Trucker would like to see one year of training for holders of CDLs

The Trucker News Services

12/23/2009

I can assure you the one year of road training is what all students need.

There are a lot of accidents that happen and private property that goes unreported at truck stop parking lots

I was at the TA in Bloomsbury, N.J., parked and taking my 10-hour break when a Werner student hit my truck and tried to leave the truck stop.

 I woke up and rushed out the truck and I hit the back of my head. I did catch up with them. That student was with a trainer and tried to leave.

I have to live the rest of my life with two small herniated discs. All trucking companies need to train students a minimum of one year. I have been around trucks and driving all my life; I know this industry inside and outside.  My suggestion to you is do a survey among experienced drivers; they all will agree and forward this survey to the Department of Transportation to Ray LaHood.

If you need to get in touch with me my number is (305) 609-0209. I care for the transportation industry and safety of all of us.

Thanks,

— Hassell

Driver doesn’t necessarily agree on the value of single-wide tires

I read with interest the article by Lyndon Finney regarding Con-ways' Bruce Stockton’s comments on single-wide vs. duals.

Hmmm. In my opinion, his comments are somewhat biased in favor of these single-wides, probably rightfully so as the discount Con-way receives is without doubt substantial. I do offer the following as food for thought.

Stockton claims "there's only one steer tire on each side of the tractor so why are we worried about having one tire on each drive axle or trailer axle?"

You are aware, sir, that steer tires are not generally driven or powered, but rather just pushed, and  therefore not subjected to the same factors affecting a drive tire? Additionally, 12,000 pounds vs. 34,000 pounds might be something to consider in this argument.

Have you ever driven a big rig in the snow and ice, Mr. Stockton? I have heard from a few drivers of rigs with the single-wides and their comments generally address the fact that the truck handles poorly in this environment.

Have you ever put chains on these single-wides? Try it sometime and let me know how that goes. The drivers I spoke with say they would not even try to put chains on these big brutes.

Stockton claims "drivers comment on the smoother, quieter, ride." I only know when they pass me it sounds like an airplane running next to me.

Stockton claims "drivers say the single wide tires "look cool." When was that criteria for saving money?

But the best one is:  Stockton claims his company has actually had fewer road failures with these wide base tires because (ready for this?) "drivers can actually see when they have a low tire. They no longer have to thump on the tire to get a perception as to  whether the tire is low." Well, sir, correct me if I'm wrong here, but the only thing you learn from "thumping" a tire is whether or not it is flat. They make tire pressure gauges for checking tires and 5 percent down from recommended inflation pressure can be very detrimental to tire wear, as well as fuel economy. (I carry and use daily two different styles of gauges).

As I stated initially, this is only my opinion, coupled with 10 years over-the-road experience (the last 3.5 as owner-operator). So if this makes your desk, take it with a grain of salt, or hit the "D" button.

P.S. My truck (as owner-operator) has never sat on the side of the road for a tire failure or any other reason. I attribute this to pre-trip and post-trip inspections coupled with carrying out carefully planned preventative maintenance actions.

—  S.C. Von Tersch

Klamath Falls, Ore.

Trucker to ‘pin heads’: teach young people about driving around big rigs

Congrats to Ferro for her confirmation to the FMCSA.

Although they say she is extremely qualified for this position, I still feel she is going to be another pinhead Washington bureaucrat.

Again they are going to focus on HOS, black boxes, speed limiters, etc., all in the name of making the highways safer for the under educated drivers of privately owned vehicles.

The last thing our industry needs is more regulations on an already extremely over-regulated industry.

Every year they make a new regulation which is designed to do the exact same thing as a regulation already on the books, all in an attempt to make Mr. late-for-work, talking on his cell phone, drinking his coffee and eating his Krispy Kreme doughnut on the way to work while swerving in and out of traffic feel safer.

While our industry has made great strides on it's own without government intervention on trying to educate the public on proper etiquette around heavy vehicles, it still falls extremely short from hitting the needed mark.

I was talking with a DOT officer in Colorado awhile back during a random paperwork check (and yes I passed no problem) and she informed me she teaches driver’s education at the local school district she lives in. When I asked her if, since she is familiar with the trucking industry, she taught about truck safety, she said sadly no. She was not allowed to teach it since it was not part of the approved curriculum. But she did try to incorporate as much as she could.

Ferro, I would like to propose you get the other pinheads in Washington to understand the need for better education of our current drivers and especially our up-and-coming young drivers, of the need for caution and safety around commercial vehicles instead of concentrating on more regulations for our industry.

We are not in the need of black boxes or speed limiters attached to our trucks. There are already laws in effect to control these things.

Perhaps better enforcement of already existing laws, would be a better consideration instead.

— Dale Herring

Driver says information is good, but readers need to know a little more

Your article "Every person has a voice, but it has to be used in the right place to be heard," [Barb Kampbell’s “Lighter Load” column in the Nov. 15-30 print issue] included a lot of good information but drivers need to know a little more.

If writing to their congressmen they should be registered to vote and preferably have voted. Congressmen's staff do check to see if the person even bothers to vote. Why spend time trying to please someone you don't get a vote from?

The other thing is when writing show knowledge of what you