SmartPort? – We recently aired a segment regarding Kansas City SmartPort, a project involving private businesses and area chambers of commerce aimed at turning Kansas City into an intermodal hub and possibly a point of entry into Mexico. For more information on SmartPort, visit the Web site at http://www.kcsmartport.com/. Air date: Aug. 31, 2006
ULSD – Paul Abelson spoke on our show Wednesday regarding concerns truckers have about ultra-low-sulfur diesel. Terry Scruton wrote a story for the June issue of Land Line Magazine on ULSD. To read it, click here Air date: Aug. 30, 2006
Missing laptop – We reported earlier this week that a laptop belonging to the FMCSA was stolen from a government-owned car in Baltimore. FMCSA spokesman Ian Grossman said the laptop may contain personal information of 193 people who work for 40 different trucking companies. To view the FMCSA statement, and a list of those companies, click here. Air date: Aug. 29, 2006
Speed limiters – Member of Provincial Parliament Ted Arnott of Ontario, and OBAC Executive Director Joanne Ritchie make guest appearances on the show to discuss what a bill for mandatory speed-limiters is all about. Click here to read Bill 115. Air date: Aug. 22.
EIN number – Joe Shewmaker of OOIDA’s Business Services Department discussed applying for an EIN number online. To get to the online application on the IRS Web site, click here. Air date: Aug. 17, 2006.
Drive-By Truckers – Jim Fetzer reported on a musical group named the Drive-By Truckers. To find out more about them, click here. Air date: Aug. 18, 2006.
Concours d’Elegance – Paul Abelson spoke on our program Wed., Aug. 16, about the upcoming Concours d’Elegance. The event takes place Aug. 17 through the 20, in Elkhart Lake, WI. It includes a Truck-Lite Trophy Series event. For more information, visit roadamerica.com or contact Chuck Kemner at (863) 605-1608. Air date: Aug. 16, 2006.
Truck parking – Melissa Theriault of OOIDA’s Washington, DC, office was a guest on the show Tuesday, Aug. 15. She talked about programs designed to alleviate the national shortage of parking spaces for truckers. To view the Federal Register notice regarding the Truck Parking Pilot Program, click here. The notice starts in the middle column of the first page. Air date: Aug. 15, 2006.
FMCSA division offices – A caller to our comment line asked where he could report a truck from Mexico operating outside of its authority. The answer: One of FMCSA’s 51 state division offices. To view a list of those offices with contact phone numbers, click here.
Another option would be to call the state police commercial vehicle enforcement in the state where you saw the vehicle.
However, the real answer is that it is unlikely that the situation can be addressed, because most states have not adopted the congressional directive that makes that illegal. To our knowledge, California is the only state that’s enforcing this even a little bit. Air date: Aug. 14, 2006.
Alternative Fuels – Senior Correspondent Terry Scruton reported today on developments in the field of alternative fuels. For more information, click here, or here. Air date: Aug. 14, 2006.
Hazmat drivers – Illinois has sent letters to 506 truckers who are renewing their hazmat endorsements, telling them that because the background check process had not been completed, their CDLs will be canceled on Friday, Aug. 4. To read a complete story on the Land Line Magazine Web site, click here. Illinois CDL holders with questions should call the state DMV at (217) 875-1778. Air Date: Aug. 3, 2006.
Railroad crossing safety – We spoke with Jay Holman and John Simpson of the Union Pacific Railroad and Bennie Howe of the Federal Railroad Administration about railroad crossings. A program called Operation Lifesaver offers information on how to protect yourself at crossings. For information, click here or call 1-800-537-6224. Air date: Aug. 2, 2006.
Voting info – Reed Black spoke today with congressional candidate Norma Cartwright. He mentioned a couple of Web sites that can help truckers who want to become better informed – and who want to become active voters. One is http://www.truckvote.com/ – a Web site that links you up to publicly available information on how to register. The other is http://www.vote-smart.org/, which allows you to obtain contact information for all of your elected representatives from State legislature all the way up to the White House. Air date: Aug. 1, 2006.
