Ask The Trucker "live" W/allen Smith

Friday 6PM et "TCGO is making a difference for trucking families battling grave situations" AskTheTrucker Live will have an update for you regarding the Truckers Christmas Group, On our last show, "Truckers coming to aid of fellow truckers during TCGO Christmas campaign" we discussed how trucking musicians, industry leaders for trucking charities, and other advocates such as Bill Weaver, Paul Marhoeffer, Taylor Barker, Mandi Jo Pinhierio, Jason Henley, Tony Justice, Ken Freeman, Keith Sampson, and more are working with TCGO to raise awareness and funds for the 2019 TCGO campaign.  This fundraising campaign literally "saves" the Christmas holiday for trucking families. Tonight we will talk about the families and their needs. These are trucking families battling grave situations folks. We also want to give a shout out to those sponsoring families and to all those who have donated to the Truckers Christmas Group, coming to the aid of their fellow truckers in need. Join Tom Kyrk and Donna Smith as they updat

Truckers coming to aid of fellow truckers during TCGO Christmas campaign Saturday Nov 9th 6PM ET  Call in number 347-826-9170 It's that time again! The Truckers Christmas Group Org (TCGO), in its 12 year, is continuing its commitment to help as many trucking families in need during the holiday season as they possibly can.  This year has proven to be particularly challenging for many truckers and their families. Between layoffs, bankruptcies, illnesses, and other catastrophic occurrences, the need for funding is vital.  Learn more HERE   Watch the Christmas Video- How the Truckers Saved Christmas-combined effort by Bill Weaver Music and TCGO  Music copyright Bill Weaver Music-Video Copyright Truckers Christmas Group.Org This year, Trucking musicians, industry leaders for trucking charities, and other advocates such as Bill Weaver, Paul Marhoeffer, Taylor Barker, Mandi Jo Pinhierio, Jason Henley, Tony Justice, Ken Freeman, Keith Sampson, and more are working with TCGO to raise awareness and funds for the 2

It’s not an easy task exploring the reasons for the decline of truckings’ "American Dream" for OTR drivers, company drivers and owner operators. We can make a list of everything wrong with trucking and how it affects truckers, but to pinpoint the problems in order to resolve them is much more difficult. It is a highly intricate and complicated web of obstacles, involving rules and regulations interwoven with industry practices, systems and schemes. Although most of us weren’t a part of trucking prior to deregulation, most will agree that trucking and truck drivers played a major part of the American Dream during that time. Deregulation is not the sole reason for the decline of the American Dream, it has however, caused trucking to evolve into an industry of "them against us" but in order to fix something, we need to understand it. We have the honor to have with us Steve Viscelli, sociologist and long time researcher of  truck drivers and the trucking industry. His pursuit to find out why truckers work so ha

Saturday April 27th 6PM et Join us for an Open discussion concerning Underrides, addressing a most controversial issues among truckers, the Stop Underrides Act.  We will be taking calls. Call in 347-826-9170 Stop Underride Act Senate bill S.665  Stop Underrides Act House bill H.R. 1511 For 50 years the Federal Government has been discussing, & conducting studies regarding the need for Underride Guards on large trucks,  Written 50 Years ago in Federal Register “It is anticipated that the proposed Standard will be amended after technical studies have been completed, to extend the requirement for underride protection to the sides of large vehicles.”   We strive for facts& truth rather than talking points.Truckers have valid concerns about underrides and we want to address them. Proponents of underrides also have legitimate concerns for supporting the Stop Underrrides Act. Let's hear both sides. Guests on the show: Jerry and Marianne Karth and Lois Durso advocates for Underrides and have lost loved o

Saturday 2-9-19 6PM ET  347-826-9170 Tonight’s show will open up by discussing a few of the most recent court decisions which have made a profound impact on the side of drivers.    From the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which ruled to exempt ALL transportation workers from the Federal Arbitration Act, to the most recent ruling from a district court judge in Arkansas, reaffirming that truck drivers need to be paid for every hour they spend in their trucks while they’re not sleeping,  This ruling was based on Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division- Title 29 Section 785 Code of Regulations.. When it comes to drivers wages, there’s a  misunderstanding between the FMCSA’s HOS rules and the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division’s laws. FMCSA rules were created for safety, not for determining wages. The 14 hour rule determines how many hours you may drive and work, The 16 hour rule determines how truckers are to be paid.   It is because truckers are paid by the mile,regulated by a clock, and enf

Thursday 1-24-19  6PM ET  347-826-9170 Part 2 Join us tonight as we have a follow up show with trucker Dominic Oliveira and his Attorney from Public Justice, Jennifer Bennett. Dominic will review his lengthy legal ordeal with New Prime, Inc that ended up in the Supreme Court and Ms. Bennett will explain the legal timeline of events and arguments and how this decision will positively affect truckers in the future. Desiree Wood, who contributed in an Amicus brief, will co-host the show. On 1-15-19 the U.S. Supreme court ruled that Transportation Independent Contractors were no longer held to the 1925 Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). In the past, only employees were exempt from forced arbitration. The decision was held by a unanimous 8-0 decision, with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ruth Ginsberg strongly agreeing. (How many times in a lifetime will we see that?) For years Carriers have misclassified truckers leased on to carriers as Independent Contractors( IC) for the  purpose of having the trucker pay for all exp

Truckers helping families in need during Christmas Friday 6PM eastern 347-826-9170 Christmas time! A time of joy and celebration of the Lord's birth. A time when people look forward to family and friends, food, fun, and nostalgia. But for many, this time of year can be difficult. Many have fallen on hard times.  The good news though is that there are many truckers who have stepped up to do what they can do to help others in need out. One such group is the Truckers Christmas Group (TCGO)  TCG is a 501(c)(3) registered charity The Truckers Christmas Group began in 2008 by Truckers who wanted to help Truckers and their families that have fallen on difficult times, The Christmas Group is a volunteer group who have raised $82,000 and helped 138 trucking families in need  over the last 10 years. Our guests tonight will be Idella Hansen, Mark Abraham, and possibly Greg Manchester ( Santa Clause) of TCGO They will share with us the history and some heartwarming stories about people who have been he

With us tonight is professional driver Dominic Oliveira and attorney Jennifer Bennett.  We will be discussing a case, Oliveira v. New Prime, Inc, that has been heard by the US Supreme Court and is waiting decision. Depending on the outcome, this case could set an industry precedent for employers and owner operators It is common for many trucking companies to classify employees as Independent Contractors. These Independent Contractors pay for all expenses for the truck and many times end up owing the company money at the end of the week. They are under the control of the company and dispatch, thus really employees. In March 2015, Dominic filed a lawsuit against Prime on behalf of himself and thousands of current and former Prime drivers who have been misclassified as independent contractors. New Prime attempted to force Dominic into arbitration with the company, basing their argument on the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925, which requires those who signed an arbitration clause in their contract to enter a

BTR Saturday Nov 10- "Trucking’s unspoken topic of Sexual harassment"  3PM ET  Call in 347-826-9170 Donna Smith of AskTheTrucker and guest Co-Host Desiree Wood of RealWomenInTrucking lead the discussion With so many intense topics within the trucking industry, there is one that seems to be kept more hush, the uncomfortable topic of Sexual harassment. There are many reasons why people harass or intimidate others. Whether it be the need to show power, the ability to force what they want through blackmail, or just for narcissistic self gratification. Whatever the reason is, it’s wrong and the industry needs to create better policies to address it. Before we fix it, we have to acknowledge it Here are some thoughts for topic: Has the “industry proclaimed driver shortage” exacerbated the problem of sexual harassment? Has the need to continually recruit new drivers to compensate for the driver churn contributed? Has low CDL training standards contributed? We are honored to have on the show tonight Joshua F

Denham Amendment defeated in FAA bill BUT it’s not over- ATA sends petition to FMCSA ATA seeks FMCSA approval to Preempt state laws which protect trucker wages After 3 years of numerous failed ATA attempts to override and preempt states labor laws which protect employees from wage abuse, the ATA has taken one more desperate attempt to Petition the FMCSA based on 49 U.S.C. § 31141 -stating  that the State of California’s Meal and Rest Break rules are preempted by Federal law ( According to ATA Petition) ATA seeks FMCSA approval to Preempt state laws which presently protect trucker wages. Tonight we’ll discuss what’s behind the ATA “Meal & Rest Break” Petition and discuss how it’s all connected to the recently failed attempt to include the Denham Amendment in the FAA bill. It’s not just about Meal & REST Breaks….  It’s about Preempting Trucker Wages. Call in to listen or to be a part of the show.  347-826-9170

AsktheTrucker "Live' Open Forum-ELD Exemptions and Federal Authority Provisions Saturday June 2nd 6PM EST Call in 347-826-9170 The discussions continue as truckers move full steam ahead addressing the 2 most pressing issues in the industry today. ELD mandate and the Federal Authority trucker wage provision. The ELD Mandate Exemptions H.R. 5948 H.R.5948 - To exempt motor carriers that own or operate 10 or fewer commercial vehicles from the electronic logging device mandates, and for other purposes The Anti-Trucker Wage legislation to be voted on in the Senate this month. The Federal Authority provision known as the Denham Amendment or F4A , which if passed in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill and THUD bill ( they are currently in both House versions), would minimize and limit trucker wages by way of a New Federal Law  

 Stop the Full blown Attack on Driver Wages in FAA bill  Saturday 5-5-18 6PM eastern Call in 347-826-9170 What does the ATA lobbied Denham Amendment have in common with truck driver wages?   EVERYTHING!  BY passing the Denham provision in the 2018 FAA ReAuthorization bill, it would be the most direct and egregious attack on driver wages ever. The Denham provision would allow the Federal government to Preempt all state labor laws which protect employees, ultimately creating new law regulatting wages of those involved in interstate commerce. The Denham Amendment has been slipped in the FAA ReAuthorization bill and most drivers don't even know what the devastating long term effects could be on their wages. Here is the simplified version of the effects of the Denham Amendment. Legally, drivers will only have to be paid for the miles they drive, no matter how many hours they work.  Here's how!  "STOP anti-trucker wage DENHAM AMENDMENT in FAA Reauthorization Bill"  Denham Amendment is broken down and expla

A lot of discussion concerning ELD’s has opened Pandora's box of trucker issues.  Strong to ELD opposition has led to many other discussions affecting drivers.  Among them are the Hours of Service and the 14hour clock, Trucker Wages, Federal Preemption of States Rights. ATA is at it again. Federal Preemption against Driver Wages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiTWNjG4_kU Preemption failed to pass in the Omnibus bill, it was ATA's most recent of 5 Attempts since 2015. They are now attempting to include language in FAAAA Re-authorization bill Preemption update against Trucker Wages -The fight to be paid for all time U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX-36), attempted to relieve truckers from the negative effects of the ELD mandate which went into enforcement mode on April 1st. Babin Introduces Legislation to Improve Hours-of-Service Regulations  The Responsible and Effective Standards for Truckers (REST) Act, legislation that would modernize hours of service regulations for truck drivers. The REST Act would allow

The effects of ELD mandate on Trucker Health & Safety 4-5-18 Thursday 6PM et 347-826-9170 The ELD mandate is causing an uproar among the truck driving community, ELD's are designed to enforce the FMCSA Hours-of-Service rule by synchronizing a vehicle engine to automatically record a truckers' driving time.The purpose is to increase highway safety by ensuring drivers do not drive more than their 11 hour limit or work more than their 14 hours allowed. Although the use of the ELD theoretically sounds like a great way to reduce driver fatigue, prevent employers from pushing their drivers to drive over their hours, prevent drivers from "cheating" on their log books ( to get more miles), and increase overall safety, there are MANY who disagree and believe the ELD mandate works in reverse and is actually detrimental to overall highway safety.  Tonight we'll address opposition to the ELD mandate and discuss why truckers are feeling rushed to beat the 14 hour clock and how it affecting their health and live

Sat 3-3-18 6PM ET  Call in # 347-826-9170 On 12-12-17 U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) & Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Stop Underrides Act, S. 2219 legislation. Then U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the House, H.R. 4622 An ‘underride crash’ is when a car slides under the body of a large truck, such as a semi-trailer, during an accident. When these accidents happen, a car’s safety features are not able to protect passengers because most of the car slides under the trailer, and the truck crashes straight through the windows and into the passengers.  The bill was originally drafted by our guests tonight, Marianne Karth and Lois Durso. Both Marianne and Lois have lost children due to underride crashes. Marianne & husband Jerry lost their 2 daughters, AnnaLeah and Mary in 2013, and Lois lost her daughter Roya in 2004. The bill was originally called the Roya, AnnaLeah and Mary Comprehensive Underride Protection Act of 2017 or t

Surviving Flu Season over the road Thursday 2/8/18  6PM et 347-826-9170 This years flu season is reported as one of the worst in years with many deaths even being reported.  Having the flu for anyone is a horrible experience, but when you're sick and over the road, it can be much worse. Being sick and stuck inside a "box" without many comforts of home can be for some unbearable.  But there are things you can do to prepare, and not just prepare for when you do get the flu, but prepare so the chances of getting it will be much less. And if you do happen to come down with the flu, make sure your immune system is in tip top shape so your ability to fight it could make the experience much less horrific. Tonight our co-host will be Carolyn O'Byrne of Life Coach Service.  She will be sharing her extensive knowledge on natural prevention and remedies including ( but not limited to) vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils, and the prevention and healing abilities of whole food.  Carolyn is well known throughout

Tax Reform and the American Trucker Saturday 1-20-18  6PM ET Call in 347-826-9170 Join us and  special guest Dennis Bridges, as we discuss Everything Truckers Need to know about the 2018 Tax reform bill. Dennis is a CPA, a best-selling author, and Executive Director of eTruckerTax. Mr. Bridges has been in practice for over 30 years, and for the past 25 years has specialized in assisting transportation professionals. The long awaited tax reform bill was finally passed December 2017. Corporations will see huge decreases in their taxes reducing the U.S. corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%  and the standard deduction for ALL taxpayers will nearly double. For many company truckers, all this may mean higher wages, by either paying less taxes ( being in lower bracket) or by receiving a raise from their employer. (Companies are getting a huge tax cut, they'll pass it on to their employers ??) Owner Operators are also expecting to see their bottom lines increase significantly. Truckers have many questions howev

Truck Stops and how they relate to Trucker Health Thursday 1-11-18 6PM ET 347-826-9170  As we enter a New Year Truck Drivers continue to take their Health more seriously. For years, the long hours, sedentary lifestyle and poor choices have led to many chronic and even fatal health issues such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, arthritis, circulatory disease.  Because of the stress of the job, high blood pressure is also common among drivers. In the last few years, drivers are exercising more and making better food choices such as eating more fruits and vegetables, eating less fast type food, eating less processed foods, and even cooking in the truck. One of the most common complaints some drivers have is the lack of healthy food choices at rest areas and truck stops.  Over the last few years truck stops have acknowledged the issue of truck driver health, and have made positive changes at their travel plazas in order to help drivers accommodate their need to improve driver health. But is it enough? To

The Truckers Christmas Groupis once again ready to make Christmas 2017 a happy and less stressful one for truckers and their families. As we talk about trucking issues and regulations, many say "Truckers should Unite"! So many families are in need during the holiday season and helping our fellow truckers is a BIG chance for us all to do just that,  UNITE to help our fellow truckers. Join us Thursday Nov 30th 6PM et as we discuss how we can all help TCGO during Christmas by: Volunteering, Nominating families in need, donating money or donating items to the Christmas store. Our guests will be TCGO board member Idella Hansen and co-founder Greg Manchester.  TCGO began in 2008 by truckers who wanted to help truckers and their families who had fallen on bad times, which always seems to be worse during the holidays. They are a a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization. Almost all of us as truck drivers have seen those in need, and the TCGO and have worked to assure a few families have a brighter Christmas

We'll open the forum with the ELD discussion.  As the ELD mandate enforcement approaches Dec 18th, many drivers are becoming more angry and frustrated.  Despite attempts by OOIDA to eliminate the mandate, or  even members of Congress to delay the law, the mandate stands.  What are the gripes about ELD's?  Is it privacy? Is it wages? Is it Parking? Is it Safety?   Or is it the enforcement of Hours of Service, which many are opposed to? Although many drivers support the use of Electronic Logs, it appears that many more do not.  On October 3rd, 2 organized groups, ELD or ME and Operation Black and Blue will start heading to Washington DC, to protest what they believe is an unfair overreach into their privacy and their wages.