The Source for Trucking News and Opinions

In my opinion Swift is one of the root causes of where the trucking industry is today, they take advantage of new drivers in a big way, they’ve been known to black-list drivers that wanted to leave.

Company fined $14,450 for rig on bridge (phillyBurbs.com)
Swift Transportation Co. of Phoenix, Ariz., was fined $14,450 on Wednesday because one of its drivers drove a 28-ton tractor-trailer over the deteriorating, 3-ton-limit, canal bridge on River Road in Upper Makefield, police said.

Probably close to 40 tons on a 3 ton bridge. I’ve been lost before, and Philly or anywhere in PA isn’t a good place to be lost in. Or maybe someone told him to go that way. In any case, you get what you pay for. (Cheap pay for inexperienced drivers.)

Volvo Launches Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
Once the butt of jokes for its unfashionable safety conscious outlook, Volvo’s active safety research continues to impress. The company’s new Blind Spot Information System now recognises cars and motorcycles with a camera-based monitoring system that keeps a watchful eye on the ‘blind’ area alongside and offset rear of the car.

I want one for my Volvo! (770) This is a digital camera that lights an amber led next to your mirror to let you know that something is in your blind spot.
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Buying semi-truck insurance can be extremely frustrating. Knowing the right coverages for commercial truck insurance can be a daunting task for even the most experienced truckers. Commercial trucking insurance is one of your biggest expenses after your equipment and fuel.

Cheap Semi-truck insurance is not always the best buy. After an accident is not the time to find out you’re short on commercial truck insurance. While you shouldn’t be underinsured, being overinsured is a wasteful expense especially in tough times when every nickel counts. Your commercial truck insurance needs will be unique to your situation. If you have drivers you will need those drivers and their equipment covered. What about workmen’s compensation? While there are certain minimum requirements for the basic liablity and cargo insurance your choice of collision deductibles and the amounts of full liability, fire, cargo and other types of insurance involved will be up to you.

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This is serious stuff. I could bore you with the numbers and a dozen web sites talking about sleep apnea, instead this is from a personal perspective with a few numbers and facts thrown in.

At The Wheel With Sleep Apnea! - Sleep Disorders including, Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, Snoring and Nightmares

They also noted that the prevalence of obstructed sleep apnea in drivers is estimated at 3%, or 4.7 million drivers. A recent study of 1,391 commercial truck drivers found that 28% had obstructive sleep apnea, with more than one-third characterized as moderate to severe.

3% of the driving public but 28% of truck drivers. If PATT was really concerned with ‘Tired Truckers’ they would be focused on trying to solve this problem and help drivers in this situation. Instead they are on a personal vendetta against the entire industry. But that’s a seperate post.
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I’m tired of this story and stories with this slant to it. Truckers win? Last time I checked Teamsters,  PATT, CRASH and Public Citizen do not represent truck drivers in America. Teamsters have a union that represent some drivers at a few companies. They don’t have the membership or the power they used to have.

Truckers win in federal court
The rules, imposed in December, were supported by the trucking industry but opposed by safety advocates and the truckers’ union. Eugenia Gratto, spokeswoman for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was a victory for workers and especially for the drivers.

I know and have heard from a lot of drivers that like the new rules. I (and others) think that we are forced to get more rest and it is harder to get ‘creative’ with your logbook.
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This from engadget.com Anti-fatigue pod - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Japanese company Kawasaki Engineering Co. have created the Dream Plus, a fatigue-treatment device which will be marketed to gyms and beauty salons, and like a hyperbaric chamber uses a high-pressure pod to raise oxygen levels in the blood. Don’t try this if you’re claustrophobic. . . or tall. . . or hefty. Somehow the picture of the man’s hand pressed feverishly against the glass doesn’t reassure us, but hey, they say David Beckham uses it so we might as well.

No tall or hefty? That leaves most of us out. Wonder if PATT would buy me one? It probably wouldn’t fit in the sleeper anyway.