Nov 05, 2020 • Carriers

Trucker Spotlight - Tierra Allen

Trucker Spotlight - Tierra Allen

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.

Today we are putting the spotlight on Tierra Allen, AKA The Sassy Trucker on Youtube. She’s been driving for 3 1/2 years now. She enjoys driving and traveling the world and wanted to drive a truck since she was 18. Let’s get to more about Tierra and her sassy life of trucking.

What made you decide to be a trucker?

I decided to become a truck driver because I like the flexible schedule. I like the fact that i don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder 24/7. Most importantly i get paid to travel.

In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you’ve noticed in the trucking industry?

I’ve noticed more and more women are getting into trucking.

What made you decide to put up your Youtube channel?

I decided to make a Youtube channel to share my experiences with everyone and to encourage and influence others to decide if they want to become a truck driver.

Any times when you get lonely while driving? How do you deal with it?

Whenever I get lonely, I talk on the phone with friends and listen to podcasts and music.

As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?

Us truck drivers put our health at risk because we high a high chance of catching Covid19 because we are driving cross country.

What’s your favorite Truck Brand / Model?

My favorite truck is the Kenworth Studio Sleeper .

Aside from being a trucker, any other things you dream of doing?

I want to become an actor.

What’s the best truck stop for you?

The best truck stop for me is Petro truck stop.

What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking?

As a female, I encounter a lot of harassment, hate, and other truckers underestimating me because I am in a male dominated field.

What are your pet peeves while driving/trucking?

I dislike how some cars tend to cut truck drivers off.

What are your trucker essentials when you drive?

Dash cam, GPS, bluetooth headset, refrigerator, microwave, sleeper bag, emergency bag, and boots.

We’re glad that you use the Trucker Path app on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?

What I enjoy the most about Trucker Path is the fueling feature.

What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?

Be prepared to work in crazy weather conditions.

Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?

They can view my videos on my Youtube Channel, The Sassy Trucker.

Hope you guys enjoy!

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruck FCMSA truck drivers Owner Operator Trucker Path Trucking Industry truck stops Owner Operators Technology Covid19 Trucker Spotlight

Trucker Spotlight - Kangaroo Trucker <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> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/Lark20200630-214612.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/Lark20200630-214612-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5084"></a> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Jim</strong>, who recently picked up a vlogging hobby on Youtube. His channel, "The Adventures of Kangaroo Trucker”, is where he shares his adventures, both good and bad, while out over the road. He recently just started driving trucks and was heavily influenced by his brothers. Let's get to know more about Jim and his adventures. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How long have you been trucking?</strong></h3> I started my trucking career in 2019. I went to a local CDL school but wasted my money so I invested again with a large carrier and went to their school and drove OTR with them for about a year to get some experience. I left them and went with a smaller trucking firm (about 300 trucks) out of Pennsylvania. I got some good experience driving in the upper north east of U.S., but the communication with their drivers and the constant sitting and driving in the worst places caused me to look elsewhere. I was referred to a medium size company (about 1600 truck fleet). It’s a much better fit for me. I go out 4-5 weeks at a time and get home time with no problem. They send me all over lower 48 states. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I got into trucking because my younger brother is a Truck Driver and my older brother, who passed in 2015, was an owner operator and owner a couple of trucks. I must have had a mid life crisis or something but I was drawn to go out to get my CDL and see what it was like to walk in his shoes. It’s been a journey. I’m glad I did it and I encourage everyone to follow their passion. It’s not just a job to me. It feeds my family, yes, but I like the daily challenges and I am amazed on how complex this logistical puzzle ever gets accomplished with the many moving parts. It is a miracle to me, at times, it all seems to work out just to get something from point A to point B. It really takes some good attitude and a great deal of patience, but working together with everyone is really what makes this whole process work. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you start Youtube vlogging?</strong></h3> I was hoping create videos to either entertain seasoned truckers as they watch me struggle getting my experience or for those new to trucking eager to learn from others who have made their mistakes so that all of us can learn from it. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the story of you becoming "Kangaroo Trucker"? Do you also have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> I own a gymnastics business in Atlanta area and have a competitive Trampoline and Tumbling team. The gyms logo is a Kangaroo so that’s why I call myself Kangaroo Trucker. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/kt.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/kt-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5090"></a> <h3><strong>How did Trucker Path help you in your day to day trucking?</strong></h3> I will say that early on I found the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/">Trucker Path app</a> to be a really large part of my daily arsenal to help me navigate this great country. I never realized how truckers had to constantly trip plan and we’re constantly looking for a place to shut down for their 10 hour break. TruckerPath is just one of those tools a trucker uses to help find a safe place to shut down, or see if a weigh station is open. The thing I like the most is that it is a Trucker Community driven app. It’s a good feeling to look for a truck stop and to find other truckers have updated the status so someone like me can feel safe in knowing there’s likely a good chance I’ll find a spot to shut down. Equally, I’m happy to update all locations I visit so I can return the favor. So if you use it, I encourage you to update often. If you don’t use TruckerPath app, I’d recommend giving it a try. Especially if you are new. Not all of us have the years of experience to know all the exits by memory of our favorite places like the veteran drivers out there. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your videos?</strong></h3> You can find me on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9x-LgYMaepeyXCApHfCQOg">Kangaroo Trucker</a>. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8-9EhgnlG0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <h2></h2> I’ll keep on trucking as long as I can. It’s a great feeling to be contributing to America's supply chain and doing my part to help. <h2></h2> Cheers! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Jun 30, 2020 • Carriers

Understanding Team Truck Driving [p]Trucking is a hectic job that entails adhering to DOT / HOS regulations which ultimately means you need to stop at some point to comply with the maximum driving hours. With these regulations some truckers often opt to drive with a partner to maximize efficiency. Team truck driving allows one driver to rest while the other one drives. The drivers can switch places with each other multiple times over a journey so that more distance can be covered while time is saved. [/p] [p]While some truckers love this concept, others prefer to drive solo. In any case, team driving has its perks, and they are significant enough not to be overlooked. [/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> [p][b]How Does Driving With a Partner Work? [/b][/p] [p]The job is pretty straightforward. One driver drives while the other rests, eats, and sleeps. Each driver has their own duty-time set on a schedule, so there are no arguments regarding shift timings. This significantly reduces the time needed to haul loads from one point to another, and hence that results in better pay. Both drivers receive the benefits of the entire job even when they are spending half their time doing it.[/p] [p]It is easy to judge from the brief discussion above that team driving has its benefits, but it also has its disadvantages. [/p] [p][b]Advantages of Team Trucking [/b][/p] [p]It should be clear by now that for people who love to socialize and work at the same time, team truck driving is the best job to have. You rarely get bored, you always have a partner to keep you entertained and you don’t have to share meals with strangers while you are sitting at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere. But these are just a few perks. Trucking with a partner can result in a lot more advantages. [/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>More Available Jobs </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]Trucking with a partner is like having opened up a new skill that qualifies you and your partner to apply for jobs that would otherwise be unavailable to you if each of you were driving solo. Trucking companies like to save time and love efficiency, which is why they admire the concept of team driving. They are willing to pay you more just so you deliver the goods faster. Moreover, team trucking is a great stepping stone for you if you want to go solo in the future. Partnering up with an experienced campaigner will allow you to access high-paid jobs with relatively zero experience. Once you have the necessary hours and skill needed to go solo, you can end terms with your partner and start your gig.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-2.jpg" alt=""] <li><strong>Consistent Income </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]Team driving is a more attractive package for trucking companies. They know they can rely on a team to deliver faster than a solo driver. They say two heads are better than one and that sometimes holds true for trucking. If there are two drivers, there will be more driving than resting and that would mean hopping from one assignment to another. All in all, you will be making more money and that too consistently.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Disadvantages of Team Trucking [/b][/p] [p]While the advantages are tempting, especially for an upcoming young driver, some veterans prefer to drive alone, and they have some good reasons for it. [/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>The Profits Are Split </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]The term team driving is simple to understand. You drive as a team, and that means you equally share the spoils between each other. So while the idea of trucking with a partner seems tempting, it is not might not be feasible in the long-run, especially if you are in it for the money.[/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>Undesirable Partner</strong> </li> <h2></h2> [p]Let's face it. It is not easy to spend a considerable amount of time with another person in a small space, especially if you don't like them. Your partner has to be entertaining or compatible with your level of thinking. If not, it can be very hard to pass time or trust your teammate with the job at hand.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-3.jpg" alt=""] <li><strong>Trouble Sleeping</strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]As a truck driver, you have been trained not to fall asleep while driving long distances. And now, you have to fall asleep once your shift ends when your partner takes over the wheel. This could be challenging especially if you are not used to sleeping when needed to. Also, you might need to get used to sleeping while listening to some up beat music while your partner drives.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Closing Thoughts [/b][/p] [p]Team truck driving is a highly attractive opportunity for new drivers who are looking to add miles and for old drivers who are looking for a partner since they are unable to drive solo. The pay is not that good, but the work is consistent. So team truck driving is recommended until you feel you have the experience to drive your semi or if you are a husband and wife team who love spending time on the road and enjoy an adventure more than the pay. Are you a team driver? Do you have tips for people who want to try team driving? Let us know on the comments.[/p] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Aldous Aldwin[/b][/p]

Nov 20, 2020 • Carriers

Trucker Spotlight - Jerry McCallister <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> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Jerry</strong>, who's a driver at FedEx Custom Critical. He also has a Youtube channel called, "Expediter Boogie”, where he talks about the types of things he does in expediting. Let's get to know more about Jerry and his "expeditions". <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How long have you been trucking?</strong></h3> I have been driving for 11 years all with FedEx Custom Critical and the last 4 of those years I’ve been with HyField Trucking who is a fleet owner leased onto FedEx Custom Critical. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm2.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> My mom influenced that decision, she had been driving for 14 years OTR and i was tired of sitting in a cubicle doing the same thing over and over and needed the change. After researching trucking I landed on expediting and thought this would be way better than doing normal long haul. It seemed more exciting and paid more for less work. <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 noticed many changes, rates dropping compared to earlier years, implementation of electronic logs, trucks getting smarter like the Tesla Truck and technology used on the road getting better. I am happy for the technology changes i believe technology is a driving force to help us truckers in our daily jobs. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the story of you becoming "Expediter Boogie"? Do you also have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> I wanted to start a YouTube channel to talk about the types of things we did in expediting and places we go. Also a lot of people didn’t know what expediting was, so i started the channel. When thinking about what i would call it, I had been called Boogie all my life by my family so i added Expediting to it and came up with The Expediter Boogie. <h2></h2> We just got a brand new truck and haven’t thought of a name yet so we are taking suggestions. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Are there times of loneliness while driving? How do you deal with it? </strong></h3> I don’t get lonely on the road. I drive team with my partner of 10 years so i always have someone to talk to and share my day with. I am also a mentor with the company i drive with HyField Trucking. I am always on the phone with my mentees helping them and teaching them the ways of expediting. So I am rarely ever lonely I just stay busy. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm4.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> Definitely the biggest struggle we are facing right now is dealing with the slower freight which in turn is making the rates lower. The other main struggle I find in dealing with Covid-19 is people not taking it serious enough. Not wearing mask and seeming to not care. It makes our job more difficult and having to be out here risking out health on a daily basis to help keep the country moving I just wished more people had more compassion to try and help do their part. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> We don’t have a usual route, being with Fed Ex Custom Critical we run all 48 states and Canada. I would have to say my favorite area to drive through is I-70 in Colorado. that area is absolutely beautiful and I never get tired of seeing it. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/jm1.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Weirdest or most unusual haul?</strong></h3> At Fed Ex Custom Critical we haul everything from pharmaceuticals to explosives, we even haul priceless art at times. One of the coolest things we hauled was actual artifacts from the Titanic we transported between museums. Another great trip was when we moved 4 different inventions that were made by Benjamin Franklin. You never know what you are going to haul in expediting, which is what makes it fun it is always something different. <h2></h2> <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> We park at truck stops all the time mostly utilizing Loves because that is where we fuel the majority of the time. I love the rewards we get through Loves and it is nice to see them adding more services to their locations. I don’t have a favorite truck stop meal due to we have a custom sleeper and tend to do all our cooking in the truck. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking? Pet peeves?</strong></h3> I would say the usual things all us truckers have to deal with like traffic, shippers not being ready on time. <h2></h2> I would say my biggest pet peeve while driving is cars cutting you off. Most of them don’t realize just how close they come to causing an accident. It’s not easy stopping this truck quickly and when we have to it causes more headache for us cause everything in our sleeper goes flying. <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> The biggest thing we enjoy about Trucker Path is the ability to see what truck stops are coming up along our route as well as seeing what other drivers are reporting about upcoming weigh stations and whether or not they are closed or open. Reading the reviews from other drivers is also a big help, like if we want to stop at a Wal-Mart. Being able to quickly see if we are allowed to park there or if we need to talk to the manager is a big help. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> I would say do your best and put forth the effort. Don’t just look at trucking as a job, think of it as a career. Don’t fall into all the typical stereotypes of truckers. Put on decent clean clothes when dealing with a shipper or receiver, don’t litter like a lot of drivers do, and just try to take it to the next level. Be proud of what you do on the roads by being a professional driver and keeping America running. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your videos?</strong></h3> You can find me on my Youtube Channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksmX2wd6Lzo6zM4pyaB_ew">Expediter Boogie</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vl1vV2b_1wE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Aug 04, 2020 • Carriers