Nov 24, 2025 | Accident prevention, Truck Driving
A truck driver has a number of important responsibilities they must take on. One of those includes watching their weight limits. Not only do overloads hurt a company’s reputation, but it also can bring on hefty overweight fines. However, there are some steps you can take to make sure you avoid these fines…
Overweight Fines: Ways To Avoid Them
Double-check your load
One way you can avoid overweight fines is by double-checking your loads. Remember that truck scales check more than just if your truck and trailer are over their acceptable weight limit. They also check how that weight is distributed. If a weight station finds that your truck isn’t carrying the weight properly, you can still be hit with an overweight fine.
Therefore, it’s important to double-check what you’re carrying if you can. Make sure that the load you’re carrying is secure and well-balanced too. If you need to, use things like ties or other restraints to ensure your load is secure and balanced enough to meet the weight requirements.
Consider your fuel
At first, you might not think that fuel adds that much weight to your truck. However, having a full tank can add a considerable amount to your weight. That weight could be enough to put you over the weight limits, and result in overweight fines.
Therefore, you’ll want to do your best to balance out your fuel levels across your trip. It might be more beneficial in the long run to make more stops for fuel than load up during one stop. That way, you can avoid an overweight fine due to having too much fuel. Plus, these stops will give you a chance to stretch and rest during your trip.
Plan out your route
Planning out a good route can really help you avoid overweight fines. A good, efficient route can help you save both time and money. While there are many things you’ll want to plan your route around, some of the important ones are truck scales, truck stops, and gas stations.
Some people might try and plan their routes around permanent weight stations. However, many officials carry portable scales with them as well. Therefore, it’s best to make sure you meet the weight requirements at all times just in case.
Sep 22, 2025 | Accident prevention, Work Injuries
When getting ready for your bartending shift, you might pull out your makeup, uniform, and those trusty non-slip shoes. While being uniformed is absolutely a requirement of the job, there are also a few other steps you might consider taking to keep your body in check. Bartending can be a pretty physically demanding job to have; you’re on your feet, moving around, and maybe lifting heavy objects from time to time. Not to mention, the hours can be pretty long. For these reasons, among many others, we highly suggest a pre-shift stretching session to help limber you up and ward off some of those unwanted lower back pains that come later in the evening.
Pre-Shift Stretching: Bartending Essentials
Preparing for physical activity
It’s just work. Therefore, many of us prepare for it by throwing on clothes and walking out the door. However, your job is pretty physical. From lifting kegs, to mopping floors, and tending to twenty patrons at a time. In short: you’re the savior of every bar-goers Friday or Saturday night. Bartending is athletic performance, and a pre-shift stretching session will help you prepare for such. Loosen those muscles, get them warm, and improve your range of motion before you take on that 14-hour shift.
Tend to those problem areas
If you’ve ever bartended a day in your life, you can probably point out the areas which hurt most at the end of it all. From the soles of your feet, to your lower back, hips, neck, and so forth… When you do your pre-shift stretching, target those areas specifically with certain stretches and yoga poses. While targeting those specific areas is important, a full body stretch is never a bad idea.
Mind your body when it needs rest
We live in a society that pushes the idea of pushing your limits. Not to mention, a majority of bar and restaurant culture operates on the idea that being able to work your shift is more important than mental and physical health. In times of crisis, such as a winter storm or an injury of some sort, you might feel guilty (or even incapable) when it comes to calling out or getting your shift picked up. Pre-shift stretching won’t necessarily keep you from getting a cold, especially after a long few days behind the bar. However, the idea we are stressing here is self-care. Minding the needs of your mind and body is important in any profession.
Self-care in any profession…
If you find yourself injured on the job for any reason, please feel free to give us a call. We can discuss your case, your healing process, and any benefit you might be entitled to. Your body, and healing process, is important to long-term health. Don’t let it go unnoticed.
Sep 8, 2025 | Accident prevention, Car Accidents
Rollover accidents can be very dangerous and are incredibly scary. Every year, thousands of accidents occur with rollovers. And many of them cause serious injuries. It’s important to know the most common reasons for these accidents so that you can avoid them. Often high speed is a factor. Another common reason is driver error – often because drivers are distracted. Certain vehicles can be more prone to rollovers because of their design. And finally, tire malfunction can also be a cause of a rollover accident. You cannot guarantee safety on the road, but you can make yourself safer by being aware of how rollovers happen.
Rollover Accidents: How they Happen and How to Prevent them from Happening to You
High Speed
High speed is very often a factor in rollover accidents. When cars are traveling fast and collide, it’s more likely that the force of the speed will make the car flip. Rollovers can also happen is when a car takes a turn going too quickly. Even swerving to avoid an animal can cause a vehicle to roll over if your car is traveling fast enough. To avoid rollovers, always travel the posted speed limit. And always slow way down before taking a sharp curve to keep all four wheels on the ground.
Driver Error
Another source of rollover accidents is driver error. Drivers being distracted is so incredibly dangerous. If you’re driving, you should not be looking at your phone. Or let your mind wander. Rollover accidents can also happen when drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Often, these cause drivers to make sudden movements or even drive the wrong way on roads. This can lead to very bad accidents, including rollovers.
Electronic Malfunction
Some cars are more prone to rollover accidents because they are more top-heavy than others. Tall SUV’s in particular can be more likely to roll over. Therefore, most cars are equipped with ESC or Electronic Stability Control. This is an electronic sensor that helps prevent the car from rolling over. However, when it malfunctions, a rollover accident is more likely. Getting your vehicle serviced frequently should keep the electronics in good shape.
Tire Malfunction
Finally, tire malfunctions can often cause rollover accidents. Tires often blow out when drivers are traveling at a high rate of speed. The pressure on the tire from the car moving so quickly can cause it to fail. Therefore, tire blowouts often happen on highways. When this happens it can be difficult for your car to stay upright since it’s suddenly off-balance with one tire missing. While it’s impossible to ensure that your tires won’t ever fail, it’s important to pick high-quality tires for your car. You should always monitor the tire pressure, tread, and have them serviced and rotated frequently.
Rollover accidents are very scary and can be deadly. They are often caused in one way or another because a car is traveling at a high rate of speed. Make sure that you always drive the speed limit and slow down as you approach sharp turns. In addition, drivers must never drive distractedly as this can cause many different accidents, including rollovers. Making sure that your car’s ESC feature is working properly can keep you safer on the road as well. And finally, tire blowouts can cause rollover as well, so always make sure your tires are in good shape before hitting the road. Hopefully, by being aware of what can cause rollover accidents, you can stay safer on the road and avoid ever experiencing one.
Aug 4, 2025 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
When you are driving, you will notice there are so many different types of roads out there. From roads and streets to highways and freeways, you may wonder why they all have different names. It may seem very random as to how they assign names to the roads. Believe it or not, there is actually a method to how they assign road types as parts of names.
Types of Roads: What They Are
Large Roads
There is a category for the larger, higher capacity roads. There are many types of roads in this grouping. First, there is a highway, which is a major public road that usually connects multiple cities. Next, there are interstates. These are a large, federally funded network of roads that are part of a highway system. They may go between states, but don’t have to. Then, there is a turnpike, which is a part of a highway, and usually a toll road. Another part of the highway system is freeways. They are a large road with two or more lanes on each side. In addition, parkways are a large, decorated public road. A causeway is a raised road that passes across low or swampy ground or water. Additionally, a beltway is a highway that surrounds a city. As you can see, there are many different types of roads.
Smaller Roads
There are also smaller, lower capacity roads. This is also made up of many types of roads. The most common type is a road. It is a way that connects two points. Another type of road is a street. These are a public way with buildings on both sides. Often, they are perpendicular to an avenue. Avenues are very similar to a streets, and are common when driving in cities.
A lane is a narrow road that is often found in a rural area. Drives are often winding, and potentially long, roads that hug mountains or lakes. A way is a small street off a road. Ending in a circle or a loop, courts do not provide a throughway. Lastly, an ally is a small pathway between buildings. These may or may not be drivable.
As you can tell, there are many different types of roads. This list is not all inclusive, so there are many more. Now you know how they assign road types. When you see road names in the future, the designation will hopefully make more sense.
Jun 29, 2025 | Accident prevention, Motorcycle
Many motorcycle riders tend to opt for using Bluetooth units while they’re riding. In fact, many modern helmets come designed with these devices in mind. But what is it about them that makes riders choose them? As it turns out, these devices have many features which help with both convenience and safety…
Bluetooth Units: Why They’re Useful
Phone integration
Practically every smartphone these days comes with Bluetooth options. These allow for them to easily connect and pair with Bluetooth units. This means that you can make use of features on your phone without having to ever pull it out while on the road.
For example, connecting your phone to Bluetooth units will let you get directions from apps like Google Maps or Waze. You’ll also be able to answer any potential phone calls you get while riding. All of this can be done without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off your bike, giving these units a nice added safety element too.
Listen to music
Another nice advantage of Bluetooth units is when using them to listen to music. It can be quite loud when you’re riding on a motorcycle, and standard motorcycle speakers just might not cut it. However, instead of investing in a sound system, you can chose to listen to music through one of these devices.
Streaming services make it easy to just open up a music app, connect your devices, and start listening to music. Also, most of these Bluetooth units have a “priority system”. If you have a GPS app open while playing music, your GPS will always take the priority and cut in to let you know when you’re coming up on the next turn before continuing your music.
Talk to other riders
Motorcycles being loud doesn’t just make it hard to listen to music. It can also be hard to hear or talk to other riders. This can be especially frustrating if you’re riding in a group. However, Bluetooth units can help solve this problem.
Older devices use Bluetooth connections between units to usually allow about 4 riders to remain in touch while within a few hundred feet of each other. However, newer devices use networking, which let’s your Bluetooth connection stay free and increases the amount of riders and distances you can have. While they are a bit more pricey, the added convenience can make them well worth it.
Jun 15, 2025 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
Many people have been spending more and more time lately outdoors due to the pandemic. With so many people starting to take on new hobbies like biking, water sports and road trips, there has been an increased number of people hauling adventure gear. From bikes, to kayaks, and even boats, bringing these items along takes a little extra work than just throwing something in your car. These tips will help you securely and safely transport all of your outdoor equipment.
Hauling Adventure Gear: Things to Consider
Bikes
When hauling adventure gear like a bike, you will need some extra equipment. Exactly what you will need will depend on your vehicle. One example is a roof rack, which can work with a wide range of outdoor equipment. The downside is that you must be able to lift the bikes over your head, and they will make your car taller, which could be an issue for low-clearance areas. Another option is a hitch rack, which is secured to your trailer hitch. They’re easy to load and unload, but can require you to purchase a receiver if you don’t already have one on your car.
The other type of racks to haul bikes are trunk racks, truck racks, and spare tire racks. Trunk racks allow you to mount a bike to a trunk. As expected, truck racks are perfect for trucks, keeping the hikes neatly stowed as opposed to just being thrown in a truck bed. The spare tire on Jeeps, or similar cars, are the perfect place for a spare tire rack.
Kayaks and Canoes
Hauling adventure gear like a kayak or canoe will require a roof rack due to their size. There are several types of roof rack variations that will work with kayaks and canoes. These include j-cradles, saddle racks and foam blocks. J-cradles are great for hauling more than one kayak or canoe. However, unless you have a short car, they’re hard to unload with just one person. A saddle rack is easy to unload if you are by yourself. The cheapest option is a foam block, but this requires the user to make sure the boat is tied down extra securely.
Boats, ATVs, Campers
If you are hauling adventure gear that is big and heavy like a boat, ATV or camper, there’s some extra steps involved. First, make sure the vehicle you have has the correct towing capacity. Next, make sure the brake lights and turn signals work on the trailer. Otherwise, the lights need to be repaired.
Since towing a trailer or camper will make a vehicle much heavier, it will take much longer to brake. Anyone pulling something heavy like this will have to adjust their driving habits to being a slower, more careful driver. Make sure there is enough auto insurance to cover the trailer. Usually, this can be covered under the auto policy, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance agent first.
