To help truck divers improve their driving safety and accident avoidance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an “Accident Countermeasures Manual” on their website. In this manual both drivers and employers can find sections on accident prevent-ability, defensive driving, and important maintenance and inspection procedures.The main point covered in the manual is avoiding and distinguishing preventable accidents. The FMCSA broadly defines a preventable accident as one which occurs because the driver fails to act in a reasonably expected manner to prevent it. Each section of the manual will educate truckers on different areas of preventing an accident.

The first section, Accident Preventability Evaluations, includes information on educating yourself on preventable accidents. The definition of a preventable accident can, at times, vary from company to company as each employer has different safe driving standards. If you are a company driver, make sure you are well informed of your company’s safe driving standard. Also, familiarize yourself with your company procedure for evaluating accidents and determining whether they were preventable or not.

The second section is called Defensive Driving, and includes driving tips and questions for managers to improve their company driving practices. For drivers, some of the tips include recognizing hazardous situations, continually scanning the road around you, and always assuming other drivers will make errors. Doing this won’t guarantee you’ll never get in an accident, but it can help you do your part to avoid it.

The last section in the manual covers Preventive Maintenance and Inspection Procedures. Before heading out on the road, it is always important to inspect your truck. Also, when you are driving make sure your brakes work before getting in the freeway. By doing these small inspections along with others found in the manual, and keeping up on regular maintenance you can more readily avoid accidents.

Safe driving in one thing that is never overrated. The FMCSA has provided helpful guidelines to improve the driving standard of the trucking industry. To read the manual in full, visit http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/publications/accidenthm/accidentman.htm. CR England truck driving jobs

When the need to eat fast food arises there are plenty of choices to be made on where to go and, once there, what to order. Many drive through restaurants these days offer a range of salads on their menus along with other healthy choices such as apple slices instead of French fries.  Eating fruits and vegetables is always a healthy choice, but the honest truth is that a salad doesn’t always cut it.

When you’ve been driving for hours on end and you feel faint from hunger, you want something solid. You want something you can really sink your teeth into and you want there to be a lot of it. So, when you are looking over the menu, intending to buy the whole shebang of burger, fries and a soda, it is important to be sure you know what you are ordering.

When eating fast food frequently, you should know the many items on a menu and what each of them really will do for you. Which selection on the menu has the most calories? Which one has the least? Which item will keep you full longer and which item will get your stomach rumbling again in a few hours?

To help you as a truck driver better understand what you are eating, we will be doing a number of Monthly Menu Management articles. These articles will provide a breakdown of a different fast food menu each month, including information such as the largest and smallest items on the menu and which items will keep you full longer. This Monthly Menu Management is simply for your information and is neither encouraging nor discouraging the purchase and consumption of fast food.

It’s time you understood what you are eating every day. Truck driving jobs are hard enough without having to count the calories on a fast food menu. Instead, take a break and we’ll do the counting.

As much as having more money in the system sounds good to those looking for the money, the trucking industry is concerned that this will raise the fuel rates due to inflation (the dollar is worth less because there is too much of a supply).  With the holidays coming right around the corner and thus creating higher rates in fuel due to demand, this makes even higher prices in fuel costs.

The trucking industry is doing well right now in this economy.  More drivers are needed to ship the product that needs to go out across the country.  The cost of the fuel will hurt the now growing freight industry, but with the emergence of new freight needed, drivers will still be needed.  The overhead of trucking companies will rise, but most companies will be fine.

Think about it.  More freight brings in more revenue for a company.  But in the new revenue are higher costs from more expensive drivers due to lack of drivers and higher cost of fuel due to inflation.  A company will still end up in the black on budgets.  Everyone still wins even with the negative of the economy, just less net on the books.  As the economy keeps growing, inflation will disappear and the future looks good for the trucking industry.

The article uses Shore Tractor Trailer as an example for the need of drivers and the popularity of becoming a truck driver right now.  Since the beginning of the recession, they have been seeing people from all types of fields turning to truck driving as a career.

On the evening news, you see where people can’t find jobs anywhere and yet there is actually a shortage of drivers right now.  The trucking industry here in the United States are looking for qualified drivers and willing to pay money for good drivers.  They have product that needs to be shipped and can’t find enough truck drivers.  As more products are needed moving with the improved economy, more drivers are needed.  Baby boomers are retiring and the need is greater right now.

According to Shore Tractor Trailer, drivers start their careers “up to $50,000” yearly.  That’s better than starting figures with a bachelor’s degree.  Shore Tractor Trailer even states that seasoned drivers can earn at least $90,000.

For those that want to be home on weekends, truck driving jobs have changed in that regional runs are becoming more of the trend.  Drivers can be home more often than ever before.

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/10/despite_recession_theres_still.html

Read their article:

“The Obama Administration has included a provision in the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution that formally asks Congress make permanent two pilot programs that give heavier, six-axle trucks full access to interstate highways in Maine and Vermont.

Prior to the pilots, introduced last year by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patrick Leahy (C-VT), commercial vehicles weighing over 80,000 pounds were often barred from interstate travel and diverted onto state and local roads.

In its message to Congress, the administration credited the pilot programs, set to expire in December, – with having improved safety and productivity on Maine and Vermont highways: “Continuing the program will improve safety on local roads and increase efficiency of commercial trucking in the region, “the administration said in its request.

“The administration’s efforts represent a significant breakthrough in the fight for trucking industry safety and productivity,” said Coalition for Transportation Productivity Executive Directory John Runyan. “CTP members know first-hand that heavier trucks belong on better-engineered interstate highways, and we would like to thank President Obama and Sen. Collins for their efforts to make sure the transportation networks in Maine and Vermont remain safe and efficient for motorists, truckers and pedestrians.”

Runyan also said other states deserve the same chance to improve highway safety and productivity. CTP supports federal legislation called the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) because it would extend this same opportunity to all states. Originally introduced by Rep. Mike Michaud, SETA would give each state the option to raise interstate weight limits for six-axle, higher productivity trucks.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=71703&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

His history is interesting enough.  He served in the 28^th Airborne Tank Battalion in World War II and came home, married Rose and they operated a trucking company they named “Roaming Rosie”.  They traveled the country together as well as staying physically active.  They boated, did skin diving, and even archery.  They had a wonderful life together.  When Rosie passed away, he moved and made new friends.  Now he has taken up biking.

Al loves to bike with his children and grandchildren.  Last year, he, his daughter, and grandson, rode the Columbus Ohio Zoo ride along with 4,500 other people.  He fell, but only scraped his knee.  He got up and finished the race!

When truck driving, Al and Rosie Weidtz’ “Roaming Rosie” trucks were known as the “Knights of the Road” and traveled though out all of the United States.  Back in 1959, they travelled from the Ohio area to the New York City and back, making a whole $100 a trip.  Times have definitely changed.

People have such interesting stories and finding this article this morning has reminded me to live.  I may sit in a cab and see the scenery, but this reminds to get out of my cab once in awhile and enjoy what I see.  Maybe I’ll take up biking someday and since I’m not quite 90 yet, I could try 200 miles a week.  Nah, I’ll stick with 5 to start out.

http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/537089.html?nav=515

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

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.

“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.