TC_01-18_OnlinEdition

Find us here:
www.facebook.com/
TruckersConnectionMagazine
Follow Megan on Twitter:
@MagazineMegan
Features
15
22
30
36
44
62
Viewpoint
Industry Update
Safety Tips
January 2018
Vol ume 32
Issue 1
Bill Mack’s Entertainment Beat
The Cost of Living in 2018
WINTERIZING YOUR TRUCK:
WHAT TO KNOW,
AND WHAT TO DO
Connection Wordfind
Find your favorite magazines at TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKER’S CONNECTION 3

5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy., Suite 703
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
Telephone: 678-325-1022 / Fax: 470-253-7086
Editorial: editor@truckersconnection.com
Art Department: tmpart@targetmediapartners.com
A Subsidiary of Target Media Partners
Publication Staff
Publisher/Editor
Sales Manager
Art Director
Editor
Megan Hicks
Jerry Critser
Chad Singleton
Sean O’Connell
MeganH@targetmediapartners.com
JerryC@targetmediapartners.com
ChadS@targetmediapartners.com
SeanO@targetmediapartners.com
Entertainment Editor
Field Editors
Bill Mack
John Ewing Bob Hataway
Cheryl Cheek Jennifer Hawks
Administrative Staff
Advertising
Account Executives
Tammy Borrelli
Charlene Abernathy
Sean Hayes
256-405-4017
John Hicks
770-418-9789
Meg Larcinese
678-325-1025
Greg McClendon
678-325-1023
Carol Trujillo
213-221-9993
TammyB@TargetMediaPartners.com
CharleneA@TargetMediaPartners.com
SeanH@htwoservices.com
JohnH@targetmediapartners.com
MegL@targetmediapartners.com
GregMc@targetmediapartners.com
CarolT@targetmediapartners.com
CEO
CFO
Vice President
Jim Sington
Bobby Ralston
Ed Leader
COPYRIGHT: Copyright 2018 Wilshire Classifieds, LLC. Publisher as sumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission
is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any subscriptions. Rates for individuals in the U.S.A.: $26.95 per year; Canada $45.00 per
year; all other countries $90.00 per year payable in advance. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Trucker’s Connection, 5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy, Ste 703, Suwanee, Georgia
30024. All advertisements, and/or editorials are accepted and published by Publisher on the representation that the advertiser, its advertising agency, and/or the supplier of the
contents are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser, its advertising agency and/or the supplier of the contents will defend, indemnify
and hold Publisher harmless from and against any loss, expense or other liability, resulting from any claims or suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism, copyright or
trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that may rise out of publication of such contents. Press releases are expressly covered within the definition of contents.
10 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

ViewPoint
By Megan Cullingford-Hicks
Tax Time is Here.
Are You Prepared?
By Megan Hicks
Wreaths A New Across Point of View America
We’re solidly into another
another time. Turns out, “another
year, with the President
time” is, uh, this month.
Most would agree that they hate adore my animals, and the pain of losing one
Bucket change. list officially Learning item, check! to sworn live with I had in a new the
to
is The acute…and But fourth whether had just never about you more 10 are wreaths so more than left, when disciplined
given than ours I’m I from angry, with that heartbroken, bundle. your taxes We ended stunned,
and up
when Cemetery last month to participate in
walking to the far reaches of the Cemetery the you country really liked back your old track perspective.
(hmmm, and expenses somewhat or you’re in as shock. big a Our paperwork kneejerk to find
Changing Wreaths Across schools, America’s changing laying jobs, of moving wreaths to
reaction stones that was still to awaited not get their another wreaths. dog. My family Why
what will that debt total look like
mess as me, it’s imperative that you as
and it’s we
another opportunity perspective four to years can go be to of rocky…especially
Arlington trying National
to get
unexpected. were a
on
new
every
city,
gravestone
getting divorced,
there. What
losing
an
a
amazing
loved risk
and I
the
each
heartbreak
laid ours and
again?
stopped
But
to
the
speak
reality
the
one, in losing 2017?), a pet, the your holidays child going behind away to
us
is, a trucker my personal keep life track is not of all complete your spend-
without
and very moving
name of the fallen that we honored.
college, (hopefully even changing all your lanes lights for are truckers
down
pets. ing through There is the a reason year. You people can track who own
it
event.
We took in the changing of the guard at
who Coming and have Santa long from has driven left the the same building), route (and
and pets weekly, live longer the Tomb monthly and of the (or happier Unknown. biannually lives (according
While works)
liked doing so) is unsettling. It takes effort. It
to research). And we have another
always young
a
a military family
popular sight to see, the crowd gathered
takes
tax
“some
season
getting
upon
used
us.
to.”
Try to contain
dog—a
but whatever
Sheltie--who
it
needed
takes,
and
track it. It
and
Getting your excitement.
married
into a habit of anything is nice
deserved can around mean a on companion.
a that huge day difference was at least between 10 people
because to a I veteran can we procrastinate learn of
to do things like really a champ
well,
what We’d deep, you barely and cough there acknowledged up were to Uncle even that more Sam we looking
would
and
with the Army, this
up from down lawn. From my location, so one it’s with eye open, a heavy you heart might that say. I stare You indeed what goes own another into your dog savings at some account. point when I
drive was
a particularly
route so often, you
could only I see received the soldiers an as amazing they walked call to
poignant me.
the front of the Tomb. Once they were begin down to forget the mountain the drive itself, of expenses and Truckers are from allowed a friend to who write was off helping any
there,
sometimes receipts I know that
wondering that still
many
if need your
to be tallied
expense necessary a neighbor for find them
I a good to complete
their jobs—from for his one pens year hear to old industry dog. The
could home only
truck felt and didn’t exactly totaled just know like me for before the way
I can pay a visit
their steps
without that to day, my
you
and accountant.
having to steer.
even
I have the best of
magazines to
breed? meals (check
Beagle. and the
How stipulations
on that) more) to weigh assurances station that costs
the
could
the clicks
But with this habit comes the
this not be Fate? After 25 (or
those without a
and cracks possibility intentions of falling throughout into a rut the year of managing
than tie this leaving were
stuff, the of comfort
keying totals and
and anything owner else truly not wanted reimbursed their to steps rehome
by and
zone, moved figures even by into if you’re the
my spreadsheet unhappy.
as I go and
your company.
the dog, we met of Murphy, the weapons
who
It’s respect and honor
as they were
easier to deal with the devil
got along wonderfully with
of
rather personal filing them away in a neat and you shown know to so than many
the devil you
Murphy orderly If you lack the discipline to track
Guinness (sensing checked,
a theme?). but
who gave their all for us to live
it was don’t, fashion. right? But somewhere between, oh, these totals He’s throughout beautiful the and year was (welcome
in to need the of club!), a companion at least moving.
our toss Sheltie.
the
and States.
the we next, can my stay neat in our and comfort orderly zone receipts as We receipts brought in folders him home or envelopes as the newest To
marked Hicks all
long I wasn’t
no less
as
the Sometimes February life we live of our in one choices the year United
are and ours February to make
of
much as we sure
want—rut what to
or
expect,
no. Or we can opt family member. And the adapting those
has now
who
to turns into
venture to a
a daunting
new world. stack
We of
live paper
with the
with each month and then spend a day
begun. Am I still angry that my family life was
and we arrived about 15 minutes
volunteered
consequences slips in varying either sizes way large but at enough least the to altered each February in a way tallying I did not them want? up I am. for the
Do I
after the official wreath laying
their time that
choice swallow is ours small to make. children. And this year grieve tax man. and hide With in the what bathroom it saves to cry? you I do. in
was But scheduled sometimes to start, the choices thinking
are for
day, to the companies who donated trucks
is no different. I might have made it taxes, But sometimes I bet that unwanted day is the change biggest can one-
lead
us—out that perhaps most of the initial
and drivers, to the people who donated funds
of our control—and those can be to amazing things if you don’t spend too much
the crowd
to June
toughest would
or
have July
to adapt dissipated
before to. Not by
I began only simply
are you
day
time to payday
digging ensure you
in enough enjoy
your heels wreaths
all year.
trying for every to prevent stone
learning then. stockpiling I had a new heard way invoices announcements of life and after receipts a big on the change, radio
with
something there Email and at your that many is view unpreventable.
other point cemeteries to Megan@ around the
but while every it’s in easy DC, intention invitations to be bitter to of the because getting public the to come to change
them and country, TruckersConnection.com.
Whether Thank you’re You. forced If you ever to make get the a change chance
was help, made and I and figured you had there no would voice be in the a massive
you to visit don’t Arlington want to National make, or Cemetery you have on a Wreaths
change
decision-making.
crowd. Find But your massive favorite doesn’t magazines begin at to TruckDriverMagazines.com
describe to Across deal America with that Day, was go. completely You’ll be glad out you of did.
TRUCKER’S CONNECTION your
11
the
Through
amount
an
of
unexpected
people who
and
were
awful
there
tragedy,
to help.
control,
Wreaths
keep an
Across
open mind.
America:
It’s ok to
Remember,
be upset
I recently lost a beloved pet—a young, female
and miss your old way of life. But you also
The first three semi trucks we came to (parked
Honor, Teach.
Beagle. Losing a pet ranks up there with might be very surprised at the potential in the
throughout the Cemetery) were already empty.
some of the worst experiences of my life. Send your viewpoint to Megan@truckersconnection.com
I
new. All things happen for a reason.
Send your viewpoint to Megan@truckersconnection.com
www.TruckersConnection.com TRUCKER’S CONNECTION 15

INDUSTRY
UPDATE
Coalition for small
trucking companies
mounts nationwide
ELD protests
With little time to go and few options left
before the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration’s
electronic logging device (ELD)
mandate goes into effect, truck drivers opposed
to the mandate took to the streets – and to truck
stops – across the country to bring greater attention
to the mandate and to their arguments
against it.
The protests, which took place at more
than 40 locations across the country, were organized
in part by the Small Business in Transportation
Coalition (SBTC).
The FMCSA’s ELD Final Rule, which applies
to most motor carriers and drivers who
are required to maintain records of duty status
(RODS), was published in December 2015 and
requires trucks to be equipped and logs to be
kept with ELDs as of December 18. Among the
few exceptions are trucks already equipped
with automatic onboard recording devices (AO-
BRDs), which have until December 2019 to
switch to ELDs.
While many companies had already been
using ELDs and others used the two-year window
to prepare for the deadline, another portion
of the industry – mostly small carriers and independent
owner-operators and the organizations
that represent them – have spent the past two
years trying to get the mandate reversed or at
least delayed. Legal options have been exhausted,
and attempts at legislative relief have stalled.
A bill by Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, has yet to
make it to the House floor for a vote.
The protests were something of a follow-up
to a letter sent by the SBTC on November 20 to
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao requesting
an exemption for all motor carriers with fewer
than 50 employees, to reconsider the mandate
on First Amendment grounds and to grant a
stay on the December 18 effective date until
the secretary rules on the SBTC petition.
A press release by SBTC president
James Lamb announcing nationwide protests
touted them as a “media blitz” to draw greater
public awareness to the ELD issue. While ELDs
have been the biggest issue in trucking during
the past year, the general public has virtually no
knowledge of the topic.
The apparent strategy was for the protests
to introduce the ELD issue and to make their
case to the general public to drum up public support
to tip the scales and to convince the DOT
and/or Congress to act in their favor.
Among the arguments, some of which were
included in the letter to Chao and repeated in
Lamb’s press release, was the contention that
forcing drivers to use ELDs rather than the paper
logs they’d been using violates their right to
commercial free speech. Another is that while
the FMCSA’s Final Rule makes it mandatory that
trucks be equipped with ELDs, there’s nothing in
the wording that actually demands they must be
used over paper logs.
22 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

INDUSTRY
UPDATE
FMCSA Wants
Approval To Do A
Survey On Safety
Of Long CMV Driver
Commutes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
is seeking approval from the Office of
Management and Budget for a survey about the
amount of time a commercial vehicle operator
should be allowed to commute to work.
The issue of commute time came to the forefront
in June 2014 when Kevin Roper slammed
into the rear of a limo carrying comedian Tracy
Morgan.
The crash killed comedian James McNair
and seriously injured Morgan and others. Morgan,
a former “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night
Live” star, suffered brain trauma, broken ribs and
a broken leg.
A report by federal transportation safety investigators
said Roper was driving 65 mph in
the 60 seconds before he slammed into the limo
van. The speed limit on that stretch of the turnpike
is 55 mph and was lowered to 45 mph that
night because of construction.
An NTSB investigation concluded in August
that Roper hadn’t slept in the 28 hours before
the crash.
Roper lived in Georgia, but was based out
of Delaware.
Officials said he spent a portion of the 28
hours commuting from Georgia to Delaware to
pick up his load.
The FMCSA is proposing a survey to inquire
about driver commuting practices to fulfill Section
5515 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation
Act, 2015 (FAST Act).
Section 5515 of the FAST Act requires FMC-
SA to conduct a study on the safety effects of
motor carrier operator commutes exceeding 150
minutes.
The agency is proposing to receive comments
on the proposal on or before January 26,
2018.
House Panel Oks
Two Trucking-Related
Anti-Trafficking Bills
The House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee approved two human trafficking bills
related to commercial vehicles.
H.R. 3814, the “No Human Trafficking on
Our Roads Act,” is sponsored by Rep. John
Katko, R-N.Y., and H.R. 3813, the “Combatting
Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act”
is sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn.
H.R. 3814 directs the Department of Transportation
to disqualify from operating a commercial
motor vehicle for life an individual who uses
such a vehicle in committing a felony involving a
severe form of human trafficking.
“As a former organized crime prosecutor on
both the northern border at home in New York
and on the southern border in El Paso, Texas,
I’ve seen firsthand the horrors of human trafficking,”
Katko said. “Too often, human traffickers
take advantage of our nation’s transportation
network to transport their victims from one location
to the next, and the U.S. Department of
Transportation and the transportation industry
play a critical role in preventing and stopping
these heinous exploitations. I’m grateful for
(committee) Chairman (Bill) Shuster’s commitment
to ending the crime of human trafficking.
I’m proud to work with him and members of the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
to pass two bipartisan pieces of legislation
that I’ve authored with Rep. Esty to help make
our transportation systems safer.”
24 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

26 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION Hundreds of Jobs www.TruckJobSeekers.com

“You are a
product of your
environment.
So choose the
environment that
will best develop
you toward your
objective. Are the
things around you
helping you toward
success - or are
they holding you
back?”
– W. Clement Stone,
businessman and
philanthropist
WISE DRIVER TIP: Put your driving
career in an environment it can grow
and thrive. At Wiseway we care about
each of our drivers and giving them
the support to achieve their goals.
Many drivers are making a wise career
choice and choosing Wiseway.
Transportation. Here’s why:
• COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS
• OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TEAM
• HOME ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND
• GENEROUS SAFETY BONUSES
• AND MUCH MORE!
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
If you are a company driver living in
MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, TN, MS or NC and
at least 23 years of age make the wise
choice and call us today!
CALL US AT
888-202-8099 OR
LEARN MORE AT WWW.JOBSATWISEWAY.COM

SAFETY
TIPS
By Bob Hataway
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Do you keep your address
current with your company?
A driver from Beaumont,
TX pulled into a truck stop in
Harrisburg, PA to fuel and rest for
the evening. His load was going to
Houston, TX.
Having been on the road for
over 4 weeks, he knew he be able
to go home for a few days. He
called his wife from the truck stop
and told her the good news. She
was excited at the prospect of
getting to see him.
The driver had hand loaded
his freight. It was a long hard job
— taking much longer than he planned. His
chest was bothering him, but he attributed
it to the bowl of chili he had for lunch. “It's
hard to get a good cup of chili on the road,”
he thought.
He went in for a shower and a cup of
coffee. After the shower, he was struck hard
in the chest by a terrific pain and fell to the
floor. The attendant immediately called 911.
An ambulance came and he was taken to
the hospital. He died in the emergency room
from a massive heart attack.
His company called us to notify his
family. They gave us the address as being
a trailer court in Beaumont. The trailer court
was just outside town.
The pastor took his wife and found the
address. He was told the family had moved
and the new family did not know where. As
they were walking to their car, he saw a little
girl and by chance he asked her. She directed
them to a trailer home two rows over.
The wife became distraught with the
news. The pastor and his wife comforted her
and their daughter until other family members
came over.
Can you imagine how much time would
have been lost in getting the message to his
wife had they not met the little girl? The need
for making sure your address and phone
number is current with your company is
imperative!
Bottom Line: Safety is not just limited to
driving technique; it is first and foremost in
relationships. Relationships with your family;
your company; and the industry are important
in every aspect of your job including safety.
That's the way I see it - Bob Hataway
- TransAlive.
Bob Hataway heads up TransAlive USA, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping truckers
when they have accidents away from home. More information is available by calling
800-USA-HURT. www.transalive.com
30 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

Entertainment Beat
The Cost of Living in 2018
As we look back on the past
year, 2017, many thoughts and
happenings cross my mind. Let
me establish the important fact that I’m
not going to delve into political matters,
I just want to share some thoughts with
you.
I would like to release my thoughts
toward insurance, but I don’t want to
depress you! Besides, you most likely
share my feelings in that direction, so
there’s no need for me to type it out for
this column.
I’ll always remember those words
from my dad back when I was just a kid.
He said, “Son, always make certain you
have two things in life … good credit
and plenty of insurance!” Well, the last
time I checked, my credit is pretty good.
Trouble is, the high cost of insurance
makes it difficult to sustain good credit!
Now, to another subject:
I’ve always enjoyed going shopping
at the supermarket with my wife, Cindy.
However, it’s beginning to cause a bit of
depression! I seldom check the prices
of items that are placed in the shopping
cart, but I have taken note of those price
tags during this past year!
No, I’m not a tight-wad and,
fortunately, we still have some money
in the bank, but when I see the price
tag stuck to a half-gallon of my favorite
brand of ice cream, I temporarily
become Scrooge (I presume you’ve
read the book or seen the various movie
adaptations of “A Christmas Carol”
where Scrooge is the angry old man who
hangs on to his money!) By the way, the
price of that half-gallon of ice cream is
$7.99. They don’t dare stick $8.00 on
the carton because many people, like
me, would shout, “Ridiculous!” They
just deduct one penny from the tag and
most shoppers, like us, toss two or three
cartons in the shopping cart and head
toward other bargains.
Adding to the rise in costs, it seems
we have to make more trips to the
supermarket! This makes me question
32 36 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

By Bill Mack
By Bill Mack
the quantity in the containers of food we
now stack in the refrigerator and pantry!
On a box containing raisins, there is a
small notation stating, “contains 875
delicious raisins.” I never paid any
attention to that notation until recently.
Now, how do I know there are 875
raisins in that box? Someday, when we
purchase a new box, I’m going to sit
down in a quiet corner of our house and
count every single raisin! If there are
less than 875 in the box, I may call my
attorney, Sherlock Helms, and get his
opinion on what I should do. I’m almost
certain the raisin company would prefer
to settle the issue out of court, since
thousands of households have their
raisins in boxes in the pantry!
I know we always purchased exactly
a dozen apples back when that was the
normal amount many years ago. Now,
apples cost $4.99 per pound! As with
ice cream, they keep the price at $4.99
per pound to ease stress. By adding
one-penny, they would cost $5.00 per
pound, causing the poor customer to
ignore the apples! I just noticed the price
I quoted is for “organic” apples. Regular
apples sell for close to $3.00 per pound.
Does that ease some stress for you?
Instead of apples, we decided to get
a pound of black seedless grapes for
only $3.50 per pound. They’re marked
at $3.49 per pound, but you get the
picture. Just add a penny and black
seedless grapes check out a $3.50!
Here's something much more
serious:
Did you ever think we’d reach
a point in our nation where we felt
unsafe by simply getting in our car and
heading to a small convenience store
after sundown? This really applies to
the ladies. Hoodlums, such as thieves,
are expected to exist in big numbers in
the larger cities. Now, they are hiding,
waiting to commit crimes, in the smaller
towns, anywhere cash registers are
located. Even more serious are the rape
and kidnap villains! Nowadays, we’re not
surprised when we see hideous crime
stories on the nightly news because,
like the weather news, they’re expected!
Of course, our police people are on
the job, doing the best they can, but we
don’t have enough police. Even more
tragic is the fact that less men and
women want to become police officers
because the future appears more limited
than it used to be. Remember when little
boys used to say, “I’m going to be a
policeman when I grow up?” I’m afraid
that is becoming an obsolete statement.
A good friend of mine has been a
policeman in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
for almost 30 years. He said, “When
I began my career as a cop, I looked
forward to doing my ‘beat.’ Gradually,
my job became a bit more difficult. Now,
I’m glad I’m about to retire, because
most cops are no longer respected.
As a matter of fact, some important
‘dignitaries’ and portions of the media
have encouraged serious hatred toward
police officers. Sure, we have the bad
cops, just like there are bad people in
any vocation, but I’m certain the good,
dedicated police officers in our nation
far outnumber the bad. I’m really afraid
www.TruckersConnection.com TRUCKER’S CONNECTION 37

Entertainment Beat
Continued
there’ll come a time when people will
have to be drafted, as in the military,
in order to establish complete police
departments. However, we can’t give
up on hope.”
For obvious reasons, I saved this bit
of information to end my column:
We have all heard about Alzheimer’s
for many years, giving a bit of thought
to this terrible disease. In some cases,
when we were familiar with someone
suffering from Alzheimer’s, we may
have added a few prayers for them.
I remember when I was informed our
former president, Ronald Reagan,
had been stricken with it, I became
very sad, especially for his wife,
Nancy, when he died on June 5, 2004.
Several well-known entertainers died
from Alzheimer’s this past year. When
Glen Campbell was diagnosed with
the disease, the entire entertainment
community, was saddened. Glen was
finally taken from us on August 8, 2017.
My oldest daughter, Deborah
(Debbie), began showing signs of
possible dementia around 2007. In 2008,
she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
After hearing this sad news, I simply
wasn’t able to establish it as being
factual in my mind. Instead, I seemed
to ignore the fact until Debbie began
showing the obvious signs attached
I became both, sad and angry, when I noticed how the
disease was slowing taking her from us.
to Alzheimer’s. I became both, sad
and angry, when I noticed how the
disease was slowing taking her from
us. On September 13, 2017, Debbie
passed away from Alzheimer’s. Yes,
it was the saddest moment of my life
when I received the expected telephone
call, but I wasn’t surprised. The only
relief was the fact she was no longer
suffering.
I realize I’ve witnessed a lot of
sadness this past year, but there are
so many things I’m thankful for. These
include good health, the ability to
remain active, a
loving wife and
family and the birth
of a beautiful new
granddaughter,
Vivian, who will soon
be one-year-old!
Visit Bill at BillMackCountry.com
38 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

WINTERIZING
YOUR
TRUCK:
What To Know,
And What To Do
by Tom Kyrk
It’s that time of year when we could
find ourselves in a snowstorm tomorrow.
This is one of the few occupations
where we can be in the 80's one day
and driving in a blizzard the next. Having your
truck prepared for winter can be the difference
between being comfortable or miserable while
sitting out a storm.
A few common-sense precautions can
make driving in bad weather a bit safer.
One of the most important winter preparedness
tips is to know the weather and
road conditions. You can do this with apps,
such as WeatherBug or Weather Underground,
and websites, such as safetravelusa.
com that provide state road reports.
A CB radio is useful for checking on road
conditions and accidents. The best advice, if
44 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

you know the roads are going to get nasty, is
to stop early to make sure you get a parking
spot at a safe and comfortable location.
Here are a few things you can do to your
truck during winter travel time:
1: Install fresh wiper blades. Blades that
have the rubberized boot to help prevent
snow and ice buildup are ideal. Many believe
the beam style blades work best. Pro-tip: Do
Not Buy Cheap Blades. Nothing is worse than
having to replace a blade that fell apart in bad
weather.
2:Use MotorKote. Put some MotorKote
onto a cloth and rub over your door seals
and anything that opens or closes to prevent
them from freezing shut in the winter. Be sure
to let this air dry before closing. You can also
put a few drops in locks to prevent freezing.
Coat your wiper blades with a thin layer and
let dry for a few hours then wipe off excess.
This will prevent snow and ice from sticking
to the blades.
3:Carry WD-40 or similar spray lubricant.
This can defrost frozen locks. Drivers who
could not get their padlocks off due to ice
buildup have a quick fix to the problem with a
few shots of WD-40.
4:Lubricate your 5th wheel. Spray lithium
grease or silicone to lubricate your 5th wheel
when it is too cold for traditional 5th wheel
grease to spread easily.
5:Always have spare fluids on hand. Check
your fluids and tire pressure before heading
out. It is always a good idea to carry spare
fluids and an air hose. Elevation and temperature
changes can affect fluid levels and
air pressures. Carrying spares and an air
hose can mean the difference between getting
back on the road and beating a storm or
getting stuck in it waiting for road service.
6:Prevent your fuel from freezing. When
the temperatures drop below freezing treat
your fuel to prevent gelling or ice build-up
www.TruckersConnection.com TRUCKER’S CONNECTION 45

WINTERIZING
YOUR TRUCK
in filters and fuel lines. Products offered by
Schaeffer Oil, Power Service, or Howes are
great options to prevent being shut down road
side due to gelling or water in your fuel.
7:Make an emergency kit. Use a duffel bag
or backpack (Black Canyon Outfitters has
some good options) and make an emergency
kit with items such as a flashlight, battery
bank, charging cords, snacks, food, bottles of
water, medicine and important documents.
No matter how prepared you try to be, you
could be caught someplace without something
that you want or need. Many of the items
that can be found at travel centers will bail you
out in a pinch:
• Work or winter gloves - Most travel
centers have a good selection
• Coats or jackets - Many travel centers
carry them this time of year and often
at competitive prices compared to
many major stores
• A way to heat water and food on the
truck, such as the RoadPro 12-Volt
Lunch Box Stove
• Oil, coolants, spray lithium grease or
silicone and additives from companies
like Lucas, Schaeffer Oil, Power Service
or Howes
• Zip ties
• Spare headlights
• Wiper blades
• Duct tape
• WD-40 or MotorKote spray
• Snacks, non-perishable food, gallons
of water
• Flashlight
• Battery bank for charging cellphones,
such as the Tough Tested solar charger
• Jumper cables
• Blanket(s)
Whether this is your first winter on the
road or you’re a seasoned winter driver, it
never hurts to listen to conversations at the
truck stops and learn what other drivers carry
in their trucks. You may get a few good ideas
or learn something new. Most recommend
carrying more food and water than you think
you will need. If you get stranded on the road
you might have
the opportunity to
help other stranded
travelers, so
carrying extras is
helpful.
46 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

WINTERIZING
YOUR TRUCK
Bendix Tips On Keeping
Wheel-Ends And Air Dryers
Operating Effectively
In Cold Weather
The Bendix Tech Tips series from Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix
Spicer Foundation Brake (BSFB) offers advice
on simple steps to help keep wheel-ends
and air dryers operating effectively, and preventing
hazardous corrosion of components.
“Winter can be really tough on the components
of air-braked systems,” said Keith
McComsey, BSFB director of marketing and
customer solutions. “There’s added moisture
on the roads in the form of snow and ice, and
it’s often mixing with salt or corrosive chemicals
used to keep highways clear. Conditions
are ideal for the kind of corrosion that poses
a serious hazard to safe brake operation and
highway safety.”
It’s important to prepare wheel-ends and
air dryers for winter with a few steps that can
help keep moisture, contaminants, and corrosion
from gaining a foothold, McComsey said.
For starters, a clean air supply is crucial,
regardless of whether the vehicle or trailer
is equipped with foundation drum or air disc
brakes, so the air tanks should be drained of
48 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

WINTERIZING
YOUR TRUCK
moisture and the potential contaminants it can
carry.
Remember that ambient temperature
shifts of greater than 30 degrees Fahrenheit
can cause a temporary accumulation of moisture,
so if a significant temperature change
took place in the previous 24 hours, continue
to operate the vehicle as normal, and check
the air system again after a week.
Drum brake checkup
Winterizing drum brake components begins
with a watchful eye: Check the chamber
housings for corrosion or damage that could
allow corrosive materials to take hold. Excessive
corrosion can lead to failure of the housing.
Next, verify that the chamber’s dust plug
is properly installed to prevent contamination
of the interior.
Effective lubrication keeps moisture at
bay and is a powerful tool in the battle against
corrosion. Make sure all automatic slack adjusters
are properly greased, and lubricate the
clevis pin connection points, verifying that they
rotate freely. Ensure that other drum brake
components are also lubricated, including
cam tubes, shafts and bushings.
Air disc brake care
As with drum brakes, begin with a visual
inspection, checking the chamber housings
and dust plug. Next, inspect the guide pins
and look for cuts or tears on the boots, replacing
them if necessary. (Ripped or punctured
boots can allow contaminants and moisture to
enter the caliper, causing corrosion and longterm
damage.)
Prepping air disc brakes for winter also requires
ensuring that:
• Pads move freely in the carrier — if not,
remove them and clean the carrier surface
with a wire brush
• The brake moves freely on the guidance
system — if not, replace the guidance
system
• Pads and rotors have enough remaining
thickness to last until the next service
interval — minimum rotor thickness
is 37mm, and minimum friction
thickness is 2mm
• Air dryer maintenance
Especially in cold or harsh climates, fall is
a good time to replace air dryer cartridges to
prevent moisture from getting into the system
and causing air brake freeze-up. If the vehicle
has an oil-coalescing cartridge, always
replace it with another oil-coalescing cartridge
to maintain the quality of the air serving the
brakes and other connected systems like automated
manual transmissions.
“We also recommend examining the air
dryer’s purge valve for signs of corrosion or an
accumulation of grit, and replacing it if necessary,”
said Richard Nagel, Bendix director of
marketing and customer solutions, charging.
“Like a lot of winter preparation, it’s a simple
procedure that can go a long way toward
keeping a system operating safely, preventing
malfunction and headaches down the road.”
Also critical for vehicle operators to keep
in mind as cold weather approaches: adding
alcohol to unfreeze brake components may
solve an immediate problem, but alcohol can
damage seals in the air brake system, requiring
additional unexpected service. Bendix
does not recommend using alcohol in air
brake systems under any conditions.
For more information on wheel-end and air
dryer maintenance, contact the Bendix Tech
Team at (800) AIR-BRAKE.
50 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

PUZZLE
Mythology
SOLUTION ON PAGE 66
Antigone
Electra
Hephaestus
Nereid
Sol
Ares
Erato
Hestia
Orion
Sphinx
Argus
Erebus
Hyades
Pallas
Stheno
Asterope
Eris
Hydra
Pegasus
Styx
Athene
Eros
Iapetus
Penelope
Thalia
Chaos
Euryale
Ichor
Perseus
Theseus
Charon
Gaea
Jason
Priam
Titan
Circe
Gaia
Leda
Procrustes
Typhon
Clio
Ge
Lethe
Proteus
Urania
Cocytus
Graces
Medea
Psyche
Cyclopes
Harpy
Medusa
Python
Cynthia
Helen
Minotaur
River Acheron
Daphne
Helios
Naiad
Scylla
62 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com

INDEX
Admiral Merchants ................ 17
Arctic Express .................... 33
Baggett Services. .................. 53
Beacon Transport ................. 60
Butler............................ 56
Carrier One .................... 7, 67
Celadon.......................... 58
Central Marketing Transport ........ 2
CFI.............................. 43
Climate Express ................... 65
Coal City Cob Company ........... 18
CRST ......................... 11, 42
E. W. Wylie ........................ 8
Freymiller ........................ 16
Hurricane Express. ................. 5
James Burg Trucking. .............. 21
Johnsrud Transport. ............... 63
P.I. & I. Motor Express ............. 39
Red Eye Radio .................... 32
Reliable Carriers ................ 4, 68
Roehl ............................. 6
Royal Trucking ................... 20
RTI. ............................. 59
Schneider National, Inc ............ 35
Schuster. ......................... 31
Star Freight. ...................... 41
Styline Logistics. .................. 48
Summit Logistics. ................. 19
Transport America ................ 49
Transport Design. ................. 26
UPS ............................. 61
US Xpress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 29, 51
Western Express . 14, 23, 40, 47, 57, 64
Wiseway Transportation Service. .... 27
Lessors, Inc. ...................... 13
Logix Transportation .............. 26
Marten Transport ................. 34
McCollister's. ..................... 25
Melton Truck Lines. ............ 28, 52
Montgomery Transport ............. 9
NuWay .......................... 55
WordFind Puzzle
(page 62) Solution
66 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com