Indianapolis, IN

Trucking industry trends opening doors for inexperienced drivers

Published

2 years ago

November 23, 2022

Trucking industry trends opening doors for inexperienced drivers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An additional 3 cents for a bag of potato chips could not seem to be an enormous deal. However Steve Gold, proprietor of 160 Driving Academy, the most important industrial driving college within the nation, says that additional value may give trucking corporations more cash to spend on security coaching and subsequently, can save lives.

“That’s why brokers are so prevalent within the [trucking] business, all people desires the bottom value, no person desires to pay for these issues. Till you’re, you understand, you kill household of 4,” Gold mentioned.

Simply two weeks in the past, police say Victor Santos was drunk when he crashed his semitruck into a college bus in northern Indiana. The crash left 16 folks injured, a lot of whom had been youngsters. Paperwork present Santos labored beneath his personal firm with only one truck. I-Group 8 is discovering he represents a disturbing, bigger pattern within the trucking business.

“Sure, that particular person has a industrial driver’s license, but it surely’s like giving your 16-year-old the keys to Ferrari, you understand, there’s no manner they’re going to function that car safely,” Gold mentioned. “You noticed an enormous provide demand imbalance for truck drivers (and) there weren’t sufficient, and the influence was our rest room paper wasn’t attending to the shelf retailer in time.”

Federal knowledge from FTR Transportation Intelligence exhibits from July 2020 to October of this yr that greater than 233,000 new trucking corporations have entered the market, a response to hovering calls for. Seventy p.c of the brand new carriers had been only one truck, together with Victor Santos.

Gold says whereas many could also be attempting to fulfill the business calls for, security coaching isn’t at all times been put first.

There have been “5,000 fatalities on the freeway final yr. These had been new drivers, skilled drivers, and these are all avoidable,” Gold mentioned.

At 160 Driving Academy, Gold says, college students are required to finish a minimal of 160 hours of driving throughout a 4½-week program. He says college students are then vastly inspired to work for a serious firm, corresponding to Pepsi or Amazon. Gold says bigger corporations will present extra security coaching and mentorship.

“We inform all of them to not begin their very own firm for a minimum of two years. Go work for a bigger employer,” Gold mentioned. “Then in case you’re a secure driver and also you’ve acquired sufficient cash and also you wish to exit by yourself, then go for it. However till then, don’t try to do it by yourself.”

I-Group 8 discovered many small corporations are depending on getting jobs by brokers.

Brad Cosgrove, a associate at Clifford Regulation Agency based mostly in Chicago, mentioned, “So long as you meet the minimal standards for the dealer and that you simply’re on their permitted motor provider record, you possibly can go on an app and discover any load and and signal as much as choose it up and convey it wherever you need with no extra oversight.”

Gold says he works with corporations which have began issues corresponding to scoring for drivers, serving to them get their industrial driver’s licenses and including 50 hours of one-on-one coaching to intensify security coaching requirements. Nevertheless, he says, in recent times, drivers are switching from firm to firm. In some instances, they make the swap after solely working six months for a corporation. He says this could make it exhausting for corporations to trace driving information and ranges of expertise, which provides to the priority that security isn’t at all times put first.

“All this stuff are avoidable,” Gold mentioned, referring to the crash involving Santos. “That’s what kills me is like, it’s they’re all avoidable.”

Assertion

“The variety of new carriers per thirty days is falling presumably because of the identical monetary elements which might be driving up the variety of carriers exiting the enterprise: hovering diesel costs, weaker spot market charges, rising financing prices, and so forth. Nevertheless, the variety of new carriers stays far greater than the pre-pandemic norm. The explanations for this resilience are difficult, however we consider it is because of a mixture of enterprise mannequin shifts in trucking and technological developments in managing trucking capability. A large share (roughly 29%) of the carriers that entered the market between July 2020 and October 2022 have already failed – presumably because of the identical elements which might be inflicting provider failures to rise. Whereas we have now not performed a complete evaluation of the historic knowledge, we consider that this efficiency is not any worse than the pre-pandemic norm and would possibly truly be higher.”
Avery Vise, vice chairman at FTR Transportation Intelligence
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Indianapolis, IN

Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury

Published

5 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Colts lost a major contributor to last year’s defense to injury, Samson Ebukam, who suffered a torn Achilles’ at training camp on Sunday.

Ebukam led the team in sacks last season with 9.5.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen talked about Ebukam’s injury on Tuesday after practice.

“That’s a tough break for us,” Steichen said. “I mean, what a great competitor he is. The sacks he had last year, and he was just continuing in the right direction. So, big blow there but guys have got to step up.”

Fortunately for the Colts, they have a lot of depth at defensive end. Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis combined for 20.5 sacks last season for the Colts. Plus, they drafted Laiatu Latu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ebukam and Latu built a strong bond in the past few months since Latu was drafted.

“That’s my big bro,” Latu said. “So, I was learning a lot from him. He’s been like a big brother to me since I got here, even before. I watch a lot of film on him. He’s just been somebody that I really look up to. So, I really just want to go out here and play for him and be able to do what he does on the field so that it doesn’t feel like we’re missing a link.”

With the loss of Ebukam, Steichen said that the reps are likely going to pick up for the rest of the guys at defensive end. But, he said they’re going to have be smart about it during training camp.

While Latu has been really impressive so far in training camp, Steichen also had great things to say about Lewis for the depth that the Colts have at the position.

“He’s tremendous for us,” Steichen said. “He’s been here for a while. Just the way he goes about his business every single day, the way he rushes the passer. I mean, he’s a leader in that room for a reason and we’re extremely excited to have him.”

“We still have a lot of great leaders in that room,” Lewis said. “We know that we have a void to fill. He (Ebukam) was our sack leader last year, but we’re going to come in waves. We all stick together as one.”

The Colts return to practice at training camp on Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable

Published

12 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable

INDIANAPOLIS — People who are most vulnerable to a drug overdose will now have medication that saves lives delivered directly to their hands.

Indianapolis EMS medics responding to an overdose will offer kits to patients, their families, friends or bystanders. The kits include two doses of intranasal naloxone, a resource card with a QR code to the program’s webpage, how to sign up for text alerts about an overdose surge in Marion County and educational materials on recognizing an overdose and administering naloxone.

The initiative is part of the “Naloxone Leave Behind” project, in tandem with the Marion County Public Health Department.

The program’s goal is to reduce overdose deaths in Marion County by delivering the opioid reversal medication naloxone directly to those who are statistically at higher risk of fatally overdosing in the future.

“Indianapolis EMS stands among those who work on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in our community, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death,” said Daniel O’Donnell, chief of Indianapolis EMS. “Increased access to naloxone can greatly increase survival chances in overdose situations, which can lead to more people seeking treatment to break the hold that addiction has on so many.”

Most people who fatally overdosed in Marion County in the first half of the year – about 62% −died in a home, according to a new report by the coroner’s office. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, continues to rank the most common substance driving up overdose deaths in the Indianapolis metro area.

Fentanyl, methamphetamine: The Top 5 drugs fueling the overdose crisis in Indianapolis

How to sign up for ‘bad batch,’ overdose surge text alerts

To receive texts about bad drug batches or overdose spikes in Marion County, text SOAR to 765-358-7627.

Texts will be sent when a bad drug batch is detected, when a neighborhood sees a spike in overdose or when police conduct a drug seizure in an area — a move that research has shown disrupts the drug supply and increases overdose. The program, called the Community Harm Reduction and Improved Outcomes Team (CHARIOT), is part of the statewide nonprofit Overdose Lifeline, which aims to help individuals impacted by substance-use disorders. The Office of Public Health and Safety has partnered with the organization.

‘Zombie drug’: The ’emerging threat’ for Indiana

Be in the know: Is your Indy neighborhood at risk for overdose?

Other ways to get Narcan in Indianapolis

Narcan, the common name brand for naloxone, can be requested through Overdose Lifeline website at overdoselifeline.org. The supplies can be delivered anonymously.

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

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Indianapolis, IN

‘Supernatural’ convention bringing stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and more to Indy

Published

19 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

‘Supernatural’ convention bringing stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and more to Indy

An SPN Family reunion is coming to Indianapolis.

Creation Entertainment’s “The Road So Far… The Road Ahead” tour is bringing stars of the CW’s “Supernatural” to downtown Indy next month, including Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and more. The weekend-long event includes panels, meet-and-greet opportunities as well as a special event hosted by Collins.

Here’s what you need to know about the event, scheduled for Aug. 23-25.

‘The Deliverance’: New Lee Daniels film inspired by an infamous Indiana haunting hits Netflix next month

Where is the ‘Supernatural’ convention in Indianapolis?

The Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, 350 W. Maryland St. Aug. 23-25.

Lineup includes Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins and more

According to the event’s website, the following stars and special guests are expected to attend the event:

Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester)
Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester)
Misha Collins (Castiel)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John Winchester)
Samantha Smith (Mary Winchester)
Ruth Connell (Rowena MacLeod)
Rob Benedict (Chuck Shurley)
Richard Speight Jr. (Archangel Gabriel)
Matt Cohen (young John Winchester, Archangel Michael)
Briana Buckmaster (Donna Hanscum)
Julian Richings (Death)
Kim Rhodes (Sheriff Jody Mills)
DJ Qualls (Garth Fitzgerald IV)
Osric Chau (Kevin Tran)
Adam Rose (TikToker)
Jason Manns (musician)

Creation cautions that all guests and scheduling are subject to change.

How much do Supernatural convention tickets cost?

Single-day general admission tickets start at $70 for Friday, $80 for Saturday and $100 for Sunday. A general admission weekend pass is $249.

A variety of weekend packages, with benefits like exclusive panels and autograph opportunities, range in price from $379 to $1,775. For tickets and more information, visit bit.ly/4d8xc16.

‘Supernatural’ meet-and-greets, autographs

Photo opportunities and autographs will be available for purchase with many of the scheduled guests. Here are the prices for photos and autographs with the headlining stars:

Jensen Ackles: Photos $199 / Autographs available for gold and silver weekend patrons only
Jared Padalecki: Photos $199 / Autographs $169 (will not be signing for gold and silver patrons)
Misha Collins: Photos $149 (Saturday only) and $169 (in costume, Sunday only) / Autographs $119
Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Photos $199 / Autographs $169

Interactive opportunities with the featured guests don’t stop there. DJ Qualls will also host a masquerade-themed karaoke night with ticketed pre- and post-events.

For a full list of experiences and prices, visit bit.ly/4d8xc16.

What’s the schedule for the ‘Supernatural’ convention in Indy?

The full schedule has not yet been released as of late July. According to Creation’s website, the final schedule will be released closer to the event.

Misha Collins’ special event at Creation Indianapolis

Collins will host a special, 18+ event on Saturday evening called “It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.” In a June Instagram post, he described it as a one-person show that’s “part memoir, part therapy and part indecent exposure.”

Do I need convention passes for Misha Collins’ show in Indy?

No; this is a separately ticketed event that does not overlap with the convention’s scheduled Saturday night concert. Tickets are priced at $79 for general admission and $139 to $189 for reserved seats. For more information, visit bit.ly/3WfAlFQ.

Things to do in Indianapolis: Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them

Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com. Follow her on X/Twitter: @hollyvhays.

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