Blog

Louisiana’s economy is a melting pot of different industries. Tourism in New Orleans, the Mississippi River and its many ports, oil and gas production throughout the state, plus the chemical plants are familiar to many across the country. However, one vital aspect of our state’s economy remains relatively unknown: sugar....

Read More

The United States Department of Agriculture states that the agricultural sector accounts for an estimated 1% of the nation’s GDP. The Salinas Valley is the largest region in Monterey County and one of the most productive agriculture valleys in California. Considered the “Salad Bowl of the World”, it is estimated that roughly 70% of the U.S. produce is grown in the Salinas Valley. To keep the world’s largest “salad bowl” moving, we at PacLease help to run and maintain the transportation and logistics of the agriculture industry in Salinas – partnering with our customers to help them maximize their uptime and meet deadlines. Coast Counties Peterbilt PacLease in the Salinas Valley is home to one of our flagship franchises that has been in business since 1949. Coast Counties Peterbilt PacLease has been able to assist companies in the Salinas Valley agriculture industry to feed America....

Read More

We have a saying at PacLease, and it’s pretty straightforward: “We’re focused on improving your service to your customer.” If we do that, we know we’re doing our job. The simplicity in that statement says a lot. It says we understand that in order for us to be successful as a service partner we have to make our customers successful. And, we do that by understanding your company and understanding your transportation ‘pain points.' We also outline your payloads and routes and see how specs can reduce weight, improve fuel economy, and increase driver satisfaction. Once we have a clear picture of your operation, we go to work to properly spec a truck that can improve your operation....

Read More

While development and manufacture of modern electric vehicles (EVs) has been ongoing for several years, it wasn’t until fairly recently that widespread adoption has become a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if.’ A recent article in the Wall Street Journal notes that businesses across the U.S. are now beginning to seriously consider electrifying their fleets. Public commitments are serving as an announcement to the rest of the U.S. economy, and fleet owners in particular: EVs are here, and the time to get ready is now....

Read More

Brake Safety Week is coming up. To help your fleet prepare, here are a few points on brake system safety. Starting August 23rd, law enforcement agencies across North America will be conducting focused Brake System Inspections for Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Brake Safety Week....

Read More

Spec’ing vehicles is a very complicated process, especially in a liquid bulk application. With new and improved products being introduced on a regular basis it is important to look at your spec with a fresh eye. Repeating the same spec year after year will not allow you to be as efficient as you should be. Whenever the conversation turns to specs for liquid bulk carriers - weight is the hot topic. Every pound of payload is added profitability. The more you move – the more you make. However, it is important to spec a balance of lightweight, performance, drivability and durability. PACCAR products are designed and built with the ability spec customized lightweight applications with durability in mind....

Read More

There's a new “Clearinghouse” you need to know about. And, it’s not magazines or million dollar sweepstakes. This one is specific to the trucking industry, and it’s huge. It’s the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and it will support the DOT Strategic Goal of Safety when it goes live this January by ensuring drivers are qualified to operate trucks and buses. The new database, established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), will contain information pertaining to violations of the DOT’s controlled substances drug and alcohol testing program for holders of CDLs....

Read More

Quality. That’s the first word PACCAR uses to describe its products, services, and processes. The main tool PACCAR utilizes to accomplish this superior quality is Six Sigma, its continuous improvement program. PACCAR just celebrated the 20th anniversary of Six Sigma; so there is no better time to take a deep dive into PacLease’s drive for unsurpassed customer satisfaction, superior quality, and premium value through continuous improvement....

Read More

Whether we like it or hate it, insurance coverage is a crucial component of operating a commercial fleet of trucks. Insurance regulations exist to protect you, your business, your assets, your customers, your drivers, and anyone else involved in any potential incident. PacLease knows that having proper insurance coverage is a measure of security for your fleet and a small part of the cost of keeping your business running....

Read More

Most trucking industry professionals and infrastructure experts agree that tolling isn’t going anywhere and will have an ongoing impact on commercial fleet operations across the country....

Read More

As the need to repair the ageing infrastructure in the U.S. becomes imminent, legislators are proposing new bills and reforms to fund much needed projects. One potential source for funding is increased state fuel taxes. Many business groups support the proposed tax, as the funds will finance projects that will improve road conditions; making driving more comfortable, improving driving time, and reducing service costs caused by adverse road conditions....

Read More

What are all the trade actions taken by the Trump administration and our trading partners, and how will they impact the heavy-duty truck industry?...

Read More

When it comes to companies that lease trucks, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) have been that those “operational” leases effectively received off-balance sheet treatment. That’s about to change. New standards unveiled by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) will soon require that all leases — financed and operational — with terms longer than 12 months be reported on a company’s balance sheet....

Read More

If you’re reading the trade journals – even newspapers – you’re no doubt noticing articles about the infrastructure. What will happen? And, what about toll roads -- will they be privatized? What does this mean for the transportation industry?...

Read More