The American Driver
From Drivers...For Drivers
Welcome to The American Driver...a site built from drivers for drivers.

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Drivers, while I'm out
sharing the road with
y'all.  Drop me a line.
Mike - JB
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info@theamericandriver.com
The American Driver ~ Truckers and Citizens of America
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SilverSurfer
Declaration of Indepence & U.S. Constitution Link
WINTER DRIVING - Getting Ready for the Winter Season
(By Warwick Ashlin - Challenge Magazine)
[ Warwick's article is well constructed and informative. Well worth reading. ]
From the LL Media blog:
Hit Stats
[May Update]
'09 y-t-d:  1,433,945
'08 y-t-d:  6,611,823
'07 y-t-d:  1,012,487
U.S. Nat'l Diesel Average
$2.608
Turn Down Hot Fuel
What it's costing you?
Land Line Magazine:
FleetOwner Magazine:
Thank you for all the
hard work and sacrifice
keeping this great nation
moving.  Safe trails and
may God bless all our
American drivers.
No matter where our troops may be, they're always in our hearts.
Bi-Tron Additive
U.S. Nat'l Gas Average
$2.695
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We Have Added A Free Program To Our Driver Services Page
Quickly get your "cost-per-gallon" average for any specific trip...
enabling you to calculate a FSC within a few minutes.
We Have Added A Load Board Page
We have located free load boards to assist professional drivers.
AskTheTrucker
"The Truck Stops Here"
Friday 6-8 pm (central)
AppStore
TruckerApp
CARB DELAYS REEFER ENFORCEMENT UNTIL 2010
Trucks that haul reefers in California now have until Dec. 31, 2009 to meet the
state’s “In-Use Performance Standards” for 2001 and older reefers, rather
than the July 16 enforcement date the state had been planning since January.
(
Full Article)
IT'S OFFICIAL...NO MORE 2HR PARKING TIME LIMIT AT VA REST AREAS
We want to thank each and every one of those who stood up and spoke
out with us regarding Virginia's two hour parking time limit at rest areas.
(
Full Article)
CALIFORNIA TRUCKIN': DELAYS, DETOURS AND INSPECTIONS ON I-80
Truckers headed westbound must arrive an hour earlier at a staging-type area
at Eagle Lake before the scheduled detour time begins. That time varies
weekly so planning is problematic. Before California Highway Patrol lets
trucks go, there’s a full safety inspection performed by the CHP.  The detour will
start at 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, so drivers must be there by 8 p.m.
(
Full Article)
REMINDER: ALABAMA STEEL COIL LAW
Certification grace period ended June 1st.  Law requires motor carriers
involved in transporting steel coils to use truck drivers trained and certified
in properly securing these coils. The Alabama Department of Public Safety
is charged with setting the training standards. A company that uses an
uncertified driver would face a fine of $5,000 to $10,000. The uncertified driver
would also face of fine of $250 to $1,000, and as much as a year in jail.
Governor of Alabama Press Release
OOIDA NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION ~ HR2200
OOIDA News Release
OOIDA TAKES ARBITRARY FATIGUE ENFORCEMENT TO COURT
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed a lawsuit
today challenging a Minnesota State Patrol’s arbitrary enforcement program
used to declare truck drivers fatigued and to place them out of service.
(
Full Article)
WATCH FOR CONSTRUCTION SLOWDOWNS ON I-57
A highway reconstruction project on the northbound lanes of Interstate 57 in Illinois from Benton to the
Franklin/Jefferson County line is scheduled to begin April 20, reducing traffic to one lane.

TRUCKERS WARNED ABOUT U.S.- MEXICO BORDER VIOLENCE
The Highway ISAC issued an “unclassified” alert the first week of March detailing
the increase in violence among Mexican drug cartels – on both sides of the border.
The main area of concern highlighted in the alert is in and around Ciudad Juarez.
The full ISAC alert can be read here.
MISSOURI CREATES NEW 'TRAVEL SAFE ZONE’
If you travel Interstate 55 in Missouri, be aware that the state DOT has
created a new “travel safe zone” on a five-mile stretch south of St. Louis.
The travel safe zone is in effect from Friday, March 20, through Sept. 18.

COLORADO DOT PREPARING FOR WINTER
WITH 60 MORE TRUCK PARKING SPACES
Officials with the Department of Transportation said plans call for the paving of a site for 60 truck
parking spaces on a 7.3-acre lot at the northwest corner of the I-70 ramp at exit 133 in Dotsero, CO.
Peter Kozinski, I-70 mountain corridor manager for CDOT, said even though the fairgrounds officials
posted signs stating the parking lot was "permanently closed starting July 25," they have worked out
a deal with the county that will allow trucks to park there until the CDOT site is open.  Additional
overflow space is designated on a frontage road between Dotsero and Gypsum as part of the plan.

TWIC
Nationwide TWIC enforcement began April 15

Workers at Captain of the Port Zones in Guam; Houston/Galveston, TX; Port Arthur, TX;
Los Angeles/Long Beach and San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be allowed to use “interim
equivalent security measures” through May 13. Those measures include allowing eligible
workers to access secure areas after their security threat assessment is completed or escorting them.

Standard TWIC enrollment costs $132.50, although workers with "current, comparable" threat
assessment background checks such as hazmat, the Merchant Mariner Document, or Free and
Secure Trade (FAST) cards may obtain a TWIC card for $105.25.  The card is designed to last five years.
NOTICES: