Truckers and Travelers
Trucking Information Resource
Archive for August, 2009
Trucking Resources – Stretching Your Muscles At Pit Stops
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
posted by Chrome Stacks 11:38 AM
Hello, Drivers!
We’ve talked in previous blogs about ways to optimum health and running a successful trucking business with drinking water with magnesium and potassium (blog 6/15/09), and using a tennis ball in a sock to prevent muscles tension and nerve pain in the butt and back (blog 7/10/09). Now let’s discuss stretching whenever you stop to fuel, take a break, or stop for the night to shower and eat. After driving for several hours non-stop, your muscles will begin to get stiff from lack of circulation. I got the next few stretching tips from Debra Hull, a licensed massage therapist with The Pink Papaya in Fayetteville, AR. Whenever you stop to take a break, fuel or catch a shower and a meal, remember to first stretch your body as soon as you get out of the truck. The first thing you can do is to stand with both feet 2 feet apart and bend over as far as you can to try to touch your toes. Bob up and down a few times while you are bent forward to get the blood flowing to your whole body. After you have tried to touch your toes, bend your knees and slowly come back up one vertabrae at a time till you are standing straight up. The next move to get the blood flowing is to grab the bar that allows you to get up into the truck with one hand. Allow your body to lean back while holding onto the bar. This will stretch your back and arms. Do this on both sides so that you get a complete stretch through the upper body. Next you want to stand with your feet two to three feet apart and twist left and right from the waist, like the old dance move called “The Twist”. Twist left to right 10 to 20 times. This will help release lower back tension.
All of the above moves are simple things you can implement quickly into your busy day at each stop you make. Each move is designed to take a couple of minutes which will get the circulation back into your muscles and joints to prevent stiffness and arthritis. Being active doesn’t require long aerobic sessions and going to the gym. It only requires a couple of 10 minutes sessions per day. One of your trucking resources needs to be prevention for optimum good health. It will keep you youthful and running a successful trucking business. You must keep your body fit like you keep your truck fit. If you don’t take care of your truck, it will not run for you and make you a profit. The same is true with your body. If you don’t maintain it, it will put you out of the trucking business. You get to reture when you choose instead of your body making you quit. Prevention keeps you profitable. So, Drivers, remember to take a couple of minutes each time you stop to stretch your muscles to get the circulation going and prevent stiffness. It will one of your greatest trucking resources and give you the greatest profits!
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Hello, Fellow Truckers! In Part 3 we are finishing up the topic of how to get your own trucking authority. We are covering the most frequently asked questions on trucking authority. In this part we are answering the last 5 of 14 main questions.
10. What is Intrastate Authority?
Intrastate authority is the right granted by a state to commence for hire trucking operations within the borders of that specific state. If a load’s origin and destination are within the same state then intrastate authority may be required. This generally takes less time to acquire than the interstate authority as only one government agency is required to issue permits. Also a company engaged only in intrastate activities does not need to register with the IFTA or IRP. In my 7/23/09 blog I covered the difference between Intrastate and Interstate authority. If you get a chance, check it out!
11. What states require special permits?
Four states have special permits that are required to operate within their borders. You can register for these permits upfront or acquire trip permits. The states are New York (HUT), Kentucky (KYU Number), New Mexico, & Oregon (File Number). Depending on your operations you should consider registering for some or all of these states as most have a low registration fee of $15 or less per truck.
12. What is a New Entrant Safety Audit?
A New Entrant Safety Audit consists of a review of the carrier’s safety management system conducted by a State or Federal Auditor within the first 18 months of operation. The areas of review may include: Driver Qualifications, Driver Duty Status, Vehicle Maintenance, Accident Register, and testing requirements for Controlled Substances and Alcohol use. To make sure you pass your Safety Audit, consult a professional. I highly recommend Clay Eppard of Fleet Safety, Inc.
13. When can I expect a New Entrant Safety Audit?
Every new carrier will be audited during the first 18 months of operation (typically within 3-6 months after the carrier is granted their new entrant registration). The safety audits will mainly be conducted on-site at the carrier’s principal place of business. However, some safety audits may be conducted at other locations depending on the circumstances. To make sure you pass your Safety Audit, consult with Clay Eppard of Fleet Safety, Inc.
14. What is a drug consortium?
A drug consortium is a collection of drug testing facilities where a trucker can go to do their random drug tests. Each consortium pulls the names of different drivers randomly. When your name is drawn, you will receive a letter notifying you that you have a certain number of days to get to a drug testing facility in the consortium to have the particular tests done. They may ask you to do a urine test or a blood test or both. You must get this done and put the results in your pro-rate book that contains your trucking authority paperwork that the DOT requires you carry on your truck.
This concludes the discussion of the most freqently asked questions on trucking authority. I wish you success in your endeavors in this process. Be safe out there!