First, try hard not to get into tricky spots. It’s difficult enough getting a truck into a parking space made for a truck by some idiot that has never driven a truck, let alone getting out of tricky spot you may have found yourself in because you didn’t do your homework. Yes, that’s right—homework. Being
Category Driving safety
So, what’s it like to get inspected by the Department of Transportation? Not too fun, I can tell you that for sure, and I have first-hand experience with all levels of inspection. When I was trucking, there were really only three levels of inspections you could receive from a DOT officer. The rules may have
Have you ever had one of those moments when you just knew something or someone else—an angel, God, Jesus, or whatever higher-power you might believe in—simply took control of whatever you were experiencing, and saved you from total disaster? Well, it has happened to me several times as a truck driver. Since I am a Christian, my higher
In my first book, Mother Trucker, trucker Shelby Mathews finds herself on a perilous journey in the mountains of Utah. It wasn’t a coincidence that I picked that particular setting. When I was a rookie driver in my first year, I was sent to Vernal, Utah to deliver a load of sand. It was December,
Originally published in the Layover.com newsletter. In 2014, TIME magazine ranked truck driving number eight on its list of the “10 most dangerous jobs”. Their findings, based on studies by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, attribute the high danger of the truck driving vocation to transportation-related incidents (which account for 40% of deaths). I think
When I was trucking, I had been warned about problems the drug cartels were creating in Laredo, and most border towns. I can’t say that I ever had any problems when I was picking up loads or delivering loads in Laredo. In fact, one of the places where I picked up several loads was right
Despite it being winter right now, in Texas, we’ve been enjoying beautiful temperatures in the sixties and seventies. I don’t miss those days of ice and snow on the road, let me tell you! I’ve seen Ice Road Truckers, and I know that is definitely not my thing! One time, I had just picked up a
As a female truck driver, it’s not uncommon to feel a little uncomfortable in some truck stops. I never really had too much trouble. I usually kept to myself, or was there with co-workers. There was however, one night at a truck stop when my luck ran out. I pulled into the parking lot of
Seriously, I know most OTR (over the road) drivers may not relate here, because most of them do not deal with mudding. Yes, there is a lot of four-wheel pickup truck mudding going on the back roads and mud pits of America. I, however, am talking about big truck mudding. I’ve had quite a bit
I’m one of those people who believe in angels. I know I have angels watching over and helping me out in this world. Sound silly? Well, let me give you some examples of what has happened to me on the highways. We all know how frustrating it can be, when it’s time to leave and something like
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