Slow Down in Work Zones

SLOW DOWN IN WORK ZONES. Take your time with your oversize loads and heavy haul loads while going through work zones and give yourself plenty of room to get through and stop when an emergency stop comes up. Always maintain a safe speed and following distance in work zones, you never know when someone is going to step out or equipment pull out. Feel good about what you do and take pride in keeping your safety values. Two reasons why: The nation’s economy depends on it and the safety of the motoring public depends on it. Thumbs up for a job well done!

Road Safty - Stay Alert

STAY ALERT! The single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others is to pay attention behind the wheel. If you keep your eyes ahead of you on the road, pay attention to the driving environment and traffic situations (other vehicles, signs, etc.) you will be able to anticipate problems and react properly to potentially dangerous events. We can’t just SAY we are safe --- we have to PROVE IT by obeying the laws and driving safely

CALIFORNIA KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS CALIFORNIA Weather Alert

CALIFORNIA

KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS CALIFORNIA
High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6 am MDT Tuesday...

A High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6 am MDT Tuesday.

* Timing: southwest winds will increase along the northern Rocky
Mountain front as a cold front approaches the area. Winds may be
lighter at times this morning... however the passage of this
cold front will increase winds again on Monday afternoon and
evening.

* Winds: southwest winds 35 to 45 mph... with gusts to 65 mph
possible in favored locations along the Rocky Mountain front.

* Impacts: expect difficult conditions for outdoor work and
recreation activities as well as for those traveling in high
profile vehicles.

* Locations affected include: Browning... Marias Pass.

SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA Weather Watch

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
Flood Advisory for melting snow remains in effect for southwestern
Sioux... southeastern Hettinger... western Grant and Adams counties

Six to twelve inches of snow fell across the advisory area... with
localized areas around 20 inches. This heavy... wet snow will
continue to melt today as temperatures rise into the 50s.

This Flood Advisory will likely be extended through Wednesday. Look
for an update to this Flood Advisory by early this afternoon.

Soils across southwest North Dakota are already moist... and
continued runoff from snowmelt is likely to cause flooding of County
and township roads in low lying areas. Street flooding in towns is
also likely to continue as slush blocks drainage systems. Within
bank rises are expected on creeks and streams flowing into the
Cannonball river early this week and noticeable rises on the
Cannonball are possible later in the week.

Localized flooding is expected to continue over mainly rural areas
of Adams... southeastern Hettinger... southwestern Sioux and western
Grant counties... including the towns of
Bentley... Bucyrus... Burt... Carson... Elgin... Haynes... Heart Butte
dam... Heil... Hettinger... Leith... Mott... New Leipzig... Reeder and
Regent.

EAST &SOUTHEAST COLORADO Weather Watch

COLORADO

EAST &SOUTHEAST COLORADO
Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Tuesday afternoon for
gusty winds and low relative humidity for fire weather zones
234 and 236...

* affected area... fire weather zones 234 and 236.

* Winds... south 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative humidity... as low as 12 percent.

* Impacts... extreme fire behavior is possible if a fire starts

PANOLA TEXAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS Weather Watch

TEXAS

PANOLA TEXAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS
ire Weather Watch in effect from Tuesday afternoon through
Tuesday evening for strong winds and low relative humidity for the
western and central Texas and Oklahoma panhandles due to low
humilities and strong winds...

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a Fire
Weather Watch... which is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through
Tuesday evening.

* Affected area: in Oklahoma... Cimarron... Texas. In Texas...
Dallam... Sherman... Hansford... Hartley... Moore... Hutchinson...
Oldham... Potter... Carson... Deaf Smith... Randall... Armstrong.

* Wind: 20 foot southwesterly winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to
35 mph.

* Humidity: minimum afternoon relative humidities of 10 to 15 percent.

* Timing: critical fire weather conditions are expected to be met
around 12 PM CDT Tuesday with conditions improving by 8 PM CDT

RailRoad track Safty

Safty Tips For vehicles traveling beside Big Rigs

Safety Tips:

Passenger cars: Many crashes between heavy commercial trucks and passenger cars can be avoided by following these safety tips.
•Be extra alert as you approach a large truck. They behave very differently from cars.
•Avoid blind spots around trucks. If you can't see a truck's side mirrors, the truck driver can't see you. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the blind spots around a truck.
•Do not pass a truck on the right while the truck is turning right. Trucks must swing wide to the left to negotiate right turns safely, as the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels.
•Do not cut in front of any large vehicle, including a truck or a bus. Since they require much more distance to stop in comparison to cars, forcing a large vehicle to stop quickly can result in a fatal accident.
•Use the proper procedure to pass a large truck or bus on the highway. Accelerate slightly and maintain a consistent speed while passing. Wait until you can see the entire cab in your rear-view mirror before signaling and pulling in front of it.
•Observe a truck's turn signals before trying to pass it. If the truck appears to be starting a left turn, check which way the driver is signaling before passing the truck on the right.
•Give trucks at least four to six seconds of space in wet conditions and at highway speeds.
•Call authorities if you see unsafe driving.
•Do not cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach your exit or turn.

Truckers: Consider these safety practices when you're out on the road.

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Get plenty of rest before driving. Eat well and stay fit. Driver fatigue and lack of attention can significantly increase your risk of a crash. Hours of service violations are serious and can threaten your livelihood or even your life. Stay healthy and well rested, or don't drive!

PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN WORK ZONES
Watch out for highway construction. Stay alert. Almost one-third of work zone fatal crashes involved large trucks. Most of these crashes occurred during the day. Take your time going through work zones. Give yourself plenty of room, and expect the unexpected.

BE AWARE OF YOUR "NO-ZONE"
Other drivers may not be aware of the size of your blind spots. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the No-Zone areas around a truck. Adjust your mirrors and be vigilant in watching out for vehicles in the No-Zone.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
Always leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you. In rear-end collisions, regardless of the situation, if you hit someone from behind, you are considered "at fault." Large trucks, given their mass, have much greater stopping distances than 4-wheelers. Take advantage of your driving height, and anticipate hard braking situations.

ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE
It can save your life. Inspect your vehicle before each trip, and check your brakes regularly. Brake defects are the most frequently cited out-of-service inspection violation. Learn how to inspect your brakes, identify safety defects, and get them repaired before risking your life, and others, on the highway.

ALWAYS DRIVE DEFENSIVELY
Avoid aggressive drivers and maintain a safe speed. Two-thirds of all traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving behaviors. Keep your distance and maintain a safe speed. The only thing excessive speed increases is your chance for a crash.

PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT
Buckle up for safety and vehicle control. If you are in a crash, a seat belt will save your life and that of others. It will keep you in your seat and allow for you to maintain control of your truck. Increasing seat belt use is still the single most effective thing we can do to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways.

ALWAYS WORK TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY
On the highway, and through safety promotional events, be the professional! Help stranded motorists. Notify traffic safety agencies of crashes, unsafe drivers, unsafe roadway conditions, and other situations that can lead to crashes. Join a "Highway Watch" program, if available in your state. Your participation in public safety events and your performance on the highway can change public perception!

Watch for other drivers who are NOT paying attention

Weekly Safety Message: An inattentive driver is one who is not looking forward, not paying attention to the forward scene, or is engaged in a secondary, non-driving related task. Pay attention to what is in front of you. Keep your eyes on the road and keep them moving. Plan your trip and know where you are going. Watch out for other drivers who may be distracted.

2013 Brake Safety Awareness Week is this week, Sept 8-14

** 2013 Brake Safety Awareness Week is this week, Sept 8-14! **

Check your brakes:
- Are the hoses rubbing together? TIP: Zip-tie them so they
don't rub!...
- Are the hoses crimped? If so, replace them!
- Brake out of adjustment? Maximum push rod travel allowed d
depends on size and type of brake chamber. If push rod travel
is beyond measurement allowed by DOT Standards it is "out of
adjustment". TIP: Measure and track changes on the
movements.
- Inoperative Brakes? Clevis pin missing? Slack adjuster no long
attached to push-rod?

These Roadside Violations can result in 12 CSA points or more!

Come check out PilotCar.TV

pilotcar.tv™
playing in traffic

pilotcar.tv™ is about promoting safety and awareness in the movement of overdimensional loads. pilotcar.tv™ is about videos of professional pilot cars and oversize load truckers in action giving them a chance to showcase their work internationally here on pilotcar.tv™ and on our YouTube Channel.  Produced by Patriot Certified Pilot Cars LLC, pilotcar.tv™ was originally conceived as a means for customers to track the movement of their overdimensional loads live via web broadcast, and to have a record of the move for liability and insurance purposes.  Over the past 4 years we've grown to include promo videos and videos from other pilot car companies and oversize load haulers work as a means to promote their skills and experience, and help increase public awareness of overdimensional moves.  Our focus has shifted to producing quality videos, specializing in time-lapse clips with music. Currently our production team consists of: Malcom Black-President/Producer, Harald Klaassen-Honorary Vice President/Co-Producer Europe. Video footage provided by Patriot Certified Pilot Cars, Frog Truck Escort, J&S Pilot Car Service, and Certified Pilot Cars.  We've also had the privilege of producing a video for a PSA and providing video footage for training purposes to the National Pilot Car Safety Institute pilotcar.tv™ now hosts one of the largest pilot car groups on FACEBOOK Come join us and contribute! Help us promote pilotcar.tv™ and your pilot car company!

Fatigue - Think About Roadsafety

Studies have shown that drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a window, or by turning up the radio. This doesn't work for long.

Research suggests that almost 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep-related

Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury

Peak times for accidents are in the early hours and after lunch

• About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles
• Men under 30 have the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel

---------------------------------------

THINK! Advice

Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break every two hours.

Don't start a long trip if you're already tired.

Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.

Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you're likely to feel sleepy anyway.

If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop - not the hard shoulder of a motorway. Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.

Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is a short-term

solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time.

Hot weather and under-inflated tires are a dangerous combination.

NHTSA is cautioning motorists that hot weather and under-inflated tires are a dangerous combination. Proper pressure is the most important part of maintaining a vehicle's tires. DRIVE SAFE!!!

Stress & Fatigue

Pay attention to stress and fatigue. The additional heat in summer and traffic delays can make you feel more tired and less alert than usual.
Look out for road constructions and detours as most road constructions take place during the summer.

Tire Safty

Tires are one of the most important and often overlooked components of our vehicles. Safety studies show that maintaining proper tire pressure, observing tire and truck/trailer load limits (not carrying more weight
on your rig than your tires can safely handle), avoiding road hazards, and inspecting tires for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tire failure, such as tread
separation or blowout and flat tires. These actions, along with other care and maintenance activities, can also:
•Improve vehicle handling.
•Help protect you from avoidable breakdowns and
accidents.
•Improve fuel economy.
•Increase the life of your tires.

SAFETY TIP FOR TODAY

SAFETY TIP FOR TODAY
PRETTY MUCH A REHASH OF THE PAST , BUT YOU NEED TO BE READY, BECAUSE DOT IS READY AND YOU ARE THE ONE PAYING THOSE FINES OR SITTING ALONGSIDE THE ROAD WAITING FOR A REPAIR TRUCK...

ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS
Make sure you have your driver’s license and current medical card on you at all time.
...
Make sure you have a copy of the Qualcomm instruction sheet to provide to the officer if requested. It is CSA violation if you don’t have it.

Be sure you know how to request your logs to be faxed to the officer.

Make sure your equipment is not defective. Some of the most common defects are brake issues, lights not working and damaged tires.

If hauling a hazmat load, you must make sure your bills are correct and readily accessible, the trailer is properly placarded, the load is secure, and that you have your emergency response guide with the bills.

Turn in or send your roadside inspections to your safety department
God Bless and , Safe Travels Out there On the Road  

The heat is rising so make sure you're drinking plenty of water to stay alert. Drive save over-the-road!

The heat is rising so make sure you're drinking plenty of water to stay alert. Drive save over-the-road!

"Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day," says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, an industry group.
Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health," he says.
When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.
1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature

2. Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.

3. Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. "When muscle cells don't have adequate fluids, they don't work as well and performance can suffer.

 

4. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. But don't expect over-hydration to erase wrinkles or fine lines.

5. Water Helps Your Kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine, explains Guest. "Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate.

6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation.

Weekly Safety Message:

Weekly Safety Message: Always try to use a spotter when backing or negotiating a tight or difficult maneuver. Make sure your spotter is at least 10 feet from your vehicle and never lose sight of your spotter

ET Says "" Take The Truck Parking Safty Survey"" Truckers have the right to REST!!!!

ET Says "Take the Truck Parking Survey" Truckers have the Right to REST!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alekOwUIFfg

E.T. ask's for truck parking survey on planet earth ! PLS HELP !!! www.youtube.com http://www.TruckingSocialMedia.com/ For more information - See you there ! http://askthetrucker.com/...

Mothers Day Memories

Tomorrow is Mothers day - Share your memories of  special times or occasions you recall that you and your mother shared together. Or Share a Special Memory you think about when You think of your Mother

Trivia Question

 At 55 mph and total weight of 80,000#, how far does a large truck need to travel before it can come to a complete stop? A. the length of a football field B. 2x the length of a football field C. 500 feet D. 250 feet


ANSWER: ***B. Twice the length of a football field*** A big truck cannot stop on a dime, like a little car. In the U.S. trucks usually have ABS brakes. A loaded truck weighting the maximum allowed (80,000lbs) can require twice the length of a football field to stop. The lighter the load, the longer the distance! Rain or slick roads make even more distance necessary. ///NOTE/// Speeds above 55 mph greatly increase stopping distance. Brakes, tires, springs and shocks on heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicle is fully loaded. It takes more time and distance to stop an empty vehicle! (Source: Speed and Space Managment Driver's Handbook, J.J. Keller & Associates Inc.)

Tell us about your hair raising moments that relate to this issue ...................

From CDL Life - Is Truck Driving One Of The Most Dangerous Jobs?

It can be dangerous out on the road.  Drivers are often pushed to work against the clock to make their pickups or deliveries on time, the food served at truck stops is often a heart attack on a plate and safe, available parking is hard to find.  Is truck driving one of the most dangerous jobs in America?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers have the 8th most dangerous job in America, that’s up 9 spots from 2008 when it was listed as the 17th most dangerous job in the U.S.
By: Keith Veronese- io9.com
What incredibly important profession combines horrible hours, bad pay, and a poor lifestyle? Truck driving. This is a job that destroys so many lives that it could soon become unsustainable. Here’s why.
Lots of Work, Little Pay
Truck drivers are expected to drive up to fourteen hours straight a day, receiving roughly ten hours off prior to  the beginning of the next shift. Legislation regulating the amount of driving a trucker performs over the course of a day and week does exist, but these rules are commonly bent and broken.
Truckers rarely receive more than one day of work off a week. The chance of dying on the job is extremely high, with deaths of truckers in auto accidents accounting for 12% of all work related deaths in the United States.
All this comes with a paltry average annual salary of just under $38,000. A trucker can easily work 4400 hours a year, coming to an hourly wage of $8.70.
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This is the first half of the Article From CDL Life -
What Do you Believe is the Best & Worst things about your Life on the Road as a Truck Driver ?