--- title: Blue Ink Tech Blog | Mike Riegel (3) description: The Blue Ink Tech blog covers various topics important to the trucking industry from Dash cams, truck weights , ELD to fleet management (3) --- [![BIT\_logo\_white\_trans\_128px](https://blog.blueinktech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BIT_logo_white_trans_128px.png?width=70&height=70&name=BIT_logo_white_trans_128px.png "BIT_logo_white_trans_128px")](https://blueinktech.com/index.php) - [Home](https://blueinktech.com/index.php) - [Dashcam](https://blueinktech.com/dashcam.php) - [Air Scale](https://blueinktech.com/air_scale.php) - [ELD](https://blueinktech.com/eld.php) - [Contact](https://blueinktech.com/contact-us.php) - [Blog](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog) - [Login](https://blueinktech.com/login.php) ## Blue Ink Tech Blog Less Paperwork, More Driving # Blue Ink Tech Blog ## Mike Riegel ### Recent Posts ## [What are the 8 DOT inspection levels](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-8-dot-inspection-levels) If you are a property or passenger carrying carrier then chances are you are going to have a couple DOT inspections during your career. In 2021 there were over 1,800,000 inspections performed by the . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) December 14, 2022 --- ## [Never search for truck scales near me again](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/never-search-for-truck-scales-near-me-again) Being in the trucking industry means having to travel to areas that you are not familiar with. You have to locate places to park, find fuel, scale loads and more. Having to search for "truck scales . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) December 9, 2022 --- ## [How to work with cheap freight and low spot rates](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/how-to-work-with-cheap-freight-and-low-spot-rates) The trucking industry in one of the most competitive industries in the market today. There are over 4.5 million trucks on the road and over 85% of carriers in the industry belongs to owner/operations . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) December 5, 2022 --- ## [Adjusting Truck Weight by Sliding the 5th Wheel or Trailer Tandem Axle](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/adjusting-truck-loads-by-sliding-the-5th-wheel-and-trailer-tandem-axle) [Getting a truck properly loaded and balanced](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/properly-balancing-your-truck-and-trailer-loads) is almost a science in the trucking industry. There are a lot of tools that help drivers understand how much they are hauling and how to adjust the truck . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 22, 2022 --- ## [5 Mistakes that put New Carriers Out of Business](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/5-mistakes-that-put-new-carriers-out-of-business) Trucking is one of the most competitive industries to be in. There are over 4.5 million trucks on the road in the US and they are all looking for loads to haul. With the amount of available trucks . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 21, 2022 --- ## [Overweight Violations Issued by State in 2022](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/overweight-violations-issued-by-state-in-2022) We recently compiled violation data collected by the FMCSA to show trends in enforcement over the course of the year. We are looking at overweight violation trends over the year and when compared to . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 17, 2022 --- ## [The Truck Crash Indicator BASIC](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-crash-indicator-basic) The Crash Indicator [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 15, 2022 --- ## [What do Weigh-in-Motion Scale Systems Mean for Trucking Enforcement?](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-do-weigh-in-motion-scale-systems-mean-for-trucking-enforcement) Weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales are embedded scales that can weigh vehicles while they are in motion on interstate roadways. This type of scale works by using sensors in the road and imaging technology . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 9, 2022 --- ## [What are the ELD Malfunctions and Data Diagnostic Events?](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-eld-malfunctions-and-data-diagnostic-events) According to the [ELD requirements](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-eld-requirements), electronic logging devices are supposed to log certain events as malfunctions or data diagnostic events if the device can't acquire all required data items. Some [.](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/simple-steps-to-switch-your-eld-service) [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 7, 2022 --- ## [What is the Agricultural (ag) exemption for hours of service?](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-is-the-agricultural-ag-exemption-in-trucking) The agricultural exemption is a special consideration that allows carriers of agricultural commodities to be exempt from keeping [Hours of service](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/your-hours-of-service-explained) and using [Electronic logging devices (ELDs)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/comprehensive-guide-to-the-eld-mandate). There . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 4, 2022 --- ## [The Hazardous Materials BASIC](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-hazardous-materials-basic) The Hazardous Materials [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 2, 2022 --- ## [The Controlled Substance and Alcohol BASIC](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-controlled-substance-and-alcohol-basic) The Controlled Substance and Alcohol [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 2, 2022 --- ## [The Driver Fitness Violations BASIC](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-driver-fitness-basic) The Driver Fitness [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 1, 2022 --- ## [What to do during an ELD malfunction](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-to-do-during-an-eld-malfunction) Like every piece of technology available there will be times when an ELD starts to malfunction. The FMCSA has set specific rules in the [ELD requirements](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-eld-requirements) for what carriers and drivers should do to . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) November 1, 2022 --- ## [The Unsafe Driving Violations BASIC](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-unsafe-driving-basic) The Unsafe Driving [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 30, 2022 --- ## [The Hours of Service Violations Basic](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-hours-of-service-basic) The Hours of Service [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 30, 2022 --- ## [The Vehicle Maintenance Violations Basic](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-vehicle-maintenance-basic) The Vehicle Maintenance [Behavior Analysis](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics)[and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/what-are-the-7-csa-basics) is one of seven categories that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses to determine how a motor . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 29, 2022 --- ## [4 different ways that you can scale trucks to get your weight](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/4-ways-to-scale-grain-trucks) When it comes to scaling trucks, knowing what you weigh can mean the difference between getting an overweight violation and leaving money on the table by not hauling as much as possible. [Overloaded .](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/the-unsafe-driving-basic) [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 28, 2022 --- ## [List of Trucking Companies Started in September 2022](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/list-of-trucking-companies-started-in-september-2022) In September 13,733 new DOT numbers were issued for new carriers. This is down from August and continues the downward trend of new trucking authorities in the US. New trucking companies are down over . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 25, 2022 --- ## [How to Read Truck Weights Using a Pressure Gauge on Air Suspensions](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/how-to-read-truck-weights-using-a-pressure-gauge-on-an-air-suspension) Today's trucks and trailers are almost all manufactured with air suspension to make the ride as smooth as possible, reduce strain on the truck's drive train, and improve fuel mileage. It's also paved . [Mike Riegel](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel) October 25, 2022 --- [Previous](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel/page/2) [All posts](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/all) [Next](https://blog.blueinktech.com/blog/author/mike-riegel/page/4) ### Most Popular Posts This Month ##### Contact - [support@blueinktech.com](mailto:support@blueinktech.com) - [304.840.0142](tel:304.840.0142) - [Privacy](https://blueinktech.com/privacy.php) - [Terms of Service](https://blueinktech.com/tos.php) - [API](https://blueinktech.com/api_docs.php) - © 2019 Blue Ink Technology