Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Delivering e-commerce: The role of trucking industry in increasing online sales

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The sightings of U-Haul, and Thomas Pecora’s H & H Transportation delivery people traveling around the neighborhood, anywhere from NJ to New York, have been more common nowadays given the increasing number of retail and brick-and-mortar companies venturing on e-commerce. For these companies, geography is not an issue because they rely on efficient truckers who deliver goods safely and on time, allowing them to achieve their online goals faster.


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Delivery trucks have never been busier these days as more and more consumers took to the Internet their need for almost everything, from clothes, shoes, and furniture to documents. “Consumers are looking for two major things – convenience and price – and retailers are delivering on that, ” says Artemis Berry, Shop.org spokeswoman. The upbeat sales record is partly fuelled by services like online inventory checks, online exclusives offering, layaway, and free shipping.


Reportedly, some trucking companies are hiring additional employees to comply with the upswing in the number of shipments they had to carry. For instance, FedEx is looking for additional 20,000 workers and Thomas Pecora’s NJ-based H & H Transportation would likely hire seasonal employees just to get by with the rush.



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While the news coincides with the shortage of truck drivers in the US, it could somehow provide a silver lining for the truckers around the country considering that the retail industry is giving them some sort of assurance that they’ll never run out of business.


Running a successful online business involves hiring the best truckers in town. To learn more about the trucking industry, visit this Facebook page.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

REPOST: Professional Truck Drivers and Types of Driving Jobs

GetTrucking.com is a campaign developed by the American Trucking Association with the aim of helping solve the growing shortage of truck drivers. Among the many topics discussed in the campaign's website is the job description of professional truck drivers and what types of driving jobs are currently available.



Most individual long haul drivers average from 100,000 miles to 110,000 miles a year, with an average daily run of about 500 miles a day. Regional and city drivers average about 48,000 miles behind the wheel annually. You do not need to buy or lease your own truck for most driver jobs. The vehicle is provided for you and usually maintained by the trucking company.
U.S. professional truck drivers are both men and women, vary in age, race and educational background, and live all over the United States. There are different types of truck drivers, including:

Over the Road / Long-Haul Drivers operate heavy trucks and drive for long periods of time, either interstate (between states) or intrastate (within one state). Some long-haul drivers travel a few hundred miles and return the same day; others are away from home overnight, or for several days or weeks at a time. Some drivers work in teams, including husband and wife teams.

Pick-up and Delivery (P&D) / Local Drivers operate light, medium or heavy trucks and work in route-sales or pick-up-and-delivery operations. These drivers have more contact with customers than over the road drivers and usually make more stops each day. Those P&D drivers often need sales skills in addition to driving skills. 

Specialized Trucking involves specialized trucks that handle unusual, oversized or sensitive loads. Drivers cover local and long-distance routes, and need extra training to operate their equipment. Examples of specialized trucking include auto carriers, dry bulk carriers, (permitted) oversized and overweight loads, or double and triple trailers. Other permits may be needed.

Hazardous Materials Drivers need additional training. Drivers need to know about the content of the loads they are hauling, how to handle the loads safely and what to do in an emergency. Drivers who transport hazardous materials must also take a special test when applying for the CDL that certifies them as a hazardous materials driver. Examples of hazardous materials drivers include tank truck, over the road or P&D drivers carrying hazardous materials. Other permits may be needed.

An Owner-Operator or Independent Driver owns his or her equipment, anything from a straight truck to a flat-bed tractor-trailer, and hauls freight on a contractual basis. Husband-and-wife owner-operator teams are very common, especially in the household goods moving industry. It is possible to make a good living as an owner-operator, but like many businesses, the competition is tight and there are many overhead expenses involved – equipment purchases, maintenance, fuel and insurance, to name just a few. Most owner-operators begin their careers as salaried drivers with a motor carrier before starting their own business.

Rates of pay and potential earnings vary considerably within the industry. Most city pick-up-and-delivery drivers are paid by the hour. In long-haul operations, drivers are usually paid a specified rate per mile, or, in some cases, a percentage of the revenue the motor carrier receives for the load hauled.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Life on the road: Thomas Pecora and being a long-haul truck driver



The truck driver shortage crisis is hinged on many factors, including the negative perception of what it’s like to be a long-haul truck driver. Truck drivers from Thomas Pecora’s NJ-based H&H Transportation, Inc. might have felt the best of both worlds, but the case seems to be different for other truck drivers who are stuck in a limbo between the upside and the downside of their chosen profession. So, how is it really like to be a long-haul truck driver?

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As with other careers, a long-haul truck driving has its own pros and cons. Among its advantages are:

  • A higher salary, and great insurance and other fringe benefits

  • Getting paid for travelling to various places

  • Drivers can afford to combine nature-tripping with work

  • High retention of qualified truck drivers


Thomas Pecora’s H&H Transportation, Inc. is home to well-trained and professional drivers who take pride in providing quality and efficient trucking services for its clients in NJ.



Thomas Pecora NJ Image Credit: dallasnews.com


However, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages more often than not. Many drivers quit the job because they can’t afford to be away from their family for a long time. Health issues are also becoming a bane. The sedentary lifestyle associated with the job makes drivers prone to obesity, which poses serious health hazards. Another nuisance is the higher risk for road accidents.

Thomas Pecora NJ Image Credit: truckaccidents.com


Industry experts like Thomas Pecora of NJ-based H&H Transportation, Inc. would advise people to see the bigger picture before switching to another career or quitting their job. To learn if a truck driving career is right for you, visit ThomasPecoraNJ.Blogspot.com.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Thomas Pecora: Health issues that truckers have to watch out for

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Thomas Pecora, president of the NJ-based trucking company H&H Transportation, Inc., has witnessed how able-bodied men and women gradually gain weight in their years of working as professional truck drivers. Indeed, the health problems that arise due to the lifestyle of long-distance drivers are realities and issues that the industry needs to face and, consequently, find a remedy to.


Professional truck drivers are already at risk of accidents on the road. However, the silent killer is, undoubtedly, the number of hours they spend driving. Not only does it rob them of precious sleep, it also means that they spend most of their time sitting down – and that mere act has been found by studies to be detrimental to health.

 
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Thomas Pecora has observed that many truck drivers eventually suffer from obesity because of the lack of exercise and their eating habits. This also opens them up to various complications such as high blood pressure, risks of cardiac arrest, and diabetes, among others.


Further complicating the matter is that these health problems also increase their risks of accidents on the road. Some fatal crashes have occurred because the driver had fallen asleep due to fatigue or was suffering from a heart attack, diabetic shock, or some other health problem.



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Given the prevalence of these health problems in the industry, both companies and the professionals themselves have been working on finding solutions to help drivers regain their health.


Learn more about the life of professional truckers from this Thomas Pecora Twitter account.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Thomas Pecora: Making moving an easier affair

Thomas Pecora, the president of NJ-based H&H Transportation, Inc., is aware of the many troubles that families experience as they pack up and move to their new home.

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Many people, especially those who are not accustomed to moving or have only moved their possessions on their own, usually experience some trouble with the selection of a transportation company that they can entrust their belongings to. This is because there are many transport companies that advertise their services to be the best and yet it is hard for a consumer to verify the claim until they actually hire the company.

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One way to get past this dilemma, according to NJ-based Thomas Pecora, is to make a list and narrow down the choices through careful selection. It would be best for consumers to check with the BBB for reputable businesses in their area and select from any of those based on previous reviews, their service rates, and their own preferences.

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After making their choice, the obvious next step is getting down to properly pack one’s belongings. Keeping things organized is the key to eliminating hassles and meticulously going about stowing away one’s possessions makes it easier for the owner to spot if there are some things that can be discarded or replaced to lessen the amount of things that need to be transported.

It is also recommended for the movers to make a checklist so that it is easier to determine if they’ve successfully packed everything that is necessary and important to them.

For more tips on moving and information about long distance trucking, follow this Thomas Pecora Twitter account.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Greener pastures: Thomas Pecora and nature-friendly interstate driving

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Trucking firms like Thomas Pecora’s NJ-based vendor H&H Transportation, Inc. might be aware of environmental regulations imposed by the United States government on large trucks, the main instrument of their business. Trucks cannot run without gas, and, especially for long-haul journeys, scrimping on gas could be very challenging.

Diesel exhaust has been identified as carcinogenic to human beings, and has been linked to a variety of diseases including lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and aggravated asthma. In the same vein, diesel exhaust has been identified as a greenhouse gas, the emissions of which contribute to global warming.

Thomas Pecora NJ Image Credit: extremebiodiesel.com

Alternatives have been developed over the years, but trucking companies like Thomas Pecora’s NJ-headquartered transportation service often find it hard to adjust. Biodiesel is a good alternative, but availability remains to be a problem area.

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In 2006, the US Environmental Protection Agency required petroleum refiners to initiate production of ultra-low sulfur diesel, a variety that contains significantly less sulfur than the currently marketed low-sulfur diesel fuel. By the same piece of legislation, the EPA required all long-haul truck models, beginning in 2007, to be made with air pollution control technologies.

Engine-idling alternative technology is currently being produced. Engine idling among long-haul trucks is necessary for climate control within the rig, and to keep any installed appliances working. The alternative solution for this includes connecting the truck to land-based power supplies whenever they need to stop for extended periods of time. Hydrogen fuel cells have also emerged as a popular option.

The EPA has also begun encouraging the use of hydraulic hybrid trucks, which, instead of batteries, stores energy in hydraulic tanks and motors.

More information about Thomas Pecora is available in this Facebook page.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Thomas Pecora from NJ: Why you should rely on professionals for your heavy haul trucking needs

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Thomas Pecora, president of the NJ-based H&H Transportation, Inc., believes that you should always rely on professionals for your heavy haul trucking needs. This is because heavy hauls and oversized loads can pose special challenges for shippers. Each heavy haul trucking project comes with special requirements and complications, such as finding the right equipment for moving heavy equipment and obtaining the necessary permits required for completing a shipment. Heavy haul trucking projects also require special route planning.



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Indeed, given all these special requirements, finding a trucking company with the equipment, staff, and professional drivers needed to handle any heavy haul trucking project can be a challenge. Trucking contractors such as Thomas Pecora, who is based in NJ, recommend finding a heavy haul trucking service that can handle every step involved in the heavy haul trucking process. A reliable trucking company must be able to obtain the necessary permits required for overweight shipments at the early stages of any shipping project, and plan and organize special routes as needed to accommodate your heavy haul trucking
shipments.



Thomas Pecora Image credit: cbc.ca


The trucking company you’ll be choosing should also be equipped with the technology needed to complete heavy haul shipments, such as flatbed trucks, step decks, double drops, and lowboys, to name a few. The trucking company must also have drivers who are experienced in completing a variety of heavy haul trucking shipments so that your equipment, machinery, or whatever you need to get shipped get treated with the care you expect.  


More about Thomas Pecora and his NJ-based trucking company can be found on this Twitter page.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Thomas Pecora from NJ on long-haul trucking safety hazards

Thomas Pecora, one of NJ’s most trusted trucking contractors, has many good reasons why people should rely on professionals for transporting their possessions over long distances.


Thomas Pecora NJ Photo Credit: nj.com


On one hand, there are valid reasons that make many consider if they could do the transporting themselves – budget constraints, issues with trusting another person to transport a highly prized possession, or a simple desire to do it themselves. On the other hand, it could be a pretty dangerous undertaking, especially if one is not used to it.


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According to the Department of Transportation, more than half a million trucking accidents happen in the U.S. every year and most of them are caused by a driver of a non-commercial vehicle.


Thomas Pecora’s NJ-based company, H&H Transportation, Inc. offers various trucking services to residents and businesses of New Jersey and nearby locales.



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As with any driver on the road, long-haul truckers are at risk of fatigue and its effects on a person’s ability to drive. This, augmented by the long hours on the road day and at night and covering more than 500 kilometers, often is the cause of many accidents. A fatigued driver can easily lose his concentration, repeatedly drift in and out of traffic lanes, and even miss gear changes and turn offs.

From these pieces of information, it is easy to surmise that long distance transport is not something that should be underestimated and should not be undertaken by just anyone who knows how to drive.  

For more information about long-haul trucking from Thomas Pecora, NJ’s trusted trucking contractor, follow this Twitter account.