It’s that time of the week to pop in a Willie Nelson 8-track and roll through the next set of letters in our CB dictionary. By now, fleet managers from sea to shining sea should be able to talk the talk when they’re putting the pedal to the medal, but we can’t stop until we get to the end of the road, so without further adieu here’s you lingo for the through weeks featuring the letters S-T:

S

Sailboat fuel – Running on empty

Salt mines – Place of employment

Scrub brush – Street cleaning truck

Shot an eyeball on it – Saw it

Shovelling coal – Accelerating

Show-off lane – Passing lane

Skates – Tires

Smile and comb your hair – Radar trap up ahead

Smokey Bear – State Police

Smokey with a camera – Cop with radar

Someone spilled honey on the road – State troopers ahead everywhere

Stop to get groceries – Stop and eat

Straight Shot – Road is clear of police and other obstructions

Sunbeam – A CB’er who livens the channel with witticisms

T

Tearjerker – A CB’er who always cries the blues

Tooled-up – A souped up rig

Trading Stamps – Money

Turkey – Dumb

Turn Twenty – Location of exit or turn

Two miles of ditches for every mile of road – Drive safely, keep in the middle

Check back with us next week for a run down of the letters U-V-W, or you can get a dictionary full of terms from the book, Woody’s World of CB.

10-4 from Hotlanta

This convention is created for Fleet managers who are looking for affordable solutions that will allow them to truly go green.We wouldn’t be worth the digital space we write in unless we told you about opportunities to learn about fleet management firsthand, so its with great excitement that we inform you about The Green Fleet Conference 2009, October 19-20, 2009, in Chicago.

As listed on the website at http://www.greenfleetconference.com the two day event will help you:

• Discover what’s new in alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles
• Find out the most cost-effective ways to improve efficiency and reduce emissions
• Experts will help you to select the right fuel, vehicle and technology strategies to help your company reduce fleet emissions
• Get the latest product information
• Learn what manufacturers have planned for the future of fuel technology
• Network with fleet managers from all over the country

Prices are pretty reasonable at $495 per person if you sign up before September 25^th.

The convention is also open to exhibitors to help them reach buyers and suppliers.

Last years convention drew an impressive list of government and corporate attendees, so this good cause could also be a pretty good career move to.

October will be here before you know it, so register today.

It’s Friday, and in the words of the great trucker trobadore Dave Dudley, this fleet blogger is feeling like a Truck Drivin’ Son of a Gun…kind of.  I’ve actually never really driven an 18-wheeler, unless you count the video game they’ve got at the Dave & Busters in Marietta…

Anyway, Happy Friday to all of my good buddies out there who have turned this cb lingo blog into part weekly tradition, part language lesson.  So, let’s get rolling through this weeks letters P-Q-R:

P

Pack it in – Ending transmission

Papa Bear – State trooper with CB.

Paper hanger – Police giving ticket.

Parking Lot – Traffic jam

Pass the numbers – Best wishes

Petro Refinery – Truck hauling gas or oil.

Plain Wrapper – Unmarked police car

Pedal to the metal -Running flat out, in excess of the speed limit

Pigeon – someone caught speeding.

Portable Barnyard – Cattle Truck

Pregnant Roller Skate – VW

Put your foot on the floor and let the motor toter – Accelerate.

Q

QSO – Pronounced “Que-Sew”, meaning “conversation” or “communication”.

QTH – Location

Quasar – Female

Quick trip around the horn – Scanning the 40channel band.

R

Radio Runt – Child or young person breaking in on a channel.

Rain Locker – Shower room

Rebound – Return trip.

Redneck radio – Someone who talks on the CB using only slang terms – UH OH.

Riot Squad – Neighbors who have TV

Roger Dodger – Same as “Roger”

Rubberneckers – lookers.

Running on rags – Driving a vehicle with little to no tread on the tires.

Running Shotgun – Driving partner

Check back with us next week for a run down of the letters S-T, or you can get a dictionary full of terms from the book, Woody’s World of CB.

10-4 from Hot-lanta

Photo copyright of HayMog under the Creative Commons License

Happy Friday to you good buddy, we’ve got your next installment of cb lingo and it’s covered in nightcrawlers. So put one foot out the door and one on the floor and get ready for N-O!

N

Nail it down – Pinpoint or recollect

Nap Trap – Place to sleep

Negative – No

Negative Copy – Didn’t hear

Negatory – No

Neon, Freon, Ion Jockey – Truck driver with many lights on his rig

Nightcrawlers – Many police in the area

Ninety Weight – Liquor

Nodding off – Getting tired

Nobody knows where the teddy bear goes – State troopers criss-crossing the freeway

Numbers – Best wishes. “3’s and 8’s”

O

Oil burner – Diesel truck

On the by – Listening, not talking

On the side – Standing by, available for a call, listening on frequency. O.M. (old man) – A CB’er

On a [insert city name] Turn – i.e.- “I’m on an Alamo turn” (I’ll make my return from San Antonio).

One foot on the floor, one hanging out the door, and she just won’t do no more – Full speed.

Open Season – Cops are everywhere

Out – Through transmitting

Outdoor TV – Drive-in movie

Over – Your turn to transmit

Over and out – Closing the transmission

Check back with us next week for a run down of the letters P-Q-R, or you can get a dictionary full of terms from the book, Woody’s World of CB.

10-4 from Hot-lanta

Bad wheels can bring business to a screeching halt

It only takes about five minutes a month to ensure that you and your fleet have well-performing tires. A move that could save you headaches and money down the road.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association recommends a four-part check performed at least once a month, on all tires including the spare, to make sure they’re operating at an optimal level.

P.A.R.T.
To help you and your drivers remember what to check, remember the acronym P.A.R.T., which stands for:

Pressure
A tire can lose half of its pressure and still not look flat, so be sure to check your tires pressure levels at least once a month, more if you are putting high mileage on them. Under-inflation can lead to tire stress and irregular wear and tear, as well as spending money to have them replaced more often then necessary.

Alignment
You never know what the roads may bring – potholes, sleet, a sudden stop for a stray dog.  The road can throw your front end out of whack, causing shaking or pulling. If you notice your vehicle doing either, have your mechanic check your alignment. The longer you ignore it, the worse it will get, and the more it will cost to fix.

Rotation
Unless your vehicle has a specific recommendation, which you can find in your owner’s manual, you should have your tires rotated at least every 5,000 miles. Proper rotation will make sure that you’re not wearing out the front tires faster then the back, and vice versa, resulting in you being able to get more road and rubber out of your ride.

Tread
Take a good, close look at the tread on your tire to make sure there are no extremely high, low or completely bald areas. Tire tread helps your vehicles grip the asphalt, and worn tires are worthless in inclement conditions. Rough, worn, or cracked tires should be replaced before your next haul.

Remember, not only does it cost nothing to check your tires on a regular basis, it could actually save money in the long run. So encourage your drivers on how to inspect and maintain their vehicle’s tires. It’s an easy way for everyone to do their P.A.R.T. for the entire fleet.

Photo copyright of charmcitygavin under the Creative Commons license

This week, Work Truck Online looks at effective fleet managers and the traits they share in keeping their vehicles running as safely and efficiently as possible.

See if your management style matches up:

1. Goal-Oriented Fleet Management – Are your goals in step with the company’s overall mission?

2. Focus on the Internal Customer – Keep senior management informed and the company’s interests foremost in all fleet management decisions.

3. Develop Partnerships with Suppliers – Work with suppliers and other partners to optimize performance.

4. Practices Strategic Fleet Management – Treat every decision you make, from vehicle acquisition to how you choose your suppliers and manufacturers, as a high-level corporate decision.

5. Ability to Implement Effective Fleet Policies – be strategic in controlling costs. It can truly impact the bottom line.

Read the entire list here, and we want to know: what do you think of the list? What would you add or delete?

Photo copyright of ktoiswho under the Creative Commons license

It’s Friday, which means it’s time to crank up the Jerry Reed and get ready for your weekly dose of CB lingo. This week, we’re running full speed right through the middle of the alphabet, hope no lady bear’s try to stop us.

L

Lady Bear – Female police officer

Lame – Broken down vehicle

Land Yacht – Mobile home or camper

Lane Lover – Someone who won’t budge out of a particular lane

Latrine Lips – One who has a dirty mouth

Lettuce – money

Line – Freight line company

Log some Z’s – Get some sleep

Loot Limo – Armored Car

M

Machine – Same as “Rig”

Mad Money – Expense account

Magic Mile – The last mile of any trip

Make it a best seller – Have a good trip

Mama – Girlfriend or wife

Man in Slicker – Fireman

Marker – Milepost on highway

Mayday – Distress call

Meatwagon – Ambulance

Mess-em-up – Accident

Mobile Eyeball – Checking out another truck while passing it

Mobile – Forrest Logging truck

Mobile Mattress – 4 wheeler pulling a camper

Money Bus – Armored truck

Monster Lane – Speed lane

Motion Lotion – Gas; fuel

Mr. Clean – Overtly cautious driver

Muck Truck – Cement truck

Mud – Coffee

Check back with us next week for N-O, or you can get a dictionary full of terms from the book, Woody’s World of CB.

10-4 from Hot-lanta.

Know before you go to save money by finding the lowest gas prices

Gas prices change not only from day-to-day, but from station-to-station. The price can vary by as much as 20% within a few blocks.

By knowing what the average price of gas is in your area, you can pass this information along to your drivers so they don’t fill up on the most expensive gas when a cheaper station is just a few blocks away. Make sure your guys have a fleet card with universal acceptance so they can take advantage of the lowest prices no matter what station they are at.Bookmark the following sites so you’ll be able to quickly and easily find the cheapest prices in your area:

• GasBuddy.com: Find the day’s highest and lowest prices by entering your zip code or clicking on the interactive map. GasBuddy can also tell you historical prices, calculate the cost of your route and let you know if prices in your area are on the rise or falling.
• MSNAutos.com: Each night MSN Autos analyzes gas prices from more then 90,000 gas stations nation-wide. Enter in your zip code and MSN will tell you the average price for gas in your area, as well as the area’s highs and lows. You’ll get a complete list of prices by station and fuel grade.
• AAA: Similar to GasBuddy and MSNAutos, simply enter in your zip code and get a list of gas prices in your area.
• GasPriceWatch.com: You can perform a basic zip code search to find the cheapest gas, but we also like how you can also search by intersection or specific station brand.

Whichever site you use, it’s important to know what the average price is in your area and to pass it along to your drivers so they’ll know a good deal when they see one and to keep on truckin’ when prices are too high.

Help us add to this list: which sites do you use to find the lowest gas prices?

Photo copyright of riza under the Creative Commons license

Breaker, breaker, one-nine, we got ourselves a convoy this week. We’re running 3 letters down the alphabet highway, so get out of the way for cb lingo from letters I-J-& K.

I

Ice Box – Refrigerated trailer.

In a short – Real soon

In the mud – Noise or other signals on the channel

In the Pokey with Smokey – Arrested

Invitations -Traffic citations, tickets

J

Jack – CB term for brother or friend

Jack Rabbit – Police of any kind

Jewelry – Lights on a rig

John Law – Cop

Juke Joint – Small, inexpensive eating or drinking place

K

Keep ‘em Between the Ditches – Have a safe trip

Keep the bugs off your glass and the trouble off your… – CB Sign-off

Keep your eyes and ears open and your black stack smokin’ – Be alert and make good time

Keep your noise between the ditches and smokey out of your britches – Drive carefully, lookout for speedtraps

Keep your rubber down and your metal up – Drive carefully and have a good trip

Kiddie car – School bus

Knuckle Buster – Fight

Kojak with a Kodak – Cop with radar

Check back with us next week for L-M, or you can get a dictionary full of terms from the book, Woody’s World of CB.

10-4 from Hot anta

With your drivers on the road throughout the day, the chances are more than likely that at one point they will come across a drunk driver, or someone who has fallen ill and is unable to control their vehicle.

This month’s edition of Business Driver provides some helpful tips that you can share with your drivers as a reminder of the dangers they may face on the road at any given time.

First of all, signs of an impaired driver range from obvious to situations that are harder to identify. Watch for drivers who are weaving, crossing the center line, taking wide turns, driving 10 miles per hour below the speed limit, following other cars too closely, braking without warning, driving without headlights on at night or stopping inconsistently.

If you or one of you drivers is confronted with this situation, it is important to remember to let the police do their job. While you can help by reporting a driver you feel is putting other people on the road in danger, don’t try to be a hero. The most important thing to do is ensure your own safety first.

Stay far behind the vehicle that is driving erratically and be ready for the unexpected to happen. Make sure that you and any passengers in your vehicle are wearing seatbelts. Pull over to the side of the road and call 911 or *SP, which will put you in contact with state police and give the authorities the location, direction of travel, a description of the car and the driver’s actions.

It may seem like it would be just as easy to avoid the problem and get past it as quickly as possible, but alerting authorities could truly save lives.

To read more about defending yourself and your drivers on the road and some of the steps automakers are taking to ensure better safety options in their vehicles, check out the extensive article on driving distractions here.

Photo copyright of woodleywonderworks and re-used under the Creative Commons license.