Ask The Trucker "live" W/allen Smith

James Lamb is President of the Association of Independent Property Brokers and Agents (AIPBA) and a former New York State Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Investigator. Included in the Highway Bill, known as MAP-21 that was passed in 2012, is the act to raise the broker bond to $75,000. James Lamb has been fighting the act since day one. Mr. Lamb submitted a 10-page exemption request to the FMCSA that would relieve all property brokers and freight forwarders from the $75,000 bond provision within the trucking industry. The FMCSA accepted comments to the request which recently ended on January 26, 2014 and the AIPBA continues its work to have the bond repealed. Will the FMCSA override the requirement in accordance with their lawful exemption authority duly granted to them by Congress? Mr. Lamb joins us as our special guest to share their accomplishments and to bring us all up-to-date on the broker bond issue.

Open forum on Truth About Trucking "LIVE".

Diana Kerekes is a Master Life, Business and Success Coach and has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years. As a visiting nurse for many of those years, she understands the impact and the consequences of a patient not being able to reach a doctor when needed. As the daughter of a former 25 year trucker, she knew there had to be a better way for professional truckers to reach medical assistance while living life on the road. While working to make people understand the importance of preventive medicine, her work also consists of helping truck drivers realize that they can receive medical help, 24/7, even when out on the road, all through the magic of technology: Call a doc anytime. Through Call a Doc Anytime, truckers are able to "see" their doctors through several devices, including, web cam, phone, video or mobile application. Diana Kerekes joins us as our special guest to discuss the many benefits of Call a Doc Anytime, a breakthrough service that brings the doctor to the trucker.

Allen and Donna are back with their "OPEN FORUM" broadcast where any topic related to trucking and the professional truck driver is discussed. Come join the conversation!

Our edited version of our most recent broadcast featuring our interview (only) with John Ratzenberger as our special guest, discussing his promotion for his upcoming newest TV series: John Ratzenberger's American Made through Fund Anything. Catch the inteview on YouTube! Closing Song: "Big John's Coming to Town" by: AllenAyersProductions.

John Ratzenberger is a multi-Emmy-nominated actor and accomplished screenwriter, director, producer and author, best known for playing mail carrier Cliff Clavin on the long-running NBC sitcom “Cheers.” What many may not know, is that his father was a truck driver, giving John a deep respect and admiration for truckers and the job they do. On October 21, 2013, John launched a crowd source campaign with Donald Trump's FundAnything.com for his new television series John Ratzenberger’s American Made, where he will tour the country and spotlight some of the best American made products and manufacturers. Mr. Ratzenberger stops by to share some of his time with us to discuss his new series and how you can be a part of his campaign sharing of Fund Anything/American Made, win prizes and even appear on the show! Individuals can also see these companies and industry groups on the TV series Facebook page. Come join the conversation!  

Richard Wilson of TCRG Consulting joins us for this open discussion on the most pressing topics and issues within the U.S. trucking industry. One of our most popular shows, the "Open Forum" is where we open up the mic to you, the professional truck driver and you decide where the conversation leads: What will the affects be for Sleep Apnea and other sleep disorders since the President recently signed into Law legislation for FMCSA rulemaking (rather than guidance). Will it ensure Federal Standards for governing screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles ? Has anything positive come out of the recent trucker “Ride for the Constitution”? Will this create a movement for truckers to be more proactive? Detention Pay anyone? Is that something we’ve given up on? How about CDL training standards, where have those talks gone? Trucking topics? Come join the conversation!

Whatever happened to Legislation H.R. 756 pertaining to truck drivers' detention pay?  49 USC § 14103 states: "Whenever a shipper or receiver of property requires that any person who owns or operates a motor vehicle transporting property in interstate commerce be assisted in the loading or unloading of such vehicle, the shipper or receiver shall be responsible for providing such assistance or shall compensate the owner or operator for all costs associated with securing and compensating the person or persons providing such assistance." This section of the United States Code also was to be amended with the following: "Prohibits a shipper or receiver from detaining a person that operates a commercial motor vehicle without providing compensation for time detained beyond the maximum number of hours that the Secretary determines, by regulation." Sent to the House in February of 2011, a required study on detention time appears to have never been carried out and many motor carriers continue to save millions of dolla

For years truckers have been talking about a shutdown in attempts to display their grievances: Low pay, high fuel prices, CSA, EOBR’s, cross border trucking, detention pay,categorized as unskilled labor, the need for truck driver training standards, and continued increase in regulations. Now drivers are faced with a different situation, not a “shutdown”, but rather a convoy to Washington on October 11th - 13th.. The question is:  Why?  To display grievance within the trucking industry or to protest government corruption?  Truckers Ride for the Constitution is calling on a GENERAL STRIKE, asking all Americans to join the trucker convoy and stand with truckers by “doing nothing”  no commerce, no banking, no shopping. Will such a display help or hurt truckers? For years truckers have been trying to create awareness and get the support and empathy of the American people, but will this convoy create the kind of attention that they have sought so long for? Although such a strike is unlikely and the ride is now foc

The challenges the trucking lifestyle presents to it's drivers are many. One of the largest of those challenges is staying healthy. The incident led Toby Bogard to create The 1,000,000 Pound Challenge, partnering with some great companies to offer some incredible prizes to the top three winners including: Grand Prize: 5 day/4 night vacation  to the Solmar Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, courtesy of: gocdljobs. Toby Bogard joins us to discuss all the details . . .

The U.S. trucking industry is currently debating the pros and cons of mobile communication platforms as it relates to Company-Owned Personally Enabled devices (COPE) or to rely on the Bring Your Own Device platform, simply known as BYOD. Christian Schenk is Senior Vice President of product strategy and market growth for XRS Corporation, specializing in helping private and for-hire fleets use driver and vehicle data to improve every aspect of their operations. Mr. Schenk points out that mobile technology (BYOD) over traditional, bulky "onboard computers," is already here as nearly 90% of truck drivers currently have personal mobile devices in use. XRS is able to support more than 100 mobile devices within its portfolio, on four networks across the United States and Canada. Mr. Schenk joins us as our special guest to further discuss the XRS Mobile Communication platform, the facts behind the BYOD technology and why their platform is considered to be revolutionizing the industry.

Join Allen and Donna for another broadcast of "Open Forum" as the lines are open for discussions in all things trucking.

Singer/Songwriter, Nascar enthusiast, and professional truck driver Tony Justice of Tony Justice Music joins us as he updates us on his exploding career in the music industry. Tony’s latest CD, On the Road is sold at all Major Truck Plazas:  Pilot/Fling J, T/A Petro, Wilco Hess, and Loves. Along with being featured in numerous magazines, he performed for the 2012 Hollywood Pre-Grammy Awards Party and engages in numerous radio guests appearances.  Tony continues his music career while professionaly driving, performing and signing autographs at most of the largest truck shows across the country. We will discuss his newest upcoming album, "Apple Pie Moonshine" and he will bring us up-to-date on his recent Nashville trip, as well as other factors within his musical career, such as sharing the story on the T/A Truck Stop's newest menu item: the "Justice Burger!" Be the 5th caller into the show, and WIN an autographed copy of Tony's "On The Road" CD. Come join the converstation!

Attorney Rod Rehm founded Trucker Lawyers in 1998 but has been representing truckers for over 30 years. He has practiced workers’ compensation and personal injury law for over 40 years. His practice is with Rehm, Bennett & Moore, Attorneys at Law, P.C., L.L.O., in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska and in addition to workers’ compensation and personal injury, Rehm, Bennett & Moore attorneys also practice in the areas of trucking accidents, employment law, and Social Security Disability law. His law firm also often helps truckers nationwide through referrals to attorneys in their own state due to differences in state laws. Mr. Rehm joins us as our special guest and to take your calls as we discuss this specialized area of law and what you need to know as a professional truck driver.

Industry "experts" say that 100,000 new drivers are needed yearly to offset the truck driver shortage problem.  As the new hours of service rule kicks in, motor carriers continue to have a difficult time finding new hires with the main reason being the description, low pay and lifestyle of the profession. Truck driver turnover rate held at 90% in the fourth-quarter of 2012 as recruiters report the difficulty on finding those willing to do the OTR job.  In 2012, the average age for the professional trucker was 48, with 21% of CMV drivers being 55-65 years of age. New HOS rules, the CSA and continual regulations hiting the industry are being noticed by even would-be hires and they are not taking the jobs, even during a time of high unemployment. Just one topic we will touch on during this episode of "Open Lines" as well as topics you choose to discuss. Come join the conversation . . .

Allen and Donna opens up the lines once again on the Trucking Open Forum to let the callers decide on what trucking-related topic to discuss. Come join the conversation as we dedicate this show to Fred "The American Driver" Schaffner . . .

It's open forum on Truth About Trucking "LIVE" to discuss anything trucking: truck parking issue? Coon Rapids, Minnesota? New HOS rules? Pick the topic . . . what's on your mind?

Between June 4th-6th 2013, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be conducting its annual roadcheck with 10,000 inspectors across the United States. Inspectors will be paying special attention to possible HOS and Vehicle Safety violations pertaining to the FMCSA's Compliance, Safety and Accountability Program (CSA). Regulatory expert, Richard Wilson of Trans Products Tran Services joins us as our guest to discuss the 2013 CVSA Roadcheck and what professional CMV drivers can do to improve their chances of passing.

Samuel Burlum shares his most recent three-part series, "The War on Trucking" as we take a look inside the "war" that he believes is being waged on the American truck driver: Part I - Emissions Compliance Part II- 'Drivers Unwanted' Part III - The Battlegrounds He is the CEO/President/Chairman of Extreme Energy Solutions and has been interviewed on radio and television. He was an invited speaker for the World Green Energy Symposium in Washington, DC and was the recipient of the 2013 WGES NOVA Award at Hunter College in New York City. Mr. Burlum joins us as our special guest as we breakdown all three segments of the series and what he sees as being the future for the professional truck driver.

Trucking employment law attorney, Paul Taylor joins us as our special guest to further discuss the legal rights of professional truck drivers. Topics will include drivers' rights under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act as it relates to prohibiting motor carriers from retaliating against commercial drivers for filing complaints regarding violations of the commercial vehicle safety regulations. We will also discuss recent cases and various legal concerns such as if law enforcement officers have the right to search the sleeper of the CMV. Mr. Taylor specializes in the following areas of trucking law: refusal to drive, commercial truck lease disputes, drug and alcohol testing and the DAC report. His practice is with the Law Office of Taylor & Associates, Ltd., in Burnsville, Minnesota through the Truckers Justice Center which focuses its legal practice on employment law for commercial truck drivers across the nation. Closing Song: When the Big Rig's Don't Roll by Allen & Ayers Productions