Mary Peters paints a truck-free picture
Where are the trucks? Staff Writer David Tanner explores how the U.S. DOT somehow forgot to include
trucks in its vision of the future.
Time to engage the BS meter
Spin, distortion, misrepresentation and, in some cases, outright lies will fill the airwaves for the next two
months. You can count on it. With the conventions of both political parties over and the race for the
presidency in full swing, the challenge of sorting out truth from fiction falls squarely on the shoulders of
voters.
Update for you Hammer heads
"It's been a while since I've written a concert review," says Staff Writer Dave Tanner, who offers up a truckload
of compliments to The Road Hammers in his latest blog.
A meeting of non-partisan minds
"Hot fuel" came under the spotlight before two members of the Tennessee General Assembly recently at a
town hall in a discussion of energy use and conservation. Bill Hudgins was there and writes about his
interesting encounter in his blog today.
Tracking Ike online
Online weather sites, if you haven't checked them out, are nothing short of amazing. And it's a way that
truckers with freight or family in the path of the storm can monitor Hurricane Ike. Managing Editor Sandi
Soendker blogs on how some OOIDA members from Texas are keeping an eye on the sky.
Voting records can be had ...
Voters with "total recall" of how candidates voted in the past may have little problem figuring out who will get
their vote Nov. 4. For everyone else, some information on where to get voting records is a big help. State
Legislative Editor Keith Goble tells us where to get this info in today's blog.
Bienvenido a Miami
Sure, through the blue-ray sunglass perspective of television, the city of Miami offers sun, skin and glamour.
However, Miami - ranked as the fourth most urbanized area in the U.S. - has a seamy side as well. Land
Line's Charlie Morasch spent a few days this week with the crew from CSI: Miami. Well, actually, the
Miami-Dade Police Department's cargo theft task force, as officers worked investigations into theft from
commercial vehicles. Charlie blogs briefly and hints at things to come in Land Line's November edition.
Gaslessville
Middle Tennessee, a place that Land Line columnist Bill Hudgins calls home, has been hit with a fuel
shortage. In today's blog, he describes how it feels to be in the middle of that "gasless desert."
Don't follow the hammer
In India last week, more than a hundred workers were involved with bashing their CEO to death over a labor
negotiation gone bad. Managing Editor Sandi Soendker blogs about mob mentality and personal
accountability, and looks to Tommy Lee Jones for an insightful comment.
Let them eat doughnuts
What’s a toll increase worth in New Jersey? Why, a strawberry doughnut, of course. Staff Writer David
Tanner explains in his blog how the top official at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is sugarcoating the
issue of toll increases.
There really is 'power in one'
What's the use of making time to cast a ballot? State Legislative Editor Keith Goble blogs about the impact
one vote can have in an election. Some notable tight votes throughout U.S. history also are included.
Our truck is better than yours
For quite a while now, there's been a bit of a tit for tat going on between Daimler Trucks and Navistar
International. In her blog today Senior Editor Jami Jones shares her perspective on the situation as these
two big dog OEMs bark about which has the most aerodynamic truck.
Pulp fiction
Remember the good ol' days of yesteryear when certain financial institutions and comedian Drew Carey
were pushing the benefits of privatizing highway ownership? Oil was pushing $150 a barrel, and certain
energy analysts were predicting a potential rise to $500 per barrel. Oh wait - we just remembered. That was
only July. Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch considers our mercurial economy and thanks the heavens
the majority of our interstates haven't yet been snatched up by financial groups.
Programmable speed limiters for cars
Staff Writer David Tanner blogs about the latest technology from Ford, which puts programmable speed
limiters in cars to curb road racing and to encourage seat-belt use among teen drivers.
In my humble opinion
Saying that Bill Hudgins has some strong opinions about voting would be an understatement. Check out his
blog today and see what he has to say about the upcoming election.
House divided
Do you live in a household with split political views? Managing Editor Sandi Soendker does, and she wants
to know how Mary Matalin and James Carville stay together. More in today's blog.
Locking loads
Ever gone to dinner and come back to see your load with 14 pallets of laptops stolen? Good for you!
Unfortunately, highly organized teams of thieves have made an art of stealing, separating and selling
high-priced loads, and the TOMCATS unit out of the Miami-Dade Police Department has been among the
nation's leading cargo theft law enforcement agencies.
Locking loads
Ever gone to dinner and come back to see your load with 14 pallets of laptops stolen? Good for you!
Unfortunately, highly organized teams of thieves have made an art of stealing, separating and selling
high-priced loads, and the TOMCATS unit out of the Miami-Dade Police Department has been among the
nation's leading cargo theft law enforcement agencies.
Gasp - sleep study market growth slows!
Land Line Magazine and Land Line Now have focused a good deal on sleep apnea in the past several
months, and for good reason. Staff Writer Charlie Morasch found some news that looks to be good for
truckers. Check out his blog today.
Extraordinary Bette
Land Line Magazine Columnist Bill Hudgins blogs today about trucking photojournalist Bette Garber. Bette
died unexpectedly last week from a persistent illness. With her writing, books and extraordinary images,
Bette left a lot of memories in her wake. For Bill, one standout was a simple compliment from her on one of
his own photos.
Remember the Jetsons?
No, Mr. Spacely from the Jetsons doesn't work at Land Line and, even if he did, the intelligent transportation
systems of today would likely blow his mind. Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch highlights a weeklong
demonstration of intelligent vehicle systems in New York in his blog today.
Thumbs up for transparency
Nobody knows how to spend money like the federal gubment, even long before "bailout" became a
household economic term. In a post on Land Line's Web log, Charlie Morasch details one trucker and
OOIDA member's recent discovery that his 10 feet of flatbed load was worth a truckload of freight pay to
Uncle Sam, although a broker didn't pass along most of the Holiday Cheer.
How do we get un-stupid?
Managing Editor Sandi Soendker is thankful for the lessons of her 90-year-old mom, a former truck stop
waitress whose sense of the fundamentals never left her. Sandi blogs on Mom's take on our nation's
economic woes. Move over, CNN panel of experts.
Back pain? Need a 'walletectomy'?
The average guy's wallet is thicker than the armor on one of the military's new bomb-proof fighting vehicles.
And it's more than the potential lack of cash in it that could be causing a pain in your tail end. Bill Hudgins
explains why in his blog today.
Eye in the sky
Ever feel like you're being watched? Whether or not you've visited Web sites that show satellite images of
your backyard, the technology is out there. Land Line's Charlie Morasch weighs in on the price of technology
in a blog titled 'Eye in the sky.'
EPA to tax farm animals' 'exhaust'
The EPA is moving toward taxing cows, hogs and possibly other gas-emitting barnyard critters. In today's
blog, columnist Bill Hudgins clearly thinks this plan could be a sign of noxious things to come.
Thanks a million (five actually)
Remember when a billion dollars sounded like a lot of money? Six months ago, before bailout became the
buzzword of the day, California's proposed on-road in-use diesel retrofit rule seemed expensive at $5 billion
plus. Of course, it still is expensive, and Land Line's Charlie Morasch blogs about California's proposed rule
and what truckers are saying about it.
Heroes in the flesh
During OOIDA's Truckers for Troops telethons, Land Line Now has been soliciting handmade cards and
letters from children to include in the care packages. Senior Editor Jami Jones blogs about how special
these cards are for the troops and children alike.
Illinois: Where our governors make license plates
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plans to try to use campaign funds to defend himself against federal corruption
charges have Managing Editor Sandi Soendker thinking about a more creative way the governor might
finance his defense. What about those red-hot Blago custom T-shirts, stickers, mugs, totes?
2008's Top 10 Truckin' Headlines
It's almost impossible to resist taking a trip down memory lane when the end of the year rolls around. The
year 2008 was a game-changer for trucking with a lot of big headlines. Land Line columnist Bill Hudgins
shares his picks for the Top 10 Headlines of the year.
2008's Top 10 Truckin' Headlines
It's almost impossible to resist taking a trip down memory lane when the end of the year rolls around. The
year 2008 was a game-changer for trucking with a lot of big headlines. Land Line columnist Bill Hudgins
shares his picks for the Top 10 Headlines of the year.
2008: Goodbye, farewell, good riddance
It was a heck of a year. It doesn't take long to reflect on 2008 and realize it was a rough year. But it's a year
that deserves an appropriate sendoff. Check out the blog by Jami Jones.
Watching the watchers
Feel like you've got to give your birth date, Social and mother's maiden name every time you buy socks?
You're not alone. In a blog entry, Land Line's Charlie Morasch takes a look at our information-gathering
society and at what happens when our information is compromised.
Sweetman - He got the call you never want to get
Tragic news spreads faster than any other. Many of us in the industry know by now that our friend, fellow
OOIDA member and popular columnist David Sweetman's wife and best friend Laurie died unexpectedly on
Sunday, Jan. 4. With Dave's permission, Managing Editor Sandi Soendker shares a note to friends that Dave
has posted online. Got condolences? You can post them here.
Doughboys?
If you're like Land Line staffers, your new diet and workout routine either just started or are just around the
corner. All kidding aside, body mass index is a hot topic in trucking and apparently with Uncle Sam. Land
Line's Charlie Morasch takes a look in a blog post available here.
Truck drivers: rating the presidents
OK, we are not the Gallup or the Rasmussen poll, but last week we asked truckers who was the best
president of the U.S. in the past three decades. Who do you think truck drivers liked for the top spot?
Managing Editor Sandi Soendker reports the results in today's blog.
Working toward a 'better history'
We've got a brand-new president who says we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get to work.
"Choose our better history" is one way he put it in his inaugural address. It's reported that he plans to start
tomorrow. He's not the only one who plans to hit the ground running. Check out Sandi Soendker's blog today
and see who else is in the race.
Jim Bullins and his 'kids'
A retired North Carolina trucker passed away Wednesday morning. He's survived by his wife Mary, two sons,
two daughters and hundreds of other "kids" who also became part of his life. In today's blog, Managing
Editor Sandi Soendker remembers OOIDA member Jim Bullins.
Dazed and confused about the stimulus?
There’s no end to the questions raised by the massive stimulus package. Staff Writer David Tanner wades
bravely into the confusion in today’s blog.
LoneStar stars in 'Wired'
In today's blog, you can see why LL Columnist Bill Hudgins is somewhat amazed. It's not often that a Class
8 truck - namely the International LoneStar - makes a featured appearance in Wired, the digital world's go-to
magazine of what's cool and hot.
Texas Tea
Do you ever feel like you’ve got whiplash from watching diesel and fuel prices yo-yo? You’re not alone. Land
Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch digs into oil and the recent struggle seen at many smaller U.S. oil refiners,
including the Flying J.
Feeding the chief meter reader
Ever wonder what Cool Hand Luke would have done with all that parking change before he got sent to
prison? Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch blogs about one Pennsylvania town parking supervisor who
allegedly took more than $100,000 in parking change over a two-year span.
Paul Abelson honored at TMC
Last week in Orlando, Land Line Senior Technical Editor Paul Abelson was surprised with a distinctive
award from The Technology & Maintenance Council. In today’s Land Line blog, Managing Editor Sandi
Soendker explains why that’s so special.
Phat times for TWIC workers
Fat Tuesday and its relationship with Ash Wednesday may be debated on some blogs this week. At Land
Line Media’s blog, however, Fat Tuesday is the latest punch line in the long-running comedy called the
Transportation Worker Identification Credential. Read about the tie between this raucous celebration and the
TWIC card.
Phat times for TWIC workers
Fat Tuesday and its relationship with Ash Wednesday may be debated on some blogs this week. At Land
Line Media’s blog, however, Fat Tuesday is the latest absurdity in the long-running comedy called the
Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. Read about the tie between this raucous
celebration and the TWIC card.
TWIC gives muleskinners the blues
It seems that anyone who even occasionally visits a major port these days is required to possess a TWIC
card. What about colonial-era clothing clad seasonal canal-boat workers, you say? Land Line’s Charlie
Morasch dives into the latest mainstream news story about the Transportation Worker Identification
Credential.
Riding shotgun: anatomy of a protest
Land Line Magazine Staff Writer David Tanner hops in the jump seat and journeys into the heart of a
grassroots protest of truck speed-limiter laws in Ontario.
Check out the Pork Chop Diaries
Land Line Magazine Managing Editor Sandi Soendker writes a quick history of MATS. Senior Editor Jami
Jones tells readers about the first “wow” moment at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show – new lights
from Grote that are only slightly thicker than paper. Read their blogs and others from the news crew at MATS.
The ‘Pork Chop Diaries’
If the Mid-America Trucking Show were a giant Pork Chop sandwich (uppercase intended), the Land Line
crew has taken a big bite out of opening day. Read the latest news from MATS in the “Pork Chop Diaries.”
They’ve already said a mouthful with two more show days to go.
Persistence pays off for OOIDA in Ohio
The long struggle by OOIDA and the Association’s membership to push through a change in Ohio state law
eliminating split speed limits on interstates has been won. State Legislative Editor Keith Goble blogs about
the accomplishment.
My neck size? Excuse me?
Over the past few days, Land Line Now on Sirius XM radio has been reporting on the fatigue driving
evaluation checklist, a tool used by patrol officers in two states to determine whether truckers are “fatigued.”
The special series is written and voiced by Host Mark Reddig. And it’s created quite a stir.
Ad valorem tax
Ad valorem trucking tax is a boneheaded “property” tax used by Kansas, Arkansas and Kentucky to bilk
bucks from trucking companies large and small for miles run in those states. It doesn’t matter if you have
property there or not. If you ran miles in those states, you pay. Managing Editor Sandi Soendker explains
more in today’s blog.
Taking on the toll-happy
The American people are willing to pay for good highways, but not multiple times over. Some taxpayers are
demanding their money back, Staff Writer Dave Tanner writes.
Putting the highway back in the hero
At OOIDA's Grain Valley headquarters, it was an extraordinary Friday. OOIDA member and 2008 Goodyear
Highway Hero Jorge Orozco Sanchez was here to visit and do some business that will be a game-changer
for him. Managing Editor Sandi Soendker explains why.
Longer, heavier trucks won't help environment
Staff Writer Dave Tanner says Ontario's pilot program to allow longer, heavier trucks will not benefit the
environment as the mega-sized carriers claim.
Toga! Toga!
Contributing Writer Bill Hudgins has found a handy item that truckers might find useful. And it's stylish, too, in
a John Belushi kind of way.
No rose-colored glasses in trucking
Is the economy really that wretched? To many, the world looks fine. LL columnist Bill Hudgins likens this to a
David Copperfield illusion. You think you see it, but it's not really that way. Who has a real bead on the reality
of it? You know who - truck drivers.
The scoop on Capitalism and Trade
There's a lot of talk about cap and trade as a way to clean up the environment. But is it all that it's really
cracked up to be? Read Senior Editor Jami Jones' blog on cap and trade and the forces that drive it.
OOIDA’s food fight
Avoiding poisoned food is right there at the top of Managing Editor Sandi Soendker’s eating rules. In today’s
blog, she explains why being part of recent positive developments in food safety should make OOIDA
members feel pretty good.
Trucking goes to the dogs
This year’s SuperRigs left us with plenty of fond memories, and it wasn’t all chrome and lights. In today’s
blog, Land Line’s News Clerk Kerry Evans-Spillman confesses she went for the trucks, but stayed for
another contest that involved some barking and even a bit of slobbering.
What’s that toll increase for anyway?
If a turnpike authority takes in $56.6 million and only pays out $30 million, why do they need a toll increase?
Yeah, the rationale baffles us, too, as Staff Writer David Tanner explains.
From Steve in Iraq
Sunday is the first day of summer in this part of the world, and in Missouri it's already hot and humid. One of
our OOIDA members calls California his home, where it's hot, too. But for now, he's trucking in Iraq. Wonder
how hot it is over there? Managing Editor Sandi Soendker shares Steve's latest report to OOIDA.
Recipe for disaster
Ever hear of lawsuits filed by upset would-be spouses who are left holding expensive wedding bills when
one partner doesn't follow through? Imagine a $58,000 bill simply for the right to truck in California. Land
Line's Charlie Morasch looks into one family's expensive problem, which was not helped by the California
Air Resources Board.
Photo radar? There's an app for that
The DC police chief says using an iPhone app that alerts users to photo radar is "cowardly." Bill Hudgins
doesn’t agree.
It's all in how you ask the question
Ever wonder how pollsters come up with the results they do to some surveys? In her blog today Senior
Editor Jami Jones takes to task a recent poll - and its loaded questions - on longer, heavier trucks.
Shut up and just drive
LL Columnist Bill Hudgins is on a tear in his blog today about a recent article reporting on members of
Congress pushing to keep a study on cell phones and distracted driving under wraps.
I'm just sayin' the guy's a pro
Joey and Vicky Holiday are to the trucking industry what Ozzie and Sharon are to rock and roll. Managing
Editor Sandi Soendker rambles on this in today's Land Line blog.
It's just a bill - 167,000 of 'em
With most statehouses done for the year, preparations already are under way for the 2010 regular sessions.
State Legislative Editor Keith Goble talks about one estimate for nearly 170,000 bills to be brought before
lawmakers next year.
Start spreading the news
Most long-haul truckers have dealt with idling restrictions, particularly in places like California and New York.
You may be as surprised as Land Line staff writer Charlie Morasch was to learn just who thought he didn't
have to obey idling restrictions.
A rose to the National Enquirer
In late July, a story about an OOIDA member shared headlines with Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Paula
Abdul and other celebs. More on that from Managing Editor Sandi Soendker.
'Cash for Clunkers' cheated some
How is the Cash for Clunkers law stacking up? In today's blog, Staff Writer David Tanner tells why he thinks
the law deserves a "C-minus."
Homo multitaskus?
In today's blog, Bill Hudgins wonders if our driving habits reveal we are evolving into a nation of multitasking
motorists. How do we deal with that?
What is efficiency worth?
OOIDA has been fighting a proposed cross-border trucking program with Mexico for 15 years, although big
business is fighting to open the border. Land Line's Charlie Morasch gives his thoughts on the safety of U.S.
truckers and the American motoring public.
Bon voyage to the double nickel
Saying "adios" to the split speed-limit in Illinois ought to be proof enough that working together we can make
a difference. OOIDA's Joe Rajkovacz blogs a farewell to 55 on major Illinois highways.
Road work
Ever wonder how truckers fit regular exercise into their routines? Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch
delves into the topic.
Relieving congestion, but at what cost?
The concept of congestion pricing gives motorists a choice to pay a toll to get out of traffic. What's in it for
truckers? A hefty price tag, for starters. Staff Writer Dave Tanner reports.
Power and influence
An appointee with a long FAA history is President Obama's announced pick for vice chairman of the National
Transportation Safety Board. What the announcement left out, however, may prove to be as influential as
Christopher Hart's service with the FAA. Land Line Staff Writer Charlie Morasch tells why.
Minnesota FUBAR
Freedom of Information Act requests frequently turn up surprising and little-known info. An OOIDA FOIA
request is what turned up an astonishing unpublished report from FMCSA that has prompted OOIDA to
broaden its legal case against officials of the Minnesota State Patrol. More on that from Managing Editor
Sandi Soendker.
Governor Pilot?
Bill Haslam, mayor of Knoxville, is hoping to be elected governor of Tennessee. If so, what could we expect
from Haslam, who is also longtime president of Pilot Travel Centers? Bill Hudgins doesn't think it's too early
to ask.