October

BEHIND THE WHEEL
Volume XIV, No. 10
2004
2004
OCTOBER 2004
“Committed to Safety, Courtesy, and Professionalism”
October
2004
The Maine Professional Drivers Association in conjunction with the South Portland Lions Club invite
you to the 7th Annual Trucking for Kids Convoy to be
held, rain or shine, on Sunday,
October 10, 2004
The sound of 18 wheelers, dump trucks, tow trucks
and many more will be rolling down the streets of
Scarborough and South Portland to raise money for
critically ill children right here in Maine.
CAMP SUNSHINE,
D.A.R.E. & OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAMS AND,
OPERATION LIFTOFF OF MAINE
A full day of events are planned at Scarborough Downs with a Pancake
Breakfast starting at 7am; Driving Skills Competition hosted by Northeast
Technical Institute at 8am and Convoy Registration starting at 9am.
All money raised goes directly to the benefiting charities.
The convoy will start off at noon at Scarborough Downs continuing on the
Payne Road to Maine Mall Road to Gorham Road to Westbrook Street and on
to Route 1, finishing back at Scarborough Downs where awards and trophies
will be handed out to truckers and trucking companies for raising the most
money.
Adults and children of all ages are welcome to come and check out the day’s
events full of food, fun, music and the chance to win some fantastic prizes
and raffles. Some of the best decorative tractor
tractor--trailers will be on hand for
everyone to see.
This event has raised thousands of dollars in the past and this year special
thanks go out to Scarborough Downs for hosting this worthwhile event.
For more information about the convoy,
please call Dick Brown @ 207
318--7395.
207--318
A pledge sheet for this event can be downloaded at
<http://www.mainepda.org/trucking4kids
http://www.mainepda.org/trucking4kids>.
>. Or you may contact
us thru email at <[email protected]>
THIS EDITION OF BEHIND THE WHEEL IS SPONSORED BY
EMERY-WATERHOUSE
PAGE - 1
BEHIND THE WHEEL
OCTOBER 2004
Maine Motor
Transportation
Assn.
BACK WHEN… IN 67...
You have trucking industry questions.
You have trucking industry concerns.
You can get trucking industry answers by
giving us a call today at 207-623-4128
or visit us at www.mmta.com
In 1967 Cumberland Farms opened its’ 450th
store. Now operating in 8 states and
employing 2000 people.
"The Stop That Keeps You Going."
MPDA 15TH ANNUAL BANQUET
The date of the 15th Annual MPDA Banquet has been changed
from October 30th to January 22nd, 2005.
Please take this time to think of whom you would like to nominate for the following awards to be presented at the banquet —
Driver of the Year Award
Good Samaritan Award
Sportsmanship Award
Special Recognition Award
The Harry Stiffler Lifetime Achievement Award
You will receive your nomination papers, along with a reservation form for the banquet and the forms for the Richard Esponnette Memorial Scholarship Award in mid December 2004.
For more information, or if you have any questions at all,
please contact Terry Stuart via email - [email protected] or
give her a call - 207-727-3704.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Terry Stuart, MPDA Secretary
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FEDERAL UPDATE
while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become
impaired, through fatigue, illness, or any other cause, as to make it unsafe
for him/her to begin or continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle.
However, in a case of grave emergency where the hazard to occupants of
the commercial motor vehicle or other users of the highway would be increased by compliance with this section, the driver may continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle to the nearest place at which that hazard
is removed.
§ 392.11 Railroad grade crossings; slowing down required.
Every commercial motor vehicle other than those listed in § 392.10 shall,
upon approaching a railroad grade crossing, be driven at a rate of speed
which will permit said commercial motor vehicle to be stopped before
reaching the nearest rail of such crossing and shall not be driven upon or
over such crossing until due caution has been taken to ascertain that the
course is clear.
§ 392.25 Flame producing devices.
No driver shall use or permit the use of any flame-producing emergency
signal for protecting any commercial motor vehicle transporting Division
1.1, Division 1.2, or Division 1.3 explosives; any cargo tank motor vehicle
used for the transportation of any Class 3 or Division 2.1, whether loaded
or empty; or any commercial motor vehicle using compressed gas as a
motor fuel. In lieu thereof, emergency reflective triangles, red electric lanterns, or red emergency reflectors shall be used, the placement of which
shall be in the same manner as prescribed in § 392.22(b) .
§ 392.60 Unauthorized persons not to be transported.
CONGRESS GIVES FMCSA ONE YEAR
EXTENSION ON HOS RULES
The Hours of Service rules which were put in place Jan. 4 and
later overturned by a court have been retained for one year by an
act of Congress.
The provision was included in H.R. 5183, which was introduced Sept. 29 and passed by both the House and Senate Sept. 30.
The bill was introduced as a last-minute effort to extend funding
provided by the federal highway bill which was set to expire Sept.
30.
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia had ruled
that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must revert
to the old rules and promulgate new ones. Meanwhile, FMCSA
had asked the court for a stay so that they could leave the Jan. 4
rules in place while writing new rules.
Public Citizen, the lead group in the lawsuit challenging the
new rules, wanted the court to force FMCSA to revert to the old
rules. At this time the court has not decided which rules should
be enforced. However, Congress decided that the current rules
will be in place until Sept. 30, 2005, or until new rules are in effect, whichever comes first.
(a) Unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by the motor carrier
under whose authority the commercial motor vehicle is being operated, no
driver shall transport any person or permit any person to be transported on
any commercial motor vehicle other than a bus. When such authorization
is issued, it shall state the name of the person to be transported, the points
where the transportation is to begin and end, and the date upon which
such authority expires. No written authorization, however, shall be necessary for the transportation of:
(a)(1) Employees or other persons assigned to a commercial motor vehicle
by a motor carrier;
(a)(2) Any person transported when aid is being rendered in case of an
accident or other emergency;
(a)(3) An attendant delegated to care for livestock.
(b) This section shall not apply to the operation of commercial motor vehicles controlled and operated by any farmer and used in the transportation
of agricultural commodities or products thereof from his/her farm or in the
transportation of supplies to his/her farm.
§ 392.71 Radar detectors; use and/or possession.
(a) No driver shall use a radar detector in a commercial motor vehicle, or
operate a commercial motor vehicle that is equipped with or contains
any radar detector.
(B) NO MOTOR CARRIER SHALL REQUIRE OR PERMIT A DRIVER TO VIOLATE
PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SECTION.
EDITORS NOTE: The above is not the complete Part 392. For the complete list
and explanation, please see your DOT Regulations Handbook, or visit the FMSCA
online at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.htm
———–
———–—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
REGULATION SPOTLIGHT
PART 392 -- : DRIVING OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES
§ 392.3 Ill or fatigued operator.
No driver shall operate a commercial motor vehicle, and a motor carrier
shall not require or permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle,
PAGE - 2
If you bought it…
a truck brought it
(Continued on page 3)
BEHIND THE WHEEL
OCTOBER 2004
(Continued from page 2)
FROM THE DESK OF DICK BROWN
I'm sure that most of you know member, Ray Rogers. Ray was
out four wheeling around his new camp on the evening of September 18th when he had an accident. The camp is about 5 miles
into the woods off the Airline. It was about 9PM and his eight
year old son wanted to go for a ride. Ray really did not want to
go in the rain but being the good Dad he is, Ray took his son out
for a spin.
This turned out to be a big mistake. The trails began to get
pretty muddy and as Ray was trying to make a turn, the ATV lost
traction and dumped both Ray and his son. As any Dad would do,
Ray tried to protect his son from getting hurt by standing up to
block him from hitting the ground. Ray tells me this all seemed to
go in slow motion. Ray managed to protect his son as he landed
on his Dad instead of being thrown from the vehicle. Father did
not fair as well as son. He didn't know it at the time but after
walking out of the woods and then driving to the hospital, Ray
found out that he had broken his vertebrae in two places.
Ray was released from EMMC on Wednesday, September 29th
and went to his home in Eddington, Maine. He is now resting
well and won't be going out on the ATV until his wife lets him.
I'm sure that won't be for a long, long time.
Rays phone number is 1-207-843-5432. Give him a call. I
know he would love to hear from all of you! Get well soon Ray!!
We are all wishing you the best.
Dick Brown, MPDA Executive Director
Andrew W. Holmes
General Securities Representative
3520 Broadway
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
(816) 753-7000 (OSI)
Member NASD, SIPC
Sunset Financial Services, Inc.
550 Forest Ave, Ste 201
Portland ME 04101
Office: 207-780-6391
FAX: 207-780-9809
2004 H. P. HOOD ‘MAINE’ COMPANY
COMPETITION
August 19th was a cool, crisp, beautiful day! Fall had definitely
arrived. Drivers for H.P. Hood in
Maine & Mass. participated in their
yearly competition. As usual Hood
welcomed members of MPDA with
open arms. Out of 23 drivers, the
field was split half and half between
Straight Class and Tractor Trailer
Class drivers. The day ended with a
huge feast where no one could possibly go hungry. Congratulations to all the competitors for a job well done!
The top three winners are as follows:
OMPETITION PDATE
Tractor - Trailer Division
2004 EMERY-WATERHOUSE COMPANY
1st
Brent Plourde
2nd
Kevin Funk
COMPETITION
3rd
Ed
Beaulieu
Emery-Waterhouse held their company competition on Saturth
Highest
Pre-trip
Scores:
day, August 18 . It was one of
Ed Beaulieu
Brian Beote
the rainiest days we have had in
Straight-Truck
Division
awhile. It not only rained cats and
dogs, but cows and sheep as well!
1st
Zeljko Grujic
Much credit has to be given to the
2nd
Wayne LaPointe
competitors for showing up and
3rd
Mike DeSouza
making the best of such a wet day.
Highest Pre-Trip Scores:
Not to mention the judges who
Paul Damon
Andre Rosenburg
stood in the rain throughout the morning. It rained so hard that
Congratulations to you all!!
the "walk thru" was given with diagrams under the confines of a
tent. The competition ended with a wonderful cook out where
everyone huddled together to keep warm and congratulate the
winners of the days event. Hats off to everyone involved and for
making the best of what could have been a pretty crummy day.
Everyone was a winner just for being there!
The competition winners are as follows:
A Strong Future Built on a Proud Heritage
Tractor - Trailer Division
———–
———–—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
C
U
Hannaford Trucking
1st Place
Ed Fernald
2nd Place Frank Foster
3rd Place
Ken Gray
Highest Pre-Trip Scores:
Tom Burr
Jim Chiasson
Frank Foster
Andy Maillet
The Harry Stiffler Memorial Award was presented to the highest score. This years recipient was Frank Foster. Congratulations
Frank… We know Harry would be proud.
PAGE - 3
(Continued on page 4)
BEHIND THE WHEEL
OCTOBER 2004
"I feel privileged to be able to make the transition from one
form of radio to the new technology that XM offers," Sommers
said.
Truck drivers were among the first to sign up for XM, which
launched in 2001, liking the fact that it broadcasts from coast-tocoast while other stations faded in and out from locale to locale.
HOOD INTRODUCES
Carb Countdown
Hood’s “Carb Countdown” is the dairy
solution for those counting their carbs!
As the only line of Atkins-approved refrigerated dairy
beverages, “Carb Countdown” is
available in Homogenized, 2%
Reduced Fat and Fat Free white
varieties, and 2% Reduced Fat
Chocolate.
Maine Professional Drivers Association’s
Behind the Wheel Newsletter Credits & Board of Directors
Our newsletter is published monthly for our members and advertisers. Any and all copyrights and trademarks are solely the
property of the respective owners.
MPDA Newsletter Staff & Contributors
(Continued from page 3)
Newsletter Preparation & Mailing
Contributors
Dave Stuart
Terry Stuart
Dick Brown
Terry Stuart
Denis Litalien
Dave Stuart
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2004-2005 MPDA Board of Directors
We salute all truck drivers for the safe and professional
driving you all do.
Without “Professionals” like yourselves, this great
country of ours would not be what it is today
Thank you for all you do,
Hutchins Trucking Company
President
Treasurer
T.D.C. Officer
Membership Officer
Past Presidents &
Lifetime Directors
Ron Hutchins
Pam Rogers
Cliff Gray
Peter Mortensen
Vice President
Secretary
Legislative Officer
Publicity Officer
Dick Brown
John Waisanen
Fred Thompson
Alan Paradis
Dave Stuart
Terry Stuart
Rob Fernald
Dave Stuart
Ron Hutchins
Denis Litalien
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ROADTEAM Captain
Webmasters
Fred Thompson
Dave Stuart & Pete Mortensen
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MPDA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting courtesy, safety and professionalism in the field of commercial
driving. Articles of interest to members, advertising copy, inquires, payments, change of address, comments, and newsletter
submissions should be mailed to:
Maine Professional Drivers Association / P.O. Box 5672
Augusta, Maine / 04332-5672
Tel – (207)-318-7395
Email – [email protected]
Website - www.mpda.org
75 Dartmouth St. - South Portland, ME - 04106
207-767-1692
BTW - ONLINE EDITION
We are almost ready for the ‘electronic’ version of our newsletter. If you have email capabilities, and would like to help MPDA
save money by downloading your copy of the newsletter from our
website, would you please take a few moments and drop us an
email at [email protected]
By providing us with your email address, we will be able to
notify you when the newsletter is ready. Also, by letting us know
via email if you want it or not this way, we will have your correct
email address.
We will not be sending any file attachments to you via email…
This only will be to notify you when the newsletter is ready.
Kris
Kris--Way
Truck Leasing
Dave Stuart,
MPDA Newsletter Editor & Webmaster
Kris-Way has grown from a single
location in South Portland, Maine to a
company that now operates nine service
locations in Maine, New Hampshire, and
New York
———–—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
TRUCKIN' BOZO HOSTS
NEW RADIO SHOW
Dale Sommers, "The Truckin' Bozo," now hosts a new show
exclusively on XM Satellite Radio - Open Road (XM Channel
171). The new show marks Sommers' long-awaited return to radio following a summer hiatus.
XM's Open Road is an all-trucker radio station. In addition to
Dale Sommers, Open Road carries well-known trucking industry
broadcasters such as Bill Mack, Dave Nemo, and Steve Sommers,
Dale's son.
In addition to the line-up of Mack, Nemo and Dale and Steve
Sommers, Bob Edwards, the long-time host of National Public
Radio¹s "Morning Edition," recently left NPR to host a new morning show on XM.
PAGE - 4
RYDER TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES
For all your rental or leasing needs, please
give us a call.
There is no need we can not help you with.
207-761-9084
www.ryder.com
BEHIND THE WHEEL
OCTOBER 2004
As a supplier of hardlines to retailers throughout the
Northeast for over 160 years, and as independent, mid-size
distributor, the foundation of our success has been a constant
focus, not on how many customers we serve, but on how
diligent we serve them. Through that diligence, we have
accomplished this.
One of the ways we have accomplished it was by making sure our customers
receive their products in a timely professional manner.
This is done by our delivery team - the Professional Truck Driver.
Our team of Professional Truck Drivers are trained in the proper ways of
operating their equipment. Whether it is a forktruck or a tractor-trailer, whether it is
paperwork or FMSCA’s Federal DOT Regulations, our drivers are trained in all
these aspects. This is what makes our Team Professionals.. With this training also
comes courtesy - courtesy that makes our customers realize they are being delivered
to by a “True Professional”
Emery-Waterhouse is proud and honored to be associated with the
Maine Professional Drivers Association
and thank them for their commitment to
“Safety, Courtesy and Professionalism”
An Equal Opportunity Employer
7 Rand Road / Portland, ME 04104 / 800-283-0236 / www.emeryonline.com
PAGE - 5
BEHIND THE WHEEL
OCTOBER 2004
UPCOMING MPDA MEETINGS
MPDA OFFICERS MEETING – OCTOBER 30TH
YARMOUTH LUMBER - GRAY MAINE @ 6:00PM
FMI - CONTACT RON HUTCHINS AT 623-4128 OR <[email protected]>
MPDA GENERAL MEETING – NOVEMBER 13TH
OLD COUNTRY BUFFET - MAINE MALL @ 9:30AM
FMI - CONTACT RON HUTCHINS AT 623-4128 OR <[email protected]>
2004 MPDA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(As of October 2, 2004 - includes events that our members are involved in, or are of interest to our members)
OCTOBER
5 -
Trucking 4 Kids Convoy Committee Meeting - Old Country Buffet Rest., - Maine Mall - 6:30pm - contact
Dick Brown at 207-318-7395 or <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>
9 Trucking 4 Kids Convoy Set - up Day - 9:00am - Scarborough Downs - Scarborough - contact Dick Brown at
207-318-7395 or <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>
10 - Maine Trucking for Kids Convoy, 7:00am - Scarborough Downs, Scarborough Maine - contact Dick Brown at
207-318-7395 or <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>
11 - Federal Distributors Driving Competition - Lewiston - Contact Dick Brown at 207-318-7395 or
<[email protected]>
15 - 17 18th Annual Food Industry Truck Driving Championship – Dallas, Texas
24 - 10th Annual N. H. Truckers Drive for Kids Steeplegate Mall, Concord, NH to Hopkinton Fairgrounds,
Hopkinton, NH - 7:30am - Contact Linda Rafeal at 603-435-6366 or <[email protected]>
26 - Trucking 4 Kids Convoy Wrap - up Meeting - 6:00pm - Old Country Buffet Rest., - Maine Mall - contact
Dick Brown at 318-7395 or <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>
30 - MPDA Officers Meeting - Yarmouth Lumber, Gray - 6:00pm - Contact Ron Hutchins at 207-623-4128 or
<[email protected]>
30 - 15th Annual MPDA Awards Banquet - RE-SCHEDULED!! Please see below
NOVEMBER 2004
13 13 -
Trucking 4 Kids Convoy Proceeds Presentation Breakfast - Old Country Buffet Rest., - 9:00am
(Breakfast 8 - 9:00am) - Maine Mall - contact Dick Brown at 207-318-7395 or <[email protected]> or
<[email protected]>
MPDA General & Annual Meeting - Old Country Buffet Rest., Maine Mall - 9:30am - Contact Ron
Hutchins at 207-623-4128 or <[email protected]>(note date change)
th
JANUARY 2005
22 -
15 Annual MPDA Awards Banquet - Location to be announced - contact Terry Stuart at 207-727-3704 or
<[email protected]> (note date change from above)
13 -
Tentative MPDA General Meeting - Time & Location TBA - Contact Ron Hutchins at 207-623-4128 or
<[email protected]>
13 -
TDC Set - up Day - Dysart’s Truck Terminal, Hermon - Noon - contact Cliff Gray at <[email protected]> or
207-623-4128
MPDA Hospitality Get-Together (for everyone involved in competition) - Room 230, Bangor Motor Inn - `
Contact Everett MacMaster at 207-797-6330 or <[email protected]>
Maine State Truck Driving Championships - Dysart’s/Bangor Motor Inn - 5:30am - contact Cliff Gray at
<[email protected]> or 207-623-4128
MARCH 2005
MAY 2005
13 14 -
(Corrections or additions should be sent to Pete Mortensen at [email protected] or 284 - 4933)
PAGE - 6