Semi-truck, Trucking

This Man Jumped on a Semi-truck and Traveled 100 Miles

Hitchhiking is one of the oldest forms of transportation around. Though it can be dangerous at times, there will always be pedestrians with their thumbs out on the side of the road looking to hitch a ride from a passerby. With luck, somebody will stop and let that person into their car and drop them off at the nearest possible location.

This is distinctly different than train hopping, where a person will jump onto an empty (or empty-ish) freight car and travel that way. This is unfortunately illegal, with obvious safety concerns being the issue.

For the first time in recorded history, somebody combined these two concepts. Okay — it might not be the first time this has been done, but it’s still an interesting story.

A man was arrested in Oklahoma for jumping onto a semi-truck and riding it 100 miles to a different state

Again, there are many options that somebody can choose to travel long distances without any existing form of transportation. Legal or illegal, the list is pretty long. This guy just added to it on his 100-mile trip from Wichita, Kansas to Logan County, Oklahoma.

Last Monday, a 30-year-old named Dustin Slocum decided to hop onto the back of a semi-truck and hope for the best. The truck traveled over 100 miles on the highway, receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls along the way. The calls were so ridiculous-sounding that police troopers didn’t believe it at first. Here’s what Eric Foster of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.

“When you get a phone call like that, you’re like, oh, is that what they’re really seeing or is there something else going on?”

How did he do it? Apparently, it was extremely simple — he was just hanging from the back of the truck. The “joyride” came to a stop when other drivers on the road repeatedly waved the semi-truck driver down, which eventually prompted him to pull over. He was completely unaware that Slocum was clinging for dear life on the back of his vehicle.

Trucking, Taco Bell

Why the Trucking World Is Getting Excited Over This Taco Bell

In trucking, you’ll find a wider variety of news than virtually any other industry. Truckers have a way of getting their names in headlines for good and for bad. One recurring theme among headlines, however, has to do with drive-thrus.

For most truck drivers, going through a drive-thru isn’t an option — the trucks are simply too big, as most establishments have a maximum height of around nine feet. Clearance bars are usually placed at locations to avoid property damage, preventing large vehicles from bumping edges of buildings.

Even so, some are completely unnecessary. Some fast food companies are realizing this and taking steps to cater to trucking companies.

This Taco Bell removed it’s clearance bar entirely, allowing semi-trucks to pass through and order food

It’s what all truckers want — fast food access at all times. There is a very small number of places that cater to truckers but generally speaking, they’re out of luck. Fortunately, those who pass through Nebraska will now have the option to get fast food.

A video posted to YouTube by Natasha Trucking showcased a Taco Bell that knocked down the clearance bar, allowing truck drivers to pass through the Taco Bell drive thru.

Unfortunately, as seen in the video, the speaker system at this Taco Bell has not been altered, so drivers have to open the door and step down to order and receive their food.

Still, it’s pretty convenient for big-rig drivers who are used to parking and ordering inside of restaurants.

Trucking Yard

This Simple Trucking Issue is Contributing to the Driver Shortage

The trucking industry is as steady as any industry in the world. As long as goods need to be shipped around the world, which should be forever, there will always be trucks driving around. Unfortunately, there are at least two obstacles here — autonomous driving and the current driver shortage.

Are these two issues connected?

So far, it’s not entirely clear why people aren’t as eager to drive trucks as they used to be. The numbers are clear — there will be an estimated shortage of 160,000 drivers by 2030 — but if companies knew how to combat this issue, it wouldn’t be an issue. So where do these companies start?

The issue of Gen Z not wanting to join the industry is simple — the solution is not

The one common denominator in trucking, which all drivers will attest to, is the emergence of technology. In the industry, technology threatens to take away jobs by introducing autonomous driving. This is a concept that would make any prospective driver weary of joining the industry. After all, the primary benefit of becoming a truck driver right now is that you have your pick of the litter when it comes to companies due to the shortage.

If that’s taken away, what is left? How do you sell driving positions as a company? Perhaps this is what is going through the minds of Gen Z, a generation that refuses to join skilled trade industries. According to CCJ, for every six retiring baby boomers in a skilled trade position, two people from younger generations are joining positions. This is concerning, as nearly half of the workforce consists of Gen Z or Millenials, according to FreightWaves.

But it still doesn’t add up.

There are obvious layers to this. Members of Gen Z tend to be more stagnant than those of the generations before them — this means more time spent on their phones or looking at screens and less time adventuring out in the world. There’s also not a necessity for younger people to learn skilled trades. A large portion of Gen Z is working to go through college and find a salaried position. But is this the right path?

The beauty of the trucking industry is simple in that there are more than a handful of jobs available. Once again, I’ll point to the 60,000+ driver shortage that is anticipated to triple over the next seven years. If you want a job in trucking, you can be out on the road in a matter of weeks with no prior experience. Many companies will pay for your CDL training, so it seems like a pretty attractive deal.

Apparently not.

As things stand, trucking companies are still scrambling to figure this out. The leading theory is that advancements in technology in trucks will attract the younger generations.

CDL School, Whiteline Express

These 20+ CDL Students Were Left in the Dust After School Closed

Say what you want about the trucking industry — generally speaking, getting your CDL and working as a truck driver is a pretty reliable, simple path. Unfortunately, not everything goes smoothly and this is no exception.

This was best exemplified this week when a trucking school kicked all of its students to the curb.

The situation took place in Fort Lupton, Colorado, where the drivers were enrolled in the Commercial Vehicle Training Center. They paid and expected to finish school with enough experience to get out on the road. That didn’t happen.

These 20+ CDL students were left in the dark with no support

According to a CDL student, Esteban Hernandez, the entire class was cut with no warning at all. How did they find out? When they showed up for class, the lights were off and the door was locked.

When these students asked for compensation or for help enrolling in another class, they were left in the dark. The owner of the company offered to pay for a CDL test, which they are unable to successfully complete without finishing their classes.

At this point, this just feels like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

As things stand, the students are looking for a way to get their money back, as they weren’t given the services that were promised.

Truck Yard Fire

This Truck Driver Set His Company’s Truck Yard on Fire

Another day, another bizarre trucking story. This time around, it involves a trucker who, according to police, set a fire at the truck yard of Estes Express Lines, his employer.

This comes on the heels of another fire that happened at an Estes Express Lines truck yard earlier this month. It’s unclear whether or not the two incidents are related.

The man’s name is Anthony Dick, a 39-year-old out of Lehighton, Pennsylvania. He has been arrested and charged with arson.

Why did Anthony Dick set fire to the truck yard in the first place?

There’s no true answer to that question. In fact, Dick wasn’t even entirely honest about the situation from the get-go. The truck driver initially claimed that he had nothing to do with the fire before shifting his tone, claiming it was an accident.

According to WFMZ-TV, authorities are claiming that it would be impossible for the fire to be started accidentally in corroboration with Dick’s story.

On the bright side, it doesn’t look like he’ll be starting any more fires — that’ll be tough to do from the inside of a jail cell.

Whiteline Express Dog

How Heartland Express’s Acquisition of CFI Could Leave Dog Owners in Limbo

Contrary to the norm, there is some positive news in the trucking industry this week. Rather than an animal thief or collapsed bridge, something productive happened in the industry.

That productivity involves Heartland Express, who recently acquired Contract Freighters Inc. (CFI) for $525 million. This gives Heartland Express 2,100 new tractors and 8,000 new trailers.

You’ll find details about this acquisition all over the internet. If you’re looking for specifics — you’re not at the right place. That said, we’re discussing entirely separate implications in this deal that will likely impact hundreds of drivers.

What will happen to all of the dog owners at CFI?

At Whiteline Express, we value our drivers’ happiness. It’s one of the reasons why our pet policy is so important to us — we want drivers to be able to take their lives with them across the country. But CFI drivers might be receiving the same treatment for much longer.

Unfortunately, Heartland Express does not allow pets in any of their vehicles. It’s pretty normal — fewer than half of the trucking companies in the United States allow pets. The issue here is that over 60% of drivers own pets and an estimated 30-40% bring pets with them in their vehicles. This means that, in all likelihood, hundreds of drivers from CFI, a company that allows dogs, will be forced to drive without their furry friends. So what options remain for these drivers?

This happens with virtually every major acquisition — a large handful of drivers will leave. Heartland might even find that a higher percentage leave when they find out that their dogs will not be accompanying them to a new company. That said, there may not be many complaints. A pet policy, a new sign-on bonus, and a new truck doesn’t sound like a bad deal to most drivers.

That said, it’s still unclear how Heartland Express will handle this. They may continue to allow drivers to bring pets in the 2,100 trailers than were acquired from CFI or they may extend the no-pet policy to the entire company. If that is the case, there will be a large influx of drivers who will look to branch out to a better situation.

CDL Trucking, Collapsed Bridge

A Collapsed Bridge Caused This Semi-Truck to Plunge Into a River

If it’s not already clear enough, there’s never a dull day in the trucking world. In the past couple of months, we’ve had a $100 million jewel heist at a truck stop, a driver smuggling wild animals, and a mysterious man throwing a bicycle under a semi-truck on the highway, to name a few. You guessed it — there’s another bizarre story in the news this week.

This time around, it involves a bridge collapse in Tretton that sent two people into a river in the early morning of August 15th.

Thankfully, everyone was okay. One of the victims of this bridge collapse was able to escape their car and swim to safety, while the truck driver required helicopter assistance. Both were safe.

What exactly transpired that led to this collapsed bridge?

Short answer — nobody knows.

In fact, this wasn’t even the first bridge to collapse in this area. According to the New York Post, another nearby bridge collapsed in 2016, injuring one truck driver. Both bridges were made of glued laminated timber (wood) and neither bridge was particularly old. After this, 11 bridges were closed and checked for safety before being re-opened. This included the bridge we’re speaking about in this article.

Still, the Tretton bridge collapsed, sending a regular vehicle into the water and leaving a semi-truck “nearly vertical” in the river. The bridge, which was built in 2012, was also checked in 2021, leaving many to wonder if these checks are effective at all. At some point, it becomes a big problem.

For now, that’s all the information we have.

CDL Truck Crash

Why Did This Guy Throw a Bike Under a Semi-truck on the Freeway?

People get into the trucking industry for a few reasons. Some drivers are introverted people and enjoy their alone time while some simply like the money associated with it. A large handful, however, are in it for the adventure. Over-the-road drivers are able to take long trips and see all parts of the country.

Sometimes, that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

A few days ago, a clip was uploaded to the r/Truckers subreddit that showed one of the more bizarre moments caught on camera by a driver.

A pedestrian threw a bicycle into a semi-truck, resulting in… well, nothing.

We’ve heard of people throwing eggs, rocks, and pretty much anything that can travel through the air at vehicles. Even if you’re not a CDL driver, you’ve probably seen your fair share of strange things while driving at night. But this one is probably weirder than anything you’ve seen before.

The video, which will be linked below, shows a driver with a dashcam struggling to stay awake on a night drive. The beginning of the video almost makes you think that the driver is going to cause something to go awry, but he manages to pull himself together.

Suddenly, the driver squints and looks ahead in the distance — clearly, something has his attention.

Suddenly, a pedestrian comes into view with a bike by his side. He gives it a quick push, sending it directly into the path of the driver’s 18-wheeler. The truck runs over the bike and continues to drive. Nothing more transpires.

You can either download the video here or watch it on Reddit here.

What was the pedestrian trying to do?

Some believe that the pedestrian was trying to cause the truck to crash, allowing him to move in and steal the driver’s belongings or the truck’s cargo. It could have simply been a sadistic person who wanted to cause a crash for no reason.

Either way, it failed. Miserably.

If you’re a driver, this is a good reminder to keep your eyes peeled — especially if you’re driving at night. You can’t expect something like this to happen but it’s good to always be alert and aware of your surroundings.

Truck Driver, CDL

This Truck Driver Was Snatching up Wild Animals

If you’re a CDL/Truck Driver, you probably keep up with industry news. And if you keep up with industry news, you’re familiar with how wild things can get. In July, we got a perfect example of this phenomenon.

Last month, Ariam Rodriguez Diaz, a truck driver, was charged with 20 counts of illegal wildlife possession. The 30-year-old Naples, Florida native had been transporting animals to his home from places like Ohio and Canada.

The police would eventually discover his farm of animals and report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC). According to the FWC, the man had two white-tailed deer, 15 migratory birds, two illegal bird traps, and eight Canada geese in his enclosure.

Why did this truck driver take these animals and did he know it was illegal?

Because of how open he was about his crimes, some are theorizing that Diaz was unaware that this was illegal activity. He also asked officers if it was illegal to keep the deer.

According to Naples Daily News, Diaz told officers that he had found the deer at a rest stop and lured them into his truck. They would reside in the cabin of the vehicle, where his bed was located, during their transport down to Florida.

I’m no expert but I’m guessing that doesn’t fall under the guidelines of his company’s pet policy.

On a serious note, Diaz was eventually arrested for his crimes and released on a $21,000 bond a couple of days after his arrest. He will appear in court on August 17th.

Truck Heist

This Real-life $100 Million Jewel Heist Involved a Flying J Truck Stop

Sometimes, the trucking industry can be glorified. Films, media, and news outlets have the ability to add some extra flair to the industry when in reality, it’s a pretty simple job — most of it entails driving a vehicle at a capped speed of 70 MPH. In fact, a lot of drivers enjoy the peace and quiet associated with driving a truck for their entire day.

But sometimes, trucking gets exciting. In early July, one of the more bizarre stories of the year came out.

Jewel thieves came away with around $100 million worth of rare jewels

In a story that sounds more like a movie with every new detail, some jewel thieves in Los Angeles have officially made it away scot-free with an estimated $100 million worth of rare jewels in a Brink truck, according to DailyMail.com.

The story begins at a Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo, California. After the show, the valuables were loaded into a Brink truck and were ready to be transported to the Pasadena Convention Center roughly six hours away. Unfortunately, the jewels would never make it there.

While parked at a Flying J Truck Stop, a Brink armored truck was completely clean-housed of an estimated $100 million worth of valuables in under a half hour. How? Investigators don’t really know right now. Two things, however, seem obvious: this is the work of a team and this was well-planned. Though there is no confirmed value behind the stolen items, Brink claims it’s under $10 million, which seems unlikely. Here’s what the company said.

“Last week, a loss incident involving a Brink’s vehicle occurred near Los Angeles. According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than $10 million. We are working with law enforcement and we will fully reimburse our customers for the value of their assets that were stolen, in accordance with the terms of our contract.”

Brink

Others claim the goods were worth around $100 million, including International Gem and Jewelry Show President Arnold Duke. Here’s what he said.

We are looking at more than $100 million in documented losses,’ Duke said. ‘This was an absolutely huge crime. One of the largest jewelry heists ever. We are talking gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and loads of luxury watches.

Arnold Duke

Regardless of the exact value, this is a huge loss for 18 individuals who were victimized by this crime. It’s one of the largest heists in world history and it doesn’t look like the FBI has any useful leads.