The new and improved electronic us

TruckersConnection.com news is now available here, on TheTrucker.com.

By MEGAN CULLINGFORD
Truckers Connection

6/2/2008

Can you believe the world of Web sites has been among us for over a decade? Who’d have thought information would be so readily available at the touch of a fingertip? But who among us can agree we’ve forgotten how to survive without the Internet?

I’m constantly thinking about how I’d be accomplishing every day life if there were no Internet. I shudder to think of it. I live for e-mail — ask any of my friends, family or colleagues. I’m practically allergic to the phone.

When it comes to all the 4th grade homework I have to do — since, lets face it, my son’s teachers have to know that parents are doing a fair portion of these little “projects” they’re fond of assigning — I cannot fathom how much harder or more time consuming it’d all be if the Internet weren’t readily available. I mean, go to the library? How 20th century!

Along with schoolwork, I gather all my pertinent, need-to-know info online, as I’m sure you do. Weather, directions, cutting news, commentary … all online. So, if you’re like me, you will be thrilled to hear that Trucker’s Connection is now a member of the best Web site out there for folks just like you: professional truck drivers, owner-operators, small fleet owners and the families of all these fine folks.

This super site is called TheTrucker.com. We had our own site from many years ago — TruckersConnection.com (clever name, right?)—and I know that many of you dropped by from time to time to check out what we were doing. It allowed many a family member or ex-driver who couldn’t readily nab a hard copy issue to enjoy the various articles, columns and features that we included each month. It was a nice complement to our magazine, but it really didn’t provide to you all you could really use as a smart, educated, up to date, hip (that’s right: you’re HIP), informed driver.

So not long ago, we were able to partner with our sister publications to begin bringing you a Web site that is designed to be your one stop (Web)shop. And while TruckersConnection.com had a great ring to it — I thought — there was an even better name out there that describes simply and most accurately who we are working hard for: the trucker.

So take a minute and check out TheTrucker.com the next time you go online. It’s a superb homepage for the professional driver since it is updated multiple times throughout each day. Hear snippets of a big story that broke in the industry? We’ll have all the details because we feature all the top headlines. Need to some pertinent information on handling your finances? We’ve got you covered. What about the latest of the ever-escalating fuel prices? Got that too. And then there’s our job portal, which many of you are familiar with as TruckJobSeekers. Talk about an easy way to narrow your search to only the companies you might be interested in hauling for. We can do that for you.

And for you who need some entertainment and enlightenment, TheTrucker.com includes plenty: a joke of the day, a survey, a market place of trucking-related equipment and accessories, plus selected features and editorial from Trucker’s Connection and our sister trucking publications.

Along with all of that are the perks. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, not only can you get all the trucking fix you need in one place, we will also deliver plenty of perks for you. For starters — and my personal favorite — sign up to win the Nascar Perfect Weekend Giveaway at TheTrucker.com. One lucky duck will win an all-expense paid trip for two to Miami for the final race weekend of the season, thanks to our good friends at Barr-Nunn Transportation who are providing coveted access as sponsors of the #56 Chevrolet of Danny O’Quinn Jr. On the site, look far left, under the Features line up, last icon “NASCAR giveaway.” You could also win a monthly prize pack…

Another perk — love this too — free email. That’s right. Scrap those freebie e-mail addresses that don’t connect your name with America’s most important profession. Now you can be yourname@tmail.com, as in, Trucker Mail.

I could go on and on because I’m mighty proud of our Web site. It’s a big ol’ leap from the TruckersConnection.com that served us well for many years. Go log on, take a look, fill out the survey, educate yourself on the latest trucking news.