Trucking in 2026

The author was an owner/operator semi truck driver back in the early 1980's as documented on the web page at the link below:
https://TDBConsulting.org/NAVL/
After that and college, the author was a software engineer for over 35 years as documented on the business web site at the link below:
https://TDBConsulting.org/
After approximately 3 years of retirement, the decision was made to learn how trucking has changed in the last 43 years.
This began by acquiring a Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) through the Schneider CDL Apprenticeship Training (CAT) program.
The 4 week Schneider CAT program consisted of 2 weeks of classroom instruction and driving, 1 week on the road with a Training Engineer (TE), and up to one week of skills driving (e.g. blind side parallel parking) in preparation for taking the CDL skills test.
During the CAT program, Schneider pays for all lodging, two meals a day, most travel, and pays you $10.00 per hour while attending class and driving.
The CAT program is no cost to the driver when the driver drives at least 9 months with the company.
Otherwise, the driver agrees to pay $2,450.00 for the CAT program.
After acquiring the CDL, the pay is 41 cents per mile while DRIVING with an additional $10.00 per hour while ON-DUTY (Not Driving).
The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) tablet took some time to learn and includes telematics (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telematics and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wh5KHkqUIQ) with GPS navigation, work assignments (a.k.a. "Workflow"), trip planning, Microsoft Teams, and more.

The photo below was taken of the truck that was assigned to the author. It is a Freightliner Cascadia, which has a Detroit Diesel engine, automatic transmission, cruise control, and more:

The photo below was taken of the "Workstation":

Due to ELD tablet GPS navigation issues, a personal dedicated GPS receiver was also used for navigation.

SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ISSUES EXPERIENCED IN 3 WEEKS

The list below gives some of the many issues experienced:

  1. Severe lack of truck parking at truck stops and rest areas after about 5:00 pm.
  2. ELD tablet GPS navigation failures occurred multiple times a day.
  3. ELD tablet GPS navigation occasionally gave confusing directions.
  4. ELD tablet GPS navigation indicated to turn left where there was a concrete median strip.
  5. ELD tablet failed (stopped charging) that required driving to Atlanta operating center to get and set up a new ELD tablet.
  6. Hours Of Service (HOS) violation fines can cost thousands of dollars.
    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hours_of_service
    EXAMPLES:
    1. Exceeded 14 hour clock by 5 seconds.
    2. Had only 8 minutes remaining on 70 hour clock.
  7. Scale violation fines can cost thousands of dollars.
    NOTE:
    Approximately 50% of loads exceeded 40,000 pounds and had to be weighed and tandems adjusted accordingly.
  8. Bridge law violation fines can cost thousands of dollars.
  9. Kingpin to Rear Axle (KPRA) violation fines can cost thousands of dollars.
  10. Not having proper permits can cost thousands of dollars in fines.
  11. Strict shipper/receiver rules:
    EXAMPLE 1:
    Shipper refused empty trailer because there was a strip of powdery substance on the floor and required that the trailer be taken off property to be swept out.
    Went to Walmart to borrow course broom to sweep out trailer.
    Purchased fine broom in case shipper demanded 100% of dust be removed.
    Shipper then refused that same empty trailer because a strap was hanging in the trailer and required that the trailer be taken off property to remove strap.
    EXAMPLE 2:
    Receiver refused truckload because had arrived late and demanded new load number.
    After acquiring new load number, was told was too early and had to come back 3 hours later.
  12. Tractor had service brake air line leak that was discovered during air brake leak test causing 2 hour delay.
  13. Trailer flat tire discovered during pick up inspection causing 3 hour delay.
  14. Tractor drive tire exploded causing over 3 hour delay.
  15. Road closures.
  16. Detours.
  17. Traffic congestion.
  18. Unmarked roads.
  19. Unmarked addresses.
  20. The author was required to utilize the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine that had not been used for over a year.

THE COST

The list below indicates money received from Schneider during the 4 week CAT program and 3 weeks after acquiring the CDL:

Week 1 (CAT)$358.68
Week 2 (CAT)$360.98
Week 3 (CAT)$611.06
Week 4 (CAT)$305.50
Week 5 (OFF)$0.00
Week 6 (CDL)$719.65
Week 7 (CDL)$877.18
Week 8 (CDL)$919.73
TOTAL:$4,152.78

Of the above, there was $164.45 in travel reimbursements.
Deducting the $2,450.00 for the cost of the CAT program (did not drive for the required 9 months) and subtracting for reimbursements results in $1,538.33. (i.e. $4,152.78 - $2,450.00 - $164.45 = $1,538.33).
Approximately $70.00 of travel was not reimbursed by Schneider (for driving home for weekend during CAT and for final drive home).
Deducting that $70.00 from the $1,538.33 profit results in $1,468.33 (i.e. $1,538.33 - $70.00 = $1,468.33) profit for the full 8 weeks.
Learning about trucking in 2026 was interesting, educational, and priceless.

CONCLUSION

Trucking has changed considerably over the previous 43 years.
Using GPS navigation is much better than having to call the shipper/receiver to get directions.
However, the ELD tablet GPS navigation failed several times a day and had unnecessarily (more than once) navigated off an interstate only to be directed back onto that interstate down the road for no apparent reason.
The collision warning and lane detection systems, which use a combination of radar and camera sensors, improve safety.
Automatic transmissions are an improvement and a pleasure over manual transmissions.
Cruize control is a pleasure to use.
Shippers and receivers now use cell phone texting and QR (Quick Response) codes as a means to communicate information for identifying loads, trailers to drop off and pick up, etcetera.
A cell phone is not just a convenience, but a requirement.
For those who are interested in trucking and who believe they can tolerate the serious and potentially serious issues described above, the author can recommend Schneider.

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