Tag: Papa John's parking lot

MATS: One down, two to go

MATS 2015 has kicked off, and it’s going to be huge. It’s always a gigantic show, and it’s the first of the season, so attendance is generally high. This is our third year at MATS, and the first time we’ve actually been able to finagle press passes, and I’d like to thank Toby Young for […]

March 27, 2015

George Parker (right) and Brad James at MATS. James was among the final three contestants at the Trucker Talent Search event at last year’s Great American Trucking Show.

Gearing up for MATS

[youtube qY1LlwJxiFU nolink] Truck show season kicks off in March, and it’s all I’m hearing about these days. Apparently, MATS is going to be one heck of a show – we’ve heard from all kinds of people about all kinds of neat stuff that’s going to happen there. I’m going to be brutally honest and […]

February 1, 2015

Rates: Demand on the rise short-term?

And a check-in with owner-operator Jan McCarter on her new Human Trafficking Awareness Project, looking ahead to MATS in March.

January 8, 2015

WHERE RATES ARE: According to DAT’s Trendlines report, the final Dec 28-Jan 3 holiday week saw freight availability remain more or less stable. The average line haul rate held steady for vans, but the total rate dipped 1 cent per mile likely due to the declining fuel surcharge, with per-gallon prices. Demand for truckers continued generally strong, though, as even with fuel prices on the decline, rates increased for flatbeds and reefers.

The JBC Hotline: Raising money and keeping good company

The group grew from four people making three-way calls to an organized conference call that runs 24/7. Callers use the room to keep company on long nights, give and get weather and road reports, check routes and just touch base with other human beings who do the same job.

May 9, 2014

Left to right: Don Schmidt, Richard Gatton and Kevin ‘Cornholio’ Young of the JBC Hotline crew at MATS.

Campfire stories

“One of the very best hings about MATS this year was being able to park in the Papa John’s lot and hang out with people who have been in the trucking industry since Jesus had a new pair of sandals.”

April 2, 2014

Hey look! It’s the Mintlings!

Observations from the dark side

“If you do go to MATS, take the time to go over to the Papa John’s parking lot and rub elbows with the regular guys – we’ve met some of the most decent human beings on this earth in that parking lot, and you don’t need a press pass to do that.”

March 28, 2014

MATS PP Lot (800x475)

Round-up: MATS haps, and a cattle hauler on his long career

Recently-retired bull wagon hauler Laurin Dreher reflects on a long career, while owner-operator Jeff Clark talks while he walks and more plans for MATS solidify…

March 20, 2014

Find owner-operator Jeff Clark’s blog on the Team Run Smart website via this link.

From iPhone karaoke to viral parody hit: ‘Singing Trucker’ Brad James

Avid singer and Youtuber Brad James estimates an audience of about 1,300 people before his detention-themed parody of “Dock of the Bay” went viral. Post-“Detention,” he estimates he’s singing to around 10,000 people.

March 17, 2014

Brad James and truck (515×651)

The haps at MATS: Rounding up driver-led efforts

I’ll make an attempt, at least. So much is going on at next week’s trucking show in Louisville it will be next to impossible to catch it all in this space today, but here are a few of the highlights folks have reached out to me about these last few months: Health walk-and-talk, blood driveAs […]

March 16, 2012

Page 1 of 1