Whenever a new year rolls around, most of us feel a bit nostalgic and gung-ho to make the next year even better. Of course, it probably won’t be too difficult to make any year better than 2020.

Looking back over the previous year and gauging what worked and what didn’t is a great way to start a new year in the right gear. Without identifying what didn’t go well, you are destined to repeat it. Below is a list of New Year’s resolution suggestions to start 2021 off well.

• Make healthy eating choices. With the holidays finished, it’s time to say goodbye to the cookies, cakes, pies, and other treats that wrecked your diet. Make sure your healthy diet includes whole grains, protein, and plenty of water. It is fine to eat dessert every so often, but the key is moderation. Make it your goal to eat dessert once a week to keep you on track.
• Move daily. It is easy for truckers to pack on the pounds because of how much you sit all day. It is even easier to put on a lot of weight if you aren’t following a healthy diet. Make a commitment to exercise regularly. Keep a set of weights in your cab to use for 15 minutes each day, go for a walk, or find a YouTube workout video to follow. Moving your body keeps it healthy and strong.
• Improve your mental health. 2020 did a number on many people’s mental health, and it is important that you don’t neglect yours. Find positive ways to de-stress and stay connected with friends and family while you’re on the road. Set boundaries that will help you take care of yourself.
• Prioritize safety. While safety is always important, a new year can bring perspective. Take the time to look at your truck and inspect it closely. Go through a full inspection checklist to ensure that your truck is in shape for the long road ahead.
• Speak up. Most people try to avoid “rocking the boat” because they don’t want to stir up trouble. However, if you see something suspicious at a truck stop – speak up and say something. Truck stops and rest areas can only be safe places when you and your fellow truckers work together to make them safe. A good rule of thumb is to imagine your wife or daughter in a situation. Would you want them there? Would they feel safe? Teaming up with Truckers Against Trafficking can help fight the crime of human trafficking.

Remember, a New Year is a great opportunity to start off in the right gear. What are your 2021 goals or resolutions?

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

The life of a trucker is never boring. While winters are relatively moderate here in Georgia, truckers know that they can be driving comfortably in 75-degree weather one day and end up plowing their way through a blizzard the very next day. Earning a living out on the highway is a life full of constant adaptation. Most truckers travel between 1,500 – 3,000 miles over the course of one week. This mileage can take a single truck from Atlanta, Georgia, to Boston, Massachusetts, in a round-trip. Or, this mileage can have a single truck driving across the nation one week and driving all the way back the following week. Covering this many miles can put truckers in every weather situation possible within a single week.

It is important to have your truck prepped and ready for all types of winter conditions. A little preparation will go a long way if you find yourself sitting in the middle of a snowstorm outside of Boston. It is also why some common-sense precautions can make driving in bad weather safer for you, your truck, and those around you.

Here is a list of things you can do to make sure you’re ready for winter weather:

1. Follow weather maps to know the weather and road conditions ahead of you.
2. Install fresh wiper blades.
3. Lubricate your fifth wheel.
4. Carry WD-40 or similar spray lubricant with you to defrost frozen locks.
5. Use MotorKote to prevent door seals from freezing shut.
6. Always carry spare fluids and an air hose on hand to adjust to how elevation and temperature changes affect fluid levels and air pressures.
7. Prevent your fuel from freezing.
8. Keep an emergency kit with you that includes a flashlight, hand warmers, warm gloves, extra layers of clothing, snacks, bottles of water, a box stove, a battery bank, medicine, and important documents.
9. Always have a list of safe parking areas where you can stop and wait out nasty weather.

Whether you’re an experienced driver or this will be your first winter on the road, you always want to be prepared. Pack more than you think you’ll need when you’re prepping for winter on the road. You may not use everything, but you’ll be glad you have it. Also, you may have the opportunity to help other stranded drivers.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Many people will tell you that flexibility is important in many areas of life. You need to be flexible with your family, your schedule, your expectations, and your time. Well, going into the trucking industry, flexibility is going to be one of the key factors that will make or break your success. You will need to be flexible due to traffic, holiday schedules, and the amount of time waiting at customers. Another area that will require extreme flexibility in the trucking industry is with sleep.

Newbies often have this utopian idea that they will pick up a load, drive, take a break, drive, drop off the load, sleep 8 – 10 hours, and then do it all again. This is an unrealistic expectation. There is a huge misunderstanding about the demands of trucking and sleep patterns. It is important to gain a realistic expectation of how much – or how little – sleep you will actually get some days (or weeks) while out on the road.

The human body was designed with the ability to set a rhythm. Habits, patterns, and surrounding environments help set a healthy rhythm for the body. However, when it comes to trucking, those rhythms are often quite different than what is considered to be “normal.” For many truckers, it is an ongoing struggle to create a healthy wake/sleep rhythm. The trucking industry is 24/7/365. Hours vary depending on routes, and unexpected events can wreck the best-laid plans.

Truckers know that when they have a “10-hour break,” that time will demand much more than just getting rest. You will need time to eat, shower, do laundry, buy groceries, use the restroom, wind down, and get some sleep. Those 10 hours can quickly dwindle to where you only have 5 – 6 hours to get some good shut-eye.

Flexibility is key in the trucking industry. If you have a realistic expectation of getting sleep while you can, making the most of your time, and being disciplined enough to set priorities, you will most likely succeed in the industry. The demands of trucking are high, but with the right mindset and ability to adapt, you can have a career that works for you.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Let’s get straight to the point here: things are crazy in many of America’s largest cities. With no political bias, we can all see that there are rioters, looters, and those set on destruction. It is crazy, and it can be scary for truckers. Now, this isn’t to say that truckers are wimps, but the fact is that your cargo and your personal safety can be at risk when you are traveling on the road.

First things first: The bad news.

If you own a firearm, your state-issued conceal permit is only valid in the state of issue. When you are traveling from state to state, it will be impossible to meet every state’s requirement. Each state has different rules for carrying a gun unloaded. It is also vital to know that most companies have a policy against carrying a gun in your truck. Lastly, most shippers/receivers have large signs saying, “No Firearms Allowed on Property.” So, carrying a gun would violate the terms of you being on the property.

What to do to keep yourself safe:

There is more than one way to protect yourself. Just because you can’t carry a gun in your truck while you are traveling for business does not mean that you can’t protect yourself.

• The most important tool you have to keep yourself safe is your brain. Use it.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Carry yourself with confidence, don’t make yourself look out of place, and listen to your gut.
• Trip plan. If you know you need to travel near certain areas, like Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, or New York, trip plan so that you don’t have to stop in those locations. Unless you are dropping a load in those specific cities right now, avoid them.
• If you need to travel to cities considered dangerous, make your stops during the day when other truckers are out and about. Don’t set yourself up for a 3 am ambush when you’d be all alone.

It truly comes down to not making yourself easy prey. Use your head, and use that tire knocker you keep behind your seat if necessary.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

In years past, most trucks on the roads had manual transmissions. The ability to shift gears was seen as a masculine trait, and only pansies relied on an automatic transmission. In 2020, things look a lot different (in more ways than one). For the trucking industry, our lives have been turned upside down with the stress of COVID-19. Worrying about whether an automatic transmission makes you less of a trucker should sound ridiculous – but the truth is, many truckers still wonder about it.

If we’re being honest, most people consider shifting gears to be a real skill only because they have such a hard time getting the hang of it. Many truckers see conquering the ability to drive a shift stick as an accomplishment, but truly it isn’t. Just because something is difficult to master or seems “cool” does not qualify it as a skill that you need. If you learned to drive your rig as an automatic, stick with an automatic. You are not missing out on anything in regard to manual versus automatic.

“But what about having the automatic restriction on my CDL,” you ask? Don’t be overly concerned about it. It truly isn’t that important in today’s age. Almost everywhere, trucking companies are changing their fleets to auto-shift transmissions. In fact, trucking companies that want manual transmissions have to put in special requests because automatic transmissions are considered the new normal. With the advent of the modern auto-shift transmission, trucking companies have found a way to shave off a little of their operating expenses. Remember, trucking is a commodities business. Every bit of money savings decision can mean more money in your pocket.

Let the thrill of the road and driving a huge truck be where you get your kicks. Driving a rig with an automatic transmission does not make you any less of a trucker. Get out there, put miles on your tires, and enjoy the ride.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Ask any old-timer who’s been on the road for a few years, and you’ll learn that being a truck driver is one of the best jobs out there. Unfortunately, some rookie truck driver mistakes can sabotage your career.

• Thinking it will be easy. People go into trucking as a profession for many reasons. However, assuming that trucking will be an easy way to earn a living is not a good reason. The first year, especially, is rough. CDL training is hard, and many people back out of trucking before they make it through the year. It’s helpful to remember that once you survive CDL training, all you have learned and the experience you’ve garnered will benefit you in your career.
• Becoming arrogant. It is great to have confidence, but arrogance can get you into trouble. Most accidents and issues occur from drivers who become cocky and make mistakes. Everyone will mess up, but when overconfidence has you doing things you shouldn’t be doing, your reputation and salary will suffer.
• Trying to be a perfectionist. Beating yourself up over stupid rookie mistakes will not help you succeed. Go ahead and accept that you will lock yourself out of your truck, get lost, arrive late, have a minor accident, and maybe even drop a trailer on the ground. It will be okay. Learn from your mistake and move on. Don’t let not being “perfect” keep you from driving. You’re in great company when you mess up because we all do it.
• Learn to compromise. Now, this doesn’t mean that you compromise your morals when you’re out on the road. If you’ve got a wife and kids at home, you stay faithful and refuse to compromise. But, you’ll often find that reality differs from your expectations. Learn to be flexible and to compromise on issues that aren’t that big of a deal. Trucking will leave you exhausted, but by learning the tricks of the trade, you will become focused.

A career in trucking isn’t easy, but it can be worth it. Take every opportunity to learn. While you’re still in your rookie season, be a good student. When you start hitting the road and your truck needs work, ask the mechanic lots of questions. Listen to ridiculous situations that other truckers get themselves into, and then make a commitment not to be “that driver.”

Remember, this is your career. It’s up to you to make it successful.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Summer is officially underway, and there will be more traffic on the roadways. Also, with the lifting of many COVID-19 restrictions, more and more people are finding themselves out and about simply because they have the freedom to do so. With more people on the road, and with the summer season underway, there are more safety issues to be aware of as you take to the highways.

Here are some helpful summer driving tips:

1. Wear your sunscreen. As you sit in the driver’s seat of your rig, you are constantly exposed to morning, daytime, and evening sun beating through your windows and windshield. Many people mistakenly believe that glass protects them from sun damage, but that is NOT the case. If you’ve ever noticed more freckles or sunspots on the left side of your body than your right side, it is because your left side is taking a beating from the sun. Wearing sunscreen, long sleeves, and a sun hat can help protect your skin from sun damage.
2. Keep hydrated. As the sun beats through the glass in your driving cabin, it will deplete your hydration levels. It is crucial that you always have water available to drink. Everyone should aim to drink eight, 8-oz bottles of water a day. It is also important to remember that soft drinks can deplete your hydration levels – water is always your best choice.
3. Watch out for crowded roads. As mentioned above, people travel more during the summer, especially on holiday weekends. As people travel, they are more likely to be on roads that they are unfamiliar with, and they tend to be more erratic in their driving. Keep a safe distance between other drivers, always being aware of those around you.
4. Keep your rig properly maintained. With crowded roads, you will often find that you use your brakes more. With all of the rainfall that we have seen in Georgia this year, you are probably using your windshield wipers more than ever in years past. You need to ensure that you are maintaining your tires, brakes, wipers, and other components of your truck to ensure that you are safe on the roads.

If you are looking for an affordable, short-term commercial truck lease, we invite you to visit our facility and to test drive our trucks or to call us at 678-212-1302 to speak with one of our representatives.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Roadside inspections are inevitable for truckers because they are considered a critical part of the trucking industry. The main goal of “Roadchecks” is to ensure that truck drivers are compliant with the laws and are operating safely on the road. Preparing now for the upcoming roadcheck of 2020 will help you be ready for the possibility of being stopped and inspected. It is crucial that you understand that failing a roadcheck will result in a loss of money. You will have to take time off of the road to address the issues brought up from your failed roadcheck, and this can be a massive setback to you and your company. Therefore, take the time now to prepare.

The majority of things that are checked fall under Level 1 Inspections. By following these tips, you can avoid violations when you are stopped for Roadcheck 2020:

• All sides of tractor and trailer
• Lights
• Wheels, tires (including tread depth and tire pressure), rims, and hubs
• Brakes
• Major safety components
• Proper load securement
• Proper paperwork
  
  
  • Identification
  • Drivers License/CDL
  • Medical Examiners Certificate
  • Vehicle Inspection Certificate
  • Record of Duty Status
  • Periodic Inspection Reports
  • Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate
  • Shipping Papers
• Hours of Service
• Electronic Logging Devices (make sure your device is functioning correctly)

You will learn whether or not you pass or fail roadcheck 2020 after it is complete. Passing means that no critical violations were found, and you will receive a CVSA decal to display on your vehicle to indicate that your vehicle passed. Failing means that critical violations were found, and your vehicle will be placed as “out of service.” You will not be able to operate your truck until the vehicle or driver violations are corrected.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Taking the time now to prepare for an inevitable roadcheck in 2020 is the best way to ensure that you and your vehicle stay on the road.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

President Donald Trump has thanked American Truckers for their consistent and unwavering dedication to get needed supplies to businesses and consumers all across the Nation. “Thank God for truckers!” President Trump said on the South Lawn of the White House for an event honoring America’s truckers for their heroism, patriotism, and service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

While millions of Americans have been under shelter-in-place orders, truckers have had to keep on trucking. Peggy Dorf, an analyst with the freight marketplace DAT Solutions, wrote that “COVID-19 is causing the mother of all supply chain disruptions.” Emergency medical supplies like masks, soap, and ventilators need to be transported from manufacturers to medical centers. The raw materials required to produce those things need to get to factories. Grocery shelves need to be stocked, and restocked quickly, as Americans have faced a shortage in food and toilet paper across the country.

Truckers have kept American running! They are the unsung heroes who are getting all the toilet paper and food that Americans need to shelter-in-place. Many truckers are facing times of hardship on the road, but they have chosen to keep on for America’s best interest.

Many truckers rely on truck stops to get hot meals, showers, and camaraderie during their long hauls. Yet, right now, quarantine measures are preventing all of these. Many generous businesses and people have expressed their appreciation for the job that truckers are doing by supplying free meals, gift cards, and handing out thank you notes. Americans now realize that truckers are essential workers. Not just “essential” because of a global pandemic – but essential because of the services that they provide to Americans day in and day out.

Tucker Carlson paid tribute to America’s truckers on his primetime national TV program:

“America has only avoided collapse – not an exaggeration – because of one group: millions of truck drivers who are continuing to keep this economic engine running and its stores full.”

Here at Bulldog Truck Sales, we couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Truckers! God bless America!

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Buying or leasing a truck is a big step in your career. At Bulldog Truck Sales, we know how important it is for drivers to feel comfortable and “at home” in their truck when they are on the road for hours on end. Many drivers want to make sure that their truck is a personal reflection of who they are. Bulldog Truck Sales will help you get on the road safely, with all our trucks being DOT ready. Our one-year warranty that is included within the price of your truck will give you the peace of mind you need for your purchase. We offer different styles and colors to help you feel confident in your ride. Yet, after you make your purchase or lease, you may always want to personalize your truck to suit your style.

There are many ways to personalize your truck. If you lease your truck, you will need to customize your ride with non-permanent options; if you own your truck, your options are wide open. Here are some ways you can personalize your truck so that it reflects you:

Personalized accessories:

• Seat covers
• Steering wheels
• Floor mats
• Personalized bedding for your sleeper
• Navigation systems (or navigation mounts for leased trucks)
• Fuzzy dice

Upgraded personalization options:

• Custom wheel flaps
• Removable decals or window clings

Finding your truck does not have to be a long, hard search. At Bulldog Truck Sales, we can make the search easy. We have high quality, late model commercial trucks at affordable prices. We offer attractive terms with creative financing and lease programs available. Come in today to find the truck that is right for you.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales