Trip Sheet Central TSC is a web-based truck-business management suite used to keep track of trucking business records, trip sheets, income and expenses, shippers and receivers, accounting statements and IFTA tax information. It is designed for truck owner-operators, truck fleet-owners and company drivers.
TSC analyses truck business profitability, cost-per-mile, creates real-time profit-loss statements, cash-flow, operating expense statements, invoices, driver settlement reports and many more business statements. All your business critical information is organized in one place, and securely accessible from wherever your busy schedule takes you -on the road, at the truck-stop, in your office, at home or from any internet connected computer.
Over the last few years internet freight load boards have become the primary source of freight loads for many owner-operators. Load boards work by allowing brokers and shippers to post available freight, and interested parties bid for them.
Trucking companies also post available equipment and interested shippers and brokers bid to contract the equipment to haul their freight. As a small business trucking company, using these load boards can supplement your available freight business by ensuring you do not have to run huge dead-head miles.
There is no need to subscribe to all available load boards since most shippers and brokers post freight to all boards. Choose the load board that has the features you need, like credit monitoring, performance reports, fraud prevention, payment histories on demand, etc.
Inevitably when running high maintenance equipment like semi tractors and trailers, break-downs will occur.
It's not a matter of if, it's a question of when. You need to be prepared to handle these situations so they don't turn into emergencies and show stoppers for your business. This is necessary to give you peace of mind that when your truck breaks down in the middle of nowhere you can obtain reliable service from vendors who are familiar with your equipment types.
A simple plan may include towing services, tires services and preventive maintenance. Contrary to popular belief that vehicle dealerships cost more than other repair facilities, I found that maintaining active accounts with a combination of my truck manufacturer dealerships and several major truck-stop chains was actually very cost effective.
If you have a small fleet you could try keeping the same type and model to reduce the number of accounts you have to maintain, and also benefit from volume discounts on parts and service. Even with a fabulous service contract or account you still have to pay for the service. So put some money away into an escrow-like account which you can draw when needed. Use the money for maintenance costs only and replenish withdrawn funds as soon as possible.
A good amount to save is 10 cents for every mile travelled, loaded or empty, for each tractor and trailer unit. This works! Fuel cards and money cards are a great way to keep track of trucking expenses if they have detailed reporting features that you can access online or in your monthly statement. Most establishments now take debit cards, so you don't have to carry large amounts of cash.
This can help prevent identity theft from dishonest establishment employees. If you feel the financial transasction will be compromised, pay cash or avoid the establishment altogether. Always reconcile your expenses as quickly as possible into your business-management software, preferably on a daily basis. Take the time to open a small business banking account to simplify your record keeping and life. Shop around for the best deal. Small business banking varies in fees and features.
The costs of a business account are far less than the benefits to your business. Fees are partly tax deductible as an expense. Keep in mind that your business may grow. Opening a business account with a bank earlier can help with required financing in the future. See our in-depth report on how to start a trucking business for more information. Imagine having to stop at the port of entry for every state you travel through to obtain a trip permit for that state.
It is an absolute must. Make sure that there are standard and metric wrenches and sockets in the set so that you have every size covered. A good tool kit should also have an assortment of pliers and screwdrivers. I like this one , it has pieces and comes in a nice tri-fold case to keep everything organized. It has screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, metric and standard sockets, hex keys, and a utility knife. The best one that I have found is this one here. If you want to see my full review of the portable toilet as well as some tips you have to read this.
Windshield washer fluid should be a part of your tool kit as well. This is especially true during the winter months when windshields and wiper blades take a real beating. Keep those windows clean! This is an obvious one that you better already have. Some extra engine oil is also a must to have with you at all times.
Large water jugs with a dispenser like this one I found on Amazon are great for drinking and cooking. Many long distance truck drivers will tell you that they are an absolute must.
You can fill this one up with 3 gallons of water and travel worry free that you will have enough water all the time. I like this one too because it is BPA free. When it comes time to get a drink or use some water for cooking a meal in your truck you got it covered! No more reasons to carry a hundred of those little water bottles around with one of these water containers. When it is an emergency and you need light right away you should have a cranking flashlight like this one on Amazon.
Just crank away and you are guaranteed light. Crank this flashlight for a minute and you will get an hour of light out of it. Get yourself a tire thumper like this one that is at least 18 inches long.
It is solid wood and comes with a nylon cord so you can hang it up when not using it. Note: these things are usually used as a self defense tool. Just like your garage at home there are never enough rags to help clean up a spill or dirty hands. Make sure that your truck tool kit has enough of these. Get some high quality mechanic gloves that are visible at night too.
You can use these anytime you need to protect your hands. I like these because they are high visibility too. When the snow and ice comes you needs a snow scraper that is better than what you find at your local Walmart. No truck driver tool kit is complete without an extendable snow scraper that has an ice scraper and squeegee on it.
Hopkins makes one of the highest rated snow scraper by truck drivers, check it out here. You are required to have DOT reflective triangles with you at all times while driving. For more information about a good set of triangles and how to correctly arrange them you can read this.
Having a set of Gladhand seals like these is important to have with you in your tool kit at all times. It comes with 5 red and 5 blue seals. A tow rope is great for getting you out of a difficult situation. It is something you might not need often but it sure is handy to have one in your truck when you need it. The best tow straps have at least a 30, lb. No semi truck tool kit is complete during the winter without a good set of booster cables.
Make sure they are long enough, they should be more than 25 feet in length. I recommend this set by Energizer that are 1 gauge and 25 feet in length. They also stay tangle free in cold weather and have PVC coated insulated clamps. A laser infrared temperature gun is an easy way to regularly check wheel bearing temperatures. Use one for checking the temperature of just about anything so that you know if it is running hot.
You can also use it to check the temperature or foods you are cooking. Heck, I even use it to check the temperature of my pool! A simple multimeter like this one here is a great tool for truck driver to have with them at all times.
I like this one because it reads voltage, currant, resistance, diode, and continuity. It great for troubleshooting basic electrical systems. Stop going out into the dark to try to fix something while holding a flashlight. No trucker tool kit is complete without a good rechargeable headlamp. This headlamp allows you to work with both hands in the dark.
It creates a super bright LED light beam to get the light exactly where you need it. It also has 3 modes to choose from; low, high, and strobe. The rechargeable battery is included as well as a wall charger, USB cable for charging, and a 12 volt car charger.
As the old adage says if you cannot measure it you cannot manage it. If you measure it inaccurately you are going to manage it inaccurately. In today's fast paced, and highly competitive transportation industry, measuring every detail of your operation is crucial.
You must have the proper tools to measure and manage your company quickly and efficiently. Using a simple, off the shelf, accounting system to manage your trucking company or freight brokerage is not going to provide you the professional and accurate results your company and your customers require. Investing in a true transportation management system that is built and supported from the beginning by transportation professionals will provide you and your company quality and professional results.
Please consider TruckMaster as your company's next investment to ensure you have the proper tools of the trade. We will not only provide you with these tools but also with the expertise and support to ensure that you and your crew know how to use them, and we will ensure you have what you need in the future.
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