Events along I-40 serve as long-delayed vindication, create a new trucking song
Pardon me for this column, in which I connect recent events and personal experience that have combined to turn a six-decade-old rockabilly/blues hit into —
Kris Rutherford
- About Kris Rutherford
- Since retiring from a career as an outdoor recreation professional from the State of Arkansas, Kris Rutherford has worked as a freelance writer and, with his wife, owns and publishes a small Northeast Texas newspaper, The Roxton Progress. Kris has worked as a ghostwriter and editor and has authored seven books of his own. He became interested in the trucking industry as a child in the 1970s when his family traveled the interstates twice a year between their home in Maine and their native Texas. He has been a classic country music enthusiast since the age of nine when he developed a special interest in trucking songs.
Posts by Kris Rutherford
A real eye-opener: Top issues list puts driver shortage at top for 4th straight year
Each October, as an annual rite of passage and a barometer of the operational and financial aspects of the trucking industry, motor carrier executives eagerly
Two roads diverged and I am taking the one that happens to be less traveled
Hardcore George Strait fans should recognize the title of this column, borrowed from a song of the same name from his 1986 studio album, “#7.”
From the Army to the driver’s seat: Inspiration can take a driver quite far from home — but still closer than he has ever realized
Clarksville, Tennessee, was a world away from the nation’s capital in the 1970s, when Eric Britton’s neighbor helped build his interest in truck driving. Back
Safety on the road: Driver health, safety, and security combine to provide a thriving industry
Top 10 lists abound in the U.S. — sports teams, movies, world leaders, music — you name it, there’s probably a list for it. For
Paving the way to electrification: Light-duty electric vehicle successes are laying the groundwork for heavy-duty truck applications
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) recent actions have made one thing clear — the drive to move California toward becoming a zero-emissions electric vehicle
Hey, if he wants 40 acres to turn his rig around then do as the song says…
Winter had set in over Maine, and in late March 1983, it showed no sign of “heading out to sea” as the locals often said.
Four more races Republicans need to win to ensure keeping Senate
In the last edition of Truckload Authority, we highlighted four races for U.S. Senate seats that Democrats are hoping will enable them to take control
Driver Safety series, Part 3: Self-defense options while on the road are plentiful; planning can prevent violence
“Really, it’s no different than speed limit laws,” David Heller, vice president of government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) said of various state
Driver Safety series, Part 2: Packing on the road — Freedom of choice isn’t as free as it first appears
Here’s a word of advice for truck drivers who hold concealed-carry permits in their home states to consider before carrying a firearm on the road:
Driver Safety series, Part 1: Safety is always a priority for truck drivers but involves more than driving practices
As any truck driver knows, the occupation requires adherence to one principle above all — safety. Never mind the strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Remembering Bill Mack: Riding shotgun with truckers for six decades
Bill Mack’s connection with truck drivers came naturally. Not only was Mack’s father a truck driver, but Mack was born in Shamrock, Texas, in 1932,
Poor word choice blocks highway to song’s status as anthem for lonely drivers
The “Country Gold” era (early 1950s to mid-1970s) gave rise to a few real-life truck drivers who took shots at making their names in the
Another ‘Red’ rides white line and love-hate relationship to trucking music glory
Country music has offered its share of memorable opening lines over the years. With “It’s a Bloody Mary morning,” Willie Nelson jolted radio listeners out
$64,000 question: Can the trucking industry emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before?
The COVID-19 crisis isn’t the type of tunnel one enters with an optimistic eye. After all, a global enemy infecting more than seven million people
‘Rubber Duck’ has a sentimental side, and it’s only a flip side away
Among truck drivers, particularly those who drove during the 1970s and ’80s, C.W. McCall and his CB handle, “Rubber Duck,” point directly toward the No.
One puzzle piece at a time: Robert Morris and ‘Fiona’ increase autism awareness with inspirational truck
VILLA RICA, Ga. — Robert Morris has a lot of women in his life. “I live with seven females,” he said. “There’s my wife, twin
Dan Seals’ trucking song teaches us to avoid regret and follow our dream
We could spend a week talking about the qualities of classic country music. Whether it’s momma, trucks, trains, prison or what have you, classic country is pure
Asleep at the wheel: FMCSA can lead truck drivers to CPAP therapy, but it can’t make them sleep
Rusty Traxler insisted he never felt sleepy when operating a vehicle. “I never knew I had a big problem other than I’d stop [breathing] for
Truck OEMs retool to keep employees on the job, fight COVID-19 pandemic
When COVID-19 rose to the forefront of the nation’s news early this year, the trucking industry found itself in high demand. Carriers, company drivers and