I just read a news story on my Facebook page that really angered me. I will include the link to that story at the end of my rant for today. We have an epidemic in this industry. It's an epidemic that has just cost an innocent man his life. What is this epidemic you may ask? It's improper/inadequate training. There have been calls for some sort of standardized training requirements for this industry, and yet, these calls seem to be met with more and more resistance each time the subject is addressed.

On Friday, March 26, 2011 A tractor trailer driver was killed in a fiery accident that shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Out of respect, I will not mention the drivers names here in this post. A 48-year-old driver for Fremont Contract Carriers Inc. and his dog were killed in this accident that occurred when an inexperienced CRST driver became disoriented driving in the dark and was rear-ended by the FCC truck. Quoting the news story, "He's a brand new driver; he had only been driving a truck for three weeks...He got disoriented in the dark, going up and down the hills, and his truck was bogging down." According to one of the State Troopers on scene, the CRST driver "thought he was driving up an incline when he wasn't, which is why HE WAS IN SECOND GEAR AND TRAVELING AT 5 MPH IN THE DRIVING LANE even though THE HIGHWAY WAS DRY AND VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR. Now here's what really pisses me off about this whole thing- this NEW DRIVER'S instructor WAS ASLEEP IN THE CAB AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK.

These companies have got to stop running student/trainer trucks like they're teams. A brand new driver that has only been driving for three weeks HAS NO BUSINESS BEHIND THE WHEEL WITHOUT THE TRAINER NEXT TO HIM IN THE JUMP SEAT, especially going up and down hills in the dark.

I want to know what you all think about this. As professional drivers, we need to start holding ourselves to a higher accord. If the industry won't mandate these changes, we need to take the lead and do it ourselves. I know everyone is always up in arms about "big brother" telling us what to do, but there has to be some kind of standard. How many more drivers (and motorists) need to be killed because of senseless horseshit like this before we all wake up and get behind this?

Here's the link to the story:
http://www.laramieboomerang.com/articles/2011/03/26/news/doc4d8d6b99c4152383781120.txt

First, let me start by saying this- while I definitely want to see a lot of comments on here, I do not want to see any insults, foul language or gender bashing. Please keep the comments clean and on-point.

That being said, here's the question for today: Why do y'all think people have such a propensity for not following the rules? Whether it's obeying the speed laws, lane restrictions, move over law, hands free cell, etc. it seems as though the majority of the folks out there go out of their way to not follow the rules. Why?

I see this every day on my regular run back and forth over the Grapevine from Los Angeles to Bakersfield. The big Large Cars suddenly decide that they don't need to obey the speed laws or lane restrictions. They're out there in that number lane screaming up the hill at well over the posted speed limit. And very few drivers move over for someone on the shoulder. I still see a lot of folks running in the rain with no lights on. And while we're at it, don't even get me started on the handsfree cell phone law.

The hand held cell phone ban has been on the books here in California for well over a year now. Yet very few people follow it. And from my observations, it seems to be more women than men that for whatever reason refuse to use any type of handsfree device. Whether it's a blue tooth, corded headset or other handsfree system, it doesn't seem to matter. I was unloading at a Valero station in the City of Industry a few weeks ago and the Sheriff stopped a young lady and issued her a citation for talking on her cell phone without using a handsfree. I couldn't hear the conversation from where I was unloading, but it was obvious that she was arguing her point to the officer as much as she could. Which brings me to my next statement. We're all adults here. If you're one of those ones who chooses to not follow the rules and you get caught, put your big boy (or girl) pants on and accept the punishment; don't sit there arguing about it or crying that the officer was unsympathetic to your ignorance.

So what is it folks? Why this propensity to disobey the rules? Is it ignorance of the rules themselves, or some kind of rebellious thread within us? I want to see what you all have to say on this. It's one of those things that I always wonder "where's their head at?" when I see it.

You all be safe out there and remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse.