Tag: carriers

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Trucker News

Congestion Increases as Economy Revives

With the two years of economic slump and increased fuel prices, the traffic running on the road reduced considerably leading to less congestion and easy commuting. Now with the improvement in the US and the world economy, the traffic problem has again started to rise. The least congestion was seen in the year 2008 and it started to increase back from 2009. This has made great impact on the truck driver jobs.

The Urban mobility report of 2010 produced by Texas Transportation Institute cover the congestion reports of 439 US areas which fall under urban areas. INRIX data also throws light on the traffic which covers every city and gives the descriptive information of the commuting problems faced by the people living in the urban areas. Traffic speed data of INRIX has been combined with state’s traffic volume data to give a broader increased traffic view.

Due to congestion on the road there are different problems arising: the main one being the cost associated with the increased traffic. The main reason of increased cost is the fuel burnt in traffic congestion and the delay in commuting because of which the commuters face pay cuts.

Below are some of the facts and figures which appear form the findings indicating the traffic problems nationwide:
The cost associated with the congestion is showing a continuous rise. It was $115 billion in 2009. In 2009 the fuel wasted due to traffic problems amounted to 3.9 billion gallons making it a big problem for trucking companies whose hundreds of trucks are on the road each day. This increased fuel consumption did cost $808 to an average commuter. The delay that the traveler faced in one year of 2009 was 34 hours, which laid adverse impact on his performance in the company.

The data collected is based on using the latest technologies available thus experts have a big reason to believe the data and plan their next course of action. There is a vast difference in accuracy of the data since the Urban Mobility report was first generated in 1982. The report generated this year is the most advanced in its type which reports the delay and congestion of each day of the year. It took into account the congestion due to any accidents, weather changes, holidays and national events.

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The researchers have come up with some of the methods to help reducing the traffic problems. The first way is to use of the public transport system for commuting as much possible. The second way is the addition of new network of roads and means of communication in the areas where the congestion is the most. Car sharing and pool cars can be another alternative which will save money for the commuters as well as decrease vehicles on the road. The company should make available flexible shifts so as to avoid rush hours. Telecommuting is another way out in which both the employee and the employer are benefited. There are many jobs which does not require physical presence, thus the employees should be given an alternative to work as a telecommuter.

The state and national government should take measures to provide alternative routes and introduce toll routes for fast and efficient available loads delivery by the owner operators and carrier companies. The solution to the traffic congestion is not the responsibility of just the officials or the commuters. The businesses, organizations, travelers all have to work towards getting the things right.

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Lifestyle

Sleep Apnea Disorder-A major concern in the US Trucking Industry

Sleep apnea is a kind of breathing disorder which does not allow the person to sleep properly. Improper sleep pattern due to sleep apnea in turn causes fatigue. The safety issues related with this situation is becoming a major concern in the trucking industry. This is one of the prominent illness that the truckers are facing these days due to their lifestyle and challenges of the job. The life expectancy of a truck driver is 16 to 61 years less than the average life expectancy of an individual in the country. As per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association chief Anne Ferro 30% of the truck drivers are facing this health hazard.
Since the disease promotes fatigue and fatigue is the cause of 13% of truck accidents on the roads. Therefore sleep apnea will soon face legal complications for trucking companies and owner operators considering the risk factor associated with it. The number of truck drivers facing this problem can be known by the carrier company. Therefore these fatigue related accidents are causing legal problems for the carriers and serving as the easy ground to play and earn for attorneys.
Keeping the increased danger associated with this disorder now the regulations will be implemented with the guidance of FMCSA to regulate and monitor the symptoms of sleep apnea in drivers. Earlier regulations that were implemented more than 10 years before stated that: the driver should not have any respiratory problems that might affect his driving performance. The DOT officials were responsible to screen the drivers who showed symptoms of sleep apnea. This does not mean that any driver who is diagnosed with this impairment will not be certified as a professional driver. His certification will depend on the severity of the apnea and its impact on his driving capabilities.
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Medical review Board suggestion will be sought for various disorders related to the driver health. As it the question of one’s livelihood and they should be rejected certificate only on strong scientific study and evidences. Now with tightening of the sleep apnea regulations and its legal action the trucking companies are working hard in this respect. They are providing treatments to their drivers suffering from sleep apnea. The study suggests there has been 30 % less crashes reported by the drivers who were treated for this. Also the driver retention rate has drastically increase. after they were provided treatment by the trucking companies.
The cost of treatment is coming out to be high. The screening test costs around $200 and the follow up course which can go up to 90 days costs around $3500. This investment has proved out to be beneficial as it decreases the overall health care cost of the driver and increases the safety factor when the driver is on its way to dispatch available loads.
The truck drivers and carrier companies need to understand that this is a very challenging situation and a planned approach towards it will remove the complications involved. These days there are many third party organizations who can collaborate with trucking companies and can provide there services on this matter. Things will be resolved only when one takes action towards it.

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Trucker News

Trucking Speed Limits proposal by NHTSA under Consideration

Keeping in mind the trucker safety and there requests National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said it will work towards the rule proposal through which the truck manufacturer companies will have to install a mechanism or device which will limit the driving speed of the heavy trucks to 68 mph. This will be brought to effect by 2012.
American Trucking Association and Road Safe America has made a petition to give this rule a way so that the truck accidents which are caused by the speeding factors could be limited and the truck drivers job could be made more safe. These petitions were granted by NHTSA in the Federal Register posting which was conducted last week. Though the NHTSA has granted ATA and Road Safe America petitions that does not mean the final rule regarding the speed limit is issued. NHTSA further laid emphasis on two studies conducted which suggests that these speed limiting device has the potential to decrease the severity of crash.
Bill Graves, ATA president said they are happy that there petition will be soon considered and a rule will be implemented. The petition was first filed by ATA to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in October 2006. The safety on the road can be increased when the traffic on the road is slowed down the ATA president said we tried to do this on our part for the sake of the trucking industry.
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Now everybody knows that with the restrictions on the trucking speed limit the number of speed related crash will be reduced. However the rule is not implemented yet as the FMCSA is conducting studies on the economic effects of the introduction of this speed limiting rule. The reports from this study will be open to public in 90 days.
The fuel efficiency will surely be affected when the truck speed is less than 68mph. But one can obviously compromise on fuel efficiency where the truck driver life and safety is concerned. Many other industrialized countries have already implemented this rule and there can be noticed a drastic reduction in the accidents caused due to speeding. From the Schneider carrier company’s internal crash reports it is evident that the trucks with no speed limiters accounts for 40% of the total serious collisions. So there is a great need of this rule to be implemented in United States also.
Where this proposal is welcomed by many, there are some trucking companies and owner operators who say such decision is more likely to increase the risk as all the vehicles on the highway should run on the same speed and the varied speed causes more accidents. Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says setting the speed limit will not reduce the number of accidents on the highways. Other aspect against the speed limiters is that with slow moving trucks there will be increased congestion on the US highways thus affecting the overall productivity of the trucking companies. This will in turn delay the dispatch service of the available loads.
With the mixed views and suggestions NHTSA is strong in making way to the proposal to set speed limiters for trucks.

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Carriers

EOBR Use – A Problem or Relief? for Owner Operators

Electronic On Board Recorder is an instrument which can be installed in the semi-truck. This device is used to record the exact running time of the truck. This will in turn keep the track of the driving hours of the driver. There is a never ending debate on its application to the US trucking industry. This article will discuss some of the advantages of having this EOBR also known as the black box to your truck.
The EOBR regulation will come into effect from 1st June 2012. According to this rule the owner operators and trucking companies who violates the hours of service rule for drivers in the 10 percent of cases will have to install this Electronic on Board Recorder to keep control over there driving activities. The functions of an EOBR will be to record the location where the duty is changed and where the truck is moving. The driver will have the options to maintain the information on the recorder but the recorder will be programmed to keep the original as well as fed information intact for future use. The information will be digitally recorded so that in case of any mishap the safety officials can retrieve the data. EOBR is used in same way as the paper log books are used. It will keep track of all operational and functional processes; record the truck loading and unloading time with location. It will also store the time a driver spends in his sleeping berth.
The Owner-Operator Independent Truck Drivers Association is highly opposing the imposition of this rule. As they say that the paper logs are as effective as the recorder and that the recorder will hinder in the day to day life of a driver and affect his privacy. However the FMCSA is adamant of taking this regulation into effect from 2012. The target will be first only on the hour of service rule violators that will count to some 6000 fleets. Then the rule will be a mandate for more number of carriers.
The trucker who have voluntarily adopted the Electronic On Board Recorder or their carrier company have installed them on their truck find it useful and easy to use. The truck driver can now manage their work time more efficiently. They know how long they have to work .They will drive the truck for 14 hours and sleep for 10 hours, thus driving the truck for no more than 70 hours a week. This way they can plan which available loads they should select. They will also not sit idle and waste their time on the truck stops. After they finish the unloading they can look for more loads by making use of the loadboards.
In case of accidents the recording of the EOBR will tell whether the driver was guilty or not. It will tell precisely the trucker was out of service hours at the time of incident or not. When you first place it in your semi-truck you might face some difficulty to operate in the start. But in long run you would see that it becomes a necessity and also helps you earn more money by following a scheduled work culture.

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Business

Changing Times

With the 2010 elections behind us we can now look forward to the 112th Congress and what it might have in store for the trucking industry. There are several important trucking issues that the new Congress should address, but there is no guarantee that they will make progress on them. Highway funding, parking safety, Mexican trucking, and other hefty issues will rear their head in 2011, but will there be any resolution?

The U.S. House of Representatives, which the Republicans took control of, is where the greatest change occurred. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will remain the leader of the House Democrats, but Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, is the new Speaker of the House. In a somewhat surprising election result, longtime House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar lost his re-election bid. Not only was this a gain for the Republicans, but it means the trucking industry has a new committee chairman. At the time of this writing, that chairmanship has not yet been assigned, but it is likely to go to Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla.

Oberstar’s former committee may have the most transportation-related work to do in the upcoming Congress. The Highway Trust Fund continues to operate on a deficit. This is the fund that pays for road improvements and other highway infrastructure improvements. The real challenge is that the gas tax simply isn’t covering expenses (though some might argue earmarks not related to highways are helping cause this deficit). Newly elected Republicans have suggested one of the first things they will do during the next Congress is to ban earmarks, so that could be an interesting and distracting debate that could keep officials focused on issues other than infrastructure and potentially kill current plans.

Oberstar has urged Congress to approve a one-year extension of the current highway legislation so the new Congress can have time to “come to agreement on a funding mechanism for a six-year bill.” This is the same omnibus funding bill that has failed to leave the floor of the House the last two years. The challenge for Oberstar and his recommendation was that the remainder of 2010 was a lame-duck session in Congress. Yes, they should extend the current bill that they failed to fully renew after it officially expired on Sept. 30, 2009, but they also needed to pass a continuing resolution to make certain the federal government can operate after Dec. 3, 2010. As it turns out, they failed to pass this omnibus bill, too.

Though the Republicans in the Senate gained five seats, the Democrats maintained control of the upper house. The five additional Republican seats all but guarantee numerous opportunities for stalemates on major policy issues – possibly including the Major Highway Bill. The 112th Congress will also have its hands full with environmental-, safety- and trade-related issues. The Obama administration continues to negotiate and consider reinstituting the cross-border trucking program with Mexico. And Congress will likely see a new bill introduced to address truck parking safety (Jason’s Law).
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Should those of us in the trucking industry be excited by the new makeup of Congress? It’s tough to gauge, but probably not. The first several months will be devoted to partisan bickering as those newly elected to Congress attempt to reverse many of the steps the Obama administration has taken. Any reversal attempts on major issues like health reform will likely be unsuccessful and will only serve to divert resources from those issues that can successfully be addressed – like actually doing their truck driver job and passing an omnibus highway funding bill.

So, expect more of the same partisanship. And expect it to intensify as we approach the end of 2011 and enter the 2012 election cycle. It’s interesting how change can often bring more status quo.

Source: http://ptcchallenge.com/2011/01/changing-times/

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Business

Debate over the Working Time of Truck Drivers

In spite of a period of struggle by the organization, there is no indisputable situation that single version of law is superior to a new in positions of security and realism. Neither is probable to stay: Trucking is extremely varied and multifaceted occupation, it’s tough to count special effects of protection guidelines. Possibly by way of results, the laws are intensely debated.
In the meantime, trucking companies and execution community endure to mien occupation in operating limitation that is matter to modification by years by means of lawsuit developments and law implementation progress.
Below the expressions of the contract with Citizens and further assemblies tangled in frequent proceedings against present rulings, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has till twenty six July 2011, to present fresh regulation. The petitioner have the backup of permission to come back to the law court if even fresh ruling does not suit them, their original declaration clearly specifies that they do not liable to be reassuring.
They admit the organization’s inclination of modifying the eleven hour day-to-day reefer drivers perimeter to only ten hours, but strictly oppose their readiness to reflect possession of eleven hour limitation. They understand the obligation that drivers grow 2 nights of the break in their thirty four hour resume as the development but yet will favor the forty eight hour resume.
On another sideways, American trucking association speaks the suggestion is “excessively difficult, block occupied of pointless limitations on expert truck motorists and on its central, would considerably decrease trucking output.”
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The organization told that it’s suggesting variations in present time of facility instructions to provide motorists litheness to receive a breakdown through daytime and decrease fitness and care dangers of lengthy times of labor. Here is a fact on variations and organization’s foundation.
Everyday motoring Time
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is bearing in mind the option of preventive everyday heavy motoring hours to ten hours in spite of the present eleven hours in spite of heavy loads available. The organization told that it favors ten hour duty time but still is observing for remarks and statistics on the present subject.
The essence of the organization’s explanation on present opinion is this that it doesn’t have sufficient dependable info to create the appeal any method.
“Assumed the vague but established association amid exhaustion, time about action, hour’s sleeplessness, and hour’s labor, here is sensible dispute for preventive motoring time to ten hours’ time,” the assistance speaks. It’s watching the statistics to compute several alterations in danger amid ten and eleven hours’ time. “A reply will crack on deliberating whole amount of smashes in every period and proportion of the heavy driving which receive residence in every sixty minutes.”
The organization confesses American trucking associations spat that preventing driving period to ten hours’ time will need transporters to employ additional inexpert drivers to cover available loads that will upsurge danger over the highway, nonetheless speaks the problem is not by way of grave as American Trucking Association proposes.
Most cargo are little heaved, and such truck loads available heavy motorists aren’t probable to drive ten hours period, not talking about eleven, the organization stated. In lengthy tow processes, twenty seven percentage of heavy motoring time lengthy into eleventh period, but it will be definitely increase exercise and administration of fresh drivers, the organization stated.

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Carriers Newbies

LTL Freight Performance

Frozen Food specific Industries (primarily Dallas based frozen food transporter with truck load and lesser than truckload freight services) released its fiscal results for the 2nd quarter of 2010. The first emphasis of the transporter is to drag temperature controlled and iced up perishables for the fitness care, sweet, and foodstuff industries. The transporter conjointly comprises a third party logistics (3pl) division to surpass requirements of transporters and other cargo brokerage clients.
The Firm’s CEO specified the transporter as an improved stress on facility quality and asset application. Mr. Stubbs trusts the main objective on lucrative client holding can upsurge limitations in trucking companies and rise in tonnage and cargo count on the LTL unit similarly. A mixture of any departure of opponents and shrink in existing capability has enhanced the merchandise shipping and logistics bazaar. These economic issues allowed Cold Foodstuff specific reduction in their pre-tax damage by quite a forty one.
In spite of income exclusively indicating up September 11, the occupation of current machine, upsurge in prizing, and absence of participants permitted for these enhanced results. For the previous 6 months but, the functioning income had reduced fairly third-dimensional. Truck efficiency (sedated by revenue per truck / week) was conjointly up by reasonably four-dimensional all over the quarter because the marketplace has appeared to offhand contain by the favor of the available loads. In 2009 Frozen Food unambiguously said they’d dogged to park a slight of their present tractors till the marketplace came. Presently the commercial market seems to be setting them into facility because the marketplace continues to reinforce.
Transporters are conjointly ready to retort to the cargo marketplace. Shipper managers say they require a willingness on a portion of the transporters and logistics firms to normalize valuing to reflect the constriction of the market. Truck Drivers approaching to figure out will certainly simplify the conveyance occupation yield to effectiveness as merchandise expenses escalate off of conventionally low ranks. Numerous transporters have accepted cost-saving methods as harms through the latest assortment of years. Through the 2nd quarter of the 2010, most haulers have seen improved results from a mix of a good freight pricing atmosphere and fall outs of those transporter values saving methods.
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Frozen Food definite senses a massive portion of its achievement through these stormy financial periods are the supervise obligation to the commercial and slyness to pursuit new productivity in all stages of the maneuver. The shipper remains to possess a potent money situation while not mortgages outer of its credit contract. Frozen Food specific has nearly 7 million greenbacks in cash, 83 million in shareholder equity and no unresolved debt.
It seems transporters have recovered an authority within the transpiration skill. Many Transporters and third party logistics corporations have stated advanced than predictable wages and tapering losses due to constriction ability and dense overhead. A monetary release inside truck driver job certainly seems to be happening. Let’s anticipate a thrust permits for a continued financial retrieval not just for merchandise and transport, though conjointly for the wider economy.

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Business

Find a Loadboard for Trucking Jobs

When an owner operator is running his truck to carry the load from one location to another he is more often worried about the returning of an empty truck. The area covered by the truck without any load is termed as dead head miles. Since the trucker or the owner operator might not know the area he is heading to dispatch the load, it is hard for him to personally find any loads that he would carry in his return journey on the empty truck. To combat this situation load boards are becoming very popular these days.
Now with the use of the online load boards the drivers can search for the loads available for their return journey too. All they need is to place the availability of their truck on the particular date with the start and end destination. Load boards are also highly effective for independent truck drivers for example hotshot drivers looking for loads when there truck is not on the road.
Similarly the load board is acting fruitful for the freight brokers and shippers who are looking for the truck drivers to carry their available loads. The shippers can specify the need of the type of trailers and the journey details. Load boards act as a meeting place for the truck drivers and shippers.
Now the question is How to find an efficient load board which works as best load board for you?
Do online research about any load boards and read the testimonials to know about its services. Review the terms and conditions of the load board so that you are in a profitable situation at the end of it all. An efficient load board should be easy to use so that the searches are made quickly and you can go back to the roads in no time. The requirements placed on the load

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Lifestyle Newbies Trucker News

Changing Times for Trucking Transportation

Transportation via trucks in the United States is the primary source of goods and materials transportation means over land. This can be marked as the most interesting and revolutionary period for the trucking sector seen so far. Competition is tougher than ever, quality and services are better than ever. The benefits are equally reaped by big and small fishes in the business owing to the technology advancements and industry awareness. Truck driver employment requires a relatively higher qualification now. Regulations by the highway and other national authorities are getting harder to meet.

The business had very few competitors in the past. Now the things are changing and the trucking industry is facing increased challenges everyday. The train cargo services are expanding their network and reach. Trucking is also the obvious choice for medium to small businesses but some large chains and companies are shifting their trend toward the train cargo services due to decreased time of transportation. Innovative designs of carriages allow the shipping company to carry more loads in a single journey. However the trains have a drawback that they can never overcome, that is they need rail roads to carry goods around. So, quite simply trucks have access to some areas where trains cannot go, yet. To beat the competition the truckers have also implemented their market strategies and provide an easy and convenient option to haul available loads.

In the present tough and turbulent economic times when clients demand more loads to be transferred in less time and with cheaper price, trucking sector is experiencing some down trends. Individuals and their families associated with the business are also affected. Truck driving jobs get reduced when there is comparatively low freight and cargo to be carried.
Many reasons are behind the scene to the present day situation of the trucking section in United States. Cost of fuel in local and international market is attributed as the main cause of the problem. The uncertainty in the fuel pricing makes the business somewhat more risky than usual overall.

Truck driving jobs have become more and more demanding. Authorities and individual carrier companies of goods transportation are imposing tougher regulations and rules for their drivers. In this situation the freight forwarding companies and the freight broker wants to survive and thus their demands for load transporters are getting higher and higher every day. Even if the owner operator uses the truck load boards, the one who bids lowest gets the deal

The most important change in the truck load carrying sector is that now the loads are available online. All truckers are free to bid on their desired load. The competition in the Industry is causing lower transportation rates and also choice to truckers whenever and whatever load they want to transport.

With access to internet in their vehicles the truckers are now available to plan their route to maximize the loads. They have also increased their capacity of load per truck; this affects cost of transportation and gives truckers an edge. Some larger trucking companies have online load tracking facility for their clients. This increases confidence and reliability of the trucking company and of the sector overall.

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Carriers Trucker News

Tarp Use to Secure Flatbed Freight Loads

Tarpaulin or Tarp as more generally referred to is used to secure the freight and cargo during the journey. With the use of the tarp the cargo is held in place providing the safety for the cargo, the trucker and others on the road. There are many different types of tarps available for different purposes. The fabric with the required traits is weaved to form a tarp of varied qualities. Some of the tarps used to secure trucks by the trucking companies are waterproof tarps, Vinyl tarps and Mesh tarps. Waterproof tarps are a requisite especially for flatbed trucks during rain and snow fall. Mesh Tarp is used at the rear of the truck to secure the perishable goods. The types of trucks that use tarps are Trailers, Pick-up trucks, Camper trucks, Dump trucks and Flatbed trucks.
The uses of tarp are many they will be as effective in heat as they are in the cold. They will prevent the damage of the goods from the debris floating in the air and also prevents the loose and light weighted cargo to fly off. Such flying off goods causes cargo loss as well is unsafe. It is very easy to use the tarp and with wide range of options available it is very economic too. The tarp with grommets of high quality will be very useful in effectively tying the tarp and keeping it in place during the long journey hours. If the grommet selected is rust resistant then it will increase the life of your tarp with one time extra investment. There are specially treated tarps available to increase its toughness and resistivity. The common protection they provide is from water other than this they are very effective in protection from mildew, mold, and rip. They also guard the goods carried against harmful UV rays.
Easy to handle tarps can be effectively put to use and does not cause damage in case if the available loads for hauling are fragile. Traditional rope knotting sometimes caused damage to the goods. However in the case of tarps since they are held in place with the use of hooks and straps, they are a much safer and convenient option. To tie a tarp the cables are used which easily passes through the tarp grommets for support and perfect fit.
Since Flatbed trucks are completely open the flatbed drivers need a very high quality industrial tarp to secure the goods hauled by them. The tarps which are available for commercial purposes have a rubber coating outside which makes it more strong and durable. Make sure you take the correct measurements into account before buying the tarp else the whole purpose of getting the tarp will remain unsolved if it does not cover the goods properly. In case of dump trucks the tarp is attached as a roller near to the back of the cab. The rolled tarp can be unrolled and brought back till the end of the truck body to cover the freight as required.
There are a plenty of online retailers available from where you can get good deal in buying a tarp for your truck. As an owner operator you can make the use of the advertisements placed on several load boards to find one for yourself.