Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 @ 10:11 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: Then and now. Do you recall diesel prices just a six months ago? While much has happened in the last 180+ days inlcuding environmental disasters and unstable economies to name just two, how have fuel prices changed (or not changed)? A quick average of today's fuel prices show the Southern California average hovering around $2.92 a gallon whereas prices in January sat at about 8 cents less.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California St., Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: G & J
Address: 15515 Bear Valley Road and Cypress Ave., Hesperia
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson St.
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 3250 Firestone Blvd. and State St., South Gate
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.05
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 24020 Newhall Ave. and Arch St., Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: Food 4 Less
Address: 6700 Cherry Ave. and East 68th Street, Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 502 Beaumont Ave. and East 5th St., Beaumont
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock St., Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 31st, 2010
Station: Thrifty
Address: 24991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 @ 12:29 AM
The days of distracted drivers will soon come to an end. Well – maybe not entirely, but if the Department of Transportation (DOT) has anything to do with it, distracted drivers will think twice about talking on cell phones, texting, applying lipstick, or carrying on conversations while looking back at the passengers sitting in the back of a vehicle.
This past year the DOT and nationwide organizations (including those lead by Oprah Winfrey) have campaigned against distracted driving with gusto. The transportation industry is not the only target, and even secondary to passenger drivers as a whole. Support for the distracted driving campaign is so strong that a second summit will be held in coming months to release further news and direction regarding the DOT's plan.
The 2010 Distracted Driving Summit will be held Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the Renaissance Hotel on 999 Ninth Street, NW in Washington, D.C.
The first distracted driving summit was held last fall. The second summit follows nearly a year later and will allow Secretary LaHood to reconvene with “leading transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers, and victims affected by distraction-related crashes to address challenges and identify opportunities for national anti-distracted driving efforts,” (www.dot.gov.)
In an official press release, LaHood said, “
“Working together, we can put an end to the thousands of needless deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving each year.”
Last year's summit gained momentum through a number of campaigns that caught the eye of media moguls such as Winfrey. For example, four million federal employees were ordered by the President himself to stop all text messaging while driving (while working or driving a government-owned vehicle). Text messaging laws are still controlled by individual states. The second Summit is likely to continue the campaign against text messaging while driving in states where it's still legal.
The DOT's official distraction-discussing source is the site, www.distraction.gov.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 @ 11:29 PM
The image of a knight in shining armor is imprinted into many a young girl's head whether she's watched Disney® movies or been privy to medieval stories of princesses and their suitors. Another image of knights in shining armor exists though – and this image includes a lot of armor (as well as an engine and sixteen wheels.) Truck drivers may not have been the original knights, but they're certainly the original knights of the road.
While truck drivers may feel like they're the brunt of road rage or easy road targets to pass, their history suggests otherwise. The transportation industry and specifically truck drivers were first thought of as not only dutiful, but cordial and protective. Truck drivers after all, were responsible for the movement of products and services throughout the nation's paved arteries, delivering items that supported (and still do) a micro/macro economy. The original truck drivers were thought of as modern day cowboys, and then outlaws, and rebels during the peak of trucker culture in the 1970s, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trucking_industry_in_popular_culture_(United_States).)
Truckingtruth.com reveals additional and historical information as far as original truck driver perceptions are concerned. “In the past, truckers were known as “Knights of the Road”. They used to have a reputation for helping people whose cars became disabled and had to pull their vehicles to the side of the road. People always expected a trucker to aid them when they were in distress on the highway, and their big rigs were seen like the heroic mounts of the always-helpful truckers,” (http://www.sharetheroadsafely.org/truckAndBusDrivers/truckAndBusDrivers.asp,”
While perceptions may have changed over the years (congestion, road laws, and eco-concerns have stigmatized several sectors of the transportation industry) there's still a trucking culture that exists that embodies the same values as those original knights of the road.
Even the government supports the same principles held by those very knights. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Share the Road Safely Program provides an opportunity for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers to set the example for other drivers on how to share the road safely. At the same time, it offers the truck and bus drivers the chance to improve their professional image each day they are behind the wheel. Surveys indicate that many highway users are intimidated by the mere size of a truck or bus. When you combine this perception with a highway crash and the resulting roadway congestion, the public image of the motor carrier industry takes a beating no matter who caused the crash. By driving safely to prevent crashes, you can improve that image and save yourself time, money, and most importantly lives,” (www.fmcsa.dot.gov.)
While knights in shining armor may be passe, the road knights that not only support industries worldwide but strive for safer roads and cleaner technologies are very here and now.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 @ 11:52 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: Ahhh....the California fresh air. While a particularly rainy year and effective smog control measures have improved air quality in the Sunshine state. Meanwhile, the state is doing something about air quality as well. Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) establishes a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases (GHG). AB 32 makes the Air Resources Board (ARB) responsible for monitoring and reducing GHG emissions and continues the existing Climate Action Team (CAT) to coordinate statewide efforts.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: Q Mart
Address: 15853 Main Street Near 8th Ave., Hesperia
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.98
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut Street & South Grove Ave., Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 24020 Newhall Ave. and Arch Street, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 9707 Telegraph Road and True Ave., Downey
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 20500 Newhall Ave. and Sierra, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 6002 Van Buren Blvd. and Cypress Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 8677 Limonite Ave. and Limonite Ave. and Pedley Road, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 26th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 502 Beaumont Ave. and East 5th Street, Beaumont
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 01:05 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: It's a good day when sales are - good. The trucking industry saw tall orders for Class 8 commercial vehicles just as the summer season arrived. TheTrucker.com reported, "Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles reached the highest level of the year in June, posting an increase of 93 percent compared to June of 2009, according to the market analysts at ACT Research Co. (ACT)."
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 16337 Main Street and 3rd Ave., Hesperia
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 24020 Newhall Ave. and Arch Street, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 9707 Telegraph Road and True Ave., Downey
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 20500 Newhall Ave. and Sierra, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 21st, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 6002 Van Buren Blvd. and Cypress Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 12:52 AM
The transportation industry has been able to maintain despite a couple bumpy economic years. The movement of goods and services is still dependent upon vehicles outfitted with more than four wheels in most cases and often times with sixteen. Another side to the transportation industry exists though – one that moves people from point A to point B – points that are pivotal to people's livelihood and on another level - micro and macro economics.
Reports indicate the transportation industry is alive and well. This past week The Trucker reported that, “Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles reached the highest level of the year in June, posting an increase of 93 percent compared to June of 2009, according to the market analysts at ACT Research Co. (ACT).
In the latest release of the State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles, ACT reported 15,999 net orders of Class 8 vehicles, an increase of 21 percent over May of this year. Net orders of medium-duty Classes 5-7 equipment also rebounded in June, increasing by 74 percent over the prior year June,” (www.thetrucker.com.)
When it comes to alternative transportation options that move people though (including buses and trains), more work – and money -is needed. The Federal Transportation Administration believes $77.7 billion is needed to repair both the nation's rail and bus transit systems. The report was initiated by the
FTA’s National State of Good Repair Assessment Study, requested by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as a follow-up to the 2009 Rail Modernization Study report to Congress, provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs required to bring the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into good operating order.
Moving the masses via rail and bus is not only good for the economy, it's good for the environment. While most complaint are generally allocated towards lack of availability, the FTA and DOT are more concerned with proper repairs. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reinforced the focus on transportation safety, saying,
“Transit remains one of the safest forms of transportation, but this report shows the clear need to reinvest in our bus, subway and light rail systems. As a nation, we must lead when it comes to infrastructure development and commit ourselves to rebuilding America,” (www.dot.gov.)
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 12:39 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: Just like the temperatures dropped in Southern California after a brief 'heatwave' - so have diesel prices. The Energy Information Administration reported that today the retail on-highway diesel price U.S. average dropped $0.004 per gallon today, falling to $2.899 per gallon.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut St. and South Grove Ave., ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 13550 Beach Blvd. and Hillborough Drive, La Mirada
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: Atlantic Ave. and Santa Ana, Bell
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 8111 Atlantic Ave. and Santa Ana St., Cudahy
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.39
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 6002 Van Buren Blvd. and Cypress Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 20th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 12:21 AM
Safety first. We've heard this as kids (before crossing the street) and as teenagers (when first learning to drive) and more than ever as adults (i.e. don't provide personal information online). Speaking of safety, the transportation industry maintains stringent safety standards. The departments (Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Board) are the most influential organizations that influence both commercial drivers and non-commercial drivers. Protecting drivers' well-being is first and foremost, and thousands of dollars and man-hours are spent each year trying to figure out new ways to protect those on the open road.
Take for example just a few initiatives put forth by the NHTSB:
■Traffic Safety Facts: Assessing the Attention-Getting Capability of Brake Signals: Evaluation of Candidate Enhanced Braking Signals and Features, Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS 811 330
■Traffic Safety Facts: Development of a Simulation Model to Assess Effictivness and Safety Benefits of Enhanced Rear Brake Light Countermeasures, Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS 811 331
■"Evaluation of Enhanced Brake Lights Using Surrogate Safety Metrics: Task 2 & 3 Report Development of a Rear Signaling Model and Work Plan for Large Scale Field Evaluation"- Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS
811 329
While preventative measures are ideal, sometimes a retrospective reveals beneficial information. Take for example truck crash data. According to FleetOwner.com, “
Truck collisions and near-collisions are low from January through June, but more than triple at points between July and November, according to a new analysis of truck crash data,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Sean Kilcarr of FleetOwner.com wrote that video event recorders assessed more than 18 million unique driving events that resulted in two billion miles or traveled roads. Kilcarr reported that, “DriveCam’s research found that collisions and near collisions in long-haul trucking are very low from January to June (between 1% and 5%), but start to spike in July, peaking at 18% and remaining above 14% through November,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Analysis of the DriveCam data supports the statement that driving not just at night, but even later into the day is more dangerous than driving the early morning commute. Human factors including fatigue and difficulty seeing as the sun goes down are attributed to the likelihood of accidents occurring later in the day.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Jul 19, 2010 @ 11:58 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: What's the Department of Transportation's lucky number? 10,000. Well - the figure is at least a marker. This summer, the DOT and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act rang in its 10,000th roadway project.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut St. and South Grove Ave., ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 24020 Newhall Ave. and Arch St., Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 6700 Cherry Ave. and East 68th St., Downey
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: Food 4 Less
Address: 6700 Cherry Ave. and East 68th Street, Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 6002 Van Buren Blvd. and Cypress Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 19th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Jul 19, 2010 @ 11:31 PM
What's better than an ice cream truck traveling down your street on a hot summer's day? Make that a solar powered ice cream truck that not only brings the locals sweet, refreshing treats, but operates on 'free' energy that saves money and reduces pollution. Solar powered energy has been available to green-spirited consumers for several years. Maybe a neighbor installed solar panels or a friend raved about garden accents that re-use the sun's light. The transportation industry took notice as well. Hybrid trucks started to appear in the market a few years ago along with vats of corn-oil used as fuel-alternatives. The transportation industry didn't stop with produce though and has taken the sun's power to new, fuel and economically efficient levels.
Take for example the solar powered ice cream truck. The iconic vehicle took a modern twist when one designer Eric Zhang created a more efficient version of the popular vendor vehicle. “The MERM, or Modular Electronic Retail Minivan, powers itself via integrated solar panels. The fully self-contained vehicle can go from mobile to retail store in just three minutes. The design was acknowledged with a Red-dot Design award,” (http://www.trendhunter.com/photos/58273/related/5.)
The average big rig gets about six miles a gallon, costing fleet owners and owner operators thousands and thousands of dollars a month to operate anywhere from one to hundreds of trucks. Diesel fuel is not cheap. At last glance – Wall Street nor the Federal Government owns any stake on sun, meaning the tangible energy it produces is free. The cost savings alone are significant let alone the environmental gains that result in lowered emission levels.
Currently, the solar powered options available for sixteen wheelers are generally cab-related. Fore example, the CRL Tri-Vent Big Rig Sliders are solar powered and with fully contoured powder-coated aluminum frame with narrow stiles and tight-sealing weatherstrip.
Solar powered big rigs, and commercial vehicles in general, will continue to progress. While much of the US tries to shade itself this summer form intense heat, transportation industry professionals are seeing the light.
Posted by Brandy Alvarado on Mon, Jul 19, 2010 @ 12:12 AM
Gas guzzling news is nothing new. Summer temperatures often equate to higher pump price – often as a result of increased consumption as vacationers hit the road for vacation. This past Spring/Summer brought about unique circumstances including a catastrophic oil spill. Seasonal circumstances though have not affected fuel prices as most would expect them too. Case in point – diesel prices have remained steady.
Today, FleetOwner.com, reported, “
According to the Dept. of Energy’s latest Energy
Information Administration (EIA) Weekly Retail On-
Highway Diesel Prices report, as of July 12th the
average diesel price was $2.903-- down 21 cents from
the $2.924 posted the week before. And since the May
17th EIA report, the national average price has
dropped each week,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Giving the current economic and environmental climate not just in the United States but throughout the world, logical thinking would presumably lean towards higher fuel prices. The opposite is true however. The two year slow down in world-wide economies has lead to a decrease in demand for fuel. Barrel price are heavily influenced on supply and demand, and the drop in immediate need has lead to a drop in prices as well
FleetOwner.com also associated the drop in diesel prices to , “Second, U.S.
refining capacity is working at full tilt with no
major outages,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Transportation industry forecasters predict steady diesel prices will remain intact at least till 2011 when the economy is expected to gain ground.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Jul 17, 2010 @ 12:28 AM
The California sun has finally shown its face. Does that mean it's time for summer vacation? Not of you're the Port of Los Angeles. A prosperous June means July and August will be busy months – after all - success takes maintenance. The Port of Los Angeles' June was so successful, it moved more containers than it did in 2006 during the last economic upturn so to speak.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "The effects were felt immediately at the nation's busiest seaport complex. For the first time since the worldwide recession, jobs were so plentiful on the docks last month that veteran union members had to be supplemented by hundreds of part-time workers, known as casuals. That followed a year in which there were no jobs for part-timers and even veterans struggled to find work," (www.losangelestimes.com.)
While jobless rates drop in industries nationwide - the transportation industry has been making significant headway. The Port of Long Beach continues to operate even during labor contract negotiations between marine terminal operators and the office clerks. In addition, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal to boost environmental progression and productivity, which require skilled personnel.
And while the early summer success may not be sustained in coming months, it's important to realize why imports jumped 27% to 262,053 containers. Future success depends on an understanding of past actions and the patterns needed to produce in months to come.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 12:23 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: Roadchecks check out OK! During the first ten days of June, thousands of federal, state, provincial and local inspectors conducted comprehensive North American Standard (NAS) Level I Inspections and other related roadside enforcement activities, according to FleetOwner.com. The site also reported that more than a majority of operators were compliant with current regulations - 80% to be exact.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut St. and South Grove Ave., ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: Atlantic Ave. and Santa Ana, Bell
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 8111 Atlantic Ave. and Santa Ana St., Cudahy
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: Food 4 Less
Address: 6700 Cherry Ave. and East 68th Street, Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.93
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 13th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 3498 Central AVe. and Riverside Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.03
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:50 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: News you want to hear in the Summer season. Whether you're hauling a semi cross country or on a weekend getaway, it's always nice to hear that fuel prices have..dropped. One week post-Fourth of July produced a fall in fuel price. Two weeks in a row now, gas dropped $0.021 per gallon to $2.903 a gallon.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson St., Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 2500 Newhall Ave. and Sierra Highway, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Petro Bras Gas
Address: 7515 Alondra Blvd. and Garfield Ave., Paramount
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.03
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Shell
Address: Alondra Blvd. and Piuma, Norwalk
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.93
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 12th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 6287 Day St. and Campus Parkway, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sun, Jul 11, 2010 @ 07:48 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: CSA 2010 is in its third quarter. As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues to collect data from the transportation industry and its professionals, trends are beginning to surface. FleetOwner.com reported that, "Early analysis of data for 1,500 fleets shows that 69% would face some sort of federal intervention under the 2010 Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA2010) safety screening program.)
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 906 North Waterman Ave. and 9th St., San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson St., Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 1700 West Wardlow and Santa Fe Ave., Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Petro Bras Gas
Address: 7515 Alondra Blvd. and Garfield Ave., Paramount
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.03
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Shell
Address: 14910 Beach Blvd. and Rosecrans Ave., La Mirada
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.93
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 8283 Arlington Ave. and Lake Street, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
Date: July 10th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 6002 Van Buren Blvd. and Cypress Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.95
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Jul 10, 2010 @ 08:51 PM
The transportation industry may be hiring, but even so, there's a lot of work to be done to bolster the economy back to 'normal'. The current administration has used stimulus money, environmental initiatives, and bailouts to promote spending, job creation and ultimately improve economic conditions for most Americans. Whether those efforts have worked or not is subjective. In the meantime though, transportation-related progression continues. According to the Department of Transportation, new transit solutions will lead to more jobs for both the short and long term.
This past week, the DOT reported that under President Obama's livability initiative, "$290 million in new transit funding for projects," will be available, (www.dot.gov.) The $290 million allows for fifty three grants that will go toward the funding of new streetcars, buses, and transit facilities from Manchester, NH, to Albuquerque, NM, through FTA's Urban Circulator and Bus Livability programs.
The reaction across the country has been positive. Several cities see the transit projects as a boon to their individual economies. While Southern California has seen its share of transit projects, many other metropilitan cities such as Portland, have made a successful go of bus systems, light rails, and subways. The DOT said, "For $130 million in urban circulator grants, we received more than $1 billion in applications. And for the $160 million in bus grants, we received over $2 billion in applications," (www.Dot.gov.)
That's a sign that America is ready for better connectivity, more transportation choices, and greater livability.
One of the initiative's goals is to re-introduce the streetcar to major cities. A nostolgic project? Perhaps. But the modern streetcar project is seen as one that could prove to be an effective transportation artery. In addition, any new mode of transportation requires skilled professionals to see it through, meaning more job creation in those markets.
In addition to streetcars, many cities are looking to sustainable and eco-friendly transit options including fleets comprised of hybrid and zero-emission vehicles. Ultimately, the initiative's goal is to provide better ways to move around the ciites we live and work in - and create jobs via new transit projects.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Jul 07, 2010 @ 10:51 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: In the past year statistics concerning unemployment rates have trumped those stats on the opposite spectrum - hiring. There is good news though. The job board site, Indeed.com reported that transportation job postings have jumped 73% from a year ago. In addition, the site cited that the increase is the biggest performer of 12 industries that the site monitors.
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson St., Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 2195 South Haven Ave. and East Philadelphia Street, Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut Street and South Grove Ave., Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 20500 Newhall Ave. and Sierra Highway, Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: Roche Fuel
Address: 8445 Atlantic Ave. and Salt Lake Ave., Cudahy
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.01
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: Spirit
Address: 8330 Atlantic Ave. and Cecelia Street, Cudahy
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: Thrify
Address: 24991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 7th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 6287 Day St. and Campus Parkway, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 10:25 PM
One's weight can be a very personal subject matter. Some may say it's even rude to ask. If your weight happens to hover above the eighty thousand pound mark though, chances are you'll be asked a few questions. Oh – and it's also likely your a commercial truck and even likelier – an eighteen-wheeler.
The great truck weight debate.
In the transportation industry sometimes it's better to be on the heavy side. After all, it's often cargo that one, contributes to the truck's final weigh in, but also the reason why the truck's on the open road. In the United States, a commercial license is required to drive any type of commercial vehicle weighing 26,001 lbs. In California, the maximum weight of a commercial vehicle is 80,000 lbs.
Across the country though, weight standards differ. For example, in Florida, transportation advocates are pushed for a bill that would allow 88,000-pound trucks on the road. Florida previously had the same weight limit as California, but allowed for the extra eight thousand pounds when the bill passed last week on July 1st. The bill was backed by many including American Trucking Association President and CEO Bill Graves. According to thetrucker.com, Graves said would allow more productivity, lessen traffic congestion, save fuel and contribute to less harmful emissions.
Those who are against allowing heavier trucks on the road argue that the weightier the truck, the more unsafe it will become while the roads it travels on will absorb more damage.
Last year the ATA supported legislation (H.R. 1799) that will allow states to authorize the operation of more efficient commercial trucks, stating it would result in safer highways, cleaner air and less costly freight transportation. The request – increasing the truck weight maximum to 97,000 pounds. The ATA's site, Truckline.com reported, “Improving the productivity of the trucking industry by shipping more freight in each vehicle will lower the number of trips needed and the number of miles trucks put on the road. This will reduce the trucking industry’s chances of being involved in a crash, lower energy needs and reduce the output of pollution. The legislation introduced by Reps. Michaud and Schmidt will also reduce the country’s freight transportation costs, making U.S. businesses more competitive and consumer products less expensive,” (www.truckline.com)
The pounds per truck argument will continue to persist. As the economy, and transportation industry, do their best to recover, those in favor of heavier trucks may gain support. Those in favor of a leaner vessel have their backers as well – making for a great weight debate.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 12:15 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: The last sparkler has subsided. With a close to Fourth of July festivities now upon us, many are headed home from road trips, destination celebrations, or just from a few blocks away. Regardless of your route, fuel prices affect all. There's good news though as far as fuel price expectations go. According to the Associated Press, "
Benchmark crude for August delivery lost 81 cents to settle at $72.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Oil prices fell 9.7 percent from the first quarter to the end of the second quarter in June and fell Friday for a sixth consecutive trading session on more discouraging economic news," (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2010/7/2/GaspricesfallforJuly4thweekendoilsettlesat7214.aspx.)
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut Street and South Grove Ave., Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: G & J Mini Mart
Address: 15515 Bear Valley Road and Cypress Ave., Hesperia
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Mohsen Truck Stop
Address: 35680 Daggett-Yermo Road and Yermo Road, Yermo
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.04
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 9157 Slauson Ave. and Serapis Ave., Pico Rivera
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Mobil
Address: 21633 South Wilmington Ave. and Carson Street, Carson
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.04
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 23825 South Avalon Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd., Carson
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.04
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.97
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 5th, 2010
Station: Thrify
Address: 24991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Jul 03, 2010 @ 12:00 AM
America's next holiday is only two days away. The Fourth of July is obviously one to celebrate the nation's independence. And like any holiday – it's stretched out to celebrate many a reason to – celebrate. While fireworks, barbeques, strawberry shortcake, and sunshine are often associated with the 4th, so is safety. The roads and highways this weekend will be tough, that's a given. The crowds are out as are the hazards on the road. For commercial truck drivers though, this weekend may also mean work. Work that involves not just the normal commute but a commute infused with travelers, pedestrians, and anything else that decided to hit the open road this Fourth of July weekend. For the truck drivers though who are taking it to road this weekend, here are a few safety tips to help maintain a safe journey.
When traveling through city and even suburban areas, be on the look out for crowds. Major cities and areas that are near large bodies of water (oceans, lakes, and rivers) are hubs for Fourth of July celebrations. If you're driving a truck through any of these high traffic (both vehicle and foot) areas, here's a are useful tip.
When driving in crowds, watch out for strollers, which are pushed ahead of the adult, and for children of all ages who forget that although the street is full of pedestrians, cars are also backing out and driving along it, (http://www.onetoughjob.org/safety/seasonal-safety/fourth-of-july-safety-tips.)
Major highways can be difficult to navigate as well when an influx of road-trippers are part of the weekend commute as well. Non-commercial drivers are responsible for knowing how to drive safely around 18-wheelers. The no zone is a zone where the driver of a commercial vehicle (likely an 18-wheeler) cannot see another vehicle. For the non-commercial driver, it's important to slow down or speed up so the commercial driver can see what's around him or her.
In addition to driving safe on the road, there are safety measures one can take before the keys hit the ignition. Edmunds suggests the following:
Tend to your tires. Exchange your winter tires for summer or all-season tires. Winter tires wear out quickly on dry, hot pavement; switching them early will keep them in optimum shape for next year, not to mention improve your car's handling during the summer months
Give the rest of your car a once-over. Inspect the belts and hoses. In modern cars, they are designed to last a long time, but still have the potential to fail. Before summer begins, have the belts and hoses inspected by a mechanic. And if your car is at least a couple of years old and you're not sure when they were last replaced, consider having them changed, especially before setting out on a long road trip
Check the battery. Extreme heat and cold put additional strain on an automobile battery, particularly older ones. If yours is more than 3 years old, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility.
(http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/105722/article.html).
Wherever your Fourth of July travels take you this weekend – may they be safe and celebratory.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 11:55 PM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: The 4th of July weekend is nearly upon us. A long weekend, and also a time to remind ourselves as both drivers of personal and commericial vehicles - to be safe. Long holiday weekends are unfortunately synonymous with vulnerable highways.
As far as the transportation industry goes, safety is at the forefront. Last month, FMCSA Administrator, Anne S. Ferro reported on the department's initiatives: Raising the Safety Bar - The first is to raise the safety bar to enter the motor carrier industry. To do this, we have recently strengthened the new entrant safety assurance program to identify start-up truck and bus companies’ deficient in key areas, (www.fmcsa.dot.gov.)
County: San Bernardino
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 1195 East Walnut Street and South Grove Ave., Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Mohsen Truck Stop
Address: 35680 Daggett-Yermo Road and Yermo Road, Yermo
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.04
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Valero
Address: 1055 North Waterman Ave. and Olive Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Food 4 Less
Address: 6700 Cherry Ave. and East 68th Street, Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 24020 Newhall Ave. and Arch St., Newhall
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Garo Gas
Address: 960 East washington Blvd. and North Mentor Ave., Pasadena
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.06
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Gas and Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley Road, Glen Avon
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: July 1st, 2010
Station: Chevron
Address: 9267 Jurupa Road and Van Buren Blvd., Mira Loma
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.03
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 11:27 PM
Budgets. The word alone can cause many a Californian cringe.
Just consider a sampling of budget cut initiatives described by the California Budget Project (www.cbp.org.)
The Governor’s Proposed Budget Would Eliminate In-Home Supportive Services for More Than 476,000 Low-Income Seniors and People With Disabilities
The Governor's Proposed Budget Could Reduce IHSS Workers' Compensation by Nearly $1.2 Billion
The Governor's Proposed Budget Would Make Deep Cuts in Funding for California's Public Schools
While budget cuts make headlines and drive stocks (and morale) down, some California organizations are approving budgets. The transportation industry, while not exempt from economic hardship in the last two years, is showing signs of strength. Take the Port of Long Beach (POLB):
Budgets at the multi-billions dollar Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are seeing green lights. This past week the POLB reported that, “The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a $716 million budget for the Port of Long Beach that continues to invest aggressively on environmental and capital improvement projects while keeping operating costs in check,” (www.polb.com.)
While the 2011 budget is slightly less than twenty percent less than last year's, it does focus on job retention and creation, and environmentally-friendly projects.
Polb.com reported, “The budget cuts 12 percent in operating expenses from the previous fiscal year by holding staffing levels steady and reducing non-personnel expenses. The Port is taking a deliberate, conservative approach to spending as cargo volumes recover from the global economic recession. However, the Port will continue to invest in environmental improvements and modernization projects to help retain and create jobs,” (www.polb.com.)
Budget cuts continue not just in California but throughout the country. There's no easy solution to tough economic times. Each company and organization though must assess it's fiscal state and plan for a short and long term future. The POLB's passing of its 2011 budget is a positive sign not only for the transportation industry, but for the economy as a whole that benefits from the billions of dollars of goods and services that pass through the port(s) each year.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 12:01 AM
You probably know a distracted driver or two. You know - that guy on your morning commute that won't stop yelling into his Smart phone, perhaps a significant other (girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife) or maybe the distracted driver is the one reading this Open Road blog post (ideally you're not reading this while driving.) In any event - there's major task forces in place to put an end to distracted driving on a tangible level - text messaging being the primary target. The most influential part of these task forces is the Department of Transportation (DOT).
While the DOT has implemented a nationwide campaign to curb distracted driving, it's also set its sights beyond US borders.
The DOT lead by commissioner Ray LaHood are taking distracted driving matters to the World. Joining forces with the United Nations, LaHood met in New York with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, and Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin in launching a Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving.
The focus of both the DOT and the UN is on the use of cell phones, and those cell phones that drivers are utilizing while operating a vehicle. DOT statistics show, "distracted driving resulted in nearly 6,000 deaths and more than half a million injuries in 2008--every one of them completely preventable," (www.dot.gov.)
In the US, currently twenty-five states have made it illegal to text message while driving (California being one of those twenty-five.) In addition to these twenty-five states, 31 countries--including Brazil, France, Japan, Jordan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Zambia--have passed laws that restrict drivers' use of hand-held devices.
Progress - yes. But the DOT believes there's more work to be done. The meeting's main objective was to work with international leaders and encourage them to promote safer driving habits within the respective country.