Ask The Trucker "live" W/allen Smith

Want to know what's going at MATS 2015?  Join us and find out! Thursday night 6PM ET as those experiencing the excitement call in and share the highlights with us all.  Who's calling in? Health groups, Vendors, Attendees, Truck lovers, and Entertainers, will be sharing Live from the Mid-America Trucking Show and bringing their enthusiasm to us. Call in number: 347-826-9170. To join in the conversation and be a part of the show, just press the #1 key at any time.

Our special guests will be certified DOT Medical Examiner, Dr. Randolph Rosarian and Elaine Papp, former Division Chief of the Office of Medical Programs at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). They will be answering  questions from many within trucking who are concerned about the causes and affects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Among those most concerned are professional CDL Holders who are required to pass the DOT physical exam in order to retain their license. Concerns include: How to prepare for the DOT physical. What are the dangers of having OSA? Are there any rules presently in place by FMCSA regarding OSA? What does Congress say about CDL drivers and OSA? What regulations or guidelines can be anticipated by FMCSA? What criteria/symptoms requires a driver to have a sleep test and what does a professional driver do if diagnosed with OSA? Can you be terminated for being diagnosed with OSA? Discussion will also include what treatments are available and accepted for Obstructive S

Ask The Trucker "LIVE" continues with Part 2 of our truck driver health series describing 5 Basic Steps that drivers can take in order to change their health and life for the better. We will also be sharing some of the groups who will be attending the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) and who have proven programs which can aid and support drivers in their journey to better health and quality of life. Call-in number: 347-826-9170 - Come join the conversation.

We will be starting a series of Health Shows on AskTheTrucker "LIVE" addressing the health concerns of the professional truck driver. Health becomes not just an issue for a driver’s profession and career, but a serious concern for life and the quality of life. Many drivers are plagued with health issues such as obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis, and others, including autoimmune diseases which are on an upward climb nationwide. Join us as we discuss a few of the organizations and driver groups who we have aligned with within the industry, what they are doing to address driver health concerns, and how they are reaching out to drivers to offer help and support. Read more via: Driver health info and support for concerned truckers. Are you concerned about driver health or are you addressing your own or lending help to others? Come join the conversation!

Our opening topic for the show will be, "Does law enforcement have the right to wake up drivers while they are on their federally mandated 10 hour break? Kenny Capell will be checking in with us to share his experience. Kenny was arrested last year forObstruction of Justice while on his mandatory 10 hour break, and after nearly one year, the case was just dismissed as of Feb. 6th, 2015. Is this a victory for truckers in general as they face other challenges in maintaining HOS compliance? Join us as we review the almost year long journey, including the 'Request for ‘Pattern and Practices’ Investigation of Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division;Civil Application Pursuant to Title 42,U.S.C.,Section14141" by James Lamb of SBTC. If time allows, we will continue discussion on the importance of truck driver health. Do you believe that more truckers are making a stand for their health and well-being? Also, what about the continuous and ongoing surge for more regulations or the driver recruitment and retention

Tax season is here and we are joined by our special guest, Todd Amen, Founder and CEO of ATBS. Since 1998, ATBS has helped over 100,000 independent contractors and owner-operators through their expert tax advise. Todd will be providing answers to top Owner Operator tax questions, including finding deductions that many do not know about or perhaps often overlook. As a leader in the trucking tax service industry and offering products and services for Independent Contractors and Owner-Operators, a primary goal for ATBS is optimizing owner operator's financial success through their accounting and tax preparation and resolutions services. Topics will expand on many, including, overlooked deductions, quarterly taxes, maintaining proper documents and understanding per diem. Mr. Amen will take your questions as well via our call-in number: 347-826-9170 and join us in our chat room as we will be posting downloadable tax documents for your convenience as well.

Many professional drivers have goals of purchasing a truck and operating their own business as an owner operator. Often, lack of financial resources or credit availability prevent many from moving forward. Regardless of these challenges, drivers will search for other means to obtain the finances needed in order to achieve their goals, some making decisions which will later prove to be detrimental to their careers. Joe Hoovestol is the General Manager of Lone Mountain Truck Leasing and joins us as our guest to discuss the various choices available (good and bad) for those considering becoming an owner operator. Mr. Hoovestol will explain those variables which can determine if a driver is an eligible candidate to be a successful owner operator. We will also expand on those signs a driver needs to be aware of in order to spot a predatory lender, as well as vital information to understand before signing documents for truck leases, financial loans or purchases .

Among the two most discussed topics within the trucking industry, specifically among truck drivers, are the HOS and ELD regulations. There are a list of reasons why professional drivers have fought long and hard against ELD's, (EOBR's), but most likely, the final FMCSA rule is right around the corner and so are the additional costs for owner operators and fleets. This program will focus on some of the challenges of ELD's, including costs, with our special guest, Cory Hunt, CEO and Founder of Pivot Technology Resources, a premier source for new and used mobile communications and asset tracking equipment. Discussion will include how Independents, Owner- Operators and Fleet Owners can reduce their costs through the services of Pivot Technology Resources which continues to provide solutions to the trucking industry's most pressing issues such as the electronic on-board recorders. Comments and Questions? Come join the conversation: 347-826-9170

Truck drivers have been saying for years that, "We need more truck parking" but it seems that it took an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to get the much needed attention of the general public. Join us with our special guest Dave Della Maggiore, a 20 year veteran driver as he shares his interview by WSJ journalist Betsy Morris from the report entitled: Too Many Trucks,Too Little Parking. Dave will also share his thoughts about the trip with WSJ photographers and his encounter with a tired trucker at a truck stop in Clines Corners, New Mexico. Dave and fiancée, Robin, run their active Facebook group, Give Truckers Room, educating drivers of passenger vehicles how to drive safely around semi trucks. Also joining us will be Nicholas Carretta, President and CEO of UltraShipTMS which specializes in transportation and technology solutions. UltraShipTMS quickly responded to the WSJ article and addressed the serious parking shortage in their own article, “Use YMS to Combat Truck Parking Crisis" which state

Our special guest is Brian Carlson of the Drive for Freedom (DFF) Organization, a non-profit advocacy organization under section 501(c)(3. Brian and the DFF take driver image seriously, believing that one must take responsibility and lead by example if professional drivers are going to be able to accomplish positive change for their industry. As DFF states on their website, “Our aim is to highlight the importance of Professional Drivers, taking full responsibility for the direction of our industry" and as part of an industry drive, DFF has created the“Drive It Right or Park It” Campaign. Join the discussion and share your thoughts as we discuss how driver image affects perception and the outcome of many of the troubling issues which drivers face today such as: wages, safety, classification, truck parking, respect and regulations. 6 PM ET: Call-in number: 347-826-9170

Welcome to the 2015 Trucking Open Forum with Allen Smith of AskTheTrucker.  Come join the show as we kick off the new year discussing expectations for "Trucking 2015." For our broadcast, we ask the question: What do you believe is in store for the professional truck driver for 2015?  What will be the major focus? Wages, Driver Image, Driver health, Regulations? Join the conversation and share your thoughts as we focus on what drivers consider will be the primary direction for trucking in 2015 and the industry's most important issues.

Join us for our New Years Eve special broadcast as we recap 2014 with George and Wendy Parker of The George and Wendy Show! George is an owner/operator, hauling dry van and his wife Wendy rides shotgun while writing about the unique lifestyle of an over the road trucking family. Her articles cover everything from health and education issues to the hilarious perils of using public restrooms with automatic sinks. Follow along with them on The George and Wendy Show Blog as they travel the country and share their thoughts, experiences and adventures in this crazy industry we call trucking. We will discuss the highlights of the passing year in trucking and share the most memorable and thankful moments of 2014 as we all prepare to bring in the 2015 New Year. What are your most memorable moments from 2014? Call in and come join the conversation as our special guests will also be celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary on Truth About Trucking "LIVE." We will also be announcing the winners of the North American

In the early morning hours of September 3, 2006, professional truck driver Randy Tomblin pulled his rig over on the side of I-64 near Huntington, West Virginia. Randy was responding to a lady waving on the side of the interstate, apparently with a flat tire. The time was about 3:00 A.M. Having always been a good samaritan, Tomblin thought to himself that there was no way he was going to let a women change a tire alone and in the dark. As he walked pass the auto, a male suddenly appeared, hitting Tomblin over the head with what police believed to be a .380-caliber handgun. Tomblin would be robbed of $200 and as he attempted to rise to his feet, the man fired one bullet that lodged between his lower back and pelvis and which still remains there today. The shooting would cause Randy to spend four months in a wheelchair and unable to work for eleven months. As a professional driver for 39 years, Randy Tomblin joins us as our special guest to share his story and to discuss his views on Mike's Law - a proposed B

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced its intent to establish a negotiated rulemaking (RegNeg) committee to negotiate and develop proposed regulations to implement Section 32304 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This section is concerning establishing minimum industry training requirement standards for entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles, an issue that has been ongoing for decades. A Proposed Rule document has been issued by the FMCSA with the intent to establish the Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC) and is currently asking for solicitation of applications and nominations for committee membership. The final date to comment is set for January 9, 2015. Our guest this evening is Richard Wilson, President and CEO of TCRG Consulting and Regulation. Mr. Wilson also serves on the Advisory Council as the Regulation and Compliance Representative for NATA: North American Trucking Alerts. NATA will be nominating Mr. Wi

The North American Trucking Alerts website is now "Live" and accepting memberships. Check out who has already joined and are writing in the NATA forum. Our open forum is just that, "open" to what is on your mind as it relates to drivers and the trucking industry: from the latest CDL exemption request by CR England to FMCSA  requesting that those with a CDL learner's permit be allowed to drive solo, to cameras facing inside the truck (yes, they are watching)! FMCSA’s promise to provide clarification on the topic of sleep apnea testing for truck drivers? Have a topic you want to discuss? Call-in number: 347-826-9170 Never miss a show!  Sign up for TEXT alerts to your phone for Truth About Trucking "Live" broadcasts via: https://mobile-text-alerts.com/truckingradio or just text the word truckingradio to 781-728-9542. Come join the conversation!

It is a Friday Night Special Open Forum Round Table discussion where everyone has the chance to share "What is on your mind?" as it relates to professional drivers and the trucking industry. There is always plenty of topics to choose from, such as driverless trucks or the lastest FMCSA “research” report suggesting that Electronic Logging Devices (ELD’s) are not being used toward driver harassment. What are your thoughts? Is the 232 page report accurate after surveying 628 truck drivers out of the 3.5 million in the United States? Does this "final" study mean that "some" harassment is OK, but just not too much of it? Or how about that weather out there where you are? Are you still truckin’ through 90" of snow!?!  Another Open Forum which means it's your show, so where will you take us? Call-in number is 347-826-9170 . . . come join the conversation!

What are the major concerns for professional truck drivers this week? A Sleep Apnea Rule that may be getting closer to being implemented? Are CDL Entry Level Training Standards soon to be in place, finally?HOS rules?  Is the 14 hour rule the "Root of all Evil?"Liability Insurance increase to $4 million for motor carriers?Mike's Law for the Federal Concealed Firearms Business Carry Permit? Join us for our Trucking Round Table discussion with what is on your mind as it relates to the industry and drivers. The North American Trucking Alerts website is very close to launch date and we will have a chance to meet a few of the contributors to the site as they explain how they will be a part of NATA's Awareness, Accountability, and Action. Come join the conversation on Blog Talk Radio: The largest radio social network in the world. Call-in number: 347-826-9170.

Trucking has many challenges, including the very difficult situations of when a driver becomes injured on the job. Join us as Rod Rehm of Trucker Lawyers shares his 30 years of experience helping truckers through such times of legal issues. Mr. Rehm's law firm is one of a select few which is A-Rated recognized by Martindale-Hubbell in the field of workers' compensation and personal injury. Discussion will include personal treatment issues, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act Protections and your legal rights as a professional CDL truck driver. Have a situation you are currently facing and not sure of what to do? Mr. Rehm is here to take your calls and anwer any questions you may have concerning these area of laws. Call-in number: 347-826-9170. Come join the conversation.

Open Forum on Truth About Trucking 'Live'  We'll open it up tonight and discuss the update on the Truckers "Right to Carry" in all 48 states. The Bill titled "Mike's Law", is now in the House and the Senate and is named after murdered trucker: Michael Boeglin. To help pass Mike's Law, you can sign the petition: http://www.interstaterighttocarry.org Additional topic for our program is one of three scheduled callers from trainer, Terry Sutton, who is training one of 40 deaf truckers in the country. Have a topic to discuss? Call in number to listen or to be a part of the discussion: 347-826-9170. If you would like to sign up for a TEXT alert notification to your phone for our Truth About Trucking "Live" broadcasts,  Sign up via: https://mobile-text-alerts.com/truckingradio or you can text the word truckingradio to: 781-728-9542. Come join the conversation!

On August 19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it will accept input from stakeholders to determine a  possible rulemaking for entry-level truck driver training. After years of failing to implement a final rule which would establish such criteria, the FMCSA is considering using a negotiated rulemaking, known as RegNeg. Under RegNeg, outside agency representatives would consult among each other in order to develop the proposed rule, taking the responsibility away from the FMCSA. In Canada, a task force is working toward establishing criteria for entry-level drivers, as well as hoping to have the Canadian government classify truck driving as a "skilled" profession. Furthermore, the Canadian Trucking Alliance has admitted that the primary causes for a driver shortage are driver wages, quality of life, qualifications and demographics. Join us as we look at the very different approach by the U.S. and Canada as it relates to driver training and recognizing the importance of the profe