Archive for June, 2010

Heavier Trucks Can Drive Highways in Vermont

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Recently, we ran an article about the chance of heavier trucks having the possibility of being allowed on highways.  Here is an article from a couple of weeks ago that Vermont Governor, Jim Douglas, signed a bill allowing heavier trucks to run through his state and Maine.  According to the article, “Vermont governor signs bill permitting heavier trucks on interstates”, it is a 1-year pilot that allows trucks of 100,000 lbs. plus to use highways.  In the past, any trucks 80,000 or more lbs. had to stay off highways and drive through small communities and neighborhoods.

Trucking Companies are thrilled because they can save money and time with this new pilot program and neighborhoods are too because they resented big trucks driving past their homes.  This is a win-win for both disgruntled sides.

This beta program will evaluate the impact from heavier trucks driving over highway roads, safety, and durability of the bridges and pavement.

This program also is set to save energy and use less diesel, allowing the states to become more environmentally green.  Plus, Governor Douglas feels that this bill will allow employers to improve their bottom line and hire more people in the bad economy of our times.

Whatever the outcome of this 1-year pilot program, the rest of the country is watching.  If it succeeds, I’ll bet more states follow lead.

http://www.startribune.com/business/81501282.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Tags: Heavy trucks, Minnesota Trucking Jobs
Posted in Trucking News

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Sleep Apnea Risk and Truck Drivers

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Last fall, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to start a program helping to identify truck drivers that may by at risk for obstructive sleep apnea.

Some steps requested include the following:

  • If truck drivers diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea cannot prove by documentation that they have been treated of such, FMCSA could deny medical certification.
  • FMCSA would hand out information and guidelines to help the truck drivers, trucking companies, and their medical doctors recognize high-risk candidates.
  • I was surprised at the statistics that truck drivers have a 50% statistic of sleep apnea in those who have average body mass index of 40.0 or more; 35.0 and over considered obese.

In fact, a study commissioned by the FMSCA found that 17.6 percent of truckers studied suffered from mild sleep apnea while 5.8 percent had moderate sleep apnea and 4.7 percent had severe conditions.

In reading the letter, it shows there is only one accident mentioned, due to sleep apnea.  The driver ran into a highway patrol officer, killing him instantly.  Though this is a very sad story, one must ask them self if it is enough documentation to hold back a truck driver’s medical certification because he may be at risk.

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Trucking Industry Wants Drivers

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Portland News had an article about the income that can be made through driving a truck and quoting $40,000 yearly right off the bat.  With the diverse workforce looking for jobs, changing careers is an option for many people.

Take Kelly Lovering (age 27) of Portsmouth, OR.  She was quoted as saying, “I used to work for the Department of Corrections. I got laid-off in January, so I searched for six months to find a job and couldn’t find anything. So, I was like, ‘Well, I’ll do something different.’ So, I decided to come take lessons and learn to drive a truck,” she said.  At the time of the article, Kelly was half way through her course.  With truck driving almost recession-proof, she felt she had a lot to look forward to.

The article grabbed my attention because it brings up the matter of people being aware of opportunity in the trucking field.  Not everyone realizes that with a few months of classes, a career is created in a recession proof field.  Trucking is part of transportation, which is needed to keep the economy moving.  (Literally.)  The money is good and the job is stable.  Something many people are looking for now days.

There are trucking jobs available in companies like CR England with $85,000 income for even training positions.  Truck Driving Schools enrolment has gone up during this recession and the better quality the driver, the higher demand for that candidate.  Truck Driving Jobs are available in this economy when other jobs are not.  In fact, CR England guarantees a job for every student.

http://www.wmtw.com/news/20295797/detail.html

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