"While I take inspiration from the past,
like most Americans, I live for the future."
Ronald Reagan

As I write this column, we are between Christmas and New Year's holidays. This is a good time of year to reflect back on 2010 and to plan for 2011. Trucking in 2010 emerged from the worst and longest recession (2006 to 2009) that most anyone can remember. 2010 was a year of recovery. 2011 will be even better.... Read More

On January 8, 2010, veteran Chicago trucker Zygmunt Wiechowski lost control of his truck on a snowy I-70 near Springfield, OH. The truck jacknifed and went across the median, striking a bus. The bus driver and three special needs adults were killed in the crash and others were injured. The Ohio Highway Patrol investigators felt that excessive speed was the cause of the accident and Wiechowski was cited for Failure to Yield and Speeding.... Read More

Did you ever ask yourself why a driver shortage results in high driver turnover? As industry professionals we understand that the relationship definitely exists and readily accept the fact that a tight driver labor market will force higher turnover.... Read More

Trucking company CEOs have a deep concern for the future availability of qualified drivers as the combined impact of CSA 2010, increasing freight levels and aging demographics begin to unfold.... Read More

The day that old morning sun rises in the west
And they pass a law in L.A. banning artificial breasts
When cars can run on water, gasoline and oil ain't worth jack
Right then, that's when
I'll take you back

It's like music
To hear you bawling
Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa


Brad Paisley... Read More

He's Not My Employee! Or Is He? Engaging an independent contractor instead of hiring an employee can save costs, if done right. It can also multiply costs if done wrong.

Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can cause a host of liability issues -back overtime pay, federal and state taxes, FICA contributions, penalties from the IRS, and exposure for workers' compensation, unemployment, and federal discrimination claims.... Read More

Savvy trucker JB Hunt heads east, by train! Truckers traveling via train? Yep, the smart do so with increasing frequency. Earlier this month, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced that its already successful "Secret Formula" for Intermodal success will henceforth include much more of a current ingredient, one known as "NSC" or Norfolk Southern Corporation, which reported Intermodal revenues for this year's 1st nine months of just slightly less than JBHT's $1.2 billion of Intermodal biz. for the same three quarters.... Read More

All companies, regardless of size, will continue to grapple with the abysmal driver turnover rate. This trend, which can devastate an individual company and threatens to undermine the entire industry, must be stemmed. Better management techniques need to be employed to appropriately train drivers to address not only the turnover rate, but also the driver shortage. Currently, many drivers don’t feel they are considered a part of the team. Owners must seek ways to convince drivers they are an integral part of the company team and that they add value to the organization.Read More