The Department of Transportation has proposed a set of rules that could eventually affect truck driver jobs.

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.

Great Lakes Truck Driving School, a CDL & Heavy Equipment Training Facility in Northeastern Ohio, announced it has added a new Oil Field Safety Certification Course, which will enhance truck driver jobs and enrich those who achieve certification.

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. (more…)

CarMax’s recent announcement that it will hire many people for jobs across the country could also increase the number of truck driver jobs, as more people mean higher revenues and additional needs for new cars to be transported to dealerships around the country.

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.”

Dollar General announced it is creating thousands of new jobs nationwide, which could mean more goods to haul and additional truck driver jobs.

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.

A truck driver with a history of long-haul truck driver jobs has won the lottery.

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.

4SafeDrivers.com is helping companies clear the records of those they are considering for truck driver jobs.

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.”

Seegrid Corp., maker of un-manned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, tape, laser or other automated guided vehicle (AGV) guidance systems, have announced their expansion and creation of additional truck driver jobs.

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.
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Oil field giant Halliburton said this week it is recruiting for many truck driver jobs in San Antonio, among other positions.

Halliburton said it it will hire 1500 people for a variety of positions, including administrators, managers, technicians, engineers, chemists, geologists and engineering jobs in San Antonio.

The jobs will pay an average of $70,000 per year.

Halliburton just broke ground on a $50 million base of operations in San Antonio.
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If veterans come home from active duty seeking truck driver jobs, a new initiative by President Obama will help them achieve their goal.

Obama announced executive orders Nov. 7 to give tax credits to employers who hire post-9/11 veterans and wounded warriors, as well as enhanced career counseling and related services for veterans.
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The increase of FedEx seasonal jobs is a good indicator that there will be more truck driver jobs.

FedEx said recently it expects to move more than 17 million shipments – almost double its daily average volume – through its global networks on December 12, the projected busiest day in company history. The 10 percent year-over-year increase will be driven by FedEx SmartPost, a residential shipping service designed for online and catalog retailers, as well as expected increased volume at FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery.
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