Dec 05, 2017 • Community

Truck Parking Prediction

Truck Parking Prediction

Find truck parking near you with the new Trucker Path Truck Parking feature.

Truck Parking Prediction

If you’re a truck driver, then you’re well aware of the lack of available truck parking in America. It’s one of the top issues plaguing the trucking industry and is both a safety risk for drivers and costs trucking companies billions.

We discovered that almost half of the truck drivers spend an hour or more searching for available truck parking. Between the ELD mandate and overcrowded truck stops, it’s no surprise. Still, the burden shouldn’t be left on the drivers. They have enough to worry about, after all, being a truck driver is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

Take The Guesswork Out of Finding Truck Parking

Now there’s a solution to finding truck parking with our new Parking Predictor!

This new parking feature compiles several years of data to forecast the availability of parking at truck stops and other locations. Now you can compare specific times of day at over 8,000 locations to see when parking is either full or has spots for trucks.

Try Trucker Path Today

How To Use It:

1. Open the Trucker Path app

2. Click on a Location found on the map

3. Click PREDICTION

4. View the Parking Predictions to verify when the best (and worst) times to park at the location will be.

Truck Parking looks limited at this place Wednesday mornings, you might want to find an alternative location.

It’s as easy as that! Now you can eliminate wasted time searching for a spot and find nearby truck parking with confidence. A little peace of mind goes a long way and you won’t have to worry about violating your HOS with this new feature.

Tagstruck drivers truck stops

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] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/kVVEP6SmfEXvy" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [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] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/xtgZt3jZelFqU" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [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] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/n2v0V9cSmTQnS" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [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]

Jan 10, 2017 • Community

2020 Trucker's Choice Award <div style="text-align: justify"> [p] With how things unfolded and ended in 2020, the OTR lifestyle couldn’t have been any rockier. At Trucker Path, we’ve always recognized and appreciated the truck stops that are loved and endorsed by truckers, especially during hard times like the COVID pandemic. With that being said, the top 10 independent and chain truck stops in the US that are selected by truckers’ overall rating, review and report are finally here, and the winners will be given the Trucker's Choice Award. We've also selected the top 5 truck stops in each continental state and 3 major highways (I-75, I-80, and I-95). Check out the list below to see if your favorite truck stop made the list. [/p] [h2]Top 5 Chain Truck Stops in the US[/h2] [p]<strong>1. <a href="https://mach1stores.com/locations/store-12" target="_blank">Mach 1 #12 – West Frankfort, IL</a> | Rating: 4.4</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Mach-1-12.jpg" alt=""] [p]In addition to regular amenities such as huge truck parking area, lots of shower rooms and car wash, the Mach 1 #12 location in south Illinois always offers a clean and hygienic environment that truckers love. And nothing beats that during a time like this. Their attention to trucker's feedback and willingness to learn what truckers think about them is also what earns them the accolade. Plus if little caesars is your thing, this gotta be your spot.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Alan-Meyer-copy.jpg" alt=""] <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey">Alan Meyer, Mach 1 CEO</span></p> <blockquote>"...I believe TP is one of the best forms of communication about us. TP is allowing drivers to talk. It’s a great word of mouth. It’s like a gas buddy for truckers but the truckers are a very dedicated user base. I religiously look at reviews about us because that’s the best way to see what truckers are thinking about us," said Alan Meyer, the CEO of Mach 1. </blockquote> [p]<strong>2. <a href="https://www.loves.com/locations/763" target="_blank">Love's Travel Stop #763 – Hampshire, IL</a> | Rating: 4.2</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/1-Loves-763.jpg" alt=""] [p]Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the nation’s leading travel stop network with more than 540 locations in 41 states. It was founded in 1964 by Tom and Judy Love and is headquartered in Oklahoma City. Friendly staff, spacious parking and a plethora of refreshments are what truckers often think about Love's, and the same can be said for their #763 location in Hampshire, IL as well. What's notable is that Love's also goes out of its way to provide truckers and travelers a clean and safe place to stop by. [/p] <blockquote>“2020 was challenging, but team members and customers were agile in their response to changes implemented at Love’s because of COVID-19,” said Caitlin Campbell, the media relations specialist from Love’s. “Last March, Love’s implemented extra cleaning and sanitizing measures, and was the first national truck stop to implement a mask mandate and added plexiglass to stores to help protect customers and employees.”</blockquote> [p]<strong>3. <a href="http://www.sappbros.net/travel-centers/locations/harrisonville/" target="_blank">Sapp Bros Travel Center – Harrisonville, MO</a> | Rating: 4.4</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Sapp-Bro.jpg" alt=""] [p] Despite being a long-standing national chain truck stop with great facility, Sapp Bros is also a Christian-valued company and petroleum wholesale distributor. So you might not find a cold beer here, but they have one of the best mechanics team to give your truck the service it needs. Besides, Sapp Bros provides bidets in the ladies' room. A mother-friendly truck stop indeed. Partnership with ministries to offer truckers service over the road and working with trucking organizations to give back to the communities is part of Sapp Bros' core belief as well.[/p] <blockquote>"Giving back to the communities we serve and philanthropy is very important to us. In the past we have supported several local organizations as well organizations specifically geared to drivers such as St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, Wounded Warriors Family Support, Truckers Against Trafficking, and more," said Andrea Galvin, the marketing manager at Sapp Bros. "We have a partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking to train our employees and drivers that want to get TAT trained to be more knowledgeable on the indicators of human trafficking."</blockquote> [p]<strong>4. <a href="https://locations.pilotflyingj.com/us/nv/mesquite/1057-s.-lower-flat-top-drive" target="_blank">The Pilot Flying J Travel Center #1171 – Mesquite, NV</a> | Rating: 4.1</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Flying-J-Travel-Center-1171.jpeg" alt=""] [p] The Pilot Flying J Travel Center #1171 has been a must-stop for many truckers heading to Utah from Nevada. Nice and clean private shower room, laundry facility and spacious parking lot. There are Wendy’s, Chester’s Fried Chicken and Mr. Taco as your dining options. Its loyalty programs and partnership always aim to provide value for truckers. It's got everything truckers need for the long haul.[/p] <blockquote>"We continue to evolve and enhance our loyalty program to provide more value to our guests, including the Push4Points promotion that began in April 2020. With Push4Points, professional drivers can earn up to 4 points per gallon every month once activating the program in the Pilot Flying J app," said Samantha Monnig, the media relation manager of Flying J Travel Center. "The Pilot Flying J app provides drivers with contactless ways to manage their rewards, reserve showers and parking, get receipts or mobile fuel. We also provide much-needed credit and financial services to fleets and the trucking industry through the Axle Fuel Card and our recently announced factoring partnership with RTS." </blockquote> [p]<strong>5. <a href="https://roadys.com/location/1058/Jerome-ID/Roadys-Mr-Gas/" target="_blank">Roady’s Mr. Gas Travel Center – Jerome, ID</a> | Rating: 4.6</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Roadys-Mr.-Gas-Tavel-Center-4.jpeg" alt=""] [p] Located just between I-84 and Jerome, Mr. Gas was established in 1923 and has been serving truckers and travelers in Idaho since then. It's known for having the best showers and restrooms in the area. What you won't get at any other truck stops is their in-door food trucks. Never miss a taco Tuesday over the road. During the pandemic, Mr. Gas also prepared many precautions to maintain its hygiene. [/p] <blockquote>"The top challenge[during the pandemic], out of many, is to make sure our employees and customers feel safe. That is why we have over 40 hand sanitizing stations throughout our Travel Center to encourage clean hands. We have also increased our cleaning checklist to ensure our store is clean and sanitized," said Nick Lynch, the president of Mr. Gas Travel Center.</blockquote> [h2]Top 5 Independent Truck Stops in the US[/h2] [p]<strong>1. <a href="https://noblesrestaurantandtruckstop.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank">Noble's Restaurant and Truck Stop – Corinth, KY</a> | Rating: 4.6</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Nobles-Restaurant-and-Truck-Stop-food-.jpg" alt=""] [p] Located at the eastbound of the intersection of I-75 and US330, this independent truck stop has given many truckers a throwback feel. Unlike some rowdy truck stops, quaint, quiet and homely are what truckers often describe the place. With cheap gas, good food and ample parking, Noble's will always have its spot on I-75. [p/] <blockquote>"Amazing food and fuel price just saved me over 50 bucks today. Will be back at this old school truck stop," reviewed by Trucker Path users.</blockquote> [p]<strong>2. <a href="https://www.bigappletravelcenters.com/store-joplin" target="_blank">Big Apple Travel Center – Joplin, MO</a> | Rating: 4.7</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/Big-Apple-Travel-Center.jpg" alt=""] [p] Big Apple Travel Center is proclaimed to be the best truck stop in Joplin, MO and one of the best truck stops in the midwest. It strives to provide a clean and friendly environment to its truckers and make sure their families and vehicles are cared for as well. While the pandemic has given it a hard time, the locals’ favorite has a plan to build even more to make truckers feel at home. [p/] <blockquote>"Here at Big Apple Travel Centers we focus on a few key goals. Clean facility & restrooms, perfect customer service and quality food," said Heather, the manager at Big Apple Travel Center Joplin. "These 3 things are what our customers appreciate. But this couldn't have been done without our team. Our team works around the clock to make sure everything is perfect for anyone who walks through our doors. We also started something called First Fifty. First Fifty represents the customers we serve from all fifty states with the first $50 in sales of the daily special items. This equals a minimum of $18,000 a year in giving to our local charities. As we are seeing great feedback of our operations, we are expanding in the cities of Springfield, Boonville & Tri Cities, Washington. These 3 locations are ready to go for construction and we are happy to have the support from our team and loyal customers. As far as Joplin goes, we unfortunately didn't have a grand opening due to COVID. As we expand with our truck wash and dog wash in the coming months or so, we will be planning on having a proper grand opening with the city. Our Joplin location has a lot more coming and we are honored to represent Joplin City!" </blockquote> [p]<strong>3. <a href="http://www.russellsttc.com/" target="_blank">Russell's Truck and Travel – Springer, NM</a> | Rating: 4.5</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Russells-Truck-and-Travel-Car-Museum.jpg" alt=""] [p] The New Mexico mom and pop truck stop was founded by Emory & Barbara Russell with their faith in God and perseverance. It offers more than just cheap gas and clean shower rooms. It comes with a chapel, restaurant, Subway, tire shop and an intriguing classic car museum. There are also various programs and perks that Russell's been doing for truckers. A place worth stopping by when hauling through New Mexico.[/p] <blockquote> "We have AMBEST. We do double AMBEST points for the drivers that have AMBEST cards. We have our monthly specials in trucker supply-type items," said Mark, the manager of Russell's Truck and Travel. "Once a year, we do truckers appreciation and we do it for two days. It's a full brisket dinner and we just feed them all for nothing and usually try and make a big deal with just showing off the drivers that we appreciate all of the stuff buying."</blockquote> [p]<strong>4. <a href="https://tennesseantruckstop.com/" target="_blank">Tennessean Truck Stop – Connersville, TN</a> | Rating: 4.5</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Tennessean-Truck-Stop-1.jpg" alt=""] [p] The Tennessean Truck Stop has been family-owned, operated and loved by the locals since 1974. Down home and down the road has been their slogan. Helpful staff and great can't even do them justice. They also offer a southern homestyle buffet, famous Pops BBQ and ice cream parlor. The generous southern hospitality is their character at heart, and it has left a memorable impression for many truckers passing by the south.[/p] <blockquote> "Comfort, respect, service, food. This is what sets this truck stop apart from others. Great parking too," said Larry Bailey, a local and regular at the Tennessean Truck Stop.</blockquote> [p]<strong>5. <a href="https://geeceestruckstop.com/" target="_blank">Gee Cee's Truck Stop – Toledo, WA</a> | Rating: 4.7</strong>[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/Gee-Cees-Truck-Stop-Pottery-1.jpg" alt=""] [p] Gee Cee's Truck Stop has been around since 1986, and many truckers said that it's one of the nicer truck stops with an old school feel. It's known for its good quality diesel, full range truck repair service, a family-style restaurant and a huge deli section that's available 24 hours. [/p] <blockquote> "We been here since 1986 and it's family-owned. Gee Cee stands from the initials of the original owner Gail. The owner now is Jim Wallace," said Bridgette, the staff at Gee Cee's Truck Stop. "We have a big parking lot, a huge deli and 6 showers for truckers. And We have a loyalty card that earns you points when you refuel here." </blockquote> [p]<em>If you're a truck stop owner and wants to promote your business in the Trucker Path app, feel free to contact us at <a href="mailto:partners@truckerpath.com" target="_blank">partners@truckerpath.com</a></em>[/p] [p]Aside from the national winners of the Trucker's Choice Award, we also selected trucker-favored top 5 truck stops in each continental state and along I-75, I-80, and I-95 highways.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/01/202101-TCA-BlogGraphic.jpg" alt=""] <div id="support-table-1"></div> <script src="https://campaign.truckerpath.com/support-table-1/support-table-1/main.js"></script> </div>

Feb 01, 2021 • Community

Trucker Terms [p] If you're going to make it in trucking these are the trucker terms you'll want to remember along with some good ole trucking slang you'll hear on the CB radio. [/p] [h2] Trucker Terms [/h2] [p] Being a trucker is not only a unique way of life, it also comes with a unique way of communicating that only those in the trucking industry probably can decipher and understand. [/p] [p] <strong> 10-4 - </strong> acknowledging something [/p] [p] <strong> 10-6 - </strong> busy right now [/p] [p] <strong> 10-8 - </strong> en route [/p] [p] <strong> 20 -</strong> location [/p] [p] <strong> 4-Wheeler -</strong> automobile [/p] [p] <strong> APU -</strong> authorized pick-up [/p] [p] <strong> Backhaul -</strong> retuning load to home location [/p] [p] <strong> Bear Trap - </strong> speed radar trap [/p] [p] <strong> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/freight-contracts/">Bill of Lading</a> - </strong> document that details information regarding the goods being hauled by a carrier from a shipper [/p] [p] <strong> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/what-is-a-weigh-station/">Chicken Coop</a> - </strong> Weigh Station [/p] [p] <strong> Chicken Lights - </strong> Added lights on and around a truck [/p] [p] <strong> Chocks -</strong>blocks placed in front and behind wheels to prevent truck from rolling [/p] [p] <strong>Cosignee - </strong>person who receives the goods [/p] [p] <strong>Cosignor - </strong>person who ships the goods [/p] [p] <strong> County Mounty -</strong> - county sheriff [/p] [p] <strong> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/what-is-deadhead/">Deadhead -</a></strong> miles driven with no load [/p] [p] <strong> Dry Van -</strong>standard enclosed truck trailer [/p] [p] <strong> ETA -</strong> estimated time of arrival [/p] [p] <strong> Freightshaker -</strong> Freightliner truck [/p] [p] <strong> GCW (Gross Combined Weight) - </strong> combined wieght of tractor/trailer and load [/p] [p] <strong> Gear Jammer -</strong>speeding driver [/p] [p] <strong>Hammer Down -</strong> drive faster [/p] [p] <strong> Hopper -</strong> truck that empties load through bottom that opens [/p] [p] <strong> HOS -</strong>hours of service [/p] [p] <strong> Intermodal -</strong> shipping container freight [/p] [p] <strong>Jack-Knife -</strong>when trailer is pushed to the side of the tractor [/p] [p] <strong> K-whopper - </strong>Kenworth truck [/p] [p] <strong> Kingpin - </strong> pin where the axel wheel pivots [/p] [p] <strong> LTL (Less Than Truckload) -</strong> load less than 10,000 lbs. [/p] [p] <strong> Motor Carrier -</strong> person or company that is responsible for transporting goods via a commercial motor vehicle [/p] [p] <strong>P&D Driver -</strong> pickup and delivery driver locally [/p] [p] <strong>Payload - </strong>weight of the load [/p] [p] <strong>Peddle Run - </strong>route with lots of deliveries [/p] [p] <strong>Pete - </strong> Peterbilt truck [/p] [p] <strong>RC (Rate Confirmation) -</strong> the rate shipper or broker agrees to pay carrier to haul a load [/p] [p] <strong> Reefer -</strong> refridgerated truck trailer [/p] [p] <strong> Shiny Side Up - </strong> top of truck; don't crash or roll over [/p] [p] <strong> Sliding Fifth Wheel - </strong> fifth wheel that can be slid back to redistrubute weight on the axels [/p] [p] <strong>Trucking Authority -</strong>FMCSA approval to haul loads [/p] [p] <strong>Willy Weaver - </strong>drunk driver [/p] [h2] Using Trucker Path Along Your Route [/h2] [p] Now that you know the trucker terms and are talking like a real driver, it's time you use a tool that most truckers rely on to help them save time and money - the <strong>Trucker Path app. </strong> [/p] [p] Trucker Path is free to download and helps drivers: [/p] [ul] [li] Find truck parking with real-time updates [/li] [li] Browse through the list of amenities a location offers [/li] [li] Check to see if a weigh station is open or not [/li] [li] View Walmart locations and know if they allow truck parking [/li] [li] Compare diesel prices to save on fuel[/li] [li] Plan their route to show locations along their trip [/li] [li] Read through fellow drivers reviews of a location [/li] [li] Find restaurants near truck parking locations and much more! [/li] [/ul] [button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=truckerterms "]Try Trucker Path Today![/button-green] [video id="EIs5Rk6xpm4"]

Oct 05, 2017 • Carriers