Blog Posts Tagged "Truckstops"

Drive In for Your Checkup - Medical Services Now Being Offered at Many Truckstops

With a trucker's schedule, finding time for your DOT physical can be tricky. You need to find a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration–approved medical examiner every two years to maintain your CDL, and sometimes the two-year-deadline approaches when you're out on the road.

If you are an over-the-road trucker, then I'm sure you've stayed in your share of motels, hotels and rooms along the way. It goes with the lifestyle, and that's part of why you do what you do. But if you ever get into Iowa and are driving down I-80, make sure to stop by the largest truck stop on the face of the planet.

Yes, we know that truckers are already cool, and that can't be disputed. But keepin' cool is an entirely different matter in and of itself. Long hours on hot summer asphalt does not make for cool and comfort, which also cannot be disputed, but there are certain things you can do to keep your cool while remaining cool, every time you drive.

OK truckers, here is the skinny on diesel fuel prices, what drives the price and where the cheapest fuel is. You may be surprised at what you are about to read. Breaking it Down When compared to gasoline, it takes less time and effort to refine diesel fuel.

Cell phones, smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices have been some of the greatest innovations in the trucking industry. These gadgets are some of the most important instruments in a truckers life, and better still, you can download some great apps and make them even better.

When a tire blowout ruins your day on the road, wouldn't it be nice if you could just press a button and fix everything? That's the idea behind the truck tire locator app from BFGoodrich. The app does plenty more than just find commercial truck tires, too. You can search for towing, tire inspections, oil & lube, and other kinds of service centers nearby.

It is not enough to say that without truck drivers, America stops moving. America also stops eating in many areas of the country and stops working practically everywhere in the United States. About 70 percent of all raw goods, food, equipment, and product moves by truck. According to the Department of Transportation Statistics, the trucking industry employs over 8.7 million people and moves 9.2 billion tons of freight, valued at $671 billion, with over 5.6 million tractor trailers that are driven by more than 3.5 million men and women.

Virginia Doctor Tends Truckers on Their Schedule and Builds His Practice at the Same Time

If some of the most enjoyable times of your life have been on the road as a professional truck driver, you are not alone. Truckers are not truly happy with any other vocation. For a small number of truck drivers, the road and their tractor really do become home. They fully transition from having a residence in one particular state to having their truck as headquarters, work space, and dwelling. If you feel that is the right life for you, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

The right seat cushion can make all the difference in the world, and it's a good idea to invest in one that will last you a long time. Seat cushions can do much more than just give you a comfortable ride.

A while ago TruckersReport.com asked truckers: What do truckers really want from a truck stop? Like a tsunami, the answers flooded in from commercial truckers across the country. Here's what truckers said they want most when they pull into a truck stop:

Tired of the monotony of the same-old chain store truck stops? Beat the driving doldrums at these interesting (and often unbelievable) truck stops:

Finding the best truck stop depends on what you're looking for. You can find the basics – fuel, food, bathroom and small convenience store -- at nearly every truck stop in America or Canada.

Truck Stops Are for More Than Just Truckers! - When the first truck stops started popping up in the 1940s, they were bare bones affairs that filled a driver's three basic travel needs -- fuel, food and a bathroom – but didn't offer much else.

Truck stops on the East Coast used to have a bad rep for being rough and dangerous. Sure, there were always some reliable truck stop owners who took care of drivers passing through; but for a while East Coast truck stops weren't a place to linger.

Used to be when you bought a new truck, you'd stop by the dealer, look under the hood and kick the tires before shaking hands on the deal. How times have changed! Today, truck buying has gone digital.

Truck drivers may not be lining up to purchase Miss Manners' latest volume on social etiquette but just because we're a free and independent breed doesn't mean we are without manners.

Truck stops used to be bare bones affairs. A row of pumps, a dirt-encrusted bathroom, and, if you were lucky, a greasy spoon with a menu heavy on fried meat. Despite the lack of glamor, truckers could always count on a good, strong cup of coffee and a friendly word from the folks behind the counter.

Truck stops, travel plazas and roadside rest stops are busy places. Truckers have to look out not just for themselves and their fellow drivers but also for confused auto drivers, clueless pedestrians, wayward children and hyperactive pets.

Truck stops have always been a place where you could fill up your tank and your belly. But today's truck stops also offer everything from chiropractors to live music! How do you find truck stops with special services?

The humble highway truck stop is undergoing a major transformation. Counter service is being replaced by noteworthy restaurants.

What would life on the road be without truck stops? They give you a chance to recharge by taking a break from those long stretches of pavement.

New federal rules calling for stopping distance improvements of 30% went into effect Aug. 1 2011 and Aug. 1 2013

The Truckload Carriers Assn.'s (TCA) "Highway Angel" program recognizes drivers' "good deeds," ranging from simple acts of kindness, such as fixing a flat tire, to heroic life-saving efforts, such as pulling someone from a burning vehicle and administering CPR.

As much as most truckers would love to be home, truck stops are usually the closest thing to home on the road. The biggest complaints that many big rig drivers have about truck stops is the lack of parking and overall dirtiness of some places.

In the good old days truck drivers might have to worry about weigh stations, speed traps, other drivers not paying attention. Now, truck drivers have to worry about thieves stealing their cargo.

The quality and availability of trucker services and amenities has long been neglected by government. With all the hoopla over Hours Of Service (HOS) and proposals to further tighten the length of time a driver can spend on the road and mandatory rest periods, little thought has been given to the quality of rest time as opposed to the quantity. Drivers understand only too well that finding a good place to rest and clean up is important, not only for the ability to get quality rest but also to be able to recharge the batteries so they are more alert and able to continue with their driving duties.

US Rep. Bob Filner, a Democrat from California, believes the US is not ready for cross border trucking operations with Mexico. He is the first politician to openly come out and say what many in the trucking industry have been thinking for some time. Finer's position contrasts sharply with Texas politicians who appear to be broadly in favor of a deal whereby Mexican carriers, currently restricted to within 25 miles of the major port destinations along the border, will be allowed to haul throughout the US.

Security cameras for trucking used to be out of the price range for many Truckers, but at last the prices have become reasonable. Now almost any Trucker can have the security they desire.

So how can a trucker stay healthy on the road? Here are some simple tips to meld into your daily routine.