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Pump up the protein: A path to better health for carnivores and vegetarians alike

We’ve all heard about the incredible importance of protein for our body. Here at Mother Trucker Yoga, we know all too well that your hours behind the wheel can put a dent in your meal planning — but don’t fret! We’ve got you covered when it comes to figuring out the whats, whens and hows of fueling up with the protein that’s right for you. Whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian (or a little of both), there are protein sources that’ll keep both your taste buds and body happy and strong. Calculate your protein intake. Let’s break it down. To calculate how much protein you need daily, just take your body weight (in pounds) and multiply it by 0.78. Math isn’t really your thing? No worries, we’ll help you out. Let’s say you weigh 180 pounds: 180 x 0.78 = 140.4. In other words, you need 140.4 grams of protein daily. It’s that simple! So now you know your protein goal. But how do you split it up into meals? Divide and conquer. To help your body process and utilize protein effectively, it’s best to divide your daily protein intake into three or four meals. For our 180-pound buddy mentioned above, that means eating around 35 to 47 grams of protein per meal. Now, let’s get to the real meal deal! Meat lovers, unite! There’s plenty of protein to be had for carnivorous truck drivers: Jerky: This is a classic road snack that packs in the protein. Just be cautious of added sugars and preservatives. Rotisserie chicken or turkey: Pick up a pre-cooked bird at a grocery store whenever you stop. Strip that carcass and divide it up into easy-to-travel meals and snacks. Pre-packed salads with grilled chicken: Grab one of these bad boys from a supermarket deli for a quick, protein-filled meal on the go. Canned fish: Tuna, salmon or sardines, anyone? Throw some in a salad, or use them as cracker toppers. Veggies, take the wheel! Vegetarian truckers, we’ve got your backs, too: Nut butter: Spread it on rice cakes, apples or celery for a satisfying protein boost. Greek yogurt: This is a high-protein snack that combines well with fruit, granola or honey. We recommend going for a low-fat option! Ready-made protein shakes: Find a brand that meets your needs, whether whey-, pea- or soy-based. Mixed nuts: Keep this protein-rich, fiber-packed snack in your cab at all times for a crunchy pick-me-up. Keep the (protein) wheels turning. As we age, staying active isn’t the only challenge: Maintaining muscle mass is essential! Protein helps with just that, especially when paired with regular trucker-friendly exercises. So, next time you fuel your truck, remember to give your body what it needs. These practical, protein-filled ideas for your meals will take your health journey one mile further at a time. Let’s pump up the protein, fellow truckers! Mother Trucker Yoga is right there with you, cheering you on through every twist and turn and straightaway on the road called life. Happy trucking, and stay protein-strong! Hope Zvara is the CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga, a company devoted to improving truck drivers’ fitness and wellness standards. She has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo News, and is a regular guest on SiriusXM Radio. Her practical strategies show drivers how they can go from unhealthy and out of options to feeling good again. Find out more at mothertruckeryoga.com.

Redefining commercial trucking insurance

For decades, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has been a pillar in the trucking industry, not just because of the group’s advocacy work, but also as a leading provider of cost-effective commercial truck insurance for independent owner-operators. Empowering independent truck drivers OOIDA’s journey in truck insurance began out of necessity. Prior to 1973, small trucking businesses struggled with expensive — and often unreliable — insurance options. Recognizing the need for fair, trustworthy coverage, OOIDA established its insurance division, Owner-Operator Services Inc. (OOSI), in the late 1980s. Since then, OOSI has grown into a top commercial insurance provider in the U.S. Tailored insurance for small trucking businesses Understanding the unique challenges of small trucking operations, OOIDA has designed insurance policies that cater to their specific needs. These insurance plans, backed by the extensive experience of OOSI agents, offer comprehensive coverage without the financial strain of large upfront payments. Advocacy through insurance Choosing OOIDA’s insurance services extends beyond individual protection. It contributes to the broader mission of advocating for fairer industry practices and regulations. Unlike other providers focused on profit, OOIDA reinvests insurance revenues into efforts to create a more equitable trucking industry. Comprehensive coverage options OOIDA’s insurance plans cover a range of needs for owner-operators and leased operators. Options include personal property, gap coverage, roadside assistance and more, ensuring truckers are comprehensively protected. You can reach an OOIDA truck insurance agent Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST, at 800-715- 9369. Do you have an insurance topic you would like to know more about? If so, email us at [email protected]. We will be covering a new topic each month and will do our best to address everyone’s questions.

The true value of a gift can’t be measured in dollars

Here we are, already in the last month of the year. So many people are busy thinking about Christmas and finding the perfect gift to give to each person on their list. Did you ever stop to think that spending time to visit with others or helping them out means much more than a store-bought gift? For example, baby sitting for free so a mom and dad can spend a night out by themselves is a great gift. Or how about spending time with an elderly person who just needs to have someone to visit with? The gift of self may be exactly what a friend, family member or acquaintance needs. I find that precious moments mean a lot more to some folks than a store bought gift. For example, spending time with grandchildren can be very rewarding, not just for the kids, but also for you! Life is measured by memories we make more than you may realize. In this season of giving, give something of yourself that will be remembered by the ones who receive it. On the first Christmas, the shepherds came to visit a baby in a manger. They brought no gifts other than themselves as they traveled to Bethlehem to greet Christ, the new-born king. We should all follow that example and simply visit someone who’s lonely, or do something special for someone during this season of giving. Believe it or not, you will receive just as much as you give by doing this! You will feel so much of an uplifting of self when you share your time and attention with others. Yes, gifts are important — but the gift of self can do more than a store-bought gift ever could. If you look at the life of Christ, you’ll see how much he gave of himself, and how others were touched by his actions. He didn’t share store-bought gifts. Instead, he used his time, words and actions to lift up others. Not once did he ask for anything in return. He did this to show us the gift of self means a lot to someone who needs a bit of uplifting. We need to do likewise in this special season of Christmas. Time spent with family or friends means a lot, and it brings the joy of the season to life for all. Merry Christmas to all, and be sure to enjoy the reason for the season. Best of the roads and all gears forward in Jesus.

One toke over the line? Testing for marijuana impairment not ready to hit the road

For this month’s column, I want to discuss something that I’m sure nobody in the industry has ever addressed (place tongue firmly in cheek here). We’re going to talk about marijuana and the trucking industry. (Yes, I know others have talked about the subject at great length — hence, the tongue-in-cheek reference.) Now, before you all start jumping to conclusions about me, there are a few things you need to understand. First, I went to college in the ’80s (read into that whatever you want). Second, I want our roads to be safe at all times and our industry’s drivers to be the safest on the road. With that in mind, I have no tolerance for drunk drivers, stoned drivers, distracted drivers or drivers who do not act or drive like a professional. Honestly, I just don’t. So, with that said, how do we reconcile the current state of the world in regard to recreational/medical marijuana usage and trucking? Quite simply, I am not sure we can, at least not right now. As background, and according to a recent ATRI report, 49.8% of the general population — and 41.4% percent of truck drivers — live in a state where recreational marijuana use is legal. These figures are up from 24.5% and 18.5% from 2019. In addition, according to ATRI, 59% of Americans support both medical and recreational marijuana legalization, while only 10% are opposed to any form of marijuana legalization. However, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug. This classification includes heroin, ecstasy and LSD. This means that, regardless of any state’s position, marijuana use is prohibited by federal law. And, since trucking is a heavily regulated industry, this means marijuana use is expressly prohibited, regardless of the state’s position. This creates a problem with the enforcement of federal laws and presents numerous employment issues for carriers. So where does this put us? I really am not sure. I think the growth of medical/recreational marijuana is going to continue, and it will continue to permeate our industry. The question becomes: How can we determine if a driver is operating while under the influence of marijuana? As you know, every state has laws dealing with alcohol- and drug-impaired driving. But unlike laws for drunk driving, laws addressing driving while stoned vary substantially. The two primary approaches are behavior based (think field sobriety test or a test conducted by a DRE) and biology based. The biology-based test measures the concentration of THC in a driver’s blood. Three states have laws where anything greater than 0ng/ml shows impairment. Four states have limits of 5ng/ml, while 10 other states use a positive metabolite test. However, in this test, metabolites could be present several weeks after using marijuana. In addition, some people may have a higher tolerance for marijuana than others. So, as you can see, there is no standard test to determine actual impairment resulting from marijuana use. However, many researchers believe the behavioral approach to documenting impairment is the most promising solution. With that in mind, at a recent conference, I had a very interesting conversation with PJ Barclay, a native of South Africa who now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Apart from being a South African in the great white north, PJ leads the team at Impirica that has developed and commercialized a series of solutions that help the transportation, medical and law enforcement communities with validated solutions that actively measure the risk of impairment. With specific reference to transportation, PJ’s solutions have a cognitive screen, called Vitals, that actively measures a driver’s risk of impairment. This measurement of risk empowers decision makers to proactively respond to the identified risk. The Vitals screen was designed and validated to engage the brain in the same way it would be while driving — which provides a predictive metric of driving risk. While the Vitals cognitive screen is designed to measure impairment associated with the use of cannabis, the screen itself is agnostic to cause, meaning it focuses less on the cause of impairment and more on whether the driver is fit for duty. With performance as the focus instead of the cause, Vitals has applications beyond cannabis use and addresses a multitude of factors that could render a driver impaired. What I found most fascinating about the conversation is that Impirica’s solutions have already been validated and are currently in active use. At the end of the day, I am not a scientist or cognitive researcher. Hell, I don’t even play one on TV. With that in mind, I don’t know if Imperica’s device is the answer to determining impairment. I just think that, as recreational/medical marijuana use continues to expand, we need to think outside the box and develop a roadside test that can accurately determine impairment. To that end, I applaud PJ and others who are working to make this happen. In closing, I acknowledge that I have glossed over many facts related to marijuana use, testing, impairment and a million other things. There is simply not enough space to cover every issue in the space allowed! Brad Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to services at discounted rates. For more information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or interstatetrucker.com  and driverslegalplan.com.

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to express gratitude for blessings

Here we are, already in the month of November! Everyone is preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday season. What are you giving thanks for this year? Just look around and take a quick inventory of all the things we could — and should — give thanks for, but often forget. Do you have family, friends, a job, a home and freedom? These are all huge blessings that we often take for granted. As I look around and listen to all the troubles people have in other countries, I am thankful for the blessings we have here in North America. Yes, people always seem to find things to complain about, but just take a minute to think about everything we have. Make a conscious choice to give thanks for your many blessings each day. It’s important to be positive about our blessings and let the negative things stay out of our lives. God gave us life to enjoy these many blessings, so put aside the negative and rejoice in the positive. Life is precious, and we should count every day as a day of thanksgiving — not just one day out of the year. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, a time to spend with family and friends. However, our lives should be filled with thankfulness every single day. We are headed into this holiday season with so much to be thankful for! As you prepare for the holidays ahead, find a reason for praising and rejoicing in this season of happiness and blessings. Never look back; instead, look forward to the future. Enjoy your holidays and the many blessings you have. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Best of the roads, and all gears forward in Jesus.

Check out these 8 tips to ‘vroom’ your way to better health

Hey there, road warriors! Spending long hours on the road presents many challenges to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I’m sure you feel like you’re always in a wrestling match with time, your seatbelt and those tempting truck-stop snacks. Over time, it can feel like you’re facing an uphill battle, only to reach the top and discover you have no air brakes on the way down. It’s time to regain control of your health! No gyms, no impossible diets, no zillions of push-ups — just plain, achievable steps to get you and your body’s “engine” vrooming along the road to better health. Here are eight tips that can help. Pack a portable kitchen, and snack smart. Can’t steer clear of those greasy truck stop burgers? Start packing your grub! Even one hand-packed meal can make a big difference in your waistline (and pocketbook). Here are some suggestions to keep in your truck: Fresh fruits Veggies Yogurt (but watch the sugar/carb content!) Carrot sticks and hummus or ranch dressing Hard-boiled eggs Overnight oats Freeze-dried soups that can be prepared by adding water and heating (but watch the sodium) Water packed tuna Bagged salad and low-sugar dressing Hydrate without the highway hassle. Water! It’s your new best friend. Prepare a refillable water bottle and chug it throughout the day. I’m partial to Mother Trucker Yoga’s trucker camo-print, 64-ounce countdown water bottles — but any bottle will do! Swap that soda or coffee for some H2O. And remember, if you think you’re hungry between meals, you could just be thirsty. Move it to lose it. Take advantage of your truck. It can double as a great “portable gym.” Use it to support yourself while doing planks, squats and stretches. You can even use it as a “stair master!” And hey, when you’re loading or unloading cargo, look at it as a chance for a mini workout. Every minute counts. I believe in the 15- Minute Wellness Method: At the end of the day, you want to add 15 minutes of “on-purpose exercise.” Rest up, charge up. Your rig’s fuel tank ain’t the only thing that needs “recharging” — you do, too! Make sure you get enough Zs. A good sleep routine can improve your overall well-being and mood. Many people struggle in this area. Here are a few things to consider: Do I find myself sitting even when the truck’s not moving? Am I drinking enough water? Does my body hurt when I go to bed? Are my electronics the last thing I look at or interact with before bed? Am I emotionally unsettled at bedtime? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, it might be time to make some daytime changes to help make those critical nighttime changes easier. Practice mindful munching. Eat slowly. Whether it’s a full meal or a snack, this gives your body a chance to recognize when it’s had enough. Most people munch mindlessly, and that packs on the calories. Pay attention to “why” you want to eat and if your body is truly hungry. If not, chew a piece of gum or drink a bottle of water. Do a few deep breathing exercises. Call a friend. Challenge yourself to wait 15 minutes before grabbing that bag of chips — you might realize your need to eat is more emotional than physical. Say goodbye to seatbelt stress. Tired of feeling stiff all day? Work out those kinks with some simple stretches that can be done right from the driver’s seat. Some can be done while you’re rolling; others should be done only when you’re safely stopped. Stretches can loosen up your neck, shoulders, back and legs. A little stretch can go a long way! Roll your shoulders 100 times backward, then 100 times forward. Sit tall and “march” your legs in place, picking your thighs off the seat 100 times for each leg. Do “hip hulas” 50 times in one direction, then 50 times in the other. Not only is stretching good for your physical health; it can also give you a mental break by taking your mind off stressors and into the present moment. Nosh naturally. Focus on incorporating whole foods into your diet and eliminating processed products. Anything that’s overly processed is a no-go. It’s easier than you think — try fresh fruit, raw veggies and whole-grain snacks. Real, natural food is usually not the problem when it comes to weight gain. Be sure to practice “mind over miles.” Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Stay in touch with your loved ones. Listen to your favorite tunes, or an interesting audiobook. And hey, why not give meditation a shot? Live the highway life YOUR way. Be the captain of your health journey. We’re not talking about a complete lifestyle flip here, folks. Small, realistic changes can bring significant results. And remember, every mile is a chance to make healthier choices. So, pull up those bootstraps, reach out that trucker arm and steer yourself toward better health. Remember, folks, good health is a journey, not a destination. Let’s travel that road together! Hope Zvara is the CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga, a company devoted to improving truck drivers’ fitness and wellness standards. She has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo News, and is a regular guest on SiriusXM Radio. Her practical strategies show drivers how they can go from unhealthy and out of options to feeling good again. Find out more at www.mothertruckeryoga.com.

Enter the ‘22 Pushup Challenge’ to raise awareness of veteran suicide

It’s time to take the pledge and take the 22 Pushup Challenge! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the challenge, which is sometimes called the 22KILL Pushup Challenge, is a campaign to bring awareness to the horrific number of U.S. military veterans who commit suicide each day — an average of 22. The challenge also honors all military service members and veterans. Challenge participants press out 22 pushups each day for 22 days. This viral awareness campaign gained traction and started to garner Hollywood celebrity support and participation in August 2016. Social media outlets like Instagram, Facebook and news feeds began to promote video posts of celebrities doing their 22 pushups and then challenging other celebrities, pro athletes, politicians and so forth to do the same. It caught my attention because so many drivers are veterans, and several of my family members served in the military, including an uncle I never met who was killed in conflict. However, once celebrities stopped posting videos, the challenge seemed to lose momentum. I became involved four years ago after visiting with bus and truck drivers who served in the military and listening to their stories of trying to overcome personal struggles while building their business and personal relationships. After interviewing a couple of military veterans to learn more, I discovered the 22×22 challenge had become more about self-promotion than raising awareness to veteran suicide and raising money to support organizations that work to improve the mental health of veterans. My approach has been to encourage motor carriers, drivers (and non-drivers, too), suppliers and OEMs to support and donate. In my posts I say. “It’s not how many you can do, or how much you can donate — if its 1, 2 or 22 — it’s about creating awareness and giving to veteran support groups to help our veterans and veterans CDL drivers.” I’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 for veteran support organizations. You can take the pledge and upload your videos at thetrucker.com/22×22-photo-video-submission-form-2023. In addition, if you’re planning to be at Women In Trucking’s Accelerate! Conference and Expo Nov. 5-8, I invite you to join me at 6:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at the entrance of the exhibit hall. I want to rally at least 100 attendees to join me in a pushup session, which will be videoed and uploaded to social media channels to help raise awareness and support. Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. Perry can be reached at [email protected].

Cowboy crooner Gene Autry’s ride to stardom, Part 2

Last month, I shared the first of a two-part series about one of America’s cowboy heroes — Gene Autry. When we left off, Texas-born Autry was setting off for the Big Apple in hopes of getting his official start in the music business. Unfortunately, Autry found the trip disappointing. He met with the Victor Talking Machine Co. (Victor Records) and was turned down — not because of his singing ability, but because the company already had two similar singers under contract. A Victor executive advised Autry to start singing on the radio, gain some experience and then return for another audition. Autry returned to Oklahoma with that advice and landed a slot on Tulsa radio station KVOO, where he performed as “Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy.” When he signed with Columbia Records and moved to Chicago to appear on “America’s Barn Dance” in 1929, his native Texas grew more distant than ever. Over the course of his career, Autry recorded nearly 650 songs. Of those, he wrote 300, including one of his most widely played tunes, “Back in the Saddle Again.” His popularity boomed across the nation, and Autry’s record sales numbered in the tens of millions. He outsold the likes of Bing Crosby, a star who appealed to every region of America, and he turned out the first-ever gold-certified record. While Autry built a wildly popular career on radio, diversification turned him into the huge star he became. After achieving stardom, he went into the movie business and was wildly successful, starring in “B” Westerns that appealed more to small-town America than big-city markets. Of course, Autry realized that in the 1930s, more people lived in small rural communities than big cities. Autry played along sidekick Smiley Burnett and guest-starred with his horse “Champion” in low budget films debuting at the rate of seven per year. By 1940, he could command more money per film, and his name became a marquee drawing card in cities and rural communities alike. Autry productions grew in budget as much as they did popularity. In the 1940s, when kids caught the cowboy “bug” and Western films offered an entire generation the means of escaping the trials of childhood and schooling, Autry not only appeared on screen but also released 39 hit records. All those songs peaked in the Top 10 on US Country Charts, and nine became No. 1 hits. On screen, Republic Studios promoted Autry as “King of the Singing Cowboys.” His drawing power reached immense proportions and carried an entire generation of stars including fellow Texan Bill Boyd, born just a county east of Autry in Ladonia, Texas. Autry soon called the shots in what rapidly rose into a lucrative career. After his contract with Republic Studios ended, Autry moved to Columbia Pictures. At Columbia, he mesmerized audiences nationwide with his ballads, surrounded by Western plots, on the movie screen. The change also took him back across the country, again bypassing his native Texas to land in California. The “Monogram Ranch,” purchased in the early 1950s, became the filming site of many of Autry’s and other Western stars films and television shows, including “Gunsmoke.” By the end of the 1950s, Autry was one of wealthiest Hollywood stars and claimed a spot among the richest men in America. He later built the Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles, a display of countless Western artifacts accumulated over a lifetime. In 1961, he purchased his own major league baseball franchise, the California Angels. He owned the team he until his death in 1998. Autry also got into the rodeo business. He purchased a ranch adjacent to Berwyn, Oklahoma, owned stock supplying rodeo promoters throughout the West. He also starred in his own line of comic books and earned royalties from toys ranging from pistols to guitars. He even owned a Los Angeles television station. While he may not have made his riches in Texas, he certainly earned them in the true Texas way — diversity coupled with ingenuity and a recognition of good investments over bad. Looking back to 1936, when Autry was only a few years into his career, the city council of Tioga took up a proposal to rename itself “Autry Springs.” Although newspapers reported Gene Autry played no role in the campaign, they also documented a plan to turn Tioga into a resort community, much like Mineral Wells west of Fort Worth. Tioga claimed mineral waters of its own, and it seems Autry, or at least his supporters, had eyes on using his fame to turn the town into both a tourist attraction and a money-making machine. On Jan. 6, 1937, Tioga held a community-wide vote on the issue, and Tioga’s 600 or so citizens overwhelmingly declined the change by a margin of 2:1. A number of reasons for the ballot issue’s failure were reported, most notably that the older citizens of the community voted against the proposal. Another story, unconfirmed, claims one of Tioga’s prominent citizens — a doctor, who attended Autry’s birth — spoke loudly against the name change, claiming Autry’s parents never paid their bill. Regardless, Autry Springs was left without a home, and the tourist attraction never came to fruition. Still, when Autry’s true birthplace passed on its claim to the singing cowboy, an Oklahoma town stepped in. Although Berwyn, Oklahoma, couldn’t market itself as the home of Gene Autry, the community could claim that it served as the springboard for launching Autry’s career. After all, had the young singer not spent his shift in the local telegraph office, singing and playing his guitar, he might have never met Will Rogers or taken a shot at the recording business. And when Autry purchased land for his ranch adjacent to the community, Berwyn saw an opportunity to capitalize on its neighbor’s name. In 1941, bolstered by the efforts of a local deputy sheriff, citizens of Berwyn claimed Gene Autry as their own, not out of genuine right but from association. On Nov. 16, just three weeks before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Gene Autry, Oklahoma, was born. A crowd of 35,000 turned out for the ceremony, which concluded with Autry performing his nationwide radio show, “Melody Ranch,” on CBS live from a flat car on the railroad tracks. And so, that is the story of the man who should be remembered among Texas’ most popular native sons — the only entertainer to have amassed five stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. While Oklahoma may have stepped in and taken Autry’s Texas valor, he will forever remain a Texan by birth.

There’s no remedy for a stolen fingerprint or retinal, voice or facial scan

In this month’s column, I’d like to revisit a topic I’ve covered a few times: Biometric privacy. Just in case you’ve forgotten, here is a bit of background info: Biometric information is data based on things such as your fingerprints, a retina scan, voiceprint, hand scan or facial scanning. Now that you know what biometric information includes, think of how often you use it. Off the top of my head, my phone recognizes both my face and fingerprint to unlock it, and I have at least a half dozen apps that use my thumbprint as my sign-in. Now, here is something to ponder: Who owns all of this data that’s collected every time you log into an app or your cellphone or drive past a traffic camera? Even more worrisome, what can this digital data be used for? Since the start of the 2023 legislative session, at least 15 biometric privacy law proposals have emerged across 11 states — Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington. Broadly speaking, these bills would impose new requirements on companies’ collection, handling, protection, use and dissemination of biometric information, such as retina or iris scans, fingerprints, voiceprints and scans of hand or face geometry. Many of these bills would greatly increase the compliance risk and liability exposure of companies that handle biometric information and are therefore worth tracking closely. Illinois was the first U.S. state to enact legislation about the matter, way back in 2008, with the adoption of the Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA. Section 15(b) of the Act provides that a private entity may not “collect, capture, purchase, receive through trade, or otherwise obtain” a person’s biometric data without first providing notice to and receiving consent from the person. Section 15(d) provides that a private entity may not “disclose, redisclose, or otherwise disseminate” biometric data without consent. In February 2023, Illinois-based Black Horse Carriers Inc. — which has since been acquired by trucking giant Penske — faced a class action lawsuit. A former employee initiated the suit, alleging the company violated BIPA by requiring time clock fingerprint authentication without maintaining a publicly available policy on how the company would treat employees’ biometric data. The suit also claimed Black Horse failed to provide notice to employees that the time clock was collecting their fingerprints and didn’t explicitly get employees’ consent. The company argued that the court should have applied the one-year statute of limitations under Illinois’ Right of Publicity Act. However, the court unanimously disagreed. In issuing a blanket five-year statute of limitations for all BIPA claims, the 5-0 majority of the court emphasized that “the full ramifications of the harms associated with biometric technology is unknown.” Without the law, the court wrote, individuals whose biometric data was improperly collected or disseminated might never even know it – at least until they felt the consequences. Danielle Kays, an attorney with Chicago-based firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP, has experience in cases involving biometric information. According to Kays, employers like her clients were already working under the assumption that a five-year statute of limitations was likely to prevail. She notes that the February ruling provides more clarity in a law that’s still taking shape in a sea of legal challenges. Illinois state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-DeKalb) believes a bill he’s put forward could strike the right balance in tweaking the law. House Bill 3199 would allow companies to obtain consent electronically for collecting and using employees’ and customers’ biometric data, in addition to clarifying that consent is only needed for the first time a company collects it. Keicher says he’s sensitive to biometric privacy concerns because of the massive data center Facebook is building in his district. He called BIPA a “bragging point” because “we don’t allow Illinois citizens to be manipulated in the fashion that some other (states) do.” “We have technology and we need to adapt to it, but at the same time, we have to be very sensitive to the abuses that some unscrupulous large technology firms may take,” Keicher said in an interview. “And so where that center line is, I think we owe it to the people of Illinois to investigate.” With all that being said, the integration of biometrics in the trucking industry can lead to improved security, better regulatory compliance, enhanced fleet management and increased safety for both drivers and cargo. However, it is important to ensure the implementation of biometric systems complies with relevant privacy regulations and that proper data security measures are in place to protect sensitive biometric information. Once your fingerprints and retinal, voice and facial scans are out there, there’s no getting them back. Would you consent?

Prepare your body’s ‘engine’ for cold and flu season

Drivers, the dreaded cold-and-flu season will soon be upon us — that time of year when you need to protect your personal engine (aka your body) from freezing up, locking up and shutting down. Your job is tough enough without having to drive while feeling sick and tired. Just as you must get your rig winter-ready, you have to prepare your body for the season. Many trucking fleets organize flu immunization clinics at their terminals. If you’re not sure where to go, contact your human resource department or visit flu.gov to find a nearby location. Regardless of whether you get a flu shot, you must be proactive and be aware of your surroundings. Like the No. 1 rule in boxing, the best way to avoid the flu is simple: Always protect yourself. Professional truck drivers are at a high risk for the flu because of the environment in which they work. The constant contact with fellow drivers when going in and out of terminals and travel centers heightens the risk. The life of a driver means using multiple public restrooms, standing in fuel lines as others cough and sneeze around you, and using different showers daily. The secret to keeping the flu at bay is ramping up your immune system and keeping it running strong to help fight off germs and viruses. Here are a few proactive tips to help protect yourself: Take a good multivitamin. It may improve your overall well-being. Vitamins are essential for professional truck drivers because of it can be difficult to find proper nutrition from foods on the road. When taking any form of vitamins, it’s a good idea to consume them right after you eat. Take vitamin C and zinc supplements. These will support your immune system and may reduce the severity of a cold. Go heavy on the garlic. It’s a natural antibiotic, and one of the best ways to support your immune system. Make healthy food choices. Don’t go long periods without eating. Your system will become weak, and your immune system will lower its protection. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day, and wear gloves when you can. Carry — and use — hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes. Wipe down your truck’s steering wheel and door handles daily. Try to get a daily brisk walk in. Until next time, stay safe and healthy out there. Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. Perry can be reached at [email protected].

Cowboy crooner Gene Autry’s ride to stardom, Part 1

Those who know me sometimes say I have a one-track mind when it comes to music. That is a fallacy. After all, I listen to both country AND western. So, for a bit of a twist, I thought I’d concentrate a couple of columns on the less appreciated (at least by today’s standards) of the two — western. With that, here’s the story of how tiny Tioga, Texas, lost its claim as the home of recording and silver screen star Gene Autry. Not only did Tioga lose its star, but so did Autry’s home state. Silent film actors like Tom Mix, a native of Pennsylvania, are credited with starring in the earliest Western films. While cowboy antics of the Old West as fictionalized on motion picture screens remained only a generation in the past, Mix and others, like Broncho Billy Anderson and William S. Hart, began filming early westerns around the turn of the 20th century. Perhaps the most noted film of the era was “The Great Train Robbery” — which is actually not based in the West, as some would expect, but instead in Paterson, New Jersey. A number of western movie stars of both the silent and modern era played cowboy roles set in the rough and tumble towns of Texas, the badlands of New Mexico and the deserts of Arizona. These actors came from across the country and called states like New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan and California their homes. The early western stars used the concept of “Texas” as a stage for their on-film personas. Too often, the actors never actually set foot in the Lone Star State. After all, California offered its share of terrain that resembled parts of Texas, and it cost producers far less to film near the motion picture hub of Los Angeles than traveling nearly halfway across the country. In many ways, it could be said that Hollywood stole Texas’ identity and passed the masquerade off as “authentic” to the generations of western movie fans who followed. But if you’re from Texas, misleading moviegoers was not nearly as criminal as the true story of a Texan who was considered among the most popular of all 20th century entertainers. Orvon Grover “Gene” Autry was born Sept. 29, 1907, near the small town of Tioga in north central Texas. At the time of Autry’s birth, Tioga claimed less than 800 citizens, a number that declined to 600 by the time Autry began his show business career two decades later. Tioga was cattle country — and true to his on-screen persona, Autry was every bit a cowboy, growing up on his parents’ ranch. One newspaper declared that Autry was “riding a horse before he could walk.” He eventually worked on the ranch and entered his first rodeo at the age of 12. But even more than cattle, Gene Autry loved music. Although the stories documenting Autry’s earliest days in music vary, most agree he began singing at a very young age. When he was 10, Autry decided he didn’t like the way his voice sounded without instruments in the background. He saved up $5 to buy a mail-order guitar and taught himself to play chords. Soon he was playing and singing at nightspots along the Red River. While the reported date of the event varies, at some point during this period Autry and his family moved 60 miles north of Tioga to Ravia, Oklahoma. In fact, many accounts of Gene Autry’s life note Ravia as his boyhood home. But Texas doesn’t like to turn loose of its heroes. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that Tioga, Texas, took its name from a New York Indian tribe. After all, as so many supposedly Texas-based movies were filmed on out-of-state sets, it could be considered poetic justice that Autry lived in a town named after northerners. Then again, Autry was no Yankee. He was Texas-born and played the role of a Texan in most of the 93 films in which he starred from the 1930s to the 1950s. If only it could be so easy for Texas to lay claim to Hollywood’s first and most successful singing cowboy. Some historians have credited Autry as the second most influential star in the development of country music, arriving on the scene just a few years after Jimmie Rodgers. Biographer Don Cusic noted Autry as using the appeal of western movies along with his distinction as a singing cowboy, to introduce much of America to country music, a genre rooted in the South. And there is little doubt Autry’s singing gave a sub-genre of country music — western — its first widespread popularity outside states like Texas and Oklahoma. Moviegoers perceived Autry for what he was — a singing cowboy from Texas (although it was a brand of Texas twisted to Hollywood’s marketing preferences). Autry never lived in the cactus-thriving region of West Texas and Big Bend Country, the fictional set of many of his movies. And he certainly was not native to California, where he shot his 1950s television show, “The Gene Autry Show,” on a ranch he purchased. Despite the entertainment business’ ability to parlay the Texas mystique into untold millions of dollars, in reality, Autry only occasionally performed live shows in his home state. The rest, as they said, was “Hollywood.” It was also reality — Autry didn’t begin riding the trail to stardom until he drifted across the Red River to Oklahoma. Ravia was only a short distance north of Tioga, but it might as well have been a world away. After all, Texans stake claim to anything happening inside Texas boundaries. In North Texas, the determining factor depends on which side of the Red River the event occurs. And the privilege of claiming to be Texan follows along the imaginary lines dividing Texas from its four bordering states and Mexico. The width of a cowboy boot is the difference between being a Texan or just another cowpoke. Autry attended school in Ravia, Oklahoma, and eventually took a job as a telegraph operator with the Frisco Railroad. Working the late-night shift, he passed his time singing and strumming his guitar in the Berwyn telegraph station, a short distance from his adopted home. Eventually, he went to work for another telegraph company in Chelsea, a town in northeast Oklahoma. Here, company policy prohibited Autry from playing music on the job, and he soon found himself unemployed. But before his dismissal, his singing caught the ear of Oklahoma’s famed humorist Will Rogers, who suggested the young singer take his music to a larger stage. Autry didn’t find that larger stage in Dallas or San Antonio; rather, he traveled to the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York City to get his official start in the music business. That’s where we’ll pick up next month for the continuation of Autry’s story. Until next time, have a listen to the western side of the country music business. In some cases, it’ll conjure up old memories, and in others it may just spur a love for a whole new brand of listening pleasure.

Check out these 6 tips to combat anxiety on the road

The open road, marked by miles of ever-changing landscapes and interjecting horizons, represents freedom to some. For long-haul truck drivers, however, this same road can bring feelings of isolation, stress and anxiety. According to a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, truck drivers are significantly more likely to experience mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, compared to the general population. The factors that cause long-haul drivers anxiety are unique to their job and the stressors of daily trucker living: Long hours of solitary driving; Limited physical activity; Irregular sleep patterns; Health concerns; Unhealthy meals and poor nutrition; and Dehydration and too much caffeine and sugar. Road to a healthier mindset With challenges right and left, it can become difficult for truck drivers to adopt strategies to keep anxiety at bay. Many drivers have simply normalized anxiety as a hazard of the job and may not even realize that it’s an issue. Here’s what you can do today to help reduce anxiety: Healthy eating habits: We all know what the basics of healthy eating are, despite fad diets. At the end of the day, it’s fairly simple: Eat real food. Over the road, that goal can feel daunting, but start small and simple. Think of one fruit, one vegetable a day, and focus on eating lean protein. When you’re not feeding your brain, your actions, feelings and ability to cope will suffer. Regular physical activity: Stop thinking exercise is the only way to move more. Break it down a bit. Each day, make sure you: squat, reach, bend and twist to check each box of the four essential movements everyone needs to do to age healthily. Maintain contact: Regular phone calls or video chats with loved ones can help reduce feelings of isolation. Social media can also help, but be mindful of who you follow or engage with on social media, as that can be a big source of stress and anxiety for many not knowing it. Prioritize sleep: Though sometimes challenging, maintaining regular sleep schedules can help improve overall mental well-being. And if you struggle to sleep, consider you need more movement during the day as the body is like a cup, empty it during the day so that you can refill it at night, and when you can’t sleep becomes an issue. Practice mindfulness: With so much information circling around in our heads nowadays, everyone could use a little instruction on mindfulness. Simply put, mindfulness means living in the present moment. This is a great way to clear your mind of all the clutter. Consider a guided meditation, relaxing music in bed and guided breathing to help shift your mind away from the anxiety and stress and onto something else. If you feel like you can’t do this because your mind is too busy, that is why to engage. Professional help: If anxiety keeps you from enjoying life or coping with daily living, seeking professional mental health support through teletherapy services can bring about significant improvements. Look into telehealth and teletherapy to more efficiently manage life over the road. As per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only about 11% of truck drivers have reported seeking professional mental help. If companies, CDL schools and fellow drivers all work to share resources and normalize this type of support, more drivers may feel confident continuing their trucking career when life gets complicated. Anxiety doesn’t have to be a big part of any truck driver’s journey. Through some of these small yet significant changes, trucking can again become the freedom of the road adventure drivers dream of rather than a source of unsettled health and anxiety. After all, on the highway of life, there is much more to trucking than meets the eye. Hope Zvara is the CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga, a company devoted to improving truck drivers’ fitness and wellness standards. She has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo News, and is a regular guest on SiriusXM Radio. Her practical strategies show drivers how they can go from unhealthy and out of options to feeling good again. Find out more at www.mothertruckeryoga.com.

What’s up with downtime insurance?

By Deborah Graves, OOIDA Insurance Department Let’s talk about downtime insurance coverage … specifically, why some truck drivers find it’s like pulling teeth to get paid for it when they have a claim. First, here’s a definition: “Downtime insurance will indemnify the Insured following a collectible loss to a covered automobile under Automobile Physical Damage but only for such period of time that the covered automobile is inoperable thus rendering the Insured incapable of utilizing said covered automobile or any replacement thereof.” If you’re a truck driver with downtime coverage from your insurance provider, you are probably already aware that your policy has a specific limit that includes a maximum. Therefore, when you file a claim, you’ll have written evidence of coverage limits and conditions for payment. If you have read over the policy and consulted your agent on any coverage questions, you shouldn’t experience any unpleasant surprises when it comes to being paid for your downtime. Unfortunately, the same is not necessarily true when you get hit by an at-fault driver who causes damage to your truck, resulting in downtime for repairs and loss of income for you. Although the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider is responsible, some truck drivers have told us it’s not so easy to collect for their downtime loss. On the one hand, the trucker is losing money because their truck is damaged. Bills are piling up that would normally be paid if only they could get on the road again. On the other hand, the adjuster wants to keep as much money for the insurance company as they can — so whether or not they hand over a check for downtime will likely depend upon whether the trucker can prove their loss(es). Can the trucker show proof their loss of income is as much as they claim? Sometimes, unreasonable expectations hinder the payment of downtime. You must be willing and able to prove your loss; the insurance company will deny your claim if you can’t. Because of the speculative nature of trucking, proving loss of business income is no easy task. Remember that you must back up your calculations with the necessary documents, such as tax returns, accountant statements, settlement sheets, profit and loss reports, etc. The bottom line is that you can be successful at collecting payment for your downtime after a loss. It likely won’t be easy, so you’ll need perseverance. Be realistic with your settlement expectations, and be prepared to provide proof of loss documentation. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to sharpen your negotiating skills as well. You can reach an OOIDA truck insurance agent Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST, at 800-715- 9369. Do you have an insurance topic you would like to know more about? If so, email us at [email protected]. We will be covering a new topic each month and will do our best to address everyone’s questions.

Biblical teachings guide us through life

Welcome to fall! The cooldown has begun. Do you feel the difference in the weather? It’s something that happens several times a year as the seasons change. Our lives are just like the weather, or the changing seasons. We all change as we grow older, and we grow to understand that life is to be treasured in each season we go through. As small children we had a very different outlook on life than when we were teenagers. Then we finally reached adulthood and realized that we were headed into a whole different direction in life. In many cases, we let go of our childhood and teenage ideas. We settled down and adjusted to the everyday routine of work and home life. Now, let’s talk about how this also happens in our lives as Christians. As new believers, we start out like children, learning about God and how he relates to us. Then, during our development as “teenage” Christians, we accept these things as part of our lives. We begin to understand how Biblical teachings can be followed in our lives, such has the 10 Commandments and how they show us how to relate with others. As an “adult” Christian, you’ll see that these 10 rules actually are the keys to happiness, and they can help us reduce stress. God gave us these commandments not to control us, but to guide us through life and show us how to deal with others along our journey. If we live by them then we will have a happy life and less stress in our life. I find that Biblical teachings can give us a way to understand humanity and can lead to a much better way of life for all of us. Even someone who hasn’t had a Christian upbringing can follow these rules without even knowing it. Many of us are taught as children to treat others the way they want to be treated. As we enter a season of many celebrations, let’s follow these teachings, and celebrate each other. In addition to Halloween at the end of October, Thanksgiving, Christmas and a number of other special days are coming up. Let’s use these times to celebrate with family gatherings, and to show love for each other with all the special things we do together. If we share love and caring as a family, why not do the same for others we meet along the way? God gave us each just one life to live. You can’t rewind it like a cassette or VHS tape and start over, so let’s just do the best we can with the life we have. It’s important to treat each other with kindness. What we do will be remembered long after we are gone, so do your best every day. Grow in God’s love, and share it with everyone you meet. Children share their toys and make friends. Teenagers share lots of memories with each other and they carry over into our adulthood. As adults we share so much with each other, both at work and in our home life. Life is short, so do your best to enjoy each and every day, both as a beginning and an ending. Never go to sleep angry with anyone; this takes away from your happiness and breaks the joy of life. Forgive people who have wronged you before it’s too late. Enjoy all the seasons of happiness we have ahead of us. Best of the roads, and all gears forward in Jesus.

Rising cost of traffic tickets hits where it hurts — your wallet

Columnist and trucking attorney Brad Klepper is busy helping drivers this month. We hope you enjoy this “rerun,” which originally appeared in the March 1, 2022, edition of The Trucker. Everyone — all two or three of you — that regularly read my columns in The Trucker are probably aware of what I do for a living. For those of you that don’t know, I am a lawyer. I defend CDL drivers (and occasionally myself) in traffic citation cases. As a result, I see a lot of tickets from around the country. I have also seen the cost of simple traffic citations continually increase. And not just a little. However, when you look closely, it is not necessarily the fine associated with the alleged (see what I did there?) violation. The fees added to the citation greatly increase your out-of-pocket expense. To be honest, all these additional fees would make the phone company proud. What am I talking about? Well, I’m glad you asked. By way of example, let’s look at California. For the sake of argument — because I know none of you would ever do this — let’s assume you roll a stop sign or signal in California (first of all, you shouldn’t do that). The actual fine amount associated with the violation is only $35. No one wants to pay $35, but as far as fines go, it’s not that bad. However, at the end of the day, you would end up paying much more than just the fine amount. A state penalty assessment adds $10 for every $10 of the base fine and rounds up. So, in this case, that would be an additional $40. In addition, there’s a county assessment of $7 for every $10 of fine (again, rounded up), which adds another $28. A court construction assessment will cost you another $20. Then, the Proposition 69 DNA assessment adds $4, and the DNA Identification fund adds another $16. At the end of the day, 11 separate fees have been added to the original fine amount — bringing the grand total for your citation to $238; the original fine amount of $35 plus additional assessments of $203. Think of how many times this happens in California. According to Martin Hoshino, administrative director for the Judicial Council of California, what’s happened is that the state’s government has become accustomed to using these fines and assessments to help generate revenue for various government services. Now, we could talk about where this additional money goes and how it is used — but let’s save that for another time. Let’s also wait to discuss how these additional financial assessments may impact the policing of drivers. Instead, let’s take a look at how all this impacts a person’s ability to pay the fine. Of course, most folks could scrape together $35; however, getting $238 together may be a different thing entirely. Not everyone can afford to pay that amount, and the additional assessment can create a hardship for the person receiving the citation. But what can be done to address this situation? The Judicial Council, along with California’s State Superior Courts may have a solution. Their answer allows people to fill out a survey and request a reduction in the amount owed based on their ability to pay. This program started in 2019; by the end of 2021, it was available in seven California counties. There are 12 more counties slated to offer the program this year. This seems like a fair way to address the financial burden on those who have a lesser ability to pay. Of course, this reduction in the amount paid would have an impact on some municipalities and government functions. How could this be addressed? I’m not sure. However, the good folks in Switzerland have an interesting take on fines associated with speeding violations. While the Judicial Council’s solution serves to reduce the fine, the Swiss program works both ways. It can lower or increase the fine amount based on the personal ability to pay. In Switzerland, the level of fines associated with speeding is determined by both the wealth of the driver and the speed recorded. To that end, a 37-year-old millionaire was recently caught driving 170 kilometers per hour (105 mph) over the speed limit. The fine, if it stands, would be roughly $1,000,000. This would eclipse the current record of $290,000, a fine given to another Swiss millionaire. As you can see, fines of this size certainly make up for a lot of fine reductions. At the end of the day, I don’t know what the answer is on how best to address the steady increase in “fines” associated with traffic citations. I’m also not sure if the California or Swiss solutions are the best options; however, I think they’re something worth talking about. Brad Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to services at discounted rates. For more information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or interstatetrucker.com  and driverslegalplan.com.

Seven ways to rev up your energy levels

In the August edition of The Trucker, I promised to walk you through seven steps that will help boost your energy levels. As a bonus, all seven steps will also help improve your physical and mental health. Create an action plan. Once you’ve done a checkup from the neck up, as they say, and committed yourself to making improvements, write down exactly what goals you want to achieve. These goals could include weight loss, strength building, endurance and even relieving depression. The following steps will help provide the energy you need to achieve your goals. Find the right food. Food produces energy. Be prepared — the biggest mistake drivers make is not having energy-packed foods within easy reach while on the road, especially when you’re stuck and sitting still in traffic, or waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Almonds, cashews, dates and water are all good choices, and easy to keep in the truck. Do your best to stay away from all processed foods. In addition, I suggest researching to find a quality multivitamin. A good vitamin regimen can help you get the necessary nutrients you may be missing from foods. Get exercise. Workouts provide energy! Figure out which exercises boost your energy without draining your body’s “battery,” especially if you are a beginner. Walking is always going to be the first choice; it doesn’t require equipment, just a good pair of shoes and can be done pretty much anywhere, any time. However, it’s important to walk “with intention” 15 to 20 minutes each day. When possible, incorporate some simple exercise-band resistance training. Improve quality of sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep can be both the most important and the most difficult challenge for professional drivers. Your brain needs to reset, and your body to slow down and recover. When you don’t get the proper rest, you become fatigued, your brain short circuits and it’s easy to make bad decisions. Make sleep a priority and make sure your bunk is sleep-friendly — find the best pillow and mattress and the proper lighting. Most importantly, make sure the space is clean and sanitary. Reduce stress levels. We all tend to drive our own stress forward and often worry about things we can’t control. I remember a famous quote from Mark Twain :“I’ve known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” There are many techniques for reducing stress. Check out operationbroga.com, for one that requires no medication. Fight fatigue. We know muscle fatigue can come of overexertion, either from work or exercise. But what about fatigue caused by health factors, such as celiac disease, which can cause poor absorption of nutrients? Prevention is key. Be sure to get regular medical checkups (not just your DOT certification exam). Try natural energy-boosting drinks. Drink plenty of water (you knew that was coming) rather than commercially produced energy drinks. Water doesn’t have to be boring! Here’s the secret: Drop one or two flavored green tea bags into your bottle of water. There are lots of flavors available — blueberry, orange, raspberry and others. This gives you about a third of the caffeine of some other drinks, but it’s but loaded with energy and antioxidants. Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. Perry can be reached at [email protected].

Leon Everette rode ‘Hurricane’ to fame

Leon Everette may have grown up in Queens, New York, but his South Carolina roots were pure country. During his childhood, Everette didn’t aspire to be a musician. He said the radio was always on, but it was just background noise for an otherwise urban upbringing. In fact, it wasn’t until Everette joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific that he developed an interest in music. His fellow seamen had a variety of instruments with which to while away the hours. During a stopover in the Philippines, Everette purchased a guitar and smuggled it aboard. Before long, he was eyeballing other naval musicians and learning their techniques and picking up the notes by ear. By the time his stint in the Navy was up, Everette had won a singing contest. He returned to South Carolina with a country music career on his mind. Unfortunately, it had to wait while Everette made a living, working for a power and gas company. But Everette had learned to thrive on applause, and the power industry didn’t offer the residuals he yearned for. Against the wishes of his wife and family, Everette decided to pursue a career in the music business. After a fallout with his boss at the power company, he abruptly quit, bought a new guitar, formed a band and started playing clubs in South Carolina and Georgia. The band was popular, but Everette was the only member who yearned to pursue a career in music. Even winning a contest that included a recording contract with a small label didn’t convince his fellow bandmates, and Everette soon set out on his own. He went to Nashville, where that recording deal offered him very little leverage — but he did manage to crack a door into the industry. He continued to travel solo to Nashville, hoping he’d grab someone’s ear and get a real shot on 16th Avenue. That chance finally came. In 1976, Everette was working in the mail room of True Records, when the company heard that a rival, Doral Records, had released Everette’s first single, “Running State of Mind.” True Records took notice and decided to give Everette a shot. It just so happened that Everette’s first recording session was about the time of Elvis’ death. He recorded a tribute song to the King of Rock ‘n Roll, and it met with immediate success — but only become it was the first out of the gate. As other artists released their own tributes, the popularity of Everette’s song plummeted. Still, Everette’s producers were intrigued with what they heard, and pressured him to record pop music. Everette refused. As far as he was concerned, it was country or nothing. He was so bullheaded about it that when the label threatened to drop him unless he met its terms, he gladly walked away. Not long after the breakup with True Records, Everette performed what he viewed as a farewell show in Iowa. He’d taken a shot at music and didn’t see eye to eye with the industry about his talents, so he decided a 9-5 job back in South Carolina would be his next move. But first, he had to fulfill a contract and perform in the Midwest. There, he met a supportive Florida businessman who knew little about music but offered to bankroll Everette’s career. Everette’s plans to return to the daily grind of an ordinary worker dissipated. Soon, the pair formed Orlando Records. In 1978, Everette returned to Nashville and began to make contacts with songwriters. A chance meeting with Bill Rice of the Foster-Rice songwriting duo paid off. They wrote several chart singles including “We Let Love Fade Away” and “Never Ending Crowded Circle,” but Orlando Records was too small of a production company to make much headway on the radio. Eventually, “Don’t Feel Like the Lone Ranger,” broke into the Top 30, and Orlando Records began to gain traction. Everette’s career desperately needed the boost of a major label, but the hardheaded performer wanted total control of his songs and production. RCA expressed interest, but the large company wasn’t about to give control to an unproven singer. However, when “Over You” hit the Top 10, the company reconsidered. In 1980, Leon Everette signed with RCA and received the creative license he craved. “Giving Up Easy” and “I Keep Going Crazy,” Everette’s first two RCA releases, shot up the charts, both reaching the Top 10. This led to the release of his first RCA album, “I Keep Going Crazy,” a mix of country/rock and ballads. The album even included a version of Willie Nelson’s “It’s Not Supposed to be that Way.” All the while, his stage show grew in popularity because of its high energy and hard-cranking music. Some described Everette as a hurricane on stage. It just so happened that a song of the same name became Everette’s top hit. “Hurricane” is the story of Everette’s meeting with an old man while a hurricane churns “30 miles out in the Gulf Stream” off the Louisiana coast. As the bridge “looks lower” and the “shrimp boats hurry home,” Everette meets a man in the French Quarter of New Orleans who has little fear of what the hurricane might bring to the city. His attitude toward the storm is that “nobody taught ’er that it takes a lot of water to wash away New Orleans.” “Hurricane” became immensely popular along the Gulf Coast and, coupled with its national airplay, the song reached No. 1 on the country charts. Leon Everette’s career was off to the races. He followed with three consecutive Top 10 hits — “Midnight Rodeo,” “Just Give Me What You Think is Fair” and “Soul Searching.” Everette was a true force among male country performers throughout the mid-80s, although he began to fall from the charts after reaching No. 6 with “I Could’a Had You” in 1984. After his career waned, Everette accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and made the switch to gospel music. He remains active in the genre today. Until next time, don’t let a late start or a negative attitude among your peers keep you down. Like Leon Everette, you may be a “Hurricane” lying in wait.

Yoga stretches and poses can help drivers stay fit and healthy

Truck drivers need to be physically fit to handle the challenges of their job. In fact, physical fitness is essential if you want to be in this industry for the long haul. By incorporating some simple yoga poses into your daily routine, you can maintain good health and reduce stress. September is National Yoga Awareness Month — the perfect time to highlight the benefits of yoga. A few of these include increased flexibility and strength, improved balance and a sense of calm. Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical, mental and spiritual disciplines. It can be a lifestyle, but it is also a form of exercise that can help improve strength, balance, flexibility and breathing. Yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety while improving your overall health. When many hear the word “yoga,” they immediately think of putting a leg behind the head, twisting into a pretzel or sitting for long hours on the ground. The yoga I know is not like that. This is about learning to slow down, breathe, feel and move your body to improve your overall health. Trucking yoga is about taking a few minutes to improve yourself and your day in a conscious, constructive way. One pose here, one move there, a few breaths there — that’s trucking yoga. The simple act of breathing helps reduce stress, which leads to better sleep and more energy the next day. Breathing exercises are an easy way to relax after a busy day. Our bodies tend to hold onto tension in the shoulders and neck areas (look in the mirror and see for yourself). Breathing deeply stimulates relaxation throughout the body by increasing blood flow and, with practice activating the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system. This slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and can reduce stress hormones like cortisol — no prescription needed. There are many simple practices drivers can do while out on the road. For example, here are some tips to help you maintain good posture: Stand with your back against a wall or the side of your truck or trailer (any flat, vertical surface). Bring your heels near the base of the wall and adjust for your backside to stand as tall as you can. Point your feet forward (double-check this; most people’s feet will be pointing out and uneven). Level your hips and pelvis so your back has a small curve. Relax your front ribs down. Bring your arms up to shoulder height in front of you. Without bending your elbows, plug your shoulders back into the wall without pushing your ribs out (hello, core muscles!). Next, find the wall with the bottom edge of the back of your head (occipital bone) while keeping your chin level. Finally, reach up through the crown of your head and feel your spine elongate. How long can you stand here? Can you lift your arms overhead without moving your ribs and torso? Where do you feel tension or strain? This is a great starting point for posture and your body’s true balance, strength, and stability. Yoga is a great way to build strength that can be useful in maintaining control over your vehicle in emergencies. Yoga can also improve a greater range of motion when driving. This may allow for more rapid reflexes when reacting to hazards on the road, which could save lives! There are many types of yoga poses (asanas) that are beneficial for relieving stress and keeping your body strong during long hours behind the wheel. A few of these include the Half Dog, Standing Extension, Devotional and Cobra. If you’re looking for a way to improve your health on the road and reduce stress, I highly recommend trying yoga. You don’t need any special equipment or clothes, just some space in your truck or trailer where you can lie down or sit up straight with good posture. The numerous benefits include increased flexibility and strength, improved balance, and a sense of calmness. Plus, the simple act of breathing helps reduce stress which leads to better sleep and more energy! Hope Zvara is the CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga, a company devoted to improving truck drivers’ fitness and wellness standards. She has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo News, and is a regular guest on SiriusXM Radio. Her practical strategies show drivers how they can go from unhealthy and out of options to feeling good again. Find out more at mothertruckeryoga.com.

Does full coverage really cover you fully?

By Deborah Graves, OOIDA Truck Insurance Department OOIDA truck insurance agents get calls every day from drivers who are asking for full coverage. Once the agent asks a few questions, it turns out these callers just want what is legally and contractually required. For many, “full coverage” includes Physical Damage coverage. However, most folks don’t realize that a variety of optional coverages are available, and a combination may be needed to ensure a driver is fully covered. For example, if your truck develops a mechanical problem and you end up stranded on the side of the road, there’s a coverage for that. It’s called Roadside Breakdown coverage. You could be reimbursed for the tow to the nearest qualified repair facility and/or for the labor costs of roadside assistance, up to the policy limit (parts not included). If you find you can’t operate your vehicle because of a covered loss under your Physical Damage policy, Rental Reimbursement coverage will provide reimbursement for a rental vehicle. Check with an agent about maximum coverage limits. If you haul for a shipper or motor carrier that requires you to be responsible for damage to their trailer while you are pulling it, you can add Trailer Interchange coverage. If you have an accident that results in a total loss and you find yourself upside-down on a vehicle loan, you can put your mind at ease by opting for Gap Insurance. This coverage provides protection for the difference between a loan payoff and the market value in the event of a total loss by collision, and it’s available for both tractors and trailers. If you have a brand-new tractor and are the first owner, you might want to consider Limited Depreciation. During your first few years of ownership, your truck’s value will depreciate considerably. Limited depreciation will virtually eliminate the depreciation in the event of a covered loss. If you want your personal items protected, you should ask your agent about Personal Property coverage. You already know that being down because of an accident can cause you some financial hardship. Optional Downtime coverage provides additional protection for those times when your truck is down for repairs following a covered physical damage claim. Supplemental Towing & Clean-up coverage can help with the cost of removal of debris and cleanup of the immediate vicinity of an accident following a covered loss as well as providing coverage to tow away your truck and/or trailer. Be sure to reach out to your agent to discuss your options. You can reach an OOIDA truck insurance agent Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST, at 800-715- 9369. Do you have an insurance topic you would like to know more about? If so, email us at [email protected]. We will be covering a new topic each month and will do our best to address everyone’s questions.

We can (and should) wear white after Labor Day

Welcome to September, and happy Labor Day! Sept. 23 is the first day of fall, promising a cooldown from summer heat. How many of you have seen the Twizzlers commercial with the man asking, “Why shouldn’t I wear white after Labor Day?” You may have asked yourself the same question. I have a different idea about wearing white. Just think about the hot days of summer as us while we are lost in sin. Then we are saved by grace and given a white robe of cleanliness. So, why don’t we wear our white robes all year long? Are we ashamed of what Christ did for us? Do we hide the fact that we are forgiven through his grace and mercy? All our sins were nailed to the cross on Calvary. Christ said, “It is finished!” This means we all have been saved by his death and have been given “white robes.” We don’t have to worry about if it’s after Labor Day or not; we can wear our white robes all year long. We do get those robes dirty from time to time, but grace and forgiveness washes them clean again, made white as snow. White is a sign of forgiveness. We all need to “wear white” all year round. Sometimes we may even have a tear in our white robe, but all can be mended when we ask God to come back into our lives and get us on the right path again. Prayers are the mending stitches that patch the tears in our ragged robes. The way I see it, tears can either be sewn up or mended with an iron-on patch; both will work, and our robe will be like new. When we make a small mistake and the tear isn’t too bad, it can be sewn. When we really mess up, resulting in a gaping hole, an iron-on patch may be God’s solution. Iron-on patches will cover the holes that are taking us away from God. Once we mend it and iron on that patch, our robe will look like new, and the patch won’t show. God never lets a torn or dirty robe keep us from him. He welcomes all our robes, and he wants us to try to keep them clean and refreshed as new. Have you ever had a tear in your favorite shirt or pants and patched them just to make them last a bit longer? Well, I know I have! Once patched, they felt like new. If we do that with our clothing, then why not try doing that with our eternal white robes (our souls)? My answer to the Twizzler man is this: Yes! We can wear white after September! As a matter of fact, we can wear white all year round because of the grace God gives us to mend our garments. We are washed in the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of all our mistakes. We are mended daily no matter the month or the season. White doesn’t go out of style. So, stop chewing on your Twizzlers and accept the mending that Christ paid the price for our stitches and iron-on patches. Proudly wear those white robes all year long. Wash them daily in prayer. Mend the holes and tears by asking for forgiveness. Your white robe will never be out of season. We all are mended garments. We all have dirt, tears and holes to be mended. But it’s the flaws in our robes that make wearing white an awesome statement of our faith in Jesus, who saved us. No season or reason should keep us from wearing our white robes. To God be the glory. To us be the reason to wear white with pride. Keep patching, sewing and washing your robe daily with prayer. Best of the roads and all gears forward in Jesus.