Industry News

Prime shows appreciation for drivers

Prime Inc. recently held the company’s annual picnic celebration, complete with driving competition and Pride & Polish contest. The driving competition attracted 51 drivers and was held according to American Trucking Association standards and rules to help prepare Prime driver associates for state and national competitions. Daniel Smith finished first, followed by Duane Grimme and Chris Rowland. Glen Horack, winner of the Pride & Polish competition, took home a trophy, $500 and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Douglas Drake and Neil Fenty finished second and third, respectively. 

TCA announces driver-of-the-year finalists

Steven Recker of Warren Transport, Inc., and Larry Severson and Woodrow Walker of Dart Transit Co. have been named the three finalists for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) 2009 Owner-Operator of the Year contest, while Gordon Colvin and Brian Rhodes of Con-way Truckload and Richard Gassman of Greatwide Dedicated Transfer will compete for the Company Equipment title. The final rankings and the Grand Prize winner were scheduled to be announced at TCA’s annual convention Feb. 28-March 3 (after deadline).

HOS rules work but need more flexibility

Representatives from affiliates and member companies of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other trucking industry speakers told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently that the current Hours of Service (HOS) rules are working but need flexibility in the sleeper berth provision. America’s Road Team Captain Ralph Garcia, a professional truck driver who has driven more than 2.5 million accident-free miles, was among more than 40 speakers at the FMCSA listening session in Dallas, TX.
     “When the current rules took effect, I noticed that I started feeling better,” said Garcia. He noted that there is room for improvement in the current HOS rules. “Sleeper berth provisions make it difficult for drivers who prefer more flexibility with their rest,” Garcia said.

To your health

Heart attacks more common in winter

You probably know from experience that winter brings a surge in colds and flu. But did you know winter is also the season for heart attacks?
     “Frigid air causes blood vessels to constrict as the body tries to prevent heat loss,” says Dr. Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center. “This is a natural response that can put people with heart conditions and those involved in strenuous exercise at greater risk of having a heart attack.”
     The narrowing raises blood pressure and can reduce oxygen flow to the heart. Combined with a strenuous activity, such as shoveling snow, this can strain the heart, triggering a heart attack in those at risk.
     Symptoms of a heart attack may include pain, discomfort or a squeezing sensation in the chest, pain in the arms, back, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea or a cold sweat, according to the American Heart Association. Though women may also experience pain, they are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain.
     To lessen your risk of wintertime heart trouble, Anderson has these suggestions:
• Don’t jump out of bed and begin a strenuous activity. Limber up by stretching or walking first.
• Dress properly. Wear windproof and waterproof outer garments, place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe it in and wear layers. Bundling up will help maintain your body heat.
     The American Heart Association has more facts on cold weather and heart attacks.

     Source: LifeClinic. Used with permission.