Transportation Worker Identification Card

Just a few years ago, U.S. citizens could get on airplanes without a photo I.D., head to Mexico without a passport, and purchase items with a check at a grocery store without verification. But after September 11, 2001, homeland security got more serious about making sure citizens were who they said they were. With identity theft on the rise, most private companies followed suite. Without an ID, it’s almost impossible to travel, make a purchase, and, in some cases, vote.

The same is becoming true for truckers. According to Land Line Magazine, truckers will now need Transportation Worker Identification Credentials to enter all U.S. ports. The new regulations were adopted by a congressional act, and the government began issuing the credential cards in October of 2007. Previously, the Transportation Security Administration had announced the required regulations to begin this September, but dates have been pushed back. The regulations will begin with the New England ports October 14, and the remaining U.S. ports will follow by next April.

The New England Ports will begin the transportation because of their advantages over other ports in a variety of areas. New England ports are close together, and have already begun issuing credentials to their employees, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Anyone who works in a transportation position that requires access to the port without an escort will need to obtain credentials , and in order to obtain credentials, workers must pass a background check. Truckers and other port workers must have the cards by April 15.

Though most current transportation employees at U.S. ports will qualify for the credentials without question, those with an illegal immigration status or who have been convicted of certain crimes will not qualify. Workers who are denied the credentials will be given a chance to appeal the decision and seek a waver.

Though receiving the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials is not optional for truckers who must work in the area, the requirement is not cheap. A fee of $132.50 is charged for any worker who does not have a current, comparable background check. For those who have background checks already on file, the fee is $102.25. A replacement card costs $60, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Payments can be made upon application with a credit card, money order, or cashier’s check. Those costs will apply to each of the over 750,000 workers who must obtain credentials because of the new regulations, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, the credential card is a necessary security measure in order to keep ports secure from would-be terrorists and other criminals.

Though the amount of identification needed to be able to function in the United States can sometimes be overwhelming and expensive, being sure to have the proper identification is necessary in order to avoid missed work and frustration. In order to obtain the credentials, workers must submit a pre-enrollment form and follow up with a personal appearance and various kinds of verification.

Healthy Living Habits

As summer turns into fall, allergies and hot days and cool nights, along with the thought of winter coming, make most think about their health. For most truckers, staying healthy on the road isn’t easy. Long hours with little rest, sleeping in positions that give you aches and pains, and the stress of loading and unloading cargo are just a few factors that make great health a difficult thing for truckers to attain. Though some think trying to eat right, stay healthy, and avoid habits like drinking or smoking just aren’t worth the less than pleasurable lifestyle they incur, most—especially those working tough jobs—are beginning to realize that staying healthy is key to both success and happiness. To stay healthy on the road, doing research and following doctors’ advice is key, but here are a few steps to get you started.

1. Bring plenty of healthy snacks from home or frequent truck stops near grocery stores/fresh food markets

According to Wayne Parker, a fatherhood columnist for About.com, relying on travel-type snacks is never good for your health. Greasy truck stop cuisine and snack machine fare is a quick way to feeling less than at your best. Coolers packed with fresh fruit and veggies as well as lunchmeat sandwiches make for better eating and better health while you’re on the go.

    2.  Avoid drastic changes in schedule

Even if you’re staying in the same time zone, it’s still possible to feel jet lag. Any time you drastically change your schedule, for instance by getting up much earlier or staying up much later than you are used to, you are subject to feeling the effects on your health, according to Parker.

    3.  Stay Active

Sitting in the driver’s seat all day can take a toll on the muscles in your legs and back. And though it’s tempting to spend breaks lounging in your cab watching television, cruising the net, or even taking a nap, working out or even taking a walk can improve your overall health and the way you feel. Medical science has confirmed the importance of staying active, and even though you have a sedentary job, making time to move is a great way to stay healthy on the road.

    4.  Take Preventative Medication

In addition to eating healthy and staying active, there are several ways to prevent sickness on the road. Taking vitamins, like vitamin C to ward off colds, is one way to make sure you are in your best shape whenever you’re on the road. Other medications, like Airborne, are designed to build up immune systems, making you less susceptible to air born infections. As a truck driver, the amount and variety of your travel exposes you to more germs than most. But preventing succumbing to those illnesses can be as easy as popping a pill.

    5.  Get plenty of sleep

It might he hard, but not only is sleep important to your safety on the road, it’s also important to your health. Sleep depravation weakens the immune system, and can leave you feeling awful, even if you’re the picture of health. If you find sleep hard to achieve, Linda Dessau’s article “10 ways to get a good night’s sleep” points out that starting to calm down an hour before bed, relaxing your muscles, and using imagery to stop a racing mind are some great ways to find rest without counting those sleep.

Though your health might just seem like another thing to worry about while you’re on the long haul, it’s one of the most important factors to consider in your daily routine. Unhealthy drivers feel miserable while they work, and at times, are unable to work at all. For happiness and career success, paying attention to your health is of the utmost importance.

Tornado Preparation

Just a short time ago, a tornado ravaged Myanmar. There are frequent tornadoes spotted throughout the Midwest. Though the company that you drive for probably has regulations about what to do in a tornado or high wind storm, as the weather changes from spring to summer to fall, being prepared to encounter severe weather, like a tornado, on the road is necessary for your safety. Fortunately, in the wake of the recent tornados, the media has made it an objective to educate the public, especially those on the road, about what to do in the event of weather related emergencies.

Although tornados can spring up at any time of day or night with little warning, tornado preparation while on your route is possible. One of the best ways to be prepared is to keep your weather radio on with charged or fresh batteries. In weather lingo, a tornado warning means a storm is expected to arise and a tornado warning means a storm has been spotted. If a tornado warning is announced, meteorologists will generally give the expected locations of the tornado and speed, so you can be best prepared. Speaking with truckers on your CB radio as they head the other direction is also a good way to gauge the weather you’re heading into, although weather is subject to fast and unpredictable change.

Though storm chasing shows can be interesting and fun to watch, the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises anyone driving during a tornado to get out of the vehicle as soon as possible, whether that means relocating to a safer outdoor area or pulling over at a truck stop, gas station, or other place of business. Though staying in your truck might seem safer than being outside, even large semi-trucks can be easily lifted by tornados. Also, because the storm can change direction very quickly, trying to out-drive a tornado is never a good policy, even if it seems possible.

If you are in an area where you can get indoors, head to basement, or if not possible, the lowest floor, or an interior hallway with no windows. In a truck stop, the showers are probably the safest places to seek shelter during a tornado.

If you are driving along a rural highway when a tornado strikes, and cannot find indoor shelter, authorities advise seeking low lying ground, like a ditch, and using your hands to protect your head and neck. Because flooding can occur with severe wind storms and tornados, being aware of your surroundings, whether inside or outside, is key.

With an average of 1,000 tornados per year, the United States has more tornados than any other country in the world, according to USA Today. Tornados have hit every state, though they are most frequent in Tornado Alley, the Western area of Kansas, Oklahoma, part of Texas, etc. Regardless of where you are driving, however, you should be aware that a tornado can strike at any time. Armed with a weather radio and these guidelines, you’ll be sure to keep a cool head and know what to do should disaster strike.

In Cab

On a sunny, warm day the first few moments on the road might seem like the perfect time to roll down the window and just let the sounds of the road sail by. But a few minutes later, after you remember you still have hours of driving left ahead of you, you might want to replace those sounds of the road with a favorite music style or conversation. Fortunately, technology has given long-haul drivers the gift of many different audio choices. The following are just a few of the sounds with which you can choose to favor your ears on the journey.

1.      Satellite Radio

Users of satellite radio boast its many channels, and its channels by topic as evidence of the technology’s superior worth. Currently, two major brands of satellite radio are in circulation, Sirius and XM. Differences in programs available are what primarily distinguish the radio types, though the two companies will soon merge. Both radios offer music channels that specialize in a variety of different genres—rock, country, pop, gospel, and mix stations—in addition to offering specialty talk stations like a comedy channel, medical station, and celebrity shows.

2.      MP3 Players

A monopoly on the MP3 business, Apple has made its revolutionary product, the Ipod, a necessity on most travelers’ lists. MP3 players allow users to download a selection of their favorite music onto the devices. Music can be purchased from stores on the Internet, or you can import your favorite CDs onto the device. The devices have an advantage over radio because they allow users to listen to only their own music, although they have a disadvantage in the fact they offer no new programming. Podcasts, however, or Internet audio shows for MP3 players can be downloaded whenever an Internet connection is available.

3.       AM/FM Radio

For those truckers who like to keep it classic, regular AM/FM radio can make for some great listening during cross-country drives. In addition to allowing listeners to catch talk shows and top tunes, classic AM/FM radio is also a great way to experience the culture of the area through which you are traveling. In addition, listening to classic radio is a great way to get keyed into local events. If there’s a circus, concert, or show happening that you won’t want to miss, tuning into local radio is a great way to find out about it. If you’re truck doesn’t get the world’s greatest reception when it comes to traditional radio, special antennas to boost your reception and the number of stations you receive are available at most radio parts stores.

4.      Books on Tape

When you’re tired of music and talk shows and just want a great story, audio books are a great way to get wrapped up in fantasy while you’re heading down the highway. But books on tape are no longer available just on tape. Instead, whether you want them for CD or MP3, books on tape are available in a variety of mediums. Though audio books can be purchased in stores or downloaded from the Internet in MP3 format, they can also be borrowed from your local library. Some truck stops and chain restaurants have audio book rental stands, so whether you’re looking for a thriller or good romance, you can let the story carry you to the next stop, where you can return the book if it isn’t for you.

5.      DVDs

Watching movies on the road is a controversial subject. Some believe that certain kinds of movies distract drivers from their work, while others realize that watching a movie while driving is just like any other kind of multitasking. No matter which position you agree with, many like to listen to movies just as much as watch them. For those truck drivers who like to listen to their favorite movies, renting or buying a DVD to listen to on the road can be a viable alternative to the audio book.

If you like swing, country, news, or just a great conversation, technology has provided a great deal of audio options to make sure you don’t get bored on the road. A cab stocked with all five kind of audio will provide a great deal of amusement and variety to any trucker.

Spanish Newspaper

The hardest parts of most truckers’ jobs are driving long hours, loading and reloading the truck, and performing maintenance or tune-ups on the vehicle—it isn’t trying to read the load board or truckers’ news.  

But for truckers who speak English as a second language, trying to read enough to communicate within the industry can be a major challenge.  That’s why many web sites and publications for truckers are now launching Spanish language versions of their sites or publications.  

For instance, Randall Publishing released Truckers News en Espanol, the first Spanish language publication to target Hispanic truck drivers, in 2005.  The publication, which appeared in newsstands at truck stops across the nation, had a booming circulation of 50,000, and consisted of news articles and information especially pertaining to truck drivers. According to the Vice President of Randall’s Truck Stop Division, the publication was created because of the large role Hispanic truckers were playing in the industry.  In fact, when the publication was launched, the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that fifteen percent of the 3.2 million truck drivers in the United States were Hispanic.  

So truckers from all backgrounds could be on the same page, the magazine provided the same article in both its English language publication and Trucker News en Espanol.  A translating company was hired for the translation of the English article into Spanish. In addition to providing identical information in the two publications, researchers at Randall Publishing also recognized the importance of producing unique material specific to the Hispanic trucker.  

Though providing news and articles about the trucking industry in Spanish is an important way to reach out to Spanish speaking truckers, it does not make many aspects their job easier.  Instead, truckers who do not speak English as a second language must struggle to make it through many duties of their day that include reading or speaking and understanding English. For this reason, C.H. Robinson has gone a step further than providing Spanish language news publications.   

Just recently, the company’s worldwide and often-frequented site, CHRWTrucks.com, has become available in Spanish.  The site, where C.H. Robinson’s contract carriers can choose loads throughout North America, provides relevant information to truckers including discount fuel program information and answers to payment questions.  Most importantly, the site allows Spanish-speaking truckers, who may be from Mexico, to search for loads, making this part of their job a little easier.  

According to the Vice President of the company, the site was created in order to create a more comfortable environment for all carriers. Although these are just two examples of the Spanish language infiltrating the trucking industry, truckers should keep alert for more Spanish language trucking materials, as Hispanic truckers are beginning to make up a large part of the industry.

Vehicle Security Device

With truck alarms, anti-theft devices, and even gizmos that release the battery when the truck is parked, truckers have a variety of choices when deciding how to protect their vehicles from theft. In a world of drive-by shootings and thieves who make their livings off of raiding hard workers’ vehicles and homes, being too safe is never a bad idea.  

That’s why the Redline Technical Group created the Jimmi Jammer, a simple piece of steel that is fixed between the door’s locking mechanism and the door handle to insure ultimate security. Although the Jimmi Jammer seems like a very simple idea, it offers additional protection that alarms and security systems don’t include. According to the manufacturer, the device stops thieves from even getting in the truck. Alarms, on the other hand, only warn others that the truck has been broken into. As far as other security systems, like those that disconnect the battery when the car is parked, they may prevent thieves from stealing the vehicle, but they don’t protect the valuables inside. Because truckers spend so much time in their trucks, laptops, cell phones, and other valuables are within a thief’s easy reach. Although they might not be as valuable as the vehicle itself, having a laptop or cell phone stolen is no picnic. Thankfully, the Jimmi Jammer protects against such violations.  

Another plus side of the device, according to its manufacturers, is that the Jimmi Jammer stays in place no matter what. Unlike alarms and security devices, truckers don’t have to remember to activate the Jimmi Jammer when exiting the vehicle. For those truckers who spend the night in their sleeping quarters, Jimmi Jammer insures personal safety as well. Although truckers might fall asleep without activating the alarm or other anti-theft devices, the Jimmi Jammer always provides an extra line of defense against would-be robbers that could not only take your valuables, but also harm you personally.  

According to the manufacturer, the Jimmi Jammer is also easy to install, requiring no drilling or cutting. Because it is made of strong steel, the barrier won’t even allow thieves to break the truck’s locks. In fact, having the device might even be an aid to society. While thieves try to break through the impenetrable Jimmi Jammer, vehicle alarms can alert police, who will arrest the criminals. Having a Jimmi Jammer won’t just keep the truck and driver safe, but might help keep thieves off the street.  

The Jimmi Jammer is available on AZtrucks.com and can be purchased for less than $25 per pair plus shipping. Truckers can buy the product via e-mail and phone.

National Truck Shows

With truckers on the road most of the summer, going to a national truck show might seem just as impossible to most truckers as going to the county fair. But with America’s Traveling Truck Show visiting seven states in six months, the odds that truckers will be able to swing by a location are much more favorable. In fact, the show’s website, www.travelingtruckshow.com, stated that many truckers were grateful for the traveling aspect of the show last year, as it allowed many to attend who would not have been able to because of work and time. With gas and diesel prices soaring, even truckers with a week off would probably not to be able to attend the show if it were stationary.

For truckers that are interested in buying a new model to those who just want to have a good time, the show, which will be stopping at various truck stops, will provide an excellent opportunity for truckers to take a break from the road and look at some new, impressive trucks.

This May, the truck show began its tour with stops in Missouri, an event that featured a Trucker’s appreciation event, free ice cream, and a pig roast. This month, the show has visited Illinois and Pennsylvania, and will be heading toward Virginia, Wisconsin, and Iowa in the next few months. But other than the food, music, and other entertainment, truckers interested in what’s new in the industry will want to check out the displays.

According to the show’s web site, the 2007 show made its way to twenty-seven centers bringing a variety of truck dealers representing almost every brand. These vendors showed the new models to eager truckers who were excited to take a peek, while other vendors displayed products and services that catered directly to truckers. This year, an extensive list of companies includes potential trucking employers, truck manufacturers like Volvo, trucking accessory vendors selling lubricants and tires, and truck servicing companies. An entire list of companies can be found by visiting the show’s web site.

But checking out trucks, trucking accessories, and trucking services isn’t the only motivator for heading out to one of the shows. Last year, one grand prize winner, Ronald Steele, was given an enormous door prize consisting of a 2007 Harley-Davidson and several other valuables, according to etrucker.com. This year, the show’s sponsors will be giving away a trucker’s dream package, including VIP tickets to any NASCAR event. In order to win, truckers only have to attend a show, have a CDL, and register. In addition to the grand prize, truckers can also win other prizes from accessory vendors.

With several stops across seven states this summer, America’s Traveling Truck Show is making it easier for truckers to come have a good time and check out the newest products and services in the agency at the same time. Even truckers who aren’t interested in buying a new model can enjoy the show’s food, entertainment, and giveaways. A complete schedule of events, locations, and vendors can be found by visiting the show’s web site.

Transportation Safety Products

Although you don’t have to be a trucker to purchase this product marketed for “every driver,” truckers will benefit from having the compact emergency system in case of any type of crisis on the road.

The Four In One Emergency Tool and Flashlight ,also known as the safety stick, is compact, easy to use, and durable, allowing the device to be useful in an emergency while not taking up space in a trucker’s cab. Manufactured by Safety Bright, the tool is about the size and shape of a regular flashlight. Though it looks like an ordinary flashlight, the emergency tool and flashlight is more sophisticated than the household device that can be purchased at any convenience store. Instead, the Four in One provides a white bulb on the top to be used as a flashlight, but also nine flashing LED lights on the sides that can be used as a flare, signal, or warning on the side of the road.

In addition to the lights, the compact device also contains two important automobile emergency related tools, the seat belt cutter and the glass break hammer. Although most drivers don’t like to think about the incidents in which these two tools might be used, the tools should be in every driver’s car. The seat belt cutter can be used in the event of an accident or vehicle’s immersion in water when someone is trapped by a seat belt. The glass break hammer can similarly be used in the event of entrapment, when a glass window must be broken so trapped individuals can escape from the vehicle.

The strong magnet on the bottom of the Four in One Emergency Tool and Flashlight also allows the device to be used in the event of an emergency. The magnet will strongly attach to any metal service, and can be secured to a vehicle with the lights activated to warn on coming drivers of out-of-commission automobile. Additionally, the strong magnet is helpful for attaching under the car during repairs.

Powered by two AA batteries, the emergency system will work even in conditions where vehicle power may not be available. And as a waterproof tool, the emergency tool and flashlight will be ready for use in any emergency situation. For only $14.95, or $13.95 when five or more are ordered, the system is well worth having. In fact, at such low prices, truckers can afford to purchase tools for their trucks and personal vehicles.

Safety Bright is a pioneer in road safety. A manufacturer of safety products designed to make you visible on the road, the company markets not only this emergency system, but also illuminated vests, flares, flashlights, and other products for road safety. A quick glance at the company’s website will reveal helpful information about the safety system in addition to products and suggestions about keeping safe any time you are in traffic.

Truck Driver Recruiting

Just as employers are often worried that applicants are being dishonest when filling out their job applications, potential employees often worry that the job they’ve just accepted will not have the working conditions that were advertised in the help wanted ad. But one web site seeks to end this miscommunication for trucking companies and employees.

Like many other sites on the web, truckflix.com is a free site for drivers, which allows truckers to post one application and apply for a variety of trucking jobs. Unlike other sites, however, truckflix.com also treats those truckers to a night, or day, at the movies. By incorporating streaming media onto their site, truckflix.com asserts that it has entered the technological age. If truckers and trucking companies are going to start taking advantage of new technology like GPS units and broadband Internet, the site’s creators argue, then sites that cater to them should be looking for new ways to make technology serve truckers as well.

Truckflix.com does this by allowing truckers to view streaming videos posted by trucking companies. According to the site’s creators, “seeing is believing.” For the creators of truckflix.com, companies with more to offer will have more impressive and extensive videos, and by allowing truckers to view videos of the companies that they might work for, the creators believe truckers will have a more honest and reliable picture of the kind of company they will be joining.

Truckers can register on truckflix.com for a free account, fill out an application, and view the streaming videos. The videos allow truckers to experience companies’ buildings, equipment, staff, and other advantages before they sign up. For trucking companies, the site offers a similar advantage. Companies are able to use video graphics to convince drivers that they really are the best and make new employees comfortable before their first days on the job.

In addition to web site’s innovative use of media, the site also has a variety of resources available to truckers, including one of the most extensive lists of trucking services and products on the web. Whether truckers are looking for humidifiers or truck parts, they’ll be sure to find at least a few listings that interest them. A drivers’ forum, frequently asked questions section, and articles on drivers’ technology make the forum like home for both truckers and recruiters. Additionally, the site has teamed with Trucker Buddy International to allow registered users to share photos, videos, and text about their trips.

Because truckers are using technology for the benefit of their employers, truckflix.com believes employers are only polite in doing the same. By allowing truckers to view media presentations about companies and recruiters that visit the site, both truckers and companies can help each other find the perfect match. But even if you’re not looking to search for a new job, the site’s extensive list of resources and links will make a visit to this site profitable for anyone interested in the trucking industry.

2008 National Truck Stop Directory

Like a greatly anticipated movie release, it’s here and ready for truckers everywhere to use! The 2008 National Truck Stop Directory is fully updated for 2008 and has all the information about the hottest and not-so-hot truck stops across the nation. The compendium includes over 6500 truck stops in both the United States and Canada, and has a helpful guide that allows truckers to view what amenities are available at what stops.

In this modern technological age, truckers can find information about local attractions and services like truck stops with relative ease. Powering on the Internet and running a Yahoo maps search is one way to quickly discover what truck stops are in the area. And if you’d rather not take the time to fire up your computer or find an Internet connection, certain directory assistants services can give you truck stop information by phone. But searching the Internet takes time and calling directory assistance almost always costs money. Though most are quick to reach for their tech tools and slow to look for a book, the fastest way to find information about local truck stops is the directory.

In addition to just the name and phone number of the stop, however, truckers using this guide will get far more than they could generally find on the Internet, including the stop’s restaurants when whether or not it has a motel, showers, or ATMs. Truck services are also included in the book, so truckers can quickly find stops that have truck washes and weigh stations. Never again will truckers be slowed down by stopping at a location under the assumption it has a weigh station, only to get back on the high way and look for another stop because that weigh station was taken out of service years ago. Brand new for 2008, this directory keeps up on truck stop changes throughout the years.

Also, the guide allows truckers to find the premium stops that offer top of the line services like Internet hot spots and repair shops. Of course, the guide doesn’t focus simply on amenities without including the necessities. For each truck stop, the guide includes what types of fuel and check cards are accepted and whether or not the stops issue permits or perform load services.

For less than $15, this truckers’ bible is a lifesaver for anyone on the road, whether they be professional truckers or simply families that like to tour the country in their RVs. With this directory, truckers will save precious time searching for a truck stop that will fill their needs. Additionally, it will save truckers the hassle of choosing the wrong truck stop and having to set out on a new search once again.

Though 21^st century truckers might be more comfortable with a keypad than a directory, this book is the perfect one to have on hand.

Solar Powered Vent Fans 

Although different parts of the country mean different weather patterns, the hot sun beating down on a metal roof means the same thing all over the world—a sweltering cab. Though you can use fans, air conditioning, or an open window to decrease the heat while you’re driving, there is still good reason to keep the cab cool while you’re not inside. First of all, who wants to be so uncomfortable that they can’t breathe upon entering a sauna that has been baking in the hot sun for several hours? Second of all, keeping a cool cab is necessary for the equipment that you store in it. Whether you have electronic tools of the trade or personal items like DVDs and CDs in your cab, a cool cab is often necessary to keep these items from becoming ruined.

According to anythingtrucker.com, vehicles under direct sunlight can quickly become as hot as 160 degrees on 85-degree days. Getting into a vehicle that is that hot or hotter, as days in the summer heat up to well beyond 85-degrees, is not only uncomfortable, but hazardous to your health, according to the site. Even the most innocent looking piece of metal can cause severe burns when allowed to conduct sunlight and heat for several hours at a time.

For just under $40, you can have that cool cab all the time with the Solar Powered Auto vent 2 Cooling Fan. When mounted in the window of your cab, this fan works to cool the cab even when you’re away. Drawing energy from the same sun that turns your cab into an unpleasant oven, the fan continues to operate when the engine is off and when you are gone, keeping the cab cool for reentry and for your personal belongings. By using the fan, you can breathe easier—literally. The fan circulates the air inside the vehicle with cooler, fresher air from outside the cab. Though the fan is designed to work while you’re out of the vehicle, a 12-volt battery power adaptor allows the fan to work while you’re driving in conjunction with an open window. Because running the air conditioner lowers your fuel economy, this fan can be a great way to increase the number of miles you’re getting to the gallon, especially if it is used on its solar power setting.

Fans are available for commercial trucks in addition to personal vehicles, which can be just as uncomfortable and dangerous to enter on a hot day. For truckers who want to avoid the risks of a stifling cab on a summers day, in addition to those who want to protect expensive belongings often left in cabs like CDs, Laptops, and cell phones, investing in a fan like the Auto Vent 2 is one way to help beat the heat.

Rand McNally Truckers Atlas

No matter how long you’ve been driving, getting lost is always a possibility, especially if you’re taking an unfamiliar route. Hours spent lost on the road can cost a driver precious time and money, and most drivers try to avoid this predicament as much as possible. Some want to avoid it so badly that they buy expensive GPS units or software programs to avoid the situation. But according to etrucker.com, most truckers are still sticking with their Atlases and paper maps instead of going with electronic methods of finding their way.

According to etrucker.com, the companies that manufacture trucker-targeted atlases have argued that the maps are necessary for professional drivers. Atlases for commercial drivers are easy to store in behind the seat organizers or between the seats and pull out for quick and easy reference. Atlases also have an advantage over GPS units in that drivers can map out their routes the old fashioned way, using pen and pencil to follow them on the map. But even once a trucker has decided to stick with the paper instead of electronics, there are a host of brands and types of Atlases that he or she can choose from.

The Rand McNally brand atlases are by far the most popular. According to a McNally spokesperson, the atlases are produced every six months, but truckers often keep their atlases for several years because of their reliability. In 2004, Rand McNally released the Large Scale Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas for the first time. Now, a 2008 edition of the Atlas is available for truckers who want to make sure they know where they’re going. Made for the tough life of the trucker, the atlases feature maps that are over 30 percent larger than standard maps and printing on tear and water-resistant paper. Contained in a spiral-bound book, the atlas is the ultimate in ease and accessibility for truckers.

But for those who think the large scale atlas is too fancy, Rand McNally also sells the Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas, which features the same information as the large scale atlas on a smaller scale, and the Deluxe Motor Carries’ Road Atlas, which features heavy-duty, laminated pages that can used over and over again for route drawings and notes.

All of the Rand McNally atlases contain far more than maps and directions, however. The atlases also feature a host of information important to commercial truckers, including mileage and hazardous material regulations. Map features also allow truckers to search pre-configured routes between cities. An emergency directory in the back of the Atlas allows drivers state to state emergency access. The company also has a web site where current road construction information is listed.

Though GPS units may be gaining popularity among truckers, most like to keep atlases on hand, even if they are only used as back ups for the electronic mapping software. Using Rand McNally’s maps specifically formulated for commercial drivers allows truckers to navigate the road with confidence and ease.