Blog - Bulldog Truck Sales | Truck Sales, Lease & Financing

Atlanta Is The American Transportation Research Institute’s Top Truck Bottleneck City for 2018

If you live in Atlanta, you probably are not shocked to learn that the American Transportation Research (ATRI) Institute named the city of Atlanta as #1 in the 2018 Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List. Each year, since 2002, the ATRI has collected and processed truck GPS data. They do this “in support of the Federal Highway Administrations’ Freight Performance Measures initiative, a program that maintains and monitors a series of performance measures related to the nation’s truck-based freight transportation system.” They see the value to measuring freight movement performance so we can better understand where and what level future investments should be made.

This effort by the ATRI will help stakeholders in both the private and public sectors better understand the severity of congestion and mobility constraints on the U.S. highway transportation system. Through the testing and measurements completed, it was found that Atlanta, Georgia (I-285 at I-85 North) is the largest bottleneck area in the United States. In addition to this stretch of highway, several other areas of Atlanta also made the list including:

#4 1-75 at I-285 North
#17 I-20 at I-285 West
#46 I-20 at I-285 East
#79 1-20 at I-75/I-85
#90 I-75 at I-85
#95 I-75 at I-675

In addition to this information, the ARTI also found that the most critical challenges facing the trucking industry in 2017 were: Driver Shortage, ELD Mandate, Hours of Service, Truck Parking and Driver Retention.

At Bulldog Truck Sales, we want to help you and other drivers be a solution to some of these issues facing the trucking industry. We proudly serve in Cumming, Georgia and Mesa, Arizona. Come see us today and let’s discuss ways we can get you in a truck through our leasing programs.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

The DRIVE-Safe Act

Have you heard of the DRIVE-Safe Act that relates to the shortage of truck drivers in the United States?

The act explains the problem as:

“As we work to strengthen America’s roads, bridges, and highways, it’s important that our workforce keeps pace with our infrastructure improvements.”

The act’s solution suggested is:

“The Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act”, or the DRIVE-Safe Act would allow employers to provide CDL holders below the age of 21 with an extensive apprenticeship program that will prepare them to be able to drive interstate commerce.”

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the truck driver shortage. An aging workforce without young talent to fill the pipeline is the primary contributing factor. This shortage has hurt the food industry and other vital industries as well.

It is yet to be seen if this DRIVE-Safe Act will pass in the House or Senate. It’s also unknown what kind of impact this act may have on the shortage of truck drivers. If passed, it has the potential to help 18 to 21 year olds extend the routes they can drive, but it’s not clear if the new legislation will be able to fill the shortage of truck drivers in the industry.

To follow the latest updates on H.R. 5358: DRIVE-Safe Act you can go to govtrack. Why not let Bulldog Truck Sales get you into a truck to get you on the road to help fill the truck driver shortage that our nation is facing? We have high quality, late model commercial trucks at affordable prices, attractive terms with creative financing and lease programs available.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Your Credit Score And Your Ability To Lease A Truck

At Bulldog Truck Sales, we are passionate about getting you into a quality brand name truck at an affordable price. We have a leasing program that is designed to help you if you have experienced credit issues in the past, but are now stable and ready to get back to work.

Bulldog’s Leasing Plan Includes:

Short term (36-42 month) lease purchase agreement
Low fixed payments of $1,400 to $1,950 per month
All leases include a two year warranty and DOT inspection
Credit scores as low as 500 accepted

The Road to Good Credit

Just like driving a truck, driving your credit scores up requires good direction, careful attention and time. If you are working on getting your credit score increased so you can get back to driving, here are a few tips that may help you speed up the process and raise your credit score.

Just as you use GPS to guide you on where and when to turn on the road, use a payment reminder system to help guide and remind you where and when to make a payment. Losing track of payments can get you lost. You can request text reminders and even set up automatic payments so you won’t miss another payment and drop your credit score.
Pay off your credit cards a.s.a.p. Choose the highest interest cards first, then work your way through the others. In addition to paying them off, stop using them as well.
Seek assistance from a credit counseling service. This will not hurt your credit score.

Contact Bulldog Truck Sales today. Even if you have bad credit, you may still qualify for one of our affordable truck leasing programs and financing option.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Conducting a Fuel Efficient Checkup

Checkups are important in every area of our lives. Report cards, annual doctor visits and work reviews are all a part of the quality assurance process. They make us pause and examine what we’re doing to see if we’re on the right track, and then make necessary adjustments for higher outcomes.

With this in mind, let’s conduct a fuel efficiency checkup to see how you’re doing and highlight any areas or practices that you could change to get optimal results from your fuel at the lowest possible cost.

Speed Management – Have you ever heard the term about the ‘means to an end?’ It refers to how you get to the end of whatever it is you’re doing. This is important when considering the act of getting to your end destination while driving. The ‘means’ is important. Managing your speed will help give you optimal fuel economy. Increased speeds result in decrease fuel economy.
Weight Management- Check to ensure that you’re not carrying unnecessary items in your truck. Increased weight equals decreased fuel economy. Minimize the extras in your truck that you can do without.
Pressure Management- Make it a practice to routinely check the pressure in your tires. If you notice a tire is frequently low on pressure, check it and replace. Overly inflated tires create over-paying on your fuel.

How are you doing on your fuel efficiency habits? Changing poor fuel efficiency habits could result in saving you hundreds of dollars over time. Come in to see us at Bulldog Truck Sales. We have high quality, late model commercial trucks at affordable prices, attractive terms with creative financing and lease programs available for you. We care about you and your wallet, let us show you how.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Keeping Your Back In The Saddle

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” –Winston Churchill

At Bulldog Truck Sales, we want to help you get in the truck of your dreams. If you’ve been out of trucking for a while, or if you’re a fresh new driver, our goal is to get you on the road. While you’re on the road we’d like to remind you to take care of your back so you can “saddle up” in your truck and hit the road, pain-free!

Hopping into the seat of your truck should be considered just as carefully as if you were hopping into the saddle of a horse. There’s a proper way to “saddle up” in your truck that can prevent back pain and other health issues.

Keep your feet flat on the floor of your truck.
If you need to lower the seat for your feet to hit the floor, do it!
Keep your ankles in front of your knees.
Create a small space between the back of your knees and the front of your seat. This allows your blood to circulate properly.
Ensure that your backrest in your seat is able to support your low and middle back. You can also employ the help of a support cushion if you need to.
Keep your shoulders relaxed.
Your forearms should be parallel to the floor for the most part.
Try adjusting your seating position often.
Take your wallet out of your back pocket. It can set your spine off center and irritate your sciatic nerve.
Do not wear skinny jeans! They will cut off your circulation.

Bulldog Truck Sales wants to help you keep your pain-free back in your truck! Come and see us and we’ll get you on the road.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

HB 673

Have you heard that House Bill 673 was passed in Georgia recently? HB 673 prohibits motorists from handling their cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2018. You can read more about the passing of the bill here at myAJC.

So what does this new House Bill 673 mean for truck drivers? It means the same thing for truck drivers as it does anyone else that drives.

While driving your truck you may not shoot any videos.
While driving your truck you may not watch any movies.
While driving your truck you may not hold your phone and talk on it or text, email or anything else requiring you to handle your phone while driving.
While driving your truck you may talk on the phone and even text as long as you use your hands-free technology.

Here are some helpful steps for helping you break the habit of using your cell phone in the car.

Remember stories of families who have lost loved ones due to distracted driving. Allow their loss to be your inspiration for breaking your harmful and destructive habit.
Keep your phone or electronic device out of arm’s reach so it is never a temptation to reach for.
Explain to your friends and family members that you will not be responding to them immediately via the phone.
Install an app that instantly tells others that you’re driving when they text you so they know you’ll respond as soon as you stop driving and it’s safe to text or call.
Join other truckers in keeping each other accountable to HB 673.

Bulldog Truck Sales wants to keep everyone safe on the road in our trucks. Come in and see us today so we can get you on the road in safely and in style.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Healthy Snacking On The Road

It’s no surprise that truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel. We know we’re stating the obvious. But, what are less obvious are the health issues that can arise as a result of this type of occupation. Contributing factors to these health issues are extended periods of sitting and bad eating habits. It’s important to keep this in mind as you’re planning your journey by staying educated on preventative measures and also symptoms that something possibly can be wrong with your health.

Common Health Issues of Truck Drivers

Obesity
Metabolic issues
An increased blood pressure
Blood sugar irregularities.
Excess body fat in the abdomen
High cholesterol
Extreme fatigue
Musculoskeletal injuries

While this may all seem very depressing, the good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to prevent some of these issues. Many of these are related to your diet on the road. One simple way to help prevent health issues on the road is to plan ahead on your snacks.

If the average truck driver snacks two times per day, then it’s important to make those two times count toward promoting a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips for healthy snacking on the road.

Plan ahead and pack your snack. Truck stops have a plethora of processed foods for you to choose from. Pack a fresh fruit or veggie on your road trip to snack on.
If you’re searching for salty, crunchy munchies then choose nuts over chips or other high fat packaged options.
Replace your sugary and caffeine-filled drinks with water to wash down your healthy snacks.

Bulldog Truck Sales wants to help you stay on the road along with a healthy lifestyle. Come and see us today and let us help get you behind the wheel of your dream truck.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Opioids

The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that there were changes in the drug testing program effective January 1, 2018. Opioids are a class of drugs that are useful as pain relievers and are generally safe when taken for a short time as prescribed by a doctor. However, due to the euphoric effects of the drug, it can become an addiction very quickly. The new DOT testing program now requires that testing for four semi-synthetic opioids.

Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
Hydromorphone
Oxymorphone

President Trump recently declared a national opioid crisis. These highly addictive drugs cause a euphoric state and are dangerous. The DOT’s new drug testing rule is part of an effort to reduce the nation’s dependence on these prescription painkillers. In 2016, more than two million Americans had an addiction to prescription or illicit opioids.

“The best way to prevent drug addiction and overdose is to prevent people from abusing drugs in the first place. If they don’t start, they won’t have a problem.” –
President Trump

If you are on prescribed medication, it is important to let your employer know. There may be further notifications that you need to make for approval to work. You should also discuss your

prescription medication use with your prescribing physician to talk about any safety issues that may arise with regard to your truck driving work. Let your doctor know what functions you provide for your work to ensure the prescription you receive is safe for you and will not impact the effectiveness and safety of your job.

Bulldog Truck Sales wants to see you safely in the truck and job of your dreams! Contact us to get you behind the wheel.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

Turning Your Pit “Stop” Into A Pit “Go”

Trucking has so much to do with GO, GO, GO! Go the distance, clock is running and miles are covered. All of this “going” happens while you’re sitting. Your body is doing more sitting than going. The contrast between the movements of your truck and lack of movements in your body is vast.

While you’re working your job, your body may be suffering from muscle pain, back pain, weight gain or fatigue. The best way to combat the lack of movement is by turning your pit stop into a pit go! Here are a few ways to get moving during your pit stop.

Pump Iron While You Pump Gas

While your gas is pumping, pump your muscles as well! Don’t hop out of your truck empty-handed when you go to pump your gas. Grab a 10-pound weight or two as you hop out of your truck. Do some reps while waiting for your tank to fill. Fill your muscles with strength while filling your tank. Here are a few strength-building exercises to do with your weight or weights.

Catch Some Air (possibly while you check the air in your tires)

You’ve spent so much of your day with your foot to the petal, why not practice giving your feet a little airtime at your next pit stop? Jump rope, long jump or improve how high you can jump using this method.

Stretch It Out

Your psoas muscles are the main connectors between your legs and torso and can cause truckers a great deal of back and hip flexor pain. It’s a hard muscle to stretch, but vital for pain-free driving. Here are a few stretches to keep your psoas loose.

Bulldog Truck Sales cares about keeping you on the road. Call us today to help you get and stay in your truck for years to come!

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales

The Olympics May Help You Steer Clear Of Highway Hypnosis

There’s no better way to avoid highway hypnosis than to keep up with your favorite Olympic athletes and sports this month. Highway Hypnosis, also known as White Line Fever, happens when a driver spaces out or loses focus while driving. The moments can last briefly, but can also last over the course of many miles without even realizing it and jeopardizing safety.

Highway hypnosis does not discriminate. It can happen to new drivers and seasoned drivers as well. With this in mind, every driver needs to take steps to avoid the harmful potential effects.

One way to avoid highway hypnosis is to keep your mind engaged. During the month of February, there’s no better way to stay engaged than to keep up with what’s happening in Pyeongchang, South Korea. You can follow the Olympics here for a list of all the events, athletes and schedule. Which sport will you be following closely this year? The bobsledding is always exciting.

Opening your window to get fresh air like an Olympic bobsledder will help you feel fresh and keep a clear mind. Fresh air gives you a feeling of invigoration and awakes your mind to avoid highway hypnosis.

Your smartphone can help you keep up with updates at your stops. You can also engage with other drivers or family members who are keeping up with Olympic results as well.

The Winter Olympics are the perfect way to avoid Highway Hypnosis this winter. Nobody ever said truck driving needed to be boring. Come see us at Bulldog Truck Sales today.

Posted on behalf of Bulldog Truck Sales