Allen Smith

While doing my daily Google news searches I came across an interesting article and video regarding CSA 2010.  The video was made during a Driving for Profit Seminar directed to carriers, telling them about the importance of CSA 2010 and what they will need to focus on if they do not want to receive an unfit SFD ( Safety Fitness Determination Rating)

What surprised me, was that the speaker emphasized that the carriers main focus should be on the driver, not so they can work together in order to avoid violations, but rather to “get them under control”. He went on to tell them that it will be the driver who will ultimately determine the carriers SFD.

Not once does it mention the accountability of the carriers to be compliant.  Rather than me explaining the video, watch it for yourself and see what you think he’s saying and what tactics he’s employing. Again, Drivers will not be rated

I made a comment, but as of yet I have not seen it posted. This is the comment I left on their blog

COMMENT-Allen Smith

I have listened to this video and there are aspects I’d like to address. First I’d like to say that Drivers will NOT BE RATED ( stated in the video), only Carriers. SFD ( Safety Fitness Determination) clearly defines this. It is true that drivers will have scores within the BASIC areas that can be observed, but even those will be limited to who can observe them.
For example, at the weigh stations : the inspector can ONLY see the carriers BASIC safety scores, but not the drivers. The driver data is based on the last 3 and 5 years of road side inspections and crash data. And only that can be seen for them.
The only DRIVER data available to roadside inspectors and future employers ( through a PSP form submitted with permission of the applicant driver) is the 3 and 5 year look back of roadside inspections and DOT recordable accidents.
What this means is that if your company has a high score based on poor past performance, then you have ( and the driver) a greater chance for a roadside inspection.

1) A Safety Fitness Determination (SFD) Rating is only for carriers; The present rating is satisfactory, conditional, and unsatisfactory. The future safety rating will be Continue Operation, Marginal, and Unfit. Again, no such rating for drivers, which means the FMSCA does not “pull a drivers CDL” or “Shut a driver down” as with carriers. The driver can be called in for a government intervention if HIS/HER scores are too high in the BASIC areas which are mostly evident as the Drivers Responsibility. However, even these intervention are most likely going to occur because the Carrier was flagged first.

Next, I would like to say that the statement in this video proclaiming that a carrier’s safety rating is developed by the drivers roadside inspections is misleading. Yes, it is the driver who will be pulled over for an inspection, but violations will not be accounted for by HIS/HER performance only. It is the violations that the company is responsible for ALSO within the 7 BASIC categories
Example: Speeding , reckless driving, improper lane change etc…Is the drivers responsibility. However, there are portions of the scoring violation system that clearly shows aspects of CSA 2010 scoring that THE DRIVER will NOT be held accountable for. Note: The Carrier on the other hand will be responsible for ALL violations, theirs and the driver.

In conclusion I would say it that the carriers need to:
Keep their equipment in top condition and to make the appropriate repairs when needed. Also, if they do not want to have an Hours of Service violation which is categorized under “Fatigued Driving” then they should notify dispatch that forcing a driver to run illegally in order to make a pick up or delivery will no longer be acceptable. Another note to carriers: When a driver says he does not want to operate the vehicle or trailer because there are mechanical defects, this can no longer be taken lightly. In the past a driver could even be threatened about their job if he/she refused to use equipment that he/she felt would result in a violation if pulled over by DOT. Now the carrier needs to be aware that this behavior is not acceptable. Over weight loads will also be detected and noted and when the drivers advises that the load is overweight, the carrier can no longer dismiss this and force them to run with it anyway.
To say that “the driver is responsible for the development of the carriers score” is actually not creating a true picture of what CSA 2010 is all about. It is actually making carriers accountable for issues in the past that they were not. Carriers will need to LISTEN to the drivers and drivers will need to tell the carriers when things aren’t right and there is a chance for a violation during a roadside inspection. In turn drivers will also need to pay attention to the aspects of CSA 2010 that they are to be held responsible and accountable for.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: compliance, CSA 2010, DOT, drivers, enforcement, FMCSA, motor carriers, safety fitness determination

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -

Congress could be moving closer to allowing Mexican trucks to haul cargo through the United States, helping to end a trade dispute hurting some exporters, the U.S. Trade Representative said on Monday.

In March 2009, U.S. lawmakers canceled funding for a test program begun by the Bush administration that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks to circulate in the United States, citing safety and security concerns.

The truck ban prompted Mexico to slap retaliatory tariffs on a long list of U.S. exports, including fruit and industrial goods, worth an estimated $2.4 billion.

But U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, visiting Mexico this week, said President Barack Obama had pushed Congress to remove the clause cutting funding for the program in recent legislation, a first step toward resolving the dispute.

“We have been able to work with Congress and Obama is very pleased that the language in the 2009 appropriations bill — that essentially cut off the funding for the demonstration safety program — was not included in the 2010 appropriations bill,” Kirk told Reuters in an interview.

“By removing that prohibitory language, we just now have a green light to engage Congress again more thoughtfully.”

Some U.S. businesses — like paper producers, potato farmers and grape growers — say they are suffering lost sales because of the duties Mexico imposed and they are pushing the Obama administration to find a quick solution.

“I can tell you that those industries in the United States, our farmers, our ranchers, our other exporters that have been subject of the retaliation, have made their displeasure known to Congress and so there is a sense of urgency,” Kirk said.

He said his office’s discussions with lawmakers and Mexico will “intensify” over the next weeks and months.

The United States had agreed to allow Mexican trucks to start using U.S. highways by 1995 after signing the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

But Mexican trucks were confined to border zones where they must offload goods to be carried by U.S. companies. In 2007, the U.S. government launched a pilot program that allowed a limited number of trucks full access to U.S. roads, while American trucks were also allowed to operate in Mexico.

U.S. organized labor, led by the largest trucking union, the Teamsters, along with highway safety and consumer groups, fiercely opposed the initiative, which was backed by former President George W. Bush.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: drivers, mexico border, open border, trucking, trucks, U.S.

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Within most industries lies corruption and the long haul trucking industry is no exception.  For years, this abuse has been kept swept under the rug and was only talked about, quietly among veteran drivers.  There are various aspects of corruption such as:  political, corporate and bribery which is usually always associated with the intake of power and money.  The silence that has covered the corrupt world of OTR trucking for so long is fading, largely due to the technical world of social media.

Having been the first to publicly expose the scams and abuses within the industry by launching Truth About Trucking in May of 2005, the power of social media exploded, and the real truth about the corruption that lies within the over the road trucking industry continues to be further exposed.  This corruption not only involves trucking companies and organizations, but at times, even drivers themselves.

We have seen many drivers who originally came on board for the task of exposing these scams, only to make a complete turn around when contacted by various organizations who “promised” them certain favors in return.  Thus, exposing the truth becomes a much bigger battle when drivers such as these will sell their morals and ethics to the higher bidder.  As for me, I pay them no attention.

CDL students and new drivers, as well as many veteran drivers, will continue to be abused, manipulated, lied to and used by these OTR trucking companies until enough drivers stand up and fight back.   I still reiterate that there are good trucking companies and not all are bad, but problems lie within all companies, good or bad.  One of the largest obstacles you will face as a new driver with any trucking company, is the employee abuse from both dispatch and safety departments.  Remember, a huge percentage of this corrupt industry is set up for a driver to fail, and this is used by both good companies and the not-so-good ones.

One set up is where dispatch will place you with a load that will cause you to run over your hours, breaking regulations.  You can tell dispatch that you do not have the hours or rest needed to run the load, but they will continue to plead with you to take the run.   It is a “hot” load and you are the only driver they have to get it there on time.  The safety department has made it clear to all drivers that breaking regulations will not be tolerated and you will be shut down for one, two or three days after so many violations.  Normally, after a third violation, safety will suspend your driving privileges for 30 days . . . yet, here is dispatch pleading for your help.   If you take the run to help out your dispatcher, then safety will come back against you . . . if you refuse to take the load in order to not break regulations, then your dispatch will come back against you by making you sit for two or three days . . . so what do you do?

Dispatch understands the Safety Department requirements, and safety understands that dispatch does this type of pressuring to drivers all the time . . . yet, when a driver is faced with such a decision, it is a no-win situation for the driver . . . the driver will always be blamed and the one to face the consequences.   Reporting what happened to safety, you will be told that you should not have taken the load . . . reporting what happened to dispatch, you will be told by the dispatcher who pleaded with you, that you should not have taken the load if you did not have the hours to make the run.   A no-win situation and you, the driver, will always be at fault, while both Safety and Dispatch Departments know that this little cat and mouse game goes on.   It is one of the many set-ups that will lead up to your failure within the trucking industry.   Failure that is not your fault, but one aspect of the long haul trucking corruption.

What makes this OTR trucking industry corruption worse, are the lies and deceit against their own employees (drivers).   Issues I have discussed often such as:

• The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Programs
• The DAC Report
• The driver shortage lie
• The continual scam of starving out drivers in order to bring in new, lower paid drivers as a form of cheap labor
• CDL Schools receiving Government subsidies, accepting driving students with no chance of being hired

Many are coming forward and exposing the real truth about the long haul trucking industry.  Others will still sell out to any organization that will pretend to be on their side and show them any kind of attention.   CDL students and new drivers can make it in this industry that many drivers call “the most lying, deceitful and corrupt industry on Earth.” For now, you will have to continue paying your dues for the first one or two years and if that “starter company” is not working out for you, then you will be able to move on to one of the “better” trucking companies.

Any trucking company can go out of business at any time . . . we saw that with Arrow Trucking.  Although some form of corruption will exist in any trucking company or industry, there are good companies out there . . . at least better than most.   As drivers who are not afraid to stand up for what is right continue to come forward through avenues such as social media to tell the real truth about the OTR trucking industry, this vocation can change and get better for all drivers, both new and veteran.  U. S. truckers and CDL holders are eight million strong . . . that is a powerful voice.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: CDL schools, cdl students, corruption, dispatch, drivers, employee abuse, good trucking companies, government subsidies, long haul, over the road, owner operator lease, Safety, social media, trucking, trucking industry, truth

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Dan Rather Reports Episode 2″ Trucker Talk”

I have said many times that there exists good trucking companies and CDL schools within the United States.  There are also many success stories by both company drivers and owner operators.   When you have large numbers such as nearly four million active truck drivers and about eight million CDL holders, you are going to have success stories.  These successes, however, can and do not automatically strike out the fact that many scams and abuses exist within this industry.   Abusive programs that are specifically designed for the driver to fail.

If the truck driver is the company’s greatest asset, as which they are always advertising, then why are the “handful” of trucking companies and CDL schools which operate in these abusive manners, allowed to continue?   If maintaining the integrity and upholding a positive image for the industry is a primary goal, would bringing a stop to these abusive systems against our drivers not be upholding integrity and improving the industry’s image?

For the past several years, we have been working to expose such scams and abuses being imposed on many of our nation’s drivers.  Suddenly, we are hearing from a few industry leaders that they have been “saying these things for years.” Where?  Where have these things been specifically fought against and more importantly, if so, why do these abuses continue?   Specific scams and abuses such as:

• The abuse of CDL students and new drivers as a means of cheap labor.

• The starving out of veteran drivers by those companies who continually maintain the rotation of newer, less paid drivers into their system.
  
• The driver shortage and driver retention problem that have been purposefully created by the companies themselves.
• The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Program that is used by those companies as a means to a driver’s failure.
• The truck drivers DAC Report which has become nothing more than a retaliation tool by companies against drivers.

I recognize that issues such as the lease programs have seen support by way of utilizing The Truth in Leasing Law for drivers, but where has it ever been exposed before that the leasing program, in many cases, is nothing more than a scam and abuse used against drivers?  Where?    It’s not difficult to find information on how to get a copy of your DAC Report . . . but where has it ever been mentioned that the DAC Report is a tool often used to ruin truck drivers careers?  Where?   Before we publicly exposed these scams and abuses . . . where were these issues being raised?   Furthermore, if so, why after “so many years” do they continue?

Talk is cheap.  Let’s see action . . . action such as bringing it to the public as in the Dan Rather Reports . . . action away from just cheap talk and action that can and will eventually bring change to rid the trucking industry of these scams and abuses that have been going on for years against our men and women drivers in trucking.  Finally coming together, as drivers and industry leaders alike, for the sole purpose of raising the standards of the trucking industry.

Allen Smith

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: abuse, abuses, CDL schools, dac report, Dan Rather, dan rather reports, driver retention, driver shortage, drivers, good trucking companies, media, owner operator lease purchase, Scams, truck drivers, trucking

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Earlier this evening our BTR show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 90 minute show discussing the Dan Rather interview with TruckerDesiree.   Thanks to the callers and listeners and those in the chat room for tuning in . . . show has already been downloaded nearly 100 times within 1.25 hours.

I had some phone trouble during the last 5 minutes of the show and lost all connection, so was unable to “close” it out like I normally do, but the show focused on Desiree’s story and the real purpose of exposing these scams, lies and deceit within certain segments of the trucking industry.

Truth About Trucking has been working to expose these issues for nearly 5 years now, and with TruckerDesiree exposing a further hidden “secret” of the OTR industry . . . the industry is taking notice.  Change for the better can happen.

I have nothing to gain from exposing these lies and scams of the over the road industry.  They have been going on for years and the time has finally come that these issues are becoming known . . . CDL students and new drivers have the RIGHT TO KNOW . . . and for those trucking companies and CDL schools who participate in these scams and abuses . . . we will continue to expose them until they are changed and all drivers . . . students, new drivers and veteran drivers alike . . . receive the respect and honesty that they deserve.

The Trucking Controversy – Dan Rather Reports:

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: cdl, CDL schools, Dan Rather, drivers, reports, students, talk radio, TruckerDesiree, trucking, trucking industry, trucking scams

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With the Winter season fast approaching and already showing signs in some parts of the country, it’s important to understand the signs and dangers of one of Mother Nature’s phenomenons:  black ice.  There really is no big mystery when it comes to black ice.   Understanding this Winter roadway danger, will make the new truck driver that more safer if and when black ice is ever encountered.

What is black ice? Black ice is really just “regular” ice without air bubbles.  Normally when ice forms on the roadway, tiny air bubbles are trapped inside and once frozen, the ice is visible to drivers due to these air bubbles that we are able to see.  Black ice, on the other hand, forms when rain, fog or mist deposits ice along the pavement or roadway in cold weather.  The latent heat of the surface will slow down the freezing rate.  This slowing down process allows the droplets of water to run together before they can freeze.   The air bubbles that are normally within ice are forced out and what is left is a frozen sheet of ice, minus the visible air bubbles, and we end up with a totally clear, transparent layer of ice which takes on the color of the background on which it is lying.

When does black ice form? This form of ice most often forms just around the freezing point of 32 °F, however, due to various atmospheric conditions black ice can form when temperatures are even above freezing.  For instance, in extremely cold regions, black ice will form on the frozen ground and roadways although the outside ambient temperatures are above 32 °F. Black ice can form with freezing temperatures even from such things as heat from the tires on the roadway and exhaust fumes from vehicle pipes.  Black ice tends to form in the early morning and evening hours.   Key factors to remember is that black ice can occur if temperatures are near the freezing mark or even a few degrees above it, and that bridges and tunnels are prime areas.

Black ice awareness: Because black ice is transparent and looks like the surface it is on, it makes it one of the most dangerous road hazards for drivers.  While a shiny road surface is a signal as a wet or icy road, black ice simply cannot be seen.  However, there is one thing that drivers can make themselves aware of in order to at least be on a better lookout for this dangerous formation:

• Look ahead for pavement that is slightly darker and duller in color than the rest of the roadway or other surface.  This is usually the best indicator that black ice is present.

Remember, black ice appears as the color of the material beneath it.  When the weather conditions are right for “regular” ice … black ice will most often form as well.  Slow down and keep your eyes moving to detect any change of color along the roadway ahead of you.  If conditions become too dangerous, stop and park.

Drive safe …

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: black ice, drivers, driving, truck driver, what is black ice, when does black ice form, winter

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The trucking industry is changing or at least let’s say that it better change.  Thousands of trucking companies went out of business in 2008 and many more are still struggling to hold on.   New CDL drivers right out of school are discovering that there are few openings available for recent CDL graduates with little driving experience.  Many drivers are finding themselves sitting more than making the wheels turn and of course, the age old problem of “cheap freight” is still going strong.

There are still those trucking companies out there that continue to treat drivers as nothing more than a number … just something that they can toss away when they are ready to move “old” drivers out and bring in lower pay earning truckers.   At least the days of $4.67 per gallon diesel is gone, but for how long?  All it will take is just one little ‘blip’ on the Middle East radar screen and we will be right back to the high cost of petroleum fuel.

Many professional truck drivers can read the writing on the wall . . . but can the trucking companies?   There are millions of Americans out of work and who are one step away from being homeless.   The Government is spewing out trillions of dollars, more so than ever in history, and still . . . there are no jobs.   Exactly what is being done to really bring America back where it once was and should be?  Where are the factual ideas and innovations that will get this country moving?   Millions of people are waiting . . . millions of Americans are hoping.

Yet, hope is not enough.  It takes action.  It takes partisanship, which sadly, we do not see from any of  our “leaders.”   No matter what the idea is, there are always those who prefer argument over logic.  If we do not start looking for solutions toward the future, and then begin implementing those solutions,  where will this country be taken to?

TruckerDesiree writes about The Truck Stop of the Future and sums it all up better than anyone I know.   The Pickens Plan is an innovation for the future.   Is the Government really serious about limiting our importing of foreign oil?   Instead of shelling out billions of dollars for a Cash for Clunkers program, why are they not gearing up for this plan that is a viable and very doable solution?   The Pickens Plan is actually a “stimulus” plan that will stimulate!  Imagine that?

The Cash for Clunkers program was a success.  Or was it?  The first part of the plan was suppose to last through November, yet the first monies were gone within two weeks.  The number of new autos sold in the two weeks were the same amount sold in an average year.  Now, two billion dollars more is being considered to add to the plan, yet, the number of auto dealers associated with the program only averaged between 12-16 new sales each.   I hardly consider this as a stimulus.

Instead of building an impossible debt for our children and their children, why are they not working toward  a real, stimulating plan that can get America moving again and get the people of this country back to work?

Allen Smith

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: cdl, cheap freight, drivers, graduates, the pickens plan, the truck stop of the future, truck drivers, TruckerDesiree, Truckers, trucking, trucking companies, trucking industry

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Truckers News, the #1 leading lifestyle magazine for over the road truck drivers, features the iPhone Trucker Application in their June, 2009 issue.  Truckers news is the official publication of the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO).

Senior Editor Todd Dills provides a full page story about our Truth About Trucking, Ask The Trucker blog and the first ever iPhone application for truckers.  It was also mentioned in the May issue as well as the June edition of Overdrive Magazine which primarily focuses on commercial truck owner-operators, small fleet owners and company drivers.

Special thanks to Todd Dills and everyone at Truckers News and Overdrive for featuring our story in their leading trucking magazines.

You can read the full article which is on page 86:

Subscribe to Truckers News . . .

Subscribe to Overdrive Magazine . . .

Allen & Donna Smith

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: company drivers, drivers, iphone trucker application, magazine, over the road, overdrive, owner operators, todd dills, trucker, truckers news, trucking, trucking magazines

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With so many issues within the trucking industry today, here at Truth About Trucking, we are working on ways to better
assist students, new drivers and all drivers in general. For that, we would like to ask for your help by participating
in our “Truck Driver and Student” Survey.

The best way for us to know what you need and want in order to help you better, is to take 5 minutes and complete this
very short, 20 question survey. We will also send you a free, downloadable gift just for taking the time to do so:

Thanks for helping: Truth About Trucking Survey
Allen

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: drivers, students, survey, truck driver, trucking, truth about trucking

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The trucking industry has several organizations that represent our nations’ truck drivers. Unfortunately,  it is not uncommon for an organization to use the main theme, content, or source from another’s news story or blog post  and not link back to, or at least mention the original post or author’s work and research.

We ask that all of you join together and keep in mind that our common goal is the benefit of our nations drivers. By communicating with one another, we need to respect and appreciate the hard work, integrity, and commitment we all have towards our common goal of helping truck drivers. As those of us continue our dedicated path in helping the trucking community and its drivers, we as bloggers, journalists, and website owners need to share this common-bond of information among our readers, strengthening our bond with one another, and encouraging each other to stand up for what’s right.  Only then will we have the momentum, force, and power to create a true voice and brotherhood which will be required to battle the serious issues which are facing the trucking industry today.

We have seen a great deal of growth between truckers helping truckers, since we first launched the Truth About Trucking and the AskTheTrucker blog.  With the success of our trucking talk radio show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE”, there have been more and more drivers and those involved in the trucking industry, coming forward, banding together, forming a new voice that is representing drivers across America and the globe.  I just received an email from a new CDL graduate from Canada, inspired by our websites and information, wanting to know how he could do the same thing we are doing in order to help his fellow drivers in Canada.

This is not to say that we are responsible for this growth.  They did it all themselves, putting in all the hard work and effort on their own, making their voices heard.  Many already existed beforehand, however, as more drivers and trucking veterans launched out on their own, the power of the internet began to take hold.  Now, we are experiencing a growing community among truckers and those who wish to bring changes to the industry and help their fellow drivers.  There are the organizations that  proclaim they are “for the driver,”  but now individual truckers and industry veterans are also coming together to fight, for themselves, for trucking rights.

We wanted to list some of these individuals who are making a difference in trucking and are not afraid to share their information with others in the community:

• A Smart Union -  15 Year OTR Vet fighting for the Rights of Citizens to have the equal rights of Corporations.

• Trucker Desiree – One of America’s few women drivers that stands up and speaks out about the trucking industry and other issues.

• The American Driver – Two brothers doing battle in the political arena so all drivers receive the respect that they deserve.  Catch their radio show: Truck Stops Here – every Friday 6-8 PM CST.

• The Truck Star – One of Trucking’s most Popular and Controversial Blogs!  Hosted by Daniel Audet of TruckStar Radio.

• United CDL – Supporting the backbone of America – Truckers – and belief in the phrase:  Say NO to CHEAP freight!

• Coalition to Lower Fuel Prices – Site devoted in seeking resolutions to lower fuel prices.

There are many others who I have not mentioned,  quietly working to better the trucking industry for their fellow driver. Let us know who you are in this post along with a link to your website or blog.

As the social trucking community grows, more of us will step up and speak out about the rights, as well as the wrongs, within the largest network of employees in the country:  the trucking industry.  We will continue to promote and encourage one another, bringing about the change which is so badly needed within the industry. We will also continue to work together as a viable network and fight to bring about these changes that will not only help the industry, but also our fellow drivers. Together we will be a true brotherhood.

Allen Smith

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: canada, cdl, community, drivers, industry, lower fuel prices, Truckers, trucking, trucking rights, women drivers

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