Behind every excellent trucking company, there is a full cast of support staff helping truck drivers deliver customer freight on-time and to achieve company objectives. We sat down to talk with one such vital cast member, Samantha Woody, who holds the important responsibility of making sure that the company has exceptional employees driving Roane Transportation trucks. As a professional recruiter, Samantha is likely to be the first person you speak with on your journey to becoming a Roane Transportation driver.
Top Things You Didn’t Know About Tractor Trailers
The trucking industry boasts a massive percentage of the goods we have in our possession, 71% to be exact, and there are over 8.5 million drivers using 39 billion gallons of diesel fuel! The trucking industry truly runs America, pun intended. Here is a top ten list, Late Night with David Letterman style, of things you may have wondered about tractor trailers.
Truck Driving Careers for the Next Generation
The term Millennial gets thrown around a lot in current industries and career forecasting. Defining characteristics of a Millennial is that the generation is often considered to be open-minded do-gooders who desire to hold onto some conventional notions while embracing technological advancements. This combination is the for a perfect recipe for a Millennial to enter a career in truck driving.
Professional Truck Driver Interview: Tim Larue
In continuing our professional truck driver interview series, we spoke with Tim Larue to talk about landing your first truck driving job, what it’s like to drive, the differences between driving a flatbed and doing LTL driving, and life in general. Tim is one of several local drivers for Roane Transportation, and so he only delivers loads in the Greater Knoxville area. Still, Tim has a wealth of information about driving a truck professionally.
What Happens at a Truck Weigh Station?
More than likely you have probably seen the stations on the interstate requesting truckers exit off the highway to have their load weighed. Have you ever wondered why they have to stop or what goes on when the truckers enter the weigh station? We have some insight into what happens throughout the process when a semi-truck visits a weigh station.
Coolest Truck Stops in America
Professional drivers value the simple things from their truck stops—clean restrooms and shower facilities, ample parking, and great food they can’t get anywhere else. Moreover, while these amenities will always be in high demand, there are other more unique features of a truck stop that give it that little something extra that makes us want to come back. As busy interstate exits become more and more corporatized, the beloved “mom and pop,” independent truck stops appear to be in decline in 2019. These independent truck stops have lost ground to the newer, shinier truck stops run by corporate chains, but have instituted various attractions and amenities to set themselves apart. We’ve searched high and low to go over the top and bring you the coolest truck stops in America.
Interview with Roane Employee: Jesse Nelson
Roane Transportation is known for its transportation services throughout the Southeast and country-wide. Their fleet consists of almost 100 Peterbilt and Freightliner trucks and keeping those trucks on the road is a vital part of the everyday operations within the company. Our latest interviewee was with Jesse Nelson, the Head of the Parts Room. Jesse is tasked with ensuring that mechanics have the parts they need to keep Roane’s tractor trailers on the road. We spent a few moments talking with Mr. Nelson, gathered insight on his work day and family life, and here is what we learned.
Interview with a Driver: Jason Shelton
Trucker drivers in America ensure that all the goods consumers enjoy arrive at the right place at the right time. Few people understand this symbiotic relationship better than Jason Shelton, a professional driver who drives over-the-road, and who is also tasked with making sure that the men of the University of Tennessee have all their equipment for every home game. We caught up with Jason on his way to deliver a load in South Point, OH, to talk to him about his career as a professional driver and what he likes best about driving at Roane Transportation.
Difference Between National, Regional, and Local Trucking
For individuals who are just beginning their trucking careers or for those who aren’t professional drivers, trucking industry lingo can be somewhat bemusing. One of the more confusing aspects that this article aims to clear up is the difference between national, regional, and local trucking and to clarify the different names associated with each form of truck driving work.
Self-Driving Trucks Won’t Eliminate Truck Driving Jobs
The fear of advances in technology taking over human jobs dates back to the 18th century when workers secretly destroyed looms and other factory machinery. Workers during the first and second industrial revolutions were of the impression that automated equipment threatened the jobs and livelihoods of skilled workers. While it is true that some posts did fall by the wayside, many more jobs were either created or transformed into something different entirely while also improving living conditions for hundreds of thousands of people.