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...

Whether you’re the owner operator of your own truck or Sprinter van, or perhaps you’re simply wanting to drive as an independent contractor, the following are some general rules to follow for both the novice and the seasoned vet. These are simply suggestions to help jumpstart your business, either as a beginning expediter or as a longtime logistics professional. Owner Operators The first thing to keep in mind is that you are the master of your own truck, so you decide wha...

Whether you’re the owner operator of your own truck or Sprinter van, or perhaps you’re simply wanting to drive as an independent contractor, the following are some general rules to follow for both the novice and the seasoned vet. These are simply suggestions to help jumpstart your business, either as a beginning expediter or as a longtime logistics professional. Owner Operators The first thing to keep in mind is that you are the master of your own truck, so you decide wha...

I recently discovered a solution to a long-term issue. Well, to be fair, after more than three decades on the road, it is a rather recent issue, as technology marches forward. Toll passes have become the standard for toll roads in recent years. Long gone are the toll booths that accept cash payments. Nowadays, you either have a toll pass account and receive a discount on tolls, or you pay by plate, where the toll gantry films your license plate as you pass and then an invoice...

How Do You Prepare? Every driver has their own way of preparing to head back out on the road after spending time at home. Whether you've been home for a weekend or a full week, getting back into work mode takes a little planning. A good routine can make the transition smoother, reduce stress, and help you start your trip focused and ready for whatever the miles bring. For many truck drivers, preparation begins the day before departure. Instead of scrambling at the last minute...

Halfway There We're halfway through 2026. So, here's an important question: Is your trucking business where you expected it to be? When the year began, you likely had goals in mind. Maybe you planned to add another truck, increase revenue, reduce operating costs, hire another driver, or simply improve profitability. Now is the time to step back and evaluate where things stand.Are your numbers where you expected them to be? Are you ahead of schedule, or have rising fuel prices...

Keeping organized delivery, dispatch, and repair records helps owner-operators better manage downtime and navigate the recovery process after an accident....

So you think trucking is easy? Obviously you have never done it professionally. Many have tried, many have failed. It seems that a lot of 4 wheelers (cars) think that truckers are on some kind of permanent vacation. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you truly believe that to be the case, Go Truck Yourself and then tell me it is a vacation....

Loss on the Road There are some things about trucking that nobody really prepares you for. One of the hardest is losing someone you love while you're hundreds of miles from home. Recently, I lost a friend I had known for 35 years. Calling her a friend doesn't seem like enough as she was more like a sister. She stood beside me at our wedding, our families celebrated holidays together, and I spent many weekends cheering on her boys at their sporting events. She loved her family...

What’s Your Fuel Economy? Recently I was going through our fuel costs. I keep receipts as well as weekly and monthly Comdata statements. While I normally do not spend a great deal of time looking at the statements, this time I took a long look at the monthly statement. What I found left me confused because the statement did not break out the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) purchases from the regular fuel cost. The statement showed a “fuel purchase” with the date the purchase...