Safety in Trucking

As professional truck drivers in the United States prepare to face the new FMCSA safety initiative, CSA 2010, I would suggest they prepare for a new battle that will soon be coming their way :  the opening of the Mexican border.  News out of Washington, D. C. is that President Obama and his administration will soon announce their new plan to reopen the border to Mexican trucks in a final effort to appease Mexico.  This is also perfect timing in their quest to grant amnesty to the thirty or so million illegal aliens living in this country.  This goes right in line with the President’s harsh words towards the state of Arizona for standing up for their rights to protect their border and citizens.

I would enjoy gathering together 30 million Americans, and on the count of three, we all run across the border into Mexico.  I wonder how Mexico would react?  Would we be allowed to stay there with no papers, no identification, no visas?  Would Mexico allow us to live there in total violation of their laws?   We could also make certain that 17% of the Americans who crossed over into their country were convicted felons . . . such as the case in Arizona.  Furthermore, if Mexico fought back against us, then we could all go on a rampage and vent our frustration against their unwillingness to allow us to live in their country illegally.

What was it that President Obama said?   Oh yea, “The answer isn’t to undermine fundamental principles that define us as a nation.” Am I missing something here?  People who break U. S. law, living here illegally and in total disregard to our laws . . . is that not undermining America’s fundamental principles? Mexico does not allow such behavior.  In fact, they will execute a “seek and find” expedition and you will find yourself, not just in a Mexican prison . . . but a Mexican military prison. Yet the United States is expected to dismiss those who disrespect our laws, our culture and our heritage and simply be allowed to live and work here just because this is America.

Is safety a real issue for the trucking industry?  Is safety a real priority for the FMCSA,  D.O.T. and Ray LaHood, the U. S. Secretary of Transportation?  Or are they all simply victims of this Presidential Administration? 

TheTrucker reports :

“President Barack Obama’s adminstration will soon announce its plan to reopen the U.S. border to Mexican trucks and end a dispute that prompted Mexico to slap duties last year on $2.4 billion worth of U.S. goods, a top U.S. official said on Thursday.   President Obama’s team has worked very hard to put a proposal together. We will be announcing it very soon,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers.”

How will the FMCSA handle this safety crisis?  Will the trucking industry figure out some other way to make American drivers pay for their jobs?  Our nation drivers have always been the ones to pay the price, and usually in the name of safety.  How can this industry forge ahead with new rules and regulations for trucking safety and be taken seriously, when we are about to open the flood gate to unsafe trucks and equipment?  I would certainly hope that the President’s new proposal will have the needed restrictions that would not allow this to happen.  Then again . . . we are talking about Obama.

However, let’s not forget George Bush either.  Our Presidents’ are bound and determined to undermine the quality of the American way of life.  Are we wrong to ask that immigrants who come to America, do so legally?  Is the President of the United States suppose to be for the American people, the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights?  I really must be missing something here . . .

America is the greatest country on Earth and all are welcome here . . . but when they totally disregard our laws, why are we expected to ignore this violation?   Try entering any other country on the planet illegally and see what happens.  America is the only country . . . the only country . . . that is not protecting their borders.

The trucking industry is constantly throwing out the term “safety.”   Safety this . . . safety that.  It is always placing full responsibility on drivers, figuring out further ways to get their greedy little hands in their pocket books.  If this administration opens the Mexican border and floods our highways with unsafe trucks and drivers . . . not to mention stealing more jobs from our professional truckers . . . then I say “safety” is just a joke within the American trucking industry.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: CSA 2010, fmsca, mexico border, Ray LaHood, Safety, trucking

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With his permission, a local truck driver out of Nebraska recently sent me the following email:

“I have been driving for over 20 years and began working locally with a company about a year ago.  I have to say that the hours of service rules for truckers can be a killer for drivers, and perhaps more so for local drivers and those new to the industry.  My shift is suppose to start at 7 A.M., but often me and my  slip-seat partner runs late due to various reasons beyond our control, and many times he does not make it back until 2 P.M. or later.   I am accustomed to getting up around 5 A.M., so going back to sleep is impossible.”

“So, up at 5 A.M., make it to work at 2 P.M., put in a 14 hour day, so I’m done at 4 A.M., home by 4:30 A.M.   On this particular day, I have been up and awake for twenty three and a half hours.  This type of schedule happens very often in local driving work.   Even squeezing in the 10 hour break, you are either running behind all week or completely drained of all energy for the remainder of the week, just from your first day of work.   If I say anything to dispatch, I am met with “So what are you saying?  Are you turning down the load?”   Drivers accept this challenge everyday and  do their jobs professionally, but I see no safety in this type of operation, when the industry is constantly talking about “Safety First.”

This is very typical of trucking and is the main reason why veteran drivers will always stress that trucking is not a job, but a lifestyle.  Regardless, how can trucking companies stress the importance of driver safety when so many drivers are expected to operate under this kind of schedule?    Too many variables in the real world can stop the fourteen hour clock instantly:  traffic accidents and delays at the shipper and receiver just to mention a few.   Is driver and public safety a real concern for trucking companies and the powerful trucking organizations?  Or is greed the primary motive for the continuance of pushing professional truck drivers to their limits?

Just last year in 2009, a major retail corporation lobbied to Congress to push truck drivers into a 16 hour work day.  Luckily, that proposal was shot down.  Anyone who has driven long enough and far enough will agree that driver fatigue is a major factor within the industry.   Those who say otherwise, have not driven a truck for a real living.   With the hours of service rule pushing drivers harder and further, allowing their lives to be controlled by the driver logbook, the fact that there are as few big rig accidents than there are, is only a testimony to the professionalism and skill of truckers.

The regulations set forth by the hours of service rules, only makes it more difficult for drivers, while allowing the industry itself to reap greater monetary rewards . . . all on the backs of the truck drivers.   Why are truckers forced to work 70 hour work weeks and 14-plus hour days with no regard to the many obstacles that are thrown in their paths?  At the same time, they are required to maintain their logbooks in a legal fashion.

Is safety a real issue or is greed the motivating factor within the trucking industry?   Are the current HOS rules working for professional truck drivers and does it even take into consideration the safety and health factors of truck drivers?

Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio presented:  Truckers 14 Hour Service Rule – Safety vs Greed on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 7 PM EST :

“How safe is the truck driver 14 hours of service rule? Truckers can work 70 hour work weeks with trucking companies, shippers and receivers showing little regard to the safety and health of the drivers.  With the current HOS rules for drivers, many local truck drivers can easily be up for 20 or more hours at a time.   Is the trucking industry really concerned with safety or is it nothing more than greed?”

Discussing truck driver safety on Blog Talk Radio with co-host:  Barry Szczucki.   If you missed the “live” show catch it now:

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: fatigue, hours of service, Safety, truck driver, trucking, trucking companies

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With the average number of miles driven per year by professional truck drivers, the dangers of living life on the road increases far beyond what the average motorist experiences.  Averaging ten times more miles driven per year than the general motoring public, the professional trucker is by far, the safest driver on the road today.  According to studies done by various unbiased groups, including the AAA, automobile drivers contribute more to fatal car-truck crashes than do the actions of truck drivers.   Although every truck driving job requires the skill of a professional driver, there are those which come with a higher degree of danger.

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

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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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Recently, concerning the problem for trucking companies to retain drivers within their employment, an industry leader commented that no trucking company wants a “revolving door.”   That statement is actually both true and false.  The many decent and well respected trucking companies in the U. S. work extremely hard in keeping their drivers from finding another driving job elsewhere.  It is also a fact that no company can keep every employee satisfied at all times.  Regardless of the past 128% plus turn-over rate among drivers, there are those companies who  do work diligently in keeping their drivers as employees.  However, to say “no trucking company” wants a revolving door is simply not true, and there are thousands upon thousands of drivers who know this.

We know that there are those “starter” companies, as well as countless other trucking companies, who continually rotate drivers through their front doors.  These are the companies which have the sole purpose of moving both the highest paying and cheapest freight,  using the cheapest labor as possible.  Who are the cheapest labor?  New CDL students and drivers.

For years, there have been discussions on the trucking industry problem of retaining drivers.   This problem should not even exist, and does so, due to the direct actions of the companies themselves.   I recently read a comment stating that the driver turn-over rate is now down to a 56% overall average . . . but it is not because things are better, it is due to the state of the economy.   Drivers are not leaving employment because of the poor job market.   As soon as the economy gets back on its feet, which I do not believe will be any time soon . . . the turn-over rate among professional drivers will go right back up to where it once was.

To retain drivers should be a fairly simple task for a trucking company.  Professional truck drivers do not ask for much . . . the companies keep the turn-over rate and retention rate going in order to continue the rotation of new and lower paid drivers, thus making more on their bottom line.  Simple fact.    There are 25-30 year veteran drivers who have not driven within the past one year, who are being turned away from trucking companies and not being hired.    They are being told that they do not have the required verifiable driving experience for the past year . . . what about the verifiable driving experience for the last 24-29 years?    Obvious reason, they would rather hire a new, inexperienced driver with 3 weeks driving experience, over a veteran driver with many years of OTR experience . . . cheap labor.

The pro driver with the 25-30 years experience will demand a CPM rate of .38 plus per mile, while the company can get away with paying the new driver a measly .22 to .24 CPM, sometimes even as low as .13 CPM.   They can continue to rotate these new drivers out and keep the influx of lower paid drivers coming in . . . it’s all about the money, nothing about the safety.

Over the road trucking companies enjoy talking about the importance of safety and how the driver is their primary asset, yet they will turn away a years of experience veteran driver, and settle with a 3 week driver trainee . . . all because the veteran, for whatever reasons, has not driven within the past one year.   This is another segment of the scams of OTR trucking, and they wonder why retaining drivers is so difficult.   It is not difficult at all . . . it is done on purpose by the very companies who say they are working to try to solve the problem of driver retention.   Let me help those companies out . . .

You want to retain drivers?   Very simple . . . since most long haul drivers are paid by the mile:

1. Pay them a good and livable CPM wage -   Starting point:  .38 CPM plus – NOT .22 CPM and definitely not .13 CPM . . . could you live on that?
2. Give them MILES! -   I know this may be a shocker to some of you, but since they are getting paid by the mile . . . GIVE THEM MILES!
3. Let them have their home time -   When you tell a driver that you will have them home every two weeks, then get them home in two weeks.   If you guarantee home on weekends, then get them home by the weekend.   Also, don’t let them arrive home at 3 A.M. Saturday morning, and dispatch them on a Monday pick-up load where they have to leave home by 12 noon on Sunday . . . do you really consider this “home on weekends?”
4. Treat them with the respect that they deserve -  Many companies advertise that the driver is their most important asset . . . really?    Then treat them as such.

Your drivers do not ask much from you . . . they want to drive and earn a good living to support themselves and their families . . . the exact same thing that you want.   Drivers can even live without Number 4 above, if you will at least give them the other three.

To bring down the trucking company self-made driver retention rate, the companies will have to stop their actions which are causing it in the first place.   Secondly, give the drivers what they need, want and deserve . . . it is very simple and would greatly reduce this problem that should really be no problem at all.

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: cdl students, driver retention, otr, over the road, retain drivers, retaining, retaining drivers, Safety, Scams, truck drivers, trucking, trucking companies, verifiable driving experience

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I’m reaching the point of saturation with political topics.  It seems that at every turn there is some battle taking place within America’s politics.   So at times, I tell myself . . . no more.  Then, another piece of news breaks and it is so important and vital to our way of life, that I have to step in to the ring once again and prepare for yet another fight.

Thanks to TruckerToTrucker, we now discover that today, Sunday, August 9th, 2009 – Mr. Obama and “Mexican President Felipe Calderon will be discussing cross-border trucking at the North American Leaders Summit.” Furthermore, “President Calderon will pressure President Obama to move forward with opening U.S. roads to Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and truck drivers.” You can read their post : Mexican trucks are coming – for the full story and who to contact to voice your disapproval of this issue.

As I posted on TruckertoTrucker, this guy and his administration is out to do whatever they can to destroy the livelihood of so many Americans. I have nothing against Mexico and their people.  I love the country and its culture and so forth, but millions of Americans are without work, thousands of drivers are finding it difficult to locate work, thousands more of CDL grads cannot find a driving job, after the CDL schools took their money anyway … and not to mention the safety factor involved for our nations’ travelers.  It’s all under the disguise of the NAFTA agreement, but it’s only one more way to pull America down and create more hardships for the citizens of this country.

Check out their article and you will find contact information for those to let your voices be heard that this is yet another “policy” that would be detrimental to America.

Allen Smith

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: America, Felipe Calderon, mexico, NAFTA, Obama, roads, Safety, trucker, trucks

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With the safety of truck drivers making recent headlines, are Constitutional Rights being violated by not allowing professional CDL truck drivers to carry a firearm in the truck with them?  Even with a concealed weapon permit, honored by most states, why are our truckers not allowed the right to defend themselves if faced with a life and death situation?

Allen opens up the lines for discussion about this very HOT topic on trucking talk radio: Truth About Trucking “LIVE” - Monday, May 11th, 2009 at 7:30 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Concealed Weapon Permit and Truck Drivers Right to Carry

90 Minutes – Let your voice be heard

Call in number:  347-826-9170

* This show has been given a “Mature” Rating *

Allen

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: cdl, concealed weapon permit, firearm, guns, right to carry, Safety, truck drivers, Truckers, trucking

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Efforts to raise tractor trailer weight limits from 80,000 lbs. to 97,000 lbs. is causing an uproar by safety advocates who believe the higher weight limit will create major safety issues for the general driving public.  Calling it a “public health crisis,”  they believe that by making the semi trucks larger than they already are, will pose an even bigger danger to public safety.  They have begun a push to stop the efforts by building a new site: StopBiggerTrucks.org

Trucking organizations such as the American Trucking Association counter, by stating that the new rule would actually have the opposite effect by allowing trucks to haul more freight, thus cutting down the traffic issue on our highways and interstates.

The highway bill is due to come up in the first week of June, 2009.

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: highway bill, increase, Safety, tractor trailer, trucking, trucking news, weight limit

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