The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs

Don’t you just hate people that slow you down by driving the speed limit?

Yahoo! News - Driver Beaten Up for Observing Speed Limit

Police in the western town of Bochum said the truck driver told them he felt provoked by the motorist “because he was actually driving 30 kph in a 30 kph area.” The trucker faces an investigation and may lose his driving license.

Sad, but funny at the same time.

This is too cool.

NewsChannel 8 - Video Shows Truckers Helping Police Nab Fleeing Suspect
Tulsa - Tulsa police were not able to shut down a high speed chase. But, two truckers stepped in to help and it was all captured on video. The chase actually started in Tulsa and entered Sapulpa. Police were hot on his trail, but it took two 18-wheelers to end it.

You’ve got to see the video that’s with this article. Finally we’re seen as the good guys.

From Slashdot

Slashdot | By Road and Rail?

CygnusXII writes “Now this is a novel approach to Dual Mode Transportation. This is an interesting and refreshing approach, that could revolutionize the transportation industry. BladeRunner Dual Mode Transport, or see the main web page. The innovative vehicle will run on road as well as rail. It is as applicable to freight as to passenger transport. Branch-line infrastructure costs could be at least halved because signalling and points could be largely, if not totally, made redundant.”

The picture shows passengers but the article says it would be good for freight too. The vehicle can travel by rail or road. Instead of one long train, there will be trucks on rails too? Truck cross country on rail, jump off the rail for in-town. Can you imagine all the trucks trying to drive on the railroad? Talk about congestion! I think this may need to go back to the drawing board.

A lot of companies made a profit during the 2nd quarter. The links are to the news of the profit and not the actual company. For example - USA Truck, even with a 2mill wreck payout, Con-Way, Yellow Roadway doubles earnings, Marten Transport, UPS, Old Dominion, ABF, JB Hunt, Swift quarterly earnings up 80%, increase of 80%! Corporate relocations up, goodnews for household movers.

Everyone is making money. There’s a “driver shortage”. Lame attempts by Schneider and USXpress at sign on bonuses, but the base salary and the rate for owner operators is still lame.
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I’m not sure if I totally believe this -

FMCSA: high driver turnover and crashes linked
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concluded from a recent study that driver turnover has an impact on crash involvement for commercial truck drivers.

I’ve changed jobs more than a few times.
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This white paper that this article is talking about is at www.trincon.com and is worth the 5 page download in Adobe format. Out of all the solutions listed in the actual white paper, fleetowner.com likes this idea the best.

No time for cowboys
…trucking will never cure driver turnover until it starts turning to a new breed of employee.

“Trucking executives must be visionary and meet their demands for drivers by improving recruitment and retention strategies now,” says Swain. “The trucking industry has not focused on developing the career-minded driver.”

He then explains the kind of person that trucking attracts -
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