Get a CDL and so much more!

Since 1987, Mike Byrnes and Associates, Inc. has been helping to launch and grow successful commercial motor vehicle operator careers with outstanding training and reference tools that are enjoyable and easy to use.

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Start your engines!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pep Boys for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pep Boys Logo.jpg (2 documents, 2 total pages) Ok, race fans… and we know you’re out there! Here’s a chance to win “The Best Seat in the House” courtesy of Pep Boys. You could win a VIP Race Day Experience with Penske Racing's No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil team in Pennsylvania on August 5, 2012.

Why be content to simply watch the August 5 race in Pennsylvania? You could be part of it! You could win

  • VIP Credentials
  • a tour of Pit Road and
  • a seat in the Pit Box!

Or you could win one of 22 $50 Gift Cards!

VIP-Swps-Img.jpg (2 documents, 2 total pages) All you have to do is enter The Best Seat In the House Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize winner gets

  • travel and accommodations
  • VIP credentials
  • a guided tour of Pit Road and
  • seats directly above the Pit Box.

And if you don't win the Grand Prize, don't worry. To help cheer on #22, Pep Boys is giving 22 lucky fans who enter, a $50 Pep Boys Gift Card. Plus, if you share all this with a friend who enters, you can get 22 more entries for yourself. Enter the Sweepstakes and win “The Best Seat in the House!”

It’s easy. Just click on the link: Pep Boys sweepstakes, visit the Pep Boys on Facebook like I did, and “Like” them. That’s all you have to do to register.

But wait, there’s more: Until May 29th, there's another contest. One lucky winner that enters "The Best Seat in the House" sweepstakes, tweets out with the hashtag #WinTheBestSeatintheHouse as well as comments on this blog post on why he or she wants to win the "The Best Seat in the House" sweepstakes will get the chance to win a $50 Pep Boys gift card! So if you have a Twitter account, that’s a way to make it work for you. All tweets and comments must be submitted by 11:59am May 29th. (IZEA will choose the winner after that date and handle prize distribution.)

So, race on over and enter the Sweepstakes!

Visit Sponsor's Site

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EOBRs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule that formally rescinds its April 2010 final rule concerning electronic onboard recorders for hours-of-service compliance.

FMCSA’s action responds to a court decision that vacated the rule that would have mandated EOBRs on all trucks used by certain noncompliant carriers. Get the details here.

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Proposed haz mat regs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposes to make miscellaneous amendments to the
Hazardous Materials Regulations to update and clarify certain regulatory requirements.

Your comments are invited and must be received by FMCSA by June 25, 2012. Get the details here. Refer to docket number PHMSA-2011-0138 (HM-218G) or rule identification number (RIN 2137-AE78) for this rulemaking, and include those numbers at the beginning of your comment.

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Iowa helps returning veterans to get a CDL

A bill proposed in the Iowa state legislature would help returning veterans qualify for jobs by allowing the Iowa Department of Transportation to waive the driving skills test for a commercial driver’s license if a service member can prove related active-duty training.

The applicant would still have to pass a knowledge skills test and have a safe driving record to receive a CDL. Read the details here.

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Redefining tank vehicles

On March 30, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted a petition by the American Trucking Associations for the agency to open a new rulemaking to redefine a tank vehicle, Landline magazine reports.

Prior to a May 2011 final rule on CDL testing and learner’s permit standards, the definition of tank vehicle did not apply to fluid bins that could be operated without a CDL Tank Endorsement. That particular rule changed the definition, designating a vehicle as a tanker if it hauls any containers of liquid or gas with a rated capacity of 119 gallons or more as part of an aggregate of 1,000 gallons that aren’t permanently attached to the vehicle.

Drivers who pull this type of trailer want to keep on eye on this regulation.

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Scam alert

Marlene Dakita of the Professional Truck Driver Institute passes along this scam alert:

John Hancock, director of training and driver recruiting for Prime, Inc., has reported another recruiting scam. Someone representing himself as David Palmer, director of operations for Prime, is contacting students and asking for a $400 up-front fee to be brought to Prime for a job, paid in good faith that they want a job.  This scammer’s voicemail at 386-212-0831 even answers to this name and title. Please stress to students that this is not Prime and that they never would operate in this manner.

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Federal funds for truck driver training

The New York Times reports that federal funds for truck driver training are drying up. Read the complete story here.

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CSA

Want to be a Compliance Safety Accountability hero? Check out our latest post about CSA on the Eagle Ford Shale Play blog.

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Dallas tornado damage

For those concerned about the effects of yesterday’s tornados in the Dallas area on Schneider National, Inc.’s Operating Center, Walt Fountain, Director, Loss Prevention and Enterprise Security for Schneider National, Inc. issued this statement:

From: Schneider Corporate Communication
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 3:27 PM
Subject: Initial assessment of Dallas tornado impact
 

This afternoon, a tornado struck the Dallas area, impacting our Dallas Operating Center. Based on our initial check, all driver, office, maintenance and offsite associates in the area are safe and accounted for.  At this time, Haslet and the other locations appear to be unaffected.

We continue to maintain our watch, since the weather continues to be threatening in and around Dallas/Fort Worth, including tornado warnings, hail and heavy rain. 

The Line of Business teams are assessing driver, load and customer impacts and will communicate to their respective areas and provide safe haven direction to drivers and other associates in the area.

There is no structural damage to the Dallas OC building, however, there has been massive damage to the yard. Damage to the yard has been shown on the news. The OC is operating on backup power and phones have been redirected according to the emergency plans. Systems have not been impacted. Operations will be restricted until we are fully assessed.

We will continue to provide these updates as needed and as available.

 

 

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If the shoe fits…

We received a question the other day about appropriate footwear when operating a truck.

Seems a driver was injured because he was wearing shoes with a very slick sole and he fell and hurt himself.

What are your thoughts on the subject of shoes for truck drivers?

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