Since 1981, Steelhead Finance been providing financing options for businesses. Contact Steelhead Finance to move your business forward with convenient invoice factoring and cash flow tools.Metal Ball Pummel Cars from Truck Load
A truck load of two pound metal balls goes barreling down a hill with cars in the path after a GPS issue.
Top 5 Questions About ELDs for Your Truck
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.
Truck Driver Appreciation – from the Steelhead Factoring Staff
Hurricane Florence Update in Trucking
GATS 2018 – Quick Review of Great American Truck Show
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.
Can Your Truck Do This?
This trucking stuntman can pull off some amazing moves with the truck.
Surprise Truck Driver Appreciation
These truckers were caught off guard as we had cards signed by everyone in our office saying “thank you” for the hard work and dedication these men and women put forth to keep America moving. We included gift cards to a handful of outlets to add to our gratitude.
We wanted to take advantage of this opportunity as we got out to this truck stop to greet truckers and say how much we appreciate what they do. Many drivers wondered what the catch was. No catch. We just wanted to spread a little thanks as we get closer to Truck Driver Appreciation Week. We didn’t want to wait!
Thank you for all you do!
Dump Truck vs Overhead Sign
Watch this dump truck go head to head against this overhead sign. The sign holds his own in this battle.
Do You Really Miss Winter That Much?
It may be hot out, but do you really miss winter that much?
7 Trucking Blogs Worth Following
There’s a lot of experienced people in trucking out there. Fortunately, for a lot of us, many take to the web to inform and update about the hurdles, struggles, and solutions to the problems in the way of a blog. 
This gives them a regular voice over the internet waves and allows us to take advantage of their nuggets of wisdom and entertainment. Yes, this is a blog about blogs. Is that some form of blog inception?
1. Trucking Life Blog
About: Get real about Trucking. This blog poses questions and posts about trucking lifestyle, trucking jobs, trucking schools, and other transportation related information.
Blog: http://www.lifeasatrucker.com/trucking-life-blog.html
2. Real Women in Trucking
About: This blog looks to assist newcomers to the industry see beyond the inflated claims of the “Truck Driver Shortage” and realize that high turnover in entry-level truck driver training is occurring because of a broken system.
Blog: http://www.realwomenintrucking.com/blog/#
3. Allie Knight
About: This is more of a vlog but their videos are fun, quirky, and beautifully shot. Yes, they use video equipment beyond the camera phone. It adds a fun dynamic to the things going on in the lives of a trucker and more specifically a couple going through it together.
Blog: https://www.allieknight.com/videos/
4. Trucker to Trucker
About: This site is a sales platform for buying and selling trucks, parts, and other equipment. They also offer an insightful blog about different topics going on in the trucking world.
Blog: https://truckertotrucker.com/blog/
5. Truckers of Reddit
About: This mostly opinion-based forum (Reddit) has questions, thoughts, and reactions to various topics in trucking. It’s not a single blog, per se, but gives some great insight into the different things being dealt with on the road.
Blog: https://www.reddit.com/r/Truckers/
6. Smart Trucking
About: This blog is written by Catherine and Dave. They offer and share information, advice, tips, and honest opinions.
Blog: https://www.smart-trucking.com/trucker-blog
7. Healthy Trucker
About: It seems to be the most neglected skill… staying healthy while on the road. This blog can help with eating habits, exercises, and other tips to help maintain your trucker body from slipping away because you’re “too busy” to do anything about it. So grab a donut and a Red Bull and read up. Wait… Maybe read first.