Driver Appreciation Week September is a time when the trucking industry takes a moment to recognize the men and women who keep America moving. Driver Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to say “Thank you” to the professional drivers who spend countless hours behind the wheel delivering the products we all depend on. As drivers, we know that trucking is not always an easy job. Long days, changing weather, traffic, construction, tight delivery schedules, and finding a ...

Chain Up! By the time you read this, chain laws for many states will be in force. For those of us who spend our days and nights on the road, that means it is time to start paying attention to the weather, the mountain passes, and the signs along the highway. Nobody likes the idea of chaining up. It is cold, dirty, wet, and downright miserable. Winter driving is part of the job. Being prepared can make the difference between getting through a mountain pass safely and sitting o...

Oh No! What Do We Do Now? Have you ever been under a load and then booked one or two more loads to follow it? On paper, the schedule may look like it will work perfectly. But sometimes, one small change can throw everything off. Recently, we were under a load that we had not picked up yet when we were offered another load. The pickup for the second load was going to be very close to the delivery location for the first load, so we thought we could make it work. Once we arrived...

Off Again?! Being self-employed as a truck driver comes with a freedom that many employees don’t have. We can choose when to work, when to stay home, and how much time to take off. But that freedom often leads to an interesting question from family, friends, and other drivers: How can you afford to take that much time off? Before we judge how much time another self-employed driver spends at home, it helps to do some math. A typical employee working 40 hours a week for 52 we...