Monthly Archives: May 2010

Author: Tom Sample Title: Today’s Truck Drivers Enjoy Job Security, Great Pay, and Time at Home Article: Tired of the same old boring routine at your everyday job? For a change of pace consider becoming a semi tractor-trailer driver. With a national shortage of drivers, this career is one that comes with its own brand of job security insurance.

Earning a license to drive the big rigs is not that difficult of a task. The demand for over the road drivers remains high and the pay for operating a tractor-trailer is high. The benefits can be incredible, too, making this career a solid choice.

What are the requirements? To operate in interstate commerce, a driver must be at least 21 years of age and pass a rigid physical examination once every 2 years. Drivers are further required to submit to testing for drug and alcohol use, including unannounced random testing. Drivers of trucks with a weight rating of over 26,000 pounds must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License, also referred to as a CDL, by passing a rigorous test of their knowledge of safety regulations and display the ability to drive one of the large vehicles. Drug and alcohol convictions or combinations of various serious driving violations can draw temporary or even permanent loss of driving privileges.

Because of the large demand for freight to be moved, the job outlook for a professional over the road driver is very good. Currently the federal government has estimated that there is a shortage of around 80,000 over the road drivers. Trucking companies throughout the United States are beginning to offer drivers better incentives and higher pay in order to fill this massive shortage.

Another incentive that companies are striving to fulfill is lowering the amount of time that the drivers spend out on the road away from their families. Traditionally over the road drivers would spend weeks away from home, not so anymore. Many companies are striving to ensure that their drivers are home for the weekend. This is accomplished by having the drivers perform a relay type run where one driver picks up where another leaves off. This has made the job more inviting to drivers that would otherwise turn it down.

Over the road drivers generally make around $35,000 a year, but pay rates can vary with the type of driving and years of experience. In order to fill the shortage of drivers many companies expect to raise the pay rate for many of the current drivers and start new drivers out at a higher rate. Good companies also offer their drivers’ benefits.

An online search of the Internet can produce many different schools for those wishing to learn more about becoming an over the road driver. These schools offer to teach students what they need to know to obtain their CDL in as little as four to five weeks. Many of the schools offer job placement so that their students can start to work right away and several of these companies will reimburse the students the cost of their tuition.

Good pay mixed with bright job outlook makes for an exciting ever-changing career. Being an over the road tractor-trailer can be a thrilling job for anyone that is tired of the same old daily routine that now fills their days. #1 Resource

Big rig driving.</a

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Author: Louise Slee Title: The Big Test: Passing a Minibus MOT Article: A minibus MOT test is just like a car test, right? Wrong, actually. In fact, though the test procedures are much the same, a minibus MOT is a Class V test, not a Class IV ‘car’ test. In addition, there is a specialised test for a minibus with newly-fitted seatbelts. However, the main difference between a car MOT and a minibus MOT is one of scale. A testing station offering Class V testing must have the equipment to cope with larger vehicles.

Like a car MOT test, a minibus test starts with an examination of the below decks hardware. The tyres, braking system, steering, suspension and exhaust are scrutinised, to ensure they meet with the minimum standards concerned. This exercise includes spotting the effects of corrosion and damage as well as of simple wear and tear. Special attention is paid to the fuel system, to find any evidence of leakage, which could pose a fire risk. The minibus’s exterior bodywork and its underside are checked for corrosion and evidence of significant damage.

The MOT tester, working to a strict code of practice, then examines the minibus’s lighting system. This examination involves ensuring that the lights are properly fixed and functional, and in the required condition. The driver’s view of the road must be uninterrupted, the mirrors must be present and correct and the vehicle’s registration plates and VIN number must be present and up to scratch. More dynamic tests follow, including measurement of the minibus’s exhaust emissions, the performance of the service brake system and of the parking brake.

Inside, the minibus’s controls and instruments are checked over, as are its seats and the mountings, condition, operation and position of all seat belts. The horn must work.
Unlike a car, whose first MOT test isn’t necessary until it’s three years old, a minibus must have its first MOT test at one year old, then yearly thereafter. Currently, a Class V MOT test, for private passenger vehicles and ambulances – 13-16 passenger seats, costs 58.65. The exception, a Class Va test, is for minibuses newly fitted with seat belts. This is a one-off test, provided no further seatbelts are installed, and costs 79.30.

The vast majority of minibuses need a Class V MOT test, though there are two exceptions. Class IV is for minibuses with up to 12 passenger seats (excluding the driver) and such a test may be carried out at any appointed garage. A Class VI test is for a Public Service Vehicle (PSV); it has a different certificate and is always carried out at a government testing station. While no permit minibus requires a Class VI test you may elect to have for a one voluntarily if you received a Certificate of Initial Fitness with your new vehicle.

So, a minibus MOT test is very like a car MOT test in the practical sense but there are subtle differences. Modern MOT testing stations are equipped to deal with the newer additions, such as ABS and power steering. However, one aspect doesn’t change. It’s worth checking the obvious before submitting your minibus for an MOT test. Nobody would argue about risking a test fail for an item like a worn tyre or a blown bulb. Louise Slee is a Web Marketer and driving enthusiast for over 25 years, with no penalty points to date! See her articles at Minibus Club where she imparts some useful driving and travel tips when you are out and about in your minibus. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Nick Johnson Title: Tales From The Road: Tractor Trailer Accidents Article: Whether you pick up a newspaper or watch the news on television, you can always find some story of a tractor trailer accident that happened. These types of accidents are a regular occurrence on the news, because these horror stories happen all the time. Luckily, there are some stories that do not result in any loss of life. Here are some interesting stories of tractor trailer accidents that are beyond belief.

In New York City, a baby girl and her grandmother were nearly crushed to death in a tractor trailer accident. The 61-year-old grandmother along with her 1-year-old grand daughter came face to face with a tractor trailer, when it fell from an elevated highway and smashed down right in front of their car. The grandmother recalled that she instinctively came to a screeching halt when she heard a loud sound above her. Having come to a halt, the rig dived into the four-lane road ahead of her car. If the driver of the car had kept moving, the truck would have landed right on top of the car.

25 million honeybees were inadvertently released after a tractor trailer accident occurred on a highway in Missouri. The accident happened when a tractor trailer carrying more than 500 beehives, which carry thousands of bees each, flipped on its side. The cargo had spilled all over the highway, forcing crews to shut down that area until all the bees could be cleared. An Iowa farmer, who owns the bees, said the bees were being taken to Wisconsin to help pollinate cranberry bogs.

North Carolina authorities had their hands full, when a tractor trailer carrying about 6,600 pounds of low-grade powdered uranium overturned. A husband and his wife were driving the rig, traveling from Virginia to the Global Nuclear Facility. The tractor trailer accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle and overturned near the interstate 40/95 interchange. Luckily the threat level was low due to the uranium being packed securely in steel and the packaging had not been breached. Crews carefully loaded the containers into a different truck and both people in the tractor trailer accident suffered only minor injuries.

These are just a few of the many tractor trailer accident stories that make the news every day. According to statistics, the highways and interstates of the United States witness over 500,000 truck accidents each year. Thousands of new trucks will be added to the road each year, due to the high demand of big business that the trucking industry has become. Down the road, you can bet that there will be more stories of tractor trailer accidents that involve near death experiences or sometimes just some unbelievable tales from the road. Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Nick Johnson Title: Tales From The Road: Tractor Trailer Accidents Article: Whether you pick up a newspaper or watch the news on television, you can always find some story of a tractor trailer accident that happened. These types of accidents are a regular occurrence on the news, because these horror stories happen all the time. Luckily, there are some stories that do not result in any loss of life. Here are some interesting stories of tractor trailer accidents that are beyond belief.

In New York City, a baby girl and her grandmother were nearly crushed to death in a tractor trailer accident. The 61-year-old grandmother along with her 1-year-old grand daughter came face to face with a tractor trailer, when it fell from an elevated highway and smashed down right in front of their car. The grandmother recalled that she instinctively came to a screeching halt when she heard a loud sound above her. Having come to a halt, the rig dived into the four-lane road ahead of her car. If the driver of the car had kept moving, the truck would have landed right on top of the car.

25 million honeybees were inadvertently released after a tractor trailer accident occurred on a highway in Missouri. The accident happened when a tractor trailer carrying more than 500 beehives, which carry thousands of bees each, flipped on its side. The cargo had spilled all over the highway, forcing crews to shut down that area until all the bees could be cleared. An Iowa farmer, who owns the bees, said the bees were being taken to Wisconsin to help pollinate cranberry bogs.

North Carolina authorities had their hands full, when a tractor trailer carrying about 6,600 pounds of low-grade powdered uranium overturned. A husband and his wife were driving the rig, traveling from Virginia to the Global Nuclear Facility. The tractor trailer accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle and overturned near the interstate 40/95 interchange. Luckily the threat level was low due to the uranium being packed securely in steel and the packaging had not been breached. Crews carefully loaded the containers into a different truck and both people in the tractor trailer accident suffered only minor injuries.

These are just a few of the many tractor trailer accident stories that make the news every day. According to statistics, the highways and interstates of the United States witness over 500,000 truck accidents each year. Thousands of new trucks will be added to the road each year, due to the high demand of big business that the trucking industry has become. Down the road, you can bet that there will be more stories of tractor trailer accidents that involve near death experiences or sometimes just some unbelievable tales from the road. Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Brian Knapp Title: Diesel Is Victim Of Gas Wars Article: Over the years, the prices of gas and diesel changed drastically. Only a few short years ago gas prices were around a dollar or a dollar fifty. Now gas prices have jumped to the four dollar range. Diesel has seen even more drastic changes. It’s price has increased to a point of nearly a dollar higher per gallon than standard unleaded gasoline.

Part of these changes are demand related. As more people drive, the price of fuel is bound to increase. At the same time, we have limited supplies of fossil fuels. That drives up prices as well.

Other events of the last few years have increased the cost of fuel in America. Primarily the war on terror being the main culprit. Running the world’s largest military in two active wars is costing the country billions of dollars each month. Much of that cost is fuel costs. Many of the tanks, trucks, and SUV’s run on diesel fuel. That extra demand for fuel cannot be underestimated.

While we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are getting the majority of our fuel from the Middle East. A large portion of the cost of gas is just in shipping the oil from the Middle East, to the United States. If we could get the oil from a closer source, the shipping costs would not be so high.

Traditionally, diesel fuel has been cheaper than gasoline, but now that commercial and government demands for the fuel are so high, the price has skyrocketed to unbelievable levels. At one time diesel was much cheaper than gasoline. Now, to help keep gas prices lower, it appears that the oil companies are pushing diesel prices since the government and shipping companies have no choice but to pay, otherwise their operations cease to function.

When it comes to a choice between gasoline and diesel fuels, the price and fuel economy at one point made diesel a clear winner. Now, it appears that diesel prices have spiraled out of control to the point that diesel has for the most part lost its economic advantage over gasoline.

At this point the only way that diesel can become a viable alternative to gasoline is if soy and algae based biodisel become viable fuel sources. Creating a food based fuel such as soy biodiesel has proven to be an unwise decision economically speaking thus far, but it is possible that if algae biodiesel production can scale that it could become a viable alternative to traditional petrol based diesel. Brian is a classic car enthusiast who loves Chevrolet Camaros. His favorite is the 1969 Camaro. You can read more at http://www.camaroforsale.org/ Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →