Scaling back on rumors

I’ve spoken with more than a few drivers in the past week who have heard variations of a wild rumor coming out of Ohio.In one version, police officers are walking around a truck stop with a bathroom scale and weighing drivers. In another, scale house means both the truck and the driver are put to the test.Before you discount these as just another rumor of the road, let me point why these stories

Cover your tandem

I suspect this may be an April Fool’s gag, but after getting more southern exposure at the Mid-America Truck Show than I cared to (and ladies, you are as bad as the guys), I’m all for America’s truck stop C-stores plan to stock the Plumber’s T-shirt from Duluth Trading.The company says in a press release that it plans to “hit the streets of Chicago during the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

Dee Dee’s big adventure

A lot of truckers travel with pets, and understandably so. They’re great companions on long trips. Dogs never criticize your driving, and they rarely complain if the truck stop restrooms are untidy or the buffet is subpar.Unfortunately, sometimes pets get separated from their owners. This happened recently to OOIDA Member Doug Coldiron and his Jack Russell terrier, Dee Dee. Luckily, Doug and Dee

Highway bill should not shortchange highways

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood acknowledges that a multiyear surface transportation bill is on the administration’s radar, but – with an estimated cost of $400 billion to $500 billion – he says funding just does not exist right now.The Highway Trust Fund has been surviving on a series of temporary extensions of the status quo as Congress continues to work on long-term legislation that

Citizen’s arrayest!

In one of my favorite episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show,” Gomer is ticketed by the always overzealous Mayberry Sheriff’s Deputy Barney Fife.Upset about it, Gomer follows Barney around, waiting for him to break the law.Inevitably, the end of the show includes Gomer chasing Barney’s patrol car after an illegal U-turn, with Gomer shouting “Citizen’s arrest!” as only Gomer could.Fortunately, a

Canada – part leader, part guinea pig

My home country of Canada is quite progressive in many ways. Whether that’s a good thing depends on your point of view.For one thing, being progressive helps give Canada its identity in the world as one part leader, one part guinea pig.In the world of trucking, progression has brought about mandatory speed limiters in Ontario and Quebec, sold blindly to the people as being both safe and green.

U.S. Marshals get new wheels

It’s an old but resilient rumor that truckers facing an out-of-service decree from an inspector can summon United States Marshals to spring them. It’s a good wish, as wishful thinking goes, and when Freightliner Trucks announced the United States Marshals Service (USMS) had bought two Freightliner Business Class M2 106 trucks to use as mobile command posts, I couldn’t help but think of them

Mouse’s bucket list

Did you ever see that 2007 movie called “The Bucket List” featuring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? It was about two terminally ill guys determined to accomplish certain goals or experience simple joys before they kicked the bucket.There’s not a lot of time to chase such things in the life of a hard-working driver. So it’s no surprise that a fellow trucker’s “bucket list” tugs deep on the

‘911: What is your credit card number?’

The trend of cities and states finding unique ways to dig deeper into its residents’ wallets has hit an all-time low in Loma Linda, CA.Now when you call 911 for medical assistance in Loma Linda, you could be saddled with a $300 charge. That is, unless you pay the $48 annual fee to use the service. You can read more about that here.Paying for emergency services really isn’t a new thing. Countless