Since 1992, Morrill Worcester had been placing wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia. The act began as a simple way for Worcester to show his appreciation to those fallen veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country’s freedom. However, as news of Worcester’s tradition circulated, more and more people wanted to participate and more and more people wanted to provide wreathes to military cemeteries in their areas.
As each year passed, Worcester’s ceremony grew and grew. He began enlisting the help of volunteering trucking companies to carry the wreaths, and in 2006 The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the trucks. Today the effort is spurred by hundreds of thousands of volunteers who lay more than 220,000 at about 545 locations in the United States and at other places across the world.
The ceremony is held every year on the second Saturday of December. This year, CR England is happy to announce its participation in the ceremony through one of our Owner Operators, Vince. Vince donated his precious time to use his truck and drive wreaths all the way from Maine to the Wreaths across America event at Fort Rosecrans, CA.
As a truck driver, the more miles you drive, the more money you make. When you are not driving a load, you are not making money. Vince was not getting paid for his long drive from Maine, but he was paying back the veterans of Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery through his service.
The sacrifice of the men and women who have fallen to protect this country is the ultimate sacrifice. It is easy at times to get caught up in the rush of the holiday season and forget the things that really matter. Were it not for our veterans, we might not have the ability to simply go to the store and purchase gifts for our family and friends.
During this holiday season, and at every other time during the year, it is important to never forget our veterans. From the time the Wreaths across America program began, their mission has always been to Remember, Honor and Teach. This program will continue, and every year will remember the fallen veterans, will honor their memory and will teach others to do so as well.
CR England would like to say thank you to all who have fought to protect the freedom of the United States. As a show of our appreciation, CR England offers veterans free tuition to our truck driving school with a 6 month employment agreement. For more information about free truck driving school for veterans and how you can begin your career as a truck driver, visit https://employerpartnership.org/jobs/1/3052.

The convoy will assist in raising funds and awareness for the Virginia Special Olympics. It is a nationwide movement, and registration to participate in the convoy is open to truckers and trucking companies throughout the nation. The convoy will serve as the kicking-off point to a whole day event. Drivers will start revving up their engines at 10am, at which time the convoy will be ready to hit the road. Pre-convoy coffee and pastries will be provided to those participating in the event, along with the chance to win a brand new 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The convoy will drive a designated route then end at the home of the Virginia State Fair where lunch will be provided to participants of the procession. At the fairgrounds, a pavilion and celebration will be held where more fun and prizes will be provided.

This convoy is a great opportunity for truck drivers to be a part of something special and become closer with their fellow truck drivers. Drivers who join the convoy will be provided with a bag of trinkets form the event including a shirt. Raising awareness and funds for the Virginia Special Olympics is one simple way truck drivers can touch the lives of those who need their help.

The Special Olympics is dedicated to providing those with intellectual disabilities the chance to shine and show what they can do. The program sponsors year-round training events and competitions to provide those with disabilities to develop their physical fitness and experience a joy they would not be able to otherwise have.
To find our more information about the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Virginia, and to register to participate in the convoy, visit http://www.torchrunva.com/.

According to Martin Rojas, ATA Vice President of Security and Operations, the trucking industry cannot handle more regulations. Instead, he says the problem lies with cooperation in the trucking industry. Both truck drivers and carriers need to recognize the importance of safety and follow the regulations placed upon them for their good.

Many regulations have helped the safety of the nation’s highways by removing drunk and drowsy drivers off the roads. Regulations have also been placed to help the trucking industry become more eco-friendly and leave less of a carbon footprint. Truckers and their carriers are urged to recognize the regulations that are improving safety and do what they can to promote them.

If cooperation does not increase, regulations will continue to be placed upon the trucking industry, and it will eventually become even more difficult to find qualified truck drivers. On July 12, Rojas met with Congress, imploring them to stop adding more regulations to trucking. “Increasing the regulatory burden on trucking companies as they are struggling to recover from the ‘Great Recession’ does not help this critical industry improve its security nor its ability to grow its bottom line to spur economic growth and create more jobs,” he said.

Trucking is the baseline of the economy. In his report to congress, Rojas claimed that more than 80% of freight in the U.S. is delivered by truck. There are also approximately 7 million U.S. workers in the trucking industry. Placing more regulations on the industry might cost some of these workers their jobs. The trucking industry is booming and drivers are desperately needed. However, if more regulations are placed upon trucking, carriers will not be able to find the drivers they need to fill their trucks.

In the end, Rojas asked Congress to think of the trucker’s perspective and asked Congress to consider a few changes suggested by the ATA. Some of the changes included information sharing and improving agency coordination. To read the full report made by Martin Rojas, visit http://www.truckline.com/AdvIssues/Security/Documents/July%2012%202011%20Rojas%20testimony%20to%20Homeland%20Security%20Committee%207%2011.pdf.

Battle brews over effort to slow all trucks

A long-simmering dispute about whether truckers should be required to install a device on their rigs that would limit how fast they can drive appears ready to erupt.

At the urging of the American Trucking Association and several of the nation’s largest carriers, including Utah-based C.R. England Inc., federal regulators signaled in recent weeks they were ready to consider rules that would put governors on all big trucks that ply the nation’s highways.

For the country’s biggest trucking outfits, most of which have had the devices on their fleets for years, the issue primarily is about highway safety and fuel economy. Yet many of the nation’s independent truckers — known as owner-operators — scoff at that notion and say forcing more trucks to go 65 mph or even slower while automobile traffic whizzes past them is a potential disaster in the making.

“There is no way they are going to make me put one of those things on my truck,” said Archie King, who was in Utah late last week to pick up a shipment of medical equipment from a company in West Jordan. “I don’t think they are safe, and I’ll look out for my own fuel economy.”

—

Safety • The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents the interest of 152,000 of the nation’s drivers who own their own rigs, maintains the big companies and their trade association are engaged in “feel-good” regulations.

Almost all of the speed-related truck crashes that occur involve drivers who are going too fast for road conditions, said Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the owner-operator association. “A speed governor isn’t going to prevent that.”

But Ted Scott of the American Trucking Association said the devices are vital and that expanding their use to the nation’s entire fleet of trucks would improve highway safety, which is why that organization supports that idea, even though its most of its members already are using them.

“Speed kills. It is as simple as that,” Scott said.

Utah’s C.R. England, the nation’s largest refrigerated trucking company, has equipped its fleet of more than 3,900 trucks with governors for years. It views them as highly beneficial pieces of equipment that help keep the roads safer, while also reducing the company’s fuel costs.

“They are a safety net for the company and our drivers,” said Thom Pronk, C.R. England’s vice president of recruiting, training and safety. He noted that all of the trucks that carry the company’s name are governed at 60 mph to 63 mph.

Pronk has no doubt they help reduce accidents. “We know that the number one cause of traffic accidents is distracted driving. The number two cause is speed.”

—

Economics • For owner-operators — they primarily are drivers who own one truck but make up more than half of the nation’s fleet — things aren’t that simple.

They contend requiring the use of speed regulators would force them to drive below the speed limits in many states. And that, they say, would reduce their income because they are paid by the mile, which makes traveling time important to a healthy bottom line.

The owner-operators association argues that if a driver is forced to go 65 mph instead of the maximum 70 mph that is allowed in 16 states it would result in 50 to 55 fewer miles driven each day. And that would cost them up to $85.25 per day, or $22,165 a year. Several states, including Utah, have even higher speed limits on some of their highways.

“If I had my way I’d blow them all up,” said Lita Gorrell, who is from Michigan and has driven trucks for more than 35 years. She says speed limiters make it dangerous to pass slower-moving vehicles. “We old farts like having total control of the truck. We don’t want to push down when we’re trying to pass and have nothing happen.”

But Ronald Cooper, who drives with Gorrell and owns the truck they run, as well as two others, said he understands both sides of the issue.

“I’ve been at this for nine years so I’m a professional driver,” he said. “But those drivers who have been at it 30 to 40 years — they’re the truckers. And they want to be in total control. It is what driving for them is all about.”

Cooper, who owns R.J. Cooper Enterprises based in Raleigh, N.C., and hauls freight for FedEx, said he prefers to drive a truck without a governor, so the rig he and Gorrell pilot doesn’t have one. “But I have two other trucks, and both of them have governors.”

It is a matter of economics, he said. “My bookkeeper tells me that keeping the speed down helps a lot (in terms of fuel efficiency). So I have them on those trucks for my other drivers.”

The American Trucking Association argues that if governors were installed on all trucks in the U.S., the savings would reach $9.3 billion over 10 years.

Missourian King, though, said he knows exactly what speed he needs to drive for maximum fuel efficiency. “It’s 60 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour. I don’t need a governor to keep it there. I’ve been at this for 40 years ,and if they say I have to put one on my truck, I’ll quit.”

The complete article written by Steven Orbeck can be found at: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/51306517-79/speed-trucks-truck-association.html.csp

The honorary drivers are as follows:

“Jack Fielding, Bison Transport

Robin Seale, Erb Group

John Boneschansker, Laidlaw Carriers Van

Barry Wicklum, Meyers Transport

Ravinder Athwal, Municipal Tank Lines

Fran Gooderham, Thomson Terminals

Daniel Santoro, Trimac Transportation.”*

TodaysTrucking.com website ran an article on Feb. 8, 2011, called “#Road Knights for 2011 named by OTA”, giving a personal experience to the honor of being accepted into the Road Knights Team.  Daniel Santoro, the driver from Trimac Transportation, competed to be on the Road Knight Team.  Daniel started his day on Monday by driving to Toronto at 6:30 AM on a Monday morning to speak on truck safety to the Ontario Trucking Association.  After his presentation, he answered questions for 20 minutes, being grilled as to his answers on safety.  He won a place on the prestigious team and wrote on his twitter, “I have made the Ontario Road Knights team for 2011- 2012. I’m very happy to be part of this select team of proud truck drivers.”** As an ambassador, he takes it seriously and is ecstatic to be part of such a great group.

Such a group is so wonderful for potential truck drivers.  There time on the road will inspire new drivers and those new drivers are inspired to focus on safety, the same as their new role models, the Road Knights Team. If you would like more information about becoming a truck driver visit our CR England truck driving school blog.

*http://www.trucknews.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000401684

**http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=25642

If this strike proceeds, people fear that food prices will rise in Africa and the seaports will be in traffic jams.  If this case, it would hurt their fragile economic environment even more.

The people are hoping that the law mandated mediation would stop the strike before it happens and there will be no strike.  Luckily, the company wants to be a part of the negotiations.  But unfortunately, the unions are rejecting the 7.5% pay increase, which does not make the peaceful mediation look too promising.

The African Truckers strike brings back memories for the trucking industry from the Greece Truckers strike back in September of 2010.  Although both strikes are based on two different economic reasons, there is similarity in the outcome of the strike.  Both countries fear a rise in food prices and loss of transportation of product.

We here in the United States are fortunate that we have not seen such strikes in the trucking industry.  Such an incident would hurt our fragile economy even more.  The United States truck trailers carried 70% of all US products in 2002.  If truck drivers came together and went on strike, we would be in a situation like Greece last year.  Truck drivers our valued driver and necessity to a stable economy.

http://arabnews.com/world/article244465.ece

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2010/07/26/greece-truckers-idUKLDE66P0M020100726

http://www.memphis.edu/cifts/pdfs/Freight_Baseline.pdf

In an article found on AP Associated Press and written by Matt Leingang, this idea is coming from state agriculture lobbyists who are looking for ways to help the agriculture economy survive the slow recovery in our U.S. economy. Particularly the corn and soybean farmers, who are struggling to survive.

The State of Ohio Department of Transportation is struggling with the idea of more weight on the roads. It will incur more costs on their department for road maintenance, which is already at $144 million. At this time, the trucking companies in Ohio pay around $97 million a year through taxes and overweight fees. This means that residents of Ohio pay the rest of $45 million per year. Other opponents include the railroad that competes for freight.

The article showed an interesting competitive disadvantage that there are some states out there like Illinois and Virginia that have higher weight limits around them, thus not allowing Ohio, at this time, to compete with exports to Asian countries. Chris Henney, the Ohio Farm Bureau director of legislative relations, has this concern in mind and is hoping that the new weight can be approved by harvest in October and allowing Ohioans to compete on a more equal level as that of their local state neighbors.

Jack Shaner, Ohio’s Environmental Council, understands the need to stimulate Ohio’s economy, but wants to take time to analyze the affect of heavier trucks on the roads slowly before jumping into a decision. He is concerned with energy use, air emissions, and pavement impact.

This is just a short discussion on the issue. Certainly the issue may grow as more states approve the higher limits. Certainly this may also effect the truck driving jobs industry and those who have made a career out of hauling freight across the country.

You can find the complete article we quoted from here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnuH_GcFbrADJMTGopjZQhEjHeGgD9HMNO980

According to the article, there are several locations in the New York City area that have safety issues because of the tractor-trailers blocking views.  There is already a fine of $50 for the first offense, but the legislation wants to raise that cost to $250 for first offenses and $500 for second offenses if within 6 months of the first offense.

It looks like elected officials in the New York City areas have been receiving continuous complaints about trucks that are illegally parked.  The trucks are taking up limited parking and creating visibility issues around corners.  The residents are not happy and are complaining.  They want the trucks parked elsewhere.  Places like industry parking lots where they are not a safety issue and do not take valuable parking away from the residents of the neighborhoods.

Truck driving in an around the New York area is less problematic than many drivers make it seem. Being aware of local parking laws can eliminate some of the headaches that come with driving around the city.

It’s interesting that when research was taken, the city governments learned that the $50 overnight parking fine is actually cheaper than the permits to allow parking of these commercial vehicles.  That’s the reason for raising the fines to $250 and $500.

Councilman Jimmy Vacca stated:

“For too long, low fines have given tractor-trailer drivers no incentive to abide by the law and stay off of local streets.  The result has been an eyesore for communities and a safety hazards for pedestrians and motorists.”

http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2010/08/28/bronx/bronxtimes-yn_bronx_front_page-34-trucks.txt

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is hoping that Trucking Driving Companies learn the CSA 2010 program and how it works.  Beginning 8/16/2010, Carriers can go online to http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov to review their performance in all seven Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories, or as they call it, the BASICS.

FMCSA has evolved the CSA 2010 program in response to feedback, both good and negative.  They believe it is turning into a very good program that will benefit the driver as well as the Truck Driving Companies.

American Trucking Association met with FMCSA with their concerns.  FMCSA, was quoted as stating:

“We held a series of private meetings with (FMCSA Administrator Anne Feero) and her staff, showing them examples of how we felt the previous methodology was not accurate and didn’t do an effective job of targeting truly unsafe carriers.  We were able to show instances of carriers that have super crash rates and great recent compliance reviews, but the system showed that they were labeled as safety deficient.  If you target carriers based on flawed methodology, you’re really using your limited resources to focus on the wrong carriers.  We really appreciate the administrator’s willingness to listen and address our concerns.”

As the pilot program comes to its end and it is rolled out to all, the Trucking Industry seems confident that the truck driver records will help to hire and train better drivers across the board.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=71328&news_category_id=3

Depression is becoming a common problem among Americans today.  Jobs that impose high levels of psychological demands such as truck driving may be at an increased risk.  Things such as sleep deprivation and loneliness are common among truck drivers and create more cases of depression.  Although this life style is a hard one there are certain steps that can be taken to help with depression and improve the life of all drivers.

One way to prevent depression is to maintain a healthy life style. Eating healthy and exercising as much as possible while on the road will improve your over all mood and energy.  Try to add more fruits and vegetables into your diet and drink more water.  Doing this will improve your over all quality of life and will help you feel happier and better about yourself.

Another tip to avoid depression is to reach out and help someone else.  Psychologists sometimes recommend volunteer work to their patients as a healing mechanism.  Although its hard to volunteer while on the road look for small opportunities to help another person out. Open the door for someone walking into the convenient store, slow down to let a car in your lane, or say thank you to anyone that helps you along the way.  Any little bit helps and as you help others you are really helping yourself.

Keeping in communication with family and friends is a great way to fight depression.  This may be the hardest one but it is effective. Call when you are at stop, write a letter when you can’t sleep or send a postcard from a favorite city.  Any communication is appreciated and it gives you something productive to do and think about.

Even if you aren’t fighting with depression these steps are a great way to improve the over all quality of your life.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Truck-Drivers-Can-Beat-Back-the-Depression-Monster&id=2424447