the truckstar

"On the Road with the original florida kid" Week 45

Hello again fellow truckstars! It's Week 45 and....you're on the road with the original florida kid.....

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the Wonder Dog and the whole gang here at the ranch say a big cowboy howdy "HEY"...

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN'- yeah buddy....it's gettin' cold outside...so hang your coats on the peg by the door, come on in and grab a cup of Grandma's famous, and hot, cowboy coffee. Good thing I cut a bunch of firewood this past summer. We had to clear back quite a few trees that grew in over the gravel road goin' up the hill to 2 of the pastures up there because the shade was keepin' it too wet and slippery....even the horses were doin' the slip and slide, we have to walk them up that part of the dirt road...so...at least we got firewood out of the deal...dry too now…..looks like we'll need it.
Ol' Pup the Wonder dog is gettin' up a little bit slower these days...Barbie says he's got arthritis.....poor ol' boy, he's gettin' up there...sometimes he sits it out when we go up in the hills, not always but sometimes....guess we're all gettin' old....dammit….
JT might just make it...we’ll see…we don't know yet but he found a new load broker...one that actually passes on the fuel surcharges to him...yeah well, like I said, we'll see.....(call me crazy but isn't stealin' money against the law?....I don't know I thought I heard that somewhere...)
I hope everyone caught last week's blog - Week 44 - where I listed the legislation that's
on the table up on capitol hill in several important areas, ones that affect us as drivers I mean....I also listed most if not all of the politicians involved so you can contact them and give them support. If your rep's and senators aren't there you may want to contact them and ask them....WHY ?....
Here's the starting point if you're in the mood....( if you’re not, now would be a good time to get in the mood….wha’d ya say?)
www.house.gov - to find your representative enter your zip code
www.senate.gov – (scroll to your home state)
Don't think for a second that ONE voice doesn't matter....Have you ever been to a professional football or baseball game at a stadium? One guy starts yellin' and the next thing ya know 60,000 people are yellin' too...the players will tell you it can definitely affect the outcome of a game, not to mention the fact that it can be deafening........get the point?.....
Your voice DOES matter! It matters to, and for, all of us....are ya with me truckstars ?

I'm readin' the trucking news headlines this morning...not that I need anyone to tell me that freight is still going down and the price of everything else is goin' up...or that the economy worldwide is feelin' the crunch....and suddenly - I realize that I'm damn sick and tired of feelin' helpless and scared...and I'm also sick and damn tired of seeing and hearing about good and decent people losing everything...homes, cars, kids in college comin' home, businesses....And while I'm at it here a little word to the critics of the common man out there...I’m sorry truckstars but there are even many in the trucking industry who think it’s a good thing the ranks are getting’ thinned out, that we’re going under because we can’t run a business or a truck…..
What - I need to be a business expert to survive in America now? Since when? And don't talk down to me while you've got your hand in my pocket either.....
Yeah well it looks like the business experts need to go back to school too.......
No, I mean it....I'm a man's man, not afraid of anything...but the past year or two has been like a really really bad movie....with the keystone cops runnin' around in Washington bumpin' into each other....only it's not funny and I'm not laughin'.....
What the hell man....
I ran a few small boats down to the boat-show settin' up in Ft. Lauderdale monday and tues. and I ran into a veteran boat hauler I know from the west coast, an older guy been doin' it for 35 years, a pro's pro, this guy...well he pulls me off to the side and tells me it's been so slow that he might not be able to make his insurance payments much longer and he may be done for....already sold everything that wasn't nailed down...spare trailers and what not...the ones that haven't been stolen, that is...it was hard to watch this guy's face...the look on his face just broke my damn heart truckstars....it really did....I'm walking away thinkin' to myself, man, if this guy's goin' under.... and right then it felt like an ice cold wind just blew right through me..........tellin' ya.....
The rail and ocean going shipping industries are way down too....worldwide...
Where's it going to end?
Don't know truckstars....don't think anyone but God knows................wonder what He has to say about all this.
I wish I would have asked Him AND gotten more involved in government……sooner..... ……….well...I AM NOW........you?

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT- I want to make a comment about all these "weight loss" pills, drinks and powders...DON'T TAKE THEM! Why? Because most of them are newer forms of "speed" or enhanced acid based caffeine drugs designed to artificially raise your metabolism and heart-rate in order to burn more calories. Anything with a "drine" at the end of it is basically a synthetic type of stimulant, and there are others that use sugars and caffeine mixtures ALL of which are not, and never will be, good for you. Protein shakes, or drinks, like MetRx or Muscle Milk or Labrada Protein Drinks( www.labrada.com ), I think the Labrada is the best because they are really high in good protein and also vitamins and minerals(I know I’ve misspelled the name in past blogs…should’ve stayed in school longer…)but Muscle Milk is easier to find, then the MetRx, this is the same co. that makes the best protein bars on the market like the one I eat - MetRx Colossal. Flying J now carries em’. It’s cheaper to get a case of drinks and bring a few out on the road with, that’s what I do.
If you find yourself overweight, with a higher than healthy cholesterol level or even high blood pressure, or feeling sluggish and low energy in general you first need to take a look, a really good hard look, at your diet, that’s where you’ll find the problems..
Now, for starters these so called weight loss potions do not discharge the fats and toxins in your body they raise your "burn" level to cause your body to try to metabolize fats and toxins out of your system, but they don't, they just burn low levels of carbs and some or part of the fats, and make you NOT feel like eating meanwhile they acidify the nutrients in your blood, that's why it still takes someone 6 months to lose just a few pounds when they take this stuff. The power drinks don't do anything but amp you out, fake energy with a nasty downside.
Most health issues originate in or with the diet you eat. Fact. And for you vitamin skeptics out there, vitamins are not drugs - they're food derivatives - big difference. I always talk about "whole food organic" vitamins because they're drawn from organic foods and are in fact food themselves, just concentrated and made for people that can't, won't or don't have a way to eat an ideal diet rich in lean proteins and fruit, vegetable or grain based vitamins and minerals. Make sure you read the labels on whatever vitamins you're taking to see if the source of the nutrient is synthetic or natural or organic based, organic being best. Synthetic based vitamins are useless. You can't run on "fake" fuel, just like you can't be healthy on fake food....Okay?

TRUCKSTAR TECH- I got a new "free" upgrade phone when I renewed my cell phone contract with AT&T last week, got a cool new Razr 3, internet enabled...cool right?
Uh… well….yes and no....
Yes, because I can check my Comcast e-mail and look up "some" stuff on the web, but, no, because I still need G3 or higher speeds to watch movies and the better graphics, and some of the streaming radio, no, most of the streaming "anything" I want to do requires it, not to mention the fact that I also need to get the "unlimited internet plan" to go with it, and, a higher minute plan or the "all in one" unlimited plan for around a hundred bucks a month....and that's not even close to what I really wanted, which was a "smart phone", which is a kind of a - phone/wanna-be computer thing. So...after 2 days of research on the web I came to the conclusion that I'm bagging the cool phone thing and going with a "super" laptop that will do everything including : making phone calls to any computer or cell or landline anywhere in the world, HD or Blue-Ray film watching(on DVD or Flashdrive or download like Netflix), e-mail of course, storing files, map programs, writing work, business software, photos, and well, anything else I will need or can think of, plus I can web surf at very high speeds all for about $60 bucks a month. That's it.
When I save the money for the laptop I need then this phone is going into my outdated cell phone collection and I'm switching my monthly plan to an internet plan. End of conversation. When I want to call Barbie, or anyone else, I have the option of seeing them while I'm speaking with them for pennies.
I'm still looking at the new "mini" laptops, so far the new SONY Z series is the best, they already have the best "after sale service". HP has a deal where you get $200 off the price of the laptop if you go with AT&T on select models...hmmm.....HP's are getting raves in the tech mags too for the new laptops....I'll be taking a look at them too you can bet...I'll let you know, and if you're in the market for a laptop I would wait till the last minute the experts say the prices will be falling......a lot....really soon.....

I want to give a big cowboy howdy shout out to Dan Little from the OOU.com(you need to join up truckstars...seriously...) and my main man in Kentucky - Big Jack Knife aka Harold, he’s a 2 million miler who's laid up at the moment sufferin' from a little bit of "father time".....
So - hats off and heads up - "HEY BOYS !"

Well truckstars, I could ramble on all day here but I better shut er' down for this week and get back to puttin' the line-up for Truckstar Radio together. Technically we're on the air but I'm still lookin' for men and women drivers to host their own shows with lots of call-in options, and also, some of the good folks from all our favorite trucking websites. We'll also be hearing music and on the road interviews from some of country music's up and coming stars, like Stephen Wild, PBR bull riders and a whole bunch of other great people….but mostly it’s all of you together talkin’, screamin’, laughin’ and cryin’ together….I look forward to Kitchen Table Talkin' with all of you around the country here on Truckstar Radio. If you're needin' help just call-in to the station for specific weather, truckstop locations, road service help…whatever you need…I’m here for YOU…
The links are on www.thetruckstar.com, just bookmark em’ or list Truckstar Radio in your player list(RealPlayer or Windows Media Player, Quicktime or the iTunes/Winamp Player for you Mac users out there.)
And remember, you can always listen to Truckstar Radio in the background while spending time on your favorite trucking site, like this one, you read my blog here already anyway…so….

Don’t forget about abused kids…..they really need heroes…. If you’re a prayin’ person, Please pray for our nation, the world and the lost…..
I was once lost but now am found because someone prayed for me.......
REMEMBER – No load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for…..
Don’t ever forget – I love ya…and I’m prayin’ for ya !
So play nice, drive safe and pull it on home………

Saddle up truckstars…..let’s ride……
……you’re on the road with the original florida kid…we gown…..

Category: General

"On the Road with the original florida kid" Week 44

Hello again fellow truckstars! It's Week 44 and....
....you're on the road with the original florida kid!....

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the Wonder Dog and the whole gang here at the ranch give a big cowboy howdy ........"HEY!" …

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN'- Well come on in! PLEASE Check your boots....(Grandma's on the loose with her famous wooden spoon......she will crack ya one….tellin’ya…..she doesn’t care if the world’s comin’ to an end..that kitchen floor stays clean…)...grab a chair and a cup of Grandma's famous cowboy coffee and have a seat….yeah dammit….I feel like reachin’ under the sink and grabbin’ grandpa’s bottle of JD….but….I’d best not, I’d probably end up on the six o’clock news and then I’d have to face Barbie …yeah I would….UhOhhh…Hep me Lawd !.......(the boys are all laughin’ readin’ this…they too know her…and fear her…..)
And besides, we've got lots to talk about this week.
A buddy of ours one county over, J.T. is losing his rig…he got caught up in the high fuel prices earlier this year and ran along just barely makin’ it(with low pay freight in the mix…hijacked surcharges..) and over the summer work was real slow so now he’s behind a couple of truck payments…and house payments…the insurance payments are due….so…we’re all tryin’ to keep him afloat but most of us are in the same boat and it’s takin’ on water faster than we can all bail….(I wish I was Dave Sweetman….really….)
WHAT THE HELL MAN…….
Maybe Obama can let us have some of that record breakin’ campaign money he’s collected since he says wants to help out us working people so bad….
(yeah that’ll happen)…..

First up (and back to the real world), I want to go over some legislation bills that we, as drivers, need to be made aware of and stay aware of....stuff like WHO'S behind them WHAT they are, WHEN they get voted on, and WHERE they're at in the process.
Dan Little from the OOU mentioned to me the other night on the phone about a couple of them; the HR6106, and the HR5986, saying I may want to write about them in this week's blog, because, in his opinion: "They are very important and affect all drivers bottom lines, every day and into the future".
And, as I looked into HR6106 and HR5995, I came upon several other pieces of legislation that DIRECTLY affect us as pro drivers, too, and I thought I would run them ALL by you truckstars to see what you think, and what you want to do about 'em.....
Now….before I forget –
Contact your elected officials TODAY! – (use your liberty before you can’t…)

www.house.gov - to find your representative enter your zip code
www.senate.gov – (scroll to your home state)

These 2 bills below are the ones about fuel tax on diesel; (HR5995 was still in the Ways and Means Committee when the time, Sept. 8th, came up on it…)but here’s the info on it in case it’s still alive, you may want to contact your Rep’s and Senators to see;
HR5995 -
Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the highway fuels taxes, to provide for a Joint Committee on Earmark Reform, and to prohibit earmarking for the remainder of the 110th Congress.
Sponsor: Rep. Paul Ryan (and 23 co-sponsors) [WI-1] (introduced 5/8/2008)
HR6106 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily reduce the excise tax on diesel fuel and kerosene to the rate applicable to gasoline. This Act may be cited as the `The Diesel Tax Fairness Act of 2008'.
Rep. Mary Bono Mack [CA-45] (introduced 5/21/2008)
and co-sponsors;
Rep. Kay Granger [TX-12] -6/20/2008 Rep. Devin Nunes [CA-21]7/15/2008
Rep. John Shimkus [IL-19] -6/20/2008 Rep. Cliff Stearns [FL-6] - 6/12/2008
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
**(So what this “means” is “We” can still get on the horn and rattle some cages…it really works…)** Dan says: “This will affect a typical O/O to the tune of about $1,000 a year at present prices”.
HR5986 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to immediately terminate the excise tax on diesel fuel and the tax credits for ethanol and other alcohol fuels.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael C. Burgess [TX-26] (introduced 5/7/2008)
Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 5/7/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

HR6630 – Mexican trucking in the U.S. (4 versions)
1 . HR6630IH - To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the... (Introduced in House)
2 . HR6630EH - To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the... (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)
3 . HR6630RFS - To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the... (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)
4 . HR6630RH - To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the... (Reported in House)
This one is of serious importance to the future job security of O/O’s and even company drivers here in the U.S. because it means a cheaper labor source for big business to haul freight here in the U.S., I don’t care what you’ve heard about it this is the “bottom line”. It passed on Sept. 10th. But the White House says they’ll veto and the House says they’ll fight the veto…so this is where WE come in….you know what to do!
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. (Our Hero!) [OR-4] (introduced 7/29/2008)
COSPONSORS (41):
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 7/31/2008 Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 9/8/2008
Rep Boswell, Leonard L.[IA-3]7/31/2008 Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] - 7/31/2008
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-17/31/2008 Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 9/8/2008
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2]7/31/2008 Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] 7/31/2008
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 7/31/2008 Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 7/31/2008
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 7/31/2008 Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 7/31/2008
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 7/29/2008 Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 7/31/2008
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 7/31/2008 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T.[MD-1]7/31/2008
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 9/8/2008 Rep Hayes, Robin [NC-8] - 7/31/2008
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 7/31/2008 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 7/31/2008
Rep Hulshof, Kenny C. [MO-9] - 7/31/2008 Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 7/31/2008
Rep Kagen, Steve[WI-8] - 7/31/2008 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 9/9/2008
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 7/31/2008 Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 9/8/2008
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 7/29/2008 Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 7/31/2008
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 7/31/2008 Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] - 7/31/2008
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 7/31/2008 Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 7/31/2008
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 7/31/2008 Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] - 7/29/2008
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 7/31/2008 Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 7/31/2008
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] 7/31/2008 Rep Sali, Bill [ID-1] - 9/8/2008
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 7/31/2008 Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 7/31/2008
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 7/31/2008

Speed Limit legislation;
HR6458 – Someone came up with the idea to set speed limits at 60 in the cities and 65 outside the cities…..Kill this one before it multiplies….


*These 3 below deal with surcharges, you O/O/s need to follow up on this!
HR5934 – or TRUCC ACT - (the Senate Bill version is S2910) - This Act may be cited as the `Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act'
Rep. Thomas E Petri [WI-6] – Co-sponsor: Rep. Brad Ellsworth [IN-8]
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require that fuel surcharges collected by a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder be passed through to the person responsible for bearing the cost of fuel, and for other purposes.
Latest Major Action: 5/1/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
H.R.5997
Title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to require a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder that collects a fuel surcharge to pay an amount equal to the surcharge to the person that bears the cost of the fuel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] (introduced 5/8/2008)
H.R.5977
Title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to require a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder that collects a fuel surcharge to disclose and pay the fuel surcharge to the person responsible for bearing the cost of the fuel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/6/2008)
Related Bills: H.R.5934, H.R.5997, S.2910
Latest Major Action: 5/6/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
S.2910
Title: A bill to require brokers to disclose and pay independent truckers for any fuel surcharges received from shippers that relate to fuel costs paid for by the truckers.
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 4/24/08) Cosponsors (4)
Related Bills: H.R.5934, H.R.5977, H.R.5997
Latest Major Action: 4/24/2008 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. *(This means if you let them know you’re a voter it’ll swing our way, there’s still time!)*
HR1756 – NAFTA Truck Safety Act – (for the Mexicans to have safe trucks…yeah you go boy!)
Tax credit for alternate power generators;
HR139 – ( or now known as bill S 894) A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for the purchase of idling reduction systems for diesel-powered on-highway vehicles.
Sponsor: Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln [AR] (introduced 3/15/2007) Is somewhere in the Finance Committee and poss. Further before debate. It’ll help offset the cost of switching over to a power gen. in your truck, we need this too!)
*Okay truckstars….those are the latest issues and people behind them….I can’t stress enough….and I want you to listen to me PLEASE….get on the horn…now…today….as soon as you get a minute to get on the computer to send an e-mail, or make a phone call (by Googling your Rep’s and Senators after you go to the addresses I posted above and finding out their phone number…) We know from the superman efforts of guys like Dan Little from the OOU that our voices are being heard AND taken very seriously, and we’re not just talkin’ about politics here, we’re talkin’ about day to day issues that affect your pay and job future….your voice really matters!….Are ya in?.........This country was founded by people with great courage and nerve who were under the kinds of oppressive threats to their liberties like we are now but we haven’t been exercising our rights for a very long time, most of us anyway….and like I’ve said before I’m not talkin’ about getting’ involved in politics, I’m sayin’ to get involved in government, our government because if we don’t….then we’re just a helpless peanut gallery with our lives and futures blowin’ in the wind….what’cha think truckstar?
I’ll be doing a separate blog on The Health Dept. And Truckstar Tech in a day or two!
Don’t forget about abused kids…..they really need heroes….
That’s it for now!
If you’re a prayin’ person, Please pray for our nation, the world and the lost…
REMEMBER – No load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for…..
Don’t forget! I love ya and I’m prayin’ for ya!
So play nice, drive safe and pull it on home………

Saddle up…..let’s ride!……
……you’re on the road with the original florida kid…we gown…..

Category: General

"On the Road with the original florida kid" Week 43
Hello again fellow truckstars! It's Week 43 and.......
…you're on the road with the original florida kid...

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the Wonder Dog and the whole gang here at the ranch say a big cowboy howdy "HEY!"...

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN'- Okay, so grab a chair, an ashtray and a cup of Grandma's famous cowboy coffee and let's get this party started......
Grandma went to the doctor last week, she's been having serious back and leg problems. She needs to have surgery, as we expected, but she says she won't go, not now, with things the way they are, she says....Barbie is trying to talk her into it and it's easy to tell where Barbie got her stubborness from....I'm tellin' ya...
I have to tell you truckstars that this week I'm more than a little upset to hear of, yet more O/O's losing their rigs, and hell, I could be next...I finally got a boat haul from Maine to Ft. Lauderdale but I had to dead head up there to get the boat, a big boat, and bring it back down here to Key Largo. The money wasn't that great but anything right now will help...I think......
It seems even in boat hauling, the brokers, and whoever else is involved, know they can lowball and get away with it...although in his defense the guy I get a lot of hauls from, I'm sure, is getting lowballed too... wish I could lowball the fuel co's and my insurance co....and the power co. and the cable co. and the phone co. and the grocery store and the IRS and the people I make my truck payment to and everyone else I have to hand my ever shrinking paycheck to....I don't like feeling so desperate all the time....I need to understand something...I read a lot, I mean a lot, I read about all the advances in truck design and aerodynamics, logistics and supply chain management, I see tons of money being spent on super new truck stops and freight hubs as well as load tracking and communication systems, I see success stories of famous trucking company owners, I see lots of people patting themselves on the back and saying this and saying that...I see and hear about billions of dollars flying around the trucking industry...and I hear a lot about "bottom lines", (business men like to use that phrase), but the bottom line, the real f 'n bottom line is that I don't see any of it, or at least not enough of it.......going to the truck drivers.....
I can't tell you how many guys and gals, good, safe drivers who keep their expenses in check, who still can't pay their bills that I've spoken to and heard of, all across the country...how can it be that, for 50 years, drivers have been routinely robbed of fuel surcharges and no one, until recently, has done a goddamn thing about it....I'm trying to understand these things...
I had a great conversation with Dan Little from the new OOU, last night, and during our long talk he said something to me I realized that I really had forgotten. He said "We have to remember that, yes, we have families at home, most of us, but out here on the road, as truckers, we're a family too.... and in spite of the trials and tribulations of our industry, in spite of the blatant abuse and exploitation we suffer, (even from within our own industry), in spite of the hardships and Thankless efforts in any kind of weather, we, out here on the road, are a FAMILY."...(if you've ever met a veteran, old school trucker then you know what I mean)...
I know truckstars, I know, it's so easy to forget that, I do too sometimes...(that is, until I need help or advice or someone out there on the road to lean on) but we have to remember this....always....
Dan also said something else to me that I will never forget - "I tell guys all the time that we are professionals, and we have to act like professionals, all the time, and not forget that we represent each other, seems like lots of guys have forgotten that."
Often there is great wisdom in the simplest of statements....
Listen to me truckstars....we all know how important this job we do is to the country we love so much, and right now maybe it's not so loveable, but what I'm trying to say is that - without the American Truck Driver....everything stops, and I mean everything!
The marine and the rail industries cannot do what we do....from the flat bedders to the livestock haulers to the dry vans, to the tankers and the haz mat guys and gals, to the super haulers, to the road service and truckstop people(I call them “diesel culture” support industry…)....even those wild ass "ice road truckers". We are a family that helps provide a vital service to the greatest nation in the history of the world, but that's clearly NOT how the world sees us....and I wonder why....don't you?
I for one, believe we matter....I believe we matter more than the way we get treated and are thought of....and I also believe we can look to ourselves for the solution...
What kind of a world is it that a trucker delivers goods and food to a store that he can't afford to walk around to the front of and go into and buy the very products he just delivered for himself or his family! What the hell man.....
The mexican trucking thing, the trucc act, fuel tax and surcharge legislation, operating costs....these things and more, affect us all, both on the road AND at home, we know that, and just like a family at home tries to stick together, WE out here on the highways of America need to stick together too!
Lately, especially if you listen to the cb for 5 minutes, that damn sure does not appear to be the case....yeah maybe it's the hardships on the job, operating costs, or stress at home, the economy, the government, greedy big business and corrupt politicians....but these things have been around for 5,000 years or more....and it doesn't have to tear us apart as a labor force...not now, when even the trucking co's love the fact that there is absolutely NO real organization or voice for the drivers....
Do I have the answers? No, I don't, but I still know better than just to let my future and my family's future ride like a dice throw in a rigged game....and so do you....that's why I'm voting, I'm contacting my legislators regularly, and I've joined the OOU(owner operators united).....I'm getting involved, if you haven't heard about it yet, the OOU that is...stay tuned...you will....I'm not just going to call myself a professional....I'm going to act like one...how 'bout you truckstar?

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT- Okay, so now you’re taking whole food organic vitamins….right? You’ve found a good place to buy the MetRx protein bars and you are drinking a good protein shake…I like the Labada and Muscle Milk Protein Drinks. Do you know how clean your colon is? Before you roll your eyes, listen to this…the colon is where most of the food nutrition absorption occurs, it’s kinda like havin’ a dirty sludgy carburetor and clogged fuel lines(your arteries and veins) and expecting power from your motor, it’s not going to happen….
Think about this for a minute with me truckstars….what has your diet for the past few weeks and months been like? Chances are you’ve eaten a lot of fatty foods, maybe even trans fatty foods and empty carbs like white bread and rolls, donuts and stuff, right? Well this kind of stuff creates a very heavy, pasty sludge in the colon and intestines and pretty much suffocates your body of any nutrition and vitamins you might take in (when you actually do eat a good meal of lean broiled meat, chicken or fish and dark leafy greens and fresh steamed veg’s) and I really really really really want you to think about flushing the “pipes” down there….How? Roughage or ruffage..there are lots of different kinds of roughage…did you know Triscuits(yeah I know, it’s crazy…..) are a great form of roughage? Anything whole grain as close to natural form as possible….you’ve heard of whole grain breads, cereals, muffins…all that kind of stuff needs to be in your diet every single day to keep the “pipes” clean in an on-going way. That’s why all the health nuts scream about whole grains all the time, well the amount of vitamins in them is the major reason but the roughage is the natural way to clean the colon. I also use whole psyillium husk…it’s really good way to, well, kind of like taking a bottle brush and running it through your lower unit…
Truckstars, you know I would never steer you wrong, and, you have to take this stuff seriously, you really have to. I want you to get a book called “The Bible Diet” written by a doctor named Richard H. Mays. I really like this guy, he’s a Tennessee doctor who’s been around for a long time. Amazon, Alibris and other book sources have it and I think it’ll be the second most important book you ever read…and I’m deadly serious….your health will never improve, your blood pressure and your cholesterol will never go down until you get with the program of regularly running the kinds of grains and fruits and veg’s through your system that you need to be. Even the men’s E.D. drugs are designed to create the kind of blood pressure needed to cause an erection because the vascular system can’t because of congestion…..it’s all tied into what you eat, and when you drink a caffeine drink on top of that it’s like trying to pump more water pressure through a pinched hose……. Okay? What d’ya say? Are ya with me?

TRUCKSTAR TECH- I’m sure it’s no secret to any of us that, well it seems like every day another area on the map is outlawing idling of a big rig….Whatever you may think about this, the fact of the matter is that in the near future it may be illegal nationwide, and, I would count on that happening….Aux power units are going to be a part of your future and for me, I like the idea of the Cummins diesel powered unit, it’ll run off the same fuel your truck runs off of and I don’t know of too many other co’s that know more about motors and power than Cummins, start your search there www.cummins.com or try www.starclassinc.com
This is something we need to plan for….and save for…
Okay now onto my favorite tech subject – Mobile Technology….lots of people are going with these new “Smartphones” and although I would love to have one of Googles new Android smartphones I think because of other app’s and media we like to use that somewhere in the middle of mini-laptops and smartphones will the technology end up in the next 2 years or less. They’ve really come a long way. Sprint I think has the ball in their court right now with the $99 a month all-in-one plan, but mobile unlimited web access with an air card is cheaper and in my way of thinking, more versatile. Or example, with a built in web cam and mic and a free Skype.com or Windows Live connection you can speak to and see anyone else with the same thing for free! Sure you can put lots of movies and music on a flash drive and just plug er’ into your mini-laptop. Me? I still want a big screen and the juice of a serious laptop with Blue Ray and/or whatever is beyond HD, with multiple sound cards and a gamer level graphics card, 4-8 gigs of ram and at least a 500 gig hardrive….hey - I’m a meat and potatoes and heavy horsepower guy of guy…..old school…yeah but I also have an eye on the future too….what about you truckstar? Do you have mobile internet in the cab of your truck yet? And not just on your cell phone either…..I like the new Sony Z Series mini laptops….and the service after the sale is really good, some say the best….whatever you need now - plan for it to become a reality… check out this link to what I feel is one of the best trip planner programs going – it’s called PC* Miler - http://www.alk.com/pcmiler/

Don’t forget about abused kids…..they really need heroes….I know….

That’s it for this week truckstars!
If you’re a prayin’ person, Please pray for our nation, the world and the lost…
REMEMBER – No load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for…..
Don’t forget! I love ya and I’m prayin’ for ya!
So play nice, drive safe and pull it on home………

Saddle up…..let’s ride!
……you’re on the road with the original florida kid…we gown…..

Category: General