Truckers! May is National BBQ Month!

Berrier Insurance, commercial truck insurance specialists, raises a cold beer to the National BBQ month.  The best time to enjoy the company of good friends, red meat, spring time, and a favorite drink.

Six-out-of-ten Americans say they can't wait to fire up the grill and kick off the peak outdoor cooking season igniting this May (National Barbecue Month), according a to a new poll conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA). In fact, nearly 90 percent say they plan to enjoy grilled food in their own backyard during the warmer months, indicating that Americans are ready to shake off the winter blues and get a taste of summer.

While grilling is a shared pastime, HPBA's 2010 National Barbecue Month poll reveals that flavor preferences and grilling styles vary as widely as the people who use them. The nationwide poll shows America's grilling profile and consumer taste preferences:

Dress up or Strip Down?

• When it comes to enjoying a meal from the grill, 65 percent of Americans like to "dress it up" with a sauce, marinade or seasoning, and 21 percent prefer to "strip it down" and enjoy grilled food au natural.
• Some like it hot! Men more than women say they like to turn up the heat with spicy sauce or steak sauce on their grilled meats (42 percent vs. 31 percent).
• When it comes to grill-side manner, most adults report that they are "all about the meat" (29 percent) or "all natural" (24 percent), followed by "spicy or saucy" (19 percent), adventurous (16 percent) and timid (6 percent).

Top Toppings
For hamburgers and other grilled meat or vegetable sandwiches:

• In the battle of the bottles, consumers report they use ketchup most often (66 percent of respondents), with mustard (62 percent of respondents) close behind.
• Two-thirds of Americans say, "add cheese, please!"
  • Overall, 74 percent of Americans add lettuce, onion and/or tomato. Women lean towards the veggies more than men (80 percent of respondents vs. 68 percent).
  • Seventy percent of adults say they are all about the buns, and prefer a traditional bun to complete their grilled sandwiches.
  No matter the preference for mustard or ketchup, bun or none, Americans agree that grilling provides an easy, cost-effective way to get out of the house and enjoy better tasting food during the warmer months. Specifically, Americans say the top pay-offs of grilling versus eating out or oven cooked meals include:
  
  • More flavorful food (81 percent of respondents)
  • Inexpensive compared to eating out (76 percent of respondents)
  • Easier clean up (67 percent of respondents)
  • Healthier (64 percent of respondents)
  • Less cooking time (53 percent of respondents)
  
  The new poll reports that most adults plan to enjoy barbecuing outside of the home this summer: 74 percent plan to enjoy grilled food at a friend of relative's house, 42 percent while picnicking, 39 percent while camping, and 20 percent while tailgating.
  
  For more info about the National BBQ Association and the celebrated BBQ month.
  
  Now we raise our glass to you truckers for all the hard work and many miles you guys put in throughout the year!  The gals at Berrier Insurance wish you all happy grilling!

Missing Teen Found by Trucker

SPARTANBURG, SC (WSPA/WFMY) - A 13-year-old girl who met a man on the Internet weeks ago went missing Monday and was found by a very alert truck driver in South Carolina.

Alexandria Brooke Cagle, 13, went missing Monday after meeting a man on the internet who drove hundreds of miles to North Carolina to meet her, according to WFMY-TV.

Cagle, who is from the Burlington, NC area, was found near Spartanburg Wednesday with the man after being reported missing on Monday.

A towtruck driver, Beano Francis, was listening to a radio station when he heard a description of the car the pair might be traveling in.

A woman claiming to be the brother of Francis emailed WBTV on Thursday saying Francis lives in Shelby, NC and was driving to a Carmax dealership in Raleigh when he heard the radio information.

The next day, Francis was driving on I-85 on his way to a Carmax dealership in Greenville, SC when he saw a car matching the same description.

"Snap, soon as that car passed me, I mean he was right beside me, soon as he got beside me, I looked and I was like, that's the description. But when he passed me, and I saw West Virginia license plates, I thought this could be what I heard," Francis told WSPA-TV.

Francis followed the car as he directed authorities to it by cell phone. Police then found Cagle, who is from Alamance County near Burlington in North Carolina.

Tyler Ross Cole, 18, is facing charges of felony kidnapping, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and felonious larceny, WSPA reported.

Read more and view photos: http://www.wect.com

You guys are out there on the road a lot, and you really can make a difference thank so much to those of you who have helped those in need. In return we do our best for you, we specialize in commercial trucking insurance including tow truck insurance! That's not all we do though, we can also get you coverage for your motorcycle, ATVs, personal auto, and boats! Visit us at BerrierInsurance.com and call us for a quick free quote at 888-472-4915.

Driver Monitoring Systems?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking a close look at whether on board driver monitoring systems are an effective way to improve safety.

The agency is mid-way through a multi-year research project designed to measure how well drivers respond to feedback from systems that track lane departures, impending collisions and fatigue, among other indicators. The research also will produce the largest continuous collection of naturalistic driving data ever undertaken, said Olu Ajayi, a research statistician at the agency, in an article describing the effort.

It is not clear at this point what the agency might do with the information it gets from this study. Nothing in the record indicates it intends to write a rule concerning such technologies, and in any case it will be at least two years before the research produces any insights.

The Technology:

In the study, 270 trucks from three volunteer carriers will be equipped with an onboard monitoring system, DriveVision Pro by Transecurity. The system integrates safety technologies such as forward collision and lane departure warning with driver observation systems designed to detect fatigue or inattention, and provides immediate feedback if the truck is at risk. Data from the device also is fed into a management information system to help with driver coaching.
Transecurity is a commercial spin-off from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which conducts safety research for a number of clients, including FMCSA. It was created in 2006 by a team led by VTTI director Thomas Dingus.

Ajayi said in an interview that researchers will use the system to establish a baseline of the drivers' performance without any intervention, and then compare that to their performance while the system is responding. In a subsequent stage the researchers will see if any improvement can be sustained without the system responding.

Specifically, the study is intended to determine if driver performance improves with feedback from the system, and the comparative effectiveness of immediate versus management feedback. Researchers also want to know if they can use the system to determine a driver's risk potential.
Other goals are to see if any driver improvements can be sustained over time, and to gauge driver reaction to the system.

Potential Negatives:

An inkling of what some drivers will say came from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which said in comments to the agency that there are significant negatives attached to this kind of system.

Onboard monitoring systems can penalize drivers for defensive maneuvers, and they can be distracting, the association said.

On the other hand, the carriers that already use these kinds of systems have found significant benefits. C.R. England, for example, uses lane departure, forward collision and headway warning, as well as a stability control system that president Chad England described as "the biggest winner in safety technology as far as I am concerned."

At this point, the agency is preparing to gather information from the drivers who will participate in the 18-month field test. The agency last week asked for comments on this phase of the project (June 24 Federal Register). The study is scheduled to be completed by August 2013.

This was originally posted by Truckinginfo.com so what do you guys think? Is this going to be a good thing or a bad thing for trucking. We can certainly see how this may make an impact when shopping for insurance. Depending on how testing goes insurance companies may look at this as a way to save money both for them and for you.

An accident can happen anywhere and at any time. To make sure you are properly covered contact us at Berrier Insurance and we will review your commercial trucking insurance with you. We can offer you the best rates on commercial auto insurance and provide detailed answers to any of your questions about insurance. Call us today 888-472-4915.

CA Trucker Busted for Cross Border Marijuana Smuggling

A truck driver was sentenced Monday to nearly 22 years in prison for hauling about 10 tons of marijuana that was smuggled through a sophisticated cross-border tunnel, one of the largest marijuana busts in U.S. history.

Carlos Cunningham, 28, acknowledged carrying 19,400 pounds of marijuana in his trailer when he was arrested Nov. 2 at a weigh station in Temecula, southeast of Los Angeles.

"That is an extraordinary, remarkable amount," said U.S. District Judge Larry Burns. "It's enough to fill a house."

U.S. authorities later seized 16 tons in a San Diego warehouse where the tunnel ended, and Mexican authorities reported seizing nearly five tons on the Mexican side of the tunnel, bringing the total haul to more than 30 tons.

Later in November, U.S. authorities found another cross-border tunnel inside a warehouse of the same San Diego industrial district, leading to seizures of nearly 21 tons of marijuana on both sides of the border. Cunningham was not charged in connection with that passage.

U.S. investigators suspect that both tunnels were overseen by Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, whose leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is that country's most-wanted drug lord. They were lined with rail tracks, ventilation and lighting.

Burns sentenced Cunningham to 21 years, eight months in prison for conspiring to distribute marijuana, more than two years longer than what prosecutors recommended. He said he would consider reducing the punishment if Cunningham continued to cooperate with investigators.

"It is not a secret that Mr. Cunningham is cooperating with investigators," the judge said.

Prosecutors alleged in a court filing this month that Daniel Navarro was "the transportation manager and distributor" for both passages and they identify him as Cunningham's boss. Navarro has pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the second tunnel.

Cunningham, of Oceanside, told authorities that he was being paid $10,000 to drive the trailer from the San Diego area to Los Angeles, according to court records. When he pleaded guilty in January, he admitted hauling large loads of marijuana on "multiple occasions" in July, August and November.

"I'm sorry, your honor, for what I've done and I really regret my decision," Cunningham told the judge.

His attorney, Gretchen VonHelms, said Cunningham's role was limited to driving the limited distance in Southern California.

"He was essentially a chauffeur," she said.

Cunningham pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2002 and 2006. In 2002, he was accused of smuggling 110 pounds of cocaine. In 2006, he acknowledged driving with 38 pounds of marijuana in a secret vehicle compartment in California's Imperial Valley.

Another driver, Jose Guadalupe Hernandez, pleaded guilty earlier this month for conspiring to distribute nearly 14 tons of marijuana in connection with the second tunnel discovered in November. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

If you're a legitimate trucker located in California, Arizona, Oregon or Nevada, contact us for a fast truck insurance quote today 888-472-4915. We'd love to help you save money on your truck insurance while protecting your truck with an "A" rated carrier.

Trailer Skirts: A Proven Fuel Saver

In tight economic times drivers are trying anything to save a few dollars, one trend that is catching on and has been proved effective are trailer skirts. Designed to streamline the trailer and reduce drag, this system provides an average 7.4% fuel savings at highway speeds. Freight Wing, one of the industry's largest suppliers of trailer side skirts now has about 10,000 units on the road with sales up threefold over the past year.

Currently trailer side fairings available in three types of material: aluminum, plastic, or fiberglass. Each has its strengths and its fans. The skirts effectiveness depends upon ground clearance, the closer to the ground the better savings. In SAE track testing, Freight Wing found its older-style aluminum fairings with 16 inches of ground clearance yielded a 4% fuel savings while its new Aeroflex product that rides just eight inches off the ground delivers a 7% fuel savings.

When skirt shopping, there are many things to consider, including weight, ground clearance, durability and ease of installation and repair. Some systems consist of multiple panels, which make repairs easier and less costly than replacing the entire system, but may break apart and look flimsy at highway speeds. Once you've installed a system, its suggest inspecting trailer fairings as part of the normal trailer inspection process, looking for loose fasteners and damaged brackets. For the most part, trailer fairings should be worry-free.

In addition to using the trailer skirts some drivers are also switching to low rolling resistance tires and reducing top speeds to 62mph, showing a collective 8.94% improvement! With fuel prices rising each month every little bit helps the pocket. Added up the money saved by switching to more efficient methods can pay for its self in about a year.

If you are in need of great rates on truck insurance, stop by at BerrierInsurance.com and ask for a fast, free quote. We have been specializing in trucking insurance for almost 30 years and will be here to continue providing our customers with quality truck insurance and the lowest price possible.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in The World

I'm sure all you truckers have some stories of dangerous roads you've driven, but here is a list of the most dangerous roads in the world. American truckers will be glad to see that none are here in the USA!

1.Old Yungas Road (Bolivia)

2.Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret Highway (Kenya)

3.Fairy Meadows Road (Pakistan)

4.Luxor – al – Hurghada Road (Egypt)

5.Patiopoulo – Perdikaki Road (Greece)

6.Halsema Highway (Philippines)

7.Skippers Road (New Zealand)

8.Sichuan – Tibet Highway (China)

9.San Isidro de General – Cartago (Costa Rica)

10.Grand Trunk Road (India)

We are glad that none of our drivers will have to face down these roads. Insure your truck with Berrier Insurance! We love them big rigs and we specialize in commercial trucking insurance. Call us today for a quick comparison quote 888-472-4915

Nick Names For Various Things "On The Road"

The CB radio is an integral part of a truckers efficiency and communication. Being such it is also a common source of self amusement as well. We hunted down some of the common vocabulary used by truckers while out on the road and compiled a list from various sources. These were some of our favorites:


Salt shaker - slating truck
Zipper Middle -broken white lines on highway
Gator - tire remnants
Alarm clock - rumble strip
Smoky - state trooper
Evel Keneval - Motorcycle Cop
Care bear - state trooper sitting in a const. zone, lights flashing
Disco lights - flashing lights on a cop car
Bear Den - state trooper station
Band-aid buggy - ambulance
Bear in the air - airborne speed trap
Bear in the air, with a razor in his hair - airborne speed trap using a helicopter
Country Bear Jamboree - numerous bears working one area
Big bear - state police
Bear bait - speeding car
City Kitty/Town clown - local police
County mountie - county sheriff
Bird dog barking - radar detector going off
Polar bear - A white cop car
Plain White wrapper - unmarked cop car
Diesel bear - DOT cop
Chicken Coop/Chicken House - Scales
Hammer Lane - Left (passing) lane
Ditch Bait - truck or 4-wheeler going too fast in poor conditions.
Dingleberry – tailgater
Skinny Chicken – roadrunner
Ratchet jaw - someone who won't shut up on the cb
Liquid gold - fuel
Seat cover - good looking gal in a car or truck
Choke n Puke - Bad Restaurant
Mechanical Indian - electronic flashing arrow sign
Big word's out - scale closed
Rollin' ya across - not having to actually STOP on scale
Weighing your wagon - having to stop on scale to weigh
Doin' that deal - officers at scale checking logs or doing alot of inspections
Locked up nobody home - scale closed nobody there
Yard sticker - mile marker
Rolling Ranch - livestock hauler
Beaver biscuits- wood chips
Big radio - long range, high power c.b.
Throw Iron - Chain Up
Runnin' barefoot - No chains
Oops - Wreck
Draw some lines - do your logbook
Jibber Jabber - non english chatter
Rabbit -Speeding truck
Cash box - toll booth
Back seat window licker - tard
Yard dog - spotter truck or any tractor not legal 2b driven on the road
OTR driver - old, tired and rundown
West Virginia chrome - duct tape
Busterbrown - UPS driver
Wallyworld - either a Wal-mart store or a Wal-mart driver
Antler Ally - marked deer crossing area


Feel free to help add to our growing vocab list!

Make sure you and your truck are properly insured. Berrier insurance offers the best rates on commercial truck insurance! Contact us and we will give you a free truck insurance quote over the phone at 888-472-4915.

TCA Names Shawn Hubbard 2010 Highway Angel for Saving Man in Burning Car

Shawn Hubbard, a professional Ruan Trans Corp driver who saved the life of a young man trapped inside a burning car, will be named 2010 Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association on Dec 18th at Boise State University in Idaho.

On November 13 2009, Hubbard had just made a delivery and was heading east on Interstate 60 in California when he came across a car on fire. The car appeared to have smashed into several steel posts and had come to a stop in a ditch against a 40-foot high embankment. Two people were still inside, the driver who appeared to be dead, and a passenger who was still alive but pinned by the crushed car. Using two fire extinguishers, Hubbard slowed the flames but could not fully extinguish them. He then pulled the debris and collapsed roof off the car so the passenger could escape and pushed him up the hill to safety, seconds before the flames fully engulfed the car.

The California Highway Patrol presented him with a Certificate of Commendation for his deed, and also received an award from Los Angeles County supervisor, and a Gold “R” certificate from Ruan. The decision to name Hubbard as the 2010 Highway Angel of the year was made by the TCA Communications & Image Policy Committee, which oversees the Highway Angel program.

As the Highway Angel of the Year, Hubbard will be flown to the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl, accompanied by Ralph Arthur, president of Dedicated Contract Carriage for Ruan Transport, where he will receive a trophy in front of an audience anticipated to be 34,000 people.

A truly heroic act by an everyday driver we salute you Shawn Hubbard. An accident can happen anywhere and at any time. To make sure you are properly covered contact us at Berrier Insurance and we will review your commercial trucking insurance with you. We can offer you the best rates on commercial auto insurance and provide detailed answers to any of your questions about insurance. Highway Angels nominations are accepted year-round. To nominate a driver or read stories about previous Highway Angels visit http://www.blogger.com/www.truckload.org/highway-angel.