Over the last few years, everyone has been feeling the pinch from the rising cost of fuel. Many businesses and fuel procurement offices have assumed that if they could just get past a couple of tough years, that fuel costs will stabilize. If there’s one thing that’s become clear over couple year, it’s that high oil prices are here to stay. 2011 set a record for highest average inflation-adjusted fuel price, and 2012 is projected to keep pace with those levels.

While the high cost of fuel can be a vexing problem for businesses everywhere, it’s can be a major obstacle for auto shippers and carriers. Luckily, there are a few things that companies that manage a fleet can do to manage the rise in fuel prices. Here are two ways that companies help reduce the impact of high fuel prices on their bottom line.

Improve Procurement of Fuel - One of the main trends that’s marked the oil and gas market is increasing volatility. It’s not uncommon for the market to swing five cents per gallon on a given day. If you find yourself on the wrong side of a purchasing decision when buying thousands of gallons of gas, you can quickly bleed money and go over budget. There are some automated solutions, such as FuelQuest, on the market that can help companies forecast demand, monitor on-hand fuel, and procure at the best market price. These solutions can help companies avoid buying at the wrong time and bolster their bottom lines.

Better Manage Your Fleet - After making better fuel purchasing decisions, better managing the fleet is a logical next step. While there are some very impressive new technologies (e.g. eco-friendly engines and aerodynamic trailers) on the market, these can be pricey investments. Where companies can get a far better bang for their buck is in employing highly-skilled drivers that are versed in fuel saving technique such as smooth acceleration and momentum control. A skilled driver can save, on average, anywhere from five to 20 percent in fuel efficiency. Another boon is keeping tire pressures at proper inflation levels as a three percent variance in air pressure impacts fuel efficiency by one percent.

These are just a couple of ideas on how to save on fuel costs. This article was adapted from an original piece on the Software Advice Blog. You can visit the Software Advice website by clicking here.

Author Bio: Derek joined Software Advice after graduating from Occidental College with a degree in political science. He writes about various topics related to ERP software with particular interest in the manufacturing and distribution software markets. He is especially interested in the business implications of enterprise technology.

This is a guest article written by one of our readers. For more information about writing a guest post for National Transport, LLC, visit our Guest Blogging Guidelines at the top of the page, or send an email to: janelle [dot] nationaltransportllc [dot] com [at] gmail [dot] com. Also, don’t forget to become a fan of National Transport, LLC on Facebook, where we will be sure to feature your post!

Auto insurance companies spend billions of dollars each year in the hopes of winning your business. The “fog of marketing” makes it very difficult to determine which car insurance is best for your needs. When comparing car insurance companies a few factors need special consideration. FindTheBest has developed a data driven platform that creates a rating system that bypasses any sort of marketing hype. Here is a break down of the ratings as well as a presentation of the top 5 car insurance companies:

Valued Expert Rating: This measure evaluates each company’s average premium across 4 states and driver profiles. In the comparison American Family is the only company to boast a five star rating in this category. Their Arizona sample premium average is $1,804.

Customer Service Rating: This particular rating measures each company’s average complaint ratio across 12 sample states. A high customer service rating is important because when you file a claim you don’t want to deal with rude or slow insurance agents- trust me! Fortunately for you 12 out of the 29 car insurance companies have a five star rating- few to no complaints not bad. Ameriprise is well know for thier services, so if customer career is a game changer for you consider them.

Financial Strength Rating: This unique rating measures a company’s ability to meet financial obligation i.e. “can they pay the bills?” The rating is a weighted average of: the A.M. Best Issuer Credit Rating, A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating, S&P Issuer Credit Rating, and the S&P Financial Strength Rating. Geico and Amica Mutual are the only companies to have a five star rating in this area. Make sure that you  compare these two companies when evaluating your options.

Finally, FindTheBest weighs each of the ratings and presents an overall rating. Here is a slideshow looking at the top five car insurance companies overall.

Byline: Post written by Kyle Espinola of FindTheBest, a site where you can find the best of anything from cars to credit cards.

This is a guest article written by one of our readers. For more information about writing a guest post for National Transport, LLC, visit our Guest Blogging Guidelines at the top of the page, or send an email to: janelle [dot] nationaltransportllc [dot] com [at] gmail [dot] com. Also, don’t forget to become a fan of National Transport, LLC on Facebook, where we will be sure to feature your post!

Owning an RV means you get to bring all of the comforts of home with you where your travels might take you. For many campers, this includes the desire for satellite Internet access that can provide them with speedy downloads and quick web browsing. Thanks to advances in portable satellite technology, it’s fairly simple to enjoy broadband Internet wherever you go.

The most basic RV satellite TV system involves a traditional satellite dish mounted on a portable tripod outside of the actual camper. All you need is enough cable to reach your RV’s input jack – typically 50 feet will do – and a portable satellite locator, which is a handheld device that locks on to the satellite transponder during the aiming process. While you can try to use a basic compass to locate the satellite, a handheld signal meter is highly recommended.

You can also go with a roof-mounted satellite Internet dish. These units fall into two categories. The first is a simple collapsible dish that folds up out of its roof mount and can be manually aimed from within your RV via a swivel control. The second, and much more expensive option is an automatic “dome” antennae that can find the satellite signal and rotate itself to receive it without any human intervention required.

All three satellite dishes connect to a modem inside your RV, which can be configured like any other broadband Internet access point. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup.

• Automatic roof-mount units are obviously convenient, but they pricey.
• Both automatic and manually aimed roof units require you to park in an area with a clear view of the southern sky.
• Tripod dishes let you park anywhere within the range of the cable connecting the dish to your vehicle, which means you can take advantage of the shade and not lose reception. However, they’re bulky and can be hard to store.

There are four major satellite Internet providers in the US: HughesNet (the most popular), Skyway, Wildblue and Starband. Although these services are advertised as broadband, there are some differences between satellite Internet and the cable internet access you may be used to at home. The most noticeable difference is the lag or latency when requesting data, as the distance between the satellite, the dish and the final destination of your data packets all comes into play.

Satellite Internet for RV’ers can be a great way to stay in touch while camping out wherever your heart desires. All you need is a quality dish setup and a clear view of the southern sky.

This is a guest article written by one of our readers. For more information about writing a guest post for National Transport, LLC, visit our Guest Blogging Guidelines at the top of the page, or send an email to: janelle [dot] nationaltransportllc [dot] com [at] gmail [dot] com. Also, don’t forget to become a fan of National Transport, LLC on Facebook, where we will be sure to feature your post!

One major aspect of travelling often overlooked is packing your suitcase. It’s all very exciting to pick your destination, choose the best luxury hotel you can afford or save money on a budget airline but packing your suitcase is often left at the last minute as an unpleasant activity because all too often, there is not enough space when trying to cram in everything you may and may not need for your holiday. Here are a few pointers for men on how to effectively plan what clothes you may need to pack and bring with you.

Smart

You may want to select your smart clothes rather than opt for your regular tracksuit bottoms. Also avoid trainers. They are acceptable in many places and very comfortable for walking for hours but if you’ll be heading to top-end restaurants and night clubs, you may be barred access because of them. Instead, opt for boat shoes which look smarter yet are very comfortable to walk in all day. Of course, bring trainers as well if you can. And if you are going to play sports or go hiking, then the right hiking shoes is a prerequisite.

In general shirts look smarter than t-shirts. So in your quest to bring the minimum with you because of limited space yet having to look smart, pack mostly shirts which will see you blend in most places. A blue shirt will suit most of your outfits. But do bring one or two t-shirts too as they feel comfortable.

Jeans are somewhat like trainers and in fact make a popular combination. Some jeans can look very scruffy, on purpose or not and will make you stand out for the wrong reasons. Some designer jeans won’t let you down. Other places banish jeans altogether. Depending on the places you expect to be visiting, it might be a good idea to bring a smart pair of trousers.

Comfortable

It’s not enough to look smart if you feel ill at ease. You will never enjoy your holidays like this. We mentioned shirts to look smart instead of t-shirts which can be very comfortable. Well, shirts can be comfy too if you know how to choose them. First make sure they are of the right size for you, then opt for the right material. This is crucial. Always choose a light pure cotton fabric if you will go to a hot country. Cotton is very good at absorbing water so a pure cotton shirt will quickly absorb any sweat on your skin, leaving you feeling dry. This material is also breathable, allowing air to circulate through.

We mentioned ditching sports shoes for smarter ones and to pick boat shoes or moccasin for comfort and long hours of walking. Try to prioritise shirts instead of t-shirts and smart jeans over the rugged ones. The idea here is to pick clothes that can be versatile and help you in most situations as you won’t be able to bring your whole wardrobe with you. So next time you travel, remember this and pack carefully.

Article written by MU Shirts which specialises in menswear and accessories online.

This is a guest article written by one of our readers. For more information about writing a guest post for National Transport, LLC, visit our Guest Blogging Guidelines at the top of the page, or send an email to: janelle [dot] nationaltransportllc [dot] com [at] gmail [dot] com. Also, don’t forget to become a fan of National Transport, LLC on Facebook, where we will be sure to feature your post!

With an ever growing focus on climate change, global warming and the carbon foot prints that we leave, there has been an increased interest in the individual participation towards a greener, more environmentally friendly way of living. In this article outlines some simple steps that will result in a more fuel efficient approach to driving.

Step 1- Minimize your Vehicle Usage

Cars consume more fuel and produce more CO2 emissions during ignition and short trips. The reason for this is that the catalytic converters, which act to reduce CO2 emissions, work more effectively once they have warmed up. Short trips do not allow this to happen, so try and combine short errands and car runs into one longer trip. For really short trips walk or cycle, not only will this save on fuel and money, it also provides a good source of exercise.

Step 2- Gear Usage

Always drive in the correct gear, driving in a lower gear than necessary adds to the engine’s strain which in return produces more emissions.

Step 3- Consistent Driving

Driving consistently or smoothly will greatly reduce the amount of CO2 emissions produced by your vehicle. By constantly stopping and re-starting you will produce more emissions, try avoiding driving at peak times when traffic will encourage start/stop driving. Drive at a safe distance from the car in front, this will allow you to judge braking and allow you to keep a steady consistent pace.

Step 4- Minimize Engine Usage

Having the engine running when it is not needed is a common cause of excess CO2 emissions. Only start the engine when you are ready to start your journey, having the engine running whilst you organize and plan your journey only wastes fuel.

Step 5- Speed

As it is illegal you should not be speeding anyway, but above 70mph your car will use up to 25% more fuel. Try to maintain a steady speed whilst driving on motorways, and if you have a new car that benefits from cruise control utilize it.

Step 6- Minimize Aerodynamic Drag

Having additional parts attached to your car such as spoilers, bike racks and roof racks will cause your car to create aerodynamic drag. This can increase CO2 emissions by up to 20% and even something as simple as open windows at high speed can have a dramatic effect on drag.

Step 7- Tires

Make sure you keep your tires in good condition. By having your tires inflated to the recommended pressure and maintaining their condition will not only reduce air pollution emissions, it will also extend tire life and increase over safety.

Step 8- Air-conditioning

Use air-conditioning only when necessary. When you first enter your car, roll down the windows, this will ease the uncomfortable heat that can often lead to the use of air-conditioning.

Step 9- Weight

Minimize the weight carried within your car. Only pack what is necessary, your car is for transport, not an additional storage space. By minimising the weight within your car, the less your car has to work, resulting in less CO2 emissions.

Step 10- Look after your car!

This may sound obvious, but keeping good care of your car is a vital factor in fuel efficient driving. Take your car for regular checkups and maintenance, and if you have purchased a used car, make even more efforts to ensure that you car is healthy and running smoothly.

Following these simple steps you will be able to live with peace of mind that you are doing your bit to lower your carbon foot print and help save the planet.

This is a guest article written by Jayanta Chatterjee. For more information about writing a guest post for National Transport, LLC, visit our Guest Blogging Guidelines at the top of the page, or send an email to: janelle [at] unlimitedwebsolutions [dot] com. Also, don’t forget to become a fan of National Transport, LLC on Facebook, where we will be sure to feature your post!

At the heart of every new car is an idea of a designer or an engineer. However, it is not always that these designs actually reach the stage of mass manufacturing. In most cases, concept cars do not go for mass production, and remain gathering dust at a forgotten corner of the company warehouse.

However, this is not always the case. Take for example the Toyota Prius Plug-in scheduled to be available to consumers in 2012. If you are yet to get a good look at this new member of the hybrid car category, here is a quick check of the details.

The 1.8 l 4-cylinder engine of this car is efficient enough to generate higher output and torque even when the vehicle is operating at low speed. The Cool-EGR system helps lower the re-circulated exhaust temperatures and a recirculation system that makes it easier for the car to warm up in a short period.

The electric motor on this Prius makes this especially good in enhancing fuel efficiency. Depending on the driving conditions, this vehicle can take you up to 475 miles before you need to fill up.

Instead of facing the issues with large-capacity batteries, this vehicle uses small lithium-ion battery packs. The compact, lightweight battery packs offer you two advantages – it provides enough power for the vehicles and it provides enough space to accommodate five people and cargo in this car.

The convenience of charging the vehicle on any outlet makes it quite a viable option for all. If it is a 120V household outlet, the necessary charging time is 3 hours. If it is a 240V outlet, the charging time is even less, 1.5 hours.

This Toyota Prius Plug-in is sure to be one of the predecessors of future cars. Compact and fuel efficient, this car is sure to find many admirers among new-age drivers. Moreover, it takes care of the environment as well – like all hybrids, it cuts down on the emissions too.

If you want a small car for your family, and want to use it for daily commute, you may consider this vehicle.