Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/15908
Trucker webmasters on topics such as the Arrow Trucking shutdown and misinformation about Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010. Smith is collecting signatures on petitions to re- quest federal legislation to better protect truck drivers from false DAC reporting and to show support for the Jason’s Law truck-parking legislation, of which his organization was an early supporter. From “Ask the Trucker” On May 12th, 2010, Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator John Kerry introduced the American Power Act. Hidden in the proposal is a natural gas provision. According to T. Boone Pickens, the legislation could result in 236,000 natural gas trucks on American roads, as well as adding 600,000 new jobs to the hurting economy. With thousands of American trucks running on domestic natural gas, money spent on fuel would stay here at home. The problem with the proposal is that they are pushing it as a means to solve global warming, thus creating much bashing from various sides in the political realm... TRUCK DRIVER NEWS Former trucker Jason Wilcox offers views on trucking news. You can also find links to trucking stories from around the world at his Twitter feed. www.Truck- DriversNews.com and twitter.com/ truckdrivernews LIFE The creator of this video series gives outsiders a view into the truck- ing life in short vignettes about particular trips. “My name is Vince, and I’m a truck driver,” as he puts it in the opening of every installment. Vince is one of many YouTubers featured at catchall site www.YouTu- beTrucking.com. www.youtube. com/Jowney95 TRUCKER’S The ride of a lifetime Owner-operator team delivers comedy, music, advocacy and advice. 4“Keys Truckers” James and Jan McCarter 4www.thekeystruckers.com 4TRUCK: 2004 Freightliner Century hauling van freight 4FLEET: Leased to J.B. Hunt Owner-operators James and Jan McCarter met in east Tennessee, where James owned a plumbing business that employed Jan’s brother. Jan had a beauty shop in Gatlinburg and sang in a band and with other acts. The two were married a few weeks after meeting in 1994, beginning the journey that resulted in one of the more dynamic social media teams on the road today. They call themselves Keys Truckers, a named picked up when they lived in the Florida Keys and hauled air freight between Miami and New York City. Their website promotes Jan’s musical efforts, including the recent recording of Pretty Girls Drive Big Rigs Too, a soon-to-be-released CD, and James’ videos on YouTube. His serial Bobby Boofay video satire about a naïve trucker has a Facebook page with 1,000-plus fans. 30 OVERDRIVE SEPTEMBER 2010 VIDEO Jan and James McCarter at the Straight Up Sound Studio in Nashville, where Jan recorded her “Pretty Girls Drive Big Rigs Too” record. For video from one of the sessions, visit OverdriveOnline.com. Though they once drove team, James now does all the driving in their 2005 Freightliner Century Class. “Driving team wasn’t the best thing for the relationship,” says James. “Boom, boom, boom, go here, go there – we’d pass each other through the curtains” to the sleeper. Now leased to J.B. Hunt, which allows them to pick their own loads, the couple has found time to devote to their blog and related projects. Though much of the Keys Truckers’ writings and other creations are comic, many are serious. James’ advice extends to subjects ranging from Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 to relationship stress on the road. Jan’s new CD contains a track written for Jasmine “Jazzy” Jordan, who this sum- mer completed a cross-country run that brought attention to trucking. The McCarters’ enthusiasm comes across in all “I had this guy contact me recently who’s wanting Bobby Boofay to come down to Austra- lia for a charity show in Novem- ber or Decem- ber – turns out, everybody down under really likes old Bobby… I can talk about him as a person, just for the main reason that, when I put that hat on and turn it around with the glasses, I am Bobby.” — James McCarter, about his satirical truck-driving alter ego of Bobby Boofay (pictured with his dog, Rocky Boofay) Todd Dills Courtesy Keys Truckers