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Networking in business is a way to establish and build relationships with colleagues that can be mutually beneficial in both growing your business and growing yourself professionally. Effective networking brings people together to learn about one another and the business they provide. Many businesses offer opportunities to network in the form of meetings, conferences, trade shows, webinars, and seminars. It’s important to attend when you are able and to make new contacts. You can benefit by obtaining new clients, getting referrals, forming new business partnerships, learning new skills, etc. Social media communication such as Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter can also be great ways to connect, however, face-to-face is the preferred method when possible. When meeting people, be sure to get names and write important messages down so that you can refer to these when you get back with that individual. Be sure to have solid communication in regards to your service. Know what you are looking for and how others may be able to help you. Also, be willing to help others and problem solve when you can. In order to maintain business relationships, try to regularly stay in communication with those that you’ve networked with. Make an effort to visit or call customers and colleagues even if it’s been a while since you last spoke. Some people hesitate or are not comfortable with attending in-person networking events. But like anything else, by practicing and putting yourself out there, you can grow your communication skills and develop other skills that can benefit you in your career. Participating and showing up at events may help you discover new opportunities within the industry. Getting together with other industry professionals allows you to gain knowledge in order to grow and operate your business more efficiently. You can learn a lot by speaking with vendors and your peers. At the very least, attending a networking event and starting a conversation on a positive note usually leads to a sharing of ideas and a learning experience. You never know when your life, both personally and professionally, can be changed by a brief exchange of words.

Branding for a small trucking company is just as important as it is for big trucking fleets. It’s the way you will define your business, your team, and how the public views you. Basically, it’s establishing an “identity” in regard to your core business and its values. When it comes time to develop your brand, first you’ll want to research the specific need you want to fulfill and find your place in the market. Understand your target customer and be aware of what will attract them to your brand. Be unique to your customer and offer them something that another carrier cannot do. Owner-operators have an advantage here as they can make themselves attractive to shippers by being original in creating an experience around their pickup and delivery. Small carriers and independents can be flexible and act on the needs of their customers. You’ll also want to know the competition so you can figure out what will set you apart from them. Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to actually create your brand. Make your company stand out and be remembered by properly branding yourself. A lot of time and thought should go into what you name your company, what logo you use to represent it, what colors you will use, etc. Your brand is as powerful as you make it, but only works if you live up to its representation and symbolism. It should ultimately encompass your goals, vision, and scope and be referenced often to keep you in check with the goals you set out to accomplish during its creation. Once you have a brand, market it. Create a website or utilize social media to show off your brand and what it represents. Let others know the services you provide, the background on how your brand was created, and the good work you’ve done for other people. Be honest when marketing your brand and don’t raise expectations or make false promises. Be clear and true to your values and always be truthful when communicating with customers so they know exactly what to expect from your service. Be proud of the good job and service you’ve provided to others and showcase it to let others know. When you have a defined brand for your business, you can then tap into the emotions of those who share the same values as your company and the results can lead to higher revenue and stronger relationships. You may begin to receive preferential treatment and perks when visiting customers because they know you’ve done a good job and they believe in what you and your brand represent. You may get recognized, remembered, and welcomed based on the professionalism and hard work behind you and the brand you’ve created. If people like the service behind your brand, they will be loyal and continue to work with you even when others may offer lower costs or faster service. The way you brand your company should convey what you want your business to be known for. Branding is more than just stamping a logo on your giveaway items and company attire. It’s really standing for something you believe in and showing your customers through actions that their money and time were well spent in relation to what they have received from your service.

As a truck driver, there are some expenses you know are going to cost you the most from month to month. Unlike many of your other biggest expenses, fuel is one that you have a lot of control over. Other than choosing stops with the lowest net cost of fuel and adding aerodynamics to your truck, there are many other strategies you can employ while driving in order to spend less on fuel. These strategies are controlled between your ears and are the decisions you make and the habits you form when driving your truck. Here are a few tips for how to drive your truck to maximize fuel efficiency and put thousands of dollars back into your pocket. Drive Slower Truckers don’t get much encouragement from their shipper or receiver to get somewhere slower. But speed is the number one reason for increased fuel consumption and reduced profits. The faster you go, the more fuel you are going to use . In fact, a simplified rule of thumb is every mile per hour driven over 60 mph reduces fuel economy by one-tenth of a mile per gallon. The typical argument against driving slower is that you can make better time by driving faster, and therefore make more money. For the purpose of this article, we are talking about how you can save money on fuel by driving slower. Here is a hypothetical example of how much more a truck driver will have to drive per year to make up the additional fuel cost of driving faster. Compare one driver running at 70 mph getting 6.5 mpg and another running at 60 mph getting 7.5 mpg. Over an hour, driver A is 10 miles further down the road than driver B, but at $3.50/gal., he’s spent around $10 more to go those 10 miles in the same amount of time. That might not seem like much money, but the impact over an entire year is significant. If you drive 110,000 miles per year and average 6.5 mpg vs. 7.5 mpg because you drive faster, you will spend $7,898 more on fuel. Find the Sweet Spot of Your Engine The “ sweet spot ” is the most efficient RPM to run your engine. Running your engine in its sweet spot requires that you drive at a constant speed that is usually slower. If your engine is working harder in order to drive at a certain speed, more fuel is going to be used. Modern engines are designed for high torque at low RPMs. The lower the RPMs your engine is running to pull the load the less fuel it has to burn to create energy and overcome all the forces acting against your truck and load (like gravity, rolling resistance, mechanical resistance, and air pressure). The trick is using torque, not horsepower to pull your load. Pulling with horsepower means you are using more energy and therefore burning more fuel. Pulling with torque means you are sustaining your speed without having to overwork the engine. In general, a good sweet spot tends to be between 1250 - 1350 RPM. The number not to exceed is 1500 RPM. Every truck engine and drivetrain spec varies, which is why your owner’s manual should list the ideal range for your engine. If you don't know it and aren’t able to find it in the owner’s manual, make sure to contact your dealer and they can let you know peak horsepower and peak torque at a specific RPM. Keep in mind that there are external factors that are going to affect your sweet spot. The main takeaway is that the lower the RPM, the less fuel your engine will consume. Be Smart with Braking As you are driving, it's inevitable that you are going to have to use your brakes. In fact, there are going to be times when you need to forcibly apply your brakes to be safe. However, there are ways to drive so you don’t have to use your brakes as much. The problem with braking in terms of fuel efficiency is that every time you touch the brake you lose energy -- you have to accelerate and burn energy (fuel) to get back up to speed. In order to accelerate and get back up to speed, you must put your foot down on the accelerator pedal and work the engine which burns additional fuel. Two of the best ways to reduce braking are to anticipate changes in traffic and follow at an extended distance. By making this a habit, you’ll leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. You won’t have to brake every time the car in front of you does. Also, if a vehicle pulls in front of you, there is plenty of room for that vehicle if they slow down. This way you won’t have to slam on your brakes to prevent rear-ending them. Stay in Higher Gears For those who have experience driving trucks, shifting gears is second nature. However, some may not have thought about shifting gears in relation to fuel efficiency. You’re driving a truck -- not a race car. Every time you hear and feel your RPMs go up you’re burning excess fuel. That’s fine at the race track on Sunday afternoon, but it’s not fine if you’re working to maximize your trucking business’ profits over the next twelve months. At a consistent speed, the lower the gear, the higher the RPM. This means the harder the engine has to work to go that speed, which also means the more fuel is being burned. Paying attention to your gears to maximize fuel efficiency is similar to finding the engine’s sweet spot. This is because the gear you are in determines how much the engine is working. Remember...modern engines are built for high torque at low RPMs. When you are driving it’s better to shift to the next highest gear while still at a low RPM and in the sweet spot of the torque curve, rather than waiting for the engine to run up to a high RPM. Keep in mind, driving fast in a low gear consumes about 45% more fuel than is needed. Additional Tips Think about Your Momentum In order to go forward, you don’t always need to have your foot pressed all the way down. If you need to accelerate, think about speeding up gradually. Be aware when going up and down hills and try to safely build momentum going downhill so that you don’t have to use so much fuel to get up the next hill. Utilize Cruise Control If you are on a stretch of highway that isn’t busy, don’t be hesitant to use cruise control. Using cruise control can help you go at a consistent speed and keep you from doing unnecessary accelerations and decelerations. Cruise control can actually save you up to 6% in fuel consumption. Cut Out of Route Miles Use your atlas or GPS to take the shortest and quickest reasonable route with the least stops to your destination. If you need to stop, try to plan that stop for filling up, going to the restroom, eating, and anything else you need to get done in order to avoid going off route to stop again. Typically 6-10% of owner-operators’ miles are out of route. Try cutting this in half by really thinking about your stops and staying consistent with your route. Minimize Idling The average truck burns a half-gallon of fuel at 650 RPM to one full gallon of fuel at 1,000 RPM per hour of idling. Idling 8 hours a day can cost $200 a week, and increases maintenance costs. Many states, counties, and cities have idling reduction laws with fines as high as $25,000. Aside from saving fuel, an unattended truck that is idling is also easier to steal and creates unnecessary security issues. Do you now know how to drive a truck for maximum fuel efficiency? Thinking about these things while driving is important for any trucker. As a company driver, you may get bonuses from your carrier if you are consistently driving efficiently. For owner-operators, fuel costs almost always rank as the number one expense. Because of this, it's crucial that you drive your truck for maximum fuel efficiency. These aren’t the only things you can do to maximize fuel efficiency but these are some of the free things that you can easily put into practice today while driving in order to spend less money on fuel. Every penny you save by cutting your fuel costs goes directly into your pocket!

Written By SleepDog® A truck mattress is an absolute necessity for long-haul truck drivers. After driving for hours on end, you’ll need a place where you can comfortably put your feet up and rest. With this in mind, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the best mattress for your long-haul drive. You deserve a high-quality mattress that will maximize comfort and relaxation. Finding that perfect mattress may be easier said than done as there are many factors you have to consider when mattress hunting. Fortunately, we’re here to assist you through this decision-making process. In this guide, we’ll discuss what important aspects you should consider when choosing the best mattress for long-haul trucking. DOT Requirements for Mattress Approval First and foremost, you must ensure that whatever mattress you choose is DOT (Department of Transportation) approved. Your mattress must be in compliance with requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in order to be DOT approved. Such requirements include: In terms of size and dimensions, your mattress must be at least 75” long, 24” wide, and 24” of height measured from the highest point of the top of the mattress. In terms of shape, the bed must be of a rectangular shape. An exception to this would be slightly rounded horizontal and roof corners but not of a radius exceeding 10 ½ inches. You must have an innerspring mattress, a cellular rubber or flexible mattress at least 4” thick; or a mattress filled with a fluid and of sufficient thickness that when filled it prevents “bottoming-out” while the vehicle is in motion. Additionally, your mattress must be properly equipped with bed clothing and blankets. These are important conditions that you must be sure that your chosen mattress meets in order to be considered a DOT approved mattress. Getting the Right Size Mattress for Your Truck One of the most important aspects to consider is the size of your truck mattress. It’s crucial that you get the appropriate mattress size that’s the correct fit for your truck. When it comes to truck mattresses, their sizes are typically described by exact measurements rather than labels like “king” or “queen”. Most trucks have a short, standard, or long truck bed. These have standard dimensions that differ slightly depending on your truck’s manufacturer and model. As a result, truck mattresses are available in a wide range of sizes and truck mattress companies often offer multiple sizing options. For example, here at SleepDog®, our size selection includes: Size A: 36" x 80" Size B: 39" x 80" Size C: 42" x 80" Size D (bunk): 32" x 80" Queen: 60" x 80" RV Queen: 60" x 75" RV King: 72" x 75" Still, the best way to ensure that you get the correct semi truck mattress size is to grab a tape measure and measure your current mattress or sleeping space. Mattress Comfort Level In order to get the rest that you deserve, you need a mattress that supplies a cozy comfort. Everyone is different and as a result has different comfort needs. You need a mattress that will accommodate your needs. One way to do this is to consider your typical sleeping position. Sleep positions play a big role in mattress suitability. For example, side sleepers tend to need pressure relief for their hips and shoulders, while back sleepers usually need a mattress with light contouring and full-body support. Stomach sleepers tend to require pelvic support and pressure relief for their arms and shoulders. Another point of consideration regarding comfort is your weight. People who weigh more usually prefer firmer mattresses than people who weigh less than 130 pounds. However, this may not always be the case. That’s why many truck mattresses including our BigDawg mattress™ are flippable to offer dual firmness options. Mattress Materials If you want your mattress to be both comfortable and durable, it’s essential that you have a high-quality mattress. This means that the materials that the mattress is made of must be of a superior quality. It’s important you pay close attention to the materials used in its construction to ensure that your mattress is up to par. Memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular when it comes to long-haul trucking. These mattresses are made of a combination of polyurethane and other compounds. These mattresses have a high-density polyfoam support core that offers stability as well as less-dense comfort layers that provide a plush sleep surface and pressure relief. A key aspect of memory foam mattresses is their deep contouring. Highly contouring materials, like memory foam, cradles the body and eliminates any pressure-related aches and pains. This trait is especially pertinent given that long-haul drivers spend most of their day sitting up at the wheel. A memory foam mattress is the perfect and most comfortable way to end a long day behind the wheel. Price Point Customers will be delighted to know that truck mattresses tend to be less expensive than ordinary at-home mattresses. This is because truck mattresses are usually both smaller and thinner. However, truck mattresses are available at a wide range of price points. Price ranges can vary between different models and different types of mattresses (such as memory foam and innerspring) also have their own average prices. The price really depends on what you’re looking for and are in need of. Just remember to set aside a budget for what you are willing to spend. A SleepDog® Mattress for Long-Haul Trucking Still not sure what the best mattress for long-haul trucking is? Head over to SleepDog® to check out their mattresses. . They offer two mattress models: the SleepDog® mattress and the BigDawg mattress™. Both models are constructed with memory foam and infused with CoolRest® technology. These materials guarantee you the utmost relaxation and the best possible sleep even on the road. Additionally, both mattresses are made with CertiPUR-US® certified memory foam and are DOT approved. These mattress models are everything that you would want in a mattress for long-haul trucking.

There are a lot of benefits to becoming an owner-operator. You have the freedom to be your own boss, you can spend time at home on your own terms, and you are the benefactor of profitability. Unfortunately, one thing that you don’t have, is an employer sponsored retirement plan. That means you need to be proactive in making sure your retirement needs are met on your own. As a small business owner, you have several different options when saving for retirement. Two of the most popular are to use either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Before talking about the different contribution limits that you have, let’s explain how these two options differ from one another. Traditional IRA A traditional IRA is very similar to a 401k because you will be able to deduct contributions on your income tax return. All gains will continue to grow tax-free within the account. When you begin taking distributions, you will pay income taxes on all capital gains. In addition, you will only be able to contribute to a traditional IRA until you reach the age of 70 ½. Roth IRA A Roth IRA is nearly the exact opposite of a traditional IRA. All contributions that you make are after tax, which means they are not deductible on your income taxes, however you will not owe any tax when you start taking distributions. A Roth IRA tends to be the more attractive choice for anyone earlier in their career that plans on being in a higher tax bracket once they get closer to retirement. 2018 IRA contribution limits The same contribution limits are in place for traditional IRA’s and Roth IRA’s. Because we have been in a period of relatively low inflation, there has not been an increase in the limit since 2013. The 2018 IRA contribution limit is $5,500 for anyone up to 49 years of age. If you are 50 or older then you will be able to contribute an additional $1,000. This is known as a “catch-up contribution”. Income limitations for a Roth IRA The biggest difference between the two types of IRA’s is that a Roth IRA comes with income limitations. That means you will be unable to invest in a Roth IRA if you reach a certain income level. Below you will find the limits, broken down by your filing status: Traditional IRA deductions limited When you invest in a traditional IRA there are no income limitations to worry about, but there are restrictions on deducting your contributions on your federal income taxes. If you are not married, or your spouse does not have access to a work sponsored retirement plan then the deduction limits are minimal. The table below highlights when deductions start to phase themselves out. If you have dreams of someday enjoying a comfortable retirement, it’s time for you to start investing. If you’re still not sure where to put your money, we recommend speaking with an investment advisor as soon as you can.

Being on time is an important part of being an Owner-Operator. After all, you are building a reputation and creating trust that you are a reliable business person. It is tempting to drive faster to get to your destination, but as a business owner and an Owner-Operator, fuel is your highest cost and something you should be watching daily. Speed is still the number one driver of high fuel consumption. You want to be on time, but you also need to know the true cost of driving faster. Example A: Here is the cost for driving 120,000 miles and sacrificing one mile per gallon by driving fast. If you get 6.0 miles per gallon = 20,000 gallons of fuel to purchase and pump into the tanks. If you get 7.0 miles per gallon = 17,143 gallons of fuel to purchase and pump into the tanks. This is based on the average of $4.15 per gallon x 2,857 extra gallons of fuel= $11,856 extra costs for getting 6 mpg instead of 7 mpg. Driving fast does not just burn more money in fuel. Below are the additional costs for driving fast. Maintenance. Increasing your speed means increasing your cost for maintenance. As speed increases, you automatically increase wear on the brakes, tires, engine and suspension, plus the cost of downtime for repairs and maintenance. The cost of this extra maintenance could easily be one cent per mile for a total of $1,200. Given the increased fuel cost, plus increased maintenance costs, the total additional cost is $13,056. Engine. You can only run so much fuel through an engine before it wears out. The life of an engine is limited by the amount of fuel it will burn. And it’s proven that the faster you drive the more fuel the engine will consume on a per-mile basis. So the faster you drive, the faster you wear-out your engine and this one thing alone could exceed one cent per mile in costs. Tires and Suspension. Sometimes you can find a smooth road, but very few of our roads and highways are without bumps, potholes, cracks, and seams in the surface. Higher speed means a greater impact on tires and suspension when rolling over bumps, cracks, and seams in the pavement. More impact = more or faster wear on a per-mile basis. More impact = shorter life for tires and suspension. The main enemies of a tire are heat and impact damage, and you will have more of this damage with higher speed. Heat from under-inflation is probably the single biggest hazard to a tire. Brakes. The higher the speed, the more brakes have to be used. The more often brakes are applied and for a longer duration will mean the brake pads need to be replaced more often. Lower speed = lower brake usage. Also, it’s more likely that a “hard stop” or “panic stop” will occur at higher speeds. Only one or two hard stops are going to cost money in tires and brakes and it’s not uncommon for aggressive drivers to have one or two hard stops per day. There might be a time when you must drive fast to be on time, but what is the true impact? Fill-ups. The average fill-up is 101 gallons, according to a study conducted of ATBS’ Owner-Operators. The average time needed to fill-up is 1 hour. Twenty-eight extra fuel stops are required x 1 hour each = 28 extra hours to replace the extra fuel burned. So the faster you burn fuel, the faster you have to replace it. Talk about diminishing returns! How much speed does it take to replace $13,056 and 28 hours? The faster you drive, the faster you have to replace the fuel and the faster the wear on your tractor and tires. There’s no argument that driving faster can save time, but what’s the trade-off? Example B: If you drive 450 miles at 75 mph, you will save about 1.5 hours of time versus driving at 60 mph. However, fuel economy will suffer at the higher speed and the difference is usually about 1.5 MPG when comparing 75 mph and 60 mph. The engine burns an extra 1/10 of a gallon of fuel for every mile driven over 55 mph. The difference between 60 and 75 mph would then equal 1.5 mpg. This would cost you 20 gallons of extra fuel or $83 of extra cost when fuel is at $4.15 per gallon. This calculation is an industry standard and is set by engine manufacturers. This formula is also found in the “Cummins MPG Guide.” Add the extra maintenance cost of a penny per mile and the total cost is now $87.50. Is the 1.5 hours worth $87.50 to you? You’re the best person to decide, of course, but don’t think speed is free. The extra time saved will cost you something for driving faster. How do you spend the extra time gained by driving fast? Did you get repaid for the extra $87.50 you spent? Is it ever more cost effective to drive faster? If you are on a “loose” schedule by all means slow down to the optimum road speed to conserve fuel. There is a balance between speed and the cost but speed isn’t cheap and it’s not free! Example C: Suppose you have a pick up in Chicago on Thursday afternoon to be in Omaha Friday morning. That’s 500 miles basically overnight. Very doable but the driver cannot be late because the consequences of a late delivery (or being at the back of the line for trucks delivering) are too great. Consequences like laying over from Friday to Monday will cost you about $300 in just fixed expense alone. The layover cost in this case is more than ALL of the fuel cost for the entire trip. There are other financial penalties beyond layover cost so the driver would be wise to operate at the higher but less fuel efficient speed to safely insure delivery with no chance of layover in Omaha. The speed limit across Iowa on I-80 is 70 mph while the most fuel efficient speed might be around 62 mph. Driving at 70 mph would cost the driver about 8/10 of a gallon of MPG for the trip or about 10 gallons of extra fuel consumed between Chicago and Omaha. Ten gallons of fuel is probably a good trade-off to make in some circumstances. You control your truck’s consumption of fuel. There may be special circumstances that will be more cost effective for you to drive faster, but this is not common. Carefully manage the balance between your speed and the many costs of increasing your speed so you save the most money possible.

No doubt, everyone that drives for a living has noticed the increase in fuel price over the last six months. We saw the national average fuel price bottom out in the $2.40 range at the beginning of the pandemic and this lasted through October. That gave independent contractors the opportunity to run freight faster than usual without worrying too much about their biggest cost. However, we’ve recently seen national fuel price averages jump to $3.40, which is a 33% increase over a six month span! So why is fuel going up? There isn’t a single answer, but like the price of any commodity it’s based on supply and demand. Supply Issues Low Oil Prices Cut Production The modern day United States oil industry is built around a $50/barrel break even point. When oil falls below $50/barrel it becomes unprofitable for oil exploration as well oil production and shipping. During the COVID crisis of 2020, crude oil futures actually traded below $0 for a brief period of time. They averaged $39.68 for all of 2020. This below breakeven price forced bankruptcy on some oil producing companies. It also greatly reduced exploration and production of oil in America. OPEC is Keeping Supplies Down OPEC nations agreed to limit exports of crude oil to keep the supply lower and help raise prices. They will soon begin to increase output, but the supply is already low and they have made it clear their intention is to keep the price of oil at the current level or higher. The U.S. Election Since the election, the price of fuel has risen 80 cents. The oil markets clearly see the Biden and Harris administration as one that will work to inhibit US oil production. Being such a large producer, this will also impact global oil market supplies. Refinery Maintenance for Summer Blends Fuel prices almost always jump this time of year. That is due to scheduled shutdowns and annual maintenance in our refineries. They also use that time to switch everything to the summer blends of fuel that are required by the EPA. They generally shut down which lowers the supply of fuel. This of course makes it more expensive! Demand Increases Loosening COVID Restrictions People are starting to move again! Commuters are returning to the office, air travel has picked up, and people are vacationing again. Vaccinations are also giving people confidence to get out again and are expected to help a summer travel boost. While we all want things to go back to normal, this sudden surge of fuel needed is not met with enough supply. This directly causes prices to go up. A robust U.S. Economy The whole country is using more fuel for everything from truck transportation, to home heating bills which is greatly increasing the demand for fuel. Stimulus Checks Stimulus checks have people out spending! Goldman Sachs has estimated that the recent stimulus could pump U.S. oil demand up by 200,000 barrels a day. If supplies don’t keep up, prices will continue to rise. As you can see, there are many factors that are pushing the price of fuel up and up. But the simple economic reality is that demand is outpacing supply. We should probably expect prices to continue to rise for a while into the future. OPEC Source - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/01/opec-to-decide-on-oil-production-policy-as-demand-concerns-persist.html To read the previous article in the series, click here!

Every year hundreds of millions of dollars are stolen through cyber theft. Criminals and hackers devise complicated schemes and programs that can bilk you out of your money. Unfortunately they often do it in such a way that they skim mere pennies from millions of accounts so that no one person is any wiser (remember the algorithm from the movie Office Space?) In the end they make a lot of money, and your account is vulnerable for larger amounts to be stolen. Fortunately there are ways to protect yourself, even if you are driving truck the majority of the time. Here are 5 tips to help keep your cyber identity, and your bank accounts, safe from hackers. Use Your Personal WiFi Any time you access a public WiFi, you are at risk of having your information stolen. In fact, if you talk with someone that really knows what they are doing, they can set up in a coffee shop and use their computer to see exactly what you are doing online. You won’t even know they are watching your online activity. This means if you are accessing your bank account, they can see all of your information. To prevent this, don’t access sensitive sites from a public hotspot. Wait until you are at home with your secured WiFi before you do that. Secure Your WiFi That means that you have to make sure that your wireless internet is encrypted. If you have an open network (that is one without a password) you are inviting just about anyone into your online realm. Even a simple password will help ward off unwanted visitors. Setting up a password varies by company. Some make it very easy to establish a password for your internet, others seem to think we all know technical computer jargon. Here’s a great article to get you started, but you may want to call the customer service number for your router from the get-go. Use Your Data Plan Sometimes when you are on the road, you simply have to get online and access your bank account. While the ideal method is to call the bank and get the information needed that way, it may be after-hours and you can’t call. Instead of accessing their site with a public hotspot, use the data plan on your cell phone. Most smart phones can access websites without a problem; and many of them can be set up as hotspots. You can use the data from your cell phone and access the internet from your computer. If you are an iPhone user, this article explains how to turn your phone into a hotspot . Update Your Windows Windows is constantly creating patches for security loopholes that they discover. Every time a hacker finds a way around one, the engineers at Microsoft patch that hole. But your computer is not going to be secure on its own. You have to do Windows updates to make sure that you have the latest security measures. Most newer operating systems will have popups asking you to update your Windows. Don’t ignore these! It only takes a few minutes so go get a cup of coffee while your machine installs the updates and reboots. Watch What You Post and Where You Browse No matter if you are buying online, posting to Facebook, or just browsing, be careful where you tread. Most of us know not to give out our personal information on public sites, but there are other ways to leak information. Some websites will gather any information you put in, and they can install malware on your machine to track information you put in on other sites. Install MalwareBytes to prevent these little bugs from becoming accomplices to stealing your personal information. Prevention is Key Being on the road you make the most of truck stops that offer free WiFi; it’s faster and it’s free. While the majority of the time you will be safe, there are those moments when you could have your information stolen. It is far easier to prevent those thefts by not accessing important and private websites while using public WiFi. By taking a few minutes to read and apply the tips above, you can rest assured that your information is kept safe while you are driving your truck across the country. This article was originally featured on Teamrunsmart.com. Image Source - https://www.flickr.com/photos/intelfreepress/

Why do you invest? If you’re like most people, you’d probably say that, among other things, you want to retire comfortably. Obviously, that’s a worthy long-term goal, requiring long-term investing. But as you journey through life, you’ll also have short-term goals, such as buying a second home, remodeling your kitchen or taking a much-needed vacation. Will you need to invest differently for these goals than you would for the long-term ones? To answer that question, let’s first look at how you might invest to achieve your longer-term goals. For these goals, the key investment ingredient is growth – quite simply, you want your money to grow as much as possible over time. Consequently, you will likely want a good percentage of growth-oriented vehicles, such as stocks and other stock-based investments, to fund your 401(k), IRA or other accounts. However, the flip side of growth is risk. Stocks and stock-based investments will always fluctuate in value – which means you could lose some, or even all, of your principal. Hopefully, though, by putting time on your side – that is, by holding your growth-oriented investments for decades – you can overcome the inevitable short-term price drops. In short, when investing for long-term goals, you’re seeking significant growth and, in doing so, you’ll have to accept some degree of investment risk. But when you’re after short-term goals, the formula is somewhat different: You don’t need maximum growth potential as much as you need to be reasonably confident that a certain amount of money will be there for you at a certain time. You may want to work with a financial professional to select the appropriate investments for your short-term goals. But, in general, you’ll need these investments to provide you with the following attributes: Protection of principal As mentioned above, when you own stocks, you have no assurance that your principal will be preserved; there’s no agency, no government office, guaranteeing that you won’t lose money. And even some of the investments best suited for short-term goals won’t come with full guarantees, either, but, by and large, they do offer you a reasonable amount of confidence that your principal will remain intact. Liquidity Some short-term investments have specific terms – i.e., two years, three years, five years, etc. – meaning you do have an incentive to hold these investments until they mature. Otherwise, if you cash out early, you might pay some price, such as loss of value or loss of the income produced by these investments. Nonetheless, these types of investments are usually not difficult to sell, either before they mature or at maturity, and this liquidity will be helpful to you when you need the money to meet your short-term goal. Stability of issuer Although most investments suitable for short-term goals do provide a high degree of preservation of principal, some of the issuers of these investments are stronger and more stable than others – and these strong and stable issuers are the ones you should stick with. Ultimately, most of your investment efforts will probably go toward your long-term goals. But your short-term goals are still important – and the right investment strategy can help you work toward them. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Greg Hall, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He can be contacted via email at greg.hall@edwardjones.com or via phone at 303-985-0045.

Most owner-operators were company drivers before they bought a truck. Company drivers quickly figure out how to get the time off that they want, and how to get it without significant penalties. But when the company driver becomes an owner-operator, the old company driver habits about time off should change with the new responsibilities. An owner-operator has costs that the company driver does not. One of these costs is “fixed expense”. This is the cost of ownership, and the expense is unrelenting. It is spent every day regardless if the tractor is moving or sitting. A typical fixed expense is about $80.00 and it happens every day until the last tractor payment is made. (After that last payment is made there will still be fixed expense, although it will be reduced.) Unlike a company driver, when an owner-operator takes time off, this expense of about $80.00 a day is still incurred even though the truck is sitting. Because of this penalty, time off has a different meaning for the owner-operator. There are a few clever things an owner-operator can do to lessen the shock of this expense while still having time off. First, look ahead for a full year and set goals based on what is reasonable and what is possible. There are 365 days in a year, and many drivers will say they would like about 550 miles per day. If you do the math, that comes to 200,750 miles. But we’re only human, and that’s a lot of miles! However, you should ask yourself: is 255 working days possible? Is 550 miles a day average reasonable? If these are feasible to you, then the miles would total 140,250. Not too bad! Are 100 days of time off right for you? (Remember to allow time for mechanical issues, bad weather, layover & holidays). Some studies show that if operators commit less than 255 working days per year that their success is only marginal, sometimes worse. Other operators may need closer to 290 working days to be successful. Figure out how many working days remain this year, and then do the same every year following. You’ll be moving forward by mapping out the number of working days you need to succeed, instead of working to catch up without having a plan ahead of time. Understanding freight cycles will give you another advantage. There are yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly freight cycles. Every sector of the trucking industry (van, flat, reefer, HHG, tank) will have different cycles and even individual companies in the same segment may have differences. Here are the differences between each type of freight cycle: Yearly. The yearly fright cycle depends on your industry. For one segment of an industry it might be slow in the first quarter (Jan-Feb-Mar) of the year. Then the next two quarters (Apr-May-Jun and Jul-Aug-Sep) things can pick up and are more normal. The last quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec) is often the busiest quarter of the year. Quarterly. A quarterly freight cycle is where the first month of the quarter will be slowest, the next month will be more normal, and the last month will be the busiest of the quarter. Monthly. This is when the first week of the month will be slowest, the next two weeks will be more normal, and the last week will be the busiest week of the month. Weekly. Friday is the busiest day of the week, and Monday is the next busiest. If you are consistent with making the most of these days of the week, it can help your business to thrive. If you can get in synch with these cycles, you can use them to your advantage. Match your time off with the slowest time of the calendar. Then take your time off accordingly, and when it will affect your business and productivity the least. Give yourself the advantage by being available for work during the busiest times on the calendar. Here are some additional ways to ensure that you make the most of your time: Ask your fleet manager or operations manager to explain your company’s freight cycles to you. Mark the cycles on a calendar for the rest of the year, then plan your time off and availability for work accordingly. Plan vacation time (and any major truck repairs) in the first quarter when it is usually the slowest. Stay out and stay in service during the busiest quarter of the year. Never take time off during last week of the month, or during the last two weeks of the quarter when it is the busiest. Set a goal every week for how you can make your business more profitable. Set another goal for the month, and for the year. Make the most out of Fridays and Mondays, since they are the busiest days of the week. Don’t be tempted to refuse “bad loads” late in the week – they could be the key to what makes your business more profitable. Try staying out for a longer period right before you’re planning to take time off. Then you can make up for it by bundling more days off together (instead of keeping them spread out). One good way to make the most of this would be to run hard the last weeks of the month, then use your time off during the first week of the month when it’s slower. Take loads through home instead of to home. Once you stop productivity, it’s harder to start back up and get the momentum going again. If you lose a day on the road, stay out an extra day and make up for it. An owner-operator must be sure to look at time off differently than a company driver. By following these key strategies you can minimize the outgoing expenses of your company, and maximize the income. Returning to work after taking time off should not be an added stress. Have peace of mind knowing that your foresight in planning ahead for time off will keep your business running strong in the future. Image Source (thumbnail): https://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/ Image Source (article): https://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/

Placing your money with a bank or a credit union can be an important decision for your family. Each option comes with pros and cons, but we are here to help you navigate this decision and identify the best option that works for your needs. After the recent recession and housing collapse in America, banks don’t have the reputation that they once did. More and more people are getting fed up with their yearly multi-million dollar profits and fees that cost you money in the end. However, banks do have a few advantages like having open membership and often nationwide or regional locations, which is a benefit for truck drivers who travel the country for weeks on end. According to the   Credit Union National Association , over 100 million Americans use approximately 7,000 credit unions across America today. So what makes a credit union different than a bank? Credit unions are not-for-profit therefore their CEOs aren’t making millions of dollars a year in bonuses. Since credit unions are nonprofits, they can offer you higher interest rates on savings accounts and lower rates on loan products meaning you get more for your money. Banks are owned by their stockholders. Credit unions, however, are a cooperative, which means it is owned and operated by its members. You have a say in your credit union’s decisions. Since a credit union is membership-based, you will have to meet certain requirements. Membership varies, but it could range from your employer to where you live. So, what do you choose – credit union or bank? The Pros and Cons of Credit Unions PRO:  Credit unions generally offer higher interest rates so you’ll get a better bang for your buck. Credit unions rates typically range from 4 to 10 times higher than what you would get at a commercial bank. However, online banks tend to still be the highest in the industry. PRO:  Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free loan. However, credit unions have some of the lowest APRs on mortgages, personal loans, and even credit cards. There is no reason you should pay more than you should. PRO:  In a world where the banking industry will nickel and dime you for everything, credit unions have far fewer fees compared to national banks. Most credit unions offer checks, withdrawals, and electronic transactions for free. Additionally, many offer free checking accounts without a monthly minimum or service charge. That alone can save you hundreds of dollars a year, meaning more money in your pocket. Unfortunately, not every fee is excused in credit unions. Most will still charge for things like bounced checks and overdraft fees. CON:  Credit unions offer fewer options than large commercial banks. For example, Bank of America offers 5 different types of checking and savings accounts, but most credit unions will only have one or two options. CON:  Credit unions have far less physical locations than commercial banks. If you’re on the road a lot, like most truck drivers, you won’t find your local credit union across the country. If you live far from the credit union branch then you might have to mail in your checks. The Pros and Cons of Commercial Banks PRO:  Large commercial banks are very accessible across a region or the country. They have multiple branches and ATMs on every corner. Banks also have more money to invest in mobile and online tools and technology that make your experience and accessibility on the road easier. PRO:  Bank accounts are open to everyone. There are no membership requirements to be met to open an account. CON:  Banks have higher fees on everything from overdrafts to monthly maintenance fees. According to a recent  Moneyrates.com survey , the average monthly maintenance is about $12 or about $150 a year! CON:  Some commercial banks have a reputation of bad customer service. Since 2012, banks have gotten better, however on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, banks still rank lower than credit unions. The Final Verdict Choosing which type of banking institute you would like to do business with is a personal decision. There are pros and cons to each institute. If you want to save more money and have a better customer service experience then credit unions are the way to go. However, there are membership requirements and credit unions often only have a few physical locations. If accessibility and having the best mobile technology is what you need, choosing a bank is probably your best move. Each bank is different. You have large national banks like Bank of America and small regional banks. Regional banks often run more similar to credit unions. Whether you choose a credit union or bank, remember to make sure you are putting your money to work for you. Image Source -  https://www.flickr.com/photos/i5design/ This article was originally featured on  TeamRunSmart.com .

Most of us decide to put things in our bodies that we probably shouldn’t. When you eat a big huge chili dog with extra onions, you may feel some rumblings in your stomach and reach for the antacids. Those problems in your stomach are a byproduct of consuming something that’s difficult for your body to digest. A similar thing happens in your truck, as some of the byproducts from the combustion of diesel fuel are acids. When nitrogen from the air and sulfur from fuel combine with water it forms nitric and sulfuric acids that will attack engine metals, causing damage that can eventually result in engine failure. For the chili dog, the simple solution to indigestion is grabbing an antacid to neutralize the acids in our stomach. In order to combat byproduct acids in a diesel engine however, the manufacturers of diesel engine oil must blend in acid neutralizing detergent additives. The most common ingredients to neutralize acid are magnesium and calcium. Total BaseNumber (TBN) is the measurement of the amount of these acid-neutralizing additives and is commonly referred to as the “reserve of alkalinity”. New diesel engine oils typically have a starting base number of around 10. It is generally recommended that diesel engine oil be changed or “sweetened” when the base number is 25% of the starting base number for the new oil. For example, engine oil with a starting base number of 10 should be changed or sweetened if the base number drops to 2.5 as determined by oil analysis testing. At a value of 2 the oil becomes acidic and damaging to the engine. The act of sweetening the oil involves draining 30% to 50% of the used oil and replenishing it with the appropriate amount of new oil - thereby refreshing some of the acid neutralizing additives. In simple terms, the TBN of engine oil is akin to a “Tums”, used to neutralize acids in our stomach. If you are running extended oil change intervals, engine oil analysis is a must. Your oil’s TBN is a very valuable factor in evaluating the condition of the oil and helpful in determining when to change it. Don’t let your truck get terminal heartburn! Be sure to keep an eye on that Total Base Number.