Free Audio Book Contest

A lot of truckers listen to audio books on the road, of course. We've got a free product to give away on the blog - you can either take it for yourself, or re-gift it in time for the holidays!

The company's name is Griffyn Ink, and they've created the world's first AudioMovie™ - it's like an audio book, except it has the sound effects and production quality of a movie. The story is called "Resonance," and it's written by A.J. Scudiere. The book is set in 2012, right before the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world, and follows four scientists as they try to decipher the horrifying signs of apocalypse. If this sounds familiar, it might be because the John Cusack apocalypse movie “2012” opened on November 13th.

Unlike regular audio books, you can get this AudioMovie on a flash drive, or even straight from the web through a digital download - if you want to use it on your mobile device, instead of on a CD. You can get more information at this link: http://ajsaudiomovies.com/

So let's give this thing away. Since the theme is the apocalypse, how about the best answer to this question will win the AudioMovie. Deadline is December 1st 2009.

"If you were writing a book about the end of the world, how would it happen - what is going to end it?"

Today, iPods have become a traveler’s stapler.  People walking down the road in cities, drivers on long trips, and airplane travelers, all can be seen with earbuds or an iPod plugged into a dock. Truckers, too, can benefit from the iPod in a few very specific ways.  While the iPod might be for listening to music, truckers can also use it to make their life on the road a little easier.  Here are five uses for the iPod that truckers will find fit them just perfectly.

1.   An Alarm Clock—Using the iPod’s alarm clock features is a sure fire way to make sure truckers get up on time.  Because the iPod’s alarm clock does not require traditional batteries or a power cord to let you know it’s time to rise and shine, it’s a great backup alarm in case others conk out just as hard as you do.  Just make sure it’s fully charged or plugged into a power supply before you hit the sack.

2.   A Portable Game System—There are some aspects of a trucker’s life that are just plain boring, and this often includes long periods of waiting.  Most frustrating can be those moments of complete standstill on the highway because of an accident or construction.  Instead of getting frustrated, you can get even by playing shoot ‘em up games on your iPod.

3.   A library on the go—When books on tape get a little blasé, try downloading one of many free and paid iPod applications that allow you to read on your iPod.  This way, you can find it much easier to annoy your friends with the quotes you find.

4.   A Browser—Getting your laptop out to do all of your Internet browsing can be quite a pain when you’re trying to get somewhere fast.  Ipods have built in browsers that let your fingers do the walking.  This is great for looking up directions and phone numbers. 

5.    A Weatherman—As a trucker, there are better ways to get your weather report than through your iPod, but with one of the iPod’s handy weather applications, you can have a forecast, literally, in the palm of your hand.

So there’s much more to the iPod than just music or movies.  Although these are certainly good, and possibly the best reasons to get one, there are many other reasons why you might want to buy an iPod to use on the road. But don't forget,  although Ipods can be costly, it is possible to buy used Ipods for a lot less. 

 

While some people get into trucking because of the freedom of the road and the excitement of travel, others get involved for a very different reason; they love wheels. And loving wheels doesn’t just mean 18 wheels, but even much smaller vehicles, like motorcycles.

It turns out that many truckers are also motorcycle fans, riding to rallies, attending shows, and enjoying the road from a perspective far different than a semi-truck allows. One group, Road Dogs on Hogs, has brought the two passions together. In 2004, the group was founded by a female trucker who wanted to go to the Mecca of motorcyclists—Sturgis.

Her ambition, however, was hampered by an event that happened to her while working as a civilian in Iraq and Kuwait. She was attacked in her sleep. Because of this, she was worried about the security issues that camping at Sturgis might bring. When she raised her concern on a truckers’ radio program, other truckers who were also motorcycle lovers responded, saying that they could attend the rally together.

Now, the group has been founded and is growing. Together, the drivers with shared interests attend other motorcycle rallies across the country. And Cindy, the driver who organized the first rally, is still involved in the community, encouraging others to get involved and share their love of driving vehicles whether big or small.

Truckers who are interested in joining this group can learn more about Cindy and her story, as well as the group, by visiting Road King’s web site.  Road King, a magazine for truckers, is loaded with information and personal stories about truckers who are stepping out to make a difference, exploring new ideas, and getting together in order to enjoy their common interests.

Truckers who want to know how they can join the motorcyclists in their next ride, however, should visit Road Dogs on Hogs to discover the latest information about how the trucking and riding groups meet.  Truckers who are not interested in riding hogs, though, can use Cindy’s story as an inspiration to find others on the road who share their interests.

 

While people used to get their news and information from newspapers alone, today there are almost as many ways to get your news as there are types of news. While truckers are obviously interested in the weather reports and road conditions that are featured on the news, they’re also looking to hear the national and local news that they’ve missed when they’re on the road.

Most truckers have advanced ways of getting weather and road conditions. They use their CB radios, GPS systems, cell phone applications, and laptop computers to stay on top of these conditions that impact their professions. For music, most truckers can tune to their favorite satellite radio station, put in a favorite CD, or plug in their iPods.

But when it comes to news, a few radio stations can satisfy the needs of truckers who are often on the road. Probably one of the most famous is the Midnight Trucking Radio Network. For 40 years, this radio program has been keeping truckers company on the road. They offer talk, weather, news, contests, and programs specifically targeted to the trucker on the topic of fuel economy, truck makes and models, etc.

Also producing podcasts, this radio program can be accessed on the Internet. Truckers can listen live, read headlines, and meet radio personalities on the program’s website, Midnight Trucking Radio Network. For truckers who want some relevant news on the road, this program is the way to go.

Midnight Trucking is also joined by Steve Sommer’s America’s Trucking Network and the Truckin’ Bozo. In addition, Sirius radio, a satellite radio station that has recently paired with other satellite radio provider XM, features shows for truckers, such as Freewheelin’. Thanks to the advancement of technology, truckers can use web sites such as these to stay in tune with their professional news. Although the Internet gives quite a bit of good information to truckers who are seeking it, these radio programs give a face and personality to the information as well as letting truckers debate hot topics.

In addition to Midnight Trucking, Truckers who want to hear national and local news can check out coast-to-coast AM stations, talking heads, and national news stations like Fox News and National Public Radio. As far as local radio goes, many local stations now have Internet links that allow truckers to listen online. If you have mobile Internet and a pair of speakers, this is a great way to feel like you’re at home even when you’re miles away.

So whether you’re looking for trucking news, Bill O’Reily, or local basketball scores, radio for truckers is everywhere!

Has anyone out there been listening to Aaron Tippin's new Album "In Overdrive"? It is absolutely awesome! It is a salute to Truckers everywhere, and it really gets the foot tapping and the blood running, in fact the whole album is rockin' country and party-hard energy.  You will especially get  hooked again on that old classic written by Jerry Reed, "Eastbound and Down"', but then what about "The Chicken Truck",or "Six Days on the Road", or...  Well, you just have to get this album and you will understand why as soon as you put it into play. It is a keeper and will soon be  a favorite of Truckers everywhere as they "put the pedal to the metal" once again.

"In Overdrive" is a collection of classic trucker songs that are devoted to the hardest working professionals, the American Truckers. Most of the songs will take you back in time, but there are two new songs on the album that he co-wrote titled "Drivin' Fool" and "Drill Here, Drill Now". Aaron Tippin was once a truck driver himself and has done all sorts of truck driving so he feels he can relate to all of you out on the road in these hard times, and wants to recognize you for your hard work and lifestyle.
 

Aaron Tippin came out with his first debut single, "You've Got to Stand for Something" in 1990 and has been providing his fans with great country music ever since. Right after 9/11, Aaron released the song "Where the Stars and the Stripes and the Eagles Fly" in response to the terrorists attack on the U.S. He continues to share his views on life through his music.

If you don't have Aaron's new CD "In Overdrive" yet, it can be purchased directly from his website, and Cracker Barrel also has plenty of copies, so stop on in and pick it up. You won't be sorry!

 

Each day, you probably live in fear of getting a speeding ticket, which can harm your reputation with your employer, your customers, your insurance company, and the law, but when you get a speeding ticket, it’s probably just from going a few miles over the speeding limit.

Imagine if you were the driver of the Phoenix, the fastest diesel truck on land. This sea foam green semi-truck leaves a trail of exhaust behinds it as it raced down the track at Speedweek, achieving a record 272 miles per hour.

But this groundbreaker is actually a very old truck, a 1943 international model. If you had seen it in the junkyard, you wouldn’t have thought it much. But after Carl Heal and R.B. Slagle started working on it in 1987, it was never the same. After the installation of a new engine and some aerodynamic styling, it became the world’s fastest land diesel vehicle.

In its lifetime, the Phoenix has accomplished some amazing feats, making the journey to refurbish it worthwhile. While the Phoenix was clearly a project truck, and the two friends who worked on it did so for fun and personal development, this world’s fastest diesel truck speaks to the power of used vehicles. Truckers that like to experiment the way that Carl and R.B. did should check out local junkyards, where they might find gems hidden beneath layers of rust.

Although work on the Phoenix stopped in 2003 after Carl died prematurely, the truck will always be known as the old timer who managed to accomplish much. In addition, the truck will probably have the name as the fastest for some time.

The opportunity to customize their trucks allows truckers to put a sense of their personalities and style into their business. That’s why truckers all over the United States, both those who use their trucks to work for a living and those who have show trucks or hobby trucks, use detailing and chrome accessories to make their trucks something special.

In Wildwood, Florida, however, one couple has taken Chrome to the next level. Debbie and Billy Farkus, owners of 75 Chrome, which gets its name from the highway that visitors usually exit in order to get there, I-75, have led the way in chrome accessories since 1990. Although 75 Chrome might look a typical truck stop, with its showers, CB shop, truck service bays, and laundry and game rooms, it also features a large collection of Chrome accessories to cater to nearly every trucker’s personality.

But Debbie and Billy’s goal isn’t just to make money by selling components that allow truckers to personalize their big rigs. Instead, they also play host to the 75 Chrome Pride and Polish Annual Truck Show, which allows truckers to show off their customized trucks and trailers. Trucks can enter the competition in one of four categories—Working Combination, Working Bobtail, Non-Working Combination, Non-Working Bobtail.

If you’re looking for a place to get some great customization ideas, or just see some creativity and artistry at work, then 75 Chrome is the place to be, especially during the truck show. Whether it’s painting and detailing, lighting, or accessories, the trucks on display are truly one of a kind.

This year’s truck show is coming soon, but those who can't make the show and will be making their way down I-75 can still stop into Debbie and Billy’s place for a shower, tune-up, and a chance to check out the accessories while they’re at it.

 

Everyone knows that there’s nothing better than a good set of tunes when you’re driving down the road. Whether you’re a fan of country, rock, gospel or R&B, there are some songs that are just perfect  Truckers' songs. Not only do they help you stay awake when you’re on the road in your 18 wheeler, but they’re also the perfect sound track for your life, reminding you of the past and giving you hope for the future.

Rockwood Products and Spec Records understand all that. They also understand that some of the best get going music comes from Classic Rock. That’s why they designed Truckers’ Tracks, a series of CDs featuring music to honor “The American Trucker.” In its first volume, Saddle Up and Ride, Truckers’ Tracks presents 13 classic rock songs that are meant to inspire and relate to the American Trucker. According to the companies’ press release, these Truckers' songs are performed by hard working artists who really write to tell the story of the American highway.

Whether you’re a fan of southern rock or country music, the producers of this CD suggest that it’s sure to please. Including artists like former Allman Brother Johnny Neel, the CD combines a great message with good music. In addition to being dedicated to truckers’ and their families, the music will also be hit for those who like the style.

But truckers who aren’t sure that the brand of music is for them can check out the tracks by visiting Truckers Tracks.  Here, they can sample music videos, play the songs, purchase a CD, or even download the CD. In addition, truckers and music lovers can check out the CD’s reviews by linking to Swampland.

Truckers who are more into the Myspace scene can check out the CD’s page on Myspace music. Featuring the headline, “Music you can truck to,” truckers can use the Myspace forum to post comments about the CD and its artists on the fan page. Truckers can also listen to the popular tracks, become “friends” with the CD compilation, and read the official press release on Myspace.

If Southern Rock and country is your kind of music, or if you’re just a trucker who is looking to acquaint yourself better with the music telling the story of your profession, then Truckers’ Tracks first volume, Saddle Up and Ride, is for you. Even if you’re not going to buy the CD, listening to a few tracks of these Truckers' songs at either of the producers’ web sites will get you in the mood to move, and it might even change your mind.

If you’re looking for a trucker movie that captures all of the romance, hardship, and truth of the road, short film Drive and Deliver is a DVD you should purchase for your next movie night.

Whether you want to compare your own life on the road to the truck drivers in Academy nominated director Brett Morgen’s newest film, or show your family how life on the road can be, this documentary is one that all truckers should see. Like a hot Hollywood movie, this documentary follows three truckers as they make their deliveries around the country. Just like you, these long-haul truckers have dreams and aspirations, families, and a unique relationship with their occupation. These truckers are willing to speak candidly about it all to truckers and non-truckers alike.

But this documentary isn’t just about the industry. Instead, it’s also about the truck—more specifically, the new Lone Stars by Navistar. In fact, Navistar is sponsoring the whole film. While some may dismiss this as shameless consumerism, the producers of the film and some of its viewers agree that the importance of the truck in the industry allows for its place as center sage in the movie.

For truckers, their families, and interested others, this documentary is worth viewing for a variety of reasons. First of all, truckers can compare their own experiences to that of the three truckers in the film. Whether they’re discussing their families or how they first got started in the industry, some truckers may believe the stories of these three icons mimics their own, while others might be shocked at the differences. Regardless, truckers can rest assured that this movie will stimulate discussion about their occupations among family members.

But for those who just take in movies about the music, Drive and Deliver carries quite an excellent selection of tunes, such as those from Lynard Skynard, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Hank Williams. Truckers who want to check out the new Lone Stars should also view the film, as several shots of the new truck can leave truckers ready to head to the dealership.

Now available on DVD, Drive and Deliver is a unique documentary that pairs real-life with real equipment to tell the stories of truckers to other truckers and their families. Whether you’re a long-haul trucker or a local driver, it’s definitely worth the watch.

 

If you’re a trucker, or at all involved in the transportation industry, then the 46^th Annual Mid West Truck Show is calling out for your attendance. Held February 6-7 of next year, the conference will bring truckers together with the latest in equipment and ideas to create industry-wide improvement.

Sponsored by the Mid West Trucker Association, a specialty lobby group that speaks for truckers in Washington in addition to informing truckers about new federal rules and regulations. At their conference, truckers have a chance to see the future, as well as learn tricks of the trade and keep up with current laws and regulations involving trucking.

This year, the conference will take place in Peoria, Illinois and will feature 170 exhibits and thousands of attendees. In fact, the last truck show was attended by over 7,000. Called the biggest little truck show in the country, the Midwest Truck Show and conference will allow truckers to see some of the newest models of trucks available for sale. Whether you’re in the market to buy, or just like to gaze, checking out the free truck show is fun for any trucker and his or her family. In fact, last year’s truck beauty contest promoted the most impressive of these models.

 And if you’d rather look at accessories and chat with organizations, the Mid West Truck Show can be a great hang out for you as well. If you’re looking for fuel additives or policy information about the trucking industry, the exhibits at the conference will cater to almost al truckers.

Although the conference schedule for the 2009 event has not yet been determined, truckers can learn more about the event by visiting the Mid West Trucker Association website. There, truckers can watch a video of last year’s convention, as well as download the necessary forms to be a part of this year’s conference.  And while it’s difficult to change your schedule when you’re on the road, truckers should get to Peoria on the 6^th and 7^th of 2009, and park their big rigs in order to support the transportation industry and learn more about its policy and gizmos and gadgets.

 

Just because you’re a long-haul trucker doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some luxury once in a while. And though  it’s hard to find in a world of fast-food meals and truck-stop showers, the place where you most need a luxurious touch is probably when you’re on the road. Although today’s cabs can be fitted with gadgets and gizmos to make them feel just like home, they’re missing the luxurious touch of a limo or expensive car. Thanks to Twins Custom Coaches, however, finding some luxury on the highway just got a whole lot easier.

The Freightliner Argosy Standard Wins Coach is more than just your everyday cab. With two floors, a stainless chef’s galley, and a home theater system, this cab is more than just a place to crash at the end of along day. In fact the tractor combines style with technology, featuring solid hardwood, leather, and granite, along with touch-screen controls. With specially placed windows increasing lighting, and interior walls, countertops, and floors crafted out of material to make that sun shine, the cab is spacious, beautiful, and practical.

Manufactured by Twins Custom Coaches, a company that has been around since 1998, offering excellent customer service and quality products to their customers. Although it may seem a bit lavish to some, the luxury cab is the brainchild of two twin brothers who designed the floor plan after their father, Glenn’s, experiences as a trucker with his wife. In fact, it is the cramped hours that Glenn spent living out the cab of a Century class Freightliner that lead to the development of the product. With a unique insight into the life of the trucker, brothers Mickey and Todd Larson, who had cultivated a name for themselves in the custom car business, took on a challenge.

So with Glenn’s experience and the twins’ innovation, the luxury cab was born, pairing both comfort and finery with convenience and excellent mechanics. For accessibility and maintenance purposes, the truck’s engine has been placed in an insulated compartment in the cab’s floor. The one-piece roof and extended cab suggest a European influence. But although the style and deign of the cab make it one-of-a-kind, luxury really begins with the interior. A lush queen sized bed mounted atop a miniature spiral staircase, LCD screens with surround sound, and a tiled shower await the driver in this sate-of-the-art cab.

For truckers who like to cross the country in Style, this luxury cab can make the trip much easier. But truckers can choose to look into more than just this luxury vehicle at Twins Custom Coaches. An entire line based on the living needs of the trucker is available through the brothers’ company. To learn more about the cabs and to see photos of this luxurious product, visit Mickey andTodd Larson, along with Dad, Glen in Central Oregon.

Truckers Pet Transport

For many truckers, a day on the highway doesn’t have to be a day away from their pets. Because more and more trucking companies allow truckers to bring their families and pets along for the ride, big rig drivers can have all the comforts of home away from home, and that means Fido in the front seat. But not all dogs are as lucky as those who belong to the truckers who wouldn’t dare leave them behind. In fact, across the United States dogs are found abandoned and homeless or abused. But this sad fact doesn’t have to be a point of sorrow. Instead, a variety of charities have taken in these homeless pups, finding them foster and permanent adoptive homes. Usually, this is done via rescue web sites. Although this program works quite well it has one problem—travel.

A family in Chicago might very well be willing to adopt a dog from Houston, but how do they get there to pick him up? With today’s fuel prices, expecting a family to take time off from work and school and pay hundreds of dollars to get across the country to pick up a pet is unreasonable.

That’s where truckers come in. Truckers Pet Transport is a non-profit organization that helps pets become united with their adopting families. Because the truckers travel long distances every day, they volunteer their cabs to pets who need to get from one area of the country to another in order to be adopted or to find a new temporary home in another shelter. When truckers can pick up a pet, but can’t get to that pet’s destination, they can choose to keep the pet on board until they do make it to the destination or arrange a pick up with another trucker.

The organization, called Operation Roger prides itself on helping pets while saving resources. No extra fuel is used when pets are transported by truckers who were already heading in the direction. The organization also transports pets in the event of a family emergency, when it is necessary that the animals quickly find their way to new homes or family members who are across the country.

Operation Roger, or Truckers Pet Transport, is an opportunity for truckers to become temporary parents for pets who need to find new homes. To find out more about volunteering, and sign up, truckers can visit the organization’s web site.

Enter to win a signed guitar from The Road Hammers

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
- 1 guitar signed by The Road Hammers
- AND their song will be featured on The Road Hammer's Myspace page!
WHOA!!

SIX OTHER WINNERS will receive and autographed copy of "Blood Sweat & Steel"

Winners will be drawn on December 8, 2008 & notified via email.
(the guitar will be mailed to the address you enter on the entry form on theroadhammers.com)

From Insure My Rig

Trucking Insurance Industry Pioneer Roemer Insurance Announces Contest:
“Survivorman The Trucker” for Computer-Savvy Truck Drivers. Win Dell XPS Laptop
Computer-savvy truckers will survive and even prosper during difficult economic times.
How are they using technology to stay ahead? Contest solicits trucker stories of
technology usage.

Toledo, OH, July 31, 2008—Toledo-based Roemer Insurance today announced a contest
celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (August 24-30) and targeting the computersavvy
trucker. Contest participants are asked to tell their story by emailing or sending a threeminute
video detailing how they are using technology to stay ahead in a difficult economy. “Insure
My Rig, the small fleet division of Roemer Insurance, (www.insuremyrig.com ) was built on the
assumption that the computer-savvy trucker would prosper during challenging times and thus be
an ideal client,” said President and CEO, Rocky Roemer. “A few years ago, people laughed at the
notion of “computer-savvy truckers,” but today’s trend toward using technology in trucking
validates our original premise,” he added. According to Mr. Roemer, truck drivers are asked to
send an email or submit a short video (no more than three-minutes) describing the different ways
they use technology to buy the least expensive fuel, pull the highest paying loads, run the fewest
miles empty, and maintain equipment in the highest possible peak of good condition.
The contest starts on August 1st and runs through August 24th. The best and most creative answer
will be chosen as the winner and the winner will be awarded a Dell XPS 1530 laptop computer
valued at $1,299.00 (http://xrl.us/om4r ). The XPS M1530 is a multimedia performance machine
with sleek design and a rich feature set and includes 250GB hard drive and Dell Travel Remote
Control integrated 2.0M pixel Webcam—all in a perfectly-sized 15.4" laptop. “We are genuinely
interested in learning about how truck drivers are using technology to prosper during these difficult
times,” commented Mike Lawrence, manager of Insure My Rig. “We thought giving the winner a
brand new laptop equipped with gaming capabilities and a built-in web cam would make the
contest particularly appealing,” he stated. According to Mr. Lawrence, in celebration of National
Truck Driver Appreciation Week, the company will award additional prizes. The second place
winner will be given $500 worth of fuel and three third place prizes of $100 worth of fuel will be
awarded.

The winner will be chosen and notified during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which
runs from August 24th through August 30th. The winning video will be posted on YouTube and
other social media websites. “We join the rest of the country in celebrating the contributions made
by America’s truck drivers,” said Rocky Roemer. “Truckers are essential to our nation’s economic
health and to our individual comfort. Without them our society simply cannot function,” he added.

Traveling across the country might not seem like a vacation for you, but it probably exposes you to more scenery and famous sites than your friends and family back home. For this reason, digital cameras are becoming more popular with truckers. Not only can truckers take photos of the sites they encounter, but those photos can be uploaded and instantly shared with friends and family members back home with just a click of a mouse and an internet connection. Having a digital camera is a great way to stay connected.

In addition to use for nostalgic purposes, a digital camera is something every trucker should have in his or her cab for professional use. Although most drivers would prefer not to think about what can go wrong, damages unforeseen by the driver are always a possibility on the road. Whether you have a minor accident that damages the body of your truck or trailer or you use a truck wash that leaves your vehicle scratched or burned, having a digital camera will allow you to take and store photos of the damage immediately after it is done. Because filing a police report is often made simpler with incriminating photos, the inclusion of these photos can help you prove your innocence later on.

A driver doesn’t have to look very hard to find a selection of digital cameras to choose from. Cameras are offered at national chain stores like Wal-Mart and Best Buy, and they are also often stocked behind truck stop counters. But getting a good deal on a digital camera is another matter. No one ever said you were a photographer, and having extra features on the camera not only drives up the price, but also makes the device harder to use.

One camera that is inexpensive, simple to use, and slender enough to fit in your pocket is the three-in-one pen style cam, offered at anythingtrucker.com for just under $50. The camera is both a digital camera for taking still photos as well as a camcorder and webcam. With a USB cord that attaches right to your computer, photos and videos from the camera can be easily uploaded to a variety of PCs. The camera also features energy saving technology, internal memory, and automatic settings for optimum photo quality.

Though the pen style camera might be great for mobility use, those who prefer photo quality over convenience should consider the Vivtar vivicam 8400. With eight megapixals, and 3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom, the camera is sure to get great photos even of far away scenery. Though not a camcorder, this camera also allows users to record short videos, and because the card comes with a slot for an SD memory card, users aren’t limited to the number of photos they take as long as they purchase multiple cards. Cards also make uploading photos even easier, as they can be easily used with universal card readers. This camera is available for just under $200.

Though photography was probably not included in your job description, having a digital camera can serve both amusement and professional purposes. But before buying a camera, truckers should consider what kinds of photos they want to take. Cameras can range in price anywhere from $50 to over $1,000. Knowing what you want and why will make sure you’re not duped when you head to the service counter.

The Big Picture

I'm reading the news this morning and there is good news – at least some. Retail sales were up 1% in May – that would be 12% for the year and would certainly help everybody if it was to continue at that rate. Guess folks are spending those rebate checks – although I'm still waiting for mine.

Truck companies are going out of business all over the place but for those that can continue to stay in the game, the reports are that shippers are paying a bit more.

Unemployment rose by 25,000 but, there is some hiring going on by truck companies – guess they're hiring the guys that couldn't make it on their own.

Fuel in Missouri is supposedly the cheapest in the nation. Good if you live there.

Government is always reporting the BIG PICTURE – the problem is that my world is SMALL PICTURE. I do care about others, but I'm reminded that I am on my own as my neighbors don't pay my mortgage or buy food and clothes for the kids.

In my SMALL PICTURE world, I'll join any group or support any politician who will make life better for me and mine. The problem is that they have to do something – not just make promises. I'm getting a real kick listening to McCain and Obama make their pitches. Each of them are promising all kinds of stuff, but neither one can really deliver. I like McCain because I think he knows what it is to be involved in war and will protect the United States from those that want to put roadside bombs along the highway or poison our water supplies or attack our cities. Obama says he will reduce our taxes and says rich folks will have to pay more taxes so we can have low cost health care. I like the idea, but I have a suspicion that somehow I'm still going to have to pay more in taxes. It just might not seem as obvious – you know add a little tax here and there and pretty soon it adds up.

Anyway, I'm still shopping on my selection – I guess I'm looking for a McBama where I can get the best of both worlds.

 

I titled this post, "Off the beaten path" because I came across something that I found to be a really good read, but it has NOTHING to do with truckinig    So, I hope that if you are a NASCAR FAN and a Dale Earnhardt fan in particular, you will enjoy this read.  Just something to take our minds off the day to day of high fuel prices and all the other crap we deal with on a daily basis.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3382132&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

Marc Hess

MHC Truck Source - Kansas City

www.besttruckskc.com

With all the problems that have beset truckers this year, it was refreshing to run across a piece of good news. I read about A. Duie Pyle Cos. of West Chester, P.A. on the Business & Money website. Founded 84 years ago, this family-owned trucking company is flourishing where others are floundering. They still haul for their first customer, Mittal Steel and boast an enviable driver turnover rate of less than 7%.

Good News – The Government is Keeping Us Informed 

Just the other day. I saw this new blog which was started by someone called Mary Peters.  She's our Secretary of Transportation.  Seems she wants to keep us informed about what's happening in the government halls of confusion which is called Washington, D.C.  It's called the “Fast Lane”.  Probably that way cuz the rest of us couldn't possibly keep up with what's happening. 

Anyway, I signed up right away to get email updates on what is happening.  I figured I could read the stuff, separate out the BS and give you the straight poop!  Well this morning I received about a dozen emails from DOT.  It was interesting, the statistics on truck trade with Mexico and Canada were up between last year and this year, and there were lots of charts that illustrated the numbers, but I was most amazed at what the email said. 

It said right there on the first line;  

“This service is provided to you at no charge by U. S. Department of Transportation.”  

Gosh, I was so interested in receiving information about how my government is operating and the first thing they do is greet me with POOP! 

Mary – Mary Peters!  The last time I checked my pay stub, they took out taxes.  Guess what  - my taxes fund your department, your pay (probably more in one year than I earn in 5), the pay of the person maintaining the site and so forth and so on.  Mary, based on the first day's perusal of information, it looks more like a public relations site to me anyway.   So let's see  - at no charge to me, you're going to tell me how good the Department of Transportation is. 

Don't get me wrong – I'm sure there are plenty of smart, hard working folks there, but skip the “no charge” thing – please -  lot's of people are struggling right now and the last thing needed is some condescending BS like that. 

Perhaps it's me – I am a sensitive person.  I might be overreacting.  What say you? 

I'm going to jump on George's bandwagon here (see yesterday's post). There's plenty of doom and gloom in the world, so today I want to share a heroic story about a fellow trucker in Blackpool, England.

Today trucker Albert Dixon is being heralded as a hero for saving a mom and her two young daughters after a traffic accident that totaled their Mercedes. During a freak hail storm last night, Dawn Coburn and daughters Millie, 3, and Deeanne, 8, were on their way home when Dawn hit a patch of black ice and skidded across the highway. Dixon saw the crash unfold from the cab of his rig:

Is There Anything To Be Happy About?

I'm not making much money, but I have a job. I haven't been eating a lot of lobster lately, but honestly, I really do like peanut butter and jelly and my stomach feels just as full with the PBJ as it does with lobster. I guess the good news is that I'm not missing any meals.

I was watching American Idol the other day and was pleased to see some youngsters that have a chance to make it big. That reminds me, I still have cable TV and the kids seem to be doing ok in school. I hope they stay in school longer than I did.

Spring is beginning to sprout and in spite of the stormy days, I look forward to those beautiful clear days and a breath of the sweet smell of the season. That diesel smell kinda messes up my nostrils, but it goes away.

There's plenty of things to get upset about, but I've decided to boycott distress and despair this week and concentrate on the things that make me happy. After all, I'm still living and life has delivered many pleasant times with more on the way if I keep a lookout. I think my guiding thought for the week is gonna' be “quit bitchin' and start livin'”

I brought my wife some flowers the other day, I don't do it very often. It made her real happy and the fact that she was pleased made me feel good too. I picked up a magazine the other day and there was a quote from Abraham Lincoln there. He said, “We're all about as happy as we chose to be.” I'm choosing happy for me. How about you? Share a happy story with us – and help us to laugh a little or at least smile about the good things in life.

Some Trucking Music 

Billy Joe Dalton a country-western-bluegrass singer wrote a song in support of truckers that can be heard on the us cattle haulers site.  He also has a song “When Boy Meets Truck” that can be heard here.  There's not a lot of information about this singer songwriter available, but he has several appearances scheduled that can be viewed here.   

Seems he is a 40 something guy who sings and writes songs with his wife.  He has apparently been able to earn a living singing but has not achieved any stardom.   

TruckerToTrucker can relate to someone working hard trying to make it and as such he has our support and encouragement along with all the truckers and others that are simply trying to “make it” and support our families.   

Have a listen and let us know if these two songs are worthy.  If you find out anything about any music CD's he might have - let us know.  TruckerToTrucker doesn't have an official singer – Billy Joe, would you like to be our guy?  The pay is nil, but you can rest easy knowing you are supporting one of America's greatest resources – the American trucker!

There's a new big rig on the lot. Termed the truck of the future, the 20-ton "Jules Verne" freighter services the International Space Station. About the size of a Greyhound bus, the prototype space truck carries food, water, air, fuel and equipment for the ISS. Called an Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV, the Jules Verne is the first of an envisioned fleet of logistics ships planned by the European Space Agency.

Truckers with Dogs 

Read an interesting story the other day about a trucker who's dog ran away while he was at a truck stop.  Seems he called his dispatcher and said he'd be delayed a bit cuz his dog ran away and he had to find him.  The understanding dispatcher said he could find his dog later or look for another job, so the poor guy left his dog and put a cry out for help on his CB.  The local community got wind of the story and responded.  They located the lost pooch and he was reunited with his owner in about a week.  The story was a bit of a “tear jerker”, but I understand as I have a pooch that with me constantly who is a dedicated and loyal companion.  Unlike my wife who I love dearly, Lulu never gets pissed at anything I do – although she does get a puzzled look on her face from time to time.   

Anyway that story got me to wondering – how many truckers have a pooch as a road companion?  

I remember years ago when Frank a trucker and close family friend, now long gone, had a small Chihuahua that was his constant companion on the road.  I think part of the reason Frank passed was that “Loopy” died only a few months before and Frank had a broken heart. 

Anyway – how about sharing your story about a four-legged driving companion?  I'll read it to Lulu as she loves to ride.

Trucker Dating Sites

Is True Love Just One Click Away? 

Can TruckerToTrucker help you make a love connection? 

Are you a single tucker looking for love?  If you're constantly moving about the country it doesn't bode well for the development of a relationship, but there is hope.  The Internet offers everything and there is no shortage of sites that can be visited which might help you discover the love that has been waiting for you.  

There's FaceBook, MySpace and many other web sites that promote social networking.  There's also eharmony.com, match.com and several others, but do truckers have anything special for them? 

Well there are a number of sites that promote trucker outreach.  I visited a couple of them in the name of research (my wife might not be completely understanding).  I found the “Truckers Love Connection” which looked interesting, but decided not to join as I didn't want my email clogged with thousands of love starved women seeking my attention.  After all I am a love magnet for women and just a stroll through the mall seems to attract a throng of admirers.   

Another site was “Trucker Passions”.  That name got my attention right away.  I did a search and there were over a couple of hundred women who posted pictures and claimed that a trucker would suit them just fine.  That one sure looked like possibilities exist out there. 

If I was a single trucker looking for love, I'd post a good picture, my contact info and let it go from there.  Ya never can tell where love is lurking!  

Are there truckers out there that found love over the Internet?

Sanibel Island, Florida: Deep Discounts for Awesome Weather  

If any of our Readers need a break, we highly recommend Oceans Reach!

 Sanibel Island accommodations are the most sought after destinations in Florida for awesome weather!!  When you hear Sanibel Island mentioned, most of us think of the sunshine, the beaches, the shells, the restaurants, the relaxation, but sometimes, the word unaffordable comes to mind.  Well, hear the word no more, because affordable Sanibel rental rates are here!  On April 19, 2008 the rates are down for the season and Sanibel Island condo rentals are available at Ocean's Reach Condominiums.  Ocean's Reach is a paradise found, with beautifully decorated one and two bedroom condos, each with their own private, screened lanai, overlooking the beaches of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.  I always prefer the two bedroom, as the master bedroom has a slider to the lanai, which allows you to hear the ocean at night.  All of the units are completely redone with the ultimate in furnishings and accessories.  The appliances are all brand new, including full size washer and dryer units.  The condos are lacking in nothing, including wireless Internet access in each unit, thus affording you the ease of being completely in touch.  The island has a system of bike trails that allows you to go almost anywhere on bikes, and Ocean's Reach has bicycle rentals right on premise.  Just imagine the fun of getting up and going to breakfast on bikes and seeing wildlife in abundance on your rides.  The birds, including pelicans, flamingos, osprey, white Ibis, roseate spoonbill and the snowy egret are some of the most beautiful in the world. While you are there check out Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge for a more complete chance at seeing the wildlife. The resort is situated in a lush tropical setting, with a heated pool ocean side, championship tennis and shuffleboard courts, gas grills, covered carports, elevators, all handicapped accessible, and just twenty-five steps to the beach.  The dolphin watching is spectacular in front of the condos, and the shelling is out of this world.  You can find so many different types of shells that Sanibel is known as the shelling capital of the world, and Ocean's Reach is perfectly situated for shelling.  So, if you are looking for one of the hottest Sanibel Florida discount travel deals of the season, call Ocean's Reach today.  Sanibel Island is now having perfect weather that will boost your morale as the final dregs of winter roll by.  Just think, you can have a head start on summer and feel completely healthy with that extra dose of vitamin C and D that will help lift the depression of the gloomy days up north.  Don't hesitate, call the Guest Services Team at Ocean's Reach to make your reservation and come on down for a healthy break at one of the most remarkable of the Sanibel Island condos.  As I write, Sanibel Island is 80 degrees and sunny!!

Eliot Spitzer – Has He Created any Controversy in Your Family?

I was vaguely familiar with this Governor of New York, before he screwed up and got in the news for having a night out on the town with some high-priced prostitute.  He allegedly paid almost $5000 dollars for a few hours.  My thinking is that he was a bonehead!  But I never expected the butt chewing I got and I don't even know the guy.

It started like this as my wife and I were watching the TV reports. My wife said "he's a real SOB"  I responded, "Yep."

"You men are all the same."
"Yep."
"What do you mean, yep?"
"Nothing honey, he was a real fool."
"You'd never do anything like that – would you?"
"Of course not honey – I don't have an extra $5000 laying around."
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"No darling," I said as I realized I had just entered a forbidden zone
and shouldn't be kidding about something like this.
"If you ever did anything like that, do you know what I'd do?"
"Yes honey."
"What?"
"I suppose it would be something drastic."
"You better, believe it – after you were asleep, I'd go in the kitchen
and get my big knife. . ."
"I know honey, you don't have to get graphic – you know I love you."
"Well I just want you to know in case you ever thought of it."
"Honey, I've never thought of anything like that."

Knowing that this conversation was really going nowhere, I switched the channel. 

 "What are you doing." she said.
"Nothing honey, I just was getting tired of that."
"Well go back to that channel, I want to see more."
"Yes honey.  I think I'll go out and put that new light on my motorcycle"
"No you won't.  I want you to watch this.  Look at his poor wife.  I
feel like sending her my knife!"

It went on like that for several more minutes before I was able to get away and go to the garage and fondle my motorcycle.  Later after my return and as we lay in bed side by side, I found that all the talk of
Spitzer's indiscretion had made me a bit amorous.

"What are you doing?"
"I just wanted to let you know, I love you."
"Well, I can't tonight, I'm too upset over that guy."
"Ok honey, I understand."

As I lay there thinking for a few minutes, I came to the conclusion that Spitzer was truly an SOB.  I don't even know him and here he was intruding on my life.

Epilogue

The next day was much better.  My darling had ceased to be focused on the tribulations of Spitzer and I noted that it was probably in my best interests to greet my wife with some flowers that evening.
"Thank you honey", she said.   "This is why I love you and after the kids are asleep, I'll show you what I mean."

Note to Eliot:  You could have saved yourself a lifetime of hurt with a few flowers and just a bit of attention.

Parcopresis and Other Fears and Phobias

I discovered a new word yesterday – parcopresis.  It's one of those fear words that generally end in phobia.  Like triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13 or ablutophobia, the fear of washing or bathing.  I met a guy like that once.  Not to many folks ever sat next to him and if they did they always seemed to come up with an excuse to move on quickly.  There are 100's of phobias that people have.  I thought I was normal until I viewed the list and saw that I have really been suffering and never knew it.

There's at least a half dozen fears that I have and I stopped counting cuz I was getting scared.  I've got dentophobia, fear of dentists, I know they're honorable folks, but they always hurt me.  Even the shot which they say is going to stop any pain, hurts like hell. Fortunately, I've been blessed with good teeth and don't find many occasions to visit.  The fact that I don't have dental insurance also helps.  I also suffer from claustrophobia, the fear of confined spaces.  I was in the Army a few years ago and they said I would make a good tank driver.  Ever been in one of those things?  I volunteered for the infantry after two days, then I discovered another fear I had called necrophobia, fear of death. I remember they told me there are to kinds of people – the quick and the dead!  I decided right then and there I would join that quick crowd.

Getting back to that parcopresis thing which is the fear of using a public toilet.  I don't know anyone that suffers from that, but there must be some folks, cuz they wouldn't have a name for it if there weren't any.  Hehe, I wonder what they call folks who like to hang around in public toilets?  I think I remember a story a while back about one of our US Senators that took a liking to them.

I didn't see a word for one of my other fears.  I'll call it dieselpriceopobia.  I'm already suffering from that.  Last week the price of diesel went up nationwide over 16%.  It's up 116% from last year.  I read a government report that said diesel would settle at around $3.21 a gallon in 2008.  I wonder if there is crapophobia?

If you know of any phobias we have left out, please let us know.

Here's George Wilkins!

A little humor is an essential ingredient in life and to promote that cause Trucker To Trucker has recently retained George Wilkins to act as our spokesperson.  He's kinda like the Jared Fogle guy of Subway sandwich fame.  We pay him in BK "whoppers" and he promotes our site so that folks can take advantage of the Trucker To Trucker network when they have a need to buy or sell a truck or improve their life by purchasing products from our store.

George Wilkins is a literary trucker, that is, he supports trucker causes and appreciates the challenges that are confronted by the trucking community who provide so much to America, but he would come up a bit short if he was ever had to actually cause a truck to move.

We like to think that George Wilkins epitomizes those in the trucking world.  That is, he is smart, witty, funny, hard working and committed to our world.

You can view some of his writings here and

see the new promotional video at You Tube.

Meanwhile if you have any ideas that George should address – contact us.  He's always listening.  If you "google" George Wilkins – you can view some of his meandering thoughts – remember, we said humor was his strong suit.

He's still hammering down at age 90 and wants to keep driving "as long as I can." A grizzled highway veteran, Joe Rocha of Oakdale, California first climbed behind the wheel of a truck in 1938. He remembers when truckers used flashlights to communicate and engines were hand-cranked. When Rocha first started driving, it took 29 hours (at 30 mph!) to drive from San Jose to El Centro, east of San Diego. Today, you can make the trip in less than a third of that time, about 9 hours.

This is our chance to save the world! (Cue music from Armageddon.) UFOs are buzzing North Texas. It's time to mount up, hit the highways and keep our eyes peeled. We can put thousands of watchful eyes on the highways in a heartbeat. If there are UFOs hiding in U.S. skies, the "Asphalt Army" will ferret them out. After all, who better than America's truckers to provide the vanguard of our country's defense? Shoot, most of us are already armed, ready and willing!

With apologies and condolences to LSU fans, I have to tell you I'm a Buckeye born and bred. If your home berth is in Central Ohio as mine is, Buckeye fever is transfused into the blood at birth. I'm proud to say there are no fans more rabid than those who follow the OSU Buckeyes. It gets us into trouble occasionally, but when we bleed, it's scarlet and gray!

But I'm not here to plug OSU's chances in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans this coming Monday. I'll let the score speak for itself! I wanted to talk about the Ohio State Express, the 18-wheeler that will be trucking the team's gear down to the Big Easy.

After all the doom and gloom in my last post, I need a good chuckle. Thought you might be able to use one too. Here are some oddball things I've run across lately. Enjoy!

• Holiday Lights Gone Wild! A bull moose spent Thanksgiving weekend clumping through downtown Anchorage, Alaska, drawing TV cameras and a growing crowd of fans. Earlier this week he stopped to nibble the decorated trees in Town Square Park and got his antlers tangled in a strand of Christmas lights, dragging them away with him when he moved on. Sometime later, still festooned with lights, he settled in behind Bernie's Bungalow Lounge to munch the fermenting crab apples that littered the ground. Sometime later, patrons noticed the moose staring into space and wobbling around a bit. "He just has this goofy look on his face," said Rick Sinnott, a Fish and Game biologist called in by the city. The verdict? A little too much holiday cheer! The moose was left to sober up.

I've run across some strange things lately that gave me a chuckle. Thought I'd share.

Kick butt sports. I'm putting this one on my Xmas list. The ButtKicker aims to put the Pow! and Wham! back into TV sports by letting you feel the action. Through a motor attached to seats and floors, the ButtKicker allows you to feel sound through low frequency audio waves.

Truckers in South Dakota should get hazardous duty pay. They're lining up to load up more than 1 million honeybee colonies and truck them out to the West Coast. The unusual measure is being undertaken to protect hives from colony collapse disorder (CCD). In recent years the disease has caused millions of honeybees to disappear. Without honeybees many crops that rely on them for pollination are in danger.

Midwest farmers, where colony collapse has been particularly rampant, are understandably worried. Honeybee pollination is essential to the production of fruit and vegetable crops. US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said, "If left unchecked, CCD has the potential to cause a $15 billion direct loss of crop and $75 billion in indirect losses."

"This is a critical time for our industry," said Richard Adee, President of Adee Honey Farms in South Dakota, the nation's largest beekeeping operation. His crews were preparing 80,000 bee colonies for loading on flatbed trucks and shipment to California. "This decline in the bee population has hurt a lot of companies ... If we have another bad year, they aren't going to have the money to come out of this one."

Hence the hive migration to the West where no incidents of CCD have been reported. For the past few years, hundreds of truckers have hauled bees west for the winter. OOIDA member Kenny Wyman of Summit, South Dakota, said he's hauled bees for the past three years.

"It's like every other load you haul -- you just need to be smart about it," he said. "When you vouch for a load like this, you need to make sure you are going to be able to do it. I'm just lucky I'm not allergic to bees and I'm not afraid of getting stung."

I wonder if Kenny keeps a fly-swatter handy?

 Ice Road Truckers is quickly becoming a cult classic. Averaging about 3 million viewers every Sunday night since its June 17 premier, it has become the History Channel's most watched show. The network has ordered three more episodes of the unscripted series that follows an elite team of truckers as they struggle across Canada's dangerous far north ice road. It's a challenging and perilous journey that, as viewers can attest, has brought out the best and the worst in our favorite truckers. Love 'em or hate 'em, you've got to admire their driving skills!

The response has been so great that the History Channel has scheduled some special events you won't want to miss. Here's what's coming up:

• 3 p.m., Friday, August 17
  Live web chat with Hugh "Polar Bear" Rowland
  on History.com
• 9 p.m., Sunday, August 26
  The Ice Road: Then and Now
  A fascinating  one-hour special on the history of the ice road.
• 9 p.m., Sunday September 2 & 9
  Ice Road Truckers: Off the Ice
  Imitating the Survivor reunion shows, a two-part reunion special catches up with our favorite drivers to rehash the season and see what they're up to now.

 

It's vacation time in America. For us that means more crazy four-wheelers bopping along the highway, adding more than the usual challenge to what is always a long day. I'm sure you've seen them: radios blaring, A/C cranked up, cell phones pressed to their ears while they slurp up a latte, bored kids in the backseat throwing toys and poking each other. They ride our tails, cut in too close, whip around us with a one-fingered salute, crawl along just until we pull out to pass then speed up so we can't. Man, I hate August. I can't wait until all the little buggers are back in school and their distracted parents are off the highways!

A Nationwide Insurance survey of multi-tasking auto drivers found that they engage in a wide variety of non-driving activities when their hands should be on the wheel. Take a look at the list below, then let us know what you've seen from the seat of your rig. We're looking for the most bizarre or annoying four-wheeler behaviors. Tell us what you saw, where you were (highway number and state), what happened and any choice comments you'd like to share.

82%  Adjusting radio
80%  Drinking beverage
73%  Talking on cell phone
68%  Eating snack
41%  Eating meal
31%  Daydreaming
28%  Driving shoeless
23%  Feeling road rage
21%  Listening to audiobook
21%  Smoking
19%  Fixing hair
19%  Texting or instant messaging
14%  Comforting or disciplining children
12%  Putting on makeup
  9%  Using navigation device
  8%  Making to-do list
  8%  Holding pet in lap
  6%  Practicing presentation
  5%  Using handheld organizer
  5%  Reading
  4%  Driving while drunk
  3%  Drinking alcohol
  2%  Shaving
  1%  Holding child in lap (Brittany Spears alone will probably send this number soaring.)

 

 

  That's one ugly truck!

Photo by John Vass, 2007 

A brand, new rig is a thing of beauty with its shiny paint job, sparkling chrome and dazzling dials. But and old, ugly truck has character behind it's cracked paint, massive rust spots, chipped dashboard and slashed seat covers. You're proud of a new rig, but you cherish an ugly truck.

You don't see too many truly ugly rigs on the road. After all, they're our bread and butter and part-time home. Truckers take care of their rigs. The weather-beaten truck that leans next to your garage, the battered truck that bounces along the rutted track to your favorite fishing hole, the rusting hulk you use to cruise the farm, that's another thing.

Ugly trucks are so full of memories that we can't seem to let them go, like a favorite hat or comfortable old coat. We cling to our old trucks year after year, patching them up with duct tape and jerry-rigged parts. Every ding, dent, scratch and patch of rust tells a story. An ugly truck is a legend on wheels, a part of your life history.

Got a great story to share about your truck? Tell us about your ugly truck and why you keep her. Just click on comments below and add your 2 cents.

Down New Mexico way, enterprising burglar Christopher Cook broke into an Albuquerque restaurant, loaded his getaway vehicle -- a stolen semi! -- with bread, salsa and tortillas and lumbered off into the night. With plenty of room in the truck, Cook stopped to burglarize a couple of homes, packing TVs, jewelry and the odd trinket in next to the tortillas.

On the lookout for the stolen truck, an officer in Moriarty, New Mexico spotted the thief and tried to pull him over. Said Torrance County Sheriff Clarence Gibson, "Once they made contact, the individual took off in a reckless manner in the vehicle."

The chase was on. It was a wild ride through the East Mountains. For an hour and a half, Albuquerque police and Torrance County deputies chased Cook up and down I-40 from Moriarty to Clines Corners and back again. The truck finally ran out of gas and the 29-year-old Cook took off on foot.

"At that point we chased him down and took him into custody," Gibson said. In a desperate move, Cook pulled a knife but deputies were able to wrestle him down.

Cook, who was wanted for armed robbery, now  faces a slew of charges resulting from his latest crime spree. No word in news reports about what happened to the contents of the truck. I wonder if the deputies kept it for evidence. Sounds like pretty tasty eating to me!

Ride of Pride Update

Thought you'd all like to know that the patriotically painted Ride of Pride truck that participated in this year's Memorial Day weekend Ride for Freedom has hit the highways as part of the Schneider National fleet. It's Schneider's way of supporting our troops, veterans, POWs and MIA soldiers. A retired Navy vet, Lowell Wilderman, will be at the helm. A Schneider driver for 17 years, Wilderman piloted the truck in the annual Ride for Freedom in which nearly a million motorcyclists rode through Washington DC in support of POW-MIA issues. (See our May 25 post.)

Since 2001, employees at Freightliner's Cleveland, North Carolina plant have volunteered their time to design a Ride of Pride truck. The Ride of Pride VI is one of Freightliner's new Cascadia models and features images of a bald eagle, American flag and military logos.

Wilderman was selected from a pool of Schneider drivers with military service. "The task of selecting a driver was especially difficult, because over 35% of Schneider's 15,500 drivers are military vets -- a statistic we are extremely proud of," said Darel Schoening, regional maintenance director for the Green Bay, Wisconsin-based trucking company. Driver Wilderman called driving the Ride of Pride "an experience of a lifetime. I am honored to get in the driver's seat and show our troops how much we care."

Look for Ride of Pride VI on the highways and honk to show your support of our troops and vets!

If you missed our iphone giveaway, here's a chance for a little something. We're giving away free hats to anyone interested. These fine hats can be yours by emailing us at Free Hat . Stay tuned for our next giveaway, we've had some pretty zaney thoughts lately. If anyone has a suggestion for what the next great giveaway is, email us Next Great Giveaway Sorry We're out of Hats!

Even if you're going to be on the road over the 4th, you can still enjoy the traditional American gut-buster BBQ. While grills aren't a normal feature on even the most decked-out rigs, you can cook your July 4 favorites on the engine. Pop the goodies under the hood in Chicago and they'll ready to eat by the time you get to Indy!

You might not see this on the Food Channel, but there's an actual cookbook on the market that tells you how to cook using your car or truck engine. The cookbook, Manifold Destiny: The One! The Only! Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine, by Chris Maynard and Bill Scheller is available from Amazon.com. It's a little pricey at $59.74 for a used paperback, but it's currently out of print and has become a cult collector favorite. Try Iooking for it at flea markets and used book stores where you can sometimes get it at a bargain price.

The book's a hoot to read and provides recipes in language any stick-pushing hauler can understand. The authors teach you to locate cooking surfaces using the "burn your finger method." Most recipes call for wrapping your food in heavy-duty foil -- LOTS of foil, dousing it with a couple good shakes of your favorite seasoning blend (or whatever you've heard about on TV), and sticking it under the hood. Cooking times are given in number of miles!

The authors are die-hard rally drivers and cooks so most of the recipes are written with car engines in mind. Number of servings depends on car size. A Camry serves only 3 but comes with a bun warmer while a Chevy can serve a family of 6. Meet up with a couple of other rigs and together you can easily cook up enough to serve a whole slew of hungry truckers!

Witty, irreverent, completely preposterous, the recipes actually work. There are more than 40 recipes in the original cult classic, even more in the sequel that touts "New '98 Model, with More Recipes per Gallon." Try out the Cutlass Cod Supreme, Cruise-Control Pork Tenderloin, Nifty NAFTA Nachos, Fupped Duck Catera or Donner Pass Red Flannel Hash. Each dish is road-tested, taste-bud-approved and closer to gourmet cooking than I'll ever get in my kitchen! Cooking techniques are ingeniously designed to cook correctly on different parts of the engine. The authors make full use of the vehicle, cooking not only on the engine, but making use of valve covers, fuel-injector housings, and exhaust manifolds.

If you're on the road this 4th of July, pick up some brats and an extra-large roll of heavy-duty foil and fire up the engine. Lock the hammer down and dinner will be ready just 30 miles down the road! Bon appetite!

Maybe you saw this on the news, but this story from Paw Paw, Michigan is just too good not to share.

Passing a big rig on the Red Arrow Highway, a driver did a double take, then reached for his cell phone and called the state police.

"You are not going to believe this, he told the dispatcher. There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway."

Thinking the call might be a prank, the smokies caught up with and stopped the truck, surprised to find the wheelchair still firmly attached to the truck's grille. The truck driver didn't believe the officers until he climbed down from the cab and saw it for himself.

The 21-year-old man -- who fortunately was wearing a seat belt -- said he enjoyed the ride but didn't think he'd want to try it again. At a gas station he had driven his wheelchair in front of the truck and somehow gotten the chair handles lodged in the truck's grille. Before he knew it, the truck had pulled out, taking him with it. The truck pushed him four miles down the highway at 50 mph before the smokies ended the wild ride. And you thought you'd carried some weird cargo!

I'm a big fan of the Discovery Channel's show MythBusters so I was excited to see Freightliner's Cascadia featured on the big rig episode that aired Wednesday, June 6. The show will repeat throughout the month of June, so check your local listings to catch hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman trying to prove or debunk popular urban legends about big rigs.  

Filmed on Freightliner's test track in Madras, Oregon, the MythBusters crew investigated whether car drivers can save fuel by cruising in the downdraft behind a truck. My father always swore this was true and closely -- and, I always thought, unsafely -- tailed big rigs whenever he hit the freeway. Imitating the popular 1980s TV show Knight Rider, the crew also tested whether a car could reverse out of a moving truck trailer, do a 180, and speed away. Don't miss the "Exploding Tyre of Death" in which Adam and Jamie risk their lives to find out if an exploding truck tire can kill!

Freightliner's aerodynamic Cascadia, rack and pinion steering, and Freightliner's state-of-the art wind tunnel -- big enough to accommodate Class 8 trucks -- are featured in the show. Freightliner is the only manufacturer of heavy duty trucks with rack and pinion steering,

Visit the Discovery Channel's website for more of MythBuster's wacky tests with big rigs and to check broadcast dates. Next airing is scheduled for Sunday, June 10 at 7 p.m.

   

Ride of Pride Honors Vets

The Ride of Pride leaves Cleveland, North Carolina today bound for Washington DC. A tribute to veterans and the sacrifices they made for our country, Freightliner's uniquely designed truck places special emphasis on prisoners of war and those missing in action. For the sixth year in a row, a Freightliner truck will join thousands of bikers in the Memorial Day Ride for Freedom through our nation's capitol.

The annual ride was begun to call attention to our country's POW and MIA. The truck and 100 bikers will begin their journey with a celebratory send off at Freightliner's Cleveland, NC plant this morning, May 25, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Following the Memorial Day ride, the Freightliner truck will join the fleet of a Wisconsin trucking company where its patriotic message will continue to ride the roads.

Don't tell me your age; -but your waiter may know!

YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH

This is pretty neat.

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute
Work this out as you read ...
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1 First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat.
(more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757 ....
If you haven't, add 1756.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(I.e., how! Many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT WHILE IT LASTS.

Friends Reunited

 Four friends, who hadn't seen each other in 30 years, reunited at a party.

 After several drinks, one of the men had to use the rest room. Those who
 remained talked about their kids.

 The first guy said, "My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a
 successful Company at the bottom of the barrel. He studied Economics and
 Business Administration and soon began to climb the corporate ladder and
 now he's the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his
 best friend a top of the line Mercedes for his birthday."

 The second guy said, "Darn, that's terrific! My son is also my pride and
 joy. He started working for a big airline, and then went to flight school
 to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where
he  owns the majority of its assets. He's so rich that he gave his best
friend  a brand new jet for his birthday."

 The third man said: "Well, that's terrific! My son studied in the best
 universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction
 company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave away something very
 nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday: A 30,000 square
 foot mansion."

 The three friends congratulated each other just as the fourth returned
from  the restroom and asked: "What are all the congratulations for?" One of the three said: "We were talking about the pride we feel for the successes of  our sons. ...What about your son?"

 The fourth man replied: "My son is gay and makes a living dancing as a
male stripper at a gay nightclub. "The three friends said: "What a shame...
what a disappointment.

 "The fourth man replied: "No, I'm not ashamed. He's my son and I love him.   And, he hasn't done too badly either. His birthday was two weeks ago, and  he received a beautiful 30,000 square foot mansion, a brand new jet and a  top of the line Mercedes from his three boyfriends!!

A little rain doesn't spoil the fishing...