What do you envision when you hear the name Bose? Speakers? high-end CD and MP3 players? Suspensions? Probably not the last one. Unbeknownst to many, Bose has worked for many years on developing car suspension systems that are as smooth as the sound that emits from a set of Bose headphones.
In truth, the efforts of the Bose Corporation have extended to the trucking industry with Bose's latest product, the Bose Ride Truck Seat. Unlike most truck seats which attempt to soften bumps, the Bose Ride Seat simply cancels them.
The principle is very simple. As a truck heads down the highway, it drives over inconsistencies in the road. As this series of bumps passes underneath the truck's wheels, it creates a wave-like shaking that is transferred from the axles to the chassis to the cab and seat. However, with the Bose Ride seat, this wave of bumps is canceled by an opposing wave. The effect of this cancellation is little-to-no vibration transfer to the driver's body. Thus, the driver can spend his normal hours on the road without being shaken all over the cab.
Such revolutionary technology does come at a price: each Bose Ride seat costs approximately $6,000. However, the benefits of reduced wear on your body may easily pay for the cost of the seat. Who knows? Someday, the Bose Ride system may be standard on all new trucks. Only time will tell.
As a truck driver, you perform certain tasks each day. You do a pre-trip inspection, your head onto the road, and you offload your cargo. However, when you are in an unfamiliar city, things can be quite difficult. Not only can a wrong turn leave you miles from your intended destination, but it can also cause damage to your vehicle, your load, and even yourself.
Each year, hundreds of truck drivers run into low-hanging bridges and run into other trouble simply because they were unable to find their way. But that doesn't have to be you. By purchasing good maps or a trucker-specified GPS system, you can rest easy and arrive to your destination safely.
Trucker maps and GPS systems for truckers are designed to funnel the flow of cargo down main truck routes. With these maps or GPS systems in your possession, you will avoid low clearance bridges, narrow streets, and other hazards. Get a trucker atlas for yourself today, and have a safe journey wherever life's road leads you.
If you haul flatbed loads as part or all of your trucking career, you know that a winch bar is essential to tightening your straps and reducing the slack in your chains. However, if you are entering the field of flatbed trucking, you may not know that there are actually three varieties of winch bars.
The Strap Variety
The style of winch bar used to secure straps has a straight bar and an angled end. When inserted into the webbing winch's ratchet, the angled winch bar allows you to tighten your straps. The angled winch bar is the most common type of winch bar; however, if you are using ratchet straps or chain binders, you need an additional winch bar(s).
The Chain Variety
For reducing the slack in chain binders, you need a different type of winch bar. This type of winch bar contains a slot where you can insert the rod of a chain binder and tighten. In many cases, the tightening end of a chain binder winch bar is on the opposing end of a webbing strap winch bar.
The Ratchet Strap Variety
For ratchet straps, you need an addition type of winch bar: the ratchet strap type. The ratcheting winch bar allows you to tighten ratchet straps for those unusual loads where webbing straps alone may not be sufficent or the trailer does not have webbing winches.
With the combination and ratchet strap winch bars, you will be well prepared to take on whatever loads flatbed trucking throws at you. Flatbed trucking can be a rewarding career if you enjoy a variety of challenges including over-dimension and multi-part loads that require strapping, tarping, and chaining.
In seconds, a traffic accident on the highway can damage
your reputation, vehicle, and career. And if the driver who caused the trucking
crash files a lawsuit, you could owe thousands of dollars over your repair
costs. Thankfully, there is a solution: the dash camera.
In an 18 wheeler accident, a GPS HD camera can provide video
evidence of the time before, during, and after the crash, thereby tipping the
scales of justice in your favor. Reliable Eyewitness is
your source for quality HD dash cameras.
With satellite-measured vehicle speed and GPS coordinates,
crisp sound, and clear 1080P HD video morning and night, the GSE550
dashcam provides peace of mind for $298. The GSE550 also features up to 64
gigabytes of memory, 120 degree field of view, and 30 or 60 fps. The V660
V2 offers 720P video, night mode, and up to 32 GB of memory for $162.
If you drive in big game country, you know that it is only a matter of time before one of these beasts crosses your path. To ward off the threat of mammalian mayhem, you should purchase a bullbar, deer guard, cowcatcher, or similar product. Simply stated, these bumpers keep a deer, elk, moose, bear, or bison from damaging your radiator, hood, front axle, lights, and other parts of your truck.
Several companies produce these bumpers, and we will look at each momentarily.
Herd.
From its headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Herd produces a wide range of bullbars for a large number of trucks. Herd produces bullbars for pickup trucks, passenger vans, and heavy trucks. Whether you own a Peterbilt 379 or a Caterpillar CT660, a Ford F-150 or a Chevrolet Express, Herd has a bullbar for you.
Visit their website at herd.com to see their products firsthand.
Alsofrom the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ali Arc produces its own line of quality aluminum bullbars.With products for every vehicle from light-duty pickups to full size big rigs, Ali Arc provides stiff competition to its neighborly rival, Herd. Ali Arc also manufactures other aluminum products to complete its product line.
Located in British Columbia, Magnum Trailer produces a popular assortment of bullbars. With models for all the popular truck brands and makes, Magnum Trailer offers an alternative to the Herd and Ali Arc's dominance. In addition to its bullbars, Magnum Trailer produces semi-trailers, a full assortment of cab protectors, toolboxes, chain hangers, and other aluminum accessories for your truck.
Another of Manitoba's fine selection of bullbar manufacturers is Bison Grille Guards. Bison produces a selection of products for heavy trucks only. As with the other bullbar producers, the products from Bison Grille Guards will protect your truck from damage should an animal cross your path.
From the land of Ontario, Mik Mak Fabrications produces a wide assortment of bullbars and other truck products. From cabguards and truck sleepers to service truck bodies and bullbars, Mik Mak Fabrications makes them all.
One of the few companies to manufacture their bullbars from steel is Bandit Bar. With their unique guard design, Bandit Bar products stand apart from the crowd and provide protection in difficult environments. Bandit Bar is also stands alone as the only major bullbar manufacturer from Alberta. Bandit Bar produces bullbars for heavy and light trucks in addition to their tire chain racks.
If you are looking for a smaller, lighter product to deflect smaller animals such as deer, wolves, or pronghorns, you may want to consider a tube bumper. Like a bullbar, these products provide protection against front-end impact, but, unlike a bullbar, these products mount to your existing bumper, not replace it.
A few companies that produce these are the following:
