tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40044850538605182452024-03-15T21:09:42.775-04:00Truck Driver Blog Trucking tips for truckers and potential truck drivers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-28934886600126417642015-06-25T12:06:00.000-04:002015-06-25T12:06:00.141-04:00Truck Driver Trucking Employment Options<div id="article-content" style="font-family: 'Avenir Next', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">As a <i>new truck driver</i>, you have many trucking employment options that you can choose from. As a new driver, you are probably excited to hit the highways and start your career as a trucker. Before you jump into a cab of a truck, you should take time to fully understand your options. Long hauling trucking or, is the way many new drivers start off their career. For many, long hauling trucking is their first choice, but for others it is a stepping stone to eventually find local trucking jobs with smaller companies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Just like any other job, when you are new, you have to start somewhere. Becoming a truck driver is no different. The reasons that new drivers start with long hauling trucking or over-the-road (OTR) trucking vary, but for the majority, it is a requirement that must be met before driving a truck for a small company and many local trucking jobs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Most of the shipping and delivery companies that provide local runs require a minimum of two years of truck driving experience. The smaller trucking companies and many trucking companies that only do local runs, require the minimum 2 years of experience per their insurance requirements. It is more economical to insure a truck driver that has 2 years of experience and with a clean record, than it is to insure a new non-experienced truck driver. Also some insurance companies will not insure new drivers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When you are considering your employment options, you should weigh them carefully. When deciding on a driving job, you should research and check out each trucking company. If possible, try to locate feedback from actual truck drivers for that company. Another aspect to consider is the condition of their trucks. A trucking company that does not properly maintain their equipment will cost you time and money while you are out trying to earn money.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Properly maintained vehicles also reduce your chances of getting a ticket as you pass through DOT inspections. Finding work as a truck driver is fairly easy to find because shipping companies are constantly hiring. Some employer's offers may include incentives if you sign on as a new driver. You will need to use caution when accepting a "sign on" incentive. Incentives normally come with a hitch, such as agreeing that you will drive for a certain number of years. This can be good or bad. Shipping companies that offer truck drivers an incentive, often have a very high turnover rate. You will want to ask yourself, why their drivers leave so often.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The best advice to any new <i><a href="http://cb39.org/truck-driving-job.html" target="_blank">truck driver</a></i> that is contemplating a certain company or someone considering a new company is to decide which trucking company will best help you fulfill your goal. Whether it is hauling containers, flatbed hauling or boxed trailer hauling, finding truck driver jobs is plentiful throughout the country. There will be many options available to you and there are several great companies that will help you start your career as a truck driver.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">If you would like to read more about trucking or find more information about tools, companies, truck stops please <a href="http://trucker.jettam1.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click Here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Harry_Dickson">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Dickson</a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Avenir Next', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5703790</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-30007740302659062912015-06-18T12:00:00.000-04:002015-06-18T12:00:14.758-04:00The Truck Drivers Worst Enemy<div id="article-content" style="font-family: 'Avenir Next', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Professional truck drivers have a lot of enemies. Many drivers perceive the DOT as one enemy... and without question it is the general public who looks at trucking as something that is just in their way: a big, slow 18 wheeler creeping up a hill at 25 MPH, making a huge wide turn that cuts them off, a dirty machine that smells of oil and diesel... enemies can even include entire towns or cities that proudly make it known by stating, "Truckers Not Welcome," such as was the case of Greenwich, Connecticut.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The world of the professional over the road truck driver is a secretive one that few on the outside ever experience. Mainly, the trucker talks and converses with other truckers... few else would be able to relate. The nine-to-fiver has no comprehension of how a long haul trucker will run more miles in one year, than they will drive in ten. For those who jump into OTR trucking as a new career... statistics prove that most will only last six months. It takes a ton of stamina to be a professional over the road truck driver... stamina, that most do not possess.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The truck driver will find enemies at nearly every turn... shippers and receivers who will treat them like they are less than dogs... law enforcement telling them that they will have to move their rig, even though they are parked out of the way on some small, forgotten empty lot overgrown with grass and weeds... enemies that even live within their industry itself... lies reported on their DAC report... a disgruntled dispatcher who will "cut" their miles because they refused to haul an illegal load... enemies everywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Professional truckers will talk among themselves at the docks, rest areas and truck stops... talking about the abuses of the industry and keeping these insights quietly to themselves. They cannot let their company catch wind of such discussions... they can't afford to lose their jobs. The veteran driver knows that for every one truck driver that loves their profession... ten more hate it, due to the abuse that continues to survive within the industry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As one trucker said to me a few weeks ago: "The trucking companies own us... we are nothing more than slaves."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I would not go so far as to referring to trucking as slavery, (we can all quit at anytime we want to), but for many thousands and thousands of OTR truckers... they are faced not only with a highly stressful, demanding and tiring vocation... but also with the daily misfortune of having to deal with so many misinformed outsiders who have no understanding of what over the road trucking is all about. Enemies who look at truckers and their big rigs as a nuisance of the roads and something that just simply slows down their ever increasing, fast paced way of life. None of these, however, are the truck driver's worst enemy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I've always had a saying: "There is only right and wrong... and nothing in between." Fighting for a right is a much tougher battle than fighting for an obvious injustice. History proves this. Like water which takes the path of least resistance, it is much easier to join forces with the injustice, than it is to fight against it. How you know that the "right" is gaining ground to winning, is that the voices of the injustice grow louder. Right versus wrong has existed since the time of man and will continue to exist... it is just human nature. There are those in which their sole purpose in life is to argue, attack and to continue spewing hate... even when they know that they are wrong. I could make a post tomorrow about how the sky is blue, and I would be attacked by those who would say, "No... the sky is amethyst." Truth, or the "right" is meaningless to them... their pleasure comes only from continually provoking hate and discord.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Trucking companies in the United States have never worried about a trucker strike. These companies know that the brotherhood of truckers does not exist anymore and that many truck drivers could not get along, together, long enough to form a successful strike. An easy way to prove this is to simply turn on your CB radio and try to have a normal, decent, intelligent, adult-like conversation. You may make it for a few minutes... but it will soon be attacked by other truckers. It does not matter why or how the conversation is attacked, just that it is. It's the world we live in today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It is understandable to have disagreements... it is more understandable to have professional and civil discussions. Yet, there have been truckers who have actually "attacked" a widow of a murdered truck driver: a women who is fighting to bring about a new law that will provide more safe and secured parking for our nation's truck drivers. No professional, civil or adult conversations... but written, verbal attacks against a lady who lost her husband who was a fellow trucker. "Professional" truck drivers filled with jealously and rage because somebody else is doing something of such importance, and it's not them... trucking organizations who came out strong in support of the new bill, only to fall weak and abandoned it when faced with losing their funding from those with special interests in mind. To her, I say forget about them and don't lose any sleep over it. These are the segments of truck drivers and industry "leaders" who prefer to follow the path of least resistance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Fighting... discord... hate... jealously... pride... whatever the reason, a large majority of the nation's truck drivers will continue to follow the easiest path. The thousands of others who are professional and civil... may work quietly in the background or even raise their voices... but they will do it in a manner that shines with their professionalism and commitment to bringing change to an industry that needs change in several areas. There will always be those who will fight and wreak havoc just for the sake of fighting and wreaking havoc... the truck driver's worst enemy is the truck driver.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Anyone who has been in trucking for any length of time knows that trucking is a tough vocation. Over the road trucking is especially rough... hard on the body, the mind and apparently, even the soul. It no doubt has come around due to the hardships of the trucking life. It not only exists in trucking, but sadly, you can witness this fall in human kindness and decency throughout many aspects of our society. Personal attacks have become a past time favorite for many. A large majority of mankind now gains complete satisfaction from launching verbal and textual attacks against anything and anybody, purely for the sake of what they perceive as entertainment. They contribute nothing good or positive to society and they care not to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The simple art of "believing" is nearly dead. When anyone attempts to work for something for the sole purpose of helping, it must be for "other reasons." In today's society, there is absolutely no way that anyone would take on a task for the sole purpose of "helping." That aspect is simply absurd! What the trucking companies have over a large vast of drivers, is that they can all "get along" with one another... they know the chances of this among drivers is next to nil. This is how companies can continue to abuse drivers through the use of the DAC Report... this is how trucking companies can work together to "blackball" a driver from the industry, a control tactic if you will. Together, they are a nationwide "team"... on the contrary, assaults and attacks are launched against drivers by drivers. Obviously, the trucking companies know that they do not have to do anything... the drivers themselves will do the job! The companies understand human nature and use it for their benefit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Over the road trucking can wear you down. Enemies from all sides... the stress, the lifestyle, the demand... and so often the case, another enemy that can creep in if you allow it: cynicism.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Cynicism. This word is actually very interesting. It refers to a group of ancient Greeks called the Cynics, dating back to four B.C. Today, cynicism describes the opinions of those people who see self-interest as the main, primary motive of human behavior, and who fail to believe that anybody does anything simply out of sincerity or virtue. Cynics truly believe that no human being invokes any action of any kind purely out of goodness. Also, the way cynics express themselves, due to this belief, are through sneers and sarcasm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Sad, isn't it? We only have one life to live, which is so short, and one must live it through cynicism and failure to believe in anything right and good... living life by attacking others who are sincere in their goals, only to make themselves look like a "hero" and to bring attention to themselves. Another amazing aspect to this is that so many of them complain on a daily basis, yet will not even attempt to get involved and change things for the better. If things changed, they would no longer have the reasons they need to throw out their sneers and sarcasm. It is an odd characteristic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">For many, over the road trucking has worn them down. On the other hand, those stronger did not allow the OTR life to destroy them and they enjoy the trucking life and prove that it is possible to remain a highly trained professional in a very difficult lifestyle. The life of an over the road trucker can transform you into a bitter, jealous, hate-filled cynic.... but only if you let it. Remember, that the "truck" is not your home... your HOME is your home... remember, other truckers are not your family... your FAMILY is your family... and always remember, that the freight is NEVER more important than those loved ones waiting back at home.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">So, for all of you new CDL students and drivers breaking into the industry... over the road trucking can provide a decent career eventually, but only if you are up to the drastic change in lifestyle. Will you follow the path of least resistance, or maintain the strength to stand up for what is right?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Before entering into the world of long haul trucking, you should answer yourself one question: "Will I be a follower or a leader?" Do not allow yourself to become your worst enemy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the first and original <a href="http://truthabouttrucking.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Truth About Trucking</a>, and host of the number one trucking blog on the net, <a href="http://askthetrucker.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AskTheTrucker</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aubrey_Allen_Smith">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aubrey_Allen_Smith</a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Avenir Next', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3440904</span><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</noscript>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-2411026842350924342015-06-11T08:00:00.000-04:002015-06-11T08:00:07.968-04:00Challenges For Women in Trucking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Each year, about 50,000 new truck
drivers are wanted to keep up with the growing demands of the transport
industry. To fill this demand, the amount of female truck drivers is steadily
rising and there are now more female truck drivers on our roads than ever
before. Not only are women in trucking becoming local drivers but also a
growing number is deciding to become long haul truck drivers.</div>
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Truck driving is a job in which many women make the same kind of salary as
their male counterparts. Some drivers make over $60,000 their first year on the
job. That is better than the first year salaries of most top graduates with
professional academic degrees! As you get expertise and long driving hours,
there's an excellent opportunity to further increase your wages.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<b>How to Begin a Career in Trucking</b><br />
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There are two steps required in your pursuit of getting into the truck driving
profession: training and then getting a commercial driver's license (CDL).
You'll need to locate a school that is located nearby where you live and get registered
in a CDL training class. It is not surprising to see as many as one quarter of
the classroom to be females. In addition to this, many future female truck
drivers appear to out-perform the bulk of their male pupils on written and
actual driving tests! The truth is that women can make for excellent truck
drivers, sometimes arguably even better than their male co-workers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tips
for Choosing a Career in Trucking for Women</b><br />
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You must prepare yourself for the lifestyle you are going to lead once you get
hired. Remember that since you will be traveling long distances to deliver
various things, there will be weeks or days or months when you'll be away from your
family and close friends.<br />
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You also need to take special steps to stay secure. Females should be especially
careful of their security when driving by keeping their doors locked at all
times. Other guidelines require that you don’t wear lavish jewelry, which can
attract petty thieves. In fact, it’s better to avoid using a purse altogether,
and instead use a pocket wallet to hold money or other valuable goods. All in
all, it wouldn’t be a good idea to carry any large sums of money with you as
that can be asking for trouble. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Truck drivers are also notorious for
eating plenty of junk food from truck stops and fast food restaurants. This can
lead to major problems with one’s health including heart disease, high
cholesterol and diabetes. If you're capable of snatching some healthful snacks
like fruits, low sodium products, this can help reduce the possibility of heart
disease and diabetes. <br />
So, do not hesitate to reach your dreams of becoming a female truck driver. Now
is the heyday to get started as so many truck-driving businesses supply many
employment opportunities for both women and men.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-29377216246532616112015-06-04T11:00:00.000-04:002015-06-04T11:00:02.552-04:00North American Freight Numbers - March 2015 <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">BTS Releases March 2015 North American Freight Numbers</span></b></div>
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U.S.-NAFTA
freight totaled $96.1 billion in March 2015 as three out of five
transportation modes – air, rail, and truck – carried more U.S.-NAFTA
freight than in March 2014, according to the TransBorder Freight Data
released today by theU.S. Department
of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by all modes
decreased by 5.3 percent. The value of NAFTA trade by pipeline and
vessel declined in March due to the reduced unit price of mineral fuel
shipments.</div>
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<strong>Freight by Mode</strong></h3>
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In March
2015 compared to March 2014, the value of commodities moving by air grew
by the largest percentage of any mode, 6.0 percent. Rail freight
increased by 1.5 percent and truck freight increased by 0.9 percent.
Vessel freight decreased by 30.3 percent and pipeline freight decreased
by 41.6 percent mainly due to the lower unit price of mineral fuel
shipments.</div>
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Trucks carried 64.0 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and are the most
heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA
partners. Trucks accounted for $30.6 billion of the $51.2 billion of
imports (59.8 percent) and $30.9 billion of the $44.9 billion of exports
(68.9 percent).</div>
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Rail
remained the second largest mode, moving 15.8 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA
freight, followed by vessel, 6.2 percent; pipeline, 5.1 percent; and
air, 4.1 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and
pipeline carried 84.9 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.</div>
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<b>U.S.-Canada Freight</b></h3>
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U.S.-Canada
freight totaled $50.8 billion in March 2015 as one out of five
transportation modes – air – carried more U.S.-Canada freight than in
March 2014. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Canada trade by air
increased by 1.0 percent. Lower
mineral fuel prices contributed to a year-over-year decrease in the
value of rail freight, down 2.9 percent. Mineral fuels are a larger
share of freight moved by vessel, which declined 26.0 percent, and
pipeline down 42.1 percent. A drop in bidirectional trade of vehicles
and parts contributed to a 3.4 percent decline in U.S.-Canada truck
freight over the same time period.</div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Trucks
carried 58.4 percent of the $50.8 billion of freight to and from Canada,
followed by rail, 16.7 percent; pipeline, 9.0 percent; air, 4.9
percent; and vessel, 4.4 percent. The surface transportation modes of
truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.1 percent of the total U.S.-Canada
freight flows.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>U.S.-Mexico Freight</b></h3>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
U.S.-Mexico
freight totaled $45.2 billion in March 2015 as three out of five
transportation modes – air, rail, and truck – carried more U.S.-Mexico
freight than in March 2014. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Mexico air
freight rose 15.7 percent, the largest percentage increase of any mode.
Freight carried by rail increased by 7.5 percent and truck freight
increased by 5.3 percent. Pipeline freight decreased by 32.1 percent and
vessel freight decreased by 32.7 percent, mainly due to lower mineral
fuel prices.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Trucks
carried 70.3 percent of the $45.2 billion of freight to and from Mexico,
followed by rail, 14.9 percent; vessel, 8.2 percent; air, 3.3 percent;
and pipeline, 0.6 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck,
rail and pipeline carried 85.9 percent of the total U.S.-Mexico freight
flows. </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
See <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwNTI4LjQ1MzcwNjIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDUyOC40NTM3MDYyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcyNTA4JmVtYWlsaWQ9YWRtaW5AY2IzOS5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWFkbWluQGNiMzkub3JnJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/bts026_15">BTS Transborder Data Release</a> for summary tables and additional data. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">See </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwNTI4LjQ1MzcwNjIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDUyOC40NTM3MDYyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDcyNTA4JmVtYWlsaWQ9YWRtaW5AY2IzOS5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWFkbWluQGNiMzkub3JnJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://transborder.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/">North American Transborder Freight Data</a> on the BTS website for additional data for surface modes since 1995 and all modes since 2004. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-46609657006824371012015-05-28T08:30:00.000-04:002015-05-28T08:30:02.361-04:00Truck Driver Proves Technology Has Its Limits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBmCt52JcRHIzszdIk8VUPue7zLT-rsVHUL4NZPrQfFnHfHXbpI9dzSfi16UoLqEr4T-NRZhm4CFJ3ZUfVuF3akh_-ZGRug2gi6JB7J-of1XIa0auch7m7kD5u-LlxbCWDr4V86SPo4/s1600/Garmin-nuvi-465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBmCt52JcRHIzszdIk8VUPue7zLT-rsVHUL4NZPrQfFnHfHXbpI9dzSfi16UoLqEr4T-NRZhm4CFJ3ZUfVuF3akh_-ZGRug2gi6JB7J-of1XIa0auch7m7kD5u-LlxbCWDr4V86SPo4/s200/Garmin-nuvi-465.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Technology is a wonderful thing. At the same
time, it does have its limits, as evidenced by a <a href="http://fox4kc.com/2014/11/13/semi-truck-driver-blames-gps-for-getting-big-rig-stuck-on-bike-path-bridge/">truck
driver in Wisconsin</a> who got his 16-ton rig stuck on a footbridge after
allegedly being led astray by his GPS device. Fortunately, there were no
injuries or reports of substantial damage due to the incident, which occurred
on November 11 (2014) in Milwaukee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Official news reports say the 53-year-old truck
driver from Indiana drove his rig across a pedestrian bridge and onto a walking
path before being stopped at the entrance of a second bridge by concrete
barriers. In order to get to the first bridge he had to traverse several
service roads and gravel roadways. Along the way, he damaged several trees, railings,
and cosmetic portions of both bridges. Structurally however, the bridges
remained sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When asked what happened, the driver said his GPS
device led him to take the route he chose. He was cited for reckless driving
and a failure to obey traffic signs. As for his rig, officials had to bring in
a crane because there was not enough space to safely back it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Technology and Carelessness</span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Truck drivers all over the U.S. use GPS devices
to help them find their way. It is important technology that has greatly
improved efficiency and productivity. However, there comes a point when a
driver must ignore GPS information and use common sense. Especially when it
comes to road signs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We can laugh about what happened in Milwaukee
because there were <a href="http://fox59.com/2014/11/13/oops-gps-leads-indiana-truck-driver-onto-foot-bridge-in-wisconsin-park/">no
serious injuries or damage</a>. Nevertheless, the story does underscore the
fact that technology can make us careless. When we rely on technology as a
replacement for common sense, it can often lead us down the wrong road – both
literally and figuratively! In light of this, the trucking industry and
government policy makers should tread very lightly where technology is
concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Treading lightly is especially important with
safety technologies. Where the GPS device is more a matter of convenience,
other types of equipment have everything to do with life and death. For
example, the trucking industry in Great Britain is now in the midst of a debate
over whether or not to fit trucks with technology designed to reduce collisions
between truck and cyclists. The equipment in question utilizes a series of
sensors and alarms intended to reduce accidents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here in the U.S., we are looking at technology
that would help prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel. It involves a
set of cameras, facial recognition software and alarm systems that can monitor
whether or not a driver's eyes are open. An alarm sounds if they are closed for
over a specific amount of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In both cases, the technology has very valid uses
that could help to reduce accidents. Yet neither should be implemented without
addressing the drivers themselves. Think of it in terms of the arms race of the
1980s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">During this period in world history, the U.S. and
Soviet Union were continually increasing and upgrading warfare capabilities.
The idea was to never have to use the weapons they were developing by deterring
one another from instigating war. We should view some of these new driver
technologies the same way – they should be deployed in the hope that they will
never be needed. In order to achieve that goal, driver carelessness needs to be
addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Ongoing Driver Training</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the best ways to address driver
carelessness is through training. This includes the initial <a href="http://www.crengland.com/truck-driving-schools">training needed to
acquire a CDL license</a> as well as ongoing, remedial training at the fleet
level. It is the latter form of training that is likely to have the most
positive effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Human nature is such that we tend to be careless
in our routine activities if not constantly reminded of the need to stay
focused. This is true whether you are talking about a truck driver or someone
working at a manufacturing line. So constant reminders through remedial
training help to keep drivers focused on how to perform their duties safely.
This kind of training can be effective even if it amounts to just a monthly
safety meeting called to remind drivers of best practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In the case of the Milwaukee driver, the
substantial fines he faces will likely be a sufficient deterrent to prevent him
from making the same mistake. However, as an industry, let us work toward
preventing carelessness before things like this happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">1 <span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">FOX4KC - </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://fox4kc.com/2014/11/13/semi-truck-driver-blames-gps-for-getting-big-rig-stuck-on-bike-path-bridge/">http://fox4kc.com/2014/11/13/semi-truck-driver-blames-gps-for-getting-big-rig-stuck-on-bike-path-bridge/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">2.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">FOX59 - </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://fox59.com/2014/11/13/oops-gps-leads-indiana-truck-driver-onto-foot-bridge-in-wisconsin-park/">http://fox59.com/2014/11/13/oops-gps-leads-indiana-truck-driver-onto-foot-bridge-in-wisconsin-park/</a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">C.R. England - </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.crengland.com/truck-driving-schools">http://www.crengland.com/truck-driving-schools</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-70057289889310135722015-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:002015-05-21T08:00:03.077-04:00What is the cost of texting in a truck?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifh_bQFvx-Fp2Q7zN4FRYh4atLRCYyXBYTBTr17ILSiMtgibwmVzpiKB0Qy9gyzg-1iTgQaFyZsJtN2Fwtrc-MFtUhewxQ3pNpJz-p94McThCFcY0nDqHtuCz7YD6OPSakqjtE0ksb4Y/s1600/Cell_phone_use_while_drivin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifh_bQFvx-Fp2Q7zN4FRYh4atLRCYyXBYTBTr17ILSiMtgibwmVzpiKB0Qy9gyzg-1iTgQaFyZsJtN2Fwtrc-MFtUhewxQ3pNpJz-p94McThCFcY0nDqHtuCz7YD6OPSakqjtE0ksb4Y/s200/Cell_phone_use_while_drivin.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
Most of us have picked up the cell to look at a text while we are driving. This can be very costly for a truck driver. Here is what the FMCSA has to say on this issue:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">FMCSA has published new rules that restrict texting and the use of hand-held mobile phones by truck and bus drivers while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Research commissioned by FMCSA shows the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) are 23.2 times greater for CMV drivers who text while driving than for those who do not. Texting drivers took their eyes off the forward roadway for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, this equates to a driver traveling 371 feet, or the approximate length of a football field (including the end zones)—without looking at the roadway!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em;">
What exactly is “Texting”?</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Texting means manually entering text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Texting includes (but is not limited to), short message services, e-mailing, instant messaging, a command or request to access a Web page, pressing more than a single button to initiate or terminate a call using a mobile telephone, or engaging in any other form of electronic text retrieval or entry, for present or future communication.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em;">
<span style="line-height: 1.2em;">What does this rule mean to you?</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Fines and Penalties - Texting while driving can result in driver disqualification. Penalties can be up to $2,750 for drivers and up to $11,000 for employers who allow or require drivers to use a hand-held communications device for texting while driving.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Disqualification - Multiple convictions for texting while driving a CMV can result in a driver disqualification by FMCSA. Multiple violations of State law prohibiting texting while driving a CMV that requires a CDL is a serious traffic violation that could result in a CDL driver being disqualified for up to 120 days. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">What are the risks? - Texting is risky because it causes the driver to take his/her eyes off the roadway. Dispatching devices that are part of a fleet management system can be used for other purposes, but texting on a dispatching device is indistinguishable from texting on another text-capable device, and is therefore prohibited.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Impact on Safety Measurement System (SMS) Results - Violations negatively impact SMS results, and they carry the maximum severity weight.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.28205em; margin-top: 1.28205em;">
Compliance</h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Simply do not type or read a text message while driving a CMV!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<img alt="" class="file-icon" src="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: auto; line-height: 19.5px; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" title="application/pdf" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> </span><a href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/No_Texting_Rule_Fact_Sheet.pdf" style="background-color: white; color: #194178; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-decoration: none;" type="application/pdf; length=338518">No_Texting_Rule_Fact_Sheet.pdf</a></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 1.2em;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-43537272901414127072015-05-18T09:34:00.000-04:002015-05-18T09:34:00.536-04:00Can I fit under this bridge?Most truck drivers consider themselves professional, yet we all run into those drivers that need to develop their skills a bit more. Here is a collection of videos of those needing some more experience.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8Z1K37SHbE?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uv7hGDTubhY?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/35C2-8GrdDA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-7111608873297840022015-05-14T12:00:00.000-04:002015-05-14T12:00:15.280-04:00Transportation funding set to expire on May 31<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMGRTegh_n4C8_7DjqHKnGzy9UcBiFqnFJlmLe9v7JpsdJy_qoKgzeHwWXi0qg6zW_sB0C7ZG4xaJv9U4rRUbPJphojlJFqqrLleQ5b3b8oZi83-KzXejomq_LQmdoVUGceMGdS3YPnY/s1600/dollar-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMGRTegh_n4C8_7DjqHKnGzy9UcBiFqnFJlmLe9v7JpsdJy_qoKgzeHwWXi0qg6zW_sB0C7ZG4xaJv9U4rRUbPJphojlJFqqrLleQ5b3b8oZi83-KzXejomq_LQmdoVUGceMGdS3YPnY/s1600/dollar-sign.jpg" /></a></div>
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WASHINGTON<b> –</b> With federal surface transportation funding set to expire on May 31, thousands of stakeholders will rally together for Infrastructure Week to urge Congress to say “no” to more short-term measures and “yes” to a long-term funding solution. In support of the third annual Infrastructure Week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is participating today in kick-off events in Washington and will then head out to meet with state and local leaders, business leaders, and academics in Tennessee, California, and Iowa.</div>
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“Our nation’s economy and the way we live both depend on having strong infrastructure,” Secretary Foxx said. “But the truth is that our current levels of investment are falling short of what is needed just to keep our existing system safe and in good condition. To make matters worse, over the past six years, Congress has passed 32 short-term measures that have stripped away the ability of state and local governments to complete big projects.”</div>
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Today, Secretary Foxx also sent letters to State Transportation leaders to notify them that all federal participation in highway transportation infrastructure construction will stop after May 31 if the current federal funding authorization is allowed to expire. Without authority to continue funding agency operations, States will not be reimbursed for construction costs or receive technical support and will have to shoulder the burden themselves. Click <a href="http://www..dot.gov/briefing-room/letters-state-dots-about-surface-transportation-lapse">here</a> to see a copy of the letters.</div>
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Throughout the week, Secretary Foxx will highlight an alternative to that funding shortage, which is the Obama Administration’s GROW AMERICA Act, a surface transportation bill that would provide six years of funding certainty and grow overall investment by 45 percent. The $478 billion proposal would increase funding in our roads, highways and transit systems, and for the first time would provide dedicated funding for passenger rail, rail safety, and a national freight program.</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Secretary Foxx’s trip will begin in Tennessee, a state that has a $6 billion backlog in highway projects, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. </span>He will visit two projects that would improve safety for drivers and reduce traffic congestion, but both are delayed due to inadequate federal funding. On Tuesday, May 12, in Knoxville, Secretary Foxx will meet with Mayor Madeline Rogero and the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization to discuss the proposed Alcoa Highway project. Later in the morning, the Secretary will hold a media availability with Knoxville Mayor Rogero, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson at the Knoxville Convention Center. He will then travel to Memphis where he will be joined by Mayor AC Wharton, and the Memphis Urban Planning Organization to discuss the Lamar Avenue project.</div>
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On Wednesday, May 13, Secretary Foxx will visit Delphi Labs in California’s Silicon Valley to announce new connected automation safety initiatives. This visit will build on the national conversation he launched earlier this year with the release of Beyond Traffic, a report that examines how new technologies and public policy will shape U.S. transportation systems to enable new safety, mobility, growth, and economic benefits for our future.</div>
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The next day he will travel to Los Angeles to join Mayor Garcetti at the construction site of the soon-to-be-finished Division 13 Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility. The project was funded by the Federal Transit Administration and demonstrates the potential of increased transit investment to create jobs and greener infrastructure.</div>
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Secretary Foxx’s Infrastructure Week tour will conclude Friday, May 15, in Des Moines, Iowa, with a visit to the Southeast Connector Project, which is a crucial element in a series of infrastructure enhancements that will revitalize industrial areas, create jobs, and improve road safety.</div>
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“When you have had 32-short term measures in six years, any funding bill put forward that is actually big enough to meet the country’s challenges will be labeled by some as unrealistic,” Secretary Foxx said. “But I also think it is unrealistic to think that if we continue underinvesting in infrastructure that we will be able to meet the needs of 70 million more people in 30 years. We are in a big ditch, and we have to take some bold steps forward and solve it with a big solution.”</div>
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Infrastructure Week has nearly 80 affiliate organizations in business, labor, and advocacy, including the National Association of Manufacturers, American Society of Civil Engineers, AFL-CIO, Brookings Institution, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Building America’s Future. More than 40 events will be held to highlight the need and benefits of modernizing America’s infrastructure.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-89167694162267284672015-05-11T12:30:00.000-04:002015-05-11T12:30:01.023-04:00Getting Along with Your Dispatcher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesOoBOeDT176mtykTf9ySGt1NEyZwbl915ISrvl_qaq5czMGKB0Ms0oCoEVJIpqPqzDGvJNLe9md62ixBDabDP4y8eaTr7BHpcMSbQUmetYUhHGaErXdnlcl8vri-y2oQiNobp6py-ic/s1600/dispatch-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesOoBOeDT176mtykTf9ySGt1NEyZwbl915ISrvl_qaq5czMGKB0Ms0oCoEVJIpqPqzDGvJNLe9md62ixBDabDP4y8eaTr7BHpcMSbQUmetYUhHGaErXdnlcl8vri-y2oQiNobp6py-ic/s1600/dispatch-screen.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it comes to dispatchers, you will probably find a wide
range of opinions about the performance of their job. From those who believe
that they are the backbone of the office to believing their best friend and
perhaps the worst enemy that a truck driver may have as well. The number of
opinions about dispatchers is actually surprising considering that you may
often find a wide range of opinions about the same dispatcher from every driver
and employee of the firm.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, when it comes to truck drivers who want to improve their
hours on the road and perhaps get more weekends off from work, establishing a
good relationship with dispatchers is a crucial part of the process. However,
before you can start working on that relationship, it helps if you understand the
view from the dispatcher who like the truck driver is trying to do what is best
for their company.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
How Dispatchers See Their Role </h3>
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Unlike the truck driver who is on the road, the <a href="http://trucker-blog.com/getting-along-with-your-dispatcher/" target="_blank">dispatcher</a>
usually sits at a small workstation and is in contact with all the drivers who
are out on the road. They have to balance not only your needs, but all the
other drivers as well which means that there will be days when you will have to
drive too many miles empty or some other unwanted situation will occur.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dispatchers are typically bombarded with phone calls by
drivers who ask them to do many different things. It can be very difficult for
them to be dispassionate about their work especially when they get insulted or
treated poorly for something that is beyond their control or worse, when
they’ve made an honest error that is not well understood by the driver.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Admittedly, truck drivers are interested in getting to haul
good loads over an appropriate distance so that they are well paid. It may seem
strange, but both drivers and dispatchers are interested in the same thing, but
all too often neither of them can see the other’s point of view.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
How to Work with a Dispatcher </h3>
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Once you understand their role, then it becomes a lot easier
to work with them. Here are some pointers that will help you build a good
relationship with your dispatcher.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Keep Calm: Your relationship should be strictly on a
professional basis which means that you will need to stay calm and composed
when speaking to them. Naturally, you will have some disagreements, but phrase
your view in how it affects what you do instead of lashing out at them. This
will at the very least keep things calm between both of you.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Be Proactive: The more efficiently you can do your job, the
better the dispatcher can help you out. Of course, there will be times when you
cannot complete your run because of conditions beyond your control, but the
more efficiently you can driver your rig, the easier you make it for the
dispatcher to work with you.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course, there will be times when you might want to scream
at your dispatcher, but you should definitely refrain from taking that action.
If there is a real problem or perhaps something that is not being worked out,
then you should go higher up in the company to see if it can be resolved. Otherwise,
it really pays to spend a little extra effort working with your dispatcher. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-59464828620658691552015-05-07T09:05:00.000-04:002015-05-07T09:05:00.137-04:00How Do Air Brakes Work?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7fOzujpVhuvStTg9F17TnL_EuNMXM4L8qGXLRP_qlt_gVpfL0-7SI3HMiovJsFVC8hbkikXkqNuC6_96KEB0NFoYNdB6B32XRFgQxywR66mSSlWssqHbuBuPIqUZAEBGYoFgvHjm9aQ/s1600/air-brakes-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7fOzujpVhuvStTg9F17TnL_EuNMXM4L8qGXLRP_qlt_gVpfL0-7SI3HMiovJsFVC8hbkikXkqNuC6_96KEB0NFoYNdB6B32XRFgQxywR66mSSlWssqHbuBuPIqUZAEBGYoFgvHjm9aQ/s1600/air-brakes-01.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
All the <i>air brake systems</i> are
using the air pressure for the brakes every time the pedal is stepped on. The
air is being stored on several reservoirs or pressure tanks in the truck. The
stored air are pressurized using the air compressor that is located in the
engine of the truck. The air pressure is being regulated by the air governor in
the compressor and most of this works on the level of 120 psi pressure. The
governor manipulates when air compressor pump an air in the pressure tanks. If
the air reservoir pressure exceeds the cut out level, the governor halt the compressor
in pumping air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Some systems possess air dryer
that dries all moisture so that the water condensation would not build in the
pressure tank causing brake failures. This will also avoid freezing during
winter season. The air dryer has cartridge that needs to be replaced once a
year. The air is being pressured by the compressor that passes in the air dryer
down to the tanks. And from the air tanks, it goes to different type of
systems. The first one is the emergency or the supply system, which discharges
parking brakes and keep the reserve air to halt whenever there is a leak.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The manner that the system of
<i>parking brakes</i> works on the truck is through the use of springs in air chambers
in rear axles of the truck which puts the parking brakes. If the parking brakes
knob is pushed, it supplies air in the air chamber which pushes against its
springs to discharge the parking brakes. When the air pressure in air system goes
down below 60 psi, the parking brake knob would pop out and will set parking
brakes. This is a kind of safe feature to
make the air truck stop because when the pressures fall down, the service brake
might not work.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJEcba3lXwwzen7RJvjykyuDYqIMU6J8DCqX4LXTe0vfYOxkmKRv_ODyF8eoxIZZSjTR5zCvlSvMZNn760C7cNU9P4T4YQmLtmfCXdLgJ9GJkKK7i9gCJ96Kj7MekebMqnsp9BwBgrWA/s1600/brakes_tractor_system.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJEcba3lXwwzen7RJvjykyuDYqIMU6J8DCqX4LXTe0vfYOxkmKRv_ODyF8eoxIZZSjTR5zCvlSvMZNn760C7cNU9P4T4YQmLtmfCXdLgJ9GJkKK7i9gCJ96Kj7MekebMqnsp9BwBgrWA/s1600/brakes_tractor_system.gif" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
When driving in a semi-tractor
that has trailer, the trailer knobs in the brakes works on the same manner. But
if an air leak exist in the trailer, the protection valve in the tractor will
create the trailer brake as protection to the air supply so that the truck
would still stop. The other kind of system is called the <i>service brake</i>. It is a
kind of system that stops you whenever pushing on the pedal break. When the
brake pedal is pushed on, it goes to the pedal valve, which in return control
the flow of the air in brake chambers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Brake chambers also push the
slack adjusters, a component that maintains the brake in adjustment. There are
also the so-called disc air brakes which are unpopular. Most of brake shoes have
the indicator that is built at the end of pads which needs to be replaced in a
regular period. When changing the brake shoes, the hardware kits is also needed
which includes the pins, busing, and springs for the brakes. The drums must
also be replaced as the brake shoes are replaced. This is important because the
drums might wear ridge on it that can trigger heat cracks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
If you would like to take a practice test on air brakes please visit: <a href="http://www.cb39.org/cdl_learning_center/cdl-learning-center.html" target="_blank">CDL Learning Center</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-4739537308351341792015-05-04T09:30:00.000-04:002015-05-04T09:30:01.081-04:00Smartphone Apps for Truck Divers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4CTsPrbySqb8A6VxmcZwDdl85mxPnADlSRwbahGDmsSGKxvVe0mSih06Pl8AjCjFGzkqIrj3qbTZJZYK6zYlyfq7Uulvu1B3i1NE3yi4lWOBp3oIrlUMOTNinJzrmNi7SKLRsxeYHgw/s1600/Apple-iPhone5C-16GB-ATT-Green-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4CTsPrbySqb8A6VxmcZwDdl85mxPnADlSRwbahGDmsSGKxvVe0mSih06Pl8AjCjFGzkqIrj3qbTZJZYK6zYlyfq7Uulvu1B3i1NE3yi4lWOBp3oIrlUMOTNinJzrmNi7SKLRsxeYHgw/s1600/Apple-iPhone5C-16GB-ATT-Green-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you are a truck driver and you are looking for a smartphone
application that can help you in your journey, below are some of the best and
free downloadable applications that you can have:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>IHeartRadio
App</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This <i>smartphone app</i> is available is available on Android and iOS
wherein truck drivers can to listen to their favorite radio stations while they
are delivering their loads. They can
choose a song from more than the 1,500 and more live radio stations wherein
they can also create and customize their station based on their favorite artist
and songs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Budget
Envelopes App</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This <i>smartphone app</i> can be used by the truck drivers wherein they
can add and schedule their upcoming transactions and create their income
categories and reports of their income and expenses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Audible-Audiobooks
and More App</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This<b> </b>app is best for those truck
drivers who wants to enjoy a book but can’t purchase one. Through this app,
they can download, a lot of classic and best seller stories, news and the like
where they can listen intently while they are driving. This audiobooks can also
be switch back and forth from listening to reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Mint.com Personal Finance App</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This app allows truck drivers to manage and
budget their money wherein they can view all their financial accounts in just
one place. They can also track the cash that they have spent and view their
upcoming bills that makes this app a best one to have for those on the go truck
drivers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock App</b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Truck drivers</i> surely need a sound sleep after
a long travel and they also need to wake up early for their next trip. This
smartphone app will help them get a good sleep without getting jolt by the
alarm clock because it analyzes the sleep cycle and wakes you up on your
lightest phase of sleep that ensures you that you will begin your day relaxed
and well-rested. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Relax Melodies App</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This app will help the truck drivers calm their
mind and fall asleep easily. It will help the truckers refrain from hearing
unnecessary noise but instead they will hear sounds of the oceans, tweeting of
birds and a lot more. The Relax Melodies app also have multiple alarms wherein
they can have their favorite sounds that sooths every time the truckers would
wake up in the morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<b>The Weather Channel App</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">This app provides the truck drivers with condition
of the weather for the day. It also checks the weather in the area where they
are going to travel so that they will be informed ahead of time, so that they
will decide if they are still going to continue their journey or not.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Please visit our Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cb39trucking">https://www.facebook.com/cb39trucking</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-35361140207116172082015-04-27T08:30:00.000-04:002015-04-27T08:30:01.908-04:00North American Freight Numbers - February 2015 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QpnE0pDrz1NnowuxKjuT1nPT2YNbtVl_udMzWA4yW5ilbktWgdXEj6MH8SYCxGyJjAWzIhcOsRA7A6jztmLchfszcqy6Gfz8-bo5LGvuSjPiVudlQvZH0n25Hb7iwX_iKJyBDIM8Vew/s1600/delete-me.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, TransBorder Freight Data" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QpnE0pDrz1NnowuxKjuT1nPT2YNbtVl_udMzWA4yW5ilbktWgdXEj6MH8SYCxGyJjAWzIhcOsRA7A6jztmLchfszcqy6Gfz8-bo5LGvuSjPiVudlQvZH0n25Hb7iwX_iKJyBDIM8Vew/s1600/delete-me.gif" height="235" title="SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, TransBorder Freight Data" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $85.7 billion in February 2015 as two out of five transportation modes – air and truck – carried more U.S.-NAFTA freight than in February 2014, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by theU.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) (Figure 1, Table 1). The $85.7 billion total is the lowest February value for U.S.-NAFTA freight since 2011. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by all modes decreased by 4.3 percent. The value of NAFTA trade by pipeline and vessel declined in February due to the reduced unit price of mineral fuel shipments.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">Freight by Mode</strong><br />
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In February 2015 compared to February 2014, the value of commodities moving by air grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 4.5 percent. Truck freight increased by 0.9 percent (Figure 1, Table 2). Rail freight decreased by 6.2 percent. Pipeline freight decreased by 22.8 percent and vessel freight decreased by 29.0 mainly due to the lower unit price of mineral fuel shipments.</div>
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Trucks carried 63.1 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $26.9 billion of the $45.7 billion of imports (58.9 percent) and $27.2 billion of the $40.0 billion of exports (67.9 percent).</div>
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Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 14.4 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 7.1 percent; pipeline, 6.1 percent; and air, 3.8 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.7 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.</div>
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For more details please visit: <a href="http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/bts019_15">http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/bts019_15</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.712891000000013-36.418582499999992 99.052733999999987 90 69.521483999999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-57916268511924100612015-04-23T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-23T08:55:00.056-04:00Share the Road Drivers Deliver Safety Message<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcPPRBypOyT6nswCqPDN2oet32V93Ia7qaGSZKmiZp27qI7yJTKsCXIg2H9vwvzj9AjLIH0f_aXTXzevuxZ5Wdx9bDV44diZb1LA0e_3mNzYYMNsYZfDX3rvwW3YjYjSpFzxDd6RGZ0A/s1600/logo_ata.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ATA - American Trucking Associations" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcPPRBypOyT6nswCqPDN2oet32V93Ia7qaGSZKmiZp27qI7yJTKsCXIg2H9vwvzj9AjLIH0f_aXTXzevuxZ5Wdx9bDV44diZb1LA0e_3mNzYYMNsYZfDX3rvwW3YjYjSpFzxDd6RGZ0A/s1600/logo_ata.png" title="American Trucking Associations" /></a></div>
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<b>Share the Road Drivers Deliver Safety Message to </b></div>
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<b>Waynesboro, Va.</b></div>
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<i>Drivers will Discuss Trucking and Highway Safety Issues at Community Awareness Day</i></div>
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<b>Arlington, Va. – </b>Drivers from <i>American Trucking Associations</i>’ Share the Road Program will attend a Community Awareness Day, April 18 in Waynesboro, Va., to discuss and demonstrate the importance of highway safety and the trucking industry.</div>
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“Communities across the country depend on trucking to safely deliver their goods – nearly 80% of our nation’s cities and towns have their freight delivered exclusively by trucks,” said Herschel Evans, a professional driver with Holland, Bremen, Ga. “Being able to talk to people about what trucking does for them and how to be safe on the roads is an important part of what we do with the Share the Road program.”</div>
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Share the Road is a safety outreach program of the <i>American Trucking Associations</i>. Sponsored by Mack Trucks and Michelin North America Inc., and supported by TravelCenters of America LLC, HELP Inc., SmartDrive Systems Inc. and Hyundai Translead, Share the Road drivers visit schools and community events across the country touting <i>ATA</i>’s message of safety and essentiality of trucking.</div>
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“Just like people depend on trucking, drivers like me depend on fellow motorists to share the road safely so we can all reach our destinations,” said Share the Road Professional Neil Kirk, Penske Logistics, Middletown, N.Y. “By slowing down, buckling up and being aware of traffic around you, you can do your part to ensure that everyone’s journey is a safe one.”</div>
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“Having the Share the Road truck in Virginia is tremendously important, we’re happy to host them,” said Virginia Trucking Association President Dale Bennett. “Trucking is important to Virginians and safety is important to all of us, so it is great having these professional drivers here to spread those messages.”</div>
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For the event, from <b>9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 18, the Share the Road truck will be at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Center at 801 Lew Dewitt Boulevard in Waynesboro, Va.</b> The drivers will conduct blind spot demonstrations and educate attendees on highway safety.</div>
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<a href="http://www.trucking.org/Share_the_Road.aspx" style="color: purple;"><i>Share the Road</i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>is a highway safety outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about sharing the roads safely with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of motorists annually. The safety program is sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc. and Michelin North America Inc.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><a href="http://www.atastr.org/" style="color: purple;"><i>www.atastr.org</i></a><i>. Follow the Share the Road on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/atasharetheroad" style="color: purple;"><i>Twitter</i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ATAShareTheRoad" style="color: purple;"><i>Facebook</i></a><i>.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.trucking.org/" style="color: purple;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">American Trucking Associations</span></i></a><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span></i><i>is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to <span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on </span></i><a href="http://twitter.com/TRUCKINGdotORG" style="color: purple;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> or on </span></i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Trucking-Associations-ATA/144598425170" style="color: purple;" title="http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Trucking-Associations-ATA/144598425170"><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;">.</span></i><i> </i><a href="http://truckingmovesamerica.com/" style="color: purple;"><i>Trucking Moves America Forward</i></a><i>.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-76352041369254758582015-04-20T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-20T08:55:00.630-04:00OOIDA petitions to intervene in cross-border trucking lawsuit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5BFFKHBdxrXZMsGRTfwyBA1K7StlGvHB67JfHt8bYWMTNLUeTHTpntxlKoDSXVRpuqDh7IIf3BbuQV11KrghFK8HKiO118nL6EqHNUoMuUYtw5hWYhAN26hqlDTKB3D4SNJ0lNbt2vM/s1600/ooida-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5BFFKHBdxrXZMsGRTfwyBA1K7StlGvHB67JfHt8bYWMTNLUeTHTpntxlKoDSXVRpuqDh7IIf3BbuQV11KrghFK8HKiO118nL6EqHNUoMuUYtw5hWYhAN26hqlDTKB3D4SNJ0lNbt2vM/s1600/ooida-logo.png" title="OOIDA" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>(Grain Valley, Mo., April 8, 2015) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to intervene in a cross-border trucking lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.</i></span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The lawsuit, filed in March 2015 by the Teamsters and safety advocate groups, challenges the government’s decision to grant permanent operating authority to Mexico-domiciled trucking companies to conduct long-haul trucking services throughout the United States.</i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The Association’s petition states that as the representative of small-business truck drivers, OOIDA can bring a unique practical and legal perspective compared to the other petitioners regarding the ability of Mexico-domiciled trucking companies to operate safely on U.S. highways. Additionally, the motion points out that the economic interests of small-business truck drivers differs from the interests represented by the other petitioners.</i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">OOIDA contends that the U.S. DOT’s three-year pilot program did not generate enough data to reach an informed conclusion about whether the border should be opened. The Association questioned the evaluation and validity of the information collected during the pilot program in this <a href="http://www.ooida.com/issuesactions/issues/MexicanPilot/documents/Letter_to_FMCSA_RE_Cross_Border_Pilot_Expiration.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">letter</a> to FMCSA. OOIDA contends that the border should not be opened unless and until Mexico establishes equivalent regulatory trucking standards to that of the United States and proves that its trucking industry can fully comply with U.S. safety regulations.</i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Editor’s note: The Association’s official publication, Land Line Magazine published this <a href="http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=28845#.VTOnxSFVikp" target="_blank">article</a> on this latest development on the issue.</i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the only national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 150,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the Greater Kansas City, Mo., area.</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-2122308008521239482015-04-16T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-27T21:26:42.169-04:00Trucking Business Tips for the Startup Owner-Operator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzjDmmsQgwAPEAA401ekTe772mkQCBpOgTqWrctxh3qeD8Lndw3E2fwy_CAYM1YyIw-DKEV3dIwxZrLynrtmQ4TS1gYrQ-xpA_SMbabfrWMZnOLTvaimZKudvlM-SuYxbINoRtnfPN1E/s1600/Semi-Trucks-1893661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzjDmmsQgwAPEAA401ekTe772mkQCBpOgTqWrctxh3qeD8Lndw3E2fwy_CAYM1YyIw-DKEV3dIwxZrLynrtmQ4TS1gYrQ-xpA_SMbabfrWMZnOLTvaimZKudvlM-SuYxbINoRtnfPN1E/s1600/Semi-Trucks-1893661.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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It starts with a dedication to being your own boss, and
taking on the sole responsibility for the success of your owner-operator
trucking business. There’s a lot to deal with in the first few years, but once
the operation is moving smoothly and you have good back office people in place,
your life as an independent trucker will possibly be best decision you ever
made.</div>
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Staffing your Back Office</h3>
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Even if you’re on a shoe string budget, it’s critical to
have someone managing the financial aspect of the business if this is an area
you’re not strong in. Don’t let ego or cost-cutting measures change your mind
otherwise. New owner-operator trucking business ventures are made or broken
within the first few months, and with tight cash flow, you want it managed
properly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A book keeper will give you the security of being focus on
finances, leaving the operation of the truck and loads to yourself. Having a
firm grasp on what your financial status is will allow you to fine tune your
bidding process on jobs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Acquiring Clients</h3>
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Unless you’ve been keeping a little black book in your back
pocket of potential clients, your first load job will most likely come off a
load board, where short notice, one time drop-and-go’s are listed and bid upon
ferociously by independent <i><a href="http://www.cb39.org/library/owner-operator-tips.html" target="_blank">owner-operators</a></i>. This is by no means a suggested
method for acquiring long term, or even good paying clients, but it is a place
to start to build a reputation and pick up loads when nothing else is available
to you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The bidding process is more cut throat on a load job board,
but the principles are the same- offer the lowest price to attract a client,
but not so low as you won’t make any money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once you are established with a few loads under your belt,
you can begin knocking on doors. Don’t overlook other shipping companies, as
many have a sub-contracting branch to help with their overspill. Your focus
should be on building long term relationships with reliable customers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hiring Additional Drivers</h3>
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A solid <a href="http://www.cb39.org/library/owner-operator-tips.html" target="_blank">owner-operator</a> business plan for a <i>trucking business</i>
in the beginning is to limit liability and run just one truck. But, as your
business grows, you might want to begin building a fleet. Your first drivers
should be reliable and professional, so look to hire those you know and trust,
or look for references from the trucking schools.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are additional ways to pull drivers into your
business, and don’t overlook the possibility of coming to a hot seat
partnership with someone as a way to lower costs and increase profits. Whatever
your choice, take the time to make sure it’s in your best interest and not
because it just feels like the right thing to do. Expanding too fast without a
plan can be the beginning of the end for an ill prepared trucking business
<i><a href="http://trucker-blog.com/getting-started-with-an-owner-operator-trucking-business/" target="_blank">owner-operator</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-80201624725223014812015-04-13T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-13T08:55:00.556-04:00Truck Stop History In The United States<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gg28iXL5_oBVDHg7oxKIVEKSKzbJkZ0C0NbOHtQSWRfr7JE6KLHLuOHddt88oR2-M_Ro7KenLW9JCsqy8hdVX1fYlYT3QqXFGYbtWOQKmWtJWxoVNfmn5CJCeYMVR8ILR7xfULl_MO0/s1600/truck-stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Truck Stop History" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gg28iXL5_oBVDHg7oxKIVEKSKzbJkZ0C0NbOHtQSWRfr7JE6KLHLuOHddt88oR2-M_Ro7KenLW9JCsqy8hdVX1fYlYT3QqXFGYbtWOQKmWtJWxoVNfmn5CJCeYMVR8ILR7xfULl_MO0/s1600/truck-stop.jpg" height="200" title="Truck Stop History" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Truck stops aren’t a
new concept in American history. The history of truck stops dates further back
into the 19</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> century when stagecoach relay stations presented a
resting site for wagon drivers, horses as well as passengers. These passengers
not only had the opportunity to stretch and relax, but also fill their
stomachs. But with the invention of gas-fuelled vehicles by Henry Ford, this
provided an avenue for an average American individual to own a car. As a
result, there was a massive boost in the development and establishment of <a href="http://trucker-blog.com/truck-stop-tips/" target="_blank">truckstops</a> along the roads and highways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Initially, service
station owners presumed that their customers would be individuals who </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">traveled</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> by car, little did they know that their operations would open the doors to truck drivers and that would be their major source of earnings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">World War I gave a
remarkable improvement to the <i>trucking industry</i>. Previously, trucks were too undersized
to cart much in a single load and they just weren’t effective. Usually, they
broke down and the truckers repaired these trucks by themselves. The war altered
that, as trucks were considered necessary abroad, as well as at home to convey supplies
to the rail stations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">World War II further
heightened the need for <i>truckers</i> as the trucking industry persistently grew. Many
trucks were powered with diesel fuel, thus generating the need for truck
drivers as well as new merchandise for truck stops to put in the market.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 1940s and 1950s witnessed
the evolution of <i>truck stops</i> from a more ad hoc industry to one that was more
cautiously designed specifically with the interest of long haul truckers at
heart. In 1948, Fred Bosselman (who was a trucker and farmer) together with his
wife, established the Bosselman and Eaton Truck Stop in Grand Island, Nebraska
for business. In 1965, the Bosselman Truck Plaza, also known as the "Truck
Stop of Tomorrow," opened its doors for business and was located on the
new Interstate 80. This gave a foretaste about how the trucking industry would
look in the years to come. Till date, the <i>Bosselman truck stops</i> are still open
for business across the United States.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1956, President
Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal Interstate Highway Act which propelled the
construction of 41,000 miles of new interstate roads. This led to a boost in
the <i><a href="http://www.cb39.org/trucking-history/history-truck-stops.html" target="_blank">truck stop</a></i> business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Independent <i>truck stops</i>
were sited along with the first chains, which were owned by the oil companies such
as Amoco, Skelly, and Pure. As trucks became bigger, there was need to acquire
more land mass in order to accommodate more trucks at the truck stops. This led
to the epoch of multi-acre truck stop establishment and ownership.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1972, Truckstops of
America (now recognized as TravelCenters of America) opened its first six
locations. Also, Petro, as well as the Iron Skillet restaurant opened for
operations around the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1970, <i>truck stops</i>
were referred to as travel plazas in order for it to appeal not only to the
truckers, but also the general public at large. Today, the creation of travel
plazas has not only made it possible to accommodate truckers, but also a mix of
travelers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-20188263935781513332015-04-09T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-09T08:55:00.574-04:00How to get a Transportation Worker Identification Credential?T<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCb2hGtwH0nt5cK9-CwC2xBob6v0ltWF0Kn814WnOXOL-4TRrIceZxceb_PIrx90sBx9FN3_r5VEKlR9CdwHovXFhIR5A7TuFlglaRyB0fb-R_bMeoMxxIm8z90Lz9H52UyeOOSZL4tM/s1600/TWIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCb2hGtwH0nt5cK9-CwC2xBob6v0ltWF0Kn814WnOXOL-4TRrIceZxceb_PIrx90sBx9FN3_r5VEKlR9CdwHovXFhIR5A7TuFlglaRyB0fb-R_bMeoMxxIm8z90Lz9H52UyeOOSZL4tM/s1600/TWIC.jpg" height="200" width="190" /></a></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who Has to Get TWIC?</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Transportation
Worker Identification is a sort of Identity card that is issued by the Transportation
Security Administration as well as the U.S Coast Guard. This card is mandatory
for all the marine workers who require unprotected access to secure areas of
port facilities, outer continental shelf facilities as well as vessels
regulated under the Marine Transportation Security Act 2002. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Procedure for getting TWIC</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
order for an individual to get a <i><a href="http://trucker-blog.com/what-is-twic-and-why-is-it-a-mandatory-credential/" target="_blank">Transport Worker Identification Credential</a></i>,
such person needs to submit the documents which are listed in the procedure and
also give proof of their citizenship. Citizens who are born in U.S have to
provide documents proving their citizenship. A new card can be processed with
standard fees of 128$ with effect from 1<sup>st</sup> February 2015. There is a
reduction in price than the previous rates, as a result of the FBI’s lowered fingerprint
processing charges. Usually, a new card would take duration of 10 to 12 weeks
for processing as well as issuing. Hence, it is advisable to the applicant that
they apply prior to this duration from their requirement of Transportation
Worker Identification Credential.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84RGuXGVFpclhO5736JviCGSy7A1ZmdvuN_T5OfFsJDdWoryd6SLWzCdXimJzm1cUCY0nkkM9QDq2stoAG5ybSYgzRhj9c7ujcnan5HUPipiss2RcQVlT4D7WQ6YmRrjjqvs_8ks86Do/s1600/twic-card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="TWIC Card" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84RGuXGVFpclhO5736JviCGSy7A1ZmdvuN_T5OfFsJDdWoryd6SLWzCdXimJzm1cUCY0nkkM9QDq2stoAG5ybSYgzRhj9c7ujcnan5HUPipiss2RcQVlT4D7WQ6YmRrjjqvs_8ks86Do/s1600/twic-card.jpg" height="320" title="TWIC Card" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To
get <i>TWIC card</i> an applicant must provide biographic and biometric information
like fingerprints and also be present for a digital photograph and be able to
successfully pass the Security threat assessment test conducted by TSA.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does the card look like?</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Transportation
Worker Identification Credential</i> card is a tampered card that contains
Integrated Circuit Chip which contains holder’s Biometric data and holder’s
information. This card can be read under a reader or by holding it near a contactless
reader. Other alternative methods to decode the information stored in the cards
are through a magnetic field and linear barcode provided at the back of the
card. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
card looks like a simple Identity card which carries your digital photograph
and the chip at the front and magnetic field and barcode on the back of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can we have Cards with Missing
Fingerprints?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are a few slots of cards issued by the department wrongly without the
Fingerprint information stored in the card. It is hard for holders to know that
whether their card falls under this group or not. But there is a series of
number provided on the website of the Agency. You need to compare the Agency
Serial Number of your card with the numbers provided by the agency as affected
series. An individual whose card falls into the category of the affected series
need not to worry, as all that needs to be done is to call UES call centers and
obtain a free replacement. Your card is still valid in case it is not carrying
fingerprint information until you get your new card.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is it necessary to have a TWIC
credential with you?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to CFR amendments the Merchant Marine needs to have all valid documents as well
as a valid <i>TWIC card</i> compulsorily, failure of which would result in a denial
for original, renewal, new endorsement, duplicate or raise of a mariner’s
credential. However, it can also lead to revocation as well as suspension of
such individual under section 46 United States Code 7702 and 7703.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0United States38.272688535980969 -101.2512.750654035980968 -142.558594 63.794723035980965 -59.941406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-55805911740686200442015-04-06T08:55:00.000-04:002015-04-06T08:55:00.675-04:00Preparing for Your DOT physical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd3wUCVUiNGJ5kN6DIkWBbs5BjJCbpUk7bKpIUzzKG0MH0m4dbUxc2xh4HAbLUDOIWiRVIJqtpzTskfm9eF7TpLg8up3v8yOnz4HZ22Hsnn6mTSd-Netv2G-qjO4jKmEhHazGf1MaAIQ/s1600/DOT-physical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd3wUCVUiNGJ5kN6DIkWBbs5BjJCbpUk7bKpIUzzKG0MH0m4dbUxc2xh4HAbLUDOIWiRVIJqtpzTskfm9eF7TpLg8up3v8yOnz4HZ22Hsnn6mTSd-Netv2G-qjO4jKmEhHazGf1MaAIQ/s1600/DOT-physical.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s time for your <i>DOT physical exam</i> again, and before you
head off to have a company doctor poke and prod you, there are a few things you
can do in advance to make your physical go smoother. Passing this physical means
you’ll be given a driver’s clean bill of health, and more importantly, can
continue to work from your cab for a living. Not passing- well, we’d prefer not
to think what we’d be doing if we weren’t on the road. So, in order to perform
your best at your mandatory <i>DOT physical</i>, here are a few tips to help you get
things off on the right foot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
Bring the Essentials</h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chances are you’re not going to your family physician for
your exam, but a company provided doctor. These folks don’t know you lie your
own care provider does, so showing up in the best shape possible and with all
your necessities is critical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you wear glasses, contacts, or hearing aids, be sure to
bring them along. Your license requires you to wear these things, and they are
part of your physical. If you can’t read the eye chart of hear what the doctor
is saying, chances are you won’t be passing your physical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are on physician prescribes medications, bring them
along, as well as the prescriptions themselves with the name and contact information
for the doctor who prescribed them. On the same note, if you are undergoing
treatment for any conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, sleep disorders,
etc, bring along your treatment file to share with the examining doctor. The
more information they have about your treatment, the better your chances are
for getting a clean bill of heath as far as the <i><a href="http://trucker-blog.com/tips-to-help-you-pass-a-dot-physical/" target="_blank">DOT physical exam</a></i> requirements
are concerned. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
Come Physically Prepared</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before showing up at the physical, try and not be just
coming off the road. Get a good night’s rest the night before, and make a
conscious effort not to drink alcohol within 24 hours of the exam. Booze can
run havoc with your blood pressure, and this isn’t looked upon favorably by
examining doctors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arrive to the doctor’s office at least ten minutes early to
fill out your appropriate paperwork and to catch your breath. Entering an exam
flustered and in a rush might cause the physician to think you’re like that all
the time- take it slow for your <i>DOT physical exam</i> and you’ll be fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-76193145086349708172015-04-02T09:00:00.000-04:002015-04-02T09:00:03.825-04:00FMCSA Announces New CSA Smartphone App<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhuatjHpkVj07TfEN4LGhosDvGuu7wJcXd70MxB4VlVaaMwotEi-DMXm3hlqEi5xXhZly0NcEJVKJ7ZsKzoCtknbfHqvkyd4Yz-uUM0a40Iff5p8B7p3rrrm8SBYFf82yb3WBD-8BrHY/s1600/Apple-iPhone5C-16GB-ATT-Green-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhuatjHpkVj07TfEN4LGhosDvGuu7wJcXd70MxB4VlVaaMwotEi-DMXm3hlqEi5xXhZly0NcEJVKJ7ZsKzoCtknbfHqvkyd4Yz-uUM0a40Iff5p8B7p3rrrm8SBYFf82yb3WBD-8BrHY/s1600/Apple-iPhone5C-16GB-ATT-Green-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced a new Smartphone app that will allow for more convenient access to currently available online safety performance information for interstate truck and bus companies.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
“By making currently available safety information on interstate truck and bus companies more easily accessible for both law enforcement personnel and the general public, we are providing greater transparency while making our roadways safer for everyone. Safety is our highest priority, so we are committed to using every resource available at our finger tips to ensure the safety of travelers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.Called “QCMobile,” (QC standing for “Query Central”), the new app is expected to be a particularly valuable tool for state and federal law enforcement personnel, as well as insurers, brokers, freight-forwarders, and others interested in reviewing the USDOT registration and safety performance information of motor carriers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
“FMCSA will continue to use all the tools, resources, and partnerships available to further strengthen <em>commercial vehicle safety</em> across the country,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. “Aggressive safety enforcement, research, and technology development and deployment, combined with strong stakeholder participation, will continue to be directed toward removing unsafe trucks and buses from our roadways and protecting every traveler from needless harm.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
Law enforcement officers and commercial motor vehicle safety inspectors use customized software at the roadside to log-into national safety databases to obtain highly detailed safety information on all interstate truck and bus companies.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
The new QCMobile app, which requires no log-in, immediately reveals whether the federal operating status of the carrier is authorized while helping to expedite an “inspect/pass” decision by a certified commercial vehicle safety inspector.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
QCMobile retrieves data from a number of FMCSA sources and provides a clear summary of the results. Law enforcement officers and safety inspectors then have the option of retrieving more detailed information on carriers covering their seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) that are a part of FMCSA’s cornerstone safety program, Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
FMCSA is proactively working to implement the provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), as well as advancing core safety initiatives including the CSA program. CSA is designed to further reduce the number and severity of crashes involving large trucks and buses by providing law enforcement personnel, motor carriers, and professional truck and bus drivers with detailed information outlining areas of potential safety concern, while also triggering processes to implement corrective action.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
The free QCMobile app is available for both Apple and Android devices. Visit the iTunes App Store or Google Play to download QCMobile.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem;">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/" href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/" style="color: #21759b; outline: none;" target="_blank" title="FMCSA Web Site">http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-79128939193389470082015-03-30T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-30T09:00:06.550-04:00 2014 North American Freight Numbers Released by BTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9zC-6RNM6yEbLIzme6EJf3Hsm-hDFSdZg3j_XUtyyO6ZqqXLtkDcziqrc-aCV99cNcq3BCpkeeh3zwKi7pFIJS37RmBY_ROml1acm-xmzYFZqCwyfHTwQB6TQ3o8JQ05eiLh4qDMf_s/s1600/header-DOT_700x90%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="US Department of Transportation" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9zC-6RNM6yEbLIzme6EJf3Hsm-hDFSdZg3j_XUtyyO6ZqqXLtkDcziqrc-aCV99cNcq3BCpkeeh3zwKi7pFIJS37RmBY_ROml1acm-xmzYFZqCwyfHTwQB6TQ3o8JQ05eiLh4qDMf_s/s1600/header-DOT_700x90%5B1%5D.png" height="41" title="US Department of Transportation" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">Four of five
transportation modes – truck, rail, pipeline, and vessel – carried more U.S.
freight with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and
Mexico by value in 2014 than in 2013 as the overall value of freight on all
modes rose 4.5 percent in current dollars to $1.2 trillion, according to the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics
(BTS).</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
In 2014 compared to
2013, the value of commodities moving by pipeline grew the most, 12.5 percent,
despite a decline in cost per unit of petroleum products, due to the increased volume of freight. Truck increased 4.5
percent, rail increased 1.5 percent, vessel increased 0.2 percent, and air
decreased 0.2 percent.<strong> </strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<strong style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></strong></div>
<h3>
Freight by Mode</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trucks carried 59.9 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and were the most heavily
utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks
accounted for $348.7 billion of the $640.2 billion of imports (54.5 percent) and
$365.9 billion of the $552.5 billion of exports (66.2 percent).<br />
<br />
Rail remained the second
largest mode, moving 14.9 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel,
8.7 percent; pipeline, 7.9 percent and air, 3.7 percent. The surface
transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.7 percent of the
total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.<br />
<br />
Although trucks carry
almost three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA freight, 59.9 percent in 2014, its share has
decreased by 3.7 percentage points from 2004, the first year of BTS data for all
modes. During the last decade, pipeline’s percentage share rose 2.5 points while
vessel rose 2.2 points. The category of all modes of transportation cited
in the following tables includes freight movements by truck, rail, vessel,
pipeline, air, <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE4LjQzMDQzMzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxOC40MzA0MzM5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDE0NjI5JmVtYWlsaWQ9YWRtaW5AY2IzOS5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWFkbWluQGNiMzkub3JnJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://transborder.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_FAQs.html#27">other</a>
and unknown modes of transport.<strong> </strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<h3>
Freight with Canada</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
From 2013 to 2014,
total U.S.-Canada freight rose 3.8 percent. Trucks carried 53.8 percent of the
$658.2 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail, 15.8 percent;
pipeline, 13.5 percent; vessel, 5.9 percent; and air, 4.3 percent. The surface
transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.1 percent of the
total U.S.-Canada freight flows. </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
Although trucks carry
more than half of U.S.-Canada freight, 53.8 percent in 2014, its share of total
freight has decreased by 6.6 percentage points from 2004, the first year of BTS
data for all modes. Truck’s share of imports decreased 8.8 percentage points
from 2004, while pipeline’s percent share of imports rose 8.4 points and vessel
exports rose 4.0 points.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Freight with Mexico</h3>
<strong><br /></strong>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
From 2013 to 2014,
total U.S.-Mexico freight rose 5.5 percent. Trucks carried 67.5 percent of the
$534.5 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail, 13.8 percent;
vessel, 12.2 percent; air, 2.9 percent; and pipeline, 0.9 percent. The surface
transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.2 percent of the
total U.S.-Mexico freight flows. </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
Although trucks carry
roughly two-thirds of U.S.-Mexico freight, 67.5 percent in 2014, its share of
total freight decreased by 1.6 percentage points from 2004, the first year of
BTS data for all modes. Truck’s share of exports decreased 4.6 percentage points
from 2004 while vessel’s percentage share of exports rose 4.5
points). </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
See <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE4LjQzMDQzMzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxOC40MzA0MzM5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDE0NjI5JmVtYWlsaWQ9YWRtaW5AY2IzOS5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWFkbWluQGNiMzkub3JnJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/bts013_15">BTS
Transborder Data Release</a> for summary tables and additional data. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">See
</span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE4LjQzMDQzMzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxOC40MzA0MzM5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDE0NjI5JmVtYWlsaWQ9YWRtaW5AY2IzOS5vcmcmdXNlcmlkPWFkbWluQGNiMzkub3JnJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&105&&&http://transborder.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/">North
American Transborder Freight Data</a> on the BTS website for additional data
for surface modes since 1995 and all modes since 2004. </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
This post sponsored by <a href="http://spearsjobs.com/" target="_blank">spearsjobs.com</a>.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-79949284693118778872015-03-26T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-26T09:00:04.219-04:00Trucking Time Management Skills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvofX8QGn85XRNJjH0I936myHgHsvojS2Drx85BpEHUlxLdliXcqgCsIzk7TzR8gUNXvnr46uKarVkuuBF8XTxQuYOj98RzxOrm11ZTV0W9YuM8nliglw7lph_SpDVyrTA5iLwHs3Tzk/s1600/time-management-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvofX8QGn85XRNJjH0I936myHgHsvojS2Drx85BpEHUlxLdliXcqgCsIzk7TzR8gUNXvnr46uKarVkuuBF8XTxQuYOj98RzxOrm11ZTV0W9YuM8nliglw7lph_SpDVyrTA5iLwHs3Tzk/s1600/time-management-02.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Efficient
and effective time management is one herculean task truck drivers are faced
with. One of the toughest parts of being a trucker is balancing the time spent
on the road with that spent at home. Each <i>trucker</i> works in a different way and method
with the intention of getting the best from each passing day. Working smarter,
not harder is an assured way to help guarantee continual success in the <i>truck
driving</i> industry. Most trucking companies love truckers that are effective and
spend lesser time on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
are ways which a trucker can effectively manage time on the road to achieve
greater result. Some of these ways include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Choose Routes with Good Parking
Options</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is one way of achieving <a href="http://trucker-blog.com/time-management-skills-for-truck-drivers/" target="_blank">maximum time management</a> by a trucker. The total time
spent driving out of the way to search for a safe parking lot can sum up to a
lot of wasted HOS hours as well as lost productivity. A truck driver can
effectively manage time by mapping out routes with availability of easy-to-find
parking lots. This can save a truck driver more time as well as provide more
time for rest and sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Acquire a GPS System</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
merit of technological advancements is the possibility to complete more tasks
daily. For <i>truck drivers</i>, one of the most useful inventions is the Global
Positioning System (also referred to as the GPS). A good GPS system is the
trucker’s best buddy. This device aids the trucker getting from a location to
another without getting lost. It also reduces the HOS logs and also fuel consumption
as it eliminates inefficient route for truckers. With less time travelled on
the road, there is time availability for proper truck maintenance as well as
other downtime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Create Checklists</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is imperative for a truck driver to develop the habit of creating checklists
such as truck maintenance measures, onboard tools and equipment, load or unload
concerns, as well as a route sketch of parking sites, traffic flow and truck
stops can facilitate an efficient run of time management, particularly in the
case of long haul drivers who are faced mostly with physically demanding
journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Checking Schedules</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
a trucker to effectively manage time, monitoring delivery schedules should also
be considered. This can aid in the reduction of wait time. Fleet control solutions can help to recognize
location of an available load repeatedly and also provide the trucker with quick
information or details of when a load is ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Plan for Rest</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
<i>trucker</i> should learn to plan for total rest during each drive. Although there are
federal regulations that govern a trucker’s Hours of Service, there is more to
rest planning than just the usual 10 to 15 hours on as well as the
corresponding hours off. It is
imperative for a trucker to cultivate the habit of parking early before the
parking sites filled up in order to avoid searching for a truck stop late into
the night. This will not only keep the driver refreshed the next day but also
provide the driver strength to wake and travel early on a road with high
traffic as they are least congested in the early hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-64179794354788782082015-03-23T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-23T09:00:02.967-04:00Minimum Truck Driver Age Reduced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fLCEjavnuA8JRlOjROfA9b4D5VG7RM0zoPcKSaHesp-9oU1x1KB2KjRg1PZEy-Rga5m7JHSaQ3VPSphWh6Gh-FNO6xhLbKJR4aSZoQc5-w3WRGwnZBmL2r88MZRW3Lr3cw9R1jR8dgY/s1600/young-drivers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fLCEjavnuA8JRlOjROfA9b4D5VG7RM0zoPcKSaHesp-9oU1x1KB2KjRg1PZEy-Rga5m7JHSaQ3VPSphWh6Gh-FNO6xhLbKJR4aSZoQc5-w3WRGwnZBmL2r88MZRW3Lr3cw9R1jR8dgY/s1600/young-drivers.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is looking to lower
the truck driving age down to 18 years old. The primary reason is that the
greater need for hauling freight has resulted in a truck driver shortage. In
order to relieve the issue, the ATA is seeking to <i><a href="http://trucker-blog.com/is-lower-driver-age-an-answer-for-the-truck-driver-shortage/" target="_blank">lower the minimum truckdriver age</a></i> and place it in the new highway bill that is currently being
debated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The issue is not without controversy as many people,
especially experienced truck drivers feel that 18 and 19 year olds are simply
not mature enough to handle the rigors of driving large vehicles over a long
period of time. Representatives of the ATA seem to agree that not everyone who
is 18 or 19 should be behind the wheel of a big rig. However, they believe that
there are enough young people with the capabilities of driving a truck who
should not be denied after reaching what most people consider to be the legal
age of adulthood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The belief is that if the truck driver gets the right
training and oversight, they can develop quickly into becoming excellent
drivers on the road. However, there will no doubt be a great deal of monitoring
on this issue. However, the ATA is also working on other issues as well such as
changing back the hours-of-service restart and promoting a new fuel tax to help
support the Highway Trust Fund which is sorely in need of new funding to help
fix bridges and roads around the country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The federal <i>minimum truck driver age</i> is 21. However this
only applies to drivers who cross state lines. In states the age for becoming a
<i>commercial truck driver</i> is 18, however they are usually not exposed to the very
long drives experienced by those who cross state lines. So, while the question
of whether an 18 year old can successfully handle a big truck is not really in
question, it is still up for debate about whether they have the maturity to
drive a truck for the long hours necessary across the country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ATA is also convinced that they are losing 18 to 21 year
olds who come out of high school and looking to go into some type of trade
rather than college. However, because they are prevented from driving a truck
across state lines many of them will go into the fields rather than becoming a
truck driver. The ATA hopes to reverse that trend by allowing 18 year olds to
achieve the same status as older truck drivers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another issue that is hoped to be addressed is the average
age of the <i>truck driver</i> which has steadily gotten older over the past few
decades. If the trend is not reversed, then it will put a large crunch on the
transportation industry as the Baby Boomer generation retires and far fewer
drivers take their place. Reducing the <i>minimum truck driver age</i> just may be the
boost needed for the industry which has been suffering in recent years from a
dearth of new, skilled drivers entering the work force. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This article is sponsored by: <a href="http://spearsjobs.com/">SpearsJobs.com</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-46835366552715518492015-03-19T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-19T09:00:07.426-04:00Are you prepared for Roadcheck 2015?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNq814gqMX5NJeUDcBsa1jgYH-fXG-K8GtBz-5UxTYbO-v5gj29qH-27-97N5WuJtW2xSZj8SATZwBSlnJ6Ll9U_OMeJsh-MmH80JLqqbmrYzPyDxQ696r3mQThAzOy5VNgne1OWYX3E/s1600/roadcheck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roadcheck 2015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNq814gqMX5NJeUDcBsa1jgYH-fXG-K8GtBz-5UxTYbO-v5gj29qH-27-97N5WuJtW2xSZj8SATZwBSlnJ6Ll9U_OMeJsh-MmH80JLqqbmrYzPyDxQ696r3mQThAzOy5VNgne1OWYX3E/s1600/roadcheck.jpg" title="Roadcheck 2015" /></a></div>
Roadcheck, now in its 28th year, is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during a 72-hour period in early June. Each year, approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors in every jurisdiction across North America perform the truck and bus inspections.
<br />
<br />
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) sponsors <em>International Roadcheck </em>with participation by the <em>Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration</em>, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).
<br />
<br />
<h3>
International Roadcheck 2015 will take place on June 2-4, 2015</h3>
<br />
<em>International Roadcheck</em> is an annual three-day event when CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement and educational initiatives targeted at various elements of motor carrier, vehicle, driver and cargo safety and security.
<br />
<br />
Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during <em>Roadcheck</em> have numbered over 1.4 million, resulting in more than 318 lives saved and 5,840 injuries avoided. It also provides an opportunity to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the <a href="http://www.cb39.org/info_pages/six_levels_roadside_inspections.html" target="_blank" title="Six levels of a road side inspection."><em>roadside inspection</em></a> program.
<br />
<h3>
Resources for Drivers:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cvsa.org/programs/documents/roadcheck/roadcheck-checklist-for-drivers-02202015.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Roadcheck 2015 Checklist">International Roadcheck Checklist for Drivers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cvsa.org/programs/documents/roadcheck2014/what_inspectors_are_looking_for.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="What inspectors are looking for">What Inspectors are Looking For</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cvsa.org/programs/documents/roadcheck2014/roadmap_to_safety.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Roadmap to Safety">Roadmap to Safety</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<div>
Reference: <a href="http://www.cvsa.org/programs/int_roadcheck.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Roadcheck Homepage</a></div>
>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-22932847941412032432015-03-16T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-16T09:00:07.923-04:00Owner Operator Tips <div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XNWOoi8A7kivjowxJ1TseMwFdXnI-9jChaV3g8Nk09aHa6NZDI_5i9kxxSTxECNxz4QGck7og7pr7SCpYL60mcpi2mkd81p8SZfxvduSlkjCeZ40obPj6ZUy-v9U4zk_VGczt1r5uoA/s1600/012127626+-+big+truck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Owner Operator Tips " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XNWOoi8A7kivjowxJ1TseMwFdXnI-9jChaV3g8Nk09aHa6NZDI_5i9kxxSTxECNxz4QGck7og7pr7SCpYL60mcpi2mkd81p8SZfxvduSlkjCeZ40obPj6ZUy-v9U4zk_VGczt1r5uoA/s1600/012127626+-+big+truck.jpeg" height="212" title="Owner Operator Tips " width="320" /></a></div>
When it comes to being a truck owner operator, you take on
more responsibility thanks to your new status. No longer are you a truck
driver, but a person who operates your own business. This is very important as
you will need to approach your truck driving more along the lines of how it
benefits you for the obvious reason that you are the owner of the company.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What follows are some simple <a href="http://www.cb39.org/info_pages/owner-operator-tax-deductions.html" target="_blank">owner operator tips</a> that will
help you navigate your new status and run your own business so that you can
maximize your profits.</div>
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Set Goals </h3>
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You will need to set the right goals in order to make money
owning your own truck. This means sitting down and drawing up a plan of where
you want to be in one year, five years and whenever you decide to retire or
move on to a new line of work.</div>
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If you do not set goals, then you’ll never get to where you
want to be. So, start off by writing down your goals and how you are going to
reach them as well. This will mean goals that control your spending as well as
what you want to earn over that period of time.</div>
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Be Professional </h3>
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In all of your work, you will need to present yourself as a
professional. This means that you are a business owner now that you have your
own truck, so be sure to emphasize professionalism in your work. This is
important because you may want to work for a firm that will hire you based on
reputation. So, the better you can treat your driving in a professional manner,
the more likely you are to advance in your business efforts.</div>
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Proper Maintenance Pays Off </h3>
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During your downtime, be sure to maintain your truck and
replace tires or parts that are wearing out.
Repairs can really cost you as a truck <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/owner-operator-tips-john-hill" target="_blank">owner operator</a> and it is much
cheaper to replace a part yourself while at home rather than having your
vehicle towed to get repairs because you didn’t do the proper maintenance.
While you may not prevent every breakdown from occurring, doing the proper
maintenance will keep you on the road much longer than if you get lazy about
taking care of your truck.</div>
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<b>Keep Learning </b></h3>
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It may seem that all you need to know is how to <i>drive a
truck</i> and pay bills. However, there is a lot more to it now that you are an
owner operator of your vehicle. You will need to learn about the business end
of your endeavors which means working with banks that specialize in small
business, creating business plans and other details that will help you make
more money over the long run.</div>
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The more you know, the better you can take care of your
company which means avoiding potentially bad situations while taking advantage
of new opportunities. Being a<i> truck owner operator</i> can reap you many rewards if
you take the time to properly learn the business end. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4004485053860518245.post-52302987132783560682015-03-12T09:00:00.000-04:002015-03-12T09:00:02.181-04:00Definite Don’ts While Driving with a Long Haul Partner<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapAUtOb1jrrn9qnHPHh97CNh9Fm-wyhQBZscd6vsNuxlGCQRGsL_Eh-e_Q16G0GgVHtU0QEPc7Aehg6_E6-Uve6CLUPrnbHR7MrDvIeRV-k7ki5qDzk65MYefQTaeoSJsGy34vsIraKg/s1600/034708089+-+Passing+A+Big+Truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapAUtOb1jrrn9qnHPHh97CNh9Fm-wyhQBZscd6vsNuxlGCQRGsL_Eh-e_Q16G0GgVHtU0QEPc7Aehg6_E6-Uve6CLUPrnbHR7MrDvIeRV-k7ki5qDzk65MYefQTaeoSJsGy34vsIraKg/s1600/034708089+-+Passing+A+Big+Truck.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
There are plenty of posts online about what to do in order
to work well with a driving partner, but what they’re all saying is the exact
opposite without being obvious. It’s more about what you shouldn’t do that is
the worthwhile advice. A good example of this outside of driving is that you
should always give flowers to your wife on Valentine’s Day- the impression
being that if you don’t, you’ll catch hell. Therefore, the advice is really telling
you what not to do- show up empty handed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.cb39.org/library/team-truck-driving.html" target="_blank">Driving with a partner</a></i> is a kind of marriage in that sense,
where two drivers work together towards a common goal. To reach it, they need
to work smoothly as a team. This goal means more money at the end of the week
in the paycheck, as a competent tandem team can keep on the road almost
constantly, with breaks to fuel up and grab some chow. To keep this
relationship going strong, there are a couple of things you don’t want to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Personal Hygiene</h3>
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You most certainly don’t want to forget to take a shower
whenever the opportunity arises. Guys have a code they won’t say something
about another man’s stank, but if it gets bad enough, they’ll speak up by
looking for another partner. Think about it from your own perspective- do you
want to driver with a partner who travels with their own personalized
Meadowland’s air freshener under their armpits?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Personal Space</h3>
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Don’t forget that everyone has personal space, even if
you’re driving with your best friend. If they’re reading a magazine, don’t pull
it away to get a better look. If they’re scanning the radio, don’t push aside
their hand because you think you can scan faster. And for the love of
everything holy on the road, if they’re talking up a waitress at a grease pit,
don’t get in the middle and try to help. One common courtesy is to consider if
they really need your help with anything before acting. This is definitely a
good practice to get into in order to stay best friends on the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Leaving it All Up to Them</h3>
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Last but not least, don’t leave all of the decisions up to
them, even if they seem to want to make them. Your <i><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-One-Stay-Married-to-a-Truck-Driver?&id=8827399" target="_blank">driving team</a></i> is a 50/50
proposition, where you both either succeed or fail depending on how you both do
on the road. To that end, have your decisions spread out between you both, and
keep your wheels on the road the way they should be- full time and making
money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09833005106340149624noreply@blogger.com0