Here Is Your 2017 DOT Compliance Checklist
This article contains our updated 2017 DOT compliance checklist. Some of the information has changed since we published our original version in 2013. This is especially true when it comes to electronic logbooks, which are scheduled for mandatory use by December 2017....
Doing Your IFTA Filing in Your Cab
Can you imagine doing your IFTA in your cab? Not if you’re using paper log books. I can’t imagine trying to keep those on my bunk along with all the receipts, the calculator, a calendar, and my credit card or checkbook without everything spilling onto the...
Fleet Manager: Are You Afraid of the IFTA?
It was a dark and stormy night. One Friday when the fleet manager went out to inspect each of the trucks, he noticed that in the first truck the odometer was 1,000 miles off from the driver’s logbook. In the second truck, the difference was even greater…...
Truck Electronic Logbook: Why You Need to Make the Switch
You know all about the ELD mandate and ELD standards. That trucks are required to install electronic logging devices that track truckers’ driving time and ensure compliance with hours of service rules. You probably feel the same way most drivers do about the ELD...
Don’t Let the Electronic Logging Device Mandate Intimidate You
The electronic logging device mandate has been in effect since December 2017. In 2019, some new changes were implemented. But, truckers’ attitude toward the ELD requirements haven’t changed with the passing of time. Spearheaded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety...
Truck Driver Log App Is Coming
The TruckingOffice truck driver log app is on its way! We anticipate its official release by early fall. This will give you plenty of time to prepare for the December 17 switch to electronic logbooks. We’ve spent a lot of time looking over the government...
When Will Electronic Logbooks Be Mandatory?
Many drivers have been asking one question. “When will electronic logbooks be mandatory?” Asking “When will electronic logbooks be mandatory” might be the wrong question altogether. Remember that your competitors are always trying to one-up...
What Does ELD Mean and Why You Should Know
Are you asking yourself, what does ELD mean? You’re not alone. This simple term is causing a lot of waves in the trucking world. In this post, we’ll explain the basics of ELDs and why they’re important. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised...
ELD Mandate: Truth and Myths
The deadline for complying with the ELD mandate is December 17, 2017, according to the FMCSA website. You’ll need to have your vehicles compliant by that date. Unfortunately, there’s a ton of misinformation floating around about the ELD mandate, both on...
Oversize Load of IFTA Anxiety
IFTA Anxiety Are you a trucker who cares about what goes into your trailer? Do you double and triple check to make sure that everything on your flatbed is secured and stable before you get behind the wheel? Do you take pride in your ride and take the time to clean...
3 Keys to Success in Trucking: Organization, Customers, & Data
It’s not like these are big secrets. If you talk to any successful trucker or broker, they’ll tell you the same things. The three keys to success are Organization Finding the problems and solving them Building up the customer base. As a broker with many...
Here’s What the New Electronic Driver Logbook Rules May Do to Your Livelihood
The 21st Century Driver Electronic Logbook The trucking industry is always changing and evolving. One of the biggest changes we have seen in the 21st century is the electronic log book device. Some know it as the ELD, mandate. An ELD is an electronic device. It allows...
Record Keeping: Why you must organize your owner-operator business
How well do you keep your records? Do you know where to find them – four years later? Do you know why that’s important? TruckingOffice trucking software knows. Two words: IFTA audit. It’s pretty easy to let numbers slide and let the record keeping go....
IFTA Reporting Forms: 6 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you’re a kid, scary is ghosts, goblins and things that go bump downstairs after your parents go to bed. When you’re a teenager, scary is roller coasters, horror movies, going shopping with your mother, and going to bed before your parents. Now that...Owner Operator Trucking Software to Fit Your Budget
Looking at owner operator trucking software? As an owner operator, you need just a few things to get started as a trucker. You need: a cab a trailer a load a way to manage all the paperwork including dispatches, routing, invoices, late payments, factoring, IFTA,...Get Organized With Your IFTA
Get Organized WITH Your IFTA! Every year, I thought the same thing – I need to be ready for the IFTA. I’d do everything I could think of to get organized and ready for it. Every year, I’d find something else that could go wrong and I’d spend a couple of days wondering...What Should an Owner-Operator Do to Keep Organized?
As an owner-operator, you’re responsible for all of your paperwork and compliance to all the laws. I found I could get snowed under really quickly if I didn’t take care of my paperwork. If I didn’t do it after every load, I at least had to do it...Here’s a Look at Recent Trucking Industry Trends
Keeping up with trucking industry trends is a smart move for any professional in our industry. So here’s a look at what’s going on in the world of transportation: Careers in Trucking Studies show the average American truck driver is in his late 40s. This points out...What’s an Owner Operator’s Biggest Fear?
Gus loves driving. Every minute he’s on the road, he’s happier than a pig in mud. Becoming an owner operator was a dream come true for him. Gus hates every minute he spends at the computer, trying to manage his books. He’s organized. He’s...
Organizing Your Profits with the Company Overview Report
If you’re an owner-operator or running a small truck fleet, trying to figure out if you’re making money and where you’re losing it is not a simple process. Normal business accounting programs just don’t cut it. That’s why you need a...3 Things Owner Operators Can Organize in the New Year
Making New Years Resolutions to Get Organized? As an owner operator, you’re responsible for all of your paperwork and compliance to all the laws. I found I could get snowed under really quickly if I didn’t get organized and take care of my paperwork. If...Why is record-keeping important? IFTA Audit
Two words why you need to be keeping a close eye on your record-keeping: IFTA audit. It’s pretty easy to let numbers slide. Some people don’t fill out the monthly reports, don’t keep the old decals (did you know you need to keep those for 4 years?)...Will Your Trucking Software Grow With You?
If you’re thinking about expanding your owner-operator business, here’s why you should be looking closely at your software choices now. Getting caught in a spreadsheet based software like Excel or Google Docs spreadsheets might be manageable now… but...Are You Afraid of the IFTA?
It was a dark and stormy night. One Friday when the fleet manager went out to inspect each of the trucks, he noticed that in the first truck the odometer was 1,000 miles off from the driver’s logbook. In the second truck, the difference was even greater…...Get Organized WITH Your IFTA!
Get Organized WITH Your IFTA! Every year, I thought the same thing – I need to be ready for the IFTA. I’d do everything I could think of to get organized and ready for it. Every year, I’d find something else that could go wrong and I’d spend a couple of days wondering...Organization – Paper or Electronic Copy?
It would be a nightmare if I’d gotten this call before we started TruckingOffice. A bill that’s almost 6 months overdue is being contested because they claim they hadn’t gotten the bill of lading. In the old days, first I would have had to go through my spreadsheets...Implementing an Electronic Driver Logbook? 5 Things to Know
There’s a lot to think about when implementing an electronic driver logbook. Here are five factors to take into consideration:An electronic driver logbook makes dispatchers and load planners partially responsible for moving violations, since the devices involve them...Owner Operator Organization Tips
As an owner operator, you’re responsible for all of your paperwork and compliance to all the laws. I found I could get snowed under really quickly if I didn’t take care of my paperwork. If I didn’t do it after every load, I at least had to do it...Recent Changes to Federal DOT Regulations on HoS
Recent changes in federal DOT regulations have transformed the old rules regarding hours of service for professional drivers. Understanding the new mandates is important for all truckers. So here’s a breakdown ofhow they’ve changed the game in the transportation...The Driver Logbook: Key to Accident Investigations
To understand just how important an accurate driver logbook is to your company’s future, consider the following true story: On July 21, 2014, a semi driven by a trucker named Francisco Espinal Quiroz was going down I-55 southwest of Chicago when it collided with a...How the Electronic Driver Logbook Improves Safety
The electronic driver logbook has revolutionized how drivers log their work time. Here are some of the ways this innovation is making America’s roads safer: The electronic driver logbook reduces the amount of work drivers must do when recording their activities. In...The Electronic Driver Logbook Proposal: What it Means for You
Is an Electronic Driver Logbook Coming Soon to Your Truck? The vast majority of commercial drivers are honest, hardworking people. However, there are a few rotten apples in every bunch. This is seen in the wrecks that occur every year due to truckers who insist on...This Quarter, How Are You Filing Your IFTA?
Is this your IFTA Filing? October 1 8:00 a.m. Swear that this quarter, the IFTA filing is going to be better. 8:20 a.m. Look for all of the log books and fuel receipts for the 3rd quarter. 8:39 a.m. Find a stack of log books, an opened purple envelope with a Spanish...Enforcing DOT Regulations in Your Workplace
Obeying DOT regulations is a key part of succeeding in the transportation industry. The rules of the road, even those you may not agree with, are intended to protect both professional drivers and the public. Breaking them can result in fines, loss of business or...Auditing the Driver Logbook: Preventing Future Problems
After auditing a driver logbook, you may find everything to be in perfect order. If that’s the case, then thank your lucky stars. It’s more likely, however, that you’ll find at least a few causes for concern. In some cases, you may even discover some very shocking...Auditing the Driver Logbook: Revealing Your Findings to the Driver
When self-auditing the driver logbookfor one of your employees, one of two results will surely occur: The records will be in order, which means the driver deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. The records will reveal some problems, which you will need to...Owner Operators: IFTA filings in 91 minutes!
Don’t believe us when we say that your IFTA filing can be done in 91 minutes? You don’t think you have time to start up a new IFTA filing system. If you’re an owner-operator, you’re looking at that calendar with some concern – the IFTA is...IFTA Trucking Software: One Minute Entry to Multiple Uses
What if one minute a day could save you hours on your IFTA filing and help you manage your business? I used to spend two weeks getting ready for the IFTA filing, and then, it was so complicated, I would take all my work to the IRS offices to get help and be sure it...Self-Auditing the Driver Logbook: What to Look for After a Wreck
One of the main reasons for self-auditing a driver logbook is to catch bad habits before they turn into fines, tickets, or even accidents. Despite your best efforts, though, sometimes bad things happen anyway. So, in this post, let’s look at what you should do if...Free Load Profit Calculator for Truckers
How To Get Your Own Trucking Authority
Get Your Own Trucking Authority
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