Jan 24, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - January 24, 2020

Industry Update - January 24, 2020

By Paul DeCoste

Industry Update

Curious about the top issues discussed in the trucking industry in 2019? Take a look at this graphic from the ATRI Top Industry Issues 2019 survey.

Weather Update

This snowstorm has been building up over the past few days and drivers need to be aware of some potential snowfall in the Midwest. The following locations should be driven on with caution for the weekend; Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, Michigan’s upper peninsula, Chicago and South Bend, Indiana.

Pilot Name Change

Just yesterday, Pilot Flying J announced that they are changing their company name to “Pilot Company”. This new corporate name is meant to, “serve as an umbrella that captures the total portfolio of the business as it continues to expand its retail and energy operations.”

Driver Saves Lives

Linden O’Donnell went out of his way to put out a car fire and help several motorists. He was driving on the right side of Interstate 280 when he witnessed a car smash into the back of a stalled SUV. Thankfully the SUV was empty, but the passengers of the car were barely conscious and in need of help. As fire crept from the engine to the cab, Linden ran to grab his fire extinguisher and put out the flames. This allowed Linden to safely assist the drivers out of the car and out of harm’s way. His courage and ability to react deserves the honor he is receiving.

New Tech

This pilot study done by American Electric Power and Nissan Motor Co., is testing the reuse of old batteries to reduce costs for electric cars. This new process has the potential to lower system costs by one-half and even extend the power of lithium batteries by one-third.

TagsTruckloads road closure Truck Driver Owner Operator trucking Trucker Path Freight Factoring Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Freight Broker Owner Operators Freight Brokers national truck driver appreciation week Industry Update Did you Know Trucking Tips MATS 2019

Best Truck Stops [p]With over 6,000 truck stops in the Trucker Path app determining the best truck stops in America is no small task. But hey, who doesn't love a challenge and a competition to see which is the best truck stop for 2017.[/p] [h2]Best Truck Stops[/h2] [p]The best truck stops are ranked thanks to you guys! There are over 600,000 truck drivers who update locations on Trucker Path with available parking at truck stops, travel centers and rest areas throughout America. Drivers also comment on their experiences at truck stops by leaving ratings and reviews for fellow users to view.[/p] [p] Whether you need diesel stations to fuel up, looking for a delicious homemade meal like grandma used to make or just looking for a place with truck parking to rest, these are the best truck stops perfect for truck drivers.[/p] [h2]Creek Travel Plaza[/h2] [android-img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/05/Creek-Travel-Plaza-1.png"] [p]The Creek Travel Plaza is the best truck stop for independently owned truck stops and is a must stop for truck drivers in the Southeast.[/p] [h2]What Makes It a Best Truck Stop?[/h2] [p]To determine what is the best truck stop, we analyzed a variety of criteria in order to award the best locations found [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]in our app[/a]. Truck stops and travel centers with available truck parking, fantastic customer service and useful amenities like showers, repair services, laundry facilities and WiFi found themselves a cut above the competition.[/p] [p]It's no secret, truck drivers love to eat. That's why restaurant options and food quality were also included in our decision-making when ranking the best truck stops. The next time you are traveling through America, be sure to check out one of these nearby truck stops.[/p] [h2]Best Truck Stops - Top 10 Truck Stops: 0-5.0 Ratings scale[/h2] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-25-at-12.56.11-PM-1.png" alt=""] [button-white href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/Top-truck-stops-Top-100-2017-PR.pdf"]Full List[/button-white] [h2]Best Truck Stops - Top 10 Independent Truck Stops[/h2] [ul] [li]Creek Travel Plaza – Atmore, AL[/li] [li]Karde’s 151 – Monticello, IA[/li] [li]Gore’s Travel Plaza – Seiling, OK[/li] [li]Association of Christian Truckers – Brownstown, IL[/li] [li]BJs Travel Center – New Madrid, MO[/li] [li]Hixton Travel Plaza – Hixton, WI[/li] [li]Kwik Trip Travel Center – Austin MN[/li] [li]Kwik Trip #202 – Plover, WI[/li] [li]Refugio Travel Center – Refugio, TX[/li] [li]Texas 87/ Tiger Truck Stop – Esperanza, TX[/li] [/ul] [h2]Look for the Decal in the Truck Stop Window[/h2] [p]Recognition of success goes beyond saying congrats. The best truck stops for this year will each receive a window decal honoring the location as [i]the Best Places for 2017[/i]. This recognition lets truck drivers know that they have come to the right truck stop.[/p] [images src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/best-places-decal-BLOG-1.png" alt="Cost of parking" width="250px" align="left" ] [h2]Which State Has the Best Truck Stops?[/h2] [p]They say in Texas, football is king. While that might be true, there's also room on the throne for the best truck stops. [b]Texas[/b] had three truck stops ranked in the top 15 along with nine in the top 100 overall, more than any other state. Meanwhile, [b]Wisconsin[/b] finished second with five ranked in the top 100 and [b]Alabama[/b] finishing third with four truck stops.[/p] [h2]Gore's Travel Plaza – a Historic Truck Stop Location[/h2] [p]Gore's Travel Plaza began in 1939 when Floyd Gore decided to open a service station next to his home in Seiling, Oklahoma. Currently, third-generation brothers Tony, Gary and Marty along with fourth-generation son and nephew Derrick continue the family business of serving the trucking community for over 78 years.[/p] [quote]“The best part of serving the truck driving community is finding new ways to make their days on the road a little easier. We are here to serve them and our goal is to always be above their expectations,” said Gore's General Manager Derrick Gore. “Our staff know that customers come first, before anything else. We want people to leave our facility feeling appreciated and respected. Serving the needs of our customers and going above and beyond their expectations is something that we are proud of and hope they recognize during their visit.”[/quote] [button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=besttruckstops2017"]Learn More About Trucker Path[/button-green] [video id ="NSSOwFRJaQw"] If you're a truck driver but want to earn more and be your own boss, learn how you can<a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-become-an-owner-operator/"> become an owner operator today.</a>

May 02, 2017 • Carriers

Trucking Industry Update February 22, 2019 <h3>Trucking Industry Update February 22, 2019</h3> <h4>By Jeremy Feucht</h4> <h2><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h2> We all know that trucking carries roughly 73% of all goods shipped in the US, but did you know that 94% of all hazardous material moved in the US is shipped via truck? <h2><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h2> Trip planning is essential. If it is a lane you have never driven before, planning becomes all that more imperative. When you leave could mean the difference between hitting traffic in a big city or not. Many areas have low bridges that semis cannot fit under. You need to know how to get around those. Knowing the best places to fill up with fuel and where scales are so you are filling up after leaving a scale. Filling up after leaving a scale can help you stay weight compliant yet have a full tank of fuel. Plenty of things to think about when planning your trip. <h2><strong><u>Driver’s Pay</u></strong></h2> There are signs that companies may be changing the way they pay their drivers. For the Owner-Operator, that could be a good sign. As companies increase the pay for their drivers in hopes of stabilizing retention rates, fewer and fewer drivers will attempt the owner-operator method. This means more loads on the spot market for them to find. <a href="https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/labor/new-truck-driver-pay-model-aimed-capacity-retention_20190220.html">Companies are looking into salaries</a>, amongst other ways to pay their drivers. Wages will be dependent upon their track record and in some cases tenure within the company. <h2><strong><u>Technology in Trucking</u></strong></h2> Companies are doing many different things to ensure the quality of the driver they are putting behind the wheel. Instead of waiting on the government to figure out what should be the minimum amount of training needed before driving, <a href="https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/technology/businessinsider/article/America-s-fifth-largest-trucking-company-has-a-13630774.php">Xpress, the fifth largest carrier company in the US</a>, sought out advice from its own drivers. Moving away from the classroom type setting, Xpress is creating a technology-based, self-paced learning regiment. On top of that, they have created a virtual reality simulator that their prospective drivers must pass long before getting behind the wheel of an actual truck. Could this be the wave of the future? <h2><strong><u>Toll Roads</u></strong></h2> Much like Virginia did a few weeks back, Connecticut is moving away from an idea of placing a heavy burden on truckers moving through their state. The governor, Ned Lamont, had sought to <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/governor-flip-flops-away-from-truck-only-toll-promise/">create Truck only toll roads in the state of Connecticut</a>. Due to legal issues, he has backed off that idea. Instead, he is looking at creating toll roads across the entire state for all vehicles. The chances of this happening are slim because people, while naïve to the plight of the trucker and they tend not to worry about things that indirectly affect them, will not be in support of something that adds a more direct burden on themselves.

Feb 22, 2019 • Carriers

Industry Update - January 17, 2020 <h4>By Paul DeCoste</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Did you Know?</strong></h3> This week, the Senate passed a <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/senate-passes-usmca-trade-deal">new trade deal with Canada and Mexico</a> that will boost current American exports to those countries by $33 billion. The official 89-10 Senate vote gave us a rare example of bipartisanship in modern politics. Since this deal expands the amount of agriculture and manufacturing that needs to be transported, it will end up being great for the trucking industry. On top of that, this deal introduces new ways to eliminate fraud and counterfeit goods, allowing the digital sector of the American economy to flourish. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Trucking Tip of the Week</strong></h3> <a href="https://www.truckersnews.com/gear/roaster-makes-in-cab-cooking-taste-homemade/">Cooking on the road?</a> RoadPro’s new portable roaster makes it easy to cook delicious meals right in your cab. The roaster plugs into any 12-volt power outlet and can accommodate glass baking sheets or reusable aluminum baking pans. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Startup Technology</strong></h3> <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/toyota-invests-394-million-in-flying-taxi-startup-joby-aviation">This startup company is reinventing the way we think about commuting.</a> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> This week, Joby Aviation received a $394 million investment from Toyota. Joby Aviation is working to create a flying taxi that can hit top speeds of 200 mph and run off a battery charge for over 150 miles. In addition to the capital that Toyota has invested, Joby has raised a total of $720 million to make their transportation solution practical for the masses. Although most of the information about this VTOL aircraft is kept secret, pictures prove that it consists of six rotors and has five seats inside the cockpit. <h3></h3> <h3>Combating<strong> Human Trafficking</strong></h3> Susan Collins, along with 7 other members of Congress, <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/susan-collins-7-other-lawmakers-recognized-combating-human-trafficking">was recognized for her legislative efforts</a> to reduce human trafficking throughout the nation. Over the past few years, Senator Collins has supported legislation that targets online forums that solicit human trafficking. She recently helped pass the “Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2019” legislation. <h3></h3> <h3>Tire Thieves Caught</h3> <a href="https://cdllife.com/2020/texas-couple-sentenced-for-semi-truck-tire-theft-conspiracy/">Joel Vargas, 34 and his wife, Angelica Vargas, 39</a>, were recently sentenced to 235 months and 60 months, respectively, in federal prison for robbing more than 100 tire stores over a 15-year period. They continuously targeted commercial tire businesses and stole numerous amounts of rental vehicles to carry out their jobs. They are part of a multiple-person conspiracy which ended with the convictions of five other individuals.

Jan 17, 2020 • Carriers