Driving Downhill, in the Snow, with an Empty Trailer...for Newbies.

Driving Downhill, in the Snow, with an Empty Trailer...for Newbies.

Winter, 2012. 1:35PM. Sunny.

If I remember correctly it was early December. I'm new to trucking and traveling with my trainer in a 2011 Kenworth, model T-...errr, T something or other...let's call it a T-SixMillion, or some such nonsense. The company we work for pulls a lot of wallboard out of Gypsum, CO. We are flatbed monkeys on a mission. My trainer is the best the company has and, for that, I am grateful.

I'm behind the wheel heading west through Eisenhower tunnel. Trainer Man occupies the passenger seat and spews relevant advice in his mellow Mississippi accent. He knows what's ahead. I'm clueless—I may have even drooled at one point.

Exiting Eisenhower, he instructs me to slow to a speed below the posted limit. Following a brief internal deliberation, I do as he suggests because I-70, on the west side of Eisenhower, is snow-packed and slick. We move to the right lane, apply the 4-way flashers, and begin our slow descent down the 75% grade. Oops, typo. It's a 7% grade. He then gives me the best piece of advice concerning traveling downhill on snow with an empty trailer, which is: WATCH YOUR TRAILER. An empty trailer, he explains, is more likely to slip and move laterally into another lane of traffic, especially when applying the brakes. If this happens, he recommends placing panic at the bottom of the list of things to do. The fix is simple. Just back out of it (code for easing off the gas) and wait for the trailer to move back behind the truck. As I'm listening to him, my speed slowly increases, and my eyes begin to cross. Sure enough, I tap the brakes and my trailer moves 2 feet to the left. I immediately ease off the gas and my trailer corrects itself in no time flat. Lesson embedded.

Gravity Notes: On snow, an empty trailer is more hazardous than a loaded trailer because there is no weight on the trailer tires to assist with traction. This does not translate to ignoring a loaded trailer. Pay attention to your vehicle as much as possible while maintaining best safety practices. Makes it easier to avoid the pterodactyls that swoop down out of nowhere, grab your trailer, and carry it off to their mountain lairs, impressing the shit out of their girlfriends.

Stay safe.

Trucks World News: TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - Recruiting Trucking and Logistics Companies

Trucks World News: TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - Recruiting Trucking and Logistics Companies

Safety as a Service FAQ

I am collecting and posting faq questions about Safety as a Service.

Are your training courses available via the Qualcomm MCP200?

Yes, our courses work on Qualcomm devices as long as the Qualcomm device can get internet access and play flash video content(Which most can).  There is two ways to activate the courses to play on Qualcomm.  1. If all of your drivers will be taking the courses on Qualcomm then after you get logged in, click on the Edit Company Info link in the blue link bar at the top of the page.  From there, you can read the description and activate the Qualcomm version of the courses for everyone.  2. If only a few drivers will be taking their courses on Qualcomm, then you just click on the drivers name to access their account info and then activate Qualcomm for each driver individually.

Is it possible to pick and choose courses that fit our needs, and does each course have a certificate upon completion?

Yes, the system is setup for you to group which courses you feel your drivers need and assign them to your drivers and track their progress.  All you have to do is click on the Driver Training tab after you log in and after you have added your drivers to the system that you want to train, then just click on the assign courses link in the blue link bar at the top.  From there you can preview courses and add only the ones you want to assign to your drivers.  It's a great system and extremely flexible.

World Champion Cycle Jumper Gary Wells is Coming to Colorado!

September 12th Event added to CNS Schedule

Colorado National Speedway is excited to announce the addition of a bonus race event on Friday September 12th.

On this night, in preparation for the 2014 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we are excited to present:

World Champion Cycle Jumper El Gringo Loco (also known as Gary Wells) will jump 12 semi trucks for the fans at Colorado National Speedway!

Gary Wells Ceasers Palace Jump 1980

Gary Wells is a World Champion Motorcyclist Extraordinaire!

The following write-up was extracted from Gary Wells' Website:

Gary has been featured nationally on all three major networks. (CBS Sports Spectacular, ABC That's Incredible, NBC Late Night with Tom Snyder, Mike Douglas, and Dick Clark Special, etc.)

In 1980 Gary broke his own World Record in Melbourne, Australia with a 176' 4" jump. In the time period between January 1979 to April of 1980, there were seven attempts by six other jumpers (four English, two Australians) at this distance and all have been unsuccessful.

The American stands unscathed and has thusly created a class of his own. The media has deemed him "a legend": one hundred and ten World Record jumps and only one accident.

This accident being the infamous Caesar's Palace Fountains in Las Vegas, September 15, 1980. Fighting the toughest challenge of his life, Gary Wells completely recovered from the catastrophic crash (which would have killed a lesser man).

During intermission on the 12th 

EL Gringo Loco will jump 12 semi-trucks!

DATE, TIME and PLACE!!!
Friday night, September 12th, 6 to 10 pm-Colorado National Speedway.

More Fun Stuff

In addition to Gary’s motorcycle jump;

• We will be racing the Gillett Vet Super Late Models 
• The Lincoln College of Technology Pure Stocks and the
• RMLRA Legend Cars.

This event is presented by Gary's Job Board and CDL College to show our support of our Highway Hero's and to kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Come honor the people that always deliver your goods on time.

Gary's Job Board and CDL College will be showcasing trucking companies. The V.I.P. lounge will be open to anyone with a CDL, or anyone that always wanted a CDL. This is your chance to mingle trucking company executives and see The World Renowned "El Gringo Loco" jump 12 semi-trucks to kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Check out more exciting Gary Wells Pics

Amazing Truck Driver Skills Forwards, Backwards and Sideways

This truck driver has some amazing skills.  We don't hold truck driver rodeos like that in the United States: only in Russia.


Post by Triple M Sydney.

Creativity Attracts Drivers

Truck drivers get bombarded with job advertisements. You need something that stands out. The more information the better. 

Here is an actual email from a real life truck driver. 

You need to stand apart from the other companies. You're competing with every company that needs a driver. 

This is a good example of a creative company. 

The driver will see the information that you add to the Job Profile form.

The driver will see your CDL Job Profile from here and from the invite email sent from the system. Creativity Counts.



.

Did Anyone Apply?

Did anyone apply to my job? Here's how we notify you.

The admin for your Safety as a Service account received an email.







You will also be notified from your Recruiting Page at Safety as a Service.

You have three places to click in order to view your applications. They all take you to the same place.
















Stay Organized. Click the Edit button and make some notes.

How to Find Truck Drivers with Safety as a Service

Successful companies invite drivers to apply.

According to our statistics, the most successful users of our system invite drivers to apply.

Here's how you do it.

The Recruiting Page 


Everything is triggered by filling out Your Job Profile!

A Job Profile triggers the system to search for drivers that meet your requirements.

You need to invite drivers to apply.



Review the drivers that meet your criteria. The drivers at the top of the list are new to the pool.

See how many times the driver has received invites from other companies in our system. A driver with a lot of invites may indicate a popular driver. A driver with no invites may be ripe for the pickings. You'll have to experiment with this new feature. Please let us know what you discover.

Drivers that answer your invite will end up in this bucket.

Drowsy Driving as Dangerous as Drunk Driving

CDL College is interviewed by 9 News in Denver, CO after comedian Tracy Morgan was injured in a truck accident. The truck driver that hit Tracy said he had been awake 24 hours before the crash. 9 News came to CDL College for an experts opinion on drowsy driving.  http://cdlcollege.com

Mike White Says.....

COMMERCE CITY – Local truck driving instructors say drowsiness can give drivers the same impairment as alcohol.
"You're wasted," said Mike White, an instructor at CDL College in Commerce City. "It's like sitting at a bar all day."
Over the weekend, police say a truck driver in New Jersey hit a vehicle, killing one man and seriously injuring actor Tracy Morgan. A criminal complaint filed against the driver said he had been awake for 24 hours at the time of the crash.
White drove trucks for 15 years before becoming an instructor, and said he has felt fatigue behind the wheel.
"Your body just starts to shut down, because you're not doing something," White said. "A couple of times, it felt like I was bouncing my head off the steering wheel and almost rear ended a guy out on the freeway."
An Australian study found drivers who hadn't slept in 24 hours suffered impairment equal to a blood alcohol level of 0.1, above the legal limit.
It is tough to tell how many accidents are caused by drowsy drivers each year, since there is really no tool to determine it. The National Sleep Foundation estimates more than 100,000 crashes are caused by fatigue each year, leading to more than 1,500 deaths.
Commercial drivers were among those the NSF said were at risk for fatigued driving. But a poll from the organization found 60 percent of all drivers admitted to getting behind the wheel without enough sleep.
(KUSA-TV © 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

http://www.9news.com/story/news/health/2014/06/09/drowsy-driving-as-dangerous-as-drunk-driving/10265773/

Greg DeBaggis of CDL College Comments on Morgan Accident

KUSA - Monday, startling details emerged about the crash early Saturday morning that killed comic James McNair and critically injured three others, including actor Tracy Morgan. The criminal complaint against the Walmart truck driver accused of causing the crash, says he was awake for more than 24 hours before it happened.
The limousine Morgan was riding in was part of a chain reaction crash on the New Jersey turnpike early Saturday morning. According to investigators, truck driver Kevin Roper didn't notice traffic slowing ahead and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash. Roper's semi slammed into the back of Morgan's limo bus and several other vehicles.
Roper, who lives in Jonesboro, Georgia, has been charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. He is out on a $50,000 bond.
If Roper was awake for more than 24 hours before the crash, he is in violation of Federal Motor Carrier Administration rules.
Changes that took effect on July 1, 2013 require commercial truck drivers to take a 10 hour break between shifts. Those breaks must include at least 8 hours of sleep and 2 hours of rest. In addition, while they can work for 14 hours, only 11 of those hours can be driving.
Greg DeBaggis, a veteran truck driver and safety instructor at CDL College in Commerce City says that driving without the right amount of rest is almost as bad as driving drunk.
"Many studies have shown that 24 hours without sleep is equated to a .08 blood alcohol concentration for impairment, so you can take it from there. Someone who hasn't slept in that long is impaired," explains DeBaggis.
Data from the National Transportation Safety Board confirms just how dangerous drowsy driving can be. In 1990, the agency reported that fatigue probably caused more than half of crashes leading to truck drivers' deaths. And for each of those truck driver fatalities, they say another three or people are killed.
For DeBaggis, driving a tractor-trailer safely isn't just about rules, it's about respecting the responsibility of driving an 80,000 pound vehicle.
"I'm driving a vehicle that I could take out a family. One mistake, one attitude, error – not sleeping enough – just being in a bad mood, I could kill multiple people with a semi and everyone should take it that seriously," DeBaggis said.

http://www.9news.com/story/news/2014/06/09/driver-in-tracy-morgan-crash-awake-more-than-24-hours/10256899/

9 News: Interviews CDL College about Tracy Morgan

9 News: Interviewed CDL College's Safety Expert, Greg DeBaggis about Tracy Morgan's crash.

 

Safety as a Service is Proud to Announce a New Course-Professional Driver Attirubutes

The Attributes of a Professional course looks at what makes a professional driver with some facts and statistics about the profession. From there we delve into what makes an expert OTR driver. Our presentation will finish up with some rules of the road and a code of ethics for all professional OTR drivers. This one course of many in our library at http://safetyasaservice.com

How Steve Uses Cloud Recruiting with Safety as a Service

Steve explains how he uses Safety as a Service and Gary's Job Board to hire and manage his drivers.





Imagine being able to carefully screen and select your team of drivers without spending a dime on advertising,

Keep driver training current and driver compliance paperwork up to date, tracking those requirements and much more with 21st century technologies. Developing driver loyalty at the same time.

Now, imagine doing it from the comfort of your office.

Safety as a Service delivers that and a lot more…and…does it all for less than the cost of a single help wanted ad

.

Peek Usaility Test of Our Home Page

http://peek.usertesting.com/ is a cool tool to help you asses the usability of your websites. It is a free service. All I can say is "Points taken. Thank you very much". Check out our site for yourself http://safetyasaservice.com

The Opener to Our Blood-Borne Pathogens Class

Cool Opener to Our Drug and Alcohol Class

Discover A New Way to Find Top-Rated Truck Drivers for Fast Delivery

Hi there, I'm Gary!

If you've landed on this page, then you're probably a carrier

looking to post a job listing as fast as humanly possible. Well,

www.SafetyAsAService.com is perfect, as it offers the best solution

for connecting both drivers and carriers.

There's nothing better than using our easy-to-use recruiting platform.

In fact, we're constantly gathering driver applications. Why, you

ask? So that when it's time for you to hire, you will have a pool of

professional drivers, for your most urgent job. These are licensed drivers

ready — and looking for work. Imagine posting your job on our site and

within minutes having a list of qualified drivers to choose from.

How It Works

Just fill out our form below about your company and the job you

need help with.

We'll set you up with an account after that. The next step would be

to place your job posting up on our premiere recruiting sites

(i.e. www.GarysJobBoard.com). We'll give them all your info.

And, also deliver full fmcsa compliant applications to your account for

you to review. All you need to do is create the job posting.

We'll take care of the rest.

You'll soon receive talented, skilled, and safe drivers ready to be

interviewed at your earliest convenience.

Benefits of You Signing Up for a Subscription

- No struggling to find the right person for your job

- Instant access to qualified drivers

- More confidence knowing that you'll be taken care of

- Special and affordable pricing for carriers

- Simple recruiting process that meets all your requirements

And much more!

No Hassles, No Questions, No Problems

After a 30-day FREE trial, we are just $49 a month for our Driver M.S.C.

service. This recruiting platform is included in that product along with

other Management, Safety, and Driver Compliance tools. All of this to

help keep your costs down and your trucks moving.

So what are you waiting for?

SET UP YOUR PROFILE TO GET DRIVERS RIGHT NOW!

ATTENTION: To All CDL Drivers - Sign Up Today For Instant Jobs

http://www.garysjobboard.com/

http://safetyasaservice.com/

http://safetyasaservice.com/recruiting

Hi there, I'm Gary!

If you've landed on this page, then you're probably a driver looking to

land a new job. Well, www.SafetyAsAService.com is perfect, as it offers

the best solution for connecting both drivers and carriers.

CDL Companies are proud to announce our new recruiting service.

You see, the driver shortage is coming back and you are in demand.

Several of our clients have requested that we start looking for qualified

drivers. That's why we have created a one stop resource for the driver

and our clients.

It's a win-win for both parties involved.

How It Works

Usually when you fill out a form on another website that says they have

jobs available, what happens is they forward your information to 20+

companies, and you end up getting spammed like no other.

With us, once you submit your information you will only talk with us

and we will personally find a company that is compatible with you.

Only then will you be contacted directly by them.

And the best part?

There is no charge to you for this service!

We make your job search easy with better pay, better miles, better jobs.

Benefits of You Signing Up With Us As a Driver

- No struggling to find the right job(s) for you

- Instant access to countless companies seeking your skill set

- More freight more miles more money

- Simple recruiting process that will get you immediate results

- Completely free to search and apply for truck driver jobs

And much more!

Searching for truck driver jobs online can be exhausting, and can result

in large sums of time and money lost for you and the companies serious

about hiring. Now, that's where we come in.

We virtually eliminate stress and worry from your life. Create a truck driver

account within minutes. And then apply for trucking jobs you are interested

in. It's really that simple.

No Hassles, No Questions, No Problems

We have been in this business for many years and can easily and quickly

get you the job you want. Please take a look at the qualifications criteria

below. If you meet the basic qualifications please fill out the form and you

will hear from us shortly. All of this to help you get back on the road today.

So what are you waiting for?

FILL OUT YOUR FORM TO GET A SOLID NEW JOB!

Meet Bob…he is a CDL driver …and he is looking for a job…

Meet Bob…he is a CDL driver …and he is looking for a job…

He has talked to several consultants and sent his resume to many more…but what he has received in response is nothing but spam emails in his inbox…

He has applied to many positions ..but could never find a company where the opportunity suits his expectations…After wasting lots of his time , money and efforts, Bob realized that the most important step in job hunting is to identify a company that is actually interested in him…

Easier said than done…soon the whole process of job hunting has become  a nightmare for him…

Just when Bob was about to quit his quest to find the right job…he comes to know about GarysJobBoard.com…a unique job board for CDL drivers,that connect them with the real companies looking for drivers…based on their merits and selection criteria.

Finding  CDL driver job at Garysjobboard.com is as easy as 1-2-3

1. ·         Simply, click on the Drivers tab
2. ·         Fill out Driver Profile
3. ·         Click submit and that’s it

That’s it…Your work is over…It is now our turn

·         You will first receive a welcome email from GarysJobboard and Safetyasaservice

·         We will match your profile with the criteria of the Trucking companies, that match your expectations.

·         
       Once the right fit is found, Trucking companies invite you to fill out an application form

·         You will receive the link to the form in your inbox

·         The carrier receives your application-directly.

·         They review and call you for an interview.

You only have to talk with us, and it is our job to find a company that is compatible with you.

What’s more? There is no charge to you for this service.

Yes! Finding a trucking job that fits your expectations, can be that easy

Thanks to GarysJobBoard.com…Bob was able to find the perfect job and he has been selected at a reputable carrier…

So what are YOU waiting for? Drivers’ shortage is coming back, and you are in demand. GarysJobBoard is the one stop resource for the driver and for our customers.

Find your dream job as a CDL driver

To know more and get started

Visit www.garysjobboard.com

Today

Truck driving is a tough job…Finding and keeping truckers? Even tougher

Truck driving is a tough job…Finding and keeping truckers? Even tougher

Meet Jason..he runs his own truck carrier company…and like everybody else in the industry..he is struggling to attract and keep a CDL driver.... 

He has contacted several recruiting agencies, but most of the resumes were from the non serious contenders and he has no idea, where to find reliable drivers ,  who would actually love to work with his company

Just when he was about to snap…he comes to know aboutsafetyasaservice.com…a platform that connects carriers with compatible CDL drivers , easily and conveniently

As a member,you can hire CDL drivers in few simple steps

·         Go to the Recruiting Tab

·         Click on Job Profile Button

·         Fill out Job Profile

·         See how many drivers match your Job Profile and Search for Drivers.

·         Invite Driver to fill Out an Application

·         You will receive the applications from the drivers

·         View Applications

·         Hire the Driver you like

Amazing! Isn’t it?

Thanks to Safetyasaservice.com, Jason was able to hire several CDL drivers…who would love to work with his company…and he is now ready to grow his business manifold

But, there is more to it….When you subscribe to our all inclusive Driver M.S.C package … you get everything we offer with the subscription…including modules like

·         Driver Management : The fastest and most efficient way to manage your drivers. Handle everything from Recruiting to Training to Accidents. A total solution.

·         Driver Safety : Keep your drivers safe and your training costs down with our Driver Safety Solutions.

·         Driver Compliance : Keep your drivers and your company in compliance with our set of management and training tools.

You get everything we offer for the monthly or yearly fee…. No extra up-selling. No per-driver fee. .. It's that simple.

So what are You waiting for?

Recruit the perfect CDL driver in no time

Do more for your drivers and company in much less time and with minimal cost!

To know more and get started

Visit www.safetyasaservice.com

Today

How to Manage a Trucking Company’s Safety, Compliance and Recruiting.

We created a platform to manage a trucking company’s safety, compliance and recruiting.

Everyone involved in transportation is in the driver business. We exist to support them. It doesn’t matter if your business hauls goods, makes or insures trucks. You’re in the driver business.

Our platform helps you support them.

You need to hire, manage and train drivers if you want the most benefit from them.

Our platform satisfies that need. We all need drivers to keep our businesses running. We take a funnel approach to hiring, complying and training. A hired driver is funneled from recruiting to compliance to training.

Recruiting platform-

Advertise the need to hire.

Distribute employment applications.

Receive and review applications.

Did you find a driver to hire?

Send them to the Compliance Section with a click.

Driver Qualification File’s are collected and stored here.

Document accidents and incidents.

Make notes on each driver.

Track drug tests.

Do you want to promote a safe culture?

Follow the driver to the training portal.

Assign courses to all drivers.

Assign specific courses after an incident or accident.

Track course participation

Store and/or print course completion certificates.

The system is easy to navigate and use.

We should not fear the guys at Federal Motor Carrier Safety. You will have a safe company by following the rules. Properly hired,documented and trained drivers effect every corner of your business.

Hiring the right driver improves delivery times.

Improved delivery times bring more customers.

Documenting a driver properly helps during an audit or lawsuit.

Clean audits and less litigation bring more customers.

Safe drivers lower operating costs.

Lower operating costs mean an opportunity for expansion.

Expansion opportunities bring more customers.

Our boots are on the ground. We come from the trucking industry. We come from the training industry. Every tool that we make originated with an internal need. We create tools that scratch our own itch. As truckers and educators.

We offer those tools to the you. To make your job easier. To help you support the people that matter the most….Your Drivers.

You can use our tools for $500 a year. Sign up for a trial at http://safetyasaservice.com.

Driver Solutions You Can Actually Use

Hiring, training, and managing drivers is a full-time job. Sometimes, even each individual aspect of working with drivers can be challenging and time consuming. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if an innovative system existed that took everything and rolled it into one easy-to-use, easy-to-implement solution?

Safety as a Service: Your Source of Sanity

Safety as a Service is that innovative driver management solution. In one affordable monthly or yearly subscription, you gain access to a multitude of powerful, effective tools and training courses. Your subscription includes:

·         Driver management tools

·         Driver safety training

·         Driver compliance tools

Each section of this 3-part system is packed with valuable, practical, technologically advanced material and tools. It’s your one-stop solution for anything and everything that affects the drivers in your business.

Driver Management

Managing drivers takes a lot of time and resources when done the old-fashioned way. Safety as a Service’s Driver Management takes all of your tasks and streamlines them into one all-inclusive interface. Driver management tools include:

·         A management interface including a list of all drivers and their data. Perform tasks related to individual drivers and make important notes you need to remember.

·         Recruiting and hiring tools. Get matched up with qualified drivers who are looking for a job, keep track of digital applications in one place, and keep up with each driver’s or applicant’s drug test results and accident history without having to wade through stacks of paper files.

Share important information with the appropriate team members simply by creating personal login credentials. Safe, secure, organized, and fast, you have everything you need at your fingertips.

Driver Safety Training

Keeping your drivers up to speed on safety is crucial to operating a viable business. The driver safety interface is full of crucial tools, including:

·         Online training courses that are complete, engaging, and easy to use help drivers maintain their driver certifications while allowing you to keep up with their progress.

·         Accident management tools that keep important records and documentation.

·         Education about defensive driving techniques and speeding.

·         Mobile apps for digital vehicle inspection reports and truck rentals

Driver Compliance

As important as driver safety is making sure your drivers are actually complying with their training and your regulations. The driver compliance interface includes:

·         Tracking your drivers’ scores and completion of training courses

·         Easy-to-access records for drug tests, current driver files, and pending driver applications

·         An accident registry to keep up with all accidents and incidents that occur

Free Yourself to Run Your Business

While driver management, training, and safety are vital aspects of your business, they aren’t the only aspects. Safety as a Service frees you to streamline the management of your drivers so that you can focus on the other areas of your business that need your attention. Eliminate the clutter of paper files and the headache of tracking down the information you need by subscribing to the service today.

Safety As a Service Debuts Exclusive Recruiting Platform for Truck Companies