The Life of a Truck Driver

Transportation and infrastructure is considered the life line of America. An astonishing 15.5 million trucks operate in the U.S, transporting goods to and from around the world to distribution centers, your local convenient store and eventually your home.  Being a trucker has its pros and cons.  Family life can be more difficult and eating habits may be hard to control.  But most truck drivers love their jobs.  Many own their own trucks operating as their own self sufficient small business with growth potential as high as their willing to work.  More and more women are choosing trucking as a carrier choice.  These women are thought to be easier to train and more attentive on the road than their counterparts. 

Truckers typically have an early day getting to business between 4am and 8am.  Many carriers have a 24hr dispatch so hours typically vary.  Truckers get to enjoy the most beautiful views from around the country.  Each trucker has routes and lanes they like best.  Truckers keep a log of their daily activity, starting the morning out checking their vehicle from head to toe.  They stop through weight stations along the way ensuring their vehicles weight doesn’t exceed state requirements.  In the Western states, California and New Mexico area, they also have inspections stations.  Anti-drug dogs and xray equipment is used to make sure no illegal activity is going on.   

Along the road safety is first, truck drivers have to be cautious drivers constantly surveying their surroundings and taking note of unusual activity.  Truckers will sleep at a trucker stop or a hotel with truck parking.  Many have sleeper cabs with fully functional beds.  The next morning they start all over again. Trucking life is a profession all its own and one to be admired and appreciated for the hard work that goes into it.  

This week is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and here at FreightCenter.com we can’t express how truly appreciative we are.  Hundreds of carriers nationwide ship our customer’s cargo around the world.  Thank you Truck Drivers for all you do! 

HAPPY NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK!

To make a shipment or learn more about FreightCenter visit http://www.freightcenter.com/ 

Tips For a Stress Free Moving Day

Your Moving Day Check List

Moving day can be a stressful time.  Follow this check list to help make moving day as smooth and stress free as possible.

✔ Sort your home.  Start early.  Don't pack things you don't want just because it's easier.  Go through each room individually throwing away the trash and filtering things that may be good for a charity like the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  You can even have a garage sale to try and make some extra cash for the  moving process.

✔ Create a moving folder or list.  Use this folder to keep track of all your paperwork with the moving company and the list of things that you'll be packing and labeling.


✔ Choose your trucking facility, movers or packaging company.  There are several different options when moving your home.  Aside from the traditional moving companies large items can be moved via freight.  You can receive quotes for this at www.FreightCenter.com.  Additionally, FreigthCenter get you grate rates with companies like YouCrate.  They drop off crates, you fill and they pick up.  This can be an easy alternative to moving the items yourself or paying for expensive movers.

✔ Schedule a service transfer.  Schedule the transfer of your cable, internet, home phone, lawn or pool service or any other services you may have attached to your home.  Also make sure to contact your children's school and fill out the necessary transfer paperwork.  And of course don't forget to transfer your mail.  This can be done online in a few easy steps on the USPS Website.

✔ Take measurements.  Nothing is worse than trying to fit a king sized bed up a narrow staircase or dragging a refrigerator around back just to get it through the door.  Measure the doorways of your new home and be prepared for the large items in your home.

✔ Purchase moving supplies.  Purchase boxes, tape, bubble wrap, moving straps, permanent markets, foam padding and of course a dolly!

✔ Separate valuable items.  Seperate personal items such as pass ports, birth certificiates, deeds, jewlrey and paperwork.  Put these items in a special box and transport them in your personal vehicle.

✔ Start packing! Be specific with your labeling and label everything that is fragile.  Also make sure you separate a few  boxes that will have the necessities the day you move.  Children's items, toiletries, clothes and  a few kitchen items for a start. Click here to view great tips on moving heavy furniture safely.

✔Clear a path.  Make it safe and easy for you or your movers to walk in and out of your home.  Remove rugs or items near the doorways.

✔ Double check every room.  Make a clean sweep of the house make sure to double check your yard, the attic, underneath the stairs, or any other crevice that may be hiding things after years of living.

Happy Moving!