
Use the Trucker Path Trip Planner tool to plan your route beforehand – saving truck drivers like you precious time and potential earnings.
Between HOS rules, ELDs, overcrowded truck stops, and dock time restrictions, planning ahead is a must in order for truck drivers to be successful. We’ve surveyed over 3,300 truck drivers and over 40 percent say they spend an hour or more searching for truck parking.
That’s why using Trucker Path Trip Planner feature is an essential tool to save you time and deliver you peace of mind while you deliver loads.
Steps:
1. Open the Trucker Path app
2. To plan a trip, click the diamond with the arrow on the bottom left

3. Fill out your origin and destination, then click ROUTE

4. Click the places icon on the bottom right to filter out which locations you want to appear on the map

5. Click the icons of locations to deselect them and hide them from the map

6. To Exit Trip Planner and return to the Home Map Screen, click the arrow at the top left





Winter Driving Tips for Truckers
[p]Winter is here bringing with it the end of yet another year. For truck drivers though, winter is no different than any other season. It is the same endless driving through city and country roads no matter the season. The only thing that changes is the way you drive because winter brings rain and snow resulting in wet and slippery roads throughout the country. You need to be extra careful and exercise patience as the odds are stacked against you when it comes to driving in winter. Accidents are not uncommon, with many truckers trying their best to meet delivery deadlines. In such perilous conditions, there are certain protocols to follow, including changing your driving style. Let's talk about what else you can do as a trucker to improve your chances of meeting deadlines this winter.
[/p]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Focus on the Road [/b][/p]
[p]If the road is slippery, you need to keep both your hands on the steering wheel and focus on the road. A slight shift in focus, and the next thing you know, your truck has lost control. You mustn't be distracted by anything, be it music, the radio, or anything else.[/p]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Reduce Speed [/b][/p]
[p]Yes, you need to meet your delivery deadlines, and for that, you need to drive at a certain pace. But you know what they say, it is better to arrive late than never. Therefore, reduce your truck's speed, judge the road's condition, and increase speed only when it is safe to do so. If you drive slow, you can stop earlier and avoid getting into any accidents. [/p]
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/TP-BLOG-Winter_Driving_Tips_for_Truckers-Reduce_Speed.jpg" alt=""]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Avoid Sudden Maneuvers[/b][/p]
[p]To protect yourself and others on the road, you should drive a bit smoothly. That means you should accelerate slowly, brake easy, and turn with caution. Do nothing that would decrease your truck's traction and cause you to lose control of your vehicle. It is good practice to keep more than a safe distance between you and the other vehicle in front of you so you can react at the right time. [/p]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Use Lights [/b][/p]
[p]Your truck's headlights, taillights, and fog lights are your dearest friend in harsh weather conditions. Poor lighting is a recipe for disaster, therefore before you set out on the road, inspect your truck's lights. The important thing here is that while you should be able to see the cars in front of you, others should also be able to spot you from behind. [/p]
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/TP-BLOG-Winter_Driving_Tips_for_Truckers-Use_Lights.jpg" alt=""]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Signal in Advance[/b][/p]
[p]Use your signals way before you intend to turn. As a general rule, wait for four to five blinks before gradually turning a corner or changing lanes. If you are driving slower than the traffic, we suggest you switch on your four-way hazard lights to let everyone else know that you are slow allowing them to make adjustments. [/p]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Watch the Other Truckers [/b][/p]
[p]Veteran truckers are on the road for a reason. They have been trucking for so long that their experience counts for everything. As a beginner, you should learn from them. When big-rigs slow down or pull over, you should too. There is no reason to keep on going if everyone else has decided to call it a day. [/p]
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/TP-BLOG-Winter_Driving_Tips_for_Truckers-Watch_Other_Truckers.jpg" alt=""]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Check the News and Weather Apps[/b][/p]
[p]It is better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to trucking. Therefore, before setting out on your journey, watch the news, check some weather apps, or talk to other truckers who have taken the route you are intending to take. Leave the safety of wherever you are only when you are sure that it is safe to drive. [/p]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Try for Traction [/b][/p]
[p]When it comes to driving on slippery roads, traction is everything. You need good tires, expert driving skills, and some good luck to make it through winter. The only thing you have under your control among the three is tires. Buy snow tires with a deep tread and with several grooves to get good traction[/p]
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/12/TP-BLOG-Winter_Driving_Tips_for_Truckers-Try_for_Traction.jpg" alt=""]
<h2></h2>
[p][b]Final Thoughts[/b][/p]
[p]If it were up to us, we would recommend not driving in winter, but that's for you to decide. Winter driving is dangerous, and no matter what you do, there is always a very high risk of getting into a sticky situation. However, if you do decide to weather through the storm in your truck, then avoid high-risk highways.
[/p]
[p]You want to avoid the state of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York during the winter, and all the highways going around and through these states. Let's not even talk about Alaska, as that is one place that is always a high risk regardless of the season.
[/p]
[p]With that said, we wish you a safe winter driving season! What are your winter driving tips? Share them in the comments below. [/p]
<h2></h2>
<h2></h2>
[p][b]By Aldous Aldwin[/b][/p]
Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in America [p] Which locations landed on American Transportation Research Institutes [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]top 100 worst traffic bottlenecks in America[/a]?[/p]
[p]Bottlenecks, no not the Budweiser kind. Rather the worst traffic bottleneck that causes extreme delays can derail a truck drivers schedule. Let's take a look at the list of places where drivers are bound to be waiting in triaffic. [/p]
[h2]1. Atlanta Spaghetti Junction[/h2]
[p]Winner winner, spaghetti dinner! After analyzing over 600,000 heavy-duty trucks, the ATRI deemed the intersection of [b]Interstates 285 and 85 North in Atlanta[/b], known as the “Spaghetti Junction” is the most congested freight bottleneck in America.[/p]
[ol]
[li]Atlanta Spaghetti Junction[/li]
[li]I-95 at State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey[/li]
[li]I-290 at I-90/94 in Chicago, Illinois [/li]
[li]I-65 at I-64/71 in Louisville, Kentucky[/li]
[li]I-71 at I-75 in Cincinnati, Ohio[/li]
[li]SR 60 at SR 57 in Los Angeles, California[/li]
[li]SR 18 at SR 167 in Auburn, Washington[/li]
[li]I-45 at US 59 in Houston, Texas[/li]
[li]I-75 at I-285 North in Atlanta, Georgia[/li]
[li]I-5 at I-90 in Seattle, Washington[/li]
[/ol]
[giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o7qE3a5YpLpCdeq0U" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy]
[h2]Which State Has the Worst Bottlenecks?[/h2]
[p][b]Texas has the most bottleneck of any state[/b], with nine locations ranked among the top 50 worst. Washington has six locations in the top 50, California has five – primarily in the Los Angeles area, while Georgia has four.[/p]
[h2]Which City Has the Worst Bottlenecks?[/h2]
[p]Staying in the Lone Star state, the city with the worst bottleneck congestion is [b]Houston[/b]. Not only does Houston have three locations in the top 15, it has six in the top 40. Seattle is another city with major bottleneck traffic congestion with five locations on the top 100 list.[/p]
[h2]Difference Between Traffic Jam and Bottleneck[/h2]
[p]A bottleneck differs from a traffic jam because a bottleneck is caused by a road design or flaw in the timing of traffic lights. Bottleneck traffic can be limited if there is a proper redesign of the roadway, something that is extremely costly and time-consuming. The most common causes of bottlenecks are:[/p]
[ul]
[li]Traffic Interruption – the most common causation of bottleneck traffic that includes railway crossings, tolls, stop signs or traffic lights.[/li]
[li]Lane Reduction – a merge caused by the reduction in the number of lanes.[/li]
[li]Merging – specifically when two major highways intersect.[/li]
[/ul]
[p]American Trucking Association President Chris Spear sees the results of the ATRI study as an indication of infrastructure issues that the Trump Administration should address.[/p]
[quote]“With President Trump expected to press for significant long-term infrastructure spending, this ATRI analysis should be a key guide for deciding what projects are worthy of funding,” Spear said. “Ensuring the safe and efficient movement of goods should be a national priority and this report draws attention to the places where our highway network needs improvement in order to meet that goal.”[/quote]
[giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/2bgR8ybgyJU6Q" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy]
[button-white href="http://atri-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-ATRI-Bottleneck-Brochure.pdf"]Full List[/button-white]
2290 Form [h2]2290 Form and EINs: Everything You Need to Know[/h2]
[p]The Heavy Vehicle Use tax season is coming right at us at full speed! You can try to jump out of the way, but you’ll still need to file your 2290 Form by the August 31 deadline. Don’t let the deadline run you over. Be prepared and file as soon as possible to avoid having your form rejected. Part of being prepared involves knowing that you’re required to have an EIN to file. [/p]
[h2] What to Remember About Your EIN [/h2]
[p] Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is also known as the Federal Tax Identification Number and the Federal Employer Identification Number or FEIN. EINs are assigned to businesses operating in the United States in order to identify them for tax reporting purposes. Each EIN consists of a unique 9 digit number.[/p]
[p]This is important because you are required by the IRS to have an EIN to complete your 2290. They need it to identify you to correctly verify that you’re filing for yourself and to prevent fraud. [/p]
[p]There may be some confusion when it comes to EINs and Social Security Numbers (SSN) because they’re both 9 digit identification codes. However, EINs are used to identify businesses, and social security numbers are used to identify individuals. Also, the IRS used to accept SSNs in place of EINs on 2290 Form, but that is no longer the case. If you use your SSN in the EIN field your form will be rejected. [/p]
[p]Plus, when it comes to the information on your 2290 Form such as your business name and address, it will need to match what the IRS has on file or it could be rejected. You can see if your information matches what the IRS has on file by contacting the IRS directly at 800- 829-4933. [/p]
[p]If you don’t have an EIN you can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online"> apply online for free with the IRS</a>. Once you finish applying you will instantly receive your 9 digit EIN, but please keep in mind that it will take about 15 days for your EIN to update in the IRS’s system and your 2290 Form could be rejected during this time. [/p]
[p]Each EIN is is a unique code that never expires. However, as a sole proprietor you may need a new EIN if you’re subject to a bankruptcy proceeding, you incorporate, you take in new partners and operate as a partnership, or you purchase or inherit an existing business. [/p]
[h2]How To File Your 2290 Form?[/h2]
[p]Why wait when you can go ahead and knock out your 2290 Form today? Go ahead and file online with ExpressTruckTax or the ExpressTruckTax App now. Simply follow the step-by-step filing guide to instantly complete your form. As a result, your Form 2290 will be transmitted directly to the IRS and you'll get your stamped Schedule 1 in about 15 minutes.[/p]
[p]You can also call TSNAmerica at 803-386-0320 to file your 2290 Form today over the phone. Simply give them a call and an outstanding US-based representative will file your 2290 for you! It’s that easy. Plus, you will instantly get a copy of your stamped Schedule 1 via email.[/p]
[h2] Need Help With Your 2290 Form? [/h2]
[p]The outstanding <a href="https://www.expresstrucktax.com/">ExpressTruckTax team</a> can help. Call them with any questions you may have at 704-234-6005 Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST. You can also reach them via live chat or through <a href="http://support@expresstrucktax.com">24/7 email support</a>.