Tag: fleet driver

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Make Sure You’re Legal on the Road!

Two necessary documents every driver MUST have with them at all times.

Many people don’t know that a vehicle registration is NOT the same as the title. Here are the basics to understanding the two separate documents you need before you can legally drive your vehicle:

Car Title

The title is a legal document that declares you (or the company / individual you owe) is the legal owner of a vehicle. Once a title is obtained, it is valid in every state, despite the owner’s residence.

To receive a title of a vehicle, an owner must have:

  • Bill of sale
  • Proof of insurance
  • Proof of residency (most DMV offices require two verified bills or official mail
  • Current odometer reading of vehicle
Registration

The registration is a legal document that states you have paid essential taxes and are in the state’s cataloguing system. Each state has individual requirements for this registration, and a vehicle owner must have one that is valid in his state of residence in order to legally operate the vehicle.

Once a vehicle’s title is obtained, a registration is necessary as well. Although states differ on the requirements for this document, each requires the following:

  • Title
  • Current insurance (minimum; higher in some states)
  • Tax or registration fees
  • Vehicle inspection report

Over half of the United States requires emission testing. Emissions, as well as many other safety inspections, vary considerably from state to state. You can find a list of your state’s requirements through the Department of Motor Vehicles, or the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

The process of obtaining a title and registration for your vehicle is sometimes complicated and always time-consuming. Entrusting that process to ABS ensures a smooth and carefree transition to getting your entire fleet on the road efficiently and legally!

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ABS Motor Carrier Services

ABS Motor Carrier Services

ABS Simplifies Your Business

Why do you need ABS motor carrier services? We simplify the administrative functions of fleet management allows owners, managers, and operators to run their businesses more efficiently…and efficiency ultimately means profit.

As a fleet manager, you know you need to:

  • Monitor IRP maintenance, additions, renewals, and changes
  • Complete IFTA quarterly reports
  • Track special state reporting
  • Manage driver qualifications
  • Account for oversize/overweight annuals and trips
  • Complete nationwide registration and titling
  • Store those titles
  • Manage tolls and citations

OR, you can utilize the expertise and infrastructure of ABS Tag & Title to streamline that administrative work with our intellectual capital and technical tools.

Regardless of the size of your commercial fleet, we use our resources to manage your assets effectively. Click here to learn more!

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Tips to Keep You & Your Rig Safe on the Road

Stay safe on the road and rest when you need to.

The best life-saving tip you will receive today…

Pull over.

The numbers are staggering:  100,000 accidents and over 1,500 deaths are cause each year because of drowsy driving!  If you’re sleepy, don’t down the power drinks or grab another smoke…your health and safety are the most important products you deliver to your destination each day!  Consider some of the following instead:

  • Power nap.  It has proven effectiveness!   But be very careful…..longer than 20 minutes and this will backfire quickly.
  • Drink a caffeinated beverage following your nap.  Pounding these constantly will actually make you drowsy, but that quick shot of adrenaline right after a bit of rest will give you an added boost.
  • Pulling over your rig and walking a half mile down the road and back will cause you to lose a little time but quite possibly save a life or two.

“Off the clock” guidelines are perhaps even more essential in assuring a safe drive. When you’re not on a driving schedule ensure that you:

  • Stay consistent on your bedtime.  Your body will function much better on the road if you keep a regular routine off the road.
  • Follow a regular calming routine an hour before bed.  (Screen time of any kind is a stimulant.  Cutting out TV and phone/computer scrolling will help!)
  • Avoid heavy foods, alcohol, and nicotine an hour before bedtime.
  • Get six to eight hours of sleep. Your mother said it for years because doctors have been saying it for generations.  This is what it takes for your body to refuel, so take care of it just like you do your rig.  Don’t drive on empty!

We at ABS not only want you to get there on time; we want you to get there safely.

P.S. Did you know lack of sleep increases your heart rate!  Your heart rate and blood pressure go down at night….they’re supposed to!  So give your heart a rest, and get a good night sleep!  Find out more about heart health here. 

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Reduce Fleet Costs

3 Ways to Reduce Your Fleet Costs

How to Reduce Your Overall Fleet Costs

The total cost of ownership of your fleet is made up of the purchase price of your assets plus the costs of operations. This is an especially important figure when you’re looking to understand your operational costs and reduce them. Fleet managers should always be seeking ways to reduce their total cost of ownership, both short-term and long-term. A fleet’s total cost of ownership is a fluid figure and will be different for every commercial fleet. Here are three key ways to reduce fleet costs:

Evaluate Leasing Arrangements | Do you own or lease your vehicles? What type of lease arrangement do you have, could it be improved?

Optimize Your Fleet Size | You may have too many vehicles or not enough. Analyzing the scale of your fleet can help you determine the optimal number and vehicles needed.

Outsource Operations | Make sure your operations such as titling, registration and everything needed to keep your fleet compliant is running efficiently and not costing you additionally in fees.

In a few simple steps you can greatly improve your commercial fleet’s cost assessment and reduce your overhead cost thus increasing your total cost of ownership. It just takes being aware of your assets and where your costs are going.

If you’re looking for fleet management solutions, we oversee all the details from vehicle title and registration, renewals, duplicate titles, out of stock vehicle locating and so much more. We pride ourselves on fast turn-around times, our expertise and our accurate & reliable processes. Learn more: https://abstagtitle.com/about-us/services/

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Driving While Drowsy

Read about the dangers of driving while drowsy.

Sleep Deprivation is Dangerous for Any Driver

We all know that keeping drivers safe is the key to good fleet management. Sleep deprivation is a risk for any driver who is working long shifts, driving overnight, or simply exhausted. Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven. However, more than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes experienced no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel.

A startling 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the recommended seven hours daily according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowsy driving is involved in more than one in five fatal crashes on U.S. roadways each year. And not surprisingly, the less sleep you get beneath the recommended seven hours, the more likely you are to crash.

How to Prevent Your Drivers from Driving While Drowsy

  • Educate on the dangers of driving drowsy
  • Encourage healthy behaviors and a good night’s sleep
  • Allow drivers to pull over and sleep when they feel drowsy
  • Caffeine can be a short boost but is not a cure for sleep deprivation

Remember that driving drowsy doesn’t help anyone. It puts the driver, other drivers and the fleet vehicle all at unnecessary risk. The more education and support for preventing driving while sleepy the safer and more efficient your fleet will be.