They have announced the first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is concerned about the effects of distraction due to drivers’ use of electronic devices on motor vehicle safety. Consequently, NHTSA is issuing nonbinding, voluntary NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines (NHTSA Guidelines) to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles.

This notice details the contents of the first phase of the NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines. These NHTSA Guidelines cover original equipment in-vehicle device secondary tasks (communications, entertainment, information gathering, and navigation tasks not required to drive are considered secondary tasks) performed by the driver through visual-manual means (meaning the driver looking at a device, manipulating a device-related control with the driver’s hand, and watching for visual feedback).

The proposed NHTSA Guidelines list certain secondary, non-driving related tasks that, based on NHTSA’s research, are believed by the agency to interfere inherently with a driver’s ability to safely control the vehicle. The Guidelines recommend that those in-vehicle devices be designed so that they cannot be used by the driver to perform such tasks while the driver is driving.

For all other secondary, non-driving-related visual-manual tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines specify a test method for measuring the impact of task performance on driving safety while driving and time-based acceptance criteria for assessing whether a task interferes too much with driver attention to be suitable to perform while driving. If a task does not meet the acceptance criteria, the NHTSA Guidelines recommend that in-vehicle devices be designed so that the task cannot be performed by the driver while driving.

The school is one of a few training facilities in the nation to offer professional driving, heavy equipment operation, and oil & gas industry training all in one location.

The school received full accreditation from the International Association of Drilling Contractors to provide graduates with a Health, Safety, and Environmental RIG PASS Card and SafeLandUSA Endorsement. The school’s new Oil Field Safety Course also includes certifications in OSHA, First Aid, and Rigging.

This course was developed to meet the demand of workers due to the Marcellus and Utica Shale Exploration. The school has already located ten drilling contractors that are seeking to immediately fill over 4,000 positions with a starting annual pay between $50,000 and $65,000.

These companies have indicated a need for CDL Drivers and Heavy Equipment Operators with a preference for the credentials offered in the Oil Field Safety Certification Course.

“Much of our school’s success has come from understanding where the demand is for jobs and how our graduates can get those jobs. The oil and gas industry is one of those areas, as this is an industry that will be supplying jobs to our state for many years to come,” said Doris Young, Owner of Great Lakes Truck Driving School.

Since its opening in July 2008, the school has trained and placed over a thousand graduates into careers as professional drivers and heavy equipment operators.

The company said it is recruiting for more than 965 positions in locations across the country in order to satisfy the company’s seasonal staffing needs. The majority of positions are in sales and service operations (detailers, experienced technicians), with additional positions in purchasing and the business office. These are full and part-time permanent positions, with day and evening shifts available.

“Our associates are the heart of our success,” said Tom Folliard, president and CEO of CarMax. “We’re proud to offer quality careers that provide training, development and excellent benefits at a great company to work for.” For the eighth year in a row, CarMax has been selected as one of FORTUNE magazine’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For.’

CarMax offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health coverage, paid time off, insurance and disability, and retirement options for full-time associates. The company promotes a work-life balance and a diverse work environment. Stores are equipped with well-lit, state of the art service bays with quality tools and equipment. Employees receive discounts on car purchases and other services.

“CarMax is looking for candidates who are dependable, team oriented, possess strong customer service skills and have high integrity,” said Pam Hill, director of selection and recruiting for CarMax. “We also look for individuals who have a willingness to work the varied hours of a retail work environment.”

The thrifty retailer plans on 625 new stores and add more than 6,000 new jobs in 2012.

Truck drivers will most likely be needed to bring goods to replenish the new stores.

In addition to 625 new stores in 2012, the company plans to remodel or relocate 550 stores and open a distribution center in California.

Currently it operates in more than 38 states.

Dollar General has been growing an an enormous rate.

Including 2012, the company will have created more than 21,000 new jobs since 2009.

“Dollar General is excited about our tremendous opportunity for growth in existing markets as well as in new markets such as California and Massachusetts,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “We believe the new communities and states we are entering will benefit from our stores’ convenience and value, as well as the jobs and commitment to community our stores bring.”

Dollar General sells food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in neighborhood locations.

It is also hiring for Jacksonville retail jobs.

According to Louis Normand, owner of the American Truck Group, ATG’s expansion is set to provide new work for as many as 8000 drivers and industry workers. Driver jobs alone could number in excess of 1400 as regulations, limiting daily driving hours, likely means two driver jobs for each new rig. Add in more shifts at distribution centers, more warehouse workers, more bookkeepers, more mechanics and soon you arrive at what Normand refers to as, “the jobs trickle-up effect.”

According to the blog, the logistics of operating this growing fleet are many but manageable with the right infrastructure in place. You need ultra-modern service facilities, partner facilities and highly trained technicians to keep the massive highway gobbling machine working. “When the truck stops the buck stops,” says Normand. “For all of us.”

When asked what ATG’s greatest obstacle now is to fleet expansion, Normand points again to tight money policies. “Someone still has to own the truck. Our business model just doesn’t fit the typical commercial loan profile.” So far, this has not deterred ATG from its plans to expand. Having, for years, patched together a commercial lines of credit and loans from private lenders, ATG is prepared to expand at a rate the money supply dictates.

Says Normand, “since we built our new facility and announced plans to expand, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by current lenders who have come forward to tell us they want to own more trucks.” Says one truck note owner, “I’ve been waiting for an excuse to pull more money out of stocks and put it into notes collateralized by real property, rental income and a growing demand.” Normand says, “at any given time, there’s a backlog of 200 drivers waiting to take delivery of their new job – their truck.”

But the very lucky driver has actually won the lottery before.

Radifa Ivanenko won her first lottery back in 1999 when she secured a green card in the Green Card Lottery and was able to move to the United States. Twelve years later, Ivanenko has another big win to celebrate – this time winning a grand total of $2,000,000.00 playing an online lottery-style sweepstakes at FreeLotto.com, a website that offers players six daily games with a chance to win over $11,000,000.00 for free. Ivanenko became a FreeLotto member on June 15, 2011 and loved playing the game.

Ivanenko takes over as FreeLotto’s latest millionaire, succeeding Edward Cohen of Wallingford, Connecticut who won $1,000,000.00 on June 22, 2011. Ivanenko becomes FreeLotto’s 22nd winner of $1,000,000.00 or more, joining the roster of FreeLotto millionaires around the world that includes Raja Khan from Lahore, Pakistan; Alejandro Llano from Mexico City, Mexico; William Herriott from Glasgow, Scotland; and Eric Prevost from Calvados, France.

This jackpot brings the total awarded in FreeLotto’s sweepstakes to over $93 million. When asked how she plans to use the winnings, Ivanenko said she will buy herself a house and a car as well as help her two daughters and four grandchildren. She also said she doesn’t plan to retire just yet and will continue working while her health allows.

The website offers nationwide DMV services to both employees and employers.

The transportation industry continues to expand aggressively, so the need remains to ensure drivers that are hired have clean and approved records.

Delivery time for the background check only takes about a day.

“It is no secret that transportation jobs, be it driving a bus or a commercial truck, are relatively plentiful,” notes 4SafeDrivers.com founder and president Jeffrey Kellner. “Yet it is also true that these jobs require rigorous background checks. That is why 4SafeDrivers.com offers so many services just for employers.” The Tribune article notes that transportation jobs are particularly restrictive in their background check processes.

Kellner goes on to note that employers have many reasons for seeking driving records from potential employees. “Not only is there the issue of safety, but also of liability, of insurance cost, and more,” Kellner observes. He also says that 4SafeDrivers.com’s new one-day delivery time is essential. “Given how many people are starting to apply for these transportation jobs, it is vital that employers be able to make informed hiring decisions as quickly as possible.”

The company says it is the nation’s largest refrigerated trucking company and a premier commercial truck driving school.

They will create a new instructional facility in Richmond, Indiana at the Rose City Business Park.

The company also plans to invest $2,240,500 and create 35 new jobs.

The EDC of Wayne County is providing an Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) grant of $90,000 to assist with renovations to the existing building and land improvements, as well as training for new employees. However, the company has announced it will use the money and match the grant for a total of $180,000 to provide to residents of Wayne County coverage of tuition costs to attend C.R. England’s school with a six month driving commitment from the students. Tuition per student is $2,995.

The existing building will be used for classrooms and office space. Surrounding property will be developed for a driving range and potentially house a future Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing center.

Thom Pronk, corporate vice president – recruiting, training and safety, C.R. England says “The school will educate roughly 65 new drivers weekly. At any given time, 120 plus students from various parts of Indiana and surrounding states will be residing in Richmond and contributing to the growth and vitality of the city as they boost the local economy.” Graduates of the program will have guaranteed employment with C.R. England.

Recently the company announced the hire of Sana Ali as Applications Engineer. Due to the extraordinary growth Seegrid is experiencing, Ali has been brought on board in order to keep up with customer demand and to support the partnership with Raymond Corporation and Linde Material Handling.

David Noble, Director of Sales and Marketing, said, “As demand for Seegrid Robotic Industrial Trucks continues to grow at record paces it is critical we add top-notch Applications Engineers to our staff. Sana brings a wealth of industry knowledge and practical experience to Seegrid’s pre-sales engineering activities.” He goes on to say, “Her professionalism and ‘do whatever it takes’ attitude is a perfect fit to our high-tech, robotic material handling organization.”

Ms. Ali is responsible for supporting the sales team by assessing customer sites, assisting with customer presentations, and proposal writing. She is excited about the opportunity to interact with Seegrid’s customers to identify needs and help implement cost-effective robotic solutions so customer sites can operate with optimal efficiency.

Her previous experience in a similar position at FedExGround allowed her to analyze customer processes, reduce non-value-added tasks, and reassign resources to improve operation productivity. She also worked within the FedEx facilities, streamlining processes to attain productivity goals.

Ali holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in Engineering Management from Robert Morris University.

“Badcock, NRF and its members strongly support the current hours-of-service regulations and question the need to make changes,” W.S. Badcock Corp. Director of Logistics Frank Miller said. “Removing the current rules and reverting back to the old rules or some variation thereof would result in significant cost increases for the industry as a whole and would adversely impact the U.S. economy across all sectors.”

Miller is scheduled to testify this morning at a subcommittee hearing held by the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee on a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposal to reduce the current 11-hour “hours of service” daily limit for drivers to a 10-hour limit. Under the proposal, the 34 hours of time off currently required between each week of driving would also have to include at least two midnight-to-6 a.m. periods of nighttime rest.

Supporters of the proposal say it would result in fewer fatigued drivers on the road and help reduce accidents. But Miller said shortening the daily driving limit would require more drivers and more trucks to move the same volume of goods during the same time period. That would increase congestion on the nation’s already overcrowded highways, increasing the potential for accidents. Retailers are also concerned about the requirement for nighttime rest periods because retailers use overnight deliveries extensively in order to avoid daytime road congestion, particularly in urban areas, he said.

“As a result of the current 11-hour daily driving limit, U.S. retailers have been able to achieve significant efficiencies within their supply chains and distribution networks,” Miller said. “They have been able to work with their transportation providers to appropriately plan for the safe and efficient delivery of goods to their distribution centers and retail stores with a significantly high on-time delivery rate. Any change to this daily driving limit will upset the careful balance and efficiencies that have been achieved and require changes to current systems and processes.”