Kenworth Truck Co. Reaches 100,000 Likes
May 1, 2014
Kenworth owners, drivers and enthusiasts will be happy to know that Kenworth Truck Co. has reached 100,000 likes on its Facebook page. The site is aimed as a forum for information, thoughts and discussions about Kenworth trucks. There is also an interesting history of the company, dating back to 1923. To receive Facebook updates, visit www.kenworth.com and click on “Like us on Facebook” located at the bottom right of the homepage.
It Pays to be Safe
April 25, 2014
All too often, companies try to take advantage of their drivers by forcing unsafe practices and punishing those who don’t comply. However, in the end, the good guys always win and the safety of the drivers and the public at large is protected.
The most recent case involves Absolute Waste Removal, who fired a driver after raising safety concerns about new procedures. In a news release from the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, it was reported that the company had to reinstate the driver, pay more than $23,000 in back wages with interest, pay $50,000 in compensatory and $50,000 in punitive damages, as well as pay attorney fees.
So, let this be a lesson for all you new drivers. Never break the law and put yourself in danger because of company policy. It is truckers who must pay the fines for driving over hours, and truckers who bear the responsibility for crashing because of fatigue. In the end, it pays to be safe.
The Route 24 “Horror Show”
April 21, 2014
There are many horrible places to drive in this country, and Route 24 in Massachusetts is one of those. In fact, students at the Parker Professional Driving School in Avon are warned about this stretch of road specifically. It’s a dangerous drive for novice and experienced truckers alike, with speeders and aggressive drivers making life difficult for everyone on the road. See the full story here:
http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20140420/NEWS/140429664/12145/NEWS/?tag=1
Smile, You’re on Camera!
April 15, 2014
Companies such as Lytx and SmartDrive sell truck video systems to capture accidents a well as driver performance while on the road. Trucking companies that use these products may have better safety stats, but they certainly don’t have happier drivers.
However, driver cams are often turned on or off depending on the driver’s performance. Actions such as hard braking, swerving and other unsafe behaviors trigger the in-cab camera to turn on. Also, one of the new features in Lytx systems is that fleet owners will have the option of rewarding safe drivers by turning off the in-cab cam while leaving just the forward-view camera operational.
In either case, having a camera pointed at your face during long working hours is always unnerving, even if you’re an excellent driver with dashing good looks and a narcissistic personality.
CDL Endorsements
April 15, 2014
If you’re taking the CDL exam soon, you may be wondering which endorsements to get. Well, this article from truckingtruth.com makes a very strong case for getting all of the endorsements. You may not think you need to, but before deciding, it’s worth your time (a couple of minutes) and money (completely free) to give this helpful information a quick read. See the full story here:
http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/Article-2329/which-cdl-endorsements-should-i-get
Road Test Time: Will You Be Ready?
April 15, 2014
Here at Test Questions & Answers, we have everything you need to study and ace your written CDL exam, however, the road test will be another task altogether. Do you have what it takes to drive an 80-ton vehicle under the watchful eye of a CDL Examiner? Sure you do! It just takes some practice, patience, know-how, and an ability to remain calm (or at least appear to) in a high-stakes situation. Here are a few tips to help you survive the experience:
Relax. This is the most often-repeated and possibly most important piece of advice experienced truckers give to new drivers. Maintain your composure no matter what. Part of the exam is testing how you perform under pressure, and how you recover after making a mistake. Often, smaller mistakes such as missing a shift or taking a turn too wide can be forgiven if you handle the situation calmly and quickly correct your driving. The examiner knows you are still new to this, and also realizes that your training will continue with your first trucking company. However, losing your composure is a clear sign that your aren’t cut out for this industry and can result in failure.
Check Your Mirrors. Situational awareness is key in the truck driving industry. It’s critically important that you check your mirrors often to know what is going on around you, and especially before changing lanes. In fact, not checking your mirrors properly before changing lanes can result in an automatic failure. For this reason, don’t just glance but noticeably look at your mirrors so that the examiner can see you are checking them.
Watch the Curbs. Hitting the curb can also be considered an automatic failure. For this reason, if you’re unsure about a turn it’s safer to take it a little wide than to cut it short and end up hitting the curb.
Stopping. Always come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights, and when you accelerate be sure to do so correctly. Don’t forget where your gears are, and if you do, quickly recover before stalling out. Stalling is an automatic failure, and rolling backward before taking off from a stop is another automatic failure because of its safety implications.
Use Turn Signals. Failing to use your turn signal when changing lanes is another reason for the examiner to fail you.
Remember the Basics. There is a lot of information to remember from your CDL license test, however, don’t forget all the basics from your original drivers license test either! Review things such as right-of-way laws and driver safety.
Keep Your Cool. Just to repeat the relaxation mantra again, we’ll wrap up the list of tips with this age-old advice: Keep your cool. During the test, your examiner may be making marks constantly. Don’t assume they are all bad marks… some may be good marks. And, don’t sweat it if you fail because you can always take the test again.
Remember, if you don’t let the pressure get to you then you’re already ahead of the game. Good luck and safe travels!
Truck Driving Tips
April 14, 2014
This list of truck driving tips comes from a seasoned professional, and has some great insights to help new drivers break into the industry. The advice is invaluable for truckers in their first year of driving, with plenty of honest tips to keep newbies running smooth.
FedEx, Bus Crash Leaves 10 Dead
April 14, 2014
An accident between a FedEx delivery truck and a charter bus of high school students resulted in 10 deaths and at least 30 injuries. The truck crossed the median on Interstate 5 near Orland and crashed into the charter bus transporting students to an annual event for low-income and first-generation prospective college students. Feds are now investigating. See the full story here:
http://www.overdriveonline.com/feds-investigating-bus-truck-crash-that-left-10-dead-dozens-injured/
Midwife Mike Hawthorne
April 12, 2014
Life as a trucker can be rough, presenting all the challenges of the American life. However, you would never guess that helping to deliver a baby would be one of those challenges. But, that’s just the dilemma that was faced by Trucker Mike Hawthorne not once, not twice, but three times over his driving career. See the full story here:
http://www.overdriveonline.com/interviewing-nfi-roadside-midwife-mike-hawthorne/
Gas-Saving Game-Changing Tractor-Trailer
April 10, 2014
At 9.9 mpg, the proud engineers of this tractor-trailer have accomplished a 54% increase in fuel efficiency. Now, that’s a real game changer. If put into use, this truck could save owners tons of money, reduce shipping costs and make the prices of common consumer goods cheaper for everyone. See the full story here:
http://www.wired.com/2013/04/super-truck/