Deep roots, support from TCA help this small carrier realize success in a tough market
Bar S Logistics is an 11-year-old carrier, but its roots go back 90 years or more. To borrow a Hollywood term, the company is a
Cliff Abbott
- About Cliff Abbott
- Cliff Abbott is an experienced commercial vehicle driver and owner-operator who still holds a CDL in his home state of Alabama. In nearly 40 years in trucking, he’s been an instructor and trainer and has managed safety and recruiting operations for several carriers. Having never lost his love of the road, Cliff has written a book and hundreds of songs and has been writing for The Trucker for more than a decade.
Posts by Cliff Abbott
March report: Sales of Class 8 trucks subdued but orders remained strong
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks remained weak in March even as orders for future delivery grew from last year. According to data received
Detour ahead? Route to funding truck parking may change but destination remains constant
Politics, like trucking, sometimes involves necessary detours and delays. And sometimes an alternate route turns out to be the best way to reach your destination.
Freight market shows signs of improvement, but still has ‘miles to go’
Turmoil in the Middle East continues to prop up diesel fuel prices in addition to causing some freight volume fluctuation. Even so, freight numbers are
Signing off: Trucking radio legend Dave Nemo reflects on a legacy of more than half a century
Before smartphones, Wi-Fi and podcasting, before cellphones and satellite radio, before in-cab satellite communication and pagers, and even before FM (frequency modulation) radio stations, the
Improvements to FMCSA’s DataQs system should clean up input, not just appeals process
“DataQs is the online system for motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, and other interested parties to request and track a review of Federal
What’s your cost per mile? Understanding the bottom line is key to surviving high fuel prices
If you own a working truck, you already know that the cost of diesel fuel is sky-high. If you haven’t seen it at the pump,
Trucking safety 101: Drugs and alcohol aren’t the only causes of impaired driving
“Don’t drive impaired.” While those words may seem like common-sense advice for operators of any vehicles, from bikes to Class 8 tractor-trailers, the truth is
The best offense is a good defense: Defensive driving is the best strategy in a trucker’s playbook
In football it’s sometimes said that the best offense is a good defense. The same can be said of navigating a tractor-trailer through traffic and
Rising fuel costs will likely offset February freight rate gains
While freight volumes and rates are still a topic of conversation, the spinning numbers on diesel fuel pumps are currently getting a lot of attention.
Sales of new Class 8 trucks slump in February even as orders surge
If there was a message that motor carriers directed to truck manufacturers in February, it was this: “We want to buy trucks … but not
SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 would allow autonomous manufacturers to self-certify their products
Questions abound about the eventual role autonomous trucks will play in the freight-hauling market. Concerns about cost, safety and productivity are often raised. Before autonomous
What’s your type? Different trailers present variety of opportunities for truck drivers
It’s not unusual for CDL drivers to change jobs. As newer drivers learn more about the industry, they start to eyeball the “greener grass” enjoyed
Stay alert: Spring can mean quickly changing weather and road conditions
Spring is just around the corner — the time of year that even those who love winter’s cold, snow and ice often look forward to.
ATA’s Bob Costello: Trucking industry prepares for a slow and steady supply-side recovery
While celebrating progress, most carriers wish recovery would happen more quickly. After one of the longest freight rate droughts in trucking history, attendees at the
TCA Professional Driver of the Year: Freymiller’s Toby Wallis ‘pays it forward’ by training drivers, counseling veterans
Helping new drivers get a great start in the trucking industry is just another way of paying it forward for Freymiller driver and 2025 TCA
More than alphabet soup: CDL endorsement can pave the way to exciting career opportunities
Your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is more than just a license to drive a truck: It’s a valuable commodity. It speaks volumes about your qualifications.
January truck sales plummet nearly 40% from December 2025
Trend reflects upturn from bottom of capacity cycle U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks plummeted in January to just 12,287, according to data received
Looking up: Freight market sees signs of long-awaited improvement
Trucking forecasters mostly agree that freight rates improved in January and are on an upward trajectory. There is still caution, however, that rate improvements will
Facing the wind: Gradual recovery meets constrained supply, adding to uncertainty in freight market
Truckload capacity is contracting, diesel fuel prices are low and freight rates are rising — all signs that point to better times for the trucking