All kinds of people go into truck driving and I do mean all. Over the years you get to meet all kinds of people in heavy equipment and truck driving and the thing that stands out is that no two people are alike. Sure plenty of people come straight into truck driving after they finish school; others have fully-fledged careers that they give up for a life on the open road. What is it about truck driving that makes it appeal to so many people?

For many people the appeal is the freedom of the job. You do not need to be an owner operator to enjoy the freedom of truck driving. Even if you are driving someone else’s rig, you can enjoy the benefit. To some people, truck driving seems a lonely profession. It is anything but; there is camaraderie among truck drivers that you can see anywhere that truck drivers stop. You will also find truck drivers communicating via radio. If you enjoy your peace and quiet, you can have that too.

The thing that can either turn people on to or turn people off of truck driving is the hours on the road. Some truck driving routes will see people away from home for days on end. It is not for everyone, but it is that aspect of the job that some people really enjoy. Truck driving also pays exceptionally well, which helps too.

If you are interested in learning more about truck driving or would like to acquire a license, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.

If you are not sure whether you can drive heavy equipment or not; you can get started by learning to drive tractors. Heavy equipment and tractors have a lot in common and tractors provide a great way to boost the specific skills that you will need as a heavy equipment operator. These days, an increasing array of hydraulic attachments can be used to greatly improve the functionality of tractors, allowing them to perform some of the tasks that were previously the domain of purpose built equipment.

Tractors come in all shapes and sizes; in open and closed configurations. If you drive a lot of tractors, you are likely to notice that the handling and maneuverability can vary somewhat, but the controls are quite standard. More importantly for heavy equipment operators, they have quite a bit in common with larger heavy equipment. For this reason, training for tractors is often a first step on the path to a heavy equipment career.

If you are interested in getting your certification for tractors, why not pay us a visit at Associated Training Services. If you check out our website, you will find the locations of all of our different training centers. Whether you are interested in learning to drive tractors or other types of heavy equipment, are professional instructors are ready to teach you the skills that you need.

One of the simplest things that you can do to save fuel in Truck Driving is to maintain correct tire pressure. As tires deflate, more of the tire surface comes into contact with the road. This creates extra friction which requires that you to spend more fuel to achieve the same speeds. Anyone that has been in the truck driving industry for any amount of time is aware of this fact. Less people are aware that the time of day that you measure your tire pressure makes a difference.

Heat will affect the tire pressure of the truck that you are driving. As you drive, your tires heat up, so it makes sense that you check your tire pressures at the start of the day. The recommended pressure ratings for the truck that you drive will be based on cold tire temperatures. Take the reading when your tires are at their coldest and you will be able to ensure that you have accurate pressures.

For most car drivers, these savings do not amount to a whole lot, but with truck driving you are traveling over long distances and putting a lot more miles on the clock. The fuel savings can make a big difference to your profitability. It takes a few minutes to check your tire pressures and is well worth the effort.

If you are interested in truck driving or have any truck driving tips or techniques that you would like to share with us, you cancontact us or leave a comment to this article.

This is part three of our Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money series. Today we are going to look at a few little maintenance tricks that can improve the fuel economy of the truck that you are driving.

Tires Make a Difference

Tires play an important role in fuel economy in truck driving. Tire pressure is absolutely critical to performance. This subject was broached in an article on Equipment Today very recently and is worth repeating.

As tires deflate, rolling resistance increases. “As you start to lose tire pressure, your sidewalls start to sag,” Matsil explains. There is more rubber on the road. “You have more friction, so the rolling resistance increases. Consequently, the amount of energy required to move the vehicle down the road increases.”

Check your tire pressure at least once per week and make sure that you do so in the morning. Tire pressures will change with temperature, so make sure that you fill your tires cold for the most accurate results. Just how important is tire pressure? According to the same article, correct tire pressure and axle alignment can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 3-4%. That is a sizeable amount, especially over a year.

Change your Filters Regularly

Fuel filters that are full will cause a loss of power that might see you revving the engine harder than would otherwise be necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel filters and change them as required. Air filters can have a similar impact and if you are in a dusty environment, you are going to need to change them more often.

Do you have any tips and tricks related to truck driving? If you do or have any truck driving related questions, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.

Hybrid technology has been in the automotive industry for some time now, but it gas been slow to catch on in Truck Driving. The main reason why hybrids have not taken off in truck driving as they have in other areas of transportation has traditionally been the upfront cost of getting hybrid technology into the trucks. Hybrids need a specialized engine and a bank of batteries. Engine prices have never been the problem, it has always been the batteries that have made hybrid prices high in comparison to their conventionally fueled vehicles. Now two things are happening that are switching the balance. Battery prices are coming down and fuel prices are going up. In addition, the green sector of the economy is becoming a more powerful force and people are prepared to pay a little extra for greener products and transportation.

Kenworth-Eaton has entered the hybrid trucking sector. What does this mean for truck driving? We are not sure exactly, but with some heavy hitters getting behind hybrid technology, we believe that it is something that you are going to be seeing more of. The benefits are there, stated fuel savings are about 35% and with fuel prices where they are at today, this can translate into thousands of dollars per year. Spread that over a fleet and hybrid technology can have some real bottom line impact and it is better for the environment too.

Some of the new range from Kenworth-Eaton includes (ConstructionEquipment.com):

The Class 7 T300 hybrid is a pre-production vehicle. Kenworth has split its midrange T series into several weight-based models, including a Class 6 T270 and Class 7 T370, which will have hybrid drive as an option. They will use Eaton Corp.’s electric propulsion system, which includes a 6-speed Fuller UltraShift AMT linked to a 60-horsepower electric motor-generator and two lithium-ion batteries operating at 340 volts.

These are just a few models out of many that we are going to start seeing soon, if the cost of fuel continues to rise.

If you are interested in truck driving for a career, or would like to provide us with any comments or suggestions, please contact us at Associated Training Services. Our training centers throughout the country are dedicated to helping people get into new careers in truck driving, carpentry and of course, heavy equipment.

This is part two in our Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money series. Today we are going to look at some more truck driving tips that will make better use of your horsepower. Conservative Truck Driving might not feel like a whole lot of fun, but if you are an owner-operator, it can reward you with a little bit extra at the end of each month.

Truck Design, Gear Ratios, Weight and Aerodynamics

If you already own a truck there is not a whole lot that you can do about aerodynamics. If, however, you are getting started in truck driving or planning on buying a new truck it is well worth considering the following tips from an article in Equipment Today. Some of the other tips are more general and can be incorporated regardless of the truck that you are driving.

“The gear ratio is another significant point,” says Matsil. “If you can get away with a numerically lower gear ratio, rear axle ratio – which means your accelerations will not be as brisk – that will help with fuel economy.” The trade-offs would be startability and gradeability.

Lower ratios will make it harder to ascend steep grades. If you are driving trucks in mountainous regions, then you ought to choose very carefully. You need enough from your gear ratio to be able to get up a steep incline, but you do not need more than that.

Weight is another issue. A light truck makes it possible to haul a larger payload. But remember that many trucks, such as dump trucks, spend half of their life travelling around empty.

I could not have put it better myself. Any truck that you are driving is going to be empty on the return trip. I think that this passage plays down the importance of weight a little. A heavier truck tends to require more fuel to do the same amount of work.

In addition, consider aerodynamic efficiency if your trucks spend much time travelling down the road. “As you improve the coefficient of drag – the aerodynamic efficiency – you squeeze more miles out of the same gallon of fuel,” says Matsil.

While it might not seem like you can do a whole lot about aerodynamic efficiency, something as simple as correct load placement can reduce drag. If the truck you are driving has a covered trailer it is obviously going to have greater aerodynamic efficiency than an uncovered load on a flat bed. Think about aerodynamics and you might be able to get a few gallons out here or there. Truck driving typically involves much longer journeys than most people make, for this reason, little things can make a big difference to yearly fuel costs.

If you have any questions about truck driving or are interested in obtaining your truck driving certification, please contact us at Associated Training Services.

If your career is truck driving, in particular if you are driving your own trucks, you will be all too aware that fuel price fluctuations can impact upon your bottom line. I came across a great article in Equipment Today that I thought was worth a second read. The author outlines truck driving fuel economy tips from different vehicle manufacturers.

Vehicle Specs

On vehicle specs, it is suggested that you pick a truck engine that is appropriately sized for the tasks that you are going to perform. Excess horsepower only means wasted fuel. Aim for what you need and perhaps a little bit extra, but don’t go overboard. Conservative truck driving is a great way to cut fuel costs.

Engine size ranks among the most important factors. “A good match between the engine and the payload is significant,” says Steve Matsil, global vehicle chief engineer, General Motors.

Likewise if the engine of the truck that you are driving is too small, you will require more fuel to squeeze out the extra horsepower that is required. An underpowered engine will have to work harder and thus burn more fuel.

“If you are constantly in an underpower condition – meaning you are putting out the maximum horsepower of the engine to accelerate to cruising speed to move into traffic – you are always in a two-pedal position either off or on the throttle,” says Matsil. “I suspect that you will not get the optimum fuel economy.”

If you are interested in learning more about truck driving, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.

When it comes to heavy equipment, most people overlook tractors. There is a perception that tractors are primarily agricultural in use. While they have an enormous place in agriculture, you can also see tractors in use in construction and mining. Tractors, of various types, drive a great deal of heavy equipment. Learning to drive tractors can be an extremely good career move if you are looking to get into a heavy equipment job. The principals that you learn driving tractors applies to a great deal of different heavy equipment and gives you a great foundation of skills to build upon.

Learning to Drive Tractors

Most wheeled heavy equipment is based upon tractors of one type or another. If you can drive a tractor, you will be able to drive most wheeled equipment. The larger wheels of tractors give a different ride to that of a car, it takes a little getting used to, but is not very difficult. Note that operating the equipment and driving it are two very different skills. You will still need training in order to operate the heavy equipment, regardless of whether or not you have tractor certification.

Safety considerations with Tractors

There are a few things that you need to take care of when driving tractors of any type. It is quite common to hear of rollover accidents involving tractors. Take care on inclines and watch your speed at all times. You need to avoid wearing loose fitting clothing when operating a tractor, especially an open top tractor. Loose fitting clothing can become trapped in moving parts and has the potential to become fatal.

Training to Drive Tractors with Associated Training Services

Gaining a certification to drive tractors does not take a great deal of time. We offer a range of training programs here at Associated Training Services and if you are interested in learning to drive tractors, we are happy to help. Do take the time to look at some of our other programs as well. We have schools around the country that prepare people just like you for exciting careers in heavy equipment. If you would like to learn more about driving tractors or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us at Associated Training Services.

Some ATS schools offer a combination Class-A (Tractor Trailer) and Commercial Driver Licensing (CDL) program. The CDL is required to haul your equipment on a flatbed/lowboy trailer and to drive dump trucks on public roads. ATS schools also teach off-road dump trucks, which do not require a CDL.

Many construction industry employers value equipment operators with a CDL. The CDL component trains you to test and receive a Class-A CDL. If you are planning on getting your Class-A CDL, you need to be aware that there are some additional fees related to this part of the program and those are not included in the tuition price. These fees include DOT physical exam, drug test, permit fee, road test, and license fee. These fees vary in price but can total as much s $300. These fees usually can be paid for with your financial assistance if you qualify.

To learn more about the CDL training and tractor trailer school, visit http://www.equipment-school.com/.

An obvious drawback of the construction people for many people is the fact that the weather can affect a person’s ability to earn a reliable wage. Truck Driving escapes from this problem. Trucks can be driven in all but the very worst weather. Skilled construction workers tend to make a great deal of money per hour when compared to other professions; truck driving is one area that people can get the best of both worlds: they can earn higher wages and they can work consistently.

Why is truck driving different from many other kinds of heavy equipment work?

When weather stops construction, it is not necessarily because the equipment cannot operate. Construction is all about teamwork. If there are parts of the team that cannot work, the whole thing can grind to a halt. Truck driving is a step removed, deliveries need to be made regardless of weather, no matter what industry you are in. If you are looking for something to sure up your income, truck driving is a very good way to do it.

The grass is always greener!

The last thing that you want to do is to jump into truck driving when you love what you are currently doing. Get into truck driving because you are interested in truck driving. You might find a few truck drivers envying your bad weather bed rest. If truck driving is something that you are really interested in, or if you are looking to make a change to what is a fantastic profession, contact us at Associated Training Services. We have helped plenty of people just like you find a new and exciting career in truck driving!