Tale Lites Issue 30

Book Parking | List your Property 

🚛 More Truck Parking Coming to NYC at JFK

If you’ve been avoiding hauling to the northeast, it may become a little bit more worth your time in the near future. A new project is underway that is going to triple the current truck parking capacity at the airport from 50 to 150 spaces

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground on the expansion on August 5, with the goal of wrapping up by Fall 2026. Along with more parking, the project will bring new and modernized amenities including restrooms, upgraded food options, a convenience store, EV charging stations, and fuel.

“This is a win for the airport, the community, and the drivers who keep our region moving,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.

JFK continues to grow as a major cargo hub, where in 2024 alone, it handled 1.67 million tons of cargo, ranking it 8th busiest in the U.S. The parking expansion also complements the $270 million cargo center that opened earlier this year.

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole emphasized the focus on community impact. They want the airport to grow, but wherever there is growth, that means more trucks. So they’re trying to get a little ahead of the issue before residents complain (even more) about where trucks are parked

I want to hear from you! For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

What Makes a Good Driver?

With it being August I wanted to share a piece of history from the August 1966 Edition of Tale Lites which features a small opinion piece from Frank B. Hall and Company (Now owned by AON)

Do you agree?

🗣️ What Happens During an English Proficiency Inspection?

With the English proficiency rule for truckers now being enforced again as an Out of Service violation a lot of people have been wondering what actually goes down during one of these inspections

🚨 The Rule, In Plain English

FMCSA regulation §391.11(b)(2) says drivers must be able to:

• Converse in English with the general public

• Understand traffic signs and signals

• Respond to official inquiries

• Make entries on reports and records

This doesn’t mean perfect grammar or immaculate fluency, but just enough to handle basic communication and safety requirements. As OOIDA President Todd Spencer put it, “You don’t have to recite an encyclopedia. It’s just a conversation.”

✅ The Two Part English Test

In a memo issued May 20, the FMCSA outlined how roadside inspectors should assess English skills. It’s a 2 part test:

1. Driver Interview

• The inspector speaks only in English.

• Drivers must respond without interpreters, apps, or cue cards.

• The officer may paraphrase or speak slowly, but drivers must answer on their own.

If the driver can’t complete the conversation, they’ll be cited for violating §391.11(b)(2) and placed out of service immediately. No need to move to Part 2.

2. Traffic Sign Test

If the interview is passed, the driver moves on to identifying roadway signs, including dynamic electronic signs. While the FMCSA memo doesn’t give exact details, a Georgia memo from May suggests drivers may need to correctly identify 3 out of 4 signs.

❌ Fail the Test? You’re Out of Service

If a driver fails either part of the test, they’re issued a violation and immediately taken off the road. Inspectors must document the interaction, including how the driver failed to meet the standard.

In some cases, the FMCSA may even move to disqualify the driver from operating in interstate commerce though what triggers that punishment is something I can’t seem to verify.

📊 What’s been Happening So Far

The English proficiency rule officially returned to OOS status on June 25, and while early stats are still coming in, OOIDA says there was a noticeable spike in inspections and violations during the final days of June, and recently DOT Secretary Sean Duffy says that roughly 1500 trucks have been put out of service due to ELP violations

Health Tip of the Week

When it comes to supplements, the one I recommend everyone to take, regardless of activity level, is creatine. More research has been done on creatine than Tylenol. Found naturally in meat products, more supplementation has shown to have several benefits, but one of the biggest one’s is cognition. This recent study breaks down how Creatine can change the game in the fight against Alzheimer’s treatment, and even prevention.

A new pilot study from the University of Kansas Medical Center, the first of its kind in people with Alzheimer’s, found that creatine supplementation was safe, well tolerated, and linked to moderate improvements in memory and thinking.

Creatine’s usual claim to fame is fueling muscles during high intensity exercise. But it’s also found in the brain, where it helps shuttle energy to cells. Alzheimer’s disrupts the brain’s ability to produce and use energy efficiently, so researchers wondered: could more creatine mean more mental power?

The Study

• Participants: 19 adults (ages 60–90) with Alzheimer’s

• Protocol: 20g creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks

• Measurements: Blood draws, brain scans (MR spectroscopy), and cognitive tests at start and finish

The results? Brain creatine levels rose by 11%, and participants showed moderate gains in working memory and executive function, skills crucial for focus, planning, and ignoring distractions.

While promising, lead researcher Matthew Taylor, Ph.D., cautions that the study lacked a control group and was small in size. Still, it’s the first evidence that creatine can reach the brain in Alzheimer’s patients and potentially improve cognition.

What’s Next
Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits and understand how creatine works in the brain. Researchers also suspect creatine could reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, two key drivers of brain aging and neurodegeneration.

Interested in one on one coaching? Download the 1stPhorm app today!

Partner Post of the Week

Check out this video from our good friend Russ getting his chrome polished at the streakin Beacon in Walcott, IA. You can use the code fckntrckn20 for $20 off your next booking

@fckntrckn

Always make sure to wash your Peter! #trucktok #trucker #truckerlife #peterbilt389 #lowboy #truckparkingclub #bluebeacontruckwash

Truck Parking Club Partner Program

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