Ask The Trucker "live" W/allen Smith

Recent trucking news and discussions have focused on truck parking issues, driver safety, cdl training, truck driver pay and jobs. We open up the lines for our Trucking Open Forum to discuss anything trucking, where you decide the topic. Come join the conversation! Closing song: Peterbilt 379 by Tony Justice

Professional CMV drivers were earning more money in 1980 than they are today and they have seen truck driver wages fall by 40% during the past 33 years. With no adjustment for inflation or other such economic factors, and by figuring in total number of hours worked per week, the majority of drivers end up earning an hourly wage that is far below the minimum wage. Jeff Barker is an 18 year OTR veteran with over two million miles. A former heavy truck and transport refrigeration mechanic and truck owner-operator, he began writing for  Land Line Magazine in 2005 and is founder of the Ride and Roll Program, a driver health and wellness plan. Joining us as our guest, Jeff will discuss the post 1980 deregulation effects, the public image of the American trucker, why truck driver pay has not significantly increased over the past three decades and what he sees as the root causes and solutions to these problems. Closing song: "Down the Road" by Rob Anthony.

Marc Mayfield spent 10 years trucking over-the-road, logging 1.2 million miles and is the author of"In The Driver's Seat: Interstate Trucking - A Journey." Featured in Overdrive Magazine by Senior Editor, Todd Dills, the book chronicles his life on the road from 1991 to 2001, with his goal being to provide the public and main stream media with a true picture of the long-haul trucker and the sacrifices they make to keep America moving. A straight-forward and honest insight into the world of OTR trucking, Marc joins us as our special guest to discuss his book, his triumps and tragedies while on the road, his thoughts on the industry today and the advise he would give to newcomers just starting out. In the Driver’s Seat: Interstate Trucking – a Journey. - See more at: http://www.overdriveonline.com/long-haul-literary-former-owner-operators-new-book/#sthash.HTl8cHgX.dpufIn the Driver’s Seat: Interstate Trucking – a Journey. - See more at: http://www.overdriveonline.com/long-haul-literary-former-owner-operators-ne

Compliance for the new hours of service rule takes effect July 1, 2013; the FMCSA MCSAC meeting on safety accountability via the CSA; the CRST sexual harrassment case settling for a mere $50,000; truck driver pay or just trucking across America the Beautiful. We open up the phone lines in our Trucking Open Forum show to talk about whatever trucking issues are on your mind. So . . . what do you want to talk about?

With the rising cost of fuel prices and over-regulation, many truck driving veterans are calling it quits and leaving their trucks behind. Other issues such as medical problems or simply reaching retirement age will cause thousands more to depart from their driving careers. These are just a few reasons why drivers will leave the vocation but for many, will look for a way to remain active within the transportation business. What has proven to be an entrepreneurial opportunity for those willing to work, is that of a freight broker or logistics agent. Reports show that the average annual income for full-time freight brokers is currently estimated to be between $40,000 and $150,000. Joining us will be Jack Martin, Agent Recruiter for GRD Freight Express and recognized as one of the leading logistics consultant. Also we will talk with Joel Glenny, Agent Trainer and Coordinator for GRD Logistics Training based out of Baker, Florida which consists of a team of personnel who have a combined trucking industry experien

Co-host Donna Smith welcomes Contech Composites founder, Kevin Hodge to the program to discuss the many aspects involved in the increase of modern day diseases, affecting millions of Americans and threatening their livelihood. Topics will include: GMO’s, is the FDA helping?  Where are our seeds coming from? The buyout of agriculture lands, and what is wrong with the American diet? Focus will also be placed on many of the causes, how to prevent disease and the cure for such issues. A few solutions discussed will include:  What should we be eating to cure and prevent these types of diseases? What is Hydro Aquaponics and how can they help?  And how truck stops could use small agriculture to offset costs of shipping and serve customers fresh, organic produce providing truckers with better health.

Serious accidents can occur when truck drivers experience a failure with the air brakes. Many drivers have been cited for failing to inspect the brakes properly or for driver fatigue. But what if it had nothing to do with inspection or fatigue, but instead, a long over-looked problem with defective brake parts? The NHTSA first began a recall of treadle valves in the 1970's, with the most recent recall as early as August, 2012. Many believe that this is a serious safety issue that could be the actual cause for many accidents that are ultimately blamed on the driver. Our guest, Allan Powell has over 30 years as a professional truck driver and is a consumer advocate for the prevention of truck accidents as he believes that many within the industry are unaware of the hidden dangers of treadle valve corrosion. Through his work, the CVSA released the 2012-2 Inspection Bulletin. Also joining us is Rickey Gooch, managing partner of Legal Benefits Group, as we discuss the E6 and E10 treadle valves, how this potential

For our final show of 2012, we continue our series on truck driver health with our special guest,Laura Anne Kilpatrick, a professional driver and founder of the American Truck Drivers Diabetes Association. As a truck driver with Type 2 diabetes, Laura realized that many in the medical profession did not understand the trucking lifestyle and she had to learn on her own how to successfully manage the disease while living life on the road. She founded the ATDDA in order to provide education, encouragement and support for those fellow drivers who may still be struggling in managing their diabetes with their driving career. She was first diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1987 at the age of 19 and has been truck driving since 1998.  Having studied diabetes and nutrition indepth since the early 1990's, she also shares her experiences with other truckers through her blog: 18 Wheelin' with Diabetes. Discussion will include the different types and causes of diabetes, treatment, diabetes myths, the importance of nutriti

Due to the poor diet lifestyle of truck drivers, autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes are on the rise and there is evidence showing a link between GMOs and the increase of autoimmune diseases including arthritis, multiple sclerosis, leaky gut, lupus, cancer, heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory diseases.  GMOs are now used in soy, corn, beets, cotton, alfalfa and 70% of processed foods, introduced to our food chain by the chemical company, Monsanto. World -renowned, Dr. Howard Fisher joins us as our expert guest to discuss these serious health issues. Also joining us is Renee French who will share her life changing story to a road of  better health. Co-host Donna Smith will also share her own personal knowledge and experience of the dangers of GMOs and how she has proven many doctors wrong by overcoming the effects of crohn's disease through diet modification. We will discuss the evidence and solutions to this growing health epidemic including research showing the benefi

XRS Corporation is a leading expert in trucking fleet performance management. According to XRS (Xata Road Science), mobile devices are already commonly used by almost 90 percent of truck drivers. As the mobile revolution continues to expand, the company believes that the days of expensive, hard-wired, on-board installations such as the EOBR are over and the future of fleet optimization technology is mobile. Joining us from XRS Corporation are Christian Schenk, vice president of market development and product marketing and Megan Derkey, marketing communications manager. We will discuss their newest mobile technology, the future of EOBR's (Electronic Onboard Recorders) and hear their answers to the questions of most concern by the professional trucker.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently incorporated major changes to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program, of which, most changes will take effect, December, 2012. Included among the changes was the renaming of the Fatigued Driving BASIC to the HOS Compliance BASIC. This change will reflect that the category measures everything from on-duty violations to paperwork violations. Under the newly named Basic, a truck driver could obtain as many as 24 violation points for simply writing the wrong date on his or her logs, thus resulting in unfair categories. By changing the Driver Fatigue Basic to the Hours of Service Basic, manual form and manner violations will count against a carrier and driver, while allowing data to be gathered to show where electronics will eliminate violations. FMCSA regulations expert, Richard Wilson joins us to discuss the changes to the CSA 7 Basics and why he believes that it is being done in order to achieve mandatory EOBR regulations.

Starting your own trucking business takes experience, planning and knowledge, as well as using all the tools available to increase your chances for success. Eddie Gichuhi is a former long-haul trucker and founder of Trip Sheet Central, a web-based truck-business management company designed specifically for truck carrier operations. As our special guest, Eddie will discuss the vital aspects of running your own trucking business including: basic preparation, organizational setup, financial planning, operating plan, marketing planning, research and development, growth plan and exit planning. If you are considering becoming a first-time owner operator or wanting to know how you can increase your profits with your current operation, you will not want to miss this show.

With 15 years of truck driving experience, Mike and Vicki Simons share real world tips on how to save money as a professional truck driver through their website: Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips. By developing their site, they share the strategies they have learned through the years, while giving other drivers the opportunity to share their own money saving tips as well. As Vicki explains: "We reveal our own successes and "bone-headed mistakes." Although we may address similar topics that other writers have addressed, our perspective is always about the financial impact and how drivers can save money." Along with their money saving tips for truck drivers, they are also active in writing their own personal reviews on truck driver related topics such as: products, services, truck parts and truck stops. With hundreds of articles grouped in major categories, their expertise in saving money is helping countless drivers  to keep more of their hard-earned money. Have money saving tips you want to share?  Come join t

New York Congressman, Paul Tonko returns as our special guest to explain the details concerning the funding for additional truck parking areas as described within the Transportation Bill, per Jason's Law. MAP-21 also describes the shortage of safe truck parking for commercial truck drivers as a national priority and identifies projects that will be eligible for funding. Section 1401 of MAP-21, entitled Jason’s Law, is named after Jason Rivenburg, a Schoharie, New York, truck driver, who lost his life on March 5th, 2009 when he parked in an abandoned gas station to wait for a load delivery. How is the money disbursed and how do states go about applying for the funds? Congressman Tonko will answer these questions and more as we provide an important update to Jason's Law.

Idle reduction technology is the wave of the future for the trucking industry and our line-up of guests are all experts in the field.  Joining us are: Rick Shaff - Director of Sales - Hodyon Dynasys APU Roger Southall - Sales Manager - AireDock Ethan Garber - CEO - IdleAir Andy Warcaba - President - Andrew J. Warcaba & Associates, Inc. The EPA's SmartWay Program Idle reduction technologies include: Onboard Idle Reduction Equipment and Truck Stop Electrification.  We will discuss both technologies and hear how working together in the trucking industry can bring about a resolution for both motor carrier and professional truck driver.

As the "Voice of the American Trucker" for 50-plus-years, Overdrive Magazine will be joining forces with sister publication Truckers News and quarterly Overdrive spinoff, Custom Rigs, beginning August, 2012. Senior Editor, Todd Dills, asked readers what they believed to be the top trucking challenges faced by owner operators. Heading at the top of the "challenges list" included: fuel prices, EOBR's, Hours of Service, uncompensated detention time and freight rates. Todd Dills joins us to discuss his report, along with truck drivers': small-fleet owner, Tom Blake, and Jeff Clark of Trucking Solutions Group who were two of the primary sources for his report in the August issue of Overdrive Magazine. Mr. Dills is also host of the Channel 19 Blog where he will be sharing more reports on these issues in the August edition of Overdrive Magazine.  

Co-host, Donna Smith will be joining Allen via landline as she reports "live" from Harrah's Kansas City as she tours the resort, giving us an inside look into the  upcoming 2nd Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention. Joining us from Harrah's as well, will be Kari Fisher of the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network and Dan Harman of KC Trucker, who will be officiating the "Pride in your Ride" contest during the event in October. Fun show . . . come join the conversation.  

We open up our mic once again for our Trucking Roundtable Open Forum discussion.  Join us "Live" to ask questions or comment on whatever trucking topic is of interest to you. Allen gets the conversation going by asking the question: "Are truck drivers manipulated by scare tactics?"  Opening topic: Mexico Cross Border Trucking Program. With past trucking news stories of how the United States  will be bombarded with thousands of Mexican trucks, only four Mexico based trucking companies have received FMCSA active operating authority since the pilot program's conception, with only 16 others currently in pending status. The four active Mexican companies will flood the U. S. trucking industry operations with a whopping 4 trucks and 5 drivers. Something on your mind?  Let's talk.

The Safety Measurement System within the FMCSA's CSA is currently designed to not distinguish State-reported crash data of Commerical Motor Vehicles based on whether they are the responsibility or fault of the carrier or truck driver.  If  a professional driver is sitting at a red light and another vehicle runs into the back of the rig, because a CMV is involved, safety violation points will go against the driver's PSP. Allen and Donna opens the mic to discuss whatever trucking isssue comes to mind on the Trucking Roundtable Open Forum.  CSA, EOBR's, truck driver wages, CDL training, life on the road? Come join the conversation.  

Former Orange County, Florida mayoral candidate, transportation activist and founder of the American Statesman Organization, SallyBaptiste returns as our guest to discuss the recent legislation passed to add more toll roads to the state of Florida.  Known for being less about  "talk" and more about "action", Sally believes this to be the highest tax and cost of living increase in Florida's history and is leading the way for filing a lawsuit against the State in order to block the action that she describes as being "grossly against the best interest of the people of Florida" as well as adding further financial strain on driver owner operators and the state trucking industry. We will discuss her options to the Florida Transportation Commission to improve Florida transportation without excessive taxation, her lawsuit against the State of Florida, what she means by "Sustainable Development." and more on her comment, "If enough Florida truckers get on board, we can make a major statement nationwide." Sally Baptist