NEW FMCSA NEW RULES

“You can’t just get a truck driving job anymore like before.” In your desperate search for a job maybe you’re thinking ill just drive a truck.  Well think again its getting harder to get these jobs. “The problem is, you can’t find people you want to hire or who can pass the drug tests and all that,” said Karen Rasmussen, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association. Even though there is a truck driver shortage right now and it’s getting worse.  According to one estimate the shortage is around 130,000 truck drivers nationwide!  Old truck drivers are retiring and younger people are showing no interest in becoming a truck driver, and trucking companies are being more picky because of safety concerns.

  It has become so hard to fill truck driving jobs that many companies began increasing pay and benefits to fill these positions.  The cost of delivery could rise and delivery times could slow or be late!  If the economy gets better we will have a shortage of truck drivers to haul the freight like never before seen.  Then everybody will notice when their food and clothing does not arrive on time.  Federal motor carries safety administration has enacted tougher regulations to crack down on bad drivers and companies.  This one motivating factor in the decline of truck drivers and causing a shortage.  The trucking industry has become so highly regulated that a lot of truck drivers are getting into a new industry all together.  But trucking has become safer over the years due mainly to better Trucks and a more quality truck driver training program.

Truck driver crashes have been falling for 6 years now, according to the American Trucking Association, which attributes that in part to 2005 regulations that restrict hours of service.The federal motor carrier’s safety administration last year implemented what they call the 2010 initiative pays close attention to truck drivers and their companies from faulty equipment to fatigue truck drivers, And is now considering reducing the hours of which we can drive and that my friend’s will cause an even bigger delay in moving goods across the country ho ho!! How will the nation’s roads look like with that backup?  They are now shutting down companies with a history of bad violations and some with a whole bunch of little violations!.  The FMCSA now has a truck driver pre hire screening program now that makes it easier for companies to see truck drivers past driving history including small violations.  And now all violations are going on the truck drivers license and with too many you can lose your commercial truck drivers license.

  With all these new rules it knocks a lot of truck drivers out of the industry thus making a new type of truck driver shortage.  Some truck driver training schools are being more careful about who there even willing to train now.  Even before these new rules it was getting harder to get young people interested in truck driving across the country anymore.  To leave the comfort of their bed every night and deal with the headaches of being a truck driver.  Before the recession there was a high shortage then during it got smaller and now its growing again.  Bob Costello, chief economist with the American Trucking Association, said, “I am hearing from companies daily saying,  ‘I can’t find enough drivers. ‘ Some of that is quality versus quantity.  They may not be finding the quality they want.” the freight business is coming back stronger than ever and growing at a rapid pace.  Many young people prefer jobs in the tech business now where they can stay home or be close to home working online instead of driving a truck across the country!!  Just take a minute today at the truck stop or shipper and receiver to see the average age of truck drivers around you i’m sure it will be in the 40s.  Or while standing in line to pay for your fuel look around and count how many truck drivers in there early 20s there is?

  From the truck drivers standpoint that is a good thing, but from an industry side its not good at all.  Just like any industry you need rookies they keep truck driving alive.  Who is going to replace you when you retire if there is nobody coming into truck driving and then in your retirement years you will have to fight people at the grocery store for the last loaf of bread until the truck’s arrive. Also that loaf of bread will cost you $10 dollars many truck drivers are switching companies now look for better pay so truck driver turnover is getting high again. And now with the loss of jobs in the economy there is a rush to these truck driver schools of people who have never driven a truck in their life.  They have been unemployed for a while and are getting desperate to feed their family’s.  A friend of mine Jeff is now going through a trucking school in indiana he was in construction for 20 years but he can’t find a job now. 

But like many new truck drivers Jeff does not know how hard it really is to be a truck driver now. Sure anyone can drive a truck but not everyone is cut out to be a truck driver!! If your a local truck driver you will have to unload in all types of weather conditions.  Over the road truck drivers have to deal with shippers and receivers long wait times which cut into your pay, not to mention the new regulations.  So to sum it up being a truck driver is getting harder and the industry is growing faster than ever.  So what will it be like to be a truck driver in 10 years?  I suspect good quality truck drivers will be in demand and can ask for higher pay. Maybe over the road truck drivers will demand an hourly salary and get it! Ho ho way more pay will attract young people into this industry no matter how hard it is or how many regulations are put on truck drivers.  With the right amount of pay most people will put up with any headaches. (Excert taken from an article in azcentral.com) GONZOTRUCKER

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The Truth A Veterans Story

Protect Your CDL

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Turn  right  on  the  unmarked  unpaved  dirt  road,  travel  4  miles  through  the  woods  until  you  see  the  paper  mill  on  your  right!  What?

“That was the directions that came across my Qualcom”,  one day back in 2003.   Needless to say I was hesitant to drive down that road in Illinois.  In the winter no less!    The directions this time was correct, ask any  Truck Driver and they will say that  Is the biggest stress factor In Truck Driving is getting lost!   “All of us have stories like this”,  and the frustration of being lost can sometimes stress a driver out. 

My first trip to  NYC I got lost for over six hours, and could not even find my location on the atlas.  Finally I found the interstate and got back to the new jersey turnpike toll plaza.   ”I called the receiver and told them if you want your load come to me and I will follow you back into the city.”   Another time in Minnesota I could not find the shipper for two hours, it seems there was two streets with the same name!  

That time I quit driving my truck, and was so stressed out I walked away from the truck for 30 minutes to take a breather. Now the new truck driver has a neat little tool  GPS (global position system).  

 Have  you ever got a secretary on the phone who does not know how she drove to work?  Or  one who forgot to tell you about the low bridge just before the building?  These are some of the things we had to deal with back then. But today with a Good GPS unit you no longer have to deal with these problems, and you can concentrate on driving your truck.  

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Cobra is giving professional drivers one more way to communicate safely and easily with the first-ever CB radio with Bluetooth technology – the new 29 LTD BT. The Bluetooth feature allows drivers a better way to have phone conversations on the road because calls from a mobile phone are synched with the CB radio. A noise canceling microphone allows calls to be heard loud and clear, even over a noisy engine. Incoming audio is routed through the radio’s 5-Watt CB speaker making it easy for the driver to hear the caller. The unit also provides one-touch Bluetooth operation, giving drivers the ability to stay focused on the road by answering and terminating calls with the push of one button. An auto-redial feature also allows for one-touch redialing of the last number called.

The new unit offers 4 Watts AM RF power output, the maximum amount of power allowed by law; Talk Back controls allowing drivers to adjust the desired amount of modulation talk back; a Blue Channel indicator displaying channel selection in cool blue illumination; and Delta Tune which is used to clarify incoming signals. The 29 LTD BT is redefining the CB radio!

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Trucker pictures No Parking

Many truckers have found that driving a big rig is no longer as rewarding or safe as it once was. With a growing number of problems related to parking shortages for their trucks, especially along major commercial corridors, many drivers have reverted to parking along entrances and exits to freeways and highways. Unfortunately, this can create a safety hazard, not only for the driver, but for other people using this access points, as well.

Some states are allocating funds to develop additional parking spaces for these commercial truck drivers; however, along some of the freight corridors that are most heavily traveled, there is still a significant shortage of available parking spaces. Additionally an innovative method of notifying truckers of available parking facilities is still in the planning stages. The funds for these improvements have been allocated by the federal government to individual state’s departments of transportation with a state-federal government split of 80/20 in most cases.

As part of an initiative to find an effective solution to the problem of insufficient parking for commercial truckers, SAFETEA-LU has developed a pilot program for truck parking facilities. There are efforts underway to address this critical issue, but the problem still exists. Truckers are required to limit their number of hours in service; however, meeting this safety regulation is an ongoing challenge when sufficient long term parking options are not available.

In many areas, truck stops routinely exceed capacity and the overflow spills out onto side streets and grassy areas. These problems are especially prominent in heavily traveled corridors and the problem seems to be escalating. One factor that has added to the problem is the cross-country traffic spurned on by the NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement has opened up a deluge of commercial traffic through the state of Texas, much of it coming through the Metroplex and I-35 corridor. Texas is certainly one of the states that is in immediate need of additional parking facilities for truckers.

Texas is working on improvements to many of its rest areas in an effort to expand available truck parking and as funds become available, outdated rest areas will be converted into areas dedicated for truck parking. Obviously, with more and more truckers on the road, the need for even more appropriate parking facilities simply grows. Meeting this demand is essential so that truckers are not forced to operate their trucks beyond safety limits or when drowsy. Truckers need a place to pull over and rest, when needed. Unfortunately, in some areas, there is simply no such place.

Private enterprises, such as NATSO, the National Association of Travel Plazas and Truckstops, take the position that they are able to handle this increased burden and can provide adequate parking for commercial truckers. The Texas Department of Transportation is reluctant to go into some areas and build additional parking facilities because of the high cost and inherent competitive environment it would face with existing private enterprise locations; however, many truckers feel that NATSO and government efforts have not been able to keep up with demand.

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Truckers Truck Stops

Origins of Truck Stops in the United States of America

Truck stops are basically designated areas where truckers can go to find some of the most essential necessities of travel. In the United Kingdom, they are normally referred to as transport cafes. These act as filling stations for large trucks that travel over very long distances. The Truck stops started coming into existence at around 1940 when large truck businesses were flourishing.

As the need to transport more and more goods over long distances by road grew, it was necessary for transporters to have a way of filling up with diesel and getting some essentials including toilets where they could relieve themselves after long hours of driving. It was because of such needs that a few business minded individuals started up Truck stops that were mainly used to fill up trucks that had gone low on diesel. Diesel was very rare in normal gas stations and that is why this alternative proved to be very effective.

As years went by, the business became more and more popular and thus several Truck stops were built along the highways to offer convenience for Truckers. The truck stop has greatly changed since it first begun. There have been many improvements that have been done in order to accommodate even greater needs for those who may be traveling over long distances.

Improvements on Truck Stops

Some of the most notable improvements include restaurants and convenience stores. These improvements have ensured that Truckers do not have to pack so many things at the start of their travels. There are also other improvements that were introduced over the years. These may include; showers, video arcades, parking areas among several other things.

Today, Truck stops are almost like small towns where one can go when in need of just about anything. They have been designed to accommodate all types of vehicles including very large trucks. The fueling stations that are present are normally designed in such a way that they can be used by a large number of customers fast and thereby avoiding any issues of congestion although this has not been fully resolved in certain parts of the United States.

It is equally important to note that more and more Truck stops have embraced technological advancements that are aimed at making traveling even less frustrating and more enjoyable. Some of the most remarkable technologies that have been incorporated include; satellite radio stations, music & audio books, video games, truck heaters and auxiliary power units like idle air among others.

Advantages of Truck Stops

There are several advantages that can be associated with Truck stops and that is why they are very popular. One particular thing that can be said to be an advantage is that Truckers do not have to worry about running out of fuel along the road. All you have to do is go to the nearest Truck stop and fill up.

Another one of the things that can be said to be an advantage is that they offer food to those who are traveling over long distances. As was mentioned before, Truck stops normally have fast food joints that provide meals for those who have been on the road. They also offer facilities like showers and lodgings that can be used in case the Trucker needs to have some rest. The convenience stores also provide things like drugs that can be used if a person falls ill during the journey.

The next one of the advantages of Truck stops is that they provide security for those who may be traveling. If for example Truckers are on the road and the weather turns dangerous, Truck stops act as a great place to find refuge until the bad weather passes. This has over the years proved to be a very good thing since many accidents have been avoided.

Those who own large fleets of trucks may equally benefit if they consistently fill their trucks at the same Truck stop. The owners of Truck stops are normally more than willing to provide decent bonuses or discounts to those who consistently use their services. This ensures that both parties benefit from their mutual corporation.

How Truckers can Locate Truck Stops

While it may seem like a very difficult thing, locating “good” Truck stops is not as hard as most people think. This is because the owners of the Truck stops have thought of several ways to ensure that people know exactly where they are.

One of the things that Truckers can do in order to locate a Truck stop is to watch out for large billboards or sign posts along the roadside. Most Truck stops will have very large signs that indicate the exact location where they are. It is therefore true to say that one can easily find a great Truck Stop by keeping a keen eye on billboards or sign posts that are placed along the highway.

Another one of the things that Truckers can do in order to locate a Truck stop is to carefully study the Atlas. There are normally several markings that are deliberately placed on the Atlas to indicate the exact location that the Truck stops are situated at. Atlases can be found in almost all the convenience stores that have been built in the Truck stops.

Another effective way of finding a great Truck stop is by simply asking those people who are within the vicinity. Truck stops are very notable and thus anyone who has been in any area near them will be able to give accurate directions to whoever may be in need. In addition to that, there are certain vehicles or trucks that have elaborate navigation systems which can be used to identify Truck stops.

Truck stops are open to all Truckers that are traveling on the open road and it is therefore true that anyone can go to any Truck stop. It is however more advisable for Truckers to use certain Truck stops consistently in order to fully enjoy some of the advantages that were mentioned earlier.

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