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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New Years Is A Good Time For Semi Truck And Trucks Diesel Fuel Additives Are Important.

New Years Is A Good Time For Semi Truck And Trucks Diesel Fuel Additives Are Important.

Diesel fuel additives are important to use and if you own a fleet of trucks or you simply drive a truck for personal use and want to improve gas mileage, it is a wise idea to use the concept of diesel fuel additives. But keep in mind for this method to have any benefit for you and your truck, you must choose a high quality diesel fuel additive.

There is a definite difference between poor and high quality additives. The poor quality can gum up the engine, block filters, cause premature wear, and lead to several other issues in performance. On the other hand, with high quality fuel additives, you benefit from improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and a protected engine.

The diesel fuel additives perform several functions that make them ideal for improving fuel economy. First, they keep injectors clean and help to maintain a proper spray pattern into the bore. When this is accomplished, the mist is fine and administers the ideal amount of fuel. Without any additives, the spray can be uneven, which results in unburned fuel exiting through the exhaust. This promotes loss of power, increase in fuel waste, and more emissions.

Another important function of diesel fuel additives is to act as a lubricant. This is very important because low sulfur and even ultra low sulfur fuel is used today, and while this is beneficial for the environment, sulfur is an important lubricant that has been greatly reduced in these fuel types. Therefore, utilizing an additive will help return the level of lubrication needed by an engine. Without lubrication, abrasive diesel fuel wears out pumps, injectors and other parts of the engine that could otherwise last much longer with the right additives. Plus, smoother, healthier engines deliver better gas mileage.

Diesel fuel additives can be used to treat fuel and help qualities of the fuel to remain pure, even when the truck is stored and left un-driven for long periods of time. Moisture, fungal growth, and a reduction in gelling point are all characteristics of diesel that is stored too long. Therefore the strong state of your engine and fuel efficiency, will be resolved by diesel additives. When you need and want to save on gas and lengthen the lifetime of your engine, diesel fuel additives are a must.

Some of the good quality additives most seem to be very happy with are, Howe’s and Lucas amongst some others.

For more information and news visit http://www.edgeolite.com/ or email safety@edgeolite.com



Thursday, December 23, 2010

Semi Trucks Increase Your Fuel Mileage Savings Fuel Cost To Sky Rocket

Semi Trucks Increase Your Fuel Mileage Savings Fuel Cost To Sky Rocket

Many of those who drive for a company do not worry too much about the cost of the fuel or how many gallons they get per mile because they get paid based on the number of miles they drive or some per load. The Fuel cost rising will be of great concern for the owner operators whom will and need to pay very close attention to these figures because they have to cover all the costs of their own fuel. In many cases this cost can be as much as 40% of the gross earnings per month.

Of course there are some factors that will affect your fuel mileage in a semi truck that you really can't control. They include the wind, weather conditions and the weight of the load you are hauling. The cost of fuel per gallon is also something that you won't be able to do much about.

For owner operators and small business truck owners, there are some ways you can increase your fuel mileage that aren't going to cost you very much to implement.

Review the following for practical tips to conserve gas:

Drive reasonably within the speed limit. Remember that speeds of more than 60 miles per hour increase fuel consumption.

The Truck’s maintenance engine should be given a regular tune up, the tires should always have the right air pressure and efficiently aligned, the oil should be changed when needed and air filters replaced regularly. Clogged filters air, oil, fuel filters, all can affect gas consumption adversely by up to twenty percent. Be sure you are using the correct filters both oil and fuel filters. Some brands clog easily some engines only do best with the brand recommended for that engine and model.

The amount of air in the tires will affect your fuel mileage as well be sure to check them regularly.

Turn off the engine whenever there is an opportunity. Idle engine wastes fuel. There are instances where the engine could be turned off.

Avoid sudden starts, accelerations and stops. Acceleration should be done gradually. The gas pedal should not be stepped on more than one fourth of the way down. This will allow the engine to function most efficiently. Gas conservation could reach up to 5 percent if sudden stops, jerks and accelerations are avoided.

Windows should be closed on highways. Windows that are open can create air drag that can decrease the fuel consumption by 10%. Check exterior make sure there is nothing causing any unwanted drag.

Avoid traveling on rough roads as much as possible. Dirt, bumps, rough roads and gravels can cause 30% increase in fuel consumption.

Take out unnecessary weight or baggage, any tools or things that are not needed should be taken out. 100 pounds of extra baggage can affect fuel economy by two percent.

For more information and articles Visit http://www.edgeolite.com/ or email us mailto:msafety@edgeolite.com

Friday, December 17, 2010

Truck Diesel Engines Tips For Increasing Engine Life

Truck Diesel Engines Tips For Increasing Engine Life

For most individuals who own and operate any diesel engine will be well aware that themaintenance and unexpected repairs can both be extremely costly and surprising. Diesel engines are created to give great operation only for a certain amount of time or a certain amount of miles.

This determination is evaluated by the quality and type of fuel that is utilized, the specialized maintenance and the engine operation. The majority of diesel engines now use a turbo charger to induce greater performance and efficiency out of the engine.

The average life of an engine is 60% taking into consideration the turbo charger or turbo used. Once this time frame has been reached, the engine should be replaced or rebuilt. To help get the most out of the life of the turbo, and engine there are a few easy operating tips that you can do to help this along:

Tips for You:

1)Always use the correct engine oil. The use of the manufacturer recommended engine oil is important. The engine oil will assist in lubricating the turbo. By utilizing a high quality fuel, you can help to ensure that the oil will give you the most it has to give to give you the best service it can until it is time to change oil and filter.

2)Be sure you are using the correct filters both oil and fuel filters. Some brands clog easily some engines only do best with the band recommended for that engine and model.

3)Sampling your oil can be used to assist in determining if the engine oil is giving the correct protection that is needed as well as letting you monitor the trends of wear and for any contamination that could possibly happen.

4)Allow engine to warm up completely. It is very essential that you allow the engine to completely warm up when it is started. This helps the different parts of the engine to begin reaching the operating temperature and helps it to get well lubricated.

5)Always allow engine to cool down completely. It is just as essential that you allow the engine to completely cool down prior to shutting it down. A lot of engine manufacturers offer an auto shut down feature to assist in making sure this is done. It is of VITAL importance that you never shut down the engine at any RPM that is above idle. **The shutting down at a high RPM can and will cause the turbo to spin at many thousand RPM’s without any lubrication. The oil that has been contained in the turbo will get extraordinary hot and will in a way, cook the oil into the bearings and will cause critical oil block passages. This can really reduce the life of the turbo and will result in turbo failure really early. It can also result in much reduced efficiency and poor performance.

By following the above easy and simple tips, you can assist in increasing the diesel engine life and all of its components that go with it.

For more information visit http://www.edgeolite.com/  or email safety@edgeolite.com

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Truck And Transport Driver Shortages

Truck And Transport Driver Shortages


Although the economy has been on a very weak and slow recovery from this ongoing recession. It seems the transportation industry has already experienced a decent recovery, according to most statistics, data and reporting sources.

The recession, new rules, taxes, fuel costs, lower rates and the cost of maintenance on trucks is very financially draining. This has caused many trucking companies and owner operators to not survive and resulted in them going out of business.

Some of the forecasting data shows freight growth in 2011 will average about 4 percent, with some quarters hitting 7 percent. As the freight bounces back, there are still forces that are working in the opposite direction. Trucking managers are being very conservative in adding capacity and federal government regulation will hold back capacity in the future.


Information reported shows that what was once a record surplus of 170,000 trucks ready to haul freight in 2009 has moved to a period of significant shortage of around 100,000 units that will increase to 250,000 units in 2011 and 400,000 in 2012, although based on a predication. That would result in this shortage being about twice or more what it was in the recession in 2004.

Other problems facing the industry to meet future freight demands will be finding drivers. The transport industry needs about five million contacts per quarter to hire the 150,000 drivers required to fill openings. That recruiting and training bureaucracy has shrunk due to the recession and will take time to rebuild.

Also Government regulation will also impact capacity. Impending changes in hours of service regulations and the introduction of Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2011 are expected to weed out drivers. The new laws and requirements for proof of citizenship or residency to obtain a CDL and hazmat requirements will further shorten capacity.

It seems the shortage will be much worse than what was experienced in 2004 and could reach 400,000 positions by 2012.
For more information, news and products visit http://www.edgeolite.com/ or email safety@edgeolite.com

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Truck Filters Fuel Savings Maintenance And Importanance

Truck Filters Fuel Savings Maintenance And Importanance

Keeping your truck in shape and maintaining your trucks, all to secure the hopes of  reliability and durability. Of course you want your truck to give you as little trouble and as much uptime for a long time.
Establishing good maintenance is smart and has many benefits including the fuel savings.


So many simple things like wheel alignment grease, the tire pressure and fuel filters all will add up their impact on your fuel bill.  You' are looking at a worth while payback. There's hardly anything on a truck that's simpler than its air-intake system.

All  diesel engines need to breath and have the flow of very clean air in order to function properly.  There's as much as a two percent difference in fuel-efficiency at stake. For most over-the-road folks that's going to be more than $1,000 a year. And the filters only cost 10% of that.

Air intake is one of those things that you don't normally have to worry about when you buy a new truck.
The makers and engineers have it figured out for most applications.  But if and when you switch from a nice clean highway haul to pulling gravel out of a quarry and then down a few dirt roads to the highway. Those filter will clog up quickly, and this can also affect your health..
For the most part trucks come with air-restriction gauges, but make sure of it. You do absolutely need it, because you can't just look at a filter element and see that it's dirty. It may look like it's had it and no good when in fact it has lots of life left. Only the gauge would tell you. The filter could also look clean enough to keep, but in reality be overloaded with fine dust. Again, only a restriction gauge could give you the true picture.

The gauge is usually mounted in the dash (preferred) or under the hood, in the piping between the filter canister and the engine. Usually it'll be a bar-type readout that shows restriction in inches (of water). It means 'restriction' literally -- the difficulty that air has in getting through the filter, past the trapped dirt, and into your engine.

For the most part the contaminants involved are ordinary dust, carbon soot from the exhaust, and water by way of rain or snow or even fog. If dirt particles are ingested into the engine, they'll do nasty things like damage the cylinder liners. A normal restriction reading is 10 to 15 in., and as it moves to 20 in. or so it means there's dirt plugging things up. The gauge will probably go up to 30 in., but the element needs changing at about 25 in. Leave it longer and the engine won't be breathing very well, and fuel economy will suffer. You'll use two percent more fuel at 30 in., compared to 10.

There's not just dirt to be concerned with in limiting restriction. The ducting has an important role to play here too. Add too many elbows and bends, and you'll also add restriction, perhaps in significant amounts. An easy 45-degree bend will add a half inch of restriction, while a smooth-radius 90-degree elbow adds one inch. But create a sharp 90-degree bend and your restriction gauge will show an increase of two and a half inches.

So that's clearly a speculating decision too, though it's only likely to arise if you've asked for some special equipment or made an oddball modification of some sort. Luckily, the ducting normally doesn't travel very far, so there are only so many elbows you could come up with anyway.

The trucks air-cleaner canister can be outside the hood on either side, or on both sides of a traditional long-nose/narrow-cab conventional. These days, with aerodynamic conventional predominant, it's more likely to be under the hood.

The dry system's filter element, round or rectangular, sits inside a canister, and the system will draw air through the element and then into the engine. Sometimes it can be mounted either directly on the engine or remotely.

Truely the science of air cleaning has had much improvement over the years, and these days most elements are very sophisticated things made of specially formed and treated paper or cellulose (sometimes a synthetic material as well), called the 'media'. They are sometimes re-useable, but with newer types this is less common. Please make sure you know what you've got, because washing and re-using an element designed for one-time use will cause you grief.

Also if you do have a re-useable element, limit it to one year's life and no more than six cleanings. Cleaning can be done by either compressed air or washing in a special solution. But take care if you're using compressed air. That should be done very carefully by limiting the outlet pressure of the blow gun to 35 psi to prevent damage to the filtration media.

Most air-cleaning systems are single-stage mechanisms, but there are several two-stage types that have a pre-cleaner and also a dust cup that collects contaminants before they reach the filter element itself.

Be sure before you install a new filter element, and make that you've got the right one. It's very possible to have the right diameter and the wrong height. It would fit, but there would be a gap between housing and filter, so the gasket would never be able to make a seal.

Finally every air-cleaning system must have a water-separating mechanism of some sort near the air intake. With an outside air cleaner, the intake should be installed or mounted away from the flow of water-laden air as it streams over the hood or fender. That's not always possible, in which case a shield of some sort must be used or installed.

But also remember the air filter alone is not the only way to save on your fuel costs. Simple things like grease, air tire pressure are all part of maintenance and if kept up will give you a truck that will not so many little problems and will increase your bottom line.

For more information and products go to http://www.edgeolite.comm/  or email us safety@edgeolite.com

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Truck LED Lights

Truck LED Lights


Information on LED Lights:

Why should you buy LED lights for your truck or car? LED lights are semiconductors just like a computer chip in you r computer . When voltage is passed through them, they emit energy in the form of light. They are made with certain chemicals, that determine their light color. LED’s convert the majority of voltage passed through them to light, as opposed to other incandescent bulbs that produce light by energy heating them. But led can be up to 90% more efficient than traditional truck filament light bulbs

What ‘s the cost to you? They can be more expensive than the traditional truck bulbs. But if you shop online you can get them for a fair price. The led lights last a lot longer and use less voltage from the batteries. But most of all they are far more reliable then the old style filament bulbs. They run cooler and use less energy to work. They generally are sealed units so you do have to take tem apart and clean the sockets like you do some times with filament bulbs. I guess you can say it means less down time. When you are trucking time is money you do not want any down time.

Led rating: originally when LED bulbs came out there were no real standards, manufacturers would claim lifetimes of 100,000 hours with no real testing. Since then the standard has been to scale back to 50,000 hours so as not to over-state claims. (Beware of bulbs that are rated at 100,000 hours unless they state specifically Why they are rated at so high I would be wary of trusting this rating).Many of the manufacturers producing their 3rd generation LED bulbs are now starting to be more conservative and rating their bulbs at 35,000 hours, having gotten test results back from 1-2 years of testing. Rated at 35,000 hours, you can rest assured the manufacturer is not overstating their claims. Anything more than 50,000 hours... buyer beware or it could be BS.

The led lifespan led bulb may continue to be useful for several thousand hours past its stated lifetime. Unlike old-fashioned light bulbs, it is extremely rare for an led light to simply burn out. Rather, it will gradually fade over time, as the little diode start to fade ,but your truck light is still visible to on coming cars unlike filament bulbs that just quit.

There are quite a few websites like our “Edgeolite.com” online that you can buy led bulbs. The problem is "how do you compare one bulb to another?" A quick way to do this is to calculate the lumens/watt, or , the total amount of light you get from the amount of electricity you put in. This is done by simply dividing the bulbs wattage by the stated number of lumens. Anything over 50 lumens/watt is good at the moment. 75 lumens/watt is very good while 100 lumens/watt is excellent. Keep in mind this is just a general comparison - some bulbs may be rated as brighter or dimmer than this.

For the most part this article gives you an idea of the measurement used for led lights. The other measurement I would use is the quality of the led light you buy. They are designed to withstand the vast changes in the weather from being in the cold and wet to being extremely hot and dry. The quality of the lenses of the outer led is also something to consider and also the ability to mount it on your truck.
If you are interested in more information on this topic or on Trucks or would like to see the Edgeolite LED lights simply click here. http://www.edgeolite.com/led-trucklights.html or email us safety@edgeolite.com

Monday, December 6, 2010

Trucking and Saving On Diesel Fuel Costs For 2011

Trucking and Saving On Diesel Fuel Costs For 2011


To be ready to appreciate how it's actually possible to get improved fuel use from a diesel engine, its an excellent idea to return to basics to appreciate a touch more about diesel and how it operates.

By doing this it is easy to grasp how savings can be made and how a better fuel usage rate ( MPG, or miles per gallon ) will give you an overall cheaper diesel fuel cost. One of the critical points toward acknowledge is a well cared for, and efficient-running engine is about the most major element in achieving better fuel use.

Further, many of the issues that happen with diesel engines relate to fuel quality, which can occur in many ways.

It can vary widely from cargo to cargo regardless of if you use the same seller whenever you fill up with diesel, there may be changes in the fuel they're providing. The diesel quality can change, even in a little way, with each cargo your vendor receives.

The major variables are : * Cetane : this is the level at which the fuel will self ignite, with acceptable levels being between forty and forty five. As the levels can change with each delivery, the aren't well known. The starting and combustion coarseness of your engine can be impacted by the cetane level. * The density or 'weight ' of the diesel has effects on the fuel's heat content.

Lighter fuels ( Type one ) have a lower cloud point and is normally considered to be better in less warm temperatures. The heavier diesel ( Type two ) has good lubricating qualities, and if they're both the very same price, the heavier fuel sometimes gives better fuel usage. * The viscosity of the fuel rules the potency at which fuel travels thru the high pressure parts of the injection pump. Type one will reduce your fuel usage as it has a tendency to have more fuel leaking. Buying your diesel from truck stops is usually thought of as the most effective way to make sure you are purchasing a top-notch product.

These outlets would go into Chapter 11 fast if they started to supply inferior fuel. Two. Employing a fuel re-formulator. After millions of miles of road tests around the globe, there may be little doubt that employing a fuel reformulator will reward you with better fuel economy leading to cheaper diesel fuel costs. These reformulators, like Ethos FR, shouldn't be confused with 'fuel additions ' - the type sold in automobile retailers.

These are alcohol or gas based products that truly raise your fuel costs due to the quantity you want to contribute to each tank.

The actual reason for treating diesel is to provide better oiling,to guarantee all of the desired working parts of the engine are lubricated, and going nicely.

Many drivers don't realize that since low sulfur fuel was capable of being used on road vehicles, the survival expectation of the fuel injection system dropped by as much as 25 percent. The lubricating and cleaning esters in this fuel reformulator are show-stopping technology in action. Its use ends up in fuel burning more utterly, and gives a discernible net gain in mileage per gallon - meaning less expensive diesel costs overall.

visit www.edgeolite.com or you can email us at safety@edgeolite.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Trucking And Glare Problems At Night Reducing The Effects Of Headlight Glare.

Trucking And Glare Problems At Night Reducing The Effects Of Headlight Glare.

Truck Drivers on roads especially at night experience enough driving problems and hazards. To be able to eliminate glare from the side mirrors reflecting in your face at night, which effects your ability to see would be so beneficial to any driver.

Many truck drivers have concerns about the safety of driving at night time. These mostly relate to visibility of the road and surrounding terrain. Glare from headlights and various artificial light sources are also a concern to most drivers.

It won't surprise you that more accidents occur on the roads during the hours of darkness, in fact you’re 52% more likely to have a collision in the dark than at any other time.

About 79% of accidents which occur at night are due to road conditions. Weather related to inclement weather, glare, front glare and back glare, driver distraction and road surface problems.

There are many products to try including different types of eye glasses, but I have discovered the best for glare coming from the mirrors is definitely the Glare Guards which attach to your side driving mirrors top and they are very inexpensive. This really eliminates the problem by 80%.This is a quick fix product which keeps you safer and stops the glare.

Visit www.edgeolite.com and view safety products sales@edgeolite.com. for information on this product and how to order.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Truck Laws are changing

Truck Laws are changing
1,Carriers choice not inherit slightly of a newly hired driver’s elapsed violations. Lone folks inspections with the aim of a driver
Receives while driving under a carrier’s authority can take place practical to a carrier’s Safety Measurement usageAssessment.


2,All truck inspections and crashes with the aim of a ad motor vehicle driver receives while under the authority of a Carrier choice hang about part of the carrier’s Safety Measurement usage data used for two years if not overturned through the DataQs usage (https://dataqs.Fmcsa.Dot.Gov), even if the carrier terminates the driver.


3,alike to today’s SafeStat, tickets or else warnings with the aim of ad motor vehicle drivers receive while operating their individual vehicles work out not count in the sphere of the new to the job Safety Measurement usage.

4,If a carrier or else ad motor vehicle driver finds slightly violations in the sphere of his or else her crash or else curb inspection Reports with the aim of are not listed in the sphere of the Safety Measurement usage (SMS) line of attack severity tables, in that case they work out not count towards the carrier’s or else driver’s SMS data.


5,The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates all carriers with the aim of are in excess of 10,000 pounds and travel limited-access highway. FMCSA in addition regulates carriers with the aim of haul risky resources intrastate. These are the carriers with the aim of are affected by thorough Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010).


6,While seek data indicate with the aim of a driver’s body largest part manifestation (BMI) is a menace feature used for identifying drivers with the aim of may perhaps take part in siesta apnea, neither the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) nor theThorough Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) predetermine at present has slightly rules with the aim of curb who can take place a
Ad motor vehicle driver based on BMI or else burden or else shank size.


7,Carriers and ad motor vehicle drivers work out not need to register used for thorough Safety Analysis 2010 CSA 2010) nor is near slightly kind of mandatory training requirement. However, it is in the sphere of carriers’ and drivers’ top interests to take place informed going on for CSA 2010 and what did you say? It choice mean used for them. CSA 2010 is primarily alert on portion FMCSA perk up its enforcement operations.

8,thorough Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) has not misused slightly of the Federal Motor Carrier SafetyAdministration (FMCSA) regulations. Near is single reach a decision with the aim of FMCSA is annoying to swap because part of CSA 2010.The carrier safety rating process with the aim of determines whether FMCSA choice deem a carrier flabby is at present in the sphere of rulemaking to potentially swap to a new to the job process called Safety Fitness Determination.

9,U.S. Territory of TransportationFederalThe data kept back by a State (i.E. Tickets, documents, in black and white warnings, convictions) and the data with the aim of is kept back in the sphere of theSafety Measurement usage (SMS) (i.E. Violations from curb inspection and crash reports) are separate.This data ought to take place assessed and, if crucial, corrected under separate processes. All data in the sphere of the SMS can take place verified in the sphere of the DataQs usage ().


Pg1 declared by the fmcsa more to follow in the Trucking News World

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Next 4 things about the CSA 2010

THE word on the  CSA 2010 information 5-8
Truck information#5

Potentially erroneous violations on carrier/driver records can live submitted in favor of appraisal. The DataQs structure (https://dataqs.Fmcsa.Dot.Gov), which does not loose change under complete Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010), allows motor carriers and drivers to cause a call for in favor of Data appraisal (RDR) of in a row with the aim of resides in the sphere of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) databases such such as crash and inspection reports.

Truck Information#6
While various third delegation vendors are on the rise and marketing complete Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) driver scorecards, consumers ought to know with the aim of these companies complete not contain access to the driver violation histories in the sphere of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) databases despite various claims with the aim of they complete. FMCSA has not and preference not validate in the least vendors’ scorecards or else data. In addition, keep in the sphere of mind with the aim of the Safety Measurement structure (SMS) is branch of learning to loose change previous to its launch in the sphere of response to the test results.


truck Information #7
While seek was recently released stating with the aim of a driver’s body majority symbol (BMI) is a probability reason in favor of identifying siesta apnea, neither the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) nor the complete Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) code now has in the least rules with the aim of inhibit who can live a ad motor vehicle driver based on BMI or else burden.

Truck Information#8
Carriers and ad motor vehicle drivers complete not need to register in favor of complete Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) nor is near in the least kind of mandatory training requirement. However, it is in the sphere of carriers’ and drivers’ greatest interests to live informed with reference to CSA 2010 and what did you say? It preference mean in favor of them. CSA 2010 is primarily all ears on portion FMCSA look up its enforcement operations.

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Monday, September 6, 2010

The True Facts to the CSA 2010

Here are the first four fact to the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010


1) Full Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) does not furnish the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) the authority to remove 175,000 drivers from their jobs and cannot be present used to rate drivers before to withdraw a business Driver’s License (CDL). FMCSA does not give birth to the authority to take individuals procedures. No more than State agencies accountable on behalf of issuing licenses, CDL before otherwise, give birth to the authority to suspend them.

(2)Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) does introduce a driver safety assessment tool to help enforcement organization evaluate drivers’ safety at the same time as part of motor carrier investigations. Using the new-found Safety Measurement structure (SMS), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) continues to suspend motor carriers accountable on behalf of the responsibility performance of individuals who succeed on behalf of them. Therefore, motor carriers are held accountable on behalf of their drivers’ errors such at the same time as speeding. This is a longstanding FMCSA station and is not unique to CSA 2010 before the new-found SMS
(3)Carriers who are making an allowance for hiring drivers can study “Driver Profiles” if the drivers give birth to authorized the liberation of their in order. These profiles are compiled from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Driver in order Resource (DIR) and spirit be present accessible to carriers through FMCSA’s new-found Pre-Employment Screening syllabus (PSP). Drivers can look at their own profiles. PSP is no more than accessible at the same time as a pre-screening tool and not on behalf of consumption in the field of evaluating current drivers. PSP was mandated by legislative body and is not a part of full Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010).

(4)Potentially erroneous violations on carrier/driver records can be present submitted on behalf of study. The DataQs structure (https://dataqs.Fmcsa.Dot.Gov), which does not coins under full Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010), allows motor carriers and drivers to tell somebody to a call for on behalf of Data study (RDR) of in order so as to resides in the field of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) databases such at the same time as crash and inspection reports.

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

D.O.T CSA 2010

D.O.T CSA 2010

On August 16, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated the Data Preview Website by providing all carriers, not just those in the pilot states, with an assessment of where they stand in each Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) based on roadside data and investigation findings.



The Carrier Safety Measurement System’s (CSMS) includes the following seven BASICs:

Unsafe Driving,

Fatigued Driving (Hours-of-Service),

Driver Fitness,

Controlled Substances/Alcohol,

Vehicle Maintenance,

Cargo-Related, and

Crash Indicator.

The BASICs replace SafeStat’s Safety Evaluation Areas (SEAs) in December 2010, and this early look gives motor carriers an opportunity to understand and address their safety compliance issues right away.



The preview is also reflective of recent changes to the CSMS methodology, specifically:



The Unsafe Driving BASIC and Crash Indicator including a combination of Power Units (Pus) and Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) rather than just PUs as a normalizing factor (measure of exposure);

The Unsafe Driving BASIC now using number of inspections resulting in a violation of the BASIC as safety event groups (formerly called peer group);

The Crash Indicator using the number of crashes as a safety event group;

The Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC’s measure of exposure switching to number of relevant inspections rather than PUs; and

Revisions made to the severity weight tables for roadside inspection violations  We will be adding more to this in the next few days to explain in more details how to defend yourself in ths enviroment

CSA 2010  , DOT road side inspections

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Learning about truck APU's

Learning about truck APU's

There are some things you ought to know about Alternators. The most important thing to know is that when they get hot they lose half their rating. So a 60 amp alternator may be lucky to push out 40 Amps one time it gets hot. This is why Comfort Master makes use of a 250 Amp Dual Rectifier alternator & a 100 Amp alternator with an outside heat sink, which also extends the life of our alternators.


Dual Rectifier Alternator: Alternators produce AC current, like the current from your house wall outlet. Then it makes use of a bridge rectifier, usually with 6 diodes, to convert the AC current to DC for the battery & vehicles electrical method. With Dual Rectifiers, you get 12 Diodes, which spreads the current load over a much larger area making the alternator one time as long lasting & one time as efficient at converting the AC current it makes to DC. The plenty of benefits include: less heat build up, less current loss, higher amperage output when hot & more power. &, the service duty & life increases substantially. When the rectifier heats up the diodes won't pass as much amperage through them, therefore, the amperage output drops. With our double rectifier alternator you have one time the amperage carrying capacity & double the cooling surface area to keep the diodes icy. This all adds up to... MORE POWER, LESS HEAT PROBLEMS & GREATER RELIABILITY.

Questions to ask:

Does the APU you are taking a glance at use dual rectifier alternators or an outside heat sink to keep the output up & increase the life span?

A few other metrics you need to make line up. Amps, BTU's,Generator/Alternator,oil heat or block heat,stand alone systems. Make definite you reference this information when buy a APU

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Get you CDL ,DAC right now!

What is in your DAC REPORT

Similarly, as your credit document follows you around representing you to lenders, the DAC document is of critical importance to CDL drivers. It tells potential employers about you, and your work habits. Carriers you have worked for, or whose orientation you attended, document on you to DAC (HireRight ) which places the information on your document. Which can be a problem if it is full of ****

The DAC document contains your complete professional driver job history including accidents/incidents, MVR record, drug/alcohol check history, and criminal history. About 90% of all U.S. long haul commercial carriers use the DAC Document for preemployment screening.

Inaccurate reporting and errors can basically finish up on your document and they can negatively affect your ability to get work if not corrected.
DACfix.com is a company dedicated to helping drivers dispute inaccurate/negative information on their DAC’s. In case you have issues, DAC Fix has an affordable “DAC Fix” service to dispute inaccurate information. Their DAC Fix service is $189. They have an average success rate of 70% on their disputes. In case you haven’t seen your document and would like to get a duplicate, they can get it for you for $49

Start basically at www.DACfix.com or call 800 494-7517. DACfix.com is a member in lovely standing of Better Business Bureau. If it isn’t correct, we’ll make them fix it!


Truckers DAC Document Tips
Brought To You By DacFix.com

Carriers you have worked for, or whose orientation you attended document on you to DAC, which places the information on your document. Here are some key areas that you ought to watch out for!

Orientations: Let’s say you started orientation with a carrier but didn’t like what you were hearing and left. You guessed it, that carrier can document on you although you seldom collected a single paycheck. Unless you’re sure that you require to work for a carrier, do not submit to a preemployment drug screen or attend the orientation session.

Discharges: Try and leave companies on lovely terms with four week written notice. Most banks will notarize your letter at no cost. a handwritten notarized note of resignation can prevent discharged, load abandonment, and quit under dispatch, common negative items that can keep you from getting hired by other carriers.

Drug History File: Another area that causes massive issues for drivers is drug check refusals and failures

Seldom quit after being asked to take a random check. Take the check, and then quit with written notice if at all feasible. Any time you take a check, ask for a duplicate of the paperwork showing you submitted under the microscope. Retain this in your records.

Accidents/Incidents: This is an important one. Don’t document minor incidents where there was no destroy or where you paid for minor destroy straight out of your pocket. Seasoned drivers know the worth of keeping a couple of hundred in money for these occasions. This can prevent an unsatisfactory safety record from being placed in to your DAC document, in addition to the incident itself. Four incidents on your document will cause insurance carrier alarms to go off and lesson your chances of getting hired and increase your chances of getting terminated


Do you want to know how to correct your DAC report?

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Saturday, August 21, 2010

Cheap Truck Insurance, Can it be?

Cheap Truck Insurance

Is there CheapInsurance for  every Big RIG owner these days? Whatever you are spending on your Truck requirements ought to have been justified by the coverage you are being offered. In this regard, there is no better tool to assess the best bargains on offer than online Trucking insurance quotes from multiple providers operating in your area. This protection is mandatory for your vehicle in most states. However, there is lots of benefits of coverage which extend beyond following the rule. Insurance can therefore be categorized in to different types.

Obviously the first thing to compare is the cost. When comparing prices on similar products, you need to make positive that the quality or specifications are round about the same on the services or products you are comparing. Without a doubt, free van insurance quotes are there for your benefit. However, getting the best deals from among the multiple providers is a challenge in itself. Diligence and some common sense will help you accomplish this target.

Premiums are definitely higher for more youthful drivers than for the more experienced and more established ones. The best way to reduce costs is through additional qualification. This goes beyond the standard driving tests such as night driving or highway driving.

It is a useful tactic to economize for the improvement of your Big rig security. It is also best to speak to your insurer about how to reduce costs. Look for protected no-claims discount, which is a kind of bonus given by the insurer to policyholders, who fail to make a claim on their owner for the period of their owner period. Although, this costs more, it prevents any accumulation of no-claims discount that reduces in the event of a claim. It can also provide sensible savings.

It is also beneficial to save time and funds with the services of, insurers and/or brokers. This ensures the policyholder that the coverage is the least pricey and the most suitable, as compared to the larger pool of potential deals.

The largest advantage of asking for online van insurance quotes from lots of different companies is that it gives you the power to negotiate. In case you have an excellent track record in terms of sticking to the law without any fines or accidents historicallyin the past, you can ask for a discount on your premium. Similarly, auto insurance quotes online will also give you an idea of specific discounted policies available which an agent may or may not tell you.


These discounts are largely due to various aspects based on the average mileage of your vehicle, the amount of driving you do and the age bracket you fall in. Similarly, auto insurance quotes provide discounts taking in to account such facts as anti-theft protection systems like burglar alarms and navigation systems to prevent accidents. Such features only avert the loss which means the insurance firms see a chance with the individual being a safer bet than others. Online Big rig insurance quotes are instantaneous, so you can spend the time comparing different quotes to find out which of them suit you best and what is the coverage you need.
 
 
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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Benefits of using trucking software

 Trucking Software, Simple to use



Todays trucking & freight brokerage businesses are using the latest automation tools that include web based trucking program, freight brokerage application integrated with GPS features. Computerization has enhanced the efficiency of several crucial processes of trucking business. Nowadays, manual management or record entries have become a matter of past.

Trucking & Freight Brokerage Business in Past Earlier, trucking companies & freight brokers used to maintain records in log books. Some trucking companies using computers to reduce the human efforts used to maintain it in Microsoft Excel Workbooks. However, it was not the exact solution for the trucking companies.

It was a tedious task for the person handling accounts & load dispatch to perform all tasks by hand. To generate progress reports or profit & loss statement they needed lot of time. Calculation of fuel tax according to IFTA agreement was & a cumbersome task due to varying rate of taxes in different states. It was not the ideal way of handling a business.

Automations Requirements for Trucking Business

To automate all the manual method of a trucking business, truckers need to have a sophisticated computer application which can provide a mechanism to operate all aspects of a business like handling load dispatch, accounts (billing, payments, & payroll), & reporting. Automation of trucking business was necessary to solve following purposes:

In order to keep away from frequent human errors

To handle load dispatch with a few clicks
To manage accounts, billing, invoicing & payroll
To calculate IFTA fuel tax effectively
To generate various types of reports with no efforts



To solve these issues Trucking & Freight Brokerage Applications were developed, which made it simple to manage & operate trucking & freight brokerage business.
Trucking & Freight Brokerage Business in Present days, trucking & freight brokerage companies are using next generation program applications. The hard & tedious manual processes of past are now a cup of tea for the people handling it. Now, they can do it with a few mouse clicks or keystrokes.



Some innovative companies who are engaged in developing trucking program or brokerage program have introduced the net permits applications reducing the cost necessary in developing the infrastructure for using trucking program.



Automation of trucking businesses helps a lot in reducing the general operating cost & the manpower necessary in handling it. After reviewing the immense benefits of automation & computerization of trucking & freight brokerage business, increasingly owners are following this trend & reaping the benefits of automating their businesses.

Its-Dispatch, a leader in trucking program provides IFTA fuel tax program, Freight Broker Program with no servers necessary. For more information visit: Trucking Program  Trucking software

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Truck Mats Can save drivers knee pain

This New Product can provide Safety from injuries for all Trucking, Transport Carriers, Owner Operators, and Drivers.

Our Truckck Rebound Mats are specially designed to reduce and diminish the amount of Knee, Leg, Ankle, and Back injuries which are so commonly associated with the repetitious actions of getting in and out of a commercial truck or semi Truck.


Our New Step Mats which are specially designed help remove the impact on your knees, as it take's the shock out of your step. They help elevate the pressure, the impact, and pain from going to your knees and back, during the action of getting in and out of a commercial truck or semi truck.

Many truck drivers are sustaining serious injuries. Having the added line of defense of these specially designed mats on trucks exterior steps, can help prevent these injuries. This product truly performs at its best to avoid and to alleviate these types injuries. It's a common sense solution for a serious problem.
The rebound step mats truck are made with quality materials. They are extremely durable, they install in minutes, are easy to clean and are made in the USA.

Edgeolite, specializes in safety for the commercial trucking industry. Edgeolite designs products that are safety enhancement related. The products are designed to bring a targeted line of safety and awareness to help resolve and prevent many safety issues. Edgeolite looks forward to developing and distributing their products which promote more safety and less injuries, to owner operators, fleet owners , workers and to the whole trucking industry.
Our products help to reduce not just workers injuries but, the expenses for large fleet owners who will benefit from less workers comp claims, and other costs associated with any and all injuries.

Our exterior truck rebound step mat, should be used on all trucks.

More Info: http://edgeolite.com/truck-mats.html

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Trucking Jobs might be on the demand

Port Tracker indicated that U.S. ports handled 1.32 million TEU in June, which is the latest month for which information is obtainable, for a 4 percent gain from May & a 30 percent year-over-year gain. This marks the eighth straight month to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 snapped a 28-month streak of declining volumes through November 2009.




This year began with sequential gains in December & January, followed by a decline in February. March volumes — came in at 1.07 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), which was up 7 percent from February’s 1.01 million TEU & 12 percent year-over-year. April volumes at 1.15 million TEU—were up 7 percent from March & 16 percent year-over-year. & May hit 1.25 million TEU followed by June’s 1.32 million TEU.



The ports surveyed in the document include: Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle, New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, & Savannah.





The report’s authors said that the large double-digit increases in June & July can be attributed to backlogs that accumulated due to a lack of shipping capacity brought on by ship owners removing capacity in the coursework of the recession, followed by them taking their time bringing them back online when economic activity picked up.



They added that plenty of retailers may well be transporting more merchandise earlier in the year to keep away from further bottlenecks, explaining that this might lead to July becoming the peak shipping month in 2010 as against October, which is more common.





“Shippers & importers have kind of moved ahead of the market by purchasing early partly out of fear that there was not going to be capacity later on, & it seems that they have gotten a head start,” said Ben Hackett, president of Hackett Associates, in an interview. “This is what drove the May-July figures.



Hackett added that they believes the container shortage is close to an finish, with carriers putting vessels back in to service that are charged with bringing back empty containers from Europe & North The united states. & the amount of empty containers moving out of U.S. ports is higher through the first four months of 2010 than it was for all of 2009, according to Port Tracker.



& with various economic indicators taking steps backwards in recent weeks, Hackett pointed out that consumer confidence appears to be moving in lockstep with that trend, as current levels—since June—are in line with August 2009.



Although the Port Tracker document maintains that July may turn out to be the peak shipping month of the year, Hackett noted that does not mean there won't be growth in the approaching months.



In fact, year-over-year projected growth rates are still in double-digits, with July & August projected to hit 1.38 million TEU (25 percent increase) & 1.32 million TEU (14 percent increase, respectively. September is expected to hit 1.32 million TEU (16 percent increase, & October is slated for 1.31 million TEU (10 percent increase. November & December are projected to hit 1.19 million TEU (9 percent increase) & 1.12 million TEU (2 percent increase), respectively.





“We aren’t back to where they were four years ago & consumers aren’t satisfied that the recession is over yet, but 2010 is clearly going to finish better than last year,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain & Customs Policyowner Jonathan Gold said in a statement. “In the meantime, retailers are monitoring demand closely & hoping to see increases in employment & other areas that will boost consumer confidence. Cargo numbers this summer are showing unusually high percentage increases, but that appears to be an indication of shortages in shipping capacity earlier in the year than sales expectations.”



The latest Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates

Friday, August 13, 2010

Is There More Freight To Move?

WASHINGTON — Inventories held by businesses rose for a sixth straight month in June but sales declined for a second month in a row.






Inventories increased 0.3 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported Friday. But sales fell 0.6 percent following an even larger 1.2 percent sales decline in May.





The weakness in sales raises concerns about whether companies will continue boosting inventories. Stock rebuilding had been an important source of strength driving the economic rebound.



Businesses had been rebuilding their inventories in recent months after slashing them aggressively in the coursework of the recession. But if consumer demand weakens further, businesses could start cutting back. That would mean fewer orders to U.S. factories and weaker output for manufacturers — and fewer freight moves.



The consecutive declines in sales in May and June followed 13 straight increases in total business sales. The June decrease reflected less demand for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. A separate document Friday showed that sales at the retail level rebounded in July but the strength was concentrated in higher demand for autos and gasoline.



The 0.3 percent rise in inventories in the coursework of June followed an increase of 0.2 percent in May. It reflected a rise in retail inventories of 0.8 percent and an increase of 0.1 percent in wholesale inventories. Stockpiles held by manufacturers slipped 0.1 percent in June.



The stock to sales ratio edged up to 1.26 in June from 1.25 in May. That means it would take 1.26 months to exhaust inventories at the June sales pace.



That ratio had hit a high of 1.45 in early 2009 as businesses were caught with undesirable inventories in the coursework of the recession. That prompted a massive liquidation of inventories through most of 2009 as businesses struggled to get costs under control.



When businesses began building up their inventories at the finish of last year, that helped spur overall economic growth. The economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, grew at an annual rate of 5 percent in the final two months of 2009 with about half of that growth coming from a swing in inventories.





The GDP grew at a 3.7 percent rate in the first quarter of this year as well as a 2.4 percent rate in the April-to-June quarter. Inventories still contributed to the growth rates but by a smaller amount than at the finish of last year.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Diesel fuel cost report, for you

Well, Diesel and crude oil prices are both expected to creep higher through the remainder of this year and all the way through 2011, according to the Energy Information Administration’s August Short-Term Outlook.


Diesel has averaged $2.97 thus far in 2010, 31 cents over the 2009 $2.46 per gallon average. The document even goes on to foretell that diesel will creep even higher in 2011 and will average $3.14 per gallon.

Oil will also continue to inch upward in cost according to the EIA’s prediction. Crude ended July at $78 per barrel, and the EIA anticipates that average growing to $81 per barrel in the fourth quarter. Prices won't ease in 2011 according to the document. The EIA predicts oil to average $84 per barrel in 2011 – which is higher than the agency predicted in its July document.

Monday, August 9, 2010

CSA 2010 Where are we going?

So the Truckload Carriers Association convened “Weathering the Storm — CSA 2010 & the Driver Shortage,” a webinar meant to describe what trucking companies can expect from the upcoming safety program, & how to “soften the impact of CSA 2010” on driver management. Indeed, TCA sees “a ideal storm” on the horizon: a reduced driver pool meets increasing van demand, along with the great unknown variable, CSA 2010.




Discussion leader Jeff Davis, vice-president of safety & human resources for Jet Express, explained that under CSA 2010, fundamentally, there will be compliant drivers — meaning those whose records recommend they are going to be safe — & noncompliant drivers who, by the FMCSA’s statistical analysis, are at a higher than acceptable risk for crashes.


Additionally, fully three-quarters of the information counted against carriers & drivers under CSA 2010 was not part of the score under SafeStat, the safety technique being replaced, Davis noted.

l must look at things through a different lens,” Davis said. “The result is drivers that appeared compliant under SafeStat are now appearing non-compliant under the CSA 2010 model. Our job as risk managers, as recruiters, is we’re going to must choose how to correct our new issues of non-compliance, & then work with our drivers — even beginning at the point of hire to make positive that they understand the program, & more importantly, that they continue to work with them so that they can avoid safety events in the future.”

Information, information in all places

On the hiring side, with the implementation of the Preemployment Screening Program (PSP), three years’ worth of a driver’s FMCSA information are now available to potential employers. The issue for anyone screening candidates these days is that they suddenly have much more background information to sift through.

(For this discussion, they won’t even get in to carriers’ courtroom concerns — namely, that plaintiffs attorneys also will be going over the now-available driver information & demanding to know how & why a carrier responded to each & every inspection violation. Needless to say, there’s more to this than the CSA 2010 score.)

As for retaining drivers, the “easy way out” is to set a policyowner & fire all drivers with potentially bothersome scores — & while a considerable number of carriers are doing that, Davis cautions that such an approach could show short-sighted.


“The path of least resistance is to disqualify drivers at every turn, each time you receive a new piece of information,” they said. “I think the challenge for us today is how can they use this information as a training tool to retain more drivers — to put more drivers back in to our driver pool. That’s the challenge.”

Among CSA 2010 myths, Davis disputed the idea that 175,000 drivers would lose their jobs. The figure was based on aggregate information that showed 6 percent of drivers would be in the deficient section under the new technique, they explained.

“It did not look at how lots of drivers possibly could rehabilitate themselves, or alter, three times they understand this model of accountability,” they said. “We may lose them to economic & other issues, but as far as being disqualified for safety, I don’t see it.”

They also noted the FMCSA is not revoking CDLs, & that there is no “magic number” on driver information points.

“For the most part, it will be the motor carriers policing themselves,” they said.

Every carrier will have its own standards for what kind of driver history is acceptable & what is not. Davis anticipates the standards might be high early in the CSA 2010 transition, but the standards could be eased if replacement drivers get harder & harder to find.

Among carriers participating in the webinar, a poll showed that two-thirds had not set a hiring standard based on a driver’s PSP record — although three-quarters said they were requesting PSP records on every applicant.

“We are in the midst of setting history,” Davis said.
lenged carrier executives to identify the company’s most at-risk drivers under CSA 2010. “You personally take the time to go intervene with them. I think you’ll listen to a fascinating story,” Davis said. “It will help you understand C SA 2010 even better than from behind your table.”

They also emphasized carriers must do a better job of managing speed.

“The number one risky driving violation is going to be speed,” they said, noting that carriers tend to speak a lot about it— but lots of take speed seriously only when fuel prices are high.
On average, one in three roadside inspections is the result of a speeding cease, Davis pointed out.

“If they control our speed, they can basically get rid of one-third of our roadside inspections,” they said. “If you’re going 15 mph over the speed limit, you have hung a sign on the side of your van that says, ‘I’m defying you to pull me over & inspect me.’”

New drivers, or veterans?

What about the idea that carriers ought to look for drivers who’ve earned their CDLs — since, data-wise, they have a spotless record?

While that might appear to make sense, Davis pointed out that carriers are only responsible for a driver’s safety violations while they or they is with that carrier — meaning, as far as the carrier’s CSA 2010 score goes, every driver starts with tidy record, though the points will stay after a driver leaves.

On the other hand, Davis expects roadside inspectors may well target drivers with tiny or no background information in the technique.

& what about drivers who might give up, thinking CSA 2010 is stacked against them?

“It’s all in the way they deliver this CSA 2010 to them,” they said.

Indeed, they cautions carriers to wait & see with veteran drivers as they fine-tune to the new expectations.  long as they see improvement, I think we’re heading in the right direction,” Davis said. “Be slow, be gentle — but be firm.”

But won’t a driver who has run safely for years have a hard time suddenly needing to be “re-trained” because of CSA 2010 scores?

“We had a veteran driver that had three points total on his record, & I thought they was going to March on Washington,” Davis said. “Nobody likes this type scrutiny placed on them. It can be imposing on the driver. Usually with the veteran driver it does not go quickly.”
The key, they suggested, is to make positive drivers understand immediately the new significance of violations under CSA 2010.
“It may become impossible to keep drivers that we’ve had in our fleets for years,” Davis said. “We require to work with them, reply to every violation now & see where the chips fall in the future. That’s a hard answer, but I don’t know any other way to give it.”

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Drivers sleep apnea problems, Give the Drivers MORE$

Federal regulators have announced designs to step up scrutiny of sleep apnea & other health issues affecting truckers, a move that has put them on notice to get healthy.






Truckers are more likely than average Americans to be overweight, which can lead to health issues including sleep apnea, which disrupts sleep & causes fatigue — contributing to thousands of crashes a year. No one knows for positive because the government has never necessary that drivers be tested.



'I've Gained 100 Pounds'



Outside the Iron Skillet restaurant on I-70 east of Kansas City — where you can receive a salad, but the chicken-fried steak & eggs with gravy positive look more appealing — it appears few truckers are going hungry.



"I'm not bad. I am 6-foot-4, but I weigh 406 pounds," says driver Jerry Mumma. "Do I need to lose weight? Oh yeah, I need to lose weight. I need to get down to about 260, 280 pounds."



Mumma's got company. Doctors writing federal transportation owner think that up to 40 percent of professional drivers are significantly overweight.



Sitting in his truck, Marty Ellis blames the job. "Since I went to work here, I have gained 100 pounds — because you are sedentary," Ellis says. "This is your job — to sit behind this wheel."



& they sit for 10 or 11 hours a day, weeks at a time, lots of of them, following the work. Ellis says it is hard to arrange a checkup, harder still to park a 70-foot-long truck & trailer at the doctor's office.



"Most of us don't go to the doctor. They , stay clear of 'em, & they keep going," Ellis says. "A lot of owner operators out here don't have insurance."



Truckers do must receive a medical examination at least every three years to qualify for their commercial driver's license. But lots of have been free to pick doctors who might overlook red flags, like obesity, which can trigger sleep apnea. & that can lead to fatigue, which a federal study shows to be a factor in 13 percent of truck crashes. The American Trucking Associations says a third of drivers are likely suffer from sleep apnea, but the government has never necessary truckers to be tested for it. Ellis says they have always handled it on their own.



"I mean, before it didn't matter. As long as you could drive down the road it didn't matter. & now the regulations are beginning to say, in case you don't do this or you don't do that you may not drive anymore — it is something you , must think about," Ellis says.



Trucker Trainers



Dr. Maggie Gunnels, who serves on a panel that is rewriting health regulations for truckers, says the panel's job is to remove high-risk operators from the road. "It's safer for them, & it is safer for the American public who travel," Gunnels says.



The panel published proposed rule changes months ago. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will start to formalize them soon, beginning by establishing a registered pool of approved health screeners. Soon to follow: systematic screening for sleep apnea.



"So, I would say it is time to invest in your health. Hopefully lots of of them have started, & there is some great programs out there already for truckers," Gunnels says.



Greg McDermand, who works for a company that sells mobile sleep apnea treatment machines to truckers, encourages them to receive a small little small bit of exercise. "We actually encourage the fellows to walk around your truck three times every day. get out & get some kind of exercise," McDermand says.



& the fitness industry's is getting in on it, . In an exercise video, Bob Perry works out with heavy chains as well as a giant tire, stuff truckers may have on hand.



"It's now reached the tipping point. Every day they are seeing an increase of drivers who say, 'I need to lose weight,' " Perry says.



Perry is the president of Roadside Medical Clinics, a company opening clinics at truck stops.



& an organization called the St. Christopher Fund is taking health screening on the road.



Jon Osborn roams the country in campers called Medical Resource Vehicles loaded with medical diagnostic equipment. A former trucker, Osborn has lost 100 pounds historicallyin the past few years.



Osborn suggests that because truck drivers have limited room in their trucks, they keep an alloy folding bicycle in their cabs — the kind you might expect to see an elderly person riding — so they can get some exercise. It may be kind of a stretch to imagine that happening in the macho cap-and-cowboy-boot culture of trucking. But it is a step in the direction that increasingly truckers will be taking, as they try to improve their health, before the government steps in