Month: December 2018

Everyone at United Truck Driving School would like to wish you Happy Holidays! 2018 has been quite a year for the school. With so many students graduating from all three of our training facilities, we have had quite a busy year. We’ve seen veterans, wives, married couples, best friends, and more come through our doors and finish their CDL training. Every one of you has a special place in our hearts and we are so excited for you and this new chapter ahead.

New Year⏤New Career!

As for 2019, we are so excited to see what the future holds for all of us at United. We know it will be a wonderful year and we hope you will be apart of it. There is no better time than now to get started with your CDL training. Truck drivers are in HIGH demand. By earning your commercial driver’s license in just 3-weeks, you can be off to rewarding career with high-earning potential. Trucking companies throughout the country are looking for local, regional, and over-the-road truckers. What’s holding you back?

We are located in two convenient locations throughout California; San Diego and Riverside. United offers several Tuition Assistance options to students to help pay for their training. We know money is tight after the holidays, but we can work together to find what works best for you! After your training, our Job Placement staff will help you land a job you’ll love.

Need to be home nightly? We’ll look at local positions. Ready to make the big bucks? Over-the-road is your best choice! We’re ready to help you make 2019 the year you begin a new career in trucking. Contact us today to get started!

Do you love your work as a professional driver? Do you find it hard to be away from friends and family for long periods of time? For over-the-road drivers, staying in touch with loved ones can be one of the hardest parts of the job. Thankfully, technology is making this easier than ever before. Make life away from home a little bit better with our tips for staying in touch while on the road!

Communication Apps

Talking on the phone is nice, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the faces of your friends and family. Video chat apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Duo are great, allowing you to talk one on one while also seeing facial expressions and showing your surroundings rather than just describing them.

When there isn’t time for an entire phone call, social media is a great alternative. Social media gives you the chance to share your journey and updates with a larger group of people in a quicker way.

Keep an Ongoing Group Message

According to the Pew Research Center, 7 out of 10 Americans reported that texting and group messages helped them to stay connected with friends and family.

Keeping an ongoing group chat is a great way to stay in touch while OTR. This can be a regular text message or in an app like GroupMe. The nice part about texting and group messages is that you don’t have to worry about arranging people’s schedules. You can share pictures and send a quick message whenever you need.

Schedule One-On-One Time

Spending one-on-one time with loved ones is an important aspect of fostering healthy relationships. When you’re away from home for long periods of time, time spent together becomes even more valuable. With this in mind, be sure to set aside specific potions of time for people. This could be an hour each week or a video chat during dinner so that your daily routine isn’t disrupted. Whatever you decide, be sure to stick with it!

Send Snail Mail

With the rise of technology, we’ve gotten away from sending “snail mail.” While it takes longer to be delivered, it feels special when we get something in the mail from a loved one. Most truck stops carry postcards and stamps, so you can send ones that are specific to where you’re visiting.

Looking to finish your route and get home to those you love quicker? United Truck Driving School offers 3 Time Management Tips to help you be more efficient!

Updated August 2023

The new electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is part of MAP-21 and it states that the records of duty status (RODS) must now be filed through an electronic means that creates a safer work environment for all drivers. The ELD law specifies that electronic records of RODS must now be kept of the time that the driver spends working and operating the vehicle.

Electronically keeping these files will allow for drivers to easily share the records with their supervisors and managers. Some professional drivers in the industry are not too pleased with this new change in their routine. Here’s why we think the new ELD mandate is a win-win for everyone!

Benefits of the ELD Mandate

The ELD method has many more positives to it than just allowing supervisors or managers to see the driver’s records. It is also much more accurate than requiring drivers to keep paper records, which can be sometimes tricky to maintain. It’s much easier to misplace or damage your records when they are paper files rather than electronic.

Moreover, the ELD system can save drivers valuable time. Recording hours electronically is much quicker and easier than having to write everything down with a paper and pen. Thanks to the new ELD mandate, drivers can spend less time worrying and more time being productive!

The ELD Mandate is Convenient and Flexible

The ELD mandate offers convenience and flexibility for everyone involved. Trucking companies can simply install the software into a device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, and drivers can start keeping their records electronically!

It’s also convenient for the driver to be able to use their own personal devices they are already familiar with. Drivers simply log it in and it’s instantly reported to the system. Having real-time records helps supervisors keep a tab on all of the vehicles in their fleet.

Compliance Deadline

The ELD mandate was introduced as a law on February 16th, 2016. The ELD devices became mandatory as of December 18th, 2017. The final deadline for all vehicles to be outfitted with AORBD, which includes all units being upgraded or replaced, will be December 16th, 2019.

The upgrades that must be done to ELD devices by 12/16/19 includes limiting the functions the device is allowed to perform. This will allow the device to achieve its goal of keeping records without collecting any personal information on the device. This improvement will address privacy concerns by keeping their data secure.

 

While it may seem overwhelming to make the change, the ELD system is going to make everyone’s job easier in the end. Electronic records are also more permanent and much easier to keep track of!

Time is money when you’re on the road. That’s why it’s important for truck drivers to adopt new routines that will save them time, like using the ELD system. Interested in more ways to save time? Check out the 3 Must-Know Time Management Tips for Truck Drivers!