On Oct. 21 and 22, truckers are invited to learn about safety, regulatory and health topics at an open house hosted by the Oregon Department of Transportation at Jubitz Travel Center in north Portland, Ore.


The open house helps kick off Operation Safe Driver 2008 Driver Safety Awareness Week (Oct. 19-25, 2008). Operation Safe Driver is a nationwide campaign to improve commercial driver safety through effective education, awareness and enforcement.

The open house will feature voluntary truck inspections by state certified truck inspectors, demonstrations on roadside weighing procedures and numerous displays set up in Jubitz's Marketplace Mall. Drivers and carrier officials can get information on:
* driver health and wellness,
* CDL requirements,
* ODOT registration, permits and audits,
* work zone safety,
* truck safety regulations,
* winter driving tips,
* ODOT's TripCheck travel information system
* Green Light pre-clearance program

Participating organizations include Oregon trucking associations, Oregon Health Sciences University, Clackamas County Motor Carrier Division, Oregon State Police and others.

"We are pleased to have so many partners working together to put on a fun and informative event," said Rick Kauffman with ODOT Motor Carrier Division. "We hope folks will stop by and take advantage of the opportunity to talk with safety advocates in this non-regulatory setting. We can learn from each other. Together we can improve safety for everyone."