From the Yard
Driver stories, freight insights, and dispatches from the Laufer team in Hartford, WI.
What Is Drop and Hook Trucking?
Drop and hook means a driver drops the trailer they arrived with and hooks to one that is already loaded and waiting, then leaves. Nobody sits at a dock while freight is loaded.
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What Is a Freight Charge?
A freight charge is what a carrier bills you to move a load from one place to another. On a truckload shipment it is built from three parts: linehaul, fuel surcharge and accessorials.
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From Retirement to Trainer: Joe's Second Career at Laufer
Joe came to Laufer after retirement to fulfill a 40-year interest in trucking. Hear from our driver trainer on what makes a safe driver and why he stays.
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How Many Pallets Fit in a 53’ Trailer?
A 53’ dry van holds 26 standard 48-by-40-inch pallets in a single floor layer, loaded straight. Turning the pallets can raise that up to 30 and a pinwheel pattern reaches 28.
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Flatbed vs Conestoga: A Driver's Guide
Flatbed vs Conestoga from the driver's seat: tarping, securement, physical demands, and pay. See which open-deck job fits the driver you are.
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What Does FCFS Mean in Trucking?
FCFS stands for first come, first served. On an FCFS load there is no scheduled appointment window: the receiver works trucks in the order they arrive.
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From Remodeling to the Road: Michael's First Year at Laufer
Michael Peters left kitchen and bath remodeling for a CDL and a Laufer truck. Less than a year in — and now running local out of Hartford — he talks about the hardest part of the transition, why home-daily matters, and the support that makes the first year work.
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LTL, Partial, and FTL Shipping: What's the Difference and What Can Laufer Accommodate?
LTL, partial vs FTL shipping explained: when to ship less-than-truckload, when to book a full truckload, the cost and speed trade-offs, and where partial fits.
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Trailer Types: A Complete Guide
The main semi truck trailer types are dry van, flatbed, step deck, Conestoga, and more. Compare specs, uses, and how to choose the right trailer.
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Dry vans, flatbeds and Conestogas: When to Use Each
Dry vans, flatbeds and Conestogas: which trailer fits your freight? Compare loading, weather protection, and cost to choose the right one.
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Best Trailer for Hauling Steel: Laufer Has The Right Equipment
The best trailer for hauling steel depends on the steel. Compare flatbeds, conestogas and dry vans, and learn more about how steel coils are secured for transport.
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Wisconsin Bridge Laws and Trailer Tandem Regulations
Bridge laws tie legal truck weight to axle spacing. See the federal bridge formula, axle limits, tandem sliding, and Wisconsin's seasonal weight rules.
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What's a Conestoga, and Why Are Laufer's Different?
A conestoga is a flatbed with a retractable cover for side, top, and crane loading without hand-tarping. See when to use one — and why Laufer's are spec'd taller than the industry standard.
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Regional vs Local Trucking: What's the Difference at Laufer?
Regional vs. local at Laufer Trucking explained: home time, pay, and how to choose the driving job that fits your life.
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How to Choose a Trucking Company in Wisconsin
How to choose a trucking company: check asset-based vs broker, equipment, safety record, and communication. A shipper's vetting guide for Wisconsin freight.
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What Home-Daily Trucking Actually Looks Like
Home-daily trucking means home every night. See what the workday is really like, the trade-offs, and how to tell if a carrier truly runs home daily.
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Five Years on the Flatbed: Why Dan Stays at Laufer
Dan has driven flatbed out of Hartford for five years — hauling steel and high-value CNC machinery on the lanes between southeast Wisconsin and Chicagoland and the Midwest. Here's why he stays.
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Picking the Right Spot: Why Andre Drives Part-Time at Laufer
Andre is in his early 60s and semi-retired. He chose Laufer for the local lanes, the maintenance, and the part-time arrangement that actually works on both sides — 2 to 5 days a week out of Hartford.
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30 Years on the Road: Why Raul Drives for Laufer
Raul has driven nearly 30 years, almost 9 of them at Laufer. A genetic lab assistant turned trucker, his eighth-day on the job crash, why he likes the rain, and what makes Laufer stick.
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Getting Off OTR: How to Transition to a Local Driving Job
Ready to get off OTR? How to transition to a local driving job: what you need, what changes, the pay trade-off, and how to find a true home-daily seat.
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First Year as a CDL Driver: What to Expect
Your first year as a CDL driver: what to expect, common surprises, how to choose a first carrier, and honest expectations on pay and home time.
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