Topics About Trucking To Write About
Topic 15475 | Page 1
Welcome Jake!
As a voracious reader and a soon to be trucker, I know what fascinates me is the people. Everyone here has a different story; how they got here and what they are like now. People who don't know tend to think of truckers as beer-gutted hard-partying types with the intelligence of a fairly smart baboon. There are some other forums that will reinforce that thinking. A little time here will show you just how untrue that is.
And there are always the "war stories." I'm a big fan of those as well. 
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Welcome Jake!
As a voracious reader and a soon to be trucker, I know what fascinates me is the people. Everyone here has a different story; how they got here and what they are like now. People who don't know tend to think of truckers as beer-gutted hard-partying types with the intelligence of a fairly smart baboon. There are some other forums that will reinforce that thinking. A little time here will show you just how untrue that is.
And there are always the "war stories." I'm a big fan of those as well.
Thank you! That's an excellent idea. Though new to the indsutry I definitely know about that myth. That will be fun to write about!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Here's an idea: go to a largish truck stop and look for a literature rack. Grab a handful of the free rags and take a look. You'll see topics that are useful, and if course you have contacts for your stories.
Good luck!
^ Now that is an excellent idea. Thanks for the input!
If you're looking to fill a gap I would suggest writing about insulin dependent diabetics in the trucking industry. There are very few resources or literature to assist insulin dependents in getting and maintaining their CDL. I just recently went through the whole process myself and it's kind of inspired me to start a youtube series about how to go through the process and what to expect.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
If you're looking to fill a gap I would suggest writing about insulin dependent diabetics in the trucking industry. There are very few resources or literature to assist insulin dependents in getting and maintaining their CDL. I just recently went through the whole process myself and it's kind of inspired me to start a youtube series about how to go through the process and what to expect.
Wow, great idea for a topic. I truly would not have ever thought of that. I'll get to researching! (If you have any info or links, I would very much appreciaite them! 
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Jake, if you are checking out medical information, Sleep Apnea and CPAP machines are red hot right now. The FMCSA has gotten real interested in sleep apnea and drivers.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
If you are looking to inform the uninformed, you might write about how government regulations, that are meant to make us all safer are actually making things worse.
For instance the tight rope that drivers have to walk to be in compliance and still make a living.
Michael, just what is that tight rope? I'm making a good living, and have very little issues with compliance. I'm not a big fan of the 14 hour rule, but it's something I can deal with.
The real problem with writing about trucking is that Jake has little knowledge of it, and already his research is sending him down unproductive rabbit holes. It would be best left to the people who have had years of exposure to it and thus a realistic grasp of all it's nuances. It's not a subject easily grasped or understood by someone surfing the Internet for information.
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Hey everyone -
First time post, long time fan. I'm a recent college grad who loves to write and contributes to online sources/blog frequently with my writing. I'm heavily interested in writing about a variety of topics, but the trucking industry is one that is growing and with that comes a great deal of information that needs to be accounted for. That in mind, I need help from the folks here - what topics in the industry are interesting or worth writing about? Are there any issues that you or your loved ones behind the wheel have faced that you feel aren't adressed? Anything controversial in the business that seems to divide you and your friends?
Just looking for ideas, anything helps. Thanks for reading.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated