Blue Ink Tech Blog

Truck insurance is one of the main expenses a trucking company will have to pay. With claims that are able to easily cross over $100,000+ it takes a lot to cover a truck on the road. The FMCSR requires all carriers to have a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance just to operate. A new owner/operator can expect to pay $1,500 - $3,500 per month using their own authority. High insurance rates is a main reason why newer owner/operators prefer to lease on to another company.

At Blue Ink Tech we talk to thousands of carriers and drivers about their needs to help run a better business. One situation that comes up frequently in discussions is the use of ELD apps for their logbooks without a connected device to retrieve data from the vehicle.

As the trucking industry continues to change and develop with the best of technology, the old and antiquated is simply unneeded. It’s time to say goodbye to 3G networks. Mobile carriers announced devices using the 3G networks will be out of service and, now, more improved networks will now be used, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

There isn't much worse than not getting value out of something you've paid for and are required by law to have. When the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate was implemented it left truck drivers with few options and even fewer ways to deal with it. Selecting the wrong ELD provider is one of the main problems with ELD.

An ELD provider should keep the driver's best interest a priority. Those priorities include making sure their ELD is easy-to-use, there's a knowledgeable support team ready for any questions they have, and there are no hidden or extra costs to any services provided.  

There are a number of reasons carriers and drivers are ready to switch ELD providers. Some of those top stresses include:

1. Equipment malfunctions and failures

2. Poor customer service

3. Costly and lengthy contracts

So what should you do when you’re ready to drop your provider and get a better one?

First things first, plan ahead at least 60-90 days. You want to make sure that you have plenty of time to vet new ELDs before you existing contact is going to end so you can easily make the transition.

The Daily Vehicle Inspection Record (DVIR), typically known as a pre-trip inspection, is done each day that a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is in use. The driver of that vehicle does this to ensure the safety of the truck before it hits the road.