Don’t take your fifth wheel for granted
The photos were stark. On March 1, 2024, a chain-reaction crash on the Clark Memorial Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, resulted in the driver of a
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
Owner-ops are responsible for personal benefits as well as pay, business costs
Truck owners are usually aware of the costs associated with being in business for themselves. Those expenses go far beyond fuel and maintenance to keep
Influx of summer travelers can create added hazards for commercial vehicles
An old joke asserts that “In <insert any region here> there are only two seasons — winter and road construction.” It’s certainly true that more
Want to start a trucking company? Make sure you have a solid business plan
The trucking industry abounds with stories of carriers that began with a single truck and a person with a dream. The entrepreneurial spirit is still
State of freight: Current conditions will be slow to improve, say FTR analysts
There are too many trucks competing for too little freight in the North American market, driving rates down. This is not news to most carriers
Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse reports highlight needs but offer few solutions
When it comes to Congressional action, movement is often excruciatingly slow. “Unfortunately, it is rather stagnant up there” is a comment that could have come
Best fleets practice ‘ruthless reflection’ to make their company a place people want to work
Running a trucking company is hard work, especially in the current economic climate. While some carriers are struggling — or even shutting their doors —
Building broker relationships is key to success for owner-operators
As an owner-operator, once you’ve purchased your truck there are several ways to use it to produce income. The safest — and least expensive, in
Better days ahead: Reports show freight market is slowly improving
March did not see much change to current freight conditions as shipment numbers and rates continued to bounce along the bottom. One indicator, published by
Impending EPA mandates for Class 8 trucks could be spurring pre-buys
Sales of new Class 8 trucks fell further behind last year’s pace in March, according to data received from Wards Intelligence, just as analysts expected.
Safety Series: Are you ready for International Roadcheck 2024?
Let’s face it: No driver enjoys being stopped and going through a Department of Transportation (DOT) inspection. However, those inspections help ensure that truck owners
Job Resources: Defensive driving skills are critical for professional truckers
While it may seem strange to find a story about defensive driving under the heading of “Job Resources,” it actually makes complete sense when you
Key provision of Biden’s emission reduction plan knocked down by courts
WASHINGTON — A significant portion of President Joe Biden’s plan to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions was dealt a blow in separate federal court rulings
Be prepared: CVSA’s International Roadcheck is especially important for truck owners
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2024 International Roadcheck is coming soon to an inspection location near you. This year’s inspection blitz is set for May
What is the ERG and why do drivers need it?
While a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required for all operators of commercial trucks, not every professional driver undergoes the certification and training required to
CVSA’s 2024 inspection blitz to include DACH queries
Each year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announces the focus areas for its annual International Roadcheck inspection event. This year, one of those focus
Business ‘cents’: Knowing your cost per mile is vital for owner-ops
Do you know the cost-per-mile to operate your truck? If you don’t, then every decision you make about which loads to accept is suspect. In
Strong February Class 8 sales won’t help overcapacity in the market
As Februarys go, the second month of 2024 wasn’t a bad month for U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks. Manufacturers reported selling 17,619 of
Predicted light at the end of the freight rate tunnel still far away
The signs indicating a market upturn are there, according to most trucking industry analysts — but the rates haven’t responded yet. Why? The answer is
Tighter emissions standards will shape the future of trucking
Whether you like it or not — and there are many people in both camps — California is leading the way with proposed steps to