FMCSA’s ‘adverse conditions’ rule can be a valuable tool if used correctly
Everything’s going great — you’re even ahead of schedule, cruising along in moderate traffic, enjoying the day. Then it happens. Brake lights ahead indicate stopped
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
Those Who Deliver with Sharp Transportation
If you want to know if a carrier that claims to put drivers first really does so, take a look at their turnover rate. While
Looking to the Future: Automated tech already commonly used in passenger, freight vehicles
Throughout history, humans have adapted to new technology as it became available. In most cases, innovations involved refinements to familiar products — but every so
Private fleets have huge impact on trucking industry
COLUMBUS, Ind. — One segment of trucking that many don’t know much about is the private fleet category. Private fleets are those whose parent company’s
Better days ahead for carriers that survive freight cycle’s bottom
COLUMBUS, Ind. — When representatives of the trucking industry attend a conference entitled “Market Values,” you can be sure the topic of freight is on
Don’t expect self-driving trucks to take over the highways any time soon
COLUMBUS, Ind. — During the OUTLOOK 69, Market Vitals seminar, presented Aug. 22-24 by ACT Research, many attendees expected answers about autonomous trucks. When will
Regular inspection, maintenance can help improve tire performance
Tires are second only to fuel in annual expenses for motor carriers both large and small. With a new set of truck tires costing $2,500
Picking the right time to change jobs can be as important as finding the right carrier
The trucking industry is known for high driver turnover rates for a number of reasons. For one thing, many of the jobs are on the
Exploring EVs at ACT Research’s Market Vitals conference
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Electric vehicles (EVs) — trucks in particular — were on the minds of attendees at ACT Research’s 2023 Market Vitals conference, held
Recession possible but less likely than before, experts say at ACT Research conference
COLUMBUS, Ind. — It was a full day on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the 69th Market Vitals conference hosted by ACT Research. Presented at The
US Class 8 truck sales still strong despite losing steam in July
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks in July were higher than in the same month of 2022, according to information received from Wards Intelligence.
Planning, awareness can help drivers find safe truck parking
Every professional driver knows that the highway can be a dangerous place. From other motorists to construction, weather and other conditions, the list of possible
Preventing fatigue can help drivers and motor carriers improve safety ratings
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Ask anyone who’s been in trucking for more than five years if electronic logging devices (ELDs) have changed the industry, and
Efficient operation is key to surviving trucking downcycle
More carriers are leaving the marketplace while fewer are starting up, according to July data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. New carrier starts
Electric drive axle trailers add new dimension to carrier decarbonization choices
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The press coverage of brands of heavy-duty electric vehicles is enough to confuse anyone who is currently driving an old fashioned
Take care of your brakes year-round
If you’re like most drivers, you aren’t excited about this year’s Brake Safety Week (Aug. 20-26), which is hosted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
US sales of Class 8 trucks maintain healthy levels
The market for new Class 8 trucks in the U.S. continued to defy expectations in June, with manufacturers reporting sales of 24,085 units for the
Safety precautions are vital for truckers, both on the road and off
Every truck driver is concerned about safety. Most have had hours of training, both formal and informal, and know to remain alert and attentive when
Freight rates, volumes poised to rise as fears of recession fade
The bottom. That’s what trucking industry freight forecasters are claiming has been reached. The DAT Truckload Volume Index for June was titled “June signals that
FoRRRwD initiative seeks to reduce number of crashes on two-lane roads
You might have noticed a few changes taking place on some of the roadways you’ve traveled. Maybe you’ve encountered a roundabout where there was once