There is no official language in the United States. But, for truckers, understanding the English language is a requirement. Some states do allow parts of the commercial driver’s license examination to be taken in a language other than English, but all applicants for a commercial driver’s license are required to be able to communicate in English. Period.

With all the talk about Mexican truckers coming over the border, this requirement to be able to communicate in English could come to the forefront of trucking news in the near future. But French-speaking truckers from Canada, Arabic-speaking truckers from the Middle East and Polish-speaking truckers from Europe (as well as those from other European countries who speak a variety of languages) have also had to comply with the English-speaking requirement.
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Tags: Commercial Driver’s License Examination, Commercial Driver’s License, Mexican Truckers, Trucking News, French-speaking Truckers, Arabic-speaking Truckers, Polish-speaking Truckers

The State of New Mexico is cracking down on drivers- and, this time, it’s not just truckers they’re after! The 100 Days and Nights of Summer campaign is an effort by the State of New Mexico Department of Transportation and New Mexico State Police to reduce auto fatalities by 25 percent in 2008. According to New Mexico DOT, summertime is the deadliest time of the year on New Mexico roads.

The focus of the 100 Day blitz are DWI, seat belt use and reckless driving. The bottom line: slow down, buckle up and don’t drink and drive. This is one DOT blitz truckers ought to be happy about!
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Tags: State Of New Mexico, 100 Days And Nights Of Summer, New Mexico Department Of Transportation, New Mexico State Police, Auto Fatalities, New Mexico, 100 Day Blitz, DWI, Seat Belt Use, Reckless Driving

The annual tag]CVSA Roadcheck 2008[/tag] is underway and we’ve received updates about various weigh stations around the country.
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Tags: Weigh Stations

Roadcheck 2008 starts tomorrow- June 3rd. According to CVSA’s Steve Kepler, about 10,000 inspectors will be working during this year’s Roadcheck. This year, inspectors will be paying special attention to seat belt use.

The annual CVSA Roadcheck is scheduled for June 3-5 so be prepared for increased inspections- both vehicle and paperwork inspections. Do not run with a log book that isn’t updated. Do not run with equipment that needs attentions. Your best bet is to make sure your brakes and tires are in good shape, to address any potential safety issues you may have, get those air leaks taken care of and be sure that your log book is legal- or stay of the road. Inspection officers will be out in various locations in full force- both at weigh stations and at temporary check stations.
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Tags: Roadcheck 2008, CVSA, CVSA Roadcheck, Inspections, Log Book, Weigh Stations

New Mexico DOT is set up at the weigh station at exit 267 on I 25. The reports we are getting say there are no portable scales set up at the location, but that officers are performing paperwork and vehicle inspections. They’ve got the magnifying glasses and the creepers out- make sure that your paperwork is in order and your vehicle is up to par if you’re running I 25 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The activity is reported to be on north bound I 25 but they can set up just as easily on the south bound ramp for south bound trucks. Most likely, this activity will cease by early afternoon but that is not a guarantee. Thanks to Fast Eddie for the info!

Ohio Commercial Vehicle Enforcement units are set up at exit 74 off of I 75. Yesterday, OCVE was patrolling the freeway. Today, they are tagging truckers, escorting them off the exit (exit 74) to the road next to Wal-Mart and performing inspections. If you’re traveling along the I 75 corridor, we suggest you make sure your equipment and your paperwork is in order.

Ohio Commercial Vehicle Enforcement is out on the prowl today along the I 75 corridor. A Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer is located at the north bound I 75 rest area near mile marker 81. Officers have been targeting truckers along I 75 and pulling them off into the rest areas. Officers are also reported to pull truckers over at exit 74. They escort the drivers off the exit to the road alongside Wal-Mart for vehicle inspections. The only consolation is that if a driver or his vehicle is placed out of service, there is an Outback Steak House on the road. We suggest that if you are traveling the I 75 corridor, you get your paperwork in order.

Tags: Ohio Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

As an alignment expert and owner of LaserLine, Inc., I’ve gotten used to being asked a lot of questions about truck alignment. Two of the most pressing questions I’m asked are what affects fuel mileage and how can we, with alignment, diminish or lessen those forces that rob us of fuel efficiency?

Let’s start where we should, at the beginning, which, fittingly, is the front of the truck. Barring any suspension damage, the only thing on the front of the truck, or the bobtail, which I will subsequently refer to as “the power unit,” that can affect the fuel mileage would be the toe setting. Toe can be imagined as a set of skis- let’s say your steer tires are skis.
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Tags: Truck Alignment, Fuel Mileage, Fuel Efficiency, Suspension Damage, Toe Setting

Every day its seems like there are more trucks on the road. And every night, it seems like there are more trucks trying to park in the truck stops- and not enough parking spots to accommodate them. When truckers are tired, they need to park. Hours of Service legislation requires a 10 hour break, and when enough 10 hour breaks overlap, parking becomes scarce.

One option for truckers is parking at weigh stations. Some states allow it, some don’t. It’s best to know ahead of time so that, if you can’t find a parking spot at the truck stop, you can have a backup plan! In Scalehouses and Parking, Part I, we covered California, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky weigh stations. This article covers Arkansas, Connecticut, Michigan, South Carolina and Wyoming.
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There’s a lot of hubbub about APUs (Auxiliary Power Units- or generators) these days. Yes, the federal government is allowing up to 400 lbs for trucks with APUs- or any device used to reduce fuel use and emissions. It’s part of the idling reduction strategy- to encourage truckers and trucking companies to install APUs. But that doesn’t mean you can always get it.
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Tags: APU, Auxiliary Power Units, Federal Government, Idling Reduction

As a result of the news story run by Austin, Texas, NBC affiliate KXAN about CoopsAreOpen.com, there are some rumors floating around.

One of these rumors is that Texas DOT is looking for us (and by us, I mean us here at CoopsAreOpen). They’re not. If they were, we’re easy to find. Just click “Contact Us” and send us a message.

Another one of these rumors is that CoopsAreOpen.com is giving truckers a bad name. We’re not. We provide truckers with as much information as possible about weigh stations, rules and regulations, and enforcement procedures. Information doesn’t give truckers a bad name. Organizations like CRASH and PATT aren’t going to like truckers whether we provide the information or not.

For those of you who’d like the real scoop about CoopsAreOpen.com, come look through the site, leave comments, contact us, and join our message board. You’ll find out that we provide you with a platform to share your knowledge and to learn from what others know.
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Tags: Texas DOT, Weigh Stations, Rules And Regulations, Enforcement Procedures, Truckers