Summer is very obviously here, so we wanted to remind everyone of some basic summer maintenance to keep your truck in top working order! We once again turned to our Head of Maintenance, Lou Charette and he shared the regular maintenance tasks drivers should consider this season. Please keep in mind, while you can probably check some of these items yourself, you may need to talk to a paid mechanic for others. 

Summer is very obviously here, so we wanted to remind everyone of some basic summer maintenance to keep your truck in top working order! We once again turned to our Head of Maintenance, Lou Charette and he shared the regular maintenance tasks drivers should consider this season. Please keep in mind, while you can probably check some of these items yourself, you may need to talk to a paid mechanic for others. 

Ask someone who has had to learn the hard way, and they will definitely tell you that not all dispatch teams are created equal. There are many ways that trucking dispatch affects drivers out on the road and during home time, so it is a great idea to understand how dispatch works before getting behind the wheel for a company. Here is an explanation of the various styles of trucking dispatch, and some of the ways your dispatch team can impact your driving experience.

Ask someone who has had to learn the hard way, and they will definitely tell you that not all dispatch teams are created equal. There are many ways that trucking dispatch affects drivers out on the road and during home time, so it is a great idea to understand how dispatch works before getting behind the wheel for a company. Here is an explanation of the various styles of trucking dispatch, and some of the ways your dispatch team can impact your driving experience.

In late April the South Dakota Trucking Association announced they had selected two new members to join their prestigious Road Team. 

We are proud to announce that one of the newest Road Team Captains is Jeff Eschen, one of our owner operators! Jeff has been at K & J Trucking for 8 years, but his history with trucking goes back much further.

We interviewed Jeff to learn more about his history with trucking and why he is passionate to be a part of the Road Team, and what he hopes to contribute!

In late April the South Dakota Trucking Association announced they had selected two new members to join their prestigious Road Team. 

We are proud to announce that one of the newest Road Team Captains is Jeff Eschen, one of our owner operators! Jeff has been at K & J Trucking for 8 years, but his history with trucking goes back much further.

We interviewed Jeff to learn more about his history with trucking and why he is passionate to be a part of the Road Team, and what he hopes to contribute!

At K & J Trucking one of our primary passions is to help owner operators succeed in the business. There are several foundational concepts that help trucking business owners build a path to success, and one of these is understanding the concept of variable costs.

At K & J Trucking one of our primary passions is to help owner operators succeed in the business. There are several foundational concepts that help trucking business owners build a path to success, and one of these is understanding the concept of variable costs.

We keep waiting to post a spring checklist because it hasn't felt much like spring here in South Dakota. However, with the weather finally perking up a bit, we sat down with our Head of Maintenance, Lou Charette and asked what regular maintenance tasks drivers should prioritize in this season. Some of these will be items you can easily check yourself, others may require paid shop help, but all are important. 

We keep waiting to post a spring checklist because it hasn't felt much like spring here in South Dakota. However, with the weather finally perking up a bit, we sat down with our Head of Maintenance, Lou Charette and asked what regular maintenance tasks drivers should prioritize in this season. Some of these will be items you can easily check yourself, others may require paid shop help, but all are important. 

If you're a company driver the thought of starting your own trucking business and becoming an owner operator can be daunting. And honestly, it should be a little daunting. When you become an independent contractor you take on a lot of risk as a business owner. Owning your own business could mean debt piling up, unanswered questions, bad business deals, and stress. However, you also have a huge opportunity to grow your income, be your own boss, and even build a fleet of trucks. It could also mean building a legacy to hand to your children.

If you're a company driver the thought of starting your own trucking business and becoming an owner operator can be daunting. And honestly, it should be a little daunting. When you become an independent contractor you take on a lot of risk as a business owner. Owning your own business could mean debt piling up, unanswered questions, bad business deals, and stress. However, you also have a huge opportunity to grow your income, be your own boss, and even build a fleet of trucks. It could also mean building a legacy to hand to your children.

There is a saying out there that we've heard, "You will get sued." It is a bit dark and depressing, but in a litigious industry like trucking, it can be more accurate than we would like to admit. The point behind the saying, of course, is that it is better to prepare for the worst in case the worse should happen.

For owner operators or owners of trucking fleets, we would like to add to that saying.

"And you might get audited." 

An audit can be terrifying if you haven't maintained healthy bookkeeping habits. And unfortunately, if you're holding an audit notice from the IRS it is a little late to start good habits. There are, however, plenty of things you can do to proactively prepare for the possibility of an audit in case you are selected by the IRS. 

There is a saying out there that we've heard, "You will get sued." It is a bit dark and depressing, but in a litigious industry like trucking, it can be more accurate than we would like to admit. The point behind the saying, of course, is that it is better to prepare for the worst in case the worse should happen.

For owner operators or owners of trucking fleets, we would like to add to that saying.

"And you might get audited." 

An audit can be terrifying if you haven't maintained healthy bookkeeping habits. And unfortunately, if you're holding an audit notice from the IRS it is a little

Anna McDaugale never thought she would end up living her life in a truck... and loving it! McDaugale, 40, and her husband John, 43 started driving for K & J Trucking as a team during the fall of 2018. 

We sat down with Anna to talk about how she made the leap into the trucking life, what it is like being a female trucker, and how she and John manage life on the road as a driving team and husband and wife. 

Anna McDaugale never thought she would end up living her life in a truck... and loving it! McDaugale, 40, and her husband John, 43 started driving for K & J Trucking as a team during the fall of 2018. 

We sat down with Anna to talk about how she made the leap into the trucking life, what it is like being a female trucker, and how she and John manage life on the road as a driving team and husband and wife. 

This month we had a special visit from some boys we hope are the next generation of truck drivers! Gavin, age 10, and his brother Emmett, age 8, came to K & J to visit their Aunt Cynthia who is a dispatcher. While they were here, one of our amazing drivers, Mike Fischer, offered to take their family out for a quick ride! We grabbed a camera and followed their journey! Check it out below!

This month we had a special visit from some boys we hope are the next generation of truck drivers! Gavin, age 10, and his brother Emmett, age 8, came to K & J to visit their Aunt Cynthia who is a dispatcher. While they were here, one of our amazing drivers, Mike Fischer, offered to take their family out for a quick ride! We grabbed a camera and followed their journey! Check it out below!

K & J Trucking is celebrating their 40th anniversary of incorporation this month. In the cold February days of 1979, Dave and Sharon Koch and their investment partner Don Jerke signed paperwork to officially become a business.

This past summer, Sharon was awarded the 2018 Women Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Award by the Small Business Administration for her exemplary work in a male-dominated industry. Dave and Sharon built K & J Trucking from nothing; and did it by treating people right. 

This is the story of the early days of K & J Trucking.

K & J Trucking is celebrating their 40th anniversary of incorporation this month. In the cold February days of 1979, Dave and Sharon Koch and their investment partner Don Jerke signed paperwork to officially become a business.

This past summer, Sharon was awarded the 2018 Women Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Award by the Small Business Administration for her exemplary work in a male-dominated industry. Dave and Sharon built K & J Trucking from nothing; and did it by treating people right. 

This is the story of the early days of K & J Trucking.