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Even with a voice in DC through OOIDA’s government affairs office, professional truck drivers are still facing an uphill battle when it comes to an estimated $460 billion transportation bill that will be drafted and divvied up on Capitol Hill.Congressional committees are drafting such a bill as we speak.By creed and work ethic, truckers as a group are not out there seeking handouts as other

Daytona 500 – the real reason it’s on my calendar

The second or third Sunday in February are dates permanently circled on my calendar. I always like to watch the 500. More important is that late February means the worst of winter should be over and spring is just around the corner, which in turn gets me to thinking about events and places we got to see while out there trailer trucking.My last 25 years on the road were as an owner-operator and I

Product placement

A little while back, FMCSA’s website posted informational sheets on sleep apnea and truck drivers.While the apnea statistics come from an educational angle, the pages raised eyebrows here at OOIDA because the group that helped DOT with its information – the National Sleep Foundation – advocates for many publicly traded sleep industry giants who are just itching to increase market share.As Land

A trucking term worth knowing

The word “indemnification” can be difficult to pronounce, and can also be difficult to grasp the meaning of. If you look up indemnification in the dictionary, you’re likely to find the explanation “to protect against damage, loss, or injury; insure.”As far as truck drivers are concerned, it could be explained as wholly unfair. Here’s why: Indemnification clauses in motor carrier transportation

Drivers need some truckin’ weather

One thing all truckers would agree on right now: We are ready for a break from the ice and snow.Being off the road this winter through no choice of my own, I’ve been sitting here in my Lazy Boy in front of the TV watching the winter play out. Watching snow, ice storms and blizzards happening around the country. Here in the Midwest – Indiana – we are used to winter, but this year has been a real

Tethered to dialysis no more

For the past couple of years I have written a series of articles about improving your financial health. This time I am writing you about protecting your health. You can’t drive a truck, support your family, or keep a business going if you ignore your health.One of the health problems I have struggled with over the past 30 years is polycystic kidney disease. PKD, as it is more commonly referred to