A Whack Back

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 10/16/12 A Whack Back

I have often said that the FMCSA is going to keep whacking on us as truck drivers until there is not one driver left out on the open road. That each different government or special interest group in turn will take yet another whack in their zest to make sure not one killer trucker is left regardless of how many safe and legal drivers they remove from the highways. They have what I call a “Whack Whack Whack“ mentality. They put up a change and when it gets knocked down, they just keep whacking at it over and over until finally, they figure a way to slip it through. Usually when they do, nine decent drivers fall for each renegade they remove from the highway.

So what have drivers all over this world been doing about this little plan of theirs? Fighting back is what. Recently I was asked by a friend to take a look at a driver from another country and see what it was I thought about the things he was doing and how maybe I could help him.  What I found was an awesome idea in which the concept I have thought about many of times over the years. Our highways are dangerous and as such hundreds of drivers die each year out there just in America. Thousands all over the world but not one government, not one safety group that I am aware of recognizes this fact.

Just in America along, the last time I looked into it over seven hundred truck drivers die each year in wrecks doing their jobs delivering freight. About eighty percent of those wrecks are caused by someone else. A portion of those wrecks are caused by people committing suicide, a fact that you will never hear anyone talk about. And another small portion of these wrecks are caused by someone trying to teach that truck driver where and how they are supposed to drive that truck while out on the open road. This last one in my view is nothing more than out right murder. Another fact you will not find anyone talking about.

All just things I have contemplated in my mind as I travel through my trucking career. As you well may know, drivers die from many other reasons such as poor health and other factors that our life style contributes to our specific occupation. Just a bad area of town on the right day can end the life of a driver.  In short, truck drivers can expect to die about fifteen years earlier that anyone else.

So as I went and looked at “Truckies Danger Money”, And I learned of not only his petition to get drivers danger pay, but his coffin that he has built to use as a tool to get his message across, I asked myself, what can I do to help? Nothing was my answer. This driver is doing it all by himself. He is doing what I call “Reverse Whacking” all on his own. What I mean by this is as the world whacks at us as killer truckers, we killer truckers need to “Whack Whack Whack” right back. Every time they get one over on us, we need to stand up and knock them right back down. We as safe and legal truckers need to stand our ground not only often but as loudly and proudly as we can.  As for danger pay, I hope he makes some headway with his idea. The highways we drive on to support our families can be very dangerous at times indeed. It would be nice if someone would notice our sacrifices once in a while instead of always pointing out our shortcomings and using them against us.  Truckers all over the world care as much about highway safety as anyone wearing a badge or sitting behind a government desk. I hope one day we can work in unison not only as truckers worldwide, but with governments and special interest groups worldwide as well to make our highways safer.

My complete respect and support goes out to “Truckies Danger Money.” Seek him out on face Book and take a look see. I urge each and every one of you to come up with your own idea and take a whack back, let them know we truckers are here. Stand up and demand to run safe and legal without reprisal. Far too many of us find our careers ending way too soon and for reasons that are not even close to being fair.

Be safe peeps.

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The Board Of Shame

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 10/13/12 The Board Of Shame

“You really don’t want to be here!” it reads just under the title of the sign.  Interesting I think to myself as I check this sign out attached to the fence just inside the receiving dock door. “THE BOARD OF SHAME” reads the title for all to see the list of trucking companies that did not show up on time for their scheduled delivery.  How wonderful and kind of these folks to make it point, to go out of their way to specifically shame trucking companies and their drivers for not killing half of the people out on the highway just to show up for their itty bitty appointment time at their very special dock.

First on the list is a company with a ten o’clock appointment that showed up two hours late. If I had to guess at it, the shipper held the truck up at their dock and the driver had to break every speed rule in the book just to get it there only two hours late. Next was a no show that the driver probably refused to run while out of hours and then on to another late driver that might have decided to do repairs to their truck instead of taking a chance that a bad tire could blow and cause an accident out on the highway. Not of course to mention the fact the new cell phone regulations for drivers prevent drivers from dialing a complete number while on the road.

The one I like best is the one listed as actually showing up an hour early for their appointment. Lord knows we cannot have drivers just showing up early and screwing up our precious little dock thingy we have going on here, now can we. Yup, I know, I’m being facetious.  I was supposed to deliver Monday morning but showed up the Friday afternoon before. Guess I should be counting my lucky stars that I was not blindfolded and shot for daring such a feat.

And of course let us not forget the upper left corner of the sign with the life time members of the “BOARD OF SHAME.”  Here is where all the special companies get named for really screwing up as they put the safety of the highway before the delivery of the load.  Yes here is where we want to mention all the companies that continually screw up because they decided to follow the federal regulations instead of running illegal out on that highway, for caring more about our families out on the highway then caring for that piece of freight.  Yes, “ THE BOARD OF SHAME” it says. “ You really don’t want to be here.”

Well, screw them. That is the way I see it. I have no clue as to why any of those trucks were late. But I do know my opinion of why that board is there in such a prominent place for all the drivers to see. INTEMIDATION. Yup, that is the way I see it. They are trying their best to let drivers know that they do not care what or why the reason you are late, you had better be there or they will take notice.  They do not care if you were forced out of hours by the shipper or at the last stop. They do not care if the weather is so bad that it is no longer safe to drive the truck. They, in my opinion, probably do not care if you have to run six cars off the road to be at their dock on time. What they do care about is that you, the lowly truck driver do not mess up their precious little day. Do I sound a little pissed? I am.

Well, just a little word from me to them.  By them I mean any shipper, receiver, trucking company, law enforcement or government official. Anyone anywhere that does or perceives that they do have more control over when my trucks moves then I as the driver actually does. Here is what I have to say about this “BOARD OF SHAME.”  “Screw you.”  I will not in any way shape or form run my truck in an illegal or unsafe manner just to satisfy your petty little perception of how the world works.

The people that I share the highway with, the moms and pops, the families that I find myself just inches away from at highway speeds with the weights of a fully loaded truck will always come before your load.  And if you find that an unworkable idea, an unworkably reality that you have to deal with, then I demand to be put at the top of your (trying to find a nice name here, let’s go with “frickin”,) list.

It is my opinion that using such tactics to force drivers to run their rigs so as to not screw up your day while putting at risk the safety of the public is about as low as one could go. I will be forwarding a copy of this article along with a picture of your despicable sign to the proper authorities. I hope for the safety of the traveling public that you reconsider such out dated tactics and bring your company into today’s world of safe and legal truck drivers.  Not one life is worth what you are selling, not a one.

Be safe peeps.

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The Biden Philosophy

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 10/12/12 The Biden Philosophy

Politics today I guess has been on my mind all day. As most already know, Biden and Ryan hashed it out last night with their national debate. The normal wall to wall coverage all day as you would expect on all the news channels. Ryan won because of this and Biden won because of that and with all that I heard, not one talking head said anything close to what I got out of it.

Biden was talking about Afghanistan and arguing the point that America needs to get out of there and let the Afghan people take over. If I understand his point right, Biden says that as long as the American people stay there and do the job, the Afghan people will never learn to stand on their own two feet. They will always be dependent on the American government to do for them what they should be doing for themselves. So I am thinking to myself, any decent parent knows this. Sometimes you have to tell your child that it is time to stand up and take some responsibility. The only reason not to teach your child this is to keep them dependent upon you.

Moving right along, Biden then goes on to say that the government must step in and make the world equal for the American people. That without the governments help, the children of the American government cannot make it on their own. That we must allow them to redistribute wealth for our benefit, and that we need obamacare forced upon us for our own benefit. That without them, the Democrats, we will never be able to survive out in the wicked world without them there to protect us. We The People, the American public, cannot be trusted to grow up and make proper decisions on our own behalf.  

So for the Afghan people it is pull the rug out from under them and let them grow up to be a strong self dependent society. And for the American people it is generational welfare, unemployment benefits for years, cradle to grave health care, on and on.  All these things provided by them for us to keep us dependent on them. To keep us from growing and becoming a strong society.

Well daddy, your little baby is growing up. It is time to let us go. The American people were never meant to be life time dependents of a over bearing parent government. Not me any way. I am a problem child that demands to be set free. To be allowed to find my own path in life. And like the Afghan people, I want my chance to grow up and stand on my own two feet. A proud American that does not depend on my mommy and my pappy government to powder my butt for me every time life gets just a little bit hard.

Be safe peeps.

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Safe And Legal Truck Drivers

Did something a little different with Today's Thoughts.... Hope you enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb04-iwaGho&feature=plcp

Which Direction

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 9/27/12 Which Direction

Figured I would listen in for a bit on one of the trucking radio shows this morning. Nothing new, another trucker story with the driver blaming their GPS for making them cross a bridge they had no business on. This time it was a covered bridge, destroyed a piece of history built back in eighteen seventy two if I remember right. Of course the guest on the show is talking about different groups wanting to ban GPS systems in trucks or perhaps just coming up with some new regulations for the use of them in commercial vehicles.

About the time I start thinking that you cannot regulate common sense, both the guest and the host relate my very thought in their conversation. But if we are not careful, this is exactly what will end up happening. Some politician somewhere will take it upon themselves to once again save the world from us truck drivers and if you would just vote for them, the world will be a better place. People will buy it of course, history has shown that. And in a year or two we will have new regulations for the use of GPS if we have the GPS in the truck at all.

So on to the fix for this situation. First, understanding that a GPS, a map book, a phone call for directions all have one thing in common, they are nothing but tools to help you get to your destination. None of these things can be counted on to get you to where you are going safely in a big truck. The world is an ever changing place and just because your friend went in that way last week, does not mean that road construction; a wreck or perhaps a change in truck routes has not taken place. When you sit behind the wheel of that big truck, you have to know with some certainty that the roads you are on or that bridge you are about to cross is safe.

Secondly, even knowing that these afore mentioned are only but tools, you have to know that you can only do the best that you can do. Even the best of drivers cannot read the future. They cannot see behind that curve or over that hill. You will eventually find yourself in a place that a big truck has no business being. Drive long enough and this will happen to you. This, my friend, is where we find out if you have enough common sense to be driving a big truck. Get out of this situation that you have unwittingly found yourself in without tearing anything up, without upsetting the locals, without getting a ticket and still make your appointment time. Then, and only then, will we call you a truck driver.

But until this happens, just practice practicing a little common sense and you will do just fine.

Be safe peeps. Be sure to add me as a friend if you like "Today's Thoughts"

Social Media Convention

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 9/19/12 Social Media Convention
As each year passes, more and more truckers are becoming aware that they do have a choice. Gone are the days where you either broke every rule, every regulation and you put that load through no matter how sleepy you became or else. Not in today’s world, or so you would think. Not quite just yet anyway. We still have a little further down this road to go. But the speed in which we are getting there is faster and faster with each passing day.

In today’s world, most of that speed is coming is coming from Social Media. Drivers all across the country now can take a just few minutes each day and come together sharing information and within seconds, things are being done that used to take years to make happen. We have found our way from the remote areas of the country into the new Social Media Jet Age.

So how do we use this new found freedom? That is where Donna and Allen Smith come in. Each year they put together a “Trucking Social Media” Convention for drivers like you and I to attend. They have lots a great things going on like different awards giving out and a Pride In Your Ride contest. But I think the most important part to me about what is happening here, is the huge amount of information that is given out not only about the trucking industry, but also how to use the tools of Social Media to get our messages as truckers out there.

Our time as truckers is now. No longer can we sit back and allow others to define who and what we are. It is up to use to show through Social Media that truckers will make the difference when it come to such things as keeping our highways safe and demanding to run safe and legal. It is like I always say, truckers are now leading this fight, and it is time the rest of the world knows that.

So here is the link, stop by and check it out. Be there or be square.

October 27th & 28th 2012 in Kansas City, MO at Harrah's
http://www.truckingsocialmedia.com/2012_Guest_Speakers/index.html
Be safe peeps.
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Running Legal Blues

Today's Thoughts By Jeff Head 9/17/12 Running Legal Blues
“And help us build a more positive public perception of truck drivers and the trucking industry.” (Xata on Face Book} A quote I borrowed from another site and I am all for what they have in mind. They are handing out a reward to a driver that does great things in the trucking world to help get the word out that some truckers actually care. That we are out here by the thousands trying to run legal and with a little help over the continuous stream of obstacles that the world keeps throwing at us, we actually one day might get there.

I remember when I first started down this path, an idea I picked up off of OOIDA about twenty years ago now I think. But even before that, bits and pieces for me were starting to fall into place as the trucking industry started down a path that led us to today’s world of trucking. More and more drivers were not only wanting, but demanding to run safe and legal. So now in today’s world, our industry is full of drivers that do great things and with this reward I see that finally, just maybe, someone might just be starting to recognize what I have been saying for years. We need to get outside of our world and let the real world know what we are up to, that we are trying to run safe and legal. Part of that is making sure that safe and legal drivers are not only recognized, but also protected so that we can survive this industry and remain out on the highways.

I wrote my book, “Running Legal Blues” to do just this. It was a cool tool that I could step outside of trucking and meet with everyday people and in my own way, let the world get a look into our trucking world and see that we are not the killer truckers that they were led to believe. It was awesome the way that the average person would relate to me and as we sat there in a small room somewhere. Together we became friends and I, as much as them; would walk away with a better understanding of our two worlds. We both I always found had just a little more knowledge and respect for each other and now as that lay person listened or talked to their representatives about trucking issues, they knew that at least one trucker out here was not what they were being led to believe. Letting the world know that safe and legal drives do exist is not only a must, but something that I have been working on for years.

As normal though, obstacles to our destinations do from time to time present themselves. Like the obstacle I found when I decided to come to Face Book with my new book. Many slammed me because as they seen it, I was only here to make money off of the drivers. That after years of advocacy fighting for drivers to be able to run safe and legal without reprisal, my only goal was to, to; well let’s just say that some gave me a less then happy welcome. I guess being new to social media I probably broke more than half of the un-written rules and in doing so I was left out in left field. Such is life.

Not being one though that lets life’s little setbacks get in my way, I simply set out with the same goal in a different direction. I started writing “Today’s Thoughts.” In this way I was still taking the day to day world of trucking and putting out stories that could be used to show the world that truckers do care about such things as highway safety and running legal. Not to pat myself on the back, well, ok; to pat myself on the back, the feedback that I received back from both in and outside of the trucking world sometimes would bring a very happy and proud tear to my eye. Drivers themselves would see that they were not alone in their own personal quest to run safe, but they also would feel that they were now safe in speaking out. Now around the truck stops, drivers were having this conversation when years ago you would get laughed out of the truck stop if you mentioned running a legal log book. One of my stories even ended up in Land Line Magazine a few months ago. Ok. I smiled at that one. Point is, my work makes a difference.

And the responses from those outside of the trucking industry, my work has made a difference in the way that many see us as truckers now. I always love to hear back about how my stories have touched their lives and they feel safer in knowing that truckers that think like I do are out here. That they now understand a little more about the life of a trucker. But the responses I think touch me the most are the ones that come from police officers. I feel that these are the most important ones because we as truckers are as much interested in highway safety as any Law Enforcement Officer is. And when one of them takes time out of their day to send me a quick note, I feel both humbled and honored and I also feel that I have made a very important connection towards two groups that should be working together in highway safety.

So what got me to thinking about all this the other day is a friend after I had mention my book, said that he had never knew that I had written it. I realized that why should he. I was kicked and slammed if I even mentioned it for trying to screw drivers over. And now I see that for the same reason that I was taken out, person after person is now using different tactics to draw attention to different products to do what? To get the truck driver to buy their product, Weird

As for me, the last couple of years I have ordered hundreds of these books, paying for them out of my own pocket, and then giving them away to different people that I thought could use the message within. Some went to drivers that I met out on the road. Others went to people like Anne Ferro and other government officials. But a lot of them went to the average every day person that I would meet in my travels. A waitress at a restaurant or maybe a nice couple I would meet at a rest area somewhere. The point is to give the book to people in high places or just the average person on the street. By doing thisI was letting the world know that safe and legal truck drivers are out here. And if you want us to survive, we could use a little protection from the world. My message was getting out.

So for now on, I am not going to let these people shame me into not talking about my book, it’s message or the next book that I am about to finish up. You can either join me in my efforts to spread our message or not. That is up to you. As for me, my books are priced so that every book I sell pays for one book that I can give away. I will take all the help I can get. Running Legal Blues on Amazon is a good place to find it. Also I have a youtube video, stop by and check it out.
Be safe peeps.
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