Dec 23, 2020 • Community

Christmas for Truckers

Christmas for Truckers

Christmas for Truckers

Trucking is a demanding job that requires round the clock commitment. It is often several months before truck drivers can meet their friends and family, which also means that most truckers spend their time on the road during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other major holidays.

However, there is no need to worry if you are a truck driver out on the field during the holiday season. There are still ways to enjoy the Christmas spirit.

Christmas on the Road

You are not alone during the holidays, especially with all the other truckers who share the same grief. There are always a few feasts going on at truck stops, where you can either eat for free or get massive discounts.

You may also enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner with your family and friends before or after Christmas Day. It is not necessary to match the exact dates since it is the thought that counts.

So, this Thanksgiving, we’d like to give thanks to our hard working truckers out there. Because of you, we enjoy delicious Thanksgiving meals and have goodies to look forward to every Black Friday. If we bought it, truckers brought it.

Trucker Gift Suggestions

Here are some gift suggestions you may give to fellow truckers.

Weighted Blanket – These blankets can help calm a restless body, reduce feelings of anxiety, and improve sleep troubles.

Beanie Hat – Helps warm during winter

Personalized Mud Flaps – Drive in style with these.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas, if you can’t be with family, there are a lot of ways to still enjoy the holiday mood. You can make this Christmas memorable by giving others some gifts, planning a delightful Christmas dinner with your best trucking buddies, or volunteering together at a truck stop to make the rookie drivers feel at home. Christmas is a time to be grateful for all the blessings you have received all year. Counting your blessings and thinking about all the good things that happened to you in the past year can help promote positivity and good vibes.

Lastly, all of us from Trucker Path, would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

How will you spend your Christmas? Share your plans in the comments section below.

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruck Driver truck drivers Owner Operator trucking Trucker Path Trucking Industry Owner Operators Trucking Tips christmas

Top 10 Counties For Cargo Theft [p]Cargo theft is a growing concern for the trucking industry with driver safety at the forefront. Here's a closer look at the worst areas.[/p] [h2]Top 10 Counties for Cargo Theft in America[/h2] [p]Being a truck driver is the most dangerous job in America and the threat of cargo theft from potentially armed thieves looking to steal truck cargo escalates the risks for truck drivers.[/p] [p]According to CargoNet, there were 836 occurrences of cargo theft resulting in an estimated $172.9 million in losses during 2016. [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]Los Angeles County had 329 thefts reported from July 2013 – July 2016, the most of any other county in America.[/a] The worst state for cargo thefts was California, with 228 thefts, an increase of 36 percent from 2015. The most common day of the week for cargo thefts was Friday with 164 incidents. There was a 5.1 percent decrease in total cargo thefts in 2016 compared to 2015.[/p] [ol-2] [li]Los Angeles County, CA[/li] [li]Dallas County, TX[/li] [li]San Bernardino County, CA[/li] [li]Chicago Cook County, IL[/li] [li]Miami-Dade County, FL[/li] [li]Houston Harris County, TX[/li] [li]Tarrant County, TX[/li] [li]Edison Middlesex County, IL[/li] [li]Bolingbrook Will County, IL[/li] [li]Riverside County, CA[/li] [/ol-2] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/cargoNet.jpg" alt=""] [h2]Most Common Cargo Theft Locations[/h2] [ol] [li]Warehouse/Distribution Center – 329[/li] [li]Other – 295[/li] [li]Parking Lot – 170[/li] [li]Secured Yard – 166[/li] [li]Unsecured Yard – 120[/li] [/ol] [h2] Avoid Cargo Theft - Find Truck Parking with Trucker Path [/h2] [p] With over 8,000 locations to find parking in our app, you can find safe truck parking at the truck stop, rest area even Wal-mart of your choice. We even have a list of the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/best-truck-stops/">best truck stops in America!</a> [p]Best of all you can see how many truck parking spots a truck stop has and see if there are any available in real-time. Download our free app today in order to save yourself time and provide you with the peace of mind you deserve.[/p] [button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cargotheft2015"]Learn More About Trucker Path![/button-green] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [quote]“Cargo theft continues to be a pervasive issue,” said Anthony Canale, general manager of CargoNet. “Our 2015 year-end report indicated 881 incidents of cargo theft took place across North America. That increased from 844 cargo thefts reported in 2014 and accounted for more than $175 million in goods. While thieves continue to get more tech-savvy with their approaches, there are measures that can be put in place to stop them, ranging from proactive deterrence tactics to extensive recovery assistance.”[/quote] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/CARGO-THEFT-FB.jpg" alt=""]

Feb 03, 2017 • Carriers

Trucker Spotlight - Matthew Eso <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers 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> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Matthew_Eso1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Matthew Eso</strong>, who's also known as The Little Guy on Youtube. He's been driving trucks since 2012 and shares the same love for trucking with his father and grandfather. Let's get to know more about Matthew and his trucking life. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> It's something I always wanted to do because it runs in my family. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Matthew_Eso2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What attributes must one have in order to be a successful truck driver?</strong></h3> In order to be successful in this trucking game you have to know what you want first. Then chase it. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Matthew_Eso3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the most memorable experience you've had while over the road?</strong></h3> Most memorable time on the road has to be when I took my son with me. Just watching his face light up from all the things he was seeing. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's your favorite Truck Brand / Model?</strong></h3> Big fan of old school long hood trucks. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Matthew_Eso4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Aside from being a trucker, any other things you dream of doing? </strong></h3> Always wanted to operate heavy machinery. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the best truck stop for you? </strong></h3> My favorite one is the Joplin 44 Petro with the chrome shop. Place is a truckers toy store. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What was the worst breakdown or setback you've experienced while OTR?</strong></h3> Starting a Lease Purchase and the truck being a lemon off the lot. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that you use the Trucker Path on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?</strong></h3> Having all of the points of interest a trucker uses in the <a href="https://sixdays.page.link/tLUu">Trucker Path</a> application is by far the best feature next to the turn by turn navigation. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/02/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Matthew_Eso5.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Tips for others are be safe, stay hungry, and don't let anyone say you can’t do it. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?</strong></h3> They can view my videos on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLittleGuyTrucker/featured">The Little Guy Show</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cl6yXAQxDRw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> Hope you guys enjoy! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Feb 12, 2021 • Community

Trucker Spotlight - Shelby <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers 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> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Shelby</strong>, who's been driving for 3 years now. She's has a blog and Youtube channel called, Happiness by the Mile, where she shares her experiences and also gives information on everything you would want or need to know to become a professional driver, and live on the road. Let's get to know more about Shelby and how she gets happiness out of every mile. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> It was just a childhood dream of mine to drive a semi. I was not invested in making a career out of it. I just wanted to do it to say I could. It was more of a bucket list item than anything else. Now, I love it so much I could never leave! <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> I have not seen much of any significant change during my short time in the industry, but I have to say that there is a definite shift happening with the reduction of mom and pop truck stops, access to good food, and good training for those getting into the industry. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-6.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to create a Youtube channel? And why did you choose the "Happiness by the Mile" name?</strong></h3> I initially started an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/happiness_by_the_mile/">Instagram</a> page with the name "Happiness By The Mile". I thought it was the most ideal reference to my mindset of being on the road. We chase many things down the road, our thoughts, fears, hopes for the future, but we forget all too often our happiness is not and will never be a destination. We have to be present in our current lives, and happiness is a choice that we can make at any time. I want to encourage drivers to build happiness as they drive down the road, not chase it into the sunset. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> My current truck's name is "Waldo". I play a game on Instagram with my followers where I post my truck at a truck stop, and they try to guess where it's located. "Where's Waldo?" <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Are there times of loneliness while driving? How do you deal with it? </strong></h3> I love to keep my brain stimulated by listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I also go out of my way to make kind gestures to others by buying their coffee for them, or helping them out if they are trying to fix something on their trucks at a rest area. I think we all benefit from some positive interaction with other humans on the road. It just takes a bit of effort to put yourself out there to receive. <h2></h2> <h3><strong> As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> The hardest was finding food for a long time. With a lot of the restaurants and fast food joints having fewer hours or being closed all together it was quite a struggle. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-5.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> I run I-80 quite often. If I go east it is usually to Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Most of my routes on the west side of the united states are to Montana, Washington or Oregon. I tend to stay where the snow happens to be the worst. Just the luck of the draw for me. My favorite route is anywhere through US 191, north or south of Salt Lake City it doesn't matter. It is absolutely breathtaking and goes through various national parks. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Weirdest or most unusual haul?</strong></h3> My most unusual haul had to be a single pallet of medical supplies across the entire United States (not during COVID). <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How often do you use rest stops / truck stops? What are the things that you look for in a truck stop? Favorite truck stop meal?</strong></h3> I stop and truck stops and rest areas frequently! I stop often to let my dog Dakota out to stretch her legs, as well as myself. We take a generous amount of time to make sure that we both are feeling awake and ready to keep moving down the road. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-2.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking?</strong></h3> We often struggle to find a place to park with the doubles set. Pull through parking spaces are the only option most of the time, and not all truckstops have them. We are sometimes forced to park on the curb out of the way, or on exit ramps of the interstates. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your pet peeves while driving/trucking?</strong></h3> I don't have many pet peeves. I do wish that there was more respect given to the trucks from cars on the road, but it's hard to know what we do unless you've been up there in that seat doing it. We oftentimes need to back off a busy street to a customer dock, and it can be hard with cars zipping around you instead of giving you a few minutes to do what you need to do to get out of the way. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that Trucker Path has been of service to you! Could you share your favorite feature of the app?</strong></h3> I like to use <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">Trucker Path's</a> map feature to see where all the truckstops are around my current location, and I use it to help me trip plan to my final drop location. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Take it slow and steady. No matter how many years you have on your belt, you can never know it all, and always have something to learn. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your trucking videos?</strong></h3> You can check out my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ShelbyHBTM/featured">Happiness by the Mile channel on Youtube</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RKbiP779jJU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <em>Got a cool story to share? Send us message at community@truckerpath.com to be featured!</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Sep 11, 2020 • Carriers