The Trucker News Staff

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – Temporary, overnight lane closures will be scheduled this week on the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) for roadway signage work as part of the I-294/Interstate 57 Interchange Project. The temporary closures on I-294 are necessary to safely accommodate roadway signage work over the Tollway. Work will be scheduled during overnight hours to minimize the impact on Tollway customers. Electronic message signs will be in place in advance to alert Tollway drivers to the overnight lane closures. Up-to-date closure information will be available on the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent. Overnight Tuesday, April 26, on northbound I-294 lane closures are schedule to begin at 7 p.m., with intermittent, full closures, each lasting 15 minutes, beginning at midnight. In addition, the ramp connecting 159th Street to northbound I-294 is scheduled to close at midnight. No detour will be posted. All lanes and ramps on I-294 are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 27. Maps and construction information about the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) I-57 Interchange Project is available in the Project’s section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

EDGEWOOD, Md. — A man is dead after a crash with a tractor-trailer that reportedly ran a red light in Abingdon, Maryland, on the afternoon of April 21. WJZ-TV reports that Maryland State Troopers responded to the crash at MD 24 Southbound at MD 7 for a collision involving a tractor-trailer and two other vehicles. Investigators believe that the 66-year-old man driving the tractor-trailer was traveling north and failed to stop at a steady red turn signal. The driver then struck two other vehicles that were traveling south. A Jeep was hit on the right fender after it swerved, but the tractor-trailer hit a Chrysler driven by Raul Alejandro Smith, 36, of Edgewood, Pennsylvania. Smith was struck on the left side and traveled off the road. He was transported and died the hospital. WJZ-TV reports that no charges have been filed at the time of this writing. Maryland State Police Crash Team will submit their findings to the Hartford County State’s Attorney’s Office following an investigation, at which time charges, if any, will be decided.

NEWARK — One person is dead after being ejected from a car and run over by a tractor-trailer early Sunday morning on the New Jersey Turnpike. WBNC reports that the crash happened at around 4:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes of milepost 105.9 in Newark. “According to officials, based on a preliminary investigation, a Toyota Corolla was traveling north in the area of milepost 105.9 when a Honda Accord struck the rear of the Toyota,” RLS Media reported. “The impact sent the driver’s car across the roadway and into the guardrail,” WNBC reported. The crash resulted in the driver being ejected then struck by a tractor-trailer truck also traveling northbound, according to WNBC. The identity of the victim is not being released at the time. The crash is still under investigation.

BOULDER, Colo. — A new report from Guidehouse Insights explores the size of global and regional markets for medium-and heavy-duty commercial vehicles in various segments with highly automated driving capability. One of the many secondary effects of the pandemic has been a shortage of labor in many areas, including, according to some in the industry, truck drivers. Development of automated driving systems (ADS) technology has continued throughout the now two-year-old global pandemic and in many market segments is seen as more essential than ever. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, more than 1.2 million automated trucks and buses are expected be deployed globally each year by 2032. “Multiple pilot deployments of automated trucks and buses of various types are already occurring in numerous countries around the world,” says Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “All are still relying on safety operators although a few driverless tests have occurred.” However, many of these are expected to become commercialized driverless operations, primarily for long-haul trucking, last-mile deliveries and middle-mile deliveries by 2025. Truck-driving applications are in many ways much more predictable than robotaxis or personal vehicles, so deploying ADS is expected to be easier because the operational design domains (ODD) are more restricted, according to the report. The report, Market Data: Automated Trucks and Buses, evaluates the potential sales and fleet deployments of Level 4 and Level 5 (as defined by SAE International standard J3016) automated trucks and buses through 2032. These are vehicles that can be operated without continuous human supervision or intervention while within their ODD. The projections are split between goods delivery vans, rigid trucks, semi tractors, transit and coach buses, and shuttle buses. An executive summary of the report is available for free by clicking here.

CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) Commercial Carrier unit recently participated in a multi-state road check campaign from Montana to Minnesota along Interstate 90. The detail ran from April 19-20. According to a news release, WHP troopers and officers conducted 145 Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) inspections, with 15 drivers placed out of service and 51 vehicles placed out of service. The WHP’s Performance-Based Brake Tester (PBBT) was deployed and processed 45 vehicles, with 3 failing their brake performance, a total of 330 brakes checked, and 38 failing the tests. While this road check was being conducted, eight passenger vehicles were stopped while driving erratically around CMVs, with one being intoxicated.

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos visited Albany’s South End neighborhood on April 21 to announce a week-long truck enforcement detail happening in disadvantaged communities across the state as part of Earth Week. Environmental conservation police officers from DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, in coordination with DEC’s Division of Air Resources staff, are conducting the details “to protect public health and the environment by inspecting diesel vehicles to ensure compliance with the state’s stringent air regulations,” according to a news release. “This enforcement blitz will take place in approximately 30 locations to advance efforts to reduce harmful air emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities most impacted by transportation pollution,” the news release stated. “New York State continues to lead the nation in taking bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants that harm our environment, economy, and affect environmental justice communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution,” Seggos said. “This latest diesel truck detail, happening as we commemorate Earth Week, will take dirty trucks off our roads and provides us with a great example of why we need to accelerate our transition from fossil fuels to prevent the damage they cause to our climate and the health of our communities.” The detail will help identify noncompliant heavy-duty vehicles and reduce emissions of fine particulate matter in disadvantaged communities where there is often significant heavy-duty vehicle traffic. DEC’s Earth Week enforcement details are happening in and around Environmental Justice communities in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Schoharie, Delaware, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Clinton, Washington, Warren, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oneida, Cortland, Oswego, Broome, Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Allegany, Chautauqua, Niagara and Erie counties. In addition to conducting emissions inspections on diesel vehicles, ECOs will also engage in targeted enforcement of regulations restricting idling time for diesel vehicles. Reduced idling time cuts down on air pollution and noise, improves fuel economy, and saves diesel operators and consumers money. Officers will also monitor compliance of pesticide applications, solid waste transportation, and open burning as part of the Earth Week detail. For more information visit Heavy Duty Vehicles webpage.

NASHVILLE – Schools and students from across the state took part in the Work Zone Awareness Week Teen Competition, but Gatlinburg-Pittman High School came out on top, winning the overall competition. The school earned 1800 points putting it in first place. Beech High School earned second place with 1500 points and Dyer County High School took third place with 800 points. The competition resulted from a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, and Tennessee Road Builders Association. Meant to raise awareness of National Work Zone Awareness Week, held every year in April, the competition encourages drivers to use extra caution in work zones and “Work with Us” by moving over and slowing down. During March, students could take part in the competition and earn points by completing activities centered on work zone safety and awareness. The Tennessee Road Builders Association is supplying prizes for the winners. For earning the most points, Gatlinburg-Pittman will receive a $1,500 gift card, Beech will receive a $750 gift card and Dyer County will receive a $250 gift card. One of the featured activities was a TikTok/Instagram Reel competition. The best video supporting messaging of NWZAW was awarded $1,500 and featured on the state agencies’ social media platforms. Second place received $750, and third place received $250. The first-place winners were Errin Jolley and Cameron Cain from Beech High School. Their Family-Feud style TikTok was a creative way to remind teens of the rules of the road to protect highway workers. The spring and summer months provide perfect weather for highway work. Work zones include everything from major interstate widening projects to pothole patching and mowing. Motorists will encounter work zones across the state. Last year in Tennessee, 26 people died in work zone crashes.  

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – Repair work is scheduled to begin next week on the eastbound North Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 94) between Half Day Road and Atkinson Road for maintenance of roadways, bridges and ramps along the corridor, with the Tollway scheduling the majority of work during overnight and weekend hours to reduce the impact to daily commuters. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place to alert drivers in advance of lane closures, which are necessary to safely accommodate a work zone and maintain access for traffic. Up-to-date closure information will be posted on the Tollway website in the Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent. Beginning the week of April 25, advance work to shift traffic will begin with nightly lane closures scheduled between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m., first on eastbound I-94 and then on westbound I-94. About one week of closures will be needed for each direction. Once advance work is complete, traffic in both directions is scheduled to shift to the outside to allow for a workzone on the inside lanes. Most of the repair work will be completed during overnights and weekends, with additional lane closures scheduled as needed. In 2022, the Illinois Tollway has scheduled roadway, bridge and ramp repair work on the North Tri-State Tollway between Half Day Road and Atkinson Road. Work includes pavement patching, shoulder repairs and guardrail improvements, as well as bridge deck, approach slab, superstructure and substructure repairs and sealing and bridge joint replacement. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.  

CHARLTON, Mass. — Both sides of the Massachusetts Turnpike were closed Wednesday as Massachusetts State Troopers pursued a suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants out of Maine and Illinois. A trooper assigned to the Massachusetts State Police-Charlton Barracks located a 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor on Wednesday morning at the Charlton Service Plaza on Interstate 90 westbound that was reported stolen out of Biddeford, Maine. The trooper located the male driver, Kevin Oldaker, 48, of Poplar Grove, Illinois, sleeping in the back seat. When awakened by the trooper, the man refused to unlock the doors of the car. Oldaker reportedly began moving around inside the vehicle and said he could not find his keys. He then allegedly turned the ignition on and drove away westbound on the Turnpike. The trooper then started to pursue the stolen vehicle. WBTS reports that state police began chasing the SUV, which refused to stop for pursuing troopers. Oldaker allegedly used crossovers to evade cruisers in Chicopee and again in Ludlow. He exited the Massachusetts Pike in Ludlow and then re-entered the highway, continuing west. Oldaker eventually hit a tire deflation device deployed by troopers, causing a flat tire. The pursuit continued until he stopped in Stockbridge, approximately 3 miles from the New York state line. Once stopped, Oldaker reportedly again refused to exit the vehicle and a brief standoff ensued. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody shortly after 9 a.m. Oldaker is wanted on two extraditable warrants, one out of Maine issued last week charging him with violent stalking and one out of Illinois from February 2014 charging him with home invasion and sexual assault. Oldaker is still being processed on the warrant charges and fresh charges from Wednesday’s incident.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A general 2-4 feet of snow is likely to fall over much of the central and northern Sierra Nevada over the next 24 hours, making travel treacherous along Interstate 80 through in northern California, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo. “Motorists should avoid travel over Donner Pass, California, along Interstate 80 from through Thursday to allow crews to work during the storm,” she added. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 54 inches is anticipated over some of the ridges and peaks in the Sierra Nevada from this storm. Snow accumulations of a few feet will provide a late-season boost to the lean snowfall seen over the mountain range this past winter, which, in turn, will result in a much-needed boost to the water supply. Below is an advisory from the California Department of Transportation. IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA AND SIERRA NEVADA I-80 IS CLOSED WESTBOUND TO ALL TRACTOR-SEMITRAILER COMBINATIONS AT THE NEVADA STATE LINE – DUE TO SPIN-OUTS – ALL TRACTOR-SEMITRAILER COMBINATIONS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE **FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC: CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM NYACK (PLACER CO) TO TRUCKEE (NEVADA CO) EASTBOUND TRUCKS ARE BEING SCREENED AT APPLEGATE (PLACER CO) – DRIVERS MUST HAVE MAXIMUM CHAINS IN THEIR POSSESSION IN ORDER TO PROCEED – PERMIT LOADS ARE PROHIBITED **FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC: CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM TRUCKEE (NEVADA CO) TO NYACK (PLACER CO) WESTBOUND TRUCKS ARE BEING SCREENED 10 MI EAST OF THE NEVADA STATE LINE /AT MOGUL/ – DRIVERS MUST HAVE MAXIMUM CHAINS IN THEIR POSSESSION IN ORDER TO PROCEED – PERMIT LOADS ARE PROHIBITED PLEASE RESEARCH CHAIN CONTROL LOCATIONS AS CALTRANS IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO UPDATE CHAIN CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNET MAPPING, LIKE GOOGLE MAPS & MAPQUEST. ALL WESTBOUND TRUCKS ARE REQUIRED TO STOP AT THE BRAKE CHECK AREA 0.5 MI WEST OF NYACK (PLACER CO) – TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BRAKE FIRES

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. – Hundreds of pounds of marijuana landed on Interstate 70 in Missouri on Wednesday after a crash involving a pickup truck and two 18-wheelers. The pot, which totaled 500 pounds in all, had been in the back of the pickup, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). “You don’t see this everyday, but it is 4/20,” a Twitter post from MSHP Troop F noted, referring to April 20 being a day recognized as a celebration of marijuana use.     According to an MSHP arrest report, David Mora, 34, the pickup’s driver, and Victor Gonzalez, 32, a passenger, were taken into custody for first-degree drug trafficking. Mora was also arrested for careless driving resulting in a crash, which happened at approximately 7:15 a.m. near the 163 mile marker of eastbound I-70, according to the MSHP. The crash report stated that Mora lost control of his pickup and struck the trailer of an 18-wheeler that was trying to avoid another wreck in front of it. A second 18-wheeler then left the roadway and struck Mora’s truck, police said. No serious injuries were reported.