It happens nearly three times a day and costs America billions of dollars a year, but it’s a crime you rarely hear about in the news. Cargo theft is so prevalent it affects nearly every industry and several major states. And if a trucker has a long enough career over the road, odds are he will face the theft of a valuable load.

Nationwide, it is estimated that nearly $35 billion is lost annually due to cargo theft. California reigns supreme as the state with the most reported thefts, followed by Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Organized crime and money are behind the truck thefts. A typical thief lies in wait at a truck stop while a trucker goes in to clean up or grab a bite to eat. It takes 60 seconds or less, sometimes just 30, before the trucker returns to find his tractor or trailer gone. The thief will simply pull up to the trailer, unhitch it, attach it to his own, and drive away. Or the thief may slip inside the trailer and manually unload the cargo. About 85 percent of all recorded thefts targeted loaded trailers and containers that were stationary and left unattended in unsecured parking areas, such as truck stops, public parking, drop lots, and facility lots.

According to a report from CargoNet, food was the most commonly stolen item, followed by electronics, metals and clothing. The stolen merchandise is hidden in warehouses and then sold for profit.

An article on USNews pinpoints why cargo theft is so popular. “Right now, cargo theft is a low-risk, high-reward proposition because the crime carries minor criminal penalties. Steal a half-million dollars-worth of cargo and a criminal might get six months in jail, according to various law enforcement agencies. Compare that to ten years in prison if a thief gets caught with a half million dollars-worth of cocaine,” Stephen Stock writes.

Here are some tips to prevent cargo theft (or minimize risk):

1. Be on alert in high-risk areas. Don’t leave your cab unlocked or unattended in California, for example. If you have to leave your truck, make sure it’s locked and in a well-lit area in sight of the entrance.

2. Back up your unattended trailer to a wall or dock to prevent someone from getting in.

3. Apply a KingPin lock to your trailer. These locks prevent the theft of dropped-off trailers and unauthorized coupling. These locks, most importantly, are indestructible.

4. Respond immediately. Many cargo thefts go unreported. Call law enforcement as soon as you note any suspicious activity, strange behavior, or missing items from your inventory.

5. Know your supply chain partners. Always ask for proof of identity. Verify the identity of your supply chain partners, such as the carrier and driver scheduled to pick up your cargo before a load is released, and monitor the movement of your goods.

6. Ensure alarm systems are functioning properly. Always test your alarms and have a safety plan ready to go if you suspect theft has occurred.

Do you have tips to prevent cargo theft? Has this ever happened to you? Leave your comments and stories below!

What’s the best part about being a truck driver? Getting to look at trucks, of course. A trucker can get positively overwhelmed looking at row after row of chromed out, gorgeous semis, which is often the case at some of the nation’s best truck shows. Here are some pictures of our favorite glammed up, tricked out trucks:

This incredible one-of-a-kind convertible semi stole the show at the West coast Customs Big Rig Show. The sleek chrome had a mirror finish.

This gorgeous truck snapped by the guys at UltimateSemiTrucks.com is a trucker’s dream.

The Optimus Prime is a transformer and a superhero, all rolled into one gleaming ball of chrome.

This Peterbilt was featured in Time.com’s article about the most tricked out trucks in the world. Maker Vinnie Diorio literally transformed this truck from the inside-out, giving it a sleek appearance.

These Japanese art trucks, called dekotoras, use five to six generators to power all the lights and sounds. They, too, were featured in the Time article.

We love looking at trucks! Do you have any pictures or links to share? Put ‘em below in the comments!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries. Truck drivers are at an even greater risk of driver fatigue since they spend most of their day driving. A recent study published in the Journal of Public Health Policy found that truck drivers surveyed admitted having driven more than the weekly hours-of-service limit of 60 hours over seven days or 70 hours over eight days. Another six percent of the drivers reported they had not violated the hours-of-service law during the current month, but had done so during the previous month. In addition, 19 percent of the drivers stated they had fallen asleep at the wheel one or more times during the past month. Driver fatigue is real, it’s dangerous, and it’s entirely preventable.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognized the need for further studies into truck driver fatigue after a swell of accidents in the ‘80s. The FMCSA completed a slew of driver alertness and fatigue-related studies during the years 1994-1998.

The study was the most comprehensive, collaborative over-the-road study of commercial driver alertness ever conducted.

It involved real revenue runs, 4 different driving schedules, 80 drivers, and more than 200,000 miles of highway driving. Numerous measures were taken of the drivers’ alertness and performance during driving and of their physiology during off-duty sleep periods. Major findings included:

• Driver alertness and performance were more consistently related to time-of-day than to time-on-task. Drowsiness episodes were 8 times more likely between midnight and 6 a.m. than during other times.
• During their daily main sleep period, drivers slept for only about 5 hours, which was 2 hours less sleep than their “ideal” requirement of slightly over 7 hours.
• Drivers’ stated self-assessments of their levels of alertness do not correlate well with objective measures of performance. Drivers were not very good at assessing their own levels of alertness.
• There were significant individual differences among drivers in levels of alertness and performance.

Greatwide takes driver fatigue very seriously. Here are some tips to help prevent fatigue on the road:
• Get enough rest prior to starting your day
• Make sure to get plenty of fresh air while driving
• Don’t depend on coffee or drugs to keep you awake
• During winter, don’t drive with the heater blowing in your face
• Don’t drive with the cab light on, as it strains your eyes and distorts your vision
• During your days off, try to stay on or close to the same sleep schedule you have during work days
• During days off time, don’t sacrifice sleep and rest for chores and hobbies
• Avoid drinking alcohol prior to going to sleep
• Remember the Smith System and Keep Your Eyes Moving!
If you are experiencing fatigue while on the road, try these tips:
• Stop the truck at a safe location
• Take a walk and/or do some exercises
• Freshen up – brush teeth and wash face
• Get a cup of coffee
• Take a power nap
• Eat a healthy snack, like nuts and fresh fruit.

How do you stay awake on the road? Leave your comments and advice below!

Times, they are a-changing. We have better roads, better vehicles, and better drivers. Due to these changes, many issues in the trucking industry have come under scrutiny. Most recently, it is the hours-of-service regulations that have been in the spotlight.

HOS are regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that govern the working hours of anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle. The rules limit the number of daily and weekly hours drivers spend on the road and the minimum amount of time drivers must rest between hauls or shifts. All drivers are required to keep a log of working hours, which is checked by DOT officers at weigh stations or by the highway patrol during stops. While some drivers use a paper logbook, others can use an electronic-on-board recorder (EOBR), which automatically records the amount of time spent driving. Because of the inconsistencies between these two methods of tracking HOS, there is some debate recently as to whether all motor carriers should use an EOBR.

The HOS rules have changed over the years, most recently in 2011. The Department of Transportation decided to take another look at the regulations and lop off a chunk of the number of hours a driver can spend behind the wheel in a week. The impetus behind the changes was a closer look at the impact of driver fatigue. The FMCSA states that the number of hours spent driving has a strong correlation to the number of fatigue-related accidents. According to numerous studies, the risk of fatigue is also greatest between the hours of midnight and six in the morning, and increases with the total length of the driver’s trip. So the redesign of the HOS was intended to prevent more accidents or injuries due to driver fatigue.

The final rule was released in 2011. It reduces by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week. Under the old rule, truck drivers could work on average up to 82 hours within a seven-day period. The new HOS final rule limits a driver’s workweek to 70 hours. In addition, truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes.

The rule requires truck drivers who maximize their weekly work hours to take at least two nights’ rest when their 24-hour body clock demands sleep the most – from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. This rest requirement is part of the rule’s “34-hour restart” provision that allows drivers to restart the clock on their workweek by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

Drivers can take the 30-minute break whenever they need rest during the eight-hour window. The final rule retains the current 11-hour daily driving limit, but that could also change, as the FMCSA continues to analyze further risks associated with driving 11 hours per day.

The deadline for compliance is fast approaching. Commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013.

The FMSCA said that the objective of the rule is to reduce both acute and chronic fatigue by limiting the maximum number of hours per day and week that the drivers can work.

In addition, the rule limits the use of the “34-hour restart” to once a week, or 168 hours. If restarts are taken every 6 days, alternating 14 hours on-duty and 10 hours off, a driver would reach 70 hours in less than 5 full days. After a 34-hour break, the driver could then begin this same cycle again, totaling 70 hours on-duty every 6 calendar days, for an average of almost 82 hours per calendar week. So the purpose of the restart rule would be to limit excessive buildup of on-duty hours.

The American Trucking Association flew into action after the rule was proposed, saying it puts onerous restrictions on the driver’s ability to manage their schedules. The ATA claims there is simply no data to support the changes.

“The existing rules have a proven track record, and the agency’s purported reasons for tinkering with them were baseless,” ATA General Counsel Prasad Sharma said in an article on TruckingInfo.com. “We’re hopeful the judges will see through the agency’s mere pleas for deference and after-the-fact explanations for a rule that was agenda-driven rather than evidence-based.”

FMCSA recently denied a request by the ATA to delay the start of the new rules from its scheduled July 1 implementation.

How do you think the new HOS rules will affect the industry and you as a driver? Please comment below!

Mention the words “truck stop” to someone and it will often invoke childhood memories of taking long road trips squeezed in the back of a hot car with the occasional stop to get snacks. The truck stop was a kid’s dream – big diesel engines roaring to life under brightly colored neon lights, rows and rows of candy and chocolate, toys, gifts, postcards, coffee cups and silver spoons commemorating the city, T-shirts, and any kind of potato chip you could imagine. While some of these mom-and-pop truck stops still exist, many of them have been bought and turned into chains. Today we wanted to pay homage to the best truck stops in the nation by compiling a list of truckers’ favorites.

1. Iowa 80, “The World’s Largest Truck Stop.” This trucker heaven, based in Walcott, Iowa, has been in business almost five decades. The building boasts a 300-seat restaurant, 50-ft salad bar, game room, movie theater, driver’s den, barber, dentist, and a state-of-the-art fuel center. Truckers can order any truck part imaginable from the Iowa 80 catalog, or they can take a turn in the trucking museum, which houses antique trucks and memorabilia.

2. Willie’s Place at Carl’s Corner. While this truck stop recently went under due to financial problems, people still buzz about its amazing amenities. Located between Dallas and Ft. Worth on I-35, this place had it all: 13 diesel islands with “BioWillie” diesel fuel, a general store packed with Willie Nelson paraphernalia, and a night life theater featuring live music. Unfortunately, this truck stop never made any money and was forced to close its doors in 2011.

3. Little America. With locations in Arizona and Wyoming, this truck stop is more than just a bunch of restaurants. It’s a conference hotel and a recreation center nestled among 500 acres of ponderosa pine.

4. Bosselman Truck Stop. This Nebraska-based stop-off of I-80 is a favorite of many truckers, who cite the super-clean bathrooms, good food, fun displays, and even a CB shop as proof.

5. Porky’s. Stop here in South Carolina for a bite to eat or stay a few days – there’s enough to keep you busy in the surrounding town. The truck stop features fueling stations, a wedding chapel, a viewing tower, restaurants, antique shops, and an indoor flea market.

6. Jubitz. Lauded as the “world’s classiest truck stop,” Jubitz calls I-5 in Portland, OR, home. It has a great restaurant, a lounge featuring live music and up-and-coming country singers, a Laundromat, medical clinic, deli, and a movie theater.

Do you have favorite truck stop? We’d love to hear all about it!

The Mid-America trucking show held last month was a truck driver’s dream. Lots of shiny chrome and new gadgets drew truckers from all over the United States. Because trucking is such a large industry, companies who make these tech innovations are always looking for ways to improve upon tools truckers use. Here is a list of some of the newer gadgets that have caught our attention:

• Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute GPS. The IntelliRoute® TND™ 520 is a GPS specifically for truckers. It’s trucker tested and trucker approved. For weather, it shows current conditions and forecast, or truckers can choose from 10 different map overlays, including precipitation and wind speed. Truckers can also search for fuel prices by brand or on the map. They can receive traffic information from anywhere, even rural areas. The handy fuel log allows them to track purchases by state and date, while the quick planner allows drivers to calculate mileage and profitability between two cities or towns. The virtual dashboard also allows access to key metrics to monitor progress and productivity, such as sunrise and sunset time, trip progress, and yard time.

• CoPilot Live Truck, version 9. Truckers call this GPS the ultimate road mapping tool. It runs on laptops or tablets. It features the most practical routing ability, zip code entry mode, Hazmat specific routes for Explosives, Inhalants, and Radioactives, clear view lane assistance screen, fresh points of interest, and a night mode to reduce glare and eye strain. You can also live update Facebook and Twitter when you arrive somewhere.

• Apple iPad. This is a must-have for any trucker (or a similar tablet). The newest iPad’s faster A6X processor adds extra system speed and graphics power. Improved worldwide cellular compatibility makes the LTE model more appealing. Truckers will find tons of great apps to make their life a lot easier on the road.

• Blue Parrot headset. Voices always come across as clear and distinct through the Parrot’s headphones. It fits comfortably and doesn’t cause ear fatigue or strain. It has extreme noise suppression, pairing, and mute controls, plus truckers can talk for up to 16 hours on a single charge.

• Koolatron’s Cooler. This is the mother of all trucking coolers. It’s designed to fit in snug areas like behind a truck or van seat. unit features a 12-volt cooling system that plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter. The cooler’s motor blows cold air over your food and beverages, keeping them 40 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. The cooler also doubles as a warmer.

• Galaxy CB Radio DX979. The Galaxy DX979 combines Single Side Band with Galaxy’s StarLite illuminated faceplate. It features the same main circuitry as Cobra 148, but with Galaxy’s quality and 2 year warranty. The StarLite Faceplate All of the control information is backlit for easier viewing at night, while the AM and SSB (Single Sideband) Operation Allows use of both AM and Single Sideband modes.

What gadgets have caught your eye that you would love to have in your truck?

Fuel efficiency is on everyone’s mind since diesel and gas prices have remained relatively high over the last few months with no signs of significant dips ahead. Truckers have several tips and tricks for keeping your mileage low. Here are a few ways you can save fuel on the road:

• Observe the speed limit and use cruise control. Speeding is one of the main culprits to poor fuel mileage. For every mph over 50, you will decrease your mileage by 0.1 mile per gallon. Sudden acceleration and deceleration will also decrease fuel economy. As often as you can, put on the cruise control and keep a steady speed.

• Keep truck accessories to a minimum. You don’t want to add any more weight than necessary. Chrome and other accessories will only increase the burden on the truck’s engine.

• When starting out from a stop, short-shift in the low-range gears between 1,100 and 1,200 rpm. Watch your boost gauge and keep it steady.

• Perform routine maintenance on your truck as often as possible. This is another major culprit that will keep your fuel economy low. Check tire pressure often, replace fuel and air filters, and use a quality synthetic when changing engine, transmission, and axle oil.

• Use a good GPS. GPS systems can now reroute you around traffic and detours to find the safest, quickest way possible to your destination. Often you can avoid hours of traffic with a better route. And you won’t spend precious minutes driving around if you get lost.

• Avoid idling. Take a few minutes to warm up your truck and then get going. Minutes idling will add up to lots of fuel cents burned.

• The amount of air under your truck can decrease fuel mileage. There are special designed pieces you can place under your truck as well as on the roof of it in order to cut the amount of resistance you are driving against.

• Consider buying a lighter truck. If you haven’t purchased your truck yet, always consider a semi that isn’t loaded down with extra parts and accessories. Every extra pound will impact your fuel economy.

Obviously, any way you can lighten the load or the stress on your truck can result in less fuel usage. What special steps do you take to reduce your fuel consumption? Have you heard of any new ways to save fuel costs you can share?

We’re all familiar with the great trucking movies that we love to watch over and over again – Kristofferson and MacGraw in Convoy, that creepy maniac in Spielberg’s Duel, and, of course, Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit.

But trucking has amassed a big following on the small screen as well. Shows like Ice Road Truckers and American Trucker showcase the gritty and often unpredictable life of America’s most prevalent road warriors. Here are a few of our favorite trucker TV shows:

• Movin’ On. This series was on from 1974-1976 and featured Claude Akins as old-time independent “big-rig” trucker Sonny Pruitt, and Frank Converse as his college-educated co-driver Will Chandler. The theme song, “Movin’ On,” was written and performed by Merle Haggard and was a No. 1 single on Billboard magazine’s “Hot Country Singles” chart in July 1975.

• Ice Road Truckers. IRT is wildly popular and features the activities of drivers who operate trucks on seasonal routes crossing frozen lakes and rivers in remote Arctic territories in Canada and Alaska. Later series segments were focused on Alaska’s improved, but still remote, Dalton Highway which is mainly snow covered solid ground. The series premiere was seen by 3.4 million viewers to become the most-watched original telecast in the History Channel’s 12-year history at that time.

• American Trucker. The SPEED original series takes a look at some of the most iconic machines and locations that define this largely under-appreciated occupation. Truck expert Robb Mariani introduces the audience to iconic trucks, the famous routes they followed and the cargo missions that made history.

• Shipping Wars. This show is controversial among drivers because the cast is largely inexperienced. The show follows six independent carriers who have discovered that fortunes can be made transporting items that traditional carriers either cannot or will not haul. The series also features uShip, the world’s largest online auction house for independent truckers. In a typical episode, the carriers place bids on two jobs listed on uShip, in a reverse auction format. Each client has the option of awarding the job either to the lowest bidder, or to a higher bidder based on feedback from previous clients. Ties are broken in favor of the carrier with the higher average feedback rating. Winners load their cargo and attempt to deliver it intact by the client’s deadline. Feedback ratings from clients are displayed as the loads are delivered.

• World’s Toughest Trucker. This Discovery Channel series follows eight of the world’s best truck drivers as they go head-to-head in some of the harshest environments on planet Earth.

Do you have a favorite trucking show on TV?

Across the U.S., dozens of new tolls are being considered on some heavily trafficked interstates and highways. Anytime a toll is created, the impact will affect all drivers, but truck drivers are especially concerned because they may pay the toll several times a day as they drive back and forth across state lines picking up and delivering loads.

In Connecticut, Pat Dillon, a New Haven state representative, has introduced a bill to the General Assembly to bring back tolls to state highways.

“We’re a toll-free zone. We’re paying tolls in Massachusetts, and we’re paying tolls in New York. That’s a lot of money. We need it for road upkeep. It’s very important for infrastructure,” Dillon said in an interview.

Dillon did not specify which roads would become tolls, but she did say she envisioned them at state borders on I-95, I-91, and the Wilbur Cross and Merritt Parkways, according to an article on NewHavenIndependent.org.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, won approval last year from the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls on Interstate 95. The state estimates that tolls on the corridor could generate $250 million over the first five years for improving and maintaining the highway.

Georgia just created toll lanes on Interstate 85 in suburban Atlanta. And in Texas, state transportation officials have revived plans to build toll lanes on Texas 71 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the Texas 130 toll road.

Meanwhile, in the Western U.S., a proposed $2 billion interstate highway between Phoenix and Las Vegas could be made into a toll road to get it financed and built. As proposed, Interstate 11 would serve as a trucking and tourism link between Phoenix and Las Vegas. Arizona currently has no toll roads.

According to an in-depth article on USAToday highlighting the dramatic effects of tolls, these changes are intensifying national debate over how the USA should pay to maintain and improve highways, bridges and tunnels — the federal fuel tax, tolls or public-private partnerships.

The USAToday interactive toll map shows that Texas has the most toll roads as of July 2011, with 51 toll facilities on interstates, bridges, tunnels, and roads. New Jersey comes in second with 40 toll facilities, and New York is third with 37.

Only a handful of states have absolutely no tolls, including Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Arizona.

Not only are toll facilities being created, but the price of existing tolls is climbing. In New York, it’s now more expensive to drive across the Hudson River. Peak-time tolls for E-ZPass holders are now $10.25, 75 cents higher. During off-peak hours, the E-ZPass toll is now $8.25, also up 75 cents.

The toll went up $10 for truckers.

In Maryland, some tolls have doubled as the state seeks money to rehabilitate aging roads, bridges and tunnels.

Greatwide understands that tolls hit drivers where it hurts the most – their wallets. At Greatwide, tolls are an operational expense. Drivers can turn in receipts to be reimbursed for tolls.

How do you feel about the recent addition of toll roads and price increases?

The Smartphone has so many uses – emailing, browsing the web, playing games. But did you know there are a lot of useful applications for drivers? Here are just a handful of our favorites:

1. Truck Stops. Created, developed, and programmed by a truck driver, this cloud computing software can track and manage your diesel purchases, monitor purchases made by company drivers, and deliver information about truck stops. You’ll be able to tell the number of diesel pumps, number of showers, types of restaurants, availability of laundry, drivers lounge, and scale. The Misc Section has weigh stations, hotels accessible by truck stops, Speedco locations, and Transflo locations.

2. GasBuddy. This free app helps truck drivers find the cheapest fuel according to location and type of fuel available. This is especially important since fuel prices have risen in the past few months.

3. The Weather Channel. This free app helps truckers track storms and prepare for bad weather in every possible location imaginable. FutureRadar is a popular feature that enables you to track how storms will spread.

4. iHeartRadio. This app allows truckers to pick from over 1,500 live radio stations with something for everyone, including jazz, alternative, classics, country, and easy listening. Plenty of talk radio channels are also available.

5. BigRoad Truck Driver App. This Google Play electronic driver log app enables truckers to input and manage E-logs, eliminating miscalculation and improving accuracy. Drivers can create vehicle inspection reports and check-in using GPS.

6. Beat the Traffic. Drivers can now enjoy a hassle-free commute with this traffic app. They can check the latest road conditions and reroute around accidents and road closures to find the quickest route possible. Drivers can also set up alerts to get warned about traffic delays on their routes.

7. Relax Melodies. For $2.99, you’ll soon be drifting off to the calming sounds of waterfalls, ocean waves, and warm breezes (for use only at night, of course!). This app is full of soothing sounds that will gently wake you in the morning. A must-have when you are surrounded by loud city clamor.

8. Be-on-road Truck GPS Navigation. This truck-specific navigation app is designed to provide safe and reliable routing on truck-legal roads.

9. FuelBook. This useful app assists drivers in finding the greatest fuel discount closest to their truck at that time. Drivers can enter Greatwide’s passcode and get fuel prices customized with Greatwide’s proprietary fuel discounts. It then shows the actual savings the driver will realize from the purchase (per gallon).

What are some apps that you find useful on the road?