Former mortician scores big hit with ‘old school’ song that transcends genres
Years ago, I recall a local country radio poll asking listeners to pick from one of two newly released songs. Which would be the bigger
Kris Rutherford
- About Kris Rutherford
- Since retiring from a career as an outdoor recreation professional from the State of Arkansas, Kris Rutherford has worked as a freelance writer and, with his wife, owns and publishes a small Northeast Texas newspaper, The Roxton Progress. Kris has worked as a ghostwriter and editor and has authored seven books of his own. He became interested in the trucking industry as a child in the 1970s when his family traveled the interstates twice a year between their home in Maine and their native Texas. He has been a classic country music enthusiast since the age of nine when he developed a special interest in trucking songs.
Posts by Kris Rutherford
Modern agendas can’t sweep the meaning of this well-known trucking song from the highway
Dave Dudley released seven singles for country radio between 1955 and 1962, but as he told Vic Willis of The Willis Brothers on television one
Driving double-nickels never meant a trucker could stop on a dime
Back in a day many of you probably don’t remember, the U.S. had a national speed limit. No vehicle of any type on any road
Sometimes truck drivers just need to know when to get healthy
If you haven’t read some entries from the “Staying Fit on the Road” section of The Trucker’s site by Bob “The Trucker Trainer” Perry, after
Country duo rides Boy George’s stardom to hit song
I’ve never been a big fan of music videos, at least not the type that dramatizes the lyrics. And I don’t take a liking to
“Too country” of a singer leaves a legacy for all — including truck drivers
Randy Travis’ dream of becoming a country music star didn’t come easy. The young man who, in 1980, sent demo tapes to every record label
What color truck is your time machine?
If you’ve ever sat behind a steering wheel, you have one — that one particular vehicle from your past that you wish you could drive
Events along I-40 serve as long-delayed vindication, create a new trucking song
Pardon me for this column, in which I connect recent events and personal experience that have combined to turn a six-decade-old rockabilly/blues hit into —
A real eye-opener: Top issues list puts driver shortage at top for 4th straight year
Each October, as an annual rite of passage and a barometer of the operational and financial aspects of the trucking industry, motor carrier executives eagerly
Two roads diverged and I am taking the one that happens to be less traveled
Hardcore George Strait fans should recognize the title of this column, borrowed from a song of the same name from his 1986 studio album, “#7.”
From the Army to the driver’s seat: Inspiration can take a driver quite far from home — but still closer than he has ever realized
Clarksville, Tennessee, was a world away from the nation’s capital in the 1970s, when Eric Britton’s neighbor helped build his interest in truck driving. Back
Safety on the road: Driver health, safety, and security combine to provide a thriving industry
Top 10 lists abound in the U.S. — sports teams, movies, world leaders, music — you name it, there’s probably a list for it. For
Paving the way to electrification: Light-duty electric vehicle successes are laying the groundwork for heavy-duty truck applications
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) recent actions have made one thing clear — the drive to move California toward becoming a zero-emissions electric vehicle
Hey, if he wants 40 acres to turn his rig around then do as the song says…
Winter had set in over Maine, and in late March 1983, it showed no sign of “heading out to sea” as the locals often said.
Four more races Republicans need to win to ensure keeping Senate
In the last edition of Truckload Authority, we highlighted four races for U.S. Senate seats that Democrats are hoping will enable them to take control
Driver Safety series, Part 3: Self-defense options while on the road are plentiful; planning can prevent violence
“Really, it’s no different than speed limit laws,” David Heller, vice president of government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) said of various state
Driver Safety series, Part 2: Packing on the road — Freedom of choice isn’t as free as it first appears
Here’s a word of advice for truck drivers who hold concealed-carry permits in their home states to consider before carrying a firearm on the road:
Driver Safety series, Part 1: Safety is always a priority for truck drivers but involves more than driving practices
As any truck driver knows, the occupation requires adherence to one principle above all — safety. Never mind the strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Remembering Bill Mack: Riding shotgun with truckers for six decades
Bill Mack’s connection with truck drivers came naturally. Not only was Mack’s father a truck driver, but Mack was born in Shamrock, Texas, in 1932,
Poor word choice blocks highway to song’s status as anthem for lonely drivers
The “Country Gold” era (early 1950s to mid-1970s) gave rise to a few real-life truck drivers who took shots at making their names in the