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Heard on the Air 2006

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SSRS and UCR – We reported about the switch from SSRS to UCR. To read Land Line Magazine’s coverage of the switch, click here. Click here for the UCR Board memo. Click here for a copy of the Texas directive. To keep up-to-date on the progress of the program development, click here. Air date: Dec. 29, 2006.

Brake testing – Rick Craig of OOIDA talked about a proposal regarding brake testing devices and the out-of-service criteria. To express your opinion to the CVSA, mail a letter to: 1101 17th St. NW, Suite 803, Washington, DC, 20036; fax them to (202) 775-1624; or e-mail cvsahq@cvsa.org. To express your opinion to NHTSA, send an e-mail through a form on their Web site by clicking here. You can also mail them a letter at: 400 7th St. SW, Washington, DC, 20590. Air date: Dec. 30, 2006.

Mother Jones – Reed Black recently interviewed Mother Jones reporter Daniel Schulman on Schulman’s article on highway privatization that will appear in Mother Jones’ January issue. You can read the article now by clicking here. Air date: Dec. 30, 2006.

Speed limiters – OOIDA Director of Regulatory Affairs Rick Craig spoke about a letter the Association sent to two federal agencies regarding speed limiters. To read Jami Jones’ story on the topic from Land Line Magazine, click here. Air date: Dec. 31, 2006.

CDL and medical requirements – Rick Craig spoke about possible changes to medical requirements for CDL holders. To view the FMCSA’s information on the proposed National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, click here. To view the medical regulations, click here. Air date: Dec. 28, 2006.

EOBRs – We reported on an impending “notice of proposed rulemaking” on EOBRs, or electronic onboard recorders. To read Land Line Magazine’s coverage, click here. To read OOIDA’s comments on the earlier “advance notice of proposed rulemaking,” click here. Air date: Dec. 28, 2006.

Authority – We talked to OOIDA’s Joe Shewmaker and Doreen Weakley about what it takes to get your own authority. If you have questions for either of them or want more information, contact the OOIDA Business Services Department at (800) 444-5791. Air date: Dec. 28, 2006.

Border crossings – Rick Craig talked about requirements for crossing the border into and out of Canada during a segment on the two nations’ Hours of Service rules. He referred to the Web site of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. You can view it by clicking here. Air date: Dec. 27, 2006.

Missouri Department of Transportation – We talked with Chuck Goring of MoDOT about a partnership the department has with Homeland Security aimed at increasing security awareness in the trucking sector. For more information, check out MoDOT’s motor carrier Web site here. Air date: Dec. 27, 2006.

Ohio cameras – Reed Black reported on a bill in Ohio that would ban the use of automated cameras to enforce red lights or speeding. To read the latest story on this from Land Line Magazine, click here. To follow the bill through the legislative process, click here. Air date: Dec. 27, 2006.

The doctor’s in – We talked to Guy Wallenga, engineering manager for Firestone/Bridgestone truck tires. If you have a question for Guy or any of the engineers at Firestone/Bridgestone, click here. Air date: Dec. 26, 2006.

Tippie fundraiser – A group of Florida businesses organized a fundraiser for Ed Tippie and his family. Tippie was injured in 2003 accident when a suicidal man rammed his rig in an SUV. The family, which has several special needs children, has been unable to keep up with medical bills and has lost their home. For more information on the fundraiser, click here. Air date: Dec. 25, 2006.

Christmas book – For more information on purchasing Mark Mendonsa’s book, “A Semi for a Sleigh,” click here. Air date: Dec. 25, 2006.

Trucking Santas – OOIDA member Craig Hansen and retired trucker Ron Johnson are making a run to bring Christmas toys to children in Biloxi, MS, whose lives were upended by Hurricane Katrina. Although Christmas is near, you can still make a donation by credit card. Call the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at (888) 930-4438. To make a donation by check, send it to LCMS, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, MO, 63122. Air date: Dec. 24, 2006.

Truckers helping out – OOIDA Life Member Charles Parfrey talked about an effort by truckers to help farmers struggling against the continuing damage from previous hurricanes and droughts. If you want information on contacting Parfrey Trucking and offering your help, call 1-800-533-9517. Air date: Dec. 23, 2006.

Hot Fuel – Terry Scruton reported on what would be needed to get fuel pumps to compensate for hot fuel. Steve Everly of The Kansas City Star recently wrote a series of stories on the hot fuel issue. To read Steve’s stories, click here. Air date: Dec. 23, 2006.

SAE – We spoke with OOIDA’s Gary Green and Paul Abelson, Land Line Magazine’s Senior Technical Editor, about a panel discussion at a recent meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. To learn more about SAE, click here. To read more about the event they took part in, click here. Air date: Dec. 22, 2006.

Pennsylvania Turnpike – We spoke with Todd Spencer of OOIDA about a statement from the Association opposing privatization of the road. To read the release from the Association, click here. To read coverage by Land Line Magazine, click here. Air date: Dec. 21, 2006.

Keeping it private – We talked about ways you can keep your personal information private. There are a number of helpful phone numbers and Web sites mentioned in Donna Ryun’s column from the October 2006 issue of Land Line Magazine. To read the column, click here. Air date: Dec. 21, 2006.

Speed limiters – OOIDA Director of Regulatory Affairs Rick Craig spoke about a letter the Association sent to two federal agencies regarding speed limiters. To read Jami Jones’ story on the topic from Land Line Magazine, click here. Air date: Dec. 21, 2006.

Texas grants - Truckers who operate mainly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area may be eligible for grants to purchase emission-reduction equipment. For more information, visit the Council’s Web site here, or call (817) 640-3300.

PACA – We talked to Randy Gunderman, manager of RTS Credit Services, about the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and what it means to truckers. If you have a produce-related question for Randy, call our listener comment line at (800) 324-6856. You can visit the RTS Web site here, or call (800) 506-7438. Air date: Dec. 18, 2006.

Hot Fuel – Steve Everly of The Kansas City Star recently wrote a series of stories on the hot fuel issue. To read Steve’s stories, click here. Air date: Dec. 14, 2006.

OOIDA Medical Plan – Rick Welsh of Welsh and Associates talked about new forms of medical plans, including one offered by OOIDA. For more information on the association’s new Advantage Plan, click here, call 1-800-715-9369 or 1-800-444-5791, and ask for Medical Benefits. Air date: Dec. 16, 2006.

Call to Action list – We mentioned OOIDA’s Call to Action list. To sign up, just send an e-mail with your name, membership number and your current e-mail address to calltoaction@ooida.com. Air date: Dec. 14, 2006.

‘Road Law’ – Reed Black spoke with Jeff McConnell and James Mennella who write the “Road Law” column in Land Line Magazine. If you have questions or comments regarding transportation law, you can call (405) 242-2030, fax a question to (405) 242-2040, or send e-mail to roadlaw@att.net. For more information, click here. Air date: Dec. 13, 2006.

Hot fuel – A class action suit was filed today in California regarding the issue of hot fuel. To find out more, check out consumer safety group Public Citizen’s Web site here. Air date: Dec. 14, 2006.

Truckers helping out – OOIDA Life Member Charley Parfrey talked about an effort by truckers to help farmers struggling against the continuing damage from previous hurricanes and droughts. If you want information on contacting Charley’s company and offering your help, call 1-800-533-9517. Air date: Dec. 12, 2006.

Dan Arcy – We talked to Dan Arcy, technical marketing manager for Shell Lubricants. If you have a question for Dan, check out his answer column here, or call (800) 231-6950. Air date: Dec. 12, 2006.

SAE – We spoke with OOIDA’s Gary Green and Paul Abelson, Land Line Magazine’s Senior Technical Editor, about a panel discussion at a recent meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers. To learn more about SAE, click here. To read more about the event they took part in, click here. Air date: Dec. 11, 2006.

Supporting documents – The topic of supporting documents for hours-of-service compliance has been a hot one. To read Jami Jones’ coverage of the latest news on this topic, click here. Air date: Nov. 8, 2006.

Pennsylvania privatization – Rod Nofziger spoke about a proposal in Pennsylvania to privatize the state’s toll road. The lawmaker promoting the idea is state Rep. Richard Geist. To contact Geist, call him at (717) 787-6419 or (814) 946-7218. You can fax a letter to (717) 772-5142 or to (814) 949-7915, or e-mail him by clicking here. His office address is Room 144, Main Capitol Building, PO Box 202079, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2079. Air date: Dec. 7, 2006.

Truckers helping out – OOIDA’s Gary Green and Life Member Charley Parfrey talked about an effort by truckers to help farmers struggling against the continuing damage from previous hurricanes. If you want information on contacting Charley’s company and offering your help, just call 1-800-533-9517. Air date: Dec. 7, 2006.

Maintenance Q&A – We spoke with Land Line Magazine Senior Technical Editor Paul Abelson. If you have a question for Paul, you can e-mail him, or mail him c/o Land Line Magazine, PO Box 1000, Grain Valley, MO, 64029. Air date: Dec. 7, 2006.

HOS case – Reed Black spoke with attorney Paul Cullen Jr. about a hearing on OOIDA’s challenge of the hours-of-service regulations. To read the full article on the hearing by Jami Jones, click here. Air date: Dec. 6, 2006.

Hot fuel legislation – Republican Texas lawmaker Burt Solomons is sponsoring legislation to help that state deal with the problem of hot fuel. While the state legislature won’t be in session until January, you can watch for it on the Texas Legislature’s Web site here. You can also see coverage of the issue from Land Line Magazine here. Air date: Dec. 6, 2006.

“It’s Your Business” – Donna Ryun, OOIDA’s communications director and Land Line Magazine columnist, spoke about protecting your personal information. To read Donna’s column on the topic from the October issue of Land Line Magazine, click here. To send Donna a question, e-mail her. Air date: Dec. 5, 2006.

Computer advice – We spoke with John Ewing of the Truckers Helper about truckers and computers. John’s company offers help and advice to truckers through its Web site. To learn more, click here. Air date: Dec. 4, 2006.

Biodiesel – Reed Black spoke with Joe Jobe of the National Biodiesel Board. To find out more about the board and about biodiesel, click here. Air date: Dec. 1, 2006.

New Jersey Survey – We mentioned a survey on truck parking by the state of New Jersey. To take part, click here. To view updates on the results of the study, click here. Air date: Dec. 1, 2006.

Trucking Santas – OOIDA member Craig Hansen and retired trucker Ron Johnson are making a run to bring Christmas toys to children in Biloxi, MS, whose lives were upended by Hurricane Katrina. To make a donation by credit card, call the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at (888) 930-4438. To make a donation by check, send it to LCMS, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, MO, 63122. Air date: Nov. 30, 2006.

Truck tires – Terry Scruton recently talked to Guy Wallenga, engineering manager for Firestone/Bridgestone truck tires. If you have a question for Guy or any of the engineers at Firestone/Bridgestone, click here. Air date: Nov. 30, 2006.

Cybertrucker – We talked to Roy Stinson, president of Cybertrucker, about global positioning satellite, or GPS, technology. For more information, visit Cybertrucker’s Web site here, or call 1-866-552-9237. Air date: Nov. 30, 2006.

Tippie fundraiser – A group of Florida businesses organized a fundraiser for Ed Tippie and his family. Tippie was injured in 2003 accident when a suicidal man rammed his rig in an SUV. The family, which has several special needs children, has been unable to keep up with medical bills and has lost their home. For more information on the Tippie fundraiser, click here. Air date: Nov. 29, 2006.

SmartWay loans – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering loans of $5,000 to $25,000 to small business truckers who want to retrofit their rigs to reduce fuel consumption and pollution. For more information, click here. Air date: Nov. 29, 2006.

Ad valorem taxes – We talked to OOIDA’s Joe Shewmaker about ad valorem taxes in Kentucky and other states. If you have questions or want more information, contact the OOIDA Business Services Department at (800) 444-5791. Air date: Nov. 29, 2006.

Supporting documents – Jami Jones of Land Line Magazine brought us an update on the FMCSA’s upcoming rule regarding supporting documents. To read Jami’s coverage, click here. Air date: Nov. 28, 2006.

FMCSA Safety Analysis – To read Land Line Magazine’s special report about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative, click here. Or visit the FMCSA’s Web site at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-initiatives/csa2010/csa2010listening.htm. Air date: Nov. 28, 2006.

Land Line Magazine – On today’s show, we previewed the upcoming December/January issue of Land Line Magazine. If you’re a trucker and you’d like to receive the magazine, click here. Air date: Nov. 27, 2006.

Diabetes - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently granted exemptions to 45 truckers with insulin-treated diabetes to driver interstate. To read Land Line Magazine’s complete coverage, click here. For more information on applying for a waiver from the diabetes standard, click here. Air date: Nov. 22, 2006.

Hot fuel – We spoke with Steve Everly of The Kansas City Star about his latest story on the topic of “hot fuel.” To read some of Steve’s stories, click here. Air date: Nov. 20, 2006.

Merging medical records – We spoke Nov. 16 about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration desire to put truckers’ medical information into the same database that contains their CDL information. To leave comments, click here, and search for docket FMCSA-1997-22101 (if necessary, the Regulatory Identification Number is RIN 2126-AA10). Air date: Nov. 16, 2006.

Thanksgiving – We’re asking truckers to call in to our listener comment line about what they’re thankful for this year. To take part, call our listener comment line, 1-800-324-6856, and leave us a message. We’ll be sharing as many as we can on Thanksgiving Day. Air date: Nov. 15, 2006.

Legislative Update – We spoke Nov. 15 with Land Line Magazine State Legislative Editor Keith Goble, who provides a weekly update on state issues. You can read about what’s happening in your state by clicking here. Air date: Nov. 15, 2006.

SmartWay loans – The EPA has teamed up with several big banks to offer loans to owner-operators and small trucking companies that want to retrofit their trucks with a SmartWay Upgrade Kit to save fuel and help the environment. For more information, click here.

FAST and hazmat – We reported Nov. 14 on the end of the phase-in period that allowed CDL holders from Mexico and Canada to haul hazmat into the United States without a background check. To read more, click here. Air date, Nov. 14, 2006.

Utah tolls – A new group in Utah has come out in opposition to the idea of making the 40-mile Mountain View Corridor a toll road – or even, possibly, a privatized toll road. To visit the opponents’ Web site, click here. Air date: Nov. 14, 2006.

Dan Arcy – we talked to Dan Arcy, technical marketing manager for Shell Lubricants. If you have a question for Dan, check out his answer column on the web here, or call (800) 231-6950. Air date: Nov. 13, 2006.

Cybertrucker – On our Nov. 10 show, we talked to Roy Stinson, president of Cybertrucker, about computers. For more information, visit Cybertrucker’s Web site here, or call 1-866-552-9237. Air date: Nov. 10, 2006.

Veterans Day – On our show Thursday, we mentioned a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site that contained information about Veterans Day and celebrations across the country. To view those links, click here. Air date: Nov. 9, 2006.

Ed Tippie – A group of Florida businesses is organizing a fundraiser for Ed Tippie and his family. Tippie was injured in a 2003 crash when a suicidal man rammed his SUV into Tippie’s rig. Tippie and his wife, who have several special needs children, have been unable to keep up with medical bills and lost their home. For more information, click here, or call (407) 423-5959. Air date: Nov. 8, 2006.

Road Law – Reed Black spoke with Jeff McConnell of Road Law. If you have questions or comments regarding transportation law, you can call (405) 242-2030, fax a question to (405) 242-2040, or e-mail roadlaw@att.net. For more information, click here. Air date: Nov. 8, 2006.

Linda Yates – We spoke with Linda Yates of ExpressTrucking.com about expediting. To find out more, click here. Air date: Nov. 7, 2006.

Meca Truck Show – We previewed the Meca South Florida Truck Show on Monday, Nov. 6. Registration forms for the show can be found online here, or by calling Meca Chrome at (305) 884-2028. You can also visit the NAST Web site here, or call NAST at (941) 639-3817. Air date: Nov. 6, 2006.

Vote Smart – We talked about an organization called Vote Smart, which is dedicated to providing non-biased facts about political candidates and election issues. For more information about Vote Smart, check out the Web site here. You can also call the group’s hotline at 1-888-868-3762. Air date: Nov. 2, 2006.

Truck tires – Terry Scruton recently talked to Guy Wallenga, engineering manager for Firestone/Bridgestone truck tires. If you have a question for Guy or any of the engineers at Firestone/Bridgestone, visit the Web site here and click on “Ask the Tire Doctor.” Air date: Oct. 31, 2006.

Out of service – Recently we talked to Joe Shewmaker, manager of OOIDA’s Business Services department, about what to do if you are put out of service for failing a drug test, and how to go back to work. If you have a question for the Business Services department, you can call OOIDA headquarters at (800) 444-5791. Air date: Oct. 31, 2006.

FMCSA listening session – We reported on our show recently that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has scheduled a public listening session on its Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 initiative. To attend, register online by clicking here. You can also register by calling (301) 495-8458.

Border issues – Rick Craig of OOIDA talked Thursday about FAST, ACE and other border programs in response to a reader questions. To keep up to date, check out the Web site of the federal Bureau of Customs and Border Protection here. Air date: Oct. 25, 2006.

APU Financing – Mike Joyce talked about government loans available for truckers who want to purchase idle reduction devices such as APUs, gensets or inverters. For more information, call the main number at OOIDA, 1-800-444-5791, and ask for Truck Financing. Air date: Oct. 25, 2006.

Lawsuit coverage – We provided an update on the C.R. England case during Thursday’s show. To read more about the case, click here. Air date: Oct. 19, 2006.

APUs – Joe Rajkovacz of OOIDA and Aaron Ladage of Land Line spoke Thursday about Wisconsin’s idle-reduction grant program. Land Line Magazine provided a comprehensive look at the issue of idle reduction in its August/September issue. To read their coverage, click here. Air date: Oct. 19, 2006.

Sending a message in Indiana – Todd Spencer of OOIDA spoke Thursday about lawmakers who voted to lease the Indiana Toll Road – and who are up for election this Nov. 7. To view a list of those lawmakers, click here. Air date: Oct. 19, 2006.

Choosing a broker – We talked to Randy Gunderman, manager of RTS Credit Services, about what to look for when choosing a broker. For more information, check out the RTS Web site here or call 1-800-506-7438. Air date: Oct. 18, 2006.

Truck Show Latino – Terry Scruton reported Wednesday, Oct. 18, on the upcoming Truck Show Latino, which takes place Oct. 21 and 22 at the Fairplex Pomona in Pomona, CA. For more information, click here. Air date: Oct. 18, 2006.

FBI proposal – Rick Craig talked about an FBI proposal to include minor offenses along with major ones in an FBI database. To read the actual proposal that was posted on the Federal Register, click here, and then – in the box labeled “Keyword or ID,” search for the document titled “E6-14605.” You can also comment by e-mailing your thoughts to enexreg@leo.gov. Air date: Oct. 17, 2006.

Managing your permits – Joe Shewmaker, manager of OOIDA’s Business Services department, offers good tips on how to save money by managing your permits. A similar story appeared in Land Line Magazine and can be found here. If you have questions or need more information, call OOIDA’s Business Services department at 1-800- 444-5791. Air date: Oct. 13, 2006.

Florida shootings – Anyone with information related to the investigation of four bodies that were found along the Turnpike near Fort Pierce, FL, should call the Florida Highway Patrol’s tip line at 1-800-273-TIPS (1-800-273-8477). Air date: Oct. 13, 2006.

New oil – On our Oct. 13 show, we talked to Dan Arcy, technical marketing manager for Shell Lubricants. If you have a question for Dan, check out his answer column on the web here. Or you can call 1-800-231-6950. Air date: Oct. 13, 2006.

Computer advice - We spoke with John Ewing of the Truckers Helper about truckers and computers on Thursday, Oct. 12. John’s company offers a lot of help and advice to truckers through their Web site. To learn more, click here. Air date: Oct. 12, 2006.

OOIDA Medical Plan – Rick Welsh of Welsh and Associates talked about new forms of medical plans, including one offered by OOIDA. For more information on the association’s new plan, called the Advantage Plans, click here, call 1-800-715-9369 or 1-800-444-5791, and ask for Medical Benefits. Air date: Oct. 11, 2006.

Cybertrucker – On our Oct. 10 show, we talked to Roy Stinson, president of Cybertrucker, about computers. For more information, visit Cybertrucker’s Web site here, or call 1-866-552-9237. Air date: Oct. 10, 2006.

Lettuce concerns – Reed Black reported Monday, Oct. 9, on a recall on bagged lettuce, similar to the recent spinach recall. Truckers who haul produce and want to keep up on the latest can sign up for the FDA’s recalls e-list. To join the list, click here. Air date, Oct. 9, 2006.

Safe Driving Award – Reed Black spoke Monday, Oct. 9, with three winners of the OOIDA Safe Driving Award. To apply for recognition for your driving record, or for more information, click here. Air date: Oct. 9, 2006.

FMCSA class – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Missouri Division Field Office will conduct a two-day class in hazmat and Federal Regulation Title 49 at OOIDA headquarters Oct. 24 and 25. For more information, click here. Air date: Oct. 6, 2006.

California Veto – Reed Black reported Thursday, Oct. 5, that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have allowed container cargo truckers at the state’s ports to unionize. To keep up on the latest news on California legislation, click here. Air date: Oct. 5, 2006.

Convoy – The Florida leg of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy, a benefit for Special Olympics, will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, in Lakeland, FL, beginning at the USA International Speedway. For information, click here, or call (407) 719-3147. Air date: Oct. 5, 2006.

Golden opposition – In our newscast today, we mentioned that the city of Golden, CO, has quizzed candidates for state office about a proposed toll road in their area, and put the answers in the city newsletter. To read the questions, and the candidates’ responses, click here. Air date: Sept. 28. 2006.

Traffic alerts – We reported about a new e-mail traffic-notification system operating in the Chicago area. For information, click here. Air date: Sept. 28, 2006.

The doctor’s in – On Wednesday’s show, we talked to Guy Wallenga, engineering manager for Firestone/Bridgestone truck tires. If you have a question for Guy or any of the engineers at Firestone/Bridgestone, visit www.bridgestonetrucktires.com and click on “Ask the Tire Doctor.” Air date: Sept. 27, 2006.

Truck convoy – If you’d like to get involved in the World’s Largest Truck Convoy to raise funds for Special Olympics athletes, you still have a chance in six states. Illinois and New Mexico hold their convoys on Sept. 30. On Oct.7, convoys will roll in Florida, New Jersey and Delaware. And, on Oct. 21, Minnesota wraps up the convoy season. For further details, click here. Air date: Sept. 27, 2006.

Spinach and E-coli – Rick Craig and Joe Rajkovacz talked about how the E-coli outbreak in fresh spinach has affected truckers. Produce haulers need to be aware of FDA recalls involving food they may be hauling. To join the FDA recalls e-list, click here. To read answers to frequently asked questions about the situation from the FDA, click here. Air date: Sept. 25, 2006.

Wounded Samaritan fund – A good Samaritan trucker who was shot and robbed after stopping to help a “stranded” motorist is now partially paralyzed because of a bullet that cannot be safely removed. Randy Tomblin is now in a West Virginia rehab center, and other truckers have set up a fund to help him. To make a contribution, write out a check to Randy Tomblin and mail it to:
          Randy Tomblin Fund
          c/o Samantha Morris
          BB&T Bank
          P.O. Box 7938
          Huntington, West Virginia 25779

Lumping survey – Larry Green and Joe Rajkovacz of OOIDA spoke on our show Wednesday about the laws about lumping. To read the law, click here. Larry and Joe also mentioned a form OOIDA has provided for truckers – a formal request for FMCSA to investigate an instance of illegally coerced lumping. To fill out the form, click here. Don’t forget to send a copy to FMCSA, and to OOIDA. Air date: Sept. 20, 2006.

OOIDA seminar – Tom Weakley spoke on today’s show about the course OOIDA is offering in cooperation with the Metropolitan Community College – Blue River. For more information on the seminar, titled “Owner-Operator Business Management,” click here, or call either (816) 220-6518, or (816) 220-6585. Air date: Sept. 19, 2006.

Truck Vote – On today’s show, we talked about OOIDA’s efforts to get truckers to register and vote in the upcoming November election, as well as future elections. For more information, click here. Air date: Sept. 12, 2006.

Hot Fuel – On Friday’s show, we spoke with Steve Everly of The Kansas City Star, and John Siebert, project manager for the OOIDA Foundation, about hot fuel. To read Steve’s stories, click here. Air date: Sept. 8, 2006.

DAC case update – Land Line Magazine’s Coral Beach is in Denver, CO, reporting on the court action in the DAC trial, now under way in federal court. To read her updates, click here. Air date: Sept. 1, 2006.

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 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 www.truckvote.com – a Web site that links you up to publicly available information on how to register. The other is 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.

Subscribing to Land Line Magazine – If you’re a working trucker, and you’d like to receive Land Line Magazine, you can do it two ways. You can call the main number here at OOIDA, 1-800-444-5791, and ask for circulation, or you can subscribe online by clicking here. Air date: July 31, 2006.

Fuel-saving myths – Land Line Magazine’s Senior Technical Editor Paul Abelson discussed how to separate fact from fiction when examining products that purport to have fuel-saving abilities. To read the story Paul wrote for the May issue of Land Line, click here. Air date: July 28, 2006

Owner-operator seminar – Tom Weakley of the OOIDA Foundation and Clare Roberts of the Metropolitan Community College-Blue River discussed an upcoming seminar, “Owner-Operator Business Management,” for truckers. It is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4, 5 and 6. For information or to enroll, call (816) 220-6518, or click here. Air date: July 27, 2006.

Employee ID Number – Joe Shewmaker of OOIDA’s Business Services Department spoke today about filing form 2290. If you need to get an EIN (Employee Identification Number), you can call 1-800-829-4933, or click here and then click on the Employee Identification Number link. Air date: July 26, 2006.

Form 2290 – Joe Shewmaker of OOIDA’s Business Services Department spoke about filing form 2290 with the IRS. If last year’s 2290 did not get filed or paid under the owner’s EIN, or employee identification number, then the form will be mailed to the EIN the tax was filed or paid under the previous year. This means that the trucker involved may not have received the form in the mail. If you think you may be facing that problem, you can call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or go online to www.irs.gov to get a current copy of form 2290. For questions, truckers can call the form 2290 call site from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. The number is 866-699-4096. Air date: July 26, 2006

Contacting lawmakers – During our “Comment Line” segment we mentioned a number of ways to contact your lawmakers. You can always get contact information of any kind by calling the Membership Department here at OOIDA at 1-800-444-5791. You can also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Air date: July 25, 2006

Brokers and paperwork – Kip Hough of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department talked about what information brokers are legally required to provide truckers, including paperwork. The OOIDA Web site offers guidance on how to deal with brokers – including the wording of the regulation that says brokers have to provide copies of paperwork. To view that file, click here. Air date: July 25, 2006.

Hurricane season – Land Line Magazine’s Senior Editor Jami Jones reported on preparations truckers should take as the heaviest part of hurricane season approaches. To read the story Jami wrote for the magazine – which contains much of the information we discussed – click here. Air date: July 24, 2006.

Lumping survey – Joe Rajkovacz and Larry Green of OOIDA have discussed lumping recently on the show, and OOIDA is looking for truckers’ input on the topic. There’s a survey on the Association’s Web site that asks a few simple questions about lumping practices. To participate in the survey, click here. Air date: July 19, 2006

Hazmat background checks – A caller to our Listener Comment Line asked what offenses would disqualify someone from receiving a hazmat endorsement for their CDL under the current background check system. For a list of disqualifying offenses, click here. Air date: July 17, 2006

Audio books – Author and Land Line Magazine audio book reviewer Jonathan Lowe discussed truckers and recorded books. Many of the books Jon spoke about are carried through a service called Audio Adventures. To find out more about the service, click here. Air date: July 14, 2006.

Speed limiters – A member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament, Laurie Scott, has introduced a bill to require speed limiters on all heavy trucks doing business in the province. To read the bill, click here. To voice your opinion to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, click here. Air date: July 13, 2006.

Legislative Watch – Land Line Magazine State Legislative Editor Keith Goble tracks and reports on lawmaking activities in all 50 states. You can find updates on bills related to trucking and transportation through the magazine’s “Legislative Watch” on the Internet by clicking here. Air date: July 12, 2006.

Using accountants – We spoke with John Ewing of the Truckers Helper about when and why truckers should use an accountant. For more information, click here to check out the Web site of John’s company. Air date: July 10, 2006.

Russ Ringsak – Reed Black spoke to Russ, who writes, researches and drives a truck for the radio program “A Prairie Home Companion.” To read some of Russ’s writing, click here. Air date: July 10, 2006.

Lumping survey – Joe Rajkovacz and Larry Green of OOIDA have discussed lumping recently on the show, and OOIDA is looking for truckers’ input on the topic. There’s a survey on the Association’s Web site at OOIDA.com that asks a few simple questions about lumping practices. To participate in the survey, click here. Air date: July 5, 2006

Board election – OOIDA members across the country are receiving ballots in the mail to elect alternate members to the Association’s Board of Directors. We’re bringing you four ways to learn about the nominees:
     • Profiles in the July issue of Land Line Magazine;
     • Profiles on “Land Line Now” July 7 and July 9;
     • Profiles on the Land Line Magazine Web site. Click here to read them; and
     • Audio interviews on the Members’ Only Section of OOIDA’s Web site. OOIDA members can click here to listen. You will need your Members’ Only password.

Buying used – During the holiday weekend, we are airing an encore presentation of our series on buying used trucks with Jerry Bartley of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department and Land Line Magazine Senior Editor Jami Jones. To read Jami’s story from Land Line’s February 2006 issue, click here. Air dates: June 30, July 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2006.

Board election – OOIDA members across the country are receiving ballots in the mail to elect alternate members to the Association’s Board of Directors. As part of our mission, we’re bringing you three ways to learn about the nominees:
   • Profiles in the July issue of Land Line Magazine;
   • Audio interviews on the Members’ Only Section of OOIDA’s Web site; and
   • On Land Line Now July 7 and again on July 9.
To listen to the online audio interviews, click here. You will need your Members’ Only password to access the files.

Working with brokers – Rick Craig, Joe Rajkovacz and Jami Jones analyzed the TIA’s model contract for brokers, pointing out some of its pitfalls for truckers. The OOIDA Web site offers guidance on how to deal with brokers – to view that file, click here. Air date: June 27, 2006.

Idle-reduction grants – Wisconsin is offering $1 million in idling reduction grants to owner-operators who want to purchase APUs or other idling reduction technology. For information, and an application form, click here or call the Wisconsin Department of Commerce at 1-608-267-9214 and ask for Tom Coogan. Air date: June 27, 2006.

Roses & Razzberries – Senior Writer Terry Scruton of Land Line Magazine joined us to offer up some of our patented Roses & Razzberrries. If you want to offer up your own Rose or Razzberry for our consideration, you can do it on the Internet through the Members' Only section of our Web site. Just click here . Air date: June 23, 2006.

OOIDA Scholarships –Applicants must be the child or grandchild of a full dues-paying association member. They must be a high school graduate who's going to college, and be 21 or younger. For an application form, e-mail a request to denise_volmer@ooida.com . Applications will be sent out later in the year. To donate to the scholarship fund, call 1-800-444-5791, and ask for the Foundation. Air date: 06-22-06

Hot fuel – Are you familiar with the issue of hot fuel? If you are and you drive in the southern tier of the United States – especially in Florida, Texas and Southern California – and if you test the temperature of diesel when you fuel up, please contact OOIDA Foundation Project Manager John Siebert at 1-800-444-5791, Ext. 1156. Air date: June 21, 2006

Lumping survey – Joe Rajkovacz and Larry Green of OOIDA have discussed lumping recently on the show, and OOIDA is looking for truckers' input on the topic. There's a survey on the association's Web site, OOIDA.com, that asks a few simple questions about lumping practices. To participate in the survey, click here . Air date: June 21, 2006

SuperRigs – The 24th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck beauty contest is set for June 22 to 24 at the Sacramento 49er Travel Plaza in Sacramento, CA. For more info, , click here . Air date: June 19, 2006.

Engine makers on biodiesel – Land Line's Terry Scruton discussed new testing specifications for biodiesel released by the Engine Manufacturers Association. To read the specs, click here . For more information about biodiesel and where you can find it, click here . Air date: June 19, 2006.

HME Bill – U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-MO, introduced a bill to fix some of the problems truckers have with hazmat background checks. To read the bill, click here. If you want to voice your opinion of the bill, call OOIDA’s Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they will look up your representative’s contact info for you. Or, visit vote-smart.org on the Web and enter your ZIP code to get contact information for all of your lawmakers. Air date: June 15, 2006

Diabetes comments – The deadline to comment on recent changes to the federal regulations for insulin-dependent truckers is Thursday, June 15. For more information, click here. Air date: June 14, 2006.

Lumping –Joe Rajkovacz and Larry Green of OOIDA discussed loading and unloading issues, including lumping. There are resources on the OOIDA Web site on this issue – to view them, click here. Air date: June 14, 2006.

New York Thruway – Aaron Ladage of Land Line Magazine reported on a move by officials in New York to separate the state’s canal system from the Thruway – an action that could lead to a reduction in Thruway tolls. To read Aaron’s latest story, click here. Air date: June 13, 2006.

Contacting Lawmakers – In a response to our “Listener Comment Line,” we encouraged truckers to call their U.S. senators and representatives about tax incentives for idling alternative devices. To call any member of Congress, you can dial the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Or you can get contact information from OOIDA’s Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791. You can also use the Web site vote-smart.org. Enter your zip code, and the site provides contact information for all of your lawmakers. Air date: June 13, 2006.

Diabetes comments - The deadline to comment on recent changes to the federal regulations for insulin-dependent truckers is Thursday, June 15. For more information, click here. Air date: June 12, 2006.

As of our deadline, the first storm of the season, Alberto, was getting stronger and headed toward Florida. On our show today, Aaron Ladage and Jami Jones offered several phone numbers and a Web site for information. Those are:

The Florida Division of the FMCSA, (850) 942-9338;
The FMCSA Southern Service Center, (404) 327-7400;
The Web site for the Statewide Emergency Reponse Team – click here • Or call the team, at (850) 413-9900;

You can also go to the Land Line Magazine Web site and click on the button that says “Hurricane Season 2006”. Air date: June 12, 2006.

CVSA Annual Roadcheck – Reed Black reported today on the annual Roadcheck conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. To read Land Line’s latest coverage, click here. Air date: June 6, 2006.

New issue of LL – On Monday’s show, we offered a peek inside the pages of the June issue of Land Line Magazine, now starting to arrive in mailboxes. If you’re a trucker and would like to receive Land Line Magazine, click here. To have Land Line’s daily e-News delivered to your personal inbox, click here. Air date: June 5, 2006.

We reported today on efforts in a number of states to lower fuel taxes. For updates on legislation in all 50 states, go to the Land Line Magazine Legislative Watch. Click on the state you’re interested in, and the site will give you a list of pending bills. Air date: June 5, 2006

Ontario Parliament considers speed limiter bill - A request to require speed limiters for all trucks doing business in Ontario is one step closer to becoming law, following the introduction of a bill to the provincial legislature.
OOIDA issued a Call to Action for its Canadian members to contact their elected representatives and voice their opinion. Click here for info. Air date: June 2, 2006.

Idle Alternative Weight Exemption - To view recent stories about the 400-pound weight exemption for idle reduction devices, please click here or here . To view a story about proposed incentives for APU purchases, click here . If you want to contact state or federal lawmakers about the APU weight exemption, you can get contact information from the OOIDA Membership Department by calling 1-800-444-5791 during business hours. Air date: June 2, 2006.

Buying used –Jerry Bartley of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department and Land Line Magazine Senior Editor Jami Jones wrapped up our series on buying used trucks. To read Jami’s story from Land Line’s February 2006 issue, click here. Air date: May 31, 2006.

Choosing a seat – During a recent call to our Listener Comment Line, a trucker mentioned how important it is when buying a used truck to make sure either that it has a good seat or that you negotiate to get a good seat installed. Land Line Magazine published an article in 2004 on this very topic. To view the article, click here. Air Date: May 23, 2006

TWIC program – Tom Weakley of the OOIDA Foundation discussed proposed rules for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program – known as the TWIC program – which will affect port truckers. The feds are taking public comments on the proposed rules for 45 days. Comments can be signed or anonymous. There are also four public meetings on the program. For details on meeting dates and how to file comments, click here. Air Date: May 22, 2006

Wild Wheels Weekends – Set for three weekends this summer, this series of truck and tractor pulls is scheduled at a field near a small town in upstate New York. The charity events will benefit children in the region who have life-threatening illnesses. The dates are June 2-4, June 30-July 2 and September 15-17. For more information, call Randy Wilson at 607-764-8222 or click here.

Buying used trucks – Recently, Jerry Bartley of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department and Land Line Magazine Senior Editor Jami Jones have been discussing tips on buying used trucks. To read Jami’s story from Land Line’s February 2006 issue, click here. Air date: May 24, 2006.

Expedite Expo – The Expedite Expo is scheduled for July 28 and 29 at the Roberts Convention Center in Wilmington, OH. For more information, visit www.expeditersonline.com on the Web or call (859) 746-2046.

Ultra low-sulfur diesel – The transition to ULSD is expected to affect truckers in a variety of ways. For more information, you can click here to read a story by Land Line Senior Technical Editor Paul Abelson from the February issue of the magazine. Air Date May 12, 2006.

Interstate anniversary –Dan McNichol – an expert on the highway system and author of the book, “The Roads That Built America” – discussed the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System. You can learn more about the history of the interstate system at www.interstate50th.org. Air date: May 12, 2006.

Cash vs. Credit Fuel Pricing – OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer answered questions about buying fuel and mentioned the Trucker’s Advantage Card, offered by Fleet One in conjunction with OOIDA. To view the Trucker’s Advantage Web site, click here. To view a list of fuel prices updated daily by state and provided in conjunction with ProMiles, click here. Air Date: May 11, 2006.

Dealing with Brokers – We spoke with Kip Hough of OOIDA’s Member Assistance department about dealing with problem brokers. Click here for links to some of the resources we mentioned on the show. Air date: May 11, 2006.

EPA’s model idling law – Aaron Ladage of Land Line Magazine discussed a number of Web sites related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s model idling law. To read his latest story about the topic, click here. To read the actual model idling law, click here. For a roundup of anti-idling laws from across the country, click here. Air date: May 9, 2006.

Truck financing – Margo Fries of OOIDA’s Truck Financing Department mentioned several Web sites that can be helpful when you are preparing to finance a truck. To get a copy of your credit report for free, click here . To find our more about OOIDA’s Truck Financing Program, click here To download a loan application, click here. For more information, call the main OOIDA number, 1-800-444-5791, and ask for Truck Financing. Air Date: April 27, 2006.

Buying Used Trucks – Recently, Jerry Bartley of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department and Land Line Magazine Senior Editor Jami Jones have been discussing tips on buying used trucks. To read Jami’s story from Land Line’s February 2006 issue, click here. Air date: April 26, 2006

Write your lawmaker – A caller to our listener comment line asked for tips on how to write an effective letter to your U.S. representative or senators. Those tips are provided on the OOIDA Web site. To view them, click here. Aired: April 25, 2006.

Hurricane season - The 2006 season begins June 1. If you'd like to read the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration report on the 2005 hurricane season, click here. Air date: April 25, 2006

Braking news - Brake linings and the materials used to make them were discussed by Steven Petit of "Roll Audio." You can find links to additional information on his Web site, rollaudio.com. Air Date: April 24, 2006

Truck parking - A bill in the Missouri General Assembly would require the state to ban non-commercial traffic from rest areas by Jan. 1, 2007. That would create more truck-only parking, but the bill's sponsor said his real goal is not to close rest areas, but to increase awareness about the shortage of truck parking in the state. To read the bill, click here.
To find contact information for your state lawmaker in Missouri to comment on the bill, be ready to enter your ZIP code when you click here. Air Date: April 24, 2006

Air date: April 19, 2006 – Reed Black reported that Michigan State Police want people who witness dangerous driving or outright road rage to go to a new Web site and report it. It’s Michigan.gov/roadrage.

Air date: April 19, 2006 – Recently, Jerry Bartley of OOIDA’s Member Assistance Department and Land Line Magazine Senior Editor Jami Jones have been discussing tips on buying used trucks. To read Jami’s story from Land Line’s February 2006 issue, click here.

Air date: April 18, 2006 – If you’re looking for up-to-the-minute information about road construction delays on major U.S. and Canadian roadways, the Highway MAMA service be just what you are looking for. Call 1-877-HWY MAMA (499-6262), and follow the prompts for a demonstration. The service is 25 cents per minute, charged to your credit card. The demo is free.

Air Date: April 17, 2006 – The Interstate Oasis Program is under discussion and the Federal Highway Administration is accepting public comments on the program, which could include using tax dollars to promote private businesses that offer goods and services to highway users. Truckers are encouraged to submit comments – signed or anonymous – before the April 28 deadline. For details on how to comment, click here.

Air date: April 17, 2006 – The Annual Marmon Truck Gathering is planned for April 21-22 at the TA Travel Center in Rockwell, TX. For more info, you can call (972) 924-4204 or 469-667-7158. Or you can send an e-mail to info@marmontrucks.com.

Air date: April 13, 2006 – For years, Route 66 was the link connecting the Midwest with Southern California. U.S. 66 is no more, at least as an official roadway, but Route 66 lives on through the state associations that keep alive memories of road travel in a different time. If you’d like to learn more about the Route 66 Association of Illinois, check their Web site, wwwil66assoc.org or write to the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame Museum at 110 West Howard, Pontiac, IL 61764.

Air date: April 13, 2005 – Anyone who would like to comment on the hours-of-service exemption requested for explosives haulers may do so by one of the following methods click here for options.

Air date: April 12, 2006 – During the past two weeks, Jerry Bartley of OOIDA Member Assistance and Jami Jones of Land Line Magazine have been sharing tips on buying used trucks. We’ve referred to the article by Jami in Land Line Magazine’s February 2006 issue. If you no longer have your copy of February’s Land Line, you can see Jami’s article online. Just click here.

Air Date: April 11, 2006 – OOIDA has issued a Call to Action to members and other truckers in Virginia to attend public meetings about improvements to Interstate 81. If you cannot attend, we encourage you to send e-mails or write letters to the Virginia DOT to let them know your thoughts on possible options. For a list of meeting times, locations and other information, click here.
Comments can be e-mailed to 81info@VirginiaDOT.org or by filling out the online comment form at www.I-81.org.
Mailed comments can be directed to:
Christopher Collins, project manager
VDOT Environmental Division
1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA, 23219.

Air date: April 11, 2006 – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has a continuing problem with unending requests for business cards for a British child who is dying of cancer. The story was a true tale, but the child is grown up now and cured. The story has become an urban legend of massive proportion. To hear the foundation’s recording with the complete details, call 1-800-215-1333, or visit www.wish.org and click on the link “chain letters.”

Air date: April 11, 2006 – Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement has begun a new pilot program, in which officers ride “shotgun” with truckers inside the cabs of their trucks to monitor and ticket aggressive drivers. To volunteer to have an officer ride in your truck, call (502) 564-3276 and ask for Commissioner Greg Howard. For areas west of I-75, you can also ask for Major Jeff Heady. East of I-75, you can ask for Major Phillip Frazier.

Air date: April 7, 2006 – OOIDA has issued a call to action regarding a bill in Missouri – HB1380 – to allow tolls on a new I-70 bridge over the Mississippi River. To contact the Senate Transportation Committee members, visit www.senate.mo.gov/06info/comm/TRAN.htm. Click on the committee member names to get their contact information. You can also call OOIDA’s Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look up the contact info for you.

Air date: March 27, 2006 – Anyone can get a free copy of their credit report through the Internet. There are several Web sites that offer the service, but the official site, and the one credit experts recommend using, is annualcreditreport.com. Set up by the federal government, it offers access to credit reports maintained by each of the three major, national credit bureaus.

Air date: March 24, 2006 – A new study by the FMCSA reports that driver behavior is more likely than any other factor to be the cause of accidents between big trucks and passenger vehicles. “The passenger vehicle was assigned the critical reason (for the crash) in 56 percent of the crashes and the large truck in 44 percent,” the study said. To read the FMCSA’s report to Congress click here.

Air date: March 22, 2006 – The Virginia DOT has scheduled public hearings and is accepting public comment on possibly widening I-81. The plan could include truck-tolling lanes. For a list of the dates and locations of the public hearings, click here. For information on how to submit written comments, click here.

Air date: March 13, 2006 – OOIDA is calling on all truckers to call lawmakers in Indiana regarding plans to lease the state’s toll road to a foreign consortium. A vote is expected by midnight Tuesday, March 14, when the Legislature’s regular session ends. To contact members of the Indiana Senate, call 1-800-382-9467 if you’re in Indiana. If you’re not in the state, call (317) 232-9400. For House members, dial 1-800-382-9841 if you’re in Indiana. If you’re not in Indiana, call (317) 232-9600. You can also get contact information from www.vote-smart.org. If you want a fax number, e-mail address or other contact information, you can get it by calling the Membership Department at OOIDA at 1-800-444-5791.

Air date: March 1, 2006 – Current or potential contractors for the U.S. DOT should be aware of fraudulent letters that look as if they were sent by the FMCSA. The scam letters have a signature of “Frank A. Orell” and ask truckers to submit confidential information for the DOT Central Contractor Registration System. FMCSA officials said truckers should not fill out the worksheets attached to the bogus letters. For more information, call the DOT Inspector General Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9071.

Air date: Feb. 28, 2006 – You still have time to call Indiana state senators and ask them to vote against HB1008, which will allow the governor to lease the Indiana Toll Road to foreign companies for 75 years. Thursday, March 2, is the deadline for the Indiana Senate to vote on the bill, but the vote could come as early as Wednesday. To find out who your state senators are and to get their phone numbers, visit www.vote-smart.org and key in your nine-digit ZIP code. If you don’t know the full nine-digit ZIP, the site has a link to assist with getting the last four digits. To e-mail Indiana lawmakers by clicking here: and follow the prompts on screen. You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they can find the contact information for you.

Air date: Feb. 22, 2006 – Claiming to represent the trucking industry, Swift VP Dave Berry has asked the U.S. Secretary of the Interior if the Bush Administration would reconsider slowing down long haul trucks nationwide by 5 mph, citing fuel savings. Secretary Gale Norton replied she wanted more input from trucking. You can offer your two cents worth to Secretary Norton at webteam@ios.doi.gov. Important note: you might also send your comments on getting the feds involved with speed limits again to ATA’s President and CEO Bill Graves. The organization won’t release his e-mail address, but you can send comments to his Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Lowry at mlowry@trucking.org.

Air date: Feb. 14, 2006 – OOIDA member Leland Jennings suggested that truckers call their U.S. Senators – or the White House – and tell them what qualifications and experience they would like to see in the next administrator of the FMCSA. We said we would provide contact information, so here it is: Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 and they can connect you to the office for any representative or senator. For a street address, e-mail address or fax number, call the Membership Department at OOIDA at 1-800-444-5791. Call the president’s comment line at the White House at (202) 456-1111.

Air date: Feb. 14, 2006 – The American Trucking Association has endorsed limiting new trucks to 68 mph at the time of manufacture. For more information on the subject, click here ….

Air date: Feb. 7, 2005 – In discussing mileage and truckers’ pay, Gary Green of OOIDA mentioned a section on the OOIDA Web site called “Interviewing the Interviewer.” It includes a list of questions truckers should ask carriers before agreeing to work for them. To see the list, owner-operators should click here. Company drivers who want to see the list of questions they should ask prospective employers should click here.

Air date: Feb. 3, 2006 – CMT’s “Trick My Truck” has raised a lot of interest from truckers hoping to have their own rigs made over. Unfortunately, filming and casting for the first season of the series has been completed, and there has been no word yet on whether a second season is in the works. For information on what the requirements were for the first season’s applicants, click here...

Air date: Feb. 1, 2006 – Kenneth R. Conceicao, 35, went missing in Boca Raton, FL, on Friday, Jan. 27. Driving a 2001 red Mack sleeper cab with 55-foot trailer. Pennsylvania license number is AF13336. The name “Burkholder” is on the side of the truck. Police ask anyone with information to call (908) 226-7660.

Air date: Jan. 30, 2006 – Truckers interested in finding a carbon monoxide detector rugged enough for life on the road may want to check out MTI’s detector designed for the RV industry. Visit http://www.safetalert.com/re2.htm for more information.

Air date: Jan. 23, 2006 – We recently reported on a series of commercials for the Nashville law firm of Bart Durham & Associates that paints truckers in a not-so-flattering light. The next new commercial is scheduled to air on Feb. 6. If you would like to voice your concerns about these ads, contact the television stations in Nashville that are airing the commercials.

ABC
WKRN-TV
441 Murfreesboro Road
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 259-2200 or (615) 369-7222 ask to speak with or leave a message for General Manager Mike Sechrist
programming@wkrn.com

CBS
WTVF-TV
474 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 244-5000 ask to speak with or leave a message for General Manager Debbie Turner
dturner@newschannel5.com

Sinclair Broadcast Group – owns the FOX and WB affiliates in Nashville
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
(410) 568-1500
comments@sbgi.net

NBC
WSMV-TV
5700 Knob Road
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 353-4444
programming@wsmv.com

Local Comcast office
660 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, 37228
(615) 244-5900 or (615) 244-6222

Air date: Jan. 23, 2006 – The Missouri Senate’s Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear testimony at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, on a bill that would ban large trucks from driving in the far left lane on most urban highways and interstates in the state. To contact the committee members to express your opinion on this bill, visit www.senate.mo.gov/06info/comm/TRAN.htm, or call OOIDA’s Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look up contact information for you.
To view the full Call to Action, click here:

Air date: Jan. 20, 2006 – Recently we reported on the efforts by some Georgia cities to reduce the time diesel-powered vehicles can idle. The state’s Environmental Protection Division is zeroing in on buses, but trucks could soon be part of any ruling. To comment, contact William Cook at the Division’s Engine and Fuel Services Department, (404) 363-7028.

Air date Jan. 19, 2005 – California’s Port of Oakland has set up a truck replacement program, which will use grant money to help owners of 1986 or older rigs replace their trucks with 1999 or newer models. The program is expected to replace about 60 trucks. For more information, call (510) 627-1380. To qualify, truck owners must be able to demonstrate that their vehicles have been operated in the Port of Oakland continuously for the past two years and have been used to haul containers for at least 400 trips during the past 12 months. Drivers who live in the port’s local communities may qualify for the grants more easily.

Air date: Jan. 10, 2005 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola of Pennsylvania is sponsoring a bill that would fine truckers and other drivers if all surfaces of their vehicles are not cleared of snow and ice. If you’re a Pennsylvania resident and want to make your views known on this bill, you can call your state senator through the Senate general information line, (717) 787-5920.

Air date: Jan. 10, 2005 – Maryland has an overhang limit for trailers that you need to be aware of if you truck through the state. And the DOT is enforcing. To get the details, call the Maryland DOT at 410-582- 5734.

Air date: Jan. 9, 2005 – OOIDA members may access the Out-of-Service Criteria through the members-only section of OOIDA’s Web site at http://www.ooida.com/ooidamembers/Library/library.asp. Click on the link that says: “CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria (PDF format).” Those who are not OOIDA members can view the criteria on the CVSA Web site, www.CVSA.org, or call the CVSA at (202) 775-1623 and request that the criteria be mailed out.

Air date: Jan. 6, 2006 – In the wake of FMCSA notices about operating authority paperwork, many BOC-3 holders have been bombarded by solicitors implying the truckers face gigantic penalties and government sanctions unless they take immediate action to make their BOC-3 current. This usually involves paying a third party a hefty fee. Don’t be taken in by these offers. First, contact the FMCSA at (202) 385-2423 to find out if your BOC-3 is out of date. If it is and you are an OOIDA member, the Association’s Business Services department can help you do an electronic update free of charge. Call OOIDA at 1-800-444-5791 and ask for Business Services.

Air date: Jan. 5, 2006 – For information on new lighting regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration you can click here to see a copy of the final regulations.

Air date: Jan. 3, 2006 – For tax and accounting questions related to your trucking business, you can contact PBS Tax & Bookkeeping Services by calling 1-800-697-5153 or visiting www.pbstax.com on the Web.

Air date: Jan. 3, 2006 – For questions on expediting, you can go to expresstrucking.com on the Web, e-mail your question to ufs@expresstrucking.com or you can call (330) 283-0957.

Air date: Dec. 30, 2005 – OOIDA has issued a Call to Action for members and other truckers in Indiana regarding planned toll increases. To read the Call to Action, go to http://www.landlinemag.com/Legislative_Watch/2006/IN/Action_Alerts/010306.htm on the Internet. To find contact information for Indiana lawmakers, visit www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/list.jsp on the Internet. You can also call OOIDA’s Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look up the contact info for you. A list of Indiana newspaper and TV station Web sites are available at http://usnpl.com/innews.html and truckers are encouraged to notify local media about the toll increases.

Air date: Dec. 30, 2005 – Any person or group who would like to comment in support of OOIDA’s petition for reconsideration of the hours-of-service regulations may do so by one of the following methods. On the Internet, go to dms.dot.gov and click on the “Comment/Submissions” button at the top of the page. You can choose to register for a user ID and password, or simply click continue. You will be required to fill out some information on the next screen. The docket number you are commenting on is FMCSA-2004-19608. You may submit comments anonymously. You can also fax your comments to: (202) 493-2251; or mail comments to:

Docket Management Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh St. SW, Nassif Building Room PL-401
Washington, DC 20590-0001

There’s also the main number at FMCSA – 1-800-832-5660 – but it’s often difficult to get to the right person through that number.

Air date: Dec. 30, 2005 –You can obtain a copy of the federal leasing regulations by calling OOIDA toll-free at 1-800-444-5791, or by sending your request via e-mail to leasingregs@ooida.com. Or you can download a PDF version of the regulations by visiting the Association’s Web site at www.ooida.com and clicking on “Regulatory Action” on the left-hand side of the Web page. Then click on the document titled “DOT Leasing Regulations.”

Air date: Dec. 30, 2005 – Drivers wishing to obtain a copy of employment information previous employers have stored on them may send a copy of their driver’s license and Social Security card to:

USIS Transportation Services Consumer Department
PO Box 33181
Tulsa, OK 74153

Or you can visit usis.com/commercialservices/transportation/ContactUs.htm on the Internet. You’ll need to provide your home address and telephone number along with all correspondence. Keep a copy of your request for your own files.

Air date: Dec. 22, 2005 - Member Laura Berner is a Texas-based contract driver who recently took a load of supplies and gifts to an Indian reservation in South Dakota. She worked with the group “Hawkwing Lodge” to transport her load from Connecticut to Eagle Butte, SD. Her lessee, Select Carrier Group, is setting up year-round collection bins for drivers to drop off toys, clothes and personal care items for next year’s run. Berner said the organization overseeing the relief work, Hawkwing Lodge, hopes to send a convoy to Eagle Butte next year. Contact founder Rachel Ripley at (860) 633-8933 or at hawkwinglodge@cox.net.

Air date: Dec. 20, 2005 - Mike Joyce of OOIDA's Washington DC office reports on anti-idling incentives. He refers to a Web site that offers information on several state-sponsored programs that will reimburse purchasers of APUs or other idling alternative devices. Go to the bottom of this site: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/idle-fund.htm#epafund. For more idling info, see "Hot Topics" at www.landlinemag.com.

Air date: Dec. 19, 2005 - Drivers at Salisbury, Maryland-based Perdue Farms have been giving rides to special needs residents at Holly Center for the past 22 years. We talked with driver Vernon Gunter, who has been behind the wheel for “Operation Teddy Bear” – yep, just like the Red Sovine song -- for the past 16 years. Gunter said the residents are very appreciative and look forward to their special ride each year. If you’d like to set up a ride along where you live or work, you can contact the Holly Center at 410-572-6204 or Purdue Farms media relations at (410) 341-2533.

Air date: Dec. 15, 2005 - The Ontario transportation ministry has opened a short public comment period for anyone for or against mandatory speed limiters. The clock began ticking Tuesday, Dec. 13, and the comment period will end Dec. 23. Here is a link to the OTA proposal so you can see for yourself what mandatory speed limiters are all about: www.ontruck.org/speedlimiters.
You can send comments via e-mail to: dwain.smith@mto.gov.on.ca or call Dwain Smith at the Ministry of Transportation at (905) 704-2624.

Air date: Dec. 13, 2005 – A researcher doing a study about the effectiveness of ion scanners used for drug tests may want to talk to you. Kay Lumas is a doctoral candidate at Capella University in Minneapolis. She is conducting the study and is looking for about a dozen professional truckers who would be willing to participate in her research. If you have been tested for drugs with an ion scanner and had a false positive reading, give her a call. There’s a small stipend in exchange for your time. Call Lumas at 1-866-403-3599 or drkaylumas@hotmail.com.

2006 HOA Archives | 2007 HOA Archives