It’s Tornado season again. And again, and again. According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, OK, April was a record breaking month.
With nearly 300 tornadoes reported as this is being written, April 2011 will easily surpass the previous April record of 267 set in 1974. The record for most tornadoes in any month was set in May 2003, with 543 tornadoes, breaking the record of 399, set in June 1992.
We may be in for an all-round record breaking Tornado season this year, so here are some tips on Tornado Safety.
The most important thing to know about tornadoes, is that they can strike without warning. That is why you should be alert to changing weather conditions, and use both broadcast information and your own senses and experience to know when to take cover.
Tornado Watch
A Tornado Watch 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
A 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 is 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 workbench.
If there is 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.
Trucker Buddy International Announces Board and Officer Changes
Three long-time board members ended their terms and moved to the Trucker Buddy Advisory Council at the Mid America Trucking Show in March. Mark Taylor with Walmart, Mike Ryan with Ryan Motor Sports and Peter Charboneau with Over The Road Canada completed two, four year terms and retired from the board of directors. Their board duties have been assumed by David Giroux, Mark Zickos, Gary Darnell, Ed Novoa and Dennis Day. All were elected with unanimous votes.
“Mark, Mike and Peter have done a tremendous job as board members and have been tremendous assets to us for the past eight years. With the depth of equity they have within the program I’m thrilled that they accepted the challenge to help us on our Advisory Council. We will need their help and advice in moving Trucker Buddy forward. Mark served as President and Peter as Vice President during some very hard times for Trucker Buddy and our current success is due to their hard work and dedication I’m also excited that David, Mark, Gary, Ed and Dennis have accepted the challenge of helping us to continue to grow and improve Trucker Buddy”, says Randy Schwartzenburg, Executive Director.
New officers were elected at the annual board meeting held at Mid America in March. The new officers are:
Don Darden with Bridgestone Americas – President
Elizabeth Barna with American Trucking Association – Vice President
K. C. Brau with Crete Carriers – Secretary
Steve Sichterman with ACS A Xerox Company – Treasurer
New Board Members Information:
David Giroux is the Director, Marketing Communications & Global Branding for Meritor, in Troy, Michigan. David has over 12 years of experience in the trucking industry which includes four years as the Director, Marketing and Communications at Peterbilt Motors. He is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. degree in Psychology and Humanities.
Mark Zickos is the National Transportation Asset Manager for Frito-Lay and has worked in supply chain logistics for more than 31 years. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Alabama. Mark is also very involved in his community serving on the school board and assisting the local YMCA.
Gary Darnell worked for Walmart Stores since 2005 and is currently the Communications Manager; Logistics HR/Compliance Project Manager handling communications for transportation division. Gary has been working in the area of communications for over 20 years which includes extensive television news experience. He earned a B.S. degree in Communications with honors from Missouri State University.
Ed Novoa is the General Manager of Over The Road Canada Media and Infiniti Solution’s Canadian venture. He is has been very involved with associations having formed the first Truck Stop Media Association in Canada as well serving on the steering committee that formed the first, official, government recognized, 'voluntary apprenticeship' program for the truck driver position in Ontario, Canada. It is now called now the ‘Tractor Trailer Commercial Driver Apprenticeship Program’ and is the first of its kind in Canada.
Dennis Day has been a professional truck driver for 31 years and is currently serving as an Americas’ Road Team member. Dennis has accumulated more than 2.9 million accident-free miles. Dennis is a long-haul driver for Con-Way Freight and has been an active member of Trucker Buddy for over 4 years.
Trucker Buddy International, an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, often called the number one trucking image campaign in North America, has helped educate schoolchildren and introduce educators to the trucking industry. This gives them the world through the eyes of a professional truck driver. The Trucker Buddy program helps to educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades K-8 as supervised by their teachers.
After an extensive screening process, the professional truck drivers are matched with a class and as directed by the teacher, drivers share news about their travels with their class. Students write letters and send pictures to their drivers. Students' skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies, and history are enhanced and learning is made fun.
Since 1992, Trucker Buddy International has helped educate over a million schoolchildren and introduced them to caring, compassionate men and women, professional truck drivers. The on-going success of the program is due to driver volunteers, participating teachers and the contributions of sponsors. There is no cost to the drivers or teachers to participate in the program. The Trucker Buddy program is funded entirely by sponsorships and donations.
Singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson
To Perform at the Great American Trucking Show
Free Friday night concert is sponsored by Mobil Delvac.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson will take the stage at the Dallas Convention Center Friday night, Aug. 26, in a free concert for Great American Trucking Show attendees sponsored by the team behind Mobil Delvac heavy duty diesel engine oil.
A Montgomery, Ala., native, Johnson’s latest album, an ambitious 25-song double entitled The Guitar Song, recently went gold and is up for Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. The album also received two Grammy nominations – Country Album of the Year and Best Male Country Vocal performance for “Macon.”
Johnson rocketed to Nashville stardom with songwriter awards for 2005’s “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” which he co-wrote for Trace Adkins, along with Song of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association for co-writing the 2007 George Strait hit, “Give It Away.”
Johnson’s 2008 album, That Lonesome Song, was hailed as a masterwork by Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others. In 2009, the album brought Johnson a Gold Record and Song of the Year accolades for the song, “In Color.” Johnson has toured with Hank Williams Jr., played Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid and was one of the few country acts to perform at the Bonnaroo festival in June 2010.
“We are thrilled to have a performer of Jamey’s caliber at the Great American Trucking Show,” said Alan K. Sims, vice president/executive director of events for Randall-Reilly, which produces the show. “We’re excited once again to partner with our friends at Mobil Delvac to bring a free concert to truckers who attend GATS.”
“For the ninth year in a row, the Mobil Delvac team would like to thank all the truck drivers for their hard work and dedication that keeps all industries moving, year after year,” said Marci Crigger, commercial vehicle lubricants marketing advisor, ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties Company, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation. “Jamey Johnson and his band are sure to bring energy and excitement to this year’s show and we are thrilled to bring such a talented performer to the deserving truck drivers and their families.”
Jamey Johnson will appear at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, at the Dallas Convention Center. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis, beginning Friday at 9:00 a.m., under the Mobil Delvac tent, in the GATS main registration lobby.
The 2011 Great American Trucking Show promises to be a not-to-be-missed event, with more than 500 exhibitors, the Custom Rigs’ Pride & Polish National Championship, TruckSmart educational sessions and a Driver Recruitment Pavilion. Once again, GATS will host the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference, produced in conjunction with Randall-Reilly and the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, prior to the opening of the show.
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The results of the TruckDriver.com Webcam Survey are in, and it looks like we haven’t quite caught up with the Jetson’s yet, but we are definitely getting closer!
35% of you reported using some type of video conferencing to communicate with friends and family back home while you are out on the road. It is pretty easy to imagine that number being well over 50% in the next five years.
In the meantime, take the TruckDriver.com Loan Me a Dime Survey and think about the past.
Untiil next time, keep on truckin’ and please drive safely!
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