Articles written by Jennifer Smith
Articles written by
Jennifer Smith

10 Things You Should Know About Truck Accidents

Navigating a 20,000+-pound vehicle across busy roadways at highway speeds is not for the faint of heart, and even seasoned drivers aren't spared from the hundreds of thousands of truck accidents that happen across the country per year.

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Why Truckers Need Camera Systems in Trucks

They say driving a pick-up truck is like driving a boat, and those traveling the streets with an F-250 can attest to this. However, driving a big rig is a whole different story. Most of the time, driving a heavy-duty vehicle is a pleasant experience – cruising the open road – and, then you need to switch lanes, or worse, reverse.

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6 Ways to Troubleshoot Your Haldex PURest Air Dryer

If you've been part of the trucking industry for a while, then you know about the increasing importance of your vehicle's air system. As vehicles work to optimize uptime and become more fuel-efficient, more and more air-braked vehicles depend on clean, quality air from their air dyers to keep solid, liquid, and aerosol contaminants – like water and oil – out of the air brake system.

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Maintain Engine Cooling Systems This Summer

Frightful in a different way, of course. With temperatures scorching in the 90's across the country, it seems that everyone and everything around us is overheating and seeking shade – this includes your heavy-duty vehicle. The toasty early summer weather can cause negative impacts on trucks that will decrease performance; that is, if drivers don't maintain certain parts this season.

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3 Ways Your Floor Mat Could Be Costing You Money

With all the grit, road salt, and other elements that drivers track into their vehicles throughout the day – not to mention the inconvenient coffee and food spills that frequently happen during a typical busy day in the industry - it's no secret that a floor mat is necessary to protect the floors and cab.

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JIT Truck Parts Now Offers Walker Exhaust System Parts

Chicago, IL: JIT Truck Parts, a national aftermarket truck parts distributor directly servicing national, regional, and local fleets, is pleased to announce it is launching the complete line of Walker Exhaust® parts online.

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Protecting Drivers During National Safety Month

Cars and most trucks run on four wheels, and most heavy-duty trucks run on six to eight to eighteen for that matter. But what's so important about a fifth wheel? And we're not talking about when you're out with your two best friends and their spouses.

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4 Signs You May Have an Exhaust Leak

Chances are you don't pay much attention to your exhaust system until something's broken, and you're not alone. Your exhaust components have the very important job of making the toxic gases from your engine less harmful before they get released into the environment from your vehicle, and although an exhaust leak doesn't seem like a big deal, having one can lead to odorless, dangerous fumes in the cabin and failed emissions inspections.

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Serpentine Belt Repair Tips

The serpentine belt is one of the most important accessories in any fleet truck and plays an important role in engine drive systems. Not only does it help power the alternator, but it powers the steering pump, air conditioning compressor and even the water pump. When the serpentine belt begins to fail, it will trigger the check engine light and cause ticking noises and poor engine performance.

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34 States that Require Emissions Testing

The U.S. has been combatting emissions for decades, with the government recently vowing to reduce emissions in half by 2030. Each state has its own emissions goals to reach, and how they achieve that is up to the local government. With diesel vehicles frequently in the crosshairs of emissions regulations, the majority of states have begun to require some level of emissions testing.

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What To Do After Road Check Citation

It's been a rough 24 hours, and drivers still have another 48 hours to go. May-4-6, 2021 is a bothersome time for truckers, and they are never thrilled with driving big rigs during what they call "inspection time." While the CVSA inspections are going on now for drivers and their vehicles, some drivers have already been slapped for offenses such as failing lights – the focus of the CVSA 2021 International Roadcheck – poor braking and bad tires. The points against drivers are disappointing, but what's worse is knowing that some semi-truck drivers may potentially lose their driver's license for some time by the end of the week.

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6 Ways to Improve Trucker Mental Health

We all know truckers as the hard-working and dedicated backbone of America that just jump in their trucks and drive cross-country for days and sometimes weeks at a time. And while the adventure and solitude of the trucking life is bliss for many, life on the road can also come with high stress, loneliness, and other mixed emotions.

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JIT Now Carries New Engine System Parts

Chicago, IL (April 2021): JIT Truck Parts, a national aftermarket truck parts distributor directly servicing national, regional, and local fleets, is pleased to announce it is launching the complete line of Dayco® engine parts online.

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Cab Cleaning Best Practices for Coronavirus and Beyond

We can all agree that the inside of a truck cab isn't usually the most hygienic place. But the age of Coronavirus has changed the topic from everyday dirt, trash, and cigarette residue and odor to one of overall sanitation and cleanliness – especially for fleets that use multiple drivers per truck.

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Why Truckers Need ADAS Technologies

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems like everyone has forgotten how to drive. Perhaps because folks spent months cooped up inside watching too many hours of the Fast and the Furious series. Whatever the reason, there are more accidents occurring on roadways, and more bad drivers out there than good ones. (But you aren't one of the bad ones, of course.)

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FAQs About Wheel Bearings

It takes good fortune and a sturdy vehicle to travel thousands of miles across the country, and your wheels have a lot do with keeping your journey safe and smooth. Most of what we're concerned about on our wheels is what we can see – does the tire pressure look good? Are there any cracks or scrapes that should be noted? Are all the lug nuts in place? Are all the tires still on the vehicle?

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The Importance of Fan Clutch Replacement

After a harsh winter driving through snow, we can't blame truckers for their excitement over the spring season, butwith the changing season comes new challenges that truck drivers will face. Since the weather turned from bitter cold to a now more pleasant temperature, heavy-duty trucks require attention of certain parts - such as engine components - to prepare for the warm weather.

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5 Things You Should Know About Truck Mirrors

Even though your truck mirrors aren't responsible for the power or mobility of your vehicle or fleet, they should still be given considerable attention. No matter what size truck you're driving, there's only so much you can see with the naked eye. Your mirrors amplify your visibility of not only the back of your truck but also what the drivers on both sides of you are doing. Mirrors are also your first line of defense in making sure you can change lanes safely and anticipate any road situations in which you have to stop or maneuver quickly.

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4 To-Dos for Your HVAC System Before Summer

It feels like we were just talking about winter driving not that long ago, but the official coming of spring last week means a few different things – the weather's about to get nicer, the pollen's about to wreak havoc on your allergies and cab exterior, and it's time to get your HVAC system in peak performance.

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Why Isnt My Semi Blowing Cold Air?

The term "making it colder" is somewhat misleading. After all, air conditioning units in commercial vehicles do not take cold air and blast it but rather transfer vapor refrigerant through a timely process to make air blow from warm to cool. If your wondering why your semi-truck is not blowing cold air, it could be several reasons.

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