OOIDA has issued a Call to Action for Indiana. The Indiana House Roads and Transportation Committee has advanced a bill that would allow the proposed Illiana Expressway to be built as a toll road and operated by the private sector.

· Please take the time NOW to contact your House lawmakers to share your view on SB382.

· You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791 and they will look up the contact information for you.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can read the OOIDA Call to Action here.

Air date: Feb. 26, 2010.

Reed Black discussed state legislation with Land Line Magazine’s Keith Goble. In Virginia, a bill to increase speeds to 70 mph moves to the governor. Meanwhile in California, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s speed camera initiative has taken a hit.

· To read about the Virginia bill, click here;

· To read about other legislation in Virginia, click here;

· To read about the bill in California, click here;

· To read about other legislation in California, click here.

Air date: Feb. 25, 2010.

Larry Gerhart of Tucson, AZ, has been recognized by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for 15 years of safe, accident-free driving as part of the OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program.

· To read more about Larry, click here.

· To learn more about the Safe Driving Award from OOIDA.com, click here.

Air date: Feb. 25, 2010.

Terry Scruton talks with financial adviser Steve Freidell of DeWaay Financial Network, about the economy.

· You can visit the DeWaay Financial Network Web site here.

· You can read more by Steve from Land Line Magazine here.

· OOIDA provides a whole range of services designed to do just that, and you can find them through the Education and Business Tools section of OOIDA.com here.

Air date: Feb. 25, 2010.

Attention: Oklahoma truckers! In one short month, the legislative session in Oklahoma has produced a slew of bills that warrant a call to your state lawmakers to share your views.

· SB2066 would authorize local governments and the state to pursue public-private partnerships to get road and bridge projects completed.

· HB3220 would have state lawmakers decide whether to authorize the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to conduct a toll feasibility study for a new toll road in Tulsa.

· SB1773 would take decisions about increasing tolls out of the hands of the Turnpike Authority.

· SB1664 would create split speed limits on various roadways.

· SB1317 would slow trucks by 10 mph along turnpikes.

· You can read the OOIDA Call to Action here.

Make sure to let your state lawmakers know how you feel about these bills. To find out who your state lawmakers are, click here. You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791, and they will look up the information for you. Air date: Feb. Feb. 25, 2010.

Mark R. Johnson of Opp, AL, has been recognized by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for 6 years of safe, accident-free driving as part of the OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program.

· To read more about Mark, click here.

· To learn more about the Safe Driving Award from OOIDA.com, click here.

Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

In today’s follow up, Reed Black spoke about the possibility of tolling I-93 in New Hampshire. You can read more about the issue by Land Line Magazine here. Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

In today’s follow up, Reed Black spoke about more than $1 million in EPA rebate money being available to truckers who live in New England and who want to buy equipment to reduce emissions or improve aerodynamics. The 6 New England states are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The program covers things like APUs, bunk heaters, trailer skirts, etc. Rebate amounts range from $100 to $1000.To receive a rebate, a trucker must be approved before making the equipment purchase. Owner-operators and fleets are eligible.

It’s a first-come-first-served program and it’s currently accepting applications. The program is being administered by Cascade Sierra Solutions. For more info:

· Contact Cascade Sierra Solutions at 1-866-345-3390 (ext. 277); or

· Send an e-mail requesting information to: EPAdata1@CascadeSierraSolutions.org.

Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

Terry Scruton presented an update on the price of diesel fuel and crude oil.

· To read this week’s price report by Land Line Magazine, click here.

· To check the price today through ProMiles, click here.

· To see how to compute your own fuel surcharge through OOIDA’s online guide, click here.

Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

If you have questions or a comment about diesel prices, or you’ve seen some interesting highs and lows at the pumps wherever you are, call our “Land Line Now” Diesel Price Line. Dial 1-800-324-6856, and then press 2 to record your message. This week, we’re asking Sirius XM listeners to respond to: “What's the most ridiculous excuse you've heard for the rising price of oil or fuel?”Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

OOIDA has issued a Call to Action for Indiana. The Indiana House Roads and Transportation Committee has advanced a bill that would allow the proposed Illiana Expressway to be built as a toll road and operated by the private sector.

· Please take the time NOW to contact your House lawmakers to share your view on SB382.

· You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791 and they will look up the contact information for you.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can read the OOIDA Call to Action here.

Air date: Feb. 24, 2010.

Adrian Rogers of Madison, TN, has been recognized by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for 1 year of safe, accident-free driving as part of the OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program.

· To read more about Adrian, click here.

· To learn more about the Safe Driving Award from OOIDA.com, click here.

Air date: Feb. 23, 2010.

Reed Black discussed state legislation with Land Line Magazine’s Keith Goble. In West Virginia, a bill would mandate snow-free vehicles.

· To read about the West Virginia bill, click here;

· To read about other legislation in West Virginia, click here;

Air date: Feb. 23, 2010.

Members of West Virginia’s House Roads and Transportation Committee need to hear from you NOW about HB4526. It is important for truckers to point out to committee members the near impossibility of complying with such a rule, which essentially requires people to climb atop large vehicles to remove snow or ice.

· For the West Virginia House Road and Transportation Committee contact information, click here.

· You can call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791 and they will look up the information for you.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can read the OOIDA Call to Action here.

Air date: Feb. 23, 2010.

OOIDA has issued an information update for Wisconsin Members to inform you that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has just announced the next round of grant availability under their 2010 DERA Wisconsin Clean Diesel Grant Program. Applications must be postmarked by March 22, 2010.

· For further information and eligibility criteria, click here.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can read the OOIDA Call to Action here.

Air date: Feb. 23, 2010.

Terry Scruton talked with Dr. John McElligott about his participation in the FMCSA’s Medical Examiner Work Group which will examine the flow and content of DOT physicals.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can go to the OOIDA Regulatory Issues Web site here.

· You can go to the OOIDA Regulatory Resources Web site here.

Air date: Feb. 23, 2010.

Mark Reddig talked with Rod Nofziger of OOIDA’s Washington, DC, office about a Mexican government official who recently made some very pointed comments regarding tariffs and cross-border trucking. To read more about the issue, click here. Air date: Feb. 22, 2010.

More than $1 million in EPA rebate money is available to truckers who live in New England and who want to buy equipment to reduce emissions or improve aerodynamics.

The 6 New England states are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The program covers things like APUs, bunk heaters, trailer skirts, etc. Rebate amounts range from $100 to $1000.To receive a rebate, a trucker must be approved before making the equipment purchase. Owner-operators and fleets are eligible.

It’s a first-come-first-served program and it’s currently accepting applications. The program is being administered by Cascade Sierra Solutions. For more info:

· Contact Cascade Sierra Solutions at 1-866-345-3390 (ext. 277); or

· Send an e-mail requesting information to: EPAdata1@CascadeSierraSolutions.org.

Air date: Feb. 22, 2010.

Mark Reddig talked with Joe Rajkovacz, OOIDA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Tom Weakley, director of operations at the OOIDA Foundation, and Jami Jones, Senior Editor of Land Line Magazine, about the new “Most Wanted” safety improvements by the NTSB – the National Transportation Safety Board.

· To read more by Jami, click here;

· To view the NTSB Web site, click here;

· To read more about EOBRs, click here;

· To read more about CSA 2010, click on one of these:

o CSA 2010: The data

o CSA 2010: The point system

o CSA 2010: The math

o CSA 2010: The enforcement

o CSA 2010: The labels

o CSA 2010: The rub

Air date: Feb. 22, 2010.

Reed Black talked with OOIDA’s Rod Nofziger about a new final rule regarding EOBRs – electronic onboard recorders – that is expected literally any day now. To learn more about the topic, click here. Air date: Feb. 19. 2010.

Reed Black reported that midnight Feb. 28 is the deadline for putting your 2010 IFTA decal on the truck. To learn more about IFTA:

· Click here;

· Or call the Permits and Licensing Department here at OOIDA at 816-229-5791.

Air date: Feb. 19, 2010.

OOIDA has issued a Call to Action in Indiana regarding the proposed Illiana Expressway. An Indiana House committee is expected to vote Monday, Feb. 22, on whether to advance a bill that would authorize a private group to build and operate the Illiana Expressway in exchange for toll revenue. Please take time NOW to contact members of the House Roads and Transportation Committee to share your view on this legislation before their Monday morning meeting.

· To read OOIDA’s Call to Action, click here;

· To contact them by phone, call (317) 232-9600 or 1-800-382-9842 and ask to be forwarded to a specific lawmaker’s office;

· The committee members and the E-mail addresses are:

o Committee Chair: Rep. Terri Austin h36@in.gov

o Committee Vice Chair: Rep. Sandy Blanton h62@in.gov

o Rep. Robert Bischoff http://www.in.gov/surveytool/public/survey.php?name=bischoff_comments_form_2

o Rep. Jacque Clements h38@in.gov

o Rep. Bill Davis h33@in.gov

o Rep. Nancy Dembowski h17@in.gov

o Rep. Cleo Duncan h67@in.gov

o Rep. David Niezgodski h7@in.gov

o Rep. Phil Pflum h56@in.gov

o Rep. Thomas Saunders h54@in.gov

o Rep. Edmond Soliday h4@in.gov

o Rep. Vern Tincher h46@in.gov

Air date: Feb. 19, 2010.

Charlie Morasch offers a few thoughts about a survey that takes very personal information – and that could end up using that information to create problems for truckers.

· To read Charlie’s comments, click here;

· To read other entries in our Friday Rants series, click here.

Air date Feb. 19, 2010.

Mark Reddig talked with Sharon Foster of TA/Petro Truck Stops about the company’s new program with OOIDA, under which OOIDA members can get $25 in free food at TA and Petro restaurants for every 500 gallons of fuel purchased. To learn more, click here. Air date: Feb. 19, 2010.

Mark Reddig spoke to Melissa Theriault Rohan who gave us an update on the nationwide truck parking issue.

· You can read more by Land Line Magazine here.

· You can learn more about the issue by going to the OOIDA Issues & Actions Web site here.

Air date: Feb. 18, 2010.