The Implications of 85

Calendar October 18, 2012 | Posted by GONZOTRUCKER

The Implications of 85
Hank Barton is a second generation trucker-philosopher with a penchant for the written word. He enjoys blogging about long haul trucking, safe driving practices and life on the open road. He writes for E-Gears, an online CDL Test authority that specializes in a variety of study guides.

The internet, the mainstream media, the trucking industry and the great state of Texas are all abuzz with the news: in November, Texas State Highway 130 is upping its speed limit to 85. The American Trucking Association is at odds with the Texas Department of Transportation. Texas is at odds with the media. Motorists are at odds with truckers. The current speed limit on 130 is 80 mph, so this entire hubbub is over a 5 mile increase. So what’s the deal?
The deal is this: this whole affair is causing people to actually talk about what speed limits mean to Texas, about how safe our roads really are and about how trucks interact with regular vehicles. This conversation is healthy, and it might just lead to the creation of something more valuable than a higher speed limit.

Speed
I don’t think a lot of non-truckers are aware that many trucks have governors installed on them. Most folks think that a truck can go however fast its driver wants it to, or that the truck is an inherently slow beast that can’t climb past 65. My truck doesn’t have a governor installed, but it’s a good bet for big companies that want to save some cash on fuel economy.
In a recent article, The Texas Tribune did its part to make the public more aware of how truckers operate. They quoted Sean McNally of the ATA, who said, “We know it’s common industry practice to [use a governor], particularly as fuel prices continue to rise… A truck going 75 [mph] uses 27 percent more fuel than one going 65.”
Everyone understands rising gas prices, and they can relate to that. I’ve read a lot of comments on these articles, from non-truckers mostly, calling upon automakers to manufacture more aerodynamic trucks. One guy said something akin to “current rigs look like something a little kid made with a Lego set.” I think there’s some truth in that, and that we have room to evolve.
The Tribune also mentioned that, according to TxDOT, several trucks are already taking 130 and the number of vehicles with 3 axles or more on that stretch of road has sown a slight increase since April.

Freedom
Freedom is a big deal for Texans, and that applies to how fast they drive. In a recent piece for, Jalopnik Patrick George writes, “Here in the Lone Star State, speed limits are generally viewed as guidelines or helpful suggestions rather than laws. Texans have a thing for speed, something I attribute to our wide-open spaces, long stretches of highways, and general love of freedom. Down here, we kind of drive as fast as we want, even if the police and state troopers aren’t cool with that.”
The whole idea behind 130 is that it gives regular folks and truckers a way to bypass the congestion of I-35, which gets especially bad near downtown Austin. Essentially, you pay a toll, get to go faster and avoid the congestion entirely. You can pay a monthly fee for a TxTag, which allows you to use 130 as you please, or you can get a bill in the mail when a camera snaps a photo of you entering the highway. Pay some money and you’re free to go faster (probably 10-15 mph faster, in actuality) and get away from the gridlock.
Quoted in that same Tribune article, SH 130 concession company spokesman said, “I think anyone who’s been on I-35 when it’s uncongested at night will tell you there are plenty of trucks that are willing to drive that fast… We think our facility will give the trucking community good choices considering speed, congestion, topography and access points.”
At least some truckers are willing to go 85, and plenty of regular motorists are, too. The problem is that a lot of motorists are expressing a desire to be “free of trucks” entirely, which is where the conversation needs to go. Having more road options is nice for everyone, but a 5 mph increase doesn’t solve this fundamental communication problem. Some truckers would definitely like to be free of other trucks too—not to mention they’d like to be free of disrespectful civilian vehicles!

Hostility
In another recent Jalopnik piece, Patrick George writes, “Honestly though, one of the perils of driving on Interstate 35 in Texas is all of the 18-wheeler traffic. They don’t always go as fast as cars do, and some of them aren’t even cool enough to stay out of the passing lane. If the high speed limits on the SH 130 toll road keep the trucks on other highways, I’d be completely fine with that. I’d be more apt to use SH 130 if I didn’t have to dodge 18-wheelers like in some giant slalom course, regardless of the toll.”
Though George makes some reasonable points, other folks with similar opinions are downright hostile. They don’t consider that commercial trucking is the infrastructure of the entire country. The American consumer business model would die without trucks on the highways and interstates. Sure, it’s inconvenient to wait a few minutes while a truck passes another truck, and it’s inconvenient to take off the cruise control for a few seconds to get around a rig that’s doing 20 mph less than you are—but what is that inconvenience compared to having no food in the supermarket? Reality check.
The truth is, truckers act hostile toward regular drivers just the same. They do vindictive, petty things on the road that put people in danger. Regular cars do different vindictive, petty things. It can keep getting worse and folks can keep getting mad, or we can have a real chat about it. It’s up to us, not up to the people that increase the speed limit on a stretch of road less than 50 miles long.

Through conversation, we just need to change the relationship between truckers and normal motorists. We’re not enemies—we both care about getting to our destinations safely. The road will never be an entirely ideal place for either of us, but if we start talking about it then maybe we can make it a less frustrating place for everyone. I don’t want some guy in a sports car to feel like he’s on a slalom run, but I don’t want a trucker with a governor installed to be constantly badgered because their company wants to get better gas mileage, either. The conversation starts here.

197 total views, no views today


Comments

comments

Category Categories: Guest Bloggers  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Directory of West Virginia Truck Driving Schools

Calendar October 17, 2012 | Posted by GONZOTRUCKER

Beckley: New River Community and Technical College Address: 167 Dye Dr, Beckley, West Virginia 25801 Phone: 304-929-6734

Buckhannon: Fred Eberle Tech Truck Driver Training Address: Rte 5 Box 2, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201 Phone: 304-472-1259

Clarksburg: PIA – Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics Address: Rte 3 Box 43C, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301 Phone: 304-624-6666

Danville: Boone County Truck Driver Training Address: HC 81 Box 50B, Danville, West Virginia 25053 Phone: 304-855-5045

Dunbar: PIA – Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics Address: 500 28th St, Dunbar, West Virginia 25064 Phone: 304-766-7332

Huntington: Semi Smart Truck Driving School Address: 602 Malcolm Ln, Huntington, West Virginia 25704 Phone: 305-525-5252

Martinsburg: James Rumsey Technical Institute Address: 3274 Hedgesville Rd, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401 Phone: 304-754-8157

Moorefield: Eastern WV Community & Technical College Address: 1929 State Road 55, Moorefield, West Virginia 26836 Phone: 304-434-8000 x231

Weirton: PIA – Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics Address: 3242 Main St, Weirton, West Virginia 26062 Phone: 304-748-0395

Williamstown: Ohio Valley Truck Driver Training School Address: 1341 Highland Ave , Williamstown, West Virginia 26187 Phone: 304-375-4140

188 total views, no views today


Comments

comments

Category Categories: Directory Of Truck Driving Schools By State  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Directory of Washington Truck Driving Schools

Calendar October 17, 2012 | Posted by GONZOTRUCKER

Aberdeen: Grays Harbor College Address: 1620 Edward P Smith Dr, Aberdeen, Washington 98520 Phone: 360-532-9020

Bellinghan: Pegasus Commercial Driving Corp Address: 4923 Guide Meridian , Bellinghan, Washington 98226 Phone: 360-223-7318

Centralia: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon Address: 1709 Van Wormer St, #4, Centralia, Washington 98531 Phone: 888-565-0203

Colbert: L & T Training Address: N 17912 Michael Rd, Colbert, Washington 99005 Phone: 509-464-2199

Grandview: GMC Training Institute Address: 109 W Second St, Grandview, Washington 98930 Phone: 509-882-2523

Kelso: Northwest Truck Training Inc Address: 2500 Talley Wy, Kelso, Washington 98626 Phone: 360-575-1744

Kent: Seattle Truck Driving School Address: 24700 Military Rd S, Kent, Washington 98032 Phone: 253-528-0900

Kent: Western Pacific Truck School Address: 26330 79th Ave S, Kent, Washington 98204 Phone: 800-333-1233

Lakeview: VATA Truck Driving School Address: 3141 Mercedes Dr NE, Lakeview, Washington 98516 Phone: 360-455-0057

Lakewood: Commercial Driver Services Address: 11000 34th Ave S , Lakewood, Washington 98449 Phone: 253-983-0200

Longview: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon Address: 1839 First Ave, Ste 2D, Longview, Washington 98632 Phone: 888-565-0203

Moses Lake: Big Bend Community College Address: 7662 Chanute St , Moses Lake, Washington 98837 Phone: 509-793-2222

Mount Vernon: Biddix Company Inc Address: 2814 Old Hwy 99 S, Mount Vernon, Washington 98273 Phone: 360-982-2891

Mt. Vernon: North Cross Commercial Driving School LLC Address: 3122 Cedardale Rd, Mt. Vernon, Washington 98273 Phone: 360-424-0373

Olympia: Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon Address: 2747 Pacific Ave SE, #A9, Olympia, Washington 98501 Phone: 888-565-0203

Pasco: Columbia Basin College Address: 2600 N 20th Ave, Pasco, Washington 99301 Phone: 509-544-4914

Pasco: Driver Training Solutions Address: 2021 E James, Pasco, Washington 99301 Phone: 509-543-7901

Pasco: T Enterprises Truck Driving School Address: 2010 E Lewis Pl , Pasco, Washington 99301 Phone: 509-547-2441

Port Orchard: All Training Services Truck School Address: 3649 W Frontage Rd, Port Orchard, Washington 98367 Phone: 360-373-1114

Richland: Stateline Trucking School Address: 1845 Terminal Dr, #150, Richland, Washington 99354 Phone: 509-554-3102

Seattle: South Seattle Community College Address: 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington 98106 Phone: 206-764-5846.

Seattle: T & M Taras Truck Driving School Address: 18635 8th Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98148 Phone: 206-571-1648

Spokane: Driver Training Solutions Address: 16702 E Euclid Ave, Spokane, Washington 99216 Phone: 509 777-0073

Spokane: Spokane Community College Address: 1810 N Greene St , Spokane, Washington 99217 Phone: 509-533-7160

Tacoma: Bates Technical College Address: 2201 S 78th St , Tacoma, Washington 98409 Phone: 253-680-7400

Tacoma: DRM CDL Training Address: 424 E 19th St , Tacoma, Washington 98421 Phone: 253-426-2100

Tacoma: Trans Union Truck Driving Schools Address: 2624 River Rd E, Tacoma, Washington 98443 Phone: 253-922-0870

Tonasket: OK CDL Training LLC Address: 1259 N Pine Cr Rd, Tonasket, Washington 98855 Phone: 509-322-8884

Toppenish: 7 Star Truck Driving School LLC Address: 9 Asotin Ave, Toppenish, Washington 98948 Phone: 509-949-8569

Vancouver: Test You Address: 2428 E 1st St, Vancouver, Washington 98661 Phone: 360-750-9338

Walla Walla: Walla Walla Community College Address: 500 Tausick Wy, Walla Walla, Washington 99362 Phone: 509-522-2500

White Swan: Fort Simcoe Job Corps Center Address: 40 Abella Ln, White Swan, Washington 98952 Phone: 509-871-2244

Woodinville: Check Ride Driver Training Address: 13632 NE 177th Pl, Woodinville, Washington 98072 Phone: 425-402-8200

Woodland: West Coast Training Address: 3805 Dike Rd , Woodland, Washington 98674 Phone: 360-225-6767

Yakima: Yakima Valley Community College Address: S 16th Ave & Nob Hill Blvd, Yakima, Washington 98902 Phone: 509-574-4600

75 total views, 1 views today


Comments

comments

Category Categories: Directory Of Truck Driving Schools By State  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Directory of Virginia Truck Driving Schools

Calendar October 17, 2012 | Posted by GONZOTRUCKER

Blackstone: South Virginia Community College Address: 1041 W 10th St, Blackstone, Virginia 23824 Phone: 434-292-3101

Chester : Community College Workforce Alliance Chester Center Address: 13101 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester , Virginia 23831 Phone: 804-706-5175

Chester: Shipper’s Choice of Virginia Address: 1151 W Hundred Rd, Chester, Virginia 23836 Phone: 804-751-9090

Emporia: Southside Virginia Truck Driving School Address: 1300 Greensville , Emporia, Virginia 23847 Phone: 434-634-9358

Front Royal: Road Pro Commercial Truck Training Inc Address: 508 Kendrick Ln, # J, Front Royal, Virginia 22630 Phone: 540-636-9397

Hampton: Shipper’s Choice of Virginia Address: 525 Butler Farm Rd , Hampton, Virginia 23666 Phone: 757-825-3861

Hansonville: Tri-County Driving Academy Address: US Rte 19, Hansonville, Virginia 24266 Phone: 540-794-7660

Manassas: A-1 CDL Training School Address: 11301 Coles Dr , Manassas, Virginia 20112 Phone: 703-335-5333

Manassas Pk: Shipper’s Choice of Virginia Address: 9202 Manassas Dr, Manassas Pk, Virginia 20111 Phone: 800-874-7131

Portsmouth: Tidewater Community College Truck Driver Training Address: 7000 College Dr, Portsmouth, Virginia 23703 Phone: 757-822-2124

Sandston: Swift Driving Academy Address: 5350A Lewis Rd , Sandston, Virginia 23150 Phone: 804-226-1075

South Boston: South Virginia Community College Address: 820 Bruce St, South Boston, Virginia 24592 Phone: 434-572-5451

Virginia Beach: Advanced Technology Institute Address: 5700 Southern Blvd , Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462 Phone: 757-490-1241

Weyers Cave: Blue Ridge Community College Address: One College Lane, Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 Phone: 540-453-2215

Woodford: CDS Tractor Trailer Training Address: 6200 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Woodford, Virginia 22580 Phone: 540-582-8200

Wytheville: Alliance Tractor Trailer Training Center Address: PO Box 804, Wytheville, Virginia 24382 Phone: 800-334-1203

91 total views, no views today


Comments

comments

Category Categories: Directory Of Truck Driving Schools By State  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Directory of Texas Truck Driving Schools

Calendar October 17, 2012 | Posted by GONZOTRUCKER

Abilene: Action Career Training Address: 598 Westwood, Abilene, Texas 76541 Phone: 254-526-1624

Alice: International Schools  Address: 704 Coyote Trl, Alice, Texas 78332 Phone: 361-664-2981

Amarillo: Amarillo College of Truck Driving Address: 1310 F Ave , Amarillo, Texas 79111 Phone: 806-335-4370

Arlington: Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School Address: 3601 Smith Barry Rd, Ste 202, Arlington, Texas 76013 Phone: 817-275-9444

Athens: Trinity Valley Community College Truck Driving Training Address: 500 S Prairieville St, Athens, Texas 75751 Phone: 903-675-2922

Austin : International Schools  Address: 5930 Middle Fiskeville Rd , Austin , Texas 78752 Phone: 888-569-8530

Baytown: TDS Semi Driver Training Address: 6003 John Martin Rd, Ste 100, Baytown, Texas 77521 Phone: 281-452-5858

Beaumont: Lamar Institute of Technology Address: 855 E Lavaca, Beaumont, Texas 77705 Phone: 409-839-2942

Borger: Frank Philips College Address: 1301 W Roosevelt, Borger, Texas 79008 Phone: 806-457-4200 x740

Bryan: Blinn College Address: 301 Post Office St, Bryan, Texas 77805 Phone: 979-209-7205

Canutillo: Mesilla Valley Training Institute Address: 7440 Doniphan, Canutillo, Texas 79835 Phone: 915-877-6090

Carrollton: Top Gun Truck Driving School Address: 1008 E Alan Ave, Carrollton, Texas 75006 Phone: 972-418-5676

Cedar Hill: C.R. England Address: 1230 S Hwy 67, Cedar Hill, Texas 75104 Phone: 800-848-7811

China Grove: SAGE Address: 7586 Hwy 87 E, China Grove, Texas 78223 Phone: 866-787-4454

Corpus Christi: Del Mar College Address: 4101 Old Brownsville Rd , Corpus Christi, Texas 78405 Phone: 361-994-8229

Dallas: Bill Priest Institute Address: 1402 Corinth, Dallas, Texas 75215 Phone: 214-860-5900 x5759

Dallas: Continental Truck Driver Training & Education School Address: 6704 S RL Thornton Fwy , Dallas, Texas 75232 Phone: 972-224-5551

Dallas: Fluid Academy Address: 13608 Midway Rd, Dallas, Texas 75244 Phone: 972-860-7842

Dallas: International Schools  Address: 6373 S Loop 12, Dallas, Texas 75217 Phone: 214-398-6878

Dallas: International Schools  Address: 4849 Illinois Ave , Dallas, Texas 75237 Phone: 800-725-8844

Dallas: International Schools  Address: 5912 Samuel Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75237 Phone: 214-275-6360

Dallas: Schneider Training Academy Address: 34500 LBJ Fwy, Dallas, Texas 37209 Phone: 469-941-3062

Dallas: Truck Driver Institute Address: 8701 Peterbilt Ave , Dallas, Texas 75241 Phone: 888-294-7364

Decatur: Weatherford College Address: 1200-B S FM 51, Decatur, Texas 76234 Phone: 817-341-1940

Del Rio: Star Career Training Address: 300 Cienegas Rd, Del Rio, Texas 78840 Phone: 830-775-9476

Dennison: Grayson County College Truck Driving Training Address: 3401 Maccallum Ave, Dennison, Texas 75020 Phone: 903-786-4343

Eagle Pass: Southwest Texas Junior College Address: 4003 Hwy 277 SE, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852 Phone: 830-591-7264

El Paso: Axis Business Academy Address: 1528 Goodyear Dr, Ste B, El Paso, Texas 79936 Phone: 915-595-8840

El Paso: El Paso Community College Address: PO Box 20050, El Paso, Texas 79998 Phone: 915-831-2150

El Paso: International Schools  Address: 1030 N Zaragoza Rd , El Paso, Texas 79907 Phone: 915-858-1515

El Paso: International Schools  Address: 3910 Doniphan Dr , El Paso, Texas 79922 Phone: 915-845-1414

El Paso: Mesilla Valley Training Institute Address: 9244 Gateway Blvd E, Ste C, El Paso, Texas 79907 Phone: 915-872-1964

Elm Mott: ATDS Address: 124 Truckers Ln, Elm Mott, Texas 76640 Phone: 254-829-1694

Farmers Branch: Brookhaven College Address: 3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch, Texas 75244 Phone: 972-860-4600

Fort Worth: C1 Truck Driver Training Address: 4200 S Fwy, Fort Worth, Texas 76115 Phone: 877-626-5873

Fort Worth: North Texas Institute for Career Development Address: 4005 Campus Dr, Fort Worth, Texas 76119 Phone: 817-332-7866 x2060

Gonzales: The Victoria College Address: 424 E Sarah DeWitt, Gonzales, Texas 78629 Phone: 830-672-6251

Grand Prairie: MT Training Center Address: 1801 S Great Southwest Pkwy, Grand Prairie, Texas 75051 Phone: 972-262-5395

Hondo: Southwest Texas Junior College Address: Hondo Airport BOQ Bldg, Hondo, Texas 78861 Phone: 830-591-4125

Houston: AAA CDL Service Address: 14803 Camino Rancho Dr , Houston, Texas 77083 Phone: 281-495-9192

Houston: Houston Community College Address: 555 Community College Dr, Bldg B, Houston, Texas 77013 Phone: 713-718-8200

Kilgore : Kilgore College Address: 1100 Broadway Blvd, Kilgore , Texas 75662 Phone: 903-753-2642

Laredo: Laredo Community College Address: 5500 S Zapata Hwy, Laredo, Texas 78046 Phone: 956-721-5374

Laredo: LHCT Truck Driving School Address: 1219 Chihuahua St , Laredo, Texas 78040 Phone: 956-791-9200

Lubbock: International Schools  Address: 3610 Ave Q, Ste 111, Lubbock, Texas 79412 Phone: 888-558-4824

Lufkin: Lufkin Truck Driving Academy Address: 109 Lufkin Ave, Lufkin, Texas 75902 Phone: 888-255-6351

Marshall: Texas State Technical College- Marshall Address: 2400 E End Blvd S, Marshall, Texas 75672 Phone: 903-923-3401

McAllen: International Schools  Address: 3700 W Military Hwy , McAllen, Texas 78501 Phone: 956-872-8311

Mesquite: ATDS Address: 3912 Flamingo Wy, Mesquite, Texas 75150 Phone: 972-681-9203

Mesquite: International Schools  Address: 3737 Motley Dr , Mesquite, Texas 75150 Phone: 972-860-7232

Midland: Midland College Address: 3600 N Garfield, Midland, Texas 79705 Phone: 432-681-6318

Mineral Wells: Weatherford College Address: Rt 4 Bldg 704 Wolters Ind Pk, Mineral Wells, Texas 76067 Phone: 940-325-2591

Odessa : International Schools  Address: 691 N Grant Ave , Odessa , Texas 79761 Phone: 915-580-0860

Odessa : Odessa College Professional Truck Driver Training Address: 201 W University , Odessa , Texas 79761 Phone: 432-580-0860

Palmer: Tri-State Semi Driver Training Address: 1400 N Interstate 45, Palmer, Texas 75152 Phone: 972-449-3339

Pasadena: San Jacinto College Truck Driving School Address: 8060 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, Texas 77501 Phone: 281-476-1501

Pharr: Action Career Training Address: 1403 W Ferguson, Pharr, Texas 78577 Phone: 956-782-6800

San Antonio: Roadmaster Address: 7196 SW White Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78222 Phone: 210-648-8600

San Antonio: Swift Driving Academy Address: 5348 E Houston St, San Antonio, Texas 78220 Phone: 866-237-2683

Socorro: Center for Employment Training Address: 1061 N Loop Dr, Ste R, Socorro, Texas 79927 Phone: 915-859-1070

Sulphur Springs: Brookhaven College Address: 2325 Hwy 19 S, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482 Phone: 903-885-9800

Tyler: Career Trucking School Address: 6986 County Rd 384, Tyler, Texas 75708 Phone: 903-596-7744

Victoria: The Victoria College Address: 2200 E Red River St, Victoria, Texas 77901 Phone: 362-582-2590

Wills Point : Associated Training Services Address: 24143 Interstate 20, Wills Point , Texas 75169 Phone: 866-542-2781

92 total views, no views today


Comments

comments

Category Categories: Directory Of Truck Driving Schools By State  |  Tag Tags: , , ,  |  Comments No Comments

Email Job Alerts

Check your email and confirm the subscription It might be in your spam folder.