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For those who know Glen and Janice Rice or their story, here's the latest. Diane and I met them at the Hampshire, Illinois, TA yesterday. We were both in the area and they came by to show us their new truck. While Glen and Jan were both permanently injured in a terrible wreck in 2006 (follow...

Like Leo said, a million miles of safe driving is an achievement you can be proud of. Way to go!

When dispatch tells you no other truck is available, it may help to ask is it because no trucks actually are available or because everyone else has declined the load?

I'm not so sure about that. If you asked 100 expediters what their goals were, I think a strong majority of them would say things like "be happy" "keep busy" or some such thing. Far too many expediters are just wandering through the business, using their feelings to decide if they are doing...

After three runs back-to-back, laid over in the Chicago area, pre-dispatched to pick up freight Monday morning. June is off to a strong start.

Diane and I purchased fuel at the Jacksonville, Florida, TA (store number unknown) on May 29 and received a T-Chek discount of $0.272 per gallon. We purchased fuel at the same TA on May 30 and received a discount of $0.349 per gallon.

Please understand that I intend no disrespect or criticism when I invite you to think about the trade off you are making. It is a trade off gives you the worst of both worlds. Time out on the road takes you away from the kids. Time with the kids takes you out of the revenue stream. If it's about...

How many carriers remain that specialize in automotive freight? Many of the automotive plants that shut down were shut down forever. Entire automobile manufacturer divisions were eliminated, never to be seen again.

Keep in mind that 30 percent out of service is not all that bad in some carriers' eyes. FedEx Custom Critical sets 70 percent as the in-service minimum for Four Star award eligibility. If you are out of service 30 percent or less and meet the other Four Star criteria, you are a hero! For...

We belong to a couple of clubs. The only reason is for the discounts you can get on camp site space. We camp enough to make the membership fees worth the price. The discounts exceed the price of the wallet card.

Yes and yes. Diane and I routinely look for RV parks to stay at when the freight permits. A few higher-end parks prohibit CMVs but generally we are admitted with no trouble. Shore power is a necessity. Unless you are running an Onan or other super-quiet generator, loud generator use would get...

We received a fleet message on C-Link today saying the problem has been fixed.

Exactly right!

I've never understood all the ink that is spilled and bandwidth spent on these annual Roadcheck events. Every day is a Roadheck day as far as Diane and I are concerned. If you keep your truck in compliance, Roadcheck 2010 is just another couple of days on the road.

That goes to choosing your market and positioning yourself in it. Success in trucking includes configuring your equipment and yourself for the market you serve. There are many markets within expediting and more in the larger trucking industry. Just because trucker A cannot succeed in a...

I have come to believe that full-featured, TVAl, White Glove trucks are best viewed not by their component parts but as a package. We have a reefer but not every load we haul is a reefer load. We are TVAL qualified but not every load we haul is a TVAL load. We have a lift gate but not every...

Thank you, 14Wheeler. It would of course be nice to see the value of the property increase after purchasing it and I appreciate your good thoughts. But I would like readers to note the very important fact that Diane and I did not purchase this house as an investment or a home. We view the...

It's a good question to ask and your guess is as good as anyone's. One thing is clear. FedEx Ground, and presumably FedEx Corporation will make significant changes to prevent a union from getting a toe hold in the company.

The deal is done. Diane and I now own and maintain a 1,400 sq. ft., two bedroom, two bath, manufactured home in a gated community in Florida. The house is a vacation cottage to us, intended to provide a layover location when we are in the Southeast and a winter retreat when winter driving...

Ditto. If FedEx did not have a uniform, Diane and I would come up with a uniform of our own because a uniformed driver always looks more professional than a non-uniformed driver. Uniforms also have value in that they are work clothes designed with durability and ease of care in mind. FedEx...