Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020:
PrePass has expanded its driver safety Alerts to all 48 contiguous states.PrePass expands driver Alerts to all 48 contiguous states
PrePass Safety Alliance recently completed work to expand the PrePass safety Alerts across all 48 contiguous states with more than 2,800 Alerts that appear in-cab on the PrePass Motion weigh station bypass app.
Drivers receive Alerts as they approach known high-risk areas on the road helping them stay alert and reduce speed when applicable. Through audio and visual notifications, Alerts warn truckers of steep grades, gusty winds, no commercial roads, work zones, real-time incidents, traffic congestion, truck parking availability, rest areas and brake check chain-up areas.
The Alerts are a no-cost addition to the Motion app, available on Android and iOS devices and in-cab telematics systems.
“This expansion of the Alerts system flows directly from our mission to make America’s highways safer and more efficient,” said Mark Doughty, President and CEO of PrePass Safety Alliance. “We have doubled the number of alerts in just the last month, giving drivers vital information to keep them safe and on time as they travel down the road.”
Trucker named Highway Angel for helping after witnessing vehicle strike deer
Gene Miller, a Missouri-based truck driver for ABF Freight System, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for stopping to help a family after their vehicle struck a deer and overturned.
Shortly after 6 a.m. on June 6, Miller was driving northbound on I-35 near Wellington, Kansas, on his way to Wichita. He was traveling behind a family in an SUB when he saw a deer on the southbound side of the highway standing by the concrete divider.
Gene MillerThe deer jumped the wall, and the SUV driver swerved to miss it but couldn’t avoid striking the deer. The car hit the guardrail on the right shoulder, bounced off it, hit the concrete wall divider under a bridge and rolled over onto its roof. The vehicle then slid toward the right lane, and Miller had to get on the brakes hard to avoid T-boning it.
A woman and young girl were climbing out of the car, and the woman told Miller her husband was still in the car. He directed them to stand by the wall, then went back to check on the driver.
“He said he thought he had a broken leg,” Miller said. “I crawled in and looked. He had a compound fracture by his ankle.”
Miller had already called 911 and told them the location of the accident and the condition of the occupants.
“By then another truck driver stopped, and we were trying to keep the driver calm,” Miller said. “His daughter, who was about 10 or 12, was really getting hysterical, afraid the car would catch fire and blow up. We assured her everything was okay, but the driver wanted us to get him out to ease her fears. So we slid him out, taking it easy, and moved him over to the concrete wall.”
Miller said other cars going around the accident appeared to know the family, and several of them stopped. He assumed they were part of a girls’ softball team traveling together.
“They consoled the mother and daughter while the other driver and I stayed with the father,” Miller said. “He told me this was his first accident. I said, ‘You sure made it a doozy’ and he chuckled. I knew he didn’t want to hit the deer, but you don’t swerve to miss a deer. This is what happens.”
For his willingness to stop and help, TCA presented Miller with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. ABF Freight also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. EpicVue sponsors the TCA Highway Angel program.
TA offering free meals to veterans on Veterans Day
TravelCenters of America is offering a complimentary meal to all active-duty military, veterans and reservists on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day at participating quick service restaurants and at Country Pride and Iron Skillet locations nationwide.
Anyone who has served in the armed forces can receive a complimentary meal of their choice by showing proof of service to their server before ordering. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniformed Services ID card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), veterans organization membership card, photograph in uniform, DD214 form, a citation or commendation.
Guests may also see Fallen Soldier Tables on display at Country Pride or Iron Skillet restaurants on Veterans Day. The single place setting at an empty table is a way to remember and honor the sacrifices of those who gave their lives while serving.
Love’s opens first Middle Eastern restaurant at Illinois travel stop
Love’s Travel Stops is introducing a new food concept at its locations with its first Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill. The restaurant opened Monday, Nov. 2, at the Love’s in Greenup, Illinois.
“Our customers love options, especially when it comes to food, so we’re excited to debut Naf Naf,” said Joe Cotton, vice president of Restaurant Services. “We want to give our customers a variety of fresh, delicious and quick options when it comes to dining and Naf Naf is the perfect fit.”
Naf Naf offers signature bold flavor options such as pita, chicken shawarma, hummus, falafel and more. Love’s plans to open an additional 10 Naf Naf locations in the next five years.
