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I am a proud retired professional driver with more than 44 years and 5.3 million accident-free miles behind the wheel.

Dear Motor Carriers and Shippers:

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In an effort to keep you informed of state legislative changes in Texas that could potentially affect your business, I am sending you this letter as a courtesy.

These Letters to the Editor appear in the Sept. 16 print edition of Transport Topics.

Reading the July 15 article titled “Carriers Say Wheel Covers Cut Fuel Costs By Making Vehicles More Aerodynamic” raised a flag with my safety sense. Working for a fleet safety firm, we conduct fleet inspections and compliance review audits for carriers looking to improve/maintain their safety performance and scores for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

I just heard about the impending pilot shortage and the new regulatory requirement for 1,500 hours to qualify — five times the existing requirement.

This is in reference to your Sept. 17 issue story about the proposed 85 mph speed limit for 41 miles of State Highway 130 in Texas (p. 3).

Regarding the March 26 editorial, “FMCSA’s Safety Blunder”: At the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, our top priority is making our roads safer by reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving commercial trucks and buses.

The item in your Feb. 27 issue titled “CSA Scores Help Shippers Avoid Potential Lawsuits” fell regrettably short of your usual standards for objective, well-informed and fact-based reporting on the trucking industry.

I have attended several meetings of American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council where participants have stated they simply want to know how many years a component will last.

I’m writing in response to the Oct. 3 article about the “new” Volvo drivetrain package: “Volvo Offers New Powertrain Package for VN Trucks.”