SATELLITE FAN
The satellite radio article (“Constant Companion” May 2002) was a good article. It showed no bias either way and gave the important facts about the systems. I have had my Pioneer XM system for four months now and would not give it up for anything. I purchased a new radio that was XM-ready along with the receiver and antenna and have never heard that kind of quality sound except from a CD.
Keep up the good work.
To read the article, click here.
Jim Lawton
Boxholm, Iowa
“KING” DETHRONED
I am a 64-year-old truck driver. Last night I was watching television in my truck during a layover in Davenport, Iowa. The program I was watching was “King of Queens” on CBS. The old man on the show was talking about hitchhiking. He said he would never do it because some truck driver might take advantage of him. This made me angry. My family and I will never watch this show again.
John Cannon
St. Elmo, Ala.
SO MUCH TO READ, SO LITTLE TIME
I just got off the phone with the company that provides our never-ending library of expensive manuals that we are required to keep to comply with Department of Transportation standards. The newest in is the Transportation Safety Answer Manual with a monthly Safety Training Newsletter put in place due to 9-11. This newsletter will go to drivers to sign and file in another binder.
As a one-truck owner, I am required to keep the same information that large companies must keep. I don’t have a problem with abiding by the same rules as everyone else, but am I the only one who has a problem with manual after manual of legal jargon and regulations lining my walls – some that have been opened only once?
Lets inundate the Department of Transportation with letters on how we feel about these mountains of manuals.
Cindy Goalder
Sedalia, Mo.
TRADITIONAL STYLING WORKS FOR HIM
This is in reference to Skip Michael’s letter (May 2002) criticizing classic styling. I am 72 years old and have been an owner-operator most of the time since 1948. Most of the time my trucks have been too big, too heavy, too fast and too shiny with chicken lights and straight exhaust pipes.
I have managed to pay for a house, five Kenworths, several cars, an airplane and a set of twins. Yes, my big fat truck burns a lot of fuel but just think, if I had been smart I might still be making payments on an underpowered plain-jane truck getting 5 mpg.
What works for one person may not work for another. If you don’t like the laws, write your congressman, join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association or do something to improve the situation.
To read Skip Micheal’s letter click here.
Jim Freeland
Statesville, N.C.
