Truckers and Travelers
Archive for October, 2009
Getting a trucking business off the ground requires much forethought and resourcefulness. Just like any entrepreneur, you are faced with two major challenges from which every other aspect of business follows: how to balance your time and budget your money. Some trucking companies are small, family-run businesses while others enjoy the fame and name recognition of a national franchise.
Before you get too far along in your business plan, take some time to mull over the logistics. How many jobs can you anticipate in the near future? Will work be steady, seasonal or totally unpredictable? Knowing the answers to these questions should help you budget for vehicles and equipment. Semi truck leasing is often much more affordable and prudent than actually purchasing trucks.
Trucking Resources – Florida’s Highway & Left Lanes
Hello, Fellow Drivers, Driving in Florida can be a royal pain considering most cities have a left lane restriction on the main roadways. Tuck this bit of trucking resources under your hat so that you are up-to-speed on what’s expected when you drive Florida’s highways. Enjoy the read and remember, be safe out there!
Road rage bill would clear Florida’s left lanes
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has prefiled for the 2009 regular session a bill that is intended to combat aggressive driving on the state’s multilane highways by reducing the number of drivers in the far left-hand lane. This is the sixth time in recent years the bill has been offered in the state.
Dubbed the “Highway Safety Act,” it would give law enforcement more authority to ticket drivers who block traffic, even if they are driving the speed limit in the left lane. A failure to stay to the right would be included as one of the offenses that make up “aggressive careless driving.”
The legislation historically has struggled to advance from committee. It won approval in the House and Senate in 2005, but then-Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed it. He said it would punish people who are driving the speed limit for not getting out of the way of speeders.
Bennett has since changed the bill to address some of the concerns.
The newest effort would prohibit travelers from driving in the left lane of a multilane highway when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle. Originally, the effort allowed law enforcement to issue citations to drivers who used the left lane for anything other than passing.
Opponents say the bill is “code for increasing speed limits” and that it supports the actions of speeding drivers coming up behind slower drivers. Supporters say the measure would avert dangerous situations where frustrated motorists stuck behind a slower-moving vehicle try to pass on the right.
The bill also changes, from two to three, the number of driving offenses that must be committed at one time to constitute “aggressive careless driving.”
Violators would face a $100 fine in addition to any other fines. Repeat offenders would face as much as a $500 fine and a mandatory court appearance. Drivers also would receive points for each offense committed.
The bill – S482 – is awaiting assignment to committee for the session that begins in March.
To view other legislative activities of interest for Florida in 2009, click here.
– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor
Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.
Trucking Industry News – Wyoming & I-80 Toll Plan
Hello, Fellow Drivers! Thought you’d like to know this key piece of trucking industry news. It’s impact on your wallet is a key reason to stay informed of this Wyoming legislative move. Enjoy the read and be safe out there!
October 26, 2009
Wyoming legislative panel backs I-80 toll plan
The Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee voted 7-5 to give the Wyoming Transportation Commission the authority to become a tolling agency. In addition, WyDOT would be allowed to devise a master plan to study various tolling scenarios.
With the tolling authority, WyDOT would be able to make a formal request to the Federal Highway Administration to set up tolling booths on I-80.
Specific details of the toll plan in the legislation will not include toll rates or where tolls would be collected. The master plan, which would be presented to Wyoming lawmakers in 2011, would determine the details.
Tolling the existing highway requires approval by federal authorities, as well as passage at the Wyoming statehouse and the governor’s signature.
WyDOT officials say something must be done because Wyoming doesn’t have enough state or federal money to maintain the interstate. They say the situation will only get worse with traffic projected to double in 30 years.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is opposed to efforts such as this to pursue tolls on existing highways built with tax dollars. The Association believes that states must come up with ways to fund highway expansion without putting an additional burden on truckers and others already paying their fair share in taxes.
OOIDA executives say that trucks already pay a state fuel tax and a federal fuel tax on every mile they run. Tolling an existing highway is double taxation.
Another revenue generator drawing consideration is a fuel tax increase. The Joint Revenue Interim Committee is expected to discuss the option during a Nov. 18 meeting.
A draft bill proposes increasing the state’s tax on diesel and gas by a dime during the next two years. Initially, the 14-cent-per-gallon tax would increase to 19 cents. It would rise to 24 cents in July 2011.
Truck driver and OOIDA Life Member Bobby Schultz of Cheyenne, WY, says states such as Wyoming cannot keep piling on fees to highway users and not expect to have consequences.
“We have enough taxes. They’re going to tax the truckers right out of work. Then I want to know what they’re going to do,” Schultz told Land Line.
Others say increasing the fuel tax is a losing battle. With more fuel-efficient vehicles and attempts to move away from traditional fuel, as well as people driving less, the fuel tax may not be able to keep up with the demands for road needs.
The tolling authority legislation is expected to be introduced in February during the budget session. It must get a two-thirds majority vote to be considered during the short session.
To view other legislative activities of interest for Wyoming in 2009, click here.
– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor
Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.
Hello, Fellow Drivers! Let’s face it, driving a truck is not conducive to a buff body, unless you work at it. When I was on the road, I had to carry free weights, a mat and be ready to work out at the truck stops beside my truck. It took imagination but I kept my figure all the while I was driving. Below I’ve listed the keys to weight loss. These keys came from my nutritionist, Renee Detky in Jacksonville, Florida. She is an expert in counseling folks on healthy living and preventing disease. These trucking resources are invaluable to your physical well-being. Hopefully you will be able to utilize some or all of the following guidelines. Enjoy the read!
KEYS TO WEIGHT LOSS
I. Eat less and move more. These are the facts and have been for ages.
A. Eat smaller portions
B. Stop eating within three hours before going to bed.
C. Exercise builds muscle and oxygenates our body. Our cells need oxygen to burn fat.
II. Increase your metabolism to its greatest potential.
A. Eat within one hour of stepping out of bed.
B. Exercise each morning and evening. Even ten minutes will jump start your metablolism. Muscles burn more calories than fat. Weight bearing exercise builds muscle.
C. Keep your liver cleansed and strong. This is our fat metabolizing organ. Heated fats cause congestion in our livers.
D. Eat frequently. Going longer than four hours between meals shifts your body into “store fate mode”.
E. Have your body chemistry tested for metabolic imbalances. Renee Detky, the author of this article, is a good place to start. She is available by phone consultation and office visits at (904) 465-0023.
III. Eate healthier foods. 
A. Fresh fruits and vegetables add nutrients not just calories. Fiber helps us to feel full. Enzymes aid our digestive system.
B. Highly processed foods deceive us into not feeling full. Sodas are the worst. They rob your body of calcium and make your bones brittle and weak.
C. Read food labels. Stay away from all corn syrup.
D. Eat meals and snacks that are balanced between carbohydrates, protein and fat.
E. Eat something from the six different tastes helps stop cravings. 1.sour-lemon, 2) hot-peppers, 3)sweet-fruit, 4) astringent-cranberry, 5) savory-meat, 6) salty.
F. Drink water all day long.
IV. Find the supplement that suits you best.
A. Lipochromizyme – great fat enzyme for people with high cholesterol, gall bladder trouble, problems digesting fatty meals or sugar cravings.
B. Conjugated Linoleic Acid. Great for those who exercise and are building muscle.
C. Pyruvate – Increases endurance and decreases blood glucose levels.
These are basic guidelines to follow on the path of good health. Without it, you have no trucking business. Be safe out there!
As most professional drivers and trucking industry veterans would attest, last year was not the best time to be a trucker. This belief has nothing to do with the professional itself or the noble type of work that so many truckers do. It’s just that diesel prices stayed above $4 a gallon for the duration of the summer – for a few weeks, they even flirted with the previously unthinkable $5 mark.
This year, the economic conditions are much more favorable for starting a trucking business. Now that the average diesel fuel prices have stabilized around $2.60, a considerable barrier to entry in the marketplace has been removed. The difference between $2.60 and $4 might not seem like much at first glance, but when extrapolated out across thousands of miles, it becomes clear how much those prices really matter.
Trucking Authority – Figuring Cost Per Mile
Hello, Fellow Truckers!
Are you looking for a way to track your expenses increase your bottom line? Well I found a great website that teaches you this for free! Yes free!!! I’m always looking for ways to help you increase the success of your trucking business. If you are wanting to get trucking authority, you will need to factor your costs even more than when driving as an owner/operator. Your expenses increase when the burden of costs rests solely on you to shoulder. Remember that if you are wanting to get trucking authority, you can do most of the steps involved yourself and save yourself money. Check out this trucking website for more information. It’s called Truckers And Travelers. It will walk you through the process easily and the owner of the website is readily available by email for answering questions on trucking authority, trucking business and trucking industry news. Keep track of your costs so you always know your bottom line. This will keep your trucking business in the black. Be safe out there!
Hello, Fellow Drivers! I came across this bit of trucking industry news and thought it was important to pass on since a lot of you over-the-road drivers drive through or deliver in Texas. Enjoy the reading and remember to be safe out there!
Texas lawmakers say ‘no’ to toll roads
By Keith Goble
state legislative editor
The Texas Legislature wrapped up a two-day special session July 2, authorizing $2 billion in highway bonds and extending the operations of five state agencies, including the Texas Department of Transportation.
Lawmakers are likely to get a hearty thumbs up from constituents for a decision made on toll roads. They turned down an attempt to extend the authority of TxDOT and regional mobility authorities to sign long-term toll road leases with private companies.
Despite pleas from Gov. Rick Perry to authorize public-private toll roads around the state, House and Senate lawmakers turned a cold shoulder to the plan to authorize so-called comprehensive development agreements for another two years.
Texas law now mandates that the authority to enter long-term contracts with private toll-road developers go away by Sept. 1, with the exception of a short list of proposed roads that have until 2011.
The governor received another blow when lawmakers approved the $2 billion transportation bonding bill without placing bond revenues in a revolving fund that could have been used for projects, including privately operated toll roads. Instead, the account prohibits converting free roads into toll roads.
Lawmakers reversed their course on the tolling option several weeks after the end of the regular session when they made numerous attempts to adopt an extension of the deal-making authority. In addition, they previously favored restrictions on toll contracts including limits on non-compete clauses, limits on how long tolls could be charged, and a requirement that TxDOT submit non-toll options to the Legislature for evaluation.
Despite the provisions being combined into one bill for their consideration during the special session, House and Senate lawmakers opted to avoid a vote on the issue until the next regular session, which is scheduled in 2011.
In spite of the demise of the toll road bill, projects already in the works will be allowed to continue. LL
Trucking Resources – Healthy Living And S.M.A.A.R.T Goal Setting
Hello, Fellow Drivers! I wanted to write to you today about trucking resources that help you set goals and stay on track with good eathing habit and fitness goals. It’s called S.M.A.A.R.T goal setting. The positive thing about this method is that it helps you set realistic and attainable goals that help motivate you with enthusiasm and reachable expectations. These tips will help you with your eating and fitness goals. These tips can also help with a good trucking business plan as well.
1. Specific. Write down your eating goals each day. Did you know that when you write things down you are more likely to accomplish that task? On the road it’s tough to always have a place to stop that offers healthy eating choices. That’s why writing down your goals for each day will help you think ahead in your trip as to where you might be able to stop and when.
2. Moderate. What will be your goals for eating and exercising this week? Choose two maybe three that you will do. That way you will not be overwhelmed with having to work, drive, write in your log book AND lose or maintain your weight and exercise. Once you have accomplished that two or three goals you select, you can add new ones or just ride on the that feeling of success.
3. Attainable. Make small, reasonable changes. If you’re not walking at all, don’t try to walk every day. The smaller the difference between your current behavior and your goal behavior, the greater the chances you’ll accomplish the change you make. Small successess lead to big successes. Leave room for a slip up or two. You’re human remember?
4. Active. Define your goals in “what to do”. For instance, when will you exercise? Will it be after your pre-trip inspection on the truck or on your post-inspection? Will it be just before dinner and your shower at the end of the day? Set a time when you will be active and write it down.
5. Record. Keep track of your progress and when you met your goals. This will increase your awareness of your goals and accurate record of your progress. You will then begin to see a pattern of new behavior beginning to be established in your life and give you the “want to” to keep it up. Record your energy level at the end of the day. You will notice that your stamina is also increasing and you can chart why.
6. Time-limited. Look over the record you’re keeping of your new eating and exercising habit, like say, once a week. Sometimes shorter intervals are more helpful. Whatever works to keep you on your new path of health and fitness. Doing this will enable you to see when you have the most success and when you seem to slack off and need to be aware and change something.
The whole idea in this goal setting system is to give you trucking resources that give you better health and make your trucking business successful because you are feeling healthier and living healthier. Be safe out there!
Don’t Forget to Register for Interstate Authority
Starting your own trucking business is certainly an attainable goal, especially considering that the national economy is on the rebound and commercial trade is back on the rise. Once you’ve gotten the necessary loans to offset startup costs – whatever it takes to get a fleet of trucks, administrative materials, reliable labor and fuel – you’ll need to file some paperwork.
Companies that haul cargo along interstate highways must first register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They must be assigned a U.S. Department of Transportation number, and those running hazardous materials will require a special permit to do so. You might need to cut through some red tape in order to get your trucking authority, but it’s all downhill from there.
Trucking Industry News – Politicking – Trucking Resources
Hello, Fellow Drivers! I’m not one to get into this kind trucking industry news but if you are tired of the states, law enforcement agencies and the federal government passing and enforcing laws that negatively affect you, then read this article. It simply states that we truckers need to get our voice heard. When the teamsters were strong, things were good for the truck driver. Now we need to let these folks know how we feel and what would be beneficial on the road to help us deliver our loads. It’s good to know who to contact to get your voice heard. A good trucking resource is OOIDA. They have a strong voice and they shout it loudly in favor of the trucking business. Another good place to find trucking resources is Truckers And Travelers. They are developing new products for truckers and those over the road to help make the journey smoother. They also have an exclusive trucking authority section on this site to help truckers to get their trucking authority or to maintain it successfully. Check out the website when you have a few minutes to look around at its pages. Enjoy the article below and remember be safe out there!
Decision-making at its worst
Rod Nofziger
OOIDA Director of Government Affairs
Have you ever found yourself feeling lonely in a crowded room? Speaking for myself, for other folks at OOIDA and for some very active members of OOIDA – we get that feeling all too often. We frequently find ourselves in a room full of people talking about trucking-related laws or regulations where we are the only voice speaking on behalf of actual truckers.
All too often we participate in meetings, hearings, conferences, etc. where corporate trucking executives, law enforcement officers, shippers, brokers, safety advocates and government employees discuss and make judgments on issues that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of truck-driving professionals. Though those folks almost never have any actual truck driving experience and seldom have any real depth of knowledge about the realities of the trucking industry, their comments and their decisions too often ooze with “we know what’s best for them” sentiments towards truckers.
Examples of these situations are plentiful. To name just a couple – the Medical Review Board that is proposing new driver health-related regulations and the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee that makes recommendations to FMCSA on trucking safety rules. Then there’s those Congressional hearings, such as the one last year on truck driver fatigue – where no drivers were invited to testify – plus meetings like the ones turnpike commissions hold on toll rates.
The lack of truck driver participation in these forums is at times a product of poor planning. Other times it results from relatively innocent ignorance or even blatant disregard for driver input. Regardless of the reason, it is unacceptable that far too often discussions happen and decisions are made without ample input from truckers or genuine attempts to reach out to the truck driving community.
Land Line and Land Line Nownews and OOIDA Call-to-Actions often reference meetings that are open to the public, such as listening sessions and hearings; opportunities to submit comments on regulatory rulemakings; and of course times when it is imperative that truckers contact their lawmakers. We know that most truckers can’t afford the time or resources to stop their wheels from turning to regularly attend meetings. So what can you do? The answer is whatever you can whenever you can. LL