Category: trucking news

Founder of R+L, Ralph L. “Larry” Roberts, Carriers Passes Away at Age 77

R+ L Carriers is a private family-owned freight shipping company that has been providing world-class customer service with every delivery for over 55 years. The company has been awarded the “Quest for Quality Award” in Logistics management and has grown from a one-truck fleet to a fleet of over 21,000 tractors and trailers. The company owes its success to its founder, Ralph L. Larry Roberts, who passed away on March 19th, 2023 at the age of 77. 

In the Mid-1960s, Roberts had the dream of owning his own business so he ended up purchasing a single truck that he used to haul furniture and a warehouse behind his family home in Wilmington, Ohio. His business started off providing service exclusively within Ohio but soon expanded to five other Midwestern and Southern states. 

The company continued to grow further with the purchase of Gator Freightways, Inc. and Greenwood Motorlines, Inc. With the deregulation of the trucking industry in the early 1980s, the company incorporated a system that moved freight at transit times that were unrivaled. In 2007 the company became a number one LTL carrier. The company has now expanded to serve all 50 states, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and many other Caribbean islands. 

R+L Carriers strives to provide the best service with competitive pricing and save operations. Ralph L. “Larry” Roberts’ legacy will continue to live on in the company he founded and established over the years with the help of his family and numerous dedicated employees.

Knight-Swift Announces Major Merger with U.S. Xpress

Knight-Swift Transportation has officially announced an agreement to acquire U.S. Xpress Enterprises. This is not the first time the company has merged with another, however. In 2017, Knight Transportation and Swift Transportation merged to create Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. The difference between this merger is that U.S Xpress will keep its brand and continue to operate separately. 

U.S. Xpress was purchased by Knight-Swift for $6.15 a share, for a total of about $808 million. The acquisition is officially expected to close in the second or third quarter of the year and will pay around $291 million in cash at closing. This will be the biggest deal for Knight-Swift since it acquired AAA Cooper Transportation in 2021. 

In this acquisition, Knight-Swift will assume the acquired company’s debt of $484 million. The debt was caused by a multi-year decline in financial revenue. Ultimately U.S Xpress stockholders were pleased with the high closing stock price after the acquisition was complete.

 While the company will be acquiring U.S. Xpress’ accumulated debt, this acquisition is expected to add roughly $2.2 billion in operating revenue to Knight-Swift. This will also cause their truckload fleet to have a total of 25,00 tractors and 93,000 trailers. 

 This merger is expected to help U.S. Xpress significantly and reduce the turnover rate of employees, which had been happening during the company’s financial decline. This merger is also expected to increase the revenue of both companies to avoid any further financial decline from either company.

What You Need to Know About Traffic July 4th

What You Need to Know About Traffic July 4thWith a growing economy and rising consumer confidence, you can expect more than a few four-wheelers on the road this holiday weekend. This Independence Day the AAA has estimated 41.9 million travelers until Sunday, July 8th. This number is up 0.7 percent from last year’s estimate and the highest number since 2007 since before the great recession. At ExpressTruckTax we want you to always be prepared. Here is what you need to know about traffic July 4th.

The AAA says that the worst congestion can be expected around metropolitan areas as holiday travels are combined with regular commuters during the weekdays.

“This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans take to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways than ever before,” Bill Sutherland, senior vice president of AAA Travel and Publishing, said in a statement from the company. “Confident consumers with additional disposable income will look to spend on travel this holiday, building on an already busy summer travel season.”

What You Need to Know About Traffic July 4thAt ExpressTruckTax we hope you will spend this Independence Day with your family and friends, however, if you find yourself out on the open road, we want to share our sincere appreciation. It is through the untiring resolve of those like yourself in the trucking community that we are able to celebrate. Your rigs brought us the fireworks, hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, charcoal, and grill that we all get to enjoy.

From the staff at ExpressTruckTax, we thank you for your dedication and determination in serving millions of Americans across the nation. ExpressTruckTax appreciates your continued efforts to keeping America moving. Happy Independence Day!

#WellnessWednesday: Managing Stress on the Road

Driving a truck can be among the most stressful jobs out there. Being responsible for up to 80,000 pounds of metal moving at speeds of 70 MPH or above places severe demands on your brain for attention, and produces rigorous tension in your body. Then there are other drivers, deadlines, (including tax-filing deadlines) adverse weather conditions, and the grueling number of hours on the road. It’s no wonder you truckers are constantly feeling enormous amounts of pressure and stress!

But did you know that stress actually triggers a number of health problems? Problems such as headaches, upset stomach, heartburn, high blood pressure, chest pains, and difficulty sleeping can all come from stress. Untreated stress can also contribute to diabetes, heart problems, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression and anxiety. And believe it or not, 75 to 90 percent of all visits to the doctor are for stress-related illnesses.

Since stress is so prevalent in the trucking industry, and its effects so serious, one of the best things you can do for yourself as a trucker is to learn techniques for dealing with stress. Here are some great methods you can use to ease your stress and make each day on the road more peaceful.

  • Exercise. This is perhaps the most effective method for dealing with stress. The movement of exercise can release the pent-up energy that stress can cause. It may be difficult to find the time and a place to exercise while on the road, but even a 15 or 20 minute walk will do wonders towards relieving your driving stress.

  • Healthy Diet. Another difficult thing to manage while driving long distances is your diet. There aren’t a host of opportunities for healthy eating at most truck stops, but a healthy diet is a crucial factor in controlling your stress level. It boosts your immune system, making you more resistant to the effects of stress. Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water are two important ways to maintain a healthy diet.

  • Sleep. Getting adequate, restful sleep can do wonders for your stress level. If you’re getting enough exercise, you’re probably already sleeping well. Making sure you get plenty of restorative sleep keeps your mind in optimal condition, and will leave you better equipped to deal with whatever stress you may encounter during the day, and eliminate the unneeded stress that comes from not being well rested.

Other methods of managing stress include meditation, breathing techniques, and using smart strategies to eliminate any unneeded stress from your daily routine and activities.

We don’t have to tell you how stressful it is out there for you, Trucking Nation. But we can help you keep your unnecessary tension to a minimum, and using the above strategies will help you deal with the unavoidable pressures of the road.

As always, we’re here to answer any questions you may have about using ExpressTruckTax. You can call us Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 704.234.6005, and email us any time at support@expresstrucktax.com. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and to let your family and friends know about ExpressTruckTax and the helpful tips you get from this blog!

ExpressTruckTax is #TruckingForACure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as most of you know. Since 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, there are few of us who aren’t touched and affected by this terrible disease.
Personally, I lost a high school friend to breast cancer this October 4th. Most of us here at ExpressTruckTax have been directly affected by losses from breast cancer, and it’s no wonder because breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death among women. Luckily, awareness and support have been building in recent years to find a cure.

We here at ExpressTruckTax are committed to helping find a cure for breast cancer. Although more and more activities and efforts on the part of finding a cure are taking place around the calendar year, October is the time to focus intensely on raising awareness, as well as funds, towards finding that cure.

United Materials, a concrete company in North Tonawanda, New York, is one member of the Trucking Nation who has stepped up and is making a difference in the fight. Not only has the company committed to raise money to fund research and help those affected, it’s also increased awareness by getting its pink concrete truck out on the road for everyone to see. Remember, pink is the adopted color for breast cancer awareness. Since the pink ribbon is the easily recognizable symbol of the fight for a cure, the pink United Materials concrete truck has a prominent pink ribbon on its side.

With the slogan “Our Commitment to the Cure is Concrete,” United Materials demonstrates its dedication to help find a cure and aid those families affected by breast cancer. The Western New York concrete company states that its pink concrete truck’s purpose is “to honor all survivors of breast cancer throughout the Niagara Region.”

Over 500 man hours were donated last year by United Materials’ more than 100 employees towards fundraising and awareness events in Western New York. Their pink concrete truck and employees have shown up to throw support behind their “Commitment to the Cure.”

This pink truck is just one example of how the hard-working members of the Trucking Nation can and are making a difference. There are countless pink trucks out on the roads, and their numbers are increasing every day. ExpressTruckTax is grateful for all your contributions and efforts to raise awareness of the need to find a cure for breast cancer. Keep it up, Trucking Nation, by joining the ExpressTruckTax team in raising awareness via social media!

Use #TruckingForACure and let us know your reason

for joining the fight against breast cancer!

As always, we’re here to help you and answer any questions you may have about ExpressTruckTax. You can call us at 704.234.6005 or email us any time at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Trucking News Update: New E-filing Rules

We always try to keep the trucking nation up-to-date with industry news. And telling you about the latest in IRS regulations is an important part of that. After all, we are ExpressTruckTax!

According to the updated 2015-16 IRS regulations, when filing HVUT for a vehicle you recently purchased from a private owner (i.e. not from a dealership or auction), the previous owner is responsible for paying tax on the partial month in which you purchase the vehicle.

For example, if you purchase a vehicle from a private seller today, your tax would be calculated starting August 1st.

Luckily, the ExpressTruckTax program has been updated to make this process super simple, so all you have to do is follow the same three simple steps which will create a new split return for the tax year, giving you prorated tax.

Step 1: Login or Create Account

  • If you’ve previously filed with us or if you have an account already, login to your account and resume or start your return.
  • If this is your first time filing, choose to create an account.
    • Pro-tip #1: To save time, you can choose to login with your Google+ or Facebook account.
  • Then you will either enter your business details or use the FastTransfer Feature to copy them from your previous return.

Step 2: Vehicle Details

  • In order to enter details for a vehicle you purchased from a private seller, simply choose to add a vehicle and enter all the information including gross vehicle weight and VIN.
  • Then check “This is a previously privately-owned vehicle” at the bottom of the “Add Truck” popup window.
  • Then click next and add any other trucks you may need to file for before moving on. 
    • Pro-tip #2: There are several different types of vehicles to file for. Know the difference between Taxable Vehicles, Suspended Vehicles, Logging Vehicles, and Agricultural Vehicles.
  • Now you’ve created a split return in our system, meaning you pay a prorated heavy vehicle use tax amount on the new vehicle, instead of having to pay for the entire tax year. 

Step 3: Pay and Transmit!

  • Now all you have to do is enter your payment information and securely transmit your return to the IRS.
    • Pro-tip #3: The IRS only accepts three payment methods, Direct Debit, EFTPS, and check or money order. No credit or debit cards.
  • Select your payment method, review your vehicles, and then transmit your return. It’s just that easy!

If you need any help with any step of the filing process, our dedicated support legends are here for you. Don’t hesitate to call them at 704.234.2005 during our new extended business hours from 8AM-8PM EST or send them at email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/hour support.

E-file today! In just ten minutes, you can be finished, and get back to your life.

We’ve got another giveaway for you, Trucking Nation.  If you e-file with us and “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll be entered to win a portable blender to take on the road with you!

July Trucking Events: Food, Fun, and Free Events for the Whole Family

With tax season underway, many of you are e-filing and getting ready to finish up your summer on a high note. Well, Trucking Nation, we’ve got just the thing! July’s truck-tastic trucking events!

This months events will certainly not disappoint (since most of them are FREE). Enjoy some trucking awesome truck shows and the top gun large car shootout! It’s the perfect mid-summer treat for the whole family!

Fitzgerald Truck Show

Kicking off the events on July 17-18th, is the Fitzgerald Truck Show in Crossville, Tennessee. This event is FREE to the public! There will be food, games, music, and fun for the whole family. Enjoy amazing trucks from all over the country that will be competing in the Pride and Polish Beauty Competition.

Then, if you need a little more action in your summer, Two-time Guinness World Record holder, Jesse Toler will be there with his crew to perform their fantastic stunt-bike show. And there will be fireworks and a bouncy castle for the kids! This event is going to be trucking awesome!

Truck Function in Junction

Right after the Fitzgerald Truck Show, you can enjoy the Truck Function in Junction. It takes place on July 18th in Junction City, Oregon, and it’s going to be truck-tastic. See some great trucks in the show n’ shine and then stick around to hear Amy Clawson perform!

There will be food, fun, family friendly events and best of all, it’s free!

Top Gun Large Car Shootout

Then mid-month when the temperatures are at an all time high, you can escape the heat by heading up North to Rantoul, Illinois, for the Top Gun Large Car Shootout. Another trucking awesome FREE event for July!

So grab your family and come out to see the best working class truck show in Rantoul, IL. There’s something for everyone to enjoy! From the parade of lights, to the Kiddie Pedal Pull, awesome local food vendors, and a Beer Garden, this is an event you don’t wanna miss!

Keystone Diesel Nationals

If you summer hasn’t had enough excitement after all these truck-tastic events, drop on by the Diesel Truck Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania. Watch some of the best truck races you’ll ever see in your life in the Diesel Drag Races and the Jet Dragster Races.

Then, while you’re still filled with excitement from rooting for your favorite trucks, enjoy the Monster Truck Rides and the XDP Car Crusher. There’s even a Kid Zone for any little ones you have with you and a Parade of Trucks for the whole family to enjoy. Along with some great food and music, of course!

Color & Chrome Fantasy Truck Show

Finally, at the end of the month from July 21st-August 2nd enjoy the 6th annual Color & Chrome Fantasy Truck Show in Ogallala, Nebraska. Yet another wonderful FREE event for the whole family to enjoy!

Come out and vote for your favorite truck (color or chrome) and enjoy some great food, great music, and great people for three nights of non-stop fun. You don’t want to miss this event!

Coming Soon: The Great American Trucking Show

Now, The Great American Trucking Show doesn’t actually happen until next month in Dallas, Texas, from August 27th-29th, but it’s such a huge event we’re already excited about it!  There will be tons of truckers, truck enthusiasts and awesome trucks from all over North America.  And all in one place!

You definitely don’t want to miss out on everything they have to offer!  From talent searchers to truck industry networking, and a bunch of new truck tech previews it’s basically the event for truckers.

So get excited, Trucking Nation, because you don’t wanna miss The Great American Trucking Show!

Don’t forget to Tweet at us or post on our Facebook page if you make it out to any of these events. We love event stories and photos, and there’s a ton of great events going on this month that you don’t want to miss out on. Especially once you get your e-filing out of the way! So enjoy July’s truck-tastic FREE trucking events.

And, since we are in the midst of HVUT season, if you need any help e-filing, then don’t hesitate to ask our dedicated support legends. Give them a call at 704.234.6005 during our new extended hours from 8AM to 8PM or send them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

E-file Anywhere with ExpressTruckTax

ExpressTruckTax just got a facelift.

 And now with our new look available for both iPhone and Android users, and our mobile website for Blackberry and Windows Phone users, you can e-file even more places in a flash!

Our apps have always been user-friendly and easy-to-use, but now it’s even easier (and prettier, if you ask us).

With tax season in full force, you’ll need all the help you can get! Remember, you only have until August 31st to get those 2290’s done.

When you e-file with ExpressTruckTax, either through our website or our new and improved apps, you can get your 2290’s securely transmitted to the IRS in just under 10 minutes. And once you’re done and you’ve transmitted your return, you’ll get your Stamped Schedule 1 emailed directly to you!

You can e-file anywhere and anytime. No matter where you are, if you have your smartphone (or tablet), you can e-file.

Whether you’re waiting in line on your lunch break, sitting in the shade in the park, or having a cup of coffee at a truckstop, if you’ve got 10 minutes, you can e-file!

Jair relaxing on a bench and e-filing his 2290.

With just three simple steps, ExpressTruckTax can help you file your 2290 and get right back to your life. No muss, no fuss, just a great product and superior e-filing.

How to E-file On-the-Go

To e-file with our new apps in a flash, all you need to do is follow three simple steps!

Account Setup

  • If you’ve never filed with us before, then you’ll need to set up your account. In order to do this, simply select “create new account” or choose to login with your Google+ or Facebook account.
  • If you’re a returning user, simply enter your information and login.
  • Now you can enter in your business details and your EIN number. Again, if you’ve filed with us previously, you can simply use the same business details and EIN that you filed with last year.
  • Then choose to file for the current year and move on to step two!

Vehicle Details

  • After you’ve entered your business information and selected to file for the current tax year, the next step is to enter the information for your vehicle or vehicles. 
  • You can do this in a number of different ways. You can import them from a CSV file, you can enter them in manually, or if you’ve filed with us previously, you can import them from your virtual garage in TruckZone.
    • Pro-tip: There are three different kinds of vehicles you can enter. Make sure you’re entering them all on the right screen or you may have to file an amendment (and owe the IRS more money).
  • At the end of this step you can enter in any low mileage credits, and then quickly and easily move on to step 3!

Pay & Transmit

  • The final step in the e-filing process is to pay and securely transmit your return to the IRS.
  • Simply select your payment method from the three types the IRS accepts: Direct debit, EFTPS, and check or money order. Then review your information and securely transmit your return to the IRS.
  • Your Stamped Schedule 1 will follow any minute. It’s just that easy!

If you have any questions or need any help through the e-filing process, our support legends are here for you. Our USA-based support team is ready to help you around the clock! You can reach them by phone during our new extended hours from 8AM to 8PM EST or by email day and night.

Give them a call at 704.234.6005 or send them at email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support in English and Spanish.

Don’t delay, e-file today!

Happy 4th of July from Our Support Legends!

From everyone here at ExpressTruckTax, Happy Independence Day, Trucking Nation!

Enjoy the fireworks, fun with your families, the multitude of cook-outs that will be going on, and celebrate your independence. If you’re driving this weekend, make sure you stay safe and cool out there on the roads because they can get a little crazy!

Never Fear, Our Support Legends Are Here

Even though our Support Legends will be spending Friday away from the office in observance of July 4th, they will still be available all weekend long via email. So if you have a tax question or an issue, send them an email at support@expresstrucktax.com. Because tax questions never take a day off, and neither do we!

So have a safe, happy, and fun 4th of July, Trucking Nation! And don’t forget to share your trucking stories with us over Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing from you!

5 Tips on How to Begin Your Wellness Journey

The best thing about deciding to live a healthier lifestyle is that you get to decide what that means for yourself. You get to choose what to change, how to eat, and how to exercise.

But maybe you aren’t sure where to start your wellness journey. We’ve got some tips for how to get started and how to change your habits over time. Because it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

5 Tips on How to Begin Your Journey:

Believe in Yourself

The first step in beginning your wellness journey is to believe in yourself. Now this probably sounds like a total cliche, but trust me, if you don’t believe you can do it then you won’t make it very far.

Talk yourself up every day, realize that you’re so much stronger than you think you are and just do it! Because every single day is another step on your path to becoming a healthier person. And it matters, it really, really matters because your health is so important. 

Eliminate Bad Habits

It takes 14-21 days to beat a bad habit, but once you’ve beaten it you’ve accomplished something great. Out there on the road it’s so easy to find yourself eating fried, sugary, and salty foods that are so bad for you. You don’t have to change your eating habits overnight, but you do have to make a choice. 
Try eliminating one of those bad things and switching it out for something healthier. Switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate, from ice cream to yogurt, from fried chicken to grilled chicken, or from french fries to apple slices or baked sweet potato fries. There are so many ways to make a change in yourself. All you have to do is start small and keep on trucking.

Water Is Your New Best Friend

Lose the juice and the soda and switch to water. This might seem like a huge change, but you can take your time with this one too. If you’re not a big fan of water or need a lot of caffeine to keep you going, try moving to a drink that has less calories and sodium (perhaps a diet soda). 
Then you can switch from that to carbonated or flavored water. Eventually you’ll learn to love it because drinking water will make your feel better! You’ll be less thirsty, increase your circulation, flush toxins out of your body, and it will even improve your skin.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Being cooped up in a truck all day doesn’t give you much time for exercise, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are little things you can do to improve your mobility inside of your cabin. Maybe you have a song you like to dance to, crank it up and do a little dance in your truck! 
And any time to have a moment to stop, take some time to do some stretching to get your blood flowing, Not only does stretching help with your circulation, it also makes you feel so much better. You can also make it a point to walk a little further every day, every time you have a break. Eventually you’ll begin to feel like a new person!

Be Mindful of What You Consume

You don’t have to go all out and eat nothing but salads and vegetables, but you should be mindful of what you consume. If you’re eating a lot of fast food, make sure you pay attention to the calories (most restaurants will have them on their menus) in your favorite meal. 
If they seem too high, try eating just the sandwich or main entree, or substituting those calorie high french fries for something healthier like apple slices. You can still have french fries if you want to, but make sure you know what you’re putting into your body. Because monitoring the amount of calories you consume each day can help you feel less tired and lethargic and much more energetic. 
Food can give you energy, but only if you use it right!
Got some tips for how to stay healthy on the road? Or maybe you just want to share some highlights from your own wellness journey. Drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter! We love hearing from you, Trucking Nation!