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 http://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 http://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.