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Remembering Truckers During National Safety Month

Every year, the National Safety Council (NSC) designates June as National Safety Month. In an effort to save lives and prevent injuries “in the workplace and anyplace,” the NSC will be focusing on multiple topics this year, including driving. While it’s everyone’s responsibility to be responsible and pay attention on the road, it’s also important to remember our truckers and professional drivers during this month of awareness

With exceptions to Hours of Service regulations and on-time delivery stress still affecting drivers due to the spread of Coronavirus, there are steps that trucks and fleets can take to ensure their safety as we all ride out this new normal together.

In 1998, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, for short) released new regulations that required that trailers use anti-lock braking systems (or ABS, as it’s commonly known). This was a measure to increase safety across the board, as ABS is a precise and electronically efficient way to smoothly stop your vehicle without the wheels locking up and your trailer from sliding and swerving behind you.

While 1998 was over 20 years ago, we’re pretty positive that your truck operates on the same system today. But like any other parts or systems, some work better than others and are more reliable and efficient. So who better than to provide those service aftermarket for your truck than a brand that had been producing ABS systems for over 25 years before they were required in 1998?

Vehicle Mechanics and Technicians are Increasingly Essential During Coronavirus

Truckers have always worked hard behind the scenes to keep America running, and with the spread of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel Coronavirus — the transportation industry in America has become increasingly important. But what’s also critical during this time are those who keep our long-haul, short-haul, and last-mile delivery vehicles up — our nation’s mechanics and technicians.

Vehicle maintenance and mechanic workshops were deemed “essential services” by the National Security Council, and while delivery trucks and vans continue to roll on in the battle against Coronavirus, life at mechanic shops also carries on.

Cutting back during a global pandemic isn’t easy. While you have no choice to cut back on restaurants and gas, all that time at home can make a person go crazy when they’re doing their online shopping. Before we know it, we’ve spent more on random stuff that we don’t need than we would have had we not been stuck at home in the first place.

The same can be said about truck parts, believe it or not. In a global pandemic, sacrifices have to be made when ordering any parts or upgrades to your truck or any of its parts or components. However we don’t want you to skimp out on safety or effectiveness, so we’ve come up with a solid brand as a solution in the electrical parts space.

Truckers Keep on Truckin’ During Coronavirus

As the United States continues to try and slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, there’s no question that the trucking industry has had to face a challenging environment. Between uncertain truck stop situations, closed restaurants, limited hot food options, and regulations that change frequently, the nation’s 3.5 million professional truckers have had a lot to keep up with in addition to trying to keep themselves and their families safe.

With the economy starting to open back up in some states, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has also made some new decisions regarding trucker Hours of Service.

It’s getting warmer outside and as soon as you know it, the summer heat will hit everywhere. Sure, lots of folks will be staying inside in the air conditioning, but for truck drivers, the work never truly stops. Things still need to be delivered from one end of the country to another, and these workers don’t get to stay at home in their comfortable air conditioning.

Neither do their trucks or their truck’s engines. Life for a truck’s engine is hard work and it rarely gets a break. The atmosphere within the engine itself needs to be at the perfect temperature always throughout an entire engine's journey. If you can’t trust your vehicle to keep the engine cool, then you’re risking an overheated engine. And if the metal heats up enough in the engine and the piston welds itself into the cylinder, then it’s done for good.

The Tough Road for Truckers is Shared by Vocational Drivers

Since the spread of the Coronavirus began a few months ago, certain groups of workers have been recognized for their efforts on the front line, including healthcare and grocery store workers and truck drivers. While the efforts by all of these groups to keep America safe and stocked up on essential medical and grocery items cannot be understated, another group of dedicated workers has also been working just as hard but without the same amount of attention — America’s vocational drivers.

The harsh winter has long since ended and now it’s time to outfit that truck with the parts it needs to surge through the spring and summer months. It’s time to do some “spring cleaning” for your truck and update the parts that have experienced some significant wear and tear after a long winter.

Only this year’s spring is a little different than in years past. This year we're dealing with a global pandemic known as COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. Every industry is taking a hit, and every business needs to save money anywhere they can. So this year’s “spring cleaning” might be a little different than in years past, but we have one solution where you can save some money without skimping on quality.

The Hard Reality of Trucking and Coronavirus

It’s no secret that truckers have always been an essential part of America’s backbone, and that fact has been further emphasized with the steady spread of COVID-19 across the United States. The trucking industry has been a critical part of keeping states sufficiently stocked with paper products, groceries, PPE, and other essential goods directly related to Coronavirus relief.

But although the 3.5 million professional truckers in this country have been working steadily amid possible virus exposure, multiple rules and regulations changes, uncertain availability of meals and rest stops, and other obstacles, more resources are pulling together to make sure truckers are taken care of while the U.S. continues to battle the virus.

At some point in our driving careers, we realize our vehicle isn’t exactly driving straight – or to put it in better terms, driving straight doesn’t mean the steering wheel always looks straight. If you’ve been through it then you know what I’m talking about.

Misalignment leads to plenty of other problems, from your axle to your tires. The key component of your steering system is the King Pin. I’m not referring to the leaders of any mobs or any villains from superhero movies, but rather the primary pivot that helps your vehicle steer from the wheel to the vehicle’s steering knuckles.