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Back to School
School will soon be back
in session. Day after day our children, grandchildren, nieces and
nephews will be waiting for their school bus to arrive. As we see
them we need to pay extra attention to what they are doing. They will
get antsy and fool around in anticipation of the bus arriving. Please
be prepared for the unexpected!
Do you know the
flashing light system?
Yellow Flashing Lights
• The bus is
about to stop
• Slow down and
prepare to stop
Red Flashing Lights
Extended Stop Arm
The bus is stopped and
children are entering and exiting the bus.
Always stop and wait
for:
• The red lights
to stop flashing
• The stop sign
to be withdrawn• The
bus to start moving
SLOW DOWN
WATCH FOR CHILDREN
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STOP
Critical Crashes
Great West Casualty
Fatigue Management
Driver fatigue is one of the hottest topics
in trucking today. Fatigue management will play a part of future
hours-of-service changes and the media always seems to show
interest-especially after a major crash. For the last couple of years
we have heard stories of tragedies occurring when a truck driver falls
asleep at the wheel. Besides the loss of life, cargo, and equipment,
attorneys are asking for large settlements from carriers by making the
jury believe the fatigued driver contributed to the severity of the
accident.
There is no doubt driver fatigue is an
important safety issue. The increased attention has provided the
trucking industry with quite an education on the fatigue issue. Here
are some tips that can help you stay alert:
1. Don't let log books control sleep
patterns. The hours of service
rules are meant to apply to a broad range of drivers, but every person
sleeps differently. Never drive over the hours-of-service standards,
and always pull over and rest in a safe area when needed.
2. Allow yourself time to wake up
before starting out. Most
people have trouble waking up and immediately begin driving. Sleep
inertia, a
physical state in which the body is recovering from sleep, can
seriously limit driving ability. Make sure you are completely awake
before you start to drive.
3. Be aware of key drowsiness times.
When the sun shines directly into the truck at sunrise and at sunset,
is when you are at the greatest risk of fatigue. Since these times of
day usually correspond with the presence of heavy traffic, driving
performance should be closely monitored.
Tips for Exercising
Proper Driving
Technique
•
Get proper rest before beginning a trip
•
Avoid big meals, alcoholic beverages and
smoking
•
Avoid medication that causes drowsiness
•
Never take illegal drugs
•
Keep trucks well ventilated
•
Keeps eyes moving and don't allow them to
become fixed on the road
•
Wear good quality sunglasses when necessary
•
Maintain good physical condition
•
If tired or drowsy, stop in a safe area to
sleep
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For the month of July
fuel purchased at the terminal was 38.4%. 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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