Comments on: Discrimination on Truck Drivers http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/ The VLOG World of Jack Barr Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:45:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Bill Warnock http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3427 Bill Warnock Mon, 26 May 2008 06:15:26 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3427 Hello I am a former truck driver. I drove for 14 years, been to all 48 states twice, and been to mexico border and canada country several times. I drove for 4 different companies. Schneider, JB Hunt, own truck with Transcorr, and Con-way pulling doubles. Every two years have to take physical tests along with hearing test. Past year, my hearing declined above 40db. I had to leave. This week I will meet with Lugar asst. to discuss about my experience as a truck driver and being deaf. I hope my 14 years will help open door to those who wants to be a trucker. I look at 1940 trucks compares to today modern trucks. I see a huge difference. 1940 when federal law passed banning deaf from driving trucks, that 1940 trucks relies on air sound hissing for leaks. Modern trucks have gauges and warning that are required to be properly working before it drivable or the dot officers will shut down your truck and hefty fined. Trucks are so loud that it makes my hearing aide bothers my ear. There are lots of times I had to leave them off. I depends my life on my mirrors. Wish me luck helping deaf opening future trucking doors. Thanks Bill Warnock Graduate Ind School for the Deaf (90/91) Hello

I am a former truck driver. I drove for 14 years, been to all 48 states twice, and been to mexico border and canada country several times. I drove for 4 different companies. Schneider, JB Hunt, own truck with Transcorr, and Con-way pulling doubles.

Every two years have to take physical tests along with hearing test. Past year, my hearing declined above 40db. I had to leave.

This week I will meet with Lugar asst. to discuss about my experience as a truck driver and being deaf. I hope my 14 years will help open door to those who wants to be a trucker.

I look at 1940 trucks compares to today modern trucks. I see a huge difference. 1940 when federal law passed banning deaf from driving trucks, that 1940 trucks relies on air sound hissing for leaks. Modern trucks have gauges and warning that are required to be properly working before it drivable or the dot officers will shut down your truck and hefty fined.

Trucks are so loud that it makes my hearing aide bothers my ear. There are lots of times I had to leave them off. I depends my life on my mirrors.

Wish me luck helping deaf opening future trucking doors.

Thanks
Bill Warnock
Graduate Ind School for the Deaf (90/91)

]]> By: Brenda http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3420 Brenda Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:09:06 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3420 I am a deaf person who wants to be a Deaf truck driver someday. I have found that I was not the only one and it might be a nationwide issue with deaf people who want to be truck drivers someday. I hope that you would be interested in assisting me. At this time, I am trying to interview different Deaf people truck driver(s) and/or any friends who work with them to find out where the problem or barriers are. I hope you would be willing to email me back and allow me to interview you and your experience as a Deaf Truck Driver. Or, if you know any hearing people who think this Department of Transportation regulation is wrong. I noticed that your, Jack Eye, VBlog has several stories of different deaf truck drivers would like to have them contact me as well. Or, if you know of other Deaf truck drivers out there who I could interview, please have them email me at bpalmigiano@yahoo.com. I look forward to your respond soon and thank you for your time and patience. Thank you Brenda Palmigiano Deaf Advocate I am a deaf person who wants to be a Deaf truck driver someday. I have found that I was not the only one and it might be a nationwide issue with deaf people who want to be truck drivers someday. I hope that you would be interested in assisting me.

At this time, I am trying to interview different Deaf people truck driver(s) and/or any friends who work with them to find out where the problem or barriers are. I hope you would be willing to email me back and allow me to interview you and your experience as a Deaf Truck Driver. Or, if you know any hearing people who think this Department of Transportation regulation is wrong.

I noticed that your, Jack Eye, VBlog has several stories of different deaf truck drivers would like to have them contact me as well. Or, if you know of other Deaf truck drivers out there who I could interview, please have them email me at bpalmigiano@yahoo.com.

I look forward to your respond soon and thank you for your time and patience.

Thank you

Brenda Palmigiano
Deaf Advocate

]]> By: JERRY FERGUSON http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3286 JERRY FERGUSON Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:43:04 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3286 i have read everyone comments about 18 wheeler truck drivers, after i retired from the company where i worked and as matter facts that i decided to go amarillo college trucking academy and to take 6 wks course training to be a truck driver and since i been doing that training and i dont have any problems passing all kind of testing which is the endorsement requires to take is the tanker, double/triple trailer, passenger, school bus and of course no haz mat which i dont need to take the wriiten test to recieved CDL A but i passed the test and went to take dot physcial exams and of course i passed the exams, so i also went to the recruiter to have interview with that man and he said you are hard of hearing which you can hear the air brakes with 4 to 5 feet of air that would be great, but back of my head why is he so concerned about the air brakes and of course i have 2 hearing aids i wore all the time and finally the company paid for the bus fares for me to go origination where the place to train and you have the chance go with co-driver ( trainer) to drive the truck and you have to earn your 15,000 miles before you will have your own truck to drive from coast to coast anywhere in the united states but no canada where the company dont allow their truckers go to canada as well, then after while i was driving the truck with my co-driver himself is hard of hearing and the only problems is that he can't communicate is the cb radio and it is hard to hear what the communication mean mumble and jumbo words, so we both use the qualcomm to communition to our dispatcher in texas while we are on other side of united states which is good to use .... in the meantime he started to uncorrected me in our communicate that i must requires to use the citizen band (cb) to communicate outside of the truck which is unfair and i told him that you have not been using it while i rode the truck with you and he use the qualcomm to communicate and he called the company to discrimate me and to removed me from his truck and drop me off at iowa truckstop with no money for me to ride the bus back home ..... in meantime friend of mine saw me and he offered me a ride home because we both lived in same town, so when i got back home and the next thing that i call the company and i use my tty to call my dispatcher to told what is the story on between me and ex co-driver that he despised me and being jealous that i was a very good driver than he is, so year later i found a job and went to worked for cisd ( canyon i s d) in canyon, texas as a bus driver and been with them for almost 4 years and i traveled alot field trips with charter bus and 84 passenger yellow bird and blue bird , i want to say something to those both deaf bus drivers walker estes and paul lovell that they are doing good job to transports deaf kids to sport events or whatever the functions are and keep on bussing and jame queens you keep your faith and keep on try truckin along okay and that goes for every deaf truckers and also futures deaf trucker to keep on truckin and hammer down to the floorboard and keep pushin hard til success .......... jerry i have read everyone comments about 18 wheeler truck drivers, after i retired from the company where i worked and as matter facts that i decided to go amarillo college trucking academy and to take 6 wks course training to be a truck driver and since i been doing that training and i dont have any problems passing all kind of testing which is the endorsement requires to take is the tanker, double/triple trailer, passenger, school bus and of course no haz mat which i dont need to take the wriiten test to recieved CDL A but i passed the test and went to take dot physcial exams and of course i passed the exams, so i also went to the recruiter to have interview with that man and he said you are hard of hearing which you can hear the air brakes with 4 to 5 feet of air that would be great, but back of my head why is he so concerned about the air brakes and of course i have 2 hearing aids i wore all the time and finally the company paid for the bus fares for me to go origination where the place to train and you have the chance go with co-driver ( trainer) to drive the truck and you have to earn your 15,000 miles before you will have your own truck to drive from coast to coast anywhere in the united states but no canada where the company dont allow their truckers go to canada as well, then after while i was driving the truck with my co-driver himself is hard of hearing and the only problems is that he can’t communicate is the cb radio and it is hard to hear what the communication mean mumble and jumbo words, so we both use the qualcomm to communition to our dispatcher in texas while we are on other side of united states which is good to use …. in the meantime he started to uncorrected me in our communicate that i must requires to use the citizen band (cb) to communicate outside of the truck which is unfair and i told him that you have not been using it while i rode the truck with you and he use the qualcomm to communicate and he called the company to discrimate me and to removed me from his truck and drop me off at iowa truckstop with no money for me to ride the bus back home ….. in meantime friend of mine saw me and he offered me a ride home because we both lived in same town, so when i got back home and the next thing that i call the company and i use my tty to call my dispatcher to told what is the story on between me and ex co-driver that he despised me and being jealous that i was a very good driver than he is, so year later i found a job and went to worked for cisd ( canyon i s d) in canyon, texas as a bus driver and been with them for almost 4 years and i traveled alot field trips with charter bus and 84 passenger yellow bird and blue bird , i want to say something to those both deaf bus drivers walker estes and paul lovell that they are doing good job to transports deaf kids to sport events or whatever the functions are and keep on bussing and jame queens you keep your faith and keep on try truckin along okay and that goes for every deaf truckers and also futures deaf trucker to keep on truckin and hammer down to the floorboard and keep pushin hard til success ………. jerry

]]> By: Melina http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3194 Melina Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:42:22 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3194 very interesting. i'm adding in RSS Reader very interesting. i’m adding in RSS Reader

]]> By: Martin Bystrycki http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3068 Martin Bystrycki Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:36:45 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-3068 Hey very intersting about deaf cant have cdl which I think is bull. I have class a cdl in Florida for 24 yrs but never applied for 18 wheeler Had my own business in New Jersey for 7 year which I had dump truck trailor and ford backhoe. That time didnt require cdl license Hey very intersting about deaf cant have cdl which I think is bull.
I have class a cdl in Florida for 24 yrs but never applied for 18 wheeler
Had my own business in New Jersey for 7 year which I had dump truck
trailor and ford backhoe. That time didnt require cdl license

]]> By: marcus jackson http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2704 marcus jackson Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:15:36 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2704 hey deaf people who want to fight very hard to become truck driver 18 wheeler like i do!!! i read every word you said and i strong agree. and my question is why can't federdal law let see how is deaf and hard of hearing is doing on road better than doubt. let show them that we can do it and what federal law is afraid of on deaf??? deaf are not stupid and dumb come on!!! fedreal.n give us a damn chance to show u that deaf can do it without whisper test. all care is take physical test and check your drive record what is the promblem? for federal law. i can't believe they gave deaf people a hard time to pay thier bills it ain't right. i don't like federal law laugh on deaf people who is complain. hey deaf people who want to fight very hard to become truck driver 18 wheeler like i do!!! i read every word you said and i strong agree. and my question is why can’t federdal law let see how is deaf and hard of hearing is doing on road better than doubt. let show them that we can do it and what federal law is afraid of on deaf??? deaf are not stupid and dumb come on!!! fedreal.n give us a damn chance to show u that deaf can do it without whisper test. all care is take physical test and check your drive record what is the promblem? for federal law. i can’t believe they gave deaf people a hard time to pay thier bills it ain’t right. i don’t like federal law laugh on deaf people who is complain.

]]> By: roger http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2570 roger Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:30:16 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2570 I agree there should be no discrimintion of any kind. But there are a few deaf people who abuse the system by not telling the truth. And those are the people give the deaf community a bad image. I know for a fact that one of the deaf who claimes to drivin a 18 wheel and was hired, was in fact not. He has never drove an 18 wheeler. that person is Calvin Haefner, he is not a truthful deaf person. I agree there should be no discrimintion of any kind. But there are a few deaf people who abuse the system by not telling the truth. And those are the people give the deaf community a bad image. I know for a fact that one of the deaf who claimes to drivin a 18 wheel and was hired, was in fact not. He has never drove an 18 wheeler.
that person is Calvin Haefner, he is not a truthful deaf person.

]]> By: truckdrivindave http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2506 truckdrivindave Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:58:35 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2506 I read all the comments with intrest because I myself drive for one of the country top 10 large trucking firm. I had been driving for almost 25 years starting at a lumber yard hauling lumber. I have been a local driver and an over the road driver. Currently I drive dedicated local hauling parts for Cummins Engine. I too am hard of hearing. I am able to pass the so called hearing test. I wear hearing aid in both ears. But I want to point out that over the years I have expirienced just about everything there is about trucking related to dry van freight. I can also tell you that the hearing impaired are capable of driving big rig semis as well as any one who is hearing, blind in one eye, an amputee, Yes amputee are allowed to drive, must be one limb. Blind in one eye, even heart attack victims, surprised Huh? though they are required to have an annual heart test. Partially hearing (many truckers do wear hearing aids though they are not deaf but have some form of hearing loss, it is common sight and many ask me about my hearing loss) My question is this. Why cant a fully healthy capable deaf person drive a semi rig? Well what would prevent a hearing impaired person from driving big rigs? Communication ? Hearing air leaks? Hearing sirens? Hearing other rigs, machinery, automobiles passing you? The problem is, is that it is a DOT regulation made up many years ago. And it is going to be as hard as it is to change the regulations as it is to change the white bed sheet regulation in the FMSCA rule book. White sheet regulation? Why yes there is a rule in the book requiring drivers of sleeper rigs to have white sheets. Sad truth is they dont enforce it but they enforce the whisper test. The DOT reguation rule book is as old as you might be. The purpose for the white sheets was for during the war that if it happened here in the states that truckers could provide first aid with the white sheets. And as with the military they had to be able to hear. I dont think the hearing rule has anything to do with the air brakes, it was more a military option than anything else. Dont take my word for it because I could be wrong. More research is needed to understand what the real reason for the ruling was for. So if we can get to the bottom of this then maybe we can clarify the reason for the restriction for the hearing impaired. Can it be changed. Yes but only if all deaf truckers would unite with legal advisory then maybe the ruling can be changed. Technology has been a plus for what it is worth. A modern semi rig is computer controled down to the foot pedal. You can set the computer to tell the truck what you want it to do. Like what rpm to top at in each gear, what speed in each gear, it even records your driving habits, how hard you brake, how fast you drive, what gear youre in and even turn your rig off so you cannot drive it. The satellite tecnology allows communication with your company you drive for and inputs your location stops length of driving etc. It even tells you when it is time for a PM ( preventive maintenance oil change). You almost dont need to hear to drive the big rig. All that is left to do is to be keenly aware of the mechanical needs of the big rig. Ill tell you a little secret if you would not tell any one. I dont like hearing the loud noise in my rig with my hearing aid. Hearing people dont realize how loud a hearing aid is and how bothersome continuous loud noise can be. So I take my hearing aids off when I am driving to give my ears rest from the loud blasting noise a big rig can make. But you better have them back on when a cop or DOT pull you over for any infractions..... You learn automatically to be keenly aware of your surrounding with your hearing aids off. For example, when I lost air to my brakes, the red light starts blinking and the buzzer buzzes but before that happens I sensed the rig start to strain for power because the brakes were automaticaly applying. But the weird thing about that is I nver heard air leaking while going down the road because the air leak was in the trailer 50 feet behind me....not 5 feet behind me but 50 feet going down the freeway at 65 mph, windows closed of corurse with the AC on and Led Zepplin blasting Stairway to Heaven on the radio.... Enough said I guess.............. I read all the comments with intrest because I myself drive for one of the country top 10 large trucking firm. I had been driving for almost 25 years starting at a lumber yard hauling lumber. I have been a local driver and an over the road driver. Currently I drive dedicated local hauling parts for Cummins Engine. I too am hard of hearing. I am able to pass the so called hearing test. I wear hearing aid in both ears. But I want to point out that over the years I have expirienced just about everything there is about trucking related to dry van freight. I can also tell you that the hearing impaired are capable of driving big rig semis as well as any one who is hearing, blind in one eye, an amputee, Yes amputee are allowed to drive, must be one limb. Blind in one eye, even heart attack victims, surprised Huh? though they are required to have an annual heart test. Partially hearing (many truckers do wear hearing aids though they are not deaf but have some form of hearing loss, it is common sight and many ask me about my hearing loss) My question is this. Why cant a fully healthy capable deaf person drive a semi rig?

Well what would prevent a hearing impaired person from driving big rigs? Communication ? Hearing air leaks? Hearing sirens? Hearing other rigs, machinery, automobiles passing you?

The problem is, is that it is a DOT regulation made up many years ago. And it is going to be as hard as it is to change the regulations as it is to change the white bed sheet regulation in the FMSCA rule book. White sheet regulation? Why yes there is a rule in the book requiring drivers of sleeper rigs to have white sheets. Sad truth is they dont enforce it but they enforce the whisper test. The DOT reguation rule book is as old as you might be. The purpose for the white sheets was for during the war that if it happened here in the states that truckers could provide first aid with the white sheets. And as with the military they had to be able to hear. I dont think the hearing rule has anything to do with the air brakes, it was more a military option than anything else. Dont take my word for it because I could be wrong. More research is needed to understand what the real reason for the ruling was for.

So if we can get to the bottom of this then maybe we can clarify the reason for the restriction for the hearing impaired. Can it be changed. Yes but only if all deaf truckers would unite with legal advisory then maybe the ruling can be changed.

Technology has been a plus for what it is worth. A modern semi rig is computer controled down to the foot pedal. You can set the computer to tell the truck what you want it to do. Like what rpm to top at in each gear, what speed in each gear, it even records your driving habits, how hard you brake, how fast you drive, what gear youre in and even turn your rig off so you cannot drive it. The satellite tecnology allows communication with your company you drive for and inputs your location stops length of driving etc. It even tells you when it is time for a PM ( preventive maintenance oil change). You almost dont need to hear to drive the big rig. All that is left to do is to be keenly aware of the mechanical needs of the big rig.

Ill tell you a little secret if you would not tell any one. I dont like hearing the loud noise in my rig with my hearing aid. Hearing people dont realize how loud a hearing aid is and how bothersome continuous loud noise can be. So I take my hearing aids off when I am driving to give my ears rest from the loud blasting noise a big rig can make. But you better have them back on when a cop or DOT pull you over for any infractions…..

You learn automatically to be keenly aware of your surrounding with your hearing aids off. For example, when I lost air to my brakes, the red light starts blinking and the buzzer buzzes but before that happens I sensed the rig start to strain for power because the brakes were automaticaly applying. But the weird thing about that is I nver heard air leaking while going down the road because the air leak was in the trailer 50 feet behind me….not 5 feet behind me but 50 feet going down the freeway at 65 mph, windows closed of corurse with the AC on and Led Zepplin blasting Stairway to Heaven on the radio….

Enough said I guess…………..

]]> By: paul langlois http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2261 paul langlois Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:59:49 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-2261 hello jack this is paul langlois i from in celina ohio i just let you know that i want be drive truck with 26' anyway i did went to hearing test it pass then i went to dr for dot physicals it pass then ready for go to school then i ask him can i get a interpreter then man said no dont need a interpreter bec you already pass for hearing test huh?? then what i do?? i still keep fight so what i said to him?? thank!! paul hello jack this is paul langlois i from in celina ohio i just let you know that i want be drive truck with 26′ anyway i did went to hearing test it pass then i went to dr for dot physicals it pass then ready for go to school then i ask him can i get a interpreter then man said no dont need a interpreter bec you already pass for hearing test huh?? then what i do?? i still keep fight so what i said to him?? thank!!

paul

]]> By: DeafMICAN http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-1561 DeafMICAN Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:53:05 +0000 http://jackeyes.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/discrimination-on-truck-drivers/#comment-1561 I know one deaf lucky pass truck driver certification cuz he can read lips and talk good and they had no idea he's fully deaf in Mich. Lucky guy! I know one deaf lucky pass truck driver certification cuz he can read lips and talk good and they had no idea he’s fully deaf in Mich. Lucky guy!

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