Just in case you forgot, here’s a little Valentine’s Day poem that will make that special someone forget that you forgot!

Veggie Valentine

You may not "carrot" all for me

The way I care for you.

You may "turnip" your nose

When I plead with you

But if your "heart" should "beet" with mine

Forever "lettuce" hope

There is no reason in the world

Why we two "Cantaloupe."

Author Unknown

Latest Forum Topics

How many women truck drivers here?
How old is your truck?

ATA Renews Call for FMCSA to Implement Crash Accountability

The American Trucking Associations today reiterated its call for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to immediately establish a process to remove from motor carriers’ records crashes where it was plainly evident that the carrier was not to blame.

Currently, carriers’ scores in FMCSA’s safety monitoring system, Compliance, Safety, Accountability, are based on all carrier-involved crashes, including those that the companies’ drivers did not cause and could not reasonably have prevented.  ATA pointed to several examples of such crashes that have occurred over the past year:

“Just last month, police gave chase to a driver of a stolen car who crossed a grassy median and struck a truck head-on,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “It is clearly inappropriate for FMCSA to use these types of crashes to prioritize trucking companies for future government intervention, especially when responsibility for the crash is so obvious.  

“Including these types of crashes in the calculation of carriers’ CSA scores, paints an inappropriate picture for shippers and others that these companies are somehow unsafe,” he said.

Earlier this week, FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee heard from a crash reconstructionist who contended that FMCSA could not determine fault in many instances based solely on information from police accident reports.  

“This may be the case with some crashes,” said Graves, “but not when a drunk driver rear ends a gasoline tanker or the driver of a stolen car crosses a grassy median and strikes a truck head on.”  

Over a year ago, FMCSA shelved plans to make just these sorts of determinations in favor of further study. ATA subsequently called on FMCSA to establish an interim process to address crashes where it is “plainly evident” that the crash should not count against the trucking company.

 “FMCSA has been evaluating this issue for years and is not due to complete additional research until this summer,” Graves said.  “We don’t need more research to conclude that it is inappropriate to use crashes like these to paint the involved trucking companies and professional drivers as unsafe.”  

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

TruckDriver.com

Carrier of the Month

Western Express, Inc.

Western Express, Inc. is an asset based truckload carrier, founded in 1991 by Donna and Wayne Wise. In the last twenty years the company has grown to become a large tier industry truckload carrier with 2012 annual revenue in excess of nearly half of a billion dollars.  

Over the past twenty-plus years, Western Express has learned to anticipate changes in the marketplace and respond by providing increased service offerings to their customers while at the same time matching up their services to their drivers with their changing needs in the market. Throughout their history, this dual focus on customers and drivers has helped them create opportunities for success for everyone who works for - or with - Western Express, and has been the catalyst for their growth.

Western Express, Inc. is a service focused company. Their first goal is to serve the needs of the customer, while also focusing on lanes and areas that provide profit to company.

Their service offerings include truckload van, dedicated fleet, flatbed transportation, logistics and expedited truck/rail. They take pride in their fleet and own and operate approximately 2500 power units and in excess of 6500 trailers. 100% of their power units are satellite tracked.

Western Express, Inc. has the BEST tractors!

1. Their trucks are the newest around
2. Commercial trucks are retired within 3 years
3. Maintenance in house to keep you on the road

Western Express, Inc. has the BEST runs!

1. Teams and Solo drivers wanted to operate Volvo and Freightliner semi trucks
2. Dedicated runs to 48 states
3. High weekly miles
4. Predictable home time

Western Express, Inc.  Offers the BEST pay!

1. Solos starts at some of the best pay in the industry
2. Excellent benefits after only 30 days!
3. 401K
4. Paid Vacation

Western Express is the name to remember for today’s best career options. You will receive excellent pay, big miles, top-notch equipment, and the hometime that you deserve.

Now Hiring Dry Van and Flatbed Company Drivers and Owner Operators.

1-day Orientation for Van Drivers

2-day Orientation for Flatbed Drivers

Paid Weekly, Direct Deposit, Layover Pay, Stop Off Pay

1,550 dry van and 1,350 flatbed units.

Western Express: 877-316-7100

Western Express 

NOW OFFERING $500 SIGN-ON BONUS FOR FLATBED DRIVERS

Jim Stinemates

Trucker Buddy of the Month

January 2013

Lee Lohr is a 4/5 grade teacher at New Century School in Verona, Wisconsin along with his class has nominated Jim Stinemates, a driver for Walmart as Trucker Buddy of the Month.  Mr. Lohr and Mr. Stinemates have worked together for over 5 years and is the best Trucker Buddy with whom he's been matched.

Mr. Lohr comments on Jim. “I truly appreciate the effort, care, attitude, respect, and professionalism he displays on a regular basis, both in his consistent and dependable letter writing, but also during his visits. He regularly writes to my students and  sends or brings them small items of value. I can’t tell you how much my students enjoy receiving them and look forward to his visit at the end of the year."

The students enjoy his letters and especially like to hear about how his life changes. Even teaching them about the death of the inherited pet rabbit. They like that he sends pictures of himself and how he includes his family in this relationship we have. The students particularly like the way he takes the time to answer each and every question.

“As a teacher, says Mr. Lohr, I love the various aspects of  incorporating the Trucker Buddy program into the curriculum. There really are numerous opportunities to build in math, social

studies, mapping, and especially literacy skills. Each year is different and it really depends on me how much time I can put into it, but the opportunities are limitless."

"I know Jim is a tremendous representative for the Trucker Buddy program and does it the right way. I had one previous couple years back that didn’t work out so well, and the difference is

glaring. Please consider Jim Stinemates for this well deserved honor.”

The results of the  TruckDriver.com Wi-Fi or Not Wi-Fi Survey have been tabulated and here they are.

When you are out on the road do you ever access the Internet at any of the FREE hotspots available?

Never - 28%

Rarely - 11%

Sometimes - 26%

All of the time - 25%

What’s a hotspot? - 10%

There’s always ten-percent who don’t get the word!

Next up, the TruckDriver.com Tax Return Survey.

Until next time, keep on truckin’ and please drive safely.

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