Although less common, trucks sometimes brake check each other with disastrous results as seen in the video below.

According to the poster, the following incident occurred on May 9, 2018, on I-294 in Chicago. The brake check caused a complete stop on the interstate. Although the brake-checked truck was able to stop, the stoppage caused a 15-car pile-up with injuries. Caution: Strong language at the end.

Is brake checking becoming more common?

“Anecdotally, we might be seeing see more of it… It seems like there is more. That’s for sure,” said Doug Dahl, manager of Target Zero, a Washington state program to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways to zero by the year 2030.

He notes that the Washington Department of Licensing includes brake checking as one of the behaviors symptomatic of aggressive [...]

Taking a vacation, or just getting away from the trucking rat race for a few days is something many small and micro-motor carrier owners place on the back burner because they either think they can’t afford it or that their business will go down the tubes if they take a week or two off. On the contrary, as far-fetched as this may seem, a vacation is easily possible with just a bit of proper planning and foresight.

Research shows Americans, not just trucking company owners, work more than anyone in the industrialized world. They take fewer vacation days, work longer hours, and retire later. Several different studies have shown that taking time away from the job has both physical and psychological health benefits. People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals.

With all that said, when you own a business, [...]

An app touted as the “Uber for tow trucks” has raised $24 million in a new round of funding overnight as insurance companies look to capitalize on an idea that could change the entire industry.

Honk, a US-based start-up currently only operating in America, links tow truck associations with insurance companies to offer 24/7 roadside assistance controlled through a smartphone app.

Just like Uber, users can request a tow truck around the clock and have the nearest operator connected to them, provided they are interested in taking the job. Users can also rate a tow truck driver based on speed, customer service and pricing.

Honk offers services such as towing, changing tyres, delivering fuel and assisting with drivers who have been locked out of their vehicle.

The start-up aims to replace annual roadside-assistance membership programs many [...]

Whether you’re a fan of warm weather or you prefer to stay inside where it’s air-conditioned, you can’t deny that summer is HERE!  The temperatures have been soaring and the sun is blazing. And for tow truck drivers, the change in season means a new set of risks to look out for – roadwork, traffic, weather, sunlight, and heat, to name a few. So, how can a tow truck driver prepare for the new hazards and risks?

 

Check out the following summer tow truck driving tips.

 

1. Be mindful of construction and roadwork.

Summer is prime time for construction, which can mean closed lanes, delays, detours, and traffic. Be extra careful as you navigate through the work zones, which might resemble a maze of pylons more than a road. Pay attention to all road signs and obey them. Slow down, take it easy, and watch for construction workers. The side of the road [...]

Georgia-based Car- Hauler owner-operator Eric Turner Sr. earned Best of Show at the 36th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs in Raphine, Va., with his 2015 Peterbilt 389.

For winning the competition, Turner took home $10,000 from Shell Rotella and $5,000 from Mac Trailer. Turner’s Pete also picked up the award for Best Interior at the show.

“It feels so good to win the best of show,” Turner said. “Like I said earlier when I was in the judging lane, when I was growing up, all my dad ever had on his tool box was a Shell ROTELLA calendar. And he always said, ‘son one day, you’re going to be on that.’ I’ve never seen that vision, but I guess he’s seen it for me. My dad passed away last year. [...]