Mack Trucks - The Bulldog Is Back And Stronger Than Ever

When your sights laser in on a pugnacious little bulldog blazing down the street, what is the first thought that crosses your mind? Well, if you are semi truck driver, you will leap and yell 'Hey! That's Mack!' Bull Dog is a trademark of Mack Trucks Inc, an old horse in the trucking world. Mack Trucks Inc is known for building heavy-duty trucks that are capable of enduring a punishing terrain and the vagaries of nature.

The journey of Mack Trucks began in 1893 when the Mack brothers, Jack and Augustus, bought over Fallesen & Berry factory. Soon, the Macks started experimenting with various steam and electric motor cars. Inspired by the inventions taking place all around him, Jack envisioned the building of heavy -duty trucks and thus began an eventful journey. The first product from the house of Macks was a bus, which was used by sightseeing concessionaire Harris and McGuire, for eight years before it was converted into a truck. The success of this bus egged the Mack brothers to continue with truck development. However, old Mack trucks were known as 'Manhattan Trucks' as the brothers had sought a different name to distinguish the trucks from their other business, viz. their horse-drawn carriages.

In the early 1900s, Mack Trucks became famous as ever-reliable trucks that could easily endure rugged terrains. Soon enough, the brothers engaged in adding new features that would enhance the safety and comfort aspect of the driver. For instance, Mack Truck Inc. were the first truck manufacturers to introduce a constant mesh feature that protected gears from being damaged or stripped by inexperienced drivers.

In 1919, Manhattan Trucks was re-christened as 'Mack'. Later, in 1922, it adopted bulldog as its corporate logo. As to how a bulldog was chosen as, a symbol of Mack Truck Inc. is an interesting story in itself. Lore at Mack Truck Inc. say that during the First World War, the British government had chosen the sturdy Mack trucks for transporting important war supplies and food requirements to the soldiers on the front. These Mack trucks, with their blunt-nosed hood, resembled a bulldog. Besides, the Mack trucks were proving as tenacious as bulldogs. These qualities reminded the British soldiers of their official mascot the 'British Bulldog'. In fact, when faced with a truck problem, the soldier would often say, "Aye, send in the Mack Bulldogs!" Now, Mack Truck Inc. viewed this as a matter of pride and hence they adopted the bulldog as a corporate symbol to represent all the future generation of Mack trucks.

Since then, Mack trucks have undertaken important missions of national and international importance. For instance, they played an important in the trans-continental convoy conducted by the US Army, which highlighted the need for a national highway system. Similarly, Mack Truck Inc. played a major role in the building of the Boulder dam. It also played an important role in the Second World War. Mack trucks found themselves adorning the role of prime movers, personnel carriers, wrecker trucks, tank transporters, and more.

Thus, Mack trucks had played an important role in the American history and are now serving the needs of a modernized world.

Truck Paper - Much More Than Just A Semi Trucks For Sale Newspaper

J

im is a semi-truck driver on his way to Seattle and wants to check out the weather conditions. Instead of his trusted print version of Truck Paper, he goes to truckpaper, and then lands on to the web page of Seattle Met Traffic Flow.

Tom is a semi-truck owner who wants to locate semi-truck dealers situated in Nebraska. He types in truckpaper into Google search and viola! The names of 40 semi-truck dealers get displayed.

When you are involved with trucks, you gotta have information on the tip of your fingers. For years, the Truck Paper newsprint edition has been a trusted friend for many a working owner operator. Usually found at most major truck stops, it is the preferred owner operator companion at the local diner.

Many of the owner operators I have interviewed indicated that they had no idea how many tools and resources were available at truckpaper. What I found was that most diehard truck paper newsprint loyalists rarely use the internet version of Truck Paper.

The truck paper can prove to be much more than just semi trucks for sale. Truckpaper is one efficient pit stop providing information on a multitude of owner operator topics.

The truckpaper.com website makes it incredibly easy to shop for your next semi truck. Their search features allow you to compare pricing and features that provide a more focused approach to getting the most semi truck for your money. Whether your interest lays in the legendary Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks or the Japanese Isuzu or may be the world renowned Scania, you just have to browse through the Truck Manufacturers section.

If you are interested in purchasing a semi-truck, then chances are you may also be in need of financing. Truckpaper.com provides various institutions that are interested in financing your purchase. Whether you are purchasing a new truck or used equipment, various institutions are waiting for turning your dream into a reality.

Now that you have purchased a semi-truck, you might be looking out for a driver. Or may be you are interested in becoming an owner operator. Whatever your needs, you can visit the 'Industry Jobs' section and view the jobs listed or post your own requirements. You can also look at the 'View Job Wanted Listings' and 'Post Job Wanted Listings'.

If you are purchasing a newer semi truck for yourself, you might want to sell your old truck. Well, in that case, you need not look beyond truckpaper.com. There are no charges for listing your entry into 'For Sale Listing'. Similarly, you can also check out the ' Want-to Buy' section and locate a prospective buyer for your used truck.

As you have commissioned your new truck into service, you might want to protect it. Truckpaper.com lists out the website addresses of various insurance companies. It also gives the website addresses of various meteorological departments located in the USA. This ensures that your truck and the driver does not run into rough weather and even if it does, you have someone to compensate for your losses.

Sometimes, your semi-truck might get stolen. So, in such cases, apart from registering it with the police, you can also post the information about the stolen truck on truckpaper.com and who know a fellow trucker might help you to locate your truck.

Truckpaper also hosts information on various topics such as provider of various parts, truck services and accessories, driving schools, periodical and publications useful for members of the trucking fraternity, information on various trucking shows and expos, truck auctions etc.

So, if you are a novice in the world of trucks or a veteran member truckpaper.com will surely satisfy all your needs.

Big Trucks

Big trucks are the heaviest trucks allowed on roads, and are generally used for long-distance journeys. A truck is a motor vehicle for transporting goods. The word "truck" comes from the Greek "trochos" that means a "wheel."

Road damage increases very quickly with axle weight or truck weight divided by the number of axles. In many countries with good quality roads, a 6-axle truck is permitted to have a maximum weight of 50,000 kg.

Big trucks are a major source of smog (smoke + fog), of poisonous chemical contamination, and of fine particle soot. The federal government rates any automobile above 8500 pounds as a "heavy-duty" truck, and that includes large pickup trucks and many other types. Big trucks are legally permitted to emit as much pollution as a dozen of cars, but in reality, many big trucks produce as much pollution as 150 cars.

Urban areas suffer the most because of big trucks and buses. In case of an accident, big trucks, because of their size, can cause the worst damage to occupants in a car. Hence, it is natural that many drivers are frightened when they must share a road with big trucks. According to AAA (American Automobile Association), people in passenger cars comprise 98% of deaths in deadly two-vehicle crashes involving a car and a truck weighing over 10,000 pounds.
Big trucks produce air turbulence that can suck another vehicle towards them or push it out. This means that a vehicle needs to have sufficiently large space alongside between a truck and itself.

In spite of all these issues, it is important to note that truck drivers are trained. Statistically their safety record is satisfactory and is getting better. According to the Ontario Trucking Association website, truck drivers of commercial trucks are the safest drivers and motor vehicles on roads. Actually, trucks are involved in 20% fewer accidents at present than they were 10 years ago.

What Type of Truck Rim Is Best for You?

Trucks are commonly used for business such as hauling from simple merchandise such as vegetables and even as for huge hauling such as chemicals for big companies. The performance of your truck is thus necessary.

One of those important parts that need to work well is the truck rim. The truck wheel and the truck rim will need to work hand in hand to ensure that the truck will keep its grip on the road. This will avoid accidents even on extremely bad weather condition.

What are the types of truck rim?

o Stainless steel rims, this is one of the good types of truck rim because it will not rust and have the strength twice as much of the chrome type.

o Chrome rims are pretty but they are only useful for lighter vehicles.

o Radial rims.

What is the best truck rim?

Your truck rim needs to hold the wheel better so that your truck will perform at it peak. Thus, proper choice of truck rim and truck tire will provide a good grip on the road that will avoid accidents.

o Choose truck rims that are built by the same manufacturer of your truck. If this truck rim still does not perform as you desire, you may check out various types of rims such as custom rims, which are designed specifically for certain performances including heavy equipment loads.

o Chrome rims may also be good but if you are driving a heavy truck then chrome rims may not be good because it is a bit less strong than stainless rims.

o The rim bolts may also need to fit your truck well, the truck wheel and the rim will need to work hand in hand, thus ensuring their fitment is necessary.

Installing your truck rim

The truck rims and the truck tires are necessary to perform well together, installing it yourself may not be good if you do not have enough experience in doing it.

Ask the mechanic of the tire dealer to install it for you to ensure that the truck wheel and rim will match and fit well together.

Proper fit is necessary, it is therefore recommended that if you do not have enough understanding of the fitment especially for important truck parts such as truck rims and truck tires, do not try to do it yourself.

Your truck needs to perform well especially in hauling your merchandise to ensure that your truck will perform well including the intrinsic parts such as the truck rims and truck wheel.

Finally, with a well functioning and well fitting truck parts, the next thing you will need to worry about is how you are going to drive it well. Avoid sleepy driving, this have led to about 60% of highway accidents in the UK. You will therefore need to rest well to keep your concentration while driving.

With a properly functioning vehicle and a well rested body, your truck may then ensure a prosperous business using your big buddy.

Semi Truck Accessories - 5 Trick My Truck Accessory Tips for Truckers!

Last fall, CMT (Country Music Television) introduced a six 6 show pilot called "Trick My Truck". It is a new reality show featuring a deserving trucker and his 18-wheeler in each episode. The show is a theme similar to "pimpmyride" and "overhaulin", where old vehicles are restored except the target vehicles are semi trucks. A crew of experts searches the truck stops of America looking for run-down trucks whose owners are in need of a break. With the secret help of family members, the owner operator's big rig is "hijacked", and completely revamped with all the latest and greatest features and equipment.

How to trick your truck is 5 easy steps! When truckers leave home for the road, there focus is usually on everything but finding semi truck chrome accessories for their truck. However, something may spark them to call us on a whim and ask: "where can I find semi truck accessories to trick my truck?" Here are some tips to find the big rig accessories you need.

Have the last 8 digits of your VIN available Unlike light truck accessories, semi truck accessories are manufacturered specifically for a truck, such as Peterbilt accessories or Kenworth accessories. Or, semi truck accessory manufacturers also produce universal accessories. Universal accessories are designed to be used on all makes and models of trucks. If you have the VIN available, a good semi truck accessory distributor can look up your truck and see specific manufacturer diagrams to determine if accessories are specifically made for your vehicle. For example, if you're looking for Peterbilt chrome or Freightliner accessories, they are easier to locate with a VIN.

A picture says a thousand words It makes it much easier for a semi truck accessory supplier to find accessories for your truck if they have a quality photo to work with when they communicate with semi truck accessory manufacturers. In almost all cases, an experienced semi truck accessory distributor can locate specific parts with a broadcast email to many semi truck accessory manufacturers.

Save the rainforest. Get comfortable using online catalogs! As any expereinced semi truck accessory distributor will tell you, 15-20 requests for paper catalogs are received each day. Printing costs and paper are extremely expensive so semi truck accesory manufacturers usually produce every two years. Paper catalogs also significantly impact the cost structure of big rig accessories. Online catalogs are the best to locate your semi truck accessories because most manufacturers keep their websites current with the latest additions to their product lines. For example, Rockwood products has several new 2006 model Peterbilt accessories that you can only see on their website, or a special flyer distributed through their dealers.

Let your cell phone do your shopping Find a supplier willing to become your chrome guy that has the knowledge and expertise to find what you need. Call them with your VIN, tell them what you want, and let them do their job. We receive many calls each day from truckers looking to trick their truck with the newest semi truck accessories. The conversation always begins with " where can I find this accessory"! Let the supplier find what you need and the entire transaction can take place over the phone!

Older trucks need love too! At least two to three times a day someone calls with an older truck application. They are usually frustrated because they haven't found any chrome for their truck. Ask your supplier if a custom quote is available for the accessory you want. this is not an unusual request. Semi truck manufacturers have the tooling in place to make almost any customized semi truck accessory you request.

From roof to fender to grill to cab, you can find all the accessories you need that will have your truck reflecting your independent and freewheeling spirit. Using the tips we discussed, you shouldn't have any problem dressing up your truck with trickmytruck semi truck accessories.

White Trucks and White Motor Company - A Wild and Wacky Ride

History of White Trucks

White Trucks, also known as White Motor Company, was founded in 1900 by Thomas H. White. Thomas was also the founder of the White Sewing Machine company. Two years prior to that White had bought a Locomobile steam car and his son, Rollin, worked to improve its design and makeup. Rollin then patented this new version and offered it back to Locomobile.

White Trucks Builds First Vehicles

Rollin then managed to get his father to let him build a steam car using the redesigned motor in a car in a corner of the sewing machine company. His brother, Windsor, joined in the venture and they managed to put together 50 cars by October 1900 and after testing, they were offered for sale to the general public in April 1901.

At this time, White Motor Company was still a part of the White Sewing Machine Company, but they separated in 1905 to form its own company. One of its first notable historic moments was the building of a steam car known as Whistling Billy, which Web Jay drove on July 4, 1905 at a then record speed of nearly 74 miles per hour.

In 1909, one of White's cars was chosen by William Howard Taft as the first official president's car, which got the White Motor Company lots of positive publicity.

The last of these steam powered cars came in January 1911 when White Motor Company changed to making gas powered vehicles.

White Motor Company Gas Vehicles

Even though the White steamer car was considered to be a good vehicle, the standard being accepted at the time was the combustion engine, which used gas to power it. White knew this, so he licensed rights to the Delahaye style of gas powered cars. Delahaye was a car producer at the time.

Tractors Join the Vehicles at White Motor Company

At this time, Rollin White was getting interested in making tractors and created them from White Motor Company truck parts. The main company, however, didn't share Rollin's enthusiasm for tractors, so he created his own company called Cleveland Motor Plow, and that turned into Cletrac Tractor later on.

White Motor Company Buses

During the 30s, White Motor Company made buses to take people through the National Parks in the U.S. and they ran in seven of the National Parks in the western U.S. Some of these early White buses have even been restored and still are in operation at the parks.

White Begins Making Trucks

White Motor Company stopped making cars right after World War I and started making trucks. At that time they sold about 10 percent of all the trucks in the U.S. White made several sizes of trucks, including light all the way to semi trucks. They were a strong company, and managed to add several other truck companies to their holdings throughout the next few years, including Sterling, Autocar, Diamond T, and REO. They also sold Consolidated Freightways trucks, but didn't own them outright.

Notable Historic Events for White Trucks

Throughout its history, White Trucks has had several notable events occur since it began making trucks. These include:

In 1932 White Trucks briefly merged with Studebaker due to low sales during the Depression, but two years later, they reorganized and became the White Motor Corporation.

In 1949, one of White Trucks semi trucks appeared in the James Cagney movie White Heat.

In 1967, White Trucks formed a Western Star section and it sold trucks in the western part of the U.S.

In 1953, White purchased the Autocar Company, and from then until the 1970s they distributed trucks from Freightliner, but still were making trucks under their own company name. Their sales went down in the 1960s and they briefly tried to merge with their old sewing machine company but that move was disallowed by the federal government.

They also considered mergers with other companies around this time, such as Daimler and Renault. However, ultimately it was Volvo AV that got White Truck's U.S. assets in 1981 after White went bankrupt in 1980 and lost $311 million.

It's assets in Canada were bought by Bow Valley Resources Services and NovaCorp. White officially went out of business by 1985 under its own power, but Volvo kept the White brand name until sometime in the 1990s.

White Trucks Under Volvo Brand

During the 1980s, White Trucks made trucks under the White name and Autocar even though Volvo owned them, so it was known as Volvo-White. Volvo later bought out the heavy trucking owned by GMC in 1987 and merged it with White Trucks, thus forming a brand called White-GMC. Later, Volvo stopped using the White brand name and was just known as Volvo Trucks.

During the 1980s, under Volvo, they created improved styles of trucks, including the Integral Sleeper in 1982, which was a long distance vehicle; the Conventional in 1983, which had been upgraded; as well as the Autocar DS in 1984, the Integral Tall Sleeper truck in 1985 (known as the Globetrotter of America); the Aero in 1987; a construction style truck called the Autocar that had an integrated driveline, also in 1987. By 1996 Volvo was no longer using the White brand name and was known as Volvo-Autocar.

As you can see, over the years the White Motor Company and White Trucks changed hands and names several times during its history. Although somewhat of tumultuous road it is White trucks that helped to make many valuable changes and improvements in the trucking industry that will continue to be felt today.

Cross-Country in a Semi-Truck

Desperate times require desperate actions. It was a desperate act. I desperately needed a job or a story to sell.

Basically, I needed money and something to do. I was still searching for a second career and running out of options.

It was a Sunday morning and I had a bus pass, but nowhere to go. I was trying to "think outside the box" in hopes that I could find a second career with the skills some human resource specialist always tells me are "transferrable," but never knows any company that is hiring someone with over 20 years' experience in a different industry. I was frustrated, tired, irritated and just plain bored.

I had to do something, even if it was wrong. I had always done all the right things throughout my life, but even a stupid person knows that you can't keep doing the same things over and over and expect different results.

Looking for a job was not getting me a job. The odds were against me. There are too many unemployed people with good skills, education, and plenty of experience and, still, too few jobs to spread around. I thought if I could ride along in the second seat of a semi-truck, it would give me an opportunity to really learn what the job was about before I invested time and money into getting my Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and searching for a company willing to pay an over 40 year-old woman to drive for them. I would still have to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical test also. I worried that age might be a barrier too. With so much to worry about, I was finding it difficult to prioritize what to worry about most.

So, with this in mind, I went to a local truck stop to interview some of the drivers. I was considering driving a semi-truck as a potential second career because my dad had been an over-the-road truck driver when I was young.

Once, during summer break from high school, my dad let me "ride along" with him when he was driving locally. Then, a few years later, he taught me some simple maneuvers like how to drive the tractor around a warehouse parking lot and dock the trailer so the warehouse men could unload it. That was how I had spent one Saturday afternoon.

So, on this particular Sunday afternoon, I rode the bus to the nearest truck stop in Denver. I stood out back and watched. I watched as the truck drivers carried their luggage and shower kit from their semi-truck through the back door reserved for "professional drivers" on their way to the 24-hour restaurant, the coin-operated laundry room or to purchase a $12-ticket for a private shower.

I watched as the drivers fueled their trucks. I watched them drive through the parking lot and back their big rig in a slot. A truck driver is judged, not by how fast he can drive on an interstate, but how smoothly he can back his trailer between two trucks. I watched the other drivers watch the other drivers.

Mostly, I was surprised by how many female drivers I saw climb out of the truck. I was encouraged to see them climb out of the driver's seat. I spoke to a few of the women as they headed towards the back door. I asked them questions about their jobs and the lifestyle that came with it.

Most of the women I spoke with were over-the-road (OTR) drivers which meant they drove long-distances, cross-country and, therefore, weren't home often. All of them were single; many of them traveled with a dog for companionship. One of the women traveled with a dog and two cats in her truck. She was an independent driver with her own truck. She drove "solo," she said, and preferred her animals to humans as companions. She had been driving for years and wouldn't go back to office work for love of money. That's pretty much what they all said.

As I stood and watched the truckers fuel their tractors, inspect their trailers and look for a parking spot for the night, I tried to imagine what it might be like being a professional semi-truck driver. I was hopeful that my limited understanding about the basics of semi-trucks and the trucking industry might give me an insight into a new industry where there might be a job available for an over 40 year-old, white female, with no children and no need to return to a home base to visit family or friends. This was my hope anyway.

I thought I might have discovered a new road to employment. I was expecting a new job which would allow me to work independently from the comforts of a semi-truck with a combination trailer complete with surround-sound stereo, a portable 24-inch flat-screen satellite television, a mid-sized refrigerator, a microwave and, of course, a full-size sleeper. What more could a girl want? There was even an on-board Global Positioning System (GPS) to help me map my way across the United States. With one touch, on the 7-inch touch-screen, I could locate the nearest rest stop, truck stop or my final destination.

The job was starting to sound ideal - especially considering my current situation.

It was a job that would allow me to see the countryside without having to pay for an airplane ticket or a Greyhound bus ticket. It was a job where I could eat, sleep and work in one vehicle. I could travel the country, with a paycheck in one hand and a steering wheel in the other. I wouldn't even have to go home to visit friends and family because after being unemployed for so long - I didn't have anything better to do. I could work day and night and pack my savings account with cash.

I closed my eyes as I tried to envision myself sitting in the driver's seat, enjoying the scenery, while listening to my favorite music as I traveled the countryside from one state to the other. I had noticed some of the newer models that one man called a "condo cab." He said they are called condo cabs because they are large and have almost as many amenities as a recreational vehicle. Some of the men told me that some of these interiors are custom designed and, of course, are really fine. I didn't get to see the inside of one though. I did speak with one female driver, however, who called her standard-size sleeper a "bedroom suite" because she liked it so much. She admitted to having it "out-fitted" in pink with goose-down pillows, a goose-down comforter, floor rugs and curtains to match.

The thought of driving a semi-truck with the interior decorated in pink was appealing to me. I was starting to get caught up in the decorating while trying to think about the actual job of driving. It was starting to work for me. I could combine my desire for the comforts of home with the need to earn a paycheck and I wouldn't even have to give up my laptop computer.

I also didn't anticipate any problems learning how to use the on-board, Global Positioning System (GPS). The on-board email system shouldn't present any major problems either. Half of my problems were solved. I just had to learn how to drive a semi-truck and, of course, get a license to do so. The thought of transporting about 80,000 pounds of cargo in an aluminum trailer during rain, hail, sleet and snow rarely occurred to me. I could drive by day and write by night. I thought this might be the perfect solution. I could solve two problems with one job. I could earn a paycheck by day and use my computer at night to freelance my writing career. The secret is in the decorating.

In addition to decorating my tractor-trailer combination vehicle in calm, soothing colors, I could have my name painted on the side and look really cool. Most of the tractors can be identified by the writing on the driver's door which identifies the owner or operator of each vehicle. Many drivers will have their name printed on the driver's door. Other drivers paint a favorite expression or scripture which usually complements the custom paint job. All vehicles are required to have custom numbers; however, these are supplied by DOT. It seems the Department of Transportation (DOT) insists on it. These numbers are always printed in black. I guess this is a regulation or something. But, that's okay, black goes with everything. It never clashes. Besides, it will make the big, black tires more noticeable and provide a more "grounded" look to the vehicle.

The newly designed, aerodynamic "scoop hood" and "scoop roof" are really cool too. Salesmen will tell you that they help the air flow over the tractor and trailer and, therefore, reduce wind drag and improve fuel mileage. I think they just did it because it looks cool and gives more head room inside the cab.

More headroom allows the trucker to actually stand inside the cab. More headroom also provides a nice open feeling to any space; which appealed to me and my sense of the outdoors. The additional space also allows the trucker to more easily open and close the refrigerator door while he watches satellite television on his new, 24-inch flat screen television, with a built-in DVD player.

Most truckers reported that they especially like the remote control which allows them to change television stations while sitting on the sleeper. This allows them to remain seated and, therefore, not have to stand or move to change the channel or insert a new disc.

The refrigerator is typically located next to the sleeper, which is also convenient. This allows the driver to open the refrigerator to grab a drink or a snack without getting up. Only a man would think to engineer the cab of a truck this way. Men live in their trucks the same way they live at home; food in one hand and the television remote in the other.

The Automated Power Unit (APU) was also considered by most truck drivers to be a popular feature. It is responsible for making all of these appliances and comforts works so easily in a semi-truck. The APU provides power to the refrigerator, microwave, lights and other electrical type things that make living in a truck more pleasurable. All of the truckers wanted an APU. The APU makes luxury happen.

The dashboard inside a semi-truck is cool too. It has a gauge for everything. The inside of these trucks look like the inside of an airplane. They have enough gauges to monitor almost everything on the truck or trailer. They have gauges to monitor fuel levels, oil levels, manifold pressure and even the gross weight of the cargo in the trailer.

State patrol inspectors are also fond of the weight gauges also. They especially like the weight gauges that they can monitor while sitting inside the "shack" at the port of entry. The state patrol can now monitor a semi-truck's front and rear axle weight "in-motion" as it passes the port-of-entry. Even the port-of-entry is automated these days. The highway department put scales underneath sections of the interstate which allows the state patrol to check the weight of the cargo as the semi-truck travels past the weight station. The truck drivers no longer have to stop at every port-of-entry when entering a new state; instead, they can just drive-by while the state patrol monitors the weight on a computer screen. If the cargo weight is too heavy, according to Federal regulations, the state patrol still gets to get in their cars, turn on a siren and chase the truck driver to give him a ticket. Some things haven't changed. The truckers watch the state patrol and the state patrol watches the truckers.

While riding in a semi-truck, I learned a lot about the trucking industry. I learned so much that I decided to get my CDL license so that I, too, could haul cargo across the country. It is a difficult job, but does have the primary benefit of not having a boss inside the cab. Having a boss inside the cab is similar to having a back-seat driver who wants to tell you how to drive. This is the benefit that promotes many truck drivers into becoming truck drivers. They get to control the truck, their routes and, if they deliver on-time, they get paid to drive. They also get to choose which radio station they prefer to listen to while they travel the countryside. It is important when choosing a trucker to ride with, that you choose someone with similar taste in music. This is very important.

I rode with one trucker for over two months and, according to his log, we logged over 10,000 miles in his semi-truck. I think I criss-crossed the United States five times during these two months. I enjoyed it.