Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/36447
FOR THE RECORD TRUCKING NEWS Texas-Sized Schedule 2011 GATS offers diverse slate of events including 5k, concert, truck beauty competition and filming of American Trucker he Big D could be called the Big E. this month. Exercise, educa- tion, exhibits, entertainment and lots of extras are all on the schedule for the 2011 Great American Truck- ing Show, Aug. 25-27 at the Dallas Convention Center. T The second annual Big Rig Run 5k run/walk offers health-conscious at- tendees a venue for fresh air fun. The event is being presented by Truckers News’ Fit for the Road program. It is FYI Kansas Ups Speed Limits Speed limits on divided four- lane highways in Kansas recently increased to 75 mph from 70. The more than 800 miles covered under the new law include most of the Kansas Turnpike from the Kansas-Oklahoma border to Kansas City, Kan., and rural sections of interstates 70 and 35. Used truck sales drop Used truck sales in all sales channels dropped about 15 percent in May from April, due to a lack of available inventory, accord- ing to ACT Research Co. It also reported U.S. trailer net orders fell 9 percent in May from April, the second consecutive monthly decline for the industry. Despite that decline, commercial trailer backlogs grew 1 percent from April to 102,500 units. Texas OKs 85 MPH A new Texas law allows highways built after June to post an 85 mph speed limit as long as engineering sup- ports the speed. A toll road 12 TRUCKERS NEWS AUGUST 2011 under construction near Austin could be the first. Another new law increases to 80 mph the speed limit for all vehicles all day on an estimated 520 miles of interstates 10 and 20 in West Texas. The limit had been for cars only during daylight hours. Sleep Apnea Conference Set The American Sleep Apnea Association announced plans for its 2011 Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference on Nov. 8-9 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center. It is co-sponsored by the Fed- eral Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Adminis- tration and focuses on the role of obstructive sleep apnea management within transportation. Oregon to Restrict Idling Starting Jan. 1, commercial vehicles in Oregon are lim- ited to five minutes of idling an hour on property open to the public, with exceptions: idling for cooling or heating sponsored by Detroit Diesel, Freight- liner Trucks, John Christner Truck- ing, Right Weigh, Swift Transporta- tion and TA/Petro. Last year’s event attracted about 70 participants and more are ex- pected for this year. If you’re not prepared to run 3.1 miles join your fellow truckers for an invigorating walk. Pre-register by Aug. 15 to receive a souvenir race t-shirt. There is a $15 When: Friday, Aug.26 Time: 7 a.m. Where: Katy Trail Register: www.bigrigrun.com entry fee with a portion of proceeds being donated to the National Cen- ter for Missing and Exploited Chil- dren. Transportation is available to and from the race. On Saturday, Aug. 27, the Truck- ing Solutions Group will hold its Health Awareness Walk inside the convention center starting at 8 a.m. The group plans a health workshop conducted by drivers on Thursday at continued on page 73 NEWS BRIEFS during a rest or sleep period when the outside tempera- ture is below 50 degrees or above 75 degrees and idling up to 30 minutes while a truck is waiting to load or unload, or while loading or unloading. Love’s Opens Tire Centers Love’s Travel Stops & Coun- try Stores opened six truck tire care centers across the nation in June. The new tire care loca- tions are in Emerson, Ga., Ocala, Fl., Clanton, Ala., continued on page 71