Dec 06, 2023

Truck Parking Availability: 2021 Versus 2023

We compared truck parking availability in November 2021 to November 2023. Based on the national averages, there appears to be much more available parking now than there was in late 2021.

The Power of TMS and Load Board Integration in Maximizing Freight Brokerage Efficiency Freight brokers play a crucial role in connecting shippers with carriers, ensuring goods move swiftly and smoothly from one point to another. With the boom in online shopping, especially during the global pandemic, there has been an increasing demand for efficient freight transportation. To streamline their operations and improve their capacity to move freight quickly, many freight brokers employ Transportation Management Systems (TMSs) to source and manage their carriers. However, the importance of integrating these TMSs with load boards cannot be overstated. Let’s look into the significance of TMS and load board integrations in the freight industry, emphasizing their potential to provide value-added benefits to brokers. The Role of TMS in Freight Brokerage TMSs have revolutionized the freight brokerage industry. As the center of operations for freight brokers, TMSs enable brokers to efficiently manage and monitor shipments, carriers, and customers. TMSs offer features like order management, cargo tracking, and delivery planning, making them indispensable tools for brokers seeking to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction. Some popular TMSs include McLeod, Samsara, MercuryGate, Aljex, 3PL Systems, Oracle, PCS, and Transport Pro, all of which are widely used and offer some kind of load-sourcing option for their users. However, what many brokers may not realize is that these TMSs can be further empowered by integrating them with multiple load boards. Unlocking Greater Capacity through Load Board Integrations Load boards are web-based platforms where shippers or brokers can post available loads, and carriers search for and book loads that match their availability. By integrating their TMS with load boards, brokers can significantly expand their reach and gain access to an expanded network of carriers. This integration allows brokers to source carriers quickly and efficiently, resulting in faster freight movement, happy customers and increased profitability. The Benefits of TMS and Load Board Integrations Expanded Capacity: Perhaps the most evident advantage of TMS and load board integrations is the expanded capacity. Through the load boards, brokers can tap into a vast pool of carriers, ensuring they never face a shortage of options to move freight. This capacity expansion is vital during times of high demand when securing reliable carriers can be very challenging. Streamlined Operations: The integration between platforms can lead to streamlined and simplified operations, as brokers no longer need to switch between multiple platforms to source carriers. Instead, they can access load board information directly from their TMS, saving time and effort. Real-Time Updates: Integrations also mean that real-time updates on load availability and carrier status can be viewed directly via the TMS. Brokers can make informed decisions quickly, resulting in faster response times and better customer service. Enhanced Visibility: TMS and load board integration also results in improved visibility into the entire freight movement process. Brokers can track shipments, monitor carrier performance, and analyze data effortlessly directly from their TMS, leading to better decision-making. Cost Efficiency: In many cases, load board integrations do not incur additional costs for TMS providers or users. The integration costs are often shouldered by the load board, making it a cost-effective solution for brokers. Trucker Path’s Integration with Leading TMSs Most leading TMS providers offer seamless integration options with popular load boards, making it easy for brokers to connect and expand their capabilities. Trucker Path integrates with many popular TMSs, such as McLeod, <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucker-path-teams-up-with-transport-pro-to-expand-load-visibility-for-drivers-and-fleets/">Transport Pro</a>, <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucker-path-and-3pl-systems-offer-single-click-access-to-loads-and-capacity/">3PL Systems</a>, Aljex, <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucker-path-increases-load-exposure-for-mercurygate-tms-customers/">MercuryGate</a>, and many others. These integrations give brokers direct access to the nearly one million carriers who rely on the Trucker Path app. Final Thoughts The importance of TMS and load board integrations in the freight industry cannot be emphasized enough. It is a win-win situation for both brokers and TMS providers. Brokers gain access to a wider pool of carriers, enabling them to move freight more efficiently and profitably. TMS providers are able to offer a value-added service to their broker customers without incurring significant integration costs. All in all, TMSs should, and often do, wholeheartedly embrace load board integrations as an essential component of their offerings. It is a strategic move that not only enhances the competitiveness of their broker customers but also solidifies the position of TMS providers as a true partner in the fast-paced and ever-evolving freight industry.

Oct 31, 2023

Trucker Tips For Exercising While On The Road The health stakes are high for truck drivers. According to information shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),truck drivers are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/truck/health.html">twice as likely to smoke and be obese</a> compared to other U.S. workers, generally leading to high blood pressure and diabetes. There's no way around the fact that the lifestyle of a truck driver can be damaging to one's health and well-being. High demands, long hours spent seated behind the wheel, poor eating habits and lack of exercise while on the road all create a perfect storm for obesity and illness. A CDC survey shows that three out of four truckers say that they do not get the recommended amount of physical activity, that being 2.5 hours of combined moderate-intensity and muscle-strengthening training a week for adults. In fact, only one out of four male truck drivers say that they fit 30 minutes of exercise into their schedules five days a week. Lack of exercise isn't just dangerous for a truck driver's health. It can also threaten their livelihood. If a professional truck driver develops a medical condition that impacts their ability to drive, they may be in jeopardy of losing their commercial operating license. Fortunately, truck drivers don't need to resign themselves to living sedentary lifestyles just because they spend a great deal of time on the road. There are many hacks for staying fit and active while pulling long hours. Tips for Exercising as a Truck Driver Trucks drivers don't have the luxury of enjoying a consistent, home-based schedule. They need dynamic, adaptive exercise protocols that work anywhere. These tips can help your health for the long run even if you drive the long haul! Be Opportunistic The world is your gym when you're a long-haul truck driver. When presented with downtime, it's important to scope out areas in the vicinity that are fit for exercise. Look online for nearby trails, public parks with running loops, truck stops with gyms, or school running tracks that are open to the public. Even a neighborhood with sidewalks can be enough to get in a good walk or jog. Just make sure it’s legal and safe to park your truck while you’re getting your exercise. Bring Travel Workout Equipment on the Road You can build a scaled-down gym in your cab if you know what to pack! Portable, lightweight exercise equipment that works out the same parts of the body as massive pieces of gym equipment are easy to find. Resistance bands, kettlebells, and dumbbells are all great for building lean muscle. If you're looking for a fun way to get in your daily cardio, a folding bike is excellent. Don't forget to invest in a pair of sturdy, comfortable sneakers to prevent foot injuries that could impede your driving abilities! Log Your Exercise It's easy to lose track of time when you're pulling long hours. Unfortunately, the blur of the road causes many long-haul truckers to lose motivation. Log your exercise daily to stay accountable! You can also consider enlisting the help of friends, family, or fellow truck drivers to stay accountable. Research shows that having a weight-loss "buddy" actually helps individuals to lose more weight compared to people who attempt to make changes without peer support. Worker Smarter to Avoid Working Harder Time is the most precious resource any trucker has. That's why optimizing workouts to burn as much fat as quickly as possible is often a good approach for drivers. Heat is one option. Time-pressed people in every profession are increasingly "working smarter" using <a href="https://www.hotworx.net/blog/make-fat-scream-with-infrared-training">infrared workouts</a> that turn up the heat to tone up the body. During an infrared workout, the body is oxidizing fat as part of a chemical reaction that transforms fatty acids into energy. The best way to describe infrared training is to say that it makes fat "scream" by using elevated temperatures to increase heart rate for greater caloric expenditure and fat burning. Additionally, infrared heat boosts blood circulation to muscle tissues to enhance exercise performance. A Healthy Lifestyle on the Road Is Possible A thousand miles can create a thousand excuses to not get fit when you're a long-haul truck driver. Everything changes once you realize that fitness is one of the keys to success on the road. Being consistent, working smarter, and understanding that healthy living is the only choice for long term success as a truck driver.

Oct 05, 2023

Industry Providers Name National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes Winners PHOENIX – September 13, 2023 – Trucker Path, a subsidiary of leading global SaaS provider, Moatable, Inc. (NYSE: MTBL) and the most comprehensive and relied upon mobile app for North American truckers, today announced winners of the second annual National Truck Driver Appreciation (NTDA) Sweepstakes. The NTDA Sweepstakes was sponsored by Trucker Path, The Trucker Media Group, Sheetz, Motel 6, and ExxonMobil. The Grand Prize, which included $3,000 in Sheetz gift cards, 30 free nights at any Motel 6 in the U.S. and $500 in Exxon Mobil fuel cards, was won by Angie Moland from Dolton, IL. The winners of weekly drawings who received a $500 Sheetz gift card, five free nights at any Motel 6 in the U.S. and a $100 Exxon Mobil fuel card were: • Matt T. of Valrico, FL • Arthur M. of Hopatcong, NJ • Arlin H. of Nappanee, IN “Along with our iconic industry sponsor partners we are pleased to award these prizes as a way of saying thanks to drivers for their dedication,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “Truck drivers are an essential part of the nation’s supply chain and are often overlooked. Through the National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes, we celebrate the importance of these dedicated carriers and show our appreciation for their contributions and hard work.” Active U.S. truck drivers with a valid Commercial Driver’s License were eligible to enter the NTDA Sweepstakes. Winners of the weekly and grand prizes were randomly selected by a licensed third-party sweepstakes company. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week runs from September 10 – 16, 2023. The annual celebration recognizes the significant contributions of the millions of professional truck drivers nationwide who safely and securely deliver essential goods and transport billions of tons of freight every year. <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-13_07-30-44.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-13_07-30-44.png" alt="" width="600" height="400" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7285" /></a> From left to right: Glen Harbin, Store Manager, Sheetz, Seville, OH ● Erica Butler, District Manager at Sheetz ● Greg Roberts, Head of Branding and Communications at Trucker Path ● Angie Moland, National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes Grand Prize Winner ● Robert Pardue, Commerical Diesel Program Manager at Sheetz ● Cindy Wojcik, Manager, Special Booking Services and Sales at Motel 6 (G6 Hospitality) About Trucker Path Phoenix-based Trucker Path is the provider of a wide range of truck driver-centric mobility products. A subsidiary of leading global SaaS provider, Moatable, Inc. (NYSE: MTBL),the Trucker Path app is currently in use by nearly 1 million professional truck drivers. Offering best-in-class navigation with truck-optimized routing, the Trucker Path app also provides access to vital up-to-date information about truck stops, real-time available parking, fuel prices, weigh station status, and truck scales and wash locations. The company also offers TruckLoads, a digital freight exchange that connects drivers, carriers and brokers; and COMMAND™, the industry’s first and only Operations & Driver Relationship (ODR) platform that provides small to mid-size fleets with the necessary driver and TMS technologies to successfully run a fleet. For more information, visit www.truckerpath.com. Media Contact: Susan Fall LaunchIt Public Relations 858-490-1050 susan@launchitpr.com

Sep 13, 2023