Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/39393
FEEDBACK Safety comes first … really? know a lot of companies and the DOT preach about safety, but I myself don't see what they are doing about it. I There are ways to get the aware- ness out to the motoring public. The motoring public needs to be more aware of the dangers of big trucks on the road. We have safety awareness weeks for motorcycles during the year. How about safety awareness month about the truck- ing industry? Give them a learning experience by using television, radio (XM, pub- lic broadcasting and Sirius) and bill- boards across America. Give them examples of accidents, the workings of a truck and how long it takes to react to situations, and what could happen when a blowout happens. Inform the motoring public about the dangers of tailgating. Introduce trucking safety in driv- ing school for teens. They are the new face of driving, and this would give them a better idea about haz- ards on the open road. Give them a grasp on the trucking industry and the dangers about the subjects listed above. I have been driving for 20+ years in the trucking industry, and I have seen a lot of accidents that could have been prevented with a bet- ter safety program in place country- wide. It has to start somewhere, and why not here in the United States where the motoring public is get- ting larger every year? Cynthia E. Kidder Channelview, Texas SO-CALLED SLEEP APNEA Over the past several months, I've been hearing and reading a lot about sleep apnea. Apnea shmap- nea. It's a non-issue for truck driv- ers. Us drivers know the reality out here. Not the self-serving, self- important bureaucrats. Here's how it is. Say you just backed into your parking spot for the night at some truckstop. Then, on your left backs in an owner-op with twin 8-inch chrome stacks droning away at low HOW DID THE 9/11 ATTACKS MOST CHANGE TRUCKING? Via Facebook: "9/11 made me more aware of the people around me, my surroundings, and has made me more alert to things that might look suspicious. Also, the hazmat rule change was a big one." — Jamie R. "More regulation: DOT can do anything if they want and penalize a driver for breath- ing wrong." — Riley M. "The hazmat endorsement now requires a background check every time the license is renewed. Also, security issues everywhere." — Jacques C. "Truthfully, what has changed? They readily admit they can't inspect every container coming out of the ports. They can make many regulations, but with police forces being whittled 10 TRUCKERS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011 down with budget cuts, how do the regulations get enforced?" — Charlie N. "Stupid hazmat finger- printing. I let [my hazmat endorsement] expire. It didn't pay me any extra, so why hassle with it?" — James M. "Hazmat-required fin- gerprinting and the [Transportation Workers Identification Credential] are a pain to obtain and not worth my effort." — Bob M. "I am more aware of what is going on around me and keep everything locked up a lot tighter." — Jennifer S. "They've gone a little crazy with the regulations that we now have to drive with. I should say, 'They've gone overboard!'" — Bonnie C. "I think the biggest change has been TSA cards, TWIC cards and all the other ID cards you now have to have. It should be one card for everyone. It's a financial burden to some and a time- consuming process to oth- ers. One person, one card." — Seth W. TODD DILLS