Industry News

Working as a long-haul owner/operator is a difficult, dangerous career not meant for the faint of heart. Ever-changing road and weather conditions, unfamiliar locations, 70-hour workweeks, and almost total isolation—the modern owner/operator faces unparalleled...

The COVID-19 pandemic created a situation where e-commerce sales have grown astronomically—with total online spending in the month of May reaching upward of $82 billion (an increase of 77% year-over-year). This rapid increase in online sales also led to an upsurge in...

Days are becoming colder and shorter, festive lights are appearing on every street, and fleets of semi-trucks are working to move holiday goods in tandem with their essential deliveries. This peak season, you can anticipate a 10-20% increase in your mileage as you...

Just about every facet of consumers’ lives is made possible because truck drivers deliver goods on a daily basis. According to the American Trucking Associations, the trucking industry carried 72.5% of all freight transported in the U.S. in 2019, equating to 11.84...

As of 2019, the average gross salary of an owner/operator is $220,591. However, this figure does not take into account the expenses incurred each week. On top of standard expenses, the installation costs of a new tractor can run a hefty price tag (over $100,000). For...

Picture this: You’re on the road and the inevitable happens… You get stopped for a roadside inspection. Such blitzes can happen at any time but are particularly enforced during certain times of the year. For example, Operation Safe Driver Week took place in July 2020....

When you manage your own trucking company, you’re expected to handle all hauls with complete efficiency; and that’s on top of taking care of a long list of other crucial responsibilities necessary for your company's survival. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Trucking is an expansive and flourishing occupation—and it’s one of the industries that hasn’t slowed down during the current COVID-19 crisis. Companies and essential businesses turned to trucking, heavily relying on owners/operators to deliver their much-needed...

COVID-19 changed just about every aspect of American society, including our work lives. Earlier this year, many offices and places of business transitioned to a remote work structure with a majority of employees working out of their homes. One of the results of this...

At the end of July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package of fiscal year appropriations bills for 2021 with a 217 to 197 vote. The six bills address urgent national priorities and supply funding for federal agencies, including the departments of Commerce,...

Believe it or not, it’s both legal and entirely feasible for anyone in the U.S. to receive a Class A Commercial Driver’s License without any help from a private trucking school. This information can be hard to come by, however, as there are dozens of private trucking...

IRS Brings Back Form 1099-NEC The IRS form known as 1099-NEC is returning for the 2020 tax year. The 1099 form has been in use for a long time—it’s the tax form used for independent contractors to report their taxable income. The NEC variant hasn’t always been in use,...

A lot of things are up in the air in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. If your business had just decided to put money down on future investments, or didn’t have much squirreled away to begin with, it can be difficult to trust the market to keep your business going...

The American economy took a serious hit in March, April, and May of this year, with unemployment spiking at nearly 15%. This percentage of people left without full employment in America was so large, you’d have to go back 80 years to find a comparable moment of...

Photo Credit: Yahoo The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) is a form of federal relief that was provided to cash-starved small businesses as a response to the economic troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the federal government signed the CARES Act into effect...

While being a truck driver is one of the highest-paying jobs that doesn’t require a college degree, living the trucker life doesn’t come without challenges. Considering the long hours, and weeks that truckers often spend away from their families, it’s a career path...

For over a year now, online shopping has accounted for more retail purchases than those in traditional brick and mortar stores. From even that point of dominance, there are some reports that online shopping surged as much as 248% at the end of May. That’s drastically...

We’ve been seeing a great level of support across the country for truckers who have been putting their lives on the line to keep essential items on the move throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House has made trucking one of its top priorities, offering...

The American people have done their part in helping recognize the importance of truckers and their impact on everyone’s quality of life during the coronavirus pandemic. The White House wasted no time making sure that truckers across the country could work the flexible...

The coronavirus pandemic has already had large, quantifiable impacts on the American economy and transportation industry. Sales of personal automobiles dipped strongly in April and have been slowly bouncing back through May.  Heavy-duty truck manufacturing has been on...

Why Truckers Needs Digital Tools Now More Than Ever   Whether you’re a semi-truck owner/operator currently helping to move supplies in America or a logistics expert managing a fleet of trucks, it’s important to be aware of the technology that’s available to help...

Why America is Thanking Truckers During the Coronavirus Truck drivers have been working around the clock to help support the shifting demand for food, medical supplies, and other essential items during the Coronavirus pandemic. The government instruction to stay at...

According to a press release by shopping giant Walmart, the company is expanding their truck driver positions by 500 this year, mainly on the West and East Coast. This is great news for truck drivers in general, but it’s still unclear as to whether increased hiring is...

On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The CARES Act, as it’s commonly known, is a $2 trillion bill that offers financial support to unemployed persons, small businesses, and large businesses in particular. But...

What Truck Drivers Should Expect This Spring As the Coronavirus Spreads  The infection rate of Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is continuing to increase in countries around the world. Some experts claim that America’s trajectory of infection is in-line with...

The President released his proposed federal budget for the 2021 fiscal year on February 10. The proposal titled “A Budget for America’s Future” has allocated $1 trillion of its $4.8 trillion total budget to infrastructure, and a great deal of that should positively...

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has been immensely controversial in recent months. Its goal is to keep the roads safer by holding drivers accountable for their past alcohol and drug-related infractions. Previously, drivers who failed a drug or alcohol test could...

Amazon’s got a new fleet of vehicles, and now it needs drivers to operate them. The company has been expanding rapidly when it comes to their delivery assets. Here’s your guide for understanding what the retail giant has done to meet its massive delivery needs, and...

California is doubling down on its efforts to get older trucks off the road. The California Air Review Board (CARB) has been a formidable force in truck and bus regulation in the state, setting a strict set of laws that took effect in 2012, which most notably, set...

How Dealerships Can Boost Their Semi-Truck Sales If you’re involved with a semi-truck dealership, it might be no surprise to hear that used truck sales are significantly down from trends we’ve seen in previous years. In fact, the ACT reported that as of December, used...

You may have been hearing the buzz about a new bill that is rocking the transportation industry. Assembly Bill 5 has been a massively controversial development for both carriers and drivers. For years, the trucking industry has made a name for itself as a place where...

5 Tips for New Semi-Truck Drivers While being the owner-operator for a semi-truck can be hard work, it can be equally as fulfilling. If you’re new to the industry, you may be asking yourself a lot of questions about what success looks like as an owner-operator. First...

How New Legislation May Impact the Commercial Trucking Industry As we finish out 2019, we gain some additional insight as to how we can expect the transportation industry to look going into 2020. This year was an especially busy year, with a significant uptick around...

The holiday season is immensely busy for the trucking and transportation industry. With the drastic focus on consumerism that's associated with this time of the year, retail sales soar in preparation for holiday gift-giving. While most people don’t think twice about...

    As we wrap up 2019, we’re left reflecting on the progress made in the industry this year. With the exponential rise of online commerce and ever-growing demand for immediate product fulfillment, the transportation industry is becoming more integral to the American...

While conditions for drivers are constantly improving, there is still a variety of nuisances that have yet to be worked out. While it can be profitable and fulfilling, being a commercial truck driver is still a demanding and difficult job with its own set of hurdles....

According to industry experts, the United States trucking industry has been experiencing a massive driver shortage. The shortage is causing ripple effects and creating consequences for suppliers, carriers, and drivers alike. While the situation has worsened in recent...

Semi-truck maintenance can be expensive and unpredictable, but it’s a necessary evil that comes along with ownership. It’s tempting to put off repairs until damage occurs, but regular maintenance is crucial to preventing more serious problems down the road....

Finding the right insurance can be difficult, as the process can be excessively complex and sometimes confusing. There are many factors to take into consideration when insurance agencies give you a quote; some of them in your control and some of them not. Knowing how...

Photo Credit: Wired As artificial intelligence increases in modernity and practicality, its usage increases across all industries and fields, and trucking is no exception. Society is slowly warming up to the idea of self-driving cars, but self-driving semi-trucks is...

  Uber recently announced that it would be funding a new Freight Business Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. They revealed plans for office space in the famous River District taking up residence in a historic Post Office that has been uninhabited for years, until now....

  There are countless factors to consider when purchasing a semi-truck, and it’s important to carefully consider them all. In the complex and dynamic world of trucking, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all of the various facets. One of the most important decisions...

Image Credit: Tesla   In the wake of the popularization of electric cars, scooters and bikes, sustainability is one of the most controversial buzzwords in the transportation industry. Reducing air pollution and fuel consumption is a worldwide obsession and the biggest...

According to the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics, as of March 2019, trucks traveling between the United States and Canadian borders and between the United States and Mexican borders carried 62.8% of all transborder freight, representing a value of...

  2018 was a booming year for the trucking industry’s spot market. A corporate tax cut unleashed a strong demand for all types of freight services, creating tighter capacity, higher volumes, and stronger pricing power throughout the trucking industry. The U.S. tariff...

  While you may find the picture above amusing, there’s nothing amusing about spending more money for fuel than you need. Your fuel prices are high enough without them receiving any extra help. While many ways exist for you to lower your fleet’s fuel costs, let’s look...

  Commerce giant Amazon is no stranger to disrupting industries. From its early years of disrupting the book retail industry by making new and used books more accessible than ever, to changing the way people grocery shop with its purchase of Whole Foods, Amazon has...

  At the beginning of 2019, there was a wide range of speculation as to how new tariffs against China would affect the U.S. economy, the price of goods, and trucking demands. Now that the year is half over, tensions are heating up even more. As a trade war between the...

Trucking: A Supply Chain Workhorse   What image comes to mind when almost anyone thinks about moving palettes of product from a manufacturer to a distribution center or to a store for purchase? Trucks, and rightly so. The American Trucking Association reported that...

  Choosing a trucking school is the first big step to starting your career as a commercial driver. You want to make sure you pick a school that will prepare you and deliver the proper training for life on the road. This includes proper accreditation, experienced...

  Now is a great time to enter the commercial trucking industry. With the demand for drivers higher than ever, you can expect job security, great pay, and plenty of stories to tell from your time on the open road. While trucking is an excellent and prevalent career...

  Bad credit can leave people feeling stuck. Without a good credit score, buying a house, a car, or paying for school can feel difficult or even impossible. Additionally, making a big purchase with bad credit can mean you pay more in the long run. In fact, when...

  With the start of the new year, the commercial trucking and freight industry faces many obstacles. The trucker deficit continues to increase, and the high tariffs against China are projected to have great implications on exports in many parts of the U.S. However,...

  The U.S. is suffering a severe shortage of truck drivers. In fact, the industry is now facing a deficit of over 53,000 qualified truck drivers. Over the next decade, the shortage is projected to skyrocket to 898,000. Actions are being taken around every corner to...

  No matter how much experience a driver has, harsh winter conditions can present a range of challenges on the road. From slick road surfaces to limited visibility, commercial truck drivers have to be ready for anything. Winters in the Northeast and Midwest are...

  Choosing healthy snacks on the road can be a tedious task. From over-processed snacks at truck stops to greasy fast food, finding a healthy snack that also tastes good may seem impossible. However, eating healthy on the road is imperative to living a long, happy...

  Overnight drives can be a blessing or a curse. On the plus side, you have the whole road to yourself. You don’t have to worry about traffic holding you up as you pass through cities, and you can go at whatever pace you please. However, overnight drives also mean...

  So, you’ve decided to become a commercial truck driver, and now it is time to choose a truck driving school. It may be tempting to choose an inexpensive or quick trucking school to get you out on the road as fast and easily as possible, but you have to be careful....

  If you’ve been on the road for long, you may remember that the driving age for interstate commercial transportation is 21 years old. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, a potential driver can obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL) at 18 today, but...

                                                                                                                                                                                                          You don’t often hear about high profile trucking cases gracing the...

    This year, hurricane season rocked the coast as we’ve grown to expect. This September, Hurricane Florence swept the Carolinas at a category 4, leaving destruction in its wake. When natural disasters arise, our focus shifts to families in need. When survivors need...

If you’re a veteran of the open road, you probably know as an owner-operator just how expensive it is to maintain a semi truck. But how exactly does that cost break down? It’s no secret that truck driving can be a lucrative career. But how do the costs of repair...

So, what is the Cass Freight Index, and how does it affect the daily lives of commercial truck drivers and owner-operators every day? Most people haven’t heard of the Cass Freight Index, but it’s actually directly relevant to the everyday lives of truck drivers across...

There are many understandable reasons why you may have decided to get your commercial driving license. Having your CDL opens your career options to a wide range of public service professions and prepares you to become a truck driver as an owner-operator or with...

Autonomous Vehicles: What Does it Really Mean? Autonomous vehicles are on the cutting edge of technology. Vehicles equipped with autonomous capabilities and technology are even available today for regular citizens with the purchasing power. But what about commercial...

  “Commercial vehicles” is an umbrella term that includes any large vehicle used for vocational transport or a service. This means dump trucks, box trucks and vans, semi trucks, tractors and even fire trucks. What makes a commercial truck loan unique? Banks commonly...

A semi truck is a worthwhile investment that has the potential to bring in lots of income. But how can one even think of purchasing a semi truck when they have bad credit? One thing we must first acknowledge is that the credit climate in the semi truck financing world...

Bad credit – it's the iron bars on your gateway for freedom. Bad credit prevents you from opening credit cards, getting a good deal on your mortgage, and more importantly – bad credit prevents you from securing the loans necessary to fund your business. Whether you're...

XPO to Buy Con-way for $3 Billion XPO Logistics said it has agreed to acquire Con-way Inc. for $3 billion to broaden its supply chain offerings into less-than-truckload and U.S. truckload freight and create a company with annual revenue of $15 billion. Spot Van,...

  Average Per Mile For Independent Truck Drivers Finally being able to buy your own truck and become an owner-operator rather than working for someone else is a dream come true for most people in the transportation industry. However, with being your own boss, setting...

IN THIS ISSUE: Rep. Peter DeFazio Introduces Grow America Act, House Passes Two-Month Highway Trust Fund Patch; Senate’s Turn to Act, Rural America Needs Road, Bridge Overhaul, Report Says.