Truck drivers are persons employed as the operator of a CMV that hauls loads in a semi truck carrying a big freight trailer that the company worked for will be in the trailer. Now let’s explain about CMVs. CMVs can be of varying shapes and sizes, from 10,000-pound (4,500kg) pickup trucks assigned to haul specialized or small quantities of freight, to 20,000-pound (9,100kg) straight trucks (box trucks), all the way up to 80,000-pound (36,000kg), 60-foot (18m) long 18-wheelers. Truckers carry trailers from place to place. Trucks are assigned a class rating based upon the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. (GVWR). The facts in this section refer to drivers of “heavy duty” trucks (with a GVWR of at least 26,000 pounds (12,000kg), which requires a commercial drivers license to operate). Also in order to become a trucker, you gotta be trained like in truck driving training or whatever.

Truck drivers spend 11 hours a day driving, and 14 hours a day engaged in various duties (including driving time) such as fueling, filling out paperwork, obtaining vehicle repairs that needs to be done and conducting mandatory vehicles that need inspection. Sometimes when a guy is in his car drinking or speeding, and if a cop is chasing that guy, the truckers can probably help out. I have seen some of them Long-haul drivers often spend weeks away from home, spending their time off and sleeping at truck stops or rest areas. Driving is relatively dangerous work, as truck drivers account for 12% and the highest total number of all work-related deaths, and are five times more likely to die on the job than the average worker. Smoking, lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and work-related injuries also contribute to the driver’s generally risk-prone lifestyle. One survey found 67% of long-haul drivers were smokers or had quit smoking.

In 2006, the U.S. trucking industry employed 1.8 million drivers of heavy trucks. A major problem for the long-haul trucking industry, is that a large percentage of these drivers are aging, and are expected to retire. Very few new hires are expected in the near future, resulting in a driver shortage despite their mood to be a trucker. As of 2005, within the long-haul sector, there is an estimated shortage of 20,000 drivers. That shortage is expected to increase to 111,000 by 2014. The trucking industry (especially the long-haul sector) is also facing an image crisis due to the long working hours, long periods of time away from home, the dangerous nature of the work, and the relatively low pay (compared to other forms of unskilled labor).

Employee turnovers are within the long-haul trucking industry is notorious for being extremely high. In the 4th quarter of 2005, turnover within the largest carriers in the industry reached a record 136%, which means for every 100 new employees hired, 136 quit their jobs. This has resulted in a “revolving door” within most long-haul trucking companies, as drivers are constantly switching jobs or quitting the industry altogether. Driver turnover within the short-haul and LTL industries is considerably less (around 15%), mainly due to the better working conditions, higher pay, and unionized workers. One study suggests that larger companies with irregular routes, longer average lengths of hauls, and older equipment experience much higher rates of driver turnover. Also when on the road, drivers go to a weight station to weigh their trailers. There are a variety of weight stations in the U.S.

 Yes there will be new spots. I have heard several stories on lightning striking front lawns, golf courses and even vehicles and some folks were even struck by lightning but there were injuries to those strikes. One man said it struck on his head when he was wearing a red hat and there is a hole on that hat when it hit the man. The next victim that was struck was a lady that actually saw the lightning form her window and it occasionally struck on some parts of her body.

The reason is that these people are outside at the wrong time. When you hear thunder rumbling, get indoors because you can get struck by lightning in a matter of minutes And let’s hope this new technology GATRI is working on will save citizens lives from danger of being struck by lightning or getting killed by lightning.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute already have several one of these ground bay sensors called Lightning Arrays. An array is able to track a number of lightning bolts in the clouds and sketch them in 3D. The data can actually bring watches and warnings throughout several areas. The national weather service is using the lightning arrays in two areas which are Huntsville, Alabama and Dallas, Fortworth. One day, meteorologists will have easy access to warn people and save lives. According to the folks that were struck by lightning.org, at least 179 people and 35 states were injured by lightning so far this year. It only killed 10% of strikes that left people with life long injuries. This is why better warnings are good to save lives.

Well it depends on the size. A downburst is a fine of a downdraft winds which brings it down to a single cell thunderstorm with winds that can potentially bring up to 100 mile hour winds that brings very heavy, loud downpours. Now a microburst is the same thing except it is smaller which brings gusty winds up to 2.5 miles per hour and downpours but not as loud as the downburst is but a down draft kinda sounds like a tornado going through so stay away from windows.