As you know the Mobile Telephone Rule went into effect on January 3, 2012. This week the Department of Transportation released some clarifications on the rule. Here are some of the highlights that will help you comply with this rule.

It is okay to use a mobile phone if you are using the speaker function or a wireless or wired headset. You must configure your phone so answering is a one-button process you can reach the button while seated and in the seat belt. You may not hold the phone while talking.  “Old-fashioned” dialing of a hand-held phone or reaching for the hand-held phone is prohibited by this law. The law does allow the use of mobile phones for talking to law enforcement during emergencies.

You can read the full document clarifying the rule here.

How will this rule affect you? 

Here’s a heads-up to all truckers who will be driving through Colorado over the next nine months. Chain Law began this week along I-70 for all commercial vehicles driving between milepost 133 (the Edwards exit) and milepost 259 (Morrison exit).

That means you need to carry sufficient snow chains. Under Chain Law level 1, all single drive axle combination commercial vehicles must chain-up whenever snow is covering any part of the traveled portion of the pavement on an ascending grade. Chain Law level 2 requires all commercial vehicles to chain-up, and applies anytime there is snow covering the entire traveled portion of payment on an ascending grade.

Colorado transportation officials have worked to ensure truckers have a safe place to chain-up, with 21 chain stations along the I-70 west corridor and several more along the east corridor.

With a summer setting records for heat across much of the country, it’s odd to think about snow – but believe it or not, it’s that time of year already.

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!

The nation’s jobless figures in July dropped to 9.1 percent, a bit of comparatively positive news in the wake of the Aug. 4 nosedive on Wall Street. Tucked within those figures was mention of 1,300 additional trucking jobs.

The total transportation and warehousing sector grew by 1,100 jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. It marks the sixth straight month for payroll employment in the industry. 

There is reason for, as they say, “cautious optimism.” Compared to July of 2010, trucking employment is up around 3.5 percent – about 43,000 positions.

Have a great weekend! 

I had the opportunity last week to join the estimated 70,000-plus truck drivers who packed the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., for the annual Mid-America Trucking Show.

In addition to spotlighting scores of the latest products on the market, the show offered me a welcome chance to visit with truck drivers and others in the industry about their chief concerns.

The consensus: Things are still tough on the nation’s roadways. In particular, I heard from many about how CSA inspections are causing real headaches because drivers are unable to challenge a warning or appeal a roadside inspector’s decision to issue a ticket.

On a more positive note, most indications in the industry are that the economy is picking up steam. Carriers are increasing their pay/mile. While CSA and pre-employment screening programs, or PSP, are making it more difficult for truck drivers to land jobs, the jobs that are available appear to be paying more. It looks as if the only to get a job these days -- let alone more pay/mile -- is to have a clean MVR record and low CSA score.

What’s on your mind? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you.