Truck Driver Training

I'm Mike Curts.  I've been involved with the marketing of Driver Solutions for nearly 14 years.  I'd describe myself as an information junkie.  I've been reading others' blogs for several years and this is my contribution to the blogosphere.  During my time with Driver Solutions, I've helped modernize the truck driver recruitment process.  Truck driver training has come a long way in the past few years.  I'm glad I've played a role in making the Driver Solutions website the premiere destination for truck driver training and truck driving job information.

I decided to blog about CDL training and truck driving schools because there is so much misinformation on the web.  So if you are reading this blog, chances are you are considering a career as a truck driver.  My intention for this blog is to accurately and fairly represent truck driver training and truck driver job opportunities.  I hope you find my blog both informative and entertaining. 

Today, Driver Solutions announced its membership in the American Trucking Association (ATA).  And you might be thinking, “Big deal. You’ve joined a trade association.” To some degree, you are right; all that we did was join a trade association in the trucking industry.  Now, take a minute and look at the members of the ATA.  How many truck driving schools do you see?  There are very few because ATA membership is not cheap.

So why did Driver Solutions choose to join?  In a word, credibility.  You see, Driver Solutions is a company founded on doing things the right way and accepting criticism when someone questions that.  The most ethical business person I’ve met in my career is the co-founder of Driver Solutions, Chris Welch.  Mr. Welch worked for Cummins, Inc., the well-known diesel engine manufacturer.  His role was to identify diversified business opportunities related to the trucking industry.  So, in 1987, Cummins Professional Training Center was Mr. Welch’s brainchild to help the trucking industry attain more qualified, well-trained truck drivers.  When business conditions caused Cummins to divest of non-engine business interests in 1991, Chris believed so much in the truck driving school he founded that he found a partner and bought the school.  And thus, the foundation for Driver Solutions had been laid.

For almost 30 years, Mr. Welch has guided Driver Solutions through high growth and recessions.  And for those of us lucky enough to be along for the ride, his leadership has set the gold standard for how to treat customers. The membership into ATA is a natural progression for a company that cares about its customers.  In joining the ATA, Driver Solutions demonstrates a commitment to the trucking industry and the industry’s most vital natural resource, the truck driver.  ATA works hard to protect and improve the trucking industry.  Through the ATA’s efforts, trucking drivers have gained more respect and improved their standard of living.

If you are considering a career as a professional truck driver or checking out CDL training, choose a truck driver training program that’s affiliated with the ATA. A truck driver training program that’s a member of ATA means that your school has a higher commitment to the success of the trucking industry. And as a truck driver, you’ll be reaping the benefits of a strong and successful trucking industry.

Check out the latest Driver Solutions review written by a student that just completed the CDL training.  Here in the Driver Solutions offices, we’re always looking for feedback to help make our training program the best it can be.  It seems the internet is full of negative business reviews.  That makes sense because when someone is passionate about a situation, they are more likely to comment about it. That’s why I really like this Driver Solutions review from Steven Rosetto.  Not only does he share his thoughts about Driver Solutions and people he met during training, but it’s an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles that would have forced some people to give up. He experienced both emotional highs and emotional lows during his CDL training and he was gracious enough to share his story.

Steven took the time to give us some great feedback about both our office personnel and the CDL training school we sent Steven to.  Perhaps most impressive to me is that fact that Steven worked thru personal tragedy during his first week at truck driving school.  His mother passed away and understandably Steven left school to be with his family and attend to these personal matters.  A lot of people would have given up at that point, but Steven returned a week later and picked up where he left off.  His review of CDL training program shares his appreciation and respect for the truck driving school instructors that helped him earn his CDL.  Even when Steven suffered a setback with a failed CDL skills test on his first attempt, he was able to regain his confidence, learn from a mistake and rely on the support of the truck driving school staff.  He passed the test and ultimately became a proud CDL driver.

It really shows the human, caring side of our business.  Steven’s success is our success.  We strive everyday to help people fulfill lifelong dreams and career goals.  Sometimes there are “bumps in the road” to CDL training. We have a commitment to provide the best CDL training experience possible.  Good training means the road we share will be safer. 
 
The Driver Solutions program is not for everyone. But for those who are committed to beginning a new career (and not just a job), we will give our best effort to help you succeed.  So the next time you read an anonymous bad Driver Solutions review on a complaint website, stop and ask yourself how dedicated the reviewer was.  Then think about Steven and his success at truck driving school. 

Our buddies over at the online CDL training website eGears posted a great new video about DOT physical qualifications.  If you're considering getting a CDL or attending truck driving school soon, you should educate yourself about the DOT medical requirements.  This DOT physical video addresses the basic medical qualifications and any questions you have should be addressed by a physcian or a medical professional familiar with your personal situation. In other words, I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the internet, so please don't post personal medical information or questions in the comments section of this blog. 

Make sure you watch the DOT Physical video.  It's written in plain English, not "doctor speak."  You can actually understand it.  And the more educated you are about the CDL and all CDL requirements, the better decision you can make about starting a truck driving career.

I read a recent news report on USA Today’s website about coffee.  Starbucks is now the number 3 U.S. restaurant chain according to a just released report from research firm Technomics.  So, how does coffee relate to a blog about truck driving?

Well, for years we’ve seen the stereotypical truck driver taking a break by eating dinner and drinking coffee at the counter of a truck stop.  Of course, the stereotypical waitress in her apron stops by frequently to chat and re-fill the trucker’s coffee cup.  Coffee was the fuel that kept truck drivers going mile after mile.

Times have changed and today we have more beverage choices than ever to give us the much-sought after shot of caffeine.  So, now I’m wondering what is the modern truck driver’s drink of choice?  Is it coffee?  Maybe Mountain Dew?  Or is it an energy drink such as Red Bull?  Truck drivers - chime in on our poll and tell us what your must have road trip beverage is!

The leader in online CDL training and pre-trip inspection videos, eGears, now has a coupon good for 20% off an entire order.  You can find the eGears coupon code at the coupon website, ReTailMeNot.com.  As you know, Driver Solutions is a big believer in the online CDL permit training that eGears offers.  We believe in it so much that we require every one of our truck driver training applicants to complete the CDL permit test training. 

You may be wondering, what is it about eGears CDL permit test training that makes it so great?

Well, we think the eGears training courses are great because the training and CDL test questions were created by real truck driver trainers.  These folks used their knowledge about trucking and feedback about on real CDL test questions at the BMV to create the very best online test questions available when it comes to preparing for the CDL permit test. The entire training is easy to use and easy to understand.  It’s self-paced learning so you can study on your own schedule and at your own pace.  Not only are the eGears CDL training tools easy to use, they save a ton of time and money when compared to traditional study methods.  There’s no doubt that you can pass the CDL tests sooner with just a fraction of traditional study time by using eGears.

In addition to the CDL permit training course, Driver Solutions also endorses the CDL pre-trip inspection DVDs that are now available in the eGears online store.  This is the very same DVD used at our network truck driver schools to help student drivers pass the Class A CDL skills test.  And just recently, eGears rolled out an online HazMat training course.  We're proud to say that we now offer this HazMat training to graduates of our truck driver training as a way to enhance their truck driving income opportunities. 

No matter where you are at in your professional driving career, we are confident that eGears has the solution that will help you get to the next step.  Take advantage of this 20% discount offer while it's still available by visiting RetailMeNot.com to make sure you don't miss out.

If you've ever spent any time in Indiana in the last 5-6 years, you've probably noticed a couple of things:

1. They love basketball in Indiana.  Aside from Texas high school football, what other state's high school sports championship could be made into a major motion picture?  (Hoosiers, 1986)

2. The drivers in the Hoosier state can choose between about 80 different choices for their passenger vehicle license plate design.  Everything from universities to charities are offered as a license plate design choice.  Yeah, it's gotten a bit out of hand.

So, since any organization or special interest group can submit a petition for an Indiana license plate design, the trucking industry in Indiana is hopping on the license plate bandwagon with their own request for a trucking license plate.  Officially called the Indiana Trucker License Plate, the Indiana Motor Truck Association, known as the IMTA, is asking Indiana residents in the trucking industry to sign the petition for the special license plate honoring Indiana's vital role in the American trucking industry.

Check out the Indiana Trucker License Plate page on IMTA's website. 

The IMTA had a contest in which they requested design submissions for the license plate. One of my colleagues, Luke Coyle, submitted what I  (and many other folks) thought was a great design.  Here's a photo of Luke's trucker license plate mock-up:



Now then, the good folks at the IMTA reviewed the submissions and choose a design they believed best represented Indiana's ties to the trucking industry. And just the other day, we got word that the winning design had been chosen.  Here's the winner....

     


Yep, you read correctly.  This is the winning license plate design that could be gracing the passenger vehicles of any Hoosier that wants to promote a trucking career.  If you look at the plate closely, it appears to be a view of the back of a trailer with a portion of the Indiana state flag imposed on the trailer doors.  Is the back end of a trailer what people envision when someone says "I'm a truck driver."  I don't think so.  Where's the tractor?  Where's the part of the truck where one would find the actual truck driver.  Isn't the truck driver the most important piece of this puzzle?  I think by glorifying the rear of the trailer, the IMTA has shifted the focus off the truck driver.  And truck drivers are the very people who would buy this license plate!  

Any truck driver I've ever had the fortune to meet is proud of his or her truck.  Not one of them has ever asked me to have a look at the rear end of a trailer.... 

Which design do you like better?  Let's tell the IMTA we want the truck, not the trailer!

Leave your comment on our blog below!

The demand for well-trained truck drivers has skyrocketed in the last two months.  Trucking companies are begging for more qualified Class A CDL truck drivers.  The recession helped clean house on less-qualified drivers as many trucking companies reduced fleet sizes and choose to employ only the most efficient, safety-minded drivers.  As a result, those marginal drivers have left the trucking industry, leaving some enormous opportunities for truck driving school grads to fill these truck driving jobs. 

But there are some hurdles for anyone looking to start a new truck driving career.  A big problem for many would-be truck drivers is being able to pay (or get a loan) for truck driving school tuition. Since that tuition can run upwards for $7,000 for class A CDL training, many folks just can’t afford it.  There are options like company-sponsored CDL training.  That’s where a trucking company agrees to cover the upfront cost of the truck driving school in exchange for the driver agreeing to drive for the company upon graduation.  The industry leader in company-sponsored training is Driver Solutions.  Driver Solutions has just announced a special incentive for folks enrolling in the company-sponsored CDL training program.  Just start the Driver Solutions truck driving training program on or before June 1st and you’ll qualify for a $200 graduation bonus.  That’s $200 to spend any way you choose - so hurry up and check out what the Driver Solutions company-sponsored truck driving school  can offer you.

Then complete the online driver application.

Here’s a video from Driver Solutions’ owner Chris Welch explaining this special limited-time incentive.

Further evidence shows a recovery economy and the impact on the trucking industry.  The U.S. Dept. of Labor Statistics reported an increase in trucking jobs for March 2010.  Further signs indicate a steady job growth rate for the trucking industry, as reported by a recent article in Transport Topics. 

In the article, American Trucking Association's chief economist stated “Companies in trucking are seeing that in the not-too-distant future that they will have to ramp up to get drivers back and add equipment.”  In fact, many trucking companies are jumping back into a more proactive recruiting mood.  Newspaper 'Help Wanted' ads, radio spots and even television commercials are popping up in many markets hoping to attract more driver applicants. 

If you've been considering a career move, check out the available PAM Transport jobs for new truck drivers.  The PAM Transport trucking company offers a company-paid truck driver training program for the Class A CDL license and a great trucking job.

Long known for the recruitment of new truck drivers and cdl training programs, Driver Solutions has entered the experienced truck driver recruiting segment.  Leveraging off the company's expertise in recruiting, training, and placing new truck drivers, the company now has something to offer experienced truck drivers with job placement services.  Driver Solutions is slowing rolling out over-the-road job placement services in select markets.  

Mark Kinsel, president of Driver Solutions, states "experienced truck driver job placement was a logical next step for Driver Solutions." He noted that the company has made a significant investment in technology and infrastructure which allows recruiters to obtain approvals for job applicants in very short amount of time.  "Getting back to an individual quickly by qualifying their application is the power of the Driver Solutions system," Kinsel added.

John McCartney coordinated the effort and is pleased with the results so far.  "We started recruiting experienced truck drivers for OTR driving jobs in February and were scheduling drivers for trucking company orientations within a week or so."  McCartney manages the relationships with the employer trucking company and the truck driver applicants.  "The new program has been received very well...trucking companies are excited about the services Driver Solutions provides and the drivers like the free job placement service."

You can learn more by visiting the Driver Solutions experienced truck driver job placement.

Jim Park has written a wonderful article about the changing times for the trucking industry and truck driving specifically. It's a must read for all truck drivers but especially for owner-operators. If you are thinking about going to truck driving school to become a truck driver you should read this article.

In a nutshell, Park discusses how the truck driving industry is poised to start picking up and asks if owner-operators are going to be ready for the upturn in the economy with all the new changes happening.


The changes he cites are:

• Long-haul freight shifting from trucks to trains
• Specialized equipment and handling
• Stiffening in the regulatory environment
• Challenges to the independent contractor status

There is no doubt the industry is changing and not always for the better. The government seems to have a hand in every aspect of truck driving these days which will hopefully not dissuade potential drivers from taking up the profession.

Drivers don't need more regulations, what they need is a route to drive so they can support their families. Let the truck driver worry about the truck driver. The government can worry about the roads.

We need drivers on the road who can think for themselves. Truck driving doesn't lend itself to lemmings or to people who can't think their way through a jam. Adding more and more regulations just thins out the list of potentially great drivers.

At Driver Solutions, we train our students to be the best truck drivers they can be. We prepare them for what lies ahead if they choose to hit the road. If they want to be an owner-operator or just drive for a great company, we get them ready to move forward in their chosen direction.

Changes are coming, make no mistake about that. If you aren't ready for those changes we can help get your ready for them.

We recently heard that Schneider National and how they have recently announced plans to grow their regional driving fleet by an additional 2,500 jobs this year. This is good news for the trucking industry as well as for men and women who are considering a career in truck driving.

With the announcement of this many new jobs, we're taking it as a good sign that the trucking economy is on the upswing. That means now is a good time to consider learning how to drive a truck.

The company has seen a rapid expansion in all five of its regions which are in the West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. The customer demand for regional services is high which has created enough freight density to get drivers home most weeks.

Getting home more often is more important for drivers than ever before. Truck drivers today realize how important it is to have balance and getting home to be with family and friends is one way to achieve that balance.

As the industry picks up and regional shipping takes off more and more drivers can be home for those important life moments. Driving regionally allows truck drivers to have more flexibility in their day to day lives.

Truck driving is one of those professions that will always be in demand. We are a nation built on moving goods from place to place and there couldn't be a better time to learn how to become a part of that infrastructure.

Regional shipping is increasing, make no mistake, are you going to be ready when the shipping companies start hiring? If not, now might be the time to consider learning how to drive a big rig.

It looks like the economy is slowly beginning to pick up. And if the economy picks up, and people spend more, that means the truck driving economy is going to pick up too. TheTrucker.com has posted an informative article about the current economy.

The Commerce Department reported that retail sales increased by 0.5 percent last month, the best showing since November and better than the 0.3 percent increase economists had expected. This is good news for everyone, but especially for truck drivers who have been sitting idle lately as there have been fewer goods to move, since stores are filling their shelves on more of an as-needed basis. You might have noticed that over the holidays the stores just didn't carry as much stock as they usually do. Retailers didn't want to get stuck with a lot of merchandise that ended up getting discounted, so they ordered less hoping to sell it for full retail prices.

The economy is still shaky, the gains are often followed by losses, but things are slowly going in the right directions. Economists are still worried that spending could falter due to the still high unemployment rate and they don't see that getting better quickly.

"We expect that lingering high unemployment, weak income growth, low confidence, tight credit conditions and the continuing need to deleverage will constrain consumption growth for at least this year and possibly well beyond," said Paul Ashworth, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics.

While that might sound a little on the dire side, the Obama administration has forecasted that the economy would average 95,900 new jobs per month this year. That isn't enough to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate but it is better than losing more jobs. In addition to the 95,900 new jobs per month the overall economy grew at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the October-December period, the best showing in six years. So there is reason to be hopeful and confident that things will get better sooner rather than later. Just maybe not as fast as everyone would like.

The good news is the economy is slowly improving. And as it picks up so will the trucking industry. That makes now an excellent time to consider a career change to truck driving.

Good news in the economy means good news in the truck driving economy. According to the TransCore North America Freight Index, spot freight was up 54% in January from January of 2009. This marked the fourth consecutive month of improvement on a year-over-year basis.

There is no doubt the economy is slowly improving. You can see little signs all over the place. The stock market is going up, though not without a few bumps, and people are slowly going back to work. This is just the first step in the recovery but it's a sure sign that things are moving in the right direction.

Now that the truck driving economy is beginning to move in the right direction, will you be ready? Do you have enough drivers to carry the increased freight? Probably not. The truck driving industry has seen a weird reaction to the downturn in the economy.

There is still freight that needs to be shipped, and already there was a shortage of drivers, now that things are looking up truck driving companies are going to be in a position to hire more rapidly so they can keep up with the increase in demand. We need truck drivers more than ever before.

If you have been considering a career in the truck driving industry, now is a good time to start your training. Whether you are interested in long haul, or short regional routes, we can teach you what you need to know to be the best trucker you can be.

Companies will be hiring soon so make sure you are ready, you are going to be in demand soon. And won't that feel nice for a change?

Learn more about trucking companies that are providing truck driving training. 

As I'm writing this, a large portion of the country is digging out from a massive snow storm that is shutting down a lot of major Mid-Atlantic cities.  And even some of the Midwest Driver Solutions Network trucking driving schools have been affected.  One comment from future truck drivers that I hear a lot this time of year is: "I'm going to wait until spring. I don't want to train in the winter." And my first reaction is, "why not?"  Is there a better time to learn to deal with the issues that Ol' Man Winter can throw at us from November to March?  As one is learning to drive a truck during the winter months, it's my opinion that the truck driving school experience is enhanced by season.  And here is my reasoning - learning to drive with challenging weather conditions forces you to focus on your truck driving skills even more. 

Winter driving experience can be invaluable. If given the choice, who wouldn't want to be exposed to winter driving during truck driver school with a driving instructor providing advice.  Once you begin your new driving job, you are going to be expected to know how to get the job done in winter weather.  I'm not just talking about driving in the snow.  Ice storms, sleet, fog  and rain can create unique driving conditions that can't be experienced on a sunny, 82 degree day in June.  Failing to understand the how the weather conditions can affect the ease with which a vehicle stops, changes lanes or turns a corner can be the difference in arriving at your destination safely or never arriving at all.  So while it may seem like a hassle to deal with, training during a snow storm can provide a lot of benefits for new truck drivers.

PAM Transport has bee undergoing a rebranding effort to unite all of their subsidiary fleets under one name, the flagship fleet name of PAM Transport.  Over the years, acquistions by PAM Transport continued to operate under their original fleet names.  And while the specialty services these divisions provide will remain the same, the rebranding effort makes it easier for existing and potential customers to recognize the fleet and associate the superiour customer service.

In commenting on the PAM Transport rebranding efforts during the release of the company's 4th quarter earnings, PAM Transport's president Daniel Cushman stated:

"Another accomplishment completed in the fourth quarter 2009 was the rebranding of P.AM. Transport, which effectively combines the operations of several companies acquired over the last several years under the P.A.M. Transport, Inc. operating name. The benefits of communicating the services we provide in terms that customers, both existing and potential, understand outweigh any residual benefit of continued operations in the original names of the companies acquired, such as Choctaw Express, Inc., Decker Transport Co., Inc., Allen Freight Services, Inc., and P.A.M. Dedicated Services, Inc.

"We appreciate our customers' and employees' support through this transition, as it will provide us greater market visibility, operating efficiencies, and market position for 2010."  In addition to renaming the subsidiary fleets, PAM Transport also updated the company logo which will eventually adorn all of the company trucks & trailers.

PAM Transport is currently providing company-sponsored CDL training for qualified applicants thru the Driver Solutions Network. Learn more about joining the PAM Transport team.

Wherever you look these days people are talking about the “driver shortage” that's going to hit when the economy stabilizes, and more freight starts to move again. The reality, of course, is that there is no driver shortage, says TruckingInfo.com. Truck driving schools across the country are churning out new drivers every day. The problem is that they aren’t always the best truck drivers.

At Driver Solutions, we screen our students thoroughly. It isn’t enough to have a clean driving record and a pulse anymore. Potential drivers must be of a certain breed. Not only do they need to know how to drive a truck safely and efficiently but they must be salespeople too since they will be representing your business.

The reality is that when the upturn comes, more quality drivers will be needed than ever before. The experienced drivers who have retained their jobs are going to be retiring in the next few years. Replacing those drivers will be challenging if you aren’t honing your recruiting skills now.

"You are what you hire," said Lance Craig, third-generation head of Craig Transportation in Perrysburg, Ohio, which uses both company drivers and owner-operators. "Extensive interviews and reference checks on drivers is an important initial step." Referrals from existing drivers can give you some of the best applicants he adds.

The current economic situation provides a wonderful opportunity for carriers to take advantage of the most qualified and experienced drivers out there. Companies that are paying attention have been taking a new look at their hiring and retention practices. It isn’t enough to have a pulse anymore. Drivers are expected to be ethical, moral and able to think on their feet. The truck drivers of today are more than just a body steering a large rig. They represent the company they drive for and are expected to have good judgment and superior communication skills since they are an extension of the company they are carrying freight for.

Luckily there is a large pool of applicants to choose from in the coming year. More and more men and women are choosing a career in transportation because if affords them the luxury to be independent but at the same time have the security of a stable income.

At Driver Solutions we train these applicants for more than just driving a rig. We teach them how to best represent the carriers that employ them.

If the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009 passes, as is expected, then over-the-highway trucks will be able to carry up to 97,000 pounds. Currently they can carry 80,000 pounds. Increasing the weight by 17,000 pounds will make trucks more efficient. However the additional weight allowance will require trucks to add a sixth axle. The sixth axle adds two more brakes, preventing an increase in stopping distances, and avoids additional pavement damage, according to ATA officials and a story in ModernTireDealer.com.

Increasing the maximum weight of a truck to 97,000 pounds will reduce overall fuel costs as well as labor costs since four trucks will be able to do the work of five trucks — a 20% improvement. Highway safety will likely increase due to fewer trucks on the road as well as having those trucks driven by better educated drivers. Students who learn to drive at Drivers Solution truck driving school are better prepared for these changes once they go into effect.

"It is important to note there are no mandates in this bill," says Clayton Boyce, a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations (ATA ) "The highways on which these vehicles will operate will be chosen by individual states that choose to authorize their use. States will be empowered to route these vehicles in a way that minimizes additional costs."

Of course these changes in maximum weight aren’t without drawbacks. The nation’s infrastructure is in great need of repair and update so routes for these heavier trucks will be very specific since some bridges cannot handle that kind of weight. If the bill is passed some bridges will have to be replaced and in order to pay for those costs, which many states cannot afford at this time, vehicles will be required to pay an additional fee, which the ATA supports, and which will be dedicated to bridge investments in those states that authorize their use.

According to recent statistics the trucking economy is slowly improving. Spot freight in December increased 11 percent over November and was more than double the amount for December 2008, based on the TransCore Freight Index. December is typically weak for spot freight but it was the highest level for all of 2009.

So things are getting better out there. The trucking economy is showing some signs of picking up. Maybe not as fast as we would like, but the trend is now going in the right direction which means soon more freight will need to be shipped and trucking companies will start to hire truck drivers again. And when they do they just might find that there aren’t enough drivers out there.

When the economy picks up and stabilizes, experts believe there will be a shortage of drivers as more freight is shipped again and as more and more Baby Boomer drivers retire. Many carriers are concerned about the driver shortage, but are not yet willing or able to hire more in anticipation of the coming shortage. But they do anticipate the need to find qualified and responsible drivers. Carriers know they have a very short window of opportunity to recruit the drivers they need when the need arises. Will you be ready?

If you have been sitting on the couch, wondering what to do with your career, now is a good time to think about truck driving school. Driver Solutions offers a unique program that matches entry level truck drivers with trucking companies providing a company-sponsored truck driver training program.  There will always be a need for truck drivers. Freight will always need to be shipped. Having a CDL license is insurance in tough economic times. Hopefully there won’t be another recession soon, and especially not like this one, but if there is, having a CDL with proper truck driver training can mean the difference between sitting on the couch waiting for a job, or driving the open road, making your own hours, and having a steady paycheck.

On January 26th, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a ban on texting. The ban goes into effect immediately because it is a reinterpretation of the law rather than a new law. Truck drivers who are caught texting while driving will be subject to civil and criminal penalties up to $2,750.

This new interpretation of the law is no surprise to anyone who drives a truck. We have been covering this story for months, so we knew it was coming. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration supports the new ban as does Driver Solutions.

We have always supported the ban on texting while operating a truck. However we think it should be for all drivers, not just drivers of commercial vehicles.

There has been considerable research done on drivers — not just truck drivers but all drivers — who text while driving. A study at Virginia Tech found that truck drivers who send text messages are nearly 23 times more likely to get into some type of accident than drivers who don’t use cell phones or other hand held devices while driving.

Another study conducted by the Pew Research Center said that a quarter of U.S. 16 and 17 year-olds who have cell phones text while driving. They also found, though not surprising, that almost half of Americans between ages 12 and 17 have been in cars where the driver was texting.

So it isn’t just truck drivers who should be banned from texting while driving. It is any and all operators of any vehicle on the road who should refrain from using such devices. At Driver Solutions, we teach our students about the driving safety and how using these kinds of devices while driving can be deadly to not just the driver but to others on the road as well.

We commend the U.S. Department of Transportation and Roy LaHood for banning the use of cell phones and other texting devices, but we encourage them to do more by banning all drivers from this hazardous and deadly behavior.