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
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
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 roadsÂ
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
Weighty subject: Proposals to allow heavier commercial trucks in US face continued opposition
From the day horse-drawn wagons were replaced by gasoline-powered trucks as the primary method for moving freight, there have been efforts to increase the capacity
Secrets to Success: These tips can help carriers survive, maybe even thrive, during a freight recession
For months, from the latter part of 2022 until at least midway through 2023, warnings of an economic recession remained in the nation’s business headlines.
Keeping Clean: Testing methods, regulations falling behind new drugs, legalization efforts
There are new tools available in the fight to keep impaired drivers from behind the wheel of commercial vehicles, but development and implementation are being
Truck sales remain strong but there may be a crisis on the horizon
For the eighth consecutive month, U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks topped 20,000 in September, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. Manufacturers reported
Ask these questions before leasing to a carrier
It’s no secret that truck owners are having a tough go in today’s freight market. Freight rates, especially spot rates, remain at levels that can
The art of quitting: Don’t burn bridges when leaving a carrier
With an average turnover rate that hovers around 100%, it’s obvious that the average professional driver changes jobs on a regular basis. Look at it
Successful trucking is more than owning a rig
It’d be pretty hard to find a driver willing accept a company driving position without even asking what the pay will be. In fact, most