Survival games: Drivers scramble for loads as trucking pendulum swings to downcycle
Things are tough all over. There is still freight to haul, but there’s more competition for it. In the meantime, expenses are up and rates
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
Using a factor can help cash flow, allowing owner-operators to focus on freight
When it comes to operating your own trucking business, being a great driver isn’t enough. It takes more than driving skill to profitably manage a
Safety Series: Dash cameras can provide inexpensive and effective protection to drivers
If you’re still driving without a dash camera, you’re missing out on some of the best protection you can get for your driving record. Dash
Safety Series: ‘Impaired driving’ can be result of factors other than drugs and alcohol
When most drivers think about “impairment,” they think of alcohol consumption, or possibly the use of illegal drugs. Those substances can certainly impair a driver’s
Gaining traction: More truck buyers choosing zero-emission to reduce cost of ownership
Zero-emissions vehicles aren’t on the horizon for the trucking industry — they’re already here. Every major truck manufacturer now offers electric versions of their medium-
‘I was really surprised … and I was kind of proud of myself’ says TCA’s 2021 Company Driver of the Year Rob Howell
Rob Howell took home $25,000 and the title of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) 2021 Company Driver of the Year at the closing banquet of
‘It is awesome; it sets you apart from other people in your industry’ says 2021 Owner-Operator of the Year Glen Horack
It took some perseverance, but Glen Horack has achieved top honors as Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) 2021 Owner-Operator of the Year. The Elkland, Missouri, resident
Those Who Deliver with Covenant Transport
Managing change is important to any organization. At Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Covenant Transport, it’s all in a day’s work. Founded in 1986 with 25 trucks and
What goes up must come down: Falling rates and rising fuel prices point to a downcycle for trucking
Conditions for earning a profit in trucking are cyclical in nature. When freight is plentiful, rates tend to rise — and truckers buy more trucks
Despite strong March, truck builders struggle to get parts, materials
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks rose by a whopping 35.8% in March compared to February sales figures, but the increase isn’t a sign
Back to school: Would-be drivers should carefully consider options for CDL training
The new commercial driver’s license (CDL) training requirements that went into effect in February will result in fewer drivers being trained by friends or family
Keep up with the times: New FMCSA training requirements change process of earning a CDL
The process of training to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) — or to add hazardous materials (H), passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsements
Safety Series: Reduced speed, increased attention and following distance are keys to navigating construction zones
For an over-the-road driver, there’s rarely a day without a route that passes through least one construction zone. Most drivers accept that dealing with construction
Uncertain times: Class 8 sales still constrained but inflation, high fuel prices, war in the Ukraine could cause changes
February U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks were, as expected, subdued due to industry constraints. Semiconductors are still hard-to-get items, and recent news indicates
Different trailer types present wide range of job options for drivers
For those unfamiliar with — or new to — the industry, it may be easy to assume that all truck-driving jobs are the same. In
Mixed signals: Freight levels, rates remain high but 2022 will be an interesting year
With all of the supply-side issues prevailing in the economy today, it’s easy to think freight levels are stagnant. That’s not so, according to the
Family tradition: Love for trucking, family drives Tyler Woolley to excellence
An honest living doing something he loves — that’s how Tyler Woolley describes his trucking career. Working from Wyanet, a community on the famous Hennepin
Those who deliver with Tucker Freight Lines
Some carriers boast of a storied beginning in a long-ago decade while others emphasize the energy of a young and growing enterprise. Tucker Freight Lines
Who’s using? University study shows FMCSA Clearinghouse is underreporting drug use
There’s little doubt that the introduction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has had an impact on the efficiency
Plugged in: Total cost of ownership will likely drive adoption of electric Class 8 vehicles
Electric vehicles are the future for the trucking industry, according to experts. The problem is, electric vehicles (EVs) are already here and they’re proving to