CR England Girl

A couple of weeks a go the ATA was looking to get people to write a letter to the US Minerals Management Service to ask for offshore drilling exceptions. The ATA was pushing the point that the trucking industry would benefit from the drilling. The letters needed to be in by the 21st of September in order to get some more drilling leases opened up.

Today transport topics released information about a letter that ATA chief economist, Bob Costello sent to the Department of the Interior asking them to approve offshore drilling leases. In his letter Costello wrote, ” all available domestic resources to safe and environmentally responsible development, would boost supply, increase the nation’s security, produce jobs, enhance the economy and bring in billions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury.” Certainly unemployed drivers would like to see more truck driving jobs.

We have all seen truck drivers using CB radios before. Truck jobs are tough and can be lonely so its no wonder why so many truckers used to use them. Here is how a CB Radio works:

They basically work like this- and by the way CB stands for “Citizens Band”:

A CB captures radio signals and converts them into electrical signals. It also converts electrical signals into radio signals and radiates them. That is the basic process that is taking place.

Also, the length of the actual antenna matters. It is designed to match up with the frequency of the radiated wave lengths. ( that’s why the antennas are usually so tall).

Check out this “how stuff works” on cb radios for more information. Until next time, “Over and Out, Good Buddy”

Remember the post on the dangers of texting?  In an effort to highlight the dangers of distracted driving (namely texting) the DOT has planned a summit in late September to discuss the best ways to combat distracted driving.  Those participating include academics, politicians, safety advocates, law enforcement, and transportation officials, including key members of the ATA.   This comes on the heels of the bill that was recently introduced in Congress designed to reduce texting while driving: the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting (ALERT) by Drivers Act of 2009.
The ATA has stated that its officials will work at the summit to ensure the bill does not limit or outlaw the use of cab management systems which provide essential cargo-related information for professional drivers.

Apparently so.  In the midst of the continuing dispute whether or not to allow Mexican trucks to operate on U.S. roadways, the Department of Transportation has released a report that states Mexican trucks are just as safe as U.S. ones.  In fact, Mexican truck drivers have better safety records than U.S. drivers; during more than 220,000 inspections throughout 2008, just 1.2% of Mexican truckers were violating a regulation and subsequently placed out of service, compared to a much higher percentage of U.S. drivers – nearly 7%.  Both proponents and opponents of the cross-border trucking program say the report has helped resolve and alleviate issues regarding the safety of Mexican trucks.

Click here to learn more about the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Mexican trucking dispute.

These days, truck stops and travel centers offer much more than just fuel; they offer truckers a wide array of amenities and features they can utilize during their down time.  Here a few tips to help you take full advantage of each and every stop.

• Make it your office!  Make use out of any business or communication center the truck stop offers where you can fill out paperwork, contact your carrier, complete your log, and do any other business-related work you can’t do on the road.
• Have routine maintenance done on your tractor-trailer – does it need an oil change or a wash?
• If you’re an independent contractor looking for your next load, many truck stops have load board where you can find your next job.  Sometimes even carriers looking to hire will post available truck driving jobs.
• Stop at places that offer workout and shower facilities and use your downtime to get in shape.
• Most truck drivers travel with laptops and most truck stops offer Wi-Fi internet access which you can use to send emails, search for jobs, and stay in touch with your family and friends.
• Sleep!  It’s important to feel well-rested before next shift so pull into a stop and get some shut-eye.  Don’t have a sleeper cab?  Many truck stops offer lodging for truckers.