TYLER, Texas — An 18-wheeler being loaded with hay in an East Texas field caught fire Tuesday afternoon, destroying two flatbed trailers and a semi-truck. No injuries were reported. Gary Ross, chief of Ben Wheeler Fire Rescue, said his crew doesn’t know what caused the fire, which originated from the truck. The firefighters, who were assisted by two people driving farm tractors, kept the fire from spreading to the rest of the 100-acre property.
ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released on Wednesday its annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, and the state of California placed eight locations on the list. “California’s economy is America’s economy – from our ports to our farms – we see firsthand the devastating impacts that congestion can have on our lives and businesses,” California Trucking Association CEO Shawn Yadon said. “With eight of the 100 worst truck bottlenecks in the country, the Golden State is once again a national leader. Congestion on our highways hurts our environment, roadway safety – and at a time when the nation’s eyes are on strained supply chains and struggling ports – our economy. If we invest in improving our roads and bridges, we can reduce the harmful impacts of congestion and deliver a brighter future for California and all Americans.” The 2022 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location. ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 300 freight-critical locations. The eight California bottlenecks are: No. 7 Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57 No. 9 San Bernardino: I-10 at I-15 No. 35 Corona: I-15 at SR 91 No. 47 Oakland: I-880 at I-238 No. 59 Los Angeles: I-110 at I-105 No. 63 Oakland: I-80 at I-580/I-880 No. 90 Los Angeles: SR 91 at SR 55 No. 91 Los Angeles: I-710 at I-105 “ATRI’s bottleneck list is a roadmap for federal and state administrators responsible for prioritizing infrastructure investments throughout the country,” American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said. “Every year, ATRI’s list highlights the dire needs for modernizing and improving our roads and bridges. We have seen, most recently in Pittsburgh, that the cost of doing nothing could also cost lives. It’s time to fund these projects and get our supply chains moving again.” For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, visit ATRI’s website here. ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website.
ARLINGTON, Va. – For the fourth year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the top freight bottleneck in the country. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released its annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, naming Fort Lee as the worst. The 2022 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks, uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location. ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 300 freight-critical locations. The rest of the top 10, listed from most-congested bottleneck to the lowest, are: Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75 Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59 Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North) Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West) Chicago: I-290 at I-90/I-94 Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57 Dallas: I-45 at I-30 San Bernardino, California: I-10 at I-15 Chattanooga, Tennessee: I-75 at I-24 ATRI’s analysis, which utilized data from 2021, found traffic levels rebounded across the country as more Americans returned to work and consumer demand for goods and services continued to grow. Consequently, supply chain bottlenecks occurred throughout the country. Average rush hour truck speeds were 38.6 miles per hour, down more than 11 percent from the previous year. “ATRI’s bottleneck list is a roadmap for federal and state administrators responsible for prioritizing infrastructure investments throughout the country. Every year, ATRI’s list highlights the dire needs for modernizing and improving our roads and bridges,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “We have seen, most recently in Pittsburgh, that the cost of doing nothing could also cost lives. It’s time to fund these projects and get our supply chains moving again.” For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, visit ATRI’s website by clicking here. ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Fourteen locations in Texas made the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America. That’s the most bottlenecks of any state. Ten of the locations were in the Houston metropolitan area. “Texas is used to being ranked No. 1, but this is one list we are not proud to be on top of,” Texas Trucking Association President and CEO John D. Esparza said. “Bottlenecks around the state continue to waste time and money, further damaging the already fragile supply chain. With the newly available federal resources for infrastructure projects, there is no excuse – these bottlenecks must be addressed. A reliable and stable transportation network is essential to our economy – just like the trucking industry.” The 2022 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location. ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 300 freight-critical locations. The 14 Texas bottlenecks are: No. 3 Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59 No. 8 Dallas: I-45 at I-30 No. 13 Houston: I-10 at I-45 No. 15 Houston: I-45 at I-610 (North) No. 27 Austin: I-35 No. 30 Houston: I-10 at I-610 (West) No. 34 Houston: I-610 at US 290 No. 41 Houston: I-10 at I-610 (East) No. 54 Dallas: US 75 at I-635 No. 60 Ft. Worth: I-35W at I-30 No. 65 Houston: I-610 at I-69/US 59 (West) No. 68 Houston: I-45 at Sam Houston Tollway (North) No. 93 Houston: I-10 at I-69/US 59 No. 98 Houston: I-45 at I-610 (South) “ATRI’s bottleneck list is a roadmap for federal and state administrators responsible for prioritizing infrastructure investments throughout the country,” American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said. “Every year, ATRI’s list highlights the dire needs for modernizing and improving our roads and bridges. We have seen, most recently in Pittsburgh, that the cost of doing nothing could also cost lives. It’s time to fund these projects and get our supply chains moving again.” For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, visit ATRI’s website here. ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A FedEx tandem trailer rig crashed into a work zone on U.S. 35 in Ohio Tuesday, narrowly missing construction workers, according to a Facebook post from the Ohio Department of Transportation. “Our pothole patching crew on U.S. 35 was lucky to make it home yesterday after a semi crashed into the work zone, sending our ‘crash truck’ flying,” the post stated. “Fortunately, it did its job by absorbing impact and protecting the workers on the ground. Don’t let this happen again — watch out for our crews and move over.”
UINTAH COUNTY, Utah — A semi-truck driver is dead after a Monday morning rollover crash on US 191 approximately 20 miles north of Vernal, Utah. The truck was reportedly hauling oilfield pipeline on a flatbed trailer when the accident occurred, according to reports by KTSU. “The truck lost control while going through an area of switchbacks, went off the side of the road, then rolled and landed upside down,” KTSU reported. The driver was reportedly ejected and suffered fatal injuries. The driver has yet to be identified but is reportedly from Texas. The Utah Highway Patrol closed the highway for more than two hours because the steel pipes were strewn across the road, which KTSU reported heavy equipment had to be brought in to remove.
SAN ANTONIO — Several cows were killed after the tractor-trailer carrying them rolled over in San Antonio late Monday night. The driver told police that the truck shifted to the right side as he took an exit at the Interstate 37 and Interstate 10 interchange, causing him to lose control, according to KSAT. Police said the truck, which was carrying 25 cows, saw its gears lock up, causing it to hit a guard rail and cross over the median before the truck rolled over on its side, according to KABB. The driver is reported to have suffered a scratch on the forehead. There is still no report on how many cows were killed. Another 18-wheeler later arrived to transfer the surviving cattle.
PHOENIX — An Arizona state senator is encouraging American truckers to gridlock this weekend’s Super Bowl in Los Angeles the same way their Canadian brothers and sisters of the road have shut down Ottawa, Ontario, in recent days to protest COVID-19 restrictions. Wendy Rogers, a Republican, wrote on Twitter Monday: “If truckers shut down the Super Bowl it would partially be payback for Colin Kaepernick and the kneeling.” Rogers was referring to former the NFL quarterback’s efforts to protest racial inequality by kneeling during the playing of the national anthem before football games. Rolling Stone magazine labeled Rogers as “a fringe figure, deep in the far right.” U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., appeared on Fox News recently to encourage “Canadian trucker-style protests against public health regulations.” Paul, however, did not specifically mention Sunday’s Super Bowl game. Meanwhile, Canada’s public safety minister said Monday that U.S. officials should stay out of his country’s domestic affairs, joining other Canadian leaders in pushing back against prominent Republicans who offered support for the protests of COVID-19 restrictions that have besieged downtown Ottawa for more than a week.
SAN FRANCISCO and PHOENIX — Autonomous trucking technology developer Embark Trucks, Inc. and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. announced Tuesday the launch of the Truck Transfer Program, which is intended to give Knight-Swift and its drivers direct access to Embark’s technology. The Truck Transfer Program marks the first public initiative through which a U.S. carrier will directly own and maintain an Embark-equipped truck and is a major step on the path to eventual purchase and ownership of Embark-equipped trucks by carriers. To date, Embark and other autonomous developers have operated a testing model in which they own, maintain and dispatch autonomous trucks, placing their own drivers behind the wheel during hauls for shipper and carrier partners. This configuration has generated valuable early insights into real-world technology performance and how best to integrate Embark-equipped trucks within existing supply chain operations. The Truck Transfer Program is an industry-first testing configuration that aims to unlock the next level of development necessary for commercialization. It marks the first time that the carrier – Knight-Swift – will own an autonomous truck, maintain and deploy the truck, and place their own driver behind the wheel. This will allow Embark and Knight-Swift to collect detailed driver feedback on the technology’s performance, define how the system will improve driver jobs and develop procedures and tools that enable Knight-Swift to maintain, inspect, dispatch and remotely monitor Embark-equipped trucks. Currently, Knight-Swift and Embark are preparing the truck technology and carrier process flows necessary for the launch of this industry-first program. Embark plans to equip a set of Knight-Swift trucks from the carrier’s slated 2022 OEM deliveries with the Embark Universal Interface. The two companies are also developing workflows to account for truck maintenance, dispatching and IT integration points, among other things. Embark plans to deliver the first Embark-equipped trucks to Knight-Swift for use in daily operations by the end of 2022.. The program will help Knight-Swift determine how best to utilize its limited driver workforce to address the growing demands of the national supply chain, such as when to have drivers haul loads alongside autonomous capacity when to have drivers team-drive with the Embark Driver, or under what circumstances to have drivers move local hauls to fulfill the last mile. Overall, the program will help define the proper blend of models to apply across the network over time.
ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. — A truck driver who authorities say hit and killed a Tennessee sheriff’s deputy is being held on $1 million bond after his first appearance in court on Monday. According to a report on WVLT.tv, Christopher Savannah, 42, allegedly does not have a valid commercial driver’s license and was under the influence at the time his big rig hit Loudon County Sgt. Chris Jenkins on Feb. 3 along Interstate 75 near the Tennessee River Bridge. Loudon had created a rolling barricade before attempting to remove a ladder on the interstate. Shortly after he had successfully slowed most of the traffic and began retrieving the ladder, Savannah’s big rig hit him, along with several other cars. According to the WLTV report, police testified that Savannah admitted to using marijuana several hours before the crash. He is charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by recklessness, reckless endangerment times three, DUI, simple possession, possession of a handgun under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and other traffic charges.
CHEYENNE, Wyoming — A medical condition is being looked to in the death of a driver near Cheyenne on Sunday. The fatal crash happened near milepost 25 on Interstate 25 north of Cheyenne. Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of the motor vehicle collision at 10 a.m. The driver was behind the wheel of 2019 Freightliner Cascadia and was headed north on I-25. The truck reportedly drifted off the right side of the roadway before overcorrecting back to the left. This led to the tractor-trailer re-entering the road before colliding with a guardrail, causing it to overturn. The driver of the Freightliner has been identified as James H. Fitts, 61, of Loudon, Tennessee. Fitts was wearing his seatbelt and transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, where he later succumbed to injuries. A possible medical condition is being investigated as a potential contributing factor. This is the fourth fatality on Wyoming’s roadways in 2022. At this time in 2021, there were 14 roadway fatalities, five in 2020 and 16 in 2019.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (PRNewswire) — West Side Transport has announced its expansion into the South with the opening of a new logistics hub in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This expansion into the southeastern region of the U.S. will allow the asset-based trucking, logistics and warehousing provider to continue its strategic growth across North America. The Chattanooga facility is West Side’s eighth location. “The Chattanooga service center strengthens West Side’s truckload asset network and the new warehousing opportunities provide a solid foundation for us to deliver the premium service our customers expect and deserve,” Jim Russo, vice president of sales, said. The full-service facility will create terminal and warehousing job opportunities to further support West Side Transport’s customer base. With the opening of the Chattanooga logistics hub, West Side will be offering a variety of new driving positions with a range of home time options. “At West Side, drivers come first,” Ron Joseph, chief operating officer, said. “The Chattanooga facility not only gives us an opportunity to provide a home daily position but allows West Side the ability to connect with our drivers domiciled in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Our main concerns are providing a quality paycheck, getting the driver home, treating every driver with the respect they deserve, and having a terminal located near our driver base. This facility will help us in accomplishing these goals.” West Side Transport, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a dry-van carrier operating a fleet of 550 late-model power units, 2,100 dry-van trailers, and multiple warehouses. West Side Transport has been in operation for over 45 and has terminals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; South St. Paul, Minnesota; Glenwood, Illinois; Canton, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada — Volvo Trucks North America has designated two dealerships in Québec, as the first two Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealers in Canada. The sales and service teams at both Camions Volvo Montreal and Paré Centre du Camion have completed Volvo Trucks’ training program requirements to ensure they are prepared to support the commercial deployment of Class 8 battery-electric trucks in the region. “Expanding our Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer network into Canada is an important milestone in our efforts to deploy our zero-tailpipe emissions Volvo VNR Electric trucks across all corners of North America,” Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, said. The Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer program was designed to ensure that sales representatives are fully trained to consult with customers that are considering deploying Volvo VNR Electric to ensure they are selecting a model configuration that is technically viable based on their operating requirements. On the aftermarket side, the dealership certification ensures technicians have the proper technical training required to maintain electric drivetrains and components, as well as understand all safety procedures to follow when working with high-voltage systems. The certification also includes investments in the necessary vehicle diagnostics tools and requires the dealership to maintain a stock of key parts and components for the VNR Electric model to minimize service times and quickly get customers back on the road. Paré Centre du Camion was founded in 1987 and has two locations in Quebec — Québec City and Lévis. Its Quebec City facility is equipped to service the Volvo VNR Electric trucks, including procuring an electric truck charger. Paré Centre du Camion has already trained and certified three technicians to perform maintenance and repairs on customers’ Volvo VNR Electric trucks. “We are thrilled to be one of the first two dealerships in Canada to complete the Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer designation and look forward to helping our fleet customers in the region transition to Volvo VNR Electric trucks to improve supply chain sustainability,” Marie-Claude Paré, dealer principal of Paré Centre du Camion, said. Camions Volvo Montreal was founded in 2014 and is part of a network of eight Volvo Trucks dealerships. Its flagship Dorval location, the first location to receive the Volvo Trucks EV Certified dealership designation. Six of Camions Volvo Montreal’s 30 technicians have completed Volvo Trucks’ required training program. “We are having weekly conversations with our customers who are very interested in the Volvo VNR Electric technology, including discussing which routes might be ideal to start with when integrating battery-electric trucks into their fleet,” Jean-Francois Bibeau, vice-president of sales at Camions Volvo Montreal, said. “We believe electromobility is the future of the global transport sector and look forward to partnering with Volvo Trucks to support electromobility projects as customer demand continues to grow.”
MIAMI – Two Miami men were each sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for stealing 192 medical ventilators worth approximately $3 million from a big rig. The ventilators were owned by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and were bound for a COVID-19 intensive care facility in El Salvador as part of a U.S. COVID-19 aid program. The ventilators were stolen in South Florida while in transit to El Salvador. Yoelvis Denis Hernandez, also known by the alias “Guajiro,” 42, and Luis Urra Montero, also known by the alias “Flaco,” 25, previously pled guilty to theft of government property. Montero was sentenced to 41 months in prisonthe week of Jan. 30, 2022; Hernandez was sentenced to 41 months in prison in December 2021. According to court documents, on Aug. 9, 2020, Hernandez and Montero stole a tractor-trailer loaded with 192 medical ventilators during its transport by truck to Miami International Airport. USAID had acquired the ventilators and was sending them to the government of El Salvador as part of an aid program to treat critically ill COVID-19 El Salvadorian patients. Hernandez and Montero stole the trailer from a lot where the driver had left it overnight. Following an investigation, federal law enforcement agents recovered most of the stolen ventilators. Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, and Ann Calvaresi Barr, Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG), announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke. FBI Miami, FBI Miami’s Major Theft Task Force and USAID-OIG investigated this case, with assistance from Boynton Beach Police Department, Miami Dade Police Department, Medley Police Department, City of Miami Gardens Police Department, and Broward Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman and Michael B. Homer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 20-cr-20252.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. and ORTLAND, Ore. — In a NASCAR first, Team Penske on Sunday used the fully-electric Freightliner eCascadia semi-truck to pull a full-sized Team Penske racecar hauler from Ontario, California, to Los Angeles. Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Freightliner eCascadia Ford team kicked off the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday with the inaugural running of The Clash, an exhibition run inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on a specially designed and constructed quarter-mile track inside the iconic venue. The eCascadia remained on display throughout race weekend to give fans a firsthand look at the battery-electric truck. “Team Penske has been evolving with Freightliner since 1984,” Team Penske Transportation Director Chris Yoder said. Yoder oversees 20 Freightliner trucks at the team’s Mooresville, North Carolina, headquarters and piloted the eCascadia during the historic drive. “I think it’s safe to say we’ve operated every model road tractor Freightliner has produced since 1984,” Yoder said. “Yesterday’s trip with the eCascadia will mark the pinnacle of our partnership. Together we’ve innovated and developed on the ground floor and this trip is symbolic of the next journey we plan to take together, a carbon-neutral future with a focus on sustainability.” “At Freightliner, we’re driven to deliver purposeful innovation for our customers and there’s a tremendous sense of pride to see the innovative all-electric Freightliner eCascadia used by our longstanding partners at Team Penske to make racing history,” Mary Aufdemberg, general manager, product strategy and market development at DTNA, said. “We look forward to cheering them on this weekend.” The eCascadia used by Team Penske is part of the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet, which includes 20 battery-electric trucks in operation by PTL and its customers. The fleet began operation in 2019 and was supported by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), which focuses on improving air quality in the South Coast Basin of Southern California and partially funded the project. “We’re committed to leading our industry in the transition to commercial electric vehicles and providing increasingly more sustainable truck options to our customers,” Art Vallely, president of Penske Truck Leasing, said. “We continue to test new and innovative vehicles in our fleet, and we have been impressed with the performance of these Freightliner vehicles.”
WASHINGTON — New federal regulations for entry-level driver training (ELDT) began Feb. 7. The ELDT regulations set the minimum federal requirements for training that entry-level drivers must complete before being permitted to take certain commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills or knowledge tests on or after Feb. 7. ELDT regulations set the baseline for training requirements for entry-level drivers. This includes those applying to: Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time. Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL. Obtain a School Bus (S), Passenger (P) or Hazardous Materials (H) endorsement for the first time. The ELDT regulations are not retroactive, meaning that drivers who were issued a CDL or an S, P or H endorsement prior to Feb. 7, 2022, are not required to complete training for the respective CDL or endorsement. If an applicant who obtains a CLP prior to Feb. 7, 2022, obtains a CDL before the CLP or renewed CLP expires, the applicant is not subject to the ELDT requirements. Any individual who meets one of the exceptions for taking a skills test in 49 CFR Part 383 is also exempt from the ELDT requirements. “It is important to note that if you already hold a commercial driver’s license, for the most part, you will not be affected by these new training standards. You’re essentially grandfathered in,” wrote Tim Frazier, vice president of safety and compliance for the Alabama Trucking Association, in an editorial for AL.com. “And despite rumors spreading on social media, the process for obtaining a CDL will not markedly differ from what takes place today.” Frazier continued: “Prospective drivers will still be required to complete theory instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction before taking their skills test to obtain their CDL. There is also no minimum number of hours as part of this training. The new ELDT simply means everyone will be using the same training curriculum nationwide. And we believe that will vastly improve the consistency of entry-level training.”
RESTON, Va. — Trucker Tools and Simple Truck have reached an agreement that will enable access to real-time truck data for Simple Truck ELD units within the Trucker Tools Smart Capacity carrier and capacity management platform. Trucker tools announced the agreement with Simple Truck on Tuesday. Simple Truck has over 4,000 of its devices installed and operating with independent owner-operators and small truckload fleets. Simple Truck joins more than 70 ELD and telematics technology providers who have established links with Trucker Tools to capture location information from truck-based ELDs, Prasad Gollapalli, the company’s founder and chief executive, said. The companies have implemented a secure Application Programming Interface (API) supporting the integration, which went live last week. “We’re pleased to welcome Simple Truck to the Trucker Tools platform as another resource for accurate, real-time data supporting timely shipment visibility that brokers and shippers require to manage their supply chains,” Gollapalli said. He added that the two companies were exploring additional collaboration opportunities, potentially adding a Simple Truck button to the Trucker Tools mobile driver app, making Simple Truck’s online tax and regulatory filing services available to the community of Trucker Tools independent owner-operator and small fleet users. Importantly, Gollapalli emphasized that the provision of ELD data is permission-based. The truck owner and/or driver controls access to their ELD. Once activated, in-transit data from the ELD moves into the Trucker Tools platform, accessible through the Trucker Tools Smart Capacity app on a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. The platform’s strict controls and permission-based access ensure no other ELD data outside of location updates is shared. “Truckers can choose between automating tracking through the Trucker Tools mobile driver app or their ELD,” Gollapalli said. “It helps brokers and carriers further streamline operations, improve carrier engagement and respond to shippers promptly with timely in-transit location data.” Trucker Tools has nearly 190,000 small-fleet truckload operators active on its carrier engagement platform, with more than 90% of those running 10 trucks or less, as well as single-truck owner-operators. The Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App, which was launched in 2013 and to date has been downloaded by more than 1.6 million truckers, is among the most popular apps with truckload operators, consistently ranking as the most downloaded app in transportation each month. The Trucker Tools mobile app is available for both Android- and Apple-powered smartphones and is provided free of charge to independent truckers and small fleets.
TORONTO — Participants in Freedom Convoy 2022 temporarily halted big rig and other horn-blowing Sunday as their campaign to end COVID-119 restrictions in Canada entered its second week in the nation’s capital. “Out of respect for the Lord’s Day, for members of our military who have sacrificed and who continue to sacrifice so much for our freedom, for the men and women in blue who are doing such a superb job protecting us, and as a gesture of goodwill, members of our Convoy will desist from the blowing of horns tomorrow, Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ottawa time,” a news release stated. “We would also like to express our condolences to the families of those workers who lost their lives in the recent Eastway Tank explosion in Ottawa, in whose name a vigil was held in Ottawa on Saturday.” Meanwhile, the mayor of Canada’s capital declared a state of emergency Sunday and a former U.S. ambassador to Canada said groups in the U.S. must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America’s neighbor as protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions continued to paralyze Ottawa’s downtown. Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders. Thousands of protesters descended in Ottawa again on the weekend, joining a hundred who remained since last weekend. Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a “siege” that he could not manage. The “freedom truck convoy” has attracted support from many U.S. Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far left lunatic” who has “destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.” “Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies,” Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted. Heyman said “under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop.” After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent U.S. Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained. But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all. The site said it cut off funding for the organizers because it had determined the effort violated the site’s terms of service due to unlawful activity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called it an occupation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted: “Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers’ worthy cause.” and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said on Fox News “government doesn’t have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates.” “For some senior American politicians, patriotism means renting a mob to put a G-7 capital under siege,” tweeted Gerald Butts, a former senior adviser to Trudeau. In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, police controlled and later ended a much smaller protest by setting up road blocks and preventing any trucks or cars from getting near the provincial legislature. Police also moved in to clear a key intersection in the city. Many Canadians have been outraged over the crude behavior of the demonstrators. Some protesters set fireworks off on the grounds of the National War Memorial late Friday. A number have carried signs and flags with swastikas last weekend and compared vaccine mandates to fascism. Protesters have said they won’t leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are gone. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau’s government, though it is responsible for few of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Work Zone Data Working Group has released version 4.0 of its Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) Specification, a data-sharing standard to help automated driving systems and human drivers navigate roadway work zones more safely. Among other improvements, the 4.0 release defines standards for two new data feed — one that transmits information to drivers and automated driving systems about traffic management devices in use at work zones and one that transmits work-zone-specific lane closure and road restriction information. In 2019, the most recent year for which data are available, 842 people died in highway work zone crashes compared to 757 in the previous year. The 11.2% increase is the largest year-over-year percent increase of highway work zone fatalities this century. The WZDx Specification allows infrastructure owners and operators to make work zone data available with a common format and vocabulary for third-party use. Bringing these feeds into vehicles will help drivers and automated driving systems anticipate work zone travel changes and proceed more safely. Several data producers and data users have started to set up data feed based on WZDx. Earlier this month, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg publicly unveiled six DOT innovation principles, which will guide how the DOT deploys resources to foster purpose-driven transportation innovation. The Federal Highway Administration and Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office co-led the early stages of the project and remain actively involved along with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other programs in the DOT.
SAN DIEGO — TuSimple, a global autonomous driving technology company, announced Wednesday that Union Pacific Railroad will become the first customer to move freight on TuSimple’s fully-automated trucking route between the Tucson, Arizona, and Phoenix metro areas. Union Pacific, the largest Class I railroad in the U.S., is leveraging Loup Logistics to coordinate the freight shipment and support movement between rail and the critical first and last mile. Starting this spring, TuSimple plans to carry freight for Union Pacific, utilizing autonomous vehicle technology to deliver goods to their destination. “Partnering with TuSimple allows us to extend our operations beyond our rail hubs and serve our customers faster and more efficiently,” Kenny Rocker, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Union Pacific, said. “This groundbreaking autonomous driving technology and our partnership provide us a significant opportunity to scale the technology in our network, proactively reducing global supply chain congestion.” Building on its accomplishment of the world’s first driver out semi-truck run on Dec. 22, TuSimple is reporting Wednesday an additional six successful fully autonomous runs. The seven total runs covered over 550 cumulative miles on open public roads without a human in the vehicle, teleoperation or traffic intervention. Runs were conducted in various roadway conditions, including dense early-evening traffic and back-to-back runs on the same night. Going forward, TuSimple plans to continue its “Driver Out” program and progressively expand its scope to incorporate daytime runs and new routes while making regular improvements to its proprietary AV technology. By the end of 2023, TuSimple plans to achieve commercial viability by initiating continuous Driver Out paid freight operations in a significant shipping area such as the Texas Triangle. “Our repeatable and scalable Driver Out operations marks a significant inflection point in our company’s history,” Cheng Lu, president and CEO of TuSimple, said. “We are the world’s first to complete all of the features of AV trucking technology. We are proud of our on-time delivery of this historic milestone and are excited to shift our full focus to commercializing our ground-breaking technology on an accelerated timeline.” To scale its operations in preparation for a nationwide expansion, the company recently provided technical specifications to commercial real-estate developers to prepare for future autonomous trucking operations, including a million square foot state-of-the-art facility within a 27,000-square-acre development as part of the AllianceTexas. To date, TuSimple has over 11,000 unique mapped miles in its Autonomous Freight Network and plans to continue to scale its operations to support its distribution partners.