The CDL Podcast - SoundSage

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In today’s CDL world most, if not all professional drivers have a smartphone. They have become a cornerstone tool of our trade and make our tasks easier to perform. Here is a short, however not inclusive list of the top 10 apps rated by the professional truck driver.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why you should take the time and learn about some of these apps.
What is meant by being hands-free and how to avoid a violation or ticket
Why Apple or Android are not your only options and yes, there are differences
Where you should mount your phone & the violations associated with your choices

“My favorite thing that I can do with my iPhone is dictating a letter” - Robert Picardo

Additional resources:

How to contact Tim at The CDL Podcast:

Email: I have a question for Tim - tim@favreau.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecdlpodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecdlpodcast/
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cdl-podcast/id1493883471
Libsyn:https://thecdlpodcast.libsyn.com/ ß see previous episodes and comments
RSS Feed: http://thecdlpodcast.libsyn.com/rss
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-472076619
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5jpNjfcTi4mRvZkysrHZy3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCDLPodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMDYXkorVCP7qHZBj3QVSQ
Website: http://thecdlpodcast.com/
Phone/text: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

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What is what3words? what3words is a really simple way to talk about location. We have assigned each 3m square in the world a unique 3 word address that will never change. For example, filled.count.soap marks the exact entrance to what3words’ London headquarters. 3 word addresses are easy to say and share, and are as accurate as GPS coordinates.

What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why you should use a 3 word address for package deliveries to your home. * Why you should have a 3 word address for your business. * Why you should use a 3 word address while at a sporting event. * Why you should have the What3words app on your phone

“If you're ordering a pizza to your home, if you're getting a package delivered from something you've bought online, if you want to get a taxi to somewhere ; we want you to be able to put in a three-word address just as if you were putting in something else, but knowing that it's far more accurate and far easier, and just works wherever you are in the world” – Chris Sheldrick Additional resources:

Apps: Google: Apple:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/what3words/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what3words
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what3words
Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_sheldrick_a_precise_three_word_address_for_every_place_on_earth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/what3words
Website: https://what3words.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/what3words

How to contact Tim at The CDL Podcast:

Email: I have a question for Tim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecdlpodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecdlpodcast/
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cdl-podcast/id1493883471
RSS Feed: http://thecdlpodcast.libsyn.com/rss
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-472076619
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5jpNjfcTi4mRvZkysrHZy3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCDLPodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMDYXkorVCP7qHZBj3QVSQ
Website: http://thecdlpodcast.com/
Phone/text: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

With what3words, Chris Sheldrick and his team have divided the entire planet into three-meter squares and assigned each a unique, three-word identifier, like insisting.cycle.minutes, which will take you right to the main door (at the time this podcast was published) or provider.enjoyed.plot which will take you right to the scale house door at Real Alloy in Wabash, Indiana, giving a precise address to the billions of people worldwide who don't have one.

Examples of where this is beneficial:

Truck drivers – pinpoints exact docks and delivers locations.
Emergency services, when they are trying to find a location where they need to get to a farmer who had a heart attack in a hayfield in 1000 acres.
When you take your family to a football or baseball game, marking where you parked your car can save time if you need to call AAA to jumpstart your car.
When you’re at a rest stop or truck stop and you order a pizza, they can deliver it directly to you.

Search engine integration:

My favorite search engine is Duck Duck Go and they use What3words. This is how you use it in Duck Duck Go:

Go to duckduckgo.com
In the search bar type in “!w3w (and the 3 word address you want to find) Example:
“!w3w name.oldest.memo” will put you in the middle of Times Square in NYC.
1. You can see all of DDG's “bangs” here https://duckduckgo.com/bang
2. The bang for “what3words” is “w3w”.
3. To use it in search you must use “!w3w”.

I am usually asked next “Well why do I need to use what3words when I use Google Maps?

what3words isn’t a navigation app like Google Maps. As I said earlier, it’s a global addressing system that makes it simple to communicate exact locations. You can use what3words alongside Google Maps to navigate to precise destinations and to save and share exact locations faster and more easily than ever before.

Google Maps usually isn’t helpful if you want to navigate directly to a specific building entrance or location in a park. This is because when entering a street address into Google Maps, a pin typically drops in the center of a building or postcode, rather than an exact location. I had a horrible experience with it years ago when I was working for Diamonds Limousine service and had to drop off a client and took them to the wrong location which was about 20 miles off course. Embarrassing for both me and our company.

While a 3 word address cannot yet be typed straight into Google Maps, it is easy to find a 3 word address in the what3words app and then navigate to that destination via Google Maps or your preferred navigation app. If you use the What3words app you can then navigate with it through Google maps. Here is a link to a 7-second video showing you how.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p--1gqeH_pU

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A CB Radio can be a trucker’s best friend and in some cases his greatest time saver. In this episode, I will explain to you the benefits of having one in your vehicle is not only a wise choice but one of the best investments in tools you can have with you.

What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why you should have a CB Radio in your rig. * How they can save you time in your daily grind. Hard to plan a detour one. * How some customers demand that you have it. Talk to scale houses and loaders. * Find a place for parking. * Why you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a system. * How to best use your CB Radio. * We will debunk some of the myths of the road. * Proper radio etiquette. * They can save your life.

“For the good old American life: For the money, for the glory, and for the fun... mostly for the money.” – Bandit – from “Smokey and the Bandit” Additional resources:

https://cbradioclub.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CB_slang
https://policecodes.net/eleven-codes/
http://cmccord.co.uk/Radio/13-Codes.htm
https://www.cbslang.com/popular/
Video reverenced in this episode.

How to contact Tim:

Email: I have a question for Tim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecdlpodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecdlpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCDLPodcast
Website: http://thecdlpodcast.com/
Phone/text: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

Common radio lingo:

Affirmative – used in place of “yes”
Negative – used in place of “no”
Over – you’re done speaking but would like a reply
Out – you’re signing off and terminating the call
Over and Out – you’re done speaking and the conversation is over
Radio Check – the radio equivalent of “can you hear me now?”
Read You Loud & Clear – in response to “radio check” meaning your transmission signal is good
Roger – confirms you understand what the other person is saying
Stand By – you acknowledge receiving the transmission, but cannot respond immediately
What’s Your 20? – asking for the other party’s location
Wilco – short for “will comply”

Radio Etiquette for Clear Communication

Contrary to the name, two-way radios are really a one-at-a-time communication system. Unlike a cellphone, you cannot speak and listen at the same time. That means if you’re pressing the talk button no one else can be heard. If you think of a short, clear, and concise message BEFORE you push the talk button it will help keep the channels open — plus you’ll save your battery life.

To help keep channels open, users have developed their own two-way radio lingo to help keep messages brief and avoid confusion of similar-sounding words or phrases.

Since multiple people can be on a channel at the same time, it is important to identify yourself and the intended recipient of your message. It also helps to indicate when you are done speaking. Use the appropriate jargon depending on if you are looking to continue the conversation or sign off.

Do not transmit sensitive or confidential information. Although there are privacy measures that can be used, it should be assumed that others can hear your conversation.

Quick tips:

Be prepared — know what you’re going to say BEFORE you push the talk button
Identify yourself and the intended recipient
Indicate when you’re finished speaking or terminating the call
Keep it secure by not sharing sensitive or confidential information
Keep it short, clear, and concise
Learn the lingo

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There are a lot of different Event Recorders that your fleet can use today. Fortunately, I have had experience with Lytx, SmartDrive, Samsara, and KeepTruckin. In this episode, I will be talking about the main reason why you would want an Event Recorder in your vehicle.

What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why you should have an event recorder * How the insurance industry looks at event recorders * Why they are the cheapest form of insurance you can purchase * Why there is no best manufacturer out there – just get one

“On video monitoring the core focus is safety. It helps fleets defend themselves in the case of accidents and coach drivers to operate more safely and efficiently.” - KeepTruckin Co-founder and CEO Shoaib Makani Additional resources:

You can watch a YouTube video HERE that references what I was talking about in this episode.

How to contact Tim:

Email: I have a question for Tim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecdlpodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecdlpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCDLPodcast
Website: http://thecdlpodcast.com/
Phone/text: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

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What you’ll learn in this episode: * All about Overdrive.com * All about the Libby app * All about LibriVox.org * All about Project Gutenberg

“When I'm in my car, I'm listening to books, audiobooks, always” - George Will Additional resources:

Overdrive: https://www.overdrive.com/
Libby: https://libbyapp.com/ Apple Store - Google Play – Microsoft Store
LibriVox: https://librivox.org/ Google Play - Apple
Gutenberg Project: Project Gutenberg Mobile Site - Apple app

How to contact Tim:

Email: tim@favreau.net
Phone/text: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

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Fundamental driving errors cost the United States as much as $150 billion a year and it continues to be one of the most serious hazards facing the commercial transportation industry. Today we talk about what you can do to become a better driver by learning how to avoid these errors.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Don’t back up when you don’t need to
How to legally use turn signals
How to properly claim an intersection
Lanes 1 & 2, 1, 2 & 3, 1,2,3 & 4 – general rules
Securing your personal items – and what to keep close at hand
Your mirrors are set wrong
Your seat is too low
Your sitting too close to the steering wheel

“Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror.” ― Colin Powell

Additional resources:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecdlpodcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecdlpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCDLPodcast
Website: http://thecdlpodcast.com/

How to contact:

Email: tim@favreau.net
Phone: US 260-225-3016

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening. The CDL Podcast - Educating and Entertaining you, one mile at a time….

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The Smith System is a system for driving to enable drivers to learn how to avoid collisions through mastering driver behavior and through intense hands-on training. The system was developed in 1952 by Harold Smith and he created the Smith System Driver Improvement Institute.

What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why each key in the Smith System will make you a better driver if you practice daily. * How you can remember the best ways to practice your keys. * How receiving professional training can make you a more valuable driver. * When you have mastered the Smith System you can then learn “The Advance”.

“More people (drivers) would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them” – Harold Smith Additional resources:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivedifferent/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-system/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drive_different
Website: US https://www.drivedifferent.com/ UK www.smithsystem.co.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBKtfbJWeuHV4_c4-iEbLw/featured

How to contact:

Email: US info@smith-system.com UK sfry@smith-system.com
Phone: US 1-800-777-7648 UK +44 (0)20 8731 4377

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The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is now operational, authorized users will be required to request access from FMCSA by registering for the Clearinghouse. Registering is the first step in ensuring you are ready since the Clearinghouse is operational as of today, January 6, 2020.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

What the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is, and what information will it contain.
Are all CDL drivers required to register for the Clearinghouse?
How Drivers sign up to access the Clearinghouse.
The final rule did slightly change the existing drug and alcohol program random testing.

“The FMCSA is here to be helpful and to assist all CMV drivers who have questions regarding the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse” - FMCSA Administrator Raymond Martinez

Additional resources:

FMCSA.dot.gov, FMCSA on Facebook, FMCSA on Twitter, FMCSA on Instagram,
FMCSA on LinkedIn, Registration Website, Need/have a login.gov account?

How to contact (FMCSA)

Email: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/Contact or https://www.login.gov/contact/
Phone: 855-368-4200

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please help spread the word about our show and thank you for listening.

The CDL Podcast: Recent Episodes

Tim Favreau