From the days of ox-drawn wagons to modern times, toll roads have stirred controversy
If you’ve been around a while, you probably remember the days in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and beyond, when “stop-and-pay” toll booths were a fixture
Kris Rutherford
- About Kris Rutherford
- Since retiring from a career as an outdoor recreation professional from the State of Arkansas, Kris Rutherford has worked as a freelance writer and, with his wife, owns and publishes a small Northeast Texas newspaper, The Roxton Progress. Kris has worked as a ghostwriter and editor and has authored seven books of his own. He became interested in the trucking industry as a child in the 1970s when his family traveled the interstates twice a year between their home in Maine and their native Texas. He has been a classic country music enthusiast since the age of nine when he developed a special interest in trucking songs.
Posts by Kris Rutherford
Second Trump administration eyes human resources practices
Before President Donald Trump began his second term in March, he made it clear he had a lot of executive orders up his sleeve. Many
FMCSA’s new motor carrier registration system is designed to prevent fraud and identity theft
From identity theft to outright cargo heists, fraud is a growing concern in the freight industry. In an effort to stem the fraud epidemic, the
Ray Benson hauls the load for Asleep at the Wheel
It’s not often you’ll hear me talk about a Jewish native of Philadelphia carved out his mark as one of the most noted western swing
Back to basics: Monitoring driver records is key to avoiding CDL disqualifications
What makes a good driver? It’s a question many recruiters and fleet managers struggle to answer. Whether you’re seeking to hire new drivers or retain
From ancient Rome to modern highways: The history of the fifth wheel
It’s one of the most important inventions in the history of trucking: The fifth wheel bears the brunt of cargo weight as it’s transferred from
Comedienne Lulu Roman gained fame on country music’s longest-running TV show
In the 1970s, Northern New England was a virtual country music desert. I should know; I lived there at the time. Sure, we had a
After nearly half a century, Houston ammonia ‘incident’ still one of most infamous trucking accidents in US history
When truckers are surveyed about the most difficult U.S. cities to drive through, Houston often ranks near the top of the list, with drivers jockeying
Is your fleet future-ready? Change management helps ensure success as carriers shift to technology-based decisions
Change is seldom an easy endeavor, and when technology is involved, gaining acceptance throughout an organization can be difficult. After all, while computers are good
The human factor: AI can be a helpful tool in analyzing fleet safety but personal communication is vital
Driver safety and risk mitigation are at a crossroads. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is equipping carriers with increasing options to employ technology
Bill Boyd: This silver screen cowboy grew up in my own backyard
A number of young fans of legendary western actors and singing cowboys grew up in Roxton, Texas, in the mid-20th century — my parents among
Guy Clark: This homegrown Texan made listeners appreciate their tomatoes
Guy Clark (1941-2016) hailed from the West Texas town of Monahans, about midway between two other West Texas towns, Odessa and Pecos. According to Guy,
Cash is king: Planning and structure are keys to thriving in a recovering economy
Economists and industry analysts in the logistics sector are optimistic these days. After several years of a freight recession, they see a light at the
Tornado season is here: These tips could save your life
If anyone doubts that severe weather season is upon us, all they have to do is take a look at what happened in the eastern
‘Queen of Rockabilly’ Wanda Jackson thrilled fans with sassy growled vocals
She might not be the most recognizable country star today, but at one time Wanda Jackson was a pioneer on the country music scene, particularly
Poised for recovery: Mergers & acquisitions on pace for normalization in 2025
The freight recession that gripped the transportation and logistics (T&L) industry for the past 32 months is fading, and analysts in the mergers and acquisitions
Contemporary recording artist Phil Vassar provides long line of ‘classic country’
Phil Vassar first appeared on the country music scene in the late 1990s. That doesn’t exactly place him in my category of “classic” country. However,
From the racetrack to the US highway system: Carl Fisher paved the way for commercial transportation
Ever heard of Carl G. Fisher? If the answer is “no,” let me ask another question: Have you ever heard of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2-hit wonder: Leroy Van Dyke’s career helped define country music
When discussing the names of legendary country performers of the mid-20th century, chances are the name Leroy Van Dyke doesn’t immediately come to mind. Van
Trucking History: Alexander Winton’s car-hauler preceded Charles Fruehauf’s trailer by nearly 2 decades
Charles Fruehauf is widely credited as the father of the semi-trailer as it is used today in American trucking — and rightly so. After all,