| Dear {%%FName%%}, |
april 1, 2014 |
They say that sometimes a change in the weather will do you good. We’ve sure seen plenty of changes in the weather so far this year. From extended periods of freezing cold temperatures to blizzards with record-breaking snowfalls, we’ve seen avalanches, flooding, landslides and even record high temps in some parts of the country, and now, to top it off, Tornado Season is underway.
If recent Tornado history tells us anything, it tells us that a tornado can strike anywhere, anytime.
The most important thing to remember about tornadoes, is that they often strike without warning. You should always 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
DOT Proposes Use of Electronic Logbooks to Improve Efficiency
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced a proposal to require interstate commercial truck and bus companies to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) in their vehicles to improve compliance with the safety rules that govern the number of hours a driver can work.
The proposed rulemaking would significantly reduce the paperwork burden associated with hours-of-service record keeping for interstate truck and bus drivers - the largest in the federal government following tax-related filings - and improve the quality of logbook data.
"Today's proposal will improve safety while helping businesses by cutting unnecessary paperwork - exactly the type of government streamlining President Obama called for in his State of the Union address," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "By leveraging innovative technology with Electronic Logging Devices, we have the opportunity to save lives and boost efficiency for both motor carriers and safety inspectors."
The proposed rule will ultimately reduce hours-of-service violations by making it more difficult for drivers to misrepresent their time on logbooks and avoid detection by FMCSA and law enforcement personnel. Analysis shows it will also help reduce crashes by fatigued drivers and prevent approximately 20 fatalities and 434 injuries each year for an annual safety benefit of $394.8 million.
"By implementing Electronic Logging Devices, we will advance our mission to increase safety and prevent fatigued drivers from getting behind the wheel," said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "With broad support from safety advocates, carriers and members of Congress, we are committed to achieving this important step in the commercial bus and truck industries."
The Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which was sent to the Federal Register to publish on March 12, supersedes a prior 2011 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to electronic on-board recorders. It includes provisions to:
Respect driver privacy by ensuring that ELD records continue to reside with the motor carriers and drivers. Electronic logs will continue to only be made available to FMCSA personnel or law enforcement during roadside inspections, compliance reviews and post-crash investigations.
Protect drivers from harassment through an explicit prohibition on harassment by a motor carrier owner towards a driver using information from an ELD. It will also establish a procedure for filing a harassment complaint and creates a maximum civil penalty of up to $11,000 for a motor carrier that engages in harassment of a driver that leads to an hours-of-service violation or the driver operating a vehicle when they are so fatigued or ill it compromises safety. The proposal will also ensure that drivers continue to have access to their own records and require ELDs to include a mute function to protect against disruptions during sleeper berth periods.
Increase efficiency for law enforcement personnel and inspectors who review driver logbooks by making it more difficult for a driver to cheat when submitting their records of duty status and ensuring the electronic logs can be displayed and reviewed electronically, or printed, with potential violations flagged.
Proposed Rule: Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service Supporting Documents
Request for Comments
Rob Abbott, ATA's vice president of safety policy, discusses FMCSA's proposal to mandate the use of electronic logging devices. ATAMedia
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Missouri Trucking Pair Collects Award for Efforts with French Students
A husband-wife truck driving pair from Northeast Missouri was recognized for its global efforts as part of a worldwide cultural program, according to a published report.
Bob and Linda Caffee of Silex were granted the Outstanding Trucker Buddy award by Trucker Buddy International for their efforts with elementary school students in Northwest France, Land Line Magazine reports. Both members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Caffees have been sending letters, postcards and additional mail to the students in St.-Malo.
Linda said she and her husband connected with a French teacher via the website for Trucker Buddy.
"The teacher moved on to do something different," she told the news source. "I was asked if I wanted to do another class and I said I would, gladly."
The recipients of the mail from the truck pair range in age from 10 to 12 years of age. They reside in a region of the European nation that is renowned for its beauty. And they love getting mail from the U.S.
In addition to sending postcards and letters, Linda also sends the students emails. She sends physical mail every two weeks or so and she fulfills the obligation of doing so in English.
"So it's a great exercise in learning English," she told the news source.
And the French students returned the favor late last year.
The two received letters from the children just before Christmas and they included pictures of each student. Linda said she exerted effort to respond to each student.
"It was really fun, and Bob and I wrote back to each one," she told the publication.
The trucking pair also keeps a blog, which often includes the latest about the cross-Atlantic correspondence between the students and the professional truckers.
The students also keep an eye on the blog.
"Our class in France has sent us one-minute sound bites with the kids speaking to us through an avatar they have created," one blog states, according to the news source. "We were thrilled to receive these and listen to each one of them speak to us in English with their delightful French accents."
She said that she would like to visit France some time, noting she admires the instructor with whom they have been maintaining correspondence.
"The teacher is amazing, and I'd like to visit her one day," she told the news source.
In addition to providing lessons about the English language, the project also imparts lessons about geography and math. She forwards the students mileage records about their travels and the students turn that data into kilometers.
Here are the results from the TruckDriver.com Birthday Survey.
Were you planned for, a surprise or an accident?
Planned for - 28%
Surprise - 24%
Accident - 18%
I don’t understand the question - 30%
We’re not sure what those results tell us, but we’ll try to make the next survey question a little easier to understand!
Take the TruckDriver.com Truck Show Survey, and we do mean The Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, and please pick one answer and one answer only.
Until next time, keep on truckin’ and please drive safely.
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