The Trucker News Staff

About The Trucker News Staff: The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Posts by The Trucker News Staff

Man accused of intentionally colliding with tractor-trailer facing murder charges

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

PADUCAH, Ky. — The driver of a car that collided with a tractor-trailer, killing the passenger, in McCracken County, Kentucky, is now facing murder and other charges. Jared King, 44, of Salem, Missouri, is accused of intentionally colliding with a 1999 Freightliner with his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, causing the death of his passenger, Tammy King, 51, also of Salem, Missouri. The relationship between the Kings has not been released by the sheriff’s office. McCracken County deputies responded to the wreck in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24, near the 13.5-mile marker, on the afternoon of April 28. Tammy King sustained major injuries in the crash and was flown to an out-of-state hospital for treatment. She died of the injuries the following morning. Jared King was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. There was no report of the truck driver being injured. A 2011 Toyota Camry and 2014 International were involved in separate collisions as a result of the collision between King and the Freightliner. Detectives and patrol staff investigated the collision and after several interviews and collecting evidence from out of state, they determined that Jared King intentionally collided with the Freightliner. “More specifically, Jared King intentionally drove into and across the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24, directly in the path of an oncoming semi-tractor trailer,” the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. Jared King was arrested after he was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon. He is being held at McCracken County Regional Jail and facing the following charges: Murder Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree (5 Counts) Criminal Mischief 1st Degree (2 Counts) Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (2 Counts) Operating on a Suspended / Revoked License Failure to Yield Right of Way Disregarding Traffic Control Device This is an ongoing criminal investigation, and no other details are available at this time.

TA opens new travel center with 103 truck parking spaces in Texas

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America Inc., nationwide operator of the TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express travel center network, has opened a new TA Express travel center in Fairfield, Texas, located off Interstate 45, exit 198. The new TA Express is a franchised location and expands TA’s total nationwide network of travel centers to 276 sites, including 45 franchised sites. TA Express Fairfield offers fueling, convenience items, dining options and other services for professional drivers and motorists, according to a news release. “The new 17,000-square-foot facility sits on a 19-acre property and offers a convenient stop for those traveling between Dallas and Houston,” the news release stated. Amenities include: Quick-service restaurants including Whataburger, Original Fried Pie Shop and The Deli, with hot and cold food options available Store with coffee, beverages, snacks and merchandise 103 truck parking spaces 74 car parking spaces Eight diesel fueling positions with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) on all lanes 20 gasoline fueling positions Nine showers Driver lounge Laundry facilities “As we continue expanding our footprint across the country, we are strategically opening travel centers in locations where our services are needed by both professional drivers and motorists,” Jon Pertchik, chief executive officer of TravelCenters of America said. “In partnership with our franchisee, we are proud to join the Fairfield community and look forward serving both travelers and residents along Interstate 45.

Ohio governor announces $51M for traffic safety projects

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks announced Thursday that ODOT will invest $51 million into new traffic safety improvement projects to specifically address an increase in pedestrian-involved traffic crashes and fatal roadway departures on state and local roads. According to ODOT, fatal crashes involving pedestrians and roadway departures both hit their highest levels in 2021 when compared to the previous decade. “This is a serious problem, and we certainly believe that distracted driving is contributing to this alarming increase in pedestrian-involved and roadway departure crashes,” DeWine said. “The funding we’re awarding today, most of which is going to local governments, will be used to make the physical changes needed to help prevent crashes, but a cultural change around distracted driving is needed as well. I continue to encourage members of the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation to put more restrictions around mobile device usage while driving to make it clear that distracted driving won’t be tolerated in Ohio.” The $51 million in funding will go toward 44 roadway safety projects in 32 counties. Nearly $30 million, or 58 percent, will be awarded to local governments in municipalities, townships, and counties for projects under their jurisdictions. The remaining funds will be used for projects on ODOT-maintained roads and highways. “DeWine has always challenged us to be bold and creative as we work to address the rise in traffic-related fatalities. I believe this is both. A goal we share with our partners in local government is significantly reducing deaths on Ohio roads, so we must work together to get there,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. Of the total funds, ODOT will invest $25.6 million into roadway-departure prevention projects such as widening roadway shoulders, installing center and edge-line rumble strips, and modifying ditches and culverts. Incidents of drivers leaving the travel lane and sideswiping another vehicle, hitting an oncoming vehicle, or colliding with an object on the side of the road typically cause more than half of all traffic deaths and nearly half of all serious traffic injuries in Ohio each year. In 2021, 703 people were killed and 3,390 people were seriously hurt in roadway departure crashes. Because crashes involving pedestrians are more common on roadways that lack dedicated infrastructure such as sidewalks, paths and marked crossings, ODOT will invest the remaining $25.5 million in pedestrian projects like sidewalks, high-visibility pedestrian crossings and road “diets,” which reduce the number and width of traffic lanes to prompt drivers to slow down. According to ODOT, 176 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes last year, accounting for 13 percent of all traffic deaths in the state. Another 530 people were seriously injured. Construction timelines vary for each project; some projects may begin as soon as this year. Funding for these projects will be awarded through ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. The program invests $158 million annually into safety projects, education, and training to make transportation in Ohio safer.

New Illinois highway map hits the streets

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced the release of the new Illinois Official Highway Map. The map includes route updates as well as a new feature that shows mileage between towns and marked route junctions to help residents and visitors alike plan their travels throughout Illinois. “While many of us now use smartphones for directions, paper maps remain an important resource,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “When your phone dies or you drive out of range, paper maps will show you the way. What’s more, they provide valuable information about our great state to help you make the most of your travels.” The new map’s cover features a beautiful shot of the capitol building in autumn. The photograph was the winner of IDOT’s employee map cover contest, submitted by Andrew Bolinger, an office assistant. For those with a smartphone, QR codes printed on the maps provide easy access to information on IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois site for travel conditions, Amtrak, the Office of Tourism’s Enjoy Illinois campaign as well as Illinois Department of Natural Resources historic sites and parks. The Illinois Official Highway Map is paid for with funds from the Federal Highway Administration and published by IDOT every two years on recycled paper with soybean oil-based inks. To request a map, contact [email protected]. Free copies also will be available soon at interstate rest areas and other IDOT facilities.

Torc Robotics announces Penske Truck Leasing as test fleet truck maintenance service provider

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Torc Robotics, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving vehicle technology, has announced that Penske Truck Leasing will serve as the truck maintenance service provider for Torc’s autonomous test fleet. “Penske Truck Leasing’s expertise and impressive track record in the global trucking industry will play a significant role in getting our trucks on the road and strengthening our goal of safe operations,” Michael Fleming, Torc founder and CEO, said. “Our objective is to integrate our trucks into the existing freight industry, and we are confident that a current industry leader, like Penske, will provide crucial support in doing just that.” This agreement is part of Torc’s ongoing commercialization of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications, a news release stated. Torc recently announced the Torc Autonomous Advisory Council (TAAC) in support of its goal to be the first scalable, profitable, commercialized Level 4 truck automation. With Level 4 autonomy, drivers can shift safety-critical functions to the vehicle, which operates only if all required conditions are met. Whereas, no driver is required for Level 5 autonomy, Penske Truck Leasing, along with key freight industry leaders, will provide guidance to Torc as it integrates with the freight network and tackles challenges beyond highway driving, the news release stated. “We are very pleased to support Torc’s fleet uptime with our best-in-class truck maintenance program,” Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske Truck Leasing, said. “This arrangement serves as a great complement to our work on the Torc Autonomous Advisory Council.”

Semi-truck hits firetruck on I-40 in Tennessee

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

DICKSON, Tenn. — A semi-truck hit a firetruck Wednesday in Dickson County, Tennessee, causing it to roll. WKRN reports that Toni Stinson with Dickson County Emergency Management was driving the firetruck to a call when it was hit by the semi on Interstate 40 near exit 172. Stinson was able to get out of the truck and no one was reportedly hurt. Authorities said that this is a reminder of why the Move Over Law is so important for Tennessee’s first responders.

International Roadcheck date fast approaching

By The Trucker News Staff - May 12, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced this year’s International Roadcheck dates as May 17-19. International Roadcheck is 72-hour high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and enforcement initiative, according to the CVSA. Commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh and inspection stations, on roving patrols, and at temporary inspection sites. Each year, CVSA focuses on a specific aspect of a roadside inspection. This year, the focus will be on wheel ends. “Wheel end components support the heavy loads carried by commercial motor vehicles, maintain stability and control, and are critical for braking,” CVSA said in its statement. “Violations involving wheel end components historically account for about one-quarter of the vehicle out-of-service violations discovered during International Roadcheck, and past International Roadcheck data routinely identified wheel end components as a top 10 vehicle violation.” Professional drivers have mixed feelings about the annual law enforcement initiative. Driver T. Jenkins of Alabama said he feels like standard patrols are enough. “Anything more than that is just the government hounding us while we are trying to do our jobs,” Jenkins said. “It’s just an excuse to make money.” Driver Hal Sanders of Illinois said he doesn’t have a problem with it, because, he said, it can help save lives. “Think about some of these hot shots out here who think they law don’t apply to them,” Sanders said. “It will hopefully get them off the roads.” CVSA reported that 83.5% of inspected vehicles had no violations that took a truck or a motor coach out of service during the 2021 roadcheck. Inspectors across North America found that hours of service violations increased to 41.5% of all violations, up from 34.7% a year earlier. That was the largest category of violation. CVSA conducted more than 40,000 inspection last year.

Wisconsin truck driver active in community service gifted new rig

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In acknowledgement of her many industry and community accomplishments, on May 3, professional truck driver Carmen Anderson was presented with the keys to a new Volvo VNL760 70-inch sleeper specially wrapped to help raise awareness of Special Olympics. The handover event was held at the headquarters of America’s Service Line (ASL) in Green Bay, a private truck fleet of 200 heavy-duty trucks and 350 refrigerated trailers for whom Anderson is currently a company driver. In addition to being behind the wheel professionally for more than 21 years and logging more than 2 million accident-free miles, Anderson was named a Women In Trucking’s Top Women to Watch in Transportation in 2021. In 2019, the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, a nonprofit trade association based in Madison representing commercial motor vehicle users, named her Truck Driver of the Year, the first woman to win the award not only in Wisconsin but in any state. Anderson has long been active not only in supporting Special Olympics, but in promoting highway safety as well via her service as a member of the WMCA Road Team. She is also actively involved in Truckers Against Trafficking, which works to quell human trafficking across the country, as well as the Trucker Buddy program, dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship with professional truck drivers. “I’m honestly taken aback by all the attention, the chance to drive this beautiful truck, and the opportunity to further spread the word about all the great things Special Olympics does” Anderson said. “Volvo is known for high performing, safe trucks with the latest technology, and we’re sure to get lots of envious looks from fellow drivers traveling America’s highways.” Kriete Truck Centers, headquartered in Milwaukee, has been family owned and operated for more than 70 years with 10 medium-and heavy-duty truck sales and service locations across Wisconsin, partnered with ASL in obtaining the new Volvo truck that Anderson will now be driving. David Kriete, President and CEO, serves on the board of Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI), which was established in 1972 to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Travis Stuckart, who has been a Special Olympics athlete for two decades and will serve as an athlete-coach in softball for Team Wisconsin at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games next month in Orlando, took part in presenting Anderson with her new Volvo truck at a recent event. Featuring Special Olympics branded graphics, the truck, with Anderson behind the wheel, will be featured in SOWI’s annual Truck Convoy, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17, with Kriete Truck Centers as the presenting sponsor: truckconvoy.org. “As a long-time supporter of Special Olympics, and all the professional truck drivers out there every day delivering life’s essentials, we at Kriete Truck Centers are thrilled to be part of this effort,” Kriete said. “Anderson is a shining example of what can be accomplished through hard work and a commitment to serving others, values that are at the core of our culture at Kriete as well as Special Olympics.”

Hudson County Motors becomes first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer in New Jersey

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

NEW YORK — Volvo Trucks North America dealer Hudson County Motors recently became the first Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer in New Jersey — servicing the greater New York area — after its Secaucus location completed the robust sales and technician training program and necessary facility upgrades to support battery-electric Class 8 trucks. Hudson County Motors is in a prime location to support the drayage truck operators that haul freight between the Port Newark and Port Elizabeth marine terminals and warehouses throughout the region, according to a news release. Their decision to become a Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer was largely driven by significant customer interest in the Volvo VNR Electric model. “We look forward to partnering with our dealer Hudson County Motors to expand the commercial deployment of Volvo VNR Electrics in the Northeast as Volvo Trucks continues to develop its electromobility network across the nation,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Port drayage applications are where we started our electromobility journey with the Volvo LIGHTS project on the West Coast, and now we are building out the dealer support network necessary to deploy the Volvo VNR Electric, amongst its other applications, in drayage operations that service East Coast ports.” Earlier this year, Volvo Trucks announced the production of the enhanced Volvo VNR Electric model that features a range of up to 275 miles and a faster, state-of-the-art 250kW charging capability to minimize downtime. The next generation Volvo VNR Electric was designed to support food and beverage distribution, drayage, and pick-up and delivery routes in urban areas, such as the densely populated Tri-State region. “The next generation Volvo VNR Electric with the expanded range has been a game changer. The additional range makes the truck more appealing to a greater number of customers because they can now deliver their products all day without needing to charge,” Tom DelGaudio, sales manager for Hudson County Motors, said. “Our fleet customers have a high level of confidence in the ability for the Volvo VNR Electric to meet the daily rigors of their freight transport operations, as Volvo Trucks has continued to enhance its battery-electric truck lineup based on lessons learned through early deployments and ongoing customer feedback.”

Utah bicyclist killed after collision with tractor-trailer

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

SPANISH FORK, Utah — A Utah man is dead after his bicycle collided with a semi-truck in Spanish Fork, Utah. KTVX reports that Jed Jorgensen, 49, of Salem, Utah, was riding his bicycle northward on a crosswalk Tuesday morning when he ran into the rear tires of a tractor-trailer was making a right-hand turn from 1000 North in the eastern direction along U.S. Highway 6. Officers said that the impact knocked Jorgensen off his bike, which led to him being ran over by the trailer’s wheels. Jorgensen was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The 63-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. No other information is available as of this report.

Installed base of video telematics systems in North America, Europe to exceed 8 million units by 2026

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

GOTHENBURG, Sweden –Berg Insight has released a new market study covering the video telematics market. The integration of cameras to enable various video-based solutions in commercial vehicle environments is a rising trend in the fleet telematics sector. Berg Insight’s definition of video telematics includes a broad range of camera-based solutions deployed in commercial vehicle fleets either as standalone applications or as an added feature set to conventional fleet telematics, according to a news release. The frontrunning North American video telematics market is three times the size of the European, which is so far largely dominated by activities in the UK. Berg Insight estimates that the installed base of active video telematics systems in North America reached 2.9 million units in 2021. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16.5 percent, the active installed base is forecasted to reach almost 6.3 million units in North America by 2026. In Europe, the installed base of active video telematics systems is estimated to over 0.9 million units in 2021. The active installed base in the region is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.9 percent to reach 2.1 million video telematics systems in 2026. The video telematics market is served by a number of different types of players, ranging from specialists focused specifically on video telematics solutions, to general fleet telematics players which have introduced video offerings, and hardware-focused suppliers offering mobile digital video recorders and vehicle cameras used for video telematics. “Berg Insight ranks Streamax, Lytx and Samsara as the leading video telematics players in their respective categories,” Rickard Andersson, principal analyst at Berg Insight, said. He adds that Streamax is the leading hardware provider, having more than 2.1 million mobile DVRs installed in vehicles worldwide to date, and the company also offers software dashboards which are widely used together with its devices. “Lytx has the largest number of video telematics subscriptions, while Samsara stands out among the general fleet telematics players with a significant number of camera units deployed across its subscriber base,” Andersson said. Additional sizeable players in this space include the video telematics company SmartWitness (owned by Sensata), the fleet management player Motive (formerly KeepTruckin), the commercial vehicle telematics pioneer Omnitracs (owned by Solera) including the acquired video safety specialist SmartDrive, the hardware-focused video telematics company Howen and the vision-based safety platform provider Netradyne. Other noteworthy players competing in the video telematics space include video-focused solution providers such as Nauto, VisionTrack, Bendix (SafetyDirect by Bendix CVS), SureCam, LightMetrics, Idrive, Seeing Machines, CameraMatics, Exeros Technologies, Waylens and Vision Techniques; fleet telematics players including Trimble, Matrix Telematics, Radius Telematics, MiX Telematics, Azuga, Microlise, Forward Thinking Systems, ISAAC Instruments, Trakm8 and AddSecure Smart Transport; as well as the hardware-focused supplier Pittasoft (BlackVue). “These players have all reached estimated installed bases in the tens of thousands,” Andersson said.

Boxwheel Trailer Leasing acquires Fleet Trailer Leasing in El Paso

By The Trucker News Staff - May 6, 2022

DENVER — Boxwheel Trailer Leasing, a leading provider of semi-trailer rentals, leases and sales, with physical rental locations in Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Reno, Nevada, has announced the asset acquisition of Fleet Trailer Leasing, located in El Paso, Texas. This acquisition enables customers in the El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, semi-trailer rental and leasing markets to benefit from Boxwheel’s deep trailer rental expertise, expanded geographic coverage, and wide network of industry connections. “Fleet Trailer has a long history in the El Paso and Juarez markets and is widely respected in the industry,” Boxwheel co-founder Mike DiPaolo said. “We’ll continue to provide the exceptional service Fleet Trailer customers are accustomed to and look forward to continuing and building strong relationships with El Paso/Juarez-area customers as we operate under the Boxwheel company name.” This is Boxwheel’s third strategic expansion since 2021. It follows the company’s acquisitions of All-Ways Leasing’s assets in Denver and Prime Trailer Leasing’s branches in Salt Lake City and Reno.

ALAN opens nominations For 2022 Humanitarian Logistics Awards

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

LAKELAND, Fla. – The American Logistics Aid Network has officially opened nominations for its sixth annual Humanitarian Logistics Awards, and it’s asking for help in identifying some of this year’s most deserving honorees. “Many humanitarian efforts couldn’t happen or happen as well without the generosity of the commercial supply chain community,” ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton said. “These awards were created to shine a light on that generosity and to honor our industry’s most selfless companies and individuals. We clearly know who some of them are because we’ve worked hand-in-hand with them to help provide disaster relief. However, there are many others that we won’t be aware of – and able to honor – unless someone takes the time to nominate them.” Nominations (including self-nominations) can be made via ALAN’s web site from now and June 30. Winners will be announced this fall. ALAN’s Humanitarian Logistics Awards are open to any logistics professional, academic, organization or department. They are awarded in four key categories, each of which can have multiple honorees: Outstanding Contribution to Humanitarian Logistics Employee Engagement Research And Academic Contributions And Lifetime Achievement For a full list of rules and nomination criteria visit https://www.alanaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ALAN-Award-Nomination-Information-2022.pdf.

TransEdge Truck Centers becomes 1st Volvo Trucks certified EV dealer in Pennsylvania

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

PITTSBURGH — Volvo Trucks North America dealer TransEdge Truck Centers recently became the first Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer in Pennsylvania after its Pittsburgh location completed staff training and facility upgrades. “We are proud of the success of our Volvo Trucks’ Certified EV Dealer program as it expands to yet another state and continues to build the ecosystem necessary for widespread adoption of battery-electric trucks across the nation,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Our dealer partner, TransEdge Truck Centers, continues to provide exceptional service to assist customers with their electromobility transition, and we are excited to see the overwhelmingly positive response to their event to introduce the Volvo VNR Electric to customers in Pennsylvania.” At TransEdge Truck Center’s Pittsburgh location, three team members have been trained to service and maintain the Volvo VNR Electric, including one service manager and two technicians. The dealership converted one service bay to be dedicated to battery-electric trucks, and technicians have been outfitted with personal protective equipment for working with high-voltage systems. The remodeled facility includes upgraded electrical service and charging infrastructure that can handle a 25kw and 50kw charger. As a family owned and operated dealership founded in the early 1920s, TransEdge Truck Centers has six modern facilities that service Pennsylvania and its surrounding areas. The Pittsburgh site is about 18,000 square feet and has approximately $1.2 million in key parts and components inventory for the Volvo VNR Electric model to minimize service times and quickly get customers back on the road. “We have had a lot of interest in the Volvo VNR Electric model from our customers and wanted to make sure we were ready to provide comprehensive sales and service support,” Jim Gallagher, vice president of service at TransEdge Truck Centers, said. To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website

Escaped inmate steals semi, leads officers on high-speed pursuit

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — An inmate who is accused of stealing a semi after taking off from a litter detail is back behind bars and now faces felony charges related the attempted escape. The Bellefontaine Examiner reports that Andrew J. Claybaugh, 35, of Urbana, Ohio, was working with two other inmates picking up litter along State Route 47 near the Bellefontaine Municipal Airport in Logan County, Ohio. Claybaugh was incarcerated on felony drug charges. Although supervised by a deputy, Claybaugh managed to steal a Peterbilt owned by Shelly Paving Company. Logan County deputies were informed that Claybaugh was driving the semi eastbound on S.R. 47. The driver who had been operating the stolen truck told deputies that the semi was equipped with a GPS and the company owner provided deputies with GPS locations, allowing them to locate the semi. The pursuit spilled over into Champaign County and Logan County Deputies got consent to continue the pursuit. Deputies located the stolen semi at the 5700 block of Church Road in Champaign County. After engaging their siren and lights, the stolen semi failed to stop. The Examiner reports that the pursuit reached speeds in excess of 73 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, with several traffic violations being committed as well, including several stop sign violations. Claybaugh reportedly drove the semi in the middle of State Route 560, southbound on a double yellow line. As the chase continued eastbound onto Millerstown Road, a Champaign County detective threw down spike strips which deflated the stolen semi’s front passenger tire. That didn’t end the chase though. The semi reportedly continued to flee, entering State Rout 29, traveling at speeds of 60 mph in a 25 mph zone. The semi attempted to turn westbound onto State Route 36 and then left onto Edgewood Avenue, but the front right tire popped off the rim, causing the semi to go off the right side of the road into a yard at an intersection before stopping. “Claybaugh was ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint and with K9 Thor available in case the defendant ran on foot,” The Examiner reports. “Deputies were able to gain control of the suspect’s left arm, but said the suspect initially was non-compliant in giving them his right hand, so K9 Thor engaged Claybaugh on the upper right arm.” EMS at the scene wrapped the Claybaugh’s arm, after which he was transported to the Logan County Jail. Claybaugh is now facing charges of escape, a second-degree felony, and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, related to the incident.

Half of heavy-duty, regional-haul tractors are electrifiable now, study finds

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

FORT WAYNE, Indiana — The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) released Thursday the third of four market segment reports — Electric Trucks Have Arrived: The Use Case For Heavy-Duty Regional Haul Tractors — based on findings from last year’s Run on Less – Electric (RoL-E) freight efficiency demonstration. The top level finding from the report is that 50% of this Class 8 market segment is ready for electrification now. “Heavy-duty Class 8 tractors are the most challenging of all the truck segments considered for electrification,” Rick Mihelic, lead author and director of emerging technologies at NACFE, said. “Battery electric vehicles cannot replace all diesels, but they can replace a significant share of regional-haul ones, where the driver and truck return to base each day, where loads are usually cubed out, or in the case of beverage deliveries, the daily distances are not very long.” Four fleet-OEM pairs in RoL-E operated heavy-duty, regional-haul tractors: Anheuser-Busch with a BYD 8TT tractor; Biagi Bros. with a Peterbilt Model 579EV; NFI with a Volvo VNR Electric; and Penske with a Freightliner eCascadia. As Run on Less – Electric concluded in September 2021, NACFE predicted that 70% of this market segment was electrifiable. Given the more detailed analysis, interviews with industry experts and further research for this report, we now consider this market segment to be 50% electrifiable with lower average daily miles, which results in the avoidance of nearly 29.4 million metric tons of CO2e annually (e equals carbon dioxide equivalent). NACFE estimates the entire CO2e to be eliminated by this segment at an average of 250 miles per day to be 97.8 million metric tons. “Peterbilt’s strategy is to identify those niches where the technology is most ready and the financial benefits for our customers are there and build our way up from that point,” Matt Wetta, national accounts manager of EV at Peterbilt, said.

Missouri wreck leaves 44,000 pounds of hard seltzer on road

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

JASPER COUNTY, Mo. — A tractor-trailer carrying 44,000 ponds of hard seltzer crashed and spilled all its contents on a road in Jasper County, Missouri, on Monday night. The 2022 Freightliner, driven by a 59-year-old woman from Papillion, Nebraska, crashed when the westbound vehicle ran off the right side of the road and the driver overcorrected, returning to the road and overturning, according to the crash report written Missouri State Trooper Joe Drum. KOAM reports that the cargo was 44,000 pounds of Vizzy, a hard seltzer, which spilled as the trailer overturned and the top of the trailer peeled off. The accident caused traffic to be blocked for nearly five hours. The road reopened around midnight. The woman was traveling with a dog. Neither she nor her dog were reported to be injured.

Volvo Trucks to exhibit next gen Volvo VNR electric, autonomous, electromobility solutions at ACT Expo 2022

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Volvo Trucks North America is set to debut its next generation Volvo VNR Electric 6×2 tractor in its booth (No. 1736) during the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, May 9-12. Volvo Trucks’ ACT Expo booth will for the first time also feature a long-haul VNL model, integrated with the Aurora Driver from Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and an ECR25 Electric excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment. “The next generation Volvo VNR Electric is in production since Q2 2022 and will be on display in our booth, delivering on the promises that we made at ACT Expo 2021 just nine months ago to lead the industry toward more sustainable transportation. Our electromobility solutions are on the road now and we continue to develop and deliver innovative technology to drive sustainable freight transport forward,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. “Volvo Trucks’ booth at ACT Expo will showcase the success of our industry-leading electromobility solutions and allow attendees to see firsthand the latest technological advancements and how fleets can successfully adopt and adapt to the rapid change in the transportation industry.” Voorhoeve is scheduled to speak on the ACT Expo main stage on Tuesday, May 10, during an Executive Roundtable: The Future of Clean Fleets has Arrived. During the panel, which will spotlight the rapidly changing transportation landscape, Voorhoeve will share insights gained over the past several years as the Volvo VNR Electric model transitioned from demonstration to commercialization and scaling real world customer operations, according to a news release. The discussion will include key lessons learned through the innovative Volvo LIGHTS project, which helped identify best practices for fleets transitioning to battery-electric trucks, as well as create a roadmap for the support network needed to accelerate commercial deployments of the Volvo VNR Electric truck. The Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer program was developed to provide support to customers throughout the entire implementation process to successfully integrate electromobility into a fleet. The Volvo VNR Electric model was designed as a zero tailpipe transportation solution for fleet operators supporting local and regional distribution, pickup and delivery, and food and beverage distribution. In January 2022, Volvo Trucks announced production plans for its next generation VNR Electric model with an operational range of up to 275 miles. The enhanced Volvo VNR Electric, which is now in production, comes with state-of-the-art 250kW charging capability, enabling an 80% charge in 90 minutes for the six-battery package and 60 minutes for the four-battery version. During the Volvo Trucks press conference in its ACT Expo booth at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Monday, May 9, Voorhoeve will spotlight sustainable freight transport updates, including new electromobility partnerships, customer orders, charging infrastructure advancements and insights in autonomous transport solutions. In addition to showcasing Volvo Trucks’ electromobility solutions, Volvo Autonomous Solutions will spotlight the progress that has been made through their partnership with Aurora to jointly develop on-highway autonomous trucks in the U.S. The Volvo Trucks booth will showcase a Volvo Autonomous Solutions VNL 760 with an integrated Aurora Driver for future hub-to-hub operations, representing an important step towards launching fully autonomous Class 8 trucks commercially in North America. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is also hosted in the booth and will showcase its ECR25 Electric compact excavator to demonstrate how battery-electric construction equipment can be a viable alternative to diesel equipment. The all-electric ECR25, part of a growing electric offering from Volvo CE, will enable fleets to reduce their carbon footprint and is anticipated to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission solutions in this segment. To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit the company website.

Love’s opens new location in Missouri, re-opens fire-damaged Indiana location

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

OKLAHOMA CITY – Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Cameron, Missouri, thanks to a travel stop that opened Thursday. The store, located at Exit 52 (1601 East Evergreen Street), adds 120 truck parking spaces and 85 jobs to Clinton County. Additionally, Love’s has re-opened its Gary, Indiana, location with limited services after a fire there earlier this year. According to a Facebook post by the company, diesel, DEF, limited snacks and drinks, a temporary restroom, WiFi, parking and Boss Shop. This location does not have gasoline, however. “Love’s is pleased to open its 20th location in Missouri and add 85 jobs to Clinton County,” Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s, said. “Our Cameron location will offer plenty of fresh food and drink options, clean bathrooms and much more to customers ready to get back on the road quickly and safely.” The location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 12,000 square feet. Arby’s (opening May 9). 120 truck parking spaces. 77 car parking spaces. Six RV parking spaces. Eight diesel bays. Ten showers. Laundry facilities. CAT scale. Speedco (opening May 23). Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee. Brand-name snacks. Fresh Kitchen concept. Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. Dog park. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 split between the Cameron Missouri Veterans Home Assistance League and the Historical Preservation Society of Cameron Missouri.

Indiana State Police seek recruits for motor carrier inspectors

By The Trucker News Staff - May 5, 2022

INDIANOPOLIS — The Indiana State Police is now accepting additional applications for Motor Carrier Inspectors (MCI). The MCI positions will staff permanent scale facilities in Lowell, West Harrison, Terre Haute, Richmond and Seymour. Inspectors enforce both state and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicles operating within the State of Indiana. Trainees must complete the Motor Carrier Inspector School scheduled to begin on July 25 and conclude on Sept. 30. Training will be conducted Monday-Friday at the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in Indianapolis. Housing will be provided. During the training, trainees will develop skills including emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, communications, hazardous materials, first-aid, post-crash investigations and truck inspections. To participate in the selection process, applicants for the position of Motor Carrier Inspector must meet the following basic requirements: Be a United States citizen. Be at least 21 years old by September 30, 2022. Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. Possess a valid driver’s license. Be required to pass a physical agility test, oral interview, polygraph exam, and a background investigation. Be required to complete a medical exam, a psychological exam, and a drug test. Geographical proximity to the scale facility may be a factor in the selection process. Trainees are paid during the MCI school and are provided with all necessary equipment. The starting salary is $36,124 and will increase to $37,202 at the end of the first year of employment. Over the next ten years, with step increases in pay, a Motor Carrier Inspector may reach an annual salary of $54,528. A retirement program will be available through PERF. To apply for a Motor Carrier Inspector position, visit the Indiana State Police website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/indianasp. Applications for Motor Carrier Inspector must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Indianapolis time), Wednesday, May 18. The Indiana State Police is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer complying with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Interested applicants can obtain additional information about a career as a Motor Carrier Inspector by visiting https://www.in.gov/isp/career-opportunities/motor-carrier-inspectors/ or recruiting Sergeant Kocsis directly at [email protected] and any Employment Services Section team member at [email protected].