708-467-7181     16425 Van Dam Rd., South Holland, IL 60473

 

  Proper battery maintenance during the hot summer months is just as important as it is during the frigid winter months. Your truck battery powers your business. Follow this checklist to extend the life of your battery:

Preventative Maintenance
During scheduled preventative maintenance (PM), check and confirm the following:

    Battery connections are clean and free of debris
    Battery connections are tight
    Hold-downs are properly secured
    Battery pack is fully charged

Battery Inspection
Inspect the truck battery pack as part of your regularly scheduled vehicle inspection, any time the operator is experiencing ‘hard starts’ or the truck is being used for shorter runs with hotel loads. When the battery pack is tested, look for the following factors:

    State of charge of the battery pack
    Full charge is 12.6 volts for flooded batteries and 12.8 volts for AGM batteries
    Hold-downs and battery connections are securely fastened
    Batteries are fully recharged and tested with either a load or conductance tester
    Evaluate what loads are being used and how much power is being taken by the additional use of air conditioning during warmer months

If the battery pack is 2-3 years old, the user may want to consider replacing batteries to reduce the risk of a no-start situation or emergency repairs.

Conductance Testing in our Truck Repair Shop.
Conductance uses the battery’s response to a very small signal in attempt to predict the effects of a much larger current. Conductance testing is ineffective on a discharged battery. If the battery is known to be discharged, or if the tester tells the operator to charge before testing again, the battery must be completely recharged.

State-of-Charge
State-of-charge is estimated from the open circuit voltage (OCV) and is used to determine if the battery is in a testable state or to estimate how long charging will take. Worth noting:

    Battery design varies
    Typical values are shown on the charging time tables
    A true 75 percent or better charge state is needed for most testing
   

 

 

The life of a truck driver is a life spent on the road most of the time. They are alone, a lot. And let’s face it, being on the road can be difficult for truck drivers at times. It can bring dipression and loneliness. Being away from family and friends for a long period of time will take a toll on anyone. For truckers, this is just a day in the life. The feeling of loneliness is a feeling no one should feel on a daily basis. Here are a few tips that we’ve received about how to deal with the loneliness and make the days easier.

Tips for Overcoming Loneliness as a Truck Driver
 Take a furry animal on the road, rather its a dog or a cat. They will keep you companionship.

The best way to avoid loneliness is to have a “man’s (or woman’s) best friend” with them. Bringing a dog or animal on the road with you is absolutely allowed. Doing so will not only provide someone to talk to (without judgment) but to play and cuddle with. They will not only help curb loneliness but can also help with staying in shape.  Feeding them and taking them for walks will keep you occupied and smiling. Having someone to take care of will give you a feeling of responsibility. Haven’t you heard? Pets are mans best friends.

 

Thinking about pushing your buying decisions into 2020? Consider the benefits of receiving this year’s bonus tax depreciation if you purchase a used semi truck before year-end.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed on December 22, 2017, greatly enhanced bonus depreciation opportunities available to businesses in the market to buy equipment. In 2019, taxpayers can elect a 100 percent bonus depreciation deduction under either IRC Section 179 or 168(k).

Bonus Depreciation
When your business typically purchases equipment items, it can write those items off a little at a time through the depreciation. There were two enhancements under 168(k) that were not previously available or within Section 179, which are:
There is no dollar limit on the amount of property you can purchase that can qualify for the bonus depreciation.
This deduction applies to both new and used equipment. We have a great selection of used semi trucks.