Federal officials are seeking authority to shut down motor carriers that employ officials who have shown “egregious disregard” for safety regulations.

Under the proposal, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would revoke the operating authority of a carrier if someone who has controlling influence of the company’s operations “engages or has engaged in a pattern or practice of avoiding regulatory compliance or masking noncompliance while acting on behalf of any motor carrier.”... Read More

I don’t remember exactly where I read this, but I came across the term, “niche celebrity” in an article about social media. The idea of the article was, through social media, bloggers, like here on Big Truck TV, are on their way to becoming trucking celebrities.

The first trucking industry celebrity, if I had to name one, would be Jim Hebe of International and Freightliner fame. What is funny, not only did I study karate with Chuck Norris, but I sold Jim Hebe on being a pioneer on rebuilding fan clutches in his dealership back in the 1980’s - so I know a little about celebrities.... Read More

So what will happen? The Bush tax cuts, payroll tax cuts designed to pull us out of the recession, and estate tax reforms expire December 31, 2012. Even though the Congress and the President are talking, the President, fresh from his victory, is lecturing in an inflexible manner. Estate tax liability is in flux. It’s difficult to achieve compromise and save face under such terms. Unemployment benefits have been extended ad infinitum.... Read More

“I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
And I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again.” The Who... Read More

The NTSB just announced their top priorities for 2013. Their top goal is to eliminate fatigued driving for the bus and truck drivers! Carriers will feel the effects of this and as far as I am concerned it is just another push to get carriers to purchase EOBR's. I'm sure Ray LaHood is behind this announcement by the National Transportation Safety Board because his own pressure has stalled short of his goal.... Read More

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) TV-

A Channel 4 I-Team investigation found 900 large trucks have been pulled off of interstates in middle Tennessee, just 8 of 96 counties, in a two year time period for serious mechanical problems that should have prevented them from being on the road in the first place.... Read More

Recently I helped sell a top-of-the-line truck seat to an owner operator. Our green program offers a monetary trade-in allowance on any truck seat. The owner operator did not take advantage of the trade-in program. As part of our customer satisfaction follow-up, I inquired as to what happened to the old seat. A green use would have been to refurbish it and reuse it in another truck. At a minimum, it could be stripped of all usable parts and the leftovers properly recycled.... Read More

The FMCSA is demanding perfection from drivers and carriers, but the question is…can anyone demand perfection from them? This agency is running amuck! DOT agents have admitted it is impossible for a driver to drive across our country without breaking one kind of law or another. ... Read More

Carla was in the kitchen finishing the dishes when the phone rang. It was 9:45. The sun was streaming through the window. She put down the dishrag and picked up the phone.

“Hello, this is John,” said the voice on the other end. “Is Pat available?”

Not too long ago, I was on an airplane heading home from the left coast. We had just reached an acceptable altitude to make use of my electronic equipment.