Sep 02, 2021

Hurricane Ida Update

New York City (4:30 AM ET)

Hurricane Ida continues to torment as it moves from South to North-East towards New York & New Jersey. Both states have announced a transition into a state of emergency early Thursday. With the National Weather Service in New York declaring flash flood emergencies, there is currently a travel ban in place for all non-emergency vehicles until 5a.m. ET Thursday.

We hope that our Trucker Path community can stay safe in these times and avoid unnecessary journeys. Our Trucker Path maps are constantly being updated regarding road closures & weather alerts. If you come across any issues, please make sure to report it with our team.

Thank a Trucker for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week [p][b]September 7th, 2021 (Phoenix) [/b]: 18 months ago the United States was outside, self-reliant, maskless, and often forgetful of a group of individuals that continually kept America moving. They provide gas to our vehicles, food to our homes, entertainment to our families, but most important peace of mind to our hearts. They provided all this and more, day in and day out. It was easy to forget this group existed because they had always ensured the things we needed were available. 18 months ago, the world changed. America changed. And the daily lives we all had come to expect, changed. However, for this group, nothing changed. During a time of crisis, this group made it their mission to continue keeping our lives "normal".[/p] [p]Truck Drivers have been moving supplies to areas that need them most for over a 100 years and they do not stop. They wake up early in the morning to load their freight, they spend all day or even days making sure it arrives safely to its destination, and then they make their way back home to their families before getting up the next morning to do it again. These tireless heroes spend their lives making our lives better and it is time to share our appreciation. Sept. 12th - 18th is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and Trucker Path is extending our thanks.[/p] [p]Trucker Path has created this Proud to Serve America's Truck Drivers logo and distributed them to some of the top destination points throughout the US. These hubs have long been on the frontlines providing our nation's drivers with food, gas, overnight parking, and community while away from their friends and families. These logos will be prominently displayed on property for all drivers to know they are supported and to spread awareness to passerby's whose lives are made better because of truckers everywhere.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-02-at-12.35.12-PM.png" alt=""] [p]Having long been known as the go-to app for truckers everywhere, Trucker Path has continually added new features like true truck navigation, and fuel or route optimization to save drivers time and money. Frank Chen, Senior Product Manager at Trucker Path says, "Trucker Path aims to revolutionize our industry by putting drivers at the focal point of our development efforts. Helping Trucker Path's community of drivers save time and reduce fuel expenses will put extra money in their pockets and create happier drivers on the road."[/p] [p]Further revolutionizing the industry, Trucker Path's <a href="http://pathfinder.truckerpath.com/sign-up.html">Pathfinder Program</a> (a community of drivers that post reviews and update gas prices, parking availbility, restroom conditions, and more on locations across the US) has used reviews to help our industry refine standards and spread relevant information throughout the community. Normally, Pathfinders take 3 photos and write a 50-word review to receive a 100 coin rewards (that can be redeemed for prizes). During this year's National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week, we are boosting that reward 10-fold to 1000 coins per qualifying review per location (see Pathfinder Program for rules).[/p] <a href="http://pathfinder.truckerpath.com/sign-up.html">Click here to sign up for our Pathfinder Program</a> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/09/202193-102456.png" alt=""] [p]We want to thank our nation's drivers anyway we can and we encourage all those on the road to sign-up on the Trucker Path app for the Pathfinder Program today. Our platform provides a voice and now it can be used to share our thanks to drivers not just this week but all year round. Take a selfie with the logo, write a review, and help spread the appreciation our community of professional drivers deserve.[/p] [p][b] Download the app from your app store, sign-up, and start thanking today. [/b][/p]

Sep 07, 2021

Starting your Career as a Truck Driver [p]Before starting this journey, you should be 100% sure that you want to go down this career path. Remember that despite it being a career that brings in the bucks and takes you to different cities, trucking also involves making sacrifices and paying heavy attention to safety. Familiarize yourself with the industry as much as you can. If you’re ready to begin, then we’ve put together a few pointers that might be useful before you start your career.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b] Checklist for becoming a Truck Driver[/b][/p] <ol> <li>Obtain Commercial Driver's License.</li> <li>Obtain endorsements for a particular truck/load type if necessary.</li> <li>Buy your own truck and complete necessary insurance/paperwork OR join a trucking company and take on deliveries. </li> </ol> <h2></h2> [p][b] Getting your Commercial Driver's License[/b][/p] [p]You will need to attend a trucking school to train for your CDL Skills Test. On average, it takes about 7 weeks (between $3000 & $7000) to get your CDL whilst completing the program full-time. You will need to dedicate atleast 40 hours a week for your truck driving training. It is also possible to attend a paid CDL program, often held by some of the larger trucking companies. They will teach you how to drive their trucks, get the CDL and give their graduates a driving job. Paid training programs may have an extra set of requirements including a commitment to employment (depending on employer). [/p] [p]To begin pursuing for your Commercial Driver's License (CDL),you will need to fulfill the basic requirements: [/p] <ul> <li>Possess a high school diploma or GED</li> <li>Preserve a good driving record</li> <li>Have a Class D license for at least 1 year and in good standing</li> <li>Be at least 18 years old to drive in-state, 21 to drive state-to-state</li> <li>Possess a social security card</li> <li>Be able to show proof of insurance</li> <li>Pass a 10-year background check</li> <li>Pass TSA screening</li> <li>Pass a medical examination</li> <li>Pass periodic drug tests</li> </ul> <h2></h2> [p][b] Step 1: Get your Commercial Learners Permit (CLP)[/b][/p] [p]The CLP allows you to practice on legal roads with a CDL holder sitting next to you. Besides a countrywide 10-year driving record & health check, your state may have specific requirements. For a better idea, please check your state's CDL Manual. [/p] <h2></h2> [p][b] Step 2: Get your Commercial Drivers License (CDL)[/b][/p] [p]You are required to hold the CLP for 14 days before taking the Skills Test. Some states may require you to take a CDL training beforehand. The Skills Test has three parts: The Vehicle Inspections Test, the Basic Controls Test, and the Road Test. Once you've pased the test, congrats! You're a certified commercial driver. You may be given the CDL on the same day or send it to you by mail. The CDL cost also varies according to state.[/p] <table> <tr> <td>CDL Application Fee</td> <td>$0 - $43</td> <td>The Commercial Driver's License "application" is the form you will need to complete when applying for your Commercial Driver's License (CDL). This form will consist of your Identification Information (everything from your name, addresses, DOB, social security number to current license information),questions related to "Certifications" ("are you a resident in the state you're applying for your CDL in?", "do you have any limitations or medical conditions, either mental or physical?", and other questions related to qualifications). In addition to these questions, the application will ask about "CDL Endorsements" you are trying to obtain. For more on "Endorsements", read on. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>CDL Endorsement Fee</td> <td>Varies</td> <td>Varies depending on endorsement & state. Six endorsements that can be added: - Double/Triple Trailers (Knowledge Test Only) - Passenger (Knowledge and Skills Tests) - Tank Vehicle (Knowledge Test Only) - Hazardous Materials (Knowledge Test Only) - Combination of Tank Vehicle and Hazardous Materials Endorsements (Knowledge Test Only) - School Bus (Knowledge and Skills Tests)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>CDL Written Test Fee</td> <td>Upto $125</td> <td>The CDL written test consists of questions on a number of topics, ranging from maintaining safe operating speeds in many types of driving conditions, handling cargo, using an electronic logging device, operating all the systems in the vehicle, and more. Test-takers receive 60 minutes to complete the exam. If the driver would like a particular endorsement (see above),additional questions may be added. Most endorsement tests add an additional 20 to 25 questions. Most states do not set a time limit for the test-taker to answer the endorsement exam questions.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>CDL Skills Test Fee</td> <td>Upto $250</td> <td>The CDL skills test involves a road test, a pre-trip inspection test, and a basic vehicle control test. The skills test is a necessary part of obtaining your CDL. During the skills test, you must drive on the road with a test administrator, so the test must be scheduled in advance. If you have two or more years of experience in driving with the military, you may able to waive the test. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>CDL License Fee</td> <td>Upto $120</td> <td>Once you've passed the CDL exam, you must pay for your commercial driver's license, which can cost upwards of $120. You must renew your CDL on a regular basis, but frequency varies by state. Check your state's requirements to find out more.</td> </tr> </table> [p]There are three types of CDL's for each state.[/p] <table> <tr> <th>Commercial A</th> <td>Any legal combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Commercial B</th> <td>Any single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds, any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR, or a 3-axle vehicle weighing over 6,000 pounds.</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Commercial C</th> <td>Any Class C vehicle with one or more of the following endorsements: - Hazardous Materials (HazMat) - Passenger Vehicle (PV) - Tank Vehicle (TV)</td> </tr> </table> <h2></h2> [p][b] Time to find a Trucking job[/b][/p] [p]As an entry-level trucker, your options may be limited but always ensure your employer provides the right work/life balance and benefits. Choosing between a big or small company also has its differences. Small companies give you a higher pay and closer connections with staff, whereas big companies allow you to grow within the company and work on exciting projects. Most trucking companies aren’t just going to let you out on the road in their own trucks without some sort of training. Training program lengths vary from company to company—but, for the most part, you can expect that they will be at least a few weeks long.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b] Finding your balance[/b][/p] [p]Once you’ve become more comfortable and have clocked in a few thousand miles, it might be a good idea to think about what’s next. Are you looking to move closer to home and do more regional work? Maybe you’ve got all the skills needed to move from a truck driver to an owner/fleet operator. Think about your goals, your accomplishments/ongoing challenges with truck driving before carefully selecting what’s right.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b] Don’t worry, we’re by your side. [/b][/p] [p] We hope this guide gives you an overview on how to start your exciting trucking career. As a company that’s made by truckers for truckers, we want to make sure you get the job done in the most efficient and safe way possible. With support from our thousands of daily users who rely on our services, we will continue to update our growing features.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Stay in touch![/b][/p] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Tharaka[/b][/p]

Aug 31, 2021 • Carriers

PSA: Navigation Service Outage Update

Aug 31, 2021 • PSA