truck driving Archives - Best Yet Express

5 Reasons Veterans Should Consider Trucking

May 31, 2023/0 Comments/in Advice/by Best Yet Express

The trucking industry is indispensable, and yet we’re still facing an ongoing driver shortage. Many companies have started raising salaries and improving benefits packages in hopes of attracting new, qualified drivers, but there are still thousands of job listings waiting to be filled. For veterans, jobs in trucking can be a perfect match for more reasons than one.

Veterans already have the skills for the job

Many of the skills that military personnel develop during their years of service overlap with those used by truck drivers every day. They’re usually tech-savvy, accustomed to picking up new skills in a fast-moving environment, and often have experience working with heavy equipment. Those who already have a commercial driver’s license might be eligible for a higher starting pay rate. Even those without one might be able to fast-track their licensure if their prior military experience meets certain requirements.

Veterans who have the easiest time transferring their existing skills to a career in trucking include those who worked in one or more of the following military specialties:

88M – Motor Transport Operator
3531 – Motor Vehicle Operator
2TI – Vehicle Operator
EO – Equipment Operator
92F – Fueler
2FO – Fueler
3E2 – Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator
14T – Patriot Launching Station Operator

The GI bill covers additional training

Many trucking schools are approved by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill helps veterans build on their existing experience to earn certifications for future employment. Vets can ask trucking companies hiring in their area for guidance. You can also review the VA’s guidelines for finding an approved school and compare benefit options.

Trucking offers job security for veterans

Having a CDL and a military background all but guarantees veterans a job in the trucking industry. As long as you have a clean driving record, no DUIs or drug convictions recently, and meet minimum age requirements, getting a job as a truck driver is a breeze. With a sharp uptick in online consumer spending habits since 2020, keeping that job is just as easy– As long as you’re reliable, of course. Luckily, this is rarely an issue for someone who committed their life to serving their country.

The pay and benefits are competitive and reliable

According to the American Trucking Association, trucking is a top five occupation in 30 states, and is the most popular job in two of them. Trucking companies are among the nation’s largest employers, and the employment of truck drivers is projected to grow 11% between 2021 and 2031. This is much faster than the average projected job growth overall. With short-term training requirements and no college degree needed, truck driving is a consistent and reliable career option.

Trucking jobs are also widespread across all 50 states, so there’s no need to relocate to find a great job. The median wage for drivers varies by state and by the type of company they work for. Still, according to Indeed, the average annual wage of truck drivers is around $83,000. For veterans looking to make a smooth transition to civilian life, truck driving is a solid option.

Veterans fit right in

It isn’t just hands-on experience with heavy machinery that gives veterans an edge. They have plenty of soft skills that trucking companies look for. For example:

Leadership skills
The ability to work well as part of a team
Good communication
Situational awareness
Attention to detail
Self-discipline

Vets pick up these and other similar skills while on active duty. Transferring them to trucking is a natural next move. To inquire about available positions working for BYX, visit our hiring page. We’d love to meet you!

5 Ways Trucking AI Is Revolutionizing the Industry

April 10, 2023/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

AI, short for artificial intelligence, is the buzzword of the year. It’s making waves in every industry, but the implications in the trucking industry are dramatic. Trucking AI is gradually reshaping everything from how we drive to how we use our resources in the office. There’s a learning curve, without a doubt, but thus far, AI appears to be living up to its promise to make our lives (and those of our drivers and customers!) easier than ever.

1. Trucking AI equates to major improvements in efficiency

Right off the bat, AI is helping trucking companies to cut costs by improving efficiency. Tasks that have historically been handled manually can now be done by computer. Consider the tedious process of matching load deliveries with drivers. Manually keeping track of the schedules of each driver is time-consuming. Assigning the wrong driver can lead to overworked employees that are more likely to make mistakes behind the wheel.

AI systems solve this issue by automating the load-matching process. They can analyze multiple factors at a time, recognizing patterns and predicting outcomes much faster than a person can do it. This enables the right load to be assigned to the right driver with ease, avoiding burnout and improving productivity.

Additionally, trucking AI can identify the best possible route to take in real time. If road conditions change, AI notifies drivers instantly of faster, alternative route options. Effectively, this makes it easier for drivers to conduct deliveries on time, improving customer satisfaction and raising profit margins in one fell swoop.

2. New technology is dramatically improving fuel efficiency

Just one commercial truck easily uses $70,000 of fuel each year, or more. Fluctuating fuel costs are even more stressful for trucking companies than commuters. In reality, elevated fuel costs have a deeper effect on daily life than most people realize. When gas prices soar, trucking companies have no choice but to raise prices to stay afloat. This cost elevation transfers over to all businesses that rely on the transportation industry, who pass on the price hikes to consumers.

Trucking AI helps fuel efficiency in more ways than one. Firstly, it can automatically scan trucks to sound the alarm if there are any issues reducing the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Aging parts can impact efficiency, for example. Optimizing routes can also minimize the amount of fuel wasted while idling in traffic. One 2018 U.C. Berkely report estimated that AI could save the trucking industry $35 billion in fuel efficiency gains, with a total of $168 billion saved by AI overall.

3. AI also helps with accident prevention

Accidents are one of the top issues faced by the transportation industry. Accidents involving massive trailer trucks can easily prove fatal. Unfortunately, they’re not uncommon, and human error is almost always to blame. In addition to the tragic loss of life, accidents are costly to companies, both in reputation and insurance premiums. Arguably the most impressive benefit of trucking AI? Its promise to reduce the number of accidents on the road.

AI uses complex data to strategize. Using its most simplistic applications, AI steers drivers away from accidents and unsafe weather conditions. In the future, the introduction of autonomous vehicles could almost eliminate accidents on the road. Even the best in the world isn’t immune to fatigue and distraction. Even with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s revised HOS, drivers still sometimes spend 11 hours straight on the road. Long hours behind the wheel impact concentration, elevating accident risk with every passing minute.

Initial updates to trucking tech include automatic braking, speed control, and lane-keep assist features to lower the chance of collisions. In the future, self-driving trucks could replace driver-operated vehicles. As eerie as that sounds, the virtually instant reaction time and limitless focus of autonomous trucks are likely to become literal lifesavers.

4. Predictive maintenance is saving companies money

Keeping track of maintenance for a family sedan is a pain. Maintaining an entire fleet of trucks is on a different scale of difficulty. It’s time-consuming, especially when sudden breakdowns puts a kink in your week’s dispatch schedule. Trucking AI offers predictive maintenance that will reduce the number of unexpected mechanical issues through proactive repairs– All with minimal human labor.

This prevents breakdowns on the road and improves the lifespan of each truck. It also helps lower maintenance costs in the long run by avoiding more expensive repairs and workflow disruptions down the line.

5. Trucking AI extends beyond the driver’s seat

Distribution Warehouse With Plexus, Automated Guided Vehicles And Robots Working On Conveyor Belt

Shiny, self-driving vehicles are attention-grabbing, but AI also helps the industry back at the office. Invoicing, payment processing, scheduling, and many other manual tasks will soon be done by AI. Even warehousing may one day require fewer human hands on deck. Less paperwork equates to more time for trucking companies to focus on growth and customer satisfaction.

There are risks of trucking AI, but the benefits far outweigh them

The possibility of data breaches is worrisome. Measures like cloud computing and blockchain, however, can minimize the risk of data falling into the wrong hands. The most obvious concern in regard to AI is the potential for self-driving vehicles to malfunction. This is an understandable, and real, worry, but autonomous trucks aren’t going to be driving down your block any time soon.

For now, most AI applications will be more subtle. Self-driving cars will likely still require a driver to be present initially, or one driver-operated vehicle will lead a fleet of autonomous trucks. They will be restricted to driving in certain lanes and avoiding city roads until the technology is better at adapting to unexpected changes, like roadwork.

As far as jobs are concerned, truck drivers are still indispensable. Even in the future, drivers need not fear for their job security. Retraining programs will most likely be offered by companies and the federal government, giving drivers new positions in the industry they know best.

For our part, we see it as a promising way to help serve our customers, and we look forward to exploring it further.

What Would Happen If Truck Drivers Went on Strike?

January 31, 2023/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

Running a trucking company is rewarding, but challenging. If the entire BYX team decided to call it quits and sell ice cream on the beach in the Bahamas, however, our customers would be less than thrilled. Just one trucking company hitting the breaks would be enough to slow down the daily operations of dozens of businesses. Imagine if truck drivers went on strike nationwide.

Life as we know it would grind to a halt. To appreciate how important the logistics industry is to our economy, let’s look at the timeline.

If truck drivers went on strike, problems would start within 24 hours

Once truck drivers quit, it wouldn’t take long to start noticing the effects. Within one day, gas shortages would start. The most popular fuel stations need gas deliveries multiple times a day. They’d run out in just a few hours, leading to traffic-stopping lines at any station still stocked.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and any other facilities that rely on medical supplies to function would be in immediate trouble. Although they’ve likely prepared for emergencies, they would still have to resort to extreme measures to conserve their remaining supplies. Syringes, catheters, and other products needed to save lives would be reserved for those in critical care.

The manufacturing industry would also fly into a panic. Many manufacturers, like those in the tech industry, produce goods at the last minute to avoid making more than they can sell. Without any reserves to fall back on, they wouldn’t be able to continue production for long. Read more

Logistics Facts and eCommerce Stats Everyone Should Know

January 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Advice, News/by Best Yet Express

Did you know the biggest ship in the world could easily transport the Eiffel tower? It’s true, and some of the more practical logistics facts are just as intriguing. The logistics industry is huge, and life as we know it wouldn’t exist without UPS, Amazon delivery drivers, and companies like yours truly.

The shipping industry is changing, however, and it affects every person who relies on shipping to do business. (Plus, the consumers who shop from them!) Whether you’re a shipper or a shopper, these logistics and eCommerce stats are handy to keep in mind. Read more

New Smog Check Requirements for Trucks May Help LA’s Air Quality

September 21, 2022/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

No one gets excited about getting a smog check, but there’s one thing all Los Angeles residents can look forward to: Fewer days in which our local mountains disappear in a cloud of brown haze. Numerous factors contribute to pollution in southern California, including smoke from wildfires and chemicals produced by refineries and other factories. The main cause of air pollution in LA County, however, comes from the emissions produced by the vehicles backed up on the 405.

The air quality in LA has improved dramatically in the past 30 years, but cars and trucks are still responsible for over 50% of all emissions. In hopes of further reducing the number of days that our Google Home devices tell us that the air quality is too unhealthy for a walk on the beach, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is cracking down on trucks. Read more

Fluctuating supply and demand leaves capacity trends unpredictable

Trying to Predict Holiday Sales? Gauging Capacity Trends Is Even Tougher

August 31, 2022/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

All business owners are familiar with the rules of supply and demand. Few, however, realize how heavily trucking companies depend on supply and demand to function. We don’t blame them, either. With free two-day delivery becoming the norm, it feels like shipping just happens automatically. Most of us know that it’s more complicated than that, but just how much more complicated might surprise you. Predicting capacity trends is extremely challenging, and that’s particularly true in 2022.

Freight Transportation Always Has Four Seasons

Market conditions have always influenced the trucking industry, from capacity to rates. Still, there’s usually some level of predictability. There are four seasons in the logistics work. You have:

The Quiet Season (January – March)
The Produce Shipping Season (Produce Shipping Season (April – July)
The Peak Shipping Season (August – October)
The Holiday Shipping Season (November – December)

What It’s Really Like Working at BYX

August 12, 2022/0 Comments/in Advice, News/by Best Yet Express

As you probably already know, Best Yet Express has been family owned and operated since day one. We’ve grown a lot since the company was founded in 1978, but our values are just as important to us today as they were over 40 years ago. We firmly believe that the best way of serving our customers is by building real relationships with them– And we wouldn’t be able to do that without building strong relationships within our own team.

Some of our employees have been around for over a decade.

We owe our success, in part, to them. We spoke with one of our oldest employees to share an inside look into the company culture of BYX. Roger Huckstep came into the logistics industry almost by chance. He had been driving a water delivery truck when he heard about a more serious trucking job at BYX, and something clicked. He already knew the owner and decided to go out on a limb and ask for a job. The rest is history. Huckstep’s been with us for 15 years, and he’s not planning on leaving anytime soon.

On his first day, he committed to being the best employee he could be. He’s done that and more. His commitment to BYX has helped us weather a tumultuous industry and come out on top. Our core team stuck with us throughout the 2020 pandemic and the driver shortage that followed, and we wouldn’t be able to continue caring for our customers without them.

Our best advice for fellow business owners? Take care of your people.

Keeping up with the latest tech developments isn’t cheap. When it makes it easier for your team to be efficient and safe, however, it’s worth it. According to Huckstep, the evolution of transportation technology “has made it easier to assist drivers and (improved) the flow of our processes and operations.”

In addition to evolving technology, the culture of a company should evolve over time as well. We chatted with Huckstep about that as well and were happy to hear that he had nothing but positive things to say about how the culture of BYX has shifted. “It has gotten better throughout time. I have known the family for a very long time and I like the family environment. Means a lot to me!”

It means a lot to us, too. Just take it from Lara Newjahr, Chief Operating Officer at Best Yet Express, Inc. “We are a family business and have worked to maintain that “family feeling” while transitioning in many ways. While no longer directly managing most of the staff, Jay and I are at work daily and interacting with everyone on the floor. We have developed a division of labor and delineation of departments, but we maintain an open door policy. We emphasize traits that we find important like hard work and determination to succeed but leave it to the staff to support and encourage each other directly. I think that growing family businesses are unique in that they create a vastly different culture than one found in a large corporation. However, an essential part of growth is not depending on the family to do all the tasks that were once necessary to get the business where it is today.”

Family values are at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to offer all our employees family-friendly schedules, great benefits, and competitive pay. If you’re considering getting into the trucking business or know someone who is, give us a call! We have several job openings available, and becoming a driver comes with some fun perks. After over 15 years in the business, Huckstep still believes truck driving is a promising career choice for anyone who enjoys driving. After all, you get to see new sights every day. Beats sitting in an office, right?

For more information, check out current openings here, or contact us for more information.

Big News: The Controversial AB 5 Law Now Applies to Trucking

July 6, 2022/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

Back in 2019, a bill was proposed called the AB 5 independent contractor law. It was intended to regulate companies that hire massive numbers of gig workers, like Uber and DoorDash, but when the law went into effect on January 1, 2020, it radically changed worker classifications.

Millions who were previously defined as independent contractors are now considered employees. While the trucking industry was previously exempt from AB 5, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling changes everything. Now, the law applies to trucking too, sparking industry-wide frustration.

No Buts About It: The AB 5 Law Is Bad for Trucking (But not BYX)

Now that AB 5 impacts all 1099 truck drivers, the majority of trucking companies will be impacted.

The law states that to be classified as an independent contractor, three conditions must be met:

(a) The worker is free from control and direction in the performance of services; and

(b) The worker is performing work outside the usual course of the business of the hiring company; and

(c) The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business. Read more

3 Reasons Sleep Apnea Is a Concern for Truck Drivers

March 23, 2022/0 Comments/in Advice/by Best Yet Express

It’s late. You’re driving on an open stretch of road, it’s quiet, and your eyelids begin to droop. We’ve all been there, and man, isn’t it scary? Driving is such an ordinary task that it’s easy to forget how dangerous it is. A moment of distraction can easily become your last moment ever. Sleepiness is even more dangerous, and truck drivers who work long hours or night shifts need to be especially cautious. Concerningly, getting enough sleep isn’t always enough to fight back fatigue. Sleep apnea, one of the top five most common sleep disorders, can lead to persistent fatigue and drowsiness. Many drivers don’t even realize they have it.

Sleep apnea is a bigger health concern than you might think.

Truck driver sleeping. About 35 years old, African male.

The most obvious symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. The disorder is more complex than that, however. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the throat relax during sleep to the point that their airway temporarily becomes blocked. They stop breathing briefly before awakening abruptly to gasp for air. These episodes are so brief that the individual often doesn’t recall having ever woken up.

While one night of interrupted sleep is no big deal, people with untreated sleep apnea suffer from a wide range of symptoms that can significantly affect their health and daily lives. There are three main reasons truck drivers should be on the lookout for signs of sleep apnea:

It leads to more serious health problems.
At first people with sleep apnea may notice nothing more than waking up with a headache, irritability, and snoring loud enough to wake the neighbors. Over time, the symptoms become more serious. They often develop brain fog, insomnia, and intense daytime sleepiness.

If left untreated, it can also lead to or worsen high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Weight gain is another common side effect. All of these issues are often linked, each one magnifying the others. The ramifications go beyond productivity, impacting drivers on every level.
It endangers drivers and others on the road.
Daytime sleepiness and general fatigue are extremely dangerous when your job entails long hours on the road. Those with sleep apnea are up to five times more likely to get in a car accident than people with normal sleep patterns. Falling asleep at the wheel can be lethal not only to the driver but to other drivers and passengers as well– Especially when the driver is operating a massive truck.
Irregular sleep schedules can make sleep apnea side effects worse.
Sleep apnea is problematic enough for people working a 9-5. It’s even worse for truck drivers who work night shifts. Odd hours don’t worsen sleep apnea itself, working during the night often leads to increased drowsiness. Drivers are more likely to rely on unhealthy energy drinks to stay alert, further damaging their health in the process.

All truck drivers should be screened, just in case.

If we’re making sleep apnea sound like a big deal, that’s because it is. Fortunately, treating it is much less challenging than living with it. If you or someone you know is experiencing any symptoms that could be tied to sleep issues, like persistent sleepiness, morning headaches, irritability, or loud snoring, visiting your PCP is the first step.

They’ll likely order a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment can entail using a breathing machine at night or wearing a special night guard to help keep your airways open. It’s a headache, but it’s much less of a headache than falling asleep at the wheel. For trucking companies like BYX, it’s always a good idea to inform drivers about the common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. Better safe than sorry.

TIME Claims There’s No Truck Driver Shortage. Here’s Where They’re Wrong

January 5, 2022/0 Comments/in News/by Best Yet Express

Time Magazine published an article in late 2021 claiming that the truck driver shortage is a fallacy. As a decades-old trucking company, we beg to differ. While their statistics are on point, Time lacks perspective. To clear things up, here’s an insider view on one of the biggest issues plaguing America’s supply chain issues today.

The claim: The driver shortage doesn’t exist.

To start, TIME’s infamous article covered some indisputable basics: America’s supply chain is struggling, leading to frustrating delays over the holidays and ongoing product shortages. The crisis began months ago, and yet our favorite muffin at Starbucks and the new smartphone we saved up for remains stubbornly unavailable.

Many experts have cited a truck driver shortage– the largest we’ve seen in decades, as a strong contributing factor to the recurrent delays, but TIME says it doesn’t exist. To be specific, their article stated that:

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