From the ExpediteInsight.com News desk
This is Moderator1 reporting.

In a late breaking story, the long time Expediters Online forum member MrGoodtude has been banned. The member who never failed to post breathtaking photos and proudly used the signature line "soapbox free" returned to the soap box recently and was quickly banned.

Although I did not see the course of events that led to his banning, I did however see that he was going at it with one of the resident nitwits Layoutshooter, and since he cannot defend himself they are known to protect his lowly ego by banning individuals who put him in his place.

Best of luck Tude!

Stop by if you get the chance, we would love to hear your side. If anyone knows how to contact him or his Mrs. please send them a link.

If anyone has the the skinny on what went down and his banning please fill us in on that as well.



'

I bet they hate our freedom.

May. 1, 2012 10:50 AM ET
FBI: 5 men arrested, wanted to blow up Ohio bridge
By THOMAS J. SHEERAN, Associated Press

The FBI announced Tuesday, May 1, 2012, that it had arrested five men as part of a sting operation. The five allegedly plotted to blow up a bridge in Ohio. (WOIO)

Last Updated 10:59 a.m. ET
(CBS News) Five alleged anarchists have been arrested after a months-long sting operation, charged with plotting to blow up a bridge in the Cleveland area, the FBI announced Tuesday.
CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports the group had been involved in a series of escalating plots that ended with their arrest last night by FBI agents.
The sting operation supplied the anarchists with what they thought were explosives and bomb-making materials.
At no time during the case was the public in danger, the FBI said.
Douglas L. Wright, 26; Brandon L. Baxter, 20; and Anthony Hayne, 35, were arrested by members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force Monday night on charges of conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce.
Also arrested were Connor C. Stevens, 20, and Joshua S. Stafford, 23.
The criminal complaint was filed this morning in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
FBI Complaint: U.S. v. Wright (pdf)
According to law enforcement sources, the five were not connected to international terrorism.
"The initial plot involved the use of smoke grenades to distract law enforcement in order for the co-conspirators to topple financial institution signs atop high rise buildings in downtown Cleveland," according to the complaint.
The FBI says over the course of several months the accused discussed various targets in and around the Cleveland metropolitan area, with the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge being selected as the target. The bridge crosses over Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Brecksville to Sagamore Hills.
The defendants then conspired to obtain C-4 explosives, contained in two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), to be remotely detonated, the FBI said.
"The individuals charged in this plot were intent on using violence to express their ideological views," said FBI Special Agent Stephen D. Anthony.
The five defendants are expected to appear today before a federal magistrate in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
According to the affidavit, Wright (who described himself to an FBI source as an anarchist of long standing) had recruited other young men to his circle who were planning to set off smoke bombs at a bridge in Cleveland as a diversion while they brought down the signs atop buildings in the city. The complaint said while the group had not figured out how they would demolish the signs, according to Wright, "the signs are the most important part [of the plan] because they need to make sure everyone knows that the action was against corporate America and the financial system, and not just some random acts."
Wright also allegedly complained to the FBI source that "there were not enough anarchists in Cleveland to do what he wanted to do."
An undercover employee who has worked with the FBI for 15 was cited in the affidavit, as was a "confidential human source" (CHS) who reported on the group's meetings. The complaint notes that the CHS has a criminal record, including convictions for cocaine possession, robbery and passing bad checks. Since July 20, 2011, when the source began working with the FBI, the agency paid this source more than $6,000 for services and expenses.
The CHS said that Wright offered to show him how to construct smoke bombs, based on recipes from "The Anarchist Cookbook," and was looking to purchase a retractable baton at a gun show or Army-Navy surplus store.
In a meeting in April 2012 the group was still unclear on the target bridge. According to the CHS, Baxter said taking out a bridge "was a good plan, but he did not know how the general public would take it, and he did not think the media would portray that in a good way."
Baxter claimed to have acquired eight pounds of C-4 explosive, and suggested they look for a neo-Nazi or Klan headquarters in Ohio to blow up. Wright suggested blowing up a Federal Reserve bank with a car bomb. He also allegedly said he would consider wearing a suicide vest but would have to be "very drunk" to go through with it.

Our newest member has done a better job of expressing why our mission is critical to free thinking expediters than we have ourselves.

Welcome to the site Greg334!

His first post:

Really Ken

Welll Guys/Gals, I am here (big whoop right?) I won't screw around or mess your site up with bullshit but I came here to deal with with this insane defense of what has gone on over at EO.


I figured that if I post in one thread for all three of the threads about the like issue, no damage is done and I can leave without causing any one from being upset (except Ken ). Sorry if this is a little inconsistent, I'm typing it between phone calls this morning and rather not caring too much about anything.


For the record, I am told many many times, I am not the same as my on-line personna represents, this is true. Those who know me will tel you I do care a lot about other people and their success in this industry. I complain because I want people to get it right, not to beleive everything is peaches and cream. I don't make any apologizes about staying on EO, I was asked to stay for as long as I could stand it for one of the members, they begged me to stay so I did. I couldn't take the crap any more, knowing a bunch of behind the scenes things that make me vomit and the utter bullshit that happens with some of the players over there that goes beyond dog whistles - cronyism anyone? - it just got too sickening and the abuse got to me.



Ken, sorry but you don't see a few things and what I'm going to say may hurt your feelings.


Since you and Ken got to be moderators, you've both become asses. You surprised me more than anyone but I am wondering if there is an L-1 thing going on between all of you, like an L-1 cult.


The other ken more so of becoming asinine in his posting, I think he needs to get out in the real world - shed the shell for a while. He needed to tone down his crap and understand that the rules are not to be applied when they appear to be abusive. Dale is part of the problem as much as Lawrence, mainly due to the fact they promote the same bullshit that has been going on for a long time. There is a lot more to their story that I won't share but because of what happened to Andy, I can't see the soapbox or the rest of the site being a conduit for information it should be and felt for a while that the owners are trying to make it into a Disney land of sorts where it is safe to go there and have things said that people like to hear, it does nothing but allow people to be abusive and shit on others. The other Ken and Leo are good examples, and control the site to what a few want it to be.


By the by, Andy didn't do a damn thing other than speak his mind in a forum that was actually created for him and I to speak. I didn't care about what was said, I countered it with my usual Andy your full of crap stuff but then I ended up defending his right to say it behind the scenes, then openly. I didn't take too kindly to YOU ignoring my PM when I asked you a simple question while at the same time having you and Ken and the others hide behind a bullshit rule that no one can discuss what your decisions are - nothing like shitting people.


Your statement here means a lot to show what is really going on in your mind, it confirmed what some of us have thought about your job and the indoctrination into EO's world. You should take a serious look at what you just said and think about what you have been a part of through what actions other moderators have been done - you're all connected. So big deal that you are not there, leave completely as I did and tell them why ... You'll see nothing will change.


I know it is the soap box but got to tell you it doesn't matter where it happens. I will explain to you in a moment what I mean.



Well unless you live under a rock or in a foreign country most of your life, donkey( **correctly burro) is used in a derogatory way to indicate a person from Mexico or South America who is stupid or worse. The rather sad thing is that most accept the term as normal part of everyday speech but reinforced through the bullshit idea that the Mexicans take all these jobs away from US citizens while not providing to the country.


Leo, who has a habit of saying bad things AND MEANING THEM, also has a habit of screwing with people when things are not up to his standards. I can tell you from my experience that he needs to be put in a time out situation for a few months to stop his habit of being both being an ass about things like this and for trying to make the site into Sunday service at a church. If it was my site, he would have been gone a long time ago. I went through a bunch of crap with his “masking of swear words” infraction and even Dale gave me a warning about it after Leo had a tantrum. I wasn't too happy to see any of it, as much as I didn't like the editing of my posts without my knowledge – another respect issue.


The funny thing is, this site represents the reality of our industry. We don't play nice (with words that is) in the real world so a site should represent the industry, not some disney styled fantisy nightmare.


Actually Ken, they do. You don't get the issue - the soapbox is part of the forum, the real forum. The forum is represented by those who moderate the forum, those who administer the forum and the activity that the adverstiers solely depend on comes from the participation of the members of the forum. The soapbox is not void of ads, which means that those ads are seen by the people who come to the site through different means and one of those means are ... wait for this ... ok ready? ... Google and other search engines. The soapbox is indexed the same with some search engines, the hit counts are part of the site and so on. So you may be a bit wrong there.


With Leo, Joe (aka Layout) and et al. reality is this - there is an ethical problem about the companies that advertise on EO and how EO represents them as mentioned here a few times and even on EO.


However there is a more important issue of how the members who represent the company they drive for seem to appear at the customer level when they are open about defending bigoted remarks and about shooting people, especially judges and cops.


Outside of Elliot, there are no other real players in this industry sitting around chewing the fat with the people who make this industry work and there is a good reason for that – if you don't get it already have someone explain it to you. AND from what I am seeing, you should be very concerned the Elliot IS NOT stepping up and telling (not asking BUT TELLING) openly Lawrence to fix the problems with the moderators - all of you - because there is a problem that L-1 faces at the customer level … Load-1 essentially condone racist and bigoted remarks beside allowing people to think that they want to see a judge shot by the action of participating in a forum where it is openly discussed.


Got to tell you I wouldn't work for Load-1 at this point, they would not fit my idea of a properly imaged company I want to be part of. Maybe I wouldn't be acceptable to them, it doesn't matter - I have the advatage, they don't if you get my point.


For my company its different, we deal with a diverse cross section of customers and my work depends on the company's ability to attract and retain those customers beside my own ability, which this shit as it is presented on EO is a problem if the customer reacts negatively to a comment by Leo or has the support of the moderators who for the most part represent EO's management. Already my key customer who employs Mexicans has made a comment about EO and the comments that were made by the site representatives which could affect my work and the company but I won't let it.


SO I have to ask you Ken, does just not participating in EO as a member or moderator allow you to fulfill the ethical requirements that you should be fulfilling as a business person or as a human for that matter or should you take it a step further and tell your CEO there, Elliot, that this issue represents a BIG problem for the company and the customers and you think he should not be a part of EO or you can't be a part of L-1 because of it?


Of course you won't do the last thing, all that Leo has said (or Joe) isn't a big deal - right?


I know that you and a bunch of others will not get any of that, most of you don't get the entire "representing more than the company" thing to begin with because you are not part where you have to deal with the customers a lot of the time so I wouldn't expect you to get the ethical issues behind it. Losing a customer for one reason or another should be a concern to you, as much as it is to L-1, because customers do read the site.


Doug, I hope Cheri passed on my message to you. I may or may not post in the future, this was just to get something across to those who just don't get it.

Unless one is a company driver, usually they will be a driver for an owner/operater who has leased the truck and driver to the carrier (or they are leased on under their own authority).

The carrier then pays the oo who in turn pays the driver. Many oo's do not pay regularly on time. Usually the $$ is direct deposited to the OO's account and is there on Thurs. midnight. drivers can be pd. the next day.

It is not the Carrier who is dropping the ball if the drivers do not get paid in this situation. Good Carriers get a bad reputation when OO's slack on paying the driver. Mistakes happen and a good carrier will make it right in the next pay period.

Experienced with 4 different carriers and 4 different truck owners, and in each case the $$ has always been there from the carrier to the truck owner, but from the truck owner to the driver has always been where the problems arise. Holidays tend to mess things up a bit due to the banks being closed.

Paper work is another reason for the pay being slow. Turn in your paper work according to the carriers policy. If you neglect to turn in a load or are slow to get the information to the carrer it will delay the process. This can and does happen more often than not and it does not matter if you are an OO, a company driver or leased on under your own authority.

If you are not getting paid, find the reason why. Having a good attitude will move things along nicely when dealing with the carrier or truck owner. Remember, we are all human and make mistakes.

Another good folder to put together is the DOT/SCALES folder:

Use a red loose leaf notebook w/divider pages and tabs, use clear sleeves. In the first section labeled DRIVER have copies of your CDL's, DOT PHYSICAL, birth cert. and any thing pertaining to you. The second section label TRUCK have registration, any and all maint. reports, insurance, cab cards, anything that has to do with the truck. The third section label PERMITS and of course put your carriers permits in this section.

Keep this folder within reach on the truck. Taking this folder in with you for an inspection will deffinately make things easier for you.

DOT love's it when the driver is well organized and has all of their papers at a glance.

You will need a class B CDL, and a DOT physical. A clean criminal and BMV background. Most carriers require 6 months to 1 year experience. Sometimes you can find a carrier willing to take you on with no experience, but those are few and far between due to insurance regs..

This is definitely a life style change. You are going to be living on a truck for the most part. This is ideal for a husband and wife team experiencing "empty nest syndrome", or for a young couple just starting out in life. This career is traveling and camping out. You never know where you are going until you get your dispatch. It's like living in an RV.

Pack lightly. 2-3 changes of clothes appropriate for the weather. Microwave, crock-pot and mini fridge or cooler. Disposable dishes and utensils. Some drivers take along portable grills.

Tools: Cell phone, GPS, Tool box, gloves, steal toe boots, safety vests, hard hats, safety glasses and ear plugs are a must. An atlas and magnifying glass. A brief case. First aid kit. Laptop w/internet access (you can purchase internet time from the truck stops for a reasonable fee). A printer/copier. A book to record your loads, miles and pay.

DVD player, dvd's and reading materials, puzzle books etc. to pass the time. You may wish to carry a digital camera or camcorder. You will be seeing some amazing sights. Do you play a musical instrument? Take it along.

THE CARRIER: WARNING: IT IS ADVISED YOU CHECK OUT THE PROSPECTIVE CARRIERS PRIOR TO SIGNING ON WITH ANY. TALK TO DRIVERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SIGNED ON. ALSO CHECK OUT THE RIPOFF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! If you are not a company driver, you are an independent. First step: find a carrier. The carrier is the company you will be hauling for. The carrier will qualify you as a driver and if you own your own truck or need a truck, the carrier will handle the details and get you set up. The carrier will inspect your truck and let you know what it needs to qualify to haul freight. The carrier will handle all the permits you will need to haul for them. A carrier can also set you up with a truck owner who needs a driver if you do not have a truck. Your carrier will get the loads and dispatch you on those loads. Your carrier is your life line in this business.

Are you still interested? There is a lot of red tape to get started, however if you are determined and patient through the beginning processes this can be a very rewarding choice. There are ups and downs, good loads and bad. Trucks break down, traffic jams, weather, construction, long hauls and seemingly endless hours of driving. Loads get cancelled, freight gets slow. Some months you will be so busy time will fly, and other months it will be so slow you will want to just go home. Learn to adjust your time and budget. December through March are usually the slowest months.

This is a business. Your business.

Expediting can be a very successful venture if you follow a simple guideline.

1. THINK POSITIVE.
Think outside the box, and widen your horizons. Begin with a good start every day.

2. BE NICE, POLITE AND KIND.
Do NOT argue with dispatch, shipper or consignee. This is your customer base.

3. COMMUNICATION.
Being in constant contact with dispatch while you are under load simplifies things. Little messages via the QC like: taking a break, out of truck, even sending a message regarding delays due to weather or traffic saves time and aggravation. Dispatch can check the QC (prior to calling) to first check for any messages or updates from you, and will be better able to keep the customer well informed. Major delays such as accidents or breakdowns should be called in immediately. Even keeping dispatch informed of progress during a breakdown is extremely helpful. Communicate problems @ the shipper or consignee with your dispatcher or Customer Service Rep. Always let your dispatcher or CSR know what is going on ahead of time if you can.

4. BE EFFICIENT WITH YOUR PAPERWORK.
Complete your paperwork accurately. Place your name, truck #, and pro # on every B.O.L., this will ensure prompt payment. In addition to this, scan or send in your B.O.L. immediately after each load. Procrastinating with the paperwork will delay payment from both the customer and your carrier.

5. PREFORM PRE TRIP AND POST TRIP INSPECTIONS DAILY.
Keep your vehicle clean and in top running condition. This will enable you to find a
minor problem early, to keep it from becoming a major problem while under load.

6. BE WELL ORGANIZED AND READY.
Being ON TIME and having all pertinent information ready at a moments notice saves you time, and may even help you to pass the DOT LEVEL I inspection.

7. TRY NOT TO CHERRY PICK YOUR LOADS.
The more AGREEABLE and COMPLIANT you can be, will greatly add to your success as an expediter.

8. REMEMBER TEAMWORK.
In the transportation industry, You, your carrier, dispatch, CSR, shipper and consignee, as well as law enforcement and DOT are a TEAM. A TEAM is ONLY as STRONG as it's weakest link.

How strong is YOUR link to YOUR success as an Expediter?

From The Expedite Insight News Desk
This is Moderator1 reporting

As Scottm4211 noted in a different thread,

"They're calling for the shooting of judges now!"

this investigative reporter went on the hunt for the smoking gun and it did not take long to find it. The mod squad at Expediters Online have lost their minds in this reporters opinion. In the last week or so they have sanctioned their own member for posting after sending him an invitation to come back and post.

They have had at least 3 members accuse another moderator of a racist/bigoted comment. Now this!

This reporter does not have all of the ins and outs of the case quoted above. What this reporter does have is an understanding of the laws in this country. Shooting a sitting judge, a mother and a so called slug would seem to fall under the category of murder. This is a person who sits and decides what is proper to be seen on the forum and represent our industry.

He has decided that advocating murder of a judge that you disagree with and the mother of a young girl is proper content for their board. I can not imagine what criteria they use to decide the qualifications of a moderator at Expediters Online but in my opinion, it has failed miserably. Unless this is an agenda that they support, which will be determined by their actions.

From the Expedite Insight News Desk
This has been Moderator1 reporting.

From the Expedite Insight.com News Desk
This is Moderator1 reporting

Controversial moderator LDB accused of racist comments on Expediters Online again.

Before anyone says that we are just here to bash Expediters Online, let me restate that we only report when they overstep their own rules and or promote racism, bigotry, censorship or other serious matters. As a professional expedite trucking reporter, I have a duty to inform the expediting public.

In a soapbox forum discussing Mexican voting privileges and proof of citizenship forum moderator LDB said:

"Here's a thought. Get their donkeys in the car or on the bus or on the bicycle or into their
comfortable shoes and go get the ID card!!! It's not like they have to go every day. This
liberal bs about it being a hardship is baloney."

This obvious racial slur did not go unnoticed for long. Witness23 noted it by responding to the quote with the clear violation by posting the violated rule.

"EO Code of Conduct:

13. Immediate banning from the forum can result from any of the following: Violating the Code of Conduct, posting of pornography; comments which are sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive; excessive obscene or vulgar language; posts which discuss or illustrate illegal activity; providing links to sites that contain any of the aforementioned."

DaveKC, Layoutshooter and Turtle (all moderators who have a duty to enforce the code of conduct) have as yet either ignored the infraction or in Layoutshooter's case decided to "play" dumb and respond that he does not understand the violation.

Greg334 also called upon the moderators to stop the double standard by LDB who in the past has called for mass genocide against all Muslims, the death of 219 members of congress, started threads where he wished to publicly use the "N" word to name but a few of this mans bigoted posts on the troubled internet forum.

Greg said:

" Hey Leo, I am offended by that comment.

I'm calling it as I see it, it has rather ethnically offensive to even me and with four
moderators involved, it says a hell of a lot about what has been going on here in the
last couple weeks."

Well Greg I could not agree more, even if your timeline of the last couple of weeks is off by years.

The resident idiot moderator Layoutshooter even told Greg that he was not offended. I guess he is a mind reader now.

Layoutshooter responded:

" No your not! LOL!! Your just in your 'contrary' mode again!"

A very lame attempt to diffuse the situation without growing the nads to actually do his job and sanction a clear violator of the infamous code of conduct.

Greg would not be swayed and replied:

"No Joe, I am offended.

There's a valid reason for my comment - I am offended by the inference - and
further Witness is doing putting out the code of conduct he feels is being violated.
There is a legit reason why rules need to be followed, not having mods use some
and ignore others."

Greg also added later:

"See this is another thing that tells me that no one gets an important thing about
websites, forums and such - the site is only good as its members so if he has little
time for me and my comment about a moderator, then he should not expect others
to care to participate in the forum. What I mean is that like a retail store, even if
the prices are a little high, the value to the customer matters more than the price
and in turn the store supports the customer first and foremost, not the store employees
or the products. The analogy translates to this - the customer is the member/reader,
the store employee is the moderator and the products are the advertiser. So I would
think that if you have an issue with a store employee, you go to the management who
makes decisions which is Lawrence."

Well said Greg, the bigoted comments need to stop and the administration at Expedite Insight .com have your back here. If Expediters online is ever to become more than a flash in the pan internet forum that tolerates racist comments then it needs to rid itself of bigots and imbeciles in positions of authority.

Greg and Witness you would both as well as any other members will be welcomed here if you finally tire of supporting a site which supports racism and bigotry by not enforcing their own rules against it.

One other note in closing, LDB titled the thread:

"Is Obama scared? Rascist?"

then during the course of debating the thread went on to use racial slurs. I swear you couldn't make it up if you tried.

From the Expedite Insight.com News Desk
This has been Moderator1 reporting

He says that he has had enough and left EO with what I am assuming is a bad taste in his mouth. It goes on and on over there and they just do not get it. So now attacking any right winger can be accused of being a troll because it upsets their feeble minded "right" thinkers.

His attack on Rush was brutal but deserved, Limbaugh had attacked a young lady calling her slut and whore with absolutely no evidence that she was either. Cal did not attack any EO member but the first response was a PERSONAL ATTACK on him by jaminjim.

"This is a drive by post and should be deleted. The boy wonder from California should have his posting privileges suspended until such time that he shows that he will post and stick around longer than two hours."

This comes from a man who has "quit trying so hard to be offended as a tag line" ....I know I know, you just can't make this stuff up if you tried.

I used to have a lot of respect for Turtle and as a moderator I thought he would do better but he seems to be the worst of the worst lately. Editing posts, issuing undeserved reprimands and totally ignoring clear violations of other mods and members that he likes.

Witness23 is another member who routinely is told to stay on topic even when the topic is changed by a moderator who gets no such instructions.

Cheri nailed the situation when she said:

"Jammin Jim: I agree that TallCal should be welcome if he wants to participate, except we all know that anyone who is perceived as a liberal [much less a self admitted one] is not welcomed here. TC learned that from his own experience, same as a few others.

[Waving at Andy] I want to know when the book is published - you promised! "


We all know Cheri to be an enlightened smart lady who speaks from the heart. Well that did not stop Turtle from issuing Cal a sanction even though he was the one who had been called quite a few unfounded names. She went on, replying to the ludicrous assertion by jaminjim that liberals are welcomed at EO.

"Because they are ridiculed [as when I found fault with the conservative position that they unemployed should be willing to move to ND for a job] until they give up. TC was, [though he drops in with a drive by once in awhile], and DougTravels was too, and now Witness is getting the 3rd degree, too."

So it goes on and on. One thing that Cheri forgot to mention is that is is not just liberals who are driven away it is moderates as well. She forgot to mention other casualties such as Letzrockexpress, mypie, Mr Guantanamo, Well Armed, and numerous others. If you stand your ground against minority bashing, hate speech, any anti gay rhetoric, or basically anything that goes against extreme right wing christian theology you will be attacked without any rule enforcement but if you inch over the line even slightly you will be banned or sanctioned in some manner. Unless you just get disgusted and move on.

Cheri I appreciate you TalCal and Witness for standing your ground there but it might just be time to stop contributing to their success with interesting debates because you are not on a level playing field and it is only fueling the hate and making it profitable.

I say it is time for any level headed person to boycott them and the uncompromising assault on sensible people.

From The Expedite Insight News Desk
This is Moderator 1 reporting

In a fast breaking story this morning MXZane933 has announced that his pending shoplifting charges for no less than a 5 dollar machete have been dropped. Justice has been served and we at Expedite Insight .com are relieved. The free spirited Zane posted on EI early this morning:

"Btw I had court about my machete shindig, And It was dropped obviously"

Although he was vindicated, the matter is not totally over he has been banned...banned I say from the Walmart store where this event unfolded.

The loveable Zane has announced a new quest for the young thrill seeker:

"Being the first pop up on all the search engines if you type in machete kid is my goal, hopefully one day I will be number one haha."

This is a lofty goal and it is not to be taken lightly. I implore anyone reading this to do your part and we shall make this kids dream become a reality. Blog comments, Youtube comments, News story comments, Blog posts other forums I beg of our readers do your part. Post 'Machete Kid MXZane933' wherever and whenever you can find. Lets make cyberspace our own personal graffiti wall, we can do this! We have the power! We have the ambition! We have a half eaten bag of cheese curds! We have the technology! This is a noble cause get behind the effort!

From the Machete Kid MXZane933's News Desk
This has been Moderator1 reporting

I am looking for a Panther Qualified tractor driver with hazmat endorsement, to run team with me. I have a new 386 Pete 13 speed. I will be installing a apu shortly just need to get up and running. Prefer someone in the Northwest Indiana/Chicago area to make hometime easy and relaxing. You pay for your food and anything else you want while we;re out I pay for the rest. In other words you have no expenses related to the truck. Good pay plan and gets better with experience. PM on here with a phone # and I will call you.

Your carrier hires you to run an expedited coast to coast load 2800 miles, for a very good customer.

Your truck breaks down @ 1800 miles (due to a fuel injection issue), under load.

Customers expedited load remains on your truck and is 24 hrs overdue. Mainly due to incompetence of the repair shop. The truck could have been repaired in 4-5 hrs and the load could have only been delayed for that same amount of time. The truck was 3 days delayed in the end.

After 24 hrs. Customer requests load to roll.

Carrier hires another truck from another carrier (due to no other trucks in the area) to run the load the remaining 1000 miles.

Due to the Customers contract with your carrier, because of the breakdown under load, the customer now only pays 1/2 of the original cost of the expedited load (can be viewed as compensation for the delay) which covers the cost of the second truck.

Customer compensates original drivers for the fuel from the shipper to the breakdown point, but nothing for the 1800 mile haul.

Carrier makes $0 from the load, O/O make $0 from the load.

Who made $$ on the load? Pilot Travel Center for the fuel, and the fuel company. The repair shop. The hotel.

WHO ARE THE INJURED PARTIES??

1. THE CUSTOMER...load delayed...work on project delayed.....workers delayed...putting project into overtime
costing the customer more $$.

2. THE CARRIER...no profit made...unable to book truck for another load. In some cases: loss of the customer
can and does occur. Tension between the Carrier and the O/O. Word of mouth and misunderstanding of the
situation could also ruin the reputation of the carrier among drivers, which can have a chain reaction........
as well as word of mouth advertising among potential customers.

3. THE TRUCK OWNER..is out the $$ for the repairs, and hotel room for 3 nights for the drivers,
as well as wear and tare on the truck for the 1800 mile haul. With absolutely no compensation from
the load.

4. THE DRIVERS....the hours tied up on the load, and the stress and fatigue of the 1800 mile haul. 3 days with
no work. The cost of food for 3 days. Stress and fatigue of dealing with the repair shop and being down,
not to mention the stress of not being compensated on the line haul.

THE WINNERS AND PROFIT MAKERS OF THIS SCENARIO:

1. The repair shop
2. The hotel industry
3. The fueling station
4. The fuel companies.."Big Oil" industry.
5. The other trucking company.

In the business world, the customer is always right. It is the GOLDEN RULE of business. This type of scenario happens every day in the trucking industry. We have to keep our customers happy, or we lose their business. It was no one's fault. Even preforming the pre-trip inspections could not have fore seen this breakdown. Internal damages occur.

This scenario stresses the importance of keeping your truck in good mechanical condition. Some things you are not going to be able to fore see, however you CAN do your part to keep the profits rolling into your pocket and becoming a valuable asset to your business partners ie..truck owner/carrier, by preforming your pre-trip inspections to ensure every possible thing is being done to keep your money maker in top form.

Do your pre-trip inspections, repair simple things before they become major issues. It is the simplest way to fight against being taken advantage of in this industry.

ELEGANTE HOTEL
2020 Menual NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 884-2511
mcmelegantealbuquerque.com

We were broke down in Albuquerque and learned it would require us to remain over night. We were given the name of 2 motels, and a hotel that provided shuttle to and from the Freightliner shop.

For approx. the same cost of a motel (if not the same), we chose the Elegante Hotel. We were very impressed with the Elegante. In additon to a clean room, we were given a buffet breakfast, and 2 cocktails each in the lounge @ happy hour. As well as access to the indoor pool, spa and weight room.

The room cost, encluding tax: $63.28 (Freightlinger rate) for both my husband and myself. We slept on a VERY comfortable king bed w/a 13" Simmons Beautyrest mattress, nicely made. The bathroom was amply furnished with amenities and thick soft towels. The water, so hot you can take a lengthy steam bath.

We had the breakfast from the buffet when we arrived as it was very early in the day. The next morning we slept past the buffet and ordered from the menu. The plate was wonderful. The menu reasonably priced. They also have room service.

We enjoyed the Happy Hour cocktails in the Lounge and watched the Giants and 49ers battle it out on 1 of 6 tv's. The lounge had a nice relaxing atmosphere.

Then, we toured the snack/gift shop, and found prices to meet every budget with a nice selection of items.

The shuttle service will provide transportation to anywhere within a 4.5 mile radius. They have parking for straight trucks and bobtails in the back of the hotel. The TA Truck stop is within walking distance (a city block) of the hotel for big rigs.

For the price and quality of service and amenities....why stay anywhere else?

many more articles from Gypsie here:

http://expediteinsightnews.blogspot.com/

Successful Expediting

Expediting can be a very successful venture if you follow a simple guideline.



1. THINK POSITIVE.

Think outside the box, and widen your horizons. Begin with a good start every day.



2. BE NICE, POLITE AND KIND.

Do NOT argue with dispatch, shipper or consignee. This is your customer base.



3. COMMUNICATION.

Being in constant contact with dispatch while you are under load simplifies things. Little messages via the QC like: taking a break, out of truck, even sending a message regarding delays due to weather or traffic saves time and aggravation. Dispatch can check the QC (prior to calling) to first check for any messages or updates from you, and will be better able to keep the customer well informed. Major delays such as accidents or breakdowns should be called in immediately. Even keeping dispatch informed of progress during a breakdown is extremely helpful. Communicate problems @ the shipper or consignee with your dispatcher or Customer Service Rep. Always let your dispatcher or CSR know what is going on ahead of time if you can.



4. BE EFFICIENT WITH YOUR PAPERWORK.

Complete your paperwork accurately. Place your name, truck #, and pro # on every B.O.L., this will ensure prompt payment. In addition to this, scan or send in your B.O.L. immediately after each load. Procrastinating with the paperwork will delay payment from both the customer and your carrier.



5. PREFORM PRE TRIP AND POST TRIP INSPECTIONS DAILY.

Keep your vehicle clean and in top running condition. This will enable you to find a
minor problem early, to keep it from becoming a major problem while under load.



6. BE WELL ORGANIZED AND READY.

Being ON TIME and having all pertinent information ready at a moments notice saves you time, and may even help you to pass the DOT LEVEL I inspection.



7. TRY NOT TO CHERRY PICK YOUR LOADS.

The more AGREEABLE and COMPLIANT you can be, will greatly add to your success as an expediter.



8. REMEMBER TEAMWORK.

In the transportation industry, You, your carrier, dispatch, CSR, shipper and consignee, as well as law enforcement and DOT are a TEAM. A TEAM is ONLY as STRONG as it's weakest link.



How strong is YOUR link to YOUR success as an Expediter?

Ok, campers....I just posted this on my personal blog, and felt the need to post it here..mostly because sometimes we get so caught up in our work, that we tend to let a few important things slip our minds...and this is probably one of the most important:



It seems it’s that time of year, again…..snow will be falling in parts of the upper midwest, through the great lakes region..and on into the northeast. Many times I’ve been caught in this mess, just trying to get from pick-up to delivery. One of the companies I drove for, back in early 2004, didn’t care if the roads were icy, or there were whiteout conditions where we were at. All he cared about is that we weren’t late getting our load delivered. I’m sure many of you have been thru the same scenario, in the past…it’s not fun….and it’s dangerous. We picked up a load in El Paso that was going to East Syracuse, NY…it was winter, and the weather was starting to get bad in parts of the route we had to take. When we got to Tulsa, I-44 was already iced…we saw one car spin-out, and bounce off the concrete barrier…that’s when we knew it was time to get off the road for the night. When we called our boss and explained the situation, he bitched and raised hell…then he realized we were still way ahead of schedule. 44 thru Tulsa was deserted, because of the black ice on the road. When we got up near Erie, PA….it was dark, and total white-out conditons. 18-wheelers were passing us up, like we were standing still, nearly running us off the road…I don’t know how they figured they could see the road, when we couldn’t see a damn thing. I got on the CB and hollered at them that they need to slow down, before they run someone off the road, and wind up in a ditch. One driver told me to stfu, and mind my own business! Well…we finally found the exit for the Pilot there and got off the road, to wait until it let up, or the road had been cleared by the salt trucks. It didn’t take long for our van to get covered in snow, either. Once again, a call to our boss to update him….he got pissed again, basically telling us we better not be late (we weren’t). Needless to say, after we delivered, and wason our way back to the Cleveland area, there were several T/Ts in the median, and ditches, upside-down…twisted and mangled…I’d be willing to bet that most of those drivers didn’t survive those wrecks. The moral of the story? Don’t let anyone force you to drive in unsafe conditions…if they bitch at you, tell them that you refuse to operate a commercial vehicle in conditions that aren’t safe, and you’re not going to put your life on the line, just because they think the freight you’re hauling is worth more than your life. If it happens more than once, make sure you document each incident, and file a report with the DOT…especially if nobody at your company will listen to you. Stay safe out there, amigos..and be safe.

One of our members had this question and the response from SLACKER was quite informative, so here it is.

I am now past 642k on my Chevy 6500, with a 7.8 L Isuzu/duramax diesel. I have used regular rotella since it was new. spec's recommend 12k oil changes, but I usually push it to about 17-20k. It never uses any oil unless I get close to the 20 and I figure that is just because the oil is just spent.

I have been thinking about going to the synthetic but I'm not sure if I can really expect to go any farther than 17-20k with it. Are there any other upsides that should make me switch?

Any advice appreciated. ~DougTravels


SLACKERS RESPONSE:

Doug,

Here is my short answer to your question. Nope, you shouldn't.

These are my (a former heavy diesel mechanic, forklift tech, auto mechanic) reasons for saying that.

Synthetic oil averages twice the cost of conventional motor oil and will NOT provide twice the duty cycle. At best you will extend your oil changes 40-60%. You have already stated that your engine begins to use oil at some point near 20K miles, this will prove to be an issue for you if one of your hopes is to extend your change interval by using synthetic. Conventional oil is more viscus out of the bottle than synthetic, the reason you begin to consume oil at or around 20K is the oils viscosity is breaking down along with contaminates such as carbon and fuel residue showing up as time goes by. Synthetic starting out as a lighter oil (freely flowing) out of the bottle you will likely find that you begin to add oil much sooner than with the Rotella you are using now. That all being said, you will not realize a return on your investment when buying a quality synthetic oil.

There are some other options for you however.

You could start using a synthetic blend. Blends are kind of the best of both worlds to some. They reduce the amount of crude consumed per qt made, extended run time in the engine while providing good protection to vital internal components. They (blends) don't offer the same extended runtime as full synthetics but will extend past conventional oils. This would be an option if you are dead-set on using some type of synthetic in your truck.

The next option (and the one I would recommend) is sticking with your current oil, Rotella T 15w40, and adding a bypass filtration system. The FS-2500 bypass filter system is a proven system, you can find more info here http://fs2500.com/ . With the FS-2500 you send samples and change the filter every 10K mi to a company that has no vested interest in you changing your oil. Unlike Speedco, that if you get your oil tested there, they are also the ones hoping to sell you that high dollar oil change. The testing company will send the results of the analisys and inform you if an oil change is needed.

We use this system on our truck and it was also used on our last truck since day one. We currently have 67,769 miles on our last oil change, in that time we have added in the neighborhood of 2 gal of oil due to loss in changing filters and drawing samples. The system pays for itself quickly when you figure the average oil change costs upwards of $200 every 15-20K, we have 230K+ on our current truck, and if memory serves have done 4 oil changes( 2 two of those were durring break in). We use Rotella T 15w40 exclusively, it is my first choice in motor oil, I have NEVER had an issue that could be atributed to said oil. My second choice would be Delo 15w40 (what I have used in maintaining large fleets).

I hope this info helps. If you have any other questions (more specific) that I can offer my advice on, feel free to ask or pm me and we can talk over the phone if you would rather.


http://expediteinsight.com/showthread.php?1638-Is-it-time-to-consider-synthetic-oil&p=9981#post9981

From what I gather, the only thing really changed is we have to take a 30 min. break after 8 consecutive hrs. driving/working? It really seems nothing more than a freakin "power" move on behalf of the FMASSES!! It's ALL "EL TORO CRAPPO" if you ask me. The 30 min. break is not going to do anything for us except add stress on delivering that load we are on. If you think about it, that 30 min. is going to turn into an hr.....from the time we touch the brake and go off the exit and find a place to park (15 min.), take 30 min....release brakes and eccelerate and getting back onto the interstate (another 15 min.) = 60 minutes!! As for running on home terminal time......HEY YOU JERKWADS...WE RUN ON EASTERN TIME ANY FREAKING WAY!!

The 34 hr. reset: WHY THE HELL DO YOU EVEN WASTE TIME WITH THIS?? We are already required to reset 34 after 70. Only now the 34 has to fall between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.......so if we sit for 2-3 days and begin at noon it doesn't count?? Just MORE CONTROL CRAP!!

And the terminology they use....WHO WRITES THIS CRAP?????? The wording they use is so freakin complicated....they give me a stress headache! HEY FMASSES......YOUR RULES ARE STRESSING ME OUT AND STRESS NEEDS TREATED BY A DR....THEREFORE YOU ARE CAUSING A RAISE IN MY MEDICAL BILLS BECAUSE OF THE ULCERS YOU ARE GIVING ME AND I CAN'T SLEEP CAUSE THEY KEEP ME AWAKE, ADDING TO THE DRIVER FATIGUE!!

Friendly competition is a GOOD thing. We can agree to disagree. We can poke fun, and have lively debates. We can make things interesting. This can be done with humor and a little "class", or it can be done in a manner that turns people off completely. At face value a gesture of goodwill was made from the competitor that showed class. It does not appear to be a "trojan horse". A temporay truce, if you will. The holidays bring out the best in people and we are in the midst of two important holidays. This is the time to greet our competition with the best we have. Lay ground rules for the upcoming year. Both sites preform an important factor of internet information. We can work together for the good of the public, each in our own way. We can still have our little "war" at the same time. However, imho, we should handle ourselves professionally. Or, we can be the "dumster" of the 2 sites.

First off we have Expediter Rodney Bartlett aka MANIAC who posted on our Facebook page

"SINDY AND I WILL BE IN STUDIO CHRISTMAS MORNING MIDNIGHT TO 5 AM WITH BUBBA BO ON XM 166/700 WLW AM! GIVE US A JINGLE AT 1 888 860 8785! WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR EXPEDITE COMMRADES!"

Hey Rodney, you always talk about EO, how about some love for little old EI, buddy!

We also have American Trucker on Mon- Wed-Fri


Cross Roads Mon Wed Fri 9pm eastern

by AmericanTrucker
Call in number to speak with the host

December 12, 2011


We are the front-line workers who haul container rigs full of imported and exported goods to and from the docks and warehouses every day.

We have been elected by committees of our co-workers at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, New York and New Jersey to tell our collective story. We have accepted the honor to speak up for our brothers and sisters about our working conditions despite the risk of retaliation we face. One of us is a mother, the rest of us fathers. Between the five of us we have 11children and one more baby on the way. We have a combined 46 years of experience driving cargo from our shores for America’s stores.

We are inspired that a non-violent democratic movement that insists on basic economic fairness is capturing the hearts and minds of so many working people. Thank you “99 Percenters” for hearing our call for justice. We are humbled and overwhelmed by recent attention. Normally we are invisible.

Today’s demonstrations will impact us. While we cannot officially speak for every worker who shares our occupation, we can use this opportunity to reveal what it’s like to walk a day in our shoes for the 110,000 of us in America whose job it is to be a port truck driver. It may be tempting for media to ask questions about whether we support a shutdown, but there are no easy answers. Instead, we ask you, are you willing to listen and learn why a one-word response is impossible?

We love being behind the wheel. We are proud of the work we do to keep America’s economy moving. But we feel humiliated when we receive paychecks that suggest we work part time at a fast-food counter. Especially when we work an average of 60 or more hours a week, away from our families.

There is so much at stake in our industry. It is one of the nation’s most dangerous occupations. We don’t think truck driving should be a dead-end road in America. It should be a good job with a middle-class paycheck like it used to be decades ago.

We desperately want to drive clean and safe vehicles. Rigs that do not fill our lungs with deadly toxins, or dirty the air in the communities we haul in.

Poverty and pollution are like a plague at the ports. Our economic conditions are what led to the environmental crisis.

You, the public, have paid a severe price along with us.

Why? Just like Wall Street doesn’t have to abide by rules, our industry isn’t bound to regulation. So the market is run by con artists. The companies we work for call us independent contractors, as if we were our own bosses, but they boss us around. We receive Third World wages and drive sweatshops on wheels. We cannot negotiate our rates. (Usually we are not allowed to even see them.) We are paid by the load, not by the hour. So when we sit in those long lines at the terminals, or if we are stuck in traffic, we become volunteers who basically donate our time to the trucking and shipping companies. That’s the nice way to put it. We have all heard the words “modern-day slaves” at the lunch stops.

There are no restrooms for drivers. We keep empty bottles in our cabs. Plastic bags too. We feel like dogs. An Oakland driver was recently banned from the terminal because he was spied relieving himself behind a container. Neither the port, nor the terminal operators or anyone in the industry thinks it is their responsibility to provide humane and hygienic facilities for us. It is absolutely horrible for drivers who are women, who risk infection when they try to hold it until they can find a place to go.

The companies demand we cut corners to compete. It makes our roads less safe. When we try to blow the whistle about skipped inspections, faulty equipment, or falsified logs, then we are “starved out.” That means we are either fired outright, or more likely, we never get dispatched to haul a load again.

It may be difficult to comprehend the complex issues and nature of our employment. For us too. When businesses disguise workers like us as contractors, the Department of Labor calls it misclassification. We call it illegal. Those who profit from global trade and goods movement are getting away with it because everyone is doing it. One journalist took the time to talk to us this week and she explains it very well to outsiders. We hope you will read the enclosed article “How Goldman Sachs and Other Companies Exploit Port Truck Drivers.”

But the short answer to the question: Why are companies like SSA Marine, the Seattle-based global terminal operator that runs one of the West Coast’s major trucking carriers, Shippers’ Transport Express, doing this? Why would mega-rich Maersk, a huge Danish shipping and trucking conglomerate that wants to drill for more oil with Exxon Mobil in the Gulf Coast conduct business this way too?

To cheat on taxes, drive down business costs, and deny us the right to belong to a union, that’s why.

The typical arrangement works like this: Everything comes out of our pockets or is deducted from our paychecks. The truck or lease, fuel, insurance, registration, you name it. Our employers do not have to pay the costs of meeting emissions-compliant regulations; that is our financial burden to bear. Clean trucks cost about four to five times more than what we take home in a year. A few of us haul our company’s trucks for a tiny fraction of what the shippers pay per load instead of an hourly wage. They still call us independent owner-operators and give us a 1099 rather than a W-2.

We have never recovered from losing our basic rights as employees in America. Every year it literally goes from bad to worse to the unimaginable. We were ground zero for the government’s first major experiment into letting big business call the shots. Since it worked so well for the CEOs in transportation, why not the mortgage and banking industry too?

Even the few of us who are hired as legitimate employees are routinely denied our legal rights under this system. Just ask our co-workers who haul clothing brands like Guess?, Under Armour, and Ralph Lauren’s Polo. The carrier they work for in Los Angeles is called Toll Group and is headquartered in Australia. At the busiest time of the holiday shopping season, 26 drivers were axed after wearing Teamster T-shirts to work. They were protesting the lack of access to clean, indoor restrooms with running water. The company hired an anti-union consultant to intimidate the drivers. Down Under, the same company bargains with 12,000 of our counterparts in good faith.

Despite our great hardships, many of us cannot — or refuse to, as some of the most well-intentioned suggest — “just quit.” First, we want to work and do not have a safety net. Many of us are tied to one-sided leases. But more importantly, why should we have to leave? Truck driving is what we do, and we do it well.

We are the skilled, specially-licensed professionals who guarantee that Target, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart are all stocked with just-in-time delivery for consumers. Take a look at all the stuff in your house. The things you see advertised on TV. Chances are a port truck driver brought that special holiday gift to the store you bought it.

We would rather stick together and transform our industry from within. We deserve to be fairly rewarded and valued. That is why we have united to stage convoys, park our trucks, marched on the boss, and even shut down these ports.

It’s like our hero Dutch Prior, a Shipper’s/SSA Marine driver, told CBS Early Morning this month: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

The more underwater we are, the more our restlessness grows. We are being thoughtful about how best to organize ourselves and do what is needed to win dignity, respect, and justice.

Nowadays greedy corporations are treated as “people” while the politicians they bankroll cast union members who try to improve their workplaces as “thugs.”

But we believe in the power and potential behind a truly united 99%. We admire the strength and perseverance of the longshoremen. We are fighting like mad to overcome our exploitation, so please, stick by us long after December 12. Our friends in the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports created a pledge you can sign to support us here.

We drivers have a saying, “We may not have a union yet, but no one can stop us from acting like one.”

The brothers and sisters of the Teamsters have our backs. They help us make our voices heard. But we need your help too so we can achieve the day where we raise our fists and together declare: “No one could stop us from forming a union.”

Thank you.

In solidarity,

Leonardo Mejia
SSA Marine/Shippers Transport Express
Port of Long Beach
10-year driver

Yemane Berhane
Ports of Seattle & Tacoma
6-year port driver

Xiomara Perez
Toll Group
Port of Los Angeles
8-year driver

Abdul Khan
Port of Oakland
7-year port driver

Ramiro Gotay
Ports of New York & New Jersey
15-year port driver
..

Well here is what we have to say:

What have you eaten, sat on or covered yourself with today? That nice car you are driving...we carried the parts to build it and we took it to the dealers you bought it from. We even carry the fuel you use in your tanks, every day. That nice house you are living in...we carried the materials it took to build it. The clothes you are wearing were taken to your favorite stores by us. The food you eat, the pillows and bedding on which you sleep, the very shoes upon your feet.

We drive night and day to provide YOU the American way. We sacrifice alot you see, time with our children and families. We live on these trucks, days, weeks and months at a time.....we too, work hard for our every nickle and dime. We risk our lives more than your local police force, but you do not see this, of course.

We drive more miles in 1 day, than most of you drive in a week.....yet our vices they continue to tweek. We are Americans working, these trucks our tools. Our expenses are many and the prices high, yet we get cut off and flipped off as you drive by. So remember us when you are in the bathroom and find yourself with an issue, that trucker you flipped off........ was delivering your bathroom tissue.

In Nogales AZ, and have adopted the concept of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do".
As an experiment, I have been greeting our Mexican friends with "Feliz Navidad" and in return have been given smiles of gladness and good tidings of "Merry Christmas".
I have also been using what little spanish I know in conversation, and in return they have used english and even taught me how to assist them to understand: by teaching me the spanish word for gun "arma de fuego (3030 my truck #)".
The attempt to communicate using their own language (tho a bit "raw") was happily accepted. With the unspoken understanding of the difference in our cultures, we each gladly carried on a conversation half english, half spanish and enjoyed ourselves. When I used an english term or word, my new amigo would use the spanish equal. When I used spanish, he used english.
We bridged a communication gap and treated each other with warmth, respect, friendship and understanding. It was a great experience.

I believe America to be divided: The government is an entity within its self. We elected those to serve our best interests as a unified country, instead the government serves its own best interests. The government has: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the National Guard, and our citizens are brain washed into serving and dying for what ever the government deems necessary.

I believe those who defend and serve this country are: The Minute Militia guarding our borders, The Tea Party protecting and fighting for our rights and liberties, The Occupiers alerting us and watchdogging our financial interests, The Guardian Angels fighting crime protecting and serving our citizens, The Red Cross assisting in aid after catastrophies, Nurses and Medical staff of the free clinics taking care of our illnesses. And they do this out of love of our America and it's citizens and they do it for free!!

I mean no disrespect for the men and women of the armed forces, please do not get me wrong. My Father had 4 brothers, he and they each chose a branch of the service.....I just believe the government is using them to further its own interests in the world when they could do so much more good right here at home...like building home for the homeless and teaching people to do for themselves and turning lives around for the betterment of their quality of life.

I believe in the TRUE AMERICA and ALL she stands for!!
I believe in equality for all mankind.

From Gypsie's corner

GROSS VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH
So we can no longer say Merry Christmas or call the tree a Christmas Tree? I think not. Having to be "politically correct" is a gross violation of our constitutional right to freedom of speech, and frankly, I have had enough of this crap. I am an AMERICAN!! It has ALWAYS been MERRY CHRISTMAS and our gifts have ALWAYS been under the CHRISTMAS TREE!!

Live and let live. We may have to share space in this country with immigrants and that is fine, but when you come here and start demanding we make changes to suit your likings you can go straight to hell, and if you are an american trying to force your beliefs and ways of life on us you can damn sure join them.

You came to this country because you were not happy in your own.....fine that is understood. Live your own way and have your own traditions....but DO NOT force your ways upon us "DON'T TREAD ON ME"!! If you do not like AMERICA or our way of life you are more than welcome to leave....hell we will help you!!

Our forefathers founded this fine free country and gave us the constitution to live by, same as they gave us the BIBLE. How you choose to live is your business and how I choose to live is mine, but you start infringing on my rights and we are going to have problems....

http://www.truckersnews.com/fmcsa-ba...ell-phone-use/
Handheld phone use banned for truckers while driving

November 23, 2011

| by: Truckers News Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Wednesday, Nov. 23, issued their long-awaited joint final rule specifically prohibiting interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using handheld cell phones while operating their vehicles.
Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver’s commercial driver’s license after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use handheld cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000.
The rule becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. “When drivers of large trucks, buses and hazardous materials take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that about four million commercial drivers will be affected by the final rule. “It’s just too dangerous for drivers to use a handheld cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle,” said FMCSA administrator Anne Ferro. “Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and head in the game when operating on our roads. Lives are at stake.”
FMCSA said that while driver distraction studies have produced mixed results, its own research has shown that using a handheld cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several steps beyond what is required for using a hands-free mobile phone, including searching and reaching for the phone. Commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event, according to FMCSA, and dialing a hand-held cell phone makes it six times more likely that commercial drivers will be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event.
In September 2010, FMCSA issued a regulation banning text messaging while operating a commercial truck or bus, and PHMSA followed with a companion regulation in February 2011, banning texting by intrastate hazardous materials drivers. “Needless injuries and deaths happen when people are distracted behind the wheel,” said PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. “Our final rule would improve safety and reduce risks of hazmat in transportation.”
To view the final rule, go to www.regulations.gov; the docket numbers are FMCSA–2010-0096 and PHMSA-2010-0227.