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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
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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 />
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ALL Divisions<br />
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• Sign-on Bonus - $2,500 solos/$5k teams<br />
Lease and owner operator solo earn<br />
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Lease and owner operator teams earn<br />
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Company solo earn approximately<br />
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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
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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 />
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www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 15
dON’T LOSE MONEY WHEN:<br />
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16 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs
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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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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
OWNING<br />
the wheel<br />
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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
Navege hacia su<br />
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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 />
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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28 the trucker jobs magazine | APRIL 2023 www.TheTrucker.com/Jobs
You’re not a number with us, but a member of the family<br />
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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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LOGIXTRANSPORTATION.COM<br />
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