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now hiring<br />
TOP SAFETY<br />
RATED CARRIER<br />
Hiring areas in blue<br />
Running lanes in green<br />
• Team Pay starting at<br />
$.68 to $.79 per mile<br />
• SIGN-ON BONUS<br />
• Plenty of bonus opportunities<br />
NEW: PAY<br />
INCREASE!<br />
844.757.0001<br />
2 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
otr team drivers<br />
• Paid Holidays<br />
• Vacation Pay<br />
• Great benefits: Medical,<br />
Dental, Life + 401K with<br />
company match<br />
“We choose East-West Express<br />
for various reasons... outstanding reviews,<br />
top of the line equipment, and<br />
they have the best recruiter, Guin.<br />
She made my transition smooth and<br />
welcoming. The orientation process<br />
was reasonably easy and straightforward.<br />
They allowed my husband<br />
to train me, which I found comforting.<br />
We can’t wait to hit the road as<br />
a team! ”<br />
-Thomas Team<br />
WWW.DRIVEEASTWEST.COM<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 3
8<br />
JOB<br />
16<br />
Trucker<br />
talk<br />
RESOURCES<br />
Back to School<br />
Would-be drivers should<br />
carefully consider options<br />
for CDL training<br />
BEHIND THE WHEEL<br />
Hauling Dreams<br />
Husband-and-wife driving<br />
team transports precious<br />
cargo for car enthusiasts<br />
34<br />
Affton ................................................25<br />
Boyle Transportation ........................6-7<br />
Dillon Transportation .........................33<br />
East-West Express ..........................2-3<br />
KL Harring Transportation ................39<br />
LOGiX ...............................................31<br />
Marten .............................................. 11<br />
Nebraska Atlantic Transportation ......32<br />
NFI Industries ..............................12-13<br />
Oakley Trucking Inc. .........................30<br />
PI&I Motor Express .....................5 & 19<br />
Progressive Commercial ..................40<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE<br />
22<br />
26<br />
OWNING THE WHEEL<br />
Money Talk<br />
Sound business practices<br />
will help truckers through<br />
the coming downturn<br />
FEATURED BUSINESSES<br />
Do you prefer to drive<br />
team or solo, and why?<br />
“<br />
Prefer solo. Can enjoy the drive better. Driving<br />
team, feeling every bump in the road .trying<br />
Solo!<br />
to sleep. I tried it. Was exhausting. Much easier<br />
driving solo. More relaxing. And more healthy too.<br />
Team driving — always moving, no time to exercise<br />
or relax. Irregular sleeping too.”<br />
— David Mcdonel Jr.<br />
ALONG FOR THE RIDE<br />
Puppy Love<br />
Couple discovers joys,<br />
challenges of life on the<br />
road with dogs<br />
RIG OF THE MONTH<br />
The Goose<br />
Owner-operators Daniel<br />
and Phyllis Snow enjoy<br />
their home on wheels<br />
Red Eye Radio .................................38<br />
Reliable Carriers Inc. ........................14<br />
Roehl Transport ..................................9<br />
Sharkey Transportation ....................23<br />
Star Freight ..................................20-21<br />
STL Truckers ....................................27<br />
TForce Freight .............................28-29<br />
The Trucker Jobs ..............................36<br />
TMC Transportation ..........................15<br />
Tran Stewart .....................................18<br />
U.S. Xpress ......................................35<br />
Variant ..............................................37<br />
“<br />
I trust my<br />
driving, not so<br />
much everyone<br />
else’s.”<br />
— Amanda Rae<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Linda Garner-Bunch<br />
Staff Writer and<br />
Social Media Coordinator<br />
John Worthen<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Joseph Price<br />
Production Coordinator<br />
Christie McCluer<br />
Graphic Artists<br />
Leanne Hunter<br />
Kelly Young<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Cliff Abbott<br />
Dana Guthrie<br />
Dwain Hebda<br />
On the Cover<br />
LeAnna Thompson<br />
Photo courtesy of LeAnna Thompson<br />
ADVERTISING & LEADERSHIP<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Bobby Ralston<br />
General Manager<br />
Megan Hicks<br />
Director of Technology<br />
Jose Ortiz<br />
The Trucker Jobs Magazine is published<br />
monthly by The Trucker Media Group.<br />
For advertising opportunities,<br />
contact Meg Larcinese at<br />
megl@thetruckermedia.com.<br />
For The Trucker Jobs editorial inquiries,<br />
contact Linda Garner-Bunch at<br />
lindag@thetruckermedia.com.<br />
All advertising, including artwork and photographs,<br />
becomes the property of the publisher once published<br />
and may be reproduced in any media only<br />
by publisher. Publisher reserves the right to refuse<br />
or edit any ad without notice and does not screen<br />
or endorse advertisers. Publisher is not liable for<br />
any damages resulting from publication or failure to<br />
publish all or any part of any ad or any errors in ads.<br />
Adjustments are limited to the cost of space for the<br />
ad, or at publisher’s option, republication for one insertion<br />
with notice received within three days of first<br />
publication. ©2022 Wilshire Classifieds LLC. Subject<br />
also to ad and privacy policy at www.recycler.com.<br />
Share your thoughts by sending an email to lindag@thetruckermedia.com or participating in one of the Driver<br />
Polls on The Trucker Facebook page. Who knows? Your input may be featured in an upcoming publication.<br />
4 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
HIGH PAY<br />
for Experienced Flatbed Drivers<br />
• $6,000 Coil Bonus for 3+ years<br />
experience<br />
• Guaranteed weekly pay of $1,000*<br />
• Safety Bonus<br />
• Clean Idle Program<br />
• Forward-facing dash cams<br />
• Great benefits package<br />
• 7 paid holidays + paid vacation<br />
*Guaranteed pay includes requirements for qualification. Ask for details.<br />
www.thetrucker.com/pii<br />
855.894.5939<br />
CD’S SCAN HERE!<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 5
TRUE WORK/LIFE BALANCE<br />
TRUE WORK/LIFE BALANCE<br />
Don’t lose money when:<br />
• Truck is in the shop<br />
• Waiting for a load<br />
Don’t lose money when:<br />
• Stuck in traffic<br />
• Truck is in the shop<br />
• Waiting for a load<br />
Just a few benefits of joining the award-winning Boyle fleet:<br />
• Stuck in traffic<br />
• Teams start at $3,630 - $3,740<br />
$1,815 - $1,870 per driver<br />
Just a few benefits of joining the<br />
award-winning • Team orientation Boyle page: fleet: $5,000<br />
• Teams start at $3,630-$3,740<br />
• Paid hotel $1,815-$1,870 stay & reserved per driver parking<br />
• Team orientation pay: $5,000<br />
• Paid vacation in 1st year (holidays too)<br />
• Pets welcome with no fees<br />
• Paid vacation in 1st year (holidays too)<br />
• Paid hotel stay & reserved parking<br />
Apply online or call today:<br />
• Pets welcome with no fees<br />
866-982-5051<br />
Apply online or call today:<br />
866-982-5051<br />
www.thetrucker.com/Boyle<br />
www.thetrucker.com/Boyle<br />
6 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022<br />
Military Service<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM<br />
Valued
T<br />
Do<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
We deliver security.TM<br />
HALL OF FAME<br />
Ju<br />
aw<br />
•<br />
Military Service<br />
Valued<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 7
Take Home More.<br />
Be Home More. ®<br />
• Industry Leading Address-to-Address Mileage Pay<br />
More Accurately Reflects the Miles You Drive<br />
• Hundreds of Home Daily & Home Weekly Positions<br />
• Flexibility: Dry Van, Curtainside, Flatbed, Refrigerated,<br />
& Dedicated Opportunities<br />
• Want to Stay Out Longer? Traditional OTR Runs<br />
Also Available!<br />
Join the carrier with the stability you<br />
crave and the rewards you deserve!<br />
715.898.1081<br />
www.roehlrefer.me/tj<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 9
JOB<br />
resources<br />
to make hiring presentations to the<br />
students. Most of these presentations<br />
offer some sort of tuition<br />
reimbursement program that provides<br />
a monthly amount to you,<br />
in addition to your regular pay,<br />
for the purpose of paying off your<br />
school loan. Choose wisely, however,<br />
because most carriers require<br />
you to choose them as your first<br />
trucking employer out of school.<br />
If you decide to change jobs, the<br />
next carrier may not offer tuition<br />
reimbursement.<br />
Another consideration is carrier<br />
financing. In essence, the carrier<br />
pays the cost of your tuition in exchange<br />
for you agreeing to work<br />
for them for a specified length of<br />
time or for a certain number of driving miles. Some carriers<br />
operate their own training schools, while others<br />
contract with private schools to train for them. Many<br />
drivers get their start in the industry this way, but the<br />
conditions can vary widely. It’s critical that you ask<br />
questions and carefully read any contracts before you<br />
sign.<br />
The first question you should ask: How much will I<br />
owe? You should know what the school’s usual cash<br />
tuition cost is, so you’ll want to verify that the carrier<br />
isn’t charging you more. Many carriers make deals with<br />
schools for reduced tuition in exchange for a certain<br />
number of students. This amount is strictly confidential<br />
and can be half, or even less, of what you’d pay in cash.<br />
Be sure you understand what’s included in the total<br />
amount you owe. Most carriers provide additional training<br />
after CDL school to help you learn industry basics<br />
that often aren’t covered in class. Does the total obligation<br />
include charges for this training, too?<br />
You’ll also need to know how long it will take to satisfy<br />
your obligation to the carrier. At some carriers, you’ll<br />
be free and clear after six months or so; others will require<br />
a year or more. Some require you to meet specified<br />
mileage goals. Some require you to run as a team with<br />
another driver or may restrict you from working in a<br />
regional or other desirable fleet until your debt is paid.<br />
Perhaps the most important question this: What<br />
happens if I leave the carrier before the debt is paid?<br />
That’s usually covered in the contract you sign. Most<br />
stipulate that you agree to pay whatever amount<br />
you still owe. Often, carriers will make payment arrangements<br />
with you. As long as you continue payments,<br />
you’ll be fine, but be aware that some carriers<br />
are very aggressive in their debt-collection practices.<br />
In fact, the term “predatory” could be applied to<br />
some offers. There are carriers who require drivers to<br />
“pay back” amounts much higher than what was paid<br />
for tuition. Additional charges can be tacked on for their<br />
driver-finishing process, which may require you to team<br />
with another driver for months at a reduced “trainee”<br />
pay rate. Drivers who leave, regardless of the reason,<br />
are sometimes mercilessly hounded for payment, and<br />
negative information is often reported to credit reporting<br />
agencies. Other carriers who attempt to hire these<br />
drivers receive formal letters threatening legal action for<br />
“interfering with their contract.”<br />
Carefully read contracts and ask questions of recruiters.<br />
If their answers are vague or evasive, move on to<br />
another carrier.<br />
School instructors can be a great resource of information.<br />
Many of them were hired because of their industry<br />
experience, and some will have personal knowledge<br />
about carriers they have dealt with. Former students<br />
may have also shared their experiences with teachers.<br />
The internet can provide a wealth of information<br />
about carriers, but view personal stories with a degree<br />
of skepticism. Disgruntled drivers often post critical<br />
information about carriers — but they seldom include<br />
their own misdeeds in their rants. Look for trends rather<br />
than individual postings, and consider viewpoints from<br />
a variety of sources.<br />
Finally, do your best to honor your commitment to<br />
the carrier. Doing so will help establish your record as a<br />
person of integrity who doesn’t change jobs when things<br />
are difficult. Once you get a year of experience, you’ll<br />
know more about the industry and what works best for<br />
you and your loved ones.<br />
10 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
GUARANTEED<br />
$70,000/YR<br />
MINIMUM PAY<br />
Now Hiring Dedicated, Regional and OTR Drivers<br />
Top Drivers Earn $100,000+ Yearly<br />
Guaranteed Weekly Pay<br />
Detention pay, inclement weather pay, stop pay, breakdown pay and more<br />
Late-model equipment with APUs - average 2 years or newer<br />
Call to join the Marten Team:<br />
866.869.3151<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 11
12 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 13
Roll with the<br />
best in 2022!<br />
Lease and owner operator solo earn<br />
approximately $280,000<br />
Lease and owner operator teams earn<br />
approximately $500,000<br />
Owner Operators/<br />
Lease Operators:<br />
• Weekly Settlements<br />
• Paid Permits<br />
• Fuel and Tire Discount Programs<br />
• Paid Orientation<br />
• Sign-on Bonus - $2,500 solos<br />
/$5k teams<br />
Company solo earn approximately<br />
$100,000<br />
Company teams approximately<br />
$220,000<br />
Company<br />
Drivers:<br />
• Paid Holidays, Personal Days/Vacation pay<br />
• Flexible home time<br />
• Profit sharing<br />
• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance<br />
• Paid Orientation<br />
• Sign-on Bonus - $2,500 solos/$5k teams<br />
• Local<br />
• Eastern Regional<br />
• Western Regional<br />
Now Hiring for<br />
ALL Divisions<br />
Family owned and operated for over 60 years.<br />
855-874-7030<br />
WWW.RELIABLECARRIERS.COM<br />
14 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER!<br />
FIRST YEAR DRIVERS EARN UP TO $88,000<br />
We can<br />
help you get<br />
your CDL!<br />
Call and ask<br />
how!<br />
TMC Transportation needs Class A CDL Drivers to grow our team<br />
of professional flatbed drivers. This is a regional position getting you<br />
home on the weekends!<br />
TMC is the largest employee-owned flatbed freight carrier in<br />
the nation. We are looking for drivers who want to be home every<br />
weekend but still reap the rewards of an over-the-road driver. For<br />
those who love driving but don’t like the sedentary lifestyle that<br />
often comes with trucking, flatbed is a great solution.<br />
TMC Flatbed Driver Benefits<br />
4 Our top 1st year drivers earn up to 4 Performance-Based Pay<br />
4<br />
$88,000<br />
4 Employee Ownership<br />
4 $1,350-$1,600 average weekly pay<br />
4<br />
4<br />
4 Paid Training<br />
4<br />
4<br />
4<br />
Up to $5,000 Sign-On Bonus with<br />
Quicker Payout for Experienced Drivers<br />
4 Consistent Weekly Home Time<br />
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)<br />
*What does it mean to be employee<br />
owned (ESOP)? Drivers who have<br />
been in the plan since ESOP began in<br />
2013 had an average account value of<br />
$84,998 by the end of 2020.<br />
Health Insurance (Medical, Dental,<br />
Vision, Prescription)<br />
Latest Model Peterbilt Equipment<br />
School Tuition Reimbursement<br />
No Experience? No Problem! Ask a<br />
recruiter how TMC can help you get<br />
your CDL.<br />
Driver Qualifications<br />
4 Class A CDL<br />
4 No recent DOT-reportable<br />
accidents or DUIs<br />
4 Minimum 23 years of age<br />
4 All experience levels<br />
welcome!<br />
thetrucker.com/TMC<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 15
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALAN AND KAREN WROBEL<br />
Team drivers Alan and Karen Wrobel<br />
have been hauling luxury vehicles for<br />
Michigan-based Reliable Carriers since<br />
2012. Whether transporting a priceless<br />
antique classic, an iconic vehicle like the<br />
Batmobile, brands available for purchase<br />
by invitation only, or a buyer’s dream car,<br />
the two say each load is handled with<br />
the same care and attention to detail.<br />
just to own one. Not everybody even gets that chance, but I<br />
got to drive it.”<br />
Having handled some of the rarest and most expensive cars<br />
on the planet as long as they have, you’d think the couple<br />
wouldn’t be impressed by much anymore.<br />
That’s not so, says Alan, which may explain their success in<br />
this line of work.<br />
“We treat everything the same,” he said. “Whether<br />
somebody has your basic Chevy or whatever it is, it gets the<br />
same treatment as when we’re taking some supercar up to a<br />
luxury resort.”<br />
“I still get nervous, especially if somebody tells me the value<br />
of (the car) and if it’s one of a kind,” Karen said. “In fact, I’d<br />
rather not even know up front what the value is, because we<br />
treat all the cars the same. As soon as you start saying this is a<br />
$3.5 million car, I’m like, ‘Ahhh, OK. Now I’m a little more<br />
nervous about it.’<br />
“One time I actually got shaky knees,” she explained. “We<br />
were picking up a Koenigsegg down in Miami, and it was<br />
being filmed at this high-end exotic car place. There were like<br />
eight different camera crews there, and I had to take this car<br />
— which had a weird starting procedure — down the road<br />
because we only could park the truck on the road. There was<br />
this one-way street, so I had to drive it around the block. I<br />
came around the corner to come behind my trailer and I<br />
didn’t realize there would be all these cameras in all different<br />
directions pointed at me. I’m like, ‘Don’t stall it! Don’t stall<br />
it!’ That’s all I could think was, ‘Don’t stall this car.’”<br />
Neither of the Wrobels started out hauling such glitzy cargo.<br />
Connecticut-born Alan started out driving moving vans and<br />
trucks, a career that brought him to Florida in 1997. Karen,<br />
a native New Yorker who grew up in Florida, started in the<br />
industry as a mechanic. Sharing a mutual love for motorcycles,<br />
the two met at a bike night and have been inseparable since.<br />
In the beginning, Alan even hired on as a driver with syrup<br />
manufacturer Monin, where Karen worked in the warehouse,<br />
to be closer.<br />
“I told her I wanted I wanted her to live with me on the<br />
road,” Alan said. “When we both ended up at Monin, that’s<br />
when an opportunity came up for us to team drive.”<br />
The pair married in 2006, in between cycling through a few<br />
trucking companies and hauling everything from chicken to<br />
produce to carpet along the way. They signed on with Reliable<br />
in 2012.<br />
“This is definitely the best trucking company we’ve ever<br />
worked for. It’s just been wonderful working for them,” Alan<br />
said. “We joke that we bleed orange to match their big orange<br />
trucks. We’re very, very happy here.”<br />
What adds to the job satisfaction are the dream cars they<br />
get to deliver, even more so than the super high-end, rare or<br />
collectible models. Seeing the face of an owner as they take<br />
possession of a car for which they’ve waited their whole life<br />
— regardless of make, model or price tag — makes for the<br />
most special deliveries of all, the Wrobels said.<br />
“I love this line of work because our customers are happy<br />
to see us. We’re moving people’s dreams,” Karen said. “There<br />
are times somebody will wait 30 years for the car they’ve been<br />
saving up for and always wanted. One time we came to this<br />
small town in Iowa and the whole town saw the big orange<br />
truck coming. Everybody started coming up, because they<br />
knew who was getting their car. It was so cool.<br />
“This guy beat Vietnam, he beat cancer and he was getting<br />
his dream car, a Cobra,” she added. “When we delivered that<br />
(car), the townsfolk came out to watch him get it. He even<br />
said, ‘I can’t wait to get my first speeding ticket with it.’ A<br />
lot of people get a collector’s car and they store it. He was<br />
planning on driving it and enjoying it. It’s neat that we can<br />
bring that dream to somebody. It makes it fun to do this job.”<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 17
REGIONAL &<br />
LONG DISTANCE<br />
AVAILABLE!<br />
As an owner operator with Tran Stewart, you enjoy industry-leading pay as well<br />
as a host of additional benefits that OOs need to succeed.<br />
OWNER OPERATORS ENJOY:<br />
Receive 80% of total billed<br />
Great Fuel Discounts at the pump<br />
No Touch Freight<br />
New Model Trailers<br />
Passengers and Pets Welcomed<br />
24/7 Live Dispatch<br />
And More! Ask a recruiter for details.<br />
855.869.3430<br />
Plenty of Pre-booked freight<br />
Pre Pass program<br />
Free IFTA Taxes<br />
Plate Program<br />
Weekly Pay<br />
www.thetrucker.com/transtewart<br />
18 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WELCOME<br />
Trainees/New CDL Holders!<br />
• $6,000 Tuition Reimbursement*<br />
• Guaranteed weekly pay of $1,000**<br />
• Uniform allowance<br />
• Omnitracs GPS systems<br />
• Great benefits package<br />
• 7 paid holidays + paid vacation<br />
*Must be within 90 days of graduation.<br />
**Guaranteed pay includes requirements for qualification. Ask for details.<br />
www.thetrucker.com/pii<br />
855.894.5939<br />
CD’S SCAN HERE!<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 19
20 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 21
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 23
ALONG<br />
for the ride<br />
pets, followers will immediately spot the baby crates that were<br />
converted into makeshift pens to give the hounds their own space.<br />
It’s an idea with a “middling” success rate.<br />
“We’ve tried to kind of separate them while we drive, because<br />
they do get really rowdy and there’s not enough room in the<br />
truck,” Thompson said. “We came up with an area where they<br />
can still interact but are separated because they wrestle so hard.<br />
They’re also still chewing, and we don’t want wires or important<br />
stuff getting chewed.<br />
“We started kenneling them when they were babies when<br />
we first got them,” she continued. “But obviously there’s not a<br />
whole lot of room in the truck for two kennels for their size. We<br />
makeshifted their own space.”<br />
Reading between the lines of Thompson’s posts you learn of<br />
other adventures, too, such as when the couple makes a trip to<br />
visit Thompson’s parents (her father is over the moon for Diesel)<br />
or when she posted about her new slow cooker.<br />
“That was Diesel,” Thompson said. “He ate almost half a<br />
crockpot of chili. It was quite the mess.”<br />
Eyler, who’d never owned a dog before, said there have been<br />
other adjustments, such as getting used to barking or the other<br />
shenanigans the furry family members pull while en route. But,<br />
he said, it’s not without its payoffs, either.<br />
“A lot is that companionship,” he said. “You wake up, and<br />
Gidget especially is super-sweet, and you wake up with little<br />
kisses and cuddles.<br />
“When I leave the truck to go check in or run into the truck<br />
stops, I know LeAnna is not in the truck by herself,” he added.<br />
“We experienced a few things along the road, just creepy people,<br />
and it’s nice knowing that those dogs are there to at least<br />
make some noise and deter anybody who might get too close.”<br />
Thompson says Gidget is more responsive to Eyler’s commands<br />
than to hers.<br />
“Gidget is a daddy’s girl!” she cooed. “She likes to do everything<br />
with her daddy. When I call her down, she doesn’t listen.<br />
She’ll scoot over towards Tosh and be like, ‘Can I get away with<br />
it?’ She knows how to get down; she knows that command. She<br />
just doesn’t mind me. That’s almost like a sarcastic comment<br />
to me.”<br />
Owning dogs has gained the couple entry into a fraternity of<br />
drivers who travel with their four-legged family members. And<br />
while traveling pets is becoming more common, the service industry<br />
that caters to truckers has a long way to go to catch up.<br />
“The only place that is really pet-friendly is Love’s. They<br />
at least have, for the most part, a dog park area. It’s small but<br />
it’s doable for them to run off some energy,” Thompson said.<br />
“Love’s is very accommodating. They let us bring the dogs inside.<br />
They can even go in the shower with us. That is the only<br />
truck stop that is pet-friendly.<br />
“As a result, we do prefer to either go to Love’s or a rest stop,<br />
because we can take them out at a rest stop and play with them,”<br />
she said. “We’ve found quite a few rest stops that have little hiking<br />
trails and stuff like that where we can go on a hike and take<br />
them for a good walk.”<br />
Both Thompson and Eyler said that drivers wanting to get a dog<br />
as a driving companion should first do a little homework.<br />
“If you are by yourself and you have nobody else riding with<br />
you, I suggest you get an older dog, not a puppy,” Thompson<br />
said. “I will tell you right now, puppies are a handful. It was a<br />
handful with Diesel, but Diesel kind of worked us into a pattern,<br />
which is why we’re able to handle Gidget because we learned<br />
what to do and what not to do with Diesel.<br />
“Still, if you’re a single driver and don’t have a passenger to<br />
help you out, do not get a puppy because it’s a lot of work; it’s a<br />
lot of chaos,” she said.<br />
As for traveling with both a dog and a significant other, you<br />
should be prepared for good days and bad days, Eyler said.<br />
“The biggest thing is the tight quarters; you’re always around<br />
each other,” he said. “You’ve got to have a strong relationship<br />
to be able to even handle that, without that break of each other<br />
going to work at separate jobs. That would be the biggest thing<br />
I would say, how well you handle being with each other 24/7.<br />
“Just keep the peace with what issues do arise, so that it<br />
doesn’t turn into bigger deals than need be,” he concluded.<br />
24 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
You’re not a number with us, but a member of the family<br />
Class A CDL -<br />
Local, Regional &<br />
OTR Company<br />
Drivers<br />
PAY & BENEFITS<br />
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REQUIREMENTS<br />
Offering Local and<br />
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• Local: $900 - $1,200/week. Home Every Night.<br />
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• OTR: $1,200 - $1,600/ week. Plus $50 per<br />
night out per diem (tax free)<br />
• $2,500 Sign-On Bonus<br />
• Health, Dental & Vision Benefits<br />
• Paid Holidays & Vacation<br />
• Company-match 401K Retirement Plan<br />
• Assigned Trucks<br />
• Family Oriented Environment<br />
• Quarterly Safety Bonuses<br />
• Reimbursements for Endorsements<br />
• CDL-A<br />
• 24 years old minimum<br />
• Two years OTR experience<br />
• Hazmat & Tanker Preferred but not Required<br />
888.832.9969<br />
thetrucker.com/affton<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 25
RIG<br />
of the month<br />
INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY LINDA GARNER-BUNCH<br />
It’s hard to miss Daniel and Phyllis Snow’s 1996 Freightliner Classic XL on<br />
the highway … or anywhere, for that matter. The eye-catching emeraldgreen<br />
tractor — dubbed “The Goose” — features a 140-inch sleeper that the<br />
couple rescued from a salvage yard and transformed into a compact home<br />
on wheels with a full kitchen, a dining area, a full-size fold-out bed and a<br />
bathroom, complete with a shower. Teamed with a custom 53-foot trailer, the<br />
rig measures a whopping 85 feet in length. According to Daniel, the couple<br />
has done almost all the work on the rig themselves, with the exception of<br />
the stretching and the paint job. The trailer even includes a small workshop<br />
so the two can make improvements and repairs any time. Both Daniel and<br />
Phyllis take turns driving the massive rig, which is a popular sight at truck<br />
shows across the nation.<br />
26 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
ENJOY CHOICE DRY VAN FREIGHT<br />
Earn up to 70cpm and sign on bonus<br />
• Earn up to 70 cents per mile with our<br />
graduating pay scale<br />
• Equipment 3 years old or less. KW,<br />
Freightliner, Volvo<br />
• Mileage, Safety and Referral Bonuses<br />
• $2,000 sign on bonus<br />
• Paid Holidays<br />
• Health and vision<br />
• Two weeks paid vacation after 1 year<br />
• Excellent home time<br />
• 24/7 available and round the clock<br />
dispatch<br />
**This is an OTR position only. NO LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES.**<br />
877-945-0055<br />
thetrucker.com/stl-truckers<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 27
CHOOSE<br />
INDUSTRY-LEADING PAY<br />
WITH AN INDUSTRY-LEADER PARTNER!<br />
Partner with TForce, and your business can earn over<br />
$200,000/year in gross earnings. Join the industry’s most<br />
successful owner operator truck drivers by choosing TForce<br />
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CDL-A Owner Operator Truck Driver Jobs Offer:<br />
• Industry-leading pay – over $200,000/year!<br />
• Up to 3,000 miles/week<br />
• No HazMat required<br />
• Loaded & empty miles paid the same<br />
• Full fuel surcharge on all miles<br />
• Practical mileage pay<br />
• 100% no-touch freight; primarily terminal-to-terminal deliveries<br />
• Fuel & tire discounts<br />
• Plate, permits, fuel taxes, and road taxes paid at no cost<br />
• Fast pay – within 24 hours of paperwork receipt<br />
• Tolls & scales paid – PrePass Elite provided<br />
• 98% drop & hook<br />
• Paid orientation<br />
• NO NYC<br />
• Cargo & liability insurance<br />
Call Jill or Amanda today to learn more about how<br />
we can help you grow your driving business!<br />
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28 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
TForce<br />
Freight<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 29
OWNER OPERATORS<br />
End Dump • Hopper Bottom • Pneumatic<br />
Oakley Trucking is a 100% owner operator company. We lease seasoned professionals who share our commitment<br />
to quality and safety in everything we do. From our first rate equipment and service-first attitude to a 24/7 support<br />
system that’s second to none, we’re focused on helping you—and our customers—succeed every day.<br />
END DUMP DIVISION<br />
> 1.72 loaded / $1.32 empty + FSC on all miles<br />
> Regional and OTR routes<br />
> Team and solo drivers welcome<br />
> Terminals in North Little Rock, AR; Reserve, LA;<br />
Inola, OK<br />
> Requires investment in a wet kit - provided by<br />
Oakley and installed during orientation<br />
HOPPER BOTTOM DIVISION<br />
PNEUMATIC DIVISION<br />
> $1.52 loaded / $1.32 empty + FSC on all miles<br />
> Extra loaded mile pay based on weight hauled<br />
per load<br />
> Regional and OTR routes<br />
> Team and solo drivers welcome<br />
> Terminals in North Little Rock, AR; Reserve, LA;<br />
Inola, OK<br />
> $1.84 loaded / $1.39 empty + FSC on all miles<br />
> OTR Routes<br />
> Husband/wife teams and solo drivers welcome<br />
Terminals in North Little Rock, AR; Reserve, LA;<br />
Inola, OK<br />
> Requires investment in a blower - provided by<br />
Oakley and installed during orientation<br />
(866) 974-5277<br />
www.thetrucker.com/truck-driving-jobs/hiring/oakleytrucking<br />
30 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 31
Great Pay, Full Benefits & Bonuses!<br />
Nebraska Atlantic Transportation, Inc. is a<br />
family-owned & operated company that has<br />
been in business for over 30 years. It is our<br />
goal to make you feel like you are part of the<br />
family and are treated as such. High miles<br />
and good pay are what we strive to provide<br />
our drivers. We offer an in-house mechanic<br />
shop, weigh scale & fuel tank, and our drivers’<br />
lounge features a rec room with a pool table,<br />
mounted TVs, a separate TV room, washer &<br />
dryer, a full kitchen, and furnished bedrooms.<br />
Call or apply and join our family today!<br />
H $0.55 Per Mile<br />
H Cell Phone Reimbursements<br />
H Unloading Paid in Full<br />
H $20 Extra Stop/Pick-Up<br />
H Yearly Bonuses<br />
H Full Health Insurance<br />
H Full Life Insurance<br />
H Home Weekly<br />
H Driver Apartment w/Washer & Dryer, Stocked<br />
Kitchen, Large Screen TVs & Pool Table<br />
REQUIREMENTS<br />
H CDL-A<br />
H 24 years old minimum<br />
H Two years OTR experience<br />
888.858.8217<br />
www.thetrucker.com/nebraska-atlantic<br />
32 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
HIRING COMPANY DRIVERS<br />
AND OWNER-OPERATORS!<br />
DILLON DRIVERS ENJOY:<br />
u Earn up to $90K per year<br />
u Sign-On Bonus of $1,500 Paid In First 3 Weeks<br />
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u All Miles Paid Loaded and Empty - Calculated<br />
Via Practical Mileage<br />
u Great Miles - Solo Drivers Get 2,500-3,500<br />
Miles Weekly<br />
u ** Guaranteed home weekly for 34-48 hours **<br />
u Spouse and pet rider policies<br />
u Solos start at $0.60 and Teams start at $0.67<br />
on all miles.<br />
u Driver Referral Bonuses of $3,000 For Every<br />
Driver Referred<br />
u Extra Pay Opportunities: Vacation, Sick,<br />
Detention Pay, Layover Pay, Stop Pay<br />
u Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance with Options<br />
for Family Coverage<br />
u Company-Paid Life Insurance & Disability<br />
Insurance<br />
u Late Model Freightliner Cascadias, Governed<br />
at 70 MPH<br />
u Majority of Freight is No Touch/Drop & Hook<br />
u In House Maintenance Technicians<br />
u Lunch Served Every Friday for All Drivers At<br />
Both Terminals<br />
u Dispatch is Available 24/7<br />
u Truck Washed For You Every Week During Your<br />
Home Time<br />
REQUIREMENTS:<br />
u CDL-A with no automatic restrictions<br />
u Minimum 1 year OTR Tractor Trailer Driving<br />
Experience<br />
u Max of 3 MVR violations in 3 years<br />
u No DUI/DWIs in the last 10 years<br />
We also hire teams<br />
and students!<br />
CALL US TODAY!<br />
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www.thetrucker.com/dillon<br />
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 33
Now HiriNg<br />
HigHly Qualified SoloS aNd TeamS for dedicaTed & oTr ruNS<br />
u Enjoy Top Pay & Top Bonuses from one of the Top Trucking Companies in the Country.<br />
t<br />
u Also offering Lease Purchase Opportunities with no money down, no credit check and no maintenance expenses. t<br />
cdl driverS, call Today To diScuSS THe moST lucraTive opporTuNiTy for you:<br />
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WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 35
Owning<br />
the wheel<br />
Scan the code<br />
to visit<br />
thetruckerjobs.com<br />
to search for<br />
truck-driving jobs<br />
by state, driver type and more!<br />
Meanwhile, an all-too-familiar problem is creating havoc in<br />
China. The “Stealth Variant” of COVID-19 has resulted in countrywide<br />
lockdowns and restrictions. According to research firm<br />
Gavekal Dragonomics, 87 of the country’s 100 largest cities by<br />
industrial production face at least some restrictions, with some<br />
completely shut down. Manufacturing has been stalled and transportation<br />
is sporadic at best.<br />
Many products sold in the U.S. are imported directly from<br />
Ukraine or China and many more imported from elsewhere are<br />
manufactured using parts from either country. The result will be<br />
less freight for truckers everywhere, pushing rates downward.<br />
Both countries depend on large agricultural industries that may<br />
experience reduced production due to lack of equipment, fertilizer<br />
and seed. The impact on the world market will be increased food<br />
prices. When families spend more on food, they have less to spend<br />
on other products that truckers haul.<br />
Inflation hits trucking business owners by increasing the cost of<br />
products and services needed for the business — but there’s another<br />
impact to consider. The Federal Reserve raises interest rates<br />
to combat inflation. The Fed warned consumers to expect three<br />
rate hikes this year and implemented the first one, a quarter point,<br />
on March 16. Some banking analysts have warned of six or more<br />
rate hikes in 2022, twice the Fed’s prediction.<br />
The obvious effect of interest rate increases is higher truck payments<br />
for those who finance new equipment. With truck prices<br />
already at record levels, buyers are already paying more, and many<br />
buyers are financing greater amounts. Higher borrowing rates will<br />
only exacerbate that problem.<br />
Financing equipment isn’t the only reason truckers borrow<br />
money. Those who use credit cards for fuel or repairs will also pay<br />
more interest. Those who borrow to fund purchases like auxiliary<br />
power units or major repairs will pay more.<br />
Some carriers, especially larger ones, maintain a line of credit<br />
to bridge the gap between paying expenses, like driver wages, and<br />
when cash is received from customers. Some customers pay shipping<br />
bills 60 or even 90 days after receipt, long after the fuel used<br />
to deliver has been paid for and the driver compensated.<br />
All these factors add up to difficult times coming for trucking<br />
business owners. While almost anyone can make money when<br />
conditions are favorable, it takes business acumen to pull through<br />
when a downcycle hits. Some belt-tightening is in order. Owners<br />
may choose to keep their speed down and reduce idling to get<br />
maximum mileage from every gallon of fuel. Spending for nonessential<br />
items may need to wait. Owners may choose to stay on the<br />
road longer to reduce empty miles travelled when going home.<br />
In a reversal of the trend of the past year, more truck owners<br />
may decide to lease to carriers who can provide both loads and<br />
consistent rates, foregoing their own authority. Others may simply<br />
leave the business, selling or parking their trucks. They may become<br />
company drivers or may enter another field entirely.<br />
How severe the coming downturn will be and how long it will<br />
last is a topic debated among trucking industry analysts. Regardless,<br />
controlling expenses, maximizing efficiencies and studious<br />
management of the business will help trucking businesses survive<br />
until the cycle turns favorable again.<br />
36 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
COMPANY DRIVERS<br />
EARN 30% MORE THAN THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE!<br />
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WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 37
38 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM
WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 39
FOR EVERY HERO ON THE FRONT LINES,<br />
THERE’S A TRUCKER IN THE BACKGROUND.<br />
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