Recognition Road
Cadenas named Driver of the Year by National Carriers
Juan Cadenas receives driver of the year award
Juan Cadenas of Somerton, Ariz., has been named the Elite Fleet’s Driver of the Year by National Carriers, Inc., (NCI) for his excellent service and dedication to the company. Cadenas has been an owner operator with NCI since December of 2007. “This is a great honor for me,” says Cadenas. “National Carriers has been very good to me.” Cadenas, who has driven professionally for 14 years, was named Driver of the Month in February 2009. Drivers of the Month are nominated by NCI personnel and are evaluated based on performance, on-time deliveries, DOT inspections, safety record and so on.
All Drivers of the Month for that year are then considered for Driver of the Year by a committee which determines who best fits the Driver of the Year qualities. A banquet is held honoring all of the Drivers of the Month and the Driver of the Year is announced.
NCI brought Cadenas and his family to the company’s headquarters in Liberal, Kan., for the banquet where they were surprised by the announcement that Cadenas won. “Nobody knew I would win it. They just told us the banquet was to honor the Drivers of the Month,” he says. “My family was very excited.” As Driver of the Year, Cadenas was given an award jacket, a clock, plaque, hat and $5,000.
According to Cadenas, National Carriers has been very responsive to his professional and personal needs. “They keep my miles steady and have supported me in many ways,” he says. “When I wanted more home time, National Carriers moved me to the Western Region where I’m home every few days. I feel that they really care about me and my family but also they care that my business does well.”
Call 888-707-7729 today for details or visit www.nationalcarriers.com.
Schneider National Repeats as Kimberly-Clark’s Carrier of the Year
Schneider National, Inc., premier provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services, has been named the 2009 Carrier of the Year by Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB). This marks the second consecutive year that Schneider National was chosen to receive this prestigious award. Kimberly-Clark provides some of the world’s most recognized consumer brands serving more than 150 countries.
“Schneider is our go-to carrier, providing our entire organization with the service and value we require,” said Steve Harmon, vice president of transportation for Kimberly-Clark. “This past year alone, they exceeded our stringent service expectations for all 23 of our most critical strategic customers.”
In addition to delivering exceptional service in 2009, Schneider worked with Kimberly-Clark on several significant initiatives, including a Transportation Symposium held at one of Schneider’s Green Bay facilities. During this daylong event, hands-on learning opportunities allowed Kimberly-Clark associates to develop a deeper understanding of the trucking business. In addition, Schneider managed several large-scale promotions and provided extensive consulting regarding safety and load securement in 2009.
“Schneider National is celebrating our 75th anniversary this year, and we’ve worked in tandem with Kimberly-Clark for over 50 of those years,” said Steve Matheys, Schneider National’s executive vice president and chief administration officer. “We believe this award was achieved in part because of the mutual trust and respect we’ve developed over our long history together, and we look forward to providing them with the same stellar service for the next 50 years.”
Schneider provides global, multi-modal service (including Dedicated, Regional, Intermodal, Expedited and Van/Truckload services) to Kimberly-Clark.
Decker Truck Line Announces Drivers of the Month
Iowa-based Decker Companies has honored two drivers as their Drivers of the Month for June. Warren Erxleben in the Flatbed Division, and Robert Dodds in the Reefer-Van Division will receive a $135.00 gift certificate to the Decker Company Store. They are now eligible for the Driver of the Year Award—which results in a 1-cent-per-mile pay raise for twelve months.
Warren Erxleben, a Decker vet since ’05, is a busy father of four (Kara, Eric, Andy, and Darrell) and husband to Vicki. He names “Home!” his favorite vacation destination, and that’s where you’ll find him when he’s not driving. He enjoys watching Nascar or “Andy Griffith” reruns on TV, or engaging in his favorite hands-on hobby, working on old tractors. His dispatcher Jerry Chapman praises Warren as “hard-working, and very easy to get along with.”
Robert Dodds, a reefer-van driver, has been with Decker for seven years, and his safety motto is “Watch ahead!” Looking back, he claims he’d most enjoy sharing a meal with his grandfather from Ireland, whom he never met. A big fan of NFL football, Dodds enjoys boating on his days off. He is a father of two and grandfather to another two, whose favorite dinner is found at the Hu Hot Mongolian Grill. His dispatcher, Mike Kehoe, says, “Robert is always willing to help out!”
Maverick Transportation Golf Outing Raises Thousands for American Heart Association
Maverick Transportation presents check to the American Heart Association.
Maverick Transportation, on behalf of the 3rd Annual Brad Scott Memorial Golf Tournament (BSGT), recently presented the American Heart Association (AHA) with a check for $4,000 to help fight heart disease and fund prevention programs.
The tournament, which honors its namesake, has been a way to carry on the memory of the company’s former VP of Sales and at the same time raises money for the AHA in hopes of preventing this same type of tragedy. Brad Scott died of a sudden heart attack in 2007, shortly after celebrating his 20 year anniversary with the company. “Despite hard economic times, we were able to raise a considerable amount of money in Brad’s honor thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as John Lewis, Nucor-Yamato Steel, Target Media Partners, Pilot Truck Centers, Gwatney Chevrolet and Truck Centers of Arkansas,” said David Glavin, Director of the BSGT.
“The team at Maverick is to be applauded for turning the death of their co-worker, Brad into an opportunity to save the lives of others,” said Carol Dyer, Executive Director of the AHA. “We are inspired by our friends at Maverick and are proud to partner with them as we work towards our goal of eradicating heart disease and stroke.”
Based in Little Rock, Arkansas and operating over 1,200 units, Maverick has 30 years of experience serving the flatbed, specialized, dry van, and temperature controlled transportation markets throughout North America. To learn more visit their website at www.drivemaverick.com.
Avery Is Latest Million-Mile For CalArk
In this picture, from left to right is Deronda Wofford--Director of Operations, Robert Williamson-Driver Manager, Kendall Avery-Driver, Shane Perryman-Driver Manager.
CalArk is pleased to announce their newest member of the company’s “One Million Safe Miles” club! Mr. Kendall Avery, Truck # 7009, recently achieved this major milestone, which, according to company Safety Director Dennis Hilton, is the equivalent of circling the Earth 40 times. Kendall has been driving for CalArk since April 8, 2003. Married to Wanoka Avery, and father of two children, Kendall resides in Lexa, AR. His current Driver Manager is Shane Perryman.
Kendall, whose interest in professional driving was spurred by stories from a friend, says that he enjoys the opportunity to travel all over the USA in his work. The team at CalArk wants to thank Kendall for his many years of devoted service and safety. Director of Recruiting Mary Cundiff says, “Mr. Avery is very well-respected at CalArk, he’s friendly and easy to work with. We’re proud of him!”
Highway Health: Food Fight
How do you react to the thought of eating?
When you feel you’re getting hungry do you think of food as fuel to keep you going or do you think your next meal is all about that juicy hamburger or piece of cake you can get at the next stop?
Science has always known that there is quite a difference in those thought processes about food and are beginning to relate the differences to individuals who are obese and those who are not.
When we eat, some of us react to the chemicals and hormones that tell us we are full and stop eating. Others “ignore” the signals these chemicals produce but are influenced by smell, taste or the sight of something we like and so we keep on eating.
So, we are divided into two categories, those who eat to survive and those who eat for pleasure.
If you are about normal bodyweight for your size chances are you are a “survival” eater and you listen to your “homeostatic system.” If you are over weight chances are you are a “pleasure” eater and listen to your hedonic system.
Individuals who are “pleasure” eaters seem to have a stronger “need” reaction to sweets and pleasure foods than “survival” eaters.
According to an article, by Melinda Beck in the Wall Street Journal, this very phenomena was tested by researchers at Columbia University in New York. The researchers showed pictures of cakes, pies and other pleasure foods to 10 obese women and 10 women who weren’t obese. The reactions in their brains were monitored on MRI scans.
The greatest response in the obese women occurred in the area of the brain that releases the “pleasure chemical” dopamine. Even when names of pleasure foods were presented it elicited strong reactions in this area of the brain.
In another study at Yale University overweight and normal weight individuals were given chocolate to smell and taste. The overweight subjects had strong reactions in the emotional area of the brain, the amygdale, whether they were hungry or not. Normal weight individuals only had reactions when they were hungry.
Diets high in fats and sugars seem to blunt normal reactions to the food “signals” the digestive tract tries to send to the brain.
A lot of questions still remain in trying to understand why some people have a tendency to eat too much and become overweight and others don’t. There are so many chemicals, hormones, emotions, genetics, learned behaviors and environmental ingredients in the mix that there is no clear picture of cause.
Because of this ongoing research in the next few years you are going to see weight loss drugs that target certain areas of the brain and programs that retrain the brain to think about food in different ways.
In the meantime, remember, it costs about $1500 more per year to be overweight than to be normal body weight. You spend more money on food, medicine, doctors and fuel…yes I said fuel…if you are overweight.
This article shows the intricacies of “battling the bulge.” It’s not easy and it’s not totally understood. But the choices really come down to being healthy or not, enjoying life or not or being ill most of the time.
We are here to help and encourage you to put up the fight. Call us at 888-348-7623 (888-FitnessRoad) or get on the website www.fitnessroad.com. You can also stop and see us at our Wellness Center in Tempe Arizona. We are just two miles east of the I-10 off the Baseline exit.
No matter how you choose to do battle we can help with the programs, products and professionals we have been offering you for over 15 years. There is no question if you need help we have it. It’s your choice it’s our job!
God bless you and yours,
Mick
Driver’s Toolbox: Cell Phone Safety
A knowledge base for drivers
The dangers of distracted driving have been proven by extensive research.
Be aware that distracted driving is more than just using technology when driving. It represents a range of activities that impact a driver’s auditory, visual, physical or cognitive abilities.
Sadly, drivers have largely ignored this research. Studies show that drivers overestimate their own ability to safely multitask, even as they worry about the dangers of others doing it.
Over the past 10 or so years, the development of electronic devices that have the potential for driver distraction have grown significantly. In particular, cell phone usage behind the wheel has increased exponentially, and texting and using onboard satellite communication devices have become a standard practice.
Distracted driving crash estimates vary widely, but a recent Harvard study determined that 570,000 accidents leading to minor and serious injuries are caused each year by cell phone distractions.
Research has also determined that driving while using a cell phone reduces a driver’s response time. Drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers. The likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated.
Hands-free cell phone devices and speaker phone accessories don’t eliminate the risks, and may worsen them by suggesting that the behavior is safe.
Safety professionals recommend that cell phone calls and texting/typing be done while the vehicle is stationary, not while driving. The primary concern, they stress, needs to be the safe operation of the vehicle.
Let callers leave a message in voicemail, or of there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call, say safety professionals. If a driver has to make or receive a call, the driver should look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park before doing so.
If for some reason, there is no alternative but to use a cell phone while driving, safety professionals offer these tips:
• Get to know your cell phone and its features, such as speed dial and redial.
• When available, use a hands-free device.
• Position your cell phone within easy reach where you can grab it without taking your eyes off of the road.
• Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations.
• Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.
• Dial sensibly and assess the traffic. Stay in the right-hand lane where driving may be less demanding. If possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations. Keep calls short and factual.
Women In Trucking: What Would You Do?
Recently I was attending a workshop to provide ways to motivate volunteers. The speaker was the leader of a large volunteer effort in the Chicago area. As she proceeded through the seminar she held up a book, which she referred to as the “Truck Book.” She went on to explain that the book held every volunteer’s list of duties so anyone could refer to it in case the volunteer was hit by a truck and couldn’t fulfill his or her duties.
Hit by a truck? As you can imagine, I silently sat in the audience and fumed. When another attendee raised her hand and asked, “May we get copies of the truck book?” I had enough.
When the presenter called on me I stood up and told the audience how I had spent my career trying to improve the image of professional drivers. By naming the publication a “truck book” in reference to someone getting hit by a truck, it offended me. I asked her to rename it, and she agreed. She apologized for the unprofessional reference to the trucking industry.
As I settled back into my seat a colleague silently applauded me for voicing my opinion.
What would you have done? Would you have allowed a room full of people to start referring to a manual as a “truck book?” I hope not.
It’s up to each one of us to help the non-trucking public understand our industry better. We need to correct misconceptions and address negative comments about drivers, trucks and the need to share the road with four wheelers.
Have you ever heard the expression, “she has the mouth of a truck driver”? A magazine article once described Whoopie Goldberg in this manner. I sent them a letter and asked the magazine to clarify what they meant. Of course, they assume that all or most professional drivers use inappropriate language, but this isn’t the case.
I have a file folder filled with letters I have written over the years in an effort to correct misconceptions about the trucking industry. Some are addressed to companies with ads that depict drivers (or trucks) as evil. Some are sent to legislators in an effort to affect their legislative decisions. Some letters were sent to newspaper editors who misled readers with their slanted headlines.
The front page featured a tractor-trailer tanker lying on its side with emergency vehicles surrounding the wreckage. The headline screams Diesel tanker collides with car. The article describes the way the area was evacuated due to spilled fuel leaking from the tank. The news report described it as a “head on crash.” If you had not read through the article you would think the truck driver was at fault. Not so. The car driver crossed the centerline and hit the truck head on. That fact was buried.
Despite my letter to the editor, which was printed a few days later, how much damage was already done the day the newspaper was printed and sold at newsstands? Too much.
An ad placed by a clinic to promote their new surgery intended to treat snoring featured a close up of a tractor’s grill. The caption was, “Every night an 18 wheeler BLASTED through her bedroom.” The print under the truck continued, “Every night her sleep was shattered by her husband’s snoring.” SNORING? BLASTED?
A letter to the clinic received a welcome response. The marketing director thanked me for my comments and included, “please note that we have already pulled the advertisement from circulation.”
Sometimes we just need to remind those folks who are outside of the trucking industry that we are not the bad guys. Trucks blasting through bedrooms, profane language and manuals created in case a truck hits a volunteer are all detrimental to the image of a professional driver.
It’s our responsibility to point out these demeaning messages and correct their stereotypes. Would you just ignore the misconception or would you speak up?
What would you do?
Highway Chaplain: Just One Of Those Days
We all have had them, those days that just seem to be one frustration after another. The day dawns clear and you wake up to greet the day. Climbing down from the cab of your truck to go inside the truck stop to wash your face grab a cup of coffee and head out for your delivery. Just as you turn to close the door you look to your right and find you have a flat.
“Dang”, you think, “Just what I need today when I ran hard to get here yesterday so I could get this load off early.” Oh well gotta get it fixed and off to the shop you go. Two hours later and 5 phone calls from your dispatcher you are pulling out onto the highway heading to your delivery. Not so fast there cowboy its now 8:15 am and you are in the famous Atlanta rush hour traffic (of course it could be any large city these days) and you “ain’t” going anywhere fast.
Now you are 3 and a half hours behind schedule as you arrive to your destination and find out since you are so late you are now on standby because you missed your appointment. Yeah I know could it get any worse, sure when you do get unloaded, you find out that you get to spend another night in Atlanta which will put you getting home for the weekend on Saturday. Wonderful so now you the all important family event you had been planning on being at for how many weeks? Boy your spouse is going to love you for that.
So ever have many of those days, where it seems everything is going wrong and everybody is getting on your last nerve? Whoa was that a roar of yes I hear out there? Yeah well guess what the Chaplain has those days too, because I am not exempt from life’s trials any more than you are.
However just recently I discovered something in the scriptures that is helping me to tolerate those days when everything goes wrong. I have been learning to look at those days with as much ( I know this is going to sound REALLY wrong) enthusiasm as I do those days when all goes as planned. Want to know the secret?
Well it is found in the book of Psalms in the 118th chapter and the 24th verse which says,
“ This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”(NKJV)
Now I want you to pay particular attention to the 1st half of this verse especially the VERY first word. “THIS”, right now, present time, this very moment, this day. The Psalmist is saying TODAY is the day the LORD has made. Think about it for a moment just let this sink in for a moment, THIS day, the horrible day where nothing would go right from the start, this day the Lord made! Why in the world would He do this to me?
Imagine for a moment that before you woke up the Lord was already shaping your day for you. We are not talking about tomorrow, not about yesterday, we are talking about TODAY right now God had it planned and created just for you, yes even those days when all goes wrong.
Yet it is through the trials of life that we learn several things if we just see them in another light. When adversity comes it is to teach us to;
Trust the Lord, with all of our heart. He will if we listen for His direction show us the path through adversity
Have patience and through the patience it brings we receive hope ( Romans 5: 3,4)
Face it with joy because as James tells us that the testing of our faith will bring patience.
Remember, that not only is each day created for us uniquely it is designed to build and establish the character of Christ in us. How wonderful that the Lord knows what we need each day to build us up in our faith. Some days we need adversity while on other days we stand on the mountain top rejoicing all this is prepared for us by the Lord even before we begin to wipe the slumber from our eyes.
So we like the Psalmist can not only recognize that “THIS is the day the Lord has made”, we also can “REJOICE (because He designed it uniquely for me) and be GLAD in it.”
So until next time, God Speed and good running.
The Highway Chaplain
Drop in on me at Facebook Highway Chaplain.
Legal Lane: Retention of Supporting Documents and the Hours of Service Regulations
June 4 is thirty days from July 4, Independence Day, but to this administration it is just another day to announce another notice, guidance, policy change, rule or just about anything they want to call something that puts an additional burden on trucking. America became an independent nation because the people revolted from excess taxes and regulatory burdens forced on them by the King of England.
This new Policy on Retention of Supporting Documents and the Use of Electronic Mobile Communications’ Tracking Technology in Assessing Motor Carriers’ and commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers’ Compliance with the Hours of Service Regulations printed on June 4 is just the latest example of the vise tightening on carriers and drivers. This new policy is intended to be used by enforcement personnel as guidance in making enforcement decisions. Additionally it says the policy is not intended to alter a carrier’s duty to complying with all applicable regulations and that the carrier is responsible for the acts and omissions of its employees.
The new policy states any method the carrier uses that allows the carrier to identify the location or vehicle or driver, send or receive messages from its drivers to be considered “electronic communication/tracking records.” Supporting documents have been changed from the old §395.8(k)(1) Guidance Question 10 of April 4, 1997, to a new updated list. The new list is: bills of lading, carrier pros, freight bills, dispatch records, electronic mobile communication/tracking records, gate record receipts, weigh/scale tickets, fuel receipts, fuel billing statements, toll receipts, toll billing statements, port of entry receipts, delivery receipts, lumper receipts, interchange and inspection reports, lessor settlement sheets, over/short and damage reports, agricultural inspection reports, driver and vehicle examination reports, crash reports, telephone billing statements, credit card receipts, border crossing reports, customs declarations, traffic citations and overweight/oversize permits and traffic citations. Carriers without qualifying electronic communication/tracking technology are required to continue to retain other supporting documents used for verifying information on the driver’s HOS at their principal place of business. Electronic mobile communication/tracking records may be used by the Agency as evidence in any enforcement proceeding using FMCSA statutes and regulations.
For each vehicle a motor carrier uses for which the motor carrier can produce electronic mobile communication/tracking records acceptable under this Policy, the motor carrier is no longer required to maintain or produce the following supporting documents pursuant to 49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1) for the driver of that vehicle: Gate record receipts; Weigh/scale tickets; Port of entry receipts; Delivery receipts; Toll receipts; Agricultural inspection reports;
• Over/short and damage reports; Driver and vehicle examination reports; Traffic citations; Overweight/oversize reports and citations; Carrier pros; Credit card receipts; Border Crossing Reports; Customs declarations; and Telephone billing statements.
Motor carriers that seek to take advantage of the less burdensome supporting documents retention requirements available under this Policy are precluded in HOS enforcement proceedings from challenging the accuracy of their own electronic mobile communication/tracking records.
However, for each vehicle for which a motor carrier seeks to take advantage of the less burdensome supporting documents retention requirements available under this Policy, the motor carrier must show that the electronic mobile communication/tracking records have the characteristics below:
Positioning Frequency: The system must be set up to communicate position location at a rate of at least one time per hour, per vehicle, while the vehicle is in motion.
Vehicle Integration: The system must be integrally synchronized with the vehicle.
Report Functionality: The system must be capable of generating upon demand a document/record, either printed (paper) or electronically rendered (spreadsheet, portable document format, tagged image file format or other commonly available software format), showing the required Report Content.
Report Content: The position history report must include, at a minimum, vehicle identification information, date, time, proximity location (reference points), and latitude and longitude for each position communication.
Retention: Motor carriers must maintain position history reports for a period of six months in accordance with 49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1).
If the motor carrier’s electronic mobile communication/tracking records for a particular vehicle do not qualify under this Policy, the motor carrier must maintain all supporting documents that may be used to assess motor carrier and commercial motor vehicle driver compliance with the HOS regulations, pursuant to 49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1). A motor carrier that uses electronic mobile communication/tracking technology in the 10 ordinary course of business for any purpose is expected to include the use of records and information generated by that technology in its HOS oversight activities.
The government continues to tighten the vise on carriers and drivers. The ultimate goal is fewer crashes and lives saved: a good goal. Electronic onboard recorders, black boxes and communication/tracking devices are getting faster and smarter. They can collect just about any information you want to collect, and the government will use them that way.
So what is a carrier or driver to do to protect themselves? They must learn the rules and regulations that govern trucking and follow those rules and regulations like their lives depend on it, because it really does. Drivers with good clean CDLs and carriers with good safety numbers will rule transportation in the next year or two. The CSA 2010 will remove the bad drivers and carriers, allowing the good drivers and carriers to make more money per load. I predict in the next two years you will see truck driving become one of the better paying jobs around and I will speculate that $100,000 a year trucking jobs will be just about everywhere for good clean drivers. My advice to every driver and every carrier is to learn all you can about the new rules and regulations, how they apply to you and how you can use them to make yourself a better driver or carrier.
Jim C. Klepper is President of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation’s commercial drivers. Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the forty-eight (48) states on both moving and non-moving violations. Jim is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at greatly discounted rates. Jim, a former prosecutor, is also a registered pharmacist, with considerable experience in alcohol and drug related cases. He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has his Commercial Drivers License.
800-333-DRIVE (3748) or www.interstatetrucker.com and www.driverslegalplan.com
H.O.W Driver, Bill Bowering Awarded National Highway Angel Recognition
Bill Bowering, Fulton, NY native and professional Class A CDL truck driver for H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W) of Amherst, WI, was named a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel for steadfast bravery and compassion in the face of a deadly rollover car accident.
On April 28, 2010, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Bowering was driving southbound on 1-57 near Mattoon, Illinois, when a vehicle with three young women in it, passed him on the left hand side. As it reentered the right lane, the driver hit a pothole, apparently overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle, which flipped over and slid into the ditch.
Bowering pulled his truck over, got out and ran over to the wrecked vehicle to assist. Many other vehicles passed by the crash but none of them stopped. When he arrived, he found two women climbing out of the wreck with another woman still trapped inside. He entered the vehicle at risk to his life and took her pulse but could not find one. He also checked for signs of breathing, but again, there were none.
Finally, another driver stopped who was a paramedic and he took over care of the woman in the car. Bowering then was able to turn his attention to the other two women. He did his best to console them and ease their grief until authorities arrived on the scene.
Bill was still shaken when he recounted details of the accident to his H.O.W Driver Manager, Deb Senechal. According to Deb, when Bill related to her what had happened, all he could think about was, “I was too late. I couldn’t do anything about the driver.” Deb said she told him, “You did your best and tried everything you could to save her and that is all you can do. If you could have done any more, you would have.”
Deb, who nominated Bill for the Highway Angel award, describes him as an “all-around nice guy and very modest.” Deb further states, “I am very proud of Bill and it is an honor to work with him. Although Bill is very humble about his efforts, he should feel proud of his actions. His heroics, affirmed through this award are truly inspiring.”
Marc Wolding, Vice-President of Operations shared these comments, “We are very proud that one of our drivers had the foresight to react so courageously in the face of such a severe, life threatening accident. Bill Bowering is to be commended on his quick thinking and his ability to handle the situation with strength and determination.”
No stranger to fame, Bill stepped into the spotlight last year at the renowned Talent Quest singing contest, by advancing through local, state, regional and national levels to proceed to the Final Five round, where he won Third Place, 2009 Male Country/Western Singer. His performances may be viewed on YouTube, www.youtube.com, by searching on Bill Bowering.
To learn more about the Highway Angel program, the driver nomination process or to view past press releases, visit www.truckload.org/Highway-Angel.
H.O. Wolding, Inc. Introduces Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Benefits
H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W), a leading trucking company located in Amherst, Wisconsin, with 350 tractors and 1200 trailers nationwide, recently introduced premium Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance benefits.
“At H.O.W, we pride ourselves on 75 years of dependable service to our customers, and an unparalleled commitment to our employees,” said Cathy Kirsling, Vice-President, H.O. Wolding, Inc.
“By offering Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the most recognizable names in the industry, we ensure that all our employees have access to quality, affordable health care,” continued Kirsling. “Our drivers are on the road 24/7 and they need access to network providers at all times. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the perfect vehicle to do this for us.”
Known for its broad network of doctors and hospitals, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides H.O.W employees with health care providers not just throughout Wisconsin, but also nationwide through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to delivering the best combination of health, care and value to our customers to help them live the best lives possible,” said Paul Nobile, regional vice president of sales and account management for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “We’re thrilled to partner with H.O. Wolding, Inc. to serve the hard working men and women in the trucking industry, who deliver the products and materials
on which America’s businesses depend.”
Beyond the administration of its health benefits plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
also provides H.O. Wolding with access to tools and information to help company employees improve their health and estimate costs associated with medical care, including (visit www.anthem.com to register for access):
• 360° Health – a program, which provides resources to help employees improve health, manage chronic health conditions and gain guidance from health professionals.
• Anthem Care Comparison – an online tool, which allows members to analyze and compare overall costs for more than 30 common medical procedures performed at local area hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and freestanding radiology facilities, prior to medical service.
H.O.W drivers receive an outstanding benefits package and earn an average of $40,000-$60,000/year. H.O.W pays Practical Miles (averaging 5% more than tariff miles) with structured pay increases based on experience and has assigned trucks and excellent home time.
H.O.W offers a sign-on bonus for Class A CDL truck drivers with recent experience and tuition reimbursement for recent grads of approved Class A CDL driving schools. To learn more about H.O.W or to join its team of dedicated drivers, visit www.howolding.com or www.facebook.com/howolding.
J.J. Keller’s Compliance Corner: Hiring an entry-level driver? Don’t forget training.
You’ve hired a new driver and want to get him/her on the road as soon as possible. You have taken care of the details that need to be addressed when it comes to compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) — making sure the driver has a valid license, completing the driver qualification file, and obtaining the appropriate safety performance history documentation. Also, the driver has passed a pre-employment drug test and is now a part of your drug and alcohol testing random pool.
Did you remember the one regulatory item that sometimes gets over-looked when it comes to new drivers — entry-level driver training? If you are hiring an entry-level driver, this training needs to be completed before he/she hits the road.
So who exactly is considered an entry-level driver? An entry-level driver is defined in Section 380.502 of the FMCSRs as a driver with less than one year’s experience operating a commercial motor vehicle with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in interstate commerce.
Entry-level training requirements
Entry-level driver training includes instruction in four areas; driver qualification, hours of service, driver wellness, and whistleblower protection.
Driver qualification — Training on this topic must include a discussion of:
• General qualifications (§391.11),
• Driver responsibilities (§391.13),
• Driver disqualification (§391.15), and
• Physical qualification (Part 391, Subpart E).
Hours of service — This portion of the training must address fatigue prevention strategies as well as the causes of fatigue. In addition, the following regulatory requirements must be addressed:
• The limitations on driving hours,
• The requirement to be off-duty for certain periods of time,
• Record of duty status preparation , and
• Exceptions to the rules.
Driver wellness — The purpose of driver wellness training is to provide health and wellness information to the driver so the driver can make informed lifestyle choices. Topics that must be covered include:
• Diet and exercise,
• How to maintain healthy blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight,
• Avoiding excessive alcohol use,
• Stress management,
• Sleep apnea, and
• The importance of periodic health monitoring.
Whistleblower protection — This topic covers an employee’s right to question the safety practices of an employer without the risk of losing a job or being subjected to reprisals simply for stating a safety concern. The whistleblower protection regulations are administered and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and are located in 29 CFR 1978.
Documentation
Any employer who uses an entry-level driver must ensure that the driver has received training and has received a training certificate or diploma verifying this fact. A copy of this training certificate or diploma must be placed in the driver’s qualification file or personnel file. It must be kept for as long as the driver is employed by the employer and for one year thereafter.
Changes on the horizon
Though the entry-level driver training regulations have been in effect for about a half-dozen years, we could see some dramatic changes to the requirements in the near-future.
Soon after the current regulation became effective it was legally challenged. In 2005, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered FMCSA to rewrite the regulation.
In response to the Court order, FMCSA published a new proposal in December 2007. This proposal would require training of entry-level drivers that is based on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Model Curriculum. Though developed in the mid-1980s, the Model Curriculum continues to be accepted as the foundation for driver training programs throughout the United States.
The proposal includes two courses of instruction, one for Class A CDL applicants and the other for Class B and Class C CDL applicants.
As proposed, the Class A course would require a minimum of 120 hours of instruction, including at least 76 hours of classroom and 44 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
The proposed Class B and Class C course would require a minimum of 90 hours of instruction, including at least 58 hours of classroom and 32 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
Under the proposal, the institution providing the training must be accredited and instructors would be required to meet certain standards to be considered a qualified instructor.
A driver-student who successfully completes the training would be given a certificate that must be presented to his/her state driver licensing agency as part of the CDL application process.
During the five month comment period, FMCSA received over 900 comments from individuals and organizations.
FMCSA anticipates publishing a final rule in early 2011.
Whatever the new regulations require, motor carriers will need to be ready to implement them, making sure their entry-level drivers are fully qualified and ready to hit the road.
Jill Schultz is an Editor — Transportation Safety for J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Contact her at transporteditors@jjkeller.com. Also be sure to check out J. J. Keller’s website at jjkeller.com.
J. J. Keller grants Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, non-exclusive worldwide rights to the content/photos provided. The rights granted Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, may not be sold or sub-licensed to any third party. J. J. Keller retains the right to use the content/photo.
H.O. Wolding, Inc. Introduces Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Benefits
H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W), a leading trucking company located in Amherst, Wisconsin, with 350 tractors and 1200 trailers nationwide, recently introduced premium Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance benefits.
“At H.O.W, we pride ourselves on 75 years of dependable service to our customers, and an unparalleled commitment to our employees,” said Cathy Kirsling, Vice-President, H.O. Wolding, Inc.
“By offering Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the most recognizable names in the industry, we ensure that all our employees have access to quality, affordable health care,” continued Kirsling. “Our drivers are on the road 24/7 and they need access to network providers at all times. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the perfect vehicle to do this for us.”
Known for its broad network of doctors and hospitals, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides H.O.W employees with health care providers not just throughout Wisconsin, but also nationwide through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to delivering the best combination of health, care and value to our customers to help them live the best lives possible,” said Paul Nobile, regional vice president of sales and account management for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “We’re thrilled to partner with H.O. Wolding, Inc. to serve the hard working men and women in the trucking industry, who deliver the products and materials on which America’s businesses depend.”
Beyond the administration of its health benefits plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also provides H.O. Wolding with access to tools and information to help company employees improve their health and estimate costs associated with medical care, including (visit www.anthem.com to register for access):
• 360° Health – a program, which provides resources to help employees improve health, manage chronic health conditions and gain guidance from health professionals.
• Anthem Care Comparison – an online tool, which allows members to analyze and compare overall costs for more than 30 common medical procedures performed at local area hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and freestanding radiology facilities, prior to medical service.
H.O.W drivers receive an outstanding benefits package and earn an average of $40,000-$60,000/year. H.O.W pays Practical Miles (averaging 5% more than tariff miles) with structured pay increases based on experience and has assigned trucks and excellent home time.
H.O.W offers a sign-on bonus for Class A CDL truck drivers with recent experience and tuition reimbursement for recent grads of approved Class A CDL driving schools. To learn more about H.O.W or to join its team of dedicated drivers, visit www.howolding.com or www.facebook.com/howolding .
