A simple “thank you” will never be enough for the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping America moving. Every day, professional truck drivers crisscross our highways, spending countless hours, and often days or weeks away from home to deliver the goods and essentials that power our economy. From groceries and medicine to construction materials and fuel, nearly everything we rely on makes its way to us because of a driver’s commitment behind the wheel. This c...

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...

Even before the driver-dreaded ELD mandates 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. That stated, drivers should always remain aware as to how their driving performance (past and pr...

When starting at a new job, many people simply want to learn their role and focus on only what they were hired for. You know, the not my job, not my problem mentality. If they’re hired to pick up a phone to answer and make calls, then they’d make sure to just learn that job. Anything else is considered above or below their paygrade. So that’s it. If they’re brought into a company to process paperwork, or maybe they’re a sales or tech specialist, then that’s what t...

Each May, the nation observes Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to shine a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being for everyone. For those in the trucking industry, this month carries added significance. Driving a commercial vehicle isn’t just a job - it’s a lifestyle, one that often comes with extended isolation, long hours, and high stress. These factors can create a perfect storm for mental health challenges, which are too often overlooked or silently endu...

See what happens when we just try and get along?! House lawmakers have recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at easing financial burdens for truck drivers and incentivizing new entrants into the trucking industry. U.S. Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Zachary Nunn (R-Iowa) introduced the Strengthening Supply Chains through Truck Driver Incentives Act last week, offering significant tax credits for both current and aspiring truck drivers.  Additionally, a co...

As a commercial truck driver, effectively using your downtime is crucial for both managing your workload and maximizing your readiness for when the next load is offered. Whether you're waiting to be dispatched, on a mandatory break, or experiencing delays, making the most of these moments can significantly impact your efficiency and overall success. Prioritizing rest, maintaining your truck, planning routes, and staying organized with paperwork ensures that you’re always pr...

Year-in and year-out, I try to set goals (not resolutions) as I shift into each and every new phase of life. And as we’re already closing the book on the first two months of 2025, it seems a good time to assess just where we each reside in terms of our own personal goals and the sights we might set on our future. We all have responsibilities. We all have hopes and dreams of our own. But sometimes, the outside world can beat us down and, unfortunately, it often seems like th...

Over the years, I’ve engaged with many truck drivers attempting to make the jump from company driver to independent contractor. And if you didn’t already know, the world of expedite trucking is vastly different from your typical truck driving career. Instead of a driver’s income being determined by the number of miles run, such as in truckload, expedite is based on more of a pay-per-load structure and mentality. Also, in such cases with expedite, most drivers are consid...

Career truck drivers tend to prefer the solitude of the open road. But really, who wouldn’t? I mean, 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. So, 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 some extra cash by...