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Parents are rejoicing across the nations as kids prepare to go back to school, and while children may feel differently, there is lots to be done prior to the kick-off of the first day of classes. And school bus drivers are no exception. Bus drivers need to inspect their fleet vehicles prior to the first day of school and replace parts like mirrors, doors, lighting equipment and shock absorbers that may be wearing out or damaged. Furthermore, they should consider installing advanced technologies (ADAS) that are proven to increase safety and reduce the chances of accidents.

According to Overdrive Magazine, diesel prices have jumped over a quarter per gallon from a week ago. Some locations around the country, such as California, are selling diesel at $6.00 per gallon according to ProMiles. With the soaring prices of diesel, and the Russia-Ukraine invasion going on with no end in sight, truckers want to know how they can save money at the diesel pumps. Here are a few tips to help truck drivers save money during this difficult time.

Last year, the United States Census Bureau reported that the U.S. shipments of goods in 2017 reached 12.5 billion tons equating to $14.5 trillion. Trucks as a single mode of transportation accounted for 70 percent, or roughly 8.8 billion tons ($10.4 trillion). Thanks to the pandemic, more people are staying indoors and shopping online – but what are they buying and asking truck drivers to haul? Here are the top five moving commodities that people are purchasing.

Every industry has its myths and misconceptions. But for fleet owners and truck drivers, hanging onto misinformation can cost you and your business money, part life, and precious uptime. One of the most common misconceptions in trucking revolves around two terms — rebuilding and remanufactured, or "reman," as it's more popularly referred to.

If there's one industry that's been on a rollercoaster this year, it's trucking. Thriving in some areas and facing struggles in others, truckers and fleet owners across the country have experienced just about everything this year. And just as death and taxes are certainties in life, so is the fact that your truck or fleet won't wait until 2022 before something needs to be replaced.

It's that time of the year again for parents to celebrate and kids to dread – back to school. It's also time for school bus drivers and technicians to get their heavy-duty vehicles back up and running for the year.

It's real and it's a real problem for truck companies around the country. Before COVID-19, the truck industry was short nearly 61,000 drivers according to the American Trucking Associations. By 2028, ATA estimates a shortage of 160,000 drivers – that is, if companies don't do something fast. A big part of the problem is finding qualified drivers with the specialized skills required to drive tanker trucks, for example, that usually require a CDL license and extra training. Some companies are turning to immigration programs for help in finding drivers; however, these individuals may face language barriers plus trouble navigating big rigs under U.S. driving laws.

It seems like longer than a year and a half since the Coronavirus pandemic began, and its effects on the nationwide economy and supply chain continue to send aftershocks across multiple industries, including trucking. But even though the global pandemic has changed the lives and livelihoods of millions, it's only part of the problem when it comes to the biggest issues that are affecting the trucking industry. Researched and prepared by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) in 2020, this comprehensive list covers what was "the most chaotic and unpredictable time period in many decades."

Let's face it – physically going to the store and shopping is becoming as outdated as writing letters. The convenience of Amazon and other e-commerce websites make it all too easy to find exactly what you're looking for – and usually more – right from the comfort of your own couch.

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.

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.

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.

The end of summer doesn't just signify a return to school for students and teachers — the country's school bus drivers will also return to work in many parts of the country. During a typical school year, the country runs over 480,000 buses upwards of 4.4 billion miles, so back to school time means that it's also time for school bus fleet owners and operators to get their bus fleets up and going again.

The ups and downs of the trucking industry have all fleet owners and managers thinking of cost and tightening up cashflow where possible. While it's important to track your expenses and make sure your business isn't leaking money like a sieve, it is a common misconception that when it comes to your trucks, price matters most.

Accepting that your fan clutch needs to be replaced can be tough when you've got hauls to deliver and other expenses to consider. But when your vehicle is overheating, your fan clutch is excessively loud, or if your fan clutch is causing extra drag on the engine that's affecting power, it's time.

Vehicle accidents are common, but because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles, crashes and injuries can be more severe. According to the most recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), about 5,000 people were killed in the United States in big truck crashes in 2017, with tens of thousands injured.

Whether we're talking about city buses, school buses, or shuttle buses, the importance of buses to safely get people from one destination to another cannot be understated. Safely navigating a bus through city and highway traffic on a regular basis is tricky enough, but during the winter, the stakes are higher with driver, passenger, and road safety.

The trucking industry follows a similar pattern to all of retail – out with the old, and in with the new. But to our individual owner/operators out there, you're not buying new trucks every one to three years. That means you're sticking with old reliable – and we love that, so we're going to outfit it with the best truck parts and supplies to keep it running as efficiently as possible.