The Only Truckers Income Resources You Will Ever Need

The United States has been obsessed with finances ever since the U.S. economy tanked out on us in 2008. Billionaires still made billions, but we hard-working folk were left holding the bag of, well, nothing. The trucking industry has been hit particularly hard. Transportation companies and owner-operators can barely afford to keep the rigs fueled and on the road. Despite reports of driver shortages to the contrary, many truckers are struggling to make money and worried about becoming another unemployment statistic. So, how to you survive economic crisis? Proper financial planning using reliable truckers income resources.

• Rochester Institute of Technology: Financial Planning Basics – This guideline provides helpful information on how to design and maintain a personal finance plan.

“Money makes the world go round.” This old saying has more truth to it than people realize. Money drives an economy and an economy keeps a nation healthy. In today’s global financial markets, an unhealthy nation doesn’t just affect its own citizens; it affects the world around it. I doubt very seriously that the European Union is exactly thrilled with us right now. Our financial crisis pretty much triggered their financial crisis and here we all are… stuck in financial crisis. Hooray!

• Global Issues: Global Financial Crisis – This website provides a detailed accounting, with links, about the U.S. and global financial crisis.

So, how do you know what’s really going on with our debt and the nation’s overall financial health? I mean, seriously, how long can the U.S. remain in trillions of dollars worth of debt while the president and Congress dig their donkey and elephant heels in and fight, well, because half are donkeys and half are elephants! Are they really trying to find a solution to the economy and the nation’s debt, or are they just trying to see which party can wield more power! What a bunch of, you know, the other word for donkeys! Sorry, I digress…

• Brillig.com: U.S. National Debt Clock – Warning! This link is a bit disturbing as it reports the amount of the U.S. national debt in real-time. Yep. We are trillions of dollars in debt!

Anyway, keeping up with the U.S. economy, the crisis – which is supposedly over, although I think many people might disagree with those reports – and our national debt is critical to your own financial health and can be done one of two ways. You certainly read about it in the papers and hear about it in the news, but these reports, although probably accurate for the most part, generally steer toward the left or to the right, which doesn’t always help because the information isn’t completely unbiased. I prefer to get my information straight from the horse’s mouth… and hope, I dare say, that it is accurate. The U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Recovery Act all have websites designed to keep Americans informed of where we’re at financially and how our money is being spent to rebuild the U.S. economy.

• U.S. Department of the Treasury – The Treasury Department’s website gives readers information on the happenings at the U.S. Treasury and investment opportunities in bonds.
• U.S. Department of Commerce – The Department of Commerce reports the nation’s commercial and economic health.
• Recovery.gov: Tracking the Money – Find out how the funds in the U.S. Recovery Act are doing in our rebuilding efforts.

But what about personal finances, retirement planning and investing for you specifically? You know, truckers income resources! Proper planning is critical to everyone’s, including a trucker’s, overall income and financial health. Again, it is essentially wise to get some information directly from the government. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is in charge of regulating the investment markets. The Federal Reserve is in charge of regulating the banking industry. True, both of these agencies came under some heavy-duty, and probably justifiable, fire during the financial crisis, but they still have beneficial information on how to invest your money safely and what to avoid when investing. The Federal Trade Commission is another great resource, as is MyMoney.gov, the federal government’s personal finance education page.

• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Office of Investor Education and Advocacy – Check out the SEC’s education page to learn all about safe and smart investing.
• Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve – The U.S. banking system is regulated by the Federal Reserve and this link provides the latest banking updates.
• Federal Trade Commission – The FTC is the consumer financial protection bureau. Along with the SEC, here is where you can learn about scams and other money dangers.
• MyMoney.gov – Learn how to save and invest your money from this informative website.

This is not to say that there aren’t plenty of great private financial resources out there, too. There are! Just look at The Wall Street Journal. It’s been reporting the financial goings-on on Wall Street since 1889! Plus, there are plenty of other websites that make it their mission to specifically educate people on how to properly invest and save their money for ultimate financial health. Investing and finance does not discriminate. Money smarts is not reserved for the “suits” who live on Wall Street. Nope! Just because you’ve spared yourself that life of stress and, well, business suits, doesn’t mean you don’t need solid financial resources, too.

• The Wall Street Journal – Reporting finances for over a century, The Wall Street Journal is America’s premier financial newspaper.
• CNN Money: Personal Finance – CNN Money has excellent educational resources for personal finance, especially its Money 101 articles.
• USA Today: Personal Finance – USA Today also boasts a comprehensive personal finance section with up-to-date information and educative resources.

What about your health? It’s almost more important than your money, right? Because if you aren’t healthy, well, you can’t exactly be out there long-hauling and making money. I, and just about everyone else out there, could dedicate about 100 blogs to Obamacare. What a controversy! But, whether you love the idea or hate it, the bottom line Obamacare is here and, well you have to admit, socialized medicine has worked successfully in other nations for many, many years. You need a good resource to understand Obamacare, though, and how it affects you physically and financially. You also need good resources to understand healthcare as a whole, to keep you physically fit and trucking for a good long time.

• Healthcare.gov: The Healthcare Law and You – Learn about Obamacare and how it impacts you and your family’s healthcare planning.
• The National Institutes of Health – This link is packed with information on how to stay healthy as well as links to individual healthcare sections.
• The Mayo Clinic – The Mayo Clinic is one of the nation’s greatest medical research centers. This website gives information on just about any health-related concern.

You are special, though. Truckers are special, and very, very important to the U.S. economy. But, hey, we know that, right? It would just be nice if the other drivers out on the road and, well, everyone knew that as well! There are resources out there geared directly toward truckers and so they should be. You need to know your industry and how it’s regulated by the federal government. You also need to know your industry’s financial outlook – what can you expect to be making 10 years from now? Where are the best places to earn money as a trucker? There are some industry-related truckers income resources that will help you out when it comes to your specific needs.

• U.S. Department of Transportation: Trucking and Motorcoaches – Find out what the DOT is doing for the trucking industry from its Web page.
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – Specific to you, the truck driver, the FMCSA gives visitors all they need to know about the rules, health and safety of the trucking industry.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers – What does BLS say about the future of truck driving? Find out here.

By Edward Green.