Archive for July, 2009
Win a PC MILER Navigator 430 GPS System “Give-A-Way”
Posted by Allen Smith in iPhone Trucking Application on July 30th, 2009
TruckerApp.com, the world’s FIRST iPhone Application for the professional truck driver, will be GIVING AWAY a PC Miler Navigator 430 GPS System (retail value: $349.95) on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas.
We invite everyone at the show to drop by the Trucker App booth and fill out a raffle form for a chance to win this GPS prize. Also, you can raise your chances of winning, by showing us the Trucker app on your iPhone or iTouch, and you can add up to 5 raffle forms for the drawing!
The drawing will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, 8-22-09 and the winner gets to take the Navigator 430 GPS home!
Take a closer look at the PC Miler Navigator 430 GPS system! You just may be the winner of the Trucker App GPS System “Give-A-Way!”
See you in Dallas!
Allen Smith
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: dallas, give-a-way, gps, GPS system, Great American Trucking Show, iphone, itouch, pc miler navigator 430, raffle, trucker app
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YOU Did It! Jason’s Law is Going to GATS
Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Safety, trucking on July 26th, 2009
Because of YOUR support and dedication to the cause, Jason’s Law will be attending the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas. Your donation(s) have insured that Hope Rivenburg and family members will have the opportunity to keep this important issue out in the open, and to continue forward in achieving the final goal: to pass H.R. 2156 into law.
We can never take anything for granted, especially those decisions which ultimately come from within the Washington beltway. We must continue to push forward and let our voices be heard through various means: blog posts, emails, letters, phone calls . . . even if we believe that Jason’s Law will pass with flying colors, we can never assume that it is a “done deal.” We need to continue on by never allowing our support to grow quiet just because we think “that it’s going to pass anyway.”
With Jason’s Law now headed to GATS, this is only one aspect of the two part goal. Now, let’s keep working to insure . . . to be certain . . . that Jason’s Law will, in fact, become law. Safe and secure parking areas for our nation’s truck drivers will certainly add to the equation of preventing such tragedies from happening to another driver and family. Even if it is just one driver, that would be one life saved, one family spared.
Thanks to all of you who donated to the Jason’s Law GATS cause. As trucking companies and organizations chose not to donate, truck drivers and non-truckers alike, came together and showed that even a “small group” of people can make a difference. We are ecstatic about the large anonymous donations that came in the weekend of the 25th. Your generous donations are now over $2,800.00, plus the GATS booth which is valued at $1200, donated by gotruckstop.com. The Rivenburgs are going to Dallas!
Be it one dollar or five hundred dollars, your donation is the reason that H.R. 2156 will have a place at the Great American Trucking Show. There is no purpose in showing “who” donated, because they did not do it for recognition . . . they did not allow ego’s to stand in the way for supporting a worthy cause. It was done for the simple fact alone, that Jason’s Law is an important and vital bill that needs to be passed to insure safe and secure parking for the millions of professional truck drivers who keep America moving every day.
H.R. 2156 will be at GATS, thanks to all of you. YOU did it.
Let’s keep pushing forward . . . keep working to bring H.R. 2156 into law. Do not “assume” that the goal has been accomplished. It reminds me of a saying that an instructor always told me:
“Never claim victory, until the battle has been won.”
Because of YOU, Jason’s Law will seek further support at GATS . . . keep sounding your voices . . . keep signing the petition.
Thanks to all for your help in this cause,
Allen Smith
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: dallas, donation, GATS, Great American Trucking Show, H.R. 2156, jason rivenburg, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, rivenburg, support, truck drivers, Truckers, trucking
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iPhone Trucker App – Using the Driver’s Resource Page
Posted by Allen Smith in iPhone Trucking Application, mobile phone applications on July 26th, 2009
Donna will be attending the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas next month, with a booth set up for “Trucker” – the world’s first iPhone application for the trucking industry. We are noticing that some iPhone and iTouch users totally missed the Driver’s Resource Page of the Trucker App.
Here’s our newest video explaining how to get to the Driver’s Resource Page on the application:
We are working toward releasing the Trucker Gold version, 2.0 in the near future which will have several new and cutting-edge technological features built right into the application. As the video explains, the Trucker iPhone App has buttons for three RSS feeds, but the main feature of the application is the Driver’s Resource Page. Since we noticed some have overlooked this page completely, we wanted to insure the understanding of how to get to the resource page, since this is the HEART of the Trucker Application.
If you find yourself in Dallas on August 20, 21 and 22 – swing by the Trucker Booth at GATS and say “hi” to Donna and Trucker Desiree!
Thanks,
Allen
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: app, application, driver's resource page, iphone, itouch, trucker, trucker app, trucker application, Trucker iPhone App, trucking
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Life outside of Trucking – Organic Gardening
Posted by Allen Smith in Talk Radio Show, Truckers Health, trucking, trucking life on July 24th, 2009
No doubt, many truckers are passionate about their trucks. But what do they do when they are not trucking? Hobbies, relaxation or recreation … what do truckers do for other passions?
Co-host Barry Szczucki, aka The Green Guru, shares his knowledge and expertise on his passion for organic gardening and how you can literally turn your yard into a produce stand, cutting your grocery bill by hundreds of dollars!
His much anticipated web site: Rely On Yourself, is set to go “live” on 7-26-09, with more work to be done, and this episode of The Trucker Sunday Show looks at one truckers’ passion outside of trucking.
See The Green Guru in action and come join the conversation!
Life outside of Trucking – Organic Gardening - Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 4 PM EST – on Blog Talk Radio . . .
UPDATE: The show was fun and well received and I look forward to doing more “Green Guru” shows on BTR. In case you missed the live show, you can catch the one hour broadcast here:
Allen
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: barry szczucki, blog talk radio, organic gardening, rely on yourself, the green guru, trucker sunday show, Truckers, trucking
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Let’s Bring Jason’s Law to the Great American Trucking Show
Posted by Allen Smith in trucking, trucking blogs, trucking companies on July 21st, 2009
The brotherhood of truckers. It’s out there … still … I’m sure of it. Your support of Jason’s Law has generated, at this point, 7582 signatures on the Jason’s Law petition. Your support is greatly appreciated. Many of us are working together to help raise the funds needed to assist the Rivenburg’s in attending The Great American Trucking Show, coming up in August in Dallas, Texas.
To date, all donations have come from truckers, non-truckers and many great trucking related websites. Apparently, trucking companies and the large trucking organizations who boast about their support for drivers and the industry, do only that – “boast.” Practically, each State has their own Trucking Association, however, have yet to step up and respond by donating even just a few dollars to this important step in moving the H. R. 2156 bill further into the public spotlight.
Getting Jason’s Law to The Great American Trucking Show would do just that.
GoTruckStop.com has donated their booth to the Rivenburg family and have set up a donation page to achieve this critical issue. The trucking companies, organizations and associations appear to be leaving the responsibility up to the truckers, individuals and those hosting various sites related to our nation’s truck drivers and the industry. These are the real “movers and shakers” who believe that the “brotherhood” still exist.
Help bring the Rivenburg family to the truck show in Dallas. Any amount of donation is appreciated and will further the cause in Jason’s Law.
DONATE for GATS . . .
Thanks everyone,
Allen Smith
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: brotherhood, dallas, donate, donation, GATS, gotruckstop.com, H.R. 2156, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, rivenburg, the great american trucking show, truck drivers, trucking, trucking associations, trucking companies, trucking organizations
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” Get Jasons Law to Gats” You Can Help
Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Truck Stops, Trucker Donations, Truckers Health, trucking on July 17th, 2009
For the last few days there’s been a drive to try to assist Hope Rivenburg and family of slain trucker, Jason Rivenburg, to attend GATS!
The family plans on attending GATS in order to ensure that the Bill HR 2156 ( Jasons Law) is passed. They want to reach out to as many drivers as possible so they understand the importance of supporting “Jason’s Law” which will be part of a pilot program, expanding the amount of safe parking, therefore reducing the risk of another family experiencing the tragic loss that they have had to endure.
Shortly after the first post was written TG Graff of GoTruckStop.com immediatley responded by offering his booth to Hope and family. He has since then started a donation drive, ” Get Jasons Law to Gats” encouraging truckers from all over to donate$5.00 to the fund. It wasn’t long after that, others started to follow. Power is in numbers and we all need to help assuring that Jason’s family can attend GATS and represent the Bill which was started in his name.
Today TJ left a comment on the original blog post. This is what he wrote:
Comment:
I just wanted to thank everyone that has donated so far to the “Get Jason’s Law to
GATS” fund. As of this posting we have collected $510 … and hopefully more to
come.
GoTruckStop.com is also donating the cost to provide carpeting, table, and chairs
for the booth at GATS for Jason’s Law.
Won’t you please be part of this worthy cause?
Here is a chance to get up and do something that can make a difference to YOUR
industry.
If we had 500 folks just simply give $5.00 (the cost of 2 Starbuck’s coffees) we
would have Hope and her organization in Dallas.
How about it?
TJ Graff
Dir of Sales and Marketing
GoTruckStop.com
Just a few more days remaining friends. We need approximately $2500.00 more for Hope Rivenburg and her family to be able to attend the Great American Truck Show so they can ” Get Jasons Law to Gats” We ask you to donate just a dollar or two…..that’s all.
DONATE TO “GET JASON’S LAW to GATS”
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: GATS, Get Jasons Law to Gats, H.R. 2156, hope rivenburg, jason's law donations, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, tg graff
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Administration Wants to Extend Deadline for Transportation Act
Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, trucking on July 15th, 2009
As posted by: Jason’s Law website
President Obama is trying to extend the deadline for the Transportation Act for eighteen months. We can’t let this happen. We need to inundate the White House and Senate with calls so they know that the American Public does not support this. The following link is a press release from the House saying that they plan on moving forward with the plan.
http://transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=957
It is extremely important that you put the pressure on today as the Senate is marking up the extension bill today.
White House phone Numbers:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Contact your Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: contact, eighteen months, extend, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, phone, president obama, senate, transportation act, white house
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Will Sleep Apnea Test be New Regulation for Trucking?
Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Safety, Truck Driving Jobs, Truckers Health, otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies on July 14th, 2009
By: Allen Smith
There may be a new regulation coming for the trucking industry. If so, this new requirement could effect as many as 3.9 million licensed commercial truck drivers, according to a recent study by the Cambridge Health Alliance.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each episode, called an apnea, lasts long enough so that one or more breaths are missed, and such episodes occur repeatedly throughout sleep. Clinically significant levels of sleep apnea are defined as five or more episodes per hour of any type of apnea. There are three distinct forms of sleep apnea: central, obstructive and complex ( a combination of central and obstructive). Regardless of type, the individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or a Sleep Study. This “Sleep Study” may be the laying foundation for the new trucking regulation.
Truckers with severe sleep apnea or who sleep less than five hours a night are more likely to experience sleepiness and impaired ability while driving, one study concluded. Furthermore, studies have shown that obesity is the most significant risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Over 60% of adult Americans are categorized as being overweight. Each year obesity causes at least three hundred thousand deaths in the United States. The statistics are even worse for truckers.
Studies show that approximately 73% of drivers are overweight and more than 50% are obese. Because of these statistics, another aspect for the possible new regulation will be a required BMI test for truck drivers. BMI ( Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. It is calculated by four different categories:
- BMI of 18.5 or less = Underweight
- 18.5 – 24.9 = Normal Weight
- 25 – 29.9 = Overweight
- 30 or greater = Obesity
As an example, an adult male who is 5′ 10″ tall and weighs 220 pounds, would calculate out with a BMI reading of 31.6, thus being regarded as obese. An adult woman who is 5′ 8″ tall and weighs 150 pounds, would calculate out at 22.8 BMI, being regarded as normal weight. You can calculate your BMI to see where you would fit in, if this was already a regulation for truckers.
Being discussed on the grounds of safety, sleep apnea testing, along with BMI calculations, is becoming more of a possibility as a new trucking regulation. Even though this condition is completely treatable and reversible, I have heard from one source that one trucking company has said that they expect to lose 20% of their current drivers if this does become a regulation. We have learned that many trucking companies are in a silent “panic mode” right now, and plan to either ask new driver applicants to take the sleep test, as well as considering current drivers in their employment to have the testing performed also.
Other factors which may be considered before someone could become a professional truck driver are:
- High blood pressure testing
- Their pattern of sleep
- Neck size
- Age
Their is a lot of underground talking going on about the problem of sleep apnea and obesity. Don’t be surprised if this new testing soon becomes a new regulation for the trucking industry and our nation’s truck drivers.
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: apnea, BMI, body mass index, obesity, regulation, sleep apnea, sleep test, testing, truck drivers, Truckers, trucking, trucking companies, trucking regulation
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Heartland Express Reports Quarterly Profit
Posted by Allen Smith in otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies on July 14th, 2009
By: Allen Smith
Heartland Express, Inc., based out of Iowa, reported a 2% second-quarter profit earlier today. The company stated that they are seeing the worst economic downturn in its history, and commented that it: “has not seen any strong indicators of improvements in the demand for freight services that would increase our levels of business in the near future.” The company earned $17.6 million dollars for the quarter, up 2% from the $17.2 million from the same time last year.
Heartland Express is known for being a debt-free company, which is very enticing for drivers looking for a good and reputable trucking company. They ended the quarter with $205 million dollars cash-in-hand, and is still one of the few trucking companies that can lay claim to having a debt-free balance sheet.
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: heartland express, trucking, trucking companies, trucking company
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Truck Driver Loses Job as Child Dies
Posted by Allen Smith in Truck Driving Jobs, otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies on July 14th, 2009
Truck driver, Andre Walls had been trucking over the road for two and a half years. He had never had an accident and had never received a ticket. Two and a half years of perfect driving and being an excellent employee. Then, he was terminated by his company for violating a company policy : having an “unauthorized passenger” in the truck with him. The company reported it to his DAC Report and just like that . . . Mr. Walls found himself out of the job he loved and now, cannot find another employer to hire him.
Yes, he made a mistake by allowing an unathorized passenger to ride in the truck with him . . . but here’s the rest of the story:
Andre had been running hard all week with very little rest in order to make extra money for himself and his family. He was taking every run he could so they could get “back on track” with their finances. He was dispatched on a load to Northern Arkansas and even though he had little rest, he headed off under dispatch. During the run, he received a phone call from his brother-in-law who was on his way home, but his car broke down. The brother-in-law’s child, Andre’s nephew or neice, was dying. He asked Mr. Walls if he could give him a ride home. Andre did.
Andre completed the load to Arkansas, but was then called in to the company and was advised that he was terminated due to violating company policy. He was asked to write a statement explaining his side of the story, which he did. He was still terminated and with an “unauthorized passenger” on his DAC report, he has not been able to find another trucking company that will hire him.
Before the next morning, the baby died.
What would you have done?
This driver is now at the point of “losing everything.” I mention often that there are good and decent trucking companies. I know there are, because I’ve worked for several of them. Is there one trucking company out there that will prove me right? Will you give Andre Walls a job? Will you look past the fact that he had an “unauthorized passenger” in the truck? Will you understand that a baby was dying?
Help prove me right. If you’ll hire this driver, email me at : allen@truthabouttrucking.com and I’ll forward your email to Andre. I won’t post about it . . . I won’t talk about it . . . it will just be between you and this driver.
What would you have done? What if it had been your child?
Will you hire Andre? email me . . . and thanks.
Allen Smith
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: andre walls, company policy, dac, hire, report, truck driver, trucking, trucking companies, trucking company, unauthorized passenger, violating
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