Blog
Heard on the CB
Trucking business tips, IFTA and compliance explainers, and stories from the road.
IFTA Quarter-End Checklist: What to Do Before You File Every Quarter
A reusable checklist for every IFTA return: due dates, miles and fuel records, receipts, a miles-per-gallon sanity check, tax rates, filing, record keeping and Q4 renewals.
Scam Emails and Calls Aimed at Truckers: How to Protect Your Company
Fake MCS-150 services, look-alike Motus sites, insurance spam and compliance pitches. Why you get them, how to spot them, what to do if you clicked or paid, and where to report.
Why Brokers Are Asking for an Updated MCS-150
Brokers are not required by federal rule to ask, but many do. Why a recent MCS-150 matters to them, what they can see about you and how to respond.
How to Update Your MCS-150
Who must file the MCS-150, how your USDOT number sets the due month and year, what you need before you start, how to file in Motus and how to check that it went through.
FMCSA Motus: What Truckers Need to Know About the New Registration System
Motus is FMCSA's new system for USDOT numbers and operating authority. What it is, the timeline, what existing carriers must do, what did not change and how the launch went.
How do I start a trucking business?
A step-by-step checklist for starting a trucking company: plan, EIN, bank account, USDOT number and operating authority, BOC-3, insurance, IRP, IFTA, UCR, permits, driver files and records.
Is DEF Reported in IFTA Fuel Tax Reports?
No. Diesel exhaust fluid is not fuel, so it is not reported on the IFTA return. What DEF is, how much trucks use and how to record it.
Staying in Good Books with the DOT: The New Entrant Safety Audit
How the FMCSA new entrant program works, what causes an automatic failure of the safety audit, and what to set up before your first driver rolls.
Do you know your BASIC?
The seven CSA BASICs, how carriers are scored, FMCSA's planned changes to the Safety Measurement System, and what you can do about your own record.
Trucker Tools of the Trade
The tools that helped most on the road: a reliable laptop or phone, scanning, internet, an ELD, load boards, service contracts, a fuel card, a business bank account and your permits.
How do I pay my OTR drivers and owner-operators?
How to pay OTR drivers and owner-operators accurately: records built on trips, electronic payments and payroll cards, and the W-2 or 1099 question.
Is Your Freight Broker Legit?
How to check a freight broker before you haul: FMCSA licensing and the $75,000 bond or trust, a broker database, rate confirmations, paperwork and how to spot double brokering and fraud.
Preparing for a Compliance Audit
Be ready long before the notice arrives: one logging system, driver qualification files, a drug and alcohol program, maintenance records and a regular paperwork review.
Simple Ways to Improve Truck Fuel Mileage
Practical ways to improve truck fuel mileage: cut idling, slow down, maintain tires and the truck, balance the load, use cruise control and measure your results.
Who is Responsible for Filing IFTA?
On a lease, the vehicle owner is generally responsible for IFTA reporting unless the lease says otherwise. What to carry in the truck.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road: Texting and Phone Rules for Truckers
Federal rules ban texting and hand-held phone use while driving a commercial vehicle. What the rules say, what a violation costs the driver and the carrier, and practical steps.
Build an Effective Collection Strategy
A steady collection routine keeps cash flowing: track invoices by age, agree on terms, follow up on a schedule, invoice right away and get paid faster.
Frequently Asked Questions about IFTA
What IFTA is, who needs a license, what a qualified motor vehicle is, where to apply, when returns are due and what records you need.
How do you ask a Shipper to start paying a Fuel Surcharge?
Fuel surcharges are standard. How to agree on one up front, base it on a public diesel index, raise it with an existing customer, and make sure you are paid it on every load.
Detroit Diesel Series 60 Fault Codes
Fault Codes for Detroit Diesel Series 60 Engines Have you ever wondered what those engine codes mean when you have a check-engine light on in your truck? Well, wonder no more because the following ...
Trucker Safety – Are You In Control?
The safety of truckers is an ever increasing topic, and if everyone did their part to look out for themselves and others we can all be a little safer. Following are a few simple tips to stay safe a...