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With spring officially starting next week, we can look forward to roads that are free of ice and snow. And, like most truck owners, you may be itching to get out the power washer and wash the long, tough winter off your heavy-duty vehicle. After months of driving through road salt, dirt, and debris, it always feels better to drive a polished and shining truck down the road.

As the spotlight continues to focus on diesel emissions this year, the pressure is on truck owners and fleets to not only meet immediate diesel emissions requirements but to also make decisions about diesel aftertreatment that'll last into the future.

Your lighting system is one of the most important safety factors to consider before taking any long-haul trip and can make the difference between a clean record and points against you. Good lighting is not just for your safety but for the vehicles around you. Lighting violations carry court fines (ranging from $50 up to $250) and up to six points against you. A defective or failing headlight or taillight alone can get you 2-4 demerit points against your driving record easily in most states, as bad lighting is [ironically] a clear sign of a problem.

Of the 3.5 million dedicated truckers keeping America running, it's reported that women now make up 10% of the driving population. While men have historically been the face and voice of the trucking industry, women are continuing to make strides in becoming more visible and vocal.

There is not one specific material that trucking manufacturers use for parts, and it is for good reason. Every type of compound on Earth serves its purpose: some are steel with powder-coating for strength, longevity and UV-protection while others are made from copper for non-stick movements. And, approximately 80 percent of rubber in the United States is used in the auto manufacturing industry for parts. Why? Because rubber has great physical properties used to reduce vibrations, and it is cost-effective for both buyers and sellers.

2020 was an interesting year for truckers, especially since state-mandated lockdowns last year kept passenger vehicles off the roadways for a few months. But even with the pandemic restrictions in effect in different areas of the country last year, truckers still experienced heavy freight bottlenecks in at least 29 different states.

When we think about truck maintenance and repairs, the last thing on our mind is our stereo system. However, the invention of the car radio in 1930 was made for truckers like yourself. After all, music and talk radio not only keeps you guys (and gals) awake while driving, but it keeps you sane during long-haul trips.

The blue and red coiled lines that run from your tractor to your trailer are pretty to look at, but they also both serve extremely important functions. The red air line is for the trailer's emergency brake, while the blue air line is for the trailer's service brake. Having an air brake system ensures that coupled vehicle units, such as a tractor and trailer, both have braking capability.

There are a lot of topics in the trucking industry that change and evolve every year, and diesel is one of them. The preferred fuel for heavy-duty trucks due to its slow-combustion and ability to efficiently burn at moderate temperature, the first truck with a diesel engine was produced in 1908 by what is now Detroit Diesel. Since then, diesel technology has continued to grow and evolve.

District school bus maintenance fees cost approximately $5,500 per year, and the cost of maintaining school bus fleets can cost an additional $1500 per bus in labor. When we, as parents, send our children off to school, we want them to get on a school bus that is complete with the finest mechanics and truck parts that money can buy. After all, school buses are carrying precious cargo, our children.

With trucking companies now settled into 2021 and more passengers cars returning to the roadways after pandemic restrictions, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced the dates and theme for this year's International Roadcheck – a 72-hour blitz of commercial vehicle inspections that takes place across North America.

Back in 2007, the "Large Truck Crash Causation Study" by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that brake-related issues led to 29% of semi-truck accidents. That may have been 14 years ago, but accidents and unexpected downtime due to braking issues remain high today.

Chicago, IL (January 2021): JIT Truck Parts™, a national aftermarket truck parts distributor directly servicing national, regional and local fleets, is pleased to introduce a full line of 12-volt starters and alternators under JIT's private label Match Made®. These products join an expanding collection of OEM replacement Match Made® truck parts for many types of heavy-duty commercial vehicles and applications.

The impact of Coronavirus on the trucking industry affected everything from the supply chain to logistics to health and safety protocols and beyond. The pandemic has followed us into the new year, and the nation's truckers are still facing the challenge of not only keep America running but also of maintaining the health of themselves and their families.

If you find that your big rig won't start, then your starter has gone bad, butif your engine is slow to crank, and you hear odd noises coming from your engine, then chances are you have a failing alternator. While failing parts is never a good sign, the good news is that you may have just enough energy to run to a service station.

Driving a compact car is difficult enough in the snow, so we can only imagine how nerve-wrecking it must be driving a big rig that is hauling thousands of pounds worth of commerce. Driving in wintry conditions is challenging for everyone and leads to several accidents each year from rear ends and vehicles swerving off the road. In fact, according to the Federal Highway Administration, over 5.7 million motor vehicle accidents each year are winter-related. In 2014 alone, 476,000 of accidents involved large trucks and buses.

Driving across state lines is always risky for the hard-working men and women in trucking, and in an effort to find out just how risky driving in some states can be, insurance comparison website Insurify gathered metrics from non-commercial driver data from 2.5 million drivers across the nation.

January 6, 2021 - CHICAGO, IL - JIT Truck Parts™, a leading e-commerce platform for aftermarket heavy-duty truck parts, is pleased to introduce an exclusive new line of shock absorbers under our private label brand, Match Made Parts®. Match Made Parts are designed to drive value with risk free after- market, all-makes heavy-duty premium truck parts.