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When choosing a factoring company for your business needs, there are a handful of things to consider that can benefit your company.

High Advances

Steelhead Factoring offers more flexibility when it comes to rate and advances.  This means more money in your pocket on the front end.  Cash flow is vital and we want to make sure you have the ability to operate your business in the most optimal way.

 

Fuel Card Discounts

Receive some of the top discounts in the industry! You will also be able to manage your fleet’s fuel expenditures with Steelhead’s Cost Plus Platinum EFS Fuel Card.  This card is universally accepted for fuel and repairs at most major truck stops that include AmBest, Flying J, Pilot, Petro, Love’s, TA, and many others.  You’ll be able to see real-time discounts while you’re on the road.

 

Load Board Access

Keep your business moving and stay loaded with freight from trusted brokers and shippers.  When you partner with Steelhead Factoring you’ll be able to get your first 30 day usage for free.  It’s time to make finding quality loads quick and easy.

 

Tire/Parts/Maintenance Discounts

Utilize our easy-to-use FTS discount program to save on all your trucking needs.

 

Startup Program

Steelhead Factoring can take the stress, headache, and time out of getting your trucking company on the road.  We can simplify the whole setup process or just one component such as the UCR or BOC-3 for you.

 

Credit Services

Save time and money using our 24/7 Online Credit Checking allowing you to make informed credit decisions on potential customers at any time you need without being limited to business hours.

 

Gold Broker List

Steelhead provides access to a list of pre-qualified brokers to work with.  A quality freight broker may be the most versatile component in your arsenal of freight service vendors.

 

If you’d like to see what Steelhead Factoring can do for your trucking company, give us a call (800.727.3377) and we’d be happy to put together a custom program for you.

The Polar Vortex might have some people taking desperate measures like this guy! We strongly advise against this method to warm the engine.

video credit: Www.jfs-tuning.co.uk

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Cash came flying out of an armored truck in New Jersey in morning rush hour traffic. Drivers slammed the brakes to scoop up the bills from the road.

These truckers spent some time to deck out their big rigs with some amazing Christmas lights!

When you lose your patience waiting for the train.

A truck load of two pound metal balls goes barreling down a hill with cars in the path after a GPS issue.

What is an ELD (Electronic Logging Device)?

An ELD is a DOT-certified electronic component that connects to the engine of a vehicle in order to record driving Hours of Service (HOS) when the vehicle is in motion.

 

Who is required to have an ELD connected to the truck?

All CDL drivers are required to keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) are now required to utilize an ELD to document their compliance with the HOS rules according to the ELD Mandate.

 

Who is exempt from the ELD Mandate?

Drivers conducting driveaway tow-away operations are exempt (vehicle being driven must be the commodity being delivered).

CDL drivers are exempt from logs and 30-minute breaks if they:

• Stay within a 100 air-mile radius of base
• Return to home base at the end of each day
• Drive no more than 11 hours in a 12-hour span (after a minimum of 10 hours off duty)
• Do not exceed more than 8 days out of any 30-day period

Non-CDL drivers are exempt if they:

• Stay within a 150 air-mile radius of base
• Return to home base each day
• For 2 of 7 days – drive no more than 11 hours in a 16-hour span after a minimum of 10 hours off duty
• For 5 of 7 days – drive no more than 11 hours in a 14-hour span after a minimum of 10 hours off duty
• Do not exceed more than 8 days out of any 30-day period

Rental CMVs are exempt for a period of 8 days or fewer of a 30-day period

Operations of any model-year truck that is older than 2000 are exempt.  This is based on the VIN.

 

How much does an ELD cost?

There are numerous ELD providers that offer different services and range in price.  You will typically find pricing on these different applications ranging from $99 to $840 per year per truck.

Utilizing applications from your smart phone or tablet have reduced the cost of operating necessary logging and recording that once required fixed hardware inside the truck.

Steelhead Factoring will cover the cost of your first year when you get set up for factoring.  Find out how you can get your ELD set up for FREE.

 

Do I need an ELD if I only run intrastate?

Different states have adopted the federal electronic logging device regulations at a different rate.

Blue states indicated to Overdrive they’d already adopted or would soon adopt the ELD mandate for in-state-only truckers on the same enforcement timeline as the federal rule.

Yellow states indicated a timeline was not yet known for adoption or state official had yet to respond.

Red states have formally adopted a relaxed timeline for their intrastate ELD mandates.

Thank you to all the men and women truck drivers for keeping America moving.  We appreciate the hard work you put in every day. So many of us wouldn’t take on the crazy hours or harsh weather conditions.  You do.We don’t think about being away from our homes and families for extended periods of time.  You do.We don’t function with a deadline but also have regulations and devices telling us to stop even though that deadline may not be met yet.  You do.For all the time, energy, and hard work… we thank you.

Many trucking companies have already canceled their orders as Hurricane Florence makes its way to land. Rerouting and other preparations are made to avoid getting stranded. Intense winds and heavy rain will make it difficult in certain areas of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The Great American Truck Show always serves up a variety of knowledge and entertainment.  A few of us from Steelhead Finance made plans to make it back down to Dallas, TX for the show this year after missing it last year.  We experienced quite the adventure before we even landed in Dallas.

The Journey

While we intended to be at GATS first thing Thursday (Day 1), our airline had other plans for us.  We arrived at Medford International Airport at 4:15 am only to find out from the security gate that our flight was delayed to 11:30 am.  Fine… we’ll come back.  When we did, we found out the flight was cancelled.  No time to be frustrated.  How do we get to Dallas?  We rented a one-way car and drove to Eugene, OR since they had a flight out four hours later.  After hauling up Interstate 5 to get there, we discovered that flight was delayed.  Wait, are we destined to not get to Texas?  Can’t hold us down!

We finally flew out to San Francisco.  Four hours to kill on that layover before we made our way to the land of GATS and arrived at 5:30 am (hours before Day 2 of GATS started).  We slept for two hours then popped a Red Bull for breakfast and got after it!

The Truck Show

The moment you walk into the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center you immediately get a trucking high.  There is so much buzz going on in every direction before you even get to the main open pavilion space.  Registration, RedEye Radio conducting interviews, food outlets (which were distracting already), and more.

By the time we entered the main floor we immediately saw some friends from the last time we attended.  It’s always great catching up in what seems to be a massive trucking reunion.  You get to really catch up with people and get to know what they’re doing rather than rely on the occasional social media posts.

There are beautiful trucks everywhere.  It’s always amazing to see the work some of these guys put in behind the chromed out show trucks in the Pride and Polish event.  They will spend years restoring and upgrading.  Take a look at the quick highlight reel with some of the trucks I posted.

We enjoyed connecting with some other long-time friends that include the following folks (that you should definitely check out online when you get a chance:

• George and Wendy (thegandwshow.com)
• Bailey Hawn (Drive-Eld.com)
• Palerider (https://www.youtube.com/user/PaleriderTV)
• Tony Justice (tonyjusticemusic.com)
• David Rogers (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUIhtq-Lbr41-vcJpB-ctnA)
• Tex Crowley (https://www.youtube.com/user/593Films)

These were just a few of the fine people we caught up with at GATS this time around.

The Vendors

There were hundreds of vendors offering up any and every product/service you could think of in the trucking world.  Financing, ELD options, roadside assistance, recruiters, apparel, and the latest gadgets and gizmos just to name a few.  There are a lot of options to test different products such as a squidgy to clean your mirrors, the comfiest seat you’ve ever sat on (for the truck), simulators, tire pressure gauges, headsets, and cameras.  You’ll also find plenty of prize wheels, badge-scanning promotions, and other contesting to win prizes such as time in the money machine, tablets, cold hard cash, shirts, and quite a bit more.

The Sessions

Multiple times throughout the day there are different forums, sessions, classes, presentations, and other events that take place on the three different stages throughout the building.  This time around, there was no shortage of discussions on ELDs.  In fact, one of the first ones I walked in on already had some heated Q&A regarding the way the current regulation is structured.  No big shocker there.

We came across quite a few sessions that allowed for quality banter on hot issues.  In addition to a few sessions on ELDs, we heard general legal topics for drivers, a tax law presentation, parking issues, and financing for trucks and fleets.  The Health and Wellness Pavilion Stage had coaches, doctors, and other experts covering topics like diabetes, fitness, and fatigue behind the wheel.  They also brought in a couple chefs to demonstrate how appropriate diets can be maintained even while on the road.

What’s the Value?

Our crew at Steelhead Finance has found great value in these types of trucking shows over the years and witnessed the great impact it’s had on others in the industry.  Being able to reconnect (or connect for the first time) with big players and up-and-comers in the transportation industry allows everyone to expand their knowledge and awareness regarding what’s currently going on in trucking.

It could be the educational sessions that spark a new way to think about current issues.  It might be connecting with the right recruiters to get you launched.  When you get this many people in the transportation sector together, there’s no telling what opportunities you might come across (or how much wild and crazy fun you can have).

Til next time! We look forward to seeing everyone at MATS in Louisville next year.