Now, as Florida looks to build a high speed rail to run through the Tampa – Orlando – Miami corridor, Sally Baptiste works to further point out the waste of taxpayers money for this project that will cost Floridians a staggering $11.5 billion.   For her second appearance on the show, we will be discussing various topics of great concern for every Florida taxpayer, as well as what Sally calls the “selling off of America.”

Thursday, 2-11-10 – Florida High Speed Rail – Inside Florida Transportation Politics

“The Florida High Speed Rail proposal,  Private Public Partnerships,  fiscal irresponsibility and the selling off of America.  Former Orange County mayoral candidate and transportation activist,  Sally Baptiste returns as our special guest to discuss the Governmental waste of your tax dollars and her role in the September, 2009 Tea Party movement in Washington, D.C.”    Visit her website at: TollsCreateGridlock.org

A special 2 hour broadcast for all our Florida listeners, as well as anyone concerned with the waste of taxpayers dollars by our own government.

Only on:

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: allen smith, florida high speed rail, florida tax, sally baptiste, transportation, trucking

Related posts

• Trucking to Better Health with Glutathione – Focus of Talk Radio Show (1)
• Trucking Companies Responsibility for DAC Reporting – FCRA § 623(a) (9)
• Truck Driving Stress-Barry Szczucki to Co-Host Truth About Trucking “LIVE” (0)
• Transportation Mystery: What Happened to Amelia Earhart? (0)
• Transportation Activist Fights to End Florida Toll Roads (0)

Normally providing a higher pay rate, drivers involved within the petroleum carrier industry can often become like any other veteran driver with years of experience under their belts . . . relaxed, complacent . . . whatever you want to call it . . . this complacency can become a hidden danger for all truck drivers, especially those involved in the transportation of fuel and other hazardous material, and most often, with deadly results.

With all the stress placed on truck drivers, through over crowed highways, forced dispatch and an endless array of Federal Regulations, trucking companies and officials need to fully understand and realize the true importance of safety.  Not just bureaucratic talk and pleasing self-interest groups, but understand that when additional pressures are placed on our men and women in trucking, additional consequences can occur, not only on our truckers, but the general public as well.

Professional drivers need the proper rest required by the human body and at the same time, they need to provide a living for themselves and their families.  Veteran drivers have no problem running ten, eleven or even fourteen hours in a day . . . this is why they are professional drivers.  As the FMCSA looks to further change the hours of service for truck drivers, they should maintain the 34 hour restart and provide more flexibility with the sleeper birth and the 14 hour provisions, as stated by the ATA.   Furthermore, the American Trucking Association also states that rest periods should not be mandated, but the FMCSA should adopt an optional rest period that would not be counted toward the 14 hour rule.

If changing the hours of service rule for drivers, once again, the FMCSA could not take away from the current HOS rule, but add to it . . . those provisions that not only will provide additional safety factors towards drivers and the general public, but also maintain the ability for truckers to provide a living for themselves and their families.   Professional truckers are up to the task in facing the lifestyle of a truck driver.  They understand the importance of safety and are well prepared to abide by all regulations.   The FMCSA should understand that there are ways to increase safety and still not interfere with a drivers’ means of support.

Accidents are largely caused by fatigued drivers who are not purposefully wanting to break any rules, but only working that much harder in the time allowed to bring in a decent pay check.  Allow drivers to drive . . . provide for adequate resting periods, but do not take away what little they have in the current rules that keeps them rolling, but add additional safety measures that will increase their ability to earn a livable wage and still give them the rest they need to keep safety as a priority as well.

Life as a trucker has enough stress, worry and dangers involved, being constantly concerned with paying the bills and putting food on the table should not be one of them.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: allen smith, FMCSA, gas haulers, hours of service, Safety, truck drivers

Related posts

• Trucking to Better Health with Glutathione – Focus of Talk Radio Show (1)
• Truckers United: A True Brotherhood (2)
• The Quest for The Truth About Trucking with Dan Rather Reports (8)
• The Best Truck Driving Jobs- A State by State Guide (8)
• Retaining Truck Drivers Should be No Problem for Trucking Companies (3)

• “18 Wheels” – Kathy Mattea
• “King of the Road” – Roger Miller
• “Teddy Bear” – Red Sovine
• “Six Days on the Road” – Dave Dudley, and of course:
• “Convoy” by C. W. McCall

Without a doubt, Nashville recording artists have always had a fascination with truckers and the lifestyle they lead.   That fascination is still alive and well.

Singer-songwriters, Barry Allen of Lyles, Tennessee  and David Ayers of Atlanta, Georgia,  along with John Johnson, owner of Johnson Brothers Studio in Atlanta,  have teamed together, once again focusing on bringing the trucking industry back into the public eye.   Currently producing a new CD release, “All About Trucking” – the trio seeks to describe the lifestyle and struggles of the men and women of trucking.

One single, (What They Gonna’ Do) When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll is already receiving favorable reviews from listeners all across the web, showing signs of a Nashville hit:

Listen to the hot single: When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll

Player courtesy of:  TruckerToTrucker

Truckers keep America moving, yet they receive far less of the respect and appreciation they deserve.  Contact your local radio stations and let them know that you want to hear “When the Big Rigs Don’t Roll” on the airwaves.   Let Nashville know that this trucking song should be on country music radio stations across the U.S.  You can download the hot tune and show your support for our nation’s truckers.

If you would like to help sponsor the CD project, you can contact Barry Allen through his FaceBook page.

Are you an upcoming singer-songwriter-performer?  Want to hear your songs played on our Blog Talk Radio show?   As the legendary country music group, Alabama put in song so well . . . “ROLL ON!”

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: barry allen, david ayers, john johnson, nashville country music, trucking songs, when the big rigs don't roll

Related posts

• No related posts.

As noted by Blog Talk Radio:  “Your show is exactly the kind we look for . . . something totally different and separate from the main media stream.”

In association with our main website, Truth About Trucking, my goal from the very beginning was to not be just more talk, but to stand up and take viable action in “raising the standards of the trucking industry” and to provide real and valuable assistance to CDL students and new drivers entering into a trucking career.  One way of doing this, is through our BTR show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE.”

We have scheduled further broadcasts for February, 2010 and would invite everyone to tune in and come join the conversation:

2-11-10 – Florida High Speed Rail – Inside Florida Transportation - 7 PM EST

“The Florida High Speed Rail proposal, Private Public Partnerships, fiscal irresponsibility and the selling off of America.  Former Orange County mayoral candidate and transportation activist, Sally Baptiste returns as our special guest to discuss the Governmental waste of your tax dollars and her role in the September, 2009 Tea Party movement in Washington, D.C.   Visit her website at: http://www.tollscreategridlock.org

2-17-10 – Human Trafficking – Truckers Call to Action – 7 PM EST

“Human trafficking is America’s modern day slavery. Men, women and children are being bought and sold in the United States and abroad and has become a $32 billion industry worldwide.  Kylla Leeburg, of chapter61.com is our special guest, as we look at this horrific crime and how truckers are being called to action to help rescue the victims of Human Trafficking in America. For more information, please visit: http://www.truckersagainsttrafficking.com

2-18-10 – Congressman Paul Tonko on Jason’s Law – 7 PM EST

“Congressman Paul Tonko (D) N.Y., is our special guest as we discuss the importance of passing House Bill H.R.2156.   Better known as Jason’s Law, this bill will provide safe and secure parking for our nation’s truck drivers.  Congressman Tonko will bring us up to date on this important issue that is so vital to the safety of all truckers.”

Be sure to bookmark us and add us to your favorites, and come join the conversation.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: blog talk radio, congressman, human trafficking, Jason's law- H.R.2156 S971, paul tonko, sally baptiste, talk radio, truck drivers, Truckers, truth about trucking live

Related posts

• YOU Did It! Jason’s Law is Going to GATS (7)
• Truth About Trucking “LIVE” – Reaching Around the Globe (0)
• Trucking Talk Radio Show Featured in SoundBits (0)
• Trucking Hero is Special Guest on Truth About Trucking “LIVE” (0)
• Is NAFTA Working or Not? (4)

James McCormack is founder of Trucking Careers of America, a staffing and career advisory company that works for you . . . not the trucking companies . . . in getting you back in the driver’s seat.   CDL students, recent school graduates and veteran drivers alike, Trucking Careers of America has been getting drivers back to work for nearly ten years.  Furthermore, the best part about their services?   There is never a fee . . .

Mr. McCormack and his staff works in your best interest in providing the help needed in getting back to work as a professional truck driver.   Specializing in four critical areas, they can assist:

• CDL students
• Recent CDL graduates
• Those who are in need of a refresher course and
• Experienced drivers.

Trucking Careers of America can help get you that trucking driving job.   If you’re having trouble getting hired, and as long as you can pass the DOT physical, have a good and verifiable background, MVR,  DAC Report, etc., visit Trucking Careers of America today, fill out their application and let Mr. McCormack and his staff start working for you in getting you back on the road.

James McCormack was our special guest on Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio, Wednesday, February, 3rd, 2010 at 7 PM EST:

Truck Driving Jobs Employment

“Are you a CDL student, CDL graduate or even experienced truck driver unable to find a truck driving job ? Allen welcomes James McCormack to the show.  As founder of Trucking Careers of America, they are dedicated to working for you and not for the trucking companies.  Never a fee for their services, Mr. McCormack will take your questions and explain how Trucking Careers of America can get you hired and back in the driver seat.”

One of the most important shows of the year, if you missed it live, you can listen now and learn how Trucking Careers of America can get you back to work as a professional driver.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: cdl students, driver employment, employment, find truck driving job, James McCormack, trucking careers of america, trucking driving jobs, trucking jobs, trucking talk radio

Related posts

• What Every CDL Student Should Know (0)
• Trucking Industry and Politics (0)
• U.S. Trucking Industry Corruption (6)
• Trucking Talk Show (0)
• Trucking Talk Radio on Jason’s Law (0)

It is a constant battle.  Thousands of truck drivers unable to find another truck driving job due to false information having been reported to their DAC report.  The number of drivers affected is unknown.  Other false information is constantly being spread through-out the internet, such as one poster stated that the information on the DAC report is 99.9 percent accurate . . . yet, the poster provides no evidence of where this number comes from.  Of course, it is a percentage that he has just pulled out of the air, based on whatever his agenda is.   It is often not difficult to discover why such behavior goes on.  Such as the case of this poster making the 99.9% comment.  Hiding in the forum as a “driver” he is in fact,  an owner of a trucking company.  I prefer to deal with facts, not whimsical numbers and exaggerated statements from a trucking forum that will not allow those drivers to post their DAC stories and show their support of the  Stop False DAC Reporting petition.

Another trucking forum refused to allow us to post the link to the  DAC petition to their forum saying that we were “only trying to advertise.”  Perhaps I am naive?  I assumed that trucking forums were for the drivers?  If not, what do you think they are for?

Furthermore, when you dig a little deeper, trying to discuss the issues facing the industry and drivers today, I will receive a post back similar to:  “You are only trying to sell your eBooks.” Forget about the time spent answering emails, returning phone calls, posting to this blog, broadcasting our Blog Talk Radio show . . . it is all about “trying to sell your eBooks.” Once again, confirming my past article:  The Truck Driver’s Worst Enemy.

This is why I am not big on trucking forums.  There are only a handful of trucking forums that provide excellent, fair and honest postings.  As CDL students or new drivers, realize that whoever is answering your questions you post to the forum, you have no idea who they are.  One example is where a new driver asked a question about a certain trucking company and wanted to know if it was a good company to go to.  The answer he received was very positive, praising the company and advising him that it would be a great company to get on with.   A few months later the new driver was back in the forum, telling his poor experience with the company.  It was later identified that the answer had come from a recruiter of the said company.  Remember, this is still the internet . . . when asking advise and opinions inside these trucking forums, etc., it could be anybody with an impressive “handle” giving you advise.    A key sign to a poor forum is when you try to post a comment that is biased against the conversation that is occurring, and they will “not allow” your comment to post.  This is a sign the trucking forum or other various site, has an agenda of some kind.

I will generally get pulled into posting on some forums, but I mainly stay away.   Most of the forums just want to do what they have been doing for years and years . . . just the same old talk and “blah, blah, blah” but never really standing up and taking any action of any kind to help raise the standards of the trucking industry for both, the industry and drivers.  Taking actual “action” for a good cause is too much work.  The “blah, blah, blah” is much easier to do.

As far as complete accuracies for the DAC report, I have no idea what the numbers are.  Even if the 99.9% is correct, (which it is not), with four million active CDL drivers in the United States, that would mean that 4,000 drivers have had false information placed on their DAC report, ruining their livelihood.  Yet, I have received hundreds and hundreds of emails and letters from drivers across the country sharing their DAC stories with me, as well as having received, thus far, 1,043 signatures on the DAC petition.  Furthermore, I have received a large number of emails from drivers wanting to sign the petition, but fear being identified by their employer and losing their jobs.  I completely understand and would not want anyone to sign the petition if they thought they could lose their job for doing so.  Even if the number is only 4,000 drivers affected by false DAC reporting, what should we do?  Just leave them blowing in the wind?

Whether or not we can reach the number of signatures needed for State Representatives, Congress and the Senate to take notice, remains to be seen.  There is much more  to bringing about reform on an issue than just having a petition.  It takes letters, phone calls, emails and various means of drawing attention to the fact that the cause is worth the attention of those with the power to bring about the reform.  The best example of this is the undying desire shown by the Rivenburg family for House Bill H. R. 2156, Jason’s Law.

Will we make it?  I don’t know.  But unlike most of these trucking forums which choose to just send out meaningless chatter and find it too hard to stand up for a cause to help the industry and, most importantly drivers,  if we don’t make it, we can at least say we tried.  At least we stood up and took action . . . we did something.  I am continuing with the DAC cause and will further wait to see how it is shaping up . . . I have a lot of patience.

Recently I have been getting quite a few emails from some of you facing false information on your DAC saying that you “quit without notice” even though you advise that you never even worked for the company, only attended the orientation.  This is how a trucking company can place this on your DAC Report:

Once a company has assigned you a driver number, you are officially employed.  This number assignment is done during the orientation, in order to have you ready to go on your first load.  Even if the company tells you to go home and wait for your first load, having the driver number assigned to you and having been placed in their system, you are officially hired and an employee.   If you decide to call the next day and tell them you have chosen not to take the job after all, the company has to pay the accounting department, the HR department, etc., in removing the assigned number from you and pulling you out of their payroll system.  Not to mention the time and money they have put in with the training, motel expenses, food expenses and so forth.   Once that driver number has been assigned to you, legally your employment with the company has been accepted.  Even though you never actually drove for them, legally they can report that you quit without notice.

Is it the moral thing to do?   No.   Is it the ethical and right thing to do?  No.  Is it legal?   Yes.   Due to false information being placed on drivers’ DAC reports, naturally you want to work at having it removed.  The first thought is SUE!  The DAC services are very acquainted with law suits and will not even blink an eye at this threat.   The proper way to handle removing false info from the report, is to follow the procedures laid out by DAC.

• Receive a copy of your DAC Report
• File a Dispute
• Provide a written statement accounting your side of the story

Sounds simple, right?   Here’s the key aspect that you need to understand about how to remove false information from the DAC report.  Its’ very simple . . . you must have verifiable, tangible, physical . . . some kind of PROOF showing that your account is indeed fact.  Without proof, without evidence, chances of having the false info removed is very slim.

They have specific procedures for drivers to follow to begin the dispute process and having false info removed from the report. The main reason drivers have trouble having false info removed, is because the driver has no physical or verifiable proof.

This was further ruled on from the ruling of the April, 2009 court case:

Eaton vs. Raven Transport

“The above case teaches that to hold the trucking company liable, the allegation MUST not only allege that the trucking company made a false report to DAC;  but that there MUST be sufficient evidence showing that the trucking company knew their report to DAC was false when it was made to DAC.”

Based on this case, it was determined by the courts that:

“The transport company cannot hide behind a “qualified privilege” when it makes intentional false statements on the DAC report.  The transport company will be held legally liable for such intentional and malicious conduct. Not only will the company be liable for compensatory damages resulting from the truckers’ inability to obtain work;  but its malicious conduct warrants punitive damages.”

Here is the actual quote determining the win for the driver:

“Plaintiff is a pro se litigant pursuing a claim related to losing his job as a truck driver. …Plaintiff has accused Raven of making defamatory statements about him to the EEOC and the DOL as well as to a potential employer, D. Krutiak Trucking (“Krutiak”). Raven has also been accused of releasing defamatory statements in a DAC Report, an employment-history database for motor carriers. Raven has moved to dismiss on the grounds that the statements that they made were privileged and not subject to liability.

Plaintiff claims that these statements were knowingly false and have made it difficult for him to secure other employment….. (a) An employer or any person employed by the employer who discloses information about a current or former employee’s job performance to a prospective employer is presumed to be acting in good faith; and unless lack of good faith is shown, is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences. For purposes of this section, the presumption of good faith may be rebutted upon a showing that the information disclosed by such employer was knowingly false, was deliberately misleading or was rendered with malicious purpose; or that the information was disclosed in violation of a nondisclosure agreement, or was otherwise confidential according to applicable federal, State or local statute, rule or regulation.

This privilege carries a rebuttable presumption of good faith. Qualified privilege will not attach to the DAC Report or Raven’s communications with Krutiak if they were knowingly false, deliberately, misleading, or rendered with malicious purpose……..Plaintiff has alleged that Raven’s statements were knowingly false and rendered with malice. Since this Court must assume that these allegations are true for the purposes of this motion…Plaintiff’s defamation claim for the DAC Report and for communications with Krutiak cannot be dismissed now…

Considering the foregoing, Raven’s Motion to Dismiss is DENIED”

Eaton v. Raven Transport.

Not Reported in A.2d, 2009 WL 1277991

Del. Super., April 2009.

First, follow the procedures that DAC wants you to take.  If that fails and you consider a lawsuit, remember the understanding that came from the ruling of April, 2009: 

“That there MUST be sufficient evidence showing that the trucking company knew their report to DAC was false when it was made to DAC.”

To request a copy of your DAC Report . . .

To File a dispute . . .

For more information on the DAC services . . .

I’ll keep you informed on the DAC petition and how it’s looking, and will never just throw out “numbers from the air.” I wish I could give you a powerful and impressive “handle” . . . but my handle is just Allen Smith.

Thanks for all your support.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: allen smith, dac report, employment, remove false information, Truck Driving Jobs, trucking, trucking forums

Related posts

• Trucking Companies Responsibility for DAC Reporting – FCRA § 623(a) (9)
• The Problem with Trucking Forums (6)
• “The Truth About Trucking”- Allen’s Revised Book-Review (0)
• Trucking to Better Health with Glutathione – Focus of Talk Radio Show (1)
• Trucking Jobs – Focus of Talk Show (1)

As inconceivable as it may seem, slavery is still alive and well in the United States and abroad.  Execrable acts against our fellow men and women continue on within a trade market that rakes in an astounding $32 billion worldwide.  Second only to the drug trafficking industry, human trafficking is responsible for the modern day slavery of mostly women and children, used in large part in the underground world of the sex trade.  They are the prostitutes on the street, at truck stops and in the hotels and motels across the country.  Around the world, there are an estimated 27 million slaves today.   Within the United States, the estimated number for human trafficking ranges between 200,000-300,000 per year.   These are men, women and children.

Theresa Flores was blackmailed into sex slavery as a young teenager.  She would be taken to affluent homes and hotels in and around the Detroit area and forced to have sex for hours with strangers.   As she would recount later in life:

“I can’t describe to you the feeling of terror.   No child should ever have to know that kind of fear.   I didn’t know what I was going to have to endure that night, for how long, or if I was going to come back home.”

Sad to say, slavery still exists in the United States and across the globe.   Victims of human trafficking needs our help.  People are literally being bought and sold and transported from location to location, forced into a life of unbelievable fear and torment.  One of the greatest fighters against human trafficking can be the eyes and ears of our nation’s professional truckers.

What other sector of people spend more time out in the real world than professional truck drivers?  Truckers Against Human Trafficking needs your help.  As professional long haul drivers, you can be a most valuable resource in learning how to recognize a victim of human trafficking.  They can look like anyone on the street and learning how to correctly identify a victim of human trafficking can lead to the rescue of those in need.  Truckers Against Human Trafficking provides information on how truckers can learn how to identify a victim of modern day slavery:

A victim of trafficking may look like many of the people you help every day.   You can help trafficking victims get the assistance they need by looking beneath the surface for the following clues:

• Evidence of being controlled
• Evidence of an inability to move or leave job
• Bruises or other signs of battering
• Fear or depression
• Non-English speaking
• Recently brought to this country from Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada, Africa or India
• Lack of passport, immigration or identification documentation

Traffickers use various techniques to keep victims enslaved. Some Traffickers keep their victims under lock and key.   However, the more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques including:

• Debt bondage – financial obligations, honor-bound to satisfy debt
• Isolation from the public – limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial in nature
• Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community
• Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents
• Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or families of victims
• The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family
• Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they contact authorities
• Control of the victims’ money, e.g., holding their money for “safe-keeping”

The result of such techniques is to instill fear in victims.  The victims’ isolation is further exacerbated because many do not speak English and are from countries where law enforcement is corrupt and feared.

Help to fight back against human trafficking.  Please visit Truckers Against Human Trafficking to learn how you can help.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: fight, human trafficking, slavery in america, truck drivers, truckers against human trafficking

Related posts

• Truth About Trucking “LIVE” Talk Radio Upcoming Shows (2)
• YOU Did It! Jason’s Law is Going to GATS (7)
• Winter Driving Tips (3)
• Will Sleep Apnea Test be New Regulation for Trucking? (12)
• What is a Truck Driver Worth? (5)

Nearly everyday on my work schedule, I will have someone walk up to me and ask a question about the “big truck” I’m driving.  Many of the general public still remain enthralled by the life of a trucker and wonder “what is it really like?” In an industry that is dominated by male drivers, add a women driver to the equation and they become even more inquisitive.

In recent years, the secrecy that lies within the trucking realm has become more open and transparent, largely due to another realm known as the social media highway.  With the help of forums, blogs, podcasts and online news sources, more of the general public and those curious about the lifestyle of trucking, have learned more about the industry and what makes the men and women of trucking  . . . truckers!   Normally, they appear to know only a few aspects of the industry which they always are ready to inform me about . . . “80,000 pounds is all you can carry, right?” Another question I am asked often is, “What’s your handle?” Other than these two questions, I can see the general public is still very naive about the world of professional truck drivers . . . although they are learning.

With the help of the information highway, more women are finding much needed resources in learning the in’s and out’s of an industry, long ruled by their male counterparts.   The information can be extremely informative, giving the good, bad and ugly of the industry . . . aspects that can exist in any industry.   It’s a good thing, especially for those women interested in a trucking career, to hear what it’s really like to be a female in a male dominated industry . . . and the women in trucking continue to share their stories while rolling down the social media highway.

DoItHerSelfer is one of those women.   A former construction contractor and business owner for 34 years, doitherselfer was accustomed to working within male dominated industries.  With the fall of the construction business, due to the economy, she had no hesitation in jumping right into another industry ruled by men . . . trucking.  She gives her thoughts, opinions and a further look into the world of trucking from a women’s view and is readily available to answer questions that other women may have in their decision making to move over to long haul trucking as a career.

She can also be found on Twitter.

Women in trucking continue to stand up and speak out using the best means of communication available since the dawn of time . . . the social media highway and Do-It-Herselfer is no exception .

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: do it herselfer, highway, long haul trucking, professional truck drivers, social media, trucking blogs, women in trucking

Related posts

• Women in Trucking can Make a Difference (5)
• Women In Trucking (0)
• U.S. Trucking Industry Corruption (6)
• Trucking: Is it For You? (0)
• Trucking News- Meet Trucker Desiree (2)

With the road becoming more and more congested, combined with pressures placed on them by dispatch, regulations and the simple fact of just trying to earn a living during economic hardships, more incidents of road rage are occurring, with many going unreported.  Very often, a seemingly small argument over the C.B. radio can turn into a deadly altercation, such as in the most recent case of the stabbing of one driver by another along the Edens Expressway in Illinois.

Professional truckers see everything there is to see while out on the road and road rage is no exception.  Truckers are more often targets of road rage by the general public which still have many misconceptions about how an 18-wheeler is maneuvered.   However, truck drivers experience road rage altercations by other truck drivers, as well.  Days and even months on the road, away from family and any kind of home environment, the constant mental and physical exertion of awareness across the overcrowded highways of America, the need to meet shipper and receiver deadlines, the lack of proper rest and sleep,  along with proper exercise and nutrition . . . the stress is unbelievable.  The times arise when there are those who launch into a full-scale road rage assault, often times being turned from assailant to victim:

(Video contains “Strong Language”)

Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio took a close look at this serious issue which is recently making head line news across America:

“In 1999, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared Road Rage the most pressing traffic safety problem facing America.  Allen looks at this driver behavior, its often deadly consequences and offers tips on preventing, as well as surviving a trucking Road Rage encounter.”

Trucking Road Rage

Originally Aired: Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 9 PM EST.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: Edens Expressway, road rage, road rage in America, Truckers, trucking, trucking talk radio

Related posts

• YOU Did It! Jason’s Law is Going to GATS (7)
• Will Sleep Apnea Test be New Regulation for Trucking? (12)
• What is the Outlook for U.S. Trucking Industry? (8)
• What Every CDL Student Should Know (0)
• Trucking Talk Radio on Jason’s Law (0)

As a follow up from our previous post: CSA2010 and DAC report to cause more lost jobs for American truckers, violations by drivers and carriers will be taken by SafeStat and stored in a DataBase.   This information is from the D.O.T roadside inspections.   Upon its implementation, drivers will receive a score according to a three year look back of this information within the DataBase.    If their total point score is at the maximum level, current drivers and companies could immediately be in violation and placed out of service and/or terminated.

This is why the FMCSA, itself, has projected that 175,000 drivers could lose their jobs as soon as CSA2010 is implemented.  Furthermore, they project that 47.9% of the  U. S. trucking companies could fail.

Drivers will also face a level of severity rating system that will  be assessed under the new initiative, scheduled to be implemented in July, 2010.   Based on the violation, drivers will be given a severity rating between 1-10, with 10 being the highest.   This rating will then be used in a mathematical formula to determine the total points against the driver, which in turn, will determine if the driver has reached the maximum number of points allowed by CSA2010.   The actual limit of points a driver or carrier can reach before being in violation, is yet to be known . . . at least, I have not been able to locate it.

However, the level of severity rating system is quite disturbing.   Keeping in mind that severity will be rated between levels 1-10, with 10 being the highest, here are a few examples of what severity level rating a driver will be assessed for several violations:

• Violate a state or local ordinance or regulation:  Level 1
• Violate hours of service :  Level 7
• Operate a CMV with inoperative headlight/tail light:  Level 6
• Violate that a load is not secured :  Level 10
• Operate a CMV while ill or fatigued :  Level 10
• Operate a CMV with a leaky tire :  Level 8
• Operate while DUI : Level 10

So as drivers, you must understand that if you do your pre-trip inspection and everything is fine and good to go, and you drive 50 miles and catch a nail in the tire and DOT pulls you over and discovers the leaky tire . . . you will be hit with a Level 8 severity rating.   Still, the total number of points allowed before being punished by CSA2010, has not yet been determined by myself . . . I have not been given the answer to this question by anyone else either.

In the case of CSA2010, time is on your side as a professional driver.  The algebraic equation to be used to determine the total points against drivers varies between the different measures within the system.   Basically, it is determined by taking the total time and severity level ratings/violations, divided by the number of time relevant roadside inspections.   All clear now?

This means that severity levels and points can reduce over time.  If you get hit with a Level 8 for a leaky tire, but do not have another violation for six months, when the calculation is performed to determine your points, the points will go down due to the length of time that has passed between the two violations.   This is why I say that time really is on your side.

As this information for the DataBase is being put together, none has been released to the trucking companies or truck drivers.   However, the information is available to drivers right now.   The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) establishes a presumption that records in the possession of agencies and departments of the Executive Branch of the U. S. Government are available to the public.

A driver can file a Freedom of Information request to the FMCSA to receive this information being created as a result of CSA2010.   To submit your request, you must do the following:

• Make your request in writing and include your name, address and phone number where you can be reached if they (FMCSA) needs to contact you.
• Clearly indicate that you are making your request under the Freedom of Information Act.
• The request must reasonably and specifically describe the documents you are seeking.
• When requesting documents on a specific motor carrier, include the carrier’s name and principal place of business, or their DOT number.

Submit your request to:

Contact the FOIA Public Liaison, ONLY after you have received your documents from the FOIA office, if you have any questions or concerns about the information shown.   This contact information is:

Another important note, is that the information for the DataBase is currently from SafeStat.   However, once CSA2010 is enforced, the DataBase will be handled by NIC Technologies out of  Olathe, Kansas.   NIC was awarded the contract by the Federal Department of Transportation for the National Motor Carrier Pre-Employment Screening System.   You can read the News Release . . .

Once NIC takes over,  drivers information reports showing your driver score, will cost $10 and trucking companies will also have to pay the $10 fee.  Also, companies do not have to share this information with the driver.  If not, you will have to pay the ten dollar fee to receive the information that has been collected on you.

Furthermore, it is being reported that there is no way to challenge  false information on this report.  This is not true.  Drivers can contest wrong information on their reports by using the FMCSA’s DataQs system.  You must first register from the DataQs home page by selecting “register on-line” as a general public user and create a DataQs account profile.  Once registered, drivers will be able to challenge his or her data by following the detailed instructions in the “Help” menu.   Once NIC takes over the DataBase, you will not be able to challenge the false information through FMCSA’s system.  NIC reportedly will provide a means of allowing drivers to contest the information, but currently they have not established how they will provide this service.

This information is not well known, so I hope this assists drivers in the dispute process towards this new point rating system data.

On Thursday, January 21st, 2010 our talk radio show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 90 minute open discussion on important issues facing drivers and the trucking industry.  CSA2010 was clearly the leader.

The show had many on-line listeners from their phones, through the internet and a good participating audience in the provided chat room.   Mike Rone of RMR Consultants and Jimmy Sills, a CSA2010 specialist, called into the show to share their knowledge of CSA2010.   Furthermore, Mr. Rone stated that DAC Services will have nothing to do with the CSA2010 initiative and that this is false information being told to drivers by their companies.   The three year look back on drivers records, will come from the roadside inspections performed by D.O.T.

If you missed the show and you find 90 minutes to spare, you can listen to the information shared:

We will keep you posted on CSA2010, and the other important issues facing the trucking industry.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: CSA 2010, csa2010, NIC Technologies, point system, Safestat, truck drivers safety rating

Related posts

• CSA 2010 Good for Trucking Industry or Opportunity for Abuse? (16)
• Truth About Trucking “LIVE” to Air Open Discussion on Industry Issues (0)
• Driving Record – Understanding the Point System (6)
• CSA2010 and DAC Report to Cause More Lost Jobs for American Truckers (11)
• Arrow Trucking Not the Last Trucking Company to Close (2)