Jun 29, 2023

Truckers And Their July 4th Plans

Truckers And Their July 4th Plans

We surveyed Trucker Path users on what their plans were for July 4th. Here’s what they told us.

Survey Reveals Truckers Just as Happy Today As a Year Ago <p>Trucker Path’s recent survey revealed surprising truths about truck drivers’ current state of happiness and job satisfaction. </p> <p>In a March 2023 survey of Trucker Path app users, owner-operators and company drivers were asked 10 questions whether they were making as much money, working as many hours and experiencing as much job satisfaction as they were a year ago. </p> <p>With freight rates low, fuel prices still high and trucking regulations on the rise, we were expecting responses ranging from bad to really bad. </p> <p>Boy, were we surprised. The picture painted by their responses is a clear contrast to the doom and gloom pundits were pushing toward the end of 2022. Granted, it’s not all flat grade and open road ahead. But judging by truckers’ responses, it doesn’t look like we’re headed off a cliff, either. </p> <p><strong>Truckers Report Earning the Same Pay Today</strong> </p> <p>Driver compensation was the number three issue for drivers that was revealed in the 2022 American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Top Industry Issues report. Additionally, DAT reports that dry van spot rates dropped 28% from March 2022 to March 2023. Nevertheless, over 65% of respondents in the Trucker Path survey report making anywhere from about the same amount of money to much more money now. </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q5-New-2.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q5-New-2.png" alt="" width="500" height="325" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7178" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Drivers Say They’re Working the Same Hours in 2023</strong> </p> <p>Hours of Service (HOS) has made ATRI’s top 10 list of industry issues in 8 of the last 10 years. Despite perennial complaints about HOS restrictions limiting their ability to work, drivers in the survey say they aren’t lacking for driving time today. Over half report driving about the same amount of hours as a year ago. Over 80% say they are driving the same or more. </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q4-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q4-New.png" alt="" width="524" height="352" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7180" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Truckers’ Job Satisfaction and Job Happiness Steady</strong> </p> <p>As pressures on the job mount, truckers make peace with conditions, clearly indicating their moods are not following the trajectory of freight rates. Regardless of major challenges like truck parking, fuel prices, speed limiters and HOS rules, almost 75% report being either about the same or better when it comes to happiness. </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q6-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q6-New.png" alt="" width="531" height="327" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7181" /></a> </p> <p>The same with job satisfaction: almost 75% of respondents say their jobs are just as satisfying or more so than they were last year. </p> <p>Here are some of the reasons truckers gave for their happiness and job satisfaction: </p> <p><em>“It’s been a good profitable year for me so far.”</em> </p> <p><em>“This job gives me the opportunity to support my family.”</em> </p> <p><em>“Truckers are always learning, every day.”</em> </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q8-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q8-New.png" alt="" width="489" height="329" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7182" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Truckers Polled Indicate a Desire to Stay Put </strong></p> <p>Trucker Path’s survey suggests the great reshuffle might be slowing. Carriers competing for driver recruits have made for a very fluid job market in recent years. Not to long ago it was common for drivers to jump ship for better rates, signing bonuses and the promise of better hours or lanes. In the Trucker Path survey, less than half said they looked for a job in the last six months. </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q7-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q7-New.png" alt="" width="510" height="304" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7183" /></a> </p> <p><strong>The Truckers Looking for Jobs Are Likely to Stay in Trucking</strong> </p> <p>Almost 50% of respondents in the Trucker Path survey who said they looked for a job within the last six months indicated they were looking for a job within the trucking industry. That’s good news for the industry which is still short 78,000 drivers by last ATA estimate. </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Career-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Career-New.png" alt="" width="502" height="304" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7184" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Truckers as Optimistic as Can Be Expected</strong> </p> <p>America’s tough and talented truck drivers aren’t exactly the types to come out and say the future looks bright. They have their eyes on the road and the job ahead. For that reason, it’s always good to adjust trucker’s comments up a little for deflation. </p> <p>In other words, when over 54% of truckers polled say 2023 will be about the same or better than 2022, you can deduce that things aren’t so bad—and certainly better than expected. </p> <p>Here’s what that means from the mouths of truckers: </p> <p><em>“I believe that truckers are sticking together more and the ones that don’t want to are leaving the industry.”</em> </p> <p><em>“Fuel prices should drop slightly. The rate of inflation should also drop slightly. Spare parts for vehicle repairs and other equipment repairs should become more widely available reducing downtime for maintenance.”</em> </p> <p><em>“Work is there. You just need to know how to play the game.”</em> </p> <p><a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q9-New.png"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2023/05/Q9-New.png" alt="" width="518" height="329" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7185" /></a> </p> <p>Your friends at Trucker Path are here to help you play the game—to win—with industry-leading solutions that help you rule the road and run your business profitably. <strong><a href="http://truckerpath.com">Check out all that we offer for drivers, owner-operators and fleets here.</a></strong></a> </p>

May 24, 2023

Essentials From Trucker Path Bundles Key Solutions <p><em>Combined ELD, load board, dispatching portal and truck navigation address core needs of small- to mid-sized trucking companies at an affordable price </em></p> <p><strong> PHOENIX – March 22, 2023 </strong> – Trucker Path, the most comprehensive and most used mobile app for North American truckers, today announced Essentials, an affordable bundle of products for small- to mid-sized fleets. Included in the package are truck-safe navigation and routing, ELD, load board and direct-to-app dispatching solutions</p> <p>“Our new Essentials package includes everything a small- to mid-sized carrier needs to efficiently and effectively grow their business,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “Not only does Essentials save our customers 35% compared to the cost of buying individual products, but it also provides an advantage when it comes to support and coordination, and seamless interoperability from a single provider. Most importantly, these products include features that support our customers’ current needs as well as those they will encounter as they grow. Running a trucking company is tough, but our Essentials package makes it easier and for a very affordable price.</p> <p>Essentials from Trucker Path includes:</p> <p>● <strong>ELD:</strong> Powered by Geotab for keeping drivers compliant and safe (includes electronic DVIR capabilities)</p> <p>● <strong>LOAD BOARD:</strong> TruckLoads, offering unlimited access to search, bid and even book profitable loads quickly and easily</p> <p>● <strong>DISPATCH PORTAL:</strong> Fully integrated, easy-to-use software that makes it simple to dispatch loads directly to the drivers’ Trucker Path app</p> <p>● <strong>TRUCK-SAFE ROUTING & NAVIGATION:</strong> North America’s most relied upon real truck mapping and navigation from Trucker Path</p> <p>Fleets using other brands of ELDs to meet regulatory requirements can also take advantage of the Essentials bundle from Trucker Path without its ELD solution.</p> <p>To learn more about Trucker Path Essentials, visit <a href="https://www.truckerpath.com/essentials">https://www.truckerpath.com/essentials</a></p> <strong> About Trucker Path </strong> <p>Phoenix-based Trucker Path is the provider of a wide range of truck driver-centric mobility products. Its Trucker Path app is currently in use by over 1 million professional truck drivers. Offering best-in-class navigation with truck optimized routing, the Trucker Path app also provides access to vital up-to-date information about truck stops, real-time available parking, fuel prices, weigh station status, and truck scales and wash locations. The company also offers TruckLoads, a digital freight exchange that connects drivers, carriers and brokers; COMMAND™, the industry’s first and only Operations & Driver Relationship (ODR) platform that provides small to mid-size fleets with the necessary driver and TMS technologies to successfully run a fleet; and DISPATCH, a full-service dispatch service designed specifically to serve the back-office needs of small carriers and owner-operators. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.truckerpath.com/">www.truckerpath.com.</a></p> <p>Media Contact:</p> <p>Susan Fall</p> <p>LaunchIt Public Relations</p> <p><a href="tel:8584901050">858-490-1050</a></p> <p><a href="mailto:susan@launchitpr.com">susan@launchitpr.com</a></p>

Mar 23, 2023

How to Grow a Trucking Business as an Owner-Operator <p>Did you know that more than 70% of all goods in the United States are transported by truck? That's a lot of products that need to get from Point A to Point B, and it makes commercial trucking one of the most important industries in the country. That <a href="https://cdlworker.com/blog/CDL-training" target="_blank">CDL (commercial driver’s license)</a> has a lot of value these days. If you're a driver looking to start your own trucking business or an owner-operator with a truck already on the road, there are a few things you should know as a business owner. In this post, we'll walk you through some tips for growing your trucking business. Let's get started! </p> <h3><strong>Changing Industry Regulations</strong> </h3> <p>As the trucking industry continues to evolve, it's important for trucking businesses to anticipate changes in regulations and have a business plan that is friendly to adapt to those changes. One way to do this is to monitor developments at the state and federal level. State legislatures and Congress are constantly debating issues that could impact the trucking industry, such as hours of service, weight limits, and environmental restrictions. By tracking these debates, trucking businesses can be among the first to adapt to new regulations. Another way to anticipate regulatory change is to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news. Industry publications and websites are a great source of information on upcoming changes in the trucking industry. By monitoring these sources, small businesses can stay ahead of the curve and make the necessary changes to stay compliant with evolving regulations.</p> <h3><strong>New Transportation Technology</strong> </h3> <p>New transportation technology is constantly emerging, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends. However, those who don't stay up-to-date with the latest technology will quickly fall behind their competitors. There are many new transportation technologies that can help trucking businesses grow. One example is GPS tracking. GPS tracking can help businesses to keep track of your trucks, know where they are at all times, and ensure that they are on schedule. In line with this would be Trucking Management Systems (TMS). These systems will prove to be game changers for your business at any level. This information can be invaluable for reducing delays and boosting efficiency. Another example is electronic logging devices. These devices went from optional to mandatory and became a major hurdle for some. By staying on top of the new tech and how they operate will keep you in good shape for industry growth. By investing in and staying up to date with new transportation technology, trucking business owners like you can stay ahead of the curve and continue to grow. </p> <h3><strong>Manage Your Business Finances Well</strong> </h3> <p>One of the biggest keys to running a successful trucking company is to manage your finances well. Many trucking businesses fail within the first year due to poor financial management. In order to grow your trucking business, it is essential that you keep a close eye on your finances and make wise decisions about where to allocate your resources. A good way to manage this is to get a good reputable line of credit for your startup to manage your operating costs and raise your business credit score. This will make you look better to lenders. </p> <p>One of the most important aspects of financial management is creating and sticking to a budget. Without a budget, it is easy to overspend on unnecessary expenses and quickly become buried in debt or short on fuel costs. Make sure to map out all of your income and expenses so that you can track your progress and make adjustments as needed.</p> <p>Another crucial element of financial management is making sure that your trucking company has a strong and regular cash flow to keep operations running smoothly. An invoice factoring company, also known as freight factoring, can be a major tool in this area to help get you paid on freight bills now instead of waiting out the payment terms. Many, such as <a href="https://www.tafs.com/">TAFS</a>, also offer a fuel card option to save you additional money on fuel prices at the pump.</p> <h3><strong>Provide Excellent Service</strong> </h3> <p>While there are many important factors to consider as an independent contractor, one of the most important is providing excellent service. After all, without happy customers, it would be difficult to stay in business for very long. There are a few key things that you can do to make sure that your customers are always satisfied. First, ensure that your truck drivers are polite and professional at all times. Secondly, make sure that your trucks are always clean and well-maintained. Finally, go the extra mile to accommodate special requests whenever possible. By providing exceptional service, you will encourage customers to keep coming back, which is essential for long-term success. </p> <h3><strong>Develop and Foster Strong Customer Relationships</strong> </h3> <p>Trust can be difficult and time-consuming to develop. It is vital in this industry to recognize this and strive to not only develop meaningful business relationships with your customers but to foster those relationships so that they are beneficial to all </p> <h3><strong>TWIC Cards</strong> </h3> <p>You may be limiting yourself from loads if you do not obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). This card is issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and allows truckers to enter secure areas, such as ports and maritime facilities. In order to obtain a TWIC card, truckers must first pass a background check and fingerprinting. Once these requirements have been met, truckers can submit an application online or in person at a TWIC enrollment center. The process usually takes about two weeks, and the TWIC card is valid for five years. Having a TWIC card is a big boost for any trucker who wants to grow their business because it expands your freight possibilities, so be sure to apply for one as soon as possible. </p>

Apr 26, 2023