
Love’s travel stop in Florida won’t allow truck parking during bike week.
The Love’s travel stop in Ormond Beach of I-95 will not allow trucks to park from March 10–19 due to the increased traffic resulting from Bike Week. In the past, local law enforcement officials say there have been up to three miles of backups on I-1 and 1-95 near the Love’s location because of the event. Trucks will still be allowed to fuel up at the location.
There are over 7,000 locations for parking in the Trucker Path app. Be sure to plan ahead to find locations with available truck parking nearby. Search for TA & Petro, Pilot & Flying J, independent truck stops and Walmarts that allow overnight truck parking.

“In the past when we attempted to impose 30-minute parking limits for trucks, it was difficult to enforce. The increased traffic volumes for truckers waiting to fuel – combined with the significant influx of cars, trucks and bikes during that week – caused traffic jams to the point that State Police had to close the exit. Love’s wants to provide the necessary fueling for our professional truck driver Customers, but to ensure that is still available, we need to keep the trucks moving in and out at that exit.”
Love’s Location: 1657 US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.




Trucker Spotlight - Fredrick Claxton <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em>
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-2.jpg" alt=""]
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Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Fredrick Claxton</strong>, who's also known as Choicemas on Youtube. A trucker since 2016. Born and raised in NY, he's a creative soul who loves music and art. He didn’t come from money and faced many serious challenges in life. A father of 3 beautiful and brilliant children and has been Married for 27 years. Let's get to know "Choice" as his friends call him and his life as a trucker.
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<h3><strong>Tell us more about who Fredrick is. Any trivia?</strong></h3>
I love my dogs “Milkshake” and “Brooklyn” raised, trained, and bred Pitbulls for a better portion of my life. I’m a thrill seeker, as me and my daughter jumped out of a perfectly good plane over the Gold Coast of Australia landing on the beach last year. I love to build my relationship with the MOST HIGH, and I am extremely interested in cultures, how people think and move, behaviors. I’m somewhat of a compulsive thinker.
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Here is a short story about when I was 3 years old. My parents were in the Military and it was about 7am in the morning and my mother heard a knock on the door: clueless to who it could be so early in the day she woke and opened the door only to see a complete stranger holding my hand in one hand and a big wheel tricycle in the other hand. My mother was taken by surprise and was very thankful for the stranger bringing me home. When my mother asked where he found me, the stranger explained that I was casually riding my tricycle down the side of a road. The theme of the story has stayed with me throughout my life. I’m always ready to go, ready to travel, fearlessly setting out on new adventures.
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The Star of my YouTube Channel is my 9 month old, beautiful mixed Pitbull puppy, “MILKSHAKE”.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-3.jpg" alt=""]
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I am the Co-Founder and president of the “Truckers Feeding The Homeless” organization. In the past 2 years we’ve fed and clothed over 1,000 less fortunate men, women, AND CHILDREN in Louisville and Dallas. This year we will be feeding 300+ less fortunate people in Houston, TX... as well as supplying them with hygiene packages and clothing.
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<h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3>
I was working in the same job for 15 years, facilitating classes to Motivate and inspire Management teams with GAP Inc. also forged relationships with Community based Orgs such as Habitat for Humanity, Fred’s Pantry, and AIDS Walk NY. Unfortunately, the company’s direction was not what it was when I started. I decided I wanted a change. I like music, I like driving, and I live traveling. I thought about getting a CDL and pursued it. I chose Flatbed and enjoyed the position very much.
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Now I have my own of my trucking company, STC Trucking LLC. STC stands for stop the clock which is the theme and titles of my live feeds.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-4.jpg" alt=""]
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<h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3>
I’m not sure I’ve been around long enough to speak to what’s changed significantly. I hear seasoned veterans speak of the significant changes and differences all the time. May would say the HOS and ELD mandate, however I began my career in the ELD time. If I had to say something about significant change, I would say that more and more drivers, especially new generation drivers are becoming more and more aware of the Truck Stops, Mega Carriers, taking full advantage of drivers in ways that do not show an appreciation for what we do. Truck driving is listed in the TOP 10 Most dangerous jobs in the world, and many are away from their families, and there are truck graveyards out here that unfortunately are locations where lives were lost. This country, this WORLD can not and will not move without Trucks. Everything and anything from the grass and front lawns of neighborhoods, to the nuts and bolts of technology, to the building supplies, to the... list goes on. Look around. With that said, many new generation drivers are steering their way into their own trucks as Owner Operators, giving them more power, control, and a say out here on the road.
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Something that really NEEDS to change (which I think would be a great question to ask) is compensation!!! Even the Militaries that protect countries NEED trucks. Why is that truck drivers are being compensated with border line poverty salaries? I truly believe all truck drivers should make no less than 80k a year if not six figures. Too much sacrifice, and very dangerous, and unhealthy to receive less than.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-5.jpg" alt=""]
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<h3><strong>What made you start your Choicemas Youtube channel?</strong></h3>
My mother was fighting cancer at the time. Knowing she couldn’t join me on the road, she wanted me to document my travels. So, she purchased a GoPro action camera for me. Soon after posting videos, for my family to watch, I received a considerable amount of feedback from other truckers. Especially truckers new to the industry, as well as others considering acquiring a Class A License. I received a substantial amount of email, and comments on my videos stating how inspired and encouraged they all were, and thanking me for creating the videos and documenting my journey. In turn, they inspired me to built the YouTube Channel.
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My friends and family calls me "Choice”. It is a handle I was given by friends in High School. They also nicknamed me “M.A.S” (pronounced like *mass). MAS is an acronym for Mind And Spirit. Hence the name, “Choicemas”.
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<h3><strong>What attributes must one have in order to be a successful truck driver?</strong></h3>
Patience, Resilience, Foresight, Safety Mindset, Time Management
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-6.jpg" alt=""]
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<h3><strong>What's the most memorable experience you've had while over the road?</strong></h3>
I had a “Ghost” or “Spirit” encounter on the road at night in Montana in the dead of winter. I’m not crazy, and they say seeing is believing.
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<h3><strong>What's your favorite Truck Brand / Model? </strong></h3>
The 389 Peterbilt, as it is a classic, clean, and mean looking machine. It is a beautiful truck. I now finance a 2021 Black & Chrome 389, and enjoying every minute of it going down the road.
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<h3><strong> Aside from being a trucker, any other things you dream of doing?</strong></h3>
I dream of owning a ranch/farm in the desert with an outdoor kitchen and an in-ground pool. And in 2 years I will have that dream. I also dream of traveling the world to as many different countries as possible, and will live to explore each culture and aim to create an intimate relationship with every new culture... the way of life, the culinary, the art, the music, and most of all the people.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-7.png" alt=""]
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<h3><strong>What's the best truck stop for you?</strong></h3>
I can’t say that I have a best truck stop. I like 1-80 Wolcott just because I like to browse the store really. I frequent LOVES truck stop the most only because they offer the best in rewards.
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<h3><strong>What was the worst breakdown or setback you've experienced while OTR?</strong></h3>
I got jammed up in a Blizzard in Lake Tahoe for 5 days in 2017. Worst blizzard Lake Tahoe had seen in 5 years a resident told me while getting something to eat in a nearby gas station. I also had to dig my truck and trailer out of the snow. After 5 days of snowfall the snow was up to my door and the trailer completely snowed in as well. I ended up parking in the street as there was nowhere else to park and Bull dozers plowed around me every day and night.
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<h3><strong>We're glad that you use the Trucker Path on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?</strong></h3>
I do use <a href="https://sixdays.page.link/tLUu">Trucker Path</a> every day. The features I enjoy the most are “Places”. It would also be amazing if I could be able to pull Gyms and Wellness centers up in the “Places” feature soon. It would also state that TP considers the health of drivers. I love that I can check the reviews of each place and especially WalMarts to see if parking is allowed (for trip planning purposes). I also like the breakdown it gives of each place, listing such things as Laundry, Fuel, Truck Service, Etc. One thing I don’t see on there are “Pet Bathing Services as some of these truck stops have them. I use the Map constantly. It really helps me to escape traffic jams when I need to get off at a random exit to move around a traffic jam.
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<h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3>
Tips for aspiring truckers: Never give up, have a mindset that speaks “failure is NOT an option. If you must start your career with a mega carrier, get your 2 years experience, keep your license clean, no accidents or tickets, and you can choose your path after that. Choose a smaller company, get away from the Mega Carriers and KNOW what you want and what you DON’T want, and go for it!!! NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!!! PRACTICE self-advocacy in any situation and with any employer. Over communicate. It is imperative to communicate as much as possible with dispatch, brokers, shippers, and receivers. It will save a ton of headaches and unexpected challenges if a driver is 2 steps ahead and has all the information they need as well as provides all the information they can. Be considerate!! There is a list comradeship out here that once existed. Be the better man/woman and give positive energy ALL the time, as it will return in a positive way. For Flatbedders a serious piece of advice would be dress for the weather. It can be freezing outside, but that doesn’t mean we have to be freezing. If you dress correctly it will not intimidate you.
Hiking socks are the way to go ALWAYS, because they let your feet breathe in the summer and keep your feet warm in the boot in the winter. Several pairs of gloves, base layers, bibs, and more. There are plenty ways to stay warm out here. I do.
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Fredrick-Claxton-8.jpg" alt=""]
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<h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?</strong></h3>
They can view my videos on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/choicemas">Choicemas</a>.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dvvw7KwR-y4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Hope you guys enjoy!
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<h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4>
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7 Tips on Healthy Eating For Truck Drivers [h2] Healthy Eating for Truck Drivers [/h2]
[p]It's never too late to rediscover healthy eating habits especially healthy eating for truck drivers. Here are seven tips to help promote better nutrition and healthy eating for truck drivers.[/p]
[p]Sure, it's easy to swing by a [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]truck stop near you[/a] and grab a few cheese-smothered chili dogs, but that offers no nutritional benefits to healthy eating for truck drivers. The goal should be to create healthy habits and make it a lifestyle. These habits should be deeper than just what you eat, but also when you eat and how your shop for your food.[/p]
[h2]1. How Often Should I Eat?[/h2]
[p]Before we talk about shopping and cooking we should talk about something extremely important: eating. Our society and the trucking industry has been organized around the idea that people should only eat about 3 times a day. For healthy eating for truck drivers, this is not necessarily the best choice. [/p]
[p]While this might be more efficient in terms of consuming maximum calories in minimum time and getting back on the road, it is not always the best plan for your health. Instead, aim for around five smaller meals each day. This might seem crazy but it is necessary to metabolize food more efficiently.[/p]
[h2]2. How Our Body Processes Food[/h2]
[p]Your body is designed to absorb calories, use them for energy and then burn them off. In order for your body to make use of the food, what you eat has to be broken down into a form of sugar called glucose. This is a natural process and for most, the human body does this quite well. You have probably heard people talking about their “blood sugar level”, and what they are referring to is the amount of glucose in their blood.[/p]
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[h2]3. Why Should I Care About My Blood Sugar Levels?[/h2]
[p]Your body has a normal range for the amount of [a href="https://thehungryhauler.com/"]glucose in your blood[/a] (between 4.0 and 11.0) and it has a beautiful system for managing that level. Hormones like insulin keep your blood sugar from getting too high and becoming toxic, and another awesome compound, glucagon keeps your sugar from getting too low and making you pass out. It is something like a highway with really good guard rails that keep a truck from running off the road.[/p]
[p]The only problem is that it is possible to overwhelm this excellent system and cause a wreck. Actually, many people are overwhelming it every day and causing small “fender benders” that lead to a total cataclysm later in life called diabetes.[/p]
[p]So why does this make eating only three times per day (or fewer) a bad idea? Because you can end up constantly overwhelming the system with extreme blood sugar highs and lows. If you wait to eat until you are extremely hungry and have very low blood sugar, your body will send the signal that you are starving, and when you do eat it is often much easier to overeat unhealthy and convenient food. Healthy eating for truck drivers requires you to eat when you're hungry and avoid a severe dip in blood sugar.[/p]
[h2]4. How Much Should I Be Eating?[/h2]
[p]Some people conclude that the solution is to simply eat drastically less overall and there is a grain of truth to this. While dramatically reducing your caloric intake does cause the body to burn stored fat to stay alive, it can signal your body to store everything you do eat, which results in rebound weight gain when you do return to a more normal diet. Starving yourself is not the answer.[/p]
[p]Thankfully there is a much better way. Simply, eat a reasonable amount of food more often. Eating five or six smaller and healthier meals per day is like steering down the middle of your lane instead of bouncing your truck off the guard rails all day. This practice will help you feel more content and stop your body from deciding to store fat for hibernation. Of course, if you eat more often and end up eating more food overall you will still have trouble being healthy. The objective is to eat an appropriate amount of food, in a more sustainable way. Typically, 2,000–2,500 daily calories are suggested; however, consulting a healthcare professional is the best way to understand what an appropriate daily caloric intake means for your individual health needs.[/p]
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[h2]5. What Are the Benefits to Eating More Often?[/h2]
[p]There is also an enormous safety benefit to eating more often and avoiding the blood sugar spikes: you are less likely to feel drowsy at the wheel. Most people have experienced the after dinner slump that makes it all but impossible to keep your eyes open after a big meal. That might be fine after Christmas dinner when you are lounging on the couch at home, but at work, behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound-plus rig, it can be a disaster.[/p]
[h2]6. How Do I Plan My Meals?[/h2]
[p]You might be wondering: how on earth is it possible to eat five or more meals per day? Who has the time to stop for food that often? There is a way to make your diet much simpler, more healthy, easier to sustain over the long term, and much less expensive! The key is to learn to shop for your own food and cook for yourself on the road. It is much easier than it may sound, and the rewards for your health and happiness are amazing! It will even allow you to have more freedom to implement your doctor's specific recommendations.[/p]
[h2]7. Eat What You Want. Sort of[/h2]
[p]Anyone who has dealt with eating healthier has heard the term portion control. Controlling what, how much, how often you eat and making sensible, sustainable choices is the path to solving many of the health risks of the trucking lifestyle. To eat healthier you don't have to give up all of your favorite foods and consume a spinach and carrot based diet like a rabbit. Instead of going to the extreme, eating a balanced diet will keep you “between the lines” and on the road to better health. Extremes are by nature quite unsustainable and will not help you. Just like over-steering on the highway to avoid a crash can actually end up killing you, bouncing from one diet extreme to another, like chili-dogs to rabbit food, will just leave your lifestyle in a bewildering wreck.[/p]
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[p]The cornerstone of a healthy life is healthy eating for truck drivers. Eating healthy is difficult for truck drivers who are on the road for weeks at a time. Most trucks aren’t designed with a fully equipped kitchen or proper food storage. Even if you can manage to find space for some cooking gear, it is often difficult to consistently find time in a busy schedule to prepare a good meal. We all want to be around long enough to enjoy time with our families and loved ones. The best way to ensure this is to focus on eating healthier as a truck driver.[/p]
[p]By: [a href="https://thehungryhauler.com/"]John Heslop[/a][/p]
Best Fleet to Drive For
[p]The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced the 2017 Best Fleet to Drive For. Did yours [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]make the list[/a]?[/p]
[h2]2017 Best Fleet to Drive For[/h2]
[p][i](List is in alphabetical order)[/i][/p]
[ul]
[li]Bison Transport – Winnipeg, MB (Canada)[/li]
[li]Boyle Transportation – Billerica, MA[/li]
[li]Central Oregon Trucking Company, Inc. – Redmond, OR[/li]
[li]Challenger Motor Freight Inc. – Cambridge, ON (Canada)[/li]
[li]Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. – Fremont, NE[/li]
[li]FTC Transportation, Inc. – Oklahoma City, OK[/li]
[li]Garner Trucking, Inc. – Findlay, OH[/li]
[li]Grand Island Express, Inc. – Grand Island, NE[/li]
[li]Halvor Lines, Inc. – Superior, WI[/li]
[li]Interstate Distributor Co. – Tacoma, WA[/li]
[li]Kriska Holdings Ltd. – Prescott, ON (Canada)[/li]
[li]Landstar System, Inc. – Jacksonville, FL[/li]
[li]Maverick Transportation, LLC – North Litte Rock, AR[/li]
[li]Motor Carrier Service, LLC – Northwood, OH[/li]
[li]Nussbaum Transportation – Hudson, IL[/li]
[li]ONE For Freight – Milton, ON (Canada)[/li]
[li]Prime Inc. – Springfield, MO[/li]
[li]Smokey Point Distribution – Arlington, VA[/li]
[li]TLD Logistics Services, Inc. – Knoxville, TN[/li]
[li]TransPro Freight Systems Ltd. – Milton, ON (Canada)[/li]
[/ul]
[h2]Qualifications to Be Considered for 2017 Best Fleets to Drive For[/h2]
[p]To be considered, a fleet must have 10 or more trucks and receive a nomination from at least one company driver or owner-operator and have "exemplary work environments" for truck drivers and various employees. CarriersEdge conducted interviews with representatives from fleets human resources department regarding "corporate direction, policies, and programs" according to TCA.[/p]
[p]Fleets were judged on a points system with categories:[/p]
[ul]
[li]Total compensation[/li]
[li]Health benefits[/li]
[li]Pension plan[/li]
[li]Professional development opportunities[/li]
[li]Career path/advancement opportunities[/li]
[/ul]
[p]Fremont Contract Carriers, Grand Island Express, Landstar System and Motor Carrier Service received the distinct honor of making the Best Fleets list for five or more times while FTC Transportation and Halvor Lines made the list for a fifth consecutive year. Five of the fleets on the list are based in Canada.[/p]
[p]“These companies represent the best of the best in truckload. As industry innovators, they bring fresh ideas that not only create a desirable workplace for employees, but also propel trucking to exciting new terrains,” said TCA President John Lyboldt.[/p]
[p]The winning fleets will be announced at TCA's Annual Convention, March 26–29, 2017, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.[/p]