Oct 24, 2018

Must-See Movies for Truck Drivers

Which night is movie night for you? Is it Wednesday evening, when you’re relaxing after a long day on the road? Or do you wait until the weekend to chill on your couch at home? Whichever represents your ideal movie night, rest assured that we have the perfect must-see movie list just for truck drivers like you. We’ll start with one of the most obvious:
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Mike Henry, this action comedy film is about two truck drivers who take a dare to deliver a truckload of beer. After they pick up a hitchhiker – a runaway bride – they soon find themselves being pursued by the jilted groom and his sheriff father.
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
Did you even know there was a sequel? In this one, the Bandit returns to transport an elephant from Florida to Texas.
Armed and Dangerous (1986)
Starring John Candy, Meg Ryan and Eugene Levy, Armed and Dangerous is about a disgraced cop and an inept lawyer embark on second careers as security guards. The pair quickly discover corruption within their union and security firm. In this movie, John Candy’s character hitches a ride with a trucker who plows through cars in a traffic jam and ignores the rules of the road to prevent a robbery.
Big Rig (2007)
A documentary film, Big Rig follows several long-haul truckers as they discuss life on the road and challenges truckers face in the industry.
Black Dog (1998)
This thriller, starring Patrick Swayze, is about an ex-con truck driver who discovers he’s unknowingly transporting a truck full of illegal weapons.
Convoy (1978)
A group of trucker friends use their CB radios to warn each other about police nearby until a sheriff tries to foil their plans with his own radio broadcasts.
Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers (1979)
Two women team up behind the wheel of a Mack Super-Liner to keep it out of the hands of a repo man and hijackers.
The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977)
After a truck driver gets his rig repossessed, he steals it back to make one last cross-country run.
Hijack! (1973)
Two truck drivers are tasked with transporting top-secret cargo from New York to Houston. A terrorist group tries to hijack their freight along the way.
Over the Top (1987)
A struggling trucker, played by Sylvester Stallone, uses arm wrestling to earn extra money. When he takes his estranged son on the road with him, he tries to use the World Arm Wrestling Championships to win back his son.
Snitch (2013)
Dwayne Johnson plays a father whose son is accused of distributing drugs. In order to help his son, Johnson’s character goes undercover with the DEA to infiltrate a drug cartel. You won’t want to miss two major action sequences that involve a big rig.
Steel Cowboy (1978)
Trucker Clayton Ray Davis, played by James Brolin, agrees to haul some stolen cattle to avoid getting his truck repossessed.
They Drive by Night (1940)
Starring George Raft and Humphrey Bogart, two brothers try to make a living as wildcat truckers.
Thunder Run (1986)
A truck driver transports plutonium from Nevada to Arizona, unaware that there are terrorists waiting to steal his freight.
Time Bomb (1984)
A truck carrying plutonium gets hijacked by terrorists and it’s up to the truckers to save the day.
One of these has to sound good to you! Which film are you planning to see on your next movie night?

Get ready for National Hunting and Fishing Day [p]A driver’s time off the road is invaluable. Whether you spend that time relaxing at home or working on your favorite hobby, it’s important to find something you enjoy doing to recharge. Many drivers enjoy spending their off time hunting and fishing. Maybe you love the quiet and solitude of the hunt or the rush of adrenaline you get when you snag the “big one”. National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is always celebrated the fourth Saturday of September, is the perfect time to get outdoors in the name of conservation. You can also take the NHF Day Challenge by taking someone with you and showing them what you love about hunting, fishing or target shooting. [p]If this is your first year participating, here are some tips for a successful NHF Day: [p]Hunting <ul> <li>Brush up on your shooting skills ahead of time at a range nearby.</li> <li>Review firearm safety rules as well as laws and regulations in your state. If you’ve never been hunting before, take a hunter safety course.</li> <li>Buy a hunting license.</li> <li>Plan and research the area you intend to hunt. For some of the best hunting spots near you, check out the interactive map at nhfday.org (<a href="https://www.nssf.org/hunting/where-to-hunt/">https://www.nssf.org/hunting/where-to-hunt/</a>).</li> <li>Learn more about the game animal or bird you intend to hunt. Get to know their habits and how to track them.</li> </ul> [p]Fishing <ul> <li>Decide what kind of fish you want to catch and what kind of bait you’ll need.</li> <li>Research lakes nearby that have fishing potential. This interactive map (https://www.takemefishing.org/where-to-fish-and-boat/#/) not only helps you locate bodies of water near you, but it also tells you what species of fish you may be able to catch.</li> <li>Buy a fishing license.</li> <li>Check the weather. Although you can catch fish in nearly any kind of weather conditions, an overcast sky is ideal.</li> <li>Make sure your equipment is in good, working condition, dress in thin layers and wear appropriate foot gear.</li> <li>If you’re fishing from a boat, don’t forget to pack your life jacket.</li> </ul> [p]Are you planning to take advantage of NHF Day? Let us know where you plan to spend the day and whether you’re #teamhunt or #teamfish.

Sep 21, 2018

Oct 15, 2018 • Community

The creepiest haunted roadways in the U.S. Haunted houses, scary movies and cemeteries, oh my! Halloween season is upon us and with it comes tales of mysterious happenings and the supernatural. If you’re not a fan, we understand if you feel like hiding out until Thanksgiving. But for those of you who thrive on the paranormal, this list is everything you didn’t know you needed. Here are some of the scariest haunted roadways around the country. Filled with legends of ghostly beings and mysterious happenings, these are the highways and byways you’ll definitely want to avoid this Halloween. Or include on your route….if you dare. Don’t forget to let us know if you check one of these roads and if you experience anything unusual while you’re there. [p]Route 66 [p]Running from Chicago all the way to the Pacific Ocean, this famous highway is one of the first in the United States. Its long history includes tales of ghostly hitchhikers, mysterious lights and other paranormal activities. In fact, there are more than 100 spooky stops along Route 66 including “Zombie Road” in Wildwood, Mo., and the Coleman Theater in Miami, Okla., which is said to have been built on top of an old crematorium. [p]Route 666, Four Corners region [p]Although this highway is part of the larger Route 66, it deserves some attention all on its own. It is often referred to as the “Devil’s Highway,” both for its numbering and because of the high level of deaths along the New Mexico segment of the highway. Even though this highway was renamed in 2003 as U.S. Route 491, motorists still report sightings of ghost truckers and phantom riders, including a girl dressed in white wandering through the desert, and strange weather phenomena. [p]Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey [p]You wouldn’t think that this road is within an hour’s drive from New York City because of how isolated and quiet it seems. Quiet, that is, until you run into the mutant animals said to be hiding in the woods or see phantom headlights following you on the road. Legend has it that if you toss a coin over the bridge, a boy who drowned there will toss it back. [p]Prospector’s Road, California [p]Located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, this road is just a short detour off of Highway 49. There are a number of stories of gold miners meeting their end from cave-ins, suicides, and greed-driven murders back in the 1800s. One particular miner is said to haunt the road, showing himself to hikers and drivers alike, telling visitors to “get off my claim.” [p]Kelly Road in Ohioville, Pennsylvania [p]A one-mile stretch of this road has been the site of some reported bizarre events and paranormal activity. There are stories of animals going rabid as soon as they enter this section of road, sightings of apparitions and strange noises, and a ghost boy who wanders around the area. [p]Dead Man’s Curve in Clermont County, Ohio [p]Dead Man’s Curve is located just east of Cincinnati. It’s actually not a curve at all, but rather an intersection where Route 222 meets Route 125 in the village of Bantam. Back in the 1800s, the original roadway curved at the top of a hill, which caused horses and carriages to overturn and slide down the hill. It has since been straightened, but still is said to be the location of numerous accidents over the years. Witnesses report seeing floating wrecked cars, antique carriages and faceless hitchhikers. [p]Route 2A in Aroostook County, Maine [p]This route, which even has a song written about it, is known for its dangerous driving conditions. It is rumored that the icy and snowy roads as well as an unexpected hairpin turn have caused many truckers to lose their lives. There are also stories of spooky spirits seen on this road over the years. [p]Shades of Death Road in Warren County, New Jersey [p]Close to I-80 near Great Meadows, N.J., Shades of Death Road lives up to its creepy name. It is said that the windy road used to attract bandits due to its many hiding spots in the shade. The highwaymen would lay in wait for victims before committing acts of theft - sometimes even murder. The stories say that locals would hang these highwaymen and leave their bodies in the trees as warnings to other criminals. This road is also known for its unusually extreme fog, unexplainable bright skies and strange floating lights. [p]Highway 93 in Arizona [p]The stretch of Highway 93 that runs just east of the Nevada border is nicknamed “Blood Alley” for the many deaths that have occurred on the road. The highway is long, narrow and winding with many hills and blind curves, leaving roadway tragedies in its wake. In addition to countless stories of ghost sightings - even a ghost bus - this highway is also home to several eerie ghost towns. [p]Whether you decide to roll down any of these spooky roadways or avoid them at all costs, we hope you have a Happy Halloween! Stay safe.

Oct 31, 2018