Construction ahead: Be patient and alert to safely navigate roadwork
Regardless of the calendar, anyone who drives for a living knows that “road construction season” lasts 12 months in many parts of the country. Thanks
Cliff Abbott
- About Cliff Abbott
- Cliff Abbott is an experienced commercial vehicle driver and owner-operator who still holds a CDL in his home state of Alabama. In nearly 40 years in trucking, he’s been an instructor and trainer and has managed safety and recruiting operations for several carriers. Having never lost his love of the road, Cliff has written a book and hundreds of songs and has been writing for The Trucker for more than a decade.
Posts by Cliff Abbott
Meet The Boston Trucker: Whether on the road or on the web, Mike Gaffin influences the industry
Mike Gaffin — you might know him better as “The Boston Trucker” — says he never considered himself an “influencer.” It all started back in 2009.
In the cab or in the office, the FCRA provides you with rights and responsibilities
If you’re like the vast majority of truck drivers, the job you currently hold is not your first driving job, and it won’t be your
Don’t give up: Complete the RTD process to regain your CDL after a Clearinghouse violation
Before diving into the topic of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMSCA) return-to-duty (RTD) process for drivers after being placed out of service for
Mobil Delvac celebrates 100th anniversary
On February 17, 2025, most of the U.S. was celebrating the President’s Day holiday. At Mobil Delvac, there was another reason to celebrate — the
Start preparing now for big changes to FMCSA’s safety measurement system
Major changes are coming to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) Compliance, Safety, Accountability program — specifically the Safety Measurement System (SMS) portion. Since
February Class 8 truck sales hit lowest point since 2022
February was a tough month for truck dealers, with U.S. sales of new Class 8 tractors hitting the lowest point (15,725 units) since February 2022.
Mixed predictions for freight volume and rate increases muddled by threat of tariffs and recession
The year 2025 continues to disappoint those who were looking forward to increased freight volumes and rates during the first quarter. After a disappointing January,
Carriers can harness technology to identify and correct risky driver behavior
There’s little doubt that technology has changed the job of driving a commercial motor vehicle forever. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have changed the driver’s
‘Defensive driving’ means ensuring safety for everyone on the road
The term “defensive driving” has become nearly cliché around the trucking industry. Everyone wants to drive defensively, right? After all, no one wants to be
Regulation roundup: What does EPA’s rollback of emissions standards mean for trucking?
You know all those Biden-era Greenhouse Gas standards and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates regarding emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles set to take
Beware the Ides of April: Use tax rules efficiently to maximize income potential
The deadline for filing U.S. income taxes is now less than a month away — April 15, to be exact. By now— hopefully — you’ve
Drivers beware: Winter hazards can spill over into springtime
After the gray skies, cold weather, and snow and ice of winter, the prospect of spring approaching is welcome news to many drivers. Who couldn’t
Truck sales facing myriad of uncertainties
U.S. sales of new, Class 8 trucks fell sharply in January, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. Manufacturers reported sales of 16,175 trucks, down
‘Excruciatingly slow’ growth predicted for freight rates and volumes
If the predicted freight increase in 2025 is coming, its progress seems excruciatingly slow. In January, the Cass Freight Index for Shipments fell by 5.3%
2025 freight outlook: Slow economic growth expected, but hazards remain
The U.S. economy remained strong into the first quarter of 2025, but most economists are predicting growth to slow for the remainder of the year
Don’t do it: FMCSA Task Force says lease purchases should be banned
It sounds so great. You can own your own truck. You don’t need a good credit rating or even a credit card. All you need
CVSA is an important ‘member’ of a trucking company’s safety team
This year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will once again be working to make the roads safer for everyone this year. However, because the
The tax man cometh: Don’t be caught unaware on April 15
Federal Income tax payments for 2024 aren’t due until April 15, but it’s not too late to make changes that could reduce your tax liability
Impending tariffs, expected cost increases may push prices for new trucks higher
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks finished 2024 right about where they’d been all year — lower that 2022 and 2023 totals but still