Posts Tagged ‘Sep-2009’

September 1st, 2009

Way to Go

The evolution of GPS models has an impact on trucking

By Paul Abelson

The Navy had been working on the idea of satellite navigating since 1960, advancing a tool developed during World War II. Long-range radio aids were used then to determine a ship’s or airplane’s position quickly and accurately. When the U.S. started exploring space, scientists placed new navigation satellites in orbit, thousands of miles above earth’s surface. Although early systems could determine an object’s location only about once an hour, the concept was proven and…

READ THE STORY

September 1st, 2009

Plug Ugly

Overloaded or poorly maintained wiring can lead to fire

By Paul Abelson

A dozen or so years ago, at a meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), I helped organize a panel discussion about sleeper cabs. I brought three owner-operators for a dialogue with truck builders’ cab engineers. After hearing how sleepers had been made larger and more comfortable, Dennis Mitchell of Blissfield, Mich., stopped the engineers in their tracks. He asked if any of them knew how long it took for a sleeper cab to burn down to the frame rails. Dennis reported seeing i…

READ THE STORY

September 1st, 2009

Fond Farewell

Honoring two truck show friends

Mickey Gwillim is a show trucker. He and his brother Scott operate Gwillim Trucking, Inc., a third generation family operation founded in 1936 and based in Carlinville, Ill. They have a championship show truck: a lime green customized Peterbilt 359 with a Great Dane spread axle trailer. Last year, the brothers hosted the first-ever World of Large Cars show truck meeting. It wasn’t a show in the traditional sense. There were no judges, no trophies and no call for…

READ THE STORY

September 1st, 2009

Hang Up and Drive

Managing those incoming calls

When a four-wheeler slows down, speeds up and drifts in and out of their lane, you are almost guaranteed to find the driver yakking on a cellphone or vigorously tapping out a text message. Technology has made distracted driving an epidemic on our roads. Could more technology be a cure?That’s the thought behind Zoomsafer, a developing software for mobile phones that goes into action when a vehicle starts moving. The driver hears a gentle reminder to drive safely, while the software shuts d…

READ THE STORY

September 1st, 2009

Calm Pilot

Can music lessen the stress of road travel?

The highways could certainly use less road rage, drowsy driving and distracted driving. Throw into the mix a way to relieve tight shoulder and neck muscles and generally diminish the stress of being behind the wheel and hours of travel sounds downright heavenly. Steve Halpern says these are just some of the things drivers will experience by listening to his CD, Drive Time Rx. The keyboard player, who has released 70 mind-soothing recordings in the last 35 years, says his concept is simple. Buri…

READ THE STORY