JobSparx Trucking - 2017 Edition

Great TEXAS Food WITH EASY TRUCK PARKING

DOWN TIME?

Sell Your Photos Online

FRIEND OR

FOE?

Energy Drinks & Truckers

Competitive and weekly pay Comprehensive health and medical benefits Paid time off accruals immediately Housing assistance and sign-on bonuses available in certain areas

Are you ready to FUEL your FUTURE? We have openings for Drivers and Frac Technicians nationwide as well as corporate office positions in Fort Worth, TX.

Field Positions Frac Technicians Class A or B CDL Drivers with tanker & hazmat endorsements

Corporate Office Accounting, Finance, IT, Customer Service & more

PilotThomas.com 855.355.6911 | careers@PilotThomas.com

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Trucking Edition 2017

28

40

11

35

32

Driver Employment .... 2-4, 7-10, 15, 17, 19, 21-25, 27, 33-36, 39

Eating on the Road in Texas ............................................. 11

Fuel Efficiency & Handling ................................................. 6

Texas Safety Rest Area & Info Centers............................. 20

Retail & Maintenance ..................................................... 8, 17

Sell Your Photos Online ...................................................... 28

Financial Services ............................................................... 16

Choose the Right Truck Insurance ............................... 32

Volunteer Opportunities ..................................................... 26

A Truck Driver’s Main Responsibility ............................ 30

Other Employment ......................................................... 34, 39

Tips for CMV Drivers ......................................................... 37

Where to find more jobs .................................................... 43

Energy Drinks: A Trucker’s Friend or Foe? ........................ 40

JobSparx Trucking 2016 is a special issue by the publishers of JobSparx magazine and website. JobSparx Trucking is full of industry related jobs and resources.

It is published once per year. You can pick up a free copy across the state of Texas in select truck stops, HEB (Austin, Houston, San Antonio), Fiesta (Dallas, Houston, Austin, El Paso), 7-Eleven stores, Timewise convenience stores, Wag-A-Bag, additional grocery stores and hundreds of restaurants and other locations on the state’s vital freeways. You can also pick up a copy from one of our team members while visiting us at the 2017 Great American Trucking Show.

We will be there personally handing out free copies from our VIP booth at the front of the show. The first copy is free, additional copies distributed at a fee.

Also available online at JobSparx.com ™

2 8 1 . 4 4 0 . 7 7 3 3 All contents are property of the Houston Employment Weekly and are for use through JobSparx exclusively.

Materials may not be used or reproduced by any other vendor or publication. © Copyright 2017 Houston Employment Weekly JOBSPARX.COM

3

The driver-customer relationship is paramount to the success of our customers' business and ours. McLane driver teammates take this responsibility very seriously and develop a long, loyal relationship with McLane and our customers.

WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT OUTSTANDING BENEFITS At McLane, we treat our teammates like family! That’s why we offer comprehensive medical plans that provide our valued teammates and their loved ones with protection they deserve. In addition, McLane offers various perks like educational reimbursement, employee assistance programs and teammate discounts and offers.

AWESOME 401K McLane teammates receive as much as a $1.50 per dollar invested in their 401K. The number is based on yearly profitability and is in addition to a discretionary match of 3-4% of eligible pay.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The McLane team truly cares about the communities in which we live and work. We are proud of our teammates who donate their time and money to their communities. As a result, we have raised over $94 million dollars for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and additional funds for United Way.

ABOUT McLANE COMPANY McLane Company, Inc. is one of the largest supply chain services leaders, providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores and chain restaurants throughout the United States. McLane, through McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice operates 80 distribution centers across the U.S. and one of the nation’s largest private fleets. The company buys, sells and delivers more than 50,000 different consumer products to nearly 110,000 locations across the U.S. In addition, McLane provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire Distributors, Inc. McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK) and employs more than 20,000 teammates.

ROLL WITH US. Our driver teammates have guts, grit and a go-getter attitude and we’re looking for more of it. Bring yours and roll with us.

4

Trucking Edition 2017

AVERAGE

70K

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PER YEAR

WE OFFER THE

OPEN ROAD

to our delivery drivers EOE

MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: • Class A CDL & 21+ yrs old • High School or equivalent • 2+ yrs tractor-trailer experience or 50k verifiable miles • Previous food or beverage delivery experience preferred • No more than 2 accidents or moving violations in the past 3 years • No alcohol related driving offenses in the past 5 years • Ability to routinely lift up to 50 lbs.

• Ability to work holidays, weekends and nights (including overnight routes) • Outstanding customer service and strong communication skills • Ability to read, write, and communicate in English • All candidates must pass an extensive criminal background check, DOT physical, drug screen and physical capabilities testing

McLane Foodservice offers highly competitive wages & benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, STD/LTD and 401k.

ASK ABOUT OUR

SIGN ON BONUS FOR QUALIFIED DRIVERS

APPLY ONLINE AT

WWW.MCLANECO.COM Click the link to careers

APPLY IN PERSON 330 Greens Landing Rd. Houston, TX 77038

For more information Call Ivonne Chigo

281-765-6070

MEDICAL BENEFITS START DAY ONE FOR QUALIFIED DRIVERS Founded in 1894 McLane Company has grown from a local merchant to an international distribution and logistics leader. We provide services to more than 50,000 customer locations around the world. At McLane Foodservice, we work behind the scenes to supply the industry’s leading quick service restaurant chains with everything they need to run their business.

JOBSPARX.COM

5

Using Airtab® will add stability to your tractor and/or trailer.

It also improves tractor & trailer handling in crosswinds and your mirror visibility in wet conditions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION,VISIT WWW.AIRTAB.COM

“I love the increase in fuel mileage and reduced stress on my engine, but I would buy Airtabs for the handling and increased visibility alone.” - JOHN SKINNER

6

www.BUYAIRTAB.com

Trucking Edition 2017

GO ORANGE GET GREEN

MORE $ POTENTIAL IN 2017

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Highest earning potential in fleet and sign-on bonuses up to $20,000/team

Total control of revenue with Van Choice and Tanker Choice

Find out how much more you can make schneiderjobs.com schneiderowneroperators.com JOBSPARX.COM 7

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8

Trucking Edition 2017

701 Automation Dr. • Windsor, CO. 80550 http://elitediesel.biz

VISIT US AT GATS Booth #30042

August 24-26 | Dallas Convention Center

TEXAS

OWNER OPERATORS

& FLEET DRIVERS

Or Drive for one of our fleet owners!

2004-2007 Trucks Accepted

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1-800-765-3952

www.parkwaytransportinc.com JOBSPARX.COM 9

Make Houston your home.

Be home every night.

LOCAL DELIVERY DRIVERS WITH CLASS A CDL (WEEKENDS OFF)

At Houston Distributing, we are always looking for good people.

We offer excellent benefits that include health, dental, vacation and 401K, as well as being home every night.

Call for more information:

281.880.2723

Email: TommyH@houstondistributing.com

www.hdcjobs.com 10 Trucking Edition 2017

JobSparx has your back... and your belly.

We have compiled a list of some of the best rated restaurants along the Texas roadways that oer truck parking.

JOBSPARX.COM

11

Texas is known not only for its size, but for its wide array of big food. Barbeque, Blue Bell Ice Cream, chicken fried steaks the size of your head smothered in homemade gravy and 72 oz. steaks you can have for free - if you can eat one with all the trimmings in under an hour. It’s part of the Texas experience. For big rig drivers, the experience can be limited by where a truck with full trailer can be parked safely. Nobody wants to leave their load to chance in an area they don’t know, just to walk a few blocks to get a bite to eat.

So, limited it is. Chain restaurants or truck stops might offer some good fare and parking, but to experience Texas, you want to have that legendary steak you will brag about for years to come, or some south of the border delights without straying from the Interstate.

Here is our list of some of the best rated road food in Texas - WITH truck parkng available. Ratings are from the websites Yelp.com, TripAdvisor.com and Google Reviews. Check them out online for full menu selections, and be sure to leave a review of your own! *Ratings that had half stars were rounded up to the next full star rating (3.5 became 4.0, etc.).

Smokestack Restaurant $$

Soulman’s Bar-B-Que $$

Big Boys Bar-B-Que $$

7am - 9pm Sunday - Thrusday, 7am - 9pm Friday & Saturday

10 am - 9 pm daily

(325) 235-2700

(903) 963-7777

Closed Sunday Monday - Wednesday 11am - 6pm Thursday - Saturday 11am - 8pm

239 Private Road 741 Thurber, TX 76463

2904 I-20 Van, TX 75790

254-672-5560 Yelp     Google     TripAdvisor    

Yelp     Google      TripAdvisor    

2117 Lamar St Sweetwater, TX 79556

soulmans.com/menu

Yelp      Google     TripAdvisor    

This place was great. Didn’t expect much from a diner in a small building behind a truckers gas station, but I was pleasantly surprised. - Yelp Review

“Their real claim to fame, however, is Big Boy’s Bar-B-Que, which was included in Texas Monthly’s most recent list of the Top 50 Barbecue Joints.” - Yelp Review

Farmhouse Restaurant $$

Red River Steakhouse $$

Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm Sunay 11am - 3:00 pm

Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 9pm Closed Sunday & Monday

Yelp     Google      TripAdvisor    

806-779-8940

www.smokestack.net “We shared a buttermilk pie that they asked if we wanted warm or cold, we tried it warm and it was wonderful.”

- Yelp Review

The Big Texan Steak Ranch $$

7701 Interstate 40 Access Rd. Amarillo, TX 79118 7am - 10:30 pm daily 806-372-6000 Yelp Rating:    Google     TripAdvisor     bigtexan.com “Skip the appetizers unless you come with a group (or like leftovers...), even the small fried mushrooms were an extremely generous portion!” - Yelp Review

12

Trucking Edition 2017

1125 S. Oak Street Van, TX 75790

www.thefarmhousevantx.com “Great home cooking :) This place is family owned restaurant, where service trumps formality.” - Yelp Review

101 West Highway 66 McLean, TX 79057

Yelp     Google     TripAdvisor      www.redriversteakhouse.com “So delicious. From starters to salads to steaks to cobbler... The whole meal is divine. Must stop!” - Google Review

Agave Jalisco Mexican Restaurant $ 6263 US-77 Riviera, TX 78379 361-296-3456 Monday - Saturday 5:30 am - 10pm Sunday 7am - 10pm Yelp     Google     agavejalisco.com “By far the best enchiladas I’ve ever had! I had the enchiladas verde omg! That sauce was the absolute best!” - Yelp Review

Taqueria Cotijas $ 3720 Avenue E Nederland, TX 77627

Mikeska’s Bar-B-Q $$ 4053 US 90 Columbus, TX 78934 800-524-7613 Open 10:30 am - 8:00 pm daily Yelp     Google     TripAdvisor     www.jerrymikeskasbbq.com

Roberts Steakhouse $$ 1241 TX-95 Flatonia, TX 78941

7am - 10 pm Monday - Saturday Sunday 7am - 9pm

361-865-3099

“I usually get the ground beef enchilada dinner. It’s good for the price. My favorite is the salsa. Service is good and it’s never too crowded. They have good open hours. It’s always a convenient place to go.”

- Google Review

Pilsner’s Cafe $ 5622 I-10 Frontage Rd. Alleyton, TX 78935

Open daily 11am - 10 pm Yelp     Google     Trip Advisor      “I was rolling down the road & saw this place was happy they had truck parking next door. Checked out the reviews & all reviews were dead on. The service, food, & atmosphere was excellent, will be back again!” - Yelp Review

TJs Steakhouse $$-$$$

979-732-5445

2104 Interstate 20 Frontage Rd. Big Spring, TX 79720

11:00 am - 9:30 pm daily

432-263-1651

No credit cards - CASH ONLY

Monday - Friday 11am - 9pm Saturday 4pm - 9pm Sunday - Closed

Google      TripAdvisor      “Best hamburger around. This little country café has been in the family for too many years to count. They offer great home cooking at extremely reasonable pricing.” TripAdvisor Review

BBQ is an Obsession and the only cure for it is to eat some.”

“Amazing BBQ joint! If you’re in the area, this is definitely the place to stop. BBQ is always superb, decent prices, and friendly staff. To this day, you’ll still see Mr. Mikeska there with a smile and a warm handshake, and thanks you for stopping by.”

- Google Review

409-729-5200

Google     TripAdvisor     

“Here in Texas,

Yelp     Google     TripAdvisor     tjssteakhouse.com “The food is some of the best home cooking I’ve had-and I was born and raised in Texas.

Everything taste like it’s made from scratch, including the dressings. The stars of our table were the chicken friend steak, hand cut fries, and onion rings.” - Yelp Review

“Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas without eating a chicken fried steak.”

-Larry McMurtry JOBSPARX.COM

13

Human Trafficking Human 101 Traffick 101

Human Trafficking

WhatisisHuman Human Trafficking? umanWhat Trafficking?

Trafficking?

do IHow Identify Trafficking?

How doHow I Identify Human doHuman I Identify Trafficking?

Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves

Human trafficking is often “hidden in plain sight.” There are a

trafficking Human often trafficking in plain is often sight.” inare plain number of is red flags, “hidden or indicators, which can“hidden help There alert you to a sight.” Th fickingHuman isthe modern-day slavery is or modern-day and involves slavery and usetrafficking of force, fraud, coercion to obtain someHuman typeinvolves human trafficking.

Recognizing the signs is the first step in number of red flags, number or indicators, of red which flags, or can indicators, help alert which you tocan help ale labor orforce, commercial sexor act.coercion Millionstype oftomen, women, orce, fraud, theofuse orof coercion fraud, to obtain some obtain some type identifying victims. andsex children are trafficked into forced labor situations and human trafficking. Recognizing human trafficking. the signs Recognizing is the first the stepsigns in is the first st commercial of labor or act. commercial Millions ofsex men, act. women, Millions of men, women, into the sex trade worldwide. Many of these victims are identifying victims. identifying victims. n are trafficked andlured children intotheir are forced trafficked labor intopromises forced and labor situationsSome and Indicators Concerning a Potential Victim from homes withsituations false of well-paying Include: trade worldwide. intojobs; theinstead, sex Many trade of these Many are of these victims are they worldwide. are forced victims or coerced into prostitution, Some Indicators Some Concerning Indicators a Potential Concerning Victim a Potential V domestic or other types of forced labor. of Victims heir homes lured with fromservitude, false theirpromises homes with of well-paying false promises well-paying Behavior or Physical State: Include: found in illegitimate labor industries, d, they jobs; areareforced instead, orlegitimate they coerced are and into forced prostitution, or coerced intoInclude: prostitution,  Does the victim act fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, including sweatshops, massage parlors, agricultural fields, tense, or nervous/paranoid? rvitude,domestic orrestaurants, otherservitude, types of forced or other labor. types Victims of forced labor. Victims hotels, and domestic service.

Behavior or Physical State:deferortoPhysical State:to speak for him or her? victim another person legitimate are found and illegitimate in legitimate labor andindustries, illegitimate labor industries, Does theBehavior  Doesfields, the victim fearful, Does theanxious, victim act depressed, fearful, submissive, depressed, su  victim Does theact show signs of physical and/or anxious, sexual abuse, Human trafficking is different from human agricultural smuggling. weatshops, including massage sweatshops, parlors, agricultural massage parlors, fields, physical restraint, confinement, or torture? tense, or nervous/paranoid?

Trafficking is exploitation-based and does not require tense, or nervous/paranoid? hotels,restaurants, and domestic hotels, service. and domestic service.  Has the victim been harmed or deprived of food, water, sleep, movement across borders or any type of transportation.

 Does the victim defer  Does to another the victim person defertotospeak another for him person or her? to speak f medical care, or other life necessities?

Does the victim Does signs ofvictim physical show and/or signs sexual of physical abuse,and/or sex fickingHuman is different trafficking from human is different smuggling. from humansmuggling.  victim Does theshow havethe few or no personal possessions?

Who are the Victims? Who is at Risk? physical restraint, confinement, physical restraint, or torture? confinement, or torture? s exploitation-based Trafficking is exploitation-based and does not require and does not require Social Behavior:  Has the victim been  Has harmed the victim or deprived been harmed of food,orwater, deprived sleep, of food, across borders movement or any across typeborders of transportation. or age, anyrace, typegender, of transportation.

Trafficking victims can be any or  Can the victim freely contact friends or family?

medical care, or other medical life necessities? care, or other life necessities? nationality. Trafficking victims can be men or women,  Is the victim allowed to socialize or attend religious services?

 Does the victim Does few orfreedom no victim personal possessions? few or no personal possessio young or old, American or from abroad, with or without  victim Does thehave havethe of have movement?

he Victims?

Who are Who the is Victims? at Risk?Who is at Risk? legal status.

 Has the victim or family been threatened with harm if the victim

Social Behavior: Behavior: attemptsSocial to escape?

Traffickers prey on victims with little or no social safety victims Trafficking can be anyvictims age, race, cangender, be any age, or race, gender,  Canorthe victim freely  Can contact the victim friendsfreely or family? contact friends or family?

Work Conditions and Immigration Status: net.

They look for victims who are vulnerable because of Trafficking nationality. victimsTrafficking can be menvictims or women, can be men or  women, Is the victim allowed  Isto thesocialize victim allowed or attendtoreligious socializeservices? or attend religiou  Does the victim work excessively long and/or unusual hours? their illegal immigration status, limited English d, American young or or from old, American abroad, with or from or without abroad, with or without  Does the have  Does freedom theengaged victim of movement?

have freedom proficiency, and those who may be in vulnerable situations  victim Is the victim a juvenile in commercial sex?of movement?

legal status. due to economic hardship, political instability, natural  Has the victim family Has the been victim threatened family with been harm threatened if victim with har Was theorvictim recruited for oneorpurpose and forced to the engage in some otherattempts job? disasters, or other causes. attempts to escape? to escape?

 Is the victim’s salary being garnished to pay off a smuggling fee? prey onTraffickers victims with preylittle on or victims no social withsafety little or no social safety off a smuggling fee alone is not considered trafficking.)

The indicators listed are just a few that may alert you to a Work Conditions Work Immigration ConditionsStatus: and Immigration Status: ok for net. victims Theywho lookareforvulnerable victims who because are vulnerable of because of(Payingand potential human trafficking situation. No single indicator  Has the victim been forced to perform sexual acts?  Does the work  Does excessively the victim long work and/or excessively unusual long hours? and/or unu immigration their illegal status,immigration limited English status, limited English is necessarily proof of human trafficking.

If you suspect  victim Has the victim been threatened with deportation or law and those proficiency, who may and bethose in whoofmay situations be trafficking, in vulnerable please Is situations the victim a juvenile  Isaction? the engaged victim ina juvenile commercial engaged sex? in commercial sex enforcement Is the victim in possession of identification that a person may be avulnerable victim human and travel documents; if not, who has control of the call the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) omic hardship, due to economic political hardship, instability,political natural instability,  natural Was the victim recruited  Was the for victim one purpose recruited andfor forced one documents? purpose to engageand forc Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip-line at in some other job? in some other job? other disasters, causes. or other causes.

Minor Victims:

1-866-347-2423. You can also report online at www.ice.gov/tips.

 Is the victim’s salary  Is the victim’s garnished pay being offgarnished asex? smuggling to pay fee?off a  Is the victim abeing juvenile engagedsalary in to commercial

(Paying fee off alone a smuggling is not considered fee alone trafficking.) is not considere ors listed Theareindicators just a fewlisted that are mayjust alert a few you that to a may alert(Paying you tooff a a smuggling To reachhuman a non-governmental organization for man trafficking potential situation. trafficking No single situation. indicator Noconfidential single indicator  Has the victim been  For Has forced the to victim perform beensexual forcedacts? to perform sexual acts? more information, please visit: help and information, 24 hours a day, please call the y proofisof necessarily human trafficking. proof of human If you suspect trafficking. If you suspect  Has the victim been  Has threatened the victim withbeen deportation threatened or with law deportation o www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign National Human Trafficking Resource Center at enforcement Is the victimaction? in possession Is the victim of identification in possession of n may that be 1-888-3737-888. a avictim personofmay human be atrafficking, victim of human please trafficking, please action?enforcement and travel documents; and if travel not, who documents; has control if not, of the who documents? has control of t Like us on Facebook! migration calland theCustoms Immigration Enforcement and Customs (ICE)Enforcement (ICE) www.facebook.com/bluecampaign ecurityHomeland Investigations Security (HSI) Investigations Tip-line at (HSI) Tip-line at Minor Victims: Minor Victims: 2423. 1-866-347-2423.

You can also reportYou online can at also report online at  Ismay the be victim a juvenile of human Is the engaged victim ina juvenile commercial engaged sex? in commercial sex If you suspect that a person a victim trafficking,

v/tips.www.ice.gov/tips. please call the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations Tip-line at 1-866-

347-2423. You can also report online at www.ice.gov/tips.

Edition 2017 on-governmental To 14 reachTrucking a non-governmental organization for confidential organization for confidential

ormation, help24 andhours information, a day, please 24 hours call the a day, please call the man Trafficking National Human Resource Trafficking Center atResource Center at

For more information, For more pleaseinformation, visit: please visit: www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign

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WE ARE YOUR INDEPENDENT FINANCING SOURCE SPECIALIZING IN: • Semi Truck & Trailer Financing • Farm Truck Financing • Specialty Trailer Financing

Security West Financial PHONE 801.298.4009 FAX 801.298.4164 Email to: info@swfinco.com

16

Trucking Edition 2017

UTILITY TRAILER SALES SOUTHEAST TEXAS, INC. www.utilitytrailers.com 713-670-2000

Your 1 Stop Shop for ALL your TRUCK, TRAILER, & TANKER Needs!

THINK BIG. THINK STABLE.

THINK MARTIN BROWER. We are the world’s largest distributor of products to the world’s largest restaurant chain. Our growing, award-winning organization is now seeking:

HOUSTON (2) PHARR LAREDO LAPORTE

SAN ANTONIO SAN BENITO

CDL DRIVERS – CLASS A Conroe, Texas (Houston Metropolitan area) Average Salary $75,000/per year

EAGLE PASS LOCATION Coming Soon!

ÚNETE A NUESTRA FAMILIA EN HOUSTON, DALLAS Y AUSTIN.

CONTRATAMOS DELIVERY DRIVERS

Requirements include a Class A CDL driver’s license; a minimum of 1 year Class A CDL driving experience; the ability to frequently lift or move items weighing up to 50 lbs. and occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 85 lbs.; some commercial driving experience or equivalent experience in the military; and the ability to work any shift and set of days, including holidays. Ability to pass road test, background check, drug test and medical exam essential.

(Licencia C)

Apply online at

www.mbhires.com Récord limpio • Documentación legal Salario por hora más comisión Vacaciones • Oportunidad de desarrollo Beneficios (Seguro médico, dental y de visión)

COMUNÍCATE AL: (214) 418-1258 o al (281) 804-0900

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

JOBSPARX.COM

17

ns

Get the facts.

Get the Get facts.

Road Get Get Road Smart. the Smart. facts.

What happens What if happens I don’t I don’t improve my Whatifimprove happens if my I don’t safety performance safety performance and compliance? and compliance? an safety performance

The Federal Motor CarrierThe Safety FederalAdministration Motor The Carrier Federal Safety Administration (FMCSA) Motor Carrier has (FMCSA) aSafety variety has a variety Administratio of of interventions to contact and interventions work with to contact interventions motor and work carriers with tomotor contact that carriers have and thatsafety work have safety with motor c performance and compliance performance problems. andperformance compliance and compliance problems.

Usingproblems. the Safety Using Measurement the Safety Measurement System System Using t (SMS), FMCSA identifies and(SMS), prioritizes FMCSA identifies for interventions andFMCSA prioritizes for motor interventions carriers motor carriers that that dofor do not not (SMS), identifies and prioritizes interven comply with safety rules andcomply regulations. with safetycomply rules You and may regulations. receive You a may warning receive warning letterletter from from with safety rules anda regulations.

You may FMCSA when you have safety FMCSA performance when you have safety and when compliance performance compliance problems.

If you If you dodo not not FMCSA youand have safetyproblems. performance and co improve your safety performance improve your andsafety compliance performance after and safety compliance you performance receive after you the receive warning the warning improve your and compliance letter, then FMCSA will likelyletter, prioritize then FMCSA you will for likely another prioritize you kind for another of kind of intervention— letter, then FMCSA willintervention— likely prioritize you for anoth typically, an investigation. typically, an investigation. typically, an investigation.

Examples of Interventions Examples of Interventions

ers alert Warning motor Letters: carriers Warning early letters onalert to motor safety carriers performance earlymotor on to safety and performance compliance compliance problems Warning Letters: Warning letters alert carriers earlyand on toproblems safety performance mproving, and which the consequences include of not improving, either which Offsite may or include Onsite either Offsite Investigations. or Onsite Investigations. and themay consequences of not improving, which may include either Offsite or Onsite In

gators (SIs) Investigations: conduct three Safety Investigators types (SIs) investigations conduct three(SIs) types on ofmotor investigations carriers, on motor listed carriers, below. listed below.

Investigations: Safetyof Investigators conduct three types of investigations on mot e carrier’sInvestigations place of business take place at the orplace carrier’s remotely. place During business the orplace remotely. investigation, the investigation, SIs use FMCSA’s SIs use FMCSA’s Investigations take at theof carrier’s ofDuring business or remotely.

During the inve iagnose safety Safety Management performance Cycle to diagnose and compliance safety performance problems and compliance andproblems identify and actions identify actions a a problems Safety Management Cycle to diagnose safety performance and compliance ety. carrier can take to take improve safety. carrier can to improve safety.

Offsite Offsite documents from An SIAn requests a SI carrier requests copies for of documents review copies remotely, of from documents a carrier for to review identify from remotely, a carrier specific to identify for safety review specific safety remotely, to identi ance problems. performance performance and compliance and problems. compliance problems.

Onsite FocusedFocused Onsite safety performance An SIAn focuses and on specific compliance safety performance problems and compliance at the carrier’s problems at the place carrier’s of place business of business at the c SI focuses on specific safety performance and compliance problems yees and perform and may vehicle employees inspections. and perform vehicle inspections. andinterview may interview employees and perform vehicle inspections.

Onsite Onsite Comprehensive Comprehensive afety operation An SIAn reviews at SI the reviews the carrier’s entire safety theplace entire operation of safety at business the carrier’s operation and place may ofat business the interview carrier’s and may interview employees place employees of business and m ections. and perform and perform vehicle inspections. vehicle inspections.

Join FMCSA Join and FMCSAour and our Join F share the Five million road truck with and more bus drivers than sharedrivers the road with morethe thanroad with Five million truck and bus share more State Partners Statethan Partners in a in a State so high, 250 it’s million essential motorists.

With that stakes everyone so high, it’s essential that everyone 250 million motorists.

With stakes so high, it’s essential that everyone nationwide nationwide commitment commitmentnation afety compliance Get Road SmartSmart and aboutenforcement FMCSA’s safety compliance and enforcement Get Road about FMCSA’s safety compliance and enforcement to safety. to safety. to saf

SA

Get Road SmartSmart about CSA Get Road about CSA

countability program, (CSA).

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA). program, Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA). etroadsmart/ Visit http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/getroadsmart/ to: to: Visit http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/getroadsmart/ to:

• Learn more about CSA • Learn more about CSA rds (SMS) • Check company safety records (SMS) • Check company safety records (SMS) Lives depend Lives depend on it. on it. mployment Screening Program) • Order driver records (Pre-Employment Screening Program) • Order driver records (Pre-Employment Screening Program) Qs) • Request data reviews (DataQs) • Request data reviews (DataQs) improve safety performance • F• ind information on ways to improve safety performance Find information on ways to improve safety performance andand compliance compliance

18

arn how to improve To review safety your safety performance record and learn how to and improve safetyhow performance To review your safety record learn to improve safety performance Trucking 2017 sa.fmcsa.dot.gov/getroadsmart/. and compliance, visit us at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/getroadsmart/. andEdition compliance, visit us at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/getroadsmart/.

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TEXAS SAFETY REST AREAS AND TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS

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Trucking Edition 2017

05-2016

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class a cdl local delivery drivers Our Drivers hit the highways each day with a loaded truck. But it’s more than just driving and delivering - details matter - from safety to weighing, logging, inspecting, reporting, and securing. It’s efficient, on-the-road, on-time, customer-serving, and-unloading work .

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Texas has 21 major highways that serve as long distance travel corridors.

Along each of these roadways, rest areas are an essential safety feature to reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue. These facilities give travelers a break from driving, and then return them to the road rested, refreshed and alert.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) currently has 80 Safety Rest Areas (plus 12 Travel Information Centers). Plans are underway to revamp the existing rest area system: old, outdated facilities are being replaced and new facilities will be added where needed.

Attractive, safe, and clean rest area facilities are invitations to entice travelers to stop and rest. TxDOT’s new generation of Safety Rest Areas features regional designs, modern restrooms, interpretive display exhibits of local features, and separate parking for cars and trucks. The unique, regional character of each facility not only attracts visitors to stop but also serves these facilities as cultural gateways to nearby communities.

Although the Safety Rest Areas are designed to invite, inform and entertain, the basic objective is to see that travelers like you arrive safely at your distant destinations. As you continue on your way, visit us often. Take care. Be safe. And enjoy the adventure of driving across the Great State of Texas.

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Trucking Edition 2017

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STRONG

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HISTORY BRIGHT FUTURE

Argos USA is a high-quality cement and ready-mixed concrete company serving North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Florida, and Arkansas. A proud history of innovative products, unparalleled expertise and exceptional customer service has made us an integral partner to our customers in residential, commercial, infrastructure and other public works applications.

We are amongst the largest readymixed concrete producers in the United States, with a capacity of nearly 10 million cubic meters per year. We have over 300 concrete plants concentrated in two geographic areas. In the southeastern part of the U.S., we operate in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Virginia. In the south central part of the U.S., we have operations in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth markets in Texas and Little Rock, Arkansas.

We are also one of the largest cement producers in the southeastern U.S., producing 3.2 million metric tons of cement per year with facilities in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, and North Carolina. Argos has ďŹ ve rail terminals (three in Georgia, one in Mississippi, one in North Carolina); and terminals with port facilities in Mobile, Alabama; Houston, Texas and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Under the Argos brand, we are building on our heritage of excellence to create an even stronger future.

24

Trucking Edition 2017

Our employees enjoy beneďŹ ts such as: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, 401K and Life Insurance

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN HOUSTON, DALLAS, FORT WORTH AND LITTLE ROCK, AR www.argos.co/usa

WE HAVE IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR

DRIVERS

The Argos ready mix team is hiring drivers at multiple locations in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock,AR to join our team and help us build a sustainable world.

REQUIREMENTS:

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Some of the friendliest faces on the road belong to Trucker Buddies, an organization dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen-pal relationship. Help us promote a positive industry image by encouraging your drivers to join Trucker Buddy. For details, call 205-248-1261 or email randy@truckerbuddy.org.

26

Trucking Edition 2017

WE’RE HIRING

MECHANICS CDL DRIVERS EQUIPMENT OPERATORS & MUCH MORE.

Great Benefits • Great Pay • Paid Leave TDS offers a full benefits package to eligible employees. The benefit package includes but is not limited to medical, dental, and vision benefits, 401k, flexible spending accounts, paid leave, 10 paid holidays per year and access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

APPLY NOW: WWW.TEXASDISPOSAL.COM/CAREERS

512-329-1778 *Texas Disposal Systems is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

JOBSPARX.COM

27

Sell Your Photos Online

Do you have some down time to ďŹ ll, and not ready to start a new book or Netix binge?

Have you considered using your camera, whether on your phone or a DSLR to make some money on the side?

Online stock photography is a growing business opportunity for anyone willing to get out there and take a shot of their surroundings.

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Trucking Edition 2017

Do you love taking photos and sharing them on social media? If so, chances are they receive lots of “likes” from your followers. But if you love taking photos, and people love looking at them, why not offer them for sale? The Internet is teeming with opportunities to sell your photos; even if they only earn you pocket money, it’ll be money worth having. Here are some tips for getting started.

RESEARCH THE OPTIONS There are numerous online platforms for selling photos, many helpful blogs offering summaries of the main ones, and tips for choosing one. Most selling platforms work as markets, with various arrangements for presenting and selling your pictures, and differing earning opportunities.

But you’ll also find websites that offer a base from which to sell your pictures directly. Take time to study the range of options and read photographers’ feedback comments before submitting your work anywhere. If a site rejects your offerings, don’t be downhearted. Take account of their reasons, then reselect from your portfolio, or adjust your technique and start afresh with a new batch, and reapply. Alternatively, try a different site. Some will allow you to sign up with other agents at the same time, but check the rules first.

JOBSPARX.COM

29

CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOS Photos need to be clear and well composed, and to offer something unusual or striking, in order to attract browsers. Remember that your selection will be competing against countless others, not just on your chosen site, but on all the others, too. So a dull, blurry picture of a common subject, such as an ordinary-looking tree, is likely to be bypassed.

People buy photos on all sorts of subjects for all sorts of purposes, so pick an obscure topic that’s likely to fill a gap in the market. Some browsers might be looking for pictures of everyday items, such as gadgets, kitchenware, or fabrics.

Others might want images that symbolise emotions or present a mystery. What are your pet subjects?

Go for one and develop it in an interesting way, or look around for ideas.

SPREAD THE WORD If you sell your photos through an established website, you won’t need to advertise them yourself.

If it’s a successful one, it will be receiving huge numbers of visitors every day. But if you’d like to promote your work in your own way as well, you could set up a website to showcase some samples, although not the ones you’ve submitted to the agency, unless with their permission. Set out your prices and arrange a payment method, perhaps via PayPal. Then it’ll just be a matter of linking your website to your social media pages to build a following. You could write a blog about it too, and search online for further promotional opportunities.

BE PATIENT AND POSITIVE If you’re waiting for your first photo to sell on your chosen website, you may have to wait a long time.

Buyers tend to bide their time and revisit a favorite item a few times before selecting it. You’ll find it more constructive to look at the bigger picture and focus on the long term. The more photos you offer for sale, the more you’re likely to sell, provided they’re suitable for the market. It may take a while for the ball to start rolling, so stay with it. As sales rise, and your presence and reputation build, you’ll start to reap the benefits, so stay positive and keep posting.

30

Trucking Edition 2017

It’s hard to make a big profit from selling photos online, so you’ll need to bear this in mind before starting out. Many people do it as a sideline to boost their main income. But if you’re prepared to give it your all, or you have something special to offer, your project could prove a money-spinner.

One thing’s for sure: it’ll be an exciting venture, with nothing to lose and worldwide chances to gain!

WHERE TO START INSTAGRAM: Start an Instagram account dedicated to your OTR photos. As you start garnering followers, you can begin selling prints and posters of selected images.

SMUGMUG.COM: Upload your photos and sell them as prints. iStockPhoto.com: Get paid a commission for photos that are accepted for the site. Visit workwithus.istockphoto.com to learn how to submit your pictures.

Shutterstock.com: Another big site that offers commissions to photographers. Visit submit.shutterstock.com for more information.

FREE STOCK PHOTO WEBSITES: Pexels.com - submit your photos, and you can earn a little on the side with donations.

Pixabay.com - Using a free site like this one will help you see trends, and which of your photos are moving faster than others. This can help you decide what to photograph on your next run, and upload to a commission site.

REMEMBER THAT YOU DO NOT LOSE YOUR COPYRIGHT ON ANY IMAGE THAT YOU UPLOAD TO THESE WEBSITES. You will always have full control of your creative works. Read the fine print before uploading pictures. You may need to have model releases if you want to upload photogtraphs of people.

POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY SEARCHES Here are some ideas of what to take photos of first, based on site searches: • Travel photos • Photos of cities • Close up pictures • Photos of things (Signs, food, books, tools, cables, dishes, etc.)

• Nature photos • Landmarks JOBSPARX.COM

31

Choosing the Right

Trucking Insurance

What Business Owners and Owner Operators Need to Know by beconrad

Whether it is the home you own, the car you drive or the business you run, having the right insurance coverage in place is absolutely essential. Insurance is one of those things you hope to never use, but when you need it, you will be glad that it is there.

Buying the right insurance coverage is even more essential when it comes to the trucking industry. Some of the many risks involved in the trucking business are readily apparent, from unqualified drivers and long hours on the road to substandard equipment and a lack of safety standards.

Other risks are just as real but not as apparent, but the right insurance coverage can protect business owners and individual owner operators against risks, providing important safeguards and giving everyone peace of mind.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing insurance for your trucking company or individual driving operation. Working with a company that specializes in the trucking industry is critical, since only a specialized firm will understand the unique needs of trucking firms and owner operators.

Many newcomers to the trucking industry are shocked at the high price of insurance in their industry. Those costs

32

Trucking Edition 2017

factors, the cost of insurance can vary widely from place to place. As with any type of insurance coverage, shopping around is the best way to get maximum protection for the minimum price.

Protection When You need It are indeed quite steep, so much so that many individual carriers find that insurance coverage is among their biggest expenses.

Even so, the risks associated with the trucking industry and individual drivers make self-insurance a poor option for all but the largest motor carriers. If you are in the trucking industry, chances are you will need to purchase an individual policy, and you can expect to spend thousands of dollars to obtain the coverage you need.

With so much money on the line, it is important to choose your policy, and your company, with care. There are a large numbers of factors that can influence insurance costs in the trucking industry, including the average age and experience level of the drivers, the kinds of trucks in the fleet, individual safety and inspection records and the kinds of cargo being hauled.

Since individual insurance companies may place different weights on these

Financial stability is a crucial factor when choosing a trucking insurance carrier. No matter how low the premiums, if the company is not financially stable, they may be unable to meet their obligations, or pay your claims, when the need arises.

Researching the financial stability, checking the insurance ratings and evaluating the health of the company is absolutely essential, and much of the homework will fall on your shoulders.

As the owner of a trucking firm or an individual owner operator, obtaining proper insurance coverage is your responsibility, and that means choosing a provider that will be there when you need them.

Whether you are an individual owner operator or the owner of a trucking firm, you need to have the right insurance coverage in place. Insurance is designed to protect you and your firm from the hazards inherent in the trucking industry, and the more you know, the easier it will be to get that protection at a price you can afford.

Strengthening LIVES Through the

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DRIVERS

• Class A or B CDL/Clean Driving Record • Excellent Customer Service Skills • Previous Beverage/Food Delivery Experience

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All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local laws.

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33

ON or OFF

THE ROAD Houston Beaumont Dallas San Antonio Richardson Austin Georgetown Corpus Christi

WE ARE HIRING IN TEXAS!

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Refer us to your family and friends!

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Fargo St. | Houston TX 77006 FAX: 713.523.4341 | E-MAIL: hiring@mbminc.com Trucking Edition 2017

The Truck Driver’s Responsibility – Trucking Safety, First And Always.

CDL DRIVERS

By: Brett R. Aquila Let’s talk about what exactly the truck driver is responsible for when it comes to hauling freight safely. To be on the safe side let’s assume that the driver is responsible for absolutely everything unless I specifically say otherwise.

And I probably won’t say otherwise.

A typical story you’ll hear a truck driver tell after his truck has tipped over is, “I was going around the curve on the offramp and the load shifted causing the truck to tip.”

And I believe every word of this story almost every time because that’s exactly what usually happened, except they left out a couple of details.... what they should have said was, “I was going too fast around the curve on the offramp and the load, that I said was loaded properly and was safe for travel, shifted causing the truck to tip.”

Couple of really important things to note here. The first one simply relates to how fast a truck can go around a curve. In trucking, there’s two ways to find out. One, you could hire an engineer and give them the numerical details involving weight, center of gravity height, turn radius, etc and a few simple calculations later you have the exact speed a specific truck can go around a particular curve.

The easier way is too just get in a truck and find out the “real world” way.

DON’T do this. NOT EVEN ONCE! Often times when a truck tips over on an interstate highway ramp the driver knew when he took the exit that he was going way too fast but figured he’d find a way to get it slowed down really quickly.

Misjudgments in a big rig can be really, really bad sometimes. Really bad. Taking chances and making assumptions as a truck driver can be equally terrible.

I realize that it’s out of order to cover this topic right now but I don’t care....nothing in the world is more important to any trucker than safety.

There is no bad time to mention it.

Often times when a truck tips over on an interstate highway ramp the driver knew when he took the exit that he was going way too fast but figured he’d find a way to get it slowed down really quickly. Misjudgments in a big rig can be really, really bad sometimes. Really bad. Taking chances and making assumptions as a truck driver can be equally terrible. I realize that it’s out of order to cover this topic right now but I don’t care....nothing in the world is more important to any trucker than safety.

There is no bad time to mention it.

Brett R. Aquila is a 15-year truck driving veteran of America’s highways, logging over 1.5 million safe miles. He is trying to help new truck drivers to be successful in their trade, through a dose of reality. Please visit www.truckingtruth.com for more information. Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

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35

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Trucking Edition 2017

CLASS A CDL DRIVERS & BOOM TRUCK OPERATORS We Offer Competitive Pay with Overtime, 401K, Insurance Plus a weekly stocking bonus! Manual labor required to stock material.

MUST pass background and MVR check.

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Tips for CMV Drivers

1. Defense! Defense!

Commercial drivers have to be constantly vigilant to detect unexpected road conditions, distracted drivers, and motorists who don’t understand how commercial vehicles operate.

Scan ahead about 15 seconds (a quarter mile on interstates, or one to two blocks in cities) for traffic issues, work zones, and other dangers.Check mirrors every 8-10 seconds to be aware of vehicles entering your blind spots.

2. Signal for Safety Signal and brake to give other drivers plenty of time to notice your intent. If you must pull off the road, use flashers, reflective triangles, and road flares to alert approaching drivers.

5. Buckle Up Use your safety belt every time.

Safety belts save lives, reduce injuries, and allow drivers to stay inside and in control of their vehicles in case of a crash.

In 2014, 30% of truck drivers involved in fatal crashes were partially or totally ejected from their vehicles.

6. Stay Sharp Get enough rest – don’t drive when you’re fatigued, too ill to focus, or on medications (including over-the-counter medicine) that make you drowsy or dizzy.

3. Know When to Slow Driving too fast for weather or road conditions or failing to slow down for curves or ramps create risks for spills and rollovers, as well as crashes.

7. Get the Right Information for Trip Planning Stay up to date on weather, road conditions, detours and mountainous routes in order to plan driving time. Be aware that non-commercial navigation systems and apps may not provide warning of height and weight limitations and other commercial vehicle restrictions.

4. Maintain Your Vehicle Make sure pre-trip safety inspections are completed particularly for tires and brakes.

Your life depends on them. Make sure your load is well balanced and secure, as a shifting load can cause a rollover or loss of control. Loose materials create road hazards.

8. Practice Work Zone Safety Work zones present many hazards, like lane shifts, sudden stops, uneven road surfaces, moving workers and equipment, and confused passenger vehicle drivers. In 2014, 30% of fatal work zone crashes involved at least one large truck compared to only 11% of all fatal crashes – so it’s vital to

37

JOBSPARX.COM FMCSA-ADO-17-018

take work zone safety seriously.

Slow down, maintain extra following space, and be prepared to stop. Obey all work zone signs and signals. Scan ahead for changing traffic patterns, and be alert to vehicles entering your blind spots. Keep a sharp eye out for road workers and flag crews.

9. Never Drive Distracted Texting is among the worst driving distractions. The odds of being involved in a crash, near-crash, or unintentional lane deviation are 23.2 times greater for truck and bus drivers who are texting while driving. Research shows that drivers texting while driving took their eyes off the forward road for 4.6 seconds on average. At 55 mph, this equates to traveling 371 feet (more than the length of a football field) without looking at the road.

Eating, drinking, interacting with a navigational device, map reading, controlling a pet, or any other activity that takes focus off the road can also be a deadly distraction.

If you must attend to an activity other than driving, get off at the next exit or pullover – it’s not worth the risk.

Find more commercial motor vehicle driving tips at: www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/ driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips­ overview.

It is illegal for a commercial driver to text while driving, and there are restrictions on using mobile phones (devices must be hands free, and dialed using no more than one button).

Get more safety tips and resources to share by visiting the

Our Roads, Our Safety website: www.sharetheroadsafely.gov.

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Trucking Edition 2017

FMCSA-ADO-17-018

NOW HIRING METRO IS

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Energy Drinks: A Trucker’s Friend or Foe?

By Ryan Grifford

If you stop in at any convenience store or truck stop you will notice that the number of energy drinks in the cooler is definitely on the rise. From perhaps one or two different major brands you now will find 10 or more possible options, some touting all natural ingredients and no caffeine and some boasting high levels of caffeine to help you stay awake, energized and ready to go.

While initially some of the marketing for these drinks was directed at truckers and those on the road, marketing is now more mainstream for most types of energy drinks. This goes for the flavored soda types as well as the shot drinks that are reported to provide energy for several hours.

Deciding if you want to use these drinks while you are driving is a personal decision, but it is an important one. Understanding just what is in those energy drinks, especially the ones that indicate they are all natural and have no added caffeine, will be important in deciding if you want to add them to your routine or not.

CAFFEINE

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Energy drinks all contain caffeine or a caffeine equivalent. If you don’t see caffeine on the label, that doesn’t mean a substance just like it isn’t in the drink. The most common alternative or “natural” simulant is guarana or in some brands, a mixture of guarana and ginseng. Ginseng is an herb that increases

the uptake of caffeine by the body and actually increases the effects. Guarana is a plant grown in the Amazon area and the seeds are very high in caffeine and are found in many diet supplements for their metabolic boost.

It is essential to carefully read the label and know what you are drinking. There is no requirement in the United States for the amount of caffeine to be listed on the label at this time, so you have to have a general understanding of ingredients and typical caffeine levels.

Decaf Coffee 8 oz.

2-12 mg

Keep in mind that many drinks are sold in cans or bottles that are more than 8 ounces, as are many other beverages on the list, so you do have to keep that in mind when determining how much caffeine you are consuming.

Per 8 ounce serving typical drinks containing caffeine include: • Drip brewed Arabic coffee approximately 110 mg of caffeine • Drip brewed decaffeinated coffee between 2-12 mg of caffeine

Brewed Coffee 8 oz.

75-150 mg

• Espresso, single shot 30-100 mg of caffeine • Black tea 40-120 mg of caffeine • Green tea 24-45 mg of caffeine • Iced tea (bottled) 15-30 mg of caffeine • Pepsi Max 60 mg of caffeine

Drip Brewed Arabic Coffee 8 oz.

110 mg Espresso 1 oz.

45-75 mg

• Cola 34 mg of caffeine • Energy drinks 74-280 mg of caffeine

Green Tea 8 oz.

24-45 mg

Black Tea 8 oz.

14-70 mg Iced Tea 8 oz.

11-47 mg

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Coca Cola 12 oz.

23-35 mg

Mountain Dew 12 oz.

42-55 mg

OTHER ADDITIVES

Typically these drinks will also provide other additives and supplements or herbal combinations that are touted to support mental alertness, attention and concentration. These drinks, marketed as dietary supplements, do not need to verify their claims as they are not under the jurisdiction of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) so the claims are basically made by the manufacturer.

Sugar in a variety of forms is also a major ingredient in many drinks. Amino acids, B vitamins, yerba mate, taurine, carnitine, ginkgo biloba and maltodextrin are also found in most energy drinks. These ingredients are not harmful and, in fact, they can be beneficial to the body. However, in the quantity they are found in energy drinks most researchers indicate they provide no notable health benefits.

POSSIBLE CONCERNS

Anyone that is sensitive to caffeine should be very careful when consuming any type of energy drink. Common side effects noted for those with caffeine sensitivity include high blood pressure, racing thoughts, muscle tremors, anxiety, irritability and an inability to sleep.

The more that energy drinks are used, the higher the tolerance of the body for the stimulate properties of the drink. This can lead to people consuming larger qualities of caffeine to get that energized feeling. Combining energy drinks with sodas, coffee, teas and chocolate can quickly lead to excessive levels of caffeine in the body, even for those without caffeine sensitivity.

Rock Star 8 oz.

80 mg

Less commonly, people that consume a large amount of energy drinks in a day may also experience a significant “crash”. The high levels of caffeine can cause excessive urination, leading to dehydration that makes the crash even worse. This can result in seizures as well as muscle tremors and spasms.

Excessive caffeine consumption can result in arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, as well as dyspepsia or digestive problems.

These can include stomach pain and cramping, nausea, heartburn and feeling bloated and uncomfortable. For some people feelings of anxiety can be very pronounced and judgment may be impaired, especially if you are taking some types of overthe-counter or prescription medications.

5-Hour Energy Shot 2 oz.

200-207 mg

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Taking energy drinks to stay alert or focused when you drive needs to be carefully considered. If you are using these products be sure to check the amount of caffeine and caffeine containing compounds in the drink and carefully monitor your serving size.

More information on what truck drivers drink while on the road please visit http://www.truck-school.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ryan_Grifford/1202432

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