| Professional drivers drive for many | | | | an essential tool for the professional driver. Some |
| reasons-money of course is important but there | | | | enterprising drivers are actually running online |
| are other reasons as well. Independence, the love | | | | businesses right from their cab, to make some |
| of the open road, and the pure fun of driving a | | | | extra income, and in some cases to switch |
| big rig are all reasons that drivers drive. It's also | | | | careers entirely. |
| an important job-trucking is vital to commerce, | | | | Drivers can save time-and a lot of money-by |
| because it forms the backbone of our | | | | using the Internet to find return loads, connecting |
| transportation system and is a critical element of | | | | to shippers in their destination city right online. |
| our economy. Virtually everything that a | | | | Fees, payment arrangements and transportation |
| consumer or business buys or uses has at some | | | | schedules can be worked out from the comfort |
| point been shipped by truck. Professional drivers | | | | of the cab. Paperwork, such as bills of lading, |
| get to enjoy doing something they love, while | | | | invoices and receipts can be scanned and e-mailed |
| playing a major role in everyone's lives. | | | | on the fly, instead of standing around someone's |
| But driving professionally also comes with a price. | | | | office waiting for a copier and a fax machine. |
| A recent study by the Canadian Trucking | | | | Drivers can share personal e-mails with family and |
| Association shows that long-haul drivers are giving | | | | friends to help ease the loneliness. And online |
| up anywhere from 10 to 12 years of their life in | | | | maps with step-by-step driving directions make |
| pursuit of their professional passion. Continuous | | | | transportation to remote or unknown locations a |
| vibrations, noise, emotional stress, breathing bad | | | | breeze. |
| air, a lack of sleep and poor diet all contribute to | | | | When it comes to their health and well-being, |
| this loss. | | | | however, a lot of drivers are forced to draw the |
| So using a tool to eliminate even some of these | | | | line. All of the efficiencies in the world aren't worth |
| problems makes perfect sense for the | | | | anything if your job is killing you. The Internet has |
| professional driver. Enter the over-the-road | | | | enabled many of these transportation |
| Internet. More and more drivers today are turning | | | | professionals to find other work, in the form of |
| to the Internet to make their lives easier, while | | | | online business opportunities that make it feasible |
| making more money. A laptop on a specially | | | | to start a new business while they continue to |
| designed stand is now a standard fixture-and a | | | | work as a driver. Many drivers choose to start an |
| vital piece of equipment-in the cabs of big rigs | | | | Internet-based business part-time, while still hitting |
| everywhere. Affordable wireless access-today, | | | | the open road. |
| available just about anywhere-makes the Internet | | | | |