Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/566087
Logbook 12 | Overdrive | September 2015 The U.S. Department of Transpor- tation and several of its trucking-fo- cused regulatory agencies last month announced the creation of the National Coalition of Truck Parking. The group also revealed the results of a MAP-21 commissioned study on national truck parking. Survey results noted that 37 states confirmed a shortage of available parking. Problems are widespread, but concentrated "in regions with high populations and population densi- ties, along major freight corridors carrying interregional commerce, and in locations associated with ports and manufacturing centers," the study says. On hand to sign a pledge of commitment were DOT Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Safety Administrator Greg- ory Nadeau, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Acting Administrator Scott Darling and Hope Rivenburg, whose husband, Jason, was murdered in 2009 during a robbery attempt while parked in an unsafe place. Rivenburg noted during the press conference that her husband is one of many drivers whose lives were sacrificed by unsafe parking. Her long-term advocacy efforts for better truck parking spurred Jason's Law and its inclusion in the 2012 MAP-21 highway bill. The Jason's Law provision makes available to states appropriations for truck park- ing safety, security and availability programs. However, uncertainty around highway funding is partly to blame for a relative dearth of state efforts on the issue to date, said Mendez. The Highway Trust Fund's recent 34th short-term extension in lieu of a longer-term highway bill shows a "lack of commitment to investment," Mendez said. As a result, "invest- ments are delayed" at the state level. Said Darling, "We must do better on this issue." – Todd Dills Agencies target truck parking Uncertainty around highway funding is partly to blame for a relative dearth of state efforts on the truck parking issue. California driver wins Trucker Talent Search Nate Moran was named the winner of the Over- drive-Red Eye Radio's 2015 Trucker Talent Search following a sing-off-style competition and voting by a panel of four judges at last month's Great Ameri- can Trucking Show. Moran, 25, of Pomona, Calif., is a company driver for Smokey Point Distrib- uting and hauls freight for the aerospace industry. Online voting by Over- drive readers narrowed the original field of more than 50 entrants to the three finalists, who were brought to Dallas for the contest's finale. The other finalists were driver Paul Marhoefer and owner-op- erator Don Whatley. Moran, who will be featured in an upcoming issue of Overdrive, received $1,000 cash from Over- drive. He'll also receive a free eight-hour studio recording session for one original song, sponsored by AxleOutPro, which makes a fuel-efficiency app. The company also will produce a high-quali- ty demo, music video and interview to market to studios. All three finalists were given a pair of Justin Boots from Red Eye Radio. The four judges were country singer and truck- ing industry advocate Lindsay Lawler, stunt truck driver Mike Ryan, last year's Trucker Talent Search winner Keith Sampson and 2014 finalist Brad James. Trucker and recording artist Tony Justice emceed the event and played some of his original songs. – James Jaillet Nate Moran sang "Middle of the Moonlight," which he wrote for his wife and played for the first time publicly at their wedding in April.