
The Meet a Pathfinder series explores what our Pathfinder users love about being part of the program, what’s their favorite thing to explore, and fun facts about themselves.
Today we have Alex Tkachev from Portland, Oregon.

What do I love about being a Pathfinder?
What I love about being a Pathfinder is that it encourages me to read other people’s comments and get engaged with the places that I visit.
I get to find out more about the locations that I visit and how truck stop management works hard to help truck drivers. It makes me feel more empathetic to the people that work there and all that they put into their jobs. Especially with the worker shortage, people work extra hard to keep this economy running.
My favorite thing to explore
My favorite thing to explore are truck stops that are in faraway locations that most people don’t know about. Finding truck stops that I haven’t heard of before, but that is some of the best places to relax.
Fun fact about me
I try to eat healthy even when healthy food options are limited.
The Trucker Path Pathfinder program aims to build a community for truckers who are enthusiastic, passionate, and adventurous. Every time you share an experience on the Trucker Path map help a fellow trucker over the road. If you love discovering hidden gems, supporting a mom-and-pop truck stop, and telling stories with vivid visuals and cogent reviews, join our squad to start your journey.




Trucking Industry Update February 15, 2019 <h4>Trucking Industry Update February 15, 2019</h4>
<h6>By Jeremy Feucht</h6>
<h1></h1>
<h1><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h1>
The regulation of the transportation industry, including today’s semis, began in earnest this week in history. On February 10, 1966, Ralph Nader testified before Congress regarding a book he had published called “Unsafe at Any Speed.” His testimony initiated the move towards an emphasis on safety as opposed to power and speed.
<h1><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h1>
With all the winter weather still occurring across the US, it is important to make sure you are keeping your headlights clear of dirt. Road dirt and other debris mixed with wet conditions can make your headlights less effective. Remember to wipe them off during your pre- and post-trip inspections.
<h1><strong><u>Trucker’s Fees</u></strong></h1>
One week after news broke that the US House of Representatives is considering a move towards a weight mileage tax on truckers, the US Senate has announced a similar initiative. While discussions are ongoing, there is also talk about increased fuel taxes in the interim while the weight/mileage change in implemented. During the hearing that occurred on February 13, the number thrown around was an increase of nearly $.20 per gallon. If you would like to listen to the hearing, you can access it <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=A73B1CC1-D6D6-4B18-A419-9F33FB5F69BA">here</a> (fast forward to the 2:12:00 mark).
<h1><strong><u>Autonomous Technology</u></strong></h1>
TuSimple, a company attempting to lead the way in autonomous trucking, has raised nearly $100 million dollars in a funding campaign. With its latest round of funding, TuSimple is now pushing a <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/autonomous-trucking-leader-tusimple-closes-110000387.html">$1 billion dollar valuation</a>. This ultimately means that TuSimple is making gains in their push towards a fully autonomous truck. However, this technology has yet to be fully approved for use in the US. While some states have allowed testing, many others have not. This will be an interesting topic to watch moving forward.
<h1><strong><u>Declarations of Emergency</u></strong></h1>
There are at least 32 states under declarations of emergency due to winter conditions in the US. Several are set to expire by the end of the week. Please check the <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations">FMCSA’s Declaration of Emergency page</a> to ensure you are not caught in a bad situation. If you are operating under the HOS exemption granted by such declaration, make sure the declaration is still in effect, so you do not receive a citation for hours violations. 
