Pilot Report

Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category

In 2009, 3,200 people died as a direct result of commercial truck accidents. Because of this, the safety board is considering changing trucking laws to only allow 10 hours a day of driving instead of 11. Many of the accidents caused in 2009 involved truck drivers who lost their concentration as a direct result of drowsiness. When you are in a big rig, one second of dozing off can wreck havoc on multiple cars and lives around you. Authorities hope that additional hour off will give truck drivers the much needed extra time to sleep. With delivery deadlines constantly on their minds, many drivers do whatever it takes to reach their destination on time, and this type of pressure can often lead drivers to forgo the amount of sleep their bodies require to stay alert and awake on the road.

However, this may not accurately represent the real reasons for accidents. Truck drivers consistently report the fear they have of other motorists. Some motorists make it very difficult for trucks to merge into other lanes. When driving something as large as a commercial truck, extra caution and care must be taken by the surrounding vehicles on the road. Turns require a much larger section of the road to complete and drivers often have large blind spots where a careless car driver can squeeze in, resulting in a nasty accident.

This new law may or may not be effective. There is no way to tell if all the truck drivers will use the extra hour for sleeping. Also, some people are scared that the lost hour will create an impulse to speed and make up for lost time. Many truck drivers already admit to goofing around at truck stops during breaks instead of sleeping. It’s not like a real curfew could be enforced when you are dealing with adults who do what they want.

The new law to reduce driving hours may be effective towards safety, but the delivery and speed efficiency will drop. There are alternative ways to increase safety without sacrificing the company’s efficiency. New technology is in development that can actually sense a driver’s drowsiness. There is also technology under development to relay important traffic information, such as congestion, accidents and road blocks, to a driver in real time.

Many technology companies understand the importance of road safety. That is why they are creating new ways to keep drivers alert of impending dangers. In the future, GPS will relay more information than just efficient routes, mileage, and estimated arrival time. GPS will also provide city information like cheapest gas stations, closest truck stops and even the best rated restaurants.

The safety board will be meeting with law enforcement truck drivers and experts to determine the situation before any decisions are made.

Trucking laws may change, but it is going to take real effort from truck drivers, companies and civilian motorists to make sure that our roads stay safe. In the future, technology may solve a lot of safety problems, but human intelligence will always be the best safety precaution.

Cindy Lewis is a contributing writer for TruckertoTrucker.com, a site which offers a variety of truck driving related service and commercial trucks for sale.

Every truck driver starts out new at one point in time. If you are starting out on your own it may be a bit of a struggle at first but with your new CDL in hand, make sure you take the time to learn the ins and outs of trucking so that you do not become a hazard to yourself or others on the road. There are a lot of mistakes you might make in your first year of driving and few of them might not seem like that big of a deal at first but you don’t want to find out the hard way because this can lead to tickets, losing a job or even an accident. Before you ever get behind the wheel, make sure you have your commercial truck insurance up-to-date.

1. Getting Lost

Don’t always trust your GPS. Break out your atlas and look at the route it has laid out for you. Are there any problem areas? Does it take you down any potentially difficult roads? These are questions you should ask yourself before you end up unexpectedly on a one lane highway looking at a bridge your overweight for with no easy way to turn around.

2. Driving Too Long

Pace yourself, you’re not going to impress anyone if you wind up killing yourself or someone else by dozing off at the wheel from exhaustion. The miles are difficult to get right now but like the old saying goes, “slow and steady wins the race.” If you need sleep, then sleep. Most truck accidents are caused by drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. Don’t allow this to become you – remember your limits.

3. Being a “Know-it-All”

Make yourself open to advice and criticism. When one of the older drivers tell you that what your doing is wrong, then it probably is. Most of the older truckers have been there and done that. They only want to help you succeed so don’t blow off any advice they give you. In the same accord though if they do give you advice that is one hundred percent wrong then show some respect and thank them.

4. Getting Distracted

Don’t play with your cell phone while driving. No one should have to tell you that texting and driving is a bad idea but it is especially dangerous when you are a new class of drivers do it all the time. Unless the text is telling you a family member died , and we all hope your family has enough respect to tell you over the phone, there is no reason to check your text while driving.

Always remember the basics of driving. It’s really easy to get behind the wheel and after about six months you start to think you know it all. Keep these tips in mind and you should be on your way to becoming a veteran truck driver in no time! Just make sure to stay current on your trucking insurance and share the road safely at all times!

People are frequently obsessed with the appearance and performance of their particular vehicle. This is true for men, women and teenagers whether they have a new car or truck or a beat up old one that they consider to be a work in progress. Of course the traditional orientation of males being the primary car enthusiasts and also the one’s who are typically seen working on and obsessing about the details of their ride. However, times are changing and it is more common to see women under the hood and they are also become equally interested and sometimes obsessed with their vehicle’s appearance.

Individual tastes and personal preferences for appearance are frequently seen in car color and various accessories. Tires and wheels are also an important visual factor for personal expression through vehicles though they also enter the realm of affecting vehicle performance. This is why many car enthusiasts realize that choosing the right tire package for your vehicle is important to its functioning as well as its appearance and projection of cool. With this in mind it is still extremely fun and exciting to pick out new tires and wheels for your car, and with increasing technological advances, doing so is also more interactive.

There are various computer programs that will let you attach particular wheels and tires to your car. You can change the color of your vehicle and accessories and also see what rims look like on your car . You can exchange various tires and wheels and see the actual difference it will make in the appearance of your vehicle. This is not only a fun tool in choosing tires but also helps many buyers to make their final decisions before entering the store or trying to make their purchases online. With the growing number of options for wheels and car tires, it is actually getting easier and more fun to make the purchase. You can sit at home and enjoy a snack or glass of coke while deciding on the best tire and wheel for your car.

Living in an environment such as the Southwestern desert, in the hot city of Phoenix, Arizona, I have had quite a bit of experience with my cars overheating.  The temperatures outside are outrageous in the summer time, the traffic in the city, and the heat of the engine all combine to cause that bit of stress when you are stopped in a traffic jam and the needle on your temperature gauge begins to creep into the red zone.

If this is not taken care of right away, the radiator will bubble over and you will be one of those people sitting in the hot sun as steam fills the air.  If this is a problem that happens frequently, it may mean that your vehicle has a leak in the in the hoses of your cooling systems.  A Chevrolet Silvarado repair manual will help you locate this on your Chevy engine, as will a Chevrolet S-10 repair manual.  My pickup truck manual has been used so many times, that I have taped it together, never leaving home without it safely tucked in my glove compartment.  If this is a problem even under normal driving conditions and in cooler weather then it may be as simple as adding liquid to your radiator, or changing a belt, but it could be that either the water pump or the thermostat may need to be replaced.

It is also a good idea to check your radiator cap, which is something most mechanics can do for you very quickly.  But remember, that should you find yourself on the side of the road with a vehicle that is overheating, never attempt to take off the cap while the car is still hot.  The hot water from an overheating radiator can shoot ten feet into the air when the cap is removed, and this is extremely hot water and steam.  And while it may be frustrating to wait, you must.  Always wait for the car engine to cool before make road side diagnoses.