Mar 01, 2019

All Roads Lead to MATS

The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is just around the corner! We hope you’re planning to attend this great event where you can see the newest trucking technology, learn from the industry experts, connect with peers and just have fun! Held March 28-30, 2019, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, MATS brings in more than 70,000 attendees from 50 states and 61 countries. To make sure you get the most from your MATS experience, we have some highlights you’ll not want to miss as well as planning tips to make the trip go smoothly.

Before the show, you can register online for $10 per person at https://www.truckingshow.com/registration. Show hours and address for your GPS are below.

If you’ll be arriving in your rig, make sure you know where to park. Free tractor/trailer parking will be available at Cardinal Stadium with a dedicated shuttle available daily (during show hours) to transport attendees to and from the Kentucky Expo Center. Hot showers, portable restrooms, and more are also available. See more info on parking options here: https://www.truckingshow.com/truck-parking

For those who need a place to stay, MATS has negotiated low rates for attendees at the most popular and convenient hotels in Louisville. There are a variety of lodging options to meet your preferences and budget here: https://book.passkey.com/gt/216870039?gtid=f98bd59c16d639fcd0e2e34757918700

Now you’re ready for the fun part: The SHOW! First, you’ll want to check out the many seminars offered during the show. Titles this year include: Owner-Operators: How to Negotiate the Most Profitable Freight; Benefits of ELD and Factoring Services for Your Trucking Company; How To Start a Trucking Company; Inside the Mind of a Shipper: What it takes to be their carrier of choice; and many others. Look at the seminar schedule and get your seat early as they fill fast! Check out all of the seminars here: https://www.truckingshow.com/seminars.

Want to look at some truck eye-candy? Then plan to see the 30th Annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship! This MATS exclusive boasts the largest grouping of elite, custom show trucks in North America. The Beauty Championship is held in “Lot J” behind the West Wing/Pavilion. Learn more at: https://www.truckingshow.com/pky-truck-beauty.

You won’t want to miss the free MATS concert, held Friday night for all MATS attendees. Concertgoers will be treated to an outstanding musical performance by Michael Ray whose albums include the self-titled Michael Ray and Amos. Also performing is Runaway June, the first all-female trio in over a decade to score a Top 25 hit with Lipstick.

Ready to go? Here’s some quick info to get you started:

March 28, Thursday VIP- 10AM to 1PM
March 28, Thursday – 1PM to 6PM
March 29, Friday – 10AM to 6PM
March 30, Saturday – 9AM to 4PM

Location:
Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
Connect on social media:
Facebook: MidAmericaTruckingShow
Twitter: #MATS

If you decide to attend MATS, your friends at Trucker Path hope you arrive safely, have a good time and learn a lot!

Trucking Industry Update January 4, 2019 [p]By Jeremy Feucht [p]This piece is usually meant for current happenings within the industry. But, let’s change it up this week and look at the top 5 possibilities for 2019 [p]<img class="size-medium wp-image-4615 aligncenter" src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2019/01/calendar-clipart-300x236.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="236" /> [p]5. Infrastructural Improvements on the Way? [p]Not this year. Probably not in 2020 either. We are half way through this presidential term and now politicians are eyeing the next general election. We are sitting in a shutdown now and additional spending earmarks will just prolong the shutdown. Do not expect any major decisions on aid to the infrastructure. On a positive note, this should mean no federal push for toll roads. [p]4. Hours of Service Update? [p]This is a long time in the making. By summer of 2019, there will probably be some changes to the current hours of service model. The change with the biggest chance of occurring is the removal of the mandatory half hour break. Another item that has gained some steam is the idea of allowing a driver to go off duty after being in detention for more than 3 hours. The last still has a great deal of ironing out but with the backing of the ATA and OOIDA, has a legitimate chance to be passed. [p]3. Fuel Prices [p]As much as I believe that the current slide diesel prices are on will continue for the foreseeable future, I believe that time ends in June. With container shippers switching off bunker fuel while in international waters due to new regulations, demand for diesel is going to skyrocket. Expect prices to creep up starting in the summer. [p]2. Autonomous Technology [p]No, it will not become widely used in 2019. But we should finally see some government regulations to govern its use. This is a double-edged sword, however. By giving the autonomous technology companies regulations, you effectively give them a goal to shoot for and reach. Right now, they are blindly aiming and hoping they hit their mark. Expect something by the end of the summer. [p]1. Capacity [p]With troops being brought home from Syria and talks of additional troops being brought home from other fronts, this could mean another boom of owner-operators into the industry. Add on the FMCSA and DOT’s push for veterans to become drivers (especially those with driving experience),and you have a perfect storm to cut into that massive driver deficit. Such an influx of drivers could push down rates. Look for the ATA, OOIDA and the DOT to release figures on this increase in September.

Jan 04, 2019

Trucking Industry Update February 8, 2019 [p]By Jeremy Feucht [p] [p]Did you Know? [p]The average trucker spends nearly $60,000 in fuel each year! [p]Trucking tip of the Week [p]Be careful when using a GPS. Many truckers get stuck on roads that are not meant for semis due to GPS routing. Make sure your GPS is built for big rigs prior to purchasing. [p]Trucker’s Fees [p]<a href="https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2019/standingcommittees/190205_stra_0130PM-Agenda.pdf">Two potential pieces of legislation called Routing Slips</a>, have come forward in Idaho that could increase the financial burden placed on truckers driving through the state. The Routing Slips would add a weight-mileage charge to truckers. Although the wording of the potential bills has not been released to the public, it is believed that IRP and IFTA would remain in place if passed. [p]HOS Exemption for Cement Trucks [p]<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/06/2019-01267/hours-of-service-of-drivers-american-concrete-pavement-association-inc-application-for-exemptions">Cement truckers have been granted</a> an extension from a portion of the hours of service ruling and a new exemption on another hours of service rule. For the next five years, cement trucks will be allowed to continue to receive an exemption to the 30-minute break rule. Within the same ruling, companies operating cement trucks will be granted an exemption from a major stipulation of the short-haul rules. Instead of having to start and stop service at the same spot each day, cement truck drivers will now be allowed to start and stop service wherever necessary. They will not have to keep track of RODS when working within short-haul distances even though they are not starting and stopping in the same locations. <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/06/2019-01276/hours-of-service-of-drivers-national-cattlemens-beef-association-livestock-marketing-association">Cattle farmers</a> have requested a similar exemption. No word on when or if it will be approved. [p]Virginia Toll Legislation Denied [p]Virginia had toyed with the idea of adding tolls the <a href="https://www.gobytrucknews.com/virginia-cancels-plans-for-tolls-on-i-81/123">entire length of I-81</a>. The tolls would have cost a driver as much as $55 per day. Luckily, this legislation has been denied and will not be brought to life.

Feb 08, 2019

Trucker Path to Unveil New Product Offerings at the Mid America Truck Show [p]Phoenix, AZ – With nearly 1M monthly active users, Trucker Path is America’s largest over the road community. “Our members continually tell us how our app reduces the stress of planning a trip, fuel prices and finding a safe place to park,” said Joe Chen, CEO of Trucker Path. Chen stated, “The community told us their number one feature request of the Trucker Path app was a truck specific navigation system, so we are launching truck specific navigation.” [p]Trucker Path truck navigation will ease the anxiety that an over the road driver has when planning a trip. A navigation subscriber will be routed on truck specific routes that avoide low bridges and bridges with weight restrictions. When a user attempts to use a road that is not a designated truck route, alarms will be activated notifying the user to avoid the route. <img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4703" src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2019/03/Trucker-Path-Navigation-210x300.png" alt="" width="160" height="250" align="right" /> [p]Over 1500 over the road drivers have been beta testing the Trucker Path Community board over the last 60 days. The community room allows users to comment in 26 trucking related forums, ask questions in the truck models section and post and view used equipment. “We have built a community space that gives drivers a chance to discuss what’s on their mind with other drivers and post pictures of their trucks,” said Chen. He continued, “Drivers love to talk and love their truck we are already seeing this to be popular feature to the app.” [p]At the Mid America Truck Show, Trucker Path will launch their WIN FREE FUEL Sweepstakes. One lucky trucker will win 1000 gallons of free fuel. Trucker Path’s booth number is 64232. [p]Launching in March is the job board, Trucker Path Hire, which will allow trucking companies to post job opportunities locally and nationally for drivers. [p]About Trucker Path [p]Trucker Path is America's largest trucking community with nearly 1M truck drivers as active users equating to over 25 percent of U.S. based long-haul truckers. The exponential growth of the Trucker Path app led to the release of Truckloads, an online marketplace connecting freight brokers with hundreds of thousands of member carriers via the web and mobile devices. In mid 2018 the Trucker Path ELD was launched. The Trucker Path team strives to bring efficiencies to the freight transportation industry while making life on the road easier, more enjoyable, and more profitable for truck drivers.

Mar 28, 2019