As old man winter lashes nation, preparation, skill needed for winter driving
MISSION, Kan. — Temperatures plunged far and fast Thursday as a winter storm began forming ahead of Christmas weekend, promising heavy snow, ice, flooding and
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
Safety Series: Driving defensively is an ongoing process of learning, reevaluating, adapting
What do champion weightlifters, concert pianists and safe professional truck drivers have in common? They understand the value of repetition. Whether it’s muscle-building exercises, muscle
Freight rates may be reaching bottom, but inflation still impacting industry
Time marches on and, apparently, so does inflation. Unfortunately, while costs continue to escalate, the freight rates needed to keep up aren’t materializing. In addition,
Fleet Maintenance: Relationships are key to keeping equipment running well at Covenant Logistics
Keeping trucks running safely and moving freight is always a formidable endeavor, but with 2023 looming ahead, the challenges seem enormous. New equipment can be
Those Who Deliver with XTL Transport
Partnership is a word that is used often at XTL Transport. It’s used to describe relationships with customers, vendors, and team members at every level,
Maximizing existing staff, encouraging a new generation are the keys to overcoming diesel tech shortage
The year 2022 may be a year of recovery for the economy, but it’s also a year of shortages for the trucking industry. Shortages of
For the love of dogs: Trucker Ron Szewczyk is a champion for canines, humans in distress
Don’t ask truck driver Ron Szewczyk how many dogs he has. It’s not that it’s a secret — it’s just that the number might change
Trucking profitability likely to buoy new Class 8 trucks sales into 2023
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks remained strong in September with movement of 23,357 units reported by the manufacturers, according to data received from
Safety Series: Preparation is key to surviving winter weather
Winter will soon arrive. In fact, in parts of North America, the weather might already be winter-like. The further north and the higher in elevation
Damaged or neglected tires can wreak havoc for drivers
Modern trucks are equipped with features that truckers several decades ago couldn’t even dream about. They are incredibly complex machines. Yet, there is one feature
October sees freight rates rise as number of available loads dropped
The number of shipments available for haulage has declined but is still better than last year, while the amount shippers are paying for shipments is
Driver’s review: New Blue Parrott S650-XT headset offers exciting upgrades
In 2008, Blue Parrott revolutionized phone communication for truckers with the introduction of its first wireless headset for the professional trucking market, featuring noise-cancelling microphone technology
Things that go bump: Unusual noises or movements could mean something needs attention
The phrase “things that go bump in the night” may sound like a title for a horror movie, or even a cheesy writing contest, but
Success for the rest of 2022 may depend on spot versus contract rates
Carriers that depend on spot freight rates for their business are in for a rough go in the coming months. On the other hand, carriers
Intermodal trucking can offer options for drivers who want to stay closer to home
Truck drivers who are looking for more local and regional work than their current carrier provides often turn to the intermodal segment of trucking for
Bad moon rising? Inflation’s total toll on US economy, trucking industry remains to be seen
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — “I see the bad moon a-rising, I see trouble on the way.” Those words, penned and sung by John Cameron Fogerty
New Class 8 big rig market accelerates to highest level of 2022 in August
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The U.S. Class 8 new truck market surged to its highest point of the year in August with manufacturers reporting sales
Meeting the challenge: Tom Frain earns title of 2021-22 Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year Grand Champion
Most drivers of tank equipment will tell you it’s different from other forms of trucking. In addition to unique driving characteristics — like top-heavy loads
Proper prep: When it comes to DOT inspections, the best possible news is that there’s no bad news
Department of Transportation (DOT) inspections are often like a visit to the dentist: The best possible news is that there’s no bad news. That’s a
Those Who Deliver with Marten Transport
When drivers are difficult to come by, many carriers refer to their cultures in their advertising efforts. They want prospective drivers to know that they’ll