Trucking Advocate and Activist Allen Smith of TruthAboutTrucking.com : Articles Current News and Information for CDL Truck Drivers and Truck Driving Students…"Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry"
Truck drivers across the country have been called on by Chapter 61 ministries to be the eyes and ears for the human trafficking crisis in America. The partnership between the Transport for Christ and Chapter 61 organizations, the Truckers Against Trafficking, along with many others, have led to a much greater awareness of this problem, not only in the United States but abroad. Recent headline news is focusing on this $32 billion a year business, which destroys countless lives and enslaves its victims . . . the majority of whom are women and children:
These are just a few of the most recent cases involving human trafficking. Most Americans are aware of the problem in Asia and Africa, but are oblivious to that fact that it is big business here in the United States. Chapter 61 ministries will be presenting another set of online informational webinars in September, 2010.
All webinars will begin at 9 p.m. EDT. Because members of the trucking and travel plaza industry represent the eyes and ears of America on those highways, they can play a critical part in fighting this crime and those who perpetrate it. They simply need to know what to look for, what questions to ask and what steps to take.
If you would like to participate, you can sign up by clicking on one of the following dates that you wish to attend:
Press Release by Truth About Trucking LLC : For Immediate Release
8-16-2010
Trucking Anthem Song and CD title, “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll” joins trucking radio internet host Allen Smith for a “Live” CD Release Party
Internet radio show host, Allen Smith, of Truth About Trucking “Live,” joins forces with song writers David Ayers and Barry Allen of Allen & Ayers Productions, to promote and celebrate the release of “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll,” one of the most powerful and influential trucking CD’s to be released in decades.
Ayers and Allen have been seen on Fox News, CNN, The NY Times, Cox news, as well as numerous other media, and will be on the air “Live” on August 18th to share the release of their CD. The eye catching title of the CD was created after the hit song, “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll,” which debuted in April of 2008 during the famous trucking fuel protest convoy to Washington DC. The song has since been played at many other trucking rallies nationwide and has been referred to as the “Truckers Anthem.” Not since songs like “Convoy” and “Teddy Bear” has a trucking song attracted so many people from so many walks of life, supporting and cheering for truck drivers as people everywhere have come to the realization that “without trucks, America stops.”
The trucking industry has undergone very dramatic changes over the years, including: deregulation, laws and mandates, CDL training requirements, EPA regulations, and of course increased fuel prices. The new CD addresses many of these changes and how they affect the life and lifestyle of the modern day truck driver. Song artist, John Johnson, has been able to capture the emotion and feelings of drivers through the lyrics of Ayers and Allen, and also through his own powerful and passionate voice. The diversity of music on “When the Big Rig’s Don’t Roll” includes country, blues, spiritual, and blue grass, combing trucking issues, romance, and humor while representing real aspects of modern life and experiences.
Another song on the CD, “Say a Prayer for Jason”, has become almost an overnight success as it addresses the drastic need for more available safe truck parking. The song is about slain truck driver Jason Rivenburg and his forced decision to park at an abandoned gas station in order to rest for the evening. Jason was then murdered for a mere seven dollars and left behind a wife, newborn twins (born shortly after his death) and a 2 year old son Joshua. His wife Hope has been relentlessly pursuing the passing of Jason’s Law which was originally introduced to the House by Congressman Paul Tonko of New York State as bill HR 2156. Senator Charles Schumer, also of NY, presented a similar bill to the senate, S970.
Jason’s Law will ensure the continuous development and support of more safe and adequate truck parking by introducing a 6 year pilot program totaling 120 million dollars, accessed from funds already existing from collected fuel tax dollars.
This song and the movement of Jason’s Law has accomplished something that nothing else has ever been able to accomplish within the trucking industry: the ability for all aspects and entities of trucking to join together and agree in unison upon something; The need for more safe and adequate truck parking.
The ATA, OOIDA, the OOU, and the Teamsters, along with trucking websites and blogs, and drivers from all over the country, have united in one voice, expressing their desire for the Passing of Jason’s Law.
David Ayers, Barry Allen, and song artist John Johnson will be attending the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas, Texas during the last weekend in August, with fans everywhere anticipating a live performance on Friday night August 27th, 2010 by John Johnson.
On Wednesday, August 18th, 2010, Allen Smith of Truth About Trucking Live, will be airing a live CD Release Party for “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll.” Guests will include song writers David Ayers and Barry Allen, Hope Rivenburg, and Richie Acosta, who supplied the enormously popular front cover image of the CD.
Guest and callers will be able to interact live through the internet and via their phones, being able to ask questions, win FREE CD’s, and listen to the stories behind the scenes of this legendary CD release, “When the Big Rig’s Don’t Roll.”
NOTE: National Call in Day for Jason’s Law is September 15th, 2010
WE will be posting about the CD Jason’s Law Drive which will be starting SOON and will end the day of the National Call in day of SEPTEMBER 15th
During the Jason’s law CD Drive, a large portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hope Rivenburg and her 3 children, as well as towards the efforts of the passing of Jason’s Law! We’ll be writing more about this and will have more about it on the CD release part show on Wednesday evening; 8:30 PM ET 8/18/10
The cause for freedom in the case of Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna is gaining ground. Lt. Behenna, along with nine other soldiers, sit in military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. They are serving sentences ranging from ten to forty years for crimes against terrorists and enemies of the United States . . . on the battlefield . . . during time of war. They have become known as the Leavenworth Ten.
Caught in a circle of military and government red tape, along with political correctness, these brave soldiers served their country and in return, were sentenced to prison for defending themselves in a combat zone. Vickie Behenna, Michael’s mother, recently contacted me to give an update on their pursuit to have these men set free:
Allen,
“I wanted to let you know that the government, after 7 months, finally filed their response brief in Michael’s case. On August 6 Michael’s lawyer filed his reply brief so the case is finally fully briefed and we are waiting for a date for the oral argument before the Army Court of Appeals.
In the meantime, at the request of several of Michael’s supporters we along with his supporters have organized a bike ride and rally to be held in Leavenworth on September 4th, 2010. The ride and rally was organized to raise awareness of the prosecution and imprisonment of soldiers/marines who have been charged and convicted of combat related incidents, and to let the public know that these soldiers/marines have been given unbelievably long sentences. As you may know many of these soldiers have purple hearts and bronze stars.
The ride will have riders from all over the country who will ride in support of these soldiers. After the ride there will be a rally where the families of the imprisoned soldiers and LTC (R) Allen West, a Congressional Candidate from South Florida, will speak on their behalf.
Michael, from the beginning of his incarceration has requested that we, his Dad and I, do something to help these other soldiers/marines. So instead of having the ride and rally concentrate just on Michael, we expanded the ride to include these other guys. They are referred to as the Leavenworth Ten. There were ten soldiers/marines incarcerated at Ft. Leavenworth when Michael arrived there. One has been paroled and another has had his conviction reversed.”
Thank you,
Vickie Behenna
As many of you know, Lt. Behenna received an unfair trial due to the violation of the Brady Material:
“A Brady motion is a defendant’s request for evidence concerning a material witness which is favorable to the defense and to which the defense may be entitled. Favorable evidence includes not only evidence that tends to exculpate the accused, but also evidence that may impeach the credibility of a government witness. A Brady violation occurs where the failure to disclose evidence to the defense deprives the defendant of a fair trial. Instead of presenting the factual evidence that corroborated Lt. Behenna’s self defense claim and thereby show the “revenge execution” premise of their case, Army Captain’s Meghan Poirier, Jason Elbert and Erwin Roberts violated their own ethics code by hiding this evidence from both the defense team and the jury in order to achieve conviction in a politically-motivated prosecution.”
It is because of this violation that the Behenna’s continue to fight for a new, fair trial for their son and ultimately for his release. The goal of the ride is to raise public awareness about how soldiers are being imprisoned for killing the enemy during combat operations. For more information on the Biker Freedom Ride for the Leavenworth Ten, contact Steve Gabelsberg at : freedomride2010@suddenlink.net
Show your support for our American soldiers . . . L10 Freedom Ride in Leavenworth, KS on September 4th, 2010. To contact Lt. Col. Allen West for an interview about the event, contact Valentina Weis at 561-603-8188.
Ocala, Florida – On 8-17-07, 20 year old Toni Centracco was found at her home with a fatal gun shot wound to the head. Nearly two years later, there has still been no arrest. Local police believe that Toni may have arrived home during a burglary and was killed in the driveway as she stepped out of her car.
Somewhere, somebody knows who took the life of this vibrant young women who wanted a career in child care. There is a $100,000 reward being offered for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the killer. If you know who killed Toni Centracco, please contact the Ocala, Florida Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP.
You can call anonymously. Help bring Toni’s killer to justice . . . do the right thing. Call now . . .
Open letter to America’s Most Wanted requesting assistance in solving the case . . .
7-6-09 : Here is the first response we have received from AMW from our first sent contact:
Dear Mr. Smith:
Thank you for writing to America’s Most Wanted. When your letter is processed you will receive a post card in the mail saying that we have received your letter. After that, it can take as long as 12-14 weeks to hear about a decision on your case. AMW does its best to apprehend criminals, locate missing children and solve even the toughest crimes. Our show provides the information, but it’s viewers like you who do the real job.
The first Trucking Application for the Apple iPhone – Trucker – has been released and is now available at the iPhone App Store. The Trucker Lite Version is the first of its kind app in the world, and development is already underway for the Trucker Gold Version.
For additional information, the official site for Trucker is:
The Truth About Trucking eBook has been updated and revised to our new 2009 Version. A new BONUS chapter has been added plus much more valuable information. Now, 111 pages and 4.26 MB …
As you know, as a client of Truth About Trucking, you are always entitled to receive any updates and revised eBooks for FREE!
If you have previously downloaded our product and would like to receive the new 2009 version of the Truth About Trucking, please send an email with details of your previous purchase and we will send the new 2009 revised version to you per email. BE SURE to add us to your email client so we do not end up in your spam blocker!!
By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Writer – Tue Dec 2, 12:01 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators are taking steps to get medically unfit truck and bus drivers off the road after being accused for years of dragging their feet on the issue.
Under a rule approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, states will be required to merge commercial truck and bus drivers’ licenses with drivers’ medical examination certificates into a single electronic record.
Linking the two will make it easier to check whether drivers have met medical requirements to operate commercial vehicles. States will have three years to comply.
The administration has also proposed creating a registry of medical examiners qualified to award certificates to drivers. Examiners who fail to meet minimum standards could be barred from issuing fitness-to-drive certificates.
“These actions will support and strengthen our continuing commitment to ensure that only medically qualified individuals are allowed to operate an interstate truck or bus. Safety is our paramount responsibility,” John Hill, head of the motor carrier safety administration, said in a statement.
Agency officials were severely chastised at a House hearing earlier this year for going years without addressing the problem of medically unfit drivers despite repeated warnings from Congress.
The rule finalized on Monday addresses some of a series of recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board in 2001 in response to a motorcoach accident two years earlier in New Orleans that killed 22.
In the New Orleans accident, NTSB said the bus driver, 46-year-old Frank Bedell, suffered life-threatening kidney and heart conditions but still held a valid commercial license and certificate saying he was fit to drive. A passenger recounted seeing the driver slumped in his seat moments before the crash.
Tractor-trailer and bus drivers have suffered seizures, heart attacks or unconscious spells while behind the wheel. Such illnesses have been a critical factor in thousands of serious truck accidents.
Many commercial vehicle drivers whose serious medical conditions are known to their employers, health care providers and others are never reported to motor vehicle licensing authorities, NTSB says.
A Government Accountability Office study earlier this year found hundreds of thousands of drivers operating trucks and buses even though they had qualified for federal medical disability payments.
A separate study by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee found that fabricating medical certificates required to operate commercial trucks and buses was so easy there was little incentive for drivers to obtain a legitimate document.
“Because so few attempts are made to authenticate a certificate, there is little risk that a driver will be caught if he or she forges or adulterates a certificate,” the study said.
One Ohio doctor contacted by the committee said forgery of medical certificates is so commonplace “no one gets alarmed by it anymore.”
Today Setember 30, 2008 Allen Smith Of Truth About Trucking.com and AskTheTrucker.com was featured in Google News Alert for his Press Release. Allen continues his quest of “Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry.
=== Google News Alert for: truck driving schools ===
Veteran Trucker Allen Smith Releases Audio CD’s Exposing Trucking …
PR Web (press release) – Ferndale,WA,USA
In addition to his relentless quest to educate and inform truck driving
students and new drivers about the truck driving school and trucking
company scams, …
<http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/9/prweb1384764.htm>
: chapter 61 ministries, human trafficking, transport for Christ, truck drivers, Truckers, truckers against human trafficking, trucking, webinars
Ocala, Florida – On 8-17-07, 20 year old Toni Centracco was found at her home with a fatal gun shot wound to the head. Nearly two years later, there has still been no arrest. Local police believe that Toni may have arrived home during a burglary and was killed in the driveway as she stepped out of her car.
The first Trucking Application for the Apple iPhone – Trucker – has been released and is now available at the iPhone App Store. The Trucker Lite Version is the first of its kind app in the world, and development is already underway for the Trucker Gold Version.
