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ATA PETITIONS US DOT TO
LIMIT NEW TRUCK SPEEDS TO 68 MPH
ATA - Truckline 10/06
ATA
petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Oct. 20, to limit newly
manufactured class 7 & 8 trucks and truck tractors to a maximum speed
of 68 mph, and to prohibit truck owners and drivers from adjusting the
speed limiter to exceed that speed. The petition is intended to
implement a new speed governing policy recently adopted by ATA's Board
of Directors. In support of its petition, ATA will cite, among other
research, the 2006 Large Truck Crash Causation Study jointly
sponsored, conducted and released by NHTSA and FMCSA earlier this
year. The study found that speeding by the truck driver was found to
be a critical factor in 18 percent of truck crashes where the truck
had a role in causing the crash. This was the No. 1 critical factor
for truck drivers. ATA believes limiting truck speeds will result in
improved highway safety, reduced emissions and fuel use, and a
reduction in maintenance and enforcement costs. Contact: ATA's Safety,
Security & Operations department at 703-838-1996.
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STOP
Critical Crashes
Great
West Casualty
Fall
/ Winter Driving
Autumn and winter seasons affect various
parts of the country differently. No matter where you are located,
you should prepare for the diverse problems autumn and winter could
bring. Whether it's rain, freezing rain, wind, or snow, you and your
equipment need to be prepared.
Autumn and
winter can cause many problems.
From black ice
to whiteouts, these conditions can
cause
senseless losses to happen. Proper pre-trip planning, preparation,
and driving can result in successful completion of a trip. Here are
some tips you can use to
help reduce the risk of a crash in autumn
and winter:
1. Plan your trip
accordingly.
Check weather forecasts and possible road construction areas along
your route, chart fuel and meal stop locations, allow extra time for
traffic delays in major metropolitan areas, and try to balance
distribution of cargo weight. If poor weather conditions reduce
visibility, pull over in a safe place until visibility improves.
2. Make sure your
equipment is winterized.
Check antifreeze, inspect tire tread depth, and test the heater and
defroster. Install tire chains (if required), carry extra warm
clothing and boots, and pack non-perishable foods.
3. Use proper driving
procedures when on the road.
In adverse weather, you should decrease your speed to increase
following distance. Drivers need to be aware of becoming
overconfident if they have anti-lock brakes. If the brakes happen to
lock, release them to avoid sliding; this will help regain steering.
For Your Health
Snacks That Fill You
Up
wdhealth
Good
- a handful of
popcorn. It's
high in volume and the air-popped variety has only about 30 calories
per cup.
Better
- an apple or
orange. Whole
fruit is high in fiber, which helps you feel fuller and has fewer
calories than a glass of fruit juice.
Best
-
a bowl of oatmeal.
This hearty breakfast staple has a high water content and is chockful
of fiber.
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For the month of
September fuel purchased at the terminal was
37%.
Be mindful that
there is a $.21 p/gal difference between a TA and our own fuel
tanks. Plan you fuel purchases such that you can get as much in
Mounds View or at the Pilot in Oak Creek as possible.
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