Industry News & Tips for Truck Drivers

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Written by: Kate Williams

May 30, 2018

Trucking is a great way to see the world, but there are a few downsides. Trying to determine whether the diesel prices in front of you are the best or if fuel is cheaper ten miles down the road? Wondering if you should mentally prepare for rain or will enjoy a few more hours of smooth sailing down the interstate? These questions and many more are likely running through your head as you are trucking along.

The good news is you have technology today in the palm of your hand that can answer many of these questions for you! Just download some of the best trucking apps to help you get your job done.

If you are not currently using an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet to save time and money on the job, then you are in for a treat. There are literally hundreds of trucking apps available, but only a few of them have made our "best of the best" list for truckers, small trucking fleet owners, and Owner Operators.

Predicting the Weather

Driving in inclement weather is probably not your first choice, so why not schedule around it when you can? While it won't always work out, there are times that you can schedule a break around a massive rainstorm that is supposed to be short-lived. If you are on a tight schedule and cannot stop or pull over, at least you can mentally prepare for the deluge of rain, hail or snow headed your way! These apps will help keep you safe on the road:

• Weather Channel App: Easy to use and highly reliable, the Weather Channel App allows you to check the radar and forecast hour by hour regardless of your physical location. 
• DriveWeather | App for Truckers: Track the forecast along your long-haul route by departure time or compare weather conditions along different routes to your destination. 

Getting (or Staying!) in Shape

Numerous physical health studies have touted the long- and short-term health benefits derived from even short stints of physical activity. While it is essential for drivers to take their mandated break in service hours, getting up and moving around during part of this time may also be beneficial for their health, to help drivers keep their focus on driving conditions, and maintain a strong safety record.

The long hours of sitting behind a steering wheel can really take a toll on a truck driver's body, and it isn't always easy to find healthy, nutritious food at truck stops. It's incredibly important to protect your long-term health by looking for ways you can compromise, either with quick exercises you can fit in during a stop or by being more aware of how many calories you're eating on a daily basis.

 These apps will help you track your physical movement and provide much-needed motivation to get (or stay!) in shape on the road:

• My Fitness Pal: Track your daily food intake as well as your carbs, sugars, fats and how much water you're drinking. Staying well-hydrated can be a challenge, especially when you need to limit stops on the road. You can even see how many calories you are burning when you do some in-cabin crunches or leg lifts!
• Lost It!: This community-based weight loss app provides you with easy access to food and exercise tracking, as well as a way to get in contact with others who are on a similar journey to improve their health. Track progress against goals and stay motivated with this mobile app. 
• FatSecret Calorie Counter: Fast and easy to use, FatSecret Calorie Counter provides nutritional information for thousands of restaurants and foods at your fingertips. You can record your progress and calories and track what you are eating and drinking, too. 

Keep Your Truck's Weight Under Control Too!

Going to a weigh station is a necessary evil for many truck drivers, but did you know that there's sometimes a way around this hassle? Mobile apps today are able to help you skip the lines and breeze right through -- provided your carrier safety score is high enough, of course. If your score isn't where it needs to be for a bypass, you can find friendly weigh stations with these apps:

• Drivewyze Weight Station PreClear: With over 100,000 downloads, Drivewyze is a prized tool for many truckers throughout the states. Over 700 sites accept the Drivewyze app to keep you on the road and skip the weigh-in. Plus, the app is a lightweight and won't drain your battery -- even as it notifies you when you're within 2 miles of a weight or inspection station. 
• Weigh My Truck App: Saving time at weigh stations is a big deal, and with the Weigh My Truck app you're able to pay for your weight using your smartphone right at the scales -- no need to leave your truck! You will receive your weigh ticket via email or you can still opt for a hard copy for your records.

Your Digital Co-Pilot

Not everyone has the luxury of having a live co-pilot on the road, so why not opt for a digital assistant? These apps can do nearly everything for you, from plotting the best route to managing important documents and logistics and even storing a digital log book. 

• CoPilot Truck Navigation: While not a free app, the benefits you'll gain with this long-haul digital assistant may be worth the price. Find the most efficient route, stay away from any potential restrictions and this app could potentially save you a great deal of money over the course of the year. 
• Big Road: This digital log book cuts down on the potential for human error and even calculates your available drive time automatically. The interactive map is another boon for long-haul truckers. Of course, this app is just a recommendation and will not replace the ELD system your company has selected!
• Gas Buddy: Are you always on the lookout for the best prices on gas? Look no further! Gas Buddy utilizes your GPS to find truck-friendly stations with a great price.
• AllStays: When you need to take a break, you may have certain requirements. Showers? Clean restrooms? Laundry or a game room? AllStays has the details that will keep you covered. You can even include specific restaurants in your search requirements! 

Staying safe on the road is the first requirement of the job, but eating right, staying healthy and enjoying your day are also important. This list of the best trucking apps was built to help you stay out of the way of bad weather, find the goods and services that you need and get your job done.

Are you looking for a new trucking job opportunity? CDLjobs.com offers a simple search engine that will connect you to the top paying truck driving jobs in the country. Start looking today -- you are one step closer to finding your dream job! 

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Written by: Kate Williams

May 01, 2018

American truck drivers are responsible for moving the food and products that keeping the nation going. While truckers do immeasurable good for everyday people, underworld figures are using our roadways for human exploitation. Human trafficking has become an international plague that garners billions of dollars for criminals by victimizing women, children and the most vulnerable.

The United States has not been exempted from these horrific crimes and that’s why government, law enforcement, and trucking industry advocates, such as Truckers Against Trafficking are doing their part to raise awareness and save lives.

By getting the facts about human trafficking and what the hard-working men and women of the open road can do, you can put heinous offenders behind bars and end the misery.

Facts About Human Trafficking

The reprehensible practice of human trafficking remains a massive, global industry that reportedly generates upwards of $32 billion each year. Greed and total disregard for other people keeps this cancer on humanity afloat. These are the facts about human trafficking reported by the International Labor Organization.

• Approximately 40.3 million people are forced into modern-day slavery.
• Approximately 24.9 million people are used for forced labor.
• Approximately 4.8 million people are sexually exploited.
• Approximately 4 million people are forced into state-sanctioned labor.
• Approximately 16 million people are forced into private sector industries, such as construction, manufacturing and mining.
• Approximately 3.8 million people are forced into domestic help.
• Approximately 1.7 million people are forced into agriculture labor.
• Approximately 71 percent of all victims are female.
• Approximately 29 percent of all victims are male.
• Approximately 74 percent of all sexually exploited human trafficking victims have been transported outside their country of origin.

According to the U.S. Department of State, upwards of 800,000 people are transported across international borders. Approximately 80 percent of those are women and half of them are mothers.

Human trafficking stands as a catastrophic global enterprise that often operates in plain view. Farms, manufacturing plants and domestic workers are not disguised like underground sexual exploitation schemes. That means this problem extends far beyond major organized crime syndicates such as drug cartels. Human trafficking is big business involving a variety of sectors and these are the numbers, according to the International Labor Organization.

• Human trafficking garners a $150-billion profit annually.
• Approximately $99 billion in human trafficking profits come from sexual exploitation.
• Approximately $34 billion in human trafficking profits come from construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities.
• Approximately $9 billion in human trafficking profits come from agriculture, forestry and fishing.
• Approximately $8 billion in human trafficking profits come from domestic labor.

In many cases, truck drivers unknowingly find themselves on the front lines of these criminal enterprises. The good men and women behind the wheel are the eyes and ears that can save others from the horrors of exploitation.

Truck Drivers Can Help Stop Human Trafficking

The first step toward thwarting despicable human trafficking on America’s roadways is awareness. Truck drivers have emerged as a top resource for law enforcement to crack down on this global epidemic. By recognizing red flags at truck stops and among people you come into contact with, victims can be rescued and criminals will do real jail time. Consider some of these tell-tale signs:

• Be on the lookout for minors lingering around truck stops who may be victims of sexual exploitation.
• Be cognizant of minors who appear to be under the control of adults who are not family members.
• Watch for physical signs of abuse or drug addiction.
• Look for signs of human branding and gangland tattoos.
• Listen on your CB radio for code words such as “Commercial Company.”
• Listen for covert conversations that may pertain to child trafficking. 

Many truck drivers come into contact with high-trafficking sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing among others. These are some of the signs that workers may be victims of exploitation.

• A worker is not free to come and go.
• A worker is a minor in a hard-labor position.
• A worker is not paid or works only for gratuities.
• A worker puts in excessive hours.
• A worker does not enjoy reasonable rest and lunch breaks.
• A worker mentions they are financially indebted to the company.
• A worker was delivered to the company under false pretenses.

Many human trafficking organizations will have excessive security camera systems and cover up windows to prevent public views. Along with these warning signs, people suffering from human trafficking and exploitation may appear malnourished, lack proper health care, avoid making eye contact, have limited personal belongings, and show marks of physical abuse.

Major Trucker Initiatives Combat Human Trafficking

All across the country, local and state programs are being launched to help educate members of the trucking community to recognize the signs of human trafficking.

Truckers may be shocked to know that while there are millions of people forced into labor, only 1,038 cases were prosecuted during 2016, according to the U.S. Department of State. Also, the Department of Justice was only able to secure 439 human trafficking convictions.

Law enforcement relies on everyday citizens to provide real-time information about these illegal activities. Truck drivers that “see something and say something” on the open road may be the best hope to save these ensnared souls.

In April 2018, San Francisco District Attorney requested $1.4 million to support the creation of a human trafficking unit. The call to fund 10 new positions armed with critical tools comes on the heels of a Department on the Status of Women report that discovered an additional 529 survivors in San Francisco.

Although the California city has long suffered a growth in illicit sex operations including massage parlors and brothels, prosecutors were only able to file charges in six out of 10 cases. The harshest conviction resulted in a 97-year prison sentence.

In Colorado, law enforcement plans to maximize truckers’ unique position on the state’s highways by making human trafficking awareness a centerpiece of CDL training. A recently passed law requires CDL applicants to undergo a course that educates and enlightens them about how to recognize signs of human trafficking.

“It’s my understanding that the majority of sex-trafficking cases and labor-trafficking cases are identified by members of the public,” Colorado state Rep. Dominique Jackson reportedly said. “And those members of the public include truckers. Truckers tend to be at places where people come in and out of — motels, truck stops and gas stations. They see a lot of things.”

Leaders in the truck driving industry such as the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and Truckers Against Trafficking overwhelmingly support such legislation.

“It was really something that a lot of our companies and drivers have embraced,” Colorado Motor Carriers Association Pres. Greg Fulton reportedly said. “It’s like having an army of additional eyes and ears out there to be monitoring this.”

Numerous trucking companies across the country are already engaged in providing human trafficking training to driving professionals. Organizations such as Truckers Against Trafficking reports that since launching its advocacy initiative in 2009, upwards of 2,000 truckers have generated leads to a national human trafficking call center. The information provided by truckers provided actionable intel on 545 cases and 1,000 victims. Truckers Against Trafficking has reportedly provided training to nearly 500,000 industry professionals.

As great American truck drivers, you can do your part by reporting your observations to law enforcement by dialing 9-1-1 or resources such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. As veterans of the open road, your eyes, ears and instincts can save lives.

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Written by: Kate Williams

April 24, 2018

The trucking industry is one where drivers face significant pressure, both from the trucking companies for which they work and from lawmakers who seek to keep other motorists safe on the roads. Unfortunately, this ends up placing a significant amount of stress upon drivers as they try to follow the rules and avoid accidents all while meeting deadlines and getting deliveries to the recipients on time. 

Many of the laws surrounding trucking were created by bureaucrats who have no personal understanding of the pressures of the trucking industry. This means that truckers are left to manage unrealistic expectations in a time-pressured field.

Here are five specific areas where truckers experience unfair expectations as they try to do their jobs safely and effectively.

1. Unfair Weight Requirement Regulations

Weight regulations are essential to keeping truckers safe, because they protect drivers from taking heavy loads on roads and bridges that can't support them. However, the current regulations surrounding weight requirements may be unrealistic. 

Truck drivers all understand the weight requirements in the areas they primarily travel. Unfortunately, many shippers do not have on-site scales. This leaves drivers in a vulnerable position after picking up a load. They have no choice but to drive that load to the nearest scale to determine if they are legal or not. 

What happens when a driver is stopped before reaching the scale? If the driver is overweight, hefty fines may result, even if the problem is easily managed by sliding the tandems or adjusting the load. The driver has no control over this scenario because the only way to learn if the truck is overweight is to drive to the nearest scale.

Thanks to technology and apps now available to drivers, they have the ability to check for nearby weigh stations and determine if they are open or closed, among other things.

2. Waiting for Loads Leads to Hours-of-Duty Problems

Most drivers are careful about ensuring they are not driving with too many hours, because the potential fines are quite high. However, sometimes it takes hours for a load to be loaded or unloaded once a driver reaches a destination. If that driver started the day early, drove to a destination and then had to wait several hours, it's possible that the fourteen hour limit will be met before the load is even complete. This requires the driver to shut down for ten hours before driving again, even if some of the fourteen hours were sitting waiting for a load. Many think that the problem of excessive detention might be lessened if some sort of economic consequences were imposed by the brokers to encourage shippers to move truckers through their facilities more quickly.

To make matters worse, after detaining drivers, many shipping and receiving companies will not allow drivers to stay on the property after receiving the load, forcing drivers to move on to the nearest safe parking spot before signing off for the required time. If the driver is stopped on the drive from the shipping company to the place where he can rest, again, he may be fined.

Once more, this scenario is one where the driver has little control yet would be responsible for any the fines that could result.

3. Unfair Expectations for Delivery Times

Drivers cannot control factors like traffic, times spent waiting for loads and time spent on truck maintenance while on the road. Unfortunately, companies often place unfair expectations on drivers as to the amount of time it will take to deliver a load. This pressure can force the driver to push past the hours of duty regulations in order to meet load delivery deadlines, which can open the door, yet again, to fines and penalties. Trucking companies need to understand that traffic, weather and maintenance issues can arise on the road, and truckers need the freedom to handle them as they come along without fear of penalties from their companies because deliveries were not as quick as expected. 

Unfortunately, the demand for speed leads to poor safety in a number of areas. When an automated system warns dispatch that a load is going to be late, and the dispatcher contacts the driver to indicate that they need to speed things up or risk being late, the driver has few options. Those options include speeding at a rate that is unsafe for conditions or skipping mandatory rest periods, both of which make the driver less safe. Of course, if the pressure to deliver on time leads to unsafe driving practices that result in an accident, the driver is also held liable for the accident. 

4. Lack of Parking Options Makes Hours of Duty Mandates Challenging

Hours of service (HOS) regulations make sense from a safety standpoint, but a closer look at the places where truckers can safely park makes it clear that this particular rule may not be as reasonable as once thought. A shortage of truck parking spaces in safe areas makes it very difficult for drivers to take their 10 hours off after working 14 hours, especially for OTR drivers. 

This particular problem was brought to light in 2009 when a truck driver by the name of Jason Rivenburg was robbed and murdered while parked during his off duty hours. Because he did not have a safe, well-lit area to park, but rather had to stop at an abandoned gas station to rest, he was an easy target. This tragedy has pointed out the problem connected to inadequate numbers of parking areas for truckers. After Jason's murder, lawmakers passed Jason's Law, which designated funding aimed to help states creating safer parking areas for truckers spread out more evenly along major roadways.

On a state-by-state basis, drivers are beginning to find some relief using technology designed provide truck drivers with real-time data on available truck parking spots at public rest areas and private truck stops. The State of Iowa spearheaded a Federally-funded program, along with  Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin to bridge the information gap and help truckers find safe parking. This program launched in 2019.

Phil Mescher, project manager for the Iowa Department of Transportation stated, “We are committed to providing the means for safe, efficient, and convenient travel throughout the state. Having this system in place will help truck drivers better manage their hours of service and provide a safer, more efficient travel experience for motorists along I-80.”

But this isn't enough. Drivers face a parking shortage nationwide and more needs to be done.

Todd Spencer, president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) believes, “After decades of ignoring the problem, Congress is finally getting serious about fixing the severe lack of truck parking across the country. Finding a safe place to park is something most people take for granted, but it’s a daily struggle for hundreds of thousands of truckers.” 

Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL), who grew up in a trucking family, and Angie Craig (D-MN), both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act on March 9, 2020.  If passed into law, the bill will dedicate $755 million dollars to expand the availability of truck parking nationwide and address parking safety issues, while helping truckers remaining compliant with HOS regulations.

5. Pay by the Mile Neglects Considering Drivers' Time

Driving truck means a lot of time waiting - waiting in traffic, waiting at load sites, waiting while conforming to hours-of-duty regulations. Unfortunately, many trucking companies have business models that pay drivers by the mile. The end result is that drivers are not always fairly compensated for all of their time, given that some time is spent waiting, for various reasons, instead of rolling down the road earning by the mile. When drivers are not driving, they are typically not getting paid. 

The trucking industry is currently facing a very significant truck driver shortage. If the goal is to attract new and younger candidates for truck driver jobs, they are going to need to address some of these problems facing them. Only when drivers do not face unfair expectations and are paid competitively will the industry be able to add new, qualified truck driving professionals and move forward with confidence. While there are many struggles apparent, truck driving jobs can be very lucrative and the present driver shortage shifts the bargaining power in the favor of those drivers looking to enter or advance in the trucking industry.

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Written by: Kate Williams

March 15, 2018

After hours or even days on the road, truck drivers are often ready for a nice hot shower to wash away the grime and stress of the long haul. Truck stop showers are often the most feasible facility for drivers to clean up.

If you are a new driver in the trucking industry, this concept may seem foreign to you. With some good planning and preparation, you can find ways to balance your good hygiene with the demands of your trucking career.

Follow these tips to safely freshen up while you are away from your home base.

Tips for Using Truck Stop Showers

Sign up for every truck stop reward program.

Showers at truck stops are expensive. While paying $11 or more for the occasional shower is probably acceptable to you, paying the same amount every time you shower is going to add up to a lot of money—wasted money, since you can often get free showers if you are part of a rewards program. Most major truck stops have rewards programs where you get free showers after a major fuel purchase. You might as well sign up for all of them, because you won’t always have a choice when it’s time to fuel up.

Protect your feet.

Showers, especially public showers, are the perfect breeding ground for biofilms. A biofilm is a collection of microorganisms that clump together. These biofilms often result from bacteria that is washed off of the bodies of shower users. The bacteria accumulates in a biofilm on the surface of the shower. If you have any cracks in your skin, such as dry heels or toes, the bacteria from the biofilm may be able to penetrate your body’s defenses.

The best way to protect your feet is to wear a pair of flip-flops in the shower. Some people will insist that they have showered in public showers with bare feet for years and never had a problem. And maybe they have. Or, they may have caught something they didn’t realize was from the shower. You should ignore these people and wear some foot coverings anyway.

Protect yourself from slips and falls.

One of the problems with public showers is that many are missing mats outside of the shower. Keeping mats clean is a task, which probably explains why some businesses selling showers do not provide mats. If there is no mat to step on after you emerge from the shower, it is extremely important that you watch your step until your feet are dry or you have your shoes back on.

Depending on how old you are, you may already practice some defensive maneuvers when you are on slippery surfaces like public showers. Or, you may have absolute trust in your balance and reactions. Whatever your approach, please remember that it only takes one slip and fall to cause serious damage to your body. Broken bones, ruined joints, back and neck injuries, head injuries and more are possible when you fall from standing to a hard surface.

Don’t always trust the hot/cold directions.

You would expect a business that includes showers in its offerings to ensure the plumbing was connected correctly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. When you turn on the shower, you obviously need to give it time to heat up. Sometimes it can take several minutes, depending on how far away the hot water heater is. But if you have waited five minutes and the water is still ice cold, try reversing the direction of the temperature control. You may find that the hot water starts where the indication for “Cold” begins.

Be prepared to grab a shower when you can.

For a business so reliant on tight schedules, trucking can be frustratingly unpredictable. You may hook up as soon as possible, or you may sit around twiddling your thumbs for a full day before you can leave with your load. If you are going to get a shower, you need to have everything prepared ahead of time to seize unexpected opportunities. Pack a shower bag that includes everything you think you will need. If a chance pops up, you can grab your bag and go right away.

Know where you can grab a shower.

You are not always going to have access to your favorite truck stop. It can be helpful to know where showers are available in case you need another option. Public showers are often available at:

• Public swimming pools

• Campgrounds

• Gyms (for members)

• Trucking companies

• Public beaches

You Can Stay Clean on the Road

It may take some creativity from time to time, but you can stay clean on the road if you try. Please check out our blog for more useful tips for truck drivers. And if you are looking for a job, contact us. We are your source for trucking jobs!

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Written by: Kate Williams

March 13, 2018

Trucking is not an easy gig. In fact, trucking employment is incredibly competitive. In 1980, average American truckers made an annual salary equal to over $110,000 by today’s standards—adjusted for inflation. Today’s truckers, meanwhile, make approximately $40,000 per year. Experienced industry operators are working harder. They’re also working longer hours. While innovations have made truck driver jobs less physically challenging to some degree, the trucking world’s most active drivers are still overworked and underpaid. 

Competition for Trucking Employment

So, what’s the deal? Well, the trucking industry has undergone a number of significant changes. Truck driving, once a blue-collar job defined by its many benefits, is different today. The position once held higher wages, higher political clout, and a higher rate of compensation. In the 1970s, however, the trucking industry was deregulated.

The Jimmy Carter administration is responsible for the deregulation which increased competition among truckers while lowering compensation. Meanwhile, truckers’ unions began disintegrating alongside a rapidly diminishing union political influence. 

Independent Contracting Has Made Things Tough

The rise of independent contracting, too, has boosted trucker competition. Today’s trucking companies outsource a lot of risks, and costs, of industry operations to truckers themselves—resisting benefit pay standards while advertising positions of freedom, empowerment and flexibility.

Unfortunately, independent contractors regularly find themselves in positions which really aren’t empowering at all. Some lease purchase truck driving jobs—wherein truckers rent their vehicles from companies—may lock drivers into difficult financial situations. Until a lease is paid, the trucker may not be able to switch companies. If they do, they can be charged as much as $65,000. The end result may be little freedom or flexibility until your lease is paid in full.

Thus, it’s not surprising that a competitive atmosphere has thrived around the job. Trucking requires long hours, and a lot of truckers are compensated solely for driving time—rather than hours spent on fuel-filling, paperwork and other administrative tasks. 

Competition Takes a Toll

While competition breeds healthy business approaches, it can be difficult to manage when trucking jobs are incredibly isolating. Due to the job’s solitary lifestyle, trucking may be overwhelming for those who’ve just entered this difficult industry. With little human contact, extended stays away from home, and low-paying tasks, trucking may be a growing segment that is difficult to handle by the labor force.

A similar segment of independent contractors, Uber drivers, have boosted the competitive atmosphere in their industry. Recently, Uber drivers have been organizing and suing taxi companies over unfair labor practices. Meanwhile, the American Truckers Association has pushed for increasing driver pay, more time at home, and overall driver image improvement. Time will tell how Uber's activity may begin to blaze a path for positive, competitive changes in trucking. 

Private Carriers Might Be the Answer

Fortunately, the trucking industry still has its perks. It has high-paying jobs if one knows where to look. While the open waters of trucking are highly competitive, some private carriers may offer salaries twice as high as regular, independent, driving positions.

Understandably, drivers flock to such positions. Large trucking companies are making efforts to retain experienced workers and keep them from transitioning to other trucking jobs, as it costs them valuable labor. There’s a chance this backswing may reduce the popularity of independent contracting. There’s also a chance that the push to turn employees into contractors will remain a clever strategy. For the time being, some companies are still saving money with this clever strategy.

At the end of the day, independent drivers should be careful who they sign on with. If a private carrier position opens, they may be faced with a $65,000 penalty to switch. Armed with information, however, a private contractor can easily navigate the competitive world of trucking. Or, even better: They can continue setting their prices, working with companies of their choosing, and navigating the legal challenges of job-switching. A lot of factors impact the trucking industry, but there’s always a way to navigate them.

One thing is for certain, as freight transportation continues to evolve, the industry, and truck drivers in general, will have opportunities to find job security for the foreseeable future regardless of competition.

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Written by: Kate Williams

January 24, 2018

Sign-on bonuses are found nearly everywhere in the trucking industry, $2,000, $8,000, $10,000…these are some of the most common sizes of sign-on bonuses you will see offered by trucking companies today. Almost every carrier in the US is offering some sort of sign-on bonus to new hires. Yes, it would be wonderful to get that kind of lump sum promised to you before you earn your first paycheck on a trucking job. But are sign-on bonuses all that and a bag of chips or is there something more going on here? Find out why sign-on bonuses are a very real deal and why carriers are expected to continue to offer these in the future.

Why Offer Such a Bonus

The first questions that most new truckers have regarding sign-on bonuses are:

1. Why are trucking companies offering such big bonuses?, and
2. What is the hidden agenda behind these bonuses? 

Giving new truck drivers just starting out at a company enough money for a down payment on their own big rig sounds fishy. The truth is these sign-on bonuses are legit and truckers do receive this money, but more about that later.

First, the reason why trucking companies offer these bonuses is to attract new drivers plain and simple. It is part of their job recruitment strategy. The trucking industry is in dire straits to find drivers to fill positions, namely due to the age demographics of the existing job pool:

• The median age of truck drivers among private carriers is 52, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.
• Within the next decade, 30 percent of the trucking job pool will be entering their 60s and preparing to retire.
• Currently, 10 percent of truck drivers are 65 and older, which means they are near the age of retirement and likely slowing down with freight hauling.
• Sixteen percent of truckers are within the millennials age 25 to 34.

Here’s the deal. Millennials are the biggest age group of working adults in the world. They have surpassed baby boomers in job numbers, but not in the trucking industry. In fact, all signs indicate that millennials have no intentions of filling the seats left behind by retiring baby boomers.

What does this mean? According to the American Trucking Associations, it means the trucking industry was short 50,000 drivers in 2017; the shortage is expected to increase to 174,000 drivers in the next eight years.

What can trucking companies do to continue hauling freight in the wake of this driver shortage? Provide sign-on bonuses. By the way, trucking is not the first industry to use this approach to increase recruitment numbers. The US military has been offering sign-on bonuses to new recruits for decades, with great response rates.

Stretching Out that Sign-On Bonus

There is one drawback that truck drivers should be aware of with sign-on bonuses. Most of the time a driver will not be able to get a check with their full bonus immediately when they join a company. These bonuses are typically tied to performance goals, such as partial payouts when drivers haul a set number of miles.

The reason for this is simple. If trucking companies paid new truck drivers the full bonus right away, what would keep these drivers from going to other companies offering big bonuses? Nothing, which would defeat the purpose of the sign-on bonuses.

So as a new driver working for a company promising a sign-on bonus, play it smart by reading the fine print. Find out what the payout schedule is so you can stick to it and make sure you receive the full bonus amount.

Finding the Best Sign-On Bonuses

At CDLjobs.com, we work with trucking companies offering the best sign-on bonuses for new hires. Check out our truck driver job listings to see which trucking jobs and bonuses best suit your trucking career goals.

We also have a current listing of all the top trucking companies with a detailed company profile. This gives you the information you need for making a decision about where to apply for your next truck driving position.

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Written by: Kate Williams

January 19, 2018

Truck drivers who take drugs are more than just a deadly presence on the roadways. These drivers disrupt the trucking industry by increasing trucking insurance rates and driving up turnover rates. One of the most dangerous drugs currently affecting the United States is opioids. Even more concerning is the fact that Department of Transportation's truck driver drug testing policies did not test for all prescription opioids until recently.

Find out what the latest drug testing regulations are and learn how truck drivers can protect themselves if they are prescribed opioids by a physician.

Are Opioids Illegal for truck Driving?

Yes and no. Opioids may be prescribed to truck drivers who are in pain due to an injury or accident. In fact, opioids, when prescribed by a physician, are not illegal. Unfortunately, the addictive nature of opioids often leads to dependency, which may drive users to purchase opioids illegally. Continued use beyond the dosage prescribed may be to feel the euphoria or pain reduction of using the drug, but it could also be driven by addiction; individuals who want to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Why are opioids such a big problem? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 90 people in the US die from an opioid overdose every day. From 21 to 29 percent of people who are given opioids by a physician to treat chronic pain will misuse the drug. This includes truck drivers, just like everyone else. Currently, opioid use and abuse is a social epidemic in the US.

Which Opioids are Added to DOT Drug Testing?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has added several opioids to its truck driver drug testing process. According to the extensively named rule, “Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs: Addition of Certain Schedule II Drugs to the Department of Transportation's Drug-Testing Panel and Certain Minor Amendments,” the following drugs are now being included in the DOT drug test for truck drivers:

• Hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin, Lorcet, Norco, Zamicet, Verdrocet, and Xodol
• Hydromorphone, known by the name brand of Exalgo ER or Dilaudid
• Oxymorphone, known by the name brand of Opana, Numorphone, or Numorphan
• Oxycodone, also known as Oxycontin, Oxaydo, Roxicodone, and Xtampza ER

Each of these drugs is a prescription medication that is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Other substances added to the drug screening that are not opioids include:

• Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), which is chemically similar to MDMA aka Ecstasy

This is a final rule recorded in the Federal Register. The ruling went into effect on January 1, 2018, for all commercial truck drivers.

What Happens If You Take These Opioids?

Even if you are prescribed any of these opioids by a medical doctor, you cannot have them in your system when operating a commercial vehicle. Whether you are randomly DOT drug tested or getting an annual DOT drug screen, these opioids had better not be detected in your urine. If you are taking any of these opioids for pain following an injury or surgery, you need to wait until these substances are out of your system before driving a big rig. Here is a breakdown of how long these opioids typically remain detectable in urine after the last dose:

• Hydrocodone—up to four days
• Hydromorphone—up to three days
• Oxymorphone—up to four days
• Oxycodone—up to four days

Keep in mind this is just for urine testing. If you have a hair sample taken for a DOT drug test, opioids may be detectable for 90 days or longer.

What Happens If a Truck Driver Fails a Drug Test?

Failing a DOT drug test can lead to a commercial driver’s license suspension and permanent shutdown. In addition, if you fail a DOT drug test due to an accident or traffic/moving violation, then you are at risk of criminal charges due to being intoxicated.

Opiod abuse is an escalating problem that affects many different sectors of our population. Help is available should you or a loved one be in need and wish to seek treatment for mental health or substance abuse services.

Details

Written by: Darin Williams

January 12, 2018

The list of trucking companies who once proudly employed professional drivers and owner operators to travel America’s highways moving freight has diminished significantly over the years. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to trucking companies from the past titled, Fallen Flags of Old Trucking Companies.

Recessions, acquisitions, poor management, greed, and just plain bad luck have all contributed to the trucking companies who haven’t been able to survive bad markets, tight labor pools, and stiff competition for drivers to fill open trucking jobs.

Fallen Trucking Companies

We thought of five trucking companies that we used to do business with over the course of the last twenty years who are no longer operating in today’s market place. We miss some of them as much as their former drivers, employees, and customers do. Others (you can figure out which ones) aren’t missed at all.

M.S. Carriers

It was maybe the most shocking trucking acquisition that anyone had heard of up to that time when it was announced that Swift Transportation would purchase Memphis, Tennessee, based M.S. Carriers.

In December of 2000, M.S. Carriers CEO Michael Starnes agreed to the purchase and the iconic M.S. Carriers logo was slowly phased out while Swift Transportation traded tractor and trailer equipment until they were finally gone.

Jevic Transportation

It was early in 2008, when Jevic Transportation Inc., citing high fuel and insurance costs, tightening credit markets and economic downturn, decided to discontinue operations.

The news came as a shock to loyal Jevic drivers and customers, many who had been with the company since it was started in 1981.

Fikes Truck Line

It was around the beginning of 2015 when rumors started spreading about the demise of Hope, Arkansas, based Fikes Truck Line. Financial mistakes made a half decade earlier during a very tough market because of an economic recession started to take a toll on the 100% Owner Operator trucking company.

Owner-operators leased to Fikes started calling the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association to report bounced payroll checks in late Spring 2015 and an announcement was made in May that Fikes would be permanently closing its doors and ceasing business.

Contractors were encouraged to lease with Blair Logistics, who bought the Fikes home office in Hope, AR, and continued to do business out of it after the company closing.

Direct Transit

This Sioux City-area based trucking company was cruising along registering good growth rates each year until it had grown to a carrier that generated about $140 million in 1995. It was then that DTI agreed to be purchased by Schneider, who later backed out of the deal after not being able to come to final closing terms in December of 1995.

Swift Transportation then stepped in and agreed to purchase DTI, but a list of issues including foreclosure, bankruptcy, and tax evasion charges brought all deals to a halt.

Charles G. Peterson, who was in the process of selling DTI, pleaded guilty to income tax evasion, admitting to pocketing excess money from truck and trailer leases.

The plea agreement was on one of the three counts of tax evasion he was charged with in April 1996. Mr. Peterson's plea said between 1989 and 1990 he diverted at least $750,000 from the leases, evading taxes of between $200,000 and $350,000

Arrow Trucking

December 2009 was when Tulsa, Oklahoma, based Arrow Trucking told their fleet of drivers to park their trucks and walk away, stranding thousands right before Christmas.

Horror stories of stranded drivers were soon replaced with stories of compassion driven from other drivers, companies, and people in general who were stepping in to help the stranded Arrow Trucking drivers. What lead to the immediate layoff is a story right out of a fiction novel.

Doug Pielsticker inherited Arrow Trucking from his father, Jim after the elder was killed in a plane crash in 2001, and promptly concocted schemes to misdirect funds from the trucking company to his personal accounts and affects.

In the end, Pielsticker was indicted on 23 counts of conspiracy, tax evasion and bank fraud.

Trucking Companies that Didn't Make the Long Haul

Some good stories, some not-so-good stories. Some trucking companies are missed, others are not. How you were treated depends a lot on how you remember these once proud giants of the trucking industry.

If you have any others to add to our list of trucking companies that went out of business, let us know. Until then, make it a great day and keep on trucking!

Details

Written by: Kate Williams

September 25, 2017

It's obvious that hurricanes have a major impact on the communities they strike. What some people don't consider is the effects hurricanes also have on the trucking industry. While these massive storms can certainly delay trucks and cause others to reroute, this is also when trucking companies step up to deliver necessary goods before the hurricane and relief donations afterwards. Keep reading to discover how hurricanes affect the trucking industry and what various companies do to help out.

Getting Donations to Victims

If there's one upside to hurricanes, it's that forecasters can usually give people plenty of notice before they strike. In the days before a hurricane strikes, FEMA will hire hundreds of trucks to haul medical supplies, bottled water, tarps, and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) to areas just outside the predicted disaster area. From there, other truck drivers will deliver these goods to smaller staging stations so people can get the supplies they need as soon as possible after the hurricane.

Working With Other Companies

Trucking companies also work with other businesses to help get necessary supplies out as fast as possible. For example, Werner Enterprises partnered with Home Depot to dispatch 44 trucks loaded with relief aid and supplies to Florida after Hurricane Irma. Home Depot says the company has three hurricane distribution centers in the southern United States that stock merchandise just for disaster relief.

As soon as they're able, Home Depot and other businesses such as Lowe's and Kroger work with trucking companies to move supplies like flashlights, batteries, water, gloves, chainsaws, trash bags, and more to affected areas to help with cleanup and restoration. Retailing giant Walmart, which often contracts with Schneider, sent out 1,060 emergency trucks mostly carrying water to victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Shipping Gas to When Hurricanes Ravage Florida

When Hurricane Irma forced millions of Floridians to evacuate, gas stations suddenly found themselves low on fuel. In response, the governor of Florida asked the EPA to approve an emergency fuel waiver so more fuel could quickly enter the state. Additionally, the governor rescinded the weight and driver restrictions so that trucking companies could bring in more gas and supplies as quickly as possible.

The governor asked the nearby states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to waive the same restrictions so trucks could make it through these states quickly as well. Finally, once fuel trucks did arrive in Florida, they were given a state police escort to gas stations in evacuation zones to help residents who needed to leave.

Companies Donating More Than Just Supplies

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, trucking company CFI was quick to start moving supplies into the area and help people get back on their feet. It sent shipments containing everyday supplies to churches in Houston, which then distributed the supplies to the victims. However, that's not all CFI did to help. It donated nearly $25,000 toward relief funds and said it's ready to offer long-term support if necessary.

Even Small Companies Help Out

It's not just the large trucking companies that feel the impact of hurricanes and want to help. Even small trucking companies do what they can. Sergio Jimenez, owner of NS Trucking in Odessa, Texas, immediately starting collecting donations to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. When an electrical agency called and asked him to transport electrical equipment to communities in Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Houston to help restore power, he decided to "take whatever is needed and take advantage of this trip." He and one of his drivers, Adrian Chavarria, said they would deliver all the donations no matter how many trips it takes.

Although hurricanes can take a major toll on communities, it is often a time in which we see charitable trucking companies step in to help people get the supplies they need, and they do so in force.

Details

Written by: Kate Williams

August 22, 2017

Can something as simple as a video feed change truck driver safety? According to video telematics, an emerging technology used to record and analyze truck and driver behavior, the answer is yes.

Collecting the right data about drivers as they operate trucks allows managers and coaches to address problematic behavior and teach drivers best practices, leading to safer roads.

Video Telematics Track Vehicles and Drivers

Video telematics uses a combination of telecommunications and informatics to gather data about trucks. Telematics uses GPS or video to gather this truck movement data, by tracking each truck belonging to a company's fleet. The data from each truck gets sent to the company, which can then track how the vehicle moves, how long it's idle, and any other information about the vehicle and, by extension, the driver.

Telematics also lets the company know the status of all the fleet's vehicles. When a vehicle isn't running, where each vehicle is positioned in the country, and how fast a vehicle is going as it travels down the highway.

Kroger Has Seen Improvements With a Camera

Health monitors are just one way to keep track of drivers. Grocery giant Kroger, in an effort to reduce liability spending, equipped some of their trucks with Lytx cameras to keep track of drivers. The aim was to cut behaviors that caused safety risks and collisions, like texting and driving.

After four months, collisions went down by 50 percent, and smartphone while driving usage went down by 71 percent. Further, Kroger was able to pinpoint exactly who was causing the accidents. It turned out that only a small portion of drivers was causing the biggest problems. Telematics became a way to assess employee performance and safety behaviors. Lytx CEO, Brandon Nixon, says of the cameras, "Video telematics pivoted from being a nice-to-have to a must-have among commercial and public sector fleets."

Productivity Will Increase

Once trucking companies isolate behaviors that are causing collision problems, other benefits abound. Training for driving mistakes will create more adept and productive drivers. The videos show driving behaviors that cause too much wear on trucks, like hitting curbs. So the driver training that will create more productive driving behaviors will also reduce the strain the trucks take when the driver is mishandling them.

Driver Safety Means Truck Safety

One place video telematics falls short is with driver health. A video, like the one the Kroger fleet uses, can see if someone is falling asleep at the wheel. What it can't do is monitor other health markers that might indicate fatigue.

Fatigue is a major cause of automobile collisions, but because monitoring how tired someone feels is nearly impossible, statistics on how sleepy a driver is feeling are hard to come by. A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that about 328,000 crashes per year may result from drowsy driving. Health data for specific drivers could mean the difference between someone staying off the road or someone getting into a truck crash.

Possible Roadblocks

Getting driver health data sounds like a way to make roads safer, but with a possible privacy cost that may run into legal issues. Is tracking someone's body as part of their job performance a breach of privacy? Utilizing a dash cam and sending drivers to additional training to correct driving issues is one matter, but closely monitoring an individual's health may be one step too far. When paired with the possibility of hacking the telematics system, the concept becomes slightly chilling.

Kroger is just one company using video telematics to improve truck safety. As telematics technology emerges, strategies for monitoring drivers will change. Some telematics relates well to the possible future of autonomous trucks, while other standards promise even better information about human drivers and existing truck fleets, in an effort to improve roadway safety for all parties.