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Archive of entries posted by Brett Aquila

Inside Trucking Part 3: Life On The Road

With all the fuel that drivers purchase, it’s wise to get the driver payback cards from the truck stops that offer them. Its free, and it’s a way of saying thank you to the professional driver. For each gallon of fuel purchased, you get 1 cent/point put on the card. You can use these points [...]

Inside Trucking Part 2: Understanding Company Expenses

If you are the type of driver that thinks about the cost of doing business for your employer or the trucking industry in general, you are in the minority. If you’re not thinking about it, you should be – it has a major effect on your paycheck.

A Look Inside Trucking Part I

Once you enter trucking, there is a lot that you get to experience. So many “interesting” things come your way. Many things you don’t give much thought to until it is brought to your attention thru company training, newsletters put out by employers, the trucking magazines, and over the Qualcomm – the truck’s messaging computer.

Another Night Of Driving And A Very Close Call

Even when you’re just cruising along, minding your own business, and doing everything right, you never know when someone is going to do something incredibly dangerous right in front of you, and this was one of those times.

Pulling Another Trucking All-Nighter

I was all settled in for the evening and looking forward to watching Donny on Dancing With The Stars. Phone rings. It’s the boss. They need me to deliver 2 loads to the canning plant. The calls are coming in for loads. Trailers are being loaded now. I am assigned a truck too. I told them I can work and I’ll get there as soon as I can. This is gonna be a long night….

My 33rd Anniversary In Transportation

October 27 2009 is a special day for me because it was October 27 1976 when I entered the transportation world. My only experience in this world was riding the school bus for all the years in school. What an amazing journey it’s been.

My Overweight Ticket

Sometimes you’re put in a position as a driver where you just can’t win. One day I was leaving the shipper with a heavy load and was pulled over to see if my weight was legal. Problem was, I never got a chance to weight it myself – they nailed me on the way to the scale. What is a driver supposed to do?

Sometimes You Face Difficult Driving Challenges In Trucking

Sometimes you have these days and nights of skill testing if you drive a semi. I did not have a leisurely drive to Fort Smith as I normally do. I couldn’t just relax, enjoy the drive, and drink my coffee. This was not meant to be. I had to work to stay safe and keep others safe too on this trip.

I Want Out Of Trucking As A Driver

Let me start out by saying I entered trucking in 2001 because I needed a job. A job that paid a livable wage. So I entered as a warm body that companies put in the drivers seat. My pleas for an office duty/inside job were not being heard. At first this new driving thing was not too bad, but soon the newness and “fun” wears off.

A Sad Day For Me In Trucking

This sad day happens all the time to many in their jobs. Yesterday I was given the news that my friend Kevin of 38 years may not make it thru the night. After this news I was called to work. I just knew I would be called to work! Every time something goes wrong for me, it seems that is when I am needed at work or somewhere else.

Trucking Back To Dallas

I’m on a two day round trip to Dallas and I’m hoping that all will go well!

Returning To Trucking After Vacation: Part Two

Backing was a tough issue for me back when I was new to driving, and a situation like this one was a nightmare for me!

Returning To Trucking After Vacation: Part One

I am just thrilled to know about this and the new adventure given to me.    Soon I am on my way and not looking forward to this blocking of a busy 4 lane highway while I back into a dock.  Backing is still not my best thing.  I’m going to have lots of  4-wheelers upset with me.  That’s OK as they upset me daily too!

Women Truck Drivers

The American public sees more and more women behind the wheel of a big rig and they must surely think this is a new thing for the women to branch out of the traditional boundaries set for women. Actually women have been branching out for many years–longer than you may think, too.

The Trailer Behind The Truck

The trailer behind the truck is something that you may never think about in great detail, and it looks simple enough, but there’s a lot more to it than you may think.