Land Line Now

The Department of Transportation has a nine-point plan to improve truckers’ lives – and two hours-of-service reforms are a key part of it. Also, an ad campaign for a bread company eventually led to trucking’s best-known song – “Convoy” by C.W. McCall. We’ll tell you how it happened. And Land Line Now’s Mark Reddig, Scott Thompson and Ashley Blackford gather in studio A to discuss some high points from the program’s two decades on the air. 0:00 – Hours-of-service reforms are on the table – what’s next? 09:55 – How the trucking anthem “Convoy” came to be 38:43 – A final look back at 20 years of Land Line Now

DataQ is designed to correct mistakes in safety reporting – but truckers see a need for reform. Also, a small group of soldiers drove some specially modified vehicles during the Vietnam War. Then, a trucker driving to a delivery suddenly found himself on truck-restricted routes – and it cost him big. And the spot market has seen a big jump in reefer freight during week 25. 0:00 – DataQ reforms could make a big difference for truckers 09:55 – Gun Trucks and their drivers play key role in Vietnam 24:15 – Town’s missing signs cost trucker a big fine 38:43 – Reefer freight a bright spot in freight market this week

OOIDA has long called for hours-of-service flexibility. The DOT has a plan for two pilot programs to test changes to the hours-of-service regulations. But will they do the job? Also, those programs are part of a DOT plan to improve truckers’ lives. We’ll get into the details. Then, in 2011, we discovered electronic highway signs warning of “zombies ahead.” We’ll explain what really happened. And in 2010, the maker of the steel used in the World Trade Center brought back some of it for a memorial – and 28 truckers carried it home. 0:00 – Hours of service: What does the DOT want to change? 09:55 – A deeper look at the DOT’s trucking plan 24:15 – Zombies ahead? Signs say yes 38:43 – A look back: Convoy brings World Trade Center steel home

The Texas Supreme Court just tossed out a $100 million nuclear verdict against Werner. Also, perhaps the most famous role soldier-truckers ever played was the “Red Ball Express.” Then, the “Code Talkers Flag,” which honors Navajos who used their language to help the U.S. in World War II, was lost until a trucker found it. And in 13 states this year, fuel taxes will change, and most will go up. 0:00 – Nuclear verdict tossed out by Texas Supreme Court 09:55 – Truckers of the Red Ball Express played key role in WWII victory 24:15 – Trucker’s action saved flag that honors the Code Talkers 38:43 – Fuel taxes to increase in 13 states today

CVSA wants the federal government to require electronic trackers on all trucks and has made it their top priority for the new highway bill. Also, two truckers who witnessed the fall of Saigon first-hand tell the story of that day – and the outsized role one tiny Navy vessel played. And FMCSA’s announcement Friday was like an OOIDA wish list, hitting issues like truck parking, split sleeper berth, speed limiters and more. 0:00 – CVSA wants trackers on all trucks 10:12 – A look back: The fall of Saigon through the eyes of two truckers 39:16 – FMCSA action plan hits some very big trucking issues