Calling all truckers who use the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission launched an online survey Aug. 4 for its cash-paying customers as part of a year-long feasibility study to determine what impact a potential conversion to a cashless All Electronic Tolling (AET) system would have on motorists and turnpike operations.

The survey quickly drew 10,000 responses from four-wheelers, but only 100 so far from cash-paying truckers.

The survey will continue online until Aug. 22, 2011 and the respondents can win a $100 Sunco gift card.

The turnpike panel said AET would allow all Pennsylvania Turnpike customers to pay without slowing down or stopping.

With AET, traditional tollbooths would be removed and everyone would pay electronically with E-ZPass or new payment options that would be developed for non-E-ZPass customers. These new options would involve capturing an image of a license plate and billing the registered owner of the vehicle for the tolls.

The survey, which takes only about eight minutes to complete online, can be accessed at www.paturnpike.com/aet. It includes questions on subjects such as turnpike travel habits, payment-method preferences and perceptions, possible toll-rate structures and other cashless-tolling queries

It is not legal to drive without a valid driver license. Every state in U.S. has different rules and regulations for motor vehicles. Even though the basic rules are the same you must verify with the regulations of the local Department of Motor Vehicles in your area. This article focuses on the California State DMV procedure.

There are two steps involved for getting a driver license. First is the written exam and the behind the wheel test (also known as a road test).

The written test is a test of traffic laws, road signs, and driving safety rules. You will get a book (driver’s handbook) to study for this exam. Study it thoroughly. There are 46 questions on the test. A passing score is at least 39 correct answers. You have three chances to pass the test. You are allowed to take a retest in one visit. If you fail three times, you must wait 7 days before taking the written test again. No written tests are administered after 4.30 pm on regular business days.

The basic procedures:

Step 1 Written Test

Visit a DMV office (make a prior appointment for a faster service).
Submit the completed application form, along with the fee. No copies are accepted.
You need to give a thumb print and have your picture taken.
Provide your social security number, and proof of your date of birth.
Pass a vision test
Take the written test.

You will get a temporary permit. If you have never been licensed before, you may use this permit to practice driving. During all the driving sessions, you must be accompanied with an adult who must be 25 years of age or older and holds a valid state license. It is illegal for you to drive alone. You can also take classes from some Instructor. Once you are comfortable in driving take an appointment for a behind the wheel test (road test).

If you have moved to U.S. from India, you will be required to take a driving test. If you already have a license from another state, the driving test can be waived.

Step 2 Driving Test

To take your driving test, you need to make a driving test appointment by calling a toll free number 1-800-777-0133 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
You must provide the following at the time of the driving test:

Provide proof of financial responsibility
California Insurance Requirements

Like the written test, you must pass the driving test in three chances. If you fail three times, it means that you must practice. Make an appointment once you are fully prepared. For each additional driving test you must pay a $6 fee.

The test normally takes 10-15 min. It is a 100 points test, and minimum 70 is passing. This criteria is subject to change. After you pass your driving test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days. You will receive a new photo license in the mail.

Truck driving jobs are a good way to make a decent income and provide for your family, if you can find the right trucking company to work for among the thousands of companies available. But, what about during a poor economy? Recent news is now declaring what many of us have already known…a recession is here. Actually, it’s been here since December of 2007. Thousands of loss jobs occur every week, with unemployment sitting at its highest level since 1993, currently setting at 6.7% – so what about trucking jobs now?

The truth is, trucking will always be a necessity in our market and society. It will also feel the recession crunch, but truck driving jobs are still available and always will be. The trucking industry could see an enormous downturn if Congress does not assist the hurting auto makers, but another bail out will probably come into play. Personally, I feel the auto makers did it to themselves and our Government cannot continue to bail out every single industry, but our Government is so out of control anyway, they will more than likely continue to do so.

On the other hand, if nothing is done to help the auto makers, the massive viral effect will spiral down through out the entire country and abroad. Millions and millions of jobs would be lost, even effecting the trucking industry. Just consider how many millions of tons of freight is hauled every day within the auto industry. If all of that goes up in smoke, a lot of trucking companies and drivers would be without a job. The transportation industry is so vital to our economy, Congress has no choice but to bail out another industry…even though it was Congress which created the problem in the first place. So as sad as it may be that the Government is now grabbing control of our mortgages, it appears they will attain control over the auto industry as well…their plan for socialism is finally coming to pass…but, that’s another story.

The importance of the U.S. transportation industry is too vital for our economy. Truck driving jobs will always be around, even as the rest of the economy falls. Will truck driver jobs stumble also? I’m sure it will, but as other sectors of the market place stumbles, trucking will have to continue. Everything we receive, eventually comes by truck. There is no way around it. The most truthful statement is that “without trucks, America stops.”

Just last month, November ’08, over 500,000 jobs were lost. With that scenario playing out every day across America, truck driving jobs still continue to provide decent, secured employment. We could see driver jobs become a little tougher to achieve as millions of jobs are lost during this poor economy, and those people search for new vocations, but the need for our transportation system to continue is vital. This vitality assures that truck driving jobs will continue to be an excellent vocation for security…as long as you know the good trucking companies from the bad.

Aubrey “Allen” Smith is the author of the first and original Truth About Trucking. An expert in Motor Carrier Transportation, he is the most recognized advocate for assisting students and new drivers in locating the best truck driving jobs in the nation.

Driving a car for the very first time can be described as… sort of like riding a bike. With two extra wheels and an engine. It’s a steep learning curve but gets easier with practice. And learning what to do at a junction soon becomes second nature.

Taking it up to fifth on a dual carriageway let it stretch its legs though and the soft purr of the turbo kicking in upon entering the overtaking lane was music to the ears. It made you realize how much this super mini packs quite a sharp bite – even if it is the only car you’ve ever driven. Driving down the old drag racer straight alongside Hanningfield Reservoir or around the many winding hills of Essex is enjoyable but learning to drive isn’t all fun and games.

Before long, the words “mirror”, “signal” and “manoeuvre” are etched onto the brain. Manoeuvres such as the three point turn and parallel parking are fine, but don’t even get started on the left reverse. But you will determine to pass early, and the theory is already done and dusted