The website is getting a bit of a redesign

[Mike]

Quite some time back, we installed a content management system (wordpress). From there, I installed tools to try and make Wordpress function with Xenforo, complete with merging membership databases and automatic thread creations for articles created in wordpress.

In a nutshell, it was a jumbled up mess and resulted in spam like I had never expected (coming from the wordpress side).

Now, we are going to be installing an article system that works directly with Xenforo. It is a third party addon that has been around for 10 years now, created by a developer who has been maintaining xenforo addons for longer than that.

Just a word of warning, I have pulled articles from the wordpress side of the website before it gets removed, and those articles will be recreaed in the new system, so they will be showing as new. A few have been updated with more relevant content.

This new system will work seamlessly within the Xenforo forum software

More about this will be posted in regards to this once it is 100% up and running.

 

[Mike]

Ok, the new changes are mostly in place other than some cosmetic changes as I get them figured out.

What we have done is installed an article system that integrates perfectly with the Xenforo forum software, while at the same time keeping the two things relatively separate.

The homepage is now where the articles will show up, forums homepage is at /forums. Comments can be made on the articles basically the same way you comment on a thread with a few appearance differences.

The two systems appear to be operating nicely independent of each other, so adding in old articles to this new system shouldn't cause a big disruption in forum activity.

 

[Mike]

Over the past couple of days, I have also purged almost half the content on the forum, and I may purge further just to get the content cleaned up.

By cleaned up, I mean removal of old content that had little to no replies and was not getting any views. Just clutter than potentially takes away from better content within the forum.

I am thinking about setting up a tagging system and running a program that will go back and retroactively tag all old threads and assist with the tagging of new threads. Just something to make content more disoverable outside of doing a search. Not 100% decided on this.

Another thing I am considering is a program what will help suggest thread titles and also assist in creating a thread or post for those who want or need the assistance. This would help activity through better search engine results as thread titles would become more descriptive, possibly getting more people to see in in google searches.

 

[Mike]

News Forum: You will see a link in the forum for "Trucking Industry News". This is now a link that takes you to the news article category as all news will be posted in article format and to appear on the front page of the website. This is where I plan on focusing the majority of my time here going forward.

 

[Mike]

Also, there were only three news articles in the forum, as I was putting them there before the decision to go with the article platform we are using now. Those three articles were copied and put in the new area, so any replies are now gone because I can't simply move a thread over into the article area.

Below is a link to one of the articles:

Article 'EPA rescinds the 2009 “endangerment finding.” What it could mean for trucking.'

A major shift just hit federal emissions policy. On February 12, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule rescinding the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding. That 2009 finding has been the legal foundation for federal greenhouse gas standards applied to vehicles and...

• Freight Relocators
• Feb 16, 2026
• 2 min read
• Category: News

 

[Duck]

By cleaned up, I mean removal of old content that had little to no replies and was not getting any views. Just clutter than potentially takes away from better content within the forum.

Birchy is gonna be pissed

 

[Mike]

Birchy is gonna be pissed

Once he sneaks through the gate with a new ID.

 

[gearjammer]

I actually read a few of the articles and found that they were pretty interesting and informative!!!!

 

[Mike]

I actually read a few of the articles and found that they were pretty interesting and informative!!!!

These are actually articles that have been on the website as far back as 2024. They are being updated a bit as they are reposted.

 

[Mike]

The next upgrade is now complete! Here’s what’s new:

• Title suggestions for new threads

When you start a new thread and type at least 50 characters, you’ll see three suggested titles you can choose from. I may adjust that 50-character requirement in the future, but that’s the default for now.

• Suggested rewrites for posts

You can now get suggested rewrites for your replies or the body of a new thread. This can help with spelling, sentence structure, and overall clarity. It may be especially helpful for anyone who has trouble putting their thoughts into text the way they’d like. You can choose the tone of the suggested rewrite: friendly, sarcastic, humorous, or professional.

• Thread summary

A summary of the thread will now appear at the top, making it easier to quickly understand what the discussion is about.

• Translations

There is now an option to translate posts written in other languages. English speakers reading English posts won’t need this, but if someone posts in another language, it may be translatable. For people who don’t understand English very well, this might help them read and participate more easily. None of these features are forced. The buttons are there if you want to use them; if not, they’re easy to ignore.

 

[Mike]

The above is using the AI suggestion and selecting professional. Below is what I actually typed:

Ok, the next upgrade is complete.

New options you will see is the ability to have title options suggested to you on a new thread. Three options will be made available to you. This feature doesn't work until you have a minimum of 50 characters posted in the thread. I may adjust that number, but that is how it comes out of the box.

Also, there is an option to suggest a rewrite to what you post in a reply or the body of a new thread. This helps in correcting spelling, sentence structure, etc. Some people who struggle a little getting their thoughts properly into text may benefit from this. You can select friendly, sarcastic, humorous, and professional when getting your suggested rewrite.

Next, we have a thread summary. you will find this at the top of a thread.

Finally, we have translations. English speaking people who are reading posts in English won't benefit from this. If someone posts in another language, it might be translatable. For people coming in here that don't understand english really well, it might help them read the post.

None of this stuff is forced in any way. The buttons are there if you want to use them, if not, they are easily ignored.

 

[Mike]

¡La siguiente actualización ya está completa! Esto es lo nuevo:

• Sugerencias de títulos para nuevos hilos

Cuando inicies un hilo nuevo y escribas al menos 50 caracteres, verás tres títulos sugeridos entre los que podrás elegir. Es posible que ajuste ese requisito de 50 caracteres en el futuro, pero ese es el valor predeterminado por ahora.

• Reescrituras sugeridas para mensajes

Ahora puedes obtener reescrituras sugeridas para tus respuestas o para el cuerpo de un hilo nuevo. Esto puede ayudar con la ortografía, la estructura de las oraciones y la claridad general. Puede ser especialmente útil para cualquiera que tenga dificultades para poner por escrito sus ideas tal como le gustaría. Puedes elegir el tono de la reescritura sugerida: amistoso, sarcástico, humorístico o profesional.

• Resumen del hilo

Ahora aparecerá un resumen del hilo en la parte superior, lo que facilita entender rápidamente de qué trata la discusión.

• Traducciones

Ahora hay una opción para traducir mensajes escritos en otros idiomas. Las personas que hablan inglés y leen mensajes en inglés no necesitarán esto, pero si alguien publica en otro idioma, es posible que se pueda traducir. Para quienes no entienden muy bien el inglés, esto podría ayudarlos a leer y participar más fácilmente. Ninguna de estas funciones es obligatoria. Los botones están ahí si quieres usarlos; si no, es fácil ignorarlos.
Language: Spanish

 

[Mike]

Следующее обновление завершено! Вот что нового:

• Предложения заголовков для новых тем

Когда вы создаёте новую тему и набираете как минимум 50 символов, вам будут предложены три варианта заголовка на выбор. В будущем я могу изменить это требование в 50 символов, но пока это значение используется по умолчанию.

• Предлагаемые переработки сообщений

Теперь вы можете получать варианты переписывания ваших ответов или текста новой темы. Это может помочь с орфографией, построением предложений и общей ясностью текста. Это может быть особенно полезно тем, кому сложно выразить свои мысли в письменной форме так, как им бы хотелось. Вы можете выбрать тон предлагаемой переработки: дружелюбный, саркастичный, юмористический или профессиональный.

• Краткое содержание темы

Теперь вверху будет отображаться краткое содержание темы, что облегчит быстрое понимание сути обсуждения.

• Переводы

Появилась возможность переводить сообщения, написанные на других языках. Тем, кто читает англоязычные сообщения, это не понадобится, но если кто-то пишет на другом языке, его сообщение может быть переведено. Для людей, плохо владеющих английским, это может помочь легче читать и участвовать в обсуждениях.

Ни одна из этих функций не является обязательной. Кнопки есть, если вы хотите ими пользоваться; если нет — их легко игнорировать.
Language: Russian

 

[Duck]

You can now get suggested rewrites for your replies or the body of a new thread. This can help with spelling, sentence structure, and overall clarity.

Great. Now Birchy will be able to blend right in undetected.

 

[Duck]

Very first attempt to use it:

 

[Duck]

Хорошо, что это переводится с русского. Теперь у нас будет больше тем о том, как починить поврежденный стекловолоконный кузов с помощью аккумуляторной дрели и набора пластиковых стяжек.

 

[Mike]

Very first attempt to use it:

View attachment 98100

where did that happen? is it still happening?

 

[Duck]

where did that happen? is it still happening?

Right here in this thread, just now when I hit "translate" below my last post.

The first one was when I pasted a random paragraph from one of your posts, into a new thread to test the thread title suggestion thing.

It's like the default setting is zero usage of the AI for whatever usergroup I'm in.

 

[Mike]

Right here in this thread, just now when I hit "translate" below my last post.

The first one was when I pasted a random paragraph from one of your posts, into a new thread to test the thread title suggestion thing.

It's like the default setting is zero usage of the AI for whatever usergroup I'm in.

Is it continuing to happen?

 

[Mike]

It's like the default setting is zero usage of the AI for whatever usergroup I'm in.

That might have been the case. I just modified it.