In accepting the position, England expressed confidence in the growth of the trucking industry. “I’m honored to have been chosen by my peers in this great industry to represent America’s motor carriers, drivers, independent contractors and employees,” England said. “The last few years have been difficult for our industry and our nation, but I’m confident that regardless of our challenges, trucking and ATA will continue to lead the country toward economic recovery.”

Dan England is well prepared for the task ahead of him, coming from a family of truckers. His grandfather, Chester England, founded C.R. England in 1920 and the company has been growing ever since. With his father and uncle running the company before him and his sons ready to lead the company in the future, England claims trucking will always be a part of his life.

“I have a great love for this industry,” England said. “Going back to my grandfather and right through me to my kids, the industry has provided us with a livelihood and stability. As I look at the economy, so many people have been hurt over the last few years and lost everything, including homes. We have a great deal of gratitude for the stability this industry has provided for us.”

Despite the struggling economy, England feels that the trucking industry has great potential. He claims that in these difficult times what is really needed is unity in the trucking industry.

“We’re faced with a possible change to the hours-of-service rule, a long overdue highway bill and a mounting stack of regulations on top of a sluggish economic recovery,” England said. “In order to meet these challenges, we need to speak with one voice, remembering that there is more that unites our industry than divides it. We need to go out there and fight the good fight and face head on the issues that are confronting us.”

As Dan England steps up as the ATA’s 67th Chairman, his peers show confidence in his abilities to make the necessary changes for improvement. While he looks forward to the future of trucking with optimism, England is dedicated to helping the industry better itself.

To read more on the ATA and Dan England, visit http://www.truckline.com/pages/article.aspx?id=945%2F{8E1C7279-ED27-4C03-B189-CEEEE26BBB12}.

The author of the article, Steven Oberbeck, wrote about Francisco Kjolseth, an Owner Operator running for Fed Ex.  Francisco feels speed governors are great and has them on his two trucks.  His opinion is that it saves him money through maintaining a better fuel economy.

Lita Gorrell feels differently.  Her safety concerns are based on passing vehicles that are slower.  Without the speed, she has concerns of not being able to speed up enough to pass slower, more dangerous, drivers.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association debates that the new regulation is a “feel-good” law and takes away more common sense decisions that shouldn’t be regulated.  Archie King, an Owner Operator from Utah supports this thought and wants to be the one who decides if he saves fuel, not the speed governor.

With safety and fuel economy on the top of the American Truckers Association (ATA) concerns, it’s no wonder they are supporting the speed governors.  Ted Scott of the ATA stated “Speed kills.  It is as simple as that.”   They and the larger carriers want the speed governors.

One of the larger companies, C.R. England, Inc. has had speed governors on there trucks for years at 60 up to 63 mph.  Thom Pronk, vice president of safety, training, and recruiting of CR England. told Salt Lake Tribune that the number two reason for traffic accidents is due to speed with the first reason being driver distraction.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/51306517-79/speed-trucks-truck-association.html.csp

The article talks about the Obama administration creating a new ruling for fuel efficiency that is going to affect the transportation industry.

The group called the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department are working together to create a more environmental friendly truck model beginning to be sold in 2014 up to 2018.  Only medium and heavy-duty trucks are involved in this ruling from President Obama’s administration.

The plan from the White House wants a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions as well as fuel usage in long haul trucks.  These include “bid rig tractor-trailers, vocational trucks such as garbage trucks and transit and school buses, and work trucks such as heavy-duty versions of the Ford F-Series, Dodge Ram and Chevrolet Silverado.”

The article never did tell their secret of how it is going to be done, except using the word “hybrid”.  Hybrid gives one a thought of bio fuels and motors that can run the bio fuels.

Sure, there will be a higher cost in the front end of buying the new trucks, but the end results have several good financial as well as environmental repercussions.  The vehicles, no matter what type, will cost a lot more but the fuel mileage will save money in the monthly overhead costs and the environment will have less pollution for our children to breathe in as well as the resources that will be needed.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101024/business/101029805/

Truck-involved Fatalities Reach Historic Lows

September 9, 2010 1:00 PM

The number of truck-involved traffic fatalities declined 20 percent in 2009, dropping from 4,245 in 2008 to 3,380 in 2009, according to figures released Sept. 9 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The reduction puts fatalities at the lowest level in recorded Department of Transportation history and also shows a 33 percent decrease in fatalities since the improved hours-of-service regulations first became effective in January 2004.

“These latest figures illustrate the trucking industry’s deep commitment to improving highway safety,” American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Bill Graves said. “ATA will continue to advance its progressive safety agenda in an effort to further this outstanding trend.”

Since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented new, improved hours-of-service regulations in 2004, the trucking industry has seen dramatic drops in crash-related fatalities and injuries, and remarkably improved crash rates. “Greater rest opportunities for drivers under the 2004 hours-of-service rules and a more circadian-friendly approach to a driver’s work-rest cycle have helped truck drivers achieve these exceptional results,” said Graves.

In addition to the 20 percent reduction in crash fatalities involving large trucks, the number of truck occupant deaths decreased 26 percent in 2009, from 682 in 2008 to 503 in 2009. The number of truck occupants injured in truck-related crashes also declined 26 percent. Those are the largest declines among all vehicle categories.

The overall number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States decreased 9.7 percent from 37,423 in 2008 to 33,808 in 2009, the lowest level since 1950. That record-breaking decline in traffic fatalities is especially remarkable because preliminary estimates show vehicle miles traveled in 2009 increased by 0.2 percent from 2008.

ATA will continue to support the current, improved hours-of service rules, and will remain committed to advancing its highway safety agenda in an effort to further this outstanding trend. ATA’s 18-point safety agenda includes promoting greater safety belt use by commercial drivers, re-instituting a national maximum speed limit, improved truck crashworthiness standards, speed governing of all trucks, tax incentives for safety technologies, and a decade-long initiative to create a national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results.

Additionally, the numbers demonstrate that educational programs, like ATA’s Share the Road highway safety program, are working.  By teaching all motorists good driving techniques and how to avoid dangerous blindspots, the trucking industry is actively making our highways safer.

http://www.truckline.com/pages/article.aspx?id=784%2F{8E1C7279-ED27-4C03-B189-CEEEE26BBB12}

This one-day celebration brought out the law enforcement as well to escort this 6-mile-long convoy for thirty miles.  Truck drivers, Truck Driving Companies, families, friends, movie stars, and even athletes came out to participate.

Created by Norm Schneiderhan, a Corporal in the Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. it was meant to help raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics.  It actually happened in 32 states in the United States and 2 provinces in Canada.

Only Semi-trucks, truck/trailer combinations, large trucks, low-boys, dump trucks, flat beds, buses, large tow trucks, large box trucks, and such were allowed.  Basically, any truck to enter the convoy needed to be IO-GVW or bigger.  (Except those with hazardous material.)

It was a success with people like Kenny Robbins showing up and expressing his appreciation for the help for Special Olympics.  From up above in helicopters, all one could see was a long line of trucks following the lines of the highways with patrol escorts all the way.  It was an ominous sight for spectators and a worthwhile time of the people’s day.  Awards, food, and celebration were a great ending to the day.

The world’s largest convoy was met by hundreds of people with signs in support of what truck drivers did that day.  The contributions support over 1000 athletes in 16 different types of sports for those that have intellectual disabilities.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100917/OSH1003/100916071/Saturday-Truck-Convoy-raises-funds-for-Special-Olympics

http://www.jsonline.com/news/103218214.html

http://resources.specialolympics.org/video_truck_convoy.aspx