As with anything in life, there are always going to be ups and downs. Many folks use the idea of rising and falling tides as a metaphor for life’s ebb and flow. Personally, and as I’ve learned through years of rising and falling, I now have a better understanding of what this mindset means. As we experience the highs in our lives, we also should be preparing for the moment when the bottom inevitably drops out from underneath us. Likewise, when we are in the midst of dif...

Over the years, I’ve engaged with many truck drivers attempting to make the jump from company driver to independent contractor. The world of expedite trucking is vastly different from your typical truckload driving career. Instead of a driver’s income being determined by the number of miles run, such as in truckload, expedite is based more on a pay-per-load structure and mentality. Also, in such cases with expedite, most drivers are considered as independent contractors a...

We’re now seven episodes deep into the “State of the Industry Podcast, with John Elliott” and the eighth installment has already been polished and shined as the April showers continue to lay the groundwork for their May flowers. So, set some time aside and prepare for the next episode! Hopefully, there are many of you who have already been tuning in and making this podcast part of your listening, or viewing, routine. If not, why?! Obviously, John and I want you to liste...

  Most drivers tend to prefer the solitude of the open road. Who wouldn’t? You get to take your work with you and make money wherever you go. No one to answer to (other than perhaps dispatch and the Department of Transportation), and you’re touring the countryside while getting paid to do it. What’s not to like about that? However, as gratifying as driving solo can be, it’s often accompanied by the risk of losing out on extra cash by limiting oneself in earning capab...

 Even before the driver-dreaded ELD mandate and enforcement of electronic logs, there was already an uneasy period of time in which drivers were either scared to death of what was the unknown world of satellite tracking and monitoring, or just brazenly naïve as to how damaging an unkempt HOS (Hours of Service) logbook could be in terms of determining their next trucking employer. What Once Was It used to be quite common that commercial drivers were once considered the ruler...

Making the decision to lease your truck on with a company that will help provide the freight needed to turn a profit can certainly be quite an undertaking. How do you know you’re making the right choice when deciding who provides you with the best opportunities? Perhaps the most important question you should be asking yourself is, what is best for me and my situation? The following considerations should be made as you begin the process of choosing the right carrier. Know Yo...

Expedite freight has been classified as time sensitive material, which is certainly true from a purely logistical standpoint. However, to think of it in terms a lifelong long hauler might need to have it explained is a little more complicated than that. The Driver’s Perspective Hurry up and wait. This phrase is perhaps the best way to describe the nature of the load that awaits the driver who’s anxious to keep their wheels turning. The prevailing mentality has always been...

In recent months, federal regulators have been attempting to clarify the differences between brokers, bona fide agents and dispatch services with their new interim guidelines issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Mandated by the infrastructure bill of 2021, these guidelines are aimed at cracking down on companies that engage in truck brokering but without maintaining their proper authority from FMCSA. Which is an issue that many brokers claim wi...

Using your downtime effectively is an important key to both managing and maximizing your ability to stay ready when that next load offer comes from your favorite dispatcher. Like most of us, it’s probably very easy to slip into an old habit or routine that can be time-killing and counterproductive. So, here are some suggestions of what can be done with your time as you prepare for your next trip. A Clean Truck is a Happy Truck Clean freaks of the trucking world unite! It’...

  Each year, the CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) holds numerous inspection and enforcement events throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico intended to improve highway safety by cracking down on vehicle and driver violations. The International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 6th through the 8th, 2023. Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program aimed at commercial motor vehicles in the world. Nearly 15 trucks or buses will be inspected, on average, ...