Hot Tub Safety Tips

If you are going to own a hot tub there are certain safety tips that should be taught to yourself or anyone who intends to use the hot tub.

The very first item, as far as safety goes, is to never let a child near the hot tub without adult supervision.  It is the first point of critical knowledge that is needed for hot tub safety.  Even if you know the child to be an Olympic swimmer, please, do not ever, for any amount of time, leave the child alone within the area of the hot tub, it's just too dangerous and preventable to take the risk.  

Drowning, like in any pools or bodies of water, are the number one causes of fatalities in regards to hot tubs.  Because the effects of a hot tub are to induce relaxation, awareness of how long a person should stay in the tub is important to mention.  Too many times there have been people, even adults, who have relaxed to the point of falling asleep and drowning as a result.  Always keep in mind that the effects of soaking in the hot tub and the benefits they bring can also cause dizziness, light-headedness and sometimes confusion so it is best to be aware of these possible side effects whenever you or someone new comes into your hot tub.  

Two of the most dangerous problems with hot tubs are these: body part entrapment and hair entanglement.  When a drain is working properly, its function is to suction the water from the bottom of the pool and circulate it through the heating units and back into the hot tub.  Because these drains can be powerful, it is worth noting that there have been instances where a body part has become sucked into the drain, which has caused the person to be held under water.  As you may know, if a drain is partially blocked, it will work extra hard (producing more suction) in order to get the job done and this just endangers someone who may not be aware of it.  It is best if there can be two drains working together so if one becomes blocked, it will allow the other to pick up the slack and there will be a much less chance of causing a part of someone's body to become entrapped in the drain. 

The other safety issue is hair entanglement.  This is particularly dangerous when someone with long hair falls asleep or becomes too relaxed to untangle themselves quickly enough and the end result is usually drowning because their hair has caused their head to be held under water for too long.  One safety measure that can be helpful in this type of situation is being aware of the emergency cut-off switch is located and responding immediately to turn the power of the drains off, in order to allow the hair to become untangled.  

It really doesn't take much more than good common sense to keep everyone safe in a hot tub but it does require some understanding of what can go wrong; and what to do if it does.

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Hot Tub Options " daily4info.blogspot.com "

If you've been considering the purchase of a hot tub or spa, you may be surprised to find out how many different options are available to you.  As the medical community continues to acknowledge the many health benefits that a person can achieve with a 15-20 minute soak, the popularity of these has continued to climb.  As the popularity climbs, so do the options for the type of hot tub you may purchase, no matter where your price range may be.

In the past hot tubs were not just of a limited variety, but they were considered an extravagance that only the rich and famous could afford.  Fortunately for us today, the prices have become very reasonable and the options that these units come in will accommodate any taste and/or price range that is needed.

When they first hit the market, hot tubs were either built into the ground, usually with a swimming pool or they were enormous, bulky items that you really needed a lot of room in order for it to fit into your home or on your deck.  Today there are options that you may not even be aware of because at one time, the average American just could not afford the expense of the unit itself, and the increase in their electric bill along with the care and maintenance was too far out of reach.

Today the options for hot tubs is enormous and they range from size to style to how much room you need to accommodate it!  It is still popular to include a spa when having a built in swimming pool installed on your property and with the different designs and ornate decorations that can be added to make the area unique, the sky is truly, the limit.  

Hot tubs, which are different from spas, because they are free-standing units are available in the traditional, wooden paneled tub, there are fiberglass options, there are portable hot tubs, kits you can get in order to build the hot tub yourself and there are even solar hot tubs for those of you who are contentious about the environment and concerned about what a hot tub will do to your electric bill.  

Portable hot tubs are all the rage with people who have a summer place, even if its at a camp ground, these tubs are made of an inflatable material that when rolled out, can be blown up and can be a source of relaxation no matter where you might be.  This is a great option if you're concerned about the unit taking up too much room, if it were set up as a permanent fixture in your home.  

Kits can be ordered online and although the companies themselves will usually just supply the patterns and a list of supplies that will be needed, there are other companies in their association where all of the materials can be ordered and shipped right to your house. 

No matter what option you are looking for in the purchase of a hot tub, there is a manufacturer out there who can and will make it for you.

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Hot Tub Gazebos " daily4info.blogspot.com "

Having a hot tub in your back yard, or on a deck, is no longer the luxury that only the wealthiest of people could afford.  Today, hot tubs come in so many shapes and sizes that it is feasible that all kinds of incomes could afford one.  

When you have a hot tub out in the yard you are also afforded the option of building a gazebo to add beauty and functionality to the hot tub experience.

Having a gazebo to enhance the beauty of the hot tub is another option that is no longer something for the wealthy.  There are many different types of gazebos and they can be built for little money, by the owner or they can be ordered and specialized for more cost.  No matter which option is chosen, a gazebo for your hot tub will only make the experience of soaking in it more enjoyable.  

What types of hot tub gazebos are there?  Some gazebos come with the idea of an open-air experience.  They are built with the roof and the supporting sides, but the openings are left bare to allow for the breeze to make an impression.  These gazebos are less likely to be enough for those who are looking for more privacy in their hot tub space but there is always the option of hanging some kind of curtain when privacy is required.  

How about the hot tub owner who is in close proximity to neighbors or a busy street?  If that is the case, there are designs of hot tub gazebos that have screens, blinds, shutters and other options for the feeling of privacy.  One idea for lighting if one of the enclosed hot tub gazebos is preferred is to fill the inside of the roof with tiny Christmas lights and it will simulate the night sky.  Or there are many other lighting options that will bring a sense of customization that can be offered from built in lighting, where the lighting is built into the ceiling and the support walls.  Maybe you are more interested in the candlelight effect?  There are ways to custom build shelves that will allow you to place decorative candles that will keep them within a safe range, where they will not catch fire.  

Today there are hot tub gazebos that have incredible stereo systems and they can have the entire system built into the structure itself, or they can have wireless speakers that are connected to the home's stereo system, where there isn't a fear of having any electrical items too close to the tub itself.  

Some companies offer the option of having a custom gazebo built and in that case you could sit down with a designer, or architect, and design whatever you choose for the enclosure of your hot tub.  These custom-designs have a great selling-point and that is; no matter how outrageous you want your hot tub gazebo to be, if you have the imagination, it can be built.  Close your eyes and dream up anything, and it can be achieved.  

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Health Benefits of Hot Tubs

Over the past few years it has become evident that the health professionals endorse the use of hot tubs and spas as a way of healing the body.  

When you think about how we all came into the world, we started in water, and it makes sense that by having a place to relax in water at a perfect temperature, how beneficial that could be (and is).  

Americans today are much more contentious about their health and have come to stand by their health care professional's opinions about the healing benefits of sitting in a hot tub or spa.
Whether you are looking for a way to enhance your physical body or your peace-of-mind, the way to go is in a hot tub.

The heart is designed to pump blood in response to our body's demands or requests.  The heart has to work a lot less when the body's temperature is elevated (not too much) and are in a state of buoyancy.  You can relieve your body weight by 20% when in a tub or pool up to your neck in water.  Just the effects of the natural gravitational pull that are lessened by doing this is well worth looking into if you are pursuing optimal health.

While relaxing in a hot tub, the health benefits are numerous; and include the simple fact that when you are immersed in water up to your neck the volume of blood in your chest cavity and even in your heart will increase and that's the best thing you can do for your circulation system.  More of the health benefits that can be gained by regular immersion in a hot tub include benefits to your pulmonary, musculoskeletal, renal and endocrine systems.

By your heart pumping in the conditions of a relaxing hot tub and the fact that you are not putting all of your body's weight in stress, these benefits will be a great advantage for any owner of a hot tub or spa.  While your heart's ability to pump blood goes up, and your heart rate is enjoying a bit of a slow down, your cardiovascular system can become more efficient right along with every other working system of the body.  

There are almost too many health benefits to mention that will be enjoyed by the hot tub user that naming them all would take up too much time but here are a few more health benefits; water has always been known to soothe pain away, it can (and will) loosen up cramped muscles, sitting in the water up to your neck you will also have the added benefit of having the vapors from the steam entering your nose and possibly loosening up any congestion that is going on within.  One of the most beneficial ways regular hot tub or spa use can help is with sleep.

How many nights have you spent, churning up inside over any and every little thing and the more you try to sleep, the more wide awake you get?  When you step out of a hot tub, you feel naturally relaxed and drowsy and all you need next is your pillow and a blanket in order to enjoy a good night's rest.

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De-Stress with A Hot Tub (daily4info)

If you are an American adult, you have stress.  It's everywhere, all around us; whether it's the boardroom, the classroom, or the weekly volunteering you do at the city museum, no matter where you are in life, you have stress.  

Stress can come in all shapes and sizes and for most of us, the options of dealing with our stress comes in the form of unhealthy choices; drinking, smoking, eating, and so on.  How can we address our stress without bringing any of the questionable forms of relaxation into the mix, too?  A hot tub will do the trick and you can reap the benefits of de-stressing in a hot tub by using it just a few times a week for 15-20 minutes.  

It makes you wonder why every American home doesn't come with a hot tub built right in.  With the way the popularity of the hot tub is increasing and the need for us to have a way to de-stress is always an issue, I wouldn't be surprised if we were to start seeing just that happen, homes will be built with the hot tub all ready to go when the owner moves in!  

The medical communities have addressed the issue of everyday stress and the harm it can do to if it is not taken seriously and dealt with.  It is widely recommended for a portion of the day, if it were to be spent in a relaxing and/or meditative manner, that the benefits will be amazing to the individual.  Just getting into a hot tub can do the work of de-stressing for just about anyone and the great relief in being able to let go of some of the everyday stress is priceless.

What makes the idea of de-stressing with a hot tub and not just some quiet time is that when you sit in a hot tub, your blood is able to move more freely in your expanded veins and capillaries and your body is no longer being affected by 100% gravitational pull.  The fact that your body is able to have a buoyant affect can take up to 30% of the pressure you carry around all day when you are not in a buoyant state that adds stress to your physical body all the time.  

There are hot tubs that come with lounging chairs and are equipped with jets to blow water and air at any of your ailing parts that need the attention.  Any number of hot tubs can be specifically and personally equipped to address any areas of your body that are particularly stressed.  For some people it is their neck and back.  There are hot tubs with just that de-stressing component in stalled; where the jets that are going to do the work on those parts of your body are custom-fit for a specific seat in the hot tub.

Maybe the issue you have is that the bottoms of your feet are achy at the end of the day.  There are hot tubs that have the jets directly on the floor where you would sit upright and feel their healing power.  No matter where stress takes its toll, a hot tub will help the de-stressing process.

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Summer Memory Jars

Instead of keeping a journal or starting a scrap book a child may be interested in making 
their own memory jar from the summer.  If all the memories will not fit into one jar they 
may want to make several for special days or outings that happened during the summer 
break.

What you will need is a large clear glass jar with a lid.  This can be used from an empty 
pickle jar or other food container that is empty and has been cleaned out.  If you are 
having trouble getting the entire label off, you can use nail polish remover to dissolve the 
glue and paper that is still stuck.

Have the child collect small mementos or other meaningful objects that will fit inside a 
jar.  They can be photographs, a special rock found, something they made, a friendship 
bracelet, the options are really only limited to their imagination.  A good example for a 
day trip memory jar is one from the beach.  Fill the bottom part of the jar with sand or 
pebbles that were collected from the beach, add in some shells and other interesting finds.  
Take a picture of your child at the beach and they can use it as a backdrop for the items.

As time goes on the children may want to open their jars, and rearrange them and as long 
as they are careful with the glass that is fine.  Put up a shelf in their room and they can 
have a collection of memory jars.  Put a label on the top of the jar with the date or date 
range and the location of where the items were collected.  These can be kept for years as 
a lasting reminder of the fun they had growing up and going to special places with mom 
and dad.

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Scavenger Hunts

A scavenger hunt is a fun way to keep little hands busy.  It can be pre-planned or spur of 
the moment, either way it will still be great fun.  This is a great activity for children of all 
ages, for younger children make it simple and tell them exactly what they are looking for.  
If you are playing with older children, give them hints and see if they can guess and find 
what they are supposed to be looking for.

The best type of scavenger hunt is a nature one that can be played in your backyard or in 
the park.  This will lessen the chances of children picking up garbage and having to leave 
your supervision to do their hunting.  A good rule of thumb for nature scavenger hunts is 
to incorporate a lesson for the kids and have them find items already on the ground so 
they can be gentle to nature.  Some examples of nature scavenger hunt items are:

* A special color or shaped leaf
* A flower – specify color or type
* Rocks – size, shape, or color
* Ladybug, ant, or a worm
* Moss
* Pinecone
* Anything of a certain color

With some pre-planning and a trip to the dollar store you can have a scavenger hunt with 
any theme you can think of.  Turn it into a secret agent mission and hide clues that they 
have to find or make it a treasure hunt and hide chocolate gold coins that they have to 
hunt for.  This is an activity that can take at least an hour or more.  If you have older 
children and know your neighbors quite well, you can include items that they can knock 
on doors to find – a penny from a certain year, a cinnamon stick, an unmatched sock – 
have fun with it.

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Homemade Play Dough

Store bought play dough is fun to play with but you can make your own at home for less 
and part of the fun is making it with the kids.  Here is a easy to follow recipe that can be 
made on the stove or in the microwave:

* 1 cup of flour
* 1 cup of water
* 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
* ½ cup of salt
* 1 tablespoon of oil
* Food coloring (optional)

Combine all the ingredients in a pot or microwave safe dish and mix until it is lump-
free.  Then on the stove stir over low heat until the mixture starts to thicken being 
careful that it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom.  Stop when it is the consistency you 
want for the play dough.  When making the play dough in the microwave cook it in 
small increments on a lower power setting.  Take it out and stir at least every 45 
seconds.  Again, you are done when the play dough has reached the desired 
consistency.

Let the children play and build whatever they want.  If they don’t already have toys 
designated for play dough let them use some kitchen utensils such as cookie cutters 
and a rolling pin.  It is food safe and easy to clean-up afterwards.

If something is sculpted or made that the child is particularly proud of, set it in the 
sun for a day or two and let it dry out.  It should harden nicely and they will be able to 
keep it for some time.

Charge the children to use the dough to find different textures around the house or 
outside.  Gently press the play dough into the textured surface and see if the children 
can guess what it came from (like the bottom of a shoe or a cheese grater).

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Build your own Sandbox

Kids of all ages love to play in the sand.  It can be a construction site, made into a sand 
castle or add water for a muddy mess.  It is easy and inexpensive to build a sandbox in 
your own back yard to enjoy for the entire summer.

When you are deciding where to put your sandbox try and find a location that gets a lot of 
shade throughout the day.  When the sun is hot, and the kids still want to be outside this 
will be a great activity for them if it is out of the sun.

All you will need are four boards, a weed barrier for the bottom, a tarp or piece of 
plywood for covering and the sand.  Nail the four boards together into a square shape and 
then take the weed barrier and affix with a staple gun.  If you do not want to use a weed 
blocker or barrier, you can nail a piece of plywood to the bottom of the frame you made 
but this will require measurements and a bit more planning.  Then add your sand.  

The cover is a nice touch to keep out rain and unwanted animals such as cats digging in 
the sandbox.  But it is not a necessity.  Now relax as the children spend hours creating 
cities and other imaginative buildings in their very own sandbox.

If you do not have enough pails and shovels or other sand toys available for all the 
children, raid the recycling box and re-use old plastic containers to fill and pour sand 
with.  If the children want the sand to stay together like it does in at the beach you can 
give them some water to play with.  The sand will dry and if you use the weed barrier it 
will allow water to drain out of the sandbox.

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School Is Out – Keeping the Kids Busy

It’s the end of June, school is out and the kids are ecstatic.  You may be a bit 
overwhelmed not knowing how you are going to entertain you children for the entire 
summer.  They are used to being in school for the majority of their days and now they are 
free and clear to do as they please and it is up to you that they stay busy.  Or is it?

Yes, children need activities to learn and have fun but it is also just important for them to 
have some free play time too.  So while you are planning all of the activities and outings 
for them to participate in remember that they need some free play time too.  Depending 
on the age of your children and their level of independence the free play time may take 
different forms.  For younger children independent time will have to be supervised but 
for older children it can be a nice break for both of you to let them play alone in their 
room or outside in the yard.  

Let your kids have a say in what goes on too.  Have a couple of options ready; let them 
help plan how you will spend the day. Letting your kids plan what goes on in the day is a 
sure way to get their buy-in and participation.  Just be sure that if there isn’t any wiggle 
room in what you have planned for the day you make it clear from the beginning.  When 
there are choices (limit them to two to three) ask and when there isn’t a choice simply tell 
them what is planned for the day.

A good balance between planned activities and free play or independent time will make 
for a fun-filled summer for the kids and for you too.

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Obstacle Courses

This summer activity can be played in the park, the beach, or in your backyard.  You can 

use props, actions or a combination of both.  When you set-up an obstacle course it 
doesn’t even have to be for a bunch of kids, one person can play this game too.

In your backyard set up stations and have the child or each child move from station to 
station in a different manner.  The can somersault to one, run backwards to the next, and 
skip to the last one.  Other methods of locomotion could include walking like a crab, 
crawling on all fours, walking sideways, hopping on one foot, or any other sill movement 
that can be thought of.  Using this method is also a tricky way to get kids to move along 
when you are out for a walk with them.  Pick a marker not too far in the distance and 
have them do a silly move to get to it first. 

When out at the park, use the play equipment to set-up an obstacle course for the kids.  
They may have to zigzag through the swings, go down the slide and then touch a tree to 
win.  Involve the kids and ask them what they think should be involved in the obstacle 
course or race.

Equipment that can be used to make the course more challenging are jump ropes, safety 
cones, different size balls, and other sporting equipment.  An obstacle course is anything 
that makes it trickier to get from point A to point B.  You can add in a task for older kids 
to develop special skills like knot tying or balancing – have them balance on one foot on 
top of a log to the count of 15.  If they fall off they have to start all over again.

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Make a Wind Chime

The sound of a wind time in the summer breeze is very relaxing and making one can 
occupy the children for an afternoon.  The materials you will need are items that will 
make a pretty sound when they rub against each other (shells, beads, or even old 
utensils), something sharp to poke a hole through each item, a hammer, string, a round 
item (a lid or piece of wood) for the top, and a hook to hang the wind chime.

Once all the items are collected the adult should use the hammer and sharp object (such 
as a screwdriver) to make a hole in each object.  If the item is too hard to make a hole in 
(like a rock) tie string around it several times until it is secured.  After the holes are made 
tie a piece of string to each item.

Take your tools again and punch holes in the round lid that you are going to use, one for 
each item that will be hanging from the wind chime.  Thread the string through the hole 
and tie a knot so that it will not fall back through.  Poke two more holes in the lid and tie 
one piece of string through both holes and attach the hook. 

All that is left is to find the perfect spot for your wind chime.  Place it close enough so 
that it can be heard through an open window on a breezy day.  If the items do not knock 
against each other when the wind blows you may have to adjust the lengths of the string a 
few times until you get it just right.  Keep an eye on the wind chime to make sure it 
doesn’t loose any of the pieces.  If it does be sure to pick them up as they can pose a 
choking hazard to young children.

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Movie Day

Its summer time and you don’t want the kids cooped up in the house in front of the 
television set.  But a day here and there is not going to hurt and it could be a sanity saver 
for you on a wet and cold day.

Make it a planned event.  Go to the video store and let each child pick out their own 
video.  Make sure the ground rule is set.  They can pick out their own videos but have to 
agree to watch what the other children pick out too.  Make sure to pick up some popcorn 
if you don’t already have some at home.

Set the mood; let the kids create their own movie theatre in the living room.  Their movie 
theater can take the form of a fort, lawn chairs, or whatever else they can think up to 
make themselves comfortable for the movie marathon.

As the parent you will have to be in charge of the concession stand.  Popcorn is a given 
but also have some healthy snacks on hand to satiate their appetites.  Vegetable sticks and 
sandwiches are easy to make and if you are letting them eat in front of the television they 
won’t make a big mess.

When children are in front of the TV for extending periods of time their energy gets pent 
up and they are going to need a way to release it.  Come in between movies and have a 
stretch or exercise burst to shake away the sillies.  It can be just like the 9th inning stretch 
at baseball games.  Play follow the leader in the house or do jumping jacks – make it fun.

When the rain stops, send the kids outside.  You will find they won’t ask for TV as often 
with a few of these days thrown in each month.

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Bird Feeders

Kids are naturally attracted to animals and will love the birds that come to eat off of their 
homemade bird feeders.  The following instructions are for a very simple bird feeder that 
can be made again and again.  Once you put out food for birds and they start coming on a 
regular basis you should continue to feed them as they are rely on the feeders as a food 
source.

What you will need for this simple bird feeder is a piece of string or yarn, cereal in the 
shape of an “O”, peanut butter and birdseed.  It is going to be hung from a tree branch 
once completed. 

Give each child their own piece of string (can be anywhere from 6-12 inches) and have 
them string the cereal onto the string until it is full with about one inch left on each end.  
Take the string back and tie the ends together.  If you do not want this to turn into a 
messy activity, you can take the bird feeders outside as they are and hang on a tree 
branch.  

But to make them even tastier for the winged friends who will come you can smear 
peanut butter onto the cereal.  Once there is a coating on all the cereal pieces roll the 
string in a birdseed mix and it will stick to the peanut butter.  Bring the bird feeder 
outside and hang it so birds can come to eat.  

Be sure to place the bird feeder in a location that can be seen from inside the house.  The 
children are going to want to watch as the birds enjoy the meal they made for them.  As a 
bonus part of this activity, see how many different birds they children can identify as they 
come to eat the food.

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Bowling daily4info.blogspot.com

Kids love to bowl, being allowed to roll a ball to towards a target and knock it 
down takes skill and is fun to do.  You can take a trip to the local bowling 
alley or try these variations of the game that can be played at home - inside or 
outside the house.

If you have ten plastic soda bottles in your recycling box, fill the bottom with 
a small amount of sand or small pebbles.  Put in just enough that they will 
stand sturdily on their own but not too much that they are hard to knock over.  
And any ball that you have will do, the larger the ball the easier the game is 
to play.   Soccer balls and beach balls are ideal but if you really want to make 
it difficult you can use a baseball too.

Try to bowl on your kitchen table using a balloon as the ball and something very 
light as the pins (such as building blocks).  Instead of rolling the balloon try 
and blow it hard enough to move across the table and knock down the blocks.

For a version all kids will get a kick out of use yourself as a bowling ball.  
Somersault towards the targets (plastic pins you can buy at the store or the 
homemade version with pop bottles) and try to knock down as many as you can.  
Kids will think that this is hilarious, especially if mom and dad give it a try 
too.

If you do go to the bowling alley to play a game, ask them to put up the bumpers 
for the kids.  These are inflatable sections that fit into the gutters so the 
children do not get a gutter ball.  They will cut down on frustration for the 
younger and new bowlers.

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Making a Kite daily4info.blogspot.com

Flying a kite is good exercise and a lot of fun (even if you don’t get the kite up in the air).  

Instead of going out and buying a kite, make one instead.  You will need fabric (or very 

strong paper), strong glue, two wooden dowels and string.  

To begin, lay the two dowels in a cross position and use some of the string to lash the 

sticks together into that position.  You will do this by weaving the string in and out of the 

dowels.  Once the dowels are secure, put glue on the string and leave it to dry.  Once this 

is done you should have a strong frame for your kite.

The next step is to create a frame around your dowels using the string.  To make sure the 

string does not slip, cut a small notch at the end of each dowel.  Starting at one end, wrap 

the string around the dowel where the notch is and then bring the stringto the next dowel 

while keeping the string taut wrap it around the next dowel.  Continue until string is 

connecting all four dowels.  Again, put dabs of glue on the string where it meets the 

dowels and leave to dry.

Once you completed frame is dry, lay your fabric on the kite frame and cut it with an 

extra one inch on all sounds to wrap around the frame.  Use glue to secure the fabric 

around the kite frame.

The last step is to attach the string to the kite.  You will need to make what is called a 

bridle by attaching the string to the kite frame in two locations (they should be on 

opposite sides) in a loop formation.  Then attach the string you are going to use to fly the 

kite to the bridle. 

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Owner Operator Independent Driver Association

Truck drivers may have some difficult issues to face out there on the road, but they are not alone in their efforts. There are plenty of resources out there to lend a hand as they realize the importance of truck drivers and the work they do. They offer support and help to ensure that the rights of truck drivers are met while doing all they can to make the industry as a whole better for everyone involved.

One of the leading advocates for truck drivers is the Owner Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA). They offer a full range of services to support truck drivers including financing for trucks, advocating with the government to get certain issues addressed, and the opportunity to purchase health insurance and retirement plans.

OOIDA currently has more than 150,000 members and it continues to grow. They have been working hand in hand with the trucking industry since 1973. These members are from all over the United States and in recent years truck drivers from Canada have been allowed to join. This is one of the top organizations out there to give truck drivers a voice. 

With the information gathered by OOIDA, truck drivers can get the facts about various issues taking place. Too many times the information found from other resources is biased one way or another. This can make it hard to make an informed decision. Members of OOIDA know they will always get both sides of the story with accurate data and facts.

They also know that the OOIDA team takes their concerns and comments to legislation on state and federal levels. Based on the information that they have gathered from members they are able to take stand on the behalf of their members for important trucking industry related issues.

They work hard to keep truck drivers informed of current issues, and post all of them on their website. They also offer scholarship programs for children of truck drivers, call to action forums, and information on new rules and regulations. If there is something you need to find information about but don’t see it offered from OOIDA, contact them. They will do all they can to get you the right resources to take care of it. 

They have made significant contributions to the trucking industry over the past 30 years. Instead of focusing on the problems out there they focus on solutions. For example they pushed for more parking at truck stops and more rest areas with sufficient parking along common truck driving routes. This was in response to complaints that drivers continue to drive when they are tired or out of hours. 

When OOIDA started discussing this with the drivers they represent, it quickly became evident that there was a lack of places for them to stop and get some sleep or to wait while they regained driving hours. It is their dedication to correcting such issues that makes this profession better for all truck drivers and the roads safer for all people on the roads. 

If you are interested in joining OOIDA you can visit their website or complete a postage paid card from various magazines. The annual fee for the membership is $45, but it is a very worthwhile investment. You will find this is one of the best advocate programs for owner operators. 

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