Hauling Honey Bees – Temperamental Truck Loads with Good Pay

For good pay per mile and a change of pace, hauling bees can be a welcome reprieve at least twice a year – for those who don’t mind getting stung.

In agricultural areas, bees are a necessity.  Farmers need these tiny carriers to pollinate their fields and orchards. Countless crops from squash to cherries to cranberries cannot reproduce alone. Without bees, the world would starve.  But the crops are far too numerous and too concentrated to leave it up to chance.

Read more at Suite101.

Bee Hauling is Not for the Fainthearted

Siping Tires Increases Traction In Winter

Especially considering the challenges drivers have faced this winter in America’s southlands and in the UK, here’s a little help for drivers trying to get their cars to stay on the road:

Winter driving means snow, ice and slick roads. Truck drivers (and passenger car drivers) have a number of options, including buying studded snow tires, throwing tire chains and siping tires.

Read more at Suite101: Siping Tires Increases Traction In Winter: Tires Stores Help Provide Safe Driving at Low Cost http://suvstrucksvans.suite101.com/article.cfm/siping_tires_increases_traction_in_winter#ixzz0cLM99cQw

Siping Tires Improves Traction in Snow

Siping Tires Improves Traction

There are a lot of options in the winter for helping keep traction in snowy conditions. First, and least fun, is chaining up. Sometimes, it’s required by law. There’s no way around that. But when it’s not, there are other options.

For us, the best – and cheapest! – is siping. It’s done by the dealer post-manufacturing. Claims by dealers are that the sipes don’t damage or speed up wear of the tread, and that it increases traction up to 200%.

Follow this link for the Suite101 article.

Glen Beck Program

I emailed Joe, a fill-in host at the Glen Beck radio show today. He had a caller who mentioned the pending NAFTA Superhighway connecting Mexico, the US and Canada. She had concerns but wasn’t able to really articulate them. Joe had real questions and obviously knew very little about the impact of this highway. His idea was that as a vacationer, he would have this wonderful access to America and this would be a great thing.

Well, as the wife of a commercial truck driver and business owner, I couldn’t let this rest.

There are two main concerns that we have.

1. Security

There will be three Texas entrances – Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville and two entrances from Canada – Detroit, MI and north of Pembina, ND. The amount of truck traffic is expected to be massive.

How on earth can all these trucks be inspected? Quick answer? They can’t. Nobody expects them to be.

What better access could we possibly give to those wishing to smuggle in drugs, weapons, illegals or terrorists? Just throw the front door wide open and put down the welcome mat.

2. Economics.

As imports are rerouted to cheaper, less secure Mexican ports, our ports will be left high and dry. Cities that depend on the shipping industry for thousands of jobs will be dropped in a heartbeat. San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle all depend on international import commerce. That would all end as the Asian market then heads to Mexico and Canada whose trucks (not American) carry those goods overland to Texas or the northern ports.

We’ve already suffered through $5/gallon fuel, scarce loads and the Mexican truck pilot program. This is another federal/international fiasco we don’t need! Unfortunately, it’s already in process and as usual, Washington and the others in charge don’t care what we have to say about it.

Any ideas, anyone?

Hello, Truckers! (and their fans)

Commercial Trucking

Welcome to Trucksage on WordPress!  For the professional information you need as a commercial truck driver – owner operator or company driver, see my articles on Suite101.com.

Here you get the personal insight that is fed by over 20 years in this industry.

Call it what you want, trucking is your life.  You may love it and curse it in the same breath.  You may depend on it and still wish for a different life.  We all do.  But this is us, isn’t it?  There’s a certain personality that just seems to fit the concrete cowboy.  You’re independent, disaffected, probably not thrilled with a lot of what is happening “out there”.  This is where you feel at home.  You’re behind the wheel of one of the biggest machines on the road. You’re in control.  You make the decisions, and you take the risks. You raise your voice but wonder if anyone is listening.  You follow the rules the best you can, but there are so many and they keeping adding on – and for what?

Frustration is part and parcel of this life.  But so is the adventure, the freedom and the chance to make it on your own.  What other industry is there that will allow you to turn a profit and make your mortgage your first month in business?  What other life is there that allows you to see this great land from coast to coast on an almost daily basis?  You handle 72 feet and 80,000 lbs better than anybody else out there and you know it!

So, buckle your seatbelt and fire it up! You’re a professional truck driver and it’s time to get on the road.

p.s. I have another blog – History Lizard.  While trucking is a way of life for us, this is my passion – and my future. I’m currently a student at Montana State University, majoring in History w/Teaching, aiming to graduate in 2013. (wish me luck!!) For all things history, student, teaching, writing, etc, check out History Lizard. As always, I’d love to hear what you think!