Due to unprecedented demand, the Alabama Trucking Association is offering a final training session for our members to address the new federal Hours of Service regulations. The meeting will be held Thursday, July 24 in Pelham at the Civic Complex. Judy VanLuchene and Karen Brooks from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will expalin in detail the new regulations and be available for questions. The new Hours of Service regulations go into effect on January 4, 2004. Please click here f...

For Dan Bruno, the final straw came last year. A driver who was dissatisfied with being assigned one of the older trucks operated by St. Louis-based Bruno’s Services really trashed it. Although the truck was 15 years old, it was in great shape – save some chipping of the finish’s clear coat. More to the point, the company had just installed a brand new clutch and flywheel.“In three weeks, he had burnt out the clutch,” says Bruno, co-owner with his wife Lauren of the small trucking company, which...

TransCore Commercial Services has announced an agreement with Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores and Fifth Wheel Corp. to add 30 U.S. and six Canadian truck stop locations to TransCore’s North American network of DAT load and information monitors. By installing its monitors in these new locations, TransCore will expand access to the nation’s largest freight-matching network. The load monitors will also provide information the drivers need to haul freight more profitably, from weather and road-...

The booth of Truckers Chapel Outreach Ministries, which offers the only Bible school designed specifically for truck drivers, has free gospel CDs, cassettes, Christian radio guides, printed Bible studies, gospels of John, truck stop directories and more.The TCO School of Biblical Studies provides students with a panoramic overview of the entire Bible. The school offers options to study for ordination into full time ministry and receive an associate or bachelor degree or to simply learn the Bible...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is temporarily adjusting the sulfur tolerance test to smooth the transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.The agency announced April 20 it would make the change until better tests are developed to reliably measure low sulfur in the fuel distribution system. The tolerance will rise from 2 parts per million to 3 parts per million through Oct. 14, 2008.The temporary measure is to guarantee that fuel actually meeting the 15 ppm sulfur cap, effective June 1,...

The Marten Transport July 2005 Drivers of the Month drove at least 10,500 miles during the month, were accident-free and completed all their deliveries on time. Combined, the Drivers of the Month averaged 12,573 miles in July. Each driver will receive a $25 t-check, a certificate commemorating the occasion and a gift from the company store. The July Drivers of the Month are Gregorio Gregorio, Alexis Henderson, Janus Fynaut, Robert Clemes, Robert Booker, Peter Lynch, Eugene Lemke, Matt Brown, Tr...

CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently announced that their CITGARD 600 SAE 15W-40 and Mystik JT-8 SAE 15W-40 and 15W-50 heavy duty engine oils meet the new Mack EO-N Premium Plus 03 specification — making them appropriate for use in all Mack ASET AC and AI 2002/2003 EGR diesel engines. CITGO also announced the oils meet the new Caterpillar ECF-1 and Cummins 20078 requirements.For more information on CITGO, visit www.citgo.com.  ...

JASON LAMBERT Greenville, Pa. Independent “There are regulations?”BARRY JOHNSON Hanson, Mass. Far Inc. “No log books, because they are a joke.”JIM FREEMAN Salisbury, N.C. Corriher Trucking “I’d get rid of the log books.”ARCHIE HOWARD Fayetteville, Tenn. Independent “I’d make 12-hour days.”JOE KENNEDY Yates City, Ill. Heartland Express “We’re forever getting messed with for things about our log books, and some people are even trying to make harsher regulations about hours of service. They need to...

The Little Sure Shot Gun Rest is a compact, foam rubber-padded and concave-shaped resting area to stabilize a rifle or a handgun user’s forearm. The resting point is shaped like a man’s lower forearm. When using the new product, handgun hunters and target shooters find themselves more relaxed – especially through the shoulder, upper arm and wrist areas – and able to concentrate more on the target, the company says. The Little Sure Shot Gun Rest easily attaches to the rugged, 59-inch Companion Hi...

Arctic Express filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a lengthy lawsuit’s litigation costs drained the refrigerated carrier’s finances, said owner Dick Durst. On Oct. 31, Durst filed for reorganization in Ohio Southern Bankruptcy Court, 13 days after a judge upheld his decision against the carrier in a lawsuit filed by the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association.Court battles with OOIDA had cost the Ohio-based carrier several hundred thousand dollars, and appealing the case would cost seve...

I was in an airport waiting to catch a flight to the first Randall Trucking Fall Symposium in Phoenix when I noticed a man wearing an old World War II Army uniform. I was pressed for time but intrigued, so I stopped and talked to him. His name was Marion Gray, and his story was an untold one. I’d like to give his story space in my column this holiday season and challenge you to look around your life and see if there are untold stories in your break room, driving your trucks, filing your paperwor...

The Alabama Trucking Association, in conjunction with American Trucking Associations, Alabama Department of Public Safety and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, recently inducted 10 more drivers into the Highway Watch® Alabama safety awareness program.ATA’s fourth Highway Watch® training session of the year was held November 17 in Montgomery. Ten drivers, including members of ATA’s Road Team and saftey officials and professional drivers from Association member firms, attended the train...

For the second time since 2005, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would grant collective bargaining rights to port owner-operators.Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1213 on Sept. 29, saying it was identical to the legislation he vetoed last year. “While I understand and support the desire of the bill’s proponents to improve the economic clout of port owner-operator drivers, the provisions of this bill likely violate federal antitrust law and will result in many unintended cons...

The U.S. Department of Transportation submitted for White House review on Aug. 10 a long-awaited regulatory document on the use of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) for hours-of-service compliance.Although the precise scope of the proposal is not known, sources said it is a comprehensive package of incentives and, possibly, requirements that would encourage wider adoption of EOBRs.“It’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition,” said one source who spoke on condition of anonymity. What that means...

Baldwin Distribution announced it is installing Thermo King TriPac auxilary heating and cooling systems in its trucks. “We have begun installing the TriPacs in our 2007 Volvo VN780 and Freightliner Coronados,” says Dudley Baldwin, president and chief executive officer of the Amarillo, Texas-based company. “By summer, we plan to have the TriPac installed in the 2006 models.”According to Baldwin, driver comfort and fuel savings played a big role in the decision to install the Thermo King equipment...

A newly hired driver arrives for orientation. He has passed the standard medical exam and seems fit enough. But within a couple of months, he has strained his back and now is on workers’ compensation.Just your bad luck, right? Not necessarily. If your driver hiring process had involved functional capacity testing, this unfortunate situation might have been prevented.Using objective and legally compliant procedures, functional capacity testing can help ensure that a prospective worker has the phy...

Under a new federal law, taxpayers submitting new offers in compromise (OIC) must make a 20 percent nonrefundable, upfront payment in many cases, the Internal Revenue Service announced. An OIC application is deemed accepted if the IRS fails to act upon it within two years. The IRS is updating its Form 656 to reflect the tax-law changes. For more information, go to this site and search IR-2006-16.Indiana Supreme Court halted litigation to kill Gov. Mitch Daniels’ plan to lease the Indiana Toll R...

Trucker Anthony Delasbour plows down a snowy interstate near his company’s headquarters in Lafayette, La. The mid-March sun may have melted much of the slush from the roadway, but Delasbour is still going too fast and isn’t paying enough attention to his surroundings. In fact, a white pickup truck visible in the driver’s side mirror is bleeding into his lane, perilously close to Delasbour’s flatbed loaded with pipe for bayou oil fields.In an instant, Delasbour’s left drive tire blows, and his tr...

In Ed Gamache’s ideal world, there would be a plug everywhere his trucks go. There would be a row of electrical outlets in his Sacramento, Calif., parking lot, dozens of them at shipper docks and plugs at every truck stop and rest area along California’s highways. In an ideal world, Gamache, senior safety and maintenance manager at grocery hauler Ozark Trucking Co., would actually be making money on the two trucks he’s equipped with idling alternative systems. As it stands now, the trucks are ju...

Truckers and law enforcement are fueling up for the 2005 World’s Largest Truck Convoy, set for Saturday, Sept. 24.Three thousand truck drivers and law enforcement representatives are expected to participate via separate convoys in 35 states and two Canadian provinces. Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics. The convoy also seeks to maintain its place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Cpl. Norm Schneiderhan, special project coordinator for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Fla.,...

West Virginia Turnpike tolls have been rolled back to 2005 rates after a state judge issued a temporary injunction against a 65 percent increase for trucks. On Feb. 13, Kanawha Circuit Judge Irene Berger granted a temporary injunction against rates that increased tolls on Jan. 1 from $4.25 to $7 for a five-axle truck. Passenger car rates climbed 60 percent, from $1.25 to $2.A suit filed by Southern West Virginia business leaders maintained the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tou...

Cummins says it is prepared to meet the emissions challenge of 2007 with the same essential engine it released in 2002 to meet less stringent U.S. EPA regulations. The company’s ISX engine will meet the new standard by integrating the Cummins Particulate Filter with current exhaust-gas recirculation engine technology.The particulate filter, which is made by Cummins subsidiary Fleetguard, will reduce particulate matter emissions by 90 percent from current levels – provided petroleum refiners can ...

Paschall Truck Lines operates a company store at its corporate office in Murray, Ky. The store has 1,280 square feet of hats, clothing, mugs, bags and other merchandise, all of it emblazoned with the PTL logo.“Our company store is an outlet for team spirit,” said Deane Sager, PTL vice president of safety. The goal of the company store, opened in January 1998, is to increase camaraderie among PTL drivers who meet on the road, and give them an opportunity to take pride in the company name. “When d...

Knight Transportation Inc. has reported first-quarter net earnings of $15.8 million, up 24 percent from $12.8 million during the year-ago period. The Phoenix-based trucking company posted first-quarter revenue of $149.1 million vs. $122.2 million during the year-ago period.For the remainder of 2006, the company says it expects to continue to grow its fleet by 15 percent on a year-over-year basis.  ...

Contrary to the current wisdom of some drivers, shopping around for an employer doesn’t mean hopping around to different carriers. It can backfire in lost pay, and a spotty work record can easily disqualify you from getting that premium job you have been trying to land.“Some guys will jump from one carrier to another for a penny more a mile,” says Steve Krizan, director of operations for Truck Technology Training in Monaca, Pa. “That is counterproductive in the long run.”Instead, you should conc...

Truck component maker Eaton announced that Richard Fearon has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial and planning officer, effective April 15. Fearon has responsibility for the accounting, controller, corporate development, information systems, investor relations, strategic planning, tax and treasury functions. He reports to Alexander Cutler, Eaton's chairman and CEO, and is located at the company's world headquarters in Cleveland.  ...

Denso’s pad-mount brushless alternator is designed specifically for use on Class 8 truck engines. The pad mount signifies that the alternator is mounted directly to the engine block, providing durability in high vibration applications.The alternator features a compact, lightweight design, 80 amp output at 1,800 rpm, heavy-duty front and rear bearings, corrosion-resistant windings and non-soldered connections.For more information visit www.densoaftermarket.com.  ...

Early on a warm, summer day, John Doe downshifted his tractor into eighth gear, applied the engine brake and rolled down the exit ramp from I-31 toward his next drop. The 48-foot reefer van full of ice cream he was towing came steadily behind because of a tight fifth wheel, and the brakes were surprisingly responsive considering that he was running at 79,850 pounds GCW. Doe descended the ramp smoothly, gradually down-gearing as he approached the bottom. Soon, he had pulled gently up to the white...

Class 8 vehicles entered Michelin Tire’s Challenge Bibendum environmental vehicle competition this week for the first time.This year's Challenge Bibendum, held in Sonoma and San Francisco, drew participants from around the world. Competitors vied to demonstrate progress toward environmentally positive operation. Prototype and production vehicles ranged from subcompact cars to buses and Class 8 trucks. They competed to demonstrate new propulsion systems; award categories included acceleration, br...

Joe Kirby recently joined Webasto Thermosystems as the company’s truck group director.In his new position, Kirby will lead Webasto’s truck group in serving truck OEMs, distributors, fleets and owner-operators.Kirby joins Webasto with more than 17 years of strong sales experience as well as marketing expertise in the heavy truck industry, working with OEMs, truck distributors and truck fleets. He was formerly the director of national accounts for Meritor Automotive.  ...

Through April 30, customers who buy two gallons of BP Lubricants’ Castrol Tection Extra 15W-40 diesel engine oil at any of the 170 Flying J locations nationwide will get one free. The promotion kicks off Catrol Tection Extra’s expansion into Flying J channels.Starting May 1, Castrol also will expand into 267 Pilot Travel Centers nationwide, and the “buy two gallons, get one free” promotion also will be offered at these locations.BP Lubricants introduced Castrol Tection Extra into retail, mass, t...

TMC Transportation honored owner-operator Kevin Dinsdale with the 2004 Wheel Master Award. Dinsdale became eligible for the award when he was picked as the Driver of the First Quarter 2004.Dinsdale has been with TMC since October 1985. The Wheel Master Program was created to recognize TMC’s best drivers.  ...

A Chicago man recently was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Chicago to 41 months in federal prison followed by 36 months supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to obtain hundreds of CDLs fradulently.Adam Babul was owner of Bamba, a now-defunct firm providing assistance to individuals seeking U.S. legal documents and legal status, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.Prosecutors said Babul and other defendants guaranteed CDL...

Any owner-operator who thinks of hubs and seals as merely the ends of his axles is in for a surprise. Of the many small but indispensable parts that keep a truck running, wheel seals, bearings and hubs are fundamental. Whether you pay a premium for low-maintenance equipment or buy products you will maintain yourself, understanding your hubs and seals can help you make buying decisions that will save money and minimize downtime.Longer seal life used to require a lot of mechanical work by the owne...

New Caterpillar CEOCaterpillar has appointed James Owens as its next chairman and chief executive officer, replacing Glen Barton. Barton chose to retire in January, after five years as the company’s top official. Owens, 57, joined Caterpillar in 1972 and held management positions in economics, accounting and product source planning. In 1987 he became managing director of P.T. Natra Raya, Caterpillar’s joint venture in Indonesia. He became a corporate vice president in 1990 and president of Solar...

Peterbilt launched eight new or upgraded models across its medium- and heavy-duty truck line at the Mid-America Trucking Show. The new 389 will replace the company’s flagship 379. The 389 incorporates new aerodynamic features, such as modeled bumpers, external air cleaner trim panels, soft curve fairings to battery boxes and a proprietary roof fairing, while maintaining the classic lines of the 379.Other new medium- and heavy-duty models include the Model 387 day cab, Model 384, Model 388, Model...

In 2003, the top executives of Carmel, Ind.-based Hoosier Tradewinds recognized the need to improve the company’s information systems. They discovered that managers throughout the company — dispatchers, planners and executives — needed more information more quickly in order to make proactive decisions.Nowhere was this need more apparent than in the area of recruitment and retention of owner-operators, which provide all of Hoosier Tradewinds’ power units.“As you often find, you don’t know that a ...

Mike Ryan Motorsports WorkwearRun Hard Trucking Gear is offering an exclusive line of Mike Ryan Motorsports work jackets and T-shirts. Mike Ryan, a stunt driver by trade, pilots two of the hottest Freightliner Century Class trucks in America — one designed for hill climb racing and the other for land speed racing. Run Hard Trucking Gear is offering two Special Edition Mike Ryan Motorsports cotton duck work jackets and several exclusive T-shirt designs. One of the racing T-shirts features hand-dr...

Several freight transportation companies announced their second quarter earnings this week including Con-way Inc., Heartland Express Inc., Swift Transportation Co. and Werner Enterprises Inc.Con-way reported a net income of $74.1 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006. This marks an increase of 11 percent over last year’s second-quarter net income of $66.8 million or $1.20 per share. Its revenue was $1.10 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent over last year’s $1.02 bill...

Get ready to fork over 100 bucks if you get caught using your hand-held cell phone while driving in New York state. Gov. George Pataki signed a law banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving — except in the case of an emergency. New York is the first state to pass such a law. “It’s about time,” you might be saying. “I’m sick and tired of those *#!?*#? cell phone-gabbing four-wheelers almost running me off the road!” If that’s how you feel, you’re not alone. Eighty-five percent of New...