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
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
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
Highways are not Republican or Democrat: Infrastructure should be a bipartisan project
TCA and its members work to ensure truckload priorities are included in bill September 30, the end of the U.S. government’s fiscal year 2026, looms
Effort to curtail issuance of CDLs to non-domiciled drivers is part of a larger battle over immigration policy
It was never meant to get this way. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 laid out the rules for issue of a commercial
A business plan is the essential first step in starting a trucking business
So, you’re ready to buy a truck and strike out on your own. No more company dispatchers or corporate red tape! You’ll book your own
Tailgating is more than just a nuisance: Proper following distance is a trucker’s best protection against accidents
One of the biggest benefits of autonomous vehicle systems is that they tend to do what they’re programmed to do. In contrast, you can teach
Jobs that pay by 1099 come with increased responsibility for benefits and taxes
It’s a tempting offer. A “job,” but it’ll be paid on a 1099. You’ll be an “Independent Contractor” but you’ll be driving their truck. The
2025 ends with surge of new Class 8 truck sales — but not enough to offset declines
It’s no surprise that U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks were higher in December than November. That’s something that happens every year. What IS
Mixed economic data points to slow freight market growth into 2026
The size of the nation’s trucking fleet has continued to shrink, decreasing the capacity “supply” available to haul the available economic demand — but will
Moving over to Motus: FMCSA says new registration system will streamline process
There’s a new registration system coming from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). We’re talking about carrier registration — as in the process of
Owner-ops: Knowing your cost per mile is business basics
Making a living in the trucking industry is currently a tough go. Costs are high, rates are low and predicting what comes next is a
Truck inspections: Who decides the criteria needed for safe operation of CMVs?
Pop quiz: What’s the legal requirement for tread depth on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) tires in the U.S.? If you ask this question of just
Adoption of autonomous Class 8 trucks will be a gradual evolution, not a sudden change
On Dec. 11, 2025, we published a story about autonomous trucks: “Autonomous trucks are here and ready to work. Is the industry ready?” The piece
Looking for a new truck driving job? Know your rights under the FCRA
The word “credit” in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) suggests the law applies to applications for loans and credit cards, which it does. However,