Nov 03, 2017 • Community

Add Places on Trucker Path

Add Places on Trucker Path

Add Places on Trucker Path

There are nearly 30,000 trucking related locations and 270,000 truck parking spots on the Trucker Path app. It may seem like a lot but new locations for truckers are built and smaller, lesser-known locations like family-run truck stops may slip through the cracks. No matter the size of the location it has a place in our database for truck drivers to access reliable information about.

Try Trucker Path For Free

If for some reason a location does not appear on Trucker Path there’s a simple way to add a place!

Steps:

1. Open the Trucker Path app

2. Click the menu tab at the top left of the map screen

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3. Click Add Places on the lower left side

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4. Choose the email provider you wish to use to send a message

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5. Fill out the Name, Location and Details about the new place and send the message

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Your message will be sent directly to our support team who will be happy to help facilitate the addition of the new place. (Updates to locations typically take 24-48 hours to appear on the app)

Tagstruck drivers Trucker Path truck stops

Trucker Spotlight - Vicki Simons <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different people in the trucking industry to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Vicki</strong>. <h2></h2> <strong>Introduction</strong> <h2></h2> My name is Vicki Simons. <h2></h2> While living in our first company-issued truck full-time in the early 1990s, my husband Mike and I learned quickly that some of the products that are marketed and sold to truckers are what we concluded to be cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk. <h2></h2> In those days, technology was not as advanced as it is now, so the only options open to us -- to cook food in our truck -- were 12-volt appliances. <h2></h2> One appliance that we felt would serve us well was a 12-volt "hot pot." <h2></h2> Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off." <h2></h2> So, they burned out quickly. <h2></h2> The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days. <h2></h2> Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of at the time, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units. <h2></h2> I was very upset and I kept thinking, "You know, someone ought to do something about this." <h2></h2> Oh, sure, there were occasional articles in trucking magazines that were geared toward helping truckers save money, but after searching for a long time, I found no resources that focused on this topic. <h2></h2> I kept feeling the Lord directing me toward being a "trucker consumer advocate" to help keep truckers from being stung financially. <h2></h2> So with Mike's consent, I spearheaded a website that we envisioned being a clearinghouse of how professional truck drivers from around the world save money -- in order to help each other save money. <h2></h2> That website is: <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com.</a> <h2></h2> I have been a professional truck driver and Mike's home support team member, both in-truck as a passenger and at home while he's been on the road as a solo trucker. <h2></h2> With nearly 20 years of professional truck driving experience between us -- and my insatiable appetite to research and write in such a way that helps others -- our website has grown to well over a thousand pages. <h2></h2> Every week since 2010, I have written multiple tips and inquiries in order to help truckers save money. <h2></h2> And every week since 2017, I have written a weekly trucking commentary entitled TDMST Weekly Round-Up. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Tell us a short story about you. Any trivia? </strong></h3> <h2></h2> My husband Mike and I had both earned college degrees before we became a professional truck driving team. <h2></h2> After graduating from truck driver training school, we began orientation at a large trucking company. <h2></h2> On the very first day of orientation, there were 5 prospective truck drivers in the class. <h2></h2> We were told by the "Orientation Director" that in 45 days, 3 of the 5 of us would not be with the company! <h2></h2> Ouch! <h2></h2> I determined that with all of the time and money we had spent to get to that point, Mike and I were going to be the two who would succeed! <h2></h2> And we did! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The most significant changes I've noticed in the trucking industry since the 1990s have been: <h2></h2> <li>increasing regulations;</li> <li>more advanced technology; </li> <li>a desire among some cheapskates to want to replace human truckers with machines (so that they don't have to pay people to move freight); and</li> <li>some truckers relying too much upon GPS units not geared for commercial motor vehicles -- and as a result, being involved in many completely preventable accidents, including: <h2></h2> <ul> <li>hitting low clearances,</li> <li>collapsing bridges on non-truck routes, and</li> <li>getting stuck in places where big trucks are not supposed to travel.</li> </li> </ul> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker before?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> Originally, we thought that Mike would be the only trucker in our family. <h2></h2> When we visited with a truck driver training school recruiter, he asked Mike if I was going to drive, too. <h2></h2> The thought of me driving a big rig surprised me greatly, but the option was made available. <h2></h2> With a great deal of prayer and consideration, it made sense to us that if we were going to be together on the road, both of us should know how to drive a truck. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Tell us a story about you and your husband and how you tackle the trucking industry?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The way that I have tackled the trucking industry is by publishing -- so that others can learn from -- the true accounts that: <h2></h2> <li>we have had on the road and </li> <li>which we have learned from others (including Mike's co-workers).</li> <h2></h2> I ask a lot of questions, including on our website and through my TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentaries. <h2></h2> From my unique perspective, I've also written numerous comments to the FMCSA about various types of proposed trucking regulations <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I have a number of trucking "pet peeves," including: <h2></h2> <li>people who make decisions affecting truckers who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers;</li> <li>regulations that treat people like robots; </li> <li>the push toward self-driving, driverless, and autonomous trucks; </li> <li>truckers who haul illegal drugs and smuggle illegal aliens;</li> <li>truckers who set themselves up for failure, such as by engaging in distracted driving and/or not maintaining proper following distance; and</li> <li>truckers who blindly follow GPS units -- especially those that are not designed for commercial motor vehicles -- and end up in completely preventable accidents.</li> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you go into blogging?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I began <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> as a rant against cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk, the first of which was a series of 12-volt "hot pots." <h2></h2> Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off." <h2></h2> So, they burned out quickly. <h2></h2> The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days. <h2></h2> Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of when we started in trucking in the early 1990s, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units. <h2></h2> Since we started our website, we have grown it to well over a thousand pages, including: <h2></h2> <li>a huge number of pages filled with information and truck drivers money saving tips, </li> <li>lots of reviews, and </li> <li>contributions from our readers. </li> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck model/brand?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The only brand of truck I've ever driven professionally has been Freightliner. <h2></h2> Therefore, I have no other brand with which to compare the Freightliners I have driven or lived in. <h2></h2> In general terms, I believe that trucks driven by regional or long-haul truckers should be equipped with enough space and conveniences so that each trucker can work, sleep, and live comfortably on the road. <h2></h2> Concerning tractors with sleeper berths, I consider the following options to be critical for trucker well-being: <h2></h2> <li>a minimum of 1500 watts AC (alternating current) interior power (to let truckers operate cooking appliances and use other electronic devices);</li> <li>reliable, non-battery-dependent climate control for both cooling and heating (to let truckers rest and sleep comfortably); and</li> <li>an in-truck toilet (whether portable or not).</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Could you identify the current pain points in the trucking industry? And maybe some suggestions on how to fix them?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> As of late 2020, these are the current pain points I see in the trucking industry: <h2></h2> <li>Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs);</li> <li>the Hours of Service regulations; </li> <li>problems with broker transparency; and</li> <li>the fact that the U.S. federal agencies that are supposedly devoted to motor carrier "safety" and the "transportation" of goods in our country do not seem to be standing up for truckers as they face problems on the road.</li> <h2></h2> Because the FMCSA is influenced by many people who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers, I believe a lot would change for the better if every agency employee was required -- every year -- to spend a minimum of one week with an experienced trucker, so that they can understand life from a trucker's perspective. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? </strong></h3> <h2></h2> As of late 2020, I have in the works two books: <li>one for aspiring truck drivers and</li> <li>one for those who are already professional truckers.</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Did it ever cross your mind to be a CDL instructor?</strong></h3> Yes, and to a certain extent, I consider that I am a CDL instructor because of the information that I provide on our website. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck stop? Also truck stop meal?</strong></h3> Based on changes at both the corporate and management levels over the years, I will not name a specific truck stop as my favorite. <h2></h2> Whether at a truck stop or other restaurant, Mike and I always enjoy a perfectly flavored and cooked steak, together with all of the side dishes. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers? Also some tips and things to look out for based on your recent experiences.</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I will go into a lot more detail about tips for aspiring truckers in one of my upcoming books. <h2></h2> However, the one big overview tip that I will give to prospective truckers -- because trucking is different from every other kind of job out there -- is to make absolutely sure you're cut out for the trucking lifestyle before you start down that path. <h2></h2> For example, regional and long haul truckers are required to sleep away from home, usually in the truck they drive, wherever they park, during their sleeper berth break. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>Vicki Simons</h4> <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">http://Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Nov 19, 2020 • Community

Industry Voice - The Trucking Fitness Company <em>Trucker Path gets up close with The Trucking Fitness Company, whose mission is to help truck drivers exercise consistently while on the road so they stay behind the wheel longer and retire on their own terms. We're honored to talk to their Founder, Mark Manera and discuss what The Trucking Fitness Company is all about.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-3.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>TP: Tell us a short story about you.</strong></h3> I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and have been passionate about health and wellness my whole life. I grew up playing baseball and started doing Crossfit once my baseball career ended. Crossfit really ignited my passion for health and wellness. Which also inspired me to go to Physical Therapy school. <h2></h2> A little trivia: my favorite TV shows are Shark Tank, The Bachelor, and Survivor. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What made you decide to get into health/fitness and specifically for the trucking industry? </strong></h3> In my 5th year of Physical Therapy school, I had a clinical rotation in a small town in southern Missouri. Through that experience, I worked with a lot of truck drivers in the clinic. I saw the good and the bad of the trucking industry. And a lot of the bad aspects of the industry came from the reason why they were in the clinic in the first place, their health. After experiencing that and having a lot of long conversations with those patients who were truck drivers, I was inspired to start The Trucking Fitness Company. I wanted to give drivers everywhere a chance to fight back. Give them a chance to live a healthier life on the road. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/mark-manera-truckinfit2.png" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: Ever tried driving a truck? </strong></h3> I have not driven a truck before and I don’t have my CDL, but I’ve spent plenty of time in a truck. I’m very open to the fact that I’m not a truck driver, but I think there are a lot of advantages to that. I have spent countless hours talking to drivers. I’ve listened to their stories, their struggles, and have asked them for a lot of feedback on our program and how we can make it easier for them to do while on the road. I have taken all of that information and combined it with my background of physical therapy/health and wellness to create something really special for the trucking industry. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are the common habits that a truck driver should change?</strong></h3> I think there’s a mindset problem for a lot of truck drivers. And I don’t think it’s their fault for having this mindset, but moreso a cultural problem within the trucking industry. A lot of drivers don’t make their health a priority because they think it’s impossible to live a healthy life on the road. It’s become so much of a norm in the truck industry that poor health seems to be a part of the job description. And I’m here to change that. <h2></h2> Truck drivers need to do two things: <li> Take action. Just find a way to get started. You don’t have to have a perfect plan, you just need to take the first couple of steps in the right direction. You’ll figure out the rest of the plan as time goes on.</li> <li>They need a support system. Life on the road is lonely at times. And when you’re on your own, you need to find ways to create accountability in your life. One example of this is having a deep conversation with a close friend or significant other about your struggles and the reasons why you want to make a change in your life. Then they can help you stick with those changes and stay consistent during the tough times!</li> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: Tell us something about The Trucking Fitness Company. How did it start? </strong></h3> The Trucking Fitness Company was born out of the experiences I had while working with truck drivers in a physical therapy clinic. I saw the struggles they go through and the lack of support they have with their health while on the road. So, I decided to do something about it. We are the best health and wellness solution out there for truck drivers. And we take a lot of pride in the fact that our program was built for truck drivers. No one else. <h2></h2> Our goal is to meet you, a truck driver, where you’re at and give you the easiest starting point possible. We want to take away as many barriers that have stopped you from starting in the past as we can. We’re going to make it easy for you to lose that 30lbs, get more energy to play with your kids, and fight back so you can retire on your own terms. We do that through our easy to use app directly on your phone that gives you a daily 20-30 minute workout that you can do in or just outside of your truck with no gym or fancy workout equipment needed. We give all our members a free resistance band and that’s the only piece of equipment you’ll need! Also through our app, we help drivers build healthier lifestyle and nutrition habits while helping you stay consistent with daily messages, 24/7 access to a coach, and putting you into accountability groups with other like minded drivers. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What do you think are the obstacles/barriers of truckers into getting a proper fitness routine? </strong></h3> There are a ton of obstacles that drivers face while on the road: <h2></h2> <li>Being behind the wheel 8-11 hours a day</li> <li>Limited food options</li> <li>Lack of a community</li> <li>Poor sleep while in their truck</li> <li>No access to a gym or help on how to get started</li> <li>The stigma within the trucking industry that truck drivers can’t be healthy</li> <li>Lack of confidence in their health</li> <li>Feel down/depressed about where their health and wellness is currently at</li> <li>Feeling like they can’t do anything about it</li> <li>Anxious about the future and how long they are able to work for/how long their career will be</li> <h2></h2> Medical/health problems <h2></h2> <li>Life expectancy of truck drivers is 16 years less than the average population</li> <li>85% are overweight</li> <li>48% are obese</li> <li>2x higher risk of becoming obese compared to the average adults</li> <li>1 in every 7 has Type 2 Diabetes</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are the benefits of your program for truck drivers? Is there an age limit?</strong></h3> Our program gives truck drivers the chance to take back control of their health. We have a wide variety of drivers in our program from new truckers who don’t want their health to go down the same path they see other’s at the truck stops have gone down to 40 year vets who want to retire on their own terms. There’s no age limit to our program. We have a program for all fitness levels and want to help! <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are some notable breakthroughs or improvements from Truckers that subscribed to your program? </strong></h3> We have had some awesome transformations throughout our time working with drivers. My favorite stories are the ones where I can tell they’re in it for the long haul. The most recent story I can think of is one of our drivers, who for a while was struggling to make it stick and dealing with some family/job problems. She made the commitment to make a change in her life, started doing our workouts daily and lost 9lbs in the first two weeks. I’m not sure how much weight she has lost in total by now, but I can tell you that I see her posting her workout almost everyday. Something has clicked for her and this is going to be a lifelong change! <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are some quick fitness tips that you would like to share for truckers?</strong></h3> There’s no perfect plan. Instead of spending so much time planning up this perfect routine, put your shoes on and get moving. Just like driving, you don’t get very far with your health and fitness goals without actually moving. So, if you feel like you’re at a loss with exactly what to do, find a coach or program like ours that you can follow. If you have an activity that you enjoy and can consistently do while on the road, like go for a walk, do that! <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/mark-manera-truckinfit.png" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: How can truckers subscribe to your fitness program? </strong></h3> Our goal is to make it as easy for truck drivers to start exercising as possible! You can get set up and start your first workout in less than 5 minutes by visiting this <a href="https://truckinfit.com/ourprogram/">LINK.</a> <h2></h2> And because we love all the people at Trucker Path so much, if you use the code <strong>“TRUCKERPATH”</strong> at the checkout, we will give you 20% off your first month! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Mar 04, 2021 • Community

Truck Freight Quote [p] Learn how freight brokers determine truck freight quotes and find carriers to ship truck loads. [/p] [h2] Truck Freight Quote [/h2] [p] When a freight broker connects with a shipper, the shipper will provide information about an available truck load such as the pickup/drop off locations, weight and equipment type. The freight broker will then send a truck freight quote or the expected rate to be paid for the load to the shipper. [/p] [h2] Determining Truck Freight Quotes [/h2] [p] If you're a freight broker and are looking to determine a truck freight quote, you will first need to know <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-do-freight-brokers-find-shippers/">how to find shippers</a>. Once you connect with an interested shipper, you will want to present a quote to the shipper for the load. [/p] [p] Freight quotes are determined by the truck-to-load ratio or the supply of available trucks vs demand for loads, the area of pickup/drop off destination as well as the equipment type. The market fluctuates and <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/truck-freight-rates/">truck freight rates </a>will vary due to the type of freight as well. Typically freight rates range from $1.50 to $4.00 per mile. [/p] [h2]Negotiating Truck Freight Rates [/h2] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/Te0zPUD9m7KDe" width="480" height="339" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [p] Negotiating truck freight rates isn't quite the same as two rival wrestling legends coming together (or maybe it sort of is). It's a mutual partnership for freight brokers and carriers with one relying on the other to complete their end of the deal. [/p] [p] Once the freight broker sends a freight quote, the shipper has the option to counter the offer, accept the quote or reject it entirely. Let's say that the offer was fair and the shipper agrees to ship the load at a $2,500 rate. Now that the freight quote has been agreed to, it's time to find a carrier. [/p] [p]A Freight brokers will then rely on their carrier network to find a carrier willing to haul the shipper's freight at the given rate. Freight brokers use load boards like <strong>Truckloads</strong> to post their freight and connect with qualified carriers. [/p] [h2] How Freight Broker's Make Money [/h2] [p] Freight brokers are paid based on the profit or difference between the agreed truck freight quote rate and the rate agreed with the carrier. [/p] [p]Let's play out a scenario to show how the agreed freight quote relates to the broker's earnings:[/p] [ul] [li] Broker submits quote to shipper of $2,500 for a flatbed load to travel 800 miles [/li] [li] Shipper agrees to the $2,500 rate [/li] [li] Broker finds a carrier on a load board willing to haul the load for $2,000 [/li] [li] Broker earns $500, the difference between $2,500-2,000 [/li] [/ul] [p]This is why negotiating truck freight rates is important for freight brokers to earn more money. They must find a happy medium where they are paying a fair rate to the carrier hauling the load while finding a reasonable opportunity to turn a profit for brokering the freight deal. [/p] [h2] Broker Load Board - Truckloads [/h2] [p] Freight brokers can use <strong> Truckloads </strong> load board to post available <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/truck-freight/">truck freight </a> in order to reach over 100,000 qualified carriers and use features such as truck search, making it easier than ever to find carriers to haul a load! [/p] [ul] [li] 100k+ qualified carriers [/li] [li] Post loads via TMS, CSV or various other integrations [/li] [li] Confirm a carrier's Safer Rating [/li] [li] See how many times a loads been viewed [/li] [li] Search for Available Trucks ready to haul now! [/li] [/ul] [video id=o_tsuJHWayo] [button text="Try Truckloads for Free" href="https://ship.truckerpath.com/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=truckfreightquote&utm_campaign=Sept12" width="250px"]

Sep 13, 2017 • Brokers