Better times could be ahead for freight volumes, rates in 2024
At last, after months of “bouncing along the bottom,” the various forecasters and analysts are providing a bit of better news about the prospects for
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
US sales of Class 8 trucks end 2023 on a downward trend that’s expected to continue
December U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks continued the trend of decline compared to last year, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. December
FTR analysts: Industry’s road to recovery will be long, progress sluggish
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The trucking industry will recover from the current downcycle, but progress will be slow. That was the consensus reached during a Jan.
Space, speed are 2 of a driver’s most valuable tools for avoiding hazardous situations
It seems that every year brings more innovation to the trucking industry, especially when it comes to safety options. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have
Drivers Stephen Asgar and Charlene Dougan embrace the adventure of life on the road
If “home is where the heart is,” then professional drivers Stephen Asgar and Charlene Dougan are right at home wherever they are. That said, “home”
Team driving can be rewarding, but it’s important to set (and follow) ground rules
Truckers are known to be independent people, capable of accomplishing their work without constant oversight. A professional trucker’s co-workers are often other drivers that are
Drivers should take steps to protect against cargo theft year-round
Hunting for bargains is a common response to inflation. When everything costs more, people naturally shop for the best available deal. Unfortunately, that “best available
Toll Control: What invoicing method works best for your fleet?
There’s no question that technology has changed the trucking industry in numerous ways, including payment methods for toll roads and bridges. Gone are the days
Red Flags: When hiring drivers, dig past obvious signals on MVR
Background checks are an essential part of the driver qualification process, whether the driver will be a company employee or an independent contractor. There are
US sales of new Class 8 trucks falling further behind ’22
For the first seven months of 2023, U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks exceeded sales in the corresponding month of 2022. But August brought
Digging a hole: Tough freight conditions expected to continue into 2024
In November, it was just more of the same as far as the truck freight market is concerned. Perhaps Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior
Overtime for truckers: A behind-the-scenes look at proposed legislation
This story was updated Dec. 20, 2023, to specify that only industries regulated by the FMCSA would be impacted by the proposed legislation. WASHINGTON —
Follow these tips to stay safe on icy roads
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Winter has arrived in many parts of North America — or has it? Actually, winter officially begins with the winter solstice.
Trucking analyst presents state of industry report to WIT members
DALLAS — The government’s handling of the COVID pandemic reshaped the freight market, causing a record number of new carrier registrations and spot rates to
Insurtech providers offer convenience, speed for obtaining cargo insurance
Every carrier, from the very largest down to the single owner-operator, is charged with keeping their customer’s freight intact and undamaged. To this end, most
Job Resources: Planning, communication key to preventing conflicts between work, family time
It’s the time of year when many people think of spending some time at home. After all, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas will
Safety Series: Be diligent when using self-defense devices
Trucking can take you to some scary places — and it often seems that the places where trucks park don’t offer enough in the way
Owning the Wheel: Are chrome, custom details worth the expense?
So, you finally got that new-to-you truck. You’ve worked hard, scrimped and saved and searched until you found just the right deal on a used
Sales of new Class 8 trucks continue slow decline from 2022 numbers
For months, analysts have predicted a slowdown in sales of Class 8 trucks. It appears that it’s finally happening — although at a slower rate
Current freight recession doesn’t fit traditional patterns
It is said that recessions — including freight recessions — are often characterized by the letter shape they form when drawn on a graph. For