They say April showers bring May flowers, but nobody ever says what May showers bring.
This year the May showers brought tornados, so we thought we would take this opportunity to provide you with some information about tornados and how to protect you and your family and your fellow drivers during tornado season.
The following information is courtesy of the folks at State Farm Insurance:
Tornadoes can occur without warning. That's why it's important to be alert to changing weather, and use both broadcast information and your own senses and experience to know when to take cover.
Tornado Watch
A Tornado Watch simply means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. In this case you should be alert to changes in the weather and take precautions to protect you and your property.
During a Tornado Watch:
- Move cars inside a garage or carport. Keep your car keys and house keys with you.
- Move lawn furniture and yard equipment such as lawnmowers inside if time permits.
- Account for family members at home.
- Have your emergency kit ready.
- Keep your radio or TV tuned into the weather reports.
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning means that a tornado has actually been sighted. Tornadoes can be deadly and devastating storms, with winds up to 260 miles per hour. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, seek shelter immediately!
There is little time for closing windows or hunting for flashlights. It's a good idea to know where things are, and to have an emergency storm kit already prepared.
Tornado Preparedness:
- Learn the warning signals used in your community. If a siren sounds, that means stay inside and take cover.
- Consider setting up a neighborhood information program through a club, church group or community group. Hold briefings on safety procedures as tornado season approaches. Set up a system to make sure senior citizens and shut-ins are alerted if there is a tornado warning.
- Put together an emergency storm kit including a transistor radio, flashlight, batteries and simple first-aid items in a waterproof container.
- Make a complete inventory of your possessions for insurance purposes.
- Conduct drills with your family in the home; make sure each member knows the correct procedures if they are at work or school when a tornado hits.
During the Tornado
The safest place to be during a tornado is underground, preferably under something sturdy like a work bench.
If there's no basement or cellar in your home, a small room in the middle of house -- like a bathroom or a closet -- is best. The more walls between you and the outside, the better.
If you are driving during a tornado
- Tornadoes can toss cars and large trucks around like toys. Never try to outrun a tornado.
- If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued on the radio or by siren, get out of your vehicle and seek a safe structure or lie down in a low area with your hands covering the back of your head and neck; keep alert for flash floods.
Mail Call
From: LG
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 3:38 PM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Burma Shave
To all the speed demons out there...
Don't lose your head
to save a minute.
You need your head,
Your brains are in it!
BURMA SHAVE
* * * * *
From: LC
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 8:32 PM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Trucking injustice
I've always wondered why states look at truckers as a source of revenue. For instance, in California fines for traffic violations (in some counties) are three times more for CDL holders than for those without a CDL. This is a blatant form of discrimination.
In addition, they have a split speed (which is unsafe-55/70). If this was imposed for safety reasons, why are tour buses allowed to travel at 70; even though the state knows many are mechanically unsafe (proven by sting inspections). I wonder if the state feels our freight is more valuable than the buses? ?
Of course we all know the real reason is money, money, money and has nothing to do with safety! Trucks today are safer than ever before.
* * * * *
From: TG
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 5:00 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject:
Hi.
Just a note to say thanks for the emails every month. I read them and so does my mom. I have been out driving for the past 6 years and have listened to the older drivers tell how it use to be back in the past for truck drivers.
Now, it feels like they keep a tight rope around our necks and take a lot of things away from all of us drivers. We would like to see better truck stops with more parking and better food.
Bigger rest areas and more of them for us to use when it's time to shut down.
We need places to park when we get to the customer to deliver or p/u loads. If you park on the streets any where in California in LA you get a parking ticket.
Trucker Buddy of the Month
Brenda Meacham
For Trucker Buddy Brenda Meacham, the best birthday present of all is the gift of giving. In 2006, she surprised her class with bicycles on March 24, her birthday. In 2007, Meacham gave her class laptops. Not a woman of means, this feisty truck driver knows how to reach out to family, friends and employers, seeking their assistance with fulfilling dreams and needs for child
ren.
"I am just the cheerleader," she said modestly of her endeavors.
Indeed, this is an inspiring story of a modern-day tale of Aladdin. When a 9-year-old in her 2005-06 Latham Elementary Trucker Buddy class wished for all people to have a house to live in, this genie in Trucker Buddy disguise raised money in his honor for Habitat for Humanity. Other Trucker Buddies, family and friends, co-workers and even people Meacham barely knew contributed money for Habitat for Humanity as well as to the school supplies fund. Bob Mazurek, owner of Carolina Southern, donated the money for the rest of the students' wishes.
In recognition of her efforts as a Trucker Buddy and an ambassador for the trucking industry, Meacham was named the ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month for April. Yet, it was by far not just the gifts that earned Meacham this honor.
She has been nominated twice by her teachers at the Winston-Salem, N.C., school. In 2006, second-grade teacher Lillian Wilson wrote a glowing recommendation, "She has been very involved. She talks to them about being helpers in their homes and in the communities. Brenda is just an all around nice person. We love her here at Latham Elementary."
Earlier this year, her current teacher Ms. Jenkins nominated her again on behalf of her fifth graders. This class of 35 worked hard on projects through the Trucker Buddy pen-pal program, said Meacham, explaining that they had to write essays about making America better. As a reward, Meacham again championed the cause, and she and Carolina Southern made the laptops possible.
Meacham, a Trucker Buddy since 2004, has generated an enormous amount of positive publicity through her endeavors, hitting the headlines of most of the industry publications as well as the North Carolina news media and even Women's World magazine. In the process, she has helped expose thousands of people to a very positive image of our industry, while also making a positive impact on the lives of many children.
The lessons learned from a father who was a Baptist preacher have carried Trucker Buddy Meacham far in life. She credits her father with her enthusiastic outlook and a promise she teaches to children. Children are now repeating what her father taught her, as student Sergio did in his nomination letter: "She also taught us a promise that I will never forget... 'Give something, no charge, and pass it on.' I think she is the most generous person that ever walked the planet."
Appearing as a genie to these schoolchildren, by providing fancy gifts as well as needed items such as dictionaries, thesauruses, notebooks, pencils and erasers, was enough to become a hero at Latham Elementary. Yet it was the inner gift of living life to its fullest and mentoring that really made an impression, as evidenced by the comments the students made in their nomination letters:
"On her birthday we received laptops. She made my dream come true."
-Roneque
"Thanks Mrs. Meacham and other Trucker Buddies that try to help people everywhere."
-Jose
"Mrs. Meacham is the best Trucker Buddy a class could ever have. Every time I see her my day just lights up."
-Shania
Sadly, the best comment of all was not signed by the fifth grader:
"This year has been the best of all my years because I was in a Trucker Buddy program."
Meacham is among some 3,500 other professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a professional truck driver with a CDL who is willing to send a postcard each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY-BUDDY.
Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as ACS MultiMedia Advertising and TruckDriver.com to fund the program.
TruckDriver.com
Carrier of the Month
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.
When Harold Anderson began Anderson Trucking Service in 1955, his entrepreneurial spirit and superior leadership helped create a company that continues to thrive under the guidance of his family name to this day. Even now, after 51 years of success and growth in the always-changing trucking industry, drivers at Anderson can expect to be treated as part of the family. “This is one of the best companies I’ve ever worked for,” driver Norman Newson said. "From the day I started I was more than just a number to ATS.”
Drivers at Anderson are not only made to feel right at home, but also given a choice. From company driver to owner operator and regional to dedicated routes, drivers can choose what best suits their lifestyle. One thing drivers can be sure of is they will have the opportunity to make money. Drivers will tell you the same thing: “Anderson is geared to keeping you loaded and getting you miles,” driver Russell Bigham said.
So, what can you expect to earn as a driver at Anderson? Earnings depend upon what the driver is hauling and what category driver they are. For example, in the flatbed/specialized division most drivers start as a class 4, which allows them to haul legal freight plus some smaller over-dimensional loads. A driver will then progress to a 3, 2, 1 and 1A class which means more pay and responsibility for transporting more difficult permitted loads. The exceptional driver can graduate to the heavy haul division, which is truly an elite group of drivers. They drive a 4-axle tractor and pull multiple axle trailers.
One special opportunity Anderson offers to its drivers is their Pre-Certified Lease/Purchase Program, and it’s one of the best in the industry. With a $3200 bonus for completion of the 12-month program and top of the line 2004-2006 equipment (Freightliner, Volvo and Peterbilt), Anderson has created over 400 success stories with this program. Driver Fred Allen has only good things to say about the way Anderson manages this opportunity. “They make sure you know what you are doing and give you all the tools to make money,” he said. Even providing extra business classes to drivers in the program, Anderson gives them the knowledge and confidence they need to be a success.
“You can become an Owner Operator with no money down,” Heavy Haul driver Merrill Huber pointed out. “The best part is that I am allowed to be my own boss, but I still have all the support in the world from Anderson. It’s nice to have someone to help you along the way.”
The opportunity to work hard and make money is not the only thing that Anderson offers. Management realizes it’s important for drivers to get home when they want and need to. That’s why Anderson has several regional opportunities that help get drivers home more often.
Rollie Anderson , president and CEO of ATS, doesn’t hesitate when asked what the drivers mean to him. They are the backbone of the company. “Our drivers take such pride in serving the customer, taking care of equipment and traveling safely,” he said. “Owner operators are business partners at ATS. If the driver or owner operator does well, so does ATS.”
The possibilities for success at Anderson are endless. Over 50 years of growth and achievement doesn’t lie. Anderson is large enough to be a major carrier, but small enough to call drivers by their first name. In the huge, and always growing trucking industry, that definitely counts for a lot.
To learn more about becoming part of the Anderson family and the opportunities that await you as a driver, visit www.atsinc.com or call a recruiter today at 800-343-8787.
There is an old saying that one can never be too rich or too thin, and as far as some people are concerned, the first part of that saying applies to chocolate as well. Chocolate can never be too rich.
There are many kinds of chocolate treats, and here's what you told us about which treat you like best:
32% of you prefer your chocolate in candy bar form
17% prefer chocolate covered anything
17% prefer ice cream
14% prefer milkshakes
10% prefer cookies
5% prefer assorted boxed chocolates
The rest of you hate chocolate - or so you said - we've can’t imagine anyone hating chocolate, but we'll take you at your word.
The TruckDriver.com Truck Driver Turnover Survey is about to close, so if you haven't done so already, take this opportunity to participate. We'll have the results available next month.
In the meantime, take the TruckDriver.com Traveling Computer Survey. We'll have those results available next issue.
Until then, keep on truckin' and please drive safely.
Your Comments Are Always Welcome
We do like to hear from you and invite you to let us know how we can improve the e-Report. Please send your ideas and suggestions to: jobs@truckdriver.com
