The best thing about being an independent contractor is that there are an endless number of opportunities in the world that allow you to be your own boss. Some of those opportunities are certainly difficult to attain, while others are more easily accessible but sometimes far less enticing. Whether you’re an experienced owner-operator or an independent contractor looking to get into the expedite industry, choosing the right carrier to run for makes all the difference in the ...

Why are you so special? Do you offer anything different from all of the other truck drivers out there? If you can only provide basic services that any other truck or truck driver can offer, then you should only expect basic, bottom of the barrel rates. If you do have additional valuable skills to offer your customers, are they aware of them?...

Trying to reach our youth seems an ongoing struggle these days. But as I’ve observed many times throughout my recruiting career, ‘you’ve got to know your audience.’ By saying as much, the audience in this case may just be the young adults looking to find their place in the world. Specifically, the world of truck driving. As the ongoing driver shortage continues, many companies and carriers are attempting to turn their attention toward a somewhat untapped resource of t...

The 2024 International Roadcheck has come and gone. As many of you know, this year’s roadcheck, AKA Safety Blitz, took place May 14 - 16....

It’s almost common knowledge that driver turnover rates in the trucking industry tend to hover around or above the 100% mark. However, believe it or not, there are some fleets out there that have figured out a way to reduce their turnover rate. Which has shown to be more beneficial for both driver and company. Here are some suggestions for how to go about providing a better atmosphere for drivers, while lowering turnover. Show Them the Money “Money talks and BS walks,” ...

Truck drivers and four wheelers (cars), quite often these days, seem to be at odds when they have to drive near one another. For the most part, all too often, truck drivers consider themselves ”owners” of the road and the cars are just their annoyances on the road....

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a numbers nerd. I say that loud and proud! Some say I am a spreadsheet queen. I will say that I love to analyze what the spreadsheets show. I understand that not everyone has the same passion as I do. That’s okay! What is not okay is burying our heads in the sand because it might not be a passion for everyone. In the trucking business the numbers start with rate per mile. But that is not where the numbers end. A business owner is in busin...

How far will you deadhead to get to that next load? Recently, my husband and I made a delivery in an area that we knew would be challenging to get out of. Where do we go? We had several options and of course, I wanted to go one way while my husband wanted to go another. I am sure that many teams have the same discussion as we had. We decided to head in the direction of the way my husband wanted to go. We did this because we figured that while we were down we would get new ste...

How many of you travel with an animal in your truck? We have been driving for over ten years. It has only been in the last two years that we have added a pet to our truck. When I asked what people would like to see in an article about traveling with pets, the list was well thought out and comprehensive. Due to the fact that we are new puppy parents, I can only tell you what our experience has been with our boy Rocky. Rocky has been in the truck with us since he was 8 weeks ol...

Driving a commercial vehicle can certainly be a lonely job, and it can be all too easy for mental health hurdles and challenges to creep up on a driver as the miles roll by. Extended time away from family and friends and long periods without human interaction can be detrimental to anyone’s psyche. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with renewed emphasis being placed on folks and their mental health these days, here are some ways drivers can help maintain their own me...