Jan 03, 2019

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Truck Drivers

We’re about to head into a new year and the possibilities for 2019 are endless. When one year ends and another begins, it’s the perfect time to think about what kind of changes you want to make in your life and setting some personal or professional goals. Can’t think of anything? We’ve got a list of some great New Year’s resolution suggestions for truck drivers to get you started:
1. Eat intuitively.
You can’t really have a list of New Year’s resolutions without including the most popular one. The holidays are over, the cookies are gone, and most people want to overhaul their eating habits and start a new diet in the new year. Before you start counting calories or sign up for the latest diet fad – both of which can be overwhelming and difficult to maintain long term – focus on intuitive eating and listen to your body’s cues for hunger and fullness. You can read more about intuitive eating here.
2. Move daily.
A commitment to exercising regularly doesn’t have to be a big thing with tons of equipment. Go for a walk or a hike. Live on the edge and turn it into a jog. Buy a small pair of dumbbells or resistance bands to use in your truck. Find a short workout video on YouTube that you like and follow along. The important thing is to get your body moving each day.
3. Promise to speak up.
When you see something suspicious at a truck stop, say something. Truck stops and rest areas can only stay safe places for drivers when we work together to keep them that way. Also think about teaming up with Truckers Against Trafficking to assist law enforcement in recognizing and reporting human trafficking. Become a certified TAT-trained driver to learn more about how you can help combat this crime.
4. Commit to improving your mental health.
Just like your physical health is important, so is your mental health. Think about what you might need to improve your mental health. Set healthy boundaries. Speak kindly to yourself. Resist negative thinking. Meet with a therapist. Find positive ways to de-stress and stay connected to friends and family.
5. Learn a new hobby.
Hobbies are a great way to keep you occupied during breaks and home time. Choose something that’s easy enough to take on the road with you. Photography, for instance, will allow you to practice your budding skills every time your job takes you someplace new. Learn a new language with the help of an audio program or purchase a musical instrument you can practice any time you stop.
6. Read more.
Whether you love fiction, autobiographies or books that encourage personal growth, reading can do so much good. Not only can you learn something new, but studies have shown that reading can help expand your vocabulary, improve your memory, provide focus and relaxation, reduce depression symptoms and possibly even lower your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Pick up a book or two from the library every time you stop at home, subscribe to an audio book service or download books on a reading device or tablet.
7. Prioritize safety.
Safety is always important every day of the year but take some time this January to really look at your safety procedures and truck inspection checklist. Are they as thorough as possible? If you aren’t already doing truck inspections before every trip, start a new habit of putting safety first.
8. Recognize that your health is important.
Visiting the doctor can be difficult when most of your life is spent on the road. Your health is vital to being the best version of yourself as well as keeping you safe while on the job. In addition to your regular physical, make sure you’re scheduling clinic visits when you’re feeling sick, getting your eyesight and hearing checked regularly, and visiting the dentist. Don’t hold off on getting additional help for more serious health conditions like if you’re having trouble sleeping, feeling depressed or experiencing pain or other unusual symptoms.
9. Be more green & save some green.
Finding ways to drive more efficiently and reduce your fuel consumption is not only better for the environment, but it’s great for your wallet too. Keep your truck in good working order to increase your fuel economy and follow best practices for fuel conservation, such as limiting your idle time, slowing down and taking the shortest route possible.
10. Find ways to stay connected.
One of the biggest challenges for truck drivers is the fact that you spend so much time away from your friends and family. Staying connected to your loved ones is easier than ever before with the help of technology. Make plans for regular FaceTime or Skype sessions, call or text loved ones during your breaks, and snap and share photos when you stop in a new city. If you prefer things a little more old school, buy post cards along your route and mail them home to your family so they can see all the places you’ve visited along the way.
Are you making a goal or resolution for 2019? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

Must-See Movies for Truck Drivers Which night is movie night for you? Is it Wednesday evening, when you’re relaxing after a long day on the road? Or do you wait until the weekend to chill on your couch at home? Whichever represents your ideal movie night, rest assured that we have the perfect must-see movie list just for truck drivers like you. We’ll start with one of the most obvious: [p]Smokey and the Bandit (1977) [p]Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Mike Henry, this action comedy film is about two truck drivers who take a dare to deliver a truckload of beer. After they pick up a hitchhiker - a runaway bride - they soon find themselves being pursued by the jilted groom and his sheriff father. [p]Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) [p]Did you even know there was a sequel? In this one, the Bandit returns to transport an elephant from Florida to Texas. [p]Armed and Dangerous (1986) [p]Starring John Candy, Meg Ryan and Eugene Levy, Armed and Dangerous is about a disgraced cop and an inept lawyer embark on second careers as security guards. The pair quickly discover corruption within their union and security firm. In this movie, John Candy’s character hitches a ride with a trucker who plows through cars in a traffic jam and ignores the rules of the road to prevent a robbery. [p]Big Rig (2007) [p]A documentary film, Big Rig follows several long-haul truckers as they discuss life on the road and challenges truckers face in the industry. [p]Black Dog (1998) [p]This thriller, starring Patrick Swayze, is about an ex-con truck driver who discovers he’s unknowingly transporting a truck full of illegal weapons. [p]Convoy (1978) [p]A group of trucker friends use their CB radios to warn each other about police nearby until a sheriff tries to foil their plans with his own radio broadcasts. [p]Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers (1979) [p]Two women team up behind the wheel of a Mack Super-Liner to keep it out of the hands of a repo man and hijackers. [p]The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977) [p]After a truck driver gets his rig repossessed, he steals it back to make one last cross-country run. [p]Hijack! (1973) [p]Two truck drivers are tasked with transporting top-secret cargo from New York to Houston. A terrorist group tries to hijack their freight along the way. [p]Over the Top (1987) [p]A struggling trucker, played by Sylvester Stallone, uses arm wrestling to earn extra money. When he takes his estranged son on the road with him, he tries to use the World Arm Wrestling Championships to win back his son. [p]Snitch (2013) [p]Dwayne Johnson plays a father whose son is accused of distributing drugs. In order to help his son, Johnson’s character goes undercover with the DEA to infiltrate a drug cartel. You won’t want to miss two major action sequences that involve a big rig. [p]Steel Cowboy (1978) [p]Trucker Clayton Ray Davis, played by James Brolin, agrees to haul some stolen cattle to avoid getting his truck repossessed. [p]They Drive by Night (1940) [p]Starring George Raft and Humphrey Bogart, two brothers try to make a living as wildcat truckers. [p]Thunder Run (1986) [p]A truck driver transports plutonium from Nevada to Arizona, unaware that there are terrorists waiting to steal his freight. [p]Time Bomb (1984) [p]A truck carrying plutonium gets hijacked by terrorists and it’s up to the truckers to save the day. [p]One of these has to sound good to you! Which film are you planning to see on your next movie night?

Oct 24, 2018

Trucking Industry Update January 18, 2019 By Jeremy Feucht [p]Did you Know? [p]The standard semitruck tire is only rated for 75 mph. [p]Trucking tip of the Week [p]Any time there is a new regulation being proposed or a change to a regulation already in effect, the FMCSA will ask for input regarding the rule. They read each comment and when they write up their final report, will respond to nearly every comment. Utilize these opportunities to ensure your voice is heard. If you do comment on a rule proposal, make sure you write clearly so they can fully understand your point. [p]Technology in Trucking [p]One of the first major attempts at autonomous trucking came via the term “platooning.” From a technology standpoint, platooning is where multiple semis basically play follow the leader. The lead vehicle has a driver behind the wheel and the semis following do not. The vehicles in the back are guided by sensors and generally operate at no more than 30 feet behind the vehicle they are following. This was heavily tested in Europe and there was even a contest to see which companies had done the most with the technology. Daimler, one of the leaders in the advancement of technology in trucks today is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daimler-abandons-platooning-2019-1">abandoning the idea of platooning</a>. The viability of autonomous semis is being seen as a large expense with a great deal of liability for all involved, but its ongoing development and eventual arrival is inevitable. [p]Supreme Court rules in favor of Owner-Operator [p]On January 15, 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled <a href="https://www.truckinginfo.com/322854/supreme-court-rules-truck-owner-operators-exempt-from-arbitration">in favor of an Owner-Operator</a> who had signed an arbitration agreement. In their ruling, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower court’s decision that the types of contracts of employment that drivers tend to sign are not legally binding. Most believe this ruling paves the way for contracted employees to sue for damages if they have not been paid their fair share especially during training and onboarding timeframes. [p]General News [p]<a href="https://wolfstreet.com/2019/01/05/trucking-boom-ends-next-phase-in-cycle-starts/">New truck orders in December dropped by 43% from December of 2017</a>. This really should not come as a surprise because new truck orders were at all time highs during the summer months of June-July-August. While some believe this is a bigger sign of things to come, this is probably just the natural falloff from a busy summer of buying for most companies.

Jan 18, 2019

Tips for improving your fuel economy You know the old saying that a little bit goes a long way? Well that couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to your fuel economy. By making some simple changes and slight adjustments to how you run your truck, you can save thousands of dollars every year. Not sure how that’s possible? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite ways you can improve your fuel economy:[p] <ul> <li>Use cruise control. You’ll save valuable fuel when you’re not accelerating and decelerating frequency.</li> <li>Watch your speed. You may think that faster equals better, but that’s not the case when it comes of your fuel. Driving faster not only causes you to burn through your fuel more quickly, but at a rate that costs your more in the long run.</li> <li>Install after-market products designed for aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The trucking industry, as a whole, has embraced the importance of improving fuel economy. There are several products on the market to help you do this, such as trailer skirts, aerodynamic mud flaps and deep angled bumpers.</li> <li>Compare pricing before filling up. You can easily compare fuel prices right within your Trucker Path app.</li> <li>Maximize your time when you stop. Every time you stop to use the restroom, fill up or grab some food it costs you unnecessary drive time, acceleration and deceleration. Doing all these things at the same stop will save you valuable time and money.</li> <li>Minimize your idling time. Leaving your truck running for extended periods of time when it’s not necessary wastes fuel.</li> <li>Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Every 1 psi drop in air pressure will reduce your gas mileage by 0.2-0.4 percent. This adds up quickly.</li> <li>Inspect your truck regularly. Conducting thorough pre-trip inspections will help you catch fuel leaks, issues with your engine fan, tire misalignment and other problems - all of which can reduce your fuel efficiency.</li> </ul> Have you made any of these changes recently and seen a difference in your fuel efficiency? We’d love to hear what you’ve done and how it has helped!

Nov 19, 2018