Category: Trucking & Highway

Celebrating 15 Years of The Trucker® (…and Still Trucking!)

In 2014 Innovative Access Solutions (IAS®) is excited to celebrate 15 years of The Trucker® Series, made possible by a focus on safety and customer relationships. We would like to thank our loyal customer base for helping us achieve the goal of making The Trucker® an established and respected name in fall protection safety, and we invite you to contact the IAS® sales team to learn more.

 

The Trucker® Trailer Access

The Trucker® Series through the Years


September 1999 — The Trucker I 6900 flatbed trailer ladder introduced

2004: The original Cast Aluminum mounting hooks changed to CNC Billet Aluminum, an ‘unbreakable’ hook that added durability and improved safety to The Trucker I

2007: Roll Tarp Trucker was introduced, designed to provide access to Tarp Trailers

2007-2009: With the brand strengthened as a result of the ‘unbreakable’ mounting hooks and having developed several strong relationships with large established businesses, Trucker® began to take off.  Drop Deck Trucker was introduced and the four step ECO Trucker was developed and ANSI rated @ 375 lbs.

2010: The 4 Step Trucker ladder was created for access to crane trucks and taller trailers

2011: As The Trucker® grew, Storage and Mounting Options were developed

  • Ladder Storage Racks were developed in Upright and Shelf variations
  • The Utility Trucker was introduced as a mounted ladder option that pivots up 180⁰
  • A Steel Mounting Bracket was developed for mounting ladders without pockets

2011-2012: Mobile Flatbed Work Platforms with Safety Rails were engineered as a custom product request and became a standard product in use at several Construction, Transportation, and Manufacturing companies

  • October 2011: The 4’ Platform designed and ANSI rated at 3-Man (3000 lb.)
  • August 2012: 8’ Work Platform designed and ANSI rated at 3-Man (3000 lb.)

2013: All Trucker Series ladders were ANSI rated at 375 lbs. Type IAA Special Duty, the highest available Extra Heavy Duty rating for specialty ladders

2014: This year The Trucker® Series was granted an official trademark, new products are in development, and we are looking forward to 15 more years and beyond!

Today The Trucker® Series of ladders, storage racks and work platforms is capable of equipping most any truck fleet or stationary truck with fall protection equipment that is convenient, versatile and durable. This growth is in large part a result of relationships with customers that were willing to share their workplace access safety goals.

Celebrate with the 15 Years of Trucker® Promotion

Part of the power of customer relationships comes from a willingness to share the wealth and spread the word.  With that in mind, we are offering a 15% Discount off a single Trucker® Ladder or Storage Rack.  Simply apply the following Coupon Code prior to September 30, 2014 to join our celebration and save.

Apply COUPON CODE: 15YEARS at The Trucker® Online Store

ASSE Safety Conference 2014, June 8th-11th in Orlando, FL

The ASSE Safety Conference 2014 is set to kick off Sunday, June 8th at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building) in Orlando, Florida. The annual event features a complete set of seminars, roundtables, and events that only an organization such as ASSE can offer.  The conference schedule is packed with opportunities for industry members, students, executives and other interested parties to learn, network, and enjoy a weekend in sunny Florida. Scheduled sessions are categorized based on experience level to help attendees target events that best suit their skill level and knowledge.

Safety 2014 Conference Events & Seminars

Pre-Conference Safety Training Seminars for ASSE Safety Conference 2014 began on June 5th and continue through Sunday June 8th for those arriving early . Group Meetings for industry members occur in the early evening on Sunday and Monday to provide the opportunity to network and collaborate.  The events end on Wednesday June 11th, with the morning highlight being an Executive Summit at 9:15 AM.  Events are structured for a variety of personalities, including a Golf Outing on Sunday, NightOut at WonderWorks, WISE (Women in Safety Engineering) Retreat, and daily Wellness Walks.

ASSE Safety Conference 2014 Trip Planning

We encourage attendees to download the Safety 2014 App to plan your agenda, view maps and guides, take notes, and more.  Prospective attendees can register online and plan lodging and shuttles at the Safety 2014 website.  Registration fees include group discounts, member/non-member rates, and rates for attending only a portion of the event.  The ASSE Safety Conference 2014 customer service line is (847) 699-2929 and will be available until 5 PM Friday for last minute questions.  The Safety 2014 site also provides a convenient FAQ sitemap with answers and links to any foreseeable topic.

Visit IAS at Safety 2014 Booth #532

Visit IAS at ASSE Safety Conference 2014 at Booth #532IAS will be attending the ASSE Safety Conference 2014 and exhibiting The Trucker Series of Ladders.  Products available for exhibit will include Trucker Ladders, Work Platforms, and Ladder Storage Racks.  We will have multiple representatives available to provide specifications and other details.  Our Custom Product Development manager will also be on hand to discuss any safety access needs you may have.  We hope to see you there!

Mining Industry Ladder Safety

The MSHA (Mining Safety & Health Administration) recently published an excellent summary of ladder safety standards for the mining industry.  The MSHA was formed to ‘administer the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act).  MSHA carries out the mandates of the Mine Act at all mining and mineral processing operations in the United States, regardless of size, number of employees, commodity mined, or method of extraction.’

The published document covers all topics and categories related to ladder safety training, from the basics of safe access requirements, requirements for each ladder category and special circumstances such as alternating tread and underground ladders.  This blog post will summarize standards related to Fixed Ladders, Mobile Equipment Ladders, and the basics of Access Requirements, Ladder Construction and Maintenance. For complete access to this valuable MSHA resource, mining professionals are encouraged to download the Mining Ladder Safety Standards PDF.

Safe Access & Construction and Maintenance

The MSHA standards document provides a detailed summary of possible mining ladder safety citations complete with images of compliant and non-compliant ladders.  In addition to common sense factors such as the condition and strength of a ladder, factors such as the height of the bottom rung, the width of the ladder uprights, ladders that require workers to climb over obstructions to mount or unmount, and other potential fall hazards are described. In some cases personal fall protection equipment such as lanyards and harnesses may also be required.

Fixed Ladders

Fixed ladders have been assigned highly detailed requirements specific to the application.  In many cases, safety measures such as landings, backguards, and protection for openings at the upper level are required.  To review these complex standards, we recommend reviewing the Mining Ladder Safety Standards presentation for details.

Mobile Equipment Ladders

“Fixed mobile equipment ladders must comply with applicable fixed ladder standards such as 30 CFR §§ 56/57.11005 and 30 CFR §§ 56/57.11017.”

The details provided in the MSHA ladder standards document are extended to include even standards for mobile equipment ladders.  These ladders must be maintained the same as other ladders and when affixed to equipment, fall under the fixed ladder category.  The uniqueness of mobile equipment fixed ladders leads to certain exemptions and standards that may also apply to walkways that provide access to operator cabs.

For information about designing custom ladder access solutions for your mining facility, contact Innovative Access Solutions, LLC.

National Work Zone Awareness Week 2014 Promotes Highway Construction Work Zone Safety

Today marks the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week 2014. In an effort to reduce accidents, injuries and deaths in highway construction work zones, the American Traffic Safety Services Association designates a week at the beginning of the construction season each year to promote safety initiatives. National Work Zone Awareness week was initiated in 1999 and has been effective at improving the safety of motorists and workers while reducing work zone crashes.  This year’s initiative kicks off today, April 7th, 2014, with events being hosted in Seattle, WA.

Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake

This year’s theme focuses on the dangers and risks of speeding through highway construction work zones.  “In 2012, 609 workers and motorists were killed in highway work zones nationwide. Approximately 85 percent of those killed in work zones are drivers and their passengers.”  Surely speeding played a role in a significant percentage of these accidents.

Events and Information

The National Work Zone Awareness Week 2014 kickoff event will be held on April 8, 2014 at 10 AM in Seattle Washington.  The event is hosted on State Route 99 at the Alaska Way Viaduct Replacement Program project. For more information, visit the following websites.

We encourage you to drive safe in support of this worthy cause!

Mid-America Trucking Show, March 27th – 29th in Louisville

The 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show is set to kick off March 27th – March 29th at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center in Louisville, KY.  The MATS show is the ‘largest annual heavy-duty trucking event in the world’, providing over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space and exceeding 80,000 attendees.

For more information about the event , visit the MATS Trade Show website and stay up to date on Twitter or Facebook.  Already attending? Be sure to download the MATS Trade Show App on your mobile device and preview the Directory and Buyers Guide.

Important Information & Show Highlights

  • Get Tickets – Attendees can register online for a $10 fee to expedite the entry process.  Tickets will also be available at the door. Each registration will allow one badge to be printed on-site; the badge is good for all three days of the show.
  • Register to Attend the Fleet Forum – The Fleet Forum will be held on March 26th.  Registration is still available.  Fleet Forum is a conference for executives and VIPs and will ‘provide an in-depth look at the future of equipment and trucking’.
  • Show Hours
    • Thursday 3/27: VIP Session: 10AM – 1PM | General Admission: 1PM – 6PM
    • Friday 3/28: General Admission: 10AM – 6PM
    • Saturday 3/29: General Admission: 9AM – 4PM
  • Truck Beauty Championship – The 25th annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship ‘celebrates North America’s heavy-duty, working show trucks’. Trucks will be on display in Lot J behind the West Wing with the award ceremony on Saturday March 29 at 10AM in South Wing conference rooms B101 – B103.
  • Listen to the Music – Gretchen Wilson and Chris Hennessee will be performing onsite at Freedom Hall on Friday, March 28 at 7PM. Complimentary tickets will be available at the Mobil Delvac Booth #18160 in the North Wing.

Visit Innovative Access Solutions, LLC

Innovative Access Solutions will be attending the MATS Trucking Show and exhibiting at Booth #16133 in the North Wing.  The IAS booth will be set up to exhibit The Trucker™ Series of Ladders.  Products available for exhibit will include The Trucker Series of Ladders, Flatbed Work Platforms, and Ladder Storage Racks.  We will have multiple representatives available to provide specifications and other details.  See you there!

The NTEA Work Truck Show

The NTEA Work Truck show is being held at the Indiana Convention Center, March 5th – 7th, 2014.  ‘North America’s Largest Work Truck Event‘ will be attended by thousands of industry professionals and feature nearly 530 exhibiting companies, and is one of the year’s best opportunities to network and keep in tune with industry developments.  In addition, the Work Truck Show provides educational opportunities and spotlights trending Eco-Friendly innovations.

The Work Truck Show 2014 Dates
Indiana Convention Center (Indianapolis, IN)
March 5-7: The Work Truck Show
 March 4-5: Green Truck Summit
  March 4-6: Educational Sessions

What’s in Store at the NTEA Work Truck Show

The NTEA Work Truck Show schedule of events includes several noteworthy sessions to promote themes of education, networking and green friendly innovation.  First and foremost is the President’s Breakfast & NTEA Annual Meeting on March 6th at 7:30 AM, which features Condoleeza Rice as keynote speaker.  March 4th also includes special sessions to help business owners improve Customer Service and Parts & Service Management.  Green Topics include the Green Truck Summit on March 4th and Green Truck Ride-and-Drive on March 5th.  Educational Opportunities include the Remote Fleet and Mobile Work Crew Management Technologies Symposium and the NTEA Demo Theater, featuring short presentations on a variety of industry topics.  Check out the NTEA Work Truck Show Floor Plan and download the Work Truck Show 2014 App on your phone to plan your event and stay up to date.

Visit IAS as we exhibit The Trucker™ Ladders

Innovative Access Solutions will be attending the NTEA Work Truck Show and exhibiting at Booth #3680.  The IAS booth will be set up to exhibit The Trucker™ Series of Ladders.  Products available for exhibit will include The Trucker I Ladder, ECO Trucker, Utility Trucker, and Storage Racks.  We will have multiple representatives available to provide specifications and other details for The Trucker ladders as well as IAS Flatbed Work Platforms.  We look forward to seeing you there!