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6 Passenger Safety Tips To Remember When Using Rideshare Services

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The growing acceptance of ridesharing platforms has significantly impacted the taxi business. People don’t mind paying for these services because they’re convenient. Every day, millions of people use ridesharing apps.

Side view of a female passenger with a face mask texting on the phone while using a carpool service app

These days, many different ridesharing applications are available, and individuals can select one depending on preferences, reputation, availability, and cost, among other factors. It’s a relatively safe means of transportation. However, it’s not completely risk-free by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, individuals shouldn’t let their guard down when using these services.

Below are some passenger safety tips to remember when using rideshare services.

1. Buckle Up, Always

Just because you’ve done everything above doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You must always wear your seatbelt. The reason is that, even if you get a good driver with a good rating, this doesn’t reduce your chances of getting involved in an accident.

Remember, accidents happen. When they do, they often occur unannounced. Ask yourself, are Uber or Lyft accidents common in Florida or your locale? If the answer is yes, you need to be careful whenever you use ridesharing apps. But if you do get involved in an accident, you’d probably need a personal injury lawyer to claim damages if there are any injuries. Nevertheless, you need to have your seatbelt on at all times because it’ll help reduce an accident’s impact.

2. Travel With A Friend If Possible

With ridesharing, traveling with someone else is always a great idea. You’re safer with someone than when you’re alone. Traveling alone puts you in a vulnerable position if something happens. So, next time you use a rideshare application, ask a friend to accompany you. Again, this is particularly necessary if you’re traveling during the night.

3. Inform Somebody

If you’re going to visit a new or unfamiliar place for the first time, it would be a great idea if you shared your trip status with someone you trust or know. This is particularly important if you’re traveling during the night-time.

Most ride-sharing apps allow you to share a trip so that the other person may monitor or track your movements. However, you could also share your phone’s actual location with that other person outside of the ridesharing application. This ensures that people can track your location in the event of an accident.

4. Verify Vehicle Specifics

Before getting inside, you must confirm that the vehicle’s details match those on the ridesharing application. Once a trip has been confirmed, the rideshare app typically provides information about the driver’s car, like the colour, license plate, model, and make. They give this information to help the rider to verify the vehicle upon arrival. It’ll also help the rider quickly identify the car in high-traffic areas.

So, as soon as the driver arrives, double-check the vehicle’s specifications. If the details do not match, cancel the ride and request another one. The car should also be in decent condition. If you observe any severe damage to the vehicle, you should probably avoid it.

Moreover, you must also verify the driver’s details before entering the car. You could also request that they show their driver’s license to ensure optimal safety. If they’re genuine, they won’t have anything to hide. As the passenger, it would also help if you confirmed that you’re the passenger, so ask them who they’re here to pick up before entering the vehicle.

5. Check Driver Ratings

Rideshare apps have the facility for riders to leave reviews on completed rides. People can give feedback on their experience with their driver. It’s doubtful that a person would give a dishonest review, even though it’s possible. However, generally, these ratings provide a clear depiction of the type of driver you’re dealing with.

So, even before you accept a ride, check the rating. The higher the rating, the better. This increases your chances of having a successful trip. On the contrary, a poor rating is a red flag, and it might be wise to cancel the trip promptly.

6. Contact The Police

Now in some extreme cases where you feel threatened, unsafe, or if danger is imminent, call the police right away. You can also try yelling out the window to attract attention if you see people close by. It could be that the driver is harassing you, or maybe he’s taking suspicious routes. Whatever the case, if you feel unsafe, get help as soon as possible and try to exit the vehicle safely.

Conclusion

While ridesharing apps are great in many ways, riders still need to be vigilant, especially when using them at night. Remember, your safety is a top priority. So, consider the points mentioned above when using rideshare apps going forward.

An Easy Guide To Understanding The Different Types Of Lien Sales

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If you haven’t heard of the term mechanic’s lien before, then today we will briefly discuss it. Do you know how a car lender can take legal action against somebody and repossess their automobile if they didn’t repay their loan?

Well, something similar can happen with a mechanic’s lien, if by any chance, a person didn’t pay for services owed. Namely, if certain work has been done on your vehicle, and you didn’t pay the company or individual you hired, then they are allowed to take legal action against you in order to recover the cost of their labour and/or parts.

Now, this term doesn’t only refer to the situation involving cars only, but to different types of property as well, however, today we will focus on vehicles and the different sorts of these sales you can stumble upon.

Everything You Need To Know About Various Types Of Lien Sales

Starting With Abated/Abandoned Vehicles

This refers to the vehicle under $500, also known as “junk liens”. In these instances, lien sales are normally conducted within fifteen days. They are executed either by junkyards or law enforcement.

Moving On To Under $4000 Liens

These liens known as short liens as well are placed on automobiles that do not cost more than $4000. Owners of the car should respond to the notice of pending sale at least fifteen days before the sale date.

Additionally, this type of lien takes somewhere between thirty to forty days to clear if there is no counteraction.

Discussing Other Sorts Of Lien Sales Below

Over $4000 Liens

Over $4000 lines are also called “long liens” and refer to vehicles that are worth more than this amount of money or are placed at storage facilities. This type of lien will usually take somewhere between ninety to one hundred and twenty days to complete.

It is of huge importance in these types of situations to be provided with the public agency, or at least with the name and address of the individual who allowed the repairs, towing, and/or storage.

Once cleared, the company that is executing the sale is going to get the authorisation letter from the DMV, and then they will prepare the sale package. A one-day auction must be put in a local newspaper situated in the county where the auto resides, at least five days (and no more than twenty) before the sale date.

But what can be done if there’s no newspaper in the county? In these instances, some alternative solutions must be used. Your car must be accessible in a public place for at least one hour prior to the auction and is supposed to be placed exactly where the Ad stated.

Furthermore, if by any chance, the auction price goes beyond the amount of the lien, the excess amount of money must be sent to the Lien Sale unit within fifteen days after the sale date.

Let’s Not Forget To Mention Vessel Liens/Boats

Boats-related liens are pretty similar to the ones in Long Lien and are typically divided in value of under and over $1500. A vessel that is under $1500 is supposed to be accompanied by a written statement (from a licensed ship or yacht broker) for fair market value as proof that the value of the boat doesn’t go over $1500.

When it comes to vessels that are over $1500, it takes approximately two to three months to complete.

What Can Be Done If A Mechanic’s Lien Is Placed On Your Automobile?

If the lien includes repairs that weren’t paid, then you may be permitted to inspect your car before you pay the bill. Additionally, you can even schedule a time to properly inspect your auto just to see if particular repairs have been made the way you demanded.

Now, if you’re planning on issuing a stop payment on a check for dissatisfactory repair services, we just want to let you know that it may not be the best thing to do. How come? Well, that’s because it could potentially be a criminal offense in the state you live in.

Therefore, if you have been unfairly charged for repairs, then you should first make sure to pay the bill so you can return your vehicle and then contact an attorney who has a plethora of experience in this field.

Namely, a good lawyer is going to be able to help you figure out what your rights are based on your current situation.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with these types of sales and what they involve, we hope that this short, yet informative guide has managed to provide you with all the necessary information and that things are a bit clearer when it comes to this topic.

Top 7 Fleet Performance Indicators You Should Monitor

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When it comes to fleet performance, there are a few key indicators that you should be monitoring. Doing this may make the required corrections and improve your fleet’s performance.

Fleet performance indicators (FPIs) are also called Performance metrics for fleets. They are key success metrics that reflect how well your fleet’s services work. Fleet managers may enhance decisions and quality by analysing and monitoring this data.

Each of these indicators can give helpful tips about a fleet’s performance. Fleet managers may track various FPIs, but some are more significant than others. This article will discuss some of fleet operators’ most important performance indicators.

Here are the top 7 fleet performance indicators you should track.

Fuel Consumption

Much discussion in the transportation industry has been made in recent years of the importance of fuel economy. Many different performance indicators have been used to help assess fuel consumption.

The average fuel consumption (AFC) is the most crucial statistic for calculating fuel consumption. The average fuel usage informs you how much gasoline your cars use on average.

It is calculated by taking the total number of gallons of fuel consumed and dividing it by the number of hours the engine was operated. For example, if an engine consumes 10 gallons of fuel in 8 hours, the AFC would be 1.25 gallons per hour.

The cost of fuel consumption when monitoring fleet performance indicators can be significant. In fact, according to a recent study, the average cost of fuel consumption when monitoring fleet performance indicators is $0.15 per gallon.

This means that if you have a fleet of 100 vehicles, you could be spending $15 per day on fuel costs alone.

For example, a fleet that operates a vehicle 10 hours a day and operates it at a certain speed will consume a certain amount of fuel. That amount might vary depending on the vehicle and the climate. The consumed amount will also vary if the same scenario happens at a different speed.

Now, the key success metric in any fleet operation is fuel efficiency. It is a percentage that shows how efficient a fleet’s operations are regarding fuel. Fuel efficiency also influences the fleet’s economy.

A fleet operates at 20% efficiency and consumes 80% of fuel. When the fuel efficiency is 70%, the fleet operates at 9% of fuel. This is the most economical condition.

Maintenance and Repair Costs

Fleet performance indicators are critical measures of success for any fleet leasing company. Among the most important FPIs is maintenance and repair cost per vehicle.

Maintaining and repairing a vehicle fleet can be a major expense for a company. Being able to track this cost well is critical to managing the fleet budget. You may check repair and upkeep costs using some vital fleet metrics.

One of the most important fleet performance indicators is the cost per vehicle. This is the total cost of vehicle maintenance and repair divided by the number of cars in the fleet. This metric can compare the cost of maintaining and repairing a fleet of cars to a similar fleet.

Another vital fleet performance indicator is the number of breakdowns. This is the number of times a vehicle breaks down while in service.

Vehicle Idle Time

Any business that depends on cars to complete its job must rank fleet performance. Indicators for fleet quality are available in several forms. Two of the most important are idle time and vehicle acquisition costs.

Idle time is the amount of time a vehicle is not used for productive work. This includes the vehicle’s buy price, fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs. A car’s idle time displays how quickly it can deplete its fuel supply.

This idle time is especially important for fleets, which use a large number of the idle vehicle. Idle time also shows managers how efficient their fleet operations are. Different vehicles have different idle times.

The data gotten from analysing vehicle idle time can help managers determine how to optimise their fleet. Monitoring these metrics will give you a decent idea of how your fleet is doing and where you can improve.

Driver Compliance With HOS Regulations and Turnover Rates

One of the most vital aspects of adhering to hours-of-service laws is how long a driver is on the road. But it’s not the only factor. Another essential metric is turnover rates.

Turnover rates are a measure of how often drivers leave a company. A high turnover rate indicates drivers are unhappy with the company. Turnover rates are an important measure to keep track of.

Both HOS rules and turnover rates can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. For example, driver turnover rates can lead to higher recruitment and training costs. Also, HOS violations can lead to costly fines and lawsuits.

Other factors are also necessary when monitoring driver compliance with hours-of-service regulations. But these two – hours on the road and turnover rates – are some of the most important.

Accidents Rates

When conducting a fleet assessment, you should track several key performance indicators (KPIs). One of the most vital is the accident rate, which refers to the average number of accidents per 100 drivers. This KPI is important because it gives you a good sign of the safety of your fleet.

High accident rates make your drivers likely to sustain injuries and damages. A low accident rate makes your drivers less likely to have an accident, making your fleet more stable.

The average number of accidents per driver is a good starting point, but it is not the only factor you should track. You should look at the types of accidents that are being reported, as well as the severity of accidents. Considering all these factors, you can get a complete picture of a fleet’s safety.

Driver Compliance With Traffic Laws

Driver compliance with traffic regulations is the most crucial fleet performance indicator. Transportation managers are under constant pressure to improve their KPIs. Yet, complies are often slack in favour of specific measures, such as fuel usage or accident rates.

Besides, compliance should be at the forefront of any conversation about transportation strategy. This is because compliance is within the drivers’ control, unlike other KPIs. You can increase fleet safety and save hefty fines by ensuring your drivers obey traffic law.

If you’re not already monitoring driver loyalty, start doing so today. It’s the best way to ensure your transportation strategy is on the right track.

Customer Satisfaction

Most fleet performance indicators are essential for monitoring online and direct freight services. While using online and direct freight services, client pleasure should come before FPI.

One aspect to consider is customer need if you track online and direct freight services. The first thing to remember is that customer satisfaction drives revenue. Happy clients are more likely to use your services again and refer others to your company.

Moreover, happy clients are less likely to leave your business, saving you money. Also, customer satisfaction is a good indicator of the health of your business.

If your company meets or exceeds client desires, it indicates it’s on the right path. Also, if customer satisfaction is low, it’s a red flag for your business.

Ensuring your clients are happy with your service requires evaluating their happiness. Surveys and customer feedback forms are all possible methods for doing so.

Wrapping Up

With gasoline prices rising, fleet managers must check the fuel use of their cars more than ever. Other important monitoring indicators include maintenance and repair costs, customer satisfaction, and turnover.

Tracking these data can help fleet managers decide how to better their system and save costs.

Freight Shipping: All The Things You Need To Know

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Freight itself can be defined as the goods transported by truck, train, ship or plane. Freight shipping is one of the essential industries of modern-day living. Freight shipping is necessary to survive and have the things you need.

You have food to eat and a thing or service to enjoy because of freight shipping. Freight shipping helps you to use a car made from a different country.

Here are all the things you need to know about freight shipping:

What is freight shipping?

Freight shipping is the process of transporting cargo, goods, and commodities. The transport is via sea, air or land. Freight shipping often refers to the shipping of commercial cargo. The transportation of goods is by vehicles, including:

  • boat or ship
  • aeroplanes
  • trains
  • trucks and delivery vans

How do freight shipping and delivery work?

Here is the process of how freight shipping and delivery works:

Information about the shipment

The first process of freight shipping and delivery is collecting necessary information about the shipment. The information you need to know includes the following:

  • dimension of the cargo
  • size and weight
  • quantity
  • product type
  • means of transportation
Choose the best freight shipment method

Freight shipping usually involves bulk packages of goods and commodities. Decide on the best method of transporting the large shipments to a warehouse.

There are different freight shipment methods like ships, planes, and trucks. A middle mile tracking helps to know about the transportation of the goods from the port to your warehouse.

Packaging the shipment

Once you have decided on the shipment method, you should be ready to pack your shipment. A commercial goods shipment is usually in a big sealed steel container. Other packaging options for personal shipment include:

  • boxes
  • rolls and bundles
  • coils
  • crates

Choose a freight shipping company

There are different freight shipping companies in the market. You must choose the most reliable and fast freight shipping company to deliver your goods and commodities.

Here are some of the things you will need to consider when choosing the freight company to transport your goods and commodities:

  • the years of business of the freight shipping company
  • the on-time delivery of the freight shipping company
  • the reputation of the freight shipping company
  • other network connections of the company
  • does the freight shipping company guarantee the safety of your goods and commodities?
  • are there any tracking options that you can use?
  • discounts and other rewards of the freight shipping company

How does freight shipping makes lives better?

Here are some ways where freight shipping makes lives better:

  • allows different countries to trade goods and commodities
  • helps in the development of every country’s economies
  • enables manufacturing of goods affordable
  • allows easier export of materials for production
  • low environmental footprint

What are the benefits of using freight shipping companies?

Freight shipping companies help you to transport goods and services. There are many benefits of using freight shipping for people. Below are some of them:

Convenient transport

As you will be spending money on transport, a freight shipping company is a convenient way to transport your goods and commodities. A freight shipping company will be able to transfer your shipments with the least stress and hassle on your part.

Reliable good and commodities carrier

Freight shipping ensures that your shipments arrive on time. Freight shipping also guarantees safe and secured transportation of goods and commodities across the globe.

Large items fit

Freight shipping is necessary when transporting large items. There are bulky items that freight shipping can carry, this includes:

  • vehicles
  • machines and industrial equipment
  • pianos
  • crates of fruits and vegetables
  • large furniture like beds and sofas
Tracking your goods and commodities

Freight shipping can track your goods and commodities while still in transit. Tracking helps you have better visibility and progress of your shipment. Tracking your shipment is necessary to see if there is something wrong with the transportation process.

Economical shipping of goods and commodities

Freight shipping is relatively cheaper than other options of transport. Freight shipping helps to transfer commodities at the least possible cost that you can spend.

How Business Owners Can Benefit From Leasing An Electric Car

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There are many advantages to owning an electric vehicle as a business owner. While flying cars are yet to be invented and self-driving models are a little way off from seeping into the mainstream, one kind of vehicle surges in popularity for commercial and domestic use – electric cars.

It may make financial sense to lease one as a business owner, as it will be better for the environment.

If you’re always on the go driving to meetings and conferences, it may be time to reconsider what vehicle you use to get from A to B. Here are some of the advantages business owners can gain from buying or leasing an electric car.

Better For the Environment

Whatever kind of company you run, business owners are always looking at ways to make their organisation eco-friendlier. The great thing about electric cars is they’re cleaner, better, and kinder to the environment, especially when compared to their diesel-powered or petrol counterparts. The reason for this is simple.

Electric cars are usually powered by a lithium-ion battery charged by electricity instead of a combustion engine that runs on fossil fuels. If you’re looking at ways to reduce your carbon footprint, opting for an electric vehicle may be the answer.

Costs Less to Maintain

Unlike petrol-powered vehicles, electric cars are much more cost-efficient to maintain. Lithium-ion battery motors require no oil changes or component replacements. What’s more, they won’t have the typical wear and tear that a combustion engine may accumulate over its lifetime. The battery of an electric vehicle does all the work, making it cheaper to maintain overall.

You can get more information on electric cars from lvelectrix.co.uk. They have a quiz you can take to figure out if you’re ready to go electric and electric car lease deals if you’d prefer to lease one for a long period.

Extremely Quiet

Combustion engines that make diesel or petrol-powered vehicles can be far noisier than their electric alternatives. Because electric vehicles are powered by electricity entirely, they don’t require a combustion process.

This significantly lowers the level of sound emitted by the car. In general, the only noises an electric vehicle makes occur when the wheels make noises or if you are going around a tight corner.

Enjoy Free Parking

For business owners who are always going on business trips, you’ll understand the nightmare of trying to find a parking space. Whether you’re off to the capital or another major city, one huge advantage of electric cars is that you can benefit from free parking in some areas.

There are prioritised, free parking bays for electric cars throughout the UK. There are charging points too, meaning you can top up while you are on the go.

Futureproof

With electric vehicles becoming more widely adopted, getting in there early and leasing or buying one now will put you ahead of the game. Electric vehicle charging stations are growing in the UK year on year. And with no signs of slowing down, now may be the perfect moment to score one yourself.

Over the last decade, UK roads have seen a surge in electric cars. With more and more business heads jumping on the bandwagon, going down the eco-friendly route and opting for an electric vehicle can benefit you more than you thought possible.

How To Improve Shipping And Transportation In A Small Company

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Running a small business can be difficult, but it’s also very rewarding. One of the most important aspects of any small business is shipping and transportation. If you get this wrong, it can be very costly for your company. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to improve your shipping and transportation process in a small company.

What Are Your Needs?

Do you need to transport large items or products? Do you need a lot of space for cargo? Are you looking for something fuel-efficient? There are many factors to consider when choosing the right mode of transportation for your business. Consider what you will be shipping and how often. If you’re transporting large items or products, you’ll need a mode of transportation that can accommodate that. The same goes for if you’re shipping frequently. You’ll want to choose a mode of transportation that can handle the volume.

If you need vehicle tracking and camera surveillance, you’ll want to find a mode of transportation that offers that. Think about your budget as well. Some modes of transportation can be expensive, so it’s important to find one that fits within your budget. Consider fuel costs, maintenance costs, and any other associated costs before making your decision.

Find A Good Shipping Partner

If you want to improve shipping and transportation in your small company, one of the best things you can do is find a good shipping partner. A good shipping partner will have a lot of experience and will be able to help you with all aspects of shipping and transportation. They will also be able to offer you discounts on shipping rates and will work with you to ensure that your products are delivered on time.

Finding a good shipping partner is not always easy, but it is worth it if you want to improve your company’s shipping and transportation. There are many resources available that can help you find a good shipping partner, so take advantage of them. You can also ask other businesses in your industry for recommendations. Once you find a good shipping partner, be sure to nurture the relationship so that you can continue to benefit from their experience and expertise.

Use Technology To Your Advantage

One way to improve shipping and transportation in a small company is to use technology to your advantage. There are many software programs and online tools that can help you streamline your operations and make your business more efficient.  Another way to improve shipping and transportation in a small company is to outsource some of your tasks. If you don’t have the manpower or the expertise to handle certain aspects of your business, then it might be worth hiring someone else to do it for you.

This can be a great way to save time and money, while still ensuring that your products are shipped out on time and without any problems.

Stay Organised

One of the best ways to improve shipping and transportation in a small company is to stay organised. This means having a system in place for tracking shipments, keeping records of purchases and sales, and managing invoices. Staying organised will help you keep on top of your shipping and transportation needs, and make it easier to make changes when necessary. If you don’t have a system in place for staying organised, now is the time to start one. There are many software programs available that can help with this, or you can simply use a spreadsheet or other type of document to track everything.

The important thing is that you have a way to easily see what’s going on with your shipping and transportation so that you can make improvements as needed.

Communicate With Your Team

If you want to improve shipping and transportation in your small company, one of the best things you can do is communicate with your team. Let them know what your goals are and why you’re making changes. Get their feedback and ideas, and then work together to implement the best solutions.

By communicating openly and working as a team, you’ll be able to make far more progress than if you were trying to do everything on your own.

Make A Plan

By creating a roadmap for your business, you can map out what needs to be done to streamline your operations. This will help you save time and money in the long run. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources available online that can help you create a shipping and transportation plan. Once you have a plan in place, be sure to stick to it as much as possible. This will ensure that your business is running smoothly and efficiently.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to improve shipping and transportation in a small company is that communication is key. Make sure that everyone involved in the process, from managers to employees, is on the same page and aware of any changes that are being made.