In 1998 Ford celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the F-series trucks with the company lavishing a great deal of attention and publicity on the models during the year. This attention was certainly deserved as even though the design and engineering have evolved over the years the American truck driving public have accepted this and continued to buy this vehicle with gusto. This has been shown over the last two decades as the F-series has been the best-selling vehicle in America of any category and was the trailblazer as truck mania took the American Auto Market by storm.

After the end of World War 2 Henry Ford II (who was made President in 1945) made a couple of changes that would turn Fords fortunes around. First off he hired a group of people from military backgrounds to review and change the internal operations of the company, secondly he appointed Ernie Beech as executive president and General Manager of Ford and moved him from GM owned company.

The new management team were very determined and top of their agenda was the return of Ford to top of the game for car and truck production. Whilst this new team were ambitious they were also realistic and they knew this would take some time to achieve.

The end of the War in 1945 saw new truck designs rolling off the production lines from the Big Three before their first new design cars. The reason for this was trucks were off to a flying start as production lines during the war really only produced trucks for both civilian and military use and therefore production lines were geared for trucks. Chevrolet and GMC were first off the blocks with new models launched during 1947 whilst Dodge and GMC looked to the start of 1948 to launch their new models.

1948 Ford F-Series Trucks The management at Ford was fully aware of the pivotal role the 1948 F-Series Trucks were to the future of the company and their long term objectives. One of the key factors was the Ford truck range. In 1947 the range consisted of ½ ton series, one-ton series, the Vanette and the heavy duty 1 ½ & two tonne models. Compare this with the 1948 range when launched consisting of eight models ½ tonne, ¾ tonne, heavy duty ¾ tonne, one tonne, 1 ½ tonne, two tonne, two ½ tonne, and three tonne trucks.

The second factor was a change from past engine practices as they decided to use a new engine for the F-Series, it was usual for Ford to use an engine already in use in a Ford car.

The third factor in Fords marketing plan was the basic size rating, this was really a nominal system however it proved very effective. The idea wasn’t anything new as International were using a similar system but the badged Fords (F-1 for the ½ ton models through to F-8 for three tonnes) with the F standing for Ford applied vehicle weights in customers minds. At the time the industry standard was for seven weight classes of vehicle.

Ford’s long-term objective was to surpass Chevrolet and International. Chevrolet truck awas the industry leader in light duty truck and medium duty trucks, while International ruled the higher end of the medium duty class and in heavy duties. Ford’s F-1 through F-6 vehicles were aimed directly at Chevrolet, while the new F-7 and F-8 models were aimed at International.

When Volvo developed and released its very first automobile back in 1927, they already had a truck on the drawing table. The LV Series 1 was released in early 1928 and it sold nearly 500 models in just a few months. The first Volvo truck featured a 4 cylinder 2.0 Liter engine which was rated at 28 hp.

Since those earlier days, Volvo commercial trucks have evolved considerably. The cabs for this brand are manufactured in Umea, Sweden while the engines are manufactured in Skovde, Sweden. Volvo truck also has assembly plants located in Belgium, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China, India and Russia. With plants located in virtually every corner of the world, it comes as no surprise that this truck brand is highly recognized as a global contributor to the trucking industry. Sales divisions for the manufacturer are divided among Europe, North America and an International division which covers China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

During the 1980s, Volvo purchased the heavy duty trucks from General Motors and during the early 2000s, acquired Renault which included Mack Trucks. Volvo commercial trucks can literally be seen from corner to corner and on every roadside around the world.

Whether you are considering the purchase of a new model from the manufacturer, or are searching for a more affordable used version, Volvo commercial trucks can literally be found in every state and country. Online listings are also easy to find. Simply search for the truck that you want and you will instantly be presented with a multitude of locations in which you can purchase a new or used model.

Truckers around the world have come to depend on their manufacturer of choice. The reason that most truck drivers have a preferred model of truck is simply because they have had good experiences with these manufacturers. Volvo commercial trucks are without a doubt one of the manufacturers brands that thousands of truck drivers prefer. You only have to drive down an interstate or freeway to see the number of these vehicles that are currently gracing our roadways.

On the surface, it sounds easy to acquire a Kenworth truck or Peterbilt truck, find all the profitable truck driver jobs you can handle, and make $100,000 per year after taxes. The fact of the matter is that most owner operators are not nearly this successful. Rather, it is estimated that less than 10% of independent owner operator truck drivers make this kind of money.

Inexperienced or new owner-operators are the most susceptible and vulnerable to this financial management challenge during the initial 0-24 month period after they choose to dive into ownership.

Unfortunately, the trucking industry has a terrible reputation of chewing up and spitting out individuals taking on new, independent truck driving jobs as either owner operators or expeditor’s like a tobacco chewing cowboy at a rodeo.

For years, the Trucking industry has failed miserably to cultivate, train, and nurture drivers to help them manage the financial side of the business and avoid the pitfalls associated within the ranks of semi truck driving owner operators.

The most important similarity among all successful independent owner operator truck drivers have in common is that they have set aside an emergency cash fund. Because the primary key to any successful business is managing cash flow, nothing is more important to the profitability of your trucking business than good business decisions in this area. As an independent owner operator truck driver, you and you alone are responsible for managing every aspect of your business cash flow.

Effective cash flow management is what determines your profitability at the end of the month. Most successful owner operators we interviewed recommend that individual truck drivers have 3 to 6 months of after tax cash in a fund for emergencies such as a loss of job or unexpected major expenditure.The emergency cash fund should include all of your business expenses stashed away including truck payment, insurance, maintenance, etc.

Here are some emergency fund guidelines for owner operators. A recent trucking magazine survey found that:

1. Almost 60% of owner operators surveyed have emergency funds that average $11,500.
2. Among those who have established such a fund, about 65% felt comfortable with an emergency fund closer to $14,000
3. Owner operators indicated the emergency fund should equal about 33% of your operating income (revenue – expenses = operating income)
4. Newbie owner operators usually accept the risk reward ratio with nothing more than God’s blessing and a thoughtful prayer support group. Emergency funds at star-up are usually non-existent.
5. Saving for the unexpected requires detailed record keeping and unwavering discipline.

In summary, two key points to take on the road with you. First, discipline yourself to immediately establish and maintain a 3-6 month emergency cash fund that includes all of your operating expenses. Second, pay for all emergencies with cash that has been earning interest for you rather than with cash for which you’ll pay someone else.

We’ll see you next time with more independent owner operator truck driver secrets to success.

Today Western Star is based in Redford Township, Michigan and is a manufacturer of Class 8 commercial trucks. For those who are not avid truckers or do not understand the classification system, Class 8 trucks are considered to be heavy duty trucks. The classification system in the United States is based on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR. Classes run from 1 to 8 with classes 1 and 2 being considered as Light Duty Truck, Classes 3 to 5 being Medium Duty Truck and Classes 6 to 8 being considered Heavy Duty. Class 8 trucks include any commercial vehicles with a GVWR above 33,000 pounds.

For years Western Star trucks have been providing a variety of vehicles from owner-operator tractor and trailers to severe-duty trucks. Their very popular line-up includes a large line of heavy duty trucks for dumping, logging and hauling heavy loads. Many truckers throughout the nation will simply trust nothing else. There are currently two distinct models of trucks within this company’s line-up. These include the 6900 Series and the 4900 Series.

The 6900 Series is considered to be an Extreme duty model while the 4900 Series is more of a lesser load carrier. You can find out much more information about the specific models by visiting the official site of Western Star trucks or by simply typing the name of the trucking company into your browser’s search area. Whether you are searching for a heavy duty truck or you just like the quality and reliability of the Western Star family, you are among thousands of drivers who will trust nothing else to get them and their loads where they are going. With the many manufacturers of semi trucks and trailers, it seems surprising that one brand would be so highly favored over another. Typically speaking most truck drivers have their favorite truck brand just like most cowboys have a favorite jeans brand.

Different Toyota vehicles have different needs when it comes to its wheels. It is crucial that one chooses the right Toyota truck wheels that will fit the needs of his vehicle. Wheels need to have the right dimensions and the right material for it to be able to deliver the performance expected from it. Toyota trucks for sale specifically require larger wheels. Moreover, as much as Toyota truck wheels are designed to make installation a breeze, one must see to it that the person to accomplish the task has the proper and adequate technical know-how. In order to ensure safety when driving one’s Toyota truck, proper installation of the Toyota truck wheels is one of the most crucial considerations.

Toyota service outlets do the job best and, of course, the company’s manufacturing facilities that install the wheels on every new Toyota truck gives the best guarantee on safety and reliability. It is for this renowned excellence that the Toyota Hilux pickup truck was awarded by Motor Trend Magazine as Truck for sale of the Year in 1989. Every Hilux, also known as “the indestructible car,” is equipped with reliable Toyota truck wheels that power up the driving experience. As covered by the popular automotive show Top Gear, these wheels, working with a customized 2005 Hilux, were even the first to reach the magnetic North Pole. There is just no doubt that, with Toyota truck wheels, one is bound to reach places.

JD Power and Associates have been running a study on vocational truck owners for twelve years now, measuring customer satisfaction with the engines in their heavy duty trucks in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Several factors of these trucks for sale in Hong Kong are measured, including engine quality, engine performance, cost of ownership, and warranty.

Mercedes Benz vehicles have ranked highest among the manufacturers in satisfying their customers in this latest edition of the study.

The engines Daimler trucks of North America are supplied by Mercedes Benz. These engines received an index score of 760 on a 1000 point scale, with the second and third ranked engines as Cummins and Mack engines. Cummins engines scored 733 on the scale for heavy duty trucks in Hong Kong, while Mack, one of the biggest names, received 727 out of 1000.

The study new trucks for sale in Hong Kong was quite large, collating the responses of 2,692 primary maintainers of Class 8 trucks that were around 2 years old. Dump trucks, Garbage trucks and concrete mixers were included in the study.

The study also revealed the importance of salesperson knowledge in customer satisfaction with their heavy duty truck engine in Hong Kong. Forty percent of the owners of trucks surveyed said that they either relied on the salesperson to choose an engine for them, based on information about how they would use it, or purchased their truck ‘as is’ from the sales yard. Across all of the brands, satisfaction was around 33 points lower out of 1000 for those who let the dealer choose their engine for them.

However, Kenworth truck is a brand of heavy duty truck in Hong Kong that has also consistently satisfied customers. An innovative swing out staircase in the Freightliner Argosy cabin gives the comfort and useability scores a boost.

The stairs have also been improved by being made wider and being given non-slip surfaces, and LED ilklumination is another plus. However, Kenworth still failed to make the top three list when it came to engine satisfaction.

Mack is another name synonymous with truck dealers in Hong Kong and heavy duty trucks in Hong Kong. Some of the benefits users mentioned with regard to the Mack Trident model included the pulling power of the 12L, 470 hp engine, as well as its fuel economy and reliability.

It comes with a choice of steer axle position, and has some very versatile features; city runs and interstate jobs can be completed with equal ease. However, Mack’s Trident still came up underneath Mercedes vehicle engines and Cummins engines in the customer satisfaction survey.

Bed covers are most useful when you want your truck to maintain a low profile or when you wish for your truck to have be able to move the cover for its beds easily.such as international truck, freightliner truck, GMC truck, peterbilt truck, kenworth truck etc.

Truck bed cover helps save gas! As air flows over the front end of your vehicle, it careens into the hollow bowl of your bed and produces opposite force to your truck moving direction. This could easily save several miles from your gas mileage every time you use your truck. These types of covers also provide extra gas mileage by reducing the air drag that is exacerbated by the truck bed – an aerodynamic nightmare. You could easily save about 10% on your gas with a good truck cover!

There are many types of bed covers – Strong, rigid canopy covers. These type of cover protect your transport items. Where some are detachable. Such cover is easy to install.

So who invented truck bed covers? Well, no one can really claim to because it has evolved from a number of versions that was designed for different uses. Soft covers gained popularity on major speedways. Sport truck racers used soft truck covers to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag to increase speed. Hard top truck covers rose in prominence as an alternative to the traditional camper shells. These highly-customized truck bed lids has evolved to suit the various needs of the truck drivers.

When you need to transport items ranging from groceries, to some heavy furniture, the truck cover can help. The cover shields your items from view of public, from the weather and from damage. In some instances, truck covers employ strategically-placed weather seals that can channel the moisture away from the covers. With such equipment, truck owners have a greater peace of mind when transporting items that is sensitive to such moisture. With most models currently, installation requires no drilling into the truck bed. Black is the standard color offered by most manufacturers, but many do offer a variety of other more exotic colors.

When purchasing a truck bed cover, you need to decide whether a hard cover (solid fiberglass) or a soft cover (vinyl) is the more appropriate one. The differences between the two are that the hard covers are firmly attached, they do not get blow off even at highway speeds. They are available with hinge systems to allow an easier lifting of cover to put or get the cargo. It is also secure and lockable. These hard covers weigh about 100 lbs. Hard covers are also much more expensive, durable and weatherproof than vinyl covers. The soft covers on the other hand, are easy to remove and install. They often just snap on to the truck rails and are ready to go immediately. Although they may not be as tough as the hard covers, they are still strong enough to provide protection for 1 to 2 people. If you are hauling large cargo, these covers come off easily to accommodate the extra space needed.

Trucks are quickly becoming a target for environment moguls, who claim they are having a negative impact on the environment. While that may be so, they are becoming much more friendly both to the environment and to the economy of the nations they seek to better. After all, how else would nations transport goods across vast distances without the great help trucks and their drivers provide?

There are two concerns for truckers when they are out on the road. First, there is a possibility that they could wreck and cause harm to their truck- which is no easy feat in fixing. Next, their cargo will likely obtain damage and have to be thrown away. Depending on what is inside, this in itself could be extremely costly. Luckily, there are insurance types for both trucks and cargo, depending on what truckers need.

It isn’t all a loss to truckers and their income, however. Truckers can make money from their rigs by submitting to truck shows, which are prominent all across the world. Large awards, bonuses, and cash prizes are awarded to those with especially nice trucks of all types. The United Kingdom in particular has a large amount of festivals just for such an occasion.

All across the world, there are a few truck manufacturers that take the spotlight in quality trucks and equipment. Among them is the Ford company, who has maintained a global reach for some time now. Volvo truck, Mack truck, and Mercedes-Benz also have strong roots in providing the best heavy duty trucks to those who need them around the world. But it isn’t always the best bet to obtain such trucks from these manufacturers- as they are quite expensive, and insurance rates are equally as frustrating.

A good option in obtaining the right truck at the proper price is to consult the Internet. Only the Internet allows people from all around the world to connect and buy or sell their trucks worldwide. This allows for much more competition in pricing, and also gives truckers a global reach in order to find the best prices. Online stores also give intriguing discounts to those who are looking for the perfect truck to fulfill their needs.

Final Thoughts

Truckers around the world are starting to realize that there is much to appreciate in obtaining a proper heavy duty truck. And with the advent of the Internet, there hasn’t been a better time to get into the industry thanks to solid pricing options. If the will to obtain such a majestic type of truck is still present, consult several Internet resources or auction sites to get started.

Those who like keeping the environment looking its best might want to steer clear of heavy duty trucks. Their extra weight and heavy engines will impact their fuel economy in poor ways. Thankfully there are hybrids and other types of technologies coming out to help save the trucking world from a bad reputation, although it could be quite some time before trucks start obtaining gas mileages that common cars today do.

There are two concerns for truckers when they are out on the road. First, there is a possibility that they could wreck and cause harm to their truck- which is no easy feat in fixing. Next, their cargo will likely obtain damage and have to be thrown away. Depending on what is inside, this in itself could be extremely costly. Luckily, there are insurance types for both trucks and cargo, depending on what truckers need.

Truckers can always make money from their rigs by doing work and transporting goods. But when they want to have a little fun, truckers can even make money by submitting their works of art to truck shows. Truck shows are popular among the US and United Kingdom, although there are shows all around the world to enjoy. And for truckers, large cash prizes and benefits come from such endeavors.

All across the world, there are a few truck manufacturers that take the spotlight in quality trucks and equipment. Among them is the Ford company, who has maintained a global reach for some time now. Volvo truck, Mack truck, and Mercedes-Benz truck also have strong roots in providing the best heavy duty trucks to those who need them around the world. But it isn’t always the best bet to obtain such trucks from these manufacturers- as they are quite expensive, and insurance rates are equally as frustrating.

A good option in obtaining the right truck at the proper price is to consult the Internet. Only the Internet allows people from all around the world to connect and buy or sell their trucks worldwide. This allows for much more competition in pricing, and also gives truckers a global reach in order to find the best prices. Online stores also give intriguing discounts to those who are looking for the perfect truck to fulfill their needs.

Kenworth was founded in 1923 and has a long and rich history. Kenworth has been a pioneer in the trucking industry and has always stepped ahead to produce better trucks using the most modern technology. In 1933 Kenworth became the first trucking company to switch from gasoline to diesel engines and it produced the first cab-over-engine model. In more recent times the Kenworth trucks have used state-of-the-art aerodynamics to give them an edge over other trucks.The Kenworth truck sales indicate the long nose Kenworth W900 has been the most popular Kenworth over the years is the preferred choice of owner operators. The T300, T600, T660, T800 and the T2000 are also popular models.

A subsidiary of PACCAR, the company manufactures semi-trucks, medium duty truck and heavy-duty class 8 trucks. The Kenworth trucks and have even been featured in several films such as in ‘Smokey and the Bandit’, James Bond’s ‘License to Kill’ and ‘A Fountain for Susan 2’. They have also starred in TV series such as ’18 Wheels of Justice’, ‘Movin’ On’ and ‘BJ and the Bear. The cartoon series M.A.S.K also used a Kenworth W-900 and was even a part of its logo.

Kenworth is known to take seriously the needs of truckers and does everything to enhance the performance of the used Kenworth trucks for sale. Whether one buys a new Kenworth truck, semi truck or a used Kenworth truck, the owner is assured of the superior quality of the machine as well as the services they will receive.

It’s no secret that the initial purchase price of a Kenworth Truck is more expensive than most other semi trucks for sale. However most educated semi truck owners realize that the upfront cost is only one of three components that actually determine which truck delivers the best return on their investment. Year over year, Kenworth used trucks consistently command the highest in resale value amongst class 8 trucks. Add this to the fact that Kenworth trucks also deliver the lowest operating costs of any semi truck in the market. The bottom line is that the world’s best truck is also delvers the greatest investment value of any semi truck in its class.

The strong sales network ensures that irrespective of where you live you will find the Kenworth truck of your choice. The Kenworth truck company offers the PremierCare program that ensures that the Kenworth truck or any other manufacturer’s semi truck is in excellent shape on or off the road. This program includes roadside maintenance, preventive maintenance and many other services. Furthermore the PremierCare Parts & Service dealer ensures that you get the parts you need for the price you want.

For its incomparable production and sales performance Kenworth has won. It is an acknowledged leader in the trucking industry for its persistence in providing its customers the best machinery, technology and services.