Interesting Facts About the Trucking Industry Continued..

For those of you who didn't get enough from our post last week, we continue with.....

Strange & Interesting Facts About the Trucking Industry:

6.  Are you Articulate?

Semi trucks are called by many different names depending on the region of the world they're located in...  In the Americas you'll hear "tractor trailers", "big-rigs", "18 wheelers", or "semis".  In Canada you could hear a "transport truck".  Australians may refer to them as "singles" and in Britain & Ireland they are called "articulated lorries" or "artic" for short.  

7.  Who's Afraid of the Big (Bad) Rig?

Semi trucks have been featured in many movies as the "villain" character.  Stephen Spielberg's 1971 feature, Duel, has a Peterbilt tanker truck as the villain of the film.  Stephen King's 1986 feature, Maximum Overdrive, also has big-rigs as primary villainous characters.  John Dahl's 2001 film, Joy Ride, featuring the late Paul Walker also has a faceless villain driving a semi truck that chases down the protagonists of the film. 

8.  Planning on Accidents

Commercial Trucks are involved in accidents much less frequently than people may believe.  In fact statistically trucks are 3 times less likely to be involved in an accident than a regular motor vehicle.  In addition, only 16% of all truck driving accidents are due to the fault of the truck driver!

9.  Uncle Sam Loves Truckers

Over 33 billion dollars a year is paid by commercial trucks in federal and state highway user taxes.  That's a lot of dough that goes into the upkeep of our roads and interstate highways benefiting not only truck drivers but the average passenger vehicle driver as well. 

10.  Got Your Rubber?

With an estimated 3 million Class 8 trucks registered in the US, and 18 wheels per truck we're looking at a grand total of 54 million truck tires on the road.  That's 5 billion, 400 million pounds of rubber!

As a truck dealer in Fontana, Prime Time Equipment works hard to get you the right heavy duty equipment at the right price.  From trailers in Fontana to used semi trucks, we are here to help you, providing exceptional service and making sure you can safely hit the roads with equipment you can trust.

Tips for Truck Driving in the Heat

As we approach summer and the heatwave that inevitably arrives we thought it apt to discuss a few tips for truckers who are out on the road during those summer months.  With air conditioned cabs and APU units, along with 44 ounce Big Gulps, it's often easy to forget what the sun can do not only to your equipment but to the driver as well.  Here are a few precautions to take this summer as you prepare to get out on the road:

Bundle Up:

Luckily sun damage typically doesn't get this bad...

It may seem contrary that in the heat you'll want to wear layered clothing, however we've seen many truckers who suffer from skin damage or what can be referred to as "the Trucker's arm."  As drivers typically have one arm next to the window all day, every day, they can be susceptible to sunburns and skin damage from the sun's rays.  Whether you choose to wear sleeves or use sun protection, make sure you're addressing the wear that can come from being in front of the sun all day.

Stay Hydrated:

Most heat exhaustion with truckers doesn't occur while they are in the cab but when they are in the back, unloading or loading their trailers.  The heat within a trailer will be amplified after driving through the sun all day and can quickly cause exposure from heat fatigue to more serious issues.  Be sure to stay hydrated -- water will be your best friend in these summer months.  Try to avoid caffeinated sodas and keep an extra water bottle handy in the back of your rig.  

Other Tips:

Other tips from parking your tractor in the shade to taking time to stay healthy and in shape will enable you to perform at your best during these summer months.  Keep your equipment from overheating by scheduling a tune-up and you should be prepared for your summer driving.

Used Freightliner Cascadia in Fontana

Here at Prime Time Equipment we're helping many owner-operators get into new equipment in preparation for the summer months!  From Used International Trucks in Fontana to Used Freighliners in Fontana, we have a large inventory that will fit your needs!  Schedule an appointment today or visit us on the web at:  www.fontanatrucksandtrailers.com.