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The Trucker News Staff

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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

Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey returns after 20-year hiatus

By The Trucker News Staff -

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics announced Wednesday the beginning of the 2021 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) data collection period, the first VIUS data collection in 20 years. In previous years, the VIUS was the principal data source on the physical and operational characteristics of the U.S. truck population. The VIUS data collection period begins with letters mailed to 150,000 randomly selected vehicle owners who will report on vehicle use in 2021 through an online data collection portal. The survey is being conducted in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Census Bureau to better under the characteristics and use of vehicles on the Nation’s roads. The collected data is expected to be available in 2023 and will be used to guide infrastructure investments, evaluate truck and passenger vehicle safety, estimate fuel efficiency and emissions, and understand the products and commodities carried on U.S. roadways. The nationally representative survey sample will focus on heavy trucks and truck tractors, and will also include pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and SUVs. The survey will collect information on the selected vehicles’ physical characteristics, installed safety technologies, maintenance performed, and uses in 2021. Depending on their vehicle, participants will complete the Heavy Vehicle Questionnaire or the Light Vehicle Questionnaire. The online survey portal will be open through October 2022. For further information or instructions for participants, please visit www.bts.gov/vius.

Vehicle restrictions planned for several Pennsylvania roadways

By The Trucker News Staff -

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is implementing vehicle restrictions on several Pennsylvania roadways starting at 5 p.m. Thursday. Additionally, PennDOT advises motorists to avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas during the storm. Restrictions will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website. Effective at 7 p.m. tonight, vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways at Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan (PDF): PA Turnpike I-76 (Mainline) from New Stanton (Exit 75) to Breezewood (Exit 161) The entire length of Interstate 99 Effective at 10 p. m. tonight vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways at Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan (PDF): I-80 from I-99 to the Ohio border I-79 from I-80 to I-90 Effective at midnight, vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways at Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan (PDF): U.S. 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey border The entire length of I-78 I-80 from I-99 to the New Jersey border I-81 from I-78 to the New York border The entire length of I-84 The entire length of I-180 The entire length of I-380 The entire length of Route 33 PennDOT urges motorists to avoid travel if possible. If travel is necessary, use caution, reduce speeds and be aware of changing weather conditions. PennDOT will pre-treat roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to help prevent ice from forming a bond with the pavement during the early stages of a storm. However, salt is not a silver bullet, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning. To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts. Drivers should prepare or restock their emergency kits with items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies. When winter weather occurs, drivers should extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should: Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck. Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic. When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snowplow width. Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train.” The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles. Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack. Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle’s wipers are on due to inclement weather. Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 301 crashes resulting in four fatalities and 143 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors. For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.gov/safety.  

Idaho State Police thank motorist who reported big rig fire

By The Trucker News Staff -

RURAL Idaho – The Idaho State Police (ISP) are thanking an alert motorist who reported an 18-wheeler fire Tuesday along Interstate 15. According to an ISP Facebook post, ISP troopers responded to the call at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The semi’s trailer was on fire while traveling down the road, and troopers immediately alerted the driver to pull over. The driver stopped on the shoulder, then separated the truck and trailer, according to the ISP. “Firefighters with the Pocatello and Pocatello Valley Fire Departments responded quickly,” the Facebook post stated. “Still, the rear of the cab suffered extensive damage. The trailer was not involved. The driver of the truck, a man from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was not hurt. The right lane of travel was blocked for about two hours to allow for firefighting operations.” Troopers say they appreciate the citizen’s initial call reporting the fire, which allowed emergency responders to arrive quickly likely limiting the extent of the damage. No injuries were reported.

Quality Towing Services announces new Lansing location

By The Trucker News Staff -

LANSING, Mich. — Quality Towing Services has expanded and is now able to provide towing and roadside assistance services throughout the greater Lansing area. Located adjacent to Pilot and Flying J Travel Center in Grand Ledge, Quality Towing Services is providing full roadside assistance and towing services for the heavy truck industry. It’s located between Interstates I-96 at Exit 90 and I-69 at Exit 81. Towing and Roadside Assistance Services Towing Jumpstarts Flat Tire Changes Lockout Assistance Fuel Delivery Collision Assistance Mobile Mechanics Electrical System Failure Braking System Malfunction

Cummins to acquire Meritor in billion-dollar deal

By The Trucker News Staff -

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins Inc. and Meritor, Inc. announced on Wednesday that they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Meritor, a global leader of drivetrain, mobility, braking aftermarket and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Cummins will pay $36.50 in cash per Meritor share, for a total transaction value of approximately $3.7 billion, including assumed debt and net of acquired cash. “The acquisition of Meritor is an important milestone for Cummins. Meritor is an industry leader, and the addition of their complementary strengths will help us address one of the most critical technology challenges of our age: developing economically viable zero carbon solutions for commercial and industrial applications,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Cummins. “Climate change is the existential crisis of our time, and this acquisition accelerates our ability to address it. Our customers need economically viable decarbonized solutions.” “In addition, our communities and our planet depend on companies like Cummins to invest in and develop these solutions,” Linebarger added. “This acquisition adds products to our components business that are independent of powertrain technology, and by leveraging our global footprint we expect to accelerate the growth in Meritor’s core axle and brake businesses. There is also a compelling financial case for this acquisition, with significant synergies expected in SG&A, supply chain operations and facilities optimization.” Chris Villavarayan, CEO and President of Meritor, said the agreement with Cummins “builds on Meritor’s track-record of outstanding performance and service to our customers. Our offerings will continue to play an important, strategic role as commercial vehicles transform to become electric and autonomous.” “At closing, Meritor shareholders will receive immediate value at a compelling 48% premium to the Meritor trading price as of Feb. 18, 2022, and customers will benefit from enhanced capabilities in technology and the ability to accelerate investment in axle and brake development and EV adoption,” Villavarayan added. “Our global team members and their commitment to excellence helped make this transaction possible and will fuel our innovations as we embark on this next chapter in our longstanding legacy.” The acquisition of Meritor is expected to be immediately accretive to Cummins’ adjusted EPS and is expected to generate annual pre-tax run-rate synergies of approximately $130 million by year three after closing. Cummins intends to finance the transaction using a combination of cash on the company’s balance sheet and debt and remains committed to maintaining its strong credit ratings. The Board of Directors of Meritor has unanimously approved the agreement with Cummins and recommends that Meritor shareholders vote in favor of the transaction at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be called in connection with the transaction. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and Meritor shareholder approval, is expected to close by the end of the calendar year.    

Truckstop.com | Bloomberg Intelligence Survey shows brokers set to capitalize on wider margins

By The Trucker News Staff -

BOISE, Idaho — Robust contract rates spur freight broker optimism going into 2022, according to the latest Bloomberg and Truckstop.com survey, which polled brokerage and truckload companies. “Optimism is driven by contract rates that appear to be catching up with the spike in spot truckload rates, which began to moderate in 3Q,” Lee Klaskow, senior freight transportation and logistics analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said. “Volume growth and rate increases for contractual business are setting up a good year for freight brokers’ gross margins and earnings.” The Bloomberg | Truckstop.com Truckload 2H-21 survey shows accelerating volume growth drives optimism: About 60% of survey respondents saying volume rose in 2H from a year earlier, and 76% expecting greater demand due to positive vaccine developments, peak-season preparation and rising consumer confidence. Increased infrastructure spending could provide an added boost to trucking demand. Brokers remain bullish about their ability to raise their contract rates with shippers over the next six months with about 56% of brokers polled expecting to raise contract rates. About 44% of freight broker respondents had a higher gross margin in 2H than a year earlier, with 59% optimistic about gross-margin expansion over the next six months. Rates for brokers are catching up with spot surge with about three-quarters of respondents expecting growth to continue from restocking and increased economic activity, as well as the backlog created by supply-chain dislocations. The biggest constraints on growth will likely be the availability of drivers and the ability to hire more brokers. “Brokers are in a great position to capitalize on wider margins heading into 2022 due to a host of things including increased volume spurred by greater demand and peak season preparation,” Paris Cole, chief executive officer of Truckstop.com, said. “It’s paramount that we continue to enable brokers to more efficiently streamline their operations by providing the features and functionality they need to take advantage of the industry’s accelerated growth.” The Bloomberg | Truckstop.com survey of survey of freight brokers provides timely channel checks into the market’s health. The most recent sample size was 161, consisting of freight forwarders, third-party logistics providers and broker agents, as well as asset and non-asset-based brokers. Most respondents (83%) have 1-50 employees. The majority of those surveyed (51%) were non-asset-based brokers. The complete survey is available to Bloomberg Terminal subscribers via BI.  

Nirvana Insurance launches data-driven insurance platform for trucking industry

By The Trucker News Staff -

SAN FRANCISCO — Nirvana Insurance, a technology-driven platform that modernizes commercial fleet insurance using vast amounts of data from sensors on trucks, announced Wednesday the public launch of its services to make our roads safer and aid the imperiled truck industry. Led by key former employees from IPO blockbuster Samsara, Rubrik and Root Insurance, Nirvana recently closed a $22 million Series A funding round, bringing the total raised to more than $25 million The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with additional participation from General Catalyst, Elad Gil, Fidji Simo (CEO, Instacart), Spike Lipkin (CEO, Newfront), Sam Hodges (CEO, Vouch) and more. Nirvana will use the funding to scale its operations, grow its team, and invest in R&D efforts to expand products and services. The company uses telematics data to help fleets mitigate risk, improve driver performance, drop costs and make the insurance process easier. Nirvana gives up to a 20% discount upfront to the safest fleets and turns an insurance process that often takes months into mere minutes. “The analog approach to issuing insurance to commercial fleets is fundamentally broken,” Rushil Goel, CEO and co-founder of Nirvana, said. “The process is confusing, slow, and comes at a high productivity and financial cost.” The Nirvana platform connects billions of data points from these telematics and AI-powered dash cams, as well as public sources like the DMV and the department of transportation, to provide instantaneous quotes. Location, speed, video, erratic driving, weather, and traffic are all factors that are assessed by Nirvana’s bespoke machine-learning algorithms. Nirvana also gives regular recommendations to its clients, including specific coaching for drivers, as well as routes to avoid. “In my time working with more than 20,000 fleets at Samsara, I saw over and over again how these small businesses were completely frustrated with insurance and struggling to survive, Goel said. “Truckers who were doing all the right things and investing in safety, still saw their rates go up every year to the point where it forced them out of business,” said Goel. The policies are also usage based: Customers only pay for how much they drive, supporting the focus on reducing costs and tailoring coverage to a fleet’s actual exposure and usage. “Rapidly rising premiums in commercial fleet insurance are causing trucking businesses to shut down,” Raviraj Jain, partner at Lightspeed Partners, said. “Nirvana is bringing next-generation, data-driven insurance to the commercial fleet world by helping them operate not only more safely as business owners but leverage that safety to positively impact customers and beyond. Nirvana’s mission and leadership team have impressed us from the very beginning, and we’re excited to collaborate with the team to help unlock its full potential.” “Today, commercial fleet insurance is creating high costs and inefficiencies for trucking companies. Nirvana Insurance is poised to transform the trucking insurance industry and bring it into the 21st century,” Joel Cutler, partner at General Catalyst, said. “Led by Rushil Goel, on the heels of his success as a product leader at Samsara, Nirvana is delivering an amazing product for customers and agents alike.” Goel said that fleet insurance is only the beginning for Nirvana. “One day soon this use of smart data to mitigate risk will spread to factories and warehouses, for a safer and more efficient nationwide supply chain,” Goel said.  

Phillips Industries introduces 2 dual tracker spring kit designs

By The Trucker News Staff -

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Phillips Industries has introduced two new dual tracker spring kit designs with enhanced features for better performance on big rigs. Springs that perform well are unobstructed in their ability to expand and retract without interference. While performance can be hindered by improper spring selection or improper installation, the design of a dual spring kit versus a single spring kit creates an added challenge. Dual spring kits can become “tangled or knitted” together at the bottom section of the springs during extension while exposed below the protective cover. The newly designed Qwik-Change™ 16″ dual tracker spring kit with Qwik-Snap™ (17-420) now includes an unbreakable composite spring separator to the top and bottom of the springs. This new design keeps the springs separated from one another as they extend and eliminates the need for a two-carbineer attachment to the tracker bar. The result is overall improved performance. For added selection, a new QWIK-CHANGE 16″ dual tracker spring kit (17-425) with the additional benefit of the spring separators is now available with the QWIK-CLAMP™ hose holder (17-180). Both kits are available from Phillips authorized dealers throughout North America.

Winter storm to batter much of the US Wednesday, Thursday

By The Trucker News Staff -

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A winter storm is increasing its grasp on the U.S., bringing below freezing temperatures and wintry weather into the deep south. Travel is also becoming treacherous in many areas. The storm will affect a huge part of the nation, from out of the Rockies and into the Midwest and Northeast through the end of the week, according to the Weather Channel. Winter weather alerts have been issued by the National Weather Service along many portions of the country. The Weather Channel said that icy or snowy travel will impact areas from northern and central Texas into Oklahoma, northern and central Arkansas, central and southern Missouri, and the lower Ohio valley through the nighttime hours on Wednesday. “Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories extend from the higher elevations of California into the southern and central Rockies, Southern Plains, Ozarks and Mississippi Valley,” the channel reported. “The warnings include Dallas-Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and St. Louis.” On Thursday the storm will move out of the Southern Rockies, bringing a variety of winter hazards from the Southern Plains through the Ohio Valley Wednesday through Thursday night and the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Thursday night through Friday, according to the NWS. “Damaging ice accumulations across the Ozarks up to 0.50 inches leading to power outages and tree damage are possible,” the NWS reported. “This ice is within a swath of notable accumulations of freezing rain and sleet expected from North Texas through the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Overnight Thursday, heavy snow will develop over parts of the Middle Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes.” Winter storm watches have also been posted all the way to upstate New York to much of New England, including Boston, Hartford, Albany and Portland, Maine. “As the system moves to the Central Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic on Friday morning, heavy snow will develop over parts of the Northeast into Southern New England,” the NWS warned. “Widespread amounts greater than 6 inches are likely. Another rain/freezing rain area is likely from the Eastern Ohio Valley through the Central Appalachians. Significant ice accumulations are possible across south-central Pennsylvania and western Maryland.”      

ATA Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.6% in January

By The Trucker News Staff -

ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage Index rose 0.6% in January after increasing 0.9% in December. In January, the index equaled 115.5 compared with 114.9 in December. ATA recently revised the seasonally adjusted (SA) index back five years as part of its annual revision. “January’s gain was the sixth straight totaling 4.4%,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “The index, which is dominated by contract freight with only small amounts of spot market truck freight, is off 3.9% from the all-time high in August 2019 and only 1.5% below March 2020 when the pandemic hit. In January, truck tonnage was helped by rising retail sales and factory output. While housing starts fell last month, which is another important driver of truck tonnage, it remained at high levels.” Compared with January 2021, the SA index increased 1.2%, which was the fifth straight year-over-year gain. In December, the index was up 1.5% from a year earlier. In 2021, compared with the average in 2020, tonnage was up 0.3%. In 2020, tonnage was off 4% compared with 2019. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 109.2 in January, 4.3% below the December level (114.1). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight. Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.5% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.23 billion tons of freight in 2020. Motor carriers collected $732.3 billion, or 80.4% of total revenue earned by all transport modes. ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.  

Man arrested for stealing tractor trailer, kidnapping driver

By The Trucker News Staff -

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A shoplifting call led to the arrest of a man who allegedly stole a tractor-trailer and kidnapped its driver. It all began when a man told police that he was sitting in the tractor-trailer at a gas Station on Lamar Avenue on Feb. 9. He said there was another man and woman in the cab. While they were parked, another man came and knocked on the cab’s door. The driver said he didn’t let the man in, according to coverage by WHBQ-TV. Shortly afterward, the driver heard gunshots and the passenger side window shattered. The driver then let the man who had the gun and another man into the cab. The driver was hit several times in the head as the man demanded money while looking through the truck, according to reports. The unarmed suspect began driving the truck to Lamar and Airways, forcing the driver out of the truck when they reached an unknown area. The driver reported that a Seiko watch worth $500; a wedding ring worth $1,000; an iPhone worth $800; his driver’s license, and credit cards were taken from him by the suspects. The driver told police the suspects held him against his will for several hours after taking him to a home. The driver said the mend discussed whether they wanted to kill him and what to do with furniture in the trailer. They would end up putting the driver in a pickup and drop him off. The trailer, which still had furniture inside, was found the next day at S. Third and Weaver and towed to the city lot. According to the 18-wheeler’s owner, the tractor was worth $53,000 and the furniture on the trailer was worth approximately $17,000. Police received a call to a Walmart at 7525 Winchester about a man, identified as James Smith, attempting to shoplift that same day. When police arrived, they saw Smith standing in the parking lot near the stolen tractor-trailer talking to a woman, according to the affidavit. The engine was running, and the door was open. After he was taken into custody, Smith reportedly admitted to being with the man who fired the shot through the tractor-trailer’s window. Smith also admitted to jumping in the truck and driving off with it. Smith claimed he only drove off because someone had been shot and that he wanted to help. He claimed the truck driver told him to drive it, according to reports. Smith said he had paid $100 to use the truck two days after the incident. He reportedly told police he had been driving the truck and sleeping in it since. The truck driver would go on to identify Smith as the man who drove off in the truck. Smith is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping.

Troopers respond to semi-truck fire on Interstate 15

By The Trucker News Staff -

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho State Police Troopers responded to a fire involving a semi-truck pulling a trailer on Interstate 15 at milepost 62 in Bannock County Tuesday morning. No one was injured but the incident slowed traffic for approximately two hours on the southbound interstate. Troopers responded after a call at approximately 8:28 a.m. which reported the truck was driving down the southbound interstate with flames showing from the rear of the cab. When Troopers arrived moments later, the truck driver had pulled to the right and separated the truck and trailer. Firefighters with the Pocatello and Pocatello Valley Fire Departments responded quickly. Despite the quick response, the rear of the cab suffered extensive damage. The trailer was not involved. The driver of the truck, a man from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was not hurt. The right lane of travel was blocked during the incident to allow for firefighting operations. Troopers say they appreciate the citizens initial call reporting the fire that allowed emergency responders to arrive quickly likely limiting the extent of the damage.

Washington state set to kick off CMV safety blitz

By The Trucker News Staff -

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Beginning Tuesday, the Washington State Patrol’s Commercial Vehicle Division and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers will begin commercial vehicle emphasis patrols along Interstate 5 in Pierce County. The patrols will run through Feb. 24, according to Washington State Trooper Robert Reyer, who posted about the event on Twitter.

​NCDOT launches national first with tethered drones on IMAP trucks

By The Trucker News Staff -

RALEIGH, N.C. – Two North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) programs combined to be the first in the nation to launch an innovative technology pilot with their safety service patrol that should improve safety on North Carolina roadways. The statewide Incident Management Assistance Patrol (IMAP) program and the Division of Aviation’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program recently helped develop and deploy the operation of tethered drones from select IMAP vehicles. This helps responders assess incidents, provide situational awareness to the NCDOT Statewide Transportation Operations Center (STOC) and Traffic Management centers (TMCs) and assist with overall traffic management of the incidents. The deployment of this technology was realized because of a federal innovation grant received in 2020. “Along our interstates, where our IMAP patrols operate, there are gaps in camera coverage, so we don’t have perfect situational awareness,” State Traffic Operations Engineer Dominic Ciaramitaro said. “Our tethered drones will help us fill those gaps.” Traditionally, traffic operations staff views video feeds at the STOC/TMC through traffic cameras or they receive reports from responders in the field.  Tethered drones safely offer another method to provide more information in real time, with higher quality video, and for long periods of time. IMAP trucks are equipped with multiple specialized tools to assist stranded motorists or scene management with first responders. The tethered drones will be just one more resource in their toolkit. The drone can fly up to 150 feet to take video and livestream it to the STOC/regional TMC as well as to emergency management personnel at the incident. This instant information can provide a safer environment for those on scene or approaching an incident and allow the centers to better manage traffic and share more accurate traveler information to the public. The systems are highly portable and can be quickly launched and recovered. The IMAP team has two tethered drone systems they will be testing as part of the pilot. The UAS program and IMAP program team trained the first IMAP supervisor in January. IMAP used it within days of the training to survey a crash near the U.S. 13 and Interstate 95 interchange in Fayetteville as its first operation in the field. The drone was in the air for nearly five continuous hours. IMAP is managed through the divisions and is supported statewide by NCDOT’s Traffic Operations section, which is part of the Transportation Systems Management and Operations unit. The Division of Aviation advised and supported the unit with procuring, testing and training of the tethered drone systems as part of its work to expand beneficial drone use across NCDOT. The NCDOT’s Traffic Operations section will consider future deployment of tethered drones upon completion of the pilot’s evaluation. Please see video from the final training here and see more of the Fotokite drone in action here.​  

AJR Trucking, MDB Transportation place largest Kenworth EV order to date

By The Trucker News Staff -

LOS ANGELES — Kenworth Truck Company announced on Feb. 16 that Jack Khudikyan, owner of AJR Trucking and MDB Transportation, has ordered 15 Kenworth T680E and 10 Kenworth K270E battery electric vehicles from Inland Kenworth-Montebello. It marks the largest Kenworth battery electric vehicle order placed to date. AJR Trucking is a leading United States Postal Service contract carrier based in Los Angeles, and MDB Transportation provides transportation services including dedicated, port and rail, LTL and full truckload. According to Khudikyan, this order is a major step forward for both companies to significantly reduce its emissions. In 2016, AJR Trucking and MDB Transportation began adding compressed natural gas powered Kenworth T680s to reduce carbon emissions. Combined, the two companies operate more than 80 natural gas-powered trucks and continue to phase out its diesel trucks as operations allow. “Several years ago, we made the decision to begin adding trucks that run on alternative fuels to reduce our carbon footprint and to better assist our customers in meeting their sustainability goals,” Khudikyan said. “It’s important to do what’s right for the environment, and we’re on a mission to one day achieve net zero emissions between the two companies. This order of Kenworth Class 6 and Class 8 battery electric vehicles will assist us in meeting that goal.” AJR Trucking will use the K270Es to provide regional postal services in the greater Los Angeles area. The T680Es will operate in MDB Transportation’s drayage operations at the Port of Los Angeles. To offset the cost of the Kenworth T680E and K270E battery electric vehicles, the companies qualified and received voucher incentives through the California Air Resources Board Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project . HVIP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment particularly in disadvantaged communities. “Jack and his team at AJR Trucking and MDB Transportation are real leaders when it comes to addressing the impacts of climate change,” Charles Peterman, Inland Kenworth vice president of new truck sales, said. “We applaud his commitment to operating in a more sustainable way as his companies will become some of the first to put these new trucks into real-world service.” “This is a significant milestone for Kenworth, AJR Trucking, and MDB Transportation,” Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president, said. “We take pride in Jack’s commitment to invest in Kenworth’s battery electric models and be an early adopter of this new technology.” Designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul and drayage applications, the T680E is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck in a 6×4 axle configuration. The new model is offered in 54,000 pound and 82,000 pound gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR), features 536 hp continuous power and up to 670 hp peak power and 1,623 lb.-ft. of torque, and has a top speed of 70 mph. The zero emissions vehicle has an estimated operating range of 150 miles, depending on application. The T680E uses the industry standard SAE CCS1 charge port and can be fully charged in approximately three hours. Kenworth’s Class 8 battery electric vehicle features Meritor’s Blue Horizon 14Xe™ tandem electric powertrain with smooth shifting and operation. The Class 6 K270E and the Class 7 K370E cabovers are designed for pickup and delivery, as well as short regional haul operations. The electric powertrain is available with high-density battery packs of 141kWh, 209kWh and 282kWh that deliver up to 100-, 150- and 200-mile range, respectively, with zero emissions. The Kenworth battery electric vehicles utilize a DC fast-charging system capable of fast re-charge in as quick as one-hour. Regenerative braking in stop-and-go city conditions recharges the batteries and extends brake life. The K270E and K370E offer two direct-drive motors rated at 355 hp and 469 hp, depending on the application. The design provides enough torque to start the load from a stop on a 20 percent grade and the power to maintain 40 mph on a 6 percent grade while fully loaded. In addition to the comprehensive Kenworth battery electric vehicle lineup, new EV charging stations are available through PACCAR Parts.

Georgia DPS’s tongue-in-cheek social media post warns of alcohol dangers

By The Trucker News Staff -

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS) on Tuesday chided a truck driver who was caught with multiple bottles of alcohol inside their cab on National Margarita Day. The bottles included Jose Cuervo Classic Margarita, Sutter Home wine and two other bottles of some type of wine, a GDPS photo showed. “It’s National Margarita Day, don’t be like this CMV driver and be placed out of service for having a margarita and more in his cab. Make sure you drive sober today and every day. It could save a life,” the GDPS’s Facebook post read. The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulation 6.3.2 Alcohol (392.5) states: “Drivers are forbidden to consume or be under the influence of alcohol (as defined in 49 CFR 382.107) within four hours of going on duty or operating a CMV (49 CFR 392.5). Drivers are forbidden to use alcohol, be under the influence of alcohol, or have any measured alcohol concentration, while on duty, or operating, or in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle. Alcohol can only be transported as part of a shipment.” Further information about the driver was not provided by the GDPS.

Chase of stolen semi ends in blaze, teargas deployment, hail of gunfire

By The Trucker News Staff -

BERNE, Ind. – Indiana State Police (ISP) say the pursuit of a stolen semi-truck on Tuesday ended with the rig in flames, tear gas being deployed and one of the suspects engaged in a shootout with a SWAT team. According to a report from the ISP, Nicholas R. Mingus, 29, of Ghent, Kentucky, and Michael James McGee, 26, of Dayton, Ohio, have been charged with one count each of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, auto theft, a Level 5 felony, and resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony. The pursuit of the stolen bobtail rig began in Riverside, Ohio, a suburb of northeast Dayton. The ISP report stated that at approximately 12:05 a.m., the Riverside Police Department (RPD) received a report of stolen semi in their jurisdiction and began pursuit along Interstate 70. Riverside Police reported that one of the suspects allegedly fired shots at their officers during the chase. At approximately 2:15 a.m., the suspect driving the tractor led the pursuing Ohio officers out of Wilshire, Ohio, into Adams County, Indiana, at which point the Adams County sheriff’s deputies joined in the pursuit. Multiple stop-stick devices had already been successfully deployed in Ohio, so the semi-tractor was operating on multiple flat tires. The pursuit continued in eastern Adams County until the semi ran off the road and became stuck in a ditch near the intersection of Salem Road and CR400S, approximately 4 miles northeast of Berne, Indiana. Once stuck, the suspects barricaded themselves inside the semi’s sleeper, according to the ISP report. Adams County deputies, assisted by several Riverside Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol officers, set up a safety perimeter and requested assistance from the ISP North SWAT team. At approximately 5 a.m., one male suspect exited the semi and surrendered to ISP SWAT officers without further incident.  He was later identified as McGee. At approximately 5:10 a.m., ISP SWAT located a second male suspect, later identified as Mingus, hiding in the sleeper. Gunshots were fired from inside the semi, striking the SWAT armored vehicle windshield.  SWAT members deployed tear gas into the semi-tractor, at which point Mingus exited and surrendered. The exact reason or source has not been confirmed, but as Mingus exited the tractor, a fire ignited inside the cab.  Mingus was safely taken into custody.  The semi was eventually engulfed in flames and destroyed. After being taken into custody, both Mingus and McGee were transported from the scene to the Adams County Jail.  

I-84 reopens through eastern Oregon

By The Trucker News Staff -

EASTERN, Ore. — The Interstate 84 westbound freeway has reopened in eastern Oregon after a major winter storm hit on Monday. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), “good coordination with all responding crews, including law enforcement, fire stations, emergency responders, ODOT and over a half-dozen tow companies helped clear the route enough to open the freeway several hours ahead of earlier estimates.” Disabled vehicles were moved off the roadway, with some being staged at the nearby truck weigh station and rest area. “Outstanding response from our tow companies and all who responded, including law enforcement and EMS,” said ODOT District 12 Manager Marilyn Holt. “They got everyone out fast, which made clearing the scene go well.” Much more work is needed and travelers should expect reduced speeds, crews working near the roadway, lane restrictions near the crash site, and winter conditions along the route. Drive with extra caution. A total of 71 people were transported from the crash scene to the reunification center via buses. Initial numbers collected were that there were 17 patients transported from the crash scene with an additional 2 transported after having arrived at the reunification center.  

2021 commercial vehicle markets strong on demand, constrained by supply chains

By The Trucker News Staff -

COLUMBUS, Ind. – In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that supply-chain constraints kept a lid on the industry’s ability to raise build rates through 2021, at least until December when a torrent of red-tagged/incomplete heavy-duty, and to a lesser extent medium-duty, units were finished. The report, which combines ACT’s proprietary data analysis from a wide variety of industry sources, paints a comprehensive picture of trends impacting transportation and commercial vehicle markets. This monthly report includes a relevant but high-level forecast summary, complete with transportation insights for use by commercial vehicle dealer executives, reviewing top-level considerations such as for-hire indices, freight, heavy and medium duty segments, the total US trailer market, used truck sales information, and a review of the US macro economy. “As supply constraints continue to dominate the conversation, broad-based economic and freight market strength is often overlooked,” Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst, said. “In addition to long lead-time manufacturing demand, US consumers’ economic footprint has never been bigger. GDP surged 5.7% in 2021, with the forecast for growth at 3.7% in 2022, and thanks to the long period of low interest rates, consumer debt service levels are at historically low levels, while household net worth has surged since the beginning of 2020.” Vieth said the virus continues to bend consumer spending to goods and away from services. “Significant congestion in ports on both coasts is expected to linger into mid-year, and pent-up demand in the manufacturing sector is growing, related to the same supply-chain woes that are impacting commercial vehicle production,” Vieth said. “Additionally, corporate profits continue their record-setting run, allowing businesses to invest in productivity enhancing equipment. With wages growing rapidly, machinery demand is well-above trend, as employers drive capital for labor substitution.” Vieth said even discounting for unprecedentedly low automotive inventories and consumer-facing retail inventory-to-sales ratios remain unprecedentedly low. He said this will support freight demand deep into 2022. “Additionally, used vehicle prices are at record levels across Class 8 age and mileage nodes, and data indicate record valuations for medium-duty and trailer assets,” Vieth said. “Healthy consumer and corporate balance sheets and pent-up inventory demand translate into continued robust freight markets and still-rising freight rates (to date).” More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.

International Roadcheck date set for May

By The Trucker News Staff -

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.