The Pacific Northwest welcomes OOIDA’s touring trailer

Jon Osburn guides OOIDA’s touring trailer down from the Rockies for a three-day stop in Spokane Wash.

The Spirit is scheduled to be at the Petro Stopping Center in Spokane, Wash., on June 11-13. It is at the Medical Lake Road exit from I-90, Exit 272.

The Spokane Petro has 200 truck parking spaces. Close by are Freightliner Northwest, Thermo King Northwest, Utility Trailer Sales of Spokane, Jensen Distribution Services and TW Transport.

Spokane is just west of the Rocky Mountain foothills. It is 20 miles from the Washington state border with Idaho. Spokane is 279 miles from Seattle along I-90 and about 90 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border.

Spokane is named for a Native American tribe that inhabited the region.

The stop before Spokane was in Missoula, Mont.

The drive from Missoula to Spokane takes Jon through the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. Then he will see Lake Coeur d’Alene as he rolls into the city of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. All are named in honor of a tribe of Native Americans who lived along the rivers and lakes of the region. French fur traders gave them the name, which translates to “heart of an awl.” It is a reference the French traders’ experience in trading with the shrewd Native American group.

Before getting to Coeur d’Alene, Jon will drive through a town hugging the interstate that shares his surname, Osburn, Idaho.

The drive through the Rockies was scenic, Jon said. Getting snow in June on Saturday near Bozeman, Mont., was a bit of a surprise, though, he said.

The question on almost every driver’s mind, of course, was about what is happening with hours of service reform, Jon said. The topic is top of mind since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in early May had projected its proposal to reform hours of service could be ready for public comment as early as June 7.

The White House Office of Management and Budget, however, has not completed its review of the proposal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The FMCSA timeline was a goal, a spokesman told Land Line last week, and it reflected the agency wanting to move quickly through the rulemaking process on this issue.

The OMB allows up to 90 days for review of proposed rules. In addition, the OMB allows for a 30-day extension.

That is still no assurance the rule will clear, however. For instance, a proposed speed-limiter rulemaking was under review at OMB for more than a year before it was killed.

After Spokane, The Spirit is headed to Seattle and then to Jubitz Travel Center in Portland, Ore.

Whenever you see The Spirit tour truck, go say hello to Jon. He enjoys visiting about the Association’s activities and current issues. You also can join or renew your OOIDA membership for $10 off the regular price there. Also, you can get vouchers for flu, shingles and pneumonia vaccines from Jon at The Spirit.