As a relative newcomer to trucking, I’ve learned a lot – but still have a lot to learn.

Case in point: Leading up to this year’s Truckers for Troops Telethon, I was apprehensive.

How could OOIDA members possibly match, much less exceed, the $43,000 in contributions they made last year?

After all, we’re in the throes of the biggest economic meltdown since the Great Depression and truckers aren’t spared from the hard times.

I shared my concern with a member who called in about a week before the telethon.

“Oh, don’t worry” he said, “truckers are the most generous people there are.”

“Why do you think so many panhandlers hang around truck stops?” he asked.

“Dunno,” I said.

“Because they know truckers will help them out.”

He proved right about OOIDA members being generous.

When the weeklong telethon ended and they crunched the numbers, donations for care packages for our troops overseas came to an astonishing $54,567.

That’s $11,000 more than last year.

During a live online Internet session, one member’s daughter messaged the total to her husband in Iraq.

He immediately messaged back – on behalf of himself and his unit – “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

The other night, my brother called and I told him our truckers had donated more than $54,000 for the troops.

“Wow. In this economy?” he said.

“They’ve got to be hurting themselves.”

“Yeah, they are,” I said, “but they gave anyway.”

Like I said, I’m relatively new to trucking.

But I’m learning.

For some time now, New Jersey officials have been wringing their hands about the state’s financial crisis.

They’ve lived on debt for years. They’ve tapped out the taxpayers, who are unwilling to give more. They continue to push for more revenue, targeting folks like truckers on the Turnpike for higher fees. And they say they have huge budget demands that must be met if they don’t.

I say boo hoo. These folks brought this on themselves with decades of wasteful spending and irresponsible money management. And if you don’t believe me, look no further than the Frank R. Lautenberg Railroad Station.

The station was the subject of a recent editorial in The New York Times. It was not an editorial congratulating public officials on the completion of a successful public works project. Quite the opposite.

The station is a part of the state’s public transit rail system. And The Times points out that the state spent $450 million building it, and the New Jersey Turnpike spent millions more building a ramp to it.

Yet the station is completely devoid of any parking spaces for commuters who want to park and take the train. That’s right, no parking spaces – not a single, solitary one.

The Times asked the most pressing question: “Why spend $450 million to build a commuter railroad station when commuters are, in effect, barred from using it?”

The folks in New Jersey gave some lame excuse about it being a “transfer-only” station, that allowing cars to go there would clog traffic, and so on. That’s all fine, although it doesn’t explain the special ramp off the Turnpike leading right to the station. What is that for – horses and skateboarders?

Shockingly, the station with no parking is, in the words of The Times, “vastly underused.”

America’s newspaper of record asked a very good question. I want to ask some more:

· With nearly a half billion dollars spent, how much did this station and other wasteful projects like it add to New Jersey’s budget woes?

· Why should taxpayers in general – and truckers facing higher tolls on the Turnpike in particular – have to pay more when it’s clear from this incident that the state can’t manage what they have?

· Why – if the station is just for transfers – does it have doors where the commuting public could walk in from outside? Doesn’t that mean they want people to come in? That’s what it means when most buildings have a door that says “entrance” above it.

· Who should lose their job for naming a wasteful boondoggle like this for a known reformer and budget hawk, Sen. Frank Laughtenberg?

· Did the Turnpike folks never talk to anyone at New Jersey Transit? Without any parking, what do they think the cars coming off that special ramp are going to do – float in the air like some vehicle off “The Jetsons” until the owner gets back after a hard day’s work?

· How many more projects like this are there? How much of New Jersey’s budget mess is simply a case of mismanaged funds?

The fact is, New Jersey does have a budget crisis. But it shouldn’t be solved by raising one more dime of money, from general taxes, from tolls, or from any other source. And I have one big, nasty, half-billion-dollar mostly empty train station that says I’m right.

They should be made to walk through that budget line by line until they get out all the boondoggles. They should be made to examine their programs one by one to see which ones serve a purpose, and which ones don’t do a blasted thing for the public.

Then, and only then, should the people of New Jersey consider giving these wasteful frauds one more penny.

Have you noticed what’s happening with car keys?

The automakers are putting computer chips in them—that do a lot more than just turn the car on and off.

Ford’s version allows parents to program the key to set a maximum speed on their teenager’s car – and even limit the volume on the sound system.

BMW, being Beamer, is turning the car key into a credit card.

Now Beamer owners can consume even more conspicuously with the mere wave of a key.

And researchers at the University of Utah have come up with a key that can be programmed to keep teens from text messaging or talking on the cell phone while driving.

The key emits a signal that shuts down the cell phone—except for calling 9-1-1.

So far as I know, truck makers haven’t jumped on board yet.

But the day may come when the key to your Peterbilt or Kenworth will magically produce a ham and cheese sandwich and a thermos of hot coffee just when you need it most.

Gilles Bisson, a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament and a member of the New Democratic Party, recently stood up for the rights of small-business truckers.

Bisson questioned Transportation Minister James J. Bradley about the implications of the new requirement for speed limiters on all trucks traveling in the province.

Here’s a transcript of their conversation on the floor of parliament. The transcript cuts off at one point. We hope to bring you any further information at a later date.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Minister, you’ll know that the U.S. economy is tanking, and ours is following suit. There’s 30,000 independent trucker owner-operators that are really feeling the pinch in this economy, but your government is moving full steam ahead with the speed limiters on trucks. They’re going to have to drive 105 kilometers per hour in jurisdictions in the United States where their speed limit … (is) set way ahead of that number. At the very time that truckers need our support, why is your government forcing them to spend $4.5 million for technology that won’t make our roads safer and will make it even harder for those truckers to compete against American competitors?

Hon. James J. Bradley: Well, I’m surprised to hear the member actually ask that question – he asks so many good questions in the House – because the statistics show very clearly that speed limiter legislation and the regulations that go with it will, in fact, increase road safety tremendously. The Ontario Trucking Association, which represents most of the truckers in the province of Ontario, was very enthusiastic about this being implemented. Next door, in the province of Quebec, they have already passed legislation and will, in synchronization with Ontario, be implementing this on Jan.1, 2009. This will have a profound positive effect not only on highway safety, but your fellow colleagues who are concerned about the environment will know that this is very positive for greenhouse gases and for other emissions that are forthcoming from large vehicles.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, minister. Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Well, minister, if you’re disappointed in my question I can tell you that independent truckers are disappointed in your answer and we would expect a much better answer from the Minister of Transportation.

Listen, the experts have come before committee and they’ve said when it comes to making our highways safer, this legislation in fact will make it more dangerous because of the requirement of the speed limiters. Number two, and here is the big issue, they are going to have to compete against American truckers – also independent truckers and fleets – at a disadvantage because their speed limiters are set at higher speeds due to the speed limits in the United States.

So I ask you again: Will you not support the independent truckers of this province and allow them to compete on a level playing field or at the least pay for the installation of the technology?

Hon. James J. Bradley: As you know, the technology is such that it can be changed according to the jurisdiction are you in. So, that can happen. But, I want to share with the member, because I know he is interested in facts.

Increased road safety – well, research shows that excessive speed is a factor in 23 percent of crashes. 100 million fewer liters of diesel fuel will be used by the whole trucking industry; a 280,000-ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of 2,700 tractor-trailers off the road each year.

Now, your friend who is competing with you for the leadership of the party, Mr. Tabuns, is going to be not happy with that question. I have a quote, I remember you said that on March 19, 2008; you were very good when you said “In principle, we don’t have a problem.” I agreed with you then. And I still agree with that.

“Gov’nor Blago’s going to jail”

(sung to the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

Oh, you better not bribe,
You better not cheat
You better not cry
Or you’ll really get beat

Gov’nor Blago’s going to jail.

Oh, you better not bribe,
You better not steal
You better not cry
Or you’ll be in the cell

Gov’nor Blago’s going to jail.

They bugged him in his office
They bugged him at his home
They even bugged his wife, by God
So to jail he’s going to go

Oh, you better not bribe,
You better not steal
You better not cry
Or you’ll be in the cell

Gov’nor Blago’s going to jail.

He tried to screw the Cubbies
He tried to get big bucks
He tried to sell a Senate seat
His corruption can’t be topped.

Oh, you better not bribe,
You better not cheat
You better not cry
Or you’ll be in the clink

Gov’nor Blago’s going to jail.

When we think of soldiers, we traditionally think of men. But many, many women served their country in our armed forces in the past few years, both in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in other regions of the world.

One of those Specialist Whitney Parks. She is also, along with other female soldiers she serves with, a recipient of care packages.

OOIDA staff members created special packages for women in the service to cater to their particular needs. And Whitney said they were appreciated very much indeed – as were the items they shared with the men in their unit.

Thank you very much for taking the time out to arrange these great care packages. Believe me they will be put to use.

It's hard to come by much of anything out here. I've already handed out the hygiene products to the females, and they all were very appreciative. There are not too many females here in our unit. There was more than enough to go around, so I have to figure out what I will do with the extras.

I'm actually enjoying one of the coffees right now. Not to bad at all.

They have me working nights -- fourteen hour shifts -- so all the coffee that I can get my hands on really helps.

The boys loved the Raviolis. I doubt they will last long.

Thank you, everyone who took part in this, for your support. It really helps to know that we have people back home thinking about us and trying to do something to make our stay here a little easier.

Fifteen months is a long time to be away from the ones you love. Don't take for granted the time you have with your friends and family.

Thank you again.

Specialist Whitney Parks

Although we hold the Truckers for Troops Telethon every year at Christmastime, we never intended to send the care packages during the holidays.

Soldiers are receiving many gifts and other items at that time of year. But come January and throughout the winter and spring, much less is sent their way.

Here at OOIDA, we wanted these soldiers to feel all year like they are appreciated, like they are remember by the folks back home. So we designed our packages to be sent in waves, some arriving even as late as summer.

But according to at least one soldier, it made it seem like Christmas all year long.

On behalf of my soldiers, I just wanted to say thank you for the care package. It was well received and much appreciated.

The items in it were great (especially the self-heating coffee). It’s like Christmas in more ways than one.

It’s much more than simply getting a box of treats. It is the knowledge that people back home are thinking of us. Never before has something so epitomized the phrase, "It's the thought that counts."

I also would like to apologize for not getting back to you sooner. I had to wait until the second package got here (by the way ...the second package got here, Connie) because I somehow misplaced or mistakenly allowed to be discarded the letter with your e-mail address on it.

I hoped you would send one more package just so I could have a chance to thank you for the initial one.

Well, I'm not much of a talker, so I'll just leave it at that.

Thanks Much,

Martin Neier

All this week, we’re bringing you letters from soldiers who received Truckers for Troops care packages and their family members.

Very often, the soldiers came to us through family members. And that was the case with Jason Cramer.

His mother, Lana Cramer, wrote to OOIDA to thank us for the packages, and to tell us how much they meant to the troops who received them.

As with many of the letters, it was addressed to Connie Beacraft, who, along with Nikki Johnson and Sherry Murry, coordinated the purchasing, assembling and mailing of the packages.

Hi Connie,

I got your name from Joey Cowick. He's my nephew, and my son, Jason Cramer, is Joey's cousin.

Jason wanted me to thank you for the packages that you sent to him and his unit in Iraq. He told me that this was the best care package shipment that he's gotten yet.

The coffee was a huge hit over there with the guys. He told me that most of them are coffee drinkers, and that the closest coffee is across the base. Then they have to pay for it when they go there, so they were very excited with the ones you sent, and they were especially excited that they were self-heating.

Jason will be in Iraq for about one more month; then he'll go to Kuwait for about a month, and then he'll be coming home, or back to Washington to finish out his time.

Joey told me that you have a son over there. I pray he's doing OK. Feel free to call me, and if you need any help in packing care packages, I'm be more than happy to help out.

Support our troops, they need us, as we need them ...

Thank you, Lana

One of the wonderful parts of the Truckers for Troops care packages effort has been the sharing of care packages.

Rather than send a single care package to a single soldier, many of the packages were designed for and sent to whole platoons, so more soldiers could benefit. And to make sure every soldier had things he or she needed, several shipments were sent.

The soldiers themselves enjoyed sharing what they received. And that includes Staff Sergeant William J. Peterson, who wrote us this note.

I wish to extend my appreciation to all of the wonderful you people at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and your contributors, who helped in making the Truckers for Troops Telethon a success.

I was quite delighted in receiving the packages you prepared and sent to me.

Also, the soldiers under me benefited also because I shared all that you sent me with them.

Thank you for you support.

Sincerely, Staff Sergeant William J. Peterson, E Troop, QC Shop

All this week, we continue to bring you letters of thanks from soldiers who received care packages paid for with truckers’ generous donations to truckers for troops.

While most of the letters have been about things like self-heating coffee, string cheese or gifts, another thing included in the packages were letters from OOIDA members, and home-made cards made by schoolchildren.

Sergeant first Class Russell Pierce wrote to OOIDA about that and more.

On behalf of the 935th ADT, I would like to thank you for the care packages you and your organization have sent. The guys appreciate it very much. It means a lot to us to receive the support your organization has shown.

The letters and crafts from drivers, children and concerned individuals alike, have been very well received.

If I may make a suggestion for future drives, without sounding ungrateful, the children here could use some shoes and school supplies.

I know it seems like it would not be the same as supporting the troops, but the troops love to help the children, and if we, as a nation, can win the hearts of the children, our security situation at home and abroad would improve as they grow.

My daughters Girl Scout Troop sent school supplies, and we delivered them to remote villages for the children. They loved them, and it was a nice experience to see them smile.

Well, anyway thanks a lot. I may try to get in touch with you all when I get home as I only live 20 or so miles from your organization there in Grain Valley.

Sergeant First Class Russell Pierce, 935th ADT

When we think of soldiers, we traditionally think of men. But many, many women served their country in our armed forces in the past few years, both in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in other regions of the world.

One of those is Sgt. Tonya Harrington. She and the other female soldiers she serves with are also recipients of care packages, and she wrote to OOIDA to express thanks on behalf of herself and six of her fellow soldiers.

OOIDA staff members created special packages for women in the service to cater to their particular needs. And Tonya said they were appreciated very much indeed.

Dear Connie,

Thank you for the two boxes. One was for females only, and the other was full of goodies.

I issued all the females that I work with a bag, and they were very pleased. You are spoiling us, and we appreciate it.

They loved the self-heating coffee, and the snacks were gone in two days. I managed to stash some away, so yes they think I'm all out. Just hope they don't go into the supply closet.

Thank you for looking out for us. I was surprised to get something from someone I don't even know. It's usually my family or friends, but I see I have another set of family and friends.

I can't express enough for your gratitude. Thanks again for your generosity.

Sgt. Tonya Harrington

On behalf of six other soldiers

In addition to the many letters we received from soldiers, we’ve also received many letters from the family and friends of soldiers who received care packages paid for from the last Truckers for Troops telethon.

OOIDA member Kenneth Borgmeyer was one of those who wrote, telling us how thankful he was for the items sent to a friend of his.

Dear Connie,

I got a chance to talk to Sgt. Koch yesterday over Windows messenger, and he wanted me to relay to all of you a great big THANK YOU for the care package he received from OOIDA.

He had no idea it was coming – my son-in-law did not tell him. When it arrived, one of the other soldiers slipped it into his room before he returned from a mission.

He told me he did not know what to think that someone would just send him a care package without knowing him personally,

I told him that we do know him, because a lot of us truck drivers are ex-military, and we take care of our own.

It's like I told you the last time we spoke, Connie – if there ever was an organization that deserves dozens of roses, it is your group for doing this for our troops.

Thank you once again.

A very proud member, Kenneth Borgmeyer.

As OOIDA sent out wave after wave of care packages throughout the past year, many of the soldiers wrote letters back to thank the association and its members for their kindness.

Many of those letters were addressed to one employee in particular – Connie Beacraft, who works in the association’s truck insurance department. Connie was one of three staff members who coordinated sending out the care packages, and her own son, Shane, was serving in Iraq most of the past year.

One of those soliders who wrote her was Sergeant First Class Jerry Andrew, Platoon Sergeant of Charlie Troop, 3-17 Army Cavalry.

Hello, Connie.

My name is Jerry, and I just wanted to let you know I am receiving your boxes. I have been giving them to my soldiers, and they really do appreciate them.

My unit is currently on their 10th month of a 15-month rotation. We are all very happy that it is almost time to start thinking about going home.

I will let you know when we will no longer need your boxes, and will pass a new name to you so you can keep sending them to needing soldiers, if that is what you want me to do.

Again thank you for your support.

Jerry.

During the Telethon, we’ve been bringing you letters from the members of our armed forces who have received the care packages paid for by truckers’ generous donations last year.

One of the most popular items in those care packages was self-heating coffee – maybe the only way some of our troops were able to enjoy a hot beverage while on duty in a war zone.

We heard about those coffees – and heard some good news besides – from Dennis J. DeForest Jr., a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Thank you for all that you have done for me and my friends.

I have returned home to Camp Pendleton, California. It was a great homecoming.

I came home to a 4-month-old daughter and my 2-year-old son, and -- of course -- my wounderful wife of one year.

The self-heating coffee was a big hit.

Thank you for being there for all of us.

Dennis

During the Truckers for Troops Telethon, we’re brining you letters from the members of our military overseas who have received care packages.

We received this letter from Andrew Phelps, a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who served in helicopter maintenance in Iraq. As with many of the letters, it was addressed to Connie Beacraft, who coordinated the actual packages with fellow OOIDA staffers Nikki Johnson and Sherry Murry.

Hello Connie and friends,

We got a package from you all the other day. Thank you so much.

All the guys wanted me to thank you for everything you have done. Please extend our thanks to all the people who helped and gave so selflessly.

We appreciate you all very much, and it helps to remind us why we do what we do.

I have to go for now, but please keep in touch.

Drew

One other important note: Andrew has returned home from his overseas duty, and was recently married.

Fuel pumps can do amazing things.

They adjust every day to fluctuations in price. They adjust to fuel tax changes. They can do fuel tax alone, or calculate fuel plus sales tax – one figured per gallon, one figured per dollar spent.

Yet despite all they can do, there’s one thing they don’t do – and that’s compensate for fuel expansion because of temperature.

We’ve explained the concept of hot fuel before. But for those new to the debate, here’s a primer:

When you buy a gallon of diesel fuel at 60 degrees, it contains 139,000 Btu, or British thermal units. That’s a measure of how much energy the fuel contains – essentially, the stuff you buy the fuel to get, the energy that makes the truck go.

If the fuel you buy has a temperature of 100 degrees – not really a stretch, as we’ve seen this in a number of fuel outlets – it contains 2,000 to 3,000 fewer Btu.

Once again, our fuel pumps don’t compensate for this difference. You think you’re buying enough fuel to go 100 miles, but you could run out of fuel four or five miles short.

However, just because the pumps don’t compensate, doesn’t mean they can’t compensate.

Most pumps have the technology to adjust for temperature already built in; they just need a small equipment upgrade in order to activate that function.

Remember, this is already being done throughout Canada on every pump there.

So why doesn’t the government require that?

One trucker recently suggested that while price and tax changes benefit the government, that temperature compensation would only benefit us, the regular folks.

But the government fuel tax is collected at the rack, where temperature compensation does happen. And that means fueling stops across the United States are collecting millions in fuel tax from you and me that’s never paid to the federal government. They just pocket it.

This isn’t fantasy, this isn’t conjecture, this isn’t made up – OOIDA was able to confirm this, as was The Kansas City Star, which performed its own, independent investigation. And both OOIDA and The Star used figures provided by the fuel companies themselves.

So why doesn’t the government fix this?

I think the lobbying money spent by the companies pocketing that extra tax cash probably has a lot to do with it.

Only one thing can combat big lobbying dollars, and OOIDA has it. A large membership willing to make calls, write letters and send e-mails to Capitol Hill.

In the end, that is what will make the government act on any issue important to truckers.

Hours of service is a touchy issue for a lot of folks. And I’m not just talking about truck drivers here. I’m talking about these self-appointed guardians of public safety who constantly hold press conferences about tired truckers on our roads.

But you know who these people aren’t holding press conferences about? Doctors. Did you know that until 2003 doctors in some specialties were working 110 hours a week? At 8 hours a day, it would take the average worker more than 13 days to work that many hours!

Thankfully, that all changed with a law in 2003 that capped the number of hours doctors could work at 80 per week. But even then, you’re still talking 10 days for the average worker. So assuming a doctor works a five-day workweek, that’s a 16-hour shift each day.

Meanwhile, truck drivers, who, unlike doctors, do not literally have people’s lives in their hands are only allowed 11 hours of driving time.

Think about this: A doctor working a 16-hour shift could come in at 8 a.m. and work straight through until midnight. Think about how tired and bleary-eyed you would be after driving for 16 hours. How would you like to get sick at 11:45 p.m.?

Oh, and that’s assuming that the doctors will stick within those limits. A recent study from the Institute of Medicine found that violations of those limits are fairly common and that the doctors seldom complain.

So my question to those safety groups who are constantly worried about truckers is this: Which is the bigger threat to your safety? A trucker on the road after 12 hours or a doctor with a scalpel about to cut you open after 16?

I know which one would scare me more.

For years, truckers have paid a huge portion of the money in the highway trust fund. And they’ve paid massive amounts of cash to states as well, in the form of state fuel tax, registration and other fees.

However, they also pay a double tax on many roads in the form of tolls.

There’s no break in fuel tax for those who run the toll roads. They pay the state at the pump for every mile they run, and then pay again at the tollbooth.

Many truckers have asked the simple question: Why not drop the fuel tax on miles that are tolled? OOIDA has frequently asked public officials the same thing.

It’s an especially important question to ask when various tolling agencies start to play with rates in order to make more money, to affect traffic flow, or to achieve other goals.

Ohio tried it awhile back when they rolled back toll rates to encourage truckers to use the toll road instead of secondary highways. The truckers had moved to those roads to avoid heavy toll increases that had been put in place.

That was a good idea, but for my part, I have to wonder why they even still have tolls.

The idea of tolls was to pay off the bonds used for the initial building of the road. Most of the toll routes have been around for decades, and the initial bonds were long ago paid off. The tolls were supposed to come down when that happened, but they didn’t. Ditto for Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Illinois, and on and on. To the best of my knowledge, only Kentucky has ever followed through by tearing down the tollbooths.

But I do have to give some credit to Ohio. When they raised tolls, and truckers diverted onto smaller roads, they understood the cause and effect … something not many states manage to do in the same situation.

They actually lowered the tolls, and made other adjustments, in order to draw the truckers back. And, to a great extent, it worked.

It’s important to give them credit for the correct things they’ve done, the things that acknowledge reality and the pressures faced by the people who use their roads.

But the fact is, they still charge a fuel tax to every trucker for every mile they run on the Ohio Turnpike, while still charging them a toll.

It’s not out of line to ask them to pick one way to pay for highways and stick with it, instead of making us pay twice for the same piece of real estate.

Another note on vehicle miles traveled taxes.

The big problem with fuel tax is not that it isn’t raising enough; it’s the government’s constant diversions out of the highway trust fund into other, non-highway uses.

If the trust fund had not been raided over the years, if the money had collected interest and the interest been kept there, would we be where we are now? Probably not.

This is a pattern. Our fuel tax money is often diverted to other causes. The money from the recent federal bank bailout isn’t being used the way it was intended. Don’t even get me started on Social Security.

So if we have a vehicle miles tax, what assurance do we have it will be spent on roads? The answer right now is none.

So what’s the solution?

We have to keep an eye on government. We have to make sure they are doing what they were sent to Washington to do.

Unfortunately, eternal vigilance really is the price of liberty.