Thank You to Another American Hero

This morning I received an e-mail from a dear friend of mine, Susan Preston.

Although not directly related to "trucker health, it has everything to do with our mental perspectives and appreciation of life. To me it reminds me to be grateful for those we do not know nor the things we can not see......and gratitude makes me a healthier and better person.

 Navy Petty Officer Mike Monsoor

 PO2 (EOD2) (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
 Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was
 awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
 posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq,
 giving his life to save his fellow Seals.
 (Notice: Mike was not a Navy SEAL, he was EOD.
 He gave his life to save a group of Navy SEALS.)

 During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego ,
 as his coffin was being moved from the hearse
 to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National
 Cemetery , SEAL's were lined up on both sides
 of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's,
 with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's
 coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his
 gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down
 embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.


 The slaps were audible from across the cemetery;
 by the time the coffin arrived grave side,
 it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all
 the Tridents pinned to
 it.

 This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

 This should be front-page news instead of the
stuff  we see every day.
 Since the media won't make this news,


 I am proud of our military. If you are proud too,
 please pass this on.  If not then
 Rest assured that these fine men and women of
 our military  will continue to serve and protect.

 God Bless our Troops

Thanks Susan for sending me this and allowing
 me to share it.

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation

It's been a few days since I've posted. I feel like I've been pulled in 20 different directions, so it's time to get down to business.

There's been so much going on in trucking these days. A major issue has been the happening in the state of Virginia. Without getting into it, because there are plenty of blogs that have, basically Va is depriving Truckers their right to take their rest. Because of the lack of parking in the state, drivers are forced to stop and rest at various locations and law enforcement is told to wake them up and make them drive.... illegally. Now, the state is breaking Federal Law by doing this
( FMCSA) and there is a big discussion going on about it this very moment. Read more here.


Now, what I'd like to talk about is the sleep the drivers are being deprived and the effects of it.
First and most obvious is the driver is effected. His/her attention and ability to concentrate is greatly altered. The ability to respond as quickly will also be effected, and finally what about the chance of falling asleep at the wheel?
That's why there is the Federal law stating that a driver MUST rest after 11 hours of driving.
Virginia, are you listening! That includes law enforcement!

Now, we must consider the others on the road while these 18 wheel 35,000-80,000 lb rigs are rolling down the road at 55+ miles/hr.
How safe do you think it is for the rest of the drivers on the road? To me it's about as bad as having a "buzzed" driver on the road.

My concern is this, what will it take to get Virginia and any other state to come to their senses?

What I really want to know is how do people sleep at night enforcing such laws?

Are you concerned? If so, make a call. If enough people call and "hound them" there will be change.

The FMCSA regulations being violated is Part 355

Governor’s Office
Tim Kaine
804-786-2211

VA DMV/Motor Carrier Services
MSCAP Administrator
804-367-0266

Secretary of Public Safety
Ms. Hazelgrove
804-786-5351

Secretary of Transportation
Ms. Evelyn Shelton or Ms. Melony Roberts
804-786-8032

Drivers, in the meantime my suggestion to you is this....avoid Virginia!
Don't spend a dime there or a minute more than you have to there.
If the state starts losing money they'll change their tune.
It's all about money folks! How sad.