People Gotta Eat

While it seems the trucking industry is getting hit as hard as any other with the current economic down turn, I’m happy to say it seems I am in the right part of the industry for a change. That in itself amazes me as I have a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Dreams or Nightmares

There is certainly no shortage of things to blog about these days. Between the war on terror, politics, the slumping economy and thousands of other things on people’s minds, the real question is, what, out of all those topics, would actually grab folks attention or interest long enough to cause them to actually read what I have to say?

The Rest of the Sweet Potato Story

Many of my readers found my story about Nash Produce of some interest.  Some posed the question, “How do you get them back out of the trailer.

When delivering to most large food processors around the country they usually have a large ramp onto which one backs the trailer then disconnects and pulls the tractor ahead out of the way.  Then the ramp is tilted up with huge hydraulic rams, gradually dumping the contents out into a big hopper from where a conveyor belt whisks them into the plant.

In Praise of Decent Shippers

Being the Grumpy Old Trucker that I am, I would find it very easy to write articles about the problematic shippers and receivers I encounter occasionally. However, that would only serve to fuel my Grumpiness and the problem spots would then by default, come out the winner.

A Message From Mrs. Grumpy

Hi I’m Marilyn and I am the wife of the Grumpy Old Trucker – strange that he’d choose this name for his blog, as he is truly a sweetheart, the love of my life…

Being a truckers wife hasn’t always been easy. Raising three sons with Dad only home now and then. But somehow we managed, simply because Bill and I have a very good relationship, which is vital when your husband is a trucker.

18 Wheels Driver

Getting Control of Your Car in a Skid

It is becoming more and more obvious to me that very few drivers on the road these days have a clue about how to control a skid. I don’t know if it’s because driving schools don’t teach it or because most drivers nowadays are learning from a friend or parent who never learned it either or for some reason skip that lesson.

Skid control is not something you can learn on the spur of the moment when the need arises. You either know it ahead of time or you reap the consequences. Quite often fatal.

Tailgating, One of the Worst Driving Offences of All

As much as I’m made grumpier by drivers who have no clue how to merge, the one’s who really fill me with fear and loathing are tailgaters.  As far as I’m concerned this habit is one of the most despicable, unprofessional, and downright life threatening that any driver can fall into.

Here’s a test for my readers.  What is the guideline for gauging the appropriate distance from your vehicle to the one ahead? I’ll give the answer at the end of this post.

Laughter! Good For Relationships!

Many folks today would like to know the secret of maintaining a long term relationship.  I’ve always believed the best way to find out things like this is to ask those who are doing it.  With that in mind, here’s is one great example for all of us.

Is California Really Trying?

Let me preface my comments by saying I’m not trying to pick on California.  I chose them as my topic today because 1). I was there this week for the first time in several years.   2)  I was there for 3 days mostly due to having to reset my logbook, then driving more then 300 miles to get my reload.  And maybe 3) Because they are such a sharp contrast to the part of North America I live in, the east coast of Canada.

Coast to Coast

I’m doing a coast to coast run this week. I picked up a load in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Tuesday evening and will be delivering in Santa Rosa, California on Monday morning. So that means viewing the water of two oceans in one week.

People are Animals

I’ve had my suspicions for many years, but now I’m totally convinced. People are Animals! There really is no other explanation for what happened this past Friday, November 28th.

I’m speaking of course of the tragic Black Friday sales event at a Long Island, New York Walmart store in which an employee was trampled to death and several other shoppers sent to hospital with injuries.

Rich People Just Don’t Get It

It became very obvious this week when the auto maker CEO’s showed up, begging cups in hand to ask for government bail outs that they just don’t get it.
They don’t understand why they shouldn’t continue to fly in multi-million dollar corporate jets. They don’t understand why they shouldn’t continue to collect their multi-million dollar salaries. They don’t understand why the public is not anxious to just hand over millions of dollars in tax funds to these greedy money losing corporations so they can continue to operate in the same old irresponsible manner.

Choosing the Right Trucking Company to Work For

There are so many different trucking companies out there that the chances of you finding a job you enjoy driving a semi truck is very high. Yet you need to know that these companies all have different recruiting techniques that they use to entice new drivers to sign up with them. It is to your advantage to take a close look at the various trucking companies out there and see what they have to offer you. Since you won’t be comparing apples to apples you need to evaluate each one on an individual basis.

Hours of Operation for Truck Drivers

There have been various changes to the laws pertaining to the hours of service for truck drivers over the years. The most recent changes took place in April of 2007, and they were met with a great deal of controversy. The idea behind these new hours of service is to ensure all truck drivers get enough sleep and to keep the roads safe.

New Vehicle Headlights, the Scourge of the Night Driver

Want to know what’s really been making me grumpy for the last few years? No it’s not the lack of sugar on my cereal.  It’s headlights.  Namely, the extra headlights manufacturers have been tacking on the front of their vehicles as if they’re decorating for the 4th of July.