We’ve all heard the phrase, “safety first,” in fact, many of us are probably tired of hearing it!  But when it comes down to it, the most important thing about the trucking profession is safety.  Of course, we need trucks to get our products from one place to another, and trucking is essential to commerce and the economy in North America, but there would be no trucking profession if drivers weren’t safe. 

Although federal regulations govern the number of hours truckers can work in order to keep them from driving while too fatigued to do so, most truckers know that its hard to get a good night’s sleep on the road.  In addition, there are often days when many of us feel tired, so tired that it’s hard to keep our eyes open.  While that might not be a big problem in an office, it’s certainly a problem if you’re drowsy driver.

That’s why Driver’s Sentinel invented the anti-drowsiness alarm.  It’s an extra precaution that truckers can use in order to keep themselves awake and alert on the road.  The dangers of a sleeping trucker at the wheel are extreme, not only for the trucker, but also for other drivers on the road and any passengers.  With the Driver’s Sentinel, truckers can rest assured that they will be notified the second they start to drop off with the anti-drowsiness-alarm.

Truckers can wear the alarm behind their right ear, and the alarm’s unique balance system lets truckers know if they, literally, start to nod off.  In fact, the alarm will emit a sound loud enough to wake you and rouse passengers if you start to fall asleep at the wheel.  According to the developer, this alarm also works well in other situations where you need to be alert so that you don’t’ risk your life.

Because they are so inexpensive, truckers should consider purchasing an alarm today.  Sold at the low price of $12.50 with $5.95 shipping, truckers can afford to buy as many of these alarms as they need—one for the truck and one for their personal vehicle.  While it may seem overprotective at first, these alarms can save your life and the lives of others should you have an unexpected drowsy spell.

In most parts of North America, winter makes up a large part of the year, with conditions so cold that driving can be dangerous, especially if there is a possibility of ice on the road. Although truckers may not be concerned about such matters now, as the summer heat continues to grow in most of the United States, they know that soon winter with its hazardous road conditions will begin to roll in.  

That’s why an indoor/outdoor ice alert thermometer in a cab is so important. While conveniently displaying the interior temperature, the ice alert thermometer also allows truckers to determine whether the cold outside has gotten to dangerous levels. And with the indoor/outdoor thermometer from Road Pro, an alarm and flashing green LED lights will warn truckers about break-ice conditions that could end up killing them if they were to drive over ice that has begun to melt.

Other than this life-saving feature, there are many other reasons why an ice alert thermometer of this type is convenient for truckers. As most drivers know, having an extreme difference in the interior and exterior temperature can cause conditions such as windshield fogging. By using the thermometer, truckers can determine whether a fogging problem may be a result of the exterior and interior temperatures. Knowing the exterior temperature can also help truckers better plan for outdoor actions that they need to take later in the day, such as whether or not it will be important to park in a shaded area due to extreme heat. Furthermore, the interior temperature display can help drivers adjust their thermostats to the desired temperature.

In addition to featuring an easy-to-read display that shows the interior and exterior temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, the thermometer also gives a digital time display, allowing truckers to have a battery powered backup of their clocks should they suffer a power failure in their trucks. Powered with triple-A batteries, this thermometer is easy to install, power, and use, as well as easy to re-mount when batteries need to be changed.

So if you want to be safe, as well as have the convenience of an indoor thermometer, you can check out the indoor/outdoor thermometer from Road Pro, available for a limited amount of money—less than $20—but certainly worth the cost. It can save your life in the event of break-ice conditions; and can also let you know when exterior temperatures are dangerously cold or hot.

Attention Ohio Truckers and Ohio Drivers

Mr. Christian needs your help...

I am looking for anyone who has traveled Interstate 70 in Clark County, Ohio from 1985- 2001, Who is aware of any objects being thrown from the Plattsburg Road Bridge which spans Interstate 70 in Clark County, Ohio from 1985- 2001. This bridge is near Springfield Ohio. It was one of the few bridges not having protective vandal fencing. I am   Looking for anyone who may have called 911, needed to file a police report, Insurance claim, or aware of debris being throne and landing on the interstate from this bridge. The Incidents need to have occurred prior to July 9th 2001.

I was severely injured as a result of such an incident at this bridge.

If you have any information that you think might help me please email me at drjjc@wowway.com

Johannes J Christian

614-253-7385

The return of fall means many things for truckers: the end of summer construction, the beginning of winter weather, and busier roads during the holidays. But this time of year also means back to school speed limits, and drivers all need to be aware. 

During the summer, most school zone speed limit signs are not illuminated, but even a few days before school is in session the flashing school zone speed limit signs are back to bright. While police officers might let truckers and other speed limit offenders slide during the first week or school, the second or third week after school is in session is generally considered an enforcement week.

Police officers often poise themselves just beyond the borders of a school in hopes to catch speeders. While most officers will tell you they’re there to increase awareness—so those who do slow down when they see the officer are usually spared a ticket—if you don’t slow down you’ll be paying the price.

Because speeding tickets for truck drivers mean not only large fines, but also rising insurance costs and penalties from employers, slowing down in a school zone is even more important for the professional driver.

For some drivers, however, slowing down isn’t something that is difficult. Instead these drivers move at a speed limit pace because it saves fuel. By slowing down, these truckers may take longer to drive to their destination, but the cost benefits are worth the slowness.

Whether you tend to drive fast in order to make your deliveries on time or choose to drive slowly in order to save on diesel cost, keeping an eye on your speedometer is advantageous, especially during the school months. But if you happen to forget to check that speed and get a ticket, fighting it in court can help you save on fines and frustration from your employer. By contacting the right lawyer or looking into state deferment programs, your chances of avoiding your ticket are great. But because the best way to get out of paying a ticket is not avoid getting one in the first place, truckers should consider the benefits of slowing down.

CVSA Inspection Date 

June 3-5, 2008 is the date that CVSA has announced for Roadcheck 2008. For those who might be unfamiliar with this activity it means that there will be significantly increased inspection activity taking place on those dates.  

Stay alert and make sure your rig is ready for inspection as there will probably be many violations noted. 

Time is a major factor in avoiding collisions. If the road conditions are good and your rig is in proper working order, fast reaction time can prevent most accidents. However road conditions are rarely favorable in the winter when storms routinely create slippery pavements, poor visibility, treacherous black ice and impenetrable whiteouts. But as we all know, the biggest road hazard when the weather turns nasty is four-wheelers. There is something about a little sleet or snow (even a spot of hard rain can do it) that turns car drivers into unpredictable idiots. In the winter, truckers have to allow maximum reaction time to stay safe.

It's the holidays. Everyone is rushing around in a hurry to get to Grandma's. The highways are full of holiday drivers: vans packed with crabby kids (some of them mine!), tired moms who stayed up wrapping and baking a tad too late last night, dads groggy from too many hours on the road. It's the time of year to expect the unexpected. We need to watch out for the four-wheelers dodging about under our noses. Many of these folks have their hearts in the right place, but their brains on auto-pilot. If you're trying to get home to your own family, give them a brake and a wide berth so we all get home safely. 

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year. More than 36 million motorists are expected to hit the road this weekend, all rushing to Grandma's house for turkey dinner. For truckers, sharing the road with a lot of turkey-filled, stressed-out four-wheelers can be a challenge. If we all use a little common sense and exercise a bit of extra courtesy, we can share the road and all get where we're going safely. Here are a few safe driving tips for the holidays. Feel free to pass them along to your four-wheeled friends.

December 27, 2007 is the deadline for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to decide changes for the hours-of service regulations.

Earlier this month Federal Court dismissed the increased driving time changes (11 hrs reduced to 10) and the 34 hour restart provision, citing death and injury statistics. OOIDA and the ATA were unsuccessful in their requests for a new hearing on hours-of-service. Also, the OOIDA and ATA requests for implementing new rules in 8 or 12 months, rather than in December 2007 were denied.

FMCSA has less than 90 days to decide on options for further action.

And now, in light of the well publicized and awful disaster, the 15 rig pileup in the Newhall Pass Tunnel between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles, California  tunnel disaster it would be surprising if the OODIA and ATA would ever get much agreement or cooperation from federal regulators concerning any increase of driving hours. This one disaster will have repercussions for years to come on many levels. The trucking industry, of course will be affected, but so will traffic control, road construction, fire fighting techniques, etc. Experts will be rethinking things for a long time. Hopefully something good will come of it.

Meanwhile, our hearts go out to the loved ones and friends of any truckers who were involved. A disaster of this magnitude will be long remembered.

Keep an eye out for bears when you're driving next week. Law enforcement agencies have scheduled a nationwide highway safety enforcement crackdown for October 21-28. It doesn't matter whether you're driving 18 wheels or four, the smokies are going to be watching next week.

"Be Buckled. Be Ready," is the slogan of the new FMCSA seat belt safety campaign aimed at truckers. NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, an analyst for ABC Sports and ESPN, is the face of the new public service announcements.

While 81% of the motoring public wears a seat belt when driving; only 59% of truckers buckle up, according to FMCSA statistics.

Last week the federal court struck down the FMCSA's new hours of service regulations, citing safety concerns about driver fatigue. Comments made by Jackie Gillan, VP of the consumer group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, summed up the opposition's position: "In the last 10 years, 56,935 people have died and a million more were injured in truck crashes in communities across the country. American families are paying a steep personal and financial price for this public health disaster. ... It's time to stop coddling the trucking industry and make the safety of all motorists, including truck drivers, a priority."

Trucker to Trucker reader countryboy1 had this response: "Jackie Gillian states that there were 56,935 deaths in truck crashes in the last 10 years. How can this be a effective argument when Truckers drive millions of miles and how many were Fatigue related or caused by someone else. I'm all for safety and I know some trucking companies push their drivers. Common sense tells me that if your too tired to drive to get off the road. If a company pushes you to continue. It's time to find another one to work for. Safety 1st."

An accurate and neat log book is the hallmark of the true professional truck driver. A tidy log book, legibly written and concisely lined, shows you take your job seriously. Follow these tips to make sure your log book stands up to professional scrutiny:

Despite the hassle, keeping an accurate and detailed log book is part of the game when you're a trucker. The habit began with passage of the hours-of-service regulations in 1935.

"Although many carriers, particularly the larger ones, voluntarily limit the hours of service of their drivers to a reasonable maximum," wrote transportation economist James Nelson in 1936, "it is a well-known fact that others force their drivers to remain behind the wheel for 10, 12 and, in extreme cases, 18 hours."

"ATA asks that you and your staff work with FMCSA and Department of Justice to, first and foremost, file a timely motion with the court requesting either a stay of the decision, or a remanded [to FMCSA] without the court vacating the 11-hour driving rule and the 34-hour restart provision," ATA President Bill Graves said in a request to the Secretary of Transportation. "There is no compelling safety reason for these two elements of the rule to be vacated."

The hours of service regulations enacted in 2005 allow one additional hour of driving time but mandate two additional hours of rest. An American Transportation Research Institute study found that a majority of drivers are less fatigued and prefer the 11 hours diving, 10 hours off and 34-hour restart provisions. The 2005 hours of service rules cut the death toll from big rig-involved crashes by 4.7% in 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That's the largest statistical drop in 14 years! Let Trucker to Trucker know what you think. Click comments below and give us your 2 cents.

Joining a growing number of states, Arkansas has just banned vehicles -- including big rigs -- from stopping on interstate shoulders or controlled-access highways, including on/off ramps, except in cases of emergency or breakdown. The new law (Act 997) went into effect this month, reportedly as a result of several fatal accidents involving rigs parked on highway shoulders.

Despite federal disapproval of the practice, there's no federal law prohibiting non-emergency stopping along controlled-access highways. Calling it a safety issue, an increasing number of states are moving to close what they perceive to be a loophole.

What's a trucker to do? With more four-wheelers on the road, rest areas are getting crowded. Some nights it seems like there's no room at the inn. On the busy stretch of I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis there are 10 truck stops, each one packed every night, despite a 23% increase in truck parking spaces over the past 4 years. Hours of service regulations require drivers to pull over, often at the same time and mostly at night, putting a strain on parking space. Often the shoulder is the only option open to tired drivers.

"Drivers get sleepy, but there are a limited number of places to park," complained Arkansas Trucking Association President Lane Kidd. While his group supported the new safety law, he criticized Arkansas for closing three of the state's 24 rest stops in recent years.

The bill's sponsor, State Representative Bill Abernathy, responded to truckers, saying  the state will provide more parking spaces: "If we need more spaces, I expect the highway department will provide them." And I expect I'll believe it when I see it!

Mississippi just joined the highway safety club. Governor Haley Barbour recently signed into law a bill that mandates the common sense practice of moving over and slowing down when approaching emergency vehicles parked on the roadside with their lights flashing. The law goes into effect on July 1.

Mississippi joins 30 other states with similar laws designed to protect police and other emergency personnel during roadside stops. Two Mississippi state policemen have died in the past few years after being struck by passing motorists. Mississippi's new law also covers tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles. Failure to move over will result in fines of up to $250, increasing to $1000 if property damage or injuries result.

More states are expected to pass similar laws this year. Bills are being considered in Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey and Rhode Island.,

Get ready to hurry up and wait (as they say in the Army), but it's for a good cause! The 20th annual Roadcheck is coming next week from June 5-7. Focusing on comprehensive Level 1 truck inspections, the continent-wide safety checks will include motor coach inspections and seat belt enforcement. For 72 continuous hours, 10,000 inspectors will get out their fine-tooth combs at 1,000 sites across North America, according to Steve Keppler, director of policy and programs for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

During the 2006 Roadcheck, 60,357 truck and bus inspections were performed, and the number of vehicles parked for serious defects declined in all major categories. A record 30,950 CVSA decals were given to vehicles that passed inspection with no defects in 13 critical areas. Only 21.7% of the vehicles tested in 2006 failed the safety inspection, compared to 22.5% in 2005. However, the number of drivers pulled out of service rose from 4.4% in 2005 to 5.6% in 2006. "Last year there was more emphasis on driver behavior, and it had [an] impact on the numbers," Keppler said.

The purpose of Roadcheck is to take unsafe drivers and vehicles off the road, educate drivers about maintenance and gather data, making the roads safer for all of us. Seat belt enforcement is a newer component of the Roadcheck checklist. Last year 59% of all truckers were wearing their seat belts when stopped for inspection. Let's try for 100% this year!