Born to the Business

VOLVO TRUCKS
®
Driver’s Digest
A MAGAZINE FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCKING PROFESSIONALS
DECEMBER 2011
Born
to the
business
P8
Stop Idling...it’s a
“Green and Green “ choice
P 15
Are you ready for
winter driving?
People
Meet the people who
build your trucks.
I
n 1999, Tim Gross first walked through the doors
as an employee at Volvo Truck’s New River Valley
Plant in Dublin, Virginia. Now, twelve years later,
Tim says he is just as thrilled to be building trucks
today as he was back then. “I am proud to know that
every single Volvo truck sold to our customers in North
America is built right here in Virginia.”
Tim is part of a team that installs fuel tanks on the
assembly line, and he recently took on a new role as
quality lead for his team. “Quality is part of our daily
“We know that better
quality means our customers
have trucks they can depend
on. And dependable trucks
mean customers will keep
coming back.“
work, and we talk about it all the time,” he says. “We all
know that it’s up to us to build the very best truck for
our customers.
“After all, if you’re going to spend money on something,” Tim adds, “why shouldn’t you get the very best
for the money?”
So what does Tim think about the quality of Volvo
trucks today? “There’s no doubt that this is the best
truck we’ve ever built,” he says. “But we’re still not
satisfied. We are always looking for ways to make it
even better.”
That philosophy is evident throughout the plant, Tim
explains, as employees regularly meet as teams to
discuss steps they can take to improve the assembly
processes of the components they install. “We focus
on what our customers need and how they use these
trucks we are building for them,” Tim explains. “We
know that better quality means our customers have
trucks they can depend on. And dependable trucks
mean customers will keep coming back.”
Tim Gross has worked at Volvo Trucks’ New River Valley Plant since 1999 and says Gross is part of the team that installs fuel tanks on Volvo trucks. He says that
that Volvo trucks today are the best the plant has ever built.
everyone’s focus is on improving quality.“We know the customers depend on us
to build them the very best trucks.”
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2 Driver’s digest
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cover story
Born
to the
Business
Phil Gonyea with the 2011
Volvo VN 670 that he drives for
Drake Farms.
F
or some people, there’s never a
question as to what they will do with
their life. They’ve known their destiny
since childhood. That’s how it was for Philip
Gonyea, 47, of Selma, Oregon. As he puts
it, “I was born into trucking. My father was
one of 12 brothers and every one of them
worked in the trucking business. They either drove trucks, built them, repaired them
or loaded them. So I got quite an education
and learned how to handle an 18-wheeler
at a very young age.”
Gonyea said his very first road trip
was probably his most memorable. “I
was 13 years old at the time and traveling
with my Uncle Dutch. We were pulling a
load of household furniture destined for
Washington State. It was the middle of the
night and Uncle Dutch was tired so he let
me drive while he caught a fast 40 winks
in the bunk. At 3:00 a.m. I was pulled over
by an Oregon State trooper because I had
passed him on the highway. He looked
at me with great surprise and said, ‘Son, I
gotta ask. How old you are you’? ‘Thirteen’,
I answered truthfully. After a few choice
words with my Uncle the trooper turned to
me and said, ‘Son, you’re a good driver, but
please wait until you’re old enough to be
behind the wheel before you drive in my
State again’.
“I got my first real job at age 15½ when
I obtained a farmers permit to haul a 35-ft.
flatbed loaded with grapes from local vineyards to the nearby Welch’s manufacturing
plant in my hometown of Westfield, New
York. I’ve been driving ever since.”
In his 32 ‘official’ years on the road,
Gonyea said he’s racked up over 2.5 million miles and driven virtually every brand
of truck there is. “If it rolls on wheels I’ve
driven it,” he said. His introduction to Volvo
trucks occurred in 1998 when he was
working for Lange Trucking. “They run U.S.
mail up and down the West Coast, and at
Christmastime they rent additional equipment to help carry the extra volume,” said
Phil. “Now at that time I was what you might
call a ‘made in America’ man. I liked those
big, long boxy hoods. But on this particular
Continued on page 6
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4 Driver’s digest
cover story
Gonyea with his travel companion, a gift from his son.“The Hula Girl of the Highway” has her own page on Facebook documenting Phil’s travels.
day when I got to Lange’s yard in Oakland they had assigned me to a Volvo truck. ‘Why have you got me driving
that foreign truck,’ I asked, to no avail. But by the time I got
20 miles down the road I said, ‘Wow! I really like this Volvo!’ I
had never experienced such a great ride, unbelievable quiet
and comfort and outstanding maneuverability.” Gonyea said
it’s funny how at one time he thought of a Volvo as a foreign
truck; today, Volvo is the only truck manufacturer who builds
all of their trucks for North America right here in the USA.
Since that time Gonyea has sought out only employers
who run Volvo trucks in their fleet. He left his last employer
in 2010 to take a job with his current company, Drake Farms
Trucking out of San Luis Obispo, California . “Drake runs
both Peterbilt and Volvo trucks,” he said. “In the last few
months before I came on board they had purchased four
brand new Volvos, but they were all spoken for. They told me
I could start right away and drive a Pete while waiting for a
new Volvo to arrive, but I said ‘thanks but I’ll just wait for my
Volvo’. They called three times trying to get me to start but
I didn’t want to drive a Peterbilt. I said one of the conditions
for my accepting the job is that I would be driving a Volvo.
So they finally broke down and gave me one of their new
Volvos.
“My first trip out for Drake was in October 2010 behind
the wheel of my new 2011 Volvo VN 670,” said Phil. “It had
everything I wanted including a powerful Volvo D16 engine,
but it also had a Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission. Whoa!
Wait a minute. I didn’t ask for that! I had driven other types
of automatics and didn’t like them at all. They didn’t shift well
and took the hills like a snail. So I told them I would try this
Continued on page 6
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Driver’s digest 5
cover story
Continued from page 5
one for a while, but if it didn’t work
out for me, I’d take one of their 2010
Volvos with a manual transmission
and they could give this new Volvo to
someone else!”
Gonyea admits with a laugh that
he didn’t even get 100 miles down
the road before being won over by
the I-Shift transmission. “The first hill I
came to coming out of San Luis Obispo
I fell in love. This transmission drove
as smooth as my Suburban at home.
My Volvo spends 95% of its time in the
sweet spot and I’m on cruise control up
and down the hills. This Volvo with these
features has made my life on the road a
lot more comfortable and easier.”
Today, Gonyea hauls juice and other
refrigerated foods coast-to-coast pulling a 53-ft. Utility with a Thermo King
unit. His average load is about 35,000
pounds while the juice loads come in
heavier at 42,000 pounds. He currently
has 141,000 miles on the VN 670 and
it’s climbing at the rate of 2,000 miles
per week. The fuel economy is averaging between 7.0 and 7.5 mpg depending on load. “The ride is the smoothest
I’ve ever experienced and the turning
radius is phenomenal,” he said. “I can
easily back into those tight parking
spaces and narrow loading docks that
others avoid. The interior of my Volvo
is quiet and comfortable with plenty
of storage, 12-volt plug-ins in all the
right places, a super refrigerator/
freezer, an ergonomic dash and a
great sound system.
Service That Differentiates
Over his three decades on the road,
Gonyea said he has been in and out of
a lot of heavy-truck dealerships. “I’ve
been in some where the people were
so stand-offish I felt like I was intruding
on their day. In contrast, I’ve found that
Volvo dealerships are the best there is
out there. The people are all friendly
and helpful and always check on you
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6 Driver’s digest
from time to time to see if you need
anything. Most of their dealerships have
nice drivers’ lounges with good chairs
(I’ve spent my fair share of time waiting
in the mechanics break rooms at some
other brands’ dealerships). Plus you
know when you pull into a Volvo dealership you have Volvo certified mechanics working on your truck. It means a
lot to a driver when the people you go
to for help not only treat you well, but
understand the time constraints you’re
under. Volvo dealers get you in and out
as fast as possible.”
Three Wishes
Life on the road hasn’t changed a lot
since Gonyea started driving, “but I
still enjoy it,” he said. “There’s a certain
freedom in this type of job you don’t get
many other places. I like working for a
company that tells me where to go and
when to get there, and then leaves the
rest up to me. I carry my own barbecue
grill and do a lot of my own cooking on
the road, and also enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow professionals I meet
along the way. CB’s are now passé but
I miss them a lot. While the regulations
and logbook rules make it harder to
make a decent living, I do appreciate all
the vast improvements that have been
made to the equipment and in the communications technology now available.
“If a genie were to offer me three
wishes today, the first one I would
make is to fulfill the dream my wife,
Christine and I have long held of becoming owner operators,” continued
Phil. “The little lady who currently
travels with me now is called the ‘The
Hula Girl of the Highway’. She was
a present from my son when he was
young, and she sits on my dashboard
and sees everything I see and goes
everywhere I go. In fact, I take photos
out the dash from her perspective
and post them on the Internet so family and friends can follow my travels.
Gonyea has had years of experience with the
service departments of heavy-truck dealerships, and
says Volvo dealers among the best he has visited.
Look for ‘The Hula Girl of the Highway’ on Facebook.
“As owner-operators our truck of
choice would of course be a Volvo truck.
In fact we’ve been out looking at some
pre-owned VN 780’s, but there aren’t
many out there with the equipment we
want which includes a Volvo D16 engine
and the Volvo I-Shift transmission.
My second wish is that more of my
fellow truckers would join truck drivers
associations. I’m a member of OOIDA
and the services they offer are very
beneficial. Plus, it’s a way to keep the
industry healthy and to keep the trucking laws reasonable. Both Christine
and I are active in the organization and
we do all we can to voice our opinions
by writing to our congressmen and
other legislators.”
His third wish? Well, this one’s a little personal. In his spare time Gonyea
competes in longbow tournaments (a
type of bow and arrow target shooting
-- think Robin Hood). While he typically is among the top 20 competitors,
he’s never won a tournament. But he’d
like to. Maybe 2012 will be his year
– his own Volvo VN 780 and a tournament championship.
PRODUCTS
Wheel Maintenance
By Brian Thomas – Marketing Communications Specialist, Alcoa
Wheel and Transportation Products
Turning Options
Today’s fleet managers
and owner operators have
a lot of choices to consider
when purchasing a new
truck. Engine size, cab
style, fuel propulsion type,
navigation system, paint
color and many others add
up to a full list of possible
options to consider. But
another choice remains
that is critical to the longterm operating costs of the
vehicle – wheel selection.
When considering
wheel choices, value
should always be the
goal. Decisions come
down to short-term versus
long-term planning and
navigating the available
choices requires a few
minutes to consider what’s
important to the customer
and how the vehicle is going to be used.
Short-Term vs.
Long-Term
Planning
Steel wheels represent
the “entry level” of wheel
buying by providing a
low initial purchase cost.
However, steel wheels are
often much heavier (40%)
than comparable aluminum
wheels. If weight efficiency
and payload are a concern,
most have already converted from steel to Alcoa
aluminum wheels. Steel
wheels are also painted, re-
quiring additional maintenance upkeep throughout
the life of the vehicle. Refurbishing will cost around
$20 per wheel and touch
ups are not free either! In
general, steel wheels cost
less than aluminum wheels
to purchase up-front but
weigh significantly more
and add additional maintenance costs over the entire
life of the vehicle.
Initial purchase cost
is no basis for making
a lengthy commitment.
Wheels fitted to tractors
and trailers typically have
a 6-8+ year trade cycle
and operating costs can
really add up during that
time. Stepping up from
steel to aluminum wheels
offers many incremental
advantages.
Aluminum is inherently
lighter than steel, yet offers
improved load ratings and
increased strength over a
comparable steel wheel.
This weight savings can
become additional revenue
producing payload or even
help to increase fuel economy. Aluminum wheels also
provide increased strength
and durability whether for
hauling heavy loads or for
standing up to the rigors of
tough driving conditions.
Additionally, aluminum
wheels do not rust and
require no paint retouch or
refurbishing, further saving
on labor upkeep and maintenance costs.
Drive, Rinse, and
Repeat!
By their very nature,
wheels spend their entire
lives in a hostile environment. Several aluminum
wheel manufacturers also
offer additional options for
further lowering operating and maintenance
costs. Alcoa Dura-Bright®
wheels clean easily with
mild soap and water for an
everlasting wheel shine.
Dura-Bright® is a patented
surface treatment integral
to the production process
of the aluminum wheel
so it’s durable from the
start and built to last. The
comprehensive production
process ensures that DuraBright® wheels will never
crack chip or corrode. And
since Dura-Bright® wheels
don’t need to be polished,
they work hard to lower
maintenance costs since
they shine up quickly with
a simple scrub and keep
the vehicle looking newer
for longer.
Combining the advantages of light-weight
aluminum wheels with
the easy to clean benefits
of Dura-Bright® wheels
helps to lower lifetime operating costs and provide
value to fleet managers
and owner operators.
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Driver’s digest 7
Products
Stop Idling . . .
It’s a “green and green” choice
Saving the environment can also be good for your bottom line.
T
ruck Most states in the U.S. have some level of commercial or passenger vehicle anti-idling regulations … and for good
reason. Depending on the engine manufacturer, idling an engine can consume up to 1 gallon of fuel per hour. Not only can
this produce harmful emissions, but it is also costly, wastes a significant amount of fuel, and can contribute to engine wear.
Anti-idling regulations vary greatly throughout the United States. Some states have state-wide regulations while others have
specific laws in large metropolitan areas. The idling time allowed ranges from 2 minutes up to 20 minutes and may also fluctuate for the number of minutes per hour. Exemptions do exist, however, and include a multitude of reasons like traffic or adverse
weather conditions, emergency vehicles, boarding buses, maintenance, service or repair and many others. Fines are routinely
levied for non-compliance; according to the American Transportation Research Institute, fines can be as high as $25,000!
Fortunately there are good anti-idling options available today that virtually eliminate the need to idle.
No-Idle Fuel Operated Heaters Keep Cabs Warm and Pre-heat Engines
Webasto Product North America in Fenton, Michigan provides engine-off comfort and environmental solutions to the global
transportation industry. Founded in 1901, this family-owned business has developed effective options that can greatly reducing or
eliminating the need to idle – while keeping both drivers and engines warm during cold weather.
Q
Did You Know?
Why is Webasto
called Webasto?
The idea came
from the company
founder Wilhelm
Baier, Senior in
1908 when he
moved his factory
for stamped parts,
wire holders and
home appliances
from Esslingen
to Stockdorf, just
outside Munich.
The name comes
from the initials
for Wilhelm Baier,
Stockdorf.
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8 Driver’s digest
Keeping the driver warm
In North America, an average truck will idle
for comfort/heat an average of 1,500 hours per
year. At today’s fuel prices of approximately
$3.50 per gallon of diesel fuel, over $5,000 per
year is idled away! That’s a pretty big chunk
of change for most owner/operators and fleets
when you multiply $5,000 times the number of
vehicles in the fleet.
When you consider that the average truck
idles approximately 1,500 hours per year, the
effects on the environment also can be signifi-
cant. Trucks at idle for this amount of time can
produce more than 15 tons of Green House
Gases (GHGs). Studies have revealed that the
United States is the world’s largest producer
of Green House Gases; we could reduce up to
34.5 million tons of GHGs every year by eliminating the idling of diesel engines.
One good alternative is Webasto’s Air Top
2000 ST bunk heater, which can provide up to
20 hours of heat on 1 gallon of diesel fuel. Biodiesel is also approved as a fuel source (up to a
20% soy blend).
This unit is installed in the under-bunk storage area of Volvo trucks and can be easily
controlled using Volvo’s sleeper control panel.
Drivers can select stepless heating control
for undisturbed and comfortable sleep, while
the low amperage draw (less than 2.5 amps)
reduces demand on the batteries.
Keeping the engine warm
Idling and cold starts can also contribute to
engine wear and tear, and result in shortened
maintenance cycles. It has been proven that
vital engine components are affected by cold
starts and, engine maintenance required due
Products
to idling can result in costs from $200-$2000 a year per vehicle. In addition, the Truck Maintenance Council has found
that cold starting creates engine wear equivalent to about
800 miles of driving.
If you’ve ever
been stuck in
extremely cold
temperatures,
you also know
that it not
uncommon
for a diesel
engine to have
a difficult time
starting or,
in extreme
sub-zero temperatures, perhaps
not to start at all. If that
happens and a jump start
is needed, the service fee can
be anywhere from $300-600.
An effective solution is Webasto’s Thermo Top C Engine
Pre-Heater. Unlike block heaters, this option provides uniform heat to the entire engine, including heads and valve
train. It’s operation is also thrifty, as it uses as little as 1
gallon of diesel fuel (or Bio-diesel up to 20% soy blend) in
10 hours.
Both of these heating options are CARB approved and
EPA SmartWay verified, and offer a quick return on investment – as well as improving the comfort and overall safety
of the driver.
So when you’re thinking about cold weather operation,
also think about the benefits of using fuel-operated heaters such as these Webasto products to reduce the cost and
risks of idling your engine. When you choose good anti-idle
solutions, you’ll save fuel, reduce Green House Gases, and
enjoy the comfort and safety of a pre-heated engine and
warm cab!
For more information on Webasto products and installing
them in your Volvo truck, please visit Webasto at www.webastoshowroom.com or contact your Volvo truck dealer.
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Driver’s digest 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
Industry
NEWS
Volvo Trucks Safety Award Winners
Roehl Transport and Stagecoach
Cartage & Distribution Exemplify
Safety First Focus
Safety-centric company cultures and
outstanding performance records earned
Roehl Transport, Inc. and Stagecoach
Cartage and Distribution the 2011 Volvo
Trucks Safety Award. The awards were announced today at the American Trucking
Associations Management Conference &
Exhibition in Grapevine, Texas.
For three consecutive years, Volvo
Trucks has sought out the safest fleets in
North America, recognizing their hard
work and dedication with the Volvo Trucks
Safety Award. Volvo was again joined this
year by Michelin America Truck Tires as a
supporting sponsor of the award.
“Safety has long been a core value
at Volvo, and we’re proud to share that
Ron Huibers, senior vice president, sales and
marketing at Volvo Trucks, commends both fleets
for their deep commitment to safety in all areas of
their organizations.
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10 Driver’s digest
focus with the very deserving winners
of this year’s award,” said Ron Huibers,
Volvo Trucks senior vice president, sales
and marketing. “Roehl Transport and
Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution
demonstrate a deep commitment to safety
throughout every layer of their organizations and their efforts truly make a difference.”
“Michelin is pleased to join Volvo
Trucks in celebrating the hard work and
accomplishments of Roehl Transport and
Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution,”
said Tim Fulton, Michelin vice president,
strategic accounts. “Both companies have
a safety culture that has a tremendously
positive effect on their employees and
countless others.”
At the beginning of 2011, Volvo Trucks
invited all U.S. and Canadian fleets with
more than five Class 8 trucks to apply for
the annual awards. The awards are given
in two categories, one for fleets with less
than 20 million miles of annual operation
and the other for those with more than 20
million miles. Fleets were ranked by their
accident frequency rates, using the U.S.
Tim Fulton, Michelin’s vice president for strategic
accounts, praised the award-winning fleets for their
hard work and accomplishments.
Department of Transportation definition
of a “recordable accident,” as well as their
accident prevention programs.
Roehl Transport of Marshfield,
Wisconsin (http://www.roehl.net/) won
the Volvo Trucks Safety Award in the over
20 million mile category. A family-owned
diversified truckload carrier for nearly 50
years, Roehl operates approximately 1,800
trucks, and in 2010 had an accident frequency rate of just .295 during their more
than 172,600,000 miles of operation.
Roehl distinguishes between “priorities” and “values.” Priorities can change
depending on circumstances. Values
are enduring and guide daily behaviors.
Safety is Roehl’s “cornerstone” value.
All employees, even non-drivers, are
required to go through The Roehl Way of
Driving program. The interactive classes
stress the need to not only avoid accidents,
but proactively protect all motorists sharing the highways with them.
“For us, safety is a deeply held
belief beyond compromise,” Rick Roehl,
President of Roehl Transport, said. “We’ve
always viewed Volvo as a great partner.
Their core values line up very well with
ours. We welcomed their scrutiny as we
INDUSTRY NEWS
pursued the Volvo Trucks Safety Award,
and we’re extremely proud to have earned
this recognition.”
“At Roehl, safety is everyone’s job,” said
John Spiros, Roehl Transport Vice President
of Safety and Claims Management. “Winning the Volvo Safety Award shines a light
on a commitment that runs throughout our
entire organization.”
Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution
of El Paso, Texas (http://www.stagecoachcartage.com/) won the Volvo Trucks Safety
Award in the under 20 million mile category. Stagecoach provides a full range of
transportation and warehousing services,
includeing over-the-road, regional and local transportation, and intermodal drayage.
Their fleet of 162 trucks logged more than
16,300,000 miles in 2010 and posted an
impressive .122 accident frequency rate.
Stagecoach equips their trucks with
a range of safety technologies. Their
advanced training simulator gives drivers
the opportunity to hone their skills – to
practice difficult maneuvers and evaluate
their responses in a safe environment.
“We’ve integrated safety into everything we do,” Stagecoach president Scott
McLaughlin said. “We don’t just talk or
write about safety. We back up our commitment with investment. Volvo gives us a
single source for specing all of the latest
safety technologies, from the factory, and
have the truck delivered with everything
integrated and ready to roll.”
“Safety drives our culture at Stagecoach,” said Manny Roman, Stagecoach
Safety Manager. “Everyone here is very
excited about winning the Volvo Trucks
Safety Award. It gives a lift to everything
we’re doing when it comes to safety, and
helps spread the word that safety is what
we’re all about.”
ATA Extends Grave’s Tenure as
President
American Trucking Associations said it
has reached agreement on a three-year
contract extension with Bill Graves, which
will keep him president of the federation
through 2014. “By retaining Gov. Graves,
the members of ATA are sending a strong
message: that, despite the challenges we
face in Washington, the professional staff of
ATA is doing an exemplary job of advancing the goals and interests of the trucking
industry,” new ATA Chairman Dan England
said in a statement.
Graves has been president of ATA
since early 2003. He was hired in October 2001, but he completed his second
four-year term of governor of the state
of Kansas before formally taking charge
of the trucking group. “I’m very excited,
and I’m very pleased,” Graves said. “I do
love the industry and I love what I do, and
I certainly enjoy the people I work with,
both the professional staff and the industry,”
he said.
Former ATA Chairman Tommy
Hodges, chairman of Titan Transfer, called
Graves a “great leader and advocate for
our industry.” “He understands our issues,
he understands the different players, he
understands the different functions that we
have within the industry,” he said.
Graves’ nine years at ATA have been
marked by major economic shifts. He
arrived in 2003, with the United States still
struggling to recover following an economic downturn that accelerated following
the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Trucking then
enjoyed solid growth for much of the next
four years, before another downturn took
hold in 2008 through the recession.
“I’m certainly looking forward to what I
think will be now a recovery for our industry and for the economy in the next two to
three years,” Graves told TT. “I expect it to
be a more enjoyable time to lead this trade
association, and I expect it to be a more
profitable time for our members.”
Don’t
miss a
single
issue!
Beginning in 2012, Driver’s
Digest will be available
quarterly. As always, each
issue will be packed with
the same news and product
information you have come
to expect and delivered
directly to your email inbox!
Read these same great stories 24/7 directly from your
computer, smart phone or
tablet! Printed copies will
still be available at your local Volvo Truck dealership.
To sign up, please send an
email to [email protected] with the
subject line: “Sign Me Up for
Driver’s Digest” and we will
take care of the rest. Look
for the first digital issue in
March. Thanks for reading
Driver’s Digest.
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Driver’s digest 11
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GAMING CORNER
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sudoku
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DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE
Solutions to sudoku are on page 14. MEDIUM
EASY
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Solutions to crossword are on page 14.
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© 2011 “For a complete book of Truckin’ Crosswords...visit James Longton.com”
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We would like to apologize for an error in the Crossword puzzle for the November
Medium - Solution
2011 issue of Drivers Digest. A conscientious reader pointed out that Iowa is NOT the
“Buckeye” state. The correct answer is Ohio.
6
ACROSS
1 Bowler or derby
4 Service station jobs
9 Where some are kept (2 wds)
14 Screw up
15 Hayes who plays Chef on
‘South Park’
16 Terra __
17 National trucker’s org.
18 Colorful aquarium fish
19 Convoy member
20 Gunned the engine
22 Gridiron setback
24 Beech or birch
25 Regretted
27 Where you might not want
a bun
31 Cash in Guinea
32 High strung
33 John Wayne classic, ‘Sands of
___ Jima’
34 ‘Indian Jones’ holy find
36 Ran in neutral
38 Last stop before a snowy
mountain pass? (3 wds)
41 Author Fitzgerald’s middle name
43 Like a new bill
44 Part of a Denver omelet
45 Posed a question
47 The basics
51 Moves like the tide
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53 Potato chip classic
54 Still mooing?
55 From Bangkok
5
57 Elude the highway patrol
59 Sneeze sound
1
62 They may be a credit to you
65 Tell a fish tale
66 Leaks out slowly
3
67 16th of a pound
68 Computer key
69 Stable animal
4
70 __ of passage
71 Congressional vote
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DOWN
1 Poker suit
2 Highway of the heart
3 Take a plane, train, or
automobile
4 Diet word
5 Like most first cars
6 Blind cave dweller
7 “___, nose, and throat”
8 Weigh station devices
9 Plays a part
10 Mid section
11 Hank Hill’s meas.
12 Flight safety org.
13 Beast of burden
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21 Type of engine or juice (hyph)
1 Sonnet sibling
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25 Harness strap
26 Bad thing to be in Vegas
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28 Home improvement guru Bob
29 Ram’s mate
6 Affirmative
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32 Half a rum drink?
35 Tattletale
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36 Govt. money managers
37 Leave for a trip
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8 Tend to one’s
2 hair 5
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39 Obama, for short
40 First ___ kit
9 Ship, to 3its captain 2
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42 Yellow limo
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5 Chicken1___ king 4
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46 Popeye or Sinbad
48 Brewmaster’s grain
4 Vacation6at sea 1
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50 Largest of the Finger Lakes
52 Brings to a halt
56 Hydrant hookup
57 Sometimes its enough
58 Takes advantage of
59 Fireplace residue
60 Head exec.
61 That girl
63 Yes Pierre
64 Magnifying glass target?
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Safety
What? Sorry …
I wasn’t paying attention.
Research shows that up to 25% of crashes are caused by distracted driving.
T
he Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently released its first comprehensive overview that summarizes distracted driving research. In preparing their report, GHSA compiled more than 350 studies, conducted
between 2000 and 2011, to draw their conclusions.
The GHSA report reveals that nearly 25% of all commercial vehicle crashes are caused by distracted driving.
It also outlines what distracted driving is, how often drivers are distracted, how distraction impacts driver performance and crash risk, and what countermeasures may be most effective to reduce distracted driving.
What is distracted driving?
The U.S. Department of Transportation
has defined distracted driving as any
non-driving activity a person engages
in that has the potential to distract him/
her from the primary task of driving
and increase the risk of crashing.
The three main types of distraction are visual (taking your eyes off the
road), manual (taking your hands off the
wheel), and cognitive (taking your mind
off of what you are doing). Distracting
activities can include texting, using a
cell phone, talking to passengers, reading or using maps, using a PDA or navigation system, or changing the radio
station or adjusting an MP3 player.
Signals that indicate
distracted driving
It’s not difficult to see signs of distract-
ed driving. This can include observing someone talking on a cell phone,
erratic driving (too fast, too slow, not
moving with the flow of traffic), drivers
cutting off other drivers, tailgating, or
breaking traffic rules (running a red
light/stop sign, passing in a no passing zone, and so on).
What’s the risk?
The GHSA report shows that distractions have a direct and serious effect
on driving performance. Sadly, it also
reveals that drivers frequently are
distracted, perhaps as much as half
the time. It’s not surprising to note
that texting likely increases crash risk
more than cell phone use; still using
your cell phone does increase your
crash risk.
The good news is that drivers do
appear to adapt, at least to some extent. In more risky situations, they do
tend to pay more attention to driving
and reduce their distracting activities.
What are states doing to curb
distracted driving?
According to GHSA Executive Director Barbara Harsha, high-visibility
texting and hand-held cell phone
enforcement demonstration projects
in New York and Connecticut – funded
by the states and the U.S. Department of Transportation and modeled
after the Click It or Ticket seat belt
program – are proving to be effective in helping to change driving
behavior. “Our report includes the
preliminary results of these cell phone
crackdowns, which have prompted
dramatic declines in hand-held cell
Continued on page 14
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Driver’s digest 13
safety
Continued from page 13
whether it be in a commercial motor vehicle or in your
personal car.
phone use and texting behind the wheel. The final results
are expected shortly and should be considered as states
move forward with education and enforcement initiatives.”
As a driver, what can you do?
If you see a distracted driver, there things you can do to
respond safely. First, maintain a safe distance; this allows
time to react. Also, you may want to move to the righthand lane, if traffic conditions permit. This increases the
likelihood that a distracted driver will pass and get out of
your way … you can also more easily keep your eye on
a vehicle ahead of you than one that is behind your rig.
Finally, if all else fails, pull over! Exit the road at the first
safe opportunity to allow the distracted motorist to
get ahead.
DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE
And if you ARE a distracted driver?
EASY
Professional truck drivers have a responsibility to not con5
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tribute to the problem of distracted driving. This includes
both internal and external distractions. Some tips include:9
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- Plan Ahead - have a trip plan
1
- Avoid cell phone use
1
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- Don’t eat and drink when behind the wheel
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- Be aware of external distractions including bill6
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MEDIUM
VOLVO TRUCKS
Medium - Solution
Easy - Solution
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sudoku
crossword
from page 12
solutions
DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE
Solution:
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®
Driver’s Digest
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Editorial Director:
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Rob
Simpson
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Art
Director:
Michelle
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9 Moeck
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Contributors:
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Wade
Long
1 Ed 3Saxman
3 Donna
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Reuschle
6
Chad Parker
Holly Moreau
Paul Lambrecht
Lee Parke
7 have
5 any
9 questions
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4us at “[email protected]”.
If you
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PO BOX 26115, Greensboro, NC 27402 | (336) 393-2000 | fax (336) 393-3191 | www.volvotrucks.us.com
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Driver’s Digest is published by Volvo
Trucks North America. It is produced
expressly
for and provided at no charge to drivers,
fleet
managers,
owners,
and other
professionals
in the commercial trucking industry.
Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher. © 2011, Volvo Group North America, LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. 0
|
14 Driver’s digest
Safety
Are you ready for winter driving?
W
inter emergency equipment
you should always remember,
and driving tips you should
never forget.
During winter months, driving in
many parts of the country can mean
you’ll face sudden and sometimes
unpredictable weather changes. A few
simple steps can help you be prepared
to handle adverse weather conditions,
keeping you and your cargo safe.
Emergency Equipment
The following gear should be standard
equipment during winter months:
- Windshield scraper (make sure it is in
good condition with no chips in the scraping surface)
- Snow brush
- Small shovel
- Flashlight
- Warning devices (flares,
triangles, etc.)
Also, drivers should always carry the
following items on board:
- Drinking water
- Extra food
- Medicine (as needed)
- Cell phone/CB radio
- Proper outerwear (heavy jacket and
coveralls, hat, boots, gloves)
Operating Hazards
You face two main hazards when driving
in adverse winter weather conditions.
Reduced visibility – When snow and
ice build up on a vehicle’s windows
and mirrors, driver visibility is reduced
in all directions. Don’t drive unless you
can see clearly ahead, to the side, and
through your mirrors.
Snow and ice can rapidly build up on
a vehicle’s lights and reflectors, which
also can greatly reduce your visibility, as
well as prevent other drivers from seeing
you. Make sure all lights and reflectors
are cleaned frequently.
You should also adjust speed in bad
weather to compensate for your limited
visibility. If you’re unable to see, you
should not drive. Instead, pull off the road
at the nearest safe location and stop until
conditions improve.
Reduced traction – Changing
surfaces will provide different levels of
traction. For example, a snow-packed or
ice-covered surface will have only onefifth (20%) of the traction that the same
surface has when it is wet.
Slippery surfaces reduce traction,
which can cause your vehicle’s wheels
to spin easily. This can impair your
ability to maneuver. Traction is needed
to accelerate, turn, and brake. As your
vehicle speed increases, more traction
is needed. So, if traction is poor, reduce
your speed. Again, in some cases it may
be safer to stop in a safe location until
conditions improve.
Black ice is one of the most dangerous
road conditions, as most drivers aren’t
aware of black ice until it is too late. Black
ice forms when temperatures drop rapidly and hover around the freezing mark.
Any moisture on the road freezes into a
smooth, nearly invisible, and very slick
surface. Most often, black ice will form on
bridges, beneath overpasses, in shaded
areas, on the lower side of banked curves,
and on dips in the road where water can
collect and freeze.
On cold days when the road is wet,
you should pay extra attention to the spray
thrown from other vehicles. If the spray
suddenly stops, black ice may be forming.
You should also watch for rain turning into
freezing rain as the temperature drops.
This includes listening for a change in the
sound of the tires on the road.
Breakdowns
A vehicle breakdown can be dangerous at any time, but it can be especially
hazardous in adverse weather conditions.
Exposure to wind and cold can cause
hypothermia or even frostbite.
If your vehicle breaks down in adverse
conditions, you should:
- Stay in the cab
- Put on extra clothing to stay warm
- Use food and beverage supplies cautiously, as you may be stranded for a while
- If you can run the engine, leave a
window open slightly to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning
- Never try to walk for help unless
absolutely necessary; if you must leave
the vehicle, leave a note on the steering wheel stating when you left, where
you were headed, and when you may
return. .
|
Driver’s digest 15
IMPrOVE
fuel
efficiency,
driver retention
and profits.
only in a Volvo VN
with i-shift.
For more info visit www.volvotrucks.us.com.
©2011 Volvo Group North America, LLC