So...the OOIDA thinks that starting 'newbies' in straight/box trucks, on local routes, will help TRAIN someone for OTR?
Totally against the Trucking Truth concept.
So...the ATA can't even post a banner correctly? (What is Trucks Trucks anyway?)
Sheesh....
~ Anne ~
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
Anne,
I agree with you about the straight trucks I don't think that makes much sense, BUT I do agree with Spencer on the local route.
Heres my reason: When out driving OTR , driving is the easiest part, especially if you've been driving a vehicle (car/4 wheeler) for a while and not new to having a license. Really, the majority of your time is driving in pretty much a straight line with the cruise control on for hours. That isn't the difficult part. The problems that most people have are with things like judging space for their 70 ft vehicle, backing, docking, etc. When driving locally, you are experiencing the spacing, backing, docking n such 5-8 times (<-- rough estimate) A DAY. OTR, you experience it once or twice every day or two. (I am aware that there are days where you experience it more but you get the point.)
I had experience with both local and OTR in my training and I learned to be more comfortable with my truck when driving locally than OTR. They really are two different beasts.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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In this Friday Short Haul, OOIDA goes off against poor entry-level driver training rules, DOL and FMCSA conflict fuels the driver retention problem, and the American Trucking Associations speaks in favor of the Safe Trucks Act.
Friday Short Haul - Driver training, driver retention, Safe Trucks Act
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.