Scotlynn partners with KRTS, provides late model training truck

2014-01-24

CALEDONIA, Ont. -- Scotlynn Commodities has provided KRTS Transportation Specialists with a late model Peterbilt tractor and reefer trailer to be used to train the next generation of professional drivers.

The carrier was the first to be named a KRTS Preferred Partner, according to the company.

“The Scotlynn team believes that supplying state of the art equipment for KRTS students to be educated on will help lead them to Scotlynn upon graduation,” KRTS announced in a release. “Scotlynn staff also visit the KRTS campus to meet new students and discuss the opportunities available at the long-haul carrier. Once a month, KRTS students tour the beautiful Scotlynn facility in Vittoria and meet some of the other members of their team.”

KRTS also has been charged with the training of Scotlynn’s driver trainers.

Scotlynn hopes to mould some of these new professional drivers into owner/operators, by assisting with the financing of their trucks. Scotlynn has an on-site Peterbilt dealership to expedite the service and parts supply for the O/O, reducing downtime.

Next, Scotlynn plans to develop an apprenticeship program for new hires.

“Scotlynn is in our neck of the woods, and we have known about them for years, but we had never had the opportunity to do business with them. I was very surprised by the synergy between our companies – once we sat down together, it did not take long to come up with a plan,” said KRTS president Kim Richardson.

“We have been very pleased to join in this partnership with KRTS,” added Scotlynn president Scott Biddle. “With their excellent reputation, we knew we would have the opportunity to hire some of the best trained drivers around. Supplying equipment for them to use was an easy decision for us, considering the return we stand to gain on the investment.”

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Detroit Diesel launches new driver training video series

DETROIT, Mich. -- Detroit Diesel has launched the first of its new, four-part driver training video series. Officials say the videos were developed to help drivers enhance their engine's performance.

The four videos include general product background on Detroit Diesel's DD13, DD15 and DD16 family of engines; guidelines on driving for optimal fuel economy and power; specifics on BlueTec SCR Emissions Technology; detailed information about diesel exhaust fluid (DEF); and updates on DDEC, Detroit Diesel's proprietary electronic engine monitoring system.

The videos also provide step-by-step guidance for drivers on using Detroit Diesel's products, as well as information on driving trucks with older versus the newer engine models, detailing the differences in engine characteristics.

"Detroit Diesel's products are among the most reliable and fuel-efficient engines available today. We want to help our customers further maximize their performance by providing them with useful tips," said Brad Williamson, director, engine and component marketing for Detroit Diesel.

The new videos are part of Detroit Diesel's library of multimedia resources available here.

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Federalize Driver Training…

Why not? If TX Governor Perry has his way “our” government would control everything – including who can marry. A government by the Bible, for the Bible, and of the Bible. Bush took all the airport security screeners and created another bureaucracy. Congress passed national health care defined by the government, when States can’t even manage their unemployment programs.

But, “our” government knows best. They’ve done such an amazing job with the economy. 10 years later and the World Trade Center remains incomplete. Bin Laden is dead, but he still haunts us. We’re fighting in how many conflicts? Oh wait, that’s not us over there, it’s the CIA, I mean NATO. Old ladies and children are groped before getting on planes. It’s all about security stupid. That’s what they tell us.

That’s what the FMCSA is all about – safety. Not common sense, or efficiency or business or even jobs, but safety. They – “our” government” knows best. The ATA and their puppets, the DOT and its mini-me arm, the FMCSA – the Federal Motor Carrier SAFETY Administration, tell us what to do, when to do it and how to do every aspect of trucking. The same goes for the airlines, railroads, auto manufacturing and highways. All our lives are so much better, I mean safer, right?

Nobody in trucking and the few who care outside the industry, are happy with the way new truck drives are trained. Community colleges – the vocational schools – do a pretty good job, but the rest, fall well short of preparing an individual for the job of driving. Years ago, I went through such a program – 8 weeks – paid $450 – and nothing I was taught prepared me for life on the road. It could have, but it didn’t.

The business of driver training is like air conditioning or auto repair. Shyster’s abound. A lot of it is a rip off. Carriers tying themselves in with the schools has made little or no difference in the quality of the end product. New drivers “graduate” with the CDL, having no idea how to fuel a truck, pull through a weigh station or live on the road for more than a night or two. Follow-up “education” with a trainer, does little to improve the “package”.

So, Federalize the whole thing. Invest in, let’s say, four or five “regional” CDL truck driver centers, run by the FMCSA and get private business out of the equation. While we’re at it, let’s also Federalize the CDL. Centralize all the license records and every drivers personal information. It could be the first step toward a national identity card. That’s what TWIC was all about, right? That was a waste of time, but it taught “our” government something – when it comes to trucking, “they” can “order” drivers to do anything they want. No one will object.

What about OOIDA? Who? Tick on an elephant. That’s what OOIDA is when it comes to trucking. The FMCSA takes it’s orders from the ATA, not OOIDA. I believe the ATA, short of doing it themselves, would love “our” government to take over driver training. The “centers” could be run like prison boot camps. You, of course, couldn’t go if you were not legally. You would have to fill out lots of forms and go through a “pre” DOT physical before being accepted. Like joining the Marines or Army, you would have to take an ASFAB type of test. Some intelligence and knowledge of English would be required.

Once approved, you’re on a bus to the nearest regional training center. The “experts” at the FMCSA would design and administer everything, paid for with our taxes. You and another “newbie” would be assigned a sleeper truck. No going home at night, motels or dorms. Better to start with what it’s like to be a “real” truck driver from day one. It would last for about 8-10 weeks. During the training, if you can’t take it, you can go to the main part of the “campus” ring the bell, then go home and work for CSX or Applebee’s.

Nobody will be truly happy until driver training is Federalized. Private business will never come around with what the government wants or needs in terms of who they want behind the wheel. We all want driver with no health “issues”, BMI within government standards, complete acceptance of the 14/11 hour HOS and an understanding that they are classified as non-skilled labor and subject to all the applicable rules, like no overtime.

Thanks to “our” government, we all might just finally end up with the perfect truck driver.

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