Archive for March, 2010

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Truck Drivers and Their CB Radios

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

driving jobs cb radioEvery Truck Driver should have a good working knowledge of how to use a CB Radio if they plan on installing one into their cab. It is still a great way to communicate on an open channel with several drivers at once and give and get information you need in the area. It can even make truck driving jobs a little safer and a little fun.

Communication is short range (11 miles) from your truck, giving you communication to truckers in your nearby area. Keep your conversations short and to the point so that the driver you are talking to has time to respond. They may only be in your area for a short amount of time. That is, unless you are speaking with a driver who is traveling your same direction, near you. Also, remember to take turns speaking. Allow others to respond; otherwise you may talk over others, creating confusion.

CB Radio channels are 17 and 19. West Coast uses 17 the most. And those who drive west to east in the state of California use channel 17 more often.

Now that you understand the basics of using a CB Radio, the next question is which one to buy. There are several locations to buy these and since we realize that you, as a truck driver, are very busy, we found a web page that will make it easier for you.

GIJoesRadioElectronics.com has several to choose from as well as parts and installation instructions. Price ranges are $45 up to $170, which isn’t bad for a communications device that can really make driving jobs easier. You can click this link to look at the installation kits for semi trucks. This web is great because they have very clear instructions on installation, unlike most retail online stores.

We hope this helps you out a little bit – 10-4 Good Buddy!

you can get the limited edition CB radio pictured above from GI Joe’s here: http://www.gijoesradioelectronics.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=104

Every Truck Driver should have a good working knowledge of how to use a CB Radio if they plan on installing one into their cab. It is still a great way to communicate on an open channel with several drivers at once and give and get information you need in the area.

Communication is short range (11 miles) from your truck, giving you communication to truckers in your nearby area. Keep your conversations short and to the point so that the driver you are talking to has time to respond. They may only be in your area for a short amount of time. That is, unless you are speaking with a driver who is traveling your same direction, near you. Also, remember to take turns speaking. Allow others to respond; otherwise you may talk over others, creating confusion.

CB Radio channels are 17 and 19. West Coast uses 17 the most. And those who drive west to east in the state of California use channel 17 more often.

Now that you understand the basics of using a CB Radio, the next question is which one to buy. There are several locations to buy these and since we realize that you, as a Truck Driver, is very busy, we found a web page that will make it easier for you.

Rightchannelradios.com has several to choose from as well as parts and installation instructions. Price ranges are $45 up to $170, which isn’t bad for a communications device. You can click this link to look at the installation kits for semi trucks. This web is great because they have very clear instructions on installation, unlike most retail online stores.

We hope this helps you out and 10-4.

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Posted in CB radio's | No Comments »

Truck Drivers and the Trucker Buddy Program

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

There is this great program for Truck Drivers to mentor school children as pen pals. It’s called Trucker Buddy International and you can find them at http://www.truckerbuddy.org/.

Started in 1992, and is based out of Alabama. It started with Gary King going to his children’s teacher and asking to send the class postcards from different places he traveled while on the road. The teacher agreed and that was the beginning of this great program.

It has become a nonprofit 501©(3) org. that focuses on guiding and mentoring school children (grades 2-8) by truckers going back and forth as pen pal’s. News about what they see on the road goes to these school children, opening their minds and expanding their vision of the world. The children see the world as a truck driver. It’s an education that most children may never receive. Not to mention its a great job truck drivers can do.

In return, the students write back once a month to the truck drivers, usually sending drawn pictures and cards and photos of themselves.

Schools have no fees for this because of very giving donations and the program is growing strong. Trucker Buddy International has united over a million school children with a pen-pal truck drivers, giving them the chance to meet those wonderful men and women out on the road, supplying our country with the food and product we need.

The trucker buddy program is a fantastic program and can make truck driving jobs more popular in an industry that is always looking for interested people.

There is this great program for Truck Drivers to mentor school children as pen pals. It’s called Trucker Buddy International and you can find them at http://www.truckerbuddy.org/.

Started in 1992, and is based out of Alabama. It started with Gary King going to his children’s teacher and asking to send the class postcards from different places he traveled while on the road. The teacher agreed and that was the beginning of this great program.

It has become a nonprofit 501©(3) org. that focuses on guiding and mentoring school children (grades 2-8) by truckers going back and forth as pen pal’s. News about what they see on the road goes to these school children, opening their minds and expanding their vision of the world. The children see the world as a truck driver. It’s an education that most children may never receive.

In return, the students write back once a month to the truck drivers, usually sending drawn pictures and cards and photos of themselves.

Schools have no fees for this because of very giving donations and the program is growing strong. Trucker Buddy International has united over a million school children with a pen-pal truck drivers, giving them the chance to meet those wonderful men and women out on the road, supplying our country with the food and product we need.

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Posted in Trucking Programs | 2 Comments »

Tips to Know before Your DOT Physical

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

If you are interested in becoming a truck driver, you might want to read this article about your DOT Physical.  Our staff Physician, Erik Moll, gave us a list of what to do to prepare for the physical.

Dr. Moll believes that one of the biggest challenges for the FMCSA is the consistency of the DOT Medical Examination.  DOT medical exams are not all the same and the regulations seem to be understood differently by different doctors ending with different enforcements.  He feels there is a lack of certification and schooling from the medical staff.  Lack of awareness is what Dr. Moll believes is the main reason for the confusion.  With safety being the biggest concern, he feels the system needs to remember that we are in need of safe truck drivers who have a healthy report from the physical.

There is a code of ethics set by the department of transportation for the medical examiners that they understand the regulations and will impose them.  As the doctor follows the guidelines to fill out the reports correctly, the truck driver also needs to be honest with his answers.  If he or she hides health issues to become certified, their medical certificate could be denied and even worse, a civil penalty could be placed on the driver.

Read below to find suggestions from the Department of Transportation to prepare for a medical examine for your CDL:

  1. Bring a copy of your previous DOT medical long form to your next DOT medical exam
  2. Bring a list of the current medications you take and also bring the name and contact number of doctor who prescribed the medication to you.
  3. When you fill out the health history portion of the long form, do your best to explain any previous or current medical condition you may have.
  4. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes:
    1. Make sure you are following your doctor’s instructions when taking your prescribed medications.
    2. Be prepared to provide a log of your recent readings.
  5. Supply the medical examiner with any necessary medical release(s).
    1. Conditions that may warrant a medical release:
    • Any cardiac history (MI, Stents “Angioplasty”, Bypass surgery, Cardiovascular conditions, Pacemaker, Valve replacement)
    • Stroke
    • Brain injury
    • Psycho logic / psychiatric disorders (depression, ADHD, Anxiety, PTSD)
    • Previous spine or joint surgery
    • Chronic low back pain
    • Muscular disease
    • Episode of altered or loss of consciousness
    • History of fainting, dizziness
    • Sleep Apnea
  2. Lastly, don’t wait until the last minute to re-certify!

These tips will help even when re-certifying as well as testing for your first truck driver jobs. In this economy finding a truck driving job can be hard enough. Don’t make it harder on yourself, follow some of these tips.

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Posted in DOT Physical | 1 Comment »

Stimulus Dollars Helping People Get Training

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

So, I’m looking at articles out there that I can relate to and I found this great one out of  Washington State about the stimulus dollars helping people get Truck Driving Jobs and become a Truck Driver.  The part that really struck me was that there seems to be a shift out there in trades that are no longer out there going to new technology.  Training is needed for a lot of people who has a skill that is no longer out there.  In this article called “Stimulus Funds to Spark New Careers”, it reports that because community colleges in the area are in need of a lot of money, that Tacoma-Pierce County Workforce Development Council used $1.4 million of the stimulus dollars for community college courses so that vital classes in courses would not be cut. The council also created programs to help in the cost of new training, which included truck driving.

A man’s story, which was so great it goes as follows:

“One student taking advantage of the help is Lokeni, who was laid off from his offshore oil drilling job in October.

Lokeni, 27, is now in his fourth week of a six-month commercial truck-driving program at Bates Technical College.

He said he tried to find work in the oil industry, but no one was hiring. When he researched training programs for truck driving, he thought he couldn’t afford them, he said.

“When I first found out I got into this program, I was on my knees thanking God,” said Lokeni, who lives in Parkland with his wife and 5-year-old daughter. “Job security to take care of my family – that’s what it’s all about.”

Truck driving has great job security and will be around for years to come and it won’t go away with technology.  One of the reasons I’m a truck driver.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/15/1109887/funds-to-spark-new-careers.html#ixzz0iLzXQwGC

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/15/1109887/funds-to-spark-new-careers.html

Posted in CDL Jobs, Career Fairs, Truck Driver, Truck Driving Jobs, Truck Jobs, Trucking Information, Trucking Jobs | No Comments »

Truck Driving Jobs are Out There

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Trucking Companies at Job Fair
Only 9 companies came to a job fair in West Valley City, Utah this week.  In past years, job fairs at “The E Center” were held in the arena to accommodate the crowds, but this year it was placed in a small conference room, due to low turn out of those looking for employees.  Many people waited hours before the fair even opened, hoping for better opportunity to gain a job.  The article stated that:

“The fair’s organizers say many companies are scaling back on hiring and don’t have a need to participate in job fairs to find new employees.”

In the state of Utah, there are about 90,000 people out of a job and looking.  When reading articles like this, it is easy to conclude there are no jobs out there right now.  That’s now true.

Trucking companies are hiring drivers and have been for quite some time.  One company, C.R. England Trucking Company, based out of Utah, is taking inexperienced as well as experienced drivers right now.  They have a school called the C.R. England Truck Driving School that takes all graduates as employees for the C.R. England Trucking Company.

With 3 schools spaced across the United States, they train students with safety in mind since these candidates will be driving for them in the near future.  Known as one of the best truck driving schools in the nation, it’s a great education to help get back into the work force.  For those who don’t have the funding for school, there are school loans that are slowly paid back through your paycheck, once you are a driver for CR England.

C.R. England pays for your transportation to one of their three schools and room and board.  The only thing a driver has to financially take care of is the meals.

You have your CDL after about 3 ½ weeks, your on the road training after 30 more days and finalize your accreditation after 60 more days by being a second seat driver with an experienced driver.  And the best yet, you start getting paid beginning about 3 ½ weeks after your first day in school.  If you are interested in becoming a truck driver for C.R. England, go to CR England and check out their company.  They have an online application on this link to get started.

When people say there are no jobs out there, they are wrong.  Truck Driving Jobs are available now.

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Posted in Career Fairs | 1 Comment »

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