Peterson Trucks: One Year Anniversery

Peterson Trucks is about to celebrate it's one year anniversery as the official International Trucks Dealer for the San Francisco Bay Area, and we'd like to invite our customers to the dealership to celebrate.

Join us for a complementary BBQ, givaways, and a raffel.

The celebration will be held at our Santa Rosa facility on June 15, and our San Leandro facility on June 22.

Santa Rosa: 3710 Regional Parkway
San Leandro: 2718 Teagarden Street

Call 510.618.5597 for more information.

Avoid Costly Fines During Roadcheck 2012 by Properly Inspecting Your Vehicles

If commercial-vehicle-related accidents have been declining in the past few decades, this is largely thanks to organizations like the FMSCA and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Since 1988, this latter organization has been conducting Roadcheck, a 72 hour period during which CVSA-certified local, state, and federal law enforcement officials hit the roads with the goal of preventing accidents by inspecting commercial vehicles for driver, vehicle, and cargo safety. It is estimated that 14 commercial vehicles throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico are inspected every minute during Roadcheck!

This year’s Roadcheck will be conducted June 5-7, and it’s a good idea to make sure that your drivers are properly conducting their pre and post trip inspections to avoid costly fines. Your drivers should also know the proper way to react when pulled over by a law enforcement official. For information on safely and considerately interacting with law enforcement, visit:

http://www.idealease.com/safetycompliance/04_20_2012.pdf

Increasing Fleet Profitability with a Tire Gauge

Every fleet manager knows that diesel isn’t cheap, and with fuel costs continuing to rise, fuel economy is increasingly important in maintaining a profitable business. An easy way to increase fuel economy is diligent tire-care. When tires at 30% under-inflation can cost you 5% in fuel efficiency, checking tire pressure daily becomes a cash-saving procedure!

And this doesn’t account for the increased longevity a tire can experience when it is kept properly inflated. Driving on under-inflated tires accelerates tread-wear and increases instances of tread separation and blowouts. Remember: with three to six thousand dollars invested in a commercial vehicle’s tires on average, your tires are a company asset and should be treated as such.

Your drivers are key in making sure that tires are always properly inflated. Have them check their tire pressure with a gauge before every trip. Also, irregular wear can be a sign of under-inflation and should be reported by your drivers.

For more on proper tire care, including determining tire age by US DOT ID number, visit: http://www.idealease.com/safetycompliance/04_13_2012.pdf.

Introducing the New Severe-Duty International LoadStar

This year’s Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky was an exciting one for Navistar, with the company unveiling the brand new International LoadStar, a cabover, severe-duty truck designed for waste collection, mixer configuration, and other vocational applications.

The LoadStar will be available with MaxxForce 10, 11, or 13 diesel engines, all of which offer emissions solutions that meet CA regulations. The truck’s variable-depth frame rails maximize customization options, and its stainless steel cab is designed to withstand the toughest worksites.

Navistar announced that natural gas-powered version of the LoadStar will be available in 2013.

Download an International LoadStar Brochure at International’s website.

Peterson Trucks to Host Idealease Safety Seminar in April, 2012

 On April 19, 2012, Peterson Trucks will be hosting an Idealease Safety Seminar for fleet owners and managers at Casa Real in Pleasanton, CA. Focusing on several aspects of CSA, Idealease’s safety seminars both help motor carriers understand the latest FMCSA regulations and satisfy the two hours of safety training mandated by FMCSA CFR 382.603 (attendees will receive a certificate of completion at the seminar’s end). For more information and to learn how to register online, visit:

http://www.petersontrucks.com/2012SafetySeminar

Driving Safely in Spring Weather

The first day of spring may mean longer days and warmer weather, but experienced motor carriers know that this doesn’t necessarily equate to fewer accidents. While most drivers employ extra caution in poor weather conditions—looking further up the road, checking mirrors more often, etc.—sunny weather can make some drivers let their guards down. That’s why it’s important for motor carriers to continue to emphasize safety with their drivers as the weather improves.

Better weather also means that road repair and maintenance crews are back on the asphalt full-force. Road work zones can present a variety of hazards for commercial drivers, so it is important for drivers to keep safety in mind when sharing the road with work crews.

For 10 useful tips on driving safely in work zones, check out International’s safety bulletin at:

http://www.idealease.com/safetycompliance/03_16_2012.pdf

Peterson Trucks Hosting CARB for Tractor-Trailer GHG Reporting Training

Limited space is still available for the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Training, to be hosted by Peterson Trucks on March 22, 2012.

The Tractor-Trailer GHG Reduction Regulation, which applies to box trailers 53-feet or longer and the heavy-duty tractors that pull them, is part of CARB’s broader Diesel Truck and Bus Regulation. In order to qualify for the regulation’s flexible phase-in schedule, fleets must report by March 30, 2012 (or July 1, 2012 for those fleets that qualify for the small fleet phase-in schedule).

CARB’s training will cover GHG Reduction Regulation requirements, an overview of the automated Truck and Bus Fleet Calculator, and instructions on reporting.

To enroll in CARB’s GHG Reporting Training at Peterson Trucks (course #514) visit:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/training/myarb/login.php

Or to learn more about the Truck and Bus Regulation, visit:

http://www.petersontrucks.com/emissions