Author: Trucker Talk Radio

This narrative is derived from an interview with 39-year-old Tracey Price, a long-haul truck driver for aifleet in Texas. It has been condensed for brevity and clarity. Starting My Journey I began my long-haul trucking career in 2012 while couch surfing, signing a training contract with CRST, a transportation company. I was seeking a change in my life. CRST funded my training to obtain a commercial driver’s license with a Hazmat Endorsement, in return for an eight-month work commitment. This opportunity allowed me to enter a new profession without the burden of training costs. I remained with the company until…

Suppliers in the trucking aftermarket are adjusting to evolving customer demands, regulatory changes, the effects of tariffs, and the need for supply chain resilience, all while increasingly relying on technology. Despite ongoing challenges, panelists at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue’s Real-World View of the Aftermarket discussion identified emerging opportunities. Their primary focus includes increasing manufacturing capacity in North America, investing in digital innovation, and enhancing relationships with distributors and fleets. The panel consisted of: Dominic Grote, President and CEO of Grote Industries; Chip Stuhr, President of Stemco; Matt Wolfe, Vice President and General Manager of Aftermarket at SAF-Holland; Moderator: Paul…

Young Actors Make Their TV Debut Two young boys from Lewisham are set to make their television debut on Thursday night. Dasharn Anderson, 13, and Kiano Samuels, 10, will appear in the BBC drama Truckers as brothers Thomas and Matthew, taking on the roles of the on-screen sons of Top Boy star Ashley Walters. The boys auditioned for the show in May, competing with a large number of applicants from London and nearby areas. Kiano shared his experience, saying, “I haven’t been acting for very long; this is my second acting job. I only had an evening and the morning…

Daimler Trucks North America Invests in Trucking Insurance Startup Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is making a strategic investment in High Definition Vehicle Insurance (HDVI) Group, a startup specializing in commercial auto insurance for the trucking industry. The company’s innovative methods, which analyze real-time driver behavior via telematics, are expected to aid fleets in significantly lowering their insurance expenses. DTNA, based in Portland, Oregon, partnered with investment firm McVestCo and lead investor Weatherford Capital, along with existing supporters such as Munich Re Ventures, 8VC, Autotech Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures LLC, to raise $32.5 million in a Series B funding round…

Caledon Tackles Illegal Trucking Operations The Town of Caledon in Ontario has achieved multiple convictions for illegal trucking activities since June 2024, imposing over $330,000 in fines as a result. This initiative underscores Caledon’s dedication to detecting and rectifying unlawful land usage through proactive enforcement and ensuring trucking operators adhere to relevant bylaws. The town is located in the heart of the trucking sector within the Region of Peel. Community Safety Focus Rebecca Carvalho, manager of strategic initiatives and chair of the Illegal Land Use Task Force, stated in a news release, “These convictions deliver a strong message that illegal…

Major Recruitment Event for Truck Driver Trainees in Denver Some of the largest trucking companies in the country will gather in Denver to pre-hire new Driver Trainees at the United States Truck Driving School on Wednesday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is expected to be one of the biggest recruitment drives in the Denver area for 2013. Thriving Industry with Competitive Salaries The trucking industry is experiencing significant growth, with drivers earning between $45,000 and $70,000 annually. In contrast to many other professions, trucking offers attractive benefit packages that include health, dental, vision, 401K plans,…

Understanding Truck Driver Health: A Series Overview This article is the second installment in a four-part series focusing on the health and wellness of truck drivers, as part of CCJ’s What Drivers Want initiative. The other segments in this series include: “Keeping Drivers Means Offering More Than Health Insurance Coverage,” “Easing Drivers’ Access to Healthcare,” and “The Big Picture of Driver Wellness Includes Mental Health.” Gulf Relay’s Commitment to Driver Wellness Gulf Relay, a carrier based in Mississippi, has launched a safety program aimed at enhancing driver health, which incorporates the Fit to Pass initiative developed by Espyr. This program…

Investigation into Rising Fire Engine Costs by US Lawmakers U.S. lawmakers are investigating the skyrocketing prices and extended wait times for fire engines affecting fire departments nationwide, with a particular focus on the potential role of private equity firms in the situation. This bipartisan probe led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) was instigated by numerous fire departments reporting significant delays in delivery, defective parts, and rising costs. The cost of ladder trucks has surged from $750,000–$900,000 in the mid-2010s to around $2 million today, while pumper trucks often exceed $1 million. Consequences of Delays and Increased…

F. A. Alba/Shutterstock The film “The Ice Road,” starring Liam Neeson as a truck driver navigating perilous ice roads in Winnipeg, earned positive reviews when it debuted on Netflix in June 2021. This film highlights an industry that has long been the focus of the reality TV series “Ice Road Truckers,” which premiered years earlier and has since brought attention to the real-world ice road trucking profession. Similar to “Deadliest Catch,” which chronicles the dangerous lives of crab fishers in Alaska, “Ice Road Truckers” delves into a risky and frequently overlooked occupation. Audiences become familiar with the series’ main personalities,…

The military’s pet transportation allowance went into effect on January 1, 2024. Initially approved in 2022 as part of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department postponed its implementation until this year due to budget limitations. However, the program has now launched! So, what does this mean for pet owners? This allows for reimbursement of certain costs associated with transporting one dog or cat when you receive permanent change of station (PCS) orders. This development is particularly significant for families with pets, especially during overseas relocations. Our family’s numerous moves—with pets—ranged from Hawaii to Australia, back to the…