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Whiteline Express, truck drivers

The best perks of being a Whiteline Express driver

Whiteline Express is one of the larger trucking companies in the United States – another finish in Freightwaves’ Top 500 For-Hire Fleets proved that. On that list, Whiteline Express finished 286th with 312 tractors and over 1,200 trailers.

The company continues to grow and improve over time.

Today, I’m going to list some of the best perks of being a Whiteline Express truck driver.

1. Driver Bonuses

The turnover rate in the trucking industry is currently over 90%, meaning that over 90% of drivers leave companies after less than a single year. At Whiteline, we try to lower that number as much as physically possible by making our employees happy.

One of the ways we do that is by creating some of the best bonuses in the industry.

One of our bonuses that flies under the radar is our referral bonus. Perhaps it’s the name, which sounds too much like reefer, that deters drivers from taking advantage of this. That said, it’s too good of a bonus to ignore.

Anytime I talk to a driver, I tell them to refer drivers. If you tell somebody to drive for Whiteline and they list you in their application, you will earn $0.12 per mile for every mile they drive in their first three months. That’s an average of over $3,000 per referral and all you don’t have to do anything more than refer somebody.

If you’re considering a move to another company, try referring other drivers to Whiteline Express instead. 

2. Pet & Rider Policies

When it comes to whether or not a trucking company will allow pets or riders, your chances can come down to a toss-up. In fact, fewer than half of trucking companies in the United States allow pets in their vehicles. A notable company on that list is Heartland Express.

Whiteline Express does allow pets and riders to ensure that our drivers are happy. Check out our favorite Whiteline dog, Suave.

3. Our Mileage Assurance Program

One of the biggest complaints that you see from drivers across the industry is that companies will not give them enough miles. After all, most drivers are paid per mile. No miles, no money.

Because of this, we have a Mileage Assurance Program at Whiteline Express. Our drivers will be paid for 2,500 miles as long as they hit 1,700 in any given week. This assures that they’re able to generate the income that they were looking for when they began working here.

Want to apply? Click here.

trucking

5 trucking industry facts you probably didn’t know

The trucking industry is arguably the most important sector in the United States. Without it, supplies would be non-existent and food would be scarce in certain areas. That’s why it’s so important to support trucking, especially for the future.

But with an industry as large as trucking, there are certain surprises that come along.

Some of these surprises come on the road, while some are on paper. Here are 5 trucking industry facts that you probably didn’t know.

Over 97 percent of trucking fleets operate 20 or fewer trucks

While there is an endless number of trucking fleets in the United States, most of them are very small. For perspective, over 97% of these fleets have 20 or fewer trucks. Over 91% have six or fewer.

This means that most fleets are microscopic and the mega-fleets are not as common as you might think.

There are 7 million employees in the trucking industry

This number can be slightly misleading, as only around two million of these employees are truck drivers. That said, a whopping five million work in the trucking industry in some capacity.

In total, over 2% of the United States population works in the trucking industry. That number doesn’t sound overly impressive, but this means that one in every 50 people works for one of these companies.

Trucking companies cap your speed to save fuel – and it helps a lot

If you ever wondered why so many trucking companies cap their trucks’ top speed, it’s much more simple than you might think. They want to save gas.

In fact, by capping the speed of these trucks at 65 MPH instead of 75 MPH, companies save 27% on fuel usage. While this may seem insignificant, it can save up to $200 per tank of gas.

Commercial trucks use over 20,000 gallons of fuel per year on average

Ever wondered how much gas you go through in a year as a truck driver? That number likely sits above 20,000 gallons, which can equate to over $100,000 in gasoline.

In comparison, a normal four-wheeler will only go through an average of 500 gallons of gas. Cheaper gas, too.

Trucking is one of the highest-earning blue-collar professions in the US

The number for average salary of a truck driver varies greatly. If you ask a trucker, they’ll probably claim to be making six figures. If you ask someone who isn’t in the industry, they’ll give you a drastically low number. Generally speaking though, that number sits around $60,000 per year, which is on the higher end up blue-collar professions.

Trucking, Winter

7 clothing tips for truckers to stay warm in the winter

Generally speaking, those who work in the trucking industry can stay warm pretty easily. Almost all trucks on the road have a heating unit and can maintain a comfortable temperature while truckers are driving from point A to point B.

That said, truckers can’t always stay in their trucks. Depending on where you work and specific circumstances, all truck drivers will spend some time outside of their vehicle. In the winter months, this can be excruciating. But there are things you can do about it.

Here are 7 things you can do to ensure a warm winter as a truck driver

1. Know your fabrics. The type of fabric that you wear makes a big difference. If you wear cotton, you’ll lose insulation value as soon as it becomes wet — this makes it a better middle layer than inner or outer layer. Wool, silk, and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. These should be used for outer layers.

2. Wear at least three layers of clothing. An inner layer of wool, silk, or synthetic to wick moisture away from the body, a middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet, and an outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.

3. Wear a hat or hood. Up to 40% of body heat can be lost when the head is left exposed. Wearing a hat or a hood is one of the most important things you can to do stay warm.

4. Wear insulated boots or another suitable type of footwear. If necessary, wear thicker than normal socks on cold days.

5. Keep a change of dry clothing available in case work clothes become wet or unusable.

6. Avoid wearing tight clothing other than the wicking layer. Loose clothing will allow for ventilation of heat away from the body.

7. Be aware of the wetting effects of perspiration. You’d normally think that you’re trying trap heat and get your body as warm as possible. This can backfire at times. If your body isn’t properly wicked or vented, trapped sweat can actually cause you to become colder and is often a bigger issue than rain or snow.

Haunted Roads, Trucking Halloween

The 5 Most Haunted Roads in the United States

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Oftentimes, truck driving jobs are occupied by people who enjoy solitude. Unless you drive with a passenger or a companion, which is allowed by most companies, you’re destined to spend most of your day completely alone. For most drivers, this is something that they really appreciate.

But as we approach the creepiest time of the year, being alone in a semi-truck at night can be terrifying. You now have the added factors of cold weather, drunk drivers, and unstable road conditions. We’re about to give you another reason to be scared as you drive — haunted roads.

That’s right. Houses, hospitals, asylums, and many more things can be haunted — why can’t a road? In fact, there are more haunted roads than you’re probably aware of. Today, we’re going to discuss the five most haunted roads in the United States.

*WARNING: Some backstories have graphic details*

These are the 5 most haunted roads in the US

5. Route 666, New Mexico

I’ll be the first to admit that I am extremely skeptical of those who refer to this highway as being “haunted.” Realistically, this one is probably mental for a lot of drivers. “666” is obviously a spooky number and the fatality rate on this highway is *technically* higher than most highways.

Still, this was enough for the highway to be renamed to “Route 491” and have multiple works of fiction based on it. Again, if we’re being realistic, this highway probably wouldn’t be considered “haunted” if it wasn’t called “Route 666” at one point.

4. Route 375, Nevada

This one is actually less haunted and more… alien-y. The mysterious Area 51 is just off course from this road — many drivers who pass by will look for strange activity in the surrounding area.

Also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, Route 375 passes by super-secret Area 51, so UFO seekers drive along this road hoping to spot something out of this world. Drivers should keep their eyes on the road while passengers look toward the sky to watch for any mysterious lights or aircrafts.

3. Riverview Dr (Annie’s Road), New Jersey

Annie’s Road goes by the real name “Riverview Drive.” It’s located in Totowa, New Jersey and has a dark history. According to the story, a couple got into a fight when the man kicked the woman out of the car, where she would fall into the street and get hit by a truck. Her dress would snag and she would be dragged by the truck until she died.

Apparently, she still haunts the roads in search of revenge.

To add to the eeriness, there is no phone reception in the area. Witnesses claim that she seems 100% real before completely vanishing.

2. Clinton Rd, New Jersey

Okay… if you’re afraid of ghosts, it might be best to avoid New Jersey at all costs.

In 1983, a cyclist was riding down the road when he spotted vultures attacking something on the ground. Turns out, they were gnawing at the corpse of Daniel Deppner, who was killed by Richard Kuklinski.

Oddly enough, not many people have experienced “hauntings” that relate to Deppner. Instead, there have been reports of a ghost boy, a haunted druidic temple, a ghost truck, and strange hellish creatures.

1. Route 66, Missouri

This is my favorite one on this list.

While there isn’t a specific history on this road, an abandoned truck stop in Villa Ridge is said to be one of the most haunted spots in the US. Still, if you’ve been a truck driver for a long time, you can imagine some of the stuff that happens in a place like this.

The stories of hauntings are pretty well-documented, getting to the point where paranormal investigation teams have visited. Commercial Truck Trader said, “visiting mediums have suggested the truck stop is a portal to the other side of eternity, where souls reenter our world and attach their spirits to truckers whom they might possess in order to drive themselves home.”

Elvis, Truck Driver

5 Famous People Who Used to Be Truckers

No matter what your opinion is on truckers, there is a simple truth that will never change — trucking is essential work. Without it, we wouldn’t have food to eat, household goods, or even gasoline for our cars. Because of this, it will always be a popular profession.

It always has been one, too.

In fact, even with a shortage of drivers at hand, over 1% of the US population drives a truck. To put a number on it, we have an estimated 3.5 million drivers across America. With numbers like that, you will inevitably have drivers who either were famous, are famous, or will become famous in the future. Today, we’re looking at the most famous celebrities who used to be truck drivers.

Truck Driver No. 5: Liam Neeson

When you think of Liam Neeson as a truck driver, the first thing that will come to mind is probably his role as a trucker in The Ice Road, a 2021 film that can be found on Netflix. Despite mixed reviews, the movie focuses on an ice driver who is on a rescue mission and does an interesting job portraying the profession.

What many people don’t know, however, is that Neeson was a truck driver as a young adult. He didn’t drive a big-rid but he was a forklift driver in his younger years, something that he reference multiple times during media coverage of the film.

Truck Driver No. 4: Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean has created popular music for quite a long time. The 45-year-old has seen success in the industry since the early 2000s. Two decades later, he’s still chugging along, but what was he doing before this?

Many don’t know this, but Aldean was a local truck driver in Georgia, delivering Pepsi products to convenience stores. I guess being an international rockstar seemed a bit more glamorous than this.

Truck Driver No. 3: James Cameron

As you can see, there’s an apparent pipeline for truckers to become famous in the film industry — maybe this is your queue. James Cameron is best known for movies like Avatar, Titanic, and The Terminator, though he came from humble beginnings.

In order to save up money for films early in his career, Cameron was a truck driver. This would eventually lead to his path to stardom in the film industry, where he is known as one of the greatest directors of all time.

Truck Driver No. 2: Chevy Chase

Like two of the aforementioned celebrities, Chevy Chase is known for his work in the film and television industry. Chase is best remembered for driving a four-wheel station wagon across America in National Lampoon’s Vacation. After finishing med school and performing in a jazz band, Chase drove trucks until his big break as a comedian and actor.

Truck Driver No. 1: Elvis Presley

Do I need to give any background on Elvis Presley? The king of rock n’ roll is one of the most famous human beings in American history. As depicted in the 2022 Baz Luhrmann film Elvis, the musician was a truck driver before breaking onto the music scene.

Elvis drove for Crown Electric Company and it is said that his popular slicked-back hairstyle was popular among truck drivers at the time.