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Owning the wheel<br />

TIPS FOR SUCCESS<br />

Profits are possible when times<br />

are tough but good management<br />

is needed<br />

THE EYES HAVE IT<br />

Make sure the field of vision around<br />

the rig is clear for maximum safety<br />

behind the<br />

Wheel<br />

Family Ties: David & Dana Walden may drive<br />

separate routes but they always share life’s journey


TOP PAY<br />

for Experienced Flatbed Drivers<br />

2 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


EXPERIENCED DRIVERS:<br />

$6,000<br />

Coil Bonus for 3+ years experience<br />

NEW CDL HOLDERS:<br />

$6,000 Tuition Reimbursement*<br />

• Safety Bonus<br />

• Clean Idle Program<br />

• Omnitracs GPS systems<br />

• Forward-facing dash cams<br />

• Uniform allowance<br />

• Great benefits package<br />

• 7 paid holidays + paid vacation<br />

*Must be within 90 days of graduation. Ask for details.<br />

www.thetrucker.com/pii<br />

855.894.5939<br />

CD’S SCAN HERE!<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 3


WHAT’S INSIDE<br />

8<br />

JOB<br />

14<br />

18<br />

22<br />

RESOURCES<br />

Not Just a Slogan<br />

Down time doesn’t have to be boring if you take<br />

advantage of local tourism opportunities<br />

SAFETY SERIES<br />

The Eyes Have It<br />

Make sure the field of vision around the rig is<br />

clear for maximum safety<br />

BEHIND THE WHEEL<br />

Family Ties<br />

David & Dana Walden may drive separate routes<br />

but they always share life’s journey<br />

OWNING THE WHEEL<br />

Tips for Success<br />

Profits are possible when times are tough but<br />

good management is needed<br />

FEATURED BUSINESSES<br />

EDITORIAL<br />

Managing Editor<br />

Linda Garner-Bunch<br />

Staff Writer &<br />

Social Media Coordinator<br />

John Worthen<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 />

Kris Rutherford<br />

ADVERTISING & LEADERSHIP<br />

Chief Executive Officer<br />

Bobby Ralston<br />

General Manager<br />

Megan Hicks<br />

Director of Technology<br />

Jose Ortiz<br />

ON THE COVER<br />

David and Dana Walden<br />

Photo courtesy of David and Dana Walden<br />

Affton......................................29<br />

Boyle Transportation.........16-17<br />

East-West Express................6-7<br />

KL Harring Transportation......20<br />

LOGiX.....................................31<br />

Los Troqueros........................26<br />

Marten....................................27<br />

Nebraska Atlantic<br />

Transportation.....................23<br />

Nebraska Salt & Grain..............5<br />

Oakley Trucking Inc................28<br />

PI&I Motor Express...............2-3<br />

Progressive Commercial........32<br />

Red Eye Radio.......................30<br />

Reliable Carriers Inc.................9<br />

Riverside Transport Inc.......... 11<br />

Roehl Transport......................21<br />

Star Freight........................12-13<br />

The Trucker Jobs....................24<br />

Variant....................................25<br />

The Trucker Jobs Magazine is published monthly<br />

by The Trucker Media Group.<br />

For advertising opportunities, contact<br />

Meg Larcinese at megl@thetruckermedia.com.<br />

For editorial inquiries, contact Linda Garner-Bunch<br />

at lindag@thetruckermedia.com.<br />

All advertising, including artwork and photographs, becomes the<br />

property of the publisher once published and may be reproduced in<br />

any media only by publisher. Publisher reserves the right to refuse<br />

or edit any ad, without notice, and does not screen or endorse<br />

advertisers. Publisher is not liable for any damages resulting from<br />

publication or failure to publish all or any part of any ad or any errors<br />

in ads. Adjustments are limited to the cost of space for ad or, at<br />

publisher’s option, re-publication for one insertion with notice received<br />

within three days of first publication. ©2022 Wilshire Classifieds LLC.<br />

Subject also to ad and privacy policy at www.recycler.com.<br />

4 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


DRIVE FOR THE<br />

BRAND<br />

CDL-A Company Drivers get great perks!<br />

➤ Average drivers earn $84k, top drivers earn over $107k<br />

➤ Company paid health care for driver/additional cost for family<br />

➤ Dental and vision coverage<br />

➤ 401K company match (50% up to 5%)<br />

➤ Paid vacation<br />

➤ Assigned trucks, trailers and dispatchers<br />

➤ Weekly pay<br />

➤ Yearly wage increases<br />

➤ Company provided training<br />

➤ Fridge, microwave, power invertors in trucks<br />

➤ Year around work<br />

➤ Family oriented business, great work environment<br />

Join the NSG Brand today!<br />

833.288.6068<br />

thetrucker.com/truck-driving-jobs/hiring/nebraska-salt-grain<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 5


6 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


It has really been<br />

a great experience<br />

working for East West<br />

Express. The people<br />

here are really good to<br />

work for and they really<br />

care about the drivers.<br />

- Lisa & John Cook<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 7


JOB<br />

resources<br />

NOT JUST A<br />

SLOGAN<br />

Down time doesn’t have to be boring if you take advantage of local tourism opportunities<br />

BY CLIFF ABBOTT / CONTRIBUTING WRITER<br />

There’s a Navy recruiting slogan that’s often spoken with<br />

sarcasm: “Join the Navy and see the world.” After all, about<br />

71% of the world is covered in water — and much of what<br />

isn’t is covered in ice or desert sand, or is in some other way<br />

inhospitable. What the sailor does see is often viewed from a<br />

distance, from the deck of a ship.<br />

A parallel in trucking is the invitation to become a “paid<br />

tourist.” Those who buy in to the hype quickly learn that the<br />

pavement and lines on an interstate highway look about the<br />

same in any part of the continent. Although the job occasionally<br />

provides great scenery or a windshield view of a tourist<br />

attraction, it rarely allows the time to explore and enjoy.<br />

Trucking does, however, occasionally provide time off for<br />

34-hour restarts, delays for the next load, vehicle repairs and<br />

so on. Additionally, drivers can choose to take time off at locations<br />

other than their homes. Many carriers have passenger<br />

programs that allow drivers to bring along a spouse, other<br />

family member or friend at little to no cost.<br />

Drivers often prefer to use their time off to rest and catch<br />

up on laundry, grocery shopping and other activities. Some,<br />

however, choose take advantage of the travel that goes along<br />

with the job and use that time off to explore the surrounding<br />

area. The fact that lodging, however sparse, is right behind<br />

the driver seat and doesn’t cost extra is an added attraction.<br />

With a little planning — and some help from technology<br />

and the locals folks — drivers can often experience “minivacations”<br />

anywhere the job takes them. In some cases, they<br />

can even request loads that deliver near an area or attraction<br />

they’d like to see.<br />

Personal transportation is easier to find and arrange than<br />

ever before. Car rental companies often offer discounted<br />

rates and may even bring the car to the driver. Purchasing<br />

fuel for a rental car is much cheaper than for the work truck,<br />

and there’s no maintenance involved. Many urban areas<br />

have buses and trains that are inexpensive, and companies<br />

like Uber and Lyft make it easy to schedule rides using your<br />

phone. Drivers aren’t stuck at the truck stop all weekend, as<br />

they were in the past.<br />

8 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


Roll with the Best<br />

Now Hiring for<br />

• Local<br />

• Eastern Regional<br />

• Western Regional<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/$5k teams<br />

ALL Divisions<br />

Family owned and operated for<br />

over 60 years.<br />

Company 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 />

Lease and owner operator solo earn<br />

approximately $280,000<br />

Lease and owner operator teams earn<br />

approximately $500,000<br />

Company solo earn approximately<br />

$100,000<br />

Company teams approximately<br />

$220,000<br />

855-874-7030<br />

WWW.RELIABLECARRIERS.COM<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 9


KEEP<br />

CONNECTED<br />

FOLLOW<br />

THE TRUCKER ONLINE<br />

Scan for Facebook:<br />

@TheTruckerNewspaper<br />

Scan for Twitter:<br />

@TruckerTalk<br />

OR vISIT US ONLINE FOR THE LATEST AT<br />

JOB<br />

resources<br />

Local newspapers and websites can help you find information<br />

about upcoming events in a specific area. You<br />

might be able to catch a movie, a concert or even a professional<br />

sporting event nearby. Numerous websites allow<br />

users to resell tickets they aren’t using, often at considerable<br />

discounts.<br />

Some communities have orchestras or theater groups<br />

that provide live entertainment at a reasonable cost. Many<br />

have “community announcement” sections on web pages<br />

or digital editions of newspapers.<br />

Want to get out of the truck to sleep and shower? Those<br />

options have grown as well. There are apps that help locate<br />

available rooms, provide information and even arrange payment.<br />

These days, however, there are other options, such as<br />

“bed and breakfast” offerings and rental of rooms or whole<br />

houses through services like Air BnB and Vrbo.<br />

Campgrounds are another option. Some will allow drivers<br />

to use their truck as a camper; some provide cabins<br />

or lodges. Campgrounds can be part of state or national<br />

parks or privately owned. Most provide electricity and<br />

water, and many have bathhouses and laundry facilities.<br />

Some provide rental of boats, bicycles and other items to<br />

fill your recreational desires. “Glamping” businesses take<br />

camping further, providing tents, cabins, teepees or yurts<br />

for a unique lodging experience.<br />

If you’re looking for a break from truck stop food (or<br />

perhaps your own cooking), there are apps that let you<br />

view the restaurants in the area, peruse the menu and even<br />

make reservations. Many also provide user reviews so you<br />

can consider the experiences of others before making your<br />

decision.<br />

A common issue among drivers who want to explore an<br />

area simply not knowing what’s there. Luckily, technology<br />

can help. Simple internet searches can reveal area attractions,<br />

and mapping websites often note hotels, restaurants<br />

and attractions. Specialized apps for your phone can help,<br />

too. Look for tourism apps in the Apple or Google Play<br />

stores, and select some that meet your needs. One app,<br />

Roadtrippers, shows local attractions and can be used to<br />

plan a trip. Also, the Air BnB app offers more than lodging.<br />

Users can book local tours or even classes and workshops.<br />

An app called Viator lets the user create tours and itineraries.<br />

There are many apps that can help you decide what to<br />

see, provide information about hours and amenities, and allow<br />

you to reserve a space in tours or other activities.<br />

Often, employees at local truck stops or restaurants can<br />

tell you what’s nearby and where they enjoy spending<br />

their own time away from work. Sometimes, just jumping<br />

into a rental car and driving around the area can be a relaxing<br />

way of discovering attractions on your own.<br />

While it’s true that there are many locations you can’t<br />

get to in your truck, with a little planning and the help<br />

of technology you can make down time a relaxing and<br />

rewarding experience.<br />

10 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


EARN OVER<br />

$<br />

90,000/year!<br />

DRIVER COMPENSATION:<br />

✔ Earn Over $90,000 Per Year!!<br />

✔ $0.60-$0.65/mile based on experience &<br />

home time for all loaded & empty miles<br />

✔ $1750 Sign on Bonus for W2 and $3800<br />

Sign on Bonus for 1099<br />

✔ $500 Orientation Pay<br />

✔ $1000 Weekly Guarantee – Must be in<br />

good service standing. Provides security<br />

in the event of weather or breakdown.<br />

DRIVER ADVANTAGES:<br />

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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 11


12 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 13


Safety<br />

series<br />

the EYES<br />

Have it<br />

Make sure the field of vision around the rig is clear for maximum safety<br />

BY CLIFF ABBOTT / CONTRIBUTING WRITER<br />

From blazing sunlight to pitch darkness,<br />

fog, snow and everything else nature can<br />

present, a truck driver’s eyes take an incredible<br />

amount of abuse.<br />

Unquestionably, eyesight is the most important<br />

of the professional driver’s senses.<br />

Not only does the driver need the ability<br />

to see other objects, but also to determine<br />

distance, estimate speed and make splitsecond<br />

decisions that can have life or death<br />

consequences.<br />

Vehicle manufacturers design their products<br />

to provide maximum visibility and to<br />

overcome everyday hazards such as darkness<br />

and rain. However, the responsibility<br />

for maintaining these systems — including<br />

lights, windshields/windows, wipers and<br />

mirrors — falls on the driver. Failure to do<br />

so creates a handicap that, sooner or later,<br />

the driver may not be able to overcome.<br />

Windshield and windows, for example,<br />

are harder to see through when they’re wet<br />

and dirty. It’s a good habit to clean them<br />

frequently. Most truck stops provide devices<br />

to do this, but those devices vary in<br />

type and in quality. A bucket of soapy water,<br />

a long-handled brush and a spray from<br />

a water hose at the fuel pump can make<br />

short work of dirty windows. A dilapidated<br />

squeegee and a container of muddy water<br />

won’t do nearly as good a job.<br />

While it’s easy to advise looking for truck<br />

stops that provide the former, fuel prices<br />

and the availability of parking and food<br />

may be more important considerations.<br />

There is, however, no rule preventing the<br />

driver from carrying his or her own bucket<br />

and brush, and it’s a good idea to do so.<br />

Mirrors also need to be kept clean, and<br />

they can get dirty quickly. Mirror brackets<br />

and the shape of the mirror housing can<br />

direct air onto the mirror’s surface, carrying<br />

water, deicing chemicals and dirt in the<br />

slipstream. Heated mirrors can help dry the<br />

water, but this process leaves any contaminants<br />

dried onto the mirror’s surface. Frequent<br />

cleaning is a must. It’s a good idea<br />

to keep a small squeegee or some paper<br />

towels, along with a spray bottle of cleaner,<br />

in the truck. A quick spray and wipe just<br />

before backing up can make a world of difference.<br />

Of course, mirrors are most effective<br />

when properly adjusted. Most modern<br />

trucks are equipped with enough mirrors,<br />

both flat and convex, to allow the driver to<br />

view most of the blind spots around the vehicle.<br />

Flat glass (often called “West Coast”)<br />

mirrors should be adjusted to show a minimal<br />

amount of the truck and trailer and as<br />

much as possible of the space next to the<br />

vehicle. Convex mirrors should provide as<br />

large a viewing area as possible.<br />

14 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


For the windshield, working wipers are imperative, as is a<br />

working washer system. Wiper blades are made of rubber that<br />

must be in good condition. Softer rubber cleans the glass surface<br />

better — but it also wears out more quickly. Replacing wipers is<br />

a necessary expense; they should be changed at the first sign of<br />

streaking or loss of coverage.<br />

Washer solvent is particularly valuable when roads are wet,<br />

especially if anti-icing chemicals or salt have been used on the<br />

road surface. Washer solvent is sold in a variety of quality levels.<br />

Cheap washer fluid can solidify in the narrow lines and nozzles<br />

that spray the windshield, and it may freeze at nearly the same<br />

temperature as plain water. Once frozen, it can be difficult to<br />

get everything thawed and get the washer working again. Quality<br />

solvent may cost more, but it is well worth the price when<br />

conditions are rough.<br />

Also keep in mind that windows and mirrors can’t be effective<br />

if they are blocked by items inside the truck. The passenger<br />

seat might be a convenient spot to store luggage or other things,<br />

but if they block your view from the window or in the mirrors,<br />

it’s a self-created hazard. Using the dashboard as a shelf for<br />

paperwork, trash and other items can block visibility. Further,<br />

light-colored items can be reflected in the windshield, creating a<br />

distraction, especially at night.<br />

Technology has provided the driver with more information<br />

than ever before, but that same technology creates a hazard<br />

if mounted in a manner that blocks visibility. Regulations set<br />

by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration prohibit<br />

mounting items on the windshield in the area covered by the<br />

wipers.<br />

Steering wheels are often adjustable. This won’t help with<br />

windows and mirrors, but visibility is important for viewing<br />

gauges and driver controls. If the driver has to shift their position<br />

to see the gauges, the steering wheel should be adjusted to<br />

a point where visibility is maximized.<br />

The sun can be brutal at times, especially when reflected off<br />

snow or water. Tinted windows and visors can help, but every<br />

driver occasionally needs more help. A pair of quality sunglasses<br />

is a must.<br />

At times, the sun comes in from an angle that no amount of<br />

visor adjusting can block. A baseball or trucker’s cap can be a<br />

valuable tool. It may look crazy — or cool, depending on your<br />

point of view — but the hat can be worn with the bill in any<br />

position necessary to block the glaring sun.<br />

Sometimes vehicle positioning can help, too. Following another<br />

truck closely can be dangerous when traveling at speeds<br />

that don’t allow for stopping if the truck in front brakes suddenly.<br />

Even at slow speeds, however, if trailer doors are taking<br />

up most of your field of vision, backing off will increase the area<br />

you can see.<br />

Finally, rest is an important factor in eyesight. Drivers who<br />

are fatigued often don’t keep up the continuous eye scan needed<br />

to remain aware of hazards all around the vehicle. In addition,<br />

tired drivers may not process the information gathered by their<br />

eyes, leading to errors in judgment. And, of course, closed eyes<br />

don’t see anything.<br />

Keep glass and mirrors clean, use all of them and don’t drive<br />

when fatigued, and you’ll find it easier to identify and deal with<br />

the hazards you’ll face every mile you drive.<br />

The Trucker Media Group is<br />

looking for a multi-media<br />

advertising sales executive.<br />

✔Full✔time,✔competitive✔<br />

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salary✔and✔benefits<br />

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For a full job description,<br />

email your resume to: ✔<br />

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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 15


dON’T LOSE MONEY WHEN:<br />

• Truck is in the shop<br />

• Waiting for a load<br />

• Stuck in traffic<br />

just a few benefits of joining the<br />

award-winning boyle fleet:<br />

• Teams start at $4,080-$4,200 - $2,040-$2,100 per driver<br />

• Team orientation pay: $5,000<br />

• Paid vacation and personal days in the first year<br />

• Paid hotel stay and reserved parking<br />

• Pets welcome with no fees<br />

16 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


guaranteed weekly<br />

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TRUE WORK/LIFE BALANCE<br />

Apply online or call today:<br />

866-982-5051<br />

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Military Service<br />

Valued<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 17


ehind<br />

the wheel<br />

ties<br />

David & Dana Walden may<br />

drive separate routes but they<br />

always share life’s journey<br />

BY dwain hebda / CONTRIBUTING WRITER<br />

between them, Georgia-based drivers David and<br />

Dana Walden have nearly 70 years of trucking experience,<br />

a stint that has taught them hundreds of life<br />

lessons and given them thousands of stories.<br />

Those stories mark important events in their lives<br />

— especially the one about the cellphone. In fact,<br />

without the cellphone story, many of the others would<br />

never have happened.<br />

“I had service with AT&T and I had an old Suncom phone,”<br />

David said. “I was having trouble with it. I called a friend of<br />

mine and I go, ‘Man, this phone of mine sucks. I’m fixin’ to<br />

throw it out the window, go get me a megaphone and yell out the<br />

window at people.’ He goes, ‘No, no, actually, I know this team<br />

couple, and she’s really good with electronics. And they’re close<br />

to where you are.’<br />

“So I call them,” David continued. “This guy answers the<br />

phone and I go, ‘Hey, my name’s David and my friend told me<br />

your girlfriend is really good with electronics.’ He goes, ‘Oh<br />

man, she’s fantastic with electronics!’ I go, ‘You don’t know me<br />

from nobody, but could she look at my phone?’”<br />

That girlfriend turned out to be Dana, an Army veteran who<br />

loved trucking as much as David did. Over time, a friendship<br />

blossomed until one day Dana, who was now single, made David<br />

an offer he couldn’t refuse.<br />

“Dana calls me out of the blue one day and goes, ‘Hey, I’m<br />

here in Louisiana, fixin’ to go out to California with a load of ice<br />

cream. Where you at?’” he said. “I go, ‘Actually, I’m coming<br />

through Vicksburg, Mississippi.’ She said, ‘I’ll sit here and wait<br />

on you. We’ll go across there together.’ One thing leads to another<br />

… and here we are 20 years later.”<br />

The couple’s professional story mirrors their personal one in<br />

all the ways that are important — a lucky break here, a fortuitous<br />

bounce there, and the sheer dogged determination to see things<br />

through.<br />

David was introduced to trucking by his father, who drove for<br />

half a century. While his father is now deceased, his legacy lives<br />

on through his son’s love of the industry.<br />

“When I was growing up, Dad drove a company truck for one<br />

company for like, 30 years,” David said.<br />

Dana’s hands-on introduction to trucking didn’t come from a<br />

parent. It came from Uncle Sam, through her stint in the U.S.<br />

Army. During her hitch, the Iowa native served in Desert Storm<br />

and Desert Shield before starting her driving career in the civilian<br />

sector. For the past 15 years, she’s driven for Tarkett, based out of<br />

Dalton, Georgia, where she has a designated local run.<br />

“I got grandfathered in on CDL,” she said. “I never did have to<br />

go for that testing. I got home like a week before you had to start;<br />

I had one week to get my CDL without testing.”<br />

In 2001, David founded Walden Transport. Since then, he<br />

has built a successful business through the ups and down of the<br />

market and the many challenges that face all entrepreneurs.<br />

“When I got my truck in 2001, (Dad) said, ‘You realize you’re<br />

making a massive mistake. You always drive for somebody else.<br />

That way they’ve got to deal with the problems,’” David said. “I<br />

go, ‘Dad, I’ve been driving 14 years. I just want to try.’<br />

“Six months later, he went and bought his own truck,” David<br />

continued. “I said, ‘Wait a minute old man. What happened to<br />

making a mistake?’ He goes, ‘Well, I’m 62. I might as well make<br />

my first mistake in life.’”<br />

As much as David enjoys being his own boss, he says<br />

18 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID & DANA WALDEN<br />

Husband-and-wife truckers David<br />

and Dana Walden may not work<br />

together, but they make a point of<br />

taking time to enjoy life as a couple.<br />

that, looking back, he has to admit his father had a point.<br />

“That thing Dad put in the back of my head, ‘You’ve got to pay<br />

for the repairs,’” he said knowingly. “I had one truck for 10 years,<br />

and I put three motors in that truck. First one was $15,000. Next<br />

one was $18,000 and the third one was $21,000.<br />

“Dealing with repairs is your biggest fear in this business, that<br />

and now fuel,” he continued. “Last year, fuel just tore me up.<br />

Running to the West Coast or Northwest was costing me $6,000<br />

to $7,000 to go there and back to Georgia. That’s a lot of money.”<br />

Dana, who first became captivated with driving as a child after<br />

seeing a garbage truck in her neighborhood, said experiencing the<br />

freedom of the road is the best thing about her long career.<br />

It’s also taught her a lot of life lessons, including one important<br />

one concerning team driving with her spouse.<br />

“We only drove together for a little bit,” she said with a big<br />

laugh. “I would choke him now if I had to ride with him.”<br />

David’s latest rig, a 2019 International LoneStar featuring an<br />

X15 Cummins engine and Fuller 10-speed transmission, is his<br />

pride and joy.<br />

“I always had Freightliners. My first was in 2001, my second<br />

one was in 2002; got another in 2012 and in 2015,” he said. “I was<br />

just ready for something different. I’m not a Peterbilt man at all<br />

and Dana goes, ‘Have you seen the [International] LoneStar?’ I go,<br />

‘Yeah, I’ve seen them on the road.’ She goes, ‘It looks like a train.’<br />

I go, ‘To me, it looks like a 1938 Ford in the front end.’”<br />

Driving a rig you like, as any driver will tell you, is the key<br />

to happiness in your work, especially given the amount of time<br />

David spends in his. He estimated he’s averaged 150,000 miles a<br />

year going back to his company days, and says he never ran harder<br />

than during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />

“We hauled food boxes from Chattanooga all over the country,”<br />

he said. “We were running out West, picking up produce, coming<br />

right back to Georgia and the Carolinas and Florida. I’d say 2021<br />

— I probably did almost 200,000 miles by myself that year. I was<br />

running my butt off.”<br />

David has grown older and wiser when it comes to his chosen<br />

profession. He’s an owner-operator in the strictest sense, serving as<br />

his company’s sole driver, not because the opportunity to expand<br />

isn’t there but because of the headaches that come with having to<br />

manage it.<br />

“I got friends that have four, five, six trucks and I see the crap<br />

they’ve got to go through,” he said. “I don’t want that two-in-themorning,<br />

‘Hey, I’ve run off the road. Hey, I’ve hit somebody. Hey,<br />

I need money for this. Hey, the truck’s tore up.’ To me, that would<br />

just be too much.”<br />

While the Waldens don’t travel as a team — they’re happiest<br />

following their own paths as drivers — as a couple, they always<br />

share the journey.<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 19


20 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


How does Roehl reward our outstanding driving teammates for their professional<br />

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• Annual profit sharing<br />

• Safety-our cornerstone value<br />

“Driving for the flatbed and specialized division at Roehl has been<br />

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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 21


OWNING<br />

the wheel<br />

TIPS FOR<br />

SUCCESS<br />

Profits are possible when times are tough but good management is needed<br />

BY CLIFF ABBOTT / CONTRIBUTING WRITER<br />

Truck prices are ridiculously high now.<br />

Fuel prices, too. Inflation is making everything<br />

cost more — while freight rates<br />

continue to fall. Carriers are going out of<br />

business.<br />

It’s a terrible time for trucking, right?<br />

Well … maybe it’s not so bad.<br />

It’s true that conditions today aren’t<br />

as favorable as they were two years ago,<br />

when the economy was opening up after<br />

COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions. It’s<br />

important to understand, however, that new<br />

records were being set for spot freight rates.<br />

Records were also being set for new carrier<br />

registrations as drivers bought trucks<br />

and obtained their own authority, to take<br />

advantage of the high freight rates. For a<br />

while, it was difficult NOT to make money<br />

in trucking.<br />

Since then, fuel prices have risen and<br />

freight rates have dropped. In the last quarter<br />

of 2022 nearly 2,000 carriers per DAY<br />

were giving up their own authority, effectively<br />

closing their businesses. Some leased<br />

their trucks to larger carriers with steady<br />

rates, while some sold their trucks, becoming<br />

company drivers — if they stayed in the<br />

business at all.<br />

Undoubtedly, it’s a tough time for small<br />

trucking businesses.<br />

However, even though costs are up and<br />

freight rates are down, it wouldn’t be accurate<br />

to say it’s impossible to operate a profitable<br />

trucking business. The reality is that<br />

rates are down from a record-setting peak<br />

reached in 2022, but they’re still higher<br />

than they were pre-pandemic. The cost of<br />

trucks has risen, but so has the fuel economy<br />

they provide, and advanced driver<br />

assist systems, or ADAS, have made them<br />

safer than ever.<br />

One telltale sign of trucking profitability<br />

is that when carriers are making money,<br />

they buy trucks. One reason for doing this<br />

is that profits invested in new equipment<br />

can be subtracted from the carrier’s taxable<br />

earnings. Another is simply that they<br />

expect to continue making money.<br />

Well, carriers are still buying trucks. On<br />

the U.S. market, 254,574 Class 8 trucks<br />

were sold last year, according to Wards Intelligence.<br />

That’s an average of over 21,000<br />

per month, or about 20,500 if December<br />

(typically the highest sales month of the<br />

year) is taken out of the equation. This year<br />

is starting strong: at the end of February<br />

(the most recent month for which data was<br />

available at the time of this writing), 40,068<br />

trucks had been sold.<br />

Truck manufacturers have received so<br />

many orders that, even if no more orders<br />

were received, it would take them more<br />

than nine months to build enough to clear<br />

the backlog. Clearly, large carriers are positioning<br />

themselves to profit in 2023.<br />

However, large carriers make up a very<br />

small percentage of registered carriers. In<br />

fact, more than 90% of carriers have five<br />

trucks or less. The majority are one-truck<br />

operations. Small carriers have some market<br />

disadvantages, such as smaller or no<br />

volume discounts of fuel, tires and repairs.<br />

Another factor that can harm small trucking<br />

businesses is a reliance on brokered freight,<br />

commonly known as “spot market.”<br />

22 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


Great Pay, Full Benefits & Bonuses!<br />

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Call or apply and join our family today!<br />

H $0.55 Per Mile<br />

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www.thetrucker.com/nebraska-atlantic<br />

www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 23


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Most large carriers sign contracts with customers, keeping<br />

freight rates at a particular level over the length of the contract.<br />

Not only does this help provide steady freight, but it also keeps<br />

rates from fluctuating wildly. Not so with spot rates, which can<br />

rise or fall much more quickly based on competition and other<br />

factors.<br />

To be profitable in today’s market requires some judicious<br />

business management. Unfortunately, that’s an area in which<br />

some owner-operators fall short. Those are the ones that typically<br />

get weeded out quickly when conditions worsen.<br />

To manage a business, the owner must know some key factors,<br />

beginning with cost per mile. That cost includes the driver/<br />

owner’s salary, fuel mileage and more. It’s nearly impossible to<br />

decide if an offered load is worth taking without knowing the<br />

cost per mile. Fuel mileage in miles per gallon is also important.<br />

Fuel prices can change daily, so knowing how many gallons<br />

will be needed for the load and any deadhead makes a difference.<br />

Spot freight often doesn’t include a fuel surcharge to compensate<br />

with prices rise, whereas many carriers provide one.<br />

The source of the freight is important, too. Spot rates are<br />

great when the market is rising, and not so good when its falling.<br />

Some truck owners lease to carriers because they compensate<br />

at a set rate, avoiding market fluctuations. Those that pay<br />

contractors by percentage may still be more stable if they have<br />

contracts in place with their customers that keep rates from<br />

drastic ups and downs.<br />

Truck owners sometimes run under their own authority when<br />

rates are high and then lease to carriers and running under the<br />

carrier’s authority when brokered freight rates are down.<br />

But even small carriers can enter into contracts for freight so<br />

they don’t rely entirely on the spot market for all their loads. It<br />

doesn’t hurt to have a discussion with a potential customer, but<br />

remember that being obligated for certain loads must fit in your<br />

operational schedule. For example, if your contract is to pick up<br />

a load in Atlanta on Wednesday, you’ll need to find freight with<br />

a delivery that puts you nearby when empty. A 16 deadhead to<br />

get to the pickup quickly negates the advantages of a contract.<br />

Knowing your market is also important. Rates differ in different<br />

areas of the country. The state of Florida could be the best<br />

example of this. You might be offered a great rate for a load going<br />

to Florida, but rates coming out of the state are notoriously<br />

low. That’s because Florida, with large numbers of tourists and<br />

retirees, consumes much more freight than it produces. Other<br />

areas of the U.S. have similar rate disparities, so before accepting<br />

a load, it pays to check the outbound rates for the delivery<br />

area.<br />

Finally, managing your business also includes managing your<br />

pay. Truck owners who treat any cash left over after paying expenses<br />

as “personal money” soon run into financial trouble. Put<br />

yourself on a salary, and leave any surplus from each settlement<br />

in the bank for future expenses. You can always pay yourself a<br />

bonus at year-end.<br />

Treating your trucking operation as the business that it is can<br />

help you remain profitable in the toughest of times.<br />

24 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 25


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26 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 27


OWNER OPERATORS<br />

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28 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 29


30 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs


OWNER OPERATORS<br />

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• A willingness to follow our operational model<br />

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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 31


FOR EVERY HERO ON THE FRONT LINES,<br />

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32 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs

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