Archive for July, 2011

How to Become a Professional Driver

Professional driving schools are specific courses that are useful for a wide variety of students. The most common students who attend these type of school courses are members from the military, law enforcement officers, or even members from the general public (such as teenagers training to get their learner permit.) The main goal of a driving school is to ensure that the students become well-versed in vehicle safety and traffic regulation, no matter the driver’s class (police, military, or even student), and whatever the vehicle they’ll be operating. These driving schools will ensure that the students are properly educated in driving safety, and driver etiquette.

Specific professional schools may be aimed at a particular driver, and might only accept a certain class of driver. Many professional driving schools don’t accept students that are obtaining a learners permit, and usually gear the courses toward professionals, such as police or military personnel. Many schools cater the driving education to law enforcement personnel, members from the military and dignitary protection specialists, and also have a strong focus on anti-terrorist driving and police security courses. These courses are made to instruct students on various facets of safety and vehicle maneuvering by utilizing hands-on instruction and lecturing. The duration of these courses typically lasts from one to three days (or more). Prices vary in relation to the course selection type, the duration of the classes, along with the number of students enrolled.

There may also be professional driving schools which specifically cater to students that are in the operation of obtaining their learners permit. These courses are geared more towards teaching the differences in aggressive driving and driving defensively, as well as on the responsibilities of these students as licensed drivers. These courses work with various organizations including: MADD (mothers against drunk driving), local and state police departments, and other personnel. These courses will teach the students on the risks of drunk driving as well as the need for motor vehicle safety. These courses cost between normally between five hundred and seven hundred dollars (costs vary depending on the place that the course is taken, the duration of the course, and student’s experience.)

Professional driving schools vary from “normal” driving schools since they’re much more in-depth about the material, and tend to attract a certain student base. Professional driving schools are geared more towards professionals in police force and military (especially because of costs), and “normal” driving schools are typically aimed at the scholars looking to get their learners permit.

Requirements for getting a professional driving license can vary between states, to consider an illustration, the California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will demand you to be six hours behind the wheel professional driving instruction to get a provisional drivers license if you are an individual under 17 – 1/2 years old. In California, drivers instruction start at the moment the student gets the California DMV Learners Permit. All the students have to spend a minimum of 6 hours training together with a licensed driving instructor in a car which is designed with dual braking system for extra safety.

Cash Flow Mistakes to Avoid When Running a Mobile Fleet Car Washing Business

Many small business owners think they are home free when they secure large corporate or government accounts. That’s just not the reality because it can indeed be the start of a really challenging road ahead with regards to cash flow. An entrepreneur that doesn’t understand this issue will have a rude awakening. Now then, let’s use the example of a mobile car washing and fleet washing business, so I can explain all of this to you.

Beware of taking on too many accounts too quickly, especially government vehicle cleaning contracts. They often pay very slow – and when cities, counties, states, and federal agencies are cutting costs, they tend to string out payments to time-spans that you wouldn’t have expected. I can remember receiving “vouchers” from the California Highway Patrol and CalTrans for washing their vehicles on several occasions when the State of California didn’t approve their state budget on time. That wasn’t very funny – imagine taking those to the bank to deposit? The teller looks at you like you are a Martian trying to make a deposit in Mars Planetary Units?

Many agencies have sent me payments 120-days late, without any increase in the invoice, even with a contract stating that 2% was agreed upon for payments over 60-days. This has occurred with cleaning school bus fleets, county snow removal vehicles, municipal pool cars, and police department vehicles. And very large corporate fleets, especially utility companies are notoriously slow, you always eventually get your money, but it doesn’t help if you have bills to pay now. Payday loan can be used as the immediate option to meet your emergency cash requirement. Payday loan is the easily available short term loan, which is popular in various other names such as cash advance and check loans.

Think of it this way, when you take on a large account of this type you are really buying the account and becoming their revolving line of credit, thus you are a bank philosophically speaking, worse, you can’t earn the interest that banks do and often eat that cost, even if your contract says they must pay you by a certain date after the invoice is received.

Okay so, what should you do? Well not long ago I was discussing all this with a mobile car washing and fleet washing entrepreneur in the state of Alabama. I suggested to him that he should still attempt to get larger fleet accounts, because those were his bread-and-butter accounts, but in the meantime to get as many “on the spot cash paying customers” as possible, therefore he could pay his operating expenses, workers which have to be paid weekly or biweekly, and other expenses until those checks finally come in for the big fleet accounts.

One concept is to have many customers who have personal cars at office buildings and put them on a regular route during the week during the work day. Because during the workday most of the fleets are out, and they can only be cleaned in the evening hours or on the weekends. Being paid on the spot by individuals for washing their cars each week will keep him in the money flow, until those big checks finally come in. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Hatchback Cars Are Back In A Big Way

When hatchbacks were introduced back in the seventies, they were affordable and basic cars without a ton of extra fills or amenities. They were ideal for someone who didn’t want to pay a lot of money for an auto and were willing to sacrifice when it came to luxuries. One of the earliest hatchback was the Pinto. These cars were always available as an option for consumers, however they never became huge sellers.

It looks as if this type of vehicle is regaining popularity with the masses again. The major difference between today’s hatch back is that it comes with air conditioning, a stereo system, power seats and all of the amenities we’ve become accustomed to. Add to that the cargo space that is easy to get to and the result is more people are buying them.

Auto companies are aware of the surge in popularity of this model and as a result they are mass producing many more. According to WardsAuto.com, the number of hatchbacks produced and sold in the U.S. jumped by 63 percent during the 2006 to the 2010 model years. In raw numbers that is an increase from 291,853 units to 475,048 units. Meanwhile total car sales fell 23 percent during that period.

One company that has received massive success from its hatchback model is Ford, a producer of the popular Fiesta car. Almost forty percent of the Fiesta sold are hatchbacks. Moreover, 41 percent of the retail sales of the Focus are hatchbacks. That is a pretty good achievement because the Focus hatchback has been available for just a few months.

A large number of automotive makers have added this model to their lineup. For example, Hyundai is offering the Accent, which includes a hatchback model. More than seventy percent of Accent sales were of this model which is much higher than what the company expected. In addition, Chevrolet has introduced a new subcompact called the Sonic, which also includes a hatchback model.

Kia introduced the Forte hatchback and the company said that sales have been phenomenal. The Mazda3 is a model that is produced by the Japanese auto maker. The hatchback accounts for about 25 percent of all Mazda3 sales. The hatchback version is actually more expensive than the sedan; a big change from past years. Toyota has been selling a subcompact called the Yaris since 2006. It also includes a hatchback model.

Remember how back in the days hatchbacks were economy vehicles? Nowadays, even high end brands are producing them. Audi and Porsche are offering hatchback models too. These will be upscale and luxurious cars with enough power and performance for even the most discerning tastes.