Sep 29, 2015

A Match Made at MATS

Kevin Young and his wife Shannon have traveled together for half of his 16 year truck driving career, enjoying “the freedom of the open road and not having a boss standing over your shoulder.” Together, they’re on a mission to get the sense of community back in the trucking industry using new technologies like Trucker Path and podcasts.

Kevin Young knows the secret to keeping a relationship happy and healthy while on the road.

“Love,” Young said. “When you’re two feet apart all day, you either love them or hate them. Love and patience.”

At the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in August, members of the Trucker Path team got to hang out with Young, a third generation trucker, and his wife Shannon in their truck.

“We know 99 % about each other,” Young said. “Sure, we get on each other’s nerves, but we wouldn’t change it for the world.”

When they need a break from one another, Young and his wife enjoy stops along the way like GATS and MATS. In fact, they even got married at MATS in 2013.

For Young, the highlight of GATS was the chance to talk to others in the trucking industry. “I love talking,” Young said, “and I had a lot of wonderful interviews. Talking to people is my main thing.”

Even the Wall Street Journal looks to Young for insight on trucking.

Young said truckers come to GATS to learn about all the latest gadgets and technology in the industry. He said it’s important that truckers keep up with technology trends.

“Everybody has to change with the times,” Young said. “No old school mentality anymore.”

Along with over 400,000 other truckers, he and Shannon have turned to Trucker Path for help on the road.

“Like my buddy Brad James said, ‘Trucker Path is the new CB radio.’” Young said. “Lots of new gadgets out there in the trucking industry, and you’ve got to roll with it.”

Young is hoping the Trucker Path Pro app will help with a growing issue in trucking – community. He said that, while there’s a strong sense of community at events like GATS, that hospitality doesn’t always shine out on the road.

After a flat on his trailer’s back axle in the fall of 2000, Young says other drivers stopped to help him right away. Nowadays, however, he fears that sort of camaraderie is fading from the industry.

“Drivers don’t help each other on the side of the road as they used to,” Young said. “Community like that in modern day trucking is missing.”

Young is on a mission to get that community back. He’s starting a podcast called Truckin Round Up which brings together the elements of old school trucking with the trends of new school trucking.

Young’s podcast will take the form of a talk show full of interview segments with others in the industry. In it, Young plans to discuss new technology like Trucker Path that can keep old school trucking relevant.

“You’ve got to have allies in this world and in this industry,” said Young. “It’s a never ending battle between good and evil. Stick together and be helpful on the road.”

When Young isn’t recording his podcast or driving his truck, you can find him helping his wife Shannon learn to drive.

“If you want a hard challenge in your life, train your spouse how to drive a truck,” Young said jokingly. “I tell her do as I say, not as I do. She’s done drove me bald and took all my money. She might as well drive my truck too.”

Special thanks to Kevin and Shannon for sharing their stories with us and for their support of the Trucker Path app.

Want to boost your business? Join the Truckloads community [p]Imagine an online trucking marketplace with no monthly fees. Where reputable Brokers, Shippers and Carriers can connect, with confidence, through either their computers or their smartphones. And where everyone has access to the kind of reliable information that builds trust among everyone involved. Those are just a few ways the developers of Trucker Path are taking the traditional Load Board concept to a whole new level.[/p] [quote]Our new platform does what Load Boards should have been doing for years.[/quote] [p][b]Free for now. Android & Desktop[/b][/p] [p]During the public beta-testing period of its Truckloads App, participants will be charged no monthly fees. For carriers who remain in the community after the beta stage, monthly fees will be $20 – with per-transaction fees of $25 split between carriers and brokers or shippers.[/p] [p]Brokers and shippers will typically connect to Truckloads through our desktop interface, while the App (currently available only in Android version) is intended primarily for Carriers.[/p] [p][b]Trucker Path Truckloads is now in public beta testing[/b][/p] [p]In addition to bringing together truckers, brokers and logistics companies, Truckloads serves B2B companies and the commercial freight companies. On the driver’s side, the marketplace becomes part of the familiar Trucker Path App experience – giving truckers a single place to conduct all of their business, without having to use a laptop to search multiple websites.[/p] [p]This is your chance to get in on the ground floor.[/p] [p]With more than 300,000 trucks in our system (nearly 20 % of all class 8 truckers in the U.S.),we’ve already built a community to rival any freight matching service anywhere – and it’s grown, on average by more than 20 % per month over the past six months. With our official June 30 public beta test launch, you have the chance to become one of the Truckloads community’s earliest members. All you have to do is request an Invite to join.[/p] [p][b]Why do you want to join?[/b][/p] [p]With Truckloads, we’re creating a marketplace where, for instance, brokers and shippers can access background info on the carrier that’s published by the government. Information we’ve integrated into our database through partnerships with Saferwatch, Scoop Monkey and Transcredit – and ranges from drivers’ CSA scores to their safety ratings and insurance coverage.[/p] [p]Naturally, that same kind of information will be available on [i]all[/i] members of our community – enabling carriers to research brokers and shippers before offering their services, while saving everyone a tremendous amount of time and effort in due diligence and handling.[/p] [p][b]We’ve made the playing field level for everyone[/b][/p] [p]The Truckloads platform’s unique assurance that all freight partners “play fair” is our online Ratings system – which is much like the Seller ratings found on eBay. So when you do your job right, your personal rating gets better and better. Imagine how that could improve your prospects for more, and better, opportunities![/p] [p][b]A few details on the system[/b][/p] [p]To make a shipment, customers can simply open Trucker Path’s web-based client in their browsers, then fill-in a few details (such as pick-up date & time, origin and destination – along with contact and payment information). Or Trucker Path can integrate with shippers’ Transportation Management Systems to pass load information seamlessly to the Truckloads platform.[/p] [p]Truckers can use the Truckloads app to scan the areas around their current locations for new truckloads (or view them in a list),then instantly make offers on available loads. This triggers negotiations between drivers and shippers – during which, customers can see truckers’ FMCSA information and ratings. After both parties reach agreements, they receive all relevant information about each other, and about the freight.[/p] [p][b]Transparent rates and real-time tracking[/b][/p] [p]Brokers and Shippers will appreciate Truckloads’ transparent rates and real-time tracking of shipments. Carriers will love the Trucker Path FastPay feature, which guarantees settlement for approved shippers within 48 hours of deliveries. Two more reasons why Trucker Path already has a significant group of early adopters, including a number of billion dollar companies.[/p] [p][b]Additional advantages for brokers & shippers[/b][/p] [ul] [li]Book trucks faster[/li] [li]Simple workflow for booking, scheduling and searching[/li] [li]Increase savings by reducing dispatcher work[/li] [li]Free real-time freight tracking[/li] [li]Manage all of your shipment activity, contacts, deliveries and paperwork in one place[/li] [li]FastPay[/li] [/ul] [p]All of which means you’ll increase your productivity and profits by reaching more carriers in less time, while spending less time and effort on negotiations and booking.[/p] [p][b]Additional advantages for carriers[/b][/p] [ul] [li]Find and book freight faster with no, or less, dispatcher work[/li] [li]Fast payment and claims resolution[/li] [li]Reduce empty miles, easy backhaul[/li] [li]And you can do it all on your smartphone![/li] [/ul] [p]With Truckloads, you’ll increase your profits by reaching more shippers & brokers, and spending less time on negotiations & booking.[/p] [p][b]Truckloads is a win-win for everyone[/b][/p] [p]And after all, isn’t that why you’re in this business? So if you’re looking for more and better opportunities for your business, [a href="https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/"]request an invite[/a] to join the industry’s fastest-growing marketplace for quality brokers, shippers and carriers.[/p] [br][p][i]SUMMARY: The developers of Trucker Path – the best App for truckers – are expanding its features. The app already helps truckers find parking at truck stops, rest areas and overnight parking lots. What’s more, it helps truckers find open weigh stations and nearby TRANSFLO. With the Truckloads platform, brokers, shippers and carriers can all increase profits and save time.[/i][/p]

Jul 07, 2015

“I can see 15 truck stops near where I am right now.” [p]“I’ve been driving a truck for about 30 years,” says Florida native Allen Wilcher, “ever since I was old enough to get behind the wheel.” He still remembers learning to drive his father’s International Transtar 2, hauling ammonium nitrate.[/p] [h2]Trucker Path gave veteran trucker Allen Wilcher a whole new perspective[/h2] [p]“I learned real quick, you didn’t want to grind gears with him in the truck,” Allen laughs. “Working with my father, you were going to learn [i]something[/i]. By the time I was 14, I was helping him change brakes.”[/p] [p][b]On the road again[/b][/p] [p]Allen recently returned to long-haul trucking, and his home state, after 16 years hauling trash locally in Missouri, while his son grew-up. “That’s a lot of trash!” says Allen. “After my son graduated high school and moved-out on his own, I was ready to get back out there.”[/p] [p][b]And the best part is[/b][/p] [p]Allen’s now an Owner Operator with Roadrunner Expedite, and he couldn’t be happier with his decision to get back on the road. In large part, because his fiancée [Sierra Sugar, whose Trucker Path profile you can read [a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/sierra-sugar/"]here[/a] decided she wanted to join him. “She’s smarter than me!” Allen says. “She’s the one who found Trucker Path, and now we use it for everything from planning our routes to the places we stop for the night.”[/p] [p][b]Another day, another roadside gem[/b][/p] [p]Tonight, Allen and Sierra are at the Little Nashville Truck Stop in Nashville, Illinois. “We looked at all the reviews for this place, and there wasn’t a single bad one.” And while Sierra is well-known for her cooking skills, “we’re not cooking tonight.” It’s why the two of them prefer the small Mom & Pops to the larger truck stops – where the menu is often limited to fast food fare.[/p] [p][b]Well, what do we have here?[/b][/p] [p]“When we know where we’re going, we program our route into Trucker Path. Then we’ll switch to the Satellite setting – which gives us an overhead view of the places we stop. Right now, I’m zoomed-into the area where we’re parked. I can see our parking lot, the gas station across the street, and the pool next door.”[/p] [p]Allen can also see the nearby field where he and Sierra plan to enjoy a long walk before dinner. “It’s important to both of us that we get exercise out on the road,” which factors into most of their daily parking-site selections, says Allen. “The satellite view really helps us with that. And we geo-cache just about every place we go, for future reference.[/p] [p][b]Download the App. Discover America[/b][/p] [p]With Trucker Path, Sierra’s helped Allen find spots he never even knew existed. And what would he consider his best new discovery? “There’s a rest area Sierra found along 191 in Moab, Utah – which is already one of my favorite places. When she zoomed-in on it, we saw that it was surrounded by huge climbing rocks. We walked all around them. It’s amazing.[/p] [p]“I bet I’ve been up and down that road fifty times, and here she finds this place the first time we passed through.”[/p] [p][b]Better still, earn extra money while you play![/b][/p] [p]Allen even credits Trucker Path with a recent cash windfall. “Sierra found a truck stop with a casino in Las Vegas, and we stayed there for three days. Our last night, I was playing a slot machine when Sierra figured she wanted to ‘help out’. So she pushed my hand down and the machine paid $600.” Being a wise money manager, Sierra looked Allen right in the eyes, and said, “Time to go!” Wherever they went next, you can be sure Trucker Path had a hand in it.[/p] [br][p][i]SUMMARY: Our profile of Owner Operator Allen Wilchire, a fan of Trucker Path – the App he and his fiancée Sierra Sugar use every day to find the best truck stops, rest areas and overnight parking lots. Allen particularly appreciates the App’s Satellite view, which helps the two of them scout the areas where they’ll be staying for the night.[/i][/p]

Jun 29, 2015

This financial advisor turned trucker means business [p]For Canadian Stacy Hill, his third turn as a trucker may well be his most satisfying. “If you look at the capital cost of buying your own truck and trailer, and you know what you’re doing, I don’t know of any business that offers a greater potential return on investment than trucking.”[/p] [images src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2015/08/stacy-hill.jpg" alt="Cost of parking" width="200px" align="left" ] [quote]If you’re not using Trucker Path you’re wasting time and money.[/quote] [p]Stacy knows a little something about ROI. He was a financial advisor from 1991 to 2000 – and in 2001, he started specializing in Reverse Takeovers. Which, by the way, is what? “A reverse takeover is when a private company uses the stock market to raise capital. My partners and I did this before there was such a thing as Kickstarter, and one thing I learned about the public markets: The better your product’s story is, the sharper the knives that come-out from the wolves and the crooks.”[/p] [p][b]A good deal goes bad[/b][/p] [p]Which is exactly what happened to the last company Stacy worked with. “A group of stock manipulators ran the company’s stock up and down – taking profits on the rise, then selling short to profit on the drops – until they’d bled the company dry. I’d personally raised $2 million for this company from family and friends, so I felt obligated to try and keep the company afloat by shouldering the financial load for as long as I could.” Which eventually drove him into bankruptcy, and very likely caused his heart issues in 2012n – and possibly his cancer in 2014.[/p] [p]You’d think a series of setbacks like that would leave Stacy bitter and defeated. You’d be wrong. “I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, I’m exactly where the Lord wants me to be. To me, there is nothing less stressful than driving. And by making what I do as efficient as possible, I reduce my stress even more.” That’s where Trucker Path comes in.[/p] [p][b]“I only used it about four times today!”[/b][/p] [p]“I use Trucker Path multiple times every day. If I’m in a busy area and it’s getting time to stop, I’ll call the nearest truck stop and find-out if there’s a wait time on the showers. If they’re busy, I’ll just go to the next one.[/p] [p]“Whenever I make a longer stop, I’ll get out of the truck and take a 30-minute power walk with my five-pound hand weights. With all the gyrations I make, I probably look crazy. But anybody who says they can’t fit exercise into their daily routine is just being inefficient with their time.”[/p] [p][b]Calculating fuel costs in advance[/b][/p] [p]“I created an Excel spreadsheet that lists and subtracts fuel taxes for every state I drive through. So when I’m planning my day, I use Trucker Path to look-up fuel prices at the truck stops in the states I’ll pass through. Then I’ll calculate my [i]real[/i] fuel cost at every potential stop – and plan where to refuel accordingly. I’m saving hundreds of dollars in fuel costs every month, using Trucker Path and my spreadsheet.” And here’s the real kicker: Stacy isn’t even an Owner Operator.[/p] [p]“That was one headache I didn’t want.”[/p] [p]“I could have bought my own truck, but with my financial resources at the time, it would’ve had to been an old used one. I didn’t want that. Besides, I was still able to work my way out of bankruptcy two years ago, and now my wife and I even have credit again.” Needless to say, his decision to become a company driver was a blessing for the man who owns the company. “Yeah,” Stacy says, with a smile, “you could say the boss has a good understanding of value!”[/p] [p][b]Mixing business and pleasure[/b][/p] [p]“Granted,” Stacy admits “truck driving may not be the best paying profession in the world,” but he’s clearly enjoying himself – on and off the road. “Another thing I love about Trucker Path is the Available Parking feature for Truck Stops and Rest Areas. Of course, I rarely ever park in truck stops. They’re too noisy. Besides, I like to find rest areas located next to big, cut-grass fields.”[/p] [p]Stacy carries his golf clubs in the truck with him, and when he doesn’t have time to play one of his favorite courses along a route, “I’ll just pull out my clubs, and pound a Shag Bag full of balls.” Asked which part of his game is strongest, Stacy says, “I’m best at the short game.” Something tells us he’s also pretty adapt at the long haul.[/p] [br] [p][i]SUMMARY: Our profile of a Company Driver who uses Trucker Path to save time and money every day on the road.[/i][/p]

Aug 10, 2015