Today’s Pickup: The President and his truck

Good day,

Everyone remembers the image of President Donald Trump acting like a big kid behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler this spring. Well, it turns out, the image was just a small portion of Trump’s excitement that day when he met with trucking leaders.

Buzzfeed’s David Mack has turned that day into a short book, The President and the Big Boy Truck – designed for kids of all ages.

“A fun day in the life of our Commander-in-Chief, David Mack’s The President and the Big Boy Truck is a fun read for all ages that shares the story of a special day for the President and his love of trucks,” reads an editorial review by Paste Magazine. “Made in the Great United States of America, this book has high stepping illustrations that make it a wonderful piece to share with friends and family. Made in the Great United States of America, this board book edition is the perfect size for little hands. Buzzfeed’s David Mack has turned Trump’s big day into an actual children’s book—and the kids love it! It’s simple and kid-friendly…”

The book is available on Amazon for $9.99.

Did you know?

A USA Today investigation into port trucking in California found that “since 2010, at least 1,150 port truck drivers have filed claims in civil court or with the California Department of Industrial Relations’ enforcement arm.” In those cases, 97% have been ruled in favor of the trucker.

Quotable:

“Our mission will be to create nutritious options that are easy to carry and easy to eat – that criteria tends to be top of mind for most travelers, but hard to come by on the road.”

– Tim Love, chef, on the type of food items he will create for a line of products for Pilot Flying J locations.

In other news:

Funding still an issue for infrastructure plan

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told a House committee yesterday that the administration is still trying to determine how best to fund the $200 billion Trump wants to commit to his $1 trillion infrastructure improvement plan. (Transport Topics)

A 10 mpg International?

An International truck dealer in Tennessee has provided tweaks to an International model, hoping it will eventually get to 10 mpg in real-world operation. (Heavy Duty Trucking)

Is the port system rigged against truckers?

A USA Today investigative article highlights truckers working in the ports, and questions whether the system for port truckers is designed for them to fail. (USA Today)