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Bidens_First_100_Days_and_How_it_May_Affect_Trucking
January 22 2021

Biden’s First 100 Days and How it May Affect Trucking

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, News, Opinion, President, Regulations 0

A few days after election day, we were hesitant to officially call for Biden’s election victory due to numerous fraud allegations and lawsuits for the time between election day and inauguration day. But, all of that is behind the country and by the time you read this, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. should be sworn in […]

The_Case_for_Hourly_Pay_Trucking
January 21 2021

The Case for Hourly Pay Trucking

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Fleet Management, Opinion 0

Hourly pay seems like a crazy phenomenon for the trucking industry, where per mile rates rule the road.  Per mile pay seems like the better solution on paper: fleet owners can find the number of miles that need to be traveled, multiply it by rate, and then figure out the payment due to the driver. […]

PACCAR_Parts_Releases_Universal_Electric_Charging_Station
January 20 2021

PACCAR Parts Releases Universal Electric Charging Station

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Fleet Management, News, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

One problem facing electric vehicles is different plugs and outlets for charging depending on the vehicle. PACCAR Parts wants to alleviate this problem for drivers, even if they are not direct customers of PACCAR brands such as Kenworth and Peterbilt.Universal ChargingWhether you have started making the transition to electric commercial vehicles or plan to do […]

FMCSA_Considers_5_5_Sleeper_Berth_Split
January 19 2021

FMCSA Considers 5/5 Sleeper Berth Split

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Opinion, President, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

TRAILER SALES IN LINE WITH NEW TRUCK SALES
January 14 2021

December 2020: Trailer Sales in Line with New Truck Sales

TopMark Funding ACT, Business, Commercial Trucking, FTR 0

Hopefully this will be the last time we say it, because it is getting fairly old. At the same time, it is not inaccurate. The coronavirus pandemic did not reduce the demand for trucking services and assets, it only pushed that demand to a further date. If 2020’s new truck sales compared to 2019 did […]

DOT_Lays_Groundwork_for_Automated_Trucking_Standards
January 13 2021

DOT Lays Groundwork for Automated Trucking Standards

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations, Technology 0

While Elaine Chao has resigned from Secretary of the Department of Transportation by the time you read this article, one of her last acts was to order the DOT to create and publish what it calls the “Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan” (AVCP).It is no secret that self-driving trucks are still far away from becoming reality, […]

December_2020_New_Truck_Sales_End_Year_on_High_Note
January 12 2021

December 2020: New Truck Sales End Year on High Note

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FTR, Semi Trucks 0

DOT_Secretary_Elaine_Chao_Announces_Resignation
January 8 2021

DOT Secretary Elaine Chao Announces Resignation

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, President, Regulations 0

Secretary of the Department of Transportation Elaine Chao has announced that she will be resigning from her position, effective January 11th. This marks the end of the second-longest cabinet holding behind Mike Pence himself: Elaine Chao started January 31st, 2016. Details Elaine Chao cites the storming of the U.S. Capitol as her reason for not […]

December_2020_Reefer_rates_Stumble_Others_Rise
January 6 2021

December 2020: Reefer Rates Stumble, Others Rise

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Freight Rates, News, Semi Trucks 0

For November, we wrote how flatbeds had their average per-mile rate reduced while the other two forms of freight increased. Poetically, it is now the refrigerated trailer to have its turn to reduce in rate.The DataWhile the numbers do not increase with the same intensity as they did in the middle of 2020, they do […]

Query_The_Clearinghouse_to_avoid_a_Fine
January 5 2021

Query the Clearinghouse to Avoid a Fine

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

The grace period for not being inside the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database of drivers and such violations, is approaching its end rapidly, January 6th. If you drive under your own Authority, you must conduct a limited query for yourself and all drivers under your Authority by that date, or you may be […]

TopMark_Fundings_Top_12_Trucking_Articles_of_2020
December 31 2020

TopMark Funding’s Top 12 Trucking Articles of 2020

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, CVSA, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Truck Financing 0

Unless your name is Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, there is a pretty good chance this was not your year. From a potential World War III in January, to the COVID-19 pandemic that started in March and is still going today, to the summer protests and blocked highways, this year had it all. We want […]

The_Inevitable_Death_of_the_SAE_J560
December 29 2020

The Inevitable Death of the SAE J560

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Opinion, Technology 0

Even if you have never heard of the SAE J560, there is an extremely high chance that you use one. Originally issued in 1951, the SAE J560 is a seven-pin connector that sends power from the truck tractor to the trailer. This gives power to lamps and other various devices for the trailer. As trailers […]

Safest_and_Most_Dangerous_States_to_Drive
December 24 2020

Safest and Most Dangerous States to Drive

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News, Opinion 0

CVSA_Releases_International_Roadcheck_2020_Statistics
December 23 2020

CVSA Releases International Roadcheck 2020 Statistics

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, CVSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) was planning to have its International Roadcheck this year in May, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was delayed. As we learned more about the virus and how to minimize transmission, as well as realizing it would be a while before it went away entirely, the CVSA decided […]

November_2020_Trailer_Sales_Drop_but_Are_Still_High
December 22 2020

November 2020: Trailer Sales Drop, but Are Still High

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FTR, News 0

In the last trailer sales article, we left with this prediction: “…we believe that the pent-up demand for goods, combined with the holiday season, will lead to equal or greater trailer sales in November.” It appears we were wrong this time. October sales had an average estimate of 55,350. For the month of November 2020, […]

FMCSA_to_Streamline_CDL_Training
December 18 2020

FMCSA to Streamline CDL Training

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

Under the current system of rules, third-party companies such as private truck-driving schools could not be both the trainer and the examiner for a driver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to publish a Final Rule in the Federal Register changing this. The new regulations will make it so that the trainer and […]

Buttigieg
December 17 2020

Pete Buttigieg to Lead Department of Transportation

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

We wrote about what a Biden presidency would mean for the trucking industry in mid-November. In that article, our first point was that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Elaine Chao, would end her nearly four year term by being replaced. You have read the title of this article, so you know who […]

Will_the_Coronavirus_Ruin_Christmas
December 16 2020

Will the Coronavirus Ruin Christmas?

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Opinion, Semi Trucks 0

Hopefully this will be the last coronavirus article we at TopMark Funding will ever have to write, as the coronavirus vaccine has been authorized for distribution and application nationwide. But COVID-19 does not plan to go down without a fight, and as one last hurrah, it may just make the holidays a little more difficult, […]

The_Parking_Problem_and_how_to_Alleviate_it
December 11 2020

The Parking Problem and how to Alleviate it

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

The trucking industry is on fire (in a good way). Freight rates are the highest they have been in recent history, the Outbound Tender Volume Index is on the precipice of breaking new records, and new truck sales numbers just keep growing. All of these individually are great, but combined they bring forth a new […]

FMCSA_Starts_Applying_Pulsating_Brake_Lights_to_More_Trucks
December 10 2020

FMCSA Starts Applying Pulsating Brake Lights to More Trucks

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

Remember in October when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) started allowing tanker trucks to use pulsating amber brake lights? It may be added to more truck types soon enough, as the FMCSA has granted Grote Industries LLC a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers operating trailers and van body trucks to install […]

November_2020_New_Truck_Sales_Continues_Streak
December 9 2020

November 2020: New Truck Sales Continues Streak

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FTR, News, Semi Trucks 0

Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) released their data on new Class 8 truck sales for November 2020 on December 2nd. We predicted the numbers would stagnate and be approximately equal to those found in October, at around 40,100. To say the very least, we were wrong. The Data FTR reports preliminary data that says that […]

November_2020_Early_Trucking_Numbers_Suggest_Strong_Growth
December 7 2020

November 2020: Early Trucking Numbers Suggest Strong Growth

TopMark Funding News, Semi Trucks 0

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases two statistics each month: one is the preliminary numbers (estimate) for the month prior, and the other is a more accurate count for three months prior. The solid numbers for September came in with November’s preliminaries, and while the former is essentially what the BLS has suspected, the […]

FMCSA_Expands_and_Extends_COVID19_Sate_of_Emergency
December 4 2020

FMCSA Expands and Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

Truckers_on_High_Priority_List_for_COVID19_Vaccines
December 3 2020

Truckers on High Priority List for COVID-19 Vaccines

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

As the coronavirus vaccines are finalized and become ready for distribution, the question remains as to who gets the first round of doses. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an arm of the CDC, recently reached a nearly-unanimous vote on Monday approving a three step plan for vaccine distribution:Phase 1a: Healthcare workers and residents […]

November_2020_Flatbed_Rates_Stumble_Others_Rise
December 2 2020

November 2020: Flatbed Rates Stumble, Others Rise

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Freight Rates, News, Semi Trucks 0

Growth cannot last forever. After a long run of consistently rising freight rates, it appears flatbed rates are the first of the three to have a month lower than the previous month.Not to worry, however, as the flatbed rates only dropped one cent, so while flatbeds stumble, they are not tumbling down an impossible to […]

Nikola_Motor_and_GM_Sign_Memorandum_of_Understanding
December 1 2020

Nikola Motor and GM Sign Memorandum of Understanding

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Nikola, Trucking Companies nikola, Nikola Trucks 0

Nikola Motors Corporation has been through the wringer in the past few months, but there is at least one company that still holds faith in them, General Motors. GM, who swapped shared with Nikola in the early summer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the fledgling technology company, to show intention to use […]

The_One_Permanent_Benefit_to_Truckers_from_COVID19
November 27 2020

The One Permanent Benefit to Truckers from COVID-19

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News 0

Coronavirus news has been taxing since April. Nonstop news of infection rates, layoffs, cancellations are all very difficult for which to manage. You might be tired of wearing a mask and may have cheated once or twice by not wearing it at the diesel pump. In spite of everything that has happened this year, there […]

Outbound_Tender_Volume_Index_Hits_AllTime_High
November 25 2020

Outbound Tender Volume Index Hits All-Time High

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Semi Trucks 0

What do you get when you combine pushed back demand from the coronavirus pandemic with the demand of Black Friday? You get the highest demand for truckload shipments in recent history. Since FreightWaves created the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), it is at the highest it has ever been.OTVIFreightWaves describes outbound tender as:“…a load offer […]

Coronavirus_Vaccine_Exacerbates_Strained_Reefer_Capacity
November 24 2020

Coronavirus Vaccine Exacerbates Strained Reefer Capacity

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Freight Rates, News, Semi Trucks 0

The COVID-19 vaccine seems to be a rousing success, as companies developing them tout a 90-95% efficacy rate in testing. We have already written about one of the difficulties of distribution of the vaccine: keeping the vaccines cold. In that article, we lightly scratched on another problem that deserves more attention: the demand for reefer […]

Renewable Natural Gas Trucks Break Through Zero Emissions Barrier
November 23 2020

Renewable Natural Gas Trucks Break Through Zero Emissions Barrier

TopMark Funding California, News, Regulations, Technology Hyliion 0

Savvy readers of our articles may recall from late June that we wrote about Hyliion and their plans for the Hypertruck. Hyliion hoped to have their Hypertruck be negative emissions through the use of renewable natural gas (RNG). While the Hypertruck is not released yet, there is tangible proof now that their goal is attainable.Driving […]

AB5_Truckers_Are_Down_but_not_out
November 20 2020

AB-5: Truckers Are Down, but not Out

TopMark Funding Business, California, Commercial Trucking, News, Regulations 0

On November 19th, the California Court of Appeals reversed the court decision in People v. Cal Cartage Transportation Express, LLC. In short, the appeals court ruled that the “ABC” test that comprises the heart of AB-5 is not in contradiction with federal law and as such is not overridden by it. The California Court In […]

Can_the_Trucking_Industry_Defeat_Coronavirus
November 19 2020

Can the Trucking Industry Defeat Coronavirus?

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Semi Trucks 0

If the coronavirus pandemic were a war, truckers would be the front line infantry, going out into the field to give people the supplies they need to either stay healthy (sanitizers and face masks), or to stay quarantined (food and entertainment supplies). With two different COVID-19 vaccines both showing a minimum 90% efficacy rate, it […]

Are Freight Rates Correlated to Driver Shortage
November 18 2020

Are Freight Rates Correlated to Driver Shortage?

TopMark Funding News, Semi Trucks 0

It does not take an expert in economics to understand the fundamental balance between supply, demand and price. The trucking industry has been said to have a “driver shortage” for a long time now, but if the basic principle of supply versus demand holds, there would be a negative correlation between those employed and the […]

October_2020_Trailer_Sales_Have_Consecutive_Record
November 17 2020

October 2020: Trailer Sales Have Consecutive Record

TopMark Funding ACT, Business, Commercial Trucking, FTR, News 0

“September’s rank as third-best month in industry history was short-lived, as October activity now takes that title,” Frank Maly, director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research, said.As we predicted back in October, the trailer sales for that month were higher than those of September, by only a few thousand. A 6% increase, more […]

Trucking_with_Amazon_Through_Amazon_Relay
November 16 2020

Trucking with Amazon Through Amazon Relay

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Fleet Management, Guides, News 0

Cummins_Navistar_and_Werner_Enterprises_to_Develop_Hydrogen_Truck
November 13 2020

Cummins, Navistar, and Werner Enterprises to Develop Hydrogen Truck

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies Cummins, Navistar, Navistar International 0

Cummins and Navistar go together like garlic and onions. They recently extended their eighty-year partnership even further. Now the two companies hope to work together in the race to get a hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck to market.DetailsThe Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) wants to actively promote the development […]

dealerlinc youtube thumbnail
November 12 2020

Introducing DealerLinc [Video]

TopMark Funding DealerLinc, Press Releases 0

DealerLincWe’re excited to announce the launch of TopMark Funding’s DealerLinc tool specifically designed to better serve our growing dealership client base. This resource was developed to help our dealership partners fund transactions more quickly including real-time updates on the status of a transaction. This has been in the works for a while over here and […]

Traton_to_Purchase_Navistar_for_3point7_Billion
November 12 2020

Traton to Purchase Navistar for $3.7 Billion

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Financial news, News, Trucking Companies Navistar, Navistar International, Traton 0

We did not want to write about this Traton-Navistar deal as it was in progress, but it appears that the negotiations have been finalized. Traton, subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, is purchasing Navistar in its entirety.DetailsBefore the buyout agreement, Traton owned 16.7% of all common shares in Navistar, meaning that their purchase was not a […]

October_2020_Both_Job_Numbers_Jump_10000_Each
November 11 2020

October 2020: Both Job Numbers Jump 10,000 Each

TopMark Funding BLS, Business, Commercial Trucking, News 0

When it comes to the monthly job totals for the trucking industry, the question for the last six months has not been whether the number goes up or down, but by how much it goes up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated its numbers at the start of November, showing preliminary numbers for […]

Successful-Dealer-Award
November 10 2020

TopMark Funding announces sponsorship of Successful Dealer Award

TopMark Funding Press Releases 0

TopMark Funding, the premier funding destination for commercial vehicle dealers, recently joined as a sponsor for the 2020 Successful Dealer Award for the first time.TopMark Funding chose to participate in the annual program — which recognizes the best medium- and heavy-duty truck dealer groups in North America — because of the comprehensive nature in which the nominees are […]

What_a_Biden_Presidency_Would_Mean_for_Trucking
November 10 2020

What a Biden Presidency Would Mean for Trucking

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Opinion, President, Regulations 0

While the winner of the 2020 election is not yet set in stone due to recounts, lawsuits, and accusations of fraud, it is hard to deny that the likelihood of becoming president has shifted into Biden’s favor. Strongly enough, in fact, that it is worth speculating what the shift in power would mean for the […]

FMCSA_to_Condusct_Anonymous_Opinion_Surveys
November 9 2020

FMCSA to Conduct Autonomous Truck Opinion Surveys

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

Unless all the election news has pushed older information out of your brain, you may remember that the FMCSA spoke at an ATA virtual conference about many topics, one of which was working to make self-driving commercial vehicles as safe as possible. But beyond safety, there are many more uncertainties to autonomous trucks. Will they […]

Query_the_Clearinghouse_now_not_Later
November 6 2020

Query the Clearinghouse now, not Later

TopMark Funding FMCSA, Guides, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

It has been almost a year since the FMCSA instituted the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which means that the deadline for running a limited query for all fleets in the nation is rapidly approaching. Here are the details of the regulations and why you should have the query done for your fleet, whether it’s a […]

California Clean
November 5 2020

October 2020: New Truck Sales Increase. Again!

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FTR, News 0

Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) has released its latest wave of sales information regarding new Class 8 trucks. While not a two-year high, October 2018 was higher, the numbers improving upon Septembers’ victory for the trucking industry is still phenomenal.The DataNew truck sales totaled approximately 40,100 for October, according to FTR. This is an 83% […]

October_2020_Freight_Rates_Continue_to_Defy_Expectations
November 4 2020

October 2020: Freight Rates Continue to Defy Expectations

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Freight Rates, News 0

What do you get when you take the coronavirus pandemic’s pushing of consumer demand into later months of the year, and combine it with the infancy of the holiday season? You get October 2020, another month of consecutive growth for freight rates. In all three categories, the price per mile has gone up higher than […]

Winter_Is_Coming_Prepare_Your_Truck
November 3 2020

Winter Is Coming: Prepare Your Truck

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Guides, Semi Trucks 0

Not only is the holiday season the busiest season in trucking with increased shipping demand and often the highest rates of the year, it is also far and away the most dangerous. If your tractor breaks down on you in the summer, the only location to have any fear is in the desert. Winter, to […]

Brokers_and_Small_Carriers_Butt_Heads_with_FMCSA_Referee
November 2 2020

Brokers and Small Carriers Butt Heads, with FMCSA Referee

TopMark Funding Financial news, FMCSA, Regulations 0

On October 28th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held another virtual conference, this time regarding broker regulations. In attendance were representatives from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA), and the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). As you can imagine, the TIA wants fewer regulations, and the OOIDA and SBTC […]

ATRI_Releases_2020_Trucking_Issues_Survey_Results
October 30 2020

ATRI Releases 2020 Trucking Issues Survey Results

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Opinion 0

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the results of its 2020 survey asking stakeholders in the trucking industry their thoughts on things that impact the trucking industry. Their report is a very insightful 26-page behemoth of knowledge, but for our reading base, primarily of truckers who would rather spend more time on the road […]

Traton_and_Hino_Team_up_for_Alternative_Fuel
October 29 2020

Traton and Hino Team up for Alternative Fuel

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Technology Hino, International, Toyota, Traton 0

It seems like for the trucking industry in 2020, everyone is working together with everyone else. Yesterday was an article about partnerships in the development of autonomous trucking, and now there is more news in the sphere of green fuels: Traton SE and Hino Motors Limited have signed an agreement to work on battery-electric and […]

The_Race_for_Level_4_Autonomous_Trucks
October 28 2020

The Race for Level 4 Autonomous Trucks

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Technology, Trucking Companies Daimler, Freightliner, International, Navistar, Peterbilt 0

FMCSA_Speaks_at_Virtual_Conference
October 27 2020

FMCSA Speaks at Virtual Conference

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Opinion, President, Regulations, Technology 0

On October 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck spoke at the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) virtual version of its Management Conference and Exhibition. The event was turned into a virtual one this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here is what he spoke about. Under 21 Drivers With the trucking industry […]

First_2021_Trucking_Event_to_be
October 26 2020

First 2021 Trucking Event to be Cancelled by COVID-19

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Regulations 0

Back when the coronavirus pandemic officially started back in March, it was safe to assume the whole thing would blow over by 2021 and that 2020 was but a fluke year. As we get closer and closer to 2021, that possibility seems to be becoming bleaker and bleaker. A small blow was dealt to the […]

HoursofService_Lawsuit_Pins_OwnerOperators_Against_Teamsters
October 23 2020

Hours-of-Service Lawsuit Pits Owner-Operators Against Teamsters

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

September_2020_Trucking_Jobs_Have_Moderate_Jump
October 22 2020

September 2020: Trucking Jobs Have Moderate Jump

TopMark Funding BLS, Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News 0

It is the same song and dance we have been doing for the past few months: the trucking industry, while having it happen later than other industries, dropped a bit from the coronavirus pandemic, and is climbing its way back up in a slow but sure manner. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released […]

Department_of_Labor_Hopes_to_Clarify_Independent_Contractor_Status_for_Truckers
October 21 2020

Department of Labor to Clarify Independent Contractor Status

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Opinion, President, Regulations 0

When a truck driver hears about laws and regulations determining the difference between an independent contractor and employee, the first thing that may come to mind is California AB-5, one of the strictest standards in the nation for determining employee eligibility. At the federal level, however, the Department of Labor (DOL) wants to revise their […]

Can_Our_Infrastructure_Support_Electric_Trucks
October 20 2020

Can Our Infrastructure Support Electric Trucks?

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Opinion, Technology, Tesla 0

When it comes to electric vehicles overall, even beyond electric heavy-duty trucks, two major problems impede mass production and adoption: range and refueling. We have written extensively about the first one, and automotive and tech companies work around the clock to increase the number of miles an electric truck gets on a single charge. The […]

Kenworth_T680E_Available_for_Order
October 19 2020

Kenworth T680E Available for Order

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies Kenworth, PACCAR 0

Fully electric Class 8 vehicles that can travel along the California coast in a single charge are still off into the future, but that does not mean that electric semi-trucks do not exist now. One example of such a machine is the Kenworth T680E, which will go into production and be for sale at Kenworth […]

FMCSA_Grants_Tanker_Trucks_Pulsating_Brake_Light
October 16 2020

FMCSA Grants Tanker Trucks Pulsating Brake Light

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

You might remember how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allowed a single company, Groendyke Transport, to add pulsating amber brake lights to the rear of their tanker trucks. You might also remember that rear-end collisions dropped over 33% for the tanker trucks equipped with them. Finally, you may recall that the FMCSA was […]

September-2020-Trailer-Sales-Nearly-Break-Record
October 15 2020

September 2020: Trailer Sales Nearly Break Record

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Dealers, FTR, News 0

Freight Transportation Research (FTR) has been tracking trailer sales for a very long time. It means a lot when September 2020 was the third-highest month for trailer sales since they started keeping track. The Details August’s trailer sales, according to FTR, were about 28,700. Now, for September, trailer sales reached 52,000, according to preliminary numbers. […]

Border_Patrol_Finds_SixPointFive_Tons_of_Marijuana_Hidden_in_Truck
October 14 2020

Border Patrol Finds 6.5 Tons of Marijuana Hidden in Truck

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Regulations 0

Scania_to_Test_SolarPowered_Hybrid_Truck_in_Europe
October 13 2020

Scania to Test Solar-Powered Hybrid Trucks In Europe

TopMark Funding News, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Hino_and_Toyota_to_Bring_FuelCell_Truck_to_North_America_by_2022
October 12 2020

Hino and Toyota to Bring Fuel-Cell Truck to North America by 2022

TopMark Funding Dealers, News, Trucking Companies Hino 0

Some trucking tech companies such as Tesla and Nikola want to bring electricity to the trucking industry as a viable fuel source, but what happens after that? Generating electricity can still be environmentally damaging, and can take hours to fully charge a heavy truck. Hino and Toyota are thinking one step ahead by trying to […]

Truckers_Gather_in_Washington_DC_for_104_Event
October 9 2020

Truckers Gather in Washington D.C. for 10-4 Event

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Semi Trucks 0

A week after the publishing of this article, October 2nd, marked the third annual “That’s a Big 10-4 on Washington D.C.” event. Normally the event lasts multiple days, but because of today’s landscape between the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest during an election year, the event was compacted into a single day.The DetailsMissed the event […]

September_2020_New_Truck_Sales_Hit_Almost_TwoYear_High
October 7 2020

September 2020: New Truck Sales Hit Almost Two-Year High

TopMark Funding Dealers, News, Semi Trucks 0

According to Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR), around 20,500 new trucks were sold in the month of August. Now the September numbers are in, and if you have been following the truck sales for the past few months, it should not surprise you. The Data New trucks sold for September according to FTR totaled 32,000. […]

September_2020_Freight_Rates_Are_Up_Again
October 5 2020

September 2020: Freight Rates Are Up, Again

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Freight Rates, News 0

There seems to be no stopping the trucking industry. For yet another consecutive month, the freight rates for all three primary forms of shipment (dry van, flatbed, and reefer) have increased yet again. Part of the blame can be shifted to the crash in rates that happened in the spring of this year, but using […]

Western_Star_Unveils_49X_Truck_Features
October 2 2020

Western Star Unveils 49X Truck: Features

TopMark Funding Dealers, Dump Trucks, News, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the parent company of Western Star, has officially revealed the company’s latest vocational truck. The company considers it the natural evolution of the 4900 series of work trucks.“We know the 4900 is a great product, but we also know that it doesn’t bring the best of technology to the customer,” […]

FMCSA_Extends_Other_Exemptions_Until_2021
October 1 2020

FMCSA Extends Other Exemptions Until 2021

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

If you have been following the news regarding the coronavirus pandemic, you may remember two things:The hours-of-service exemption was extended until the end of 2020.Other exemptions, such as the CDL renewal, CPL renewal, and medical certification renewal, were provided.On September 18th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) combined the two and made it so […]

FMCSA_Denies_Longer_HoursofService_for_SelfDriving_Tech
September 30 2020

FMCSA Denies Longer Hours-of-Service for Self-Driving Tech

TopMark Funding FMCSA, Regulations, Technology 0

In late April 2020, a tech company by the name of Pronto.ai petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, asking that its motor carrier customers get an additional two hours of driving each day thanks to the driving assistance their technology provides. You can probably tell from the title of this article where that petition […]

Tesla_Announces_Semi_Battery_Upgrade
September 29 2020

Tesla Announces Semi Battery Upgrade

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Nikola, Opinion, Technology, Tesla nikola, Nikola Trucks, tesla, Tesla Semi 0

On September 22nd, 2020, Tesla shareholders gathered in Fremont, California to hear the latest from Elon Musk and Tesla Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Drew Baglino. Sitting in their cars to social distance in the era of COVID-19, shareholders learned the latest technological advancements to Tesla’s vehicles. The most interesting of which is […]

When_Is_it_Time_to_Swap_a_Truck
September 28 2020

When Is it Time to Swap a Truck?

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Guides, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Technology, Truck Financing 0

Trading upward does not necessarily have to entail purchasing a newly manufactured truck right off the factory lines. Sometimes, a swap can be as easy as getting the same make and model, just increasing the year. Some thrifty companies that would rather own their trucks than lease will own used trucks until they are ready […]

North_Dakota_to_Consider_Road_Trains
September 25 2020

North Dakota to Consider Road Trains

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Opinion, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

It does not take a trucking expert to understand that hauling double trailers takes a lot more skill and finesse than a single. How can drivers haul more freight while reducing crashes? The state of North Dakota plans to have its legislature discuss the topic in January. The Great Debate The way things are now […]

FMCSA_Announces_New_Committee_Through_MCSAC
September 24 2020

FMCSA Announces New Committee Through MCSAC

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

The United States government is a complicated system. In a short summary relating to truckers, the president appoints the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, who then manages the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is a tall building where it may feel as though the limit of trucker input is voting for the […]

FMCSA_Changes_Hours
September 23 2020

FMCSA Changes Hours-of-Service Soon: What to Know

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Guides, News, Regulations 0

On September 29th, truckers will breathe a sigh of relief as FMCSA hours-of-service regulations are loosened and allow more leeway to the driver. If you have been delivering for the many various State of Emergencies that have plagued 2020, you may have forgotten what the changes to the hours-of-service regulations entail. Here is a refresher […]

Proposed_Hours_of_Service_Revisions_Taken_to_Court
September 22 2020

Proposed Hours-of-Service Revisions Taken to Court

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

It seems as though every trucking industry change is taken to court at some time or another. This time, it is a change that most truckers are looking forward to: the changes in hours-of-service regulations. Intended to provide added flexibility to a trucker’s daily work, the hours-of-service changes are being challenged by safety groups arguing […]

August_Trailer_Sales_Skyrocket_is_an_Understatement
September 21 2020

August Trailer Sales: “Skyrocket” is an Understatement

TopMark Funding ACT, Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Dealers, FTR, News 0

Either in spite of, or because of, all the crazy events happening in 2020, trailer sales for the recent months have been going up, up, up. We at TopMark Funding wrote in an article for July trailer sales, saying, “It will be interesting to see where August stands on the scale.” That data is officially […]

Preliminary_Job_Numbers_Suggest_Trucking_Industry_Is_Healing
September 18 2020

Preliminary Job Numbers Suggest Trucking Industry Is Healing

TopMark Funding BLS, Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News 0

Another month has gone by since we last reported on the coronavirus pandemic affecting job numbers. Although the pandemic appears to not have an end in sight, society as a whole has become acclimated to the pandemic, and things are returning slightly back to normal. Some people are going back to work (albeit working from […]

COVID-19_State_of_Emergency_Extended_to_End_of_Year
September 17 2020

COVID-19 State of Emergency Extended to End of Year

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

Every month for a while now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been extending the State of Emergency by another month. The FMCSA has decided to take a more proactive approach, and as of September 11th the State of Emergency has been extended until the end of the year. The Details You can […]

FMCSA_Extends_Emergency_for_Western_Wildfires
September 16 2020

FMCSA Extends Emergency for Western Wildfires

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

Between COVID-19, hurricanes, and now wildfires, it seems the whole United States is in a constant state of emergency. There is little need to worry though, truckers have the means to get us through these hard times. Even more so because, like for the hurricanes before it and the coronavirus pandemic going on now, the […]

Section_179_Deduction_2020
September 15 2020

Section 179 Deduction 2020 Guide

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Financial news, Guides Section 179 0

Get Cash Back From the IRS 2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the very least. Fortunately, the United States government has many programs in place to help provide relief for its citizens. One such example that is likely to get additional use this year is Section 179, a tax deduction for businesses to […]

House Passes “Federal AB-5” Bill the PRO Act
September 14 2020

Senators Debate Insurance Rate Increase

TopMark Funding Congress, Financial news, News, Opinion, Regulations

Nikola_Motor_Company_Goes_Public_Stock_for_Sale
September 9 2020

General Motors and Nikola Corporation Partner Up

TopMark Funding Financial news, News, Nikola, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies Nikola Trucks

We at TopMark Funding have talked about Nikola Corporation going public and how you can become a part-owner in the fledgling company. Now, it seems General Motors wants a piece of the action. The companies have announced plans to become part-owners of one another.The DetailsThe companies became part-owners of one another by swapping stock shares. […]

FMCSA_Proposes_Under21_Pilot_Program
September 7 2020

FMCSA Proposes Under-21 Pilot Program

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks

If you have been following trucking industry news before the coronavirus pandemic hit the forefront, you may remember that Congress debated the DRIVE Safe Act. Apparently that bill died in the halls of Congress, because truckers under the age of 21 still cannot haul freight via semi-truck across state lines. The FMCSA wants to give […]

Top 50 Trucking Songs
September 4 2020

New Truck Orders Go Every Direction in August 2020

TopMark Funding ACT, Business, Commercial Trucking, Dealers, FTR, News, Semi Trucks

Pardon the pun, but the trucking industry is on a roll. Trucking sales rose for yet another consecutive month. The Data Two studies, one from the Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) and the other from Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company (ACT), tell ever so slightly different stories. ACT estimates Class 8 truck sales for the […]

California state flag flying in front of capital building
September 3 2020

California AB-5 Law Hits 9th Circuit of Appeals

TopMark Funding Business, California, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Regulations, Trucking Companies

We at TopMark Funding have written about the AB-5 bill before. In the last article covering the bill, we talked about how U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued a preliminary junction against it, meaning that until the lawsuit between the State of California and the California Trucking Association (CTA) is resolved, the default position is […]

August_2020_Freight_Rates_Rise_for_Fourth_Consecutive_Month
September 2 2020

August 2020: Freight Rates Rise for Fourth Consecutive Month

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Freight Rates, Semi Trucks 0

The DAT numbers are in for August, and it is a good time to be a trucker. Though the trendline slopes are still downward, that very well can change in the future, as August 2020 marks the fourth month in a row where all three categories of freight have risen from the previous month (Reefer […]

Waymo_Begins_Testing_Autonomous_Trucks_In_Texas
September 1 2020

Waymo Begins Testing Autonomous Trucks in Texas

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Dealers, News, Technology 0

Alphabet Inc., known primarily for their Google search engine and YouTube video platform, has a subsidiary known as Waymo. Waymo has two wings, Waymo One for typical four-wheel driving of passenger vehicles, and Waymo Via, where they are testing the technology in 18-wheelers for long distance deliveries.Waymo is still a far way away from making […]

Hurricane_Laura_and_how_it_Impacts_Truckers
August 28 2020

Hurricane Laura and how it Impacts Truckers

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Guides, News, Regulations 0

In the early hours of Thursday, August 27th, Hurricane Laura hit the eastern Gulf Coast of the United States. It first hit land in Louisiana, eventually touching Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. A category 4 hurricane, Laura has winds reaching 150 MPH but not quite reaching the 156 MPH needed to be a category 5 like […]

Pandemic_Strengthens_FMCSA_Inspection_Powers
August 28 2020

Pandemic Strengthens FMCSA Inspection Powers

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Guides, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

It is a secret to absolutely nobody that there has been a pandemic for the past six months or so. The federal government, especially the White House, has been making efforts to reduce not only the health effects of COVID-19, but the secondary collateral effects on the economy as well. This scenario the world finds […]

Kenworth_Expands_T270_and_T370_Variations
August 27 2020

Kenworth Expands T270 and T370 Variations

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Dealers, News, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Whether you are a fleet owner hoping to add a new Kenworth medium-duty truck to your fleet, or a dealer hoping to add some variety to your dealership lot, your decisions in regards to T270s and T370s just became much more varied. The Default Before we go into the new options for your truck, it […]

Will_New_CARB_Regulations_Save_the_Environment
August 26 2020

Will New CARB Regulations Save the Environment?

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Opinion, Regulations

Pollution is bad. Nobody would reasonably argue against this. Anyone who lives in or has recently driven through TopMark Funding’s home state of California can see the dense smoke haze covering the state, giving headaches to anyone foolish enough to go outside without a face mask for even a small handful of minutes. How timely […]

FMCSA_Awards_Nearly_80Million_in_Grants
August 25 2020

FMCSA Awards Nearly $80 Million in Grants

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Regulations FMCSA 0

The United States government operates as an agreement between 50 individual states, as well as the country as a whole, called the federal level. The states help the federal, and the federal helps the states, whenever assistance is needed. On Wednesday, August 19th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it would be […]

Haul_The_Attempt_to_Revolutionize_the_Trucking_Industry
August 24 2020

Haul: The Attempt to Revolutionize the Trucking Industry

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Peterbilt 2020_220_ev_dana_hero
August 21 2020

Peterbilt Model 220EV Now Available for Order

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

The race to get a viable fully electric heavy-duty truck is still on, but the lower difficulty challenge of doing the same for medium-duty trucks appears to be coming to a close. Now, Peterbilt Motors Company joins the lineup of electric vehicles in the Class 6 and Class 7 markets, thanks to the Peterbilt Model […]

FMCSA_Opens_Feedback_on_Broker_Transparency_Petition
August 20 2020

FMCSA Opens Feedback on Broker Transparency Petition

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

Three months ago, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), requesting new regulations and/or increased enforcement of current ones. Now, the FMCSA is opening comments to the public allowing them to submit their thoughts. The Story So Far Current rules state that records of brokered transactions must be […]

July_Trailer_Sales_Also_Skyrocket_on_a_Skyrocket
August 19 2020

July Trailer Sales (Also) Skyrocket on a Skyrocket

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks 0

The numbers are in. We had written about June trailer sales at approximately this same time last month, and Freight Transportation Research (FTR) has released its latest data for new trailer sales. July 2020 shattered all expectations.By the NumbersIt does not take a trucking industry expert to imagine that the coronavirus pandemic caused new trailer […]

Navistar_and_Cummins_to_Extend_Partnership
August 18 2020

Navistar and Cummins to Extend Partnership

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Cummins and Navistar International announced on August 10th their plans to continue working together in a partnership, as they have for over eighty years.Working in UnisonMost truck companies, such as Volvo and PACCAR, build their own engines in house, for both cost savings and to ensure all of the parts work together. Navistar International prefers […]

Trucking_Organizations_Cooperate_for_Coronavirus_Protection
August 17 2020

Trucking Organizations Cooperate for Coronavirus Protection

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News 0

At this point it is no secret that truckers and the trucking industry are the front-line warriors of the fight against the invisible foe known as COVID-19. Especially during the harshest lockdown days and even true to the present, truckers are delivering valuable goods to help people stay safe and healthy. What may come as […]

Used_Truck_Association_Reworks_Event_to_be_Virtual
August 14 2020

Used Truck Association Reworks Event to be Virtual

TopMark Funding News, Semi Trucks, Trucking Companies 0

With all of the cancellations of physical events and adding of new virtual events in their stead, it may not come as a surprise to many that the Used Truck Association (UTA) is changing the UTA Convention, set on November 4th to the 7th, into a fully virtual event. What may be surprising is that […]

Coronavirus_State_of_Emergency_Extended_to_September
August 13 2020

Coronavirus State of Emergency Extended to September

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration state of emergency has been extended for another month. This is the fifth extension, set to last until September 14th, but may be extended yet again.Changes MadeYou can read the declaration in full on the FMCSA declaration’s webpage. In summary, the exemption for hours-of-service has been extended, with a […]

CSVA_Internation_Roadcheck_Starts_September_9th
August 12 2020

CVSA International Roadcheck Starts September 9th

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, CVSA, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, normally having their International Roadcheck in June, scheduled it this year for May 5th to 7th. Later, it was postponed until further notice as a result of a certain worldwide pandemic. Now, the CVSA has decided that the pandemic has cooled down enough where having the event to improve safety […]

Despite_Pandemic_Trucking_Industry_Keeps_on_Rolling
August 11 2020

Despite Pandemic, Trucking Industry Keeps on Rolling

TopMark Funding ACT, BLS, Coronavirus, Financial news, FTR, News, Opinion 0

Here at TopMark Funding, we wrote about how we believed the coronavirus pandemic was ending soon. That article is almost two months old at this point, and the pandemic continues.  The interesting thing is that despite all of the fear of the coronavirus pandemic for the past five or so months, the trucking industry continues […]

FMCSA_Holds_Virtual_Safety_Summit_Summary
August 10 2020

FMCSA Holds Virtual Safety Summit: Summary

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, Guides, News, Regulations, Trucking Companies 0

Freightliner_Fleet_of_Electric_Trucks_Hits_300000_Miles
August 7 2020

Freightliner Fleet of Electric Trucks Hits 300,000 Miles

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Opinion, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

July_Truck_Sales_Skyrocket_on_Top_of_a_Skyrocket
August 6 2020

July Truck Sales Skyrocket on Top of a Skyrocket

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, FTR, News, Opinion, Semi Trucks 0

The demand for new trucks in 2020 was not reduced from the coronavirus pandemic, merely moved forward in time. According to Freight Transportation Research (FTR), North American Class 8 sales in July was approximately 20,000 units. That is 28% higher than in June, and to compare apples to apples, double the orders from July 2019. […]

Industry_Advocates_Congress_to_Suspend_the_FET
August 5 2020

Industry Advocates Congress to “Suspend the FET”

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Financial news, News, Opinion, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

If you have been in the trucking industry long enough to have bought a truck, you know about the Federal Excise Tax (FET), a tax that was implemented in 1917 to help finance World War I and has been chugging along ever since, for well over a century by now!The FET adds 12% to a […]

July_2020_Freight_Rates_Appear_Unstoppable
August 4 2020

July 2020: Freight Rates Appear Unstoppable

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Freight Rates 0

Apparently April to May was the lowest point of the coronavirus pandemic, as demand for shipped goods and materials continued its ascent for the third consecutive month (two for dry van), and all three forms of freight are at their 2020 highs.DAT speculates the current month’s rates as it is happening, and while August is […]

Hair_Might_Become_the_New_Drug_Testing_Method_for_Truckers
July 31 2020

Hair Might Become the New Drug Testing Method for Truckers

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Opinion, Regulations 0

Currently, the FMCSA and its clearinghouse only accept urine tests for drugs and alcohol in its 50% random testing requirement. Now, safety experts are advocating for using hair testing instead. Is it a good idea to adopt this new method? There are tons of arguments for it, and one big argument against it.Pro: Ease of […]

More_Truckstop_Chains_Require_Face_Masks
July 30 2020

More Truckstop Chains Require Face Masks

TopMark Funding Business, Coronavirus, News 0

Not too far back, we wrote about how Love’s is requiring face masks in all of its over 500 locations. Now, Pilot company (Pilot and Flying J) and TravelCenters of America (TA and Petro) are following suit.Desperate Times; Desperate MeasuresThe declarations from the three companies comes off the heels of various state governments once again […]

Nikola_Tesla_Race_to_Build_Electric_Truck_Factories
July 29 2020

Nikola, Tesla Race to Build Electric Truck Factories

TopMark Funding News, Nikola, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies Nikola Trucks, Tesla Semi 0

In the 19th century Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla duked it out to determine the future of electricity between DC and AC. Now, two companies, both named after the winner of that debacle, are battling it out to get their electric trucks out to market.NikolaNikola Motor Company is the underdog in the competition. With a […]

Loves_to_Require_Face_Masks
July 28 2020

Love’s to Require Face Masks

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, News 0

Operating about 520 locations in 41 states, Love’s Travel Stops (the company) will require customers to wear face masks at all of its businesses. This includes Love’s Travel Stops, Love’s Truck Care, Love’s-owned hotels, and Speedco locations.The culprit behind this decision is none other than our beloved friend the Coronavirus.COVID-19 WoesFighting a pandemic is a […]

Wabash_National_to_Sell_ZeroEmission_Reefers
July 27 2020

Wabash National to Sell Zero-Emission Reefers

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

We have written a lot about zero-emission trucks, but when it comes to hauling perishable goods such as frozen foods, tractors are only half of the equation. The reefer unit also needs to use energy in order to offset the second law of thermodynamics (that is, keep cold items cold). Wabash National, a manufacturer of […]

New_Trailer_Orders_in_June_2020_Skyrocket
July 24 2020

New Trailer Orders in June 2020 Skyrocket

TopMark Funding ACT, News, Semi Trucks 0

At the beginning of July, we wrote an article detailing some good news for the health of the trucking industry: new truck orders in June broke expectations. Following up, in comparison, new trailer sales completely shattered all expectations for that month. The Data According to Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company (ACT), U.S. trailer orders for […]

Netadryne_Records_1_Billion_Miles_for_Autonomous_Research
July 23 2020

Netadryne Records 1 Billion Miles for Autonomous Research

TopMark Funding News, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

We at TopMark Funding have written before about the obstacles stopping autonomous semi-trucks from becoming the norm. One of the largest was the problem we called “Dynamic Adaptation”: how current autonomous trucks work fine in open, well-maintained highways, but start to struggle when dealing with less optimal scenarios such as road hazards and city streets. […]

FMCSA_Needs_to_Do_its_Part_for_ELD_Mandate
July 22 2020

FMCSA Needs to Do its Part for ELD Mandate

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, Opinion, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

If you are a trucker that keeps track of anything related to regulations, you know about the FMCSA’s ELD Mandate. As of December 2019, all non-exempt trucks (exempt trucks including ones that tow other cars, among others) are required to have a compliant electronic logging device (ELD) to track various factors of driving data. The […]

DOT_Reduces_Commercial_Bus_Regulations
July 21 2020

DOT Reduces Commercial Bus Regulations

TopMark Funding Business, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

Here is something we do not get to write about very often; TopMark Funding finances passenger vehicles as well as cargo vehicles.The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on July 15th that it is removing some old regulations in a cost-saving effort.“This rule will remove outdated and overly burdensome reporting requirements on commercial buses that don’t […]

Payroll_Protection_Program_Helps_Truckers
July 20 2020

Payroll Protection Program Protects Truckers

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Financial news, News, Regulations 0

The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation has taken its toll on the trucking industry, but the federal government will not let the industry collapse without a fight. Through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which is part of the CARES Act, trucking companies both big and small have applied for loans to keep goods moving, loans […]

Fit_to_Drive_Increasing_the_Health_of_You_and_Your_Fleet
July 17 2020

Fit to Drive: Increasing the Health of You and Your Fleet

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Guides, Regulations 0

It does not take someone familiar with the trucking industry to know that being a commercial driver requires extensive testing that must be passed in order to legally operate. What you might have not thought about in a while is the medical examination that the Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require […]

ATA_Updates_Trucking_Industry_Statistics_for_2019
July 16 2020

ATA Updates Trucking Industry Statistics for 2019

TopMark Funding ATA, Business, Commercial Trucking, Guides, News, Semi Trucks 0

You might remember that at the beginning of 2020 we compiled annual reports from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) all the way back from 2003. The ATA generates a new report for the year prior in the middle of summer, and it is that time of year again: the ATA has a new report.Data AnalyticsThe […]

COVID19_State_of_Emergency_Extended_to_August
July 15 2020

COVID-19 State of Emergency Extended to August

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

Opeartion_Safe_Driver_Week_is_Self_Defeating
July 14 2020

Operation Safe Driver Week is Self Defeating

TopMark Funding CVSA, FMCSA, News, Opinion, Regulations 0

Operation Safe Driver Week is now upon us. While law enforcement such as highway patrol and the DOT as a whole will be extra careful to track driving habits of commercial vehicles. Come the 20th of July, there is a chance we will all be back to normal levels of enforcement, as if the week […]

Operation_Safe_Driver_Week_Best_Practices
July 10 2020

Operation Safe Driver Week Best Practices

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, CVSA, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is soon upon us. Law enforcement officials are going to be extra wary of commercial vehicles on America’s roadways. To avoid a ticket, or worse, a license suspension, follow these rules to keep bears off your tail. An Ounce of Prevention The key to surviving […]

Bailout
July 10 2020

YRC Worldwide Receives $700 Million Bailout

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Truck Financing, Trucking Companies 0

FMCSA_Provides_Temporary_Exemption_for_Drug_Testing
July 9 2020

FMCSA Provides Temporary Exemption for Drug Testing

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

Trucking_Rates_Exceed_PrePandemic_Levels
July 8 2020

Trucking Rates Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Freight Rates, News, Semi Trucks 0

We wrote about this before, how trucking levels were on the brink of being above the price per mile before the pandemic hit. Now we can finally bust out that champagne: we are now above February’s rates!Above and BeyondNow at this point you are probably thinking this is hardly a cause for celebration; February is […]

New_Truck_Orders_in_June_2020_Skyrocket
July 7 2020

New Truck Orders in June 2020 Skyrocket

TopMark Funding ACT, Business, FTR, News, Semi Trucks 0

June_2020_Rates_Rise_but_Are_Still_Below_Average
July 6 2020

June 2020: Rates Rise but Are Still Below Average

TopMark Funding Semi Trucks 0

Another month, another update regarding average freight rates for dry van, flatbed, and reefer hauling. By coronavirus standards, rates are doing very well, and have passed pre-pandemic rates for dry van and reefer. By June standards, however, the freight rate still leaves a little bit to be desired. This point is best illustrated via graph, […]

CVSA_to_Start_Operation_Safe_Driver_Week_July_12th
July 3 2020

CVSA to Start Operation Safe Driver Week July 12th

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, CVSA, FMCSA, News, Semi Trucks 0

You might remember us writing about the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) delaying the International Roadcheck due to the coronavirus. The CVSA has decided to not let COVID-19 get in the way of its next event, however: Operation Safe Driver Week.Operation Safe Driver WeekThe CVSA describes the event as a time where “law enforcement agencies […]

UPS_Penske_and_Others_Test_Autonomous_Trucks
July 2 2020

UPS, Penske, and Others Test Autonomous Trucks

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies 0

Autonomous trucks may still be a far way away from becoming the norm, but the journey of a million miles begins with one wheel rotation. A small handful of companies are working together to help lay the groundwork of making it a reality.The TeamThe companies that form this partnership of establishing an autonomous network of […]

eDumper_The_Electric_Dump_Truck_Without_a_Cord
July 1 2020

eDumper: The Electric Dump Truck Without a Cord

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Dump Trucks, Technology 0

Electric vehicles are intricate machines, but eventually due to the laws of physics such as that blasted conservation of energy, the vehicles need to be recharged with juice after some amount of traveling. Emining, a Swiss technology company focusing on the mining and quarry industry, has come up with an ingenious way to have dump […]

California_Issues_Zero_Emissions_Mandate
June 30 2020

California Issues Zero-Emissions Mandate

TopMark Funding News, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

In a unanimous vote, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a mandate detailing what percentage of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state have to be zero emissions for the next decade and a half. The Details The Advanced Clean Truck rule, the first of its type, sets standards for truck and chassis […]

Hyliion_to_Go_Public_and_to_Sell_Hypertruck
June 29 2020

Hyliion to Go Public and to Sell Hypertruck

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News, Technology 0

FMCSA_to_Check_Potential_Broker_Transparency_Violations
June 26 2020

FMCSA to Check Potential Broker Transparency Violations

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

On Tuesday, June 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Jim Mullen said his agency is looking into potential violations regarding rate transparency among brokers. The statement comes from the FMCSA’s session at the Truckload Carrier’s Association’s Virtual Safety and Security Meeting. The event was moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic. The “Changes” We […]

FMCSA_Extends_CLP_Training_Workaround
June 25 2020

FMCSA Extends CLP Training Workaround

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. The trucks are essentially the blood cells that […]

Electric_Truckings_Newest_Obstacle_Heat
June 24 2020

Electric Trucking’s Newest Obstacle

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Dump Trucks, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

The two largest obstacles to making electric vehicles, especially big rigs, the dominating force in the market are range capacity and charging rates. But, there is a third you may have not even considered: heat generation. Charging Speed When charging a small car into a standard 120-volt electrical socket, the car charges at a rate […]

INVEST_In_America_Act_Gets_Amended
June 23 2020

INVEST in America Act Gets Amended

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Congress, News, Regulations 0

You may remember that TopMark Funding wrote about the INVEST in America Act in the past. What we know now is that the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has deliberated on it further. They went through over 24 hours of debate and more than 175 different proposed amendments. The finished bill was an act […]

California_AB5_Law_Somewhat_Postponed
June 22 2020

California AB-5 Law Somewhat Postponed

TopMark Funding Business, California, Commercial Trucking, News, Regulations 0

We have written about AB-5 and its federal counterpart before. The law, intended to curb workplace abuse by making it harder to classify a worker as an independent contractor, has legal issues for owner-operators hoping to work under a larger carrier such as Landstar. If this is you and you were worried about losing your […]

Freight_Rates_Approach_PrePandemic_Levels
June 19 2020

Freight Rates Approach Pre-Pandemic Levels

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Freight Rates 0

Normally we at TopMark Funding provide updates for freight rates monthly, however, we bring news that is too good not to share. The rates are closely approaching the numbers they were before the pandemic began (pre-pandemic), and for reefers have already passed the point. The Graphs The rates for all three forms of freight (dry […]

Heavy_Equipment_Financing_Frequently_Asked_Questions
June 18 2020

Heavy Equipment Financing Frequently Asked Questions

TopMark Funding Semi Trucks 0

FMCSA_Extends_Pandemic_License_Relief
June 17 2020

FMCSA Extends Pandemic License Relief

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. One way the FMCSA took action was to suspend […]

Arguments_for_the_Pandemic_Ending_Soon
June 16 2020

Arguments for the Pandemic Ending Soon

TopMark Funding BLS, Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Opinion 0

TopMark Funding has been writing about COVID-19 for well over three months now, even before the World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced it as a pandemic. As time goes on and the general populace has stayed at home as long as it could to “flatten the curve”, the evidence seems to be piling up that […]

American_Truck_Dealers_Launches_Suspend_the_FET_Week
June 15 2020

American Truck Dealers Launches Suspend the FET Week

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Financial news, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Truck Financing, Trucking Companies 0

Trucking_Industry_Barely_Lost_Jobs_in_May
June 12 2020

Trucking Industry Barely Lost Jobs in May

TopMark Funding BLS, Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Opinion 0

The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are in: the for-hire trucking sector of the U.S. economy lost 1,200 jobs in May. Furthermore, the trucking industry total employment, 1,431,000, was the lowest it has been since November 2014. This is despite the U.S. economy as a whole gaining 2.5 million jobs. By themselves, […]

FMCSA_Lengthens_Drug_Testing_Window_for_Hiring
June 11 2020

FMCSA Lengthens Drug Testing Window for Hiring

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), in a new step to combat the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy, is modifying a regulation regarding drugs. No, truckers will not be allowed to drive while smoking marijuana without being added to the Clearinghouse. The Change Normally when hiring a company driver, the company must perform […]

FMCSA_Extends_HOS_Suspension_to_MidJuly
June 9 2020

FMCSA Extends HOS Suspension to Mid-July

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations 0

On March 13th, the Hours-of-Service suspension was to last until April 12th. It was then extended to May 15th, then June 15th, and now the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration extends it once again to July 14th. The Applicable Shipments Not all trucks on the road get the privilege of ignoring hours-of-service until the job […]

Why_the_INVEST_in_America_Act_Wont_Be_Law
June 9 2020

Why the INVEST in America Act Won’t Be Law

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Congress, News, Opinion, President, Regulations 0

At TopMark Funding, we mostly like to report on the facts when it comes to the news and allow our readers to reach their own conclusions. The recent news about the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act may leave truckers worried about how it […]

House_Democrats_Introduce_INVEST_in_Amerca_Act
June 8 2020

House Democrats Introduce INVEST in America Act

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Congress, News, President, Regulations 0

How much is added flexibility to your driving workday worth to you? House Democrats on Capitol Hill unveiled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act on Wednesday, May 3rd. The bill is 864 pages long, but the two biggest pieces that should interest truck […]

Nikola_Motor_Company_Goes_Public_Stock_for_Sale
June 5 2020

Nikola Motor Company Goes Public: Stock for Sale

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Finance, Financial news, News, Nikola, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Technology, Trucking Companies Nikola Trucks 0

With Tesla delaying the Semi for another year, it appears to be that the Nikola Motor Company (also named after electrical inventor Nikola Tesla) is the frontrunner to get a fully electric semi-truck to market. Their chances just increased immensely when they finished performing a reverse merger with VectoIQ Acquisition that will also raise at […]

Arizona_DOT_Updates_Website_Shows_Rest_Areas
June 4 2020

Arizona DOT Updates Website; Shows Rest Areas

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News, Technology 0

Truckers driving through Arizona may be relieved to hear that the Arizona Department of Transportation has updated its 511 website to include rest stops. This change details not only the locations of rest stops within the state, but also whether or not they are currently open, and the number of truck parking spots at each […]

Why_Solar_Powered_Trucks_Wont_Be_Here_Soon
June 3 2020

Why Solar Powered Trucks Won’t Be Here Soon

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

When it comes to electric semi-trucks, one of the largest obstacles is charging times. With a standard household outlet, the charging rate for an electric semi-truck can be less than one mile per hour. But there is, for all intents and purposes, a limitless source of energy in the sky that could be harnessed for […]

May_2020_Two_Freight_Rates_Fall_One_Rises
June 2 2020

May 2020: Two Freight Rates Fall, One Rises

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Semi Trucks 0

The month of May resulted in some interesting phenomena for the trucking industry: usually when it comes to dry van, flatbed, and reefer hauling, the rates all change in the same direction. This has been a crazy year, which leads to some crazy changes.For May, the reefer rate average rose, most likely due to the […]

Tesla_Delays_SemiTruck_Again
June 1 2020

Tesla Delays Semi-Truck Again

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Technology Tesla Semi 0

Heavy_Equipment_That_Makes_Construction_Work_Easier
May 29 2020

Heavy Equipment That Makes Construction Work Easier

TopMark Funding Business, Construction 0

TopMark Funding not only finances trucks and trailers, but also other forms of business equipment, such as machines used in construction. The machines we will focus on in this article are not necessary per se, but in terms of time and sweat saved are invaluable to any construction operation.BricklayerFashioning a brick road the old-fashioned way […]

Presumably_A_Kenworth_Dump_Truck
May 28 2020

Kenworth Dump Trucks

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Dump Trucks, Guides, Trucking Companies 0

Last week we covered Peterbilt dump truck models currently in production, now we move on to Peterbilt’s brother brand, the Kenworth. Both truck types fall under the Paccar banner, so it will be interesting to see how the Kenworth dump trucks compare. As with the Peterbilt truck models, the Kenworth models are ordered numerically and […]

Telematics
May 27 2020

11 Top Reasons to Use Trucking Telematics

TopMark Funding Fleet Management, Guides, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

The trucking industry is going through many technological revolutions right now; one of the most important ones is in the telematics field. If you are unaware of telematics being an influential force for commercial trucking, there is a very good chance that you use telematics in your business today. Elaborating further on the usage of […]

FMCSA_to_Do_Remote_Compliance_Reviews
May 25 2020

FMCSA To Do Remote Compliance Reviews

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

With the national emergency suspension of hours-of-service now lasting through June 14th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to fulfill its purpose of maintaining safe truck operations without risking its agents contracting COVID-19. To do this, the FMCSA is issuing guidance about how they plan to do compliance reviews remotely. Remote Control Although systems […]

Peterbilt_Dump_Trucks
May 22 2020

Peterbilt Dump Trucks

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Construction, Dump Trucks, Guides 0

When you think of the brand Peterbilt, you may think of heavy-duty 18-wheeler trucks, but did you know they also make vocational vehicles that can be used as dump trucks? Here is the list of currently produced Peterbilt trucks that can be used as dump trucks, conveniently ordered on their number. Peterbilt 337 The Peterbilt […]

OOIDA_Petitions_FMCSA_for_Broker_Transparency
May 21 2020

OOIDA Petitions FMCSA for Broker Transparency

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, FMCSA, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been in the news a lot lately, and the news surrounding them only gets longer as time goes on. On May 19th, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) filed a petition with the FMCSA to demand new regulations that improve broker transparency. The Problem Owner-Operators are starting […]

How_Californias_Green_Outlook_Impacts_Truckers
May 20 2020

How California’s Green Outlook Impacts Truckers

TopMark Funding California, Commercial Trucking, Regulations, Technology 0

trucking-economy
May 19 2020

What Factors Drive the Trucking Economy?

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Semi Trucks 0

Originally Posted by FreightWaves SONAR Freight forecasters need to understand what drives the freight economy in order to forecast volumes, capacity, and rates.  Much like the general economy, the variables that drive the freight economy are too numerous to count. However, we can narrow down the principal factors to a select few that really move […]

FMCSA_Considers_Expanding_Amber_Brake_Light_Exemption
May 19 2020

FMCSA Considers Expanding Amber Brake Light Exemption

TopMark Funding FMCSA, News, Regulations FMCSA 0

When the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) authorized Groendyke Transport to use pulsating amber brake lights next to the standard red ones on tanker trucks, they probably did not expect rear-end collisions to drop over 33%. That is exactly what happened, and now safety experts at the FMCSA are deliberating on making it the […]

Texas_DOT_Releases_Parking_Study_Results
May 18 2020

Texas DOT Releases Parking Study Results

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, News, Regulations 0

https://www.topmarkfunding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/mix_51s-audio-joiner.com_.mp3The Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a study detailing their findings regarding truck parking spots, taking place over 2018 and 2019.If you travel interstate as a trucker, there is an extremely high chance you will eventually find yourself in Texas. With over a quarter-million square miles of land, the state is the […]

FMCSA_Announces_HoursofService_Final_Rule
May 15 2020

FMCSA Announces Hours-of-Service Final Rule

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, News, Regulations, Semi Trucks 0

It might be hard to remember with the coronavirus pandemic suspension (which was recently extended another month to mid-June) that the FMCSA has been planning reform to its hours-of-service regulations. Now the final rule has been published. Despite nobody outside of the FMCSA truly knowing what was going to be in it, it turned out […]

FMCSA_Extends_HOS_Suspension_Another_Month
May 14 2020

FMCSA Extends HOS Suspension Another Month

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, Regulations 0

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration has announced an extension to the hours-of-service suspension. It was first declared on March 13th and originally extended from April 12th to May 15th, and is being extended again to June 14th. The Applicable Shipments Not all trucks on the road get the privilege of ignoring hours-of-service until the […]

CAT_Engines_and_Their_Variations
May 13 2020

CAT Engines and Their Variations

TopMark Funding Business, Dump Trucks, Guides 0

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures dump trucks (lovingly referred to as off-highway trucks), complete with their in-house engines to get the job done. In this article we will be going over the specifications for their most popular engines, that is, those that appear most often in their dump truck models. The full list, complete with over eighty […]

Coronavirus_LongTerm_Impact_on_Trucking
May 12 2020

Coronavirus’ Long-Term Impact on Trucking

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, Regulations, Technology 0

Although it may be tiring to hear about COVID-19 each and every day, it appears that the pandemic may be coming to an end soon. The trucking industry may return to normal, but a new normal from how the trucking industry was in January 2020. What changes will be permanent? Online Interaction The need for […]

The_Open_Road_with_COVID19
May 11 2020

The Open Road with COVID-19

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, News, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

Tech_Strategies_for_Fleets
May 8 2020

Tech Strategies for Fleets

TopMark Funding Fleet Management, Regulations, Semi Trucks, Technology 0

In the 21st century, big rigs are becoming more and more integrated into the Internet to help trucking companies, both big and small, increase their profit margins and generally make life easier. Here are some examples of tech strategies that fleets and owner-operators alike can or should adopt to help run a tight ship. Benefits […]

Top_10_Highest_Paying_Trucking_Jobs
May 7 2020

Top 10 Highest Paying Trucking Jobs

TopMark Funding Best Trucker, Business, Commercial Trucking, Semi Trucks 0

So you want to advance your career in the trucking industry and earn a little extra money to improve your life. Any of these positions, with the right expertise, can be lucrative positions to have.10. RecruiterNot a job behind the wheel of a truck, but a trucking job nonetheless. With a driver shortage in the […]

hand-sanitizer-featured
May 6 2020

ATA, Protective Insurance Offers Free Hand Sanitizer to Truckers

TopMark Funding Semi Trucks 0

[UPDATE] As of Tuesday, May 5, 2020, all locations are now up and running. The map has been updated to reflect this.Originally Posted By ATAArlington, Va. – As professional truck drivers continue serving on the frontlines during the COVID-19 crisis, American Trucking Associations has partnered with Protective Insurance Company to expand the availability and supply […]

April_2020_Freight_Rates_Drop_Unpredictably
May 6 2020

April 2020: Freight Rates Drop Unpredictably

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, News, Semi Trucks 0

We at TopMark Funding have not been giving you the statistics for average freight rates lately, as we have been writing extensively about more immediate topics such as the Coronavirus. Now that it appears the pandemic is reaching the declining end of the curve, we can get back into the swing of things for normal […]

Dump_Truck_FAQ
May 5 2020

Dump Truck Financing FAQ

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Construction, Dump Trucks, Guides, Truck Financing 0

Heavy-duty 18-wheelers are great, but they are not the only thing TopMark Funding finances. Another popular vehicle to finance is the dump truck. We get asked a lot of questions about financing a dump truck, so we created this article to help answer questions before they arise. How Long Can You Finance a Dump Truck? […]

post pandemic success
May 4 2020

Post-Pandemic Success in the Trucking Industry

TopMark Funding Business, Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus 0

fmcsa masks
May 1 2020

FMCSA Distribution of Protective Masks for Truck Drivers

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus, FMCSA, Semi Trucks FMCSA 0

By The FMCSA Friday, May 1, 2020 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is assisting in the distribution of one million protective masks to the nation’s commercial truck drivers.  FMCSA has been working with states, industry stakeholders, and motor carriers to distribute one million protective face masks for truckers which were provided by the […]

Trucker's Guide to When Every State is Reopening
April 29 2020

Trucker’s Guide to When Every State is Reopening

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, News, Semi Trucks 0

We understand business owners and drivers don’t have time to sort through all the different news coming out about COVID-19, so TopMark has made a detailed truckers guide to when each state will reopen. Updated regularly, this article will include the newest information on when each and every state plans on lifting or extending their […]

Don’t leave home without COVID-19 plan, sick trucker urges
April 22 2020

Don’t leave home without COVID-19 plan, sick trucker urges

TopMark Funding Commercial Trucking, Coronavirus 0

Top 10 Trucking Podcasts
April 20 2020

Top 10 Trucking Podcasts

TopMark Funding Best Trucker, Entertainment, Semi Trucks 0

Anyone who has been on a long drive knows that sometimes, music just doesn’t keep you entertained for hours on end. Podcasts, which are basically episodic talk shows, are a great option for truckers to listen to while killing time on the long hauls. Since the days of talk radio have started to end, podcasts […]

lower truck prices
April 16 2020

J.D. Power Says Pricing Beginning To Slip As Coronavirus Hits Used Truck Market

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Truck Financing 0

Pricing began to fall across the board in used truck spaces during the second half of March as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic took root in the United States, J.D. Power reported Wednesday in its April 2020 Commercial Truck Guidelines industry report.In the auction channel, J.D. Power reports last month’s volume was higher than expected, considering […]

cdc-masks
April 15 2020

Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Guides, How To, Semi Trucks 0

For The Full Printable PDF Version >> ClickHow to Wear a Cloth Face CoveringCloth face coverings shouldfit snugly but comfortably against the side of the facebe secured with ties or ear loopsinclude multiple layers of fabricallow for breathing without restrictionbe able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shapeCDC on Homemade […]

Trucking Songs of All Time
April 15 2020

Top 7 Trucking Movies of All Time

TopMark Funding Best Trucker, Guides, Semi Trucks 0

Driving a truck isn’t just a day job. It’s a fulltime lifestyle that has its own culture, Whether you find yourself looking for a film to watch in the back of a sleeper cab or just at home, movies are one of the best ways to wind down after a long haul of driving. If […]

Fleets & Trucking Associations Work to Get Drivers Face Masks
April 15 2020

Fleets & Trucking Associations Work to Get Drivers Face Masks

TopMark Funding Coronavirus, Semi Trucks 0

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently advised that everyone wear some type of face covering or mask while in public to slow spread of the novel coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it has not been mandated on a federal level, the state of New Jersey and some cities and counties are now requiring them. […]

Top 50 Trucking Songs
April 14 2020

Top 50 Trucking Songs

TopMark Funding Best Trucker, Entertainment, Semi Trucks 0

For most drivers, semi-trucks aren’t just their work vehicles; truck driving is a lifestyle. The career path even has a culture entirely of its own. Truckers have their own language, movies, jokes, music etc. So when it comes to trucker songs, there are few things better than being on the open road with your favorite […]