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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 />

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• Hazmat & Tanker Preferred but not Required<br />

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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 />

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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 />

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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 />

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• 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 />

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**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 />

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CDL-A Owner Operator Truck Driver Jobs Offer:<br />

• Industry-leading pay – over $200,000/year!<br />

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• 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 />

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Call Jill or Amanda today to learn more about how<br />

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28 THE TRUCKER JOBS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM


TForce<br />

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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 />

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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 />

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> $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 />

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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 />

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u Extra Pay Opportunities: Vacation, Sick,<br />

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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 />

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We also hire teams<br />

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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


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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 />

Progressive Commercial offers affordable insurance options<br />

to protect the heroes behind the scenes. Call your local agent<br />

or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com<br />

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