Shanel White: Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2012 12:36 PM
In this segment, I will discuss what is a VIN, how the VIN relates to the purchase of a vehicle and what causes VIN problems and what procedures can be taken to correct them. First, a VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a special number used by the automotive industry to identify cars. A VIN comprises of seventeen digits and each digit or series of digits represents the manufacturer of the vehicle, the make, model of the vehicle, the year, etc. Vehicles built around or after 1981 are required to have 17 digits in the VIN. Accordingly, due to this standard, it's not uncommon to see antique vehicles with only 11 digits.
How Does the VIN Relate to the Purchase of a Vehicle?
When you are buying a vehicle a vehicle it is extremely important to give care to the VIN of your vehicle. For example, if you buy a new vehicle you are given the very first title for that vehicle, which comes from the manufacturer (the manufacturer sends supplies it to the dealership). In this case it is a MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) or a MCO (Manufacturers Certificate of Origin). The VIN should:
- Be seventeen digits long
- Start with a number
- Be the same exact VIN that is on the VIN plate on your dash (windshield area) and door jam
- Be the same exact VIN on all title related documents
When buying a used vehicle, please understand that more caution is needed regarding the VIN. For example, give care to whom you are buying the vehicle from. For example, VIN plate switching and manipulation of the VIN is a common crime, errors from typos of the VIN can be on the title as well. As a repeated measure, the observations mentioned above, pertaining to buying new vehicles should be applied to used vehicles as well.
What Causes VIN mistakes and What Procedures Can Be Used to Correct Them? When mistakes occur with the VIN, it is serious business because ownership status, location and overall vehicle history can be compromised. The following are common causes of VIN problems:
Procedures for Correcting VIN Problems:
If you purchased a vehicle and you believe that your VIN may have been compromised or there is some sort of VIN discrepancy with your vehicle, call Wisdom & Authority Titling Solutions for assistance today. Failure to resolve a VIN issue can result in the delay of selling a vehicle, obtaining registration and other motor vehicle related problems.
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Shanel White: Posted on Friday, July 6, 2012 12:01 PM
If you are a trucker or owner of a trucking company, you may want to pay close attention to this post. In this post, I will share matters that often cause problems, when they aren't complied with. In essence, the trucking company will face citations or even worst a possible shut down of operations. While the following areas of (licensing, taxes, and safety regulations)that will be mentioned in this post aren't anything new, they are still serious and are reasons why trucking companies are cited when they fail to comply with transportation regulations.
Licensing/Registration
When it comes to trucking, you are required to obtain and display the proper license and registration for your vehicle. When you are first starting out in trucking, it is unwise to make assumptions about the license and registration that you need. Trucking companies are granted the license and registration that pertains to their operations (Interstate, or Intrastate) as well as what they are hauling, for-hire or not, etc. The following are matters that cause citations in this category:
- Displaying the wrong type of plate for operations
- Expiration of plate
- Failure to have a valid IRP cab card and IFTA license
- Traveling through states that aren't listed on cab card (you must obtain a trip permit for any state that you will be going through, if not listed on your cab card)-restrictions apply
- Failure to obtain a fuel permit (if required)
- Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) filing submission to the state that your base operations occur
Tax Filing
Another aspect in trucking that is a serious compliance business is tax filing. Failure to file your trucking taxes and file on time, will result in penalties, interest and suspension of your operation. The following are tax matters that can cause citations: - Failure to file or submit the HVUT on time. The (Heavy Vehicle Usage Tax), is a tax levied upon vehicles whose gross weight meet or exceed 50,000 lbs.
- Ignoring the quarterly tax responsibility of filing your IFTA taxes
- Disregarding filing of NY HUT, Oregon, New Mexico and KYU taxes (if applicable)
Safety Regulations
The overall operation of your trucking operations must be in compliance with DOT safety standards at all times. As a trucker you aren't only responsible for transporting the goods of your customers, but you should uphold a pledge of safety to your employees as well as others on the roadways. The following are areas that can jeopardize the operation of your trucking company: - Failure to conduct pre-employment screening on your prospects/employees
- Failure to conduct MVR checks on your employees as well as ensuring that they hold valid CDLs with the proper endorsements (Don't assume that your employees have valid licenses)
- Failure to establish and maintain an alcohol and drug screen testing program
- Failure to keep and maintain proper mileage logs
- Failure to keep and maintain a maintenance plan or program in place for your trucks
- Having your truckers work over weekly hour limit for truckers
- Having faulty equipment (trailers, bald tires, lacking mud guards,etc.0
- Failure to ensure that goods are secured properly (using the necessary attachments, chains, tarp, etc.
- Having inspection problems at weigh stations (failing inspection, being overweight, etc.)
Wisdom & Authority Titling Solutions is able to provide professional motor carrier compliance assistance to trucking companies (new and current). If you aren't sure about what you need, or you are behind in compliance with one or more factors; don't hesitate to call me. As a word of caution, yes taxes are expensive, obtaining the proper licenses, etc. However, if you are cited and forced to shut down your operation, the fees and penalties associated with this mishap far outweighs the costs that you would have paid initially just by staying in compliance from the start. I'm here to help you, so call for assistance today!
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