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FixonRoad.com™ Reports Proposed Amendments to Truck Driver Safety Laws

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

FixonRoad.com™ is reporting that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently in the process of proposing seven changes in the current regulations regarding truck driver hours of service rules. 

Roadside Assistance Truck DriversDrivers of tractor trailers, big rigs, 18 wheelers, heavy haulers, freightliners, RVs, reefers, buses and many other vehicles stand to be effected by the changes.

The changes to the truck driving laws are for the purpose of giving drivers the flexibility to take a break during the day.  This should reduce the health and safety risks of truck drivers due to long hours of work.

Among the changes to the truck industry that the agency is proposing are:

* Lowering the number of daily driving time to 10 hours from 11 hours.

* Truck drivers would need to be released from duty after 14 consecutive hours of truck driving.  All drivers would have the choice of taking two 16-hour shifts per week.

* Truck drivers would get a 1 hour break during the day.

* Limiting the number of consecutive hours behind the wheel by prohibiting a truck driver from driving if it has been more than 7 hours since the last off duty period.

* Modifications to the 34-hour restart that would have to include 2 periods between midnight and 6 am that could be used only once each week.

As expected the American Trucking Associations’ reaction was negative.  They feel that the proposed changes would substantially reduce trucking’s productivity. 

Hopefully both sides will work together to ensure the safety of truck drivers and all others on the road.

Truck Drivers should be able to get off the road when they are tired and should be encouraged to do so.  This would not only promote safety for truck drivers, but for all drivers on the whole.

It will be interesting to see whether or not these truck driver safety laws go into effect.  In the meantime, be sure to contact FixonRoad.com™ by visiting us on the web or calling us at 800-208-6364.  Our directory of truck tire service specialists and emergency roadside assistance is ready and waiting to help you get back on the road as soon as possible.

Fix On Road: Road Service Blog – Common Trucking Terms Defined

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

 

semi-trailer truck

A lowboy refers to a semi-trailer that has two drops in the deck height. One drop is present right after the gooseneck and the other drop comes right before the wheels.

A semi-trailer truck can be also known as a semi or tractor-trailer.  Did you know that a semi-trailer truck is known as an articulated truck or articulated lorry in Ireland and the United Kingdom?  In Australia, it is known as a prime mover.  Do you know what they call it in Canada and New Zealand?  A truck!  You didn’t need to have a passport to know that!

Trailers are what carry the freight.  The difference is that a semi-trailer does not trail completely behind the towing vehicle.  Instead it is attached at a point that is forward of the rear-most axle of the towing unit.  This allows some fraction of the weight of the trailer to be carried by the rear axles of the prime mover.   This configuration requires that both the tractor and semi-trailer are distinct in design from a rigid truck and trailer combination.

Synonyms for semi-trailer trucks  include trucks and trailers, transfer trucks, 18-wheelers, semis, big rigs, and transports.

Freightliner Trucks actually refer to the brand name of a manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, chassis and semi-trailer trucks  in the United States.  Freightliners have become synonymous with trucks that carry cargo.

A lowboy refers to a semi-trailer that has two drops in the deck height.  One drop is present right after the gooseneck and the other drop comes right before the wheels.  This setup allows the deck to be extremely low to the ground as opposed to traditional trailers.   Low boys offer the ability to carry legal taller loads that other trailers cannot.

FixonRoad.com™ saves you time and give you access to our database of Truck Repair Service listings throughout the United States free of charge.  All you have to do us visit us at FixonRoad.com™ enter the zip code and the truck repair service that you need and let FixonRoad.com™ do the rest.  It is our priority to provide you with the best Truck Repair Services & Mobile Repair Units all over the United States to get you back on the road as fast as possible.

Whether you are looking for On Road Mobile Service or if you able to get to a Service Station, FixonRoad.com™ can help.  We take pride in the relationships that we build with Truck Repair Service Centers across the United States and we are sure that we can help you locate a company that specializes in the Truck Repair services that you need.

Feel free to visit us online at: FixonRoad.com™ or call our Truck Repair Service professionals at (800) 208-6364.