Seeking Normalcy: Carriers planning for 2021 with questions about trucks, rates, drivers
If the year 2020 taught us anything about business, it’s that predictions are often worth the real estate value of the cyberspace they occupy. Regardless,
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 Pete: New transportation secretary has ambitious plans for infrastructure, emission standards
President Joe Biden wasted no time in making major Cabinet appointments, announcing Pete Buttigieg as his choice for the U.S. Department of Transportation secretary on
Sales and orders point to a strong year for manufacturers
The U.S. Class 8 sales market started 2021 with a strong January that saw sales of 17,164 units, according to data received from ACT Research.
FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is an important part of your driving record
Although it’s just beginning its second year of existence, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has become a major part
Designed to increase safety, ELDs provide data, plus some unintended consequences for trucking industry
The year 2020 will long be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos it brought to the economy, business and our lives in general.
Quality is important to consider when choosing additives
Truckers are often bombarded with advertising for fuel, oils and other products. More advertising sells oil and fuel additives that, some say, can add unnecessary
From banking to trucking: Determination drives Karen Noel to success behind the wheel
Some people get the bug early, growing up around trucks and the trucking industry, knowing they want to drive those huge machines someday. Others pursue
Both freight rates and volumes ended the year strong but could falter if the economy does
Freight numbers rose in December as rates continued their upward climb. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 7.4% in December following
A tax advisor can help you navigate confusing laws
As if 2020 didn’t bring enough problems, your tax bill for the year could be impacted. Consulting a professional tax preparer between now and April
Drivers must know and follow medical requirements to maintain CDL
As it has in many areas, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has tightened the rules for obtaining a medical certification. The requirement for
How 2020 changed the job outlook from the driver’s seat
Anyone who’s followed the trucking industry knows that carriers who complain about a driver shortage are often regarded with the same disdain as the boy
Military veteran Ivan Hernandez named top military rookie, drives away in new Kenworth
Leadership. Discipline. Decisiveness. These are three qualities necessary for a successful military career. Those skills translate well to post-military careers, too. Like trucking. Ivan Hernandez
New Class 8 truck sales start weak in 2020 but finish strong
As expected, U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks finished the year with a strong December, making 2020 a better sales year than initially expected.
There are a variety of apps available to help simplify trucking tasks
Back in 1988, a company called Qualcomm began marketing a communications device to motor carriers that revolutionized the trucking industry. With the device, dispatchers could
Freight levels and pricing continue to climb, but hazards exist
November freight levels remained strong as 2020 entered its final month. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) reported that its For-Hire Trucking Index increased 3.7% in
Tax-time tips for maximum deductions
Everyone loves a tax deduction, and billions of dollars are spent each year making sure those deductions are maximized. When you own your own business,
Pete & Wee Pete: Trucker’s son follows in father’s tracks with tiny replica of Peterbilt 379
Family is important to most professional drivers, and children often grow into roles in the family trucking business. Brandon Davis is pretty sure his two
More than a license: Endorsements can expand the possibilities of your driving career
One of the most common mistakes new truck drivers make occurs before they even get their commercial driver’s license (CDL). New drivers often have a
Carrier Profile: Those Who Deliver — Cheema Freightlines
One family, one dream. Those words appear on the website of Sumner, Washington-based Cheema Freightlines. Since the Cheema name appears several times on the executive
Infrastructure Bill 2017 vs. 2021: Where Trump faltered, can Biden succeed?
Standing before a packed U.S. House of Representatives chamber on February 28, 2017, newly sworn-in President Donald J. Trump was delivering his first State of