Archive for December, 2011

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NJ, MD, PA, and OH Among States Raising Toll Prices in New Year

Friday, December 30th, 2011

For many truckers, the New Year will bring forth many challenges, such as new regulations and capacity issues.  To add to the fire, numerous truckers will now face rising toll costs in several states.

Pennsylvania turnpike

Effective January 1st, drivers traveling in states which include New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, among others, will be facing some significant toll hikes in order to keep the flow of goods moving.

New Jersey will be raising their tolls for the second time in three years as part of former Gov. Jon Corzine’s two-phase increase established in 2008, rising tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway by nearly 50%, according to Transport Topics.

As the site notes, 5-axle trucks traveling the length of the turnpike, will now have to pay an additional $15 via E-Z Pass, bringing the total to $43.20 (http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=28376).

In other states such as Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, truckers paying cash will be affected the most, with many of the E-Z Pass rates remaining the same.

Ohio truckers haven’t faced an increase in over two years but as of Jan. 1st, will be paying an additional $6 to travel the length of the turnpike at $61 (http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/3ea19b42977c479ba619236fab87bc6b/OH–Ohio-Turnpike-Tolls/).

Maryland 5-axle or more truck drivers paying cash will face “$6-$8 per trip, depending on the number of axles, at the Fort McHenry (I-95) and Baltimore Harbor (I-895) tunnels and the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695), $6-$7 per trip at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95) and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40), and $9-$12 per trip at the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (US 301) and the Bay Bridge (US 50/301),” with Baltimore expecting another bridge and tunnel toll increase within 18 months (http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=75652).

The Pennsylvania turnpike will be increasing cash tolls as well by 10% but will keep the E-Z Pass rates the same.

There have been arguments over the decision to raise these toll prices, believing that truck drivers, especially owner-operators, will avoid these toll roads due to costs and instead, travel on secondary roads, congesting traffic, and thus, causing delays.

Road Scholar Transport uses real time traffic overlay to see if traffic may impact your shipment, choosing the best route for delivery.  Visit www.roadscholar.com to learn more about Road Scholar’s on-time delivery guarantee for your LTL and Truckload freight.

List your comments regarding the toll increases and what effects you believe these will have below.

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Cargo to be Destroyed after Police Uncover Partial Load of Meat

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Just days before Christmas when everyone is rushing to the stores to load up on everything they need for their traditional Christmas dinner, thieves stole a trailer loaded with several thousands of dollars worth the meats and vegetables.

HoneyBaked Ham

The truck, which was parked behind a HoneyBaked Ham store in Cordova, TN, was filled with 1,017 hams worth $56,000, 42 boxes of turkeys worth $15,000, and $57,000 worth of side dishes (which included potatoes, casseroles and cinnamon apples), according to WMCTV.com.

Somewhere between the times of 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 20th (when the trailer was last seen) and 6:15 a.m. on Dec. 21st, the truck was stolen.

After sending out an alert for police to stay on watch for the tractor trailer, Memphis police recovered the abandoned truck two days later, the exact location not released, however, three quarters of the cargo was taken, WMCTV explains.

Although a quarter of the cargo was recovered, the high risk of contamination is enough to keep the products off the market.  As HoneyBaked Ham’s Robin Blanton stated, “Because the product has been out of our control for the period of time, we of course are not able to sell it.  Because of food safety issues, we’re not able to donate the product as well.  We’ll just have to destroy the product” (http://www.wmctv.com/story/16390097/truck-stolen-from-cordova-honeybaked-ham-recovered).

This is the unfortunate case most of the time, especially when transporting refrigerated/frozen goods, such as meat, which can become contaminated and lead to widespread health concerns when transported under improper temperature conditions and ingested by consumers.  Not knowing how long the trailer failed to maintain a proper temperature or who tampered with the product, companies are forced to discard their products, losing money.

Road Scholar Transport, however, can help.  We apply a product known as ReeferTrak to all of our refrigerated trailers, which allows our staff to carefully monitor the temperature within the trailer (and your freight), alerting us of any change in degree.  This system allows you, the customer, the ability to see the temperature of your freight, as well as its location, at any given time, with accessibility months after delivery so you don’t have to deal with the problem of disposing your freight due to contamination concerns.

Thieves will have an incredibly tough time making away with one of Road Scholar’s brightly colored awareness trucks which are tracked live, delivering its precise location as well as location history, so you not only know where your freight is but where it has been.

With electronic door monitoring alerting of every door opening/closing, our team will constantly be on guard of any irregular activity.  Not to mention Navalock capability which is bolt cutter, sledgehammer, and chisel proof to prevent the tampering of your freight.

Visit Road Scholar’s University page at www.roadscholar.com where you will learn about cargo security from Walt Beadling, Managing Partner at the Cargo Security Alliance, and Jim Barrett, President of Road Scholar Transport, and how Road Scholar is taking measures to keep your freight secure.

What do you think of Road Scholar’s ReeferTrak system?  List your comments below.

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93% of Commenters Oppose Final HOS Ruling

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Productivity problems, rising costs to conduct business, increased crash risks, late deliveries, and pollution are just a few problems groups are stating in response to the FMCSA’s final HOS ruling released on Dec. 22nd.

FMCSA

The ruling chose to maintain the 11-hour daily driving limit but revised the 34-hour restart provision to include two consecutive breaks between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., a decision that would reduce a driver’s work week from 82 to 70 hours.

This decrease in work hours would lead to productivity problems since a reduction would limit a driver’s time on the road, which could cause delivery complications and increased rates for shippers (which trickle down to higher costs for consumers).

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), who received several thousand comments regarding their proposed rule, 8,028 of commenters disagreed with the proposal, especially the restart provision, which has 4,776 disapprovals, and driving time, which had 4,633, resulting in 93 percent of comments being in opposition of the proposal, with only 601 commenters supporting it (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/12/27/HOSruleresetdespite9to1publicoppositiontochanges.aspx).

Those individuals who submitted comments disagreeing with the FMCSA’s proposal did so for the main arguments that the current hours of service has already proven a reduction in crashes as well as stated that changes would “impose substantial costs on the industry, make night deliveries difficult, increase congestion, and lower driver incomes,” thetrucker.com notes.

These arguments come as no surprise, being something that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has been arguing for months believing that “by mandating drivers include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. as part of a ‘restart’ period, FMCSA is assuring that every day as America is commuting to work, thousands of truck drivers will be joining them, creating additional and unnecessary congestion and putting motorists and those professional drivers at greater risk. The largest percentage of truck-involved crashes occur between 6 a.m. and noon, so this change not only effectively destroys the provision of the current rule most cited by professional drivers as beneficial, but it will put more trucks on the road during the statistically riskiest time of the day”  (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/12/22/ATAObamaadministrationsfinalHOSruleputssafetyinthebackseat.aspx).

At the same time as defending the current HOS for improving safety on the road, safety advocacy groups including the Truck Safety Coalition, Public Citizen, and Consumer Federation of America, among others, stated that the decline in crashes the ATA is talking about is due to economic recovery, not the HOS, presenting data that showed a direct correlation between economic recovery and the reduction in fatal accidents.

The ATA, however, counteracted the argument believing that crash reduction was not due to the recession since truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased during this time.

Once again, the ATA’s dispute was not received with open arms, with the FMCSA stating that the FHWA had “recently defined that term to mean any vehicle other than a bus with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds,” which “now includes mobile homes, large pickups, cab chassis and various other larger vehicles, most of which are not used by motor carriers, except for short-haul pickups and deliveries,” with “revised VMT numbers showing that combination truck VMT peaked in 2007, fell slightly in 2008 and fell sharply in 2009” (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/12/28/AtruckisnotalwaysatruckinofficialdataFMCSAsays.aspx).

The ATA, however, continues to contemplate whether they will file a suit or not.

Visit www.roadscholar.com for more news on the trucking industry, career opportunities, and how we are keeping your freight safe during transport.

Are you in favor or opposition of the final HOS ruling?  List your comments below.

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Improperly Cleaned Trailer Leads to Contaminated Propane Shipment

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Retailers who received shipments of propane from MFA Oil between November 30th and December 14th have been alerted of a low level contamination of anhydrous ammonia, used in many cleaning products and fertilizers, being advised to immediately contact customers who were considered at risk.propane tank

According to Aurora Advertiser, Missouri’s newspaper, the load is believed to have been contaminated during transport due to the carrier’s trailer being improperly cleaned out before transporting the shipment, leaving traces of previously hauled anhydrous ammonia beyond, tainting the propane load.

Although regarded as a “low level contamination,” the risks of propane being tainted with anhydrous ammonia come at a high stake since, when interacting with the wrong metal, can result in dangerous consequences, especially given that many valves on propane tanks contain brass.

As the National Propane Gas Association notes, “The brass valve in a propane cylinder will be damaged if it comes in contact with ammonia. This deterioration will lead to cracking of the valve body or its components ultimately result in a violent, unexpected expulsion of the valve from the cylinder injury or death” (http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/HWB/documents/Anhydrous_Ammonia_Propane_Cylinders.pdf). 

As a result, the MFA took action to prevent corrosion by changing the brass valves and, due to the risk of causing health hazards through inhalation, the Missouri Propane Gas Commission has notified companies, especially in the southwest Missouri counties who may have received a contaminated shipment, to replace tanks by Dec. 26th as well as “ensure the affected consumers discontinue use of unvented gas appliances and gas ranges” (http://www.auroraadvertiser.net/topstories/x1569723602/Some-propane-contaminated-with-anhydrous-ammonia).

Those shipments that have been affected will either be burned or refined, Aurora Advertiser notes.

The potential hazard that this tainted propane shipment could have caused is one reason to always ensure that a safe carrier is transporting your freight.

Road Scholar Transport is able to provide a history of what was inside our trailer prior to your road scholar transportshipment, prior to that shipment, and so on, along with each trailer being regularly washed down to enhance sanitary measures and reduce any risk of contamination during transport.

Why risk your reputation and a widespread contamination outbreak by choosing the cheapest, most ill-equipped carrier to transport your freight?  Visit www.roadscholar.com to learn more about Road Scholar’s services and security features.

What do you think of Road Scholar’s ability to provide you with history of what was inside of a trailer prior to transporting your freight?  How beneficial do you believe it is?  List your comments below.

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Groups Respond to HOS Final Rule

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

FMCSAYesterday we announced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA)’s final rule, retaining the 11-hour driving time while making changes to the current rule including the 34-hour restart provision, rest breaks, and on-duty time.  (Read the full article at http://www.roadscholarawareness.org/final-hours-of-service-rule-released%E2%80%A6fmcsa-retains-11-hour-driving-time/).

Throughout the process, the FMCSA has heard debates from several groups, with the American Trucking Associations (ATA) pushing for the agency to uphold the current hours of service (HOS) rule, based on its proven effectiveness (which has saved thousands of lives since it went into effect regardless of nearly 10 billion more miles traveled) and cost issues, while Public Citizen claimed that it would reopen its suit if the FMCSA were to sustain the current HOS rule.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that groups are responding to the final decision.

Stating that the HOS rule is a “one-size-fits-all approach” that “will not improve safety” but instead “have a dramatic effect on the lives and livelihoods of small-business truckers,” the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)’s Todd Spencer remarks that “the changes are unnecessary and unwelcome” (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/12/22/OOIDAsaysfinalHOSregulationswontimprovehighwaysafety.aspx).

In response to the FMCSA’s decision that drivers “may drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of driver’s last off-duty period of at least 30 minutes,” with severe penalties for those “driving 3 or more hours beyond the driving-time limit,” Spencer stated, “The HOS regulations should instead be more flexible to allow drivers to sleep when tired and to work when rested and not penalize them for doing so,” an article on thetrucker.com explains.

On top of that, OOIDA mentions the problem with compliance due to detention time spent on docks, causing drivers to lose productivity and, in return, higher the costs of consumer goods.
At the same time, the ATA is calling the new rule “unjustified,” claiming that “unnecessary changes” were made, and like OOIDA, stating that it will “do nothing to improve highway safety, but will very likely increase the risk of truck-involved crashes.”

The ATA has been arguing that the current HOS rule has already proven effective in improving crash prevention, stating truck-related crash reduction statistics demonstrating that truck-involved fatalities have dropped nearly 30% since the current HOS rules went into effect, but that the FMCSA has “twisted data.”

Again, the ATA addresses the problems of productivity and a rise in consumer costs with the revised rule.

Furthermore, the ATA demonstrates the reality that the new rule could actually increase accident risk.  As the ATA’s Bill Graves explains, “By mandating drivers include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. as part of a ‘restart’ period, FMCSA is assuring that every day as America is commuting to work, thousands of truck drivers will be joining them, creating additional and unnecessary congestion and putting motorists and those professional drivers at greater risk. The largest percentage of truck-involved crashes occur between 6 a.m. and noon, so this change not only effectively destroys the provision of the current rule most cited by professional drivers as beneficial, but it will put more trucks on the road during the statistically riskiest time of the day”  (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/12/22/ATAObamaadministrationsfinalHOSruleputssafetyinthebackseat.aspx).

With parts of the new rule becoming effective Feb. 27, 2012 and the rest July 1st, 2013, the ATA acknowledged the fact that they are contemplating whether to file suit.

For more news regarding the FMCSA’s hours of service rule, visit www.roadscholar.com.

Do you agree with the ATA in that the final rule will cause more accidents instead of improving safety?  List your comments below.

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Final Hours of Service Rule Released…FMCSA Retains 11-Hour Driving Time

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

After months of debate, a final hours of service (HOS) rule has finally been released.FMCSA

Groups including Public Citizen, Teamsters, and the American Trucking Associations have been arguing over the Federal Motor Carrier Associations (FMCSA) proposal, which would cause a number of changes believed to be in the benefit of drivers and everyone on the road’s safety, among those limiting a driver’s on-road time from 11 to 10 hours.

The FMCSA submitted their updated proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on November 1st.  The OMB, in return, reviewed the rule, returned it to the DOT, and will be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27th of this year.

So what’s the verdict?  Will a driver’s time on the road be reduced by an hour?

After much consideration, the FMCSA has chosen to uphold the current 11-hour daily driving limit.

But the final rule does come with some changes, which are as follows (provided by http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos-final/hos-final-rule.aspx):

-34-hour restart provisions “must include two periods between 1 a.m.-5 a.m. home terminal time” and “may only be used once per week,” effective July 1, 2013.

-Rest breaks:  “May drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of driver’s last off-duty period of at least 30 minutes,” effective July 1, 2013.

-On-duty time:  “Does not include any time resting in a parked CMV.  In moving CMV, does not include up to 2 hours in passenger seat immediately before or after 8 consecutive hours in sleeper-berth.  Also applies to passenger-carrying drivers,” effective Feb. 27, 2012.

-Penalties:  “Driving (or allowing a driver to drive) 3 or more hours beyond the driving-time limit may be considered an egregious violation and subject to the maximum civil penalties.  Also applies to passenger-carrying drivers,” effective Feb. 27, 2012.

-Oilfield exemption:  “‘Waiting time for certain drivers at oilfields must be shown on logbook or electronic equivalent as off duty and identified by annotations in ‘remarks’ or a separate added to ‘grid,’” effective Feb. 27, 2012.

According to truckinginfo.com, those carriers “that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by 3 or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense” (http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/newsdetail.asp?news_id=75621&news_category_id=3).

Put your freight onboard a safe carrier who abides by the rules and regulations by visiting www.roadscholar.com.

What do you think of the FMCSA’s final rule?  List your comments below.

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Touching Music Video Portrays Truck Drivers as True ‘Highway Angels’

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

“Road to road, coast to coast, giving back when they get the chance to.  Saved my life passing through, I thank God I can say, thank you” are the lyrics behind country singer Lindsay Lawler’s new song Highway Angel, currently taking the trucking industry by storm.

The music video, meant to recognize the men and women saving lives everyday…the truck driver, was released earlier this year, telling the story of a mother and child who get in a car wreck.  A truck driver witnessing the accident pulls over, carrying the woman out of the car, saving her and her child’s life.

The song was commissioned by the Trucking Carriers Association (one of many trucking groups supporting the works of Lawler) for their Highway Angel Program (http://www.truckload.org/Highway-Angel), which recognizes those drivers who have performed heroic or kind deeds.

Too many times, the kind acts of these drivers go unnoticed by those outside of the trucking industry.  As Lawler explained, “Our big challenge right now is that we really want to take the work we’ve done inside the trucking industry and take it outside.  Everyone in the industry knows how great truckers are, but we want to try and take the word outside” (http://www.truckflix.com/news_article.php?newsid=7657).

Everyday truck drivers are performing courageous acts outside of their job duties.  Take Road Scholar Transport driver Rob Pollock for example.  One day he was delivering to a company in Berlington, Massachusetts.  As he waited at the dock, he noticed a man in a tractor trailer next to him hunched over the steering wheel.  Rob went over and tapped on the window.  Noticing that the man’s eyes were rolled back, he opened the door and pulled him out, which was a task given how high up the man was.  Once out, Rob laid the man on the ground and assessed the situation.

Trained in CPR, Rob checked to make sure that the man’s heart was still beating…it was.  He then checked to make sure that he wasn’t choking…he wasn’t.  The man was still unresponsive.
As Rob was checking the man, a woman came out of the company.  Noticing what was happening, she immediately called an ambulance.  The man had been one of their drivers.

Rob continued to tend to the man as they waited for the ambulance, during which time the man started to come back.  Rob stood with him and kept him awake.

It turned out that the man had low blood sugar and went into a seizure.

“This happened at 5 in the morning so who knows how long it would have taken someone to find him,” Rob said.

Many of these drivers don’t want any recognition for what they had done, doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.  That’s why people such as Lawler feel the need to spread the word.

“I am so blessed to have connected with the trucking industry in order to spread a positive message and image through music. The drivers give so much of their time, energy and hard work on the road every single day, while leaving behind family, friends and commitments at home. They do this so that we can continue about our daily routines with all of the food, products, services etc. that we need in order to live. Cause after all, if you bought it, a truck brought it!” she states on her website http://www.lindsaylawler.com.

highway angel

Watch Lawley’s Highway Angel by clicking on the video to the right and check out its powerful lyrics below.

I remember that the road was wet, the bright lights from the cars ahead
I remember every word from the prayer I said
And I remember how time stood still
It seemed like forever until the world came crashing
Down, around me, and I closed my eyes
And I wondered if it was my time
Or was there a…

Highway Angel, a beautiful stranger
Who would be the light, on my darkest night
And save me from this hell
Highway Angel

I remember how you reached your hands through the broken glass
And how it all just seemed to go so fast
I never even got your name, but how could I forget the face
Of a hero sent my way by God’s amazing grace

Highway Angel, a beautiful stranger
Who would be the light, on my darkest night
And save me from this hell
Highway Angel

Road to road, coast to coast, giving back when they get the chance to
Saved my life passing through, I thank God I can say, thank you

Highway Angel, a beautiful stranger
Who would be the light, on my darkest night
And save me from this hell
Highway Angel

Hallelujah, Highway Angel
Hallelujah, Highway Angel
Hallelujah, Highway Angel
Hallelujah, Highway Angel

© Red River Girl Music 2010
Lindsay Lawler and Chris Roberts

What do you think of Lawley’s Highway Angel music video?  List your comments below.

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Challenges the Trucking Industry can Expect to Face in 2012

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

As 2011 quickly comes to an end, experts are providing their knowledge and input on what challenges the trucking industry can expect to undergo in the New Year.

Among these is the high price of diesel.  Although the national average of diesel has dropped 6.6 cents to $3.82/gallon, the lowest we have seen since Oct. 24th, prices have risen as high as $4.12 last May.  As the Department of Energy forecasts, “diesel fuel will average $3.73 per gallon in 2012,” which although is lower than we are currently experiencing, is still 25% higher than 2010 averages (http://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20111219top_10_logistics_challenges_for_2012/).

Along with higher diesel prices comes rising truck rates.  According to Transport Capital Partners, LLC’s fourth quarter business expectations survey, 70% of carriers expect to raise their rates over the next year, while half of those surveyed have already done so.  Logistics Management explains that most major LTL carriers raised their rates this quarter by between 5.9 and 6.9 percent.

One of the reasons for higher rates is the current capacity shortage facing the industry.  With issues including the rising costs of healthcare and equipment (which is up 20% this year), new safety restrictions such as CSA 2010 and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours of service proposal, the lack of available credit, generation x drivers retiring, and rising fuel prices mentioned earlier, many trucking companies are keeping their fleets small due to the difficulty they are having qualifying for a loan and keeping up with surging costs, while others are being forced to close their doors for good and sell their assets.  Learn more about the Perfect Storm for Capacity Shortage by clicking here.

unemployment rate

On top of capacity issues, the economy poses another challenge to the industry, demonstrating a weak growth period.  Unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with trucking companies continuing to struggle with finding drivers to meet capacity issues.  Drivers looking for a rewarding career can apply here.

Experts also predict challenges pertaining to truck regulations in 2012.  In order to account for capacity shortages, The Safe & Efficient Transportation Act is encouraging raising the current 80,000 pound weight limit of trucks to 97,000 pounds. This, however, would only be acceptable on certain roads and only on trucks equipped with six axles instead of five, allowing the extra axle to account for the additional weight.

Among truck regulations includes a stronger effort to go green, decreasing gas emissions in order to achieve a cleaner, healthier environment, the way that Road Scholar Transport does with its new trucks, which give off 1/42 the amount of diesel particulate as the 2007 engines.

Finally, a stronger emphasis on security can also be expected in the New Year.  As DC Velocity states, “the idea of guaranteeing that every package and every container is safe boggles the mind,” but that’s what Road Scholar Transport aims to do.

Road Scholar Transport applies security features which include electronic door monitoring, reefer and power unit tracking, Qualcomm distress/panic messaging, roof decals for aerial tracking, navalock, facility security, and much more.

As a member of CargoNet, a group dedicated to theft prevention and recovery, Road Scholar Transport is continuously pushing the performance envelope with new products and technologies to keep your freight safe.

Visit Road Scholar’s University page on our website (www.roadscholar.com) for valuable information regarding cargo security.

What challenges do you feel the trucking industry will face in 2012?  List your comments below.

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No Tracking Device Offers Little Hope in Recovering $1.7 Million Electronic Shipment

Monday, December 19th, 2011

BlackBerry PlayBook tablets Electronics have always been a high-risk target among thieves, especially around the holidays, ranking in as the number one stolen commodity between February 2010 and January 2011 (21% of all stolen goods) according to FreightWatch.  Knowing this, it would come as no surprise that shippers are taking extra precaution when it comes to transporting their cargo, choosing carriers such as Road Scholar Transport, who provides high security features that ensure the safety of your freight.

Then again, maybe you are a gambler and would rather play with price than safety.  Would you be willing to put your $1.7 million high-risk shipment on a truck with no tracking devices?

That’s what happened last Thursday for a load of electronics destined for Ontario, Canada.

The truck, carrying 22 pallets filled with 5,000 of RIM (Research in Motion)’s BlackBerry PlayBook tablets valued at $1.7 million, was traveling from a distribution center in Plainfield, IN when its driver decided to stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Daleville for food and a shower, only to find the truck missing that afternoon when he returned.

According to The Herald Bulletin, the distribution center told police that “the shipment did not have any tracking devices,” and therefore, the chances that the truck and its cargo would be recovered are considered slim.

Although no suspects have been named, the police are looking at up to five people involved with potential fingerprints of one of them, believing that the load may be headed for Miami (http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2133759/usd17m-worth-playbooks-stolen-truck).

RIM’s name has been in the news lately with questions referring to its Blackberry as a “setback” and a “need to ditch the Blackberry for survival.”  Just last week the company announced its financial burden, selling only 150,000 Blackberry Playbook tablets in the third quarter, and therefore, delaying “the launch of smartphones running its Blackberry 10 operating system amid disappointing financial results,” from the beginning of 2012 to a later date, according to The Inquirer.

showme

Now the company has to deal with a $1.7 million loss.  With Road Scholar Transport, however, the shipper can track and receive live status updates and precise locations on their shipments via computer or mobile phone with our ShowMe tracking feature.

Road Scholar’s tractors are also equipped with Qualcomm which provides:

-Panic buttons with vehicle disabling systems to remotely prevent the operation of a vehicle

-Full fleet visibility via computer as well as two 50-inch screens constantly monitored in headquarters

-Digital communication to and from drivers

-The ability to track the movement of a power unit from startup to shutdown as well as its history

-Ability to “ping” a specific power unit for details on its location, which can be updated as frequently as every minute

awareness trucks

If that’s not enough, Road Scholar has roof tracking decals on their trailers and with our colorful awareness trucks, it becomes very easy to pinpoint one of our trucks, and more importantly, harder to steal without going unnoticed.

All of our trailers also contain break locks in which once a key is dislodged, the trailer cannot be moved since the air brakes are locked up, protecting the trailer from being stolen.

With electronic door monitoring alerting of every door opening/closing, our team will be constantly on guard of any irregular activity.  Not to mention Navalock capability which is bolt cutter, sledgehammer, and chisel proof to prevent the tampering of your freight.

Simply put, when your LTL and truckload freight is onboard a Road Scholar truck, you will not have to worry about receiving a call from someone that says, “I’m sorry, but we don’t know where your freight is.”

Visit www.roadscholar.com today to learn more about what Road Scholar can do for you.

What do you think of a shipper choosing price over service when transporting their high-valued freight?  List your comments below.

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Charity Group Provides Assistance to Truckers and Their Families This Christmas

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Imagine losing your job just days before Christmas.  Even worse, imagine that you’re a truck driver in another state when it happened, now unable to get home for the holidays.

That’s what happened to several employees two years ago when their trucking company had closed its doors, stopping payment on drivers’ fuel cards, leaving them stranded for the holidays.

Fortunately for 14 drivers, they were given the best Christmas present of all, much needed aid in getting home for the holidays thanks to the Trucker Charity Christmas Group.

Trucker Charity Inc. began in 2008 when a truck driver known as Wonderful Wayne, posted an idea on a trucking site suggesting the notion of establishing a fundraiser that would help needy truckers at Christmastime.

In its first year, the 501 non-profit charity split the money it raised between needy families.

In the next year, however, businesses who had heard about the charity began to get involved, donating items that the organization could sell to raise money.  Trucker Charity used this money to help the truckers mentioned earlier, get home for the holidays.

This touching story earned the hearts of more and more sponsors and the next year, the group was able to provide 15 families with a $600 check to use as they’d like for Christmas.  A recording on Trucker Charity Inc.’s website recalls the group telling one of the families that they had won a $600 Walmart money gram and the shear appreciation in their voices.

Another driver, who had been fired for refusing to load and operate a trailer that the DOT had placed out of service, was able to get back home from Grand Island, NE to Tampa, FL with the group’s help.

These three years raised more than $30,000, helping 49 truckers and their families.

This Christmas season marks the fourth year in which the Trucker Charity Christmas Group is lending a helping hand, calling on individuals to help make it possible.

100% of donations are used to provide truckers with transportation, food, and stay.  As Trucker Charity notes, the cost of this per trucker averages $200-$300, while “The Christmas Group funds…are given out as cash for the families to use however they wish.”

There are many ways to donate:

special edition ornament

-Special Edition Ornament:  Every year a different individual/company sponsors the Trucker Charity Ornament.  Individuals can purchase the special edition ornament (sponsored by The Christmas Group this year) with proceeds going towards the cause.

-Peddle Car Raffle:  Individuals can purchase raffle tickets for their chance of winning a John Deere Peddle Car right in peddle cartime for the holidays.  Tickets cost $3 for one ticket, $10 for 11 tickets, $20 for 25 tickets, and so on.  Those purchasing 25 tickets will receive a free ornament-60 tickets a Trucker Charity CD by Terry Wooley, 100 tickets both the ornament and cd.  But hurry, the group will be choosing the winner on December 17th.  Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.truckercharity.org/.  

-A one time or monthly donation.

-Fundraising Store:  Individuals can purchase items including CDs, DVDs, clothing, books, calendars, truck accessories, and more at http://www.truckercharity.org/christmas-group-2010.php.

The group also encourages individuals to join/volunteer.  Many of those truckers who have received help in the past have decided to give back by becoming members and helping others.  Yearly membership cost $45.

Those wishing to apply for assistance can do so online or by calling 888-523-0087.  Nominations are due by Dec. 19.

To learn more about Trucker Charity, visit their site at http://www.truckercharity.org/.

Don’t forget to check out www.roadscholarawareness.org to find out how Road Scholar Transport is helping our community as well with our 10 Million Miles to a Cure Awareness Campaign.

What do you think of truckers getting involved/giving back this holiday season?  List your comments below.

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