Barr-Nunn earned this prestigious award by providing outstanding performance in a number of categories throughout 2012.  The criterion for the KDOT National Carrier of the Year Award is defined by seven key performance areas including Safety, On-Time Delivery, EDI Compliance, and more.

Barr-Nunn President Rene Beacom had this to say, “Kellogg’s works with some of the very best carriers in the industry and we’re happy to be included in that group.  We’re especially pleased to win this award as the National Carrier of the Year and appreciate the recognition.  I would like to thank our entire team for the ongoing efforts made to ensure that Kellogg’s, and all of our customers receive consistently superior service.”

About Barr-Nunn: Celebrating its 31st year, Barr-Nunn Transportation Inc. is regarded as one of the country’s best-managed truckload carriers. They are the industry innovator in driver pay and benefits packages. Barr-Nunn has a reputation for respecting its drivers and working diligently to anticipate and meet their needs.

For more information about Barr-Nunn Transportation visit their website at: www.barrnunnjobs.com or call 888-999-7576.

Memorial Day serves as the start for the busy summer driving season and AAA estimates over 31 million motorists will travel this holiday weekend.  So as motorists prepare for the Memorial Day vacations, a team of professional truck drivers are helping to make our roads safer.

America’s Road Team Captains, elite professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles, are offering advice on how to navigate through highway traffic and arrive at your destination safely. Tips include:

–  Perform a pre-trip inspection – Check your tire pressure, wipers and fluids. Simple maintenance can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road before you leave your home.

–  Plan your trip – Know where you are going and be prepared to exit. Indecisive driving is a major cause of traffic problems.

–  Large Trucks Have Blindspots – If you can’t see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can’t see you.

–  Do not cut in front of large trucks – Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting   quickly in front of them.  A fully loaded tractor trailer takes a football field and both end zones to come to a complete stop when driving at highway speeds.

–  Pay Attention – Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes. Looking away for even two seconds doubles the chances of an accident. Turn cell phones and PDAs off.

–  Allow a Safety Cushion – Look 1/4 mile ahead for a safe path.  Leave yourself an out.

–  Slow Down – Chances of a crash nearly triples when driving faster than surrounding traffic.

–  Keep extra water in your vehicle – Just as you keep a winter driving kit in your vehicle, it is important to be prepared when driving during the summer months. Keep plenty of extra water, sunscreen and non-perishable snacks in your car in case you are stranded.

–  Buckle Up – Safety belts are not a fashion statement – they save lives.

–  Abide by Traffic Rules – Follow traffic signs and signals – paying special attention to work zones.

–  Be Careful Backing Up – One in four preventable collisions involve backing up.  Be sure to look before backing up; walk around your car prior to departure.

“Memorial Day Weekend is the first big vacation weekend of the summer,” said America’s Road Team Captain John Lex, Walmart Transportation.  “There are additional motorists on the highway, with many in unfamiliar areas. For the sake of safety, drivers need to slow down, follow the rules of the road and be patient.”

The America’s Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.

Only Conversion Kit EPA Certified for 2010-12 New On-road Diesel Engines

Peake Fuel Solutions, L.L.C., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK), today announced the development of a new, transformative diesel natural gas (DNG) conversion kit, a product that will help heavy-duty truck operators save up to 30% on their fuel costs.

DNG allows trucks to run on a mixture of diesel and up to 70% clean, affordable, abundant, American natural gas.  When compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuels are not available, trucks retain the ability to run on 100% diesel.

“The trucking industry is the backbone of our nation’s economy, and Peake Fuel Solutions’ DNG technology can help the industry slash its biggest cost — fuel,” said Kent Wilkinson, Vice President – Natural Gas Ventures, Chesapeake. “DNG will help accelerate the trucking industry’s shift to a more affordable, domestic fuel.

Long-term natural gas prices in the $4-6 per mcf range will translate into CNG and LNG prices of around $2.00 per diesel gallon equivalent, or about 50% lower than diesel prices.   Assuming a typical DNG blend, truckers would save approximately $0.20 per mile on their fuel costs.

Peake’s innovative conversion kit has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a variety of engines.  The certificate of conformity makes it the only dual-fuel natural gas retrofit certified by the EPA, allowing DNG kits to modify a variety of engines from model years 2010-12 that encompass power ratings from 400 to 600 horsepower .

Peake began accepting pre-orders for DNG kits in the first quarter of 2013. Fleet and truck owners can email info@peakefuelsolutions.com to learn more.

Natural gas is a reliable and cleaner-burning source of fuel for consumers of gasoline and diesel, and the return on investment for a DNG conversion kit is typically less than 18 months. Interested DNG customers can calculate their expected fuel savings and the timeline for investment payback through an online calculator at www.peakefuelsolutions.com.

Additionally, Peake offers complete natural gas fueling solutions including the unique CNG In A Box™ system, a fully integrated CNG fueling supply system offering plug-and-play simplicity for fleet and retail fueling stations; CNG fuel management modules; and fuel tank modules in frame-rail and behind-cab configurations.

Peake Fuel Solutions advances innovative fuel solutions with products and services that use clean, affordable, abundant natural gas. A significant focus of Peake is to increase CNG and LNG infrastructure across the U.S. An affiliate of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Peake leverages the expertise of other Chesapeake affiliates to implement many of its fuel solutions. Further information is available at www.peakefuelsolutions.com.

]]> http://www.studentdriverplacement.com/tomorrows-trucks/feed/ 0 http://www.studentdriverplacement.com/preventable-or-not-one-way-ticket-to-bad-day-for-doe/ http://www.studentdriverplacement.com/preventable-or-not-one-way-ticket-to-bad-day-for-doe/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 17:09:47 +0000 Karine Parker http://www.studentdriverplacement.com/?p=2166 On a sunny Friday afternoon, John Doe was maneuvering his straight truck down Butafooco Boulevard, a one-way thoroughfare in Bear Paw, S.D., daydreaming about his impending weekend visit to the Harley-Davidson dealership where he planned to buy an “almost-new” bike from Billy Bob, the shop’s mechanic. ]]>

An impatient Porsche driver who tried to pass John Doe’s straight truck on his right side lost control, ended up sideways and was hit by both Doe’s truck and a car pacing Doe to his left. Was this a preventable accident?

On a sunny Friday afternoon, John Doe was maneuvering his straight truck down Butafooco Boulevard, a one-way thoroughfare in Bear Paw, S.D., daydreaming about his impending weekend visit to the Harley-Davidson dealership where he planned to buy an “almost-new” bike from Billy Bob, the shop’s mechanic.

Doe had just passed some parked cars, on his right, and was cautiously approaching the intersection with Main Street, keeping an eye on the traffic signal that, for the moment, remained encouragingly green. At that instant, Mrs. Mattie Crowly-Bubkis, who was stuck behind Doe, decided that the nasty ol’ truck was moving too slowly.

Fearing that she’d be caught at the intersection by a red light, Crowly-Bubkis became impatient and accelerated her 2004 performance-tuned purple Porsche around the right side of Doe’s rig and, losing control, ended up sideways, right in front of poor Doe’s bumper! The Porsche then was stopped dead in its tracks – after impacting the right front fender of a rusty Chevy van piloted by Gramps Grumbley, who’d been pacing Doe in the left lane! Next, Doe’s truck slammed into the side of the stationary luckless sports car.

After Doe contested the preventable-accident warning letter from his safety director, the National Safety Council’s Accident Review Committee was asked to render a final decision. NSC immediately upheld the preventable judgment, noting that Doe should have kept an eye on his right-side mirror. Had he done so, he could have avoided smashing into the maniacal Crowly-Bubkis.

“Blue was not only a superior driver, but he was also a wonderful, caring person,” said Betty Nix, director of recruiting for Boyd Bros. “He was always thinking of others and watching out for other people.”

Achieving one or two million miles of safe driving is a difficult feat for any driver. It takes drivers many years of hard work, dedication and attention to detail to reach this milestone. Blue earned his four millionth mile in August 2006. Boyd Bros. honored Blue by hosting a large Nathaniel Blue Day celebration and presenting him with a sizeable check and brand new truck. Blue and his family were also invited to visit Alabama Gov. Bob Riley’s office at the state capitol for a proclamation ceremony.

Nathanial Blue and his family attend a proclamation ceremony with former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.

“To be the kind of driver Blue was, you have to focus, be smart and be cautious,” Nix said of Blue, who retired from driving in 2009. “He was an exceptional man and a loyal employee to Boyd Bros. He’ll be greatly missed by our Boyd Bros. family.”

Boyd Bros. driver benefits include medical and life insurance plans, a referral bonus program and the opportunity to have 24-hours of home time every weekend in 80 percent of its hiring areas. The company also offers late-model equipment, substantial freight, load matching and high standards for safety and service, ensuring productivity and success. For more information about the services or career opportunities at Boyd Bros., visit www.driveforboyd.com or call 800-543-8923.

Routing A Semi Requires Truck-Specific GPS Data

By Tom Kelley

While the GPS signal that allows any GPS receiver to determine its location is the same no matter what type or brand of receiver is being used, how that receiver eventually uses that signal is a critical differentiator, especially where trucks are concerned. Most GPS-based navigation systems employ extensive mapping software that includes road maps and Point-Of-Interest (POI) databases.

Generally speaking, this mapping software is very effective at getting you from here to there, whether you’re on foot, on public transit or in a car; but not if you’re in a commercial truck. Although the paths and destinations may be the same no matter how you get there, many routes are not truck-friendly, whether due to weight restrictions, bridge height clearances, or prohibition of hazardous cargo.

Much of the most direct/efficient route calculated by a standard GPS receiver may be fine for commercial truck travel, but you won’t know there’s a low-clearance bridge 20 miles down a two-lane road until you get there, and if warning signs are obscured, you might not know about that bridge until it brings you to a loud and sudden stop.

The reliance on standard GPS receivers by some truckers has been linked to an apparent increase in trucks striking low-clearance bridges. So much so that legislators and the FMCSA have recently begun outreach programs admonishing truckers to ensure that the mapping database used in their GPS devices contains full and up-to-date coverage of truck-related road restrictions.

Senator Chuck Schumer recently announced that the FMCSA would begin issuing official recommendations to members of the commercial trucking industry on the proper uses of GPS devices and incorporate GPS training into new entry-level certification programs for commercial motor vehicle operators.

Last September, Schumer called on the DOT to investigate the dramatic increase in low bridge strikes by commercial trucks across New York State as a result of the growing use of GPS by drivers. According to reports from local police organizations, GPS-related bridge strikes in New York represent over 80 percent of all such accidents.

According to the announcement, “This means that commercial drivers will be trained, and reminded, to only use GPS systems designed specifically for the industry. These specialized units take into account the specifics of the truck they’re in – including the height, weight and contents – and will then route the trucks onto appropriate roads.”

“These education and training campaigns for commercial truck drivers will be the first major steps to thwarting life-threatening bridge strikes that have been causing massive delays and imposing significant costs on taxpayers with increasing frequency in recent years,” said Schumer. “These steps will help to once again make GPS devices an asset to drivers, and not a dangerously misused tool.”

More recently, the FMCSA created and released a visor card specifically for truck and bus drivers on how to choose the right navigation system intended for them. The visor card gives tips for safe use of navigation systems, and can be downloaded free-of-charge.

One of the top truck-specific map databases for GPS systems comes from Rand McNally, a company that had been compiling truck route restrictions and incorporating them into mapping products long before in-vehicle navigation software was widely available, and even before GPS was available for civilian use. With this lengthy track record, truckers can rely on the accuracy of Rand McNally’s truck routing products.

“Rand McNally has always advocated the ‘right tool for the job’ to assist professional drivers. We understand that routing a tractor-trailer is very different from routing a car,” says Kendra Ensor, Rand McNally’s VP of Marketing. “For decades we’ve researched and published the Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas, which highlights designated truck routes. And with our IntelliRoute TND truck-specific GPS devices, our GIS professionals spend thousands of hours each year further researching and updating the map database to help ensure that we have the most complete truck routing information available.

At this year’s Mid America Trucking Show, Rand McNally released its new IntelliRoute TND 520 connected GPS device for professional drivers. The TND 520, which includes a new ruggedized case, Lifetime Maps, and a host of new features, is available for a suggested retail price $299.99 of at trucking travel centers and online retail locations.

The new 5-inch device includes Wi-Fi connectivity that enables a number of new real-time data services, most of which will be standard on the device without any subscription fee. The ability to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi leverages Rand McNally’s truck GPS platform to provide information and services important to professional drivers.

Premium and standard connected services enabled for the TND 520 include:

Traffic Everywhere, weather updates, fuel prices, and local search. In addition to its connected capabilities, the TND 520 is built with software featuring updated maps and routing, a “Compare Routes” function, team driver timers, address book transfers, and fuel economy tracking.

“Our direction has always been to provide additional services and benefits to drivers who use our products,” said Rand McNally CEO Dave Muscatel. “Our first TND device wasn’t just a GPS built for trucks – it also contained tools and applications to help drivers manage their businesses. These latest connected services are an extension of that direction.”

Volvo’s Social Media Toolbox Has Something For Everybody

By Tom Kelley

While truckers have been among the early adopters of most social media platforms, the corporate players in the trucking industry were a bit behind getting into the game. Over the last 12-15 months, many of the top OEMs and suppliers have made up for lost time. Thanks to a recent infusion of young(er) blood in its marketing and communications team, Volvo Trucks has grown to be among the most prolific truck-related participants in social media.

Like most social media marketing players, Volvo has all the conventional channels covered, with a presence on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Where the company has gone above and beyond, however, is in the deployment of “apps” for smartphones and media tablet devices. All of the Volvo apps can be downloaded for free.

Dealer Locator

The Volvo Dealer Locator app is the easiest way for smartphone and media tablet users to access dealer information on their mobile device. The free app allows users to quickly view the nearest dealer’s contact information, address and available services, all with single-click access to connect instantly with the dealer. Users can also search an alphabetical list by state or province to find any dealer in Volvo’s North American network. With real-time location tracking, the app can identify the user’s current location and provide turn-by-turn driving directions to the selected dealership.

Driver’s Digest

Volvo’s Driver’s Digest magazine app enables iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users to access to digital editions of the company’s quarterly trucking magazine. Driver’s Digest features stories about drivers and their experiences on and off the road. The magazine also details the latest products, services and technologies offered to Volvo customers.

Fueldrop Mobile Game

“Fueldrop” is Volvo’s iPad-based fuel economy challenge game. To play the game, a player guides a drop of fuel through a Super-Mario-like path of obstacles to progress through an increasingly difficult series of levels. Along the way, the game throws random challenges to fuel economy at the player.

The object of the game is to make the most out of every drop of fuel throughout each level. Volvo engineers contributed expertise to help integrate engine-component elements into the game’s graphics, as well as helping to incorporate random hot, cold and wet obstacles – all real-life fuel-economy challenges – into the course of play.

Online Scavenger Hunt

The launch of the Fueldrop coincided with the beginning of an online scavenger hunt for US participants, highlighting Volvo’s past and present. Within the Fueldrop game are clues, which the player can use to find additional clues embedded within Volvo’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, website, videos, ads, and archived issues of Driver’s Digest. The clues eventually lead to prizes, eight iPads awarded over the course of 16 weeks.

Worldtrucker Community

The easiest way to describe the Worldtrucker online community is to call it a variation of Facebook designed specifically for truckers.

Worldtrucker.com is a place for those who want to share their passion for trucks and the life on the road with other like-minded people from all over the world. The community helps drivers keep in touch with their families, friends and colleagues.

Although Worldtrucker was created by Volvo, it is intended to be a meeting place for all truckers, regardless of what truck brand they drive or prefer. Initially launched in 2011, the online community now has more than 21,000 members representing more than 100 countries.

Worldtrucker is available in 18 languages and its members have uploaded more than 120,000 photos of trucks and life on the road.

When it was originally launched, the primary access to Worldtrucker was through the web. In March at the Mid America Trucking Show, celebrity trucker Lisa Kelly of “Ice Road Truckers” and “IRT: Deadliest Roads”  fame was on hand to launch the Worldtrucker mobile app. An active member of the Worldtrucker community, Kelly was one of the first to try the app during a visit to Sweden.

“The new Worldtrucker app and website allows truckers to connect with other truckers all over the world and share their stories and passion for life on the road,” Kelly said. “The Worldtrucker app is, of course, designed for truckers, by truckers. So come on, join the family.”

The Worldtrucker mobile app optimizes the online community functions to leverage many of the features found on smartphones and media tablets.

For example, community members can share photos from the road by direct upload through their mobile phone.

Check it out at:

Web: worldtrucker.com

volvotrucks.com

Facebook: facebook.com/VolvoTrucksUnitedStates

facebook.com/VolvoTrucksCanada

YouTube: youtube.com/user/VolvoTrucksUSA

Twitter: twitter.com/VolvoTrucksNA

This decision will be no big deal for you since you are not a criminal transporting drugs or stolen property (I hope).  But how could this simple difference affect you?

I think this could allow law enforcement, or anyone else, to track you by tracking your cellphone.  No need to attach a GPS unit to your car.  Most people carry their cellphone with them at all times so not only is there the capability to track your car’s movements but your personal movements.  You are carrying a GPS in your pocket or purse because you want to.  I think this because the 6^th Circuit said the carrier of a cellphone has no expectation of privacy for data emanating from his cellphone.

The 6^th Circuit in US v Skinner said:

 When criminals use modern technological devices to carry out criminal acts and to reduce the possibility of detection, they can hardly complain when the police take advantage of the inherent characteristics of those very devices to catch them. This is not a case in which the government secretly placed a tracking device in someone’s car. The drug runners in this case used pay-as-you-go (and thus presumably more difficult to trace) cell phones to communicate during the cross-country shipment of drugs. Unfortunately for the drug runners, the phones were trackable in a way they may not have suspected. The Constitution, however, does not protect their erroneous expectations regarding the undetectability of their modern tools. 

Jim C. Klepper is President of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation’s commercial drivers.  Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the forty-eight (48) states on both moving and non-moving violations. Jim is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at greatly discounted rates.  Jim, a former prosecutor, is also a registered pharmacist, with considerable experience in alcohol and drug related cases.  He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has his Commercial Drivers License.

800-333-DRIVE (3748) or www.interstatetrucker.com and www.driverslegalplan.com

List the top three reasons you’d like to continue in trucking?

Naomi: I enjoy the freedom. I love the adventure, meeting new people. I work for an amazing company; no FORCED dispatch, so if there are 8 different locations, I can pick the one to go to. I get to see my family a lot!!! I always find time to grab a bite or a large iced tea with friends and family.

Ben: It’s a good job. You get to see a lot of places. Great job security; as long as you keep your nose clean and we don’t run out of diesel, you’ll have a job. Also, it gets me out of the house and keeps me out of trouble.

List the three biggest challenges that have caused you to consider leaving truck driving?

Naomi: I met an amazing man, a driver. But being apart is agonizing, never knowing when we’ll see each other. So I was thinking about staying home. I’m so family-oriented I’d love to spend tons of time with my children and grandchildren.

I hate sitting at shippers or receivers for hours on end. But I know the industry. Life is what it is. I know what can happen, so I’ve decided to stay on the road.

Ben: The FMCSA keeps changing and adding rules that really don’t make sense. Trying to find parking at nighttime so I don’t violate the FMCSA rules, that’s almost impossible. When I’m stuck somewhere and can’t get a load, I have to wait; I make no money. But I’m going to keep truckin’.

If you could do a start-over, what would you do differently?

Naomi: Not go to a big-name school for training. It was horrendous. And I never would’ve teamed with my best friend of 20 years. It destroyed our friendship.

Ben: There’s probably nothing I’d change. All is good. Went to a local truck driving school where they not only taught me what I needed to pass the CDL test, but showed me how to select the right trucking company.

Has it been worth it? Why?

Naomi: I love each and every moment I’m on the road. I love the challenge. Being a small female, I’m constantly getting, “You drive that big thing?” Or, “You don’t LOOK like a truck driver.” Or, “Is there a guy in there that can help you back up?” I just hop in and get the job done. Then to see the faces of people when they’re astonished that I did the job and did it well.

Ben: Yes, definitely. I have steady work, good benefits. It has boosted my self-esteem. It’s challenging at times.

Any new challenges in the past month?

Naomi: Sitting at a shipper for 9 hours, 3 minutes. I didn’t gain any time back after 8. And I was only 57 minutes from having a reset. The shipper would NOT let me sit there and wait those few minutes. So I had to drive 25 miles in an HOS violation to get to the nearest truckstop. I was really upset. I called Safety right away and they were able to help me document everything correctly on my logs.

Ben: Was given a HazMat load and I don’t have an endorsement, so I refused the load. I had the shipper unload their goods.

Any interesting experiences?

Naomi: I was in Bloomington, Illinois, turning left. I had a green arrow. But oncoming traffic was moving at me. I was already into the intersection; all I could do was pray that people stopped so I could clear the intersection. A state trooper in the same intersection saw the whole thing. He pulled me over; asked me if I knew why he was pulling me over. I said, “No, sir. But why was your traffic going when I had a green arrow?” He stated they too had green lights. He did NOT give me a warning, or a ticket. (Instead, he did a level 3 DOT inspection.) He called the city; they came out and found the lights were out of synch. I was in the right, but so was oncoming traffic. I’m just very glad he and the others all let me clear the intersection. It could have been really ugly.

Ben: I parked on a un-level parking lot where the front of the truck was downhill. I kept rolling out of bed into the floor. Very long night.

Advice for someone just finishing driving school?

Naomi: Pay attention. Use common sense. If something doesn’t seem right, then it’s not. Cherish each moment with loved ones. Stop and smell the roses.

Ben: Things don’t always work out just perfect. When they don’t, try not to get mad and quit. Stay with your company as long as you can. It looks better on your record that you don’t jump from company to company.

Here’s to your future great loads and great roads.

Timothy Brady © 2013

To contact Brady go to www.truckersu.com

or call 731.749.8567

By Tom Kelley

The business landscape is covered with examples of this simple maxim. A small computer company only of interest to graphics professionals innovated by applying its rigorous design ethic to personal electronic devices, and in less than a decade became one of the ten most valuable companies in the history of the world. That company is Apple. A century-old giant in the world of photography that failed to innovate as digital cameras became ubiquitous had to file for bankruptcy in 2012.

That company is Kodak. Today, both companies are household names, one innovated, one did not. The results are clear.

Although less frequently than on the grand scale of Apple and Kodak, participants in the consumer electronics industry live or die by innovation. At the entry level, internal innovation is rarely lacking, but external barriers to innovation can be insurmountable. Recognizing that the overall health of its industry is highly dependent on entry-level innovation (remember, Apple didn’t invent the portable music player), the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has taken on the task of not only encouraging its 2,000 members to continually innovate, but is also working to break down many of the external barriers to innovation.

Well-known for its annual Consumer Electronics Show, officially known as the International CES, the CEA is a best case model for an industry association. Unlike many associations that split into factions (e.g.

“We’re brake guys, why should we work with the suspension guys”), or that only represent their largest members, the CEA is an inclusive organization that works equally effectively for all of its members, from Mom & Pop outfits, up to the global giants.

In June, 2009, the CEA’s President and CEO, Gary Shapiro, announced the launch of a bipartisan grassroots policy initiative, the “Innovation Movement.” Sponsored by the CEA, the Innovation Movement is comprised of more than 200,000 Americans who believe that innovation is the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our future prosperity. The Innovation Movement is working to influence government policies that encourage innovation and allow entrepreneurship to thrive in a free-market economy.

The Innovation Movement’s website, www.DeclareInnovation.com, provides a fine example of an industry advocacy site, approachable to the outsider, but still effective for more expert insiders. Explanations of the current issues are combined with up-to-date statistics and links to outside reports to quickly show a layman visitor why the issues matter as much to an end user of Consumer Electronics (CE) gadgets as they do to a major industry player. The site also provides links for YouTube, Twitter and Facebook channels.

While truckers’ longstanding love of electronic gadgets is cause enough to follow the issues facing the CE industry, two of the issues currently highlighted on the site are of particular interest to even the least tech-savvy of truckers, Internet Radio and Ubiquitous Broadband.

Internet Radio, known better by popular brands like Pandora, finally fulfills the long-promised capability of bringing truckers a nearly infinite variety of programming, instead of being stuck listening to the same few dozen songs and the same repeated newscast over, and over, and over again.

Widespread deployment of Internet Radio is being held back by antiquated programming royalty policies that unfairly advantage broadcast and satellite radio providers. The Innovation Movement is working toward the passage of a bipartisan “Internet Radio Fairness Act.” A link on the site makes it easy to contact your elected representatives in support of the act.

Similarly, the slow pace of wireless broadband deployment is holding back the development of numerous online services for truckers and others whose workplace is the open highway. Current estimates predict that mobile wireless traffic will increase to 35 times the current level within the next five years. Without additional radio spectrum (frequencies) freed up for mobile wireless traffic, digital congestion will quickly eclipse the real-world rush-hour jams experienced in the biggest of metro areas.

Currently, the FCC is prohibited from moving independently to make additional spectrum available for innovative uses. Congressional action authorizing the FCC to put more spectrum into the marketplace would spur job creation and investment, while positioning the US to be the leader in the next generation of wireless technologies. Here again, the Innovation Movement is working toward streamlining the release of radio spectrum to support innovation in wireless broadband services.

Joining the Innovation Movement is free. In addition to the news and information found on the main www.DeclareInnovation.com site, uploaded stories from a variety of innovators can be viewed at innovation.ce.org through a link on the main site.

Check it out at:

Web: www.DeclareInnovation.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IMovementCEA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InnovationMovement

Twitter: twitter.com/imovement