If you live in North America and travel the highways and by-ways of the United Sates, then you must surely know about Super Tuesday.
In 2008, Super Tuesday is February 5th. The date when 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses. There are 52 percent of all pledged Democratic Party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican Party delegates at stake.
Perhaps it is a coincidence (perhaps not), that Super Tuesday and Fat Tuesday fall on the same Tuesday this year - - - Happy Super Fat Tuesday!
Now in its 45th year, Mid-West Truckers Association represents and services over 2,700 members in 15 states. Mid-West Truckers Association members are trucking companies and companies that operate trucks as part of their business.
With the rapid-fire changes that are taking place in trucking in regards to laws, regulations and the economy, few successful companies can survive without the "eyes and ears" assistance of an association. Mid-West Truckers Association is not just the lobbying voice for the trucking industry, but also provides a wide range of member services, including federally mandated drug and alcohol testing, licensing and title service, self-funded workers compensation programs, and training and education. Regional advisory groups meet on a regular basis to discuss industry issues. The 45th Annual Mid-West Truck Show and Convention will be held February 7-9, 2008 in Peoria, Illinois, where thousands will see the latest in equipment and hear expert speakers.
Mid-West Truckers Association works closely with all state and federal agencies involved in the trucking industry. The Association serves on many state, regional and national advisory boards and is considered a leader in representing the trucking industry in the Midwest.
ACS MultiMedia
Trucker Buddy of the Month
Howard Salmon
Howard Salmon hit the ground running when he joined Trucker Buddy as a volunteer in 2005, engaging his class right from the start.
“The class immediately responded to him with great enthusiasm and admiration,” said Sonja Padgett, teacher of the second-grade class with which Salmon is matched at Anderson Heights Elementary School in Anderson, Calif. “Every year gets better.”
The above and beyond that earned Salmon the ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month award for January, however, was his additional effort to support the organization through fundraising.
Early on, Salmon was as inspired by his students as they were by him, and he wrote a Trucker Buddy song for his class. Frequently accompanied by his guitar when he visited his class, Salmon, Padgett and the students all sing along together.
“This program is so inspiring,” Salmon said. “I don’t have children of my own, and being a Trucker Buddy enables me to give something to lots of children.”
Part of the song to be recorded includes children singing, which will be performed on the CD by the second graders at Anderson Heights Elementary. A sample of the lyrics:
“Who would they look up to if I turn and walk away, and who would they rely on if I look the other way. It’s important that I teach them and to help them on their way, ’cause who would they look up to if I turn and walk away. Take the time to listen to what they have to say ’cause the days just go so fast and might just slip away. When they stop to ask me questions and I just send them away, they’ll find another answer and they might just drift away.”
In early 2006, Salmon was moved to share the song with other Trucker Buddy classes and began pursuing options for having the lyrics recorded and set to CD. To date, he has gotten the music recorded and donated, the next step is to get the lyrics added to the music, and he is seeking sponsors to assist with the cost of having the CDs burned. The goal is to have the song available to the public in time for distribution at the Mid-America Trucking Show, the largest trade show in the trucking industry, which is scheduled for March 27-29. Salmon will donate all proceeds from the CDs to Trucker Buddy.
Songwriting is not the only talent Salmon brings to his class, noted Padgett.
“Since he is also an accomplished photographer, we have received beautiful pictures of places we have never been to, including historical monuments,” the teacher said, adding that he also sends pictures of native plants and animals from where they are across the country.
“This year he took a group picture of our two second-grade classes and had it printed on t-shirts, which he gave to each student and teacher,” Padgett wrote in her June 2007 nomination letter. “We all signed his shirt so he could wear it at the truck show in Las Vegas.”
While having all this fun, Howard still adheres to the basics of the program to supplement and encourage the students’ education.
“Howard has traveled across the country sending us e-mail messages, pictures and postcards,” Padgett said. “We think he would be a terrific Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month.”
Salmon is an owner operator who lives in Anderson, Calif.
Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of program sponsor ACS MultiMedia Advertising ( www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. They also receive an IdleAire window adaptor and a free Gold Membership ( www.IdleAire.com), a Koolatron cooler and a complete set of Airtabs for their tractor or trailer ( www.airtab.com). The class will receive a CrossCountry USA game from Ingenuity Works ( www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the continent.
Salmon is among some 3,000 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.
Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as ACS MultiMedia Advertising and TruckDriver.com to fund the program.
Mail Call
From: AP
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 10:34 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Job description
Yes, I am inclined to agree that the way the trucking industry is run is the crux of the matter. I would not advise any one to become an o-t-r driver.
I have some 35 plus years on the road, and I am very disillusioned about this industry. The people who are in charge have no idea as to what we have to do to get a load from point A to B. We have to contend with dispatchers that base there times of delivery on what they see on a computer. What happens in the real world is quite a bit different.
For one minute, sit down and figure out just what we have to do out on the road. When the weather channel states that travel is not recommended, what are we doing. (Driving) When we break down, we have to sit (usually on the side of the road) and wait for the repair truck. We don't get paid for this. Rush hours slow us down. Running the mountains with an underpowered truck. Being dispatched at o'clock at nite, so we have to run all hours of the night. Not being given enough info on the load. Bills and border crossing info. I could keep going on and on about these things, but if you are a driver with any time under his belt you have lived this already. So my advice to the powers that run this industry would be, go for a ride sometimes and see just what we have to do out there. It's not a 9 to 5 job. It is a good job, just not the way it is being run. I challenge the companies to do a study on (TRUCK DRIVERS) they may get a surprise as to what they find out.
I welcome any responses to this note.
Editor: The floor is officially open .
* * * * *
From: jlb
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:27 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Re: Thank You from Truckdriver.com
Good morning, team! Within less than five minutes, my email lit up like one of those yellow directional flashing arrows on the interstate. I have been talking to various major carriers since. I thought, “This is a good thing! “
Will keep you posted. Thanks again.
Editor: You are welcome .
In our most recent survey, The TruckDriver.com Online Survey, we asked:
What one online activity do you participate in most?
(Use your best Richard Dawson voice when you read this) Survey Says!
A. Sending and receiving e-mail - 35%
B. Surfing the net - 39%
C. Shopping the net - 3%
D. Music - listening and/or downloading - 2%
E. Video - watching and/or downloading - 5%
F. Playing games alone or with other online gamers - 8%
G. Taking online surveys - 5%
H. I don't participate in any online activities - 3%
Aren’t you just a little curious about that last three percent? We are.
Check out the TruckDriver.com Super Fat Tuesday Survey. Bet you can’t guess what this one’s about.
Until next time, keep on truckin' and please drive safely.
Your Comments Are Always Welcome
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