Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/119523
Logbook Overdrive, TCA award year's top truckers B radley Chapdelaine and Daniel Poorman each won a Cummins-powered 2012 Ram 2500 Big Horn Crew Cab last month in an annual contest sponsored by Cummins, Chevron Delo, the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive. The awards, announced in Las Vegas at TCA's annual meeting, recognize safety, community service and efforts to enhance the industry's image. Chapdelaine, of Dart Transit, was named 2012 Owner-Operator of the Year. Also recognized were finalists Jimmy McSwain of Sunco Transportation and Robert Stewart of Interstate Distributor. McSwain died after the finalists were named in January but remained eligible for the award. Poorman, of Gordon Trucking, was named 2012 Company Driver of the Year. Also recognized were finalists Albert Carter of Melton Truck Lines and Danny Smith of Big G Express. Bradley Chapdelaine (pictured), named 2012 Owner-Operator of the Year, will be featured in the May Overdrive. Daniel Poorman, named 2012 Company Driver of the Year, is featured on page 34. FMCSA gathers thoughts on training rule How much safer are drivers who have received formal training? That was the question addressed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration during a listening session at last month's Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro posed the question to drivers – who made up a majority of attendees – and representatives of driver-training schools and fleets that do their own training. Per requirements of the MAP21 highway funding law passed last summer, FMCSA must pass an entry-level driver training rule before the law's expiration. The listening session was part of an evidence-gathering phase. Lee Strebel, a 38-year over-theroad driver and occasional driver trainer, said, "Some guys learn a lot faster than others." Strebel – responding to a question from Larry Minor, FMCSA associate administrator for policy – said he thought 300 to 400 hours of intensive behind-the-wheel training would not be unreasonable for a requirement of entry-level drivers as long as it was true training. He echoed former company driver and owner-operator Jeana Hysell, now director of safety with the Safety Compliance Professionals consulting group. Hysell asked regulators to abolish the "team concept" of entry-level training practiced by some carriers and require a minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional driving experience for active truck drivers before they could take on a training role with a carrier. – Todd Dills For the full story, visit OverdriveOnline.com and search "FMCSA testimony," or scan the QR code here with your smartphone. GPS training to be required for entry-level drivers U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer last month announced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will make GPS training mandatory when it issues its entry-level commercial driver's license operator rule in upcoming months. The New York Democrat had pushed for training after a state study indicated a dramatic increase in low bridge strikes were caused by trucks using inappropriate GPS systems. The devices widely available to consumers may not have programming showing low bridges, hazmat routes and other information relevant to truckers. The study indicated GPS systems were faulted in more than 80 percent of such accidents. On the Long Island Expressway alone, it accounted for more than $4.1 million in repairs. Since 2007, New York has spent $3 million for new bridge warning signs and education targeted at truckers, and a state task force engaged GPS companies to implement changes. Still, the accidents continued at an alarming rate, Schumer said. — Jill Dunn 16 | Overdrive | April 2013 Logbook_0413.indd 16 4/2/13 9:41 AM