Nov 26, 2020

Trucking and Thanksgiving

Trucking and Thanksgiving

History of Thanksgiving

America’s most loved holiday is upon us. Yes, it’s Thanksgiving Day! But why do we celebrate Thanksgiving and particularly on a Thursday?

Americans generally believe that Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. This American holiday is particularly rich in legend and symbolism, and the traditional fare of the Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

It was President Abraham Lincoln who proclaimed in 1863 that Thanksgiving would be held the last Thursday of November.

The following day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday where a lot of holiday shopping deals occur. It’s one of the most profitable days of the year for retailers and businesses.

Trucking and Thanksgiving

The United States is estimated to consume around 50 million turkeys each thanksgiving and nearly $60 billion worth in goods are bought during the “Black Friday weekend,” all of which are being transported by none other than trucks.

You can expect that truck drivers are having a hectic week already, transporting all the food and goods for grocery stores, food joints, shopping centers, and retail outlets.

So, this Thanksgiving, we’d like to give thanks to our hard working truckers out there. Because of you, we enjoy delicious Thanksgiving meals and have goodies to look forward to every Black Friday. If we bought it, truckers brought it.

Happy Thanksgiving from Trucker Path!

Share with us how you’re spending your Thanksgiving. Let us know in the comments.

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruckloads Truck Driver Thanksgiving truck drivers Owner Operator trucking Trucker Path Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Freight Brokers Trucking Tips transportation black friday

Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in America [p] Which locations landed on American Transportation Research Institutes [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]top 100 worst traffic bottlenecks in America[/a]?[/p] [p]Bottlenecks, no not the Budweiser kind. Rather the worst traffic bottleneck that causes extreme delays can derail a truck drivers schedule. Let's take a look at the list of places where drivers are bound to be waiting in triaffic. [/p] [h2]1. Atlanta Spaghetti Junction[/h2] [p]Winner winner, spaghetti dinner! After analyzing over 600,000 heavy-duty trucks, the ATRI deemed the intersection of [b]Interstates 285 and 85 North in Atlanta[/b], known as the “Spaghetti Junction” is the most congested freight bottleneck in America.[/p] [ol] [li]Atlanta Spaghetti Junction[/li] [li]I-95 at State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey[/li] [li]I-290 at I-90/94 in Chicago, Illinois [/li] [li]I-65 at I-64/71 in Louisville, Kentucky[/li] [li]I-71 at I-75 in Cincinnati, Ohio[/li] [li]SR 60 at SR 57 in Los Angeles, California[/li] [li]SR 18 at SR 167 in Auburn, Washington[/li] [li]I-45 at US 59 in Houston, Texas[/li] [li]I-75 at I-285 North in Atlanta, Georgia[/li] [li]I-5 at I-90 in Seattle, Washington[/li] [/ol] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o7qE3a5YpLpCdeq0U" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [h2]Which State Has the Worst Bottlenecks?[/h2] [p][b]Texas has the most bottleneck of any state[/b], with nine locations ranked among the top 50 worst. Washington has six locations in the top 50, California has five – primarily in the Los Angeles area, while Georgia has four.[/p] [h2]Which City Has the Worst Bottlenecks?[/h2] [p]Staying in the Lone Star state, the city with the worst bottleneck congestion is [b]Houston[/b]. Not only does Houston have three locations in the top 15, it has six in the top 40. Seattle is another city with major bottleneck traffic congestion with five locations on the top 100 list.[/p] [h2]Difference Between Traffic Jam and Bottleneck[/h2] [p]A bottleneck differs from a traffic jam because a bottleneck is caused by a road design or flaw in the timing of traffic lights. Bottleneck traffic can be limited if there is a proper redesign of the roadway, something that is extremely costly and time-consuming. The most common causes of bottlenecks are:[/p] [ul] [li]Traffic Interruption – the most common causation of bottleneck traffic that includes railway crossings, tolls, stop signs or traffic lights.[/li] [li]Lane Reduction – a merge caused by the reduction in the number of lanes.[/li] [li]Merging – specifically when two major highways intersect.[/li] [/ul] [p]American Trucking Association President Chris Spear sees the results of the ATRI study as an indication of infrastructure issues that the Trump Administration should address.[/p] [quote]“With President Trump expected to press for significant long-term infrastructure spending, this ATRI analysis should be a key guide for deciding what projects are worthy of funding,” Spear said. “Ensuring the safe and efficient movement of goods should be a national priority and this report draws attention to the places where our highway network needs improvement in order to meet that goal.”[/quote] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/2bgR8ybgyJU6Q" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [button-white href="http://atri-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-ATRI-Bottleneck-Brochure.pdf"]Full List[/button-white]

Jan 26, 2017 • Community

Trucker Spotlight - Jerry McCallister <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Jerry</strong>, who's a driver at FedEx Custom Critical. He also has a Youtube channel called, "Expediter Boogie”, where he talks about the types of things he does in expediting. Let's get to know more about Jerry and his "expeditions". <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How long have you been trucking?</strong></h3> I have been driving for 11 years all with FedEx Custom Critical and the last 4 of those years I’ve been with HyField Trucking who is a fleet owner leased onto FedEx Custom Critical. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm2.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> My mom influenced that decision, she had been driving for 14 years OTR and i was tired of sitting in a cubicle doing the same thing over and over and needed the change. After researching trucking I landed on expediting and thought this would be way better than doing normal long haul. It seemed more exciting and paid more for less work. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> I have noticed many changes, rates dropping compared to earlier years, implementation of electronic logs, trucks getting smarter like the Tesla Truck and technology used on the road getting better. I am happy for the technology changes i believe technology is a driving force to help us truckers in our daily jobs. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the story of you becoming "Expediter Boogie"? Do you also have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> I wanted to start a YouTube channel to talk about the types of things we did in expediting and places we go. Also a lot of people didn’t know what expediting was, so i started the channel. When thinking about what i would call it, I had been called Boogie all my life by my family so i added Expediting to it and came up with The Expediter Boogie. <h2></h2> We just got a brand new truck and haven’t thought of a name yet so we are taking suggestions. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Are there times of loneliness while driving? How do you deal with it? </strong></h3> I don’t get lonely on the road. I drive team with my partner of 10 years so i always have someone to talk to and share my day with. I am also a mentor with the company i drive with HyField Trucking. I am always on the phone with my mentees helping them and teaching them the ways of expediting. So I am rarely ever lonely I just stay busy. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm4.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> Definitely the biggest struggle we are facing right now is dealing with the slower freight which in turn is making the rates lower. The other main struggle I find in dealing with Covid-19 is people not taking it serious enough. Not wearing mask and seeming to not care. It makes our job more difficult and having to be out here risking out health on a daily basis to help keep the country moving I just wished more people had more compassion to try and help do their part. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> We don’t have a usual route, being with Fed Ex Custom Critical we run all 48 states and Canada. I would have to say my favorite area to drive through is I-70 in Colorado. that area is absolutely beautiful and I never get tired of seeing it. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm1.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Weirdest or most unusual haul?</strong></h3> At Fed Ex Custom Critical we haul everything from pharmaceuticals to explosives, we even haul priceless art at times. One of the coolest things we hauled was actual artifacts from the Titanic we transported between museums. Another great trip was when we moved 4 different inventions that were made by Benjamin Franklin. You never know what you are going to haul in expediting, which is what makes it fun it is always something different. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How often do you use rest stops / truck stops? What are the things that you look for in a truck stop? Favorite truck stop meal?</strong></h3> We park at truck stops all the time mostly utilizing Loves because that is where we fuel the majority of the time. I love the rewards we get through Loves and it is nice to see them adding more services to their locations. I don’t have a favorite truck stop meal due to we have a custom sleeper and tend to do all our cooking in the truck. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking? Pet peeves?</strong></h3> I would say the usual things all us truckers have to deal with like traffic, shippers not being ready on time. <h2></h2> I would say my biggest pet peeve while driving is cars cutting you off. Most of them don’t realize just how close they come to causing an accident. It’s not easy stopping this truck quickly and when we have to it causes more headache for us cause everything in our sleeper goes flying. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that you use the Trucker Path on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?</strong></h3> The biggest thing we enjoy about Trucker Path is the ability to see what truck stops are coming up along our route as well as seeing what other drivers are reporting about upcoming weigh stations and whether or not they are closed or open. Reading the reviews from other drivers is also a big help, like if we want to stop at a Wal-Mart. Being able to quickly see if we are allowed to park there or if we need to talk to the manager is a big help. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> I would say do your best and put forth the effort. Don’t just look at trucking as a job, think of it as a career. Don’t fall into all the typical stereotypes of truckers. Put on decent clean clothes when dealing with a shipper or receiver, don’t litter like a lot of drivers do, and just try to take it to the next level. Be proud of what you do on the roads by being a professional driver and keeping America running. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your videos?</strong></h3> You can find me on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksmX2wd6Lzo6zM4pyaB_ew">Expediter Boogie</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vl1vV2b_1wE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Aug 04, 2020 • Carriers

Trucker Spotlight - Shelby <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Shelby</strong>, who's been driving for 3 years now. She's has a blog and Youtube channel called, Happiness by the Mile, where she shares her experiences and also gives information on everything you would want or need to know to become a professional driver, and live on the road. Let's get to know more about Shelby and how she gets happiness out of every mile. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> It was just a childhood dream of mine to drive a semi. I was not invested in making a career out of it. I just wanted to do it to say I could. It was more of a bucket list item than anything else. Now, I love it so much I could never leave! <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> I have not seen much of any significant change during my short time in the industry, but I have to say that there is a definite shift happening with the reduction of mom and pop truck stops, access to good food, and good training for those getting into the industry. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-6.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to create a Youtube channel? And why did you choose the "Happiness by the Mile" name?</strong></h3> I initially started an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/happiness_by_the_mile/">Instagram</a> page with the name "Happiness By The Mile". I thought it was the most ideal reference to my mindset of being on the road. We chase many things down the road, our thoughts, fears, hopes for the future, but we forget all too often our happiness is not and will never be a destination. We have to be present in our current lives, and happiness is a choice that we can make at any time. I want to encourage drivers to build happiness as they drive down the road, not chase it into the sunset. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> My current truck's name is "Waldo". I play a game on Instagram with my followers where I post my truck at a truck stop, and they try to guess where it's located. "Where's Waldo?" <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Are there times of loneliness while driving? How do you deal with it? </strong></h3> I love to keep my brain stimulated by listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I also go out of my way to make kind gestures to others by buying their coffee for them, or helping them out if they are trying to fix something on their trucks at a rest area. I think we all benefit from some positive interaction with other humans on the road. It just takes a bit of effort to put yourself out there to receive. <h2></h2> <h3><strong> As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> The hardest was finding food for a long time. With a lot of the restaurants and fast food joints having fewer hours or being closed all together it was quite a struggle. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-5.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> I run I-80 quite often. If I go east it is usually to Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Most of my routes on the west side of the united states are to Montana, Washington or Oregon. I tend to stay where the snow happens to be the worst. Just the luck of the draw for me. My favorite route is anywhere through US 191, north or south of Salt Lake City it doesn't matter. It is absolutely breathtaking and goes through various national parks. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Weirdest or most unusual haul?</strong></h3> My most unusual haul had to be a single pallet of medical supplies across the entire United States (not during COVID). <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How often do you use rest stops / truck stops? What are the things that you look for in a truck stop? Favorite truck stop meal?</strong></h3> I stop and truck stops and rest areas frequently! I stop often to let my dog Dakota out to stretch her legs, as well as myself. We take a generous amount of time to make sure that we both are feeling awake and ready to keep moving down the road. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-2.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking?</strong></h3> We often struggle to find a place to park with the doubles set. Pull through parking spaces are the only option most of the time, and not all truckstops have them. We are sometimes forced to park on the curb out of the way, or on exit ramps of the interstates. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your pet peeves while driving/trucking?</strong></h3> I don't have many pet peeves. I do wish that there was more respect given to the trucks from cars on the road, but it's hard to know what we do unless you've been up there in that seat doing it. We oftentimes need to back off a busy street to a customer dock, and it can be hard with cars zipping around you instead of giving you a few minutes to do what you need to do to get out of the way. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that Trucker Path has been of service to you! Could you share your favorite feature of the app?</strong></h3> I like to use <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">Trucker Path's</a> map feature to see where all the truckstops are around my current location, and I use it to help me trip plan to my final drop location. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Take it slow and steady. No matter how many years you have on your belt, you can never know it all, and always have something to learn. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your trucking videos?</strong></h3> You can check out my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ShelbyHBTM/featured">Happiness by the Mile channel on Youtube</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RKbiP779jJU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <em>Got a cool story to share? Send us message at community@truckerpath.com to be featured!</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Sep 11, 2020 • Carriers