"Nothing But Net" Revisited Nearly a year ago I wrote an article about the net in the sleeper and the importance of using it when the truck is moving. Our friends who I referred to in the previous article have suffered lasting physical injuries that are preventing them from driving again. The financial strain of ongoing medical care has still not been resolved. Another couple experienced an accident of their own. In their case, a car was traveling the wrong way in their lane....

Life on the road as a commercial driver comes with its own unique pressures. Tight delivery windows, traffic delays, unpredictable weather, and long hours behind the wheel can all take a toll. Add in the constant stream of news and the uncertainty of the world around us, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The truth is, we all carry responsibilities, goals, and personal challenges-and sometimes it feels like those pressures never let up. But there's a powerful mindset shift th...

Commercial truck drivers spend a significant portion of their careers not only driving, but also waiting-waiting for dispatch, waiting during mandatory breaks, waiting while freight is being loaded or unloaded, or waiting between loads. While downtime can sometimes feel unproductive, it can actually become one of the most valuable parts of a driver's schedule if used properly. Learning how to manage downtime effectively can improve health, finances, organization, and overall ...

Rollercoaster of Life When I was a teenager my brother and I were seated in the front seats of a rollercoaster ride. I was so terrified that the ride operator stopped early to let me off. Since then I have avoided rollercoaster rides as well as any other thrill rides at all cost. When we first started our little trucking company we had no idea what was all involved. Over the years we have made mistakes. We still managed to make it through. We have seen years where the money i...

Expediters risk lost revenue and broker relationships when accidents cancel loads; proper documentation and mitigation help recover downtime and business interruption losses....

Why Preventive Maintenance Is the Backbone of a Successful Trucking Operation In the trucking industry, time truly is money. Every mile on the road represents opportunity; however it also brings wear and tear to the equipment that makes the business possible. That's why preventive maintenance is one of the most important investments a trucking company or owner-operator can make. Preventive maintenance (PM) refers to regularly scheduled inspections and servicing designed to ke...

Career truck drivers often gravitate toward the independence of solo life on the open road. There's something undeniably appealing about piloting your own rig across the country, answering mainly to dispatch and the Department of Transportation, and getting paid to see America mile by mile. Solitude can be peaceful. Autonomy can be empowering. For many, that freedom is the very reason they got into trucking in the first place. However, as rewarding as solo driving can be, it ...

Navigating Work-Life Balance Imagine gripping the wheel as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the highway in fiery oranges and pinks. The road stretches ahead like an endless promise of adventure, but for many truck drivers, that same road can feel like a barrier between paycheck and family, freedom and fatigue. Work-life balance in trucking? It's not a myth-it's a hard-won skill that turns the long haul into something sustainable and even enjoyable. Picture this: you'r...

One Full Week Because of the type of freight we normally haul, we usually only do about two loads per week. This week, however, we are doing four loads. Mother Nature is making travel very interesting as well. With careful planning and solid communication the week should work out just fine. But what if all the planning and communication in the world cannot prepare us for a mechanical failure or weather that closes roads? What would we do then? Let's talk about alternatives. W...

On The Road Again We are finally going back to work this week. After being off for nearly seven weeks it feels like we need to relearn how to be truck drivers again. In all seriousness, it was very nice to be able to take some time off but we are looking forward to getting back to work. We had an unexpected mechanical failure which delayed our return and forced us to have our truck towed right from our driveway. In all the years we have been driving, that was a first. The tru...