A couple of weeks ago, my local news station had a story on the air just to remind people to not leave pets & children in a car when it's hot out. After thinking about it, I sent in a story suggestion for them that basically describes what truckers have to go through with the anti-idling laws in the US.

Today, I had a call from a phone number I didn't recognize. Well, it was a reporter from WBOY in Clarksburg, WV. They are *VERY* interested in doing a story on this. West Virginia's anti-idling law went into effect last year, but the reporter, nor any person in the building, knew such a law existed in WV, or any place else in the country. When I sent the suggestion in, I included the web link to the ATRI website that shows all of the restrictions in the country.

Needless to say, he was simply amazed that laws like this are allowed to exist. He asked me if there was anything OSHA could do, which I responded with something in the lines of No, because truck drivers are not under any OSHA regulations. I've worked in factories that OSHA forced them to do temporary shut-downs in high heat, but yet we're supposed to get 10 hours of sleep in 120+ degree temperatures. I explained that a trucker doesn't run his truck when idling just for something to do - not at $4/gallon of fuel @ 1 gallon per hour. I also explained that motels aren't the answer, which he understood.

He wants to do an interview with me, which is fine if they want to wait a couple of weeks until I'm home again. I suggested that he could go to the 2 local truckstops, Fairmont & Jane Lew, and talk to any number of drivers. He said he plans on interviewing doctors, lawmakers, and OSHA, as well as other drivers.

Maybe this is what we need to do to get the word out. The general public has no clue about it - so let them know.

 

Post a link after the story airs.

 

Good job Mal.

 

:bigclap: :bigclap: :bigthumbsup: :bigclap: :bigclap:



Malaki \m(a)-la-ki\ as a boy's name is a variant of Malachi (Hebrew), and the meaning of Malaki is "messenger of God".


nuff said :lol:

 

LMFAO Orange - my nick actually comes from the movie "Children of the Corn". You know - the freaky red-headed kid?

I'll definitely post the link to the story when it airs.

 

Something I had been trying to do for years was to take a driver along with me for a week and let him see exactly what a driver has to go through with traffic, city truck routes, and weather. But, about that time, some idiot from Maine took a reporter along for a trip to CA. Instead of running legal, the reporter got to see him find out about the scales, pull over and catch up his log book, run illegal, and a dirty UA. So, for me, it never happened. I sure am glad someone is taking a chance to get some information across to the public that they have no clue about. If you can take him along (And, by all means, RUN LEGAL by the book), do so and let him see what traffic does around trucks. Let him see the "Number 1" salutes. Let him know about all the rules in the name of safety and cleaning up the air.

I don't know how you got your hands on the ball, but carry it all the way. And, best of luck.

 

I hadn't even thought about having them do a ride-along, but it'd definitely be worth a shot. Hell, Celadon would probably go along with it just so they could get free advertising. As far as running legal, that's all I do now. Getting too old to fight the dumb s&it.

 

If you do get a "ride-along", be sure to point out all those huge campers and boats pushing the little cars up the hiway at excessive speeds.:thumbsup:

 

Good work Malaki..i hope the story will be more than 3 paragraphs below women's golf...

 

See if you can get to South Texas and leave him in the cab with the truck off to let him see firsthand just how BS that is.