Drivers beware: Be on alert for potential hazards on the highway
Hey truck drivers! What’s going on in the space on your left? On your right? Directly behind your vehicle? What about above? Will your truck
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
Don’t slam the door on the way out: How you leave employment is as important as how you start
Everyone knows that how you start a new trucking job is important. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first
Meet the truck driving preacher: Bill Blackmon ministers to drivers across the nation
Drivers use a variety of methods to help them choose which road to take: Routing software is often built in, or added on, to fleet
July saw Class 8 truck sales at a ‘snail’s pace’; new orders even slower
As far as truck sales go, June was a decent month. In June 2025, more new Class 8 trucks were sold in the U.S. than
Changing times: Is it time to rethink your recruiting strategies?
The demographics of the 3.58 million drivers crucial to the trucking industry is evolving. That’s the conclusion of the July report from the American Transportation
July sees continuation of stagnant freight volumes and rates
When inflation rises without a corresponding increase in the gross domestic product (GDP), economists use the term “stagflation.” The term could also be used to
Check the facts: Regulatory enforcement changes abound in trucking but flip-flops remain legal — for now
The headlines of late have been filled with news of crackdowns on regulations for commercial drivers, specifically truckers, by the Department of Transportation (DOT). One
State of freight: Analysts say trucking conditions to improve slowly, if at all
Tariffs dominated the topics discussed in the “State of Freight: Key Issues in Transportation” webinar hosted in July by FTR Transportation Intelligence. Jonathan Starks, CEO
Breaking the language barrier: Changing regulations mean testing and documentation for carriers
Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, is convinced that English language proficiency (ELP) for commercial vehicle drivers is a matter of safety. “Americans are a lot
Tips for owner-ops: A factor can help keep the cash flowing while you concentrate on trucking
So, you decided to take the plunge and start your own trucking business as an owner-operator. You’ve done all the homework, obtained your authority and
Summer roads, sudden risks: How truckers can stay weather-ready
It’s mid-summer and the weather, in most parts of the North American continent, is predictably sunny and hot. That is why it is vital that
Driver tips: Maximize your take home pay by minimizing advances, transaction fees
Everyone appreciates receiving a paycheck at the end of the pay period. Of course, many of us must deal with various deductions subtracted from the
It’s time to rethink your recruiting strategies: Today’s truck drivers are younger and more ethnically diverse
The demographics of the 3.58 million drivers crucial to the trucking industry is evolving. That’s the conclusion of the July report from the American Transportation
Buying before the storm: Class 8 truck shoppers anticipate higher equipment costs
U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks in June topped 20,000 for the first time in 2025, according to data received from Omdia (formerly Wards
June 2025 freight volumes and rates still impacted by overcapacity and tariffs
Hopes for a turnaround in the trucking industry were dashed in June, as the long-awaited rebalancing between freight demand and truck capacity remained stubbornly out
DOT, FMCSA plan to improve working conditions for drivers
“We’re not done yet.” That was the message of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on June 27 when he announced several initiatives his Department
Owning the Wheel: Knowing cost and revenue per mile and utilization percentage helps drive profits
To many truck owners, “utilization” is almost a foreign word. Yet it’s a word that’s heard often in management meetings at well-run carriers. It often
Mindful driving: What truckers should know to avoid dangerous distractions
At 70 miles per hour, you travel nearly 105 feet every second. Focus your eyes on something other than the road ahead – say, a
Interviewing for a new driving job? Be sure to ask the recruiter the right questions
Here’s a true story from my past life as a driver recruiter. “I won’t drive a (insert truck brand here),” said the new employee. “If
North American freight markets marked by uncertainty, curtailing decision-making
Making business decisions is hard. It’s even harder when the direction of the economy is unclear. “We’re kind of in this fog of war. Everybody’s