Life by the Mile

Since 2010, more and more women across the nation have embraced the challenge to keep America moving by getting into trucking. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of women truck drivers in the U.S. increased by 68%. More than having a big role as part of America’s supply chain, there are many opportunities for women in trucking, as many who start as truck drivers eventually go on to start their own companies.

However, there are still some issues that must be addressed by the trucking industry for it to become more inclusive - things like making sure there is a clean and exclusive shower for women, being aware of unconscious bias when hiring or during promotions, and the like. This is what Women In Trucking Association CEO Ellen Voie is advocating for as the industry rolls on to 2023, to make the trucking industry more aware and more inclusive.

This is a very special episode for all women in trucking - listen to the latest episode of Life By The Mile, delivered by FreightWorks.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently released the results of their survey detailing the top 10 trucking industry issues that must be addressed as we head into 2023.

The top 10 issues overall from the survey are as follows:

1. Driver shortage

2. Driver Retention

3. Driver compensation

4. Lawsuit abuse reform

5. Truck Parking

6. Compliance, safety, accountability

7. Detention/delay at customer facilities

8. Transportation infrastructure

9. Insurance cost/availability

10. Diesel technician shortage

Life By The Mile breaks each issue down in detail with DAT Freight and Analytics Principal Analyst Dean Croke. He also offers insight as to why specific issues are ranking higher than usual today, and how the industry should provide solutions.

This is a must-see episode for everyone in trucking - tune in now and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Link to the ATRI article: https://www.ruan.com/resources/blog/2022-top-10-trucking-industry-concerns

Would you love a career that you can do for as long as you wanted to, make great pay, see all states in all seasons, and make a difference every day?

You should seriously consider trucking.

That’s what FreightWorks’ own Gary Joubert discovered as he went back to the industry that helped him get by in college. After a fulfilling career in corporate and trying his hand in managing a construction company, he found himself getting drawn back to an opportunity that pays him well and makes him happy.

Listen to this inspiring episode of Life By The Mile as Gary shares how trucking has changed many lives for the better!

Ask a truck driver this question and see how many different answers you get. For industry veteran and Walmart Distribution Center’s Certified Driver Trainer Eric Ramsdell, it’s CAMARADERIE - a culture where not only are you treated with the utmost respect and welcomed like family, but also an environment where everybody helps everybody.

Life on the road can be lonely, and Eric adds that knowing you are part of a group that looks to achieve something great will help keep you heading in the right direction.

The 2015 and 2022 National Truck Driving and Step Van Competition champion joins Life By The Mile to talk about great company cultures, the love for trucking, and the camaraderie that truck drivers share. Tune in now!

When you go to the grocery and pick up your favorite bottle of juice, or a half dozen of your favorite fruits, or have something delivered to your doorstep, a truck driver made sure those things get there safely and on time.

The food we eat, the things we buy, and the comforts we enjoy - were all delivered excellently by truck drivers.

Truck drivers make sure no matter what, no matter how, and no matter when - they WILL DELIVER. No matter how tough the weather is. No matter how long the drive. No matter the long days away from family. The comforts we enjoy today are built on the hard work and sacrifice of all the drivers out there.

Would it hurt so much to thank these truckers? Or share the road politely with them? Or help address their concerns?

Supply chain investor and strategic advisor Anthony Petitte joins Life By The Mile to talk about the highs and lows of the truck driver living in an emotional and engaging episode, delivered by FreightWorks.

How do you attract new drivers and keep your current ones? LOVE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

This is why driver appreciation is so important: the job is rewarding but challenging with long drives, and tough weather conditions to go through, just to deliver excellence.

Our guest in Life By The Mile, Leah Shaver, talks about how gratitude is more than just saying Thank You but making sure companies are focused on making sure truck drivers feel the gratitude. These range from welcoming drivers with good accommodations that make them feel relaxed and at home, making sure they are compensated well, that the trucks run smoothly that they have what they need for their trips, and so on.

Tune in for this Life By The Mile episode filled with awesome insights on driver appreciation, the next generation of trucking, and more from Leah Shaver, President, and CEO of the National Transportation Institute.

Passion brought him to the industry. Productive years gave him wisdom and experience. And now, he wants to keep sharing that wisdom with everyone in the logistics and transport industry.

Life By The Mile welcomes Jeff Dickinson to the show - a decorated industry leader who’s held several key positions in supply chain and logistics management, and is now also a content creator focusing on supply chain disruption, logistics management and solutions, and more.

Join our discussion with Jeff on how truck drivers need to be given more respect, how women in trucking need to be given more credit, and his thoughts on what’s good and bad in the trucking industry today.

Got any thoughts you want to share? Leave them in the comments section, and let’s discuss them!

THE CHAMP IS HERE: get ready to hear amazing stories about life on the road from 2x National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion, Roland Bolduc!

Life By The Mile is honored to have the 2017 and 2022 NTDC winner share stories about the truck driving industry that only a seasoned driver can tell you - the camaraderie of truck drivers, how truck drivers are usually first to help another motorist on the road, how companies have navigated through challenges through the years, and how sharing his love for trucks with his grandson keeps his passion for the industry strong.

Bolduc has more than 2.5 million safe driving miles in his more than 40-year career. He was named an America’s Road Team Captain in 2000.

Listen to this episode now and share your thoughts in the comments section!

Imagine this: you’re looking for a beautiful place to live in - a place with picturesque views of the mountains, you can breathe fresh air when you go biking or hiking, and you’re just a drive away from different cities.

This is what it’s like in Rutherford County.

But mountains and lakes and beautiful weather aren’t the only things that merit special attention about the county - it’s also the strategic advantage of doing business at a place that’s close in proximity to the metropolitan areas of Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville (SC), and Spartanburg (SC) as well as several major highway corridors.

In fact, the intersection of major north-south and east-west interstates in North Carolina makes it a natural hub for trucking access to points nationwide.

Learn more about what makes Rutherford County a beautiful place for work and play in this conversation with the county Economic Development Executive Director Birgit Dilgert on Life By The Mile, delivered by FreightWorks.

Truck Dispatchers work in a very challenging but highly rewarding environment. At times, dispatches change and can go in a different direction than originally planned. This is why it is important to maintain a level of flexibility and adaptability within the role. A good dispatcher must be able to coordinate trip schedules, manage routes, and handle calls and requests from drivers, operators, and vendors. They must make decisions confidently and have the knowledge to support them.

There are also times when a dispatcher finds the need to go above and beyond their duty. Dispatchers deal with human beings with real emotions - and it is important that they connect on a personal level, especially with drivers who are the ones that go through many challenges both on the road and in real life. FreightWorks’ 2nd Shift Dispatcher Bill Creason knows it’s important as a dispatcher to know when to talk business and when to offer an open line for their personal concerns.

Bill Creason paints a vivid picture of the challenging but rewarding work of dispatchers - join the conversation in the comments section after watching this episode of Life By The Mile, delivered by FreightWorks.