A common conversation topic among drivers, and other like-minded professionals, is the idea of no longer driving for someone else, but rather following their dream of becoming an independent contractor and thus one's own boss. So, how does one go from career steering wheel jockey to being head honcho? Let's consider the ways. How It Starts Most folks begin their working lives in a low-key job. Maybe it's as a server in a sit-down restaurant, or as an order taker in a fast-foo...

Making the decision to lease your truck on with a company that will help provide the freight needed to turn a profit can certainly be quite an undertaking. How do you know you're making the right choice when deciding who provides you with the best opportunities? Perhaps the most important question you should be asking yourself is, what is best for me and my situation? The following considerations should be made as you begin the process of choosing the right carrier. Know Your...

Expedite freight has been classified as time sensitive material, which is certainly true from a purely logistical standpoint. However, to think of it in terms a lifelong long hauler might need to have it explained is a little more complicated than that. The Driver's Perspective Hurry up and wait. This phrase is perhaps the best way to describe the nature of the load that awaits the driver who's anxious to keep their wheels turning. The prevailing mentality has always been tha...

We're six episodes deep into the "State of the Industry Podcast, with John Elliott" and the seventh installment has already been spruced up and distributed like a good Spring-cleaning, effort as we March onward into the 2023 calendar. So, lay that feather duster down and prepare for the next episode! Hopefully, there are many of you who have been regularly tuning in and making this podcast part of your listening, or viewing, routine. If not, why?! Obviously, John and I want y...

Using your downtime effectively is an important key to both managing and maximizing your ability to stay ready when that next load offer comes from your favorite dispatcher. Like most of us, it's probably very easy to slip into an old habit or routine that can be time-killing and counterproductive. So, here are some suggestions of what can be done with your time as you prepare for your next trip. A Clean Truck is a Happy Truck Clean freaks of the trucking world unite! It's so...

When starting in a new job, many folks take just want to learn and focus on the role they were hired for. If they're hired to just answer phones, then they'd make sure to learn just that role. That's it. If they're brought into a company to simply process paperwork, or maybe they're a sales or tech specialist, then that's what they do. Focus on the task at hand. But some folks out there excel at more than just one thing, which makes them more indispensable than those who are ...

In transportation, honesty is a door that swings both ways. Not only do drivers seeking employment expect a straight-up recruiter to give them the scoop on what to anticipate with a potential company. But to be fair, there is a certain level of honesty and forthright-ness that recruiters require out of potential driver candidates as well. And if we're all being honest here, both sides could learn a thing or two from the other. Don't Tell Me What I Want To Hear A recruiter tel...

It was in August of 2022 when Ellen Voie informed Expediters Online that she would be stepping down as president and CEO of Women In Trucking, and the time to name her successor has come. Welcome, Jennifer Hedrick Recently, The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, as the incoming president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the association. She will work closely with WIT's board of directors and staff to oversee initiatives that support WIT's...

As this year wraps up my 15th in the trucking industry, I'd like to take a few moments to pause and reflect on how the years may seem to endlessly advance but the base formula for expedited gift shopping and giving remains unchanged. In my first four years in trucking, specifically in the world of expedite, it was evident that the recruiting side of things typically came to a slowdown as the ramp-up to Christmas built to a heightened crescendo. But while recruiting drivers an...

A major concern for truckers is time that's being wasted as they forage for a spot to rest their truck, trailer, and self. Load One CEO and current TCA (Truckload Carriers Association) chairman, John Elliott, has been an integral voice speaking on behalf of the beleaguered trucker. John says, "You look at driver satisfaction and safety, the average driver wastes about an hour just looking for a parking spot." He adds, "You could be the CEO of a company making big money, and i...