The trucking industry and communities nationwide will join together Sept. 16 to 22 to honor America鈥檚 truckers during National Driver Appreciation Week. The coordinates the timing and marketing of the event, but the entire trucking industry embraces it.
The goal of the event is to thank professional drivers for all they do and draw attention to the important job drivers do. ATA encourages carriers and state trucking associations to honor drivers by hosting appreciation events. Shippers, state highway patrols and truck stops frequently hold events during the week.
This year the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is joining with truck stops to promote health and wellness throughout the week. On Sept. 18, TCA will hold health fairs at 12 Travel Centers of America and Petro locations. The fairs will feature metabolic tests and blood pressure checks.
ATA is encouraging drivers and carriers to invite the local media, elected officials or community leaders to tour their terminals or get up in the cab and ride along with a professional driver during the week. It鈥檚 a great way to educate people about the essentials of the trucking industry as well as tout the impressive safety record of the drivers behind the wheel.
Throughout the week, members of Congress often make remarks on the House or Senate floor and thank the professional truck driver, and every state gets a proclamation from the governor naming the week National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
As part of the event, ATA hosts a video contest and encourages anyone to submit a video that鈥檚 full of passion and emotion thanking the driver. Videos are due by Sept. 28. Contest rules are available at .
TCA provides a clearinghouse of driver appreciation events at .
Be sure to check 鈥淢ove Ahead鈥� next week, to learn more about 笔别苍蝉办别鈥檚 dedicated truck drivers. If you are interested in becoming a 糖心传媒 truck driver, please visit www.Go糖心传媒.com/careers for employment opportunities.
By 鈥淢ove Ahead鈥� Staff
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In a matter of months new emissions standards for refrigerated trailers will take effect nationwide, and the industry is preparing for increased costs and changes to their operations. 
Understanding Total Landed Costs
Cut Idle Time: idling can burn 1.2 gallons of fuel per hour and decreases engine life. Through the use of idle reduction technology, such as auxiliary power units, and by only warming engines up for the minimum time needed, carriers can help minimize unnecessary idling. In addition, educating drivers about the costs associated with idling and offering driver incentives can further reduce idling.
Gallick, along with other industry executives, spoke in a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., 
Gallick (photo on right) said there has been more emphasis on optimizing the movement of goods, including improved layout and design of warehouses. 鈥淚t is about optimization within the four walls,鈥� he said. 
FMCSA will also be renaming the Cargo-Related BASIC to the Hazardous Materials (HM) BASIC, which will better identify HM-related safety problems and change how HAZMAT carriers are classified to allow for increased intervention scrutiny. Now HAZMAT violations will be placed in the HAZMAT BASIC, which will better identify HAZMAT-related safety problems and change how HAZMAT carriers are classified to allow for increased intervention scrutiny. The HAZMAT BASIC will include items such as placarding and paperwork violations.
Shippers would do well to be mindful of these key considerations when evaluating a DCC provider: