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Exercise strengthens bones, muscles, increases stability

By now, we all should know exercise is good for our heart, and we know exercise is good for our muscles — but what about our bones? That’s right. According to Harvard Health, exercise is good for your bones, too. In fact, exercise essential for strong bones. Just as with your heart and other muscles, bones can be strengthened with exercise. In trucking it’s about strengthening your stabilizer muscles. As drivers, it’s easy to compare your body’s stabilizer muscles to your truck’s stabilizer bars. Let’s look at the comparison. The muscles of the body act to stabilize a joint so a particular movement can be performed at another joint. These muscles usually aren’t directly involved in the movement, but they support it to keep you steady and enable the primary muscles to do their job. For example, if you’re doing a chest press on an exercise ball, the primary muscles at work include the ones in your chest and arms — but the muscles in your abdomen, back and legs work isometrically to stabilize your body. In your truck, stabilizers bars distribute weight evenly and improve the vehicle’s movement and cornering traction. Are you starting to see the comparison? I’ve heard debates on the need to concentrate on strengthening stabilizer muscles … or does free weight training provide the necessary benefits in strengthening the stabilizers muscles? As an illustration: When walking up steps, your body is working by using your legs to move you up with force to the next step. So, if you’re focusing on keeping your shoulders back and your abs tight, logic would say that you’re using your quads and, at the same time, strengthening your stabilizer muscles. By the definition above, your stabilizer muscles are supporting the movement while not necessarily conducting that movement. Another example most drivers can relate to is when you’re preparing to pull your fifth wheel pin, lower your landing gear or pull your hood up. Next time you perform these tasks, think about the movement first. Most drivers do not engage supporting muscle to perform these movements. Because of this, over time, you could be causing small tears. If a muscle is unable to adequately respond to and meet the demands of a task, it can become overloaded and tear under strain. This happens when we perform quick movements and not allowing those muscle time to recruit other supporting muscle to help. Always make sure to take necessary measures to prevent injury. Warm up your muscles first. 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].

Nonsense syllables are completely clear on Del Reeves’ road to success

Downt-downt-da-downt-downt-downt. Downt downt-downt-downt-da-down. Scrutinizing readers will immediately recognize the above lyrics as those the late country star Roger Miller sang to accompany the guitar licks in his hit song “Dang Me.” While Miller made a name for himself with his comedic twists on his music and lyrics like “My pappy was a pistol; I’m a son of a gun,” he wasn’t the only of his era to be regarded as a “funny man.” In fact, Del Reeves’ “Doo-da-do-do-doo. Doo-da-do-do-do,” earned far more play time on 1960s country radio than Miller’s, but it was only because Reeves sang the syllables as the introduction to so many of his songs. When it comes to voice-inflected guitar-picking, it’s hard to beat Roger Miller’s longevity. Then again, Reeves had his share of popular records back in the heyday of “Country Gold” — and more than one of them was a trucking song. Franklin Delano Reeves was born just days after his namesake accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 1932. He was the last of 11 children; most of Reeves’ older brothers fought in World War II. They all had musical talent, though, and Reeves’ mother didn’t see any reason for their instruments to sit around gathering dust when they fought overseas. Instead, she took it upon herself to teach young Reeves the instruments his brothers played, particularly the guitar. While his brothers were still at war, Reeves made his debut on a Sparta, North Carolina, radio show when he was just 12 years old. While Reeves received plenty of support from his mother, his father was more realistic about his son’s budding musical career. “As a child, I told my father I was going to sing on the Grand Ole Opry one day,” Reeves once said. “He said, ‘Yeah, sure.’” It took Reeves another 20 years, but in 1966, he appeared on the Opry. Over the next 40 years he appeared before up to a million fans a year on the revered Nashville stage. The nonsense syllables Reeves introduced in song began with his first No. 1 hit, “Girl on the Billboard.” The song sold a million copies for Reeves in the early to mid-1960s and represented his first foray into the growing subgenre of trucking music. His long question repeated throughout the song is quintessential. It doesn’t have the triple meaning of the Brown’s 1954 lyric, “I was looking back to see if you were looking back to see if I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me” — but there’s little doubt the song “Looking Back to See” inspired Reeves’ own lyrical question. And Reeves’ song took a leap into the risqué, at least for 1960s radio. “Who is the girl wearing nothing but a smile and a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway?” may be the longest run-on lyric in country music history. It certainly gives “Looking Back to See” a run for its money. The man asking the question in Reeves’ song is a truck driver, one who makes a daily run from Chicago to St. Louis and back. The highlight of his trip is seeing that billboard twice daily. He laments that a “double-clutching weasel” couldn’t ever get a girl to look at him the way the girl on the billboard does. The driver seems to keep an eye on the billboard in hopes of what might come next. “I bet it wouldn’t take her very long to be gone if someone would pull a dirty trick and take her towel away,” Reeves sings in another long lyric. He claims to slow his rig down to 20 mph every time he passes, noting that the billboard causes a wreck for each mile per hour he’s traveling every day. He even starts to question his sanity, realizing that he’s wanting to hold her rather than just look at her picture. But, as all sad songs must end, “Girl on the Billboard” does as well with another of Reeves’ signature run-on lines: “… sleepy-headed painter said the girl wasn’t real and I better be getting on my way…..” In the end, there’s nothing left but pieces of the driver’s heart scattered between Chicago and St. Louis. “Girl on the Billboard” wasn’t Reeves’ only hit trucking song. Like many others, he scored a hit with “Six Days on the Road,” and he also recorded songs like “Highway 40” and “Trucker’s Paradise.” In all, Reeves recorded 55 charting country records, the second most popular arguably being “Looking at the World through a Windshield.” “Looking at the World through a Windshield” is essentially opposite to “Girl on a Billboard.” In the latter, the lyrics focus on a specific girl seen traveling in a specific place — between Chicago and St. Louis. But “Looking at the World through a Windshield” is the story of the girl the driver can’t see — the one he has waiting for him in Nashville. With his mind on Nashville, the sites he sees are those in Baltimore, along the Pacific Shore, in the Rockies, Los Angeles and “down around Dallas.” If the girl on the billboard was one he just stared at, the one in Nashville had the driver seeing his life in a different light, one that focuses on what he can see rather than what he cannot. Other Reeves hits include “The Belles of Southern Bell,” “Women Do Funny Things to Me,” “Good Time Charlie’s,” “Be Glad” and “The Philadelphia Fillies.” Give them a listen, and you might conclude that Del Reeves thought himself to be a ladies’ man. The reality, however, was much different. When asked what he hoped to be remembered for, Reeves said, “I couldn’t really sell a ballad. It had to be material on the lighter side. Under this clown’s face, there’s a serious guy. But I never got to show it because I got tagged as that clown. I’ve been clowning as long as I can remember.” Being a clown did Del Reeves well. Until next time, allow me to leave you with a little ditty: Doo-da-do-do-doo. Doo-da-do-do-do.

Earth’s rebirth during spring serves as reminder of the promise of eternal life through Christ

Spring has sprung! Look all around you. You’ll see the trees are sprouting leaves, the flowers are blooming and, of course, the grass has started to grow again. Isn’t spring a wonderful time of the year? We all look forward to this change in the season, and most of us are ready to start enjoying the warmer weather. But let’s take another look. The mysteries of nature have a way of showing us signs of rebirth and resurrection each spring. We all look forward to these spectacular changes. Now let’s follow this idea with the thought of Easter. Easter is a time of rebirth, illustrated by the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ’s “winter” was when he died on the cross and was laid in the tomb. His resurrection — his “spring,” you might say — was proof of eternal life for all of us. We often get new clothes for Easter, but our eternal clothes will never be discarded as we do our earthly clothes. What we see now and experience now with our human eyes is just a hint of the glories of what the beauty our heavenly eyes will behold. Once I explained the tomb and the resurrection to several folks that were asking a few questions about it. Now, let me try to explain it to you as well, so you may all get an understanding of just what might be the easiest way to explain Easter. When you look at those pretty colored Easter eggs, just think of the shell as the tomb that held Christ. Now, crack open that shell and see the white of the egg inside. That white represents the garments Christ left behind in the tomb. Next, peel away the white and you’ll come to that bright yellow yolk. That’s the “sun” — the son of God. That’s Christ radiating all the brightness and beauty of eternal life. Someday, we too will be in a glorified state and will radiate the glory of God for eternity. Life here on earth is a “winter” that we are experiencing, but heaven will be the “spring” of our forever. Enjoy life here on earth, but as Easter approaches, understand that heaven is where our glory will radiate for eternity. Christ came, died and rose again to show us the seasons of life and to give us life eternal. Are you ready for Easter? Are you ready for Spring? Be sure to take the time and enjoy each season as it comes into our lives. Happy spring, and happy Easter. Best of the roads and all gears forward in Jesus.

Just talking to your lawyer is not enough to constitute attorney-client privilege

Brad Klepper is busy helping drivers with traffic violations, so we’re treating readers to a re-run of this column, which originally ran in the April 15-30, 2021, edition of The Trucker. Believe it or not, I actually like being an attorney. Granted, some days I like it a lot more than others, but I think is that probably true with any profession. I get to interact with people — help them solve problems and see a little justice served. And, I get to say things like, “I object” in open court, just like they do on TV. With all that said, there are a couple of ways surefire ways for attorneys to find themselves disbarred. One of those is to violate attorney-client privilege. For those keeping score at home, attorney-client privilege (A/C privilege, for short) ensures the confidentiality of communications between a client and his or her attorney. In the broadest possible terms that means that, for the most part, what you tell your attorney is confidential. The concepts date back to the days of Queen Elizabeth and English common law. A/C privilege was first recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1906. In a 1998 U.S. Supreme Court case addressing A/C privilege, Chief Justice William Rehnquist summed up the importance of that privilege by stating that A/C privilege is “intended to encourage full and frank communication between attorneys and their clients, and thereby promote broader public interest in the observance of the law and the administration of justice.” That seems logical and, to be honest, pretty straightforward. But the facts are what make this particular case interesting. This case involved the investigation of President Bill Clinton, and it involved notes taken by a lawyer for White House aide Vincent Foster regarding the Whitewater real estate deal. Special prosecutor Ken Starr was seeking access to the notes through a grand jury. To make matters interesting, Foster died just nine days after the conversation in question, of an apparent suicide. Part of the question was whether A/C privilege survives the death of the client. In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that A/C privilege does indeed survive the death of the client. So, we know that the privilege can survive death but what makes a conversation qualify for this protection? Simply talking to a lawyer is not enough. Generally, A/C privilege applies only if (1) the holder of the privilege is a client or is trying to become a client; (2) the person to whom the communication was made is a member of the bar of a court or a subordinate; (3) the encounter occurs only when the lawyer is acting in a legal capacity and the disclosure is not for the purpose of committing a crime; and (4) the privilege has been asserted. To paraphrase the above, the general requirements for the privilege to apply are: You are a client; I am a lawyer; The disclosure is not related to a crime; and You claim the privilege. Of course, over time, the courts have carved out exceptions to A/C privilege. It is what they do, and it keeps lawyers employed. The biggest exception — and the most cited — is the crime/fraud exception. The other exceptions involve a fiduciary exception (think trust and estate cases) and the “on the advice of counsel” exception, which is used as a defense. The last two exceptions are not that much fun to talk about, so I will briefly mention the first. The crime-fraud exception arose in a U.S. Supreme Court case more than 100 years ago. The exception basically covers communications that further a crime, tort or fraud. In other words, if you are silly enough to discuss your future crime spree with your attorney, the conversation is not privileged. Needless to say, there are lots of issues we could discuss regarding A/C privilege and its application; however, I am running out of space — and I am confident your eyes have already glazed over. In closing, the thing to understand is this: Not every conversation is protected. If you have questions or concerns, ask your attorney. 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.

Marty Stuart: A second look at a diverse performer who serves as an ‘ambassador’ of country music

If you’re going to be an ambassador, it’s best to know two things: What you represent and who you’re representing it toward. That’s the way an ambassadorship works. When it comes to country music, it’s hard to find anyone better qualified for the title of “ambassador” than Marty Stuart. Not only has Stuart forgotten more than most folks have ever known about country music, but he’s also versatile — versatile to the point he can relate to other musical genres, performers and fans. Representing country music on the world stage is what Marty Stuart does best. And he doesn’t do a bad job as a performer either. Stuart was born to be a country musician. His life’s work has earned the respect of other musicians and executives in the country music industry. In many ways, Stuart is the face of the business. Whenever a media outlet wants to talk to someone about country music history, Marty Stuart is the man they call. He stands for tradition — but he also plays music that falls into just about every subgenre beneath the country music umbrella. Why? Because that’s what ambassadors do. They introduce other “cultures” to the one they represent. And, yes, in the process, Stuart has even cut a truck-driving record or two. One of the many songs Stuart performs as a cover artist is among the most well-known trucking songs ever recorded — “Six Days on the Road.” Paul Davis originally cut “Six Days” in 1961, but it became famous two years later when Dave Dudley recorded it as the title song on an album of trucking songs. Dudley’s “Six Days” wasn’t the first trucking song ever recorded; it just seems that way. It gave birth to a new generation of songs about the working man that was followed by Merle Haggard, Red Sovine and a host of performers who made a living off trucking music through the 1970s. The song has also done well for musicians other than Dudley. It’s been covered by many performers over the years, not the least of which is Sawyer Brown, a band that reprised Dudley’s No. 2 hit song and reached No. 13 on the country charts 35 years later. Stuart doesn’t do a bad job with “Six Days” himself. Lyrically, Stuart’s version of the trucking classic remains in harmony with the original. He doesn’t change any words, and he even sings with some of the same voice inflections and mannerisms as Dudley. But that’s where the similarities end. Stuart, whether backed by his “Fabulous Superlatives” or a couple of other musicians, brings a distinct bluegrass style to the song. The style, heavy on acoustic instruments — including Stuart’s favorite, the mandolin — offers instrumental interludes throughout and features a traditional bluegrass and country upright bass. With the lyrics telling the story of a driver’s trip from Pittsburgh headed down the eastern seaboard, Stuart’s bluegrass effort almost feels like it’s focused on the leg of the trip passing through coal mining country like West Virginia. The cover isn’t as gritty as Dudley’s version, and it’s not as commercial as that of Sawyer Brown. Stuart applies his personal style to the song and makes it his own. And “Six Days” is not not the only of Stuart’s songs to fall into the theme of trucking music. In “Whole Lotta Highway” (also known as “Truck Drivin’ Man”), Stuart and his band stick to his signature acoustic sound to tell the same tale so many other songs have told about driving trucks. Whether it’s piling up the miles, knowing waitresses at every truck stop in the country, or measuring his paycheck by his logbook, as Stuart sings, he’s “seen a whole lotta highway with a million miles to go.” If you’re looking for something a bit more original from Stuart, look no further than “Truck Driver’s Blues,” a song he reportedly wrote for Connie Smith — the singer he vowed to marry when he was 12 years old (and, in fact, did eventually marry in 1997). The song is heavy on acoustics, and the lyrics cover just about everything you’d want to hear in a trucking song — a rig that takes the curves, “two tons of steel” shaking his nerves, countless hours on the highway and gallons of coffee all make an appearance in the lyrics. And, of course, the trucker has a “honey waiting back home” — or as Stuart refers to her, “a hillbilly honey.” He’s even named his truck after her: “Connie, Connie, Connie.” Pumping brakes and slamming gears, Stuart sings of not being home in what seems like 10 years. The upbeat tempo gives a “road rhythm” to the song, but it’s a departure from Stuart’s usual heavy bluegrass influence. Sure, Stuart features his mandolin, but it’s band member Kenny Vaughn on the acoustic guitar that truly carries this truck driving song home. For a change of pace, Marty Stuart’s “Way Out West” isn’t exactly a truck driving song (although the narrator HAS been on the road a long time), nor is it a clean-cut road song. The tune is more spiritual or mystical in tone and revolves around the aftermath of pills — like the little white pills so many performers sing of in “Six Days.” The lyrics aren’t so much about a yearning for home either. Frankly it’s hard to follow the lyrics unless you’ve popped one of the little pills Stuart sings of, whether they’re green, black or blue or provide an “indigo haze.” It’s not a particular good song to listen to behind the wheel. “Way Out West” will have, as Stuart sings, your world spinning “round and round and round and round and round.” Still, the song is another example of Stuart’s versatility as an artist. Until next time, remember as you roll down the road with your classic country songs blaring from iTunes, there’s someone in Nashville keeping those tunes alive for future generations. Marty Stuart is the 21st century’s classic country jukebox.

Addendum: Impact of costly citations on public safety and revenue generation

In my last column, which appeared in the March 1-14, 2022, edition of The Trucker, I wrote about the rising cost of traffic tickets. Specifically, I wrote about all the extra fees that are being added to the cost of the initial fine, resulting in a greater out-of-pocket expense for drivers. Click here to review the previous column. As I said in that column “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.” I know many of you think I was just passing the buck and not wanting to discuss the issue at this time because I’m lazy. Well, you would be right, about the lazy part anyway. However, the reason I didn’t dive into the subject then was that there was simply not enough space to get into the matter. Shoot, I’m not sure I can talk about it in the space I have for this column! I guess we’ll find out. Last fall, the New York Times (NYT) wrote an article titled “The Demand for Money Behind Many Police Stops.” The article surveyed the U.S. and wrote about how revenue received from traffic citations funds town and the police responsible for finding violations. Now before we get started, this column is NOT anti-traffic enforcement. I support the police and believe the job they provide is crucial to keeping the roads safe. I further believe that the vast majority of towns and municipalities aren’t doing anything sketchy. With that being said, and as the NYT article noted, many municipalities across the country rely on ticket revenue and court fees to pay for government services. Moreover, some maintain “oversized” police departments whose presence helps generate that money. Interestingly, the NYT article found that this phenomenon is not a big-city problem — instead, the majority of the towns that depend on this revenue have populations below 30,000 people. In addition, it seems many of these towns are clustered in the South and Midwest areas of the U.S. For example, Valley Brook, Oklahoma, a town of 870 people that covers less than a half of square mile collects roughly $1 million from traffic cases. A majority of the stops occur on a four-lane road that is home to the police station, a liquor store, a cannabis dispensary and three strip clubs. According to the NYT article, 72% percent of the town’s revenues come from traffic fines; this is the highest in the state. While it can be argued that this is because the police jurisdiction covers only one block on the main road, such enforcement allows for officers to catch more serious infractions. “I put officers out on the street every single night for the sole purpose of drug and alcohol enforcement because it is such a big problem that we have here,” said Police Chief Michael A. Stamp. While recognizing the town’s dependence on traffic tickets, Stamp said, “I will stand by the fact that what we are doing out here also saves lives.” With those statements in mind, it would appear that Nicholas Browser is the type of driver that the chief wants to keep off the road. Around midnight one evening, instead of pulling over for a traffic stop, Browser led police on a chase away from Valley Brook to his home about a mile away. Once he surrendered, police found a handgun and discovered that his blood-alcohol content exceeded the legal limit. Interestingly, instead of charging Browser with a DUI — which would have resulted in the matter being transferred to district court outside of Valley Brooke — the police instead charged him with negligent driving and public intoxication, thereby allowing the town to keep the revenue. Now understand, I’m not just picking on this one town. The NYT articles identified towns with similar stories in Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia. According to the NYT, the federal government is partially responsible for fueling the culture of the traffic stop. The federal government issues over $600 million a year in highway safety grants that subsidize ticket writing. While no quotas are imposed in connection with these grants, at least 20 states have evaluated performance based on the number of traffic stops conducted per hour. Now as I said earlier, I support the police and believe the job they provide is crucial to keeping the roads safe. I further believe that the vast majority of towns/municipalities aren’t doing anything sketchy. While traffic stops and the threat of citations deter some folks from breaking the law, the need for some outlying municipalities to sustain a revenue stream could be viewed as the reason for many traffic stops occurring therein. At the end of the day, the police are there to enforce the law and keep us safe, often from ourselves. This, and this alone, needs to be the reason for traffic stops. While revenue from traffic citations will always be necessary to help support government services in the community, traffic citations issues solely for the purpose of revenue generation needs to stop. 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.

These on-the-road exercises don’t require special gear, Part II

In the March 1-14 edition of The Trucker, I shared Part I of a two-part series that features exercises that can easily be done while on the road. In that column, I provided Steps 1-6 of a 10-part exercise routine. The final exercises follow, along with a helpful diagram showing all 10 steps. In Part II, we’ll start with the new exercises (Steps 7-10); to review the first six steps, click here. All you need is your truck and a couple of 1-gallon water jugs, filled with enough liquid to provide the amount of resistance/weight you want. You want enough weight for adequate resistance, but make sure the weight will allow you to perform at least 10 repetitions with each shoulder. Stand straight, keeping your stomach muscles tight. Make sure you don’t lock your knees, and do not stop between exercises. Also, make sure you do a few warm-up stretches first to help reduce the risk of injury. Let’s go! Front shoulder raises Stand straight, keeping your stomach muscles tight, holding one water jug in each hand; do not lock your knees. With your elbows slightly bent, raise both water jugs in front of you, at the same time, until your elbows are shoulder high. Slowly lower the jugs, maintaining resistance on the way down. Repeat 10 times. Triceps push-offs Stand about 3 feet away from your truck with your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands close together, with thumbs touching, on the fender. Slowly lean forward; then slowly push yourself back up straight. Repeat 10 times. Standing rows Holding one water jug in one hand, bend over halfway so your back is parallel with the ground; use your truck tire for support. Slowly pull the water jug up to your side and then slowly lower it. Switch sides. Repeat for a total of 10 lifts per side. Take a lap Without stopping, walk, jog or run around your rig. Depending on your fitness and health levels, repeat this as many as three times. (NOTE: Never overdo it! Life is a marathon, not a sprint.) To review Steps 1-6, click here. 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].

St. Patrick’s Day offers chance to reflect on the holy trinity

Well, we are closing in on spring, and things are warming up. We are forging ahead into warmer the weather. Can you imagine what it would be like if we never had a change of weather? Life would be so drab! The changing cloak of weather lets us know what season we are in so we can prepare for the joys it holds. Life without any change of scenery can be very boring. Even in our daily lives we look for that special moment of a change. Have you ever thought how much changes daily in our lives? We all change clothes daily. Even our commute to and from work never is the same — especially for professional drivers. With every passing moment of the day something changes. Sometimes we don’t even notice that subtle little change, but it’s there. Have you ever given thought to how we change in God’s eyes? Some days we’re ready to do what’s required of us to honor God. Other days we’re like rebellious children and drift away from the blessings of God. In all of this, we find ourselves feeling a bit like the weather during the month of March. Some days we have nice, clear, sunny days and other days … well, it just seems like a total mess of a day. But then right in the middle of all this is that special day — St. Patrick’s Day. On this day, everyone becomes a little Irish! We start wearing the green. And, of course, there’s the famous shamrock. Have you ever really thought much about the shamrock and what it represents? Many people have no idea what the shamrock stands for. Let me try to shed some light on this special piece of greenery we call the shamrock. This three-leaf clover is part of the Irish legend about St. Patrick, who used the plant as an educational symbol to explain the holy trinity. He explained that the shamrock is like the trinity. There’s one God, represented by the stem, but three divine beings — the father, the son and the holy spirit — all connected to the stem. Those three leaves also stand for faith, hope and love. Have you ever given much thought to who St. Patrick actually was? Well, St. Patrick was a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. He wasn’t sure just how to explain the concept of the holy trinity, so he used the shamrock to help explain that within the one God are three divine persons. Each one — the father, the son and the holy spirit — is a unique unit attached to the stem (God). Thanks to St. Patrick’s ingenuity, folks soon understood just what the holy trinity was (and still is). One God, three persons. All are God — God the father, God the son and God the holy spirit. So, when you start to wear the green and hold that shamrock this St. Patrick’s Day, just remember that you are proclaiming the divinity of the trinity. You are celebrating St. Patrick’s work that was started so many years ago to help nonbelievers understand their relationship with God. So, as the weather is constantly changing and our moods are changing daily we see that God never changes. He is our protector as a father. He is our comforter in times of need as the son. He is the spirit that fills us with happiness and joy. When you go outside and pick a clover from your yard, notice that you can release all strains and problems by reflecting on the trinity, and smile because with God all things are made new. March is getting us ready for the joys of spring and summer. Take your shamrock and say, “God the father is my refuge, God the son is my strength and God the holy spirit empowers me all through my day.” Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Best of the roads and all gears forward in Jesus, Rev. Marilou Coins

These effective, on-the-road exercises don’t require special gear

I’ve been getting request for on-the-road-driver workouts. So, in both this column and in the March 15 edition of The Trucker, I’m going to provide just that. All you need is your truck and two 1-gallon water jugs, filled with enough liquid to provide the amount of resistance/weight you want. You want enough weight for adequate resistance, but make sure the weight will allow you to perform at least 10 repetitions with each shoulder. Stand straight, keeping your stomach muscles tight. Make sure you don’t lock your knees, and do not stop between exercises. Also, make sure you do a few warm-up stretches first to help reduce the risk of injury. Let’s go! Stretches Stand with your feet together. Breathe in and slowly raise your arms above your head; hold for a count of four. Exhale for a count of four, lowering your arms to your side. Repeat five times. Next, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Bend at the waist and let your arms hang loosely toward the ground. Don’t worry about touching your toes; just let your body gently stretch using its own weight. Breathe slowly and deeply for three breaths, easing into the stretch with each exhalation. Slowly straighten back up. Push-offs Stand about 3 feet away from your truck with your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands, shoulder-width apart, on the fender. Slowly lean forward; then slowly push yourself back up straight. Repeat 10 times. Step-ups Move to the steps of your rig. Step up with one leg and back down; then repeat, leading with the other leg. If you need a little help (for instance, if you’ve got bad knees), use the grab-handle on the side of your cab to help balance yourself and provide added support coming up. Remember to use your legs as much as possible, not your arms. Repeat 10 times. Squats Move to the front of your truck. Position your feet hip-width apart and place your hands on the bumper for balance and support. On a count of three, slowly squat down as if you’re sitting on a chair and then return to a standing position. Repeat 10 times. Bicep curls Stand straight, keeping your stomach muscles tight — and do not lock your knees! Holding a water jug in each hand, use your upper arm muscles to curl both arms, at the same time, to chest high. Squeeze your biceps once you reach the top; then lower the jugs while maintaining resistance on the way down. Repeat 10 times. Shoulder lateral raises With your elbows slightly bent, raise both water jugs from your sides. at the same time, until your elbows are shoulder high. Lower the jugs while maintaining resistance on the way down. Repeat 10 times. Be sure to check out the next edition of The Trucker for Part 2! 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].

Marty Stuart: An artist whose evolution touches the breadth of country music, Part 1

The country music industry is filled with musicians and performers who are critically acclaimed yet have limited commercial success. No. 1 hits are rare for these artists, and you’re more likely to find their names among those nominated for Grammys as opposed to Country Music Association (CMA) awards. Many of these lesser-known performers are actually driving forces behind the songs of commercial artists. These songwriters and studio musicians are well known throughout the business. One such musician — Marty Stuart, an ambassador for the genre — likely falls into this category for many country fans. Along Stuart’s musical journey, he’s even turned out a trucking song or two. But before focusing on his songs, let’s explore the evolution Stuart’s style. After all, it’s one that encompasses nearly 100 years of country music history. While you may associate Marty Stuart with bluegrass, don’t let his instrument of choice — the mandolin — fool you. His style spans the farthest reaches of country music. Stuart was born in the deep south — Philadelphia, Mississippi — in 1958. He shared a passion for music with his father and grew up watching what he refers to as “Hillbilly Hollywood” on television, syndicated shows that featured 1960s artists like Porter Wagoner and the Wilburn Brothers. The visual appeal of country music struck Stuart, and the rhinestone suits and other characteristics of country performers fascinated the youngster. As he grew older, Stuart could be found hanging around Philadelphia’s Busy Bee Café Juke Joint, where he was introduced to the acoustics of bluegrass music. At age 11, Stuart attended his first Johnny Cash concert in nearby Jackson, Mississippi. Standing against the stage before being pulled away by security, the youngster was mesmerized by Cash’s performance. At that moment, he recalled, he wanted to BE Johnny Cash. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. While still a pre-teen, Stuart started his first band. In 1970 he attended a concert in Philadelphia featuring Connie Smith, his mother’s favorite singer. He met Smith and took photographs of her, later telling his mother that he would someday marry the singer, despite the fact she was 29 years old — 17 years older than young Stuart. But marriage would have to wait. First, Stuart had to find his start in the music through which he’d eventually make his career. A mandolin he purchased before he turned 14 became his ticket to success. As a teenager, Stuart joined his first road band, the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers, touring with them in the summer of 1972. The experience was like a “fantasy camp,” he said. The return to his freshman year in high school didn’t sit well with him. By September, he’d left school and traveled to Nashville at the behest of Roland White, a member of Lester Flatt’s band. In short order, Stuart also joined the band. He’d found his life’s calling. During the 1970s, he continued to grow as a musician, becoming proficient on several stringed instruments. By decade’s end, Stuart had come full circle when Johnny Cash invited him to join his touring band. Over the next five years, Stuart toured with Cash, and he married his boss’ daughter, Cindy (not Connie Smith) in 1983. Although Stuart recorded a couple of independent albums early in his career, commercial success eluded him. But in 1985 he signed with Columbia Records. After nearly 15 years in the music business, he finally set out on his own. By year’s end, Columbia released his self-titled album, and he arrived on the billboard charts with his first single, “Arlene.” Although the song wasn’t a major hit (No. 19 on the charts), it was a Top 40 single, and success appeared on the horizon. But the follow-up singles from the album received less airplay, with only one reaching the Top 40. Through the remainder of the 1980s, Stuart struggled commercially, recording three albums but only achieving one additional Top 40 single. That all changed in late 1989 when Stuart left Columbia for MCA records. His first album for the new label, “Hillbilly Rock,” became his breakout record. The title track from the album shot to No. 8 on the charts, boosted by a music video. The single launched a string of hits for Stuart, and he had five more songs reach the Top 10 through early 1992. In 1991, he wrote “The Whiskey Ain’t Working” for a rising star, Travis Tritt, and was invited to perform on the singer’s second album. The song climbed to No. 2 on the charts. It would be the high-water mark of Stuart’s commercial career. Throughout the 1990s, Stuart continued recording albums, and the critics generally loved his work — but airplay was elusive. Stuart never cracked the Top 40 again. “The Whiskey Ain’t Working” did land Marty Stuart his first award after some CMA and ACM nominations, but it came from the Grammys, not country music’s awarding committees. He was nominated, along with others, for several compilation and concept albums during the 1990s and early 2000s, but the Grammys continued to best recognized Stuart’s contribution to music. Perhaps his most notable award came in 2001 when Stuart brought home a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance for the bluegrass favorite, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” As his commercial career declined, Stuart started a new band in 2002, “The Fabulous Superlatives.” Much in the way of critically acclaimed performers like BR549 and Junior Brown, the band developed a cult following and offered opportunities to showcase Stuart’s talent. Beginning in 2008, the band backed him up on “The Marty Stuart Show,” an RFD-TV produced television show. For Stuart, the show took him back to his youth and his fascination with the visual aspect of country music. He dressed in faded blue jeans and a rhinestone-studded jacket — and in a nod to the golden era of country music, he wore a tight scarf around his neck. But it was his hair that made Stuart universally recognizable. His long, flowing tresses have been equated to the mane of an elegant horse by some writers. Despite all of Stuart’s accomplishments as a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, he gained his most significant fame as a country music historian. A traditionalist, Stuart has been a promoter of the genre’s history throughout his career, serving as a six-term president of the Country Music Foundation. The role offered a pulpit to campaign for the preservation of country music’s heritage. It also helped him reach the genre’s highest achievement in 2020 when he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Until next time, pull up some Marty Stuart on your smartphone and give it a listen. We’ll delve deeper into the performer’s complex style — and his trucking songs — in the next column.

The rising cost of traffic tickets presents difficulties in paying fines

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 that are added to the citation that 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 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.

1975 Entertainer of the Year John Denver found ‘country roads’ not as friendly as the ones he sang of in top-selling single

Country music has always been, like the country in which it was born, a “melting pot” of musical genres. Take a fresh dose of gospel, mix in a handful of blues, add a few pinches of soul, a few ounces of bluegrass, a spoonful of rockabilly and a dash of jazz, and the result will usually be something that will fall into the country genre. Then again, when country takes in some of the lost performers who don’t fit perfectly into any other type of music, it sets itself up for hypocrisy. The hypocrisy of the country music melting pot came into full focus in the early 1970s when Charlie Rich took the genre by storm. A self-described jazz musician who was never accepted by the jazz community, Charlie Rich’s run of success began in 1973 when the title track of his album “Behind Closed Doors” topped the Billboard Country charts and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up single, “The Most Beautiful Girl,” was even more successful, reaching No. 1 on all Billboard and Canadian RPM charts. “Behind Closed Doors” pocketed Rich a closet full of awards, including the 1973 Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association’s (CMA) Album and Single of the Year, as well as Top Male Vocalist. A year later, “A Very Special Love Song” helped Rich claim Album of the Year honors from the CMA, as well as country music’s top honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year. In 1975, Rich started the year riding a wave of country music success into all musical genres. He released three albums in ’75, two of which topped the country charts, and produced three Top 5 hits. Then it happened. In less than two minutes, in the autumn of 1975, Rich — the sly, smooth crooner known as “The Silver Fox” — watched his career go up in flames at the hand of his own Bic lighter. You see, Rich’s success as a multi-genre musician who had been adopted into the country music scene led others whose style searched for a home to take a similar path. In the mid-1970s, the most successful of these was John Denver, whose megahits “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” endeared him to country fans if only for their titles. After all, the idea of “country roads” had inspired countless road songs, and even a few trucking songs, in the years leading up to Denver’s classic single. For Rich, however, neither Denver nor his music were country enough to suit him. The CMA nominated Denver for Entertainer of the Year in 1975, and as customary, the previous year’s winner — in this case Rich — presented the award. Denver wasn’t present for the nationally broadcast awards ceremony, having been on tour in Australia. But thanks to satellite technology, the audience and the rest of America could see and hear him from an Australian studio. Denver could hear the audio, but he had no video feed. Rich, who’d been waiting back stage for over three hours, was finally introduced. From the moment Rich emerged on to the stage, something appeared “off.” He limped toward the microphone, and quickly it became obvious he had been sampling the post-award party’s beverages since the show began. The next few moments are fairly indescribable, so a “screenplay” of Rich’s own slurred words and actions after he reached the podium best tell the story: Rich first looked down at the award trophy, cradling and staring at it with what can only be described as a “lustful” look in his eyes. “This is the most beautiful thing in the world, right here…. Most beautiful thing. Thank you very much.” The fact that Rich was making a play off the title of his most successful single seemed lost on the audience, which was looking on in bewilderment. Rich then paused for a long, awkward moment. “I know the people who are up for [this award] are suffering right now, the way I did last year,” he said. “I mean, suffering, you know, like … gut,” he added, punching himself in the stomach. Then he broke into his prepared speech. “The nominees for the country music Entertainer of the Year are: John Denver, Waylon Jennings …” Rich again paused, then noted, “The reason I’m talking so correct is ’cause I just got back from London. I’d rather be in Nashville.” He then continued with his presentation. “… Loretta Lynn. Loretta, would you like to go out tonight? “Ronnie Milsap. First time I saw Ronnie, our bandstand broke. 18-foot bandstand. Bam,” Rich explained in another tangent. “And my friend from Arkansas … Mississippi … wherever he wanna be, Mr. Conway Twitty.” (Conway Twitty’s wife looks on in obvious disgust.) Rich then opened the envelope containing the winner’s name, ruffled the paper for a moment, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a cigarette lighter. As he said the long-awaited words, “The winner is…,” he lit the corner of the slip of paper on fire and again paused as he watched the flame grow. Finally, he announced, “… my friend, Mr. John Denver!” From his satellite feed in Australia, Denver looked somewhat shocked that he had won, but considering what the people watching on television had seen, his smile and round-lens glasses made him appear to be a combination of naïve and ignorant. The country music community was shocked at what it had watched transpire. The CMA blackballed Charlie Rich from all future events, and the blackball carried over to his acceptance as a country musician. Rich had a couple of hits later in the decade, the 1977 single, “Rollin’ with the Flow” the most successful, but his career took a nose-dive from which it never recovered. Rich’s true intent during his speech that 1975 evening has been debated. Some believe he thumbed his nose at a country music establishment that had turned to crossover artists — but then again, Rich was the primary beneficiary of the movement. Others, including his son, say he was a victim of circumstance. According to Charlie Rich Jr., a few days before the CMA awards show, his dad had broken his foot, and just making it to the show required a heavy dose of pain medication for the performer. The elder Rich had devised the plan to burn the award slip, expecting to get a lot of laughs. But then, for three hours, Rich sat backstage priming the wet bar. The combination of pain pills, alcohol and an ill-devised plan for a bad joke backfired, his son says. As it turned out, no one thought Rich was funny; rather, they thought he was a surly drunk, insulting another musician. Of course, a planned insult would require knowing that Denver had won before Rich opened the envelope. If Twitty had won, would Rich have lit the flame that sparked his downfall? You decide. Until next time, during your travels, take it easy on those country roads. Their ease of navigation can be deceiving.

Practice personal preventive maintenance while on the road

Stretching is an excellent exercise you can do for your health. In the trucking industry, people talk a lot about PM — preventive maintenance — for your equipment, to keep it running smoothly. But what about the most important PM, or as I call it, PPM (personal preventive maintenance)? Spending long periods of time sitting behind the wheel, then jumping out of your truck and calling on your body to perform tasks — like pulling up your truck’s hood, landing gear or fifth-wheel pin — without warming up could result in injuries. Simple yet effective stretching moves can help prepare your body for these tasks, not to mention improving your balance and preventing falls in icy conditions by increasing your flexibility. Williams back exercises, also known as Williams flexion or lumbar exercises, have been around forever. They’re simple, tried and true, and best of all, they can be performed in your bunk. Here’s how: Lie on your back in your bunk. Bend both knees up and put your feet flat on the mattress. Slowly bring both knees up towards your chest and grab your knees with your hands. Gently pull your knees up close to your chest. Slowly allow your knees to lower back down to the starting position. How often should you engage in a stretching routine, and how long do you hold each stretch? According to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), stretching exercises are recommended at least two or three times a week; hold each stretch for 15-20 seconds. Flexibility stretching exercises are highly recommended for all major muscle-tendon groups, including the neck, shoulders, chest, trunk, lower back, hips and legs. Stretching has also been shown to help relieve arthritis, back and knee pain. A complaint I hear the most many drivers is that they’re having pain in their sciatica. This can be very painful, and it can cause serious injury if not treated. To see an easy to follow stretch that might help, watch this video at www.spine-health.com/video/scissor-hamstring-stretch-low-back-pain-and-sciatica-relief-video. Please be sure to breathe as you go through your stretching routine. To receive more help and videos about exercises and warm-up, email me at [email protected]. Thanks for reading! 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].

Changing an industry is hard, especially when the nation’s infrastructure can’t support it

For the most part, I am pretty adventurous when it comes to new things. I will eat, drink and am generally willing to try damn near anything that you put in front of me. (Well at least once, anyway.) I am also pretty open to new developments in technology in cars, computers, phones, etc. All in all, I think I am pretty easy to get along with regarding “new” technology. However, the one thing that I hate is being told that I HAVE to do something. Blame it on the contrarian in me. If you want me to sit down, just ask nicely and I will. If you tell me I HAVE to sit down … well, we have a whole new set of issues. So, with that in mind, the one thing I hate about new technology is being told I have to do something, especially when the action you want me to take has not been thoroughly vetted. What in the world could possibly have me this worked up? Well, I am glad you asked. Back in September of 2021, the governor of New York (the one that replaced Andrew Cuomo) signed a bill banning the sale of new gas powered-cars and trucks in the state by 2035. “New York is implementing the nation’s most aggressive plan to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions affecting our climate” Governor Kathy Hochul stated. “To reach our ambitious goals, we must reduce emissions for the transportation sector, currently the largest source of the state climate pollution.” Beginning with the 2025 model year, new truck manufacturers will be required to meet certain annual sales percentages of zero-emissions trucks. The quota will vary depending on vehicle class. Now please understand — I love the environment, as well as rainbows, puppies and kittens, and I understand the need to decrease emissions for the sake of the environment and all living creatures. I want the world to be around for my children’s children, and I am willing to do my part to support it. I see the need for zero-emission vehicles, and I understand that they are coming. However, I believe the good folks in New York may be suffering from a case of premature legislation. While the intention of the law is admirable, the infrastructure does not currently exist to support the law. I am not making this up — this statement is supported by the folks at the Trucking Association of New York (TANY). Kendra Hems, president of TANY, noted that “one of the big concerns we have as an industry is the lack of truck parking, and now we’re talking about electrifying an industry where drivers already don’t have anywhere to park.” Hems further stated, “When we have electric trucks, where are they going to charge? That also gets into more of the cross-country challenges.” Needless to say, there are lot of questions that need to be addressed. For example, where will all the trucks charge? How will there be enough charging stations available? Can the electrical grid handle this increased load? How do I get an electric vehicle across the country? More to the point: How do I get a load of produce from California to New York using an electric truck with the current infrastructure system? Quite simply, I am not sure you can. There will need to be way more charging stations in place to make this happen. Being from the Midwest, I don’t see a whole lot being added now. Also, who is going to pay for the infrastructure to be put in place? Just because some states like California and New York see something as a priority, that does not mean all the other states will have that same priority. Different states have different values and focus on different things. I do not think the South or the Midwest agrees with either coast on every single issue, and thus these states may not be in such a hurry to get the charging infrastructure in place. In addition, if you are a carrier in New York how will you charge your trucks? Quite simply, you will need to add charging stations at your terminal. How many? It depends on your size. But let’s assume you need to add 100 charging stations. Is the electricity currently supplying your terminal enough to handle the increased load? Shoot, is the electrical grid for the CITY large enough to handle the increased load of electric cars and commercial vehicles? I am not sure about the answers to any of these questions. But what I do know is that some states have lost power during winter storms or have been forced to do rolling blackouts. Do you really think we can add this increased burden without first making sure the underlying electrical grid can handle the load? If not, who will pay for the upgrade? Because I am long-winded and running out of space, I am not even going to discuss the amount of time required for heavy-duty electric vehicles to get a full charge and the delays that will likely result from time spent charging (or waiting to charge). At the end of the day, I really DO believe we need to make changes to better protect the environment. However, I think if you would have asked, nicely most folks would already be making the changes to zero-emissions vehicles — but would be doing so in quantities that the current infrastructure could support. Passing this law is forcing people to make changes at a pace that the infrastructure can’t support. And that seems like a bad idea to me. 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.

Checking blood pressure comparable to reading truck’s gauges

Now that I’m back presenting at on site driver ordinations, one question that still comes up from new drivers is not understanding how elevated blood pressure readings can take you out of service. Think of your blood pressure like reading your truck’s engine gauges — it tells you if something abnormal is happening or is about to happen. So, you ask: What exactly does blood pressure measure? The top number, known as “systolic pressure,” refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart squeezes to pump blood through the body. The lower number, called “diastolic pressure,” refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic numbers are important when identifying potential issues as elevated pressure readings. Thanks to advancements in technology, there are several portable travel blood-pressure monitoring units that are reliable. Much like maintaining your trucking equipment, PM is best. (In this case, PM means “personal maintenance.” A good rule to follow is occasionally check your blood pressure against a manual reading. What are the benefits of lowering blood pressure? Elevated blood pressure can cause hypertension. In turn, long-term, uncontrolled hypertension can increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease by increasing the workload on your heart and blood vessels. Having other risk factors for cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease adds to your overall risk. The three major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are: High blood pressure; High blood cholesterol; and Smoking. The presence of any one of these factors increases your risk of cardiovascular disease by about 30%. If you have two of these factors, your risk for cardiovascular disease is three times as great. If you have all three risk factors, you have seven times the risk. Other risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, diabetes, family history of early heart disease, obesity, physical inactivity, insulin resistance, elevated lipids and your individual health history. High blood pressure requires serious attention and treatment to keep under control. You can prevent future problems by understanding your condition, making lifestyle changes, taking medication as prescribed and having your blood pressure checked regularly. Always consult your doctor for support. In addition, engaging the help of a professional CDL health coach is always recommended. 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].

Razzy Bailey’s trucking song was a follow-up to recording history

I recently discovered a satellite radio station, and it brought back a lot of memories. It’s not just the songs the station plays (it specializes in moderate country hits that haven’t received commercial radio airplay in decades). It also reminds me of personal experiences when country music was becoming an obsession for me. The late 1970s and early ’80s turned me into the narrow-minded fellow I am today. It’s when I gave up all other forms of music for country. Many of those songs eventually became “classic country.” I don’t expect I’ll ever turn back. Where I grew up, country artists didn’t appear at the local fair — or much of anywhere, for that matter. The largest arena in the area, seating all of 6,000, might book one, sometimes two country acts a year. In 1980, Charley Pride traveled to the area for a show, and as usual, I bought some of the first tickets sold. It wasn’t just Pride who intrigued me, however. Razzy Bailey, although over 40 years old, served as the opening act. Bailey had just started stringing a few hits together, and I liked his sound. A few months after the concert, he made music history before coming out with a trucking song that turned into a No. 1 hit. But Razzy Bailey’s story began long before he arrived on stage that evening in 1980. Rasie Michael Bailey, who later adopted the name “Razzy,” sprang from country in the truest sense of the word. Born in Five Points, Alabama, a town with a population of less than 800 at upon his arrival in 1939, Bailey was raised on a farm in nearby LaFayette. The town where he grew up was just as country as his birthplace, although the population was twice as large. But in true-life country fashion, Bailey got his start in music as a member of the LaFayette High School’s Future Farmers of America string band. In short order, he could be found on stages in nearby venues, where he gained regional popularity. In 1966, Razzy Bailey wrote and recorded his first song, a single titled “9,999,999 Tears.” The tune received little attention at the time, but when Dickey Lee recorded it a decade later, Bailey’s songwriting gave him a name in Nashville. The single rose to No. 3 on the country charts and crossed over as a pop hit. Lee charted another Bailey-written song a year later with “Peanut Butter.” By this time, RCA Records recognized Bailey’s talent and hired him as a songwriter — and soon gave him a shot as a performer with a recording contract. Bailey’s first album, “If Love Had a Face,” hit No. 33 on the charts and produced four Top 10 singles. Still, country fans didn’t widely recognize Bailey’s work. All that changed in 1980 with the release of his self-titled album, “Razzy.” “Razzy” produced three Top 10 hits, including two No. 1s — “Loving Up a Storm” and “True Life Country Music.” The pair of songs marked a rare feat in country music; they formed Side A and B of the same 45 rpm single. “True Life Country Music,” might be considered Bailey’s response to David Allan Coe’s hit, “You Never Even Called Me by My Name.” Bailey packed as much country music history into a two-and-a-half-minute record than anyone ever had. In early 1981, Razzy Bailey released his third album, “Makin’ Friends.” It was even more popular than “Razzy” and included another three Top 10 hits, including two more No. 1s. In fact, the two No. 1 songs on the album again achieved double-sided hit status. “Friends” and “Anywhere There’s Jukebox” marked Bailey’s third and fourth No. 1 hits in a row, and the four occupied just two 45 rpms. Consecutive double-sided No. 1s had never been produced in Nashville before Bailey arrived. Very quietly, Bailey went on to a career in which he recorded 15 Top 10 hits, seven of them rising to No. 1. And it was all achieved over a four-year period after Bailey released his first album. In 1981, Bailey’s song “Midnight Hauler” marked his sixth consecutive No. 1 hit. The tune’s Side B companion failed to reach No. 1 however, topping out at No. 8 on the charts. The double-sided Top 10 hits meant Bailey barely missed a third consecutive history-making effort, one that would have been astonishing. Still, when it comes to staying power, “Midnight Hauler” is arguably Bailey’s most memorable song. Like “True Life Country Music,” which is packed with “country gold” song references, “Midnight Hauler” included most everything its writers knew about trucking. In “Midnight Hauler,” Bailey is both the singer of and subject of the song — that is, assuming his reference to “old R.B.” is self-directed. “R.B.” is making a nighttime crossing of the desert Southwest with a heavy, strapped-down load in an 18-wheeler. In a time before ELDs, the driver mentions that he’s been driving all day but has no intention of bedding down for the night. After all, he “just pulled out of Santa Fe,” and if he’s going to make it to his hometown of Kansas City by “the break of day,” there’s little time to waste. Like many good trucking songs, there’s a woman waiting for the driver in Kansas City, and he’s ready for the trip in his Peterbilt. Like Dave Dudley in “Six Days on the Road,” R.B. has two full fuel tanks and a “belly full of coffee and whites.” He’s using his C.B. to keep track of law enforcement and notes that he’s “cannonballing her home.” It’s a good night to make time, he claims. It’s a Saturday night, and he’s the only one on the highway, after all. That makes his Peterbilt a streak across the desert. The song doesn’t really come to an end, unless you count a rockabilly closing instrumental segment. But lyric-wise, the story, we can assume, continues on through the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, all the way to Kansas City where he’s reunited with his “little woman.” After all, isn’t that the ending so many trucking songs lead us toward? Following “Midnight Hauler,” Bailey only had one more Top 10 hit before he spent the rest of his recording career in the bottom half of the Top 100. But he’ll be best remembered for his 14 consecutive Top 10 hits during the ’70s and ’80s, as well as his consecutive double-sided No. 1s, something that has never been repeated by another country artist. Bailey died Aug. 4, 2021. The obituary notes that Bailey served as a deacon in the Cowboy Church of Nashville and as a mentor to a generation of singers who came to Nashville searching for stardom. Until next time, remember that the desert night may make for a great driving atmosphere, but a truck or two has been known to fall off the shoulder of even the flattest straight roads around. Plus, you never know when a roadrunner might appear like a flash on the highway.

The dawn of a new year offers a fresh chance to make the most of every day

Welcome to a new year! As we close out the past year, we are all looking forward to the “What’s new?” and “What’s the new year going to be like?” We all make New Year’s resolutions, but — wow! Within the first month most of those resolutions we make are broken or forgotten. This year, how about doing something entirely different? How about doing something very special so when you get to Dec. 31 at the end of 2022 you can look back over what happened over the year — look at your calendar, reflect on each day and recall what took place. When you look at your calendar, you’ll notice each block has a number in. That’s where the challenge is for each day. Mark each day with a G for good, a B for bad or a question mark for days that aren’t so good, but not really bad, either. I call those “so-so” days. Then, when you get to the next New Year’s Eve you can look through the calendar. On a piece of paper, note how many of each type of day you recorded. I’m sure you’ll notice that you had more good days than anything else. God gives us each day of our lives, to find the best of it and enjoy what he has in store for us. Our days are all numbered, from birth to death, so let’s find the good in each day that God gives us. No day can be repeated. There are no do-overs. We can’t rewind what has been, because each day is unique. But even though they’re often hard to keep, why not make a New Year’s resolution for 2022, one that can be kept without any hassle? Make a resolution to read your Bible, even it’s only one sentence a day. That’s progress, to know what is in that Bible. Also, take a moment each morning or evening to say a “Thank you for the day” prayer. Soon you will be feeling the blessings that God has bestowed for you to enjoy. Never think you don’t have time to pray. When you take a minute to relax, that’s your chance to breathe a quick, heartfelt prayer. Don’t look back at the past year and think of it as a loss because that chapter in your life is over. Instead, look at all the blessings that were bestowed on you. The new year is a whole new chance to be blessed even more. Jan. 1 is a fresh start, so make the most of it. As drivers, you look out the windshield of your rig to see what’s going on ahead. In the same way, look at the dawn of each new day as a preview, a chance to prepare for the adventure of the day. Then, at the end of the day, make a simple note on your calendar to remember what kind of day you had. That’s what I do every day and am really surprised to see how much God has blessed me. I’m wishing for each of you to have a very blessed year ahead. We all know God will give us a year of blessings beyond what we can imagine. Yes, we may have bumps along the way, but all will smooth out as we keep going. Take each day and enjoy what it brings, whether it’s good, bad or so-so. I know you will see you had more good, blessed days than anything else. Happy New Year to all of you! Best of the roads and all gears forward in Jesus, Rev. Marilou Coins

Q&A session: FMCSA’s DataQ system

Between online shopping and pretending to work, I was busy surfing the internet last month. Let’s be honest: Nobody (except truck drivers) really works that hard in December. With that said, one thing I have noticed is that a lot of sites have their “year in review” type articles. As you all know, I am fundamentally lazy and not above jumping on a current trend! Accordingly, I thought I would do a list of the most often asked DataQ questions I have received over the past year. Because I am a giver, I am also including the answer! So, without further ado, here are the top questions I received about DataQ challenges. Q. How long are the points from an inspection record on the safety score for a driver as opposed to a carrier? A. For a driver, the points resulting from an inspection report show on the record for three years. The points resulting from the inspections of any drivers operating under a carrier’s USDOT number is two years. Q. Why are DataQ challenges such a long and drawn-out process? A. While this can be true, a lot comes down to the reviewing agency. Once a challenge is filed it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months for a decision to be made, depending on how many challenges are needing to be reviewed. Q. I received a citation but didn’t receive an inspection. Will there be points on my safety record? A. If you did not receive an inspection, there would not be any points on your safety score from the citation. You can always ensure that there was not an inspection by pulling a copy of your PSP report. We have seen inspections not given to the driver at the time of the stop — rarely, but it does happen. Q. What does a DataQ challenge do, exactly, and why do I need to do one? A. DataQ challenges help keep as many points as possible off your safety score. The lower your score, the better. Your safety record helps you with employability, training opportunities and keeping your insurance rates lower. Q. Will the points on my safety score be there for the rest of my time as a CMV driver? A. No, the points on your safety score are only there for three years. Q. Why is my company saying I have 21 points for my seven-point violation? A. The points on the safety score are multiplied by three for the first year from the date of the inspection, so the total would be 21. The second year from the date of inspection, they would drop to 14 points. The final year, they are at three points. After three full years, the points are no longer on your safety score. Q. If the truck I’m driving and the cargo I’m hauling at the time of an inspection are less than 26,001 pounds, it shouldn’t count against myself or my carrier since I’m not at the weight of a CMV, right? A. The combined weight at the time of an inspection is not what determines whether a truck and trailer are considered a CMV. It is the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that determines whether a vehicle is considered a CMV. Anything with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or higher is considered a CMV, regardless of the weight at the time of the inspection. Q. I received a citation associated with a violation on my inspection report that I received at the time of the inspection, which was dismissed or amended. These points are adjusted on my safety score automatically, right? A. Unfortunately, they do not automatically adjust. Reviewing agencies vary from state to state and typically are not part of the court system. To ensure the appropriate change is made, a DataQ challenge must be done, and a copy of the court records submitted to the state agency in charge of making the changes. Q. I received a dismissal or amendment on my citation that is associated with my inspection report, but the reviewing agency would not offer relief. Can they do this? A. Yes, an agency can choose to not offer relief for dismissals or amendments that are made in court. Typically, these fall under very specific situations and will vary from state to state, if it happens. The most common reason given is a fine being paid or a diversion period being granted in exchange for a dismissal. Q. My carrier uses a third-party safety score reporting program and it’s shows points on my score that were removed by a DataQ challenge or points are not only counted once per the stacking rule. Can they use these? A. Yes, the company you work for can use a third-party safety score reporting program. They should already be aware that these may not reflect the correct points. If they have any questions regarding your score, a PSP report from the FMCSA can be pulled for $10 which will reflect the most recent status of your safety score. Q. There are violations on my inspection report that are not mine; they are my co-driver’s violations. How can I be sure they are not on my safety score? A. The best way to ensure that the violations are not reporting to you is to pull your PSP report. There will be a notation on the violations that are not counting against your record stating as much. If there is not a notation, it is best to do a DataQ challenge to ensure that these violations are reported correctly. Q. What is the best kind of documentation I can submit with a DataQ challenge for an inspection with no associated citations? A. Documentation that has proved helpful in formulating strong challenges includes, but is not limited to copies of logbook pages for violations relating to record of duty status violations; speed readouts for speeding violations; call records for cellphone violations; proof of valid periodic inspection at the time of the stop for violations relating to periodic inspections; and copies of the CDL and medical cards for license violations. Q. Can I submit photos or videos with my DataQ challenge? A. Absolutely! Keep in mind that this kind of documentation must be time- and date-stamped. Photos and videos can be an excellent way of showing that violations were not present at the time of an inspection. Q. I was involved in a crash incident and don’t feel this should count against my record. What can I do? A. The good news is that a DataQ challenge can be done for these incidents — as long as they occurred on or after Aug. 1, 2019. Crashes prior to this are not eligible to be challenged at this time. For a review, you must submit a copy of the original crash report be alongside the challenges. Time- and date-stamped videos have proven to be helpful in these challenges. Q. I was just informed that the reviewing agency has offered relief on my safety score regarding my inspection report. Why aren’t the changes showing? A. The FMCSA refreshes its database to show changes once a month. Because of this, depending on the time of the month the results are received, it could take a month for these changes to show. If you need a verification that the change has been made, the reviewing agency does send emails with the results of the challenge that can be presented as verification. Q. My DataQ challenge was denied. Can it be filed a second time? What about another time after that? A. Yes, it can be filed a second time. However, it is best to submit stronger evidence with the second challenge, or add documentation you may not have had access to before the first challenge. Rules concerning any challenges after a second challenge vary from state to state. Some states have an appeal process, and others do not. Be sure to check with the reviewing agency if you want to continue further than a second challenge. Q. Can I challenge all the inspections that are on my PSP report? A. Absolutely! You can challenge any inspections that are showing on your inspection report. We recommend filing DataQ challenges for any inspections that you feel were issued with incorrect violations as this gives you a greater chance at lowering the points on your safety score. You never know if the reviewing agency will offer relief if you don’t file a challenge and we have seen violations with no citations removed in the past. 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.

Fitness guru offers strategies to help drivers lose weight, stay healthy on the road

We all recognize the growing challenges the transportation industry is facing with the driver shortage. To top it all off, large numbers of drivers are disqualified yearly because they fail the DOT certification exam, and over 50% of drivers in the industry are operating on short-term cards. Managing your personal health can be a very difficult task in itself. Then, when you introduce the ruggedness of the professional truck driver’s lifestyle — extended time on the road, no convenient access to health or medical care, high levels of stress, a lack of healthy food choices, and few or no exercise solutions — it’s amazing we have been able to maintain the number of drivers we have today. If you look at the health issues drivers face, you’ll notice the majority of problems stem from weight gain, which leads to obesity. From there, the health conditions escalate, with problems such as hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and heart disease thus contributing to the driver shortage. I believe it’s important to better serve truck drivers, men and women alike, where they work and live — on the road. Here are a few ways to stay healthy on the road and reduce your risk of developing a debilitating condition. Lose and maintain weight. Being overweight can cause an increase in blood pressure. If you are overweight, losing just 10 pounds can make a difference. Weight loss can enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of medications and decrease blood cholesterol, triglyceride and blood sugar levels. Limit alcohol. Excessive alcohol intake can raise blood pressure, contribute to weight gain and make controlling high blood pressure more difficult. If you have high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid alcohol — or, at the very least, do not exceed a daily intake of two drinks if you are a man and one drink if you are a woman. (A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor). Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity, such as walking at a mild to moderate pace for at least 30 minutes most days per week, may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. An increase in physical activity can also help reduce weight and stress. Eat healthy. When selecting healthy foods to help prevent and control high blood pressure, consider the following: Limit sodium: Reduce your sodium intake to 2,400 mg per day. Too much dietary sodium can elevate blood pressure. Quit smoking: Smoking can raise blood pressure in the short term and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. That’s why tobacco users need to work towards quitting. Ask your doctor about medications: Because everyone responds differently, making lifestyle changes may not be enough to control your blood pressure — you may also need medication to help. 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].

Music for the long haul: Take along a little George Strait for those holidays on the road

This Christmas Eve, whether you’re bedding down in your sleeper, dropping in on relatives, headed home or traveling on another long haul … well, there’s not much anywhere better to be than Texas. Chances are, you’ll find the weather to your liking, but the traffic jams around Dallas, Houston and San Antonio may drive you down a different highway altogether. Traffic aside, you never know what Christmas in Texas (particularly South Texas) is going to offer. Heck, a few years back a few inches of snow fell on the beaches of Galveston on Christmas Day! But for the most part, when Santa makes his way to the Lone Star State, you’re more likely find him pulling a trailer than driving a sleigh. And when he does visit Texas, Santa may well be playing a Christmas tune by none other than the King of Country Music, George Strait, on his radio. In 1986, George Strait was just five years into a Hall of Fame career when he recorded his first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas Strait to You.” The album’s title followed a pattern in Strait’s earliest recordings, including his debut album, “Strait Country,” and his follow-up, “Strait from the Heart.” While the Christmas album didn’t exactly offer any classic songs that would become mainstays of country radio during the Christmas seasons to come, Strait did record a couple of regional Christmas hits that still receive airplay in his home state and surrounding areas. “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” is one of the singer’s most memorable holiday songs, and it provided Strait an opportunity to introduce his fan base to a different kind of Christmas than most envision when dreams of sugarplums dance in their heads. Strait starts out “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” by letting the listener know he’s telling a personal story; in fact, he points out, “It’s a very special time for me.” Rather than singing a Christmas carol like “Old Christmas Tree,” Strait points out that in Texas, people swing around the Christmas tree while “dancin’ to a Christmas melody.” And even though Christmas may look like a summer day to the rest of the country, just because there’s no snow in San Antonio doesn’t take away that special feeling reserved for this time of year. So, what does Santa do when he crosses the Texas border on Christmas Eve (other than possibly trade in his reindeer for a Peterbilt)? Well, when he arrives in Texas, those Christmas carols take on a different sound. Twin fiddles provide a melody, along with a good dose of steel guitar and everything else needed for a “western swing” hit. But don’t get Strait wrong. He admits that he loves to hear carolers sing and watch the people on the go — traveling or shopping — while the kids’ faces are aglow in anticipation of the big day. Throw in an amusing moment when Grandpa chases Grandma, trying to get her under the mistletoe, and in Strait’s words, “Everything is right; the lone star’s shining bright.” Before he ends “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas,” George Strait even throws in a round of “Frosty the Snowman,” in particular the lines most appropriate in Texas — Frosty knew the “sun was hot that day, so he said, ‘Let’s run and have some fun before I melt away.’” In closing, not only does Strait offer listeners a Merry Christmas, but he also makes sure to speak on behalf of all Texans. If “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” doesn’t get your toe tapping, you don’t have to look far to find another George Strait song to get you in the mood for the holiday. The title track of the album, “Merry Christmas Strait to You,” is performed in Strait’s favorite style — western swing, and he offers plenty of references to his first five years of hits to take you back to the days when he arguably produced his finest music. Snippets of the lyrics to “Merry Christmas Strait to You” and the references to hit songs include (just to name a few): I hope it cheers you up when you are down and feeling blue (“Am I Blue?”); Right or wrong, I’ll sing my song … (“Right or Wrong”); Without a doubt, the fire’s not out … (“The Fireman”); and You’ve been so kind; you’ve crossed my mind, and nothing less will do … (“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?”). For good measure, the then-still-young Strait takes a line to do some marketing and offers an invitation to the millions of fans who had yet to jump aboard his tour bus in 1986. “Here comes a Merry Christmas, and to all who might have missed us, a very Merry Christmas Strait to You.” While most any country singer with even a bit of staying power eventually records a Christmas album, Strait stands a cut above most. Then again, what would you expect from a singer whose commercial career is entering its fifth decade? Of Strait’s 52 albums, seven are devoted to Christmas music. If you’re cipherin’, that’s over 13% of one singer’s albums focusing on the holiday. Even for the man who has had more No. 1 hits than any performer in any genre (yes, more than Elvis or The Beatles), Strait’s focus on Christmas music shows a holiday spirit few others have exceeded. So, until next time, wherever your traveling, I hope you find the roads as clear that those around San Antone. If not, pull up some George Strait Christmas music. That western swing will generate enough heat to thaw even the coldest highway.