck parking is allowed at any Georgia weigh station so long as there is room. Drivers are asked to park in the back lot at any of the Georgia “super coops.” One Georgia weigh station where parking spaces are not abundant is the Lithia Springs weigh station on I 20 east bound, west of Atlanta. Drivers should not plan to park at the Lithia Springs weigh station. Georgia DOT officers say that, while drivers probably will not be subject to inspection if they have been parked at the weigh station, it’s not out of the question. Officers may choose to ask a driver pulling out of the parking area to show his or her log book. They may also choose to inspect the truck. This is not likely, but there is no policy prohibiting the practice.

Kentucky

The Walton weigh station and the Verona weigh station are designated “safe haven” locations for truckers. This means truckers are welcome to park there without fear of chancing and unwanted inspection. Kentucky enforcement officers say that truckers may be inspected when they come into the weigh station, but once they have cleared the truck scale and have gone to the “safe haven” lot, they no longer have to be concerned about it. “Safe Haven” weigh stations provide a safe place for truckers to park.

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Source by Suzanne Roquemore

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You know those huge, long log-carrying trucks? The kind carrying long stacks of pre-telephone pole stock? From time to time these guys roar by heading to some telephone pole shaping factory, we suppose, not really intending to run your Prius over.

We badly need telephone poles, both replacements and new ones. What would the world be like if we didn’t have a steady supply of telephone poles, for pete’s sake! Therefore, we should think nothing of-a log-carrying truck whizzing by.

It’s when we see two log-carrying trucks, going by in opposite directions that should make us thinking persons scratch our heads. Two trucks, each going in opposite directions. Two trucks, one coming from the east to drop off its logs into a log-shaping factory somewhere west, and the other truck coming from the west to drop off its load somewhere east. Even if you didn’t pass ninth grade geography, you should see how absurd this is. Wouldn’t it occur to them that each truck could simply swap drop-off points? I mean, is there a difference among log-shaping factories? I sincerely doubt it.

Three major explanations of this wasteful industrial behavior fly around these days:

1. More driving allows more home-away time for drivers.
2. There are better bars at City A or City B.
3. The log-chopper mill has a pushy cousin at a distant pole-shaping factory.

All these reasons are ridiculous. More likely, log business persons have been dropping off their logs at the same few places ever since Alexander Bell became a dead ringer, and by God, they ain’t gonna’ change.

There is a better plan on the horizon. Log truckers have cell phones, don’t they? The basic principle here is, one trucker calls another, they swap details about swapping now-shorter drop-off runs, and everybody saves gas. This lowers operating costs for the owners, leads to greater numbers of logging shipments, and higher pay for all drivers.

Diners could be established to cater to this specialty trade. Picture a pulled pork restaurant set up for these hard-working American drivers, with catchy slogans such as, “Try our hogs, while you swap your logs.” Or a bakery aimed at this crowd, “Munch our rolls, when you fiddle with your poles.” Maybe not that one. This could also get mistaken for an ethnic joke slam.

Why do I really think this great idea will only get a vaudeville drum roll? Alas, the clue to this sad story sits in that part above about the log-swapping restaurants. It’s the cell phones! Tree-based telephoning may be on the way out. But wait! Cell phones require towers, which require raw steel manufactured poles, which require trucks to carry the raw steel tower poles, which probably get new truck stop diners in their honor, “Co-ed showers, when trading your towers… “

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Source by Rod A. Walters

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Lifted trucks offer great styling and performance benefits. Raising your truck or SUV adds a beefy look surely will grab the attention of other drivers. The correct lift kit also gives you the capacity to travel off-road.

There are positive aspects that a lift can offer your vehicle, however, there are at least as many negatives to consider before purchasing.

First and foremost is safety; Lift kits elevate the center of gravity of your truck, making it more prone to rollovers. Lifts also raise the height of the bumper (and any reinforcement material behind the bumper) which could cause serious injury in an accident. Bumpers were made to collide with other bumpers, not other passengers. Also, sitting up high can improve visibility for a driver who is looking directly ahead, but what about those annoying cars riding in your blind spot? Now all of these negatives aren’t reasons not to put a lift on your SUV, just items to consider before purchasing, ensuring you do a quality job that will endure the life of your car.

Have you considered what your stock wheels will look like on your new and improved “monster” truck? Many truck owners also purchase new tires and rims to match the look of their lifted truck. This is a great idea and continues to add to the individuality of your vehicle. However, don’t forget that this will likely add more expense to your project. Another drawback is that when you significantly change wheel size, it is necessary to recalibrate your speedometer. This can easily be taken care of by the mechanic who mounts your lift system.

Another thing to consider is ride quality. Is my new lift going to alter the feel of my car? Will a drive down the highway become less smooth? What about fuel economy? Although lift kits undoubtedly make an off-road trip much more enjoyable and smoother, the case may not be the same on the highway. Ask to test drive a raised vehicle at your local dealer to grasp the feel of sitting higher than usual.

Once you have addressed the issues with lifting your truck or SUV, it is time to decide what kind of lift you need. There are two different options: a body lift or a suspension lift. A suspension lift kit raises the entire frame, engine, and power train, using springs, to your desired height. This option is ideal for the true off-road enthusiast. It is a bit more pricey than the other option, but provides you the best clearance for off-road capabilities. A body lift is just that, lifting the body. It does not lift the frame. This method is often a lot cheaper and looks great, but does not give your truck more clearance when off-roading. If you want to make your truck look unique and stylish, and only need to drive on established roads, a body lift is probably your best option.

The next step in your search for a truck lift kit is making the purchase. Most importantly you should look around to find the best deals and quality equipment. Get quotes from your local body shop. Ask them what kits they would recommend and how much it will cost to install each type of kit. Don’t forget to get a timeline of how long the project will take. The internet is also a great source. Search for different lifts online and compare prices to your body shop. A good way to save money is to purchase the kit of your choice online and then bring it to your local mechanic and have them install it for you. Another good place to look is in truck magazines. They not only have excellent advertisements selling the latest and greatest lift kits, but the magazine could also provide some insight into which companies have good warranties, and which kits have stood the test of time and durability.

Before jumping on the lift kit bandwagon, don’t forget the issues concerning your vehicle and a lift kit. By doing the research and finding the best lift kit for your truck you are ensuring thousands of miles of off-road bliss ahead!

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Source by Jake Newberry

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If you’re looking to pour your own concrete driveway, or if you are shopping around for quotes from contractors, you may be confused as to how thick your driveway needs to be. This article will discuss driveway thickness.

Weight

How thick the concrete required for a driveway is based on the weight of the vehicles that are going to be using it. Most households with cars, trucks or SUVs can suffice with a concrete slab that is four inches thick. This is based on vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs. or less. To give an example, an average SUV or pickup truck weighs between 4000 and 6000 lbs, and even a boat on a trailer generally isn’t more than 8500.

Where you will see the need for a thicker driveway is if you plan to have heavier vehicles on it. For the average household, that larger vehicle is often an RV. Most RVs start at 10,000 lbs. and go up to 30,000 (which doesn’t necessarily take into account extra weight loaded into it). So if you are looking to find a place for your personal RV, you’ll want to go up to 5 or 6 inches of thickness for your concrete driveway.

Thicker Better for Preventing Cracking?

Concrete will crack. Period. However, thicker doesn’t always mean you are getting a guarantee of less cracking. Generally, cracking is caused by other factors that can relate to thickness, but are not caused by the thickness. For example, as mentioned above, if too much weight is put on a thinner concrete driveway, yes, it can ultimately lead to cracking. Another major cause of cracking is not having a solid base beneath the driveway. Concrete does its best on solid surfaces that have no movement. In areas where the ground is mostly sand or clay, severe cracking is more likely to happen. And, in such cases, a thinner poured driveway would suffer faster than a thicker one. However, a good contractor will know how to lay a proper base to prep the land for the concrete slab, so whether the driveway is four inches or five, precautions have been taken to protect it from excessive cracking. Likewise, the use of wire mesh or rebar (reinforcing bar) in the laying of the concrete will hold the integrity of the concrete longer, regardless of the thickness of the slab.

Price Differences

Although pricing for the job itself has many variables and can fluctuate across the country, it is approximately 20% more concrete cost to go from a four inch thick slab to a five inch thick slab. However, adding that extra inch boosts your driveway’s weight capacity by 50%.

If you do go with the four inch thickness, you’ll save money because that thickness doesn’t require rebar to strengthen it. Most contractors use the above mentioned wire mesh that is considerably cheaper and still very affective.

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Source by Stefano Grossi

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There are several easy and inexpensive ways to customize a standard tech deck fingerboard.

1.Paint Deck: One of the easiest things to do is get a piece of sand paper or an emery board and lightly scratch of the image on the fingerboard deck. After the deck is smooth and the old graphic is removed,acrylic paint can be applied.

2.Reshape Deck: A standard finger skateboard can be reshaped using a heat source. First remove the grip tape then lightly heat the deck making the plastic soft. Using your fingers bend and shape the board to create higher kicks, and curves.

3.Paint the Trucks: Painting the trucks is a great way to customize a fingerboard and make it really stand out. Take the top and bottom trucks apart, lightly sand them. Carefully paint all parts of the truck except for the threaded portion where the wheels attach.

4. Paint Bolts/Screws: Painting the micro screws and tiny bolts is often over looked on custom fingerboards.The tiny parts can be painted by tying them to a piece of thread and dipping them into the desired paint color.

5. Dye Wheels: The wheels that come with tech decks can be dyed using regular fabric dyes. Follow the manufacturers instructions for using the dye. But leave the wheels in for longer than is suggested to insure a brighter color.

6. Change Wheels: Anybody serious about customizing their fingerboard will eventually look into getting new wheels. Completely custom after market wheels can be bought that feature high tech micro ball bearing that increase the speed.

7. Add Risers: Risers are the small plastic pieces that sit under the bottom of the truck. Adding risers can increase the pop of the board making tricks easier.

8. Change Bushings: Tech decks come with hard plastic bushings that do not allow for much give. Soft PVC bushings can be found in a variety of colors and add a great customized look.

9. Add Pivot Cups: Pivot cups are used when the contact between the the kingpin on the top truck and the master hole on the bottom truck are not connecting. The pivot cup covers the gap between the two and holds the truck firmly together. They come in a variety of colors.

10.Custom Grip Tape: customizing the grip tape on a fingerboard is easy. Using a pencil draw out a design on the paper side of the tape. Cut of the design arranging different colors to form different patterns.

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Source by Bobby Alexander