Skip to content
Archive of posts filed under the Current State of the Trucking Industry category.

Are Drivers Too Expensive?

My name is Angelique and I’m from the Netherlands. Over here we have a big problem because our drivers are paid far more than drivers from Eastern Europe and it’s hard to keep a job. The international jobs are going to the lower paid drivers in Eastern Europe where the cost of living is much lower.

My First Year as a Truck Driver

Wow, it’s hard to believe, but I’ve been at my current employer for 1 year as of today. I began Truck Driving School in January of 2009, completed that in February of 2009, and was hired on in March of 2009. This post will simply serve as some observations that I’ve made as my first year of a truck driver.

A New Era For The Knights Of The Road

In the past, truckers were known as “Knights of the Road”. Those days are long forgotten, though, and through time the truckers and their rigs have lost their knightly reputation. Truckers are no longer depicted in a positive light and the situation looks like it may be getting worse for a number of reasons, including our own (lack of) pride and personal discipline, attitude, driving skills, and factors outside of our control including the media, more dangers on the highway, and recent waves of terrorism. Is there anything we can do to improve our reputations? Oh indeed there is plenty we can do.

Comparing Career Paths: Truck Driving Versus A College Degree

I decided to hypothetically put two people seeking professional careers, one a prospective college student, the other a truck driving school candidate, up against each other in a comparison of job training, annual salary, debt accumulation, and investment capability throughout their careers. The results are quite interesting.

Truck Driving Career Seen As Strong For Next Decade

Truck driving has always been a great career for those of us who were cut out for the lifestyle. If you’re not the right person for the job, you’re really not going to like it much and you’re not going to last long. But if you feel like truck driving might be the right career for you, the outlook for the industry looks to be very solid for many years to come.

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.

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.

Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Last week was National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. It certainly was nice to feel appreciated for a week. The list of sacrifices that drivers make can go on and on for days. Most of the sacrifices can’t be explained in words, they simply have to be experienced to truly be understood.

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?

Regulation and Scrutiny Of Truck Drivers Increasing Steadily

The number of Federal Rules and Regulations for truck drivers and trucking companies has continuously increased over the years, along with stricter enforcement both on and off the highways. A recent announcement by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration shows that there will be even greater scrutiny just around the corner.

New Truck Drivers: Beware of Rocking The Boat

Recently I heard a story of a truck driving student who was on the road with a trainer and discovered that the trainer was smoking pot in the truck while the student was driving. How did the student handle this? Did it backfire on him? There are some things that everyone needs to understand about the realities of life in the trucking industry.

Making it Financially in Truck Driving

Finances on the road can be tough when first getting started, but hopefully this will provide you with a little insight on how to stay out of trouble.

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.

My Truck Driving Career – A 6 Month Review

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 6 months already. I’ve completed training, and have been on my own now for a couple months. So, I thought I’d share a few of my initial impressions of my early truck driving career, having experienced it for 6 months now.