The hours-of-service final rule has rounded the corner and is heading into the final stretch – for now anyway. Tuesday, Nov. 1, FMCSA submitted the final hours-of-service regulation to the Office of Management and Budget.

OOIDA Member Mike Schiotis had no plan when he stopped his rig and put himself in harm’s way to help a woman who he thought had been injured in a car wreck or a “road rage incident.” Schiotis, of Spring Hill, TN, told Land Line that he was traveling northbound on Interstate 380 near mile marker 8 around 9 p.m. on Monday when he noticed two cars on the side of the road.

The recent OOIDA legal victory that vacated a regulation mandating electronic on-board recorders for “bad actors” has also sent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration back to the drawing board on its proposed full EOBR mandate.

A final rule that would restrict the use of cellphones for drivers of commercial vehicles continues to advance and may be only days away from publication. One of several actions initiated by federal agencies to target distracted driving, this rule targets hand-held cellphone use but would permit hands-free operation.

Idaho officials are looking for some help from truckers residing in the state. More specifically, the state’s Transportation Board is looking for professional drivers to serve on a trucking advisory panel. The council will advise the board on safety issues, and laws and rules that affect Idaho trucking operations. Highway improvement recommendations also are sought.

Election Day is less than one week away and voters in various central Ohio communities will be making decisions on funding for street, road and bridge maintenance.

Truckers shouldn’t see any big changes when Pilot-Flying J takes over seven of the eight Bosselman Travel Centers early next year.

Twelve of the sweetest rigs on the road grace the pages of the 29th anniversary edition of the Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar. The 2012 calendar includes many winners from SuperRigs, the premier working truck beauty contest, held earlier this year at the Kenly 95 Petro in Kenly, NC.

The days of truckers telling state licensing agencies that their medical certifications are current are just about over because of a new regulation going into effect in January. FMCSA issued a final rule in 2008 that changes the way states must verify the medical certification for truckers either renewing or applying for a CDL.

Rumors have been flying around about the future of GMJ Co. Inc. after its abrupt shutdown on Oct. 21. GMJ Chief Executive Officer George Hersh told Land Line on Oct. 28 that it’s “highly doubtful” that the GMJ companies will re-emerge after their $9 million line of credit was suspended by Kaw Valley Bank in Topeka, KS, on Oct. 21.

For truckers who travel the Interstate 70 corridor through Missouri, their search to find safe truck parking may get a little easier in the near future. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced it has received a $1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to build new truck parking spaces along the I-70 corridor.

If you are a current OOIDA member, an important piece of mail is now headed your way. Every two years, OOIDA holds an election for alternates to the Association’s Board of Directors. Alternates are elected by and from the membership for two-year terms.

Three months remain before Wyoming state lawmakers convene the 2012 session but that has not stopped a transportation panel from coming up with a list of highway funding measures to pursue.

Voters around the country will fill out ballots next week for elected offices and various ballot issues. Although most states have seen their deadlines to register to vote come and go, potential voters in fewer than 10 states still have time to ensure their opportunity to cast a ballot on Nov. 8.