Trucking Advocate and Activist Allen Smith of TruthAboutTrucking.com : Articles Current News and Information for CDL Truck Drivers and Truck Driving Students…"Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry"
Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio show discussed the safety and health concerns that truck drivers face with the no idle law, on Thursday, July 29th, 2010.
Rules and policy makers suggest that professional truckers can simply “plug in” at the truck stops or get a motel room . . . the problem, however, is that the majority of truck stops across America do not have plug in locations and those that do charge a fee which comes out of the drivers’ own pocket. Furthermore, the reason semi tractors have a sleeper, is so the driver does not have to obtain a motel room . . . which, by the way, also would come out of their pocket.
Theno idle law is being pushed by the Smart Way EPA program and many trucking companies are beginning to instigate their own policies on this issue, placing all of the burden and expense on the truck driver. Is it really all about the green movement and protecting the environment, or is it more about greed?
Any driver who has been driving long enough has experienced the ordeal of spending a night in the sleeper birth with no air or heat until they could get to a repair shop and have the problem fixed. Try sleeping in 100 degree heat or -25 below zero, without the proper comfort devices . . . at the same time, truck drivers are expected to get the rest and sleep needed . . . after all, this year has been declared as the “Year of Safety,” right?
Some drivers have pointed to an amendment to the no idle law which allows the truck to idle if the driver has a pet in the cab of the truck with them. Perhaps this is the way for truck drivers to get around this law? It is OK for the driver to suffer in immense heat or cold, but for an animal . . . absolutely not! However, this may not be the case in all states. California, for instance, has stated that as of January 1st, 2009, that a driver can no longer use a pet for an excuse to idle.
All of the shows are archived, or in case you missed it . . . you can catch it here:
The last year for the professional truck driver has been filled with many challenges. The recession has caused many drivers to take a significant cut in pay, drivers still endure negative retaliatory DAC comments by former employers, “fleecing” scams still exist, owner operators maintain their struggle with high fuel costs, HOS rules that cause conflict with shipper and receiver appointment times (creating fatigue from lack of sleep), the talk of new DOT medical requirements, and lets not forget CSA 2010, which has the entire industry buzzing.
With all these issues to contend with, I find none more inhumane than the “no idle” and “limited idle” laws and rules which are being enforced for large trucks by either the states or the trucking companies. These regulations are disguised as “being green” and “environmentally friendly,” attracting praise and recognition from the general public towards the trucking companies who voluntarily enforce them.
These trucking companies are more than happy to enforce such idling regulations, as it not only gives a positive recognition from the general public and the conscientious “go green” advocates, but it also creates a larger profit and bottom line. How perfect is that?
Trucking companies are so concerned with the environment that they have teamed up with the Smart way EPA program, creating their own strict limited idling rules for their drivers. This program gives awards to companies that are most compliant and “eco friendly”, and many times you will see these company trucks proudly displaying their partnership with Smart Way, sharing their enthusiasm for caring for “Mother Earth” and fuel conservation….But here comes the truth….the other side of the coin.
What the general public doesn’t realize is that by carriers creating limited idling rules, truck drivers health and safety is being placed in harms way. I don’t need to tell you what it feels like to be in your vehicle when it is either extremely cold or hot. Many of us turn on the ignition and cannot even wait the 5 minutes that it takes for the air or heater to work, and yet these laws and “carrier idle driver rules” are being enforced against their drivers, expecting them to sleep in 90+ degrees and sub-freezing temperatures without air or heat.
There are some companies that have trucks with an APU ( Auxiliary Power Unit) on board for their drivers, but not all companies and not all of their trucks. If you think about it, why would they? The APU’s are too expensive. After all, they do not have to sleep in these inhumane temperatures, right? It is only the dog sleeping in there, I mean the driver . . . wait, I forgot, you are not allowed to have an animal in the truck under those conditions . . . drivers ok, pets not ok . . . what’s wrong with this picture?
Many of the Smart Way Partners are winning awards for being the “best ” in compliance ( SMART WAY EPA AWARDS), by forcing their drivers to abide by limited idle rules so they can receive and be recognized for their gallant efforts towards improving the environment and conserving fuel. Yet, they are risking the health and safety of their driver employees.
So the next time you see a truck proudly displaying their Smart Way Partnership, give them a call and ask them what percentage of their trucks have an APU for their drivers, ensuring their drivers’ health and safety? It is just another way of asking them, ” Do you treat your drivers humanely?”
Many others within the trucking industry are concerned about this limited and “no idle” enforcement. Here’s another post by TruckerDesiree of RealWomenInTrucking who has also written in detail about it.
Also Rhianna Weir, the Madison Trucking Examiner, has an interesting challenge for those of you who may or may not believe just how serious a problem this is.
The article explains new rules in the state of North Carolina: The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission now requires that operators of heavy-duty trucks refrain from idling their engines. I wrote a lengthy response to the article, however, it was not posted, so I’ll post my response here.
Response 7/17/10 by Allen Smith
“I find it always amazing that those who wish to appear to be advocates of various causes or missions, will often do so at the sacrifice and expense of others, not to mention the total lack of respect and the disregard of another human life.
I wonder if Sheila Holman would be quite as emphatic and passionate about her remark, “Exhaust from idling trucks is a significant source of air pollution that we can’t ignore,” … “The idle rule will help improve air quality while conserving large amounts of fuel”, if she or her family and friends were the recipients of the sacrifices required to reach these goals. In other words, I would like to know how she would feel if she and her children were made to sleep in a 100 degree closed truck ( 60 days consecutively) and then be expected to work a 14 hour day, driving 80,000 pounds down the highway safely and alertly.
Tell me Ms. Holman, would you be quite as worried about the air quality or saving fuel then? Answer: I DOUBT IT. How easy it is though, for Sheila Holman, National director of the NC division of Air Quality, to so boldly, proudly and confidently share this air quality improvement solution with so many, accepting applause and recognition for doing such a marvelous and sacrificial job as she rides off in her air conditioned car and sleeps in her air conditioned home.
My suggestion to her is that if she truly believes this is the way to improve air quality, then she should request that herself, her staff, her family and friends, refrain from turning on the air at night, so they may also share in this much needed conservation and sacrifice.
Now, as far as the other statements:
“The EMC points out that some truck stops have power connections, so truckers can plug in their rigs and not have to idle the engine to keep warm or cool. The release also points out that a truck can have more than one source of power installed.”
Let’s start with the “some stops have power connections”. Well EMC, that means that “some do not. It also means that the driver pays for that, not the trucking company. . . Which brings up another fact that the general public should be aware of . . . drivers continually survive on limited wages, which by the way, the trucking companies have significantly reduced further because of the recent economic recession. Many of these drivers are new drivers, receiving sometimes as low as 18 cents per mile (between 200-400 dollars per week, depending on how many miles they drive). Figuring that many send home most of this to their families, how much do you feel they would be able to spend keeping themselves cool or warm, depending on the weather? I doubt many can even afford the 10-15 dollars per night for these luxuries of heat and warmth, let alone a motel room, which some extremely ignorant and naive folks have even suggested.
Let’s move on to the APU units which would solve all the idle problems, right? Well yes they would, in a perfect world that is. Company drivers have no authority over this. The Carrier decides whether or not they want to place APU’s in their trucks in order to accommodate their drivers health and comfort. MOST DO NOT!! Yet, many of these companies are receiving awards for their “green efforts” again, on the backs and sacrifices of others while they themselves enjoy the comforts and luxuries of daily life.
I will end with this: It is this kind of inhumane thinking and treatment which contributes to the former 128% turnover rate of drivers as an ongoing problem. Many people do not stay in trucking, or bounce from company to company, hoping to find a “good company”. What is ironic, is that they define good as one which will not exploit or abuse them.
What keeps the trucking industry moving is the continuous influx of new drivers, those who do not know that they will be treated badly because they have been told the sugar coated “happily ever after” recruitment story. Many of these drivers leave the industry, and so the truck driver turnover rate continues. One day, drivers may get fed up . . . and God help us all if that happens. Think about it, and then be concerned: No food, medicine, NOTHING!
What’s the saying? “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” Furthermore, stop telling truck drivers want they can or should do, until you have lived their life.
A recent study listed the truck driver occupation as one of the top ten most dangerous jobs in America. Due to the endless driving of our nation’s truckers, being “out there” on the highways and interstates, the obvious danger is the risk of being involved in a major accident. However, the risks go much further than just the obvious…an irregular schedule, sitting for long periods of time, bending and lifting heavy objects, stress, fatigue and the inability to eat properly maintained meals can lead to serious truck driver health issues.
Because of long periods of driving, many drivers fighting boredom are affected by smoking habits and along with sleeping in a vibrating tractor and working long hours and receiving minimal rest, physical problems can alleviate far greater than those within the general public.
Here in the United States, 20% of truck crashes are the direct result of over worked, fatigued drivers. Fatigue is also creating breathing disorders and sleep apnea in many over the road drivers. Also, women drivers show no difference from their male counter parts for suffering from these same health issues. In fact, our women truckers are fighting such health issues as backache, hypertension, headaches, sinus problems and vision impairment, with backache being the second place lead for health problems for truckers. Fatigue, still remains as number one.
Simple steps can insure a path to better health :
1. Know the signs of a heart attack.
2. Exercise while out on the road
3. Control your blood pressure
4. Make healthy fast food choices.
5. Quit smoking
6. Know the signs for a stroke
Here is an excellent resource for combating a poor health lifestyle. Magnesium plus Calcium has been found to be an excellent supplement for providing stress relief and fighting insomnia, as well as many other factors.
The road to health depends on you. Life on the road is hectic….but with the right mind set, better health can be just around the next bend.
About the Author:
Aubrey “Allen” Smith is the author of the first and original Truth About Trucking. An expert in Motor Carrier transportation, he is also the host of the talk radio show: Truth About Trucking “LIVE. Fighting for our nation’s drivers, his informational package is helping to raise the standards of the trucking industry.
: no idle law, smart way epa, truck driver health, truck driving safety, trucking
