
The 14th of February has long been celebrated as the day of love. Its history can be traced back to ancient Rome when Christianity was still in its adolescence. The day was used to commemorate St. Valentine’s death/burial, but there are doubts on the authenticity of this claim. Some believe that the special day was put in place to downplay the pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia. We don’t know anything for sure, but what we do know is that there should be a day to honor your loved ones. If 14th February is that day, then so be it!
After all, who can reject candies, gifts, and flowers? If you are a trucker, both receiving and giving presents has a lot more meaning. It shows that you are thinking about your dearest and they are thinking about you.
What are some ways you can show your love as a trucker? Let’s find out!
Send Flowers
One of the best ways to make someone’s day is by sending them a bouquet. There are plenty of resources online that allow you to send flowers right to someone’s doorstep. If you want, you can add some chocolates and even balloons to make things interesting. The good thing is flowers are gender-neutral, you can send them to your man or your woman and they would make an impact.
Sending flowers might be a cliché, but you can never go wrong with it, especially on Valentine’s Day.

Personalized Note
Nothing beats a hand-written letter where you pour your heart out to your significant other. It adds a personal touch, and it shows that even though you are busy, you have your dearest in mind. If your partner is out there trucking, send them an emotion-filled letter. If you are a trucker, then try sending one back home. It is the little things that make the most impact.

Video-call Your Lover
Modern technology has made possible many things that were previously thought to be impossible. One such thing is having a conversation with another person who is not present at your location. You can now talk to your significant other on Valentine’s Day using video call applications, like Skype or FaceTime. No one deserves to feel lonely on a day that celebrates love, which is why you should make extra efforts to schedule a video call. Perhaps, make it an online date where you have dinner together and talk about your feelings for each other.

Celebrate When You Can
As a trucker, it can be hard for you to skip work on special occasions like Valentine’s Day. Therefore, you can celebrate before or after you are done with your work. Loving someone involves putting in constant effort, meaning you can’t restrict all your feelings for one day. Show your appreciation on other days as well, so that 14th February feels like any other day of the year.
How will you celebrate Valentines Day? Let us know in the comments below.
By Aldous Aldwin




Truck Freight Rates [h2] Truck Freight Rates [/h2]
[p]Before getting into the details surrounding truck freight rates and how owner-operators can find the best one, it's important to understand what is a good truck freight rate and how are rates determined.[/p]
[h2]What is a Truck Freight Rate? [/h2]
[p]A Truck freight rate is simply the price or rate a broker or shipper is willing to pay a carrier to haul a load. Essentially, it's what you will be paid to haul a load. Our focus here is regarding truck freight rates for owner operators and carriers with authority. [/p]
[h2] Where Can I Find Truck Freight Rates? [/h2]
[p]You can find truck freight rates on load boards like <em>Truckloads</em>. Search over three million monthly truck loads and filter your results based on location, trailer type, weight, pick up/drop off date and more. Use Truckloads free load board to view a freight broker's credit rating, days to pay and call brokers directly from the mobile app to book the best freight rate for you! [/p]
[button text="Try Truckloads Today" href="https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/free-load-board//?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=truckfreightrate" width="250px"]
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[h2] How are Truck Freight Rates Calculated? [/h2]
[p]Truck Freight rates are calculated based on a variety of factors including the current market conditions, demand levels, overall weight or size, distance traveled and the type of goods being shipped. Certain routes and areas will offer higher freight rates because the supply of loads is so great, therefore the need for carriers will be higher.[/p]
[p]Keep in mind that truck freight rates are often set by a<a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/what-is-a-freight-broker/"> freight broker </a> who takes a portion of the total rate a shipper is willing to pay and pays the carrier the difference. This rate is often negotiable and can fluctuate. [/p]
[p]If a shipper is sending valuable equipment that is extremely heavy, chances are the freight rate is going to be very favorable for carriers. [/p]
[p]Since the truck cargo that needs to be shipped is valuable, there is additional desire to find qualified carriers. Of course, you'll need to have the right equipment and trailer necessary to haul the specific load. [/p]
[giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS" width="480" height="268" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy]
[h2] What Loads Pay the Best Truck Freight Rate? [/h2]
[p]In order to maximize your earnings, you'll benefit from hauling loads with the best freight rate as often as possible. Freight rates are typically paid by the mile and can range from $1.50 to upwards of $4.00 or more per mile. Typically, the best freight rate is for flatbed loads but this is not necessarily always the case. [/p]
[p]We surveyed over 150 experienced <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-become-an-owner-operator/">owner-operators</a> asking them what they think are the best freight rates. 59 percent considered $3.00 per mile the best rate for carriers while 32 percent said $2.00 was a fair freight rate.[/p]
[p]While these are ideal freight rates for the carrier, they are often times difficult to find in most areas and the volume of freight shipping at these rates can also be limited. [/p]
5 Best Things About Our Freight Factoring Company <meta name="description" content="The best freight factoring company that's right for your trucking company." />
[h2] Why InstaPay is the Best Freight Factoring Company [/h2]
[p]Using a reliable freight factoring company like <strong>Trucker Path InstPay</strong> is a great option for owner-operators to better manage their cash flow. However, not all factoring companies are created equal. Here are five things that make InstaPay the best freight factoring company for you. [/p]
[h2]1. Non-Recourse Factoring - We Collect For You [/h2]
[p]Our <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/recourse-vs-non-recourse-factoring/">non-recourse factoring</a> means we assume liability to collect from your clients. We pay you for your invoices and we assume the risk to collect, not you. Choosing to factor with our factoring company allows you to operate risk-free and focus on running your business of hauling loads. Send us your bill of lading and rate confirmation right after you haul and we'll get you paid![/p]
[h2] 2. Get Paid in a Day [/h2]
[p]It's all in our factoring company name. With InstaPay, you no longer have to wait 30 or more days before getting paid by your clients. Our factoring company pays you within a day after hauling a load. it's instant![/p]
[h2] 3. Flat Rate - No Fees [/h2]
[p]Our factoring company charges a one-time, flat rate which means there's only a one-time charge of a small percentage of the invoice total. There are no hidden costs and you won't be charged for <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/hidden-costs-to-factor/">ridiculous factoring fees that other factoring companies will.</a> [/p]
[p]We even offer a special rate on your first load and discounts for referring friends who want to use a freight factoring company like InstaPay as well! [/p]
[video id="h3kXwM59BgM"]
[h2] 4. The Most Transparent Factoring Company [/h2]
[p]There are no contracts or commitments with InstaPay, just a short list or terms to agree to. We don't require you to factor with us for a specific amount of time or require a minimum volume. There is no fine print to worry about. We pride ourselves on being completely transparent. [/p]
[p]You'll never be forced to factor a specific volume or length of terms. Factor on your terms and use InstaPay anytime you want.[/p]
[h2]5. Easy to Use Right From You Phone[/h2]
[p]We know how busy you can be, especially when you're always on the road. Factoring with InstaPay is easy to set up and even easier to use. Our user-friendly Truckloads app allows you to take pictures of your documents and send them right from your phone. [/p]
[p] Don't let your cash flow become an issue. Signing up with our factoring company is a breeze and you can get paid in a day! So what are you waiting for?[/p]
[button text="Sign Up For InstaPay" href="https://www.getinstapay.com" width="250px"]
Trucker Spotlight - Vicki Simons <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different people in the trucking industry 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>
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Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Vicki</strong>.
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<strong>Introduction</strong>
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My name is Vicki Simons.
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While living in our first company-issued truck full-time in the early 1990s, my husband Mike and I learned quickly that some of the products that are marketed and sold to truckers are what we concluded to be cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk.
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In those days, technology was not as advanced as it is now, so the only options open to us -- to cook food in our truck -- were 12-volt appliances.
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One appliance that we felt would serve us well was a 12-volt "hot pot."
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Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off."
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So, they burned out quickly.
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The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days.
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Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of at the time, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units.
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I was very upset and I kept thinking, "You know, someone ought to do something about this."
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Oh, sure, there were occasional articles in trucking magazines that were geared toward helping truckers save money, but after searching for a long time, I found no resources that focused on this topic.
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I kept feeling the Lord directing me toward being a "trucker consumer advocate" to help keep truckers from being stung financially.
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So with Mike's consent, I spearheaded a website that we envisioned being a clearinghouse of how professional truck drivers from around the world save money -- in order to help each other save money.
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That website is:
<a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com.</a>
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I have been a professional truck driver and Mike's home support team member, both in-truck as a passenger and at home while he's been on the road as a solo trucker.
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With nearly 20 years of professional truck driving experience between us -- and my insatiable appetite to research and write in such a way that helps others -- our website has grown to well over a thousand pages.
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Every week since 2010, I have written multiple tips and inquiries in order to help truckers save money.
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And every week since 2017, I have written a weekly trucking commentary entitled TDMST Weekly Round-Up.
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<h3><strong>Tell us a short story about you. Any trivia? </strong></h3>
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My husband Mike and I had both earned college degrees before we became a professional truck driving team.
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After graduating from truck driver training school, we began orientation at a large trucking company.
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On the very first day of orientation, there were 5 prospective truck drivers in the class.
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We were told by the "Orientation Director" that in 45 days, 3 of the 5 of us would not be with the company!
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Ouch!
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I determined that with all of the time and money we had spent to get to that point, Mike and I were going to be the two who would succeed!
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And we did!
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<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>
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The most significant changes I've noticed in the trucking industry since the 1990s have been:
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<li>increasing regulations;</li>
<li>more advanced technology; </li>
<li>a desire among some cheapskates to want to replace human truckers with machines (so that they don't have to pay people to move freight); and</li>
<li>some truckers relying too much upon GPS units not geared for commercial motor vehicles -- and as a result, being involved in many completely preventable accidents, including:
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<ul>
<li>hitting low clearances,</li>
<li>collapsing bridges on non-truck routes, and</li>
<li>getting stuck in places where big trucks are not supposed to travel.</li>
</li>
</ul>
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<h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker before?</strong></h3>
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Originally, we thought that Mike would be the only trucker in our family.
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When we visited with a truck driver training school recruiter, he asked Mike if I was going to drive, too.
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The thought of me driving a big rig surprised me greatly, but the option was made available.
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With a great deal of prayer and consideration, it made sense to us that if we were going to be together on the road, both of us should know how to drive a truck.
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<h3><strong>Tell us a story about you and your husband and how you tackle the trucking industry?</strong></h3>
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The way that I have tackled the trucking industry is by publishing -- so that others can learn from -- the true accounts that:
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<li>we have had on the road and </li>
<li>which we have learned from others (including Mike's co-workers).</li>
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I ask a lot of questions, including on our website and through my TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentaries.
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From my unique perspective, I've also written numerous comments to the FMCSA about various types of proposed trucking regulations
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<h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3>
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I have a number of trucking "pet peeves," including:
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<li>people who make decisions affecting truckers who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers;</li>
<li>regulations that treat people like robots; </li>
<li>the push toward self-driving, driverless, and autonomous trucks; </li>
<li>truckers who haul illegal drugs and smuggle illegal aliens;</li>
<li>truckers who set themselves up for failure, such as by engaging in distracted driving and/or not maintaining proper following distance; and</li>
<li>truckers who blindly follow GPS units -- especially those that are not designed for commercial motor vehicles -- and end up in completely preventable accidents.</li>
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<h3><strong>What made you go into blogging?</strong></h3>
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I began <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> as a rant against cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk, the first of which was a series of 12-volt "hot pots."
<h2></h2>
Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off."
<h2></h2>
So, they burned out quickly.
<h2></h2>
The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days.
<h2></h2>
Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of when we started in trucking in the early 1990s, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units.
<h2></h2>
Since we started our website, we have grown it to well over a thousand pages, including:
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<li>a huge number of pages filled with information and truck drivers money saving tips, </li>
<li>lots of reviews, and </li>
<li>contributions from our readers. </li>
<h2></h2>
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<h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck model/brand?</strong></h3>
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The only brand of truck I've ever driven professionally has been Freightliner.
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Therefore, I have no other brand with which to compare the Freightliners I have driven or lived in.
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In general terms, I believe that trucks driven by regional or long-haul truckers should be equipped with enough space and conveniences so that each trucker can work, sleep, and live comfortably on the road.
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Concerning tractors with sleeper berths, I consider the following options to be critical for trucker well-being:
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<li>a minimum of 1500 watts AC (alternating current) interior power (to let truckers operate cooking appliances and use other electronic devices);</li>
<li>reliable, non-battery-dependent climate control for both cooling and heating (to let truckers rest and sleep comfortably); and</li>
<li>an in-truck toilet (whether portable or not).</li>
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<h3><strong>Could you identify the current pain points in the trucking industry? And maybe some suggestions on how to fix them?</strong></h3>
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As of late 2020, these are the current pain points I see in the trucking industry:
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<li>Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs);</li>
<li>the Hours of Service regulations; </li>
<li>problems with broker transparency; and</li>
<li>the fact that the U.S. federal agencies that are supposedly devoted to motor carrier "safety" and the "transportation" of goods in our country do not seem to be standing up for truckers as they face problems on the road.</li>
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Because the FMCSA is influenced by many people who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers, I believe a lot would change for the better if every agency employee was required -- every year -- to spend a minimum of one week with an experienced trucker, so that they can understand life from a trucker's perspective.
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<h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? </strong></h3>
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As of late 2020, I have in the works two books:
<li>one for aspiring truck drivers and</li>
<li>one for those who are already professional truckers.</li>
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<h3><strong>Did it ever cross your mind to be a CDL instructor?</strong></h3>
Yes, and to a certain extent, I consider that I am a CDL instructor because of the information that I provide on our website.
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<h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck stop? Also truck stop meal?</strong></h3>
Based on changes at both the corporate and management levels over the years, I will not name a specific truck stop as my favorite.
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Whether at a truck stop or other restaurant, Mike and I always enjoy a perfectly flavored and cooked steak, together with all of the side dishes.
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<h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers? Also some tips and things to look out for based on your recent experiences.</strong></h3>
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I will go into a lot more detail about tips for aspiring truckers in one of my upcoming books.
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However, the one big overview tip that I will give to prospective truckers -- because trucking is different from every other kind of job out there -- is to make absolutely sure you're cut out for the trucking lifestyle before you start down that path.
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For example, regional and long haul truckers are required to sleep away from home, usually in the truck they drive, wherever they park, during their sleeper berth break.
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<h4>Vicki Simons</h4>
<a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">http://Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a>
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