The Trucker News Staff

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray signed an official order temporarily suspending certain restrictions on motor carriers that will be engaged in restoring power, removing debris and delivering fuel to areas expected to be stricken by an approaching winter storm. “Our Cabinet is ready to help ensure that needed relief will get quickly to areas that lose electric power and experience damage as a result of flooding and ice,” Gray said. The order is effective through 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Feb. 15. It temporarily relieves commercial drivers from maximum driving times and weigh-station stops if responding to affected areas. In addition, the order authorizes the Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Regulation to waive permit fees for overweight/over-dimensional vehicles. To ensure the safety of the traveling public, carriers must comply with safety requirements and have a copy of the order in the truck cab if operating under the authority of the official order.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Houston-based motor carrier Adversity Transport Inc. to be an “imminent hazard” to public safety and ordered the motor carrier to immediately cease all interstate and intrastate operations. The motor carrier was served the Federal order on Jan. 25. On Dec. 10, 2021, Adversity Transport violated a standing out-of-service order issued for failing to permit an investigation into its safety fitness, according to the FMCSA. A subsequent FMCSA review of Adversity Transport’s roadside safety performance record found the motor carrier to be egregiously noncompliant with multiple Federal safety regulations, including: Driving of CMVs (49 CFR Part 392); Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operations (49 CFR Part 393); drivers’ Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395) and Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (49 CFR Part 396). Two of Adversity Transport’s drivers were also found to be driving while prohibited or suspended. Adversity Transport’s vehicle out-of-service rate is 89%, compared to a national average of 21%, and its driver out-of-service rate is 50%, compared to a national average of 6%. Adversity Transport allegedly failed to ensure its drivers drive safely and its drivers have received numerous citations for violations such as speeding, texting while driving and possessing a controlled substance while driving. Adversity Transport also reportedly failed to ensure its vehicles were safe. Roadside inspections reported pervasive vehicle maintenance problems including unsafe tires, unsafe brakes and cracked frames. Adversity Transport is also accused of failing to ensure its drivers comply with the requirements to track their hours of service, designed to prevent fatigued drivers from continuing to drive. FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Adversity Transport’s “… complete and utter disregard for the [federal safety regulations] substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death for your drivers and the motoring public if your operations are not discontinued immediately.” Failing to comply with the provisions of the Federal imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $28,142 for each violation. Adversity Transport may also be assessed civil penalties of not less than $11,256 for providing transportation in interstate commerce without operating authority registration, and up to $15,876 for operating a CMV in interstate commerce without USDOT Number registration. Knowing and/or willful violations may result in criminal penalties. A copy of the imminent hazard order issued to Adversity Transport is available here.  

CALERA, Okla. — Citizen-soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment of the Oklahoma National Guard supported the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in Durant Thursday by stabilizing a semi-truck that slid off of U.S. 75/69 in Calera and preventing it from rolling over. The truck driver was not injured.

DALLAS — A tractor-trailer driver is dead after he was reportedly ejected during a crash on Interstate 45 in downtown Dallas and thrown onto Interstate 30. KXAS-TV reports that the tractor-trailer was going southbound on I-45 when it crashed at about 9:55 p.m. along the bridge over eastbound Interstate 30. The driver of the truck, who has not been identified, was ejected from the cab and found dead on the I-30 lanes below. The 18-wheeler was the only vehicle in the accident and investigators were working to determine what caused the wreck. Aside from the driver, a dog was also found dead at the scene WFAA reported that the southbound lanes at I-45 at I-30, near Deep Ellum, were closed following a fatal crash Wednesday night.  

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Winter Storm Landon is dumping ice, snow, sleet and rain across a more than 2,000-mile path of the U.S., affecting roads and the supply chain as many 18-wheelers are idling to wait out the weather. Francisco Alvarez, the lead meteorologist for Convoy, a digital freight network, outlined for The Trucker just how Landon will affect the nation’s trucking industry. “We expect this storm to impact entire swaths of major interstates across and between major markets, coupled with freezing air sticking around practically all affected areas for two or three days after precipitation,” Alvarez said. “This means we could see some significant supply chain disruptions as the storm grows and moves for the next few days and into the weekend.” Alvarez said that there is a “real possibility of entire interstates being impacted across multiple states. For example, I-44 ranging from Oklahoma City to St, Louis, I-55 from Memphis, Tennessee, all the way north to Chicago, and I-70 from Missouri through Columbus, Ohio, are expected to all be impacted with snow and ice at some point from now through Thursday night, followed by continued freezing temps.” Alvarez added: “From a practical standpoint for truckers — and all drivers, for that matter — ice is always very dangerous to drive on, and this storm is forecast to bring a lot of ice from Texas all the way northeast to the Ohio River Valley. Throw in the heavy snowfall north of the ice and we’re looking at some very dangerous driving conditions for the next few days and into the weekend.” Specific forecast and impacts to supply chain Wednesday night through Thursday, “look for rain mixed with and eventually switching over to frozen precipitation for a swath area from Oklahoma through Illinois,” Alvarez said. “This is just the beginning, and as the storm progresses, the conditions will likely deteriorate as the precipitation begins to transition into freezing rain, sleet and snow.” Impacted areas are likely to include: Oklahoma City — I-40/44/35 interchange (Wintry mix transitioning to ice and snow). St. Louis — I-64/40/70 (Wintry mix transitioning to all snow by evening). Central Illinois — Biggest impact with almost all snow. Delays and closures seem likely if any sort of accident occurs for pretty much every major highway there. This means I-55, I-80, and connecting areas therein. Thursday through Friday morning, “the storm really ramps up, causing travel havoc due to snow from southwestern Missouri through southern Michigan, and even worse, a swath of ice from Dallas/Fort Worth all the way through southern Ohio,” Alvarez said. Some impacted areas include: Dallas/Fort Worth — I-35/I-30/I-20, especially since ice impacts drivers there worse than other areas accustomed to such weather. Expect snow and ice into Thursday. Memphis — I-40, I-55, again with ice. Not great, especially on bridge surfaces crossing the Mississippi. Expect ice and sleet through Thursday. Chicago/Joliet — Snow to continue through Thursday night. Louisville — I-64/I-65, rain/freezing rain Thursday morning transitioning over to all freezing rain, ice and sleet by Thursday night and through Friday morning. Friday morning and into the weekend, expect “very cold air will linger for a few days and likely keep temperatures below freezing for practically all of the affected areas, meaning hazardous driving conditions will persist across large sections of the U.S.,” Alvarez said. The storm will continue to move toward the Northeast, dropping more snow in upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. “I am less concerned about this part of the storm, since those areas are better prepared and there will be less ice and snow overall,” Alvarez concluded.

INDIANAPOLIS — A major winter storm sweeping across the nation has caused several areas to restrict tractor-trailers. INDIANA TOLLWAY From 12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Wednesday, Feb. 2, until 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Feb. 3, the following vehicles are not permitted on the Toll Road: All Triple tractor-trailers All Doubles High-profile steel haulers High-profile oversize permit loads. OHIO TURNPIKE The Ohio Turnpike has issued a travel ban for all high-profile vehicles from Toll Plaza 2 to Toll Plaza 239, effective from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, through 12 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4. The implemented travel ban will be continually evaluated throughout the duration of the storm. When a travel ban is placed into effect, the following types of vehicles shall be banned from traveling the Ohio Turnpike until the travel ban is canceled: All triple-trailer combination commercial vehicles Box-type double-trailer combination commercial vehicles in excess of ninety (90) feet in length. Mobile home / Office trailers. Boat and horse trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks. High-profile campers and enclosed trailers, which are defined as trailers designed for a person of average height to stand in. In response to weather expected Thursday, PennDOT has announced Tier 1 Restrictions on the following roadways: Tier 1: Empty Tractor Trailers Effective from 12 p.m. Thursday if conditions warrant I-80: OH Line to I-99 I-86: I-90 to NY Line I-90: OH Line to NY Line I-79: I-80 to End of I-79 Effective from 6 p.m. Thursday if conditions warrant I-79: WV Line to I-80 I-99: PA Turnpike to I-80 I-279: PA 28 to I-79 I-376: I-80 to PA Turnpike I-70: WV State Line to MD Line I-80: I-99 to NJ Line I-579: I-376 to I-279 I-180: US 15 to I-80 I-84: I-81 to NY Line I-380: I-80 to I-81 I-81: I-80 to NY Line Tier restriction info can be found here. Updates to these restrictions can be found at www.511PA.com.                    

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Transportation (IDOT) took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to warn drivers along Interstate 65 Wednesday afternoon about treacherous driving conditions that had already caused at least one big rig to jackknife. A major winter storm is currently making its way across a large section of the nation, spreading snow, ice, freezing rain and sleet. Traffic was backed up for miles in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, where the 18-wheeler jackknifed, according to IDOT. There was no word about the condition of the truck driver. IDOT officials urged everyone to “slow down.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. RAISE discretionary grants, which were originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants, can be used for a wide variety of projects. Recent examples of funded projects include dedicated bus lanes in Baltimore, highway and bridge repair in New Mexico, dock replacements in Alaska and a rail-to-trail project in Arkansas. Overall, DOT has awarded $9.9 billion to more than 700 projects. “The RAISE program helps communities large and small fix and modernize their infrastructure,” DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. This is the first discretionary funding program to accept applications as directed by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $1.5 billion in available funding for 2022 represents a 50% increase in available funds compared to last year when applicants requested $10 in funding for every $1 available. In 2021, RAISE funded 90 projects in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Projects will be evaluated on statutory criteria of safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness and opportunity, state of good repair, partnership and innovation. This year RAISE applications will also be evaluated on the criteria of mobility and community connectivity. The DOT will assess projects for universal design and accessibility for travelers, as well as consider how proposals increase mobility for freight and supply chain efficiency. At least $15 million in funding is guaranteed to go towards projects located in areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities. Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, RAISE expands the number of communities eligible for 100% federal share of funding, specifically those in rural communities, areas of persistent poverty and historically disadvantaged communities. This year the DOT is also encouraging applicants to consider how their projects can create workforce development opportunities. Applicants can be more competitive in the process if they are creating jobs with free and fair choice to join a union and good labor standards, creating jobs that underserved communities can access, or are supporting worker opportunities and training.

MANSFIELD, Mass. — A tractor-trailer crash on Route 495 near Mansfield, Massachusetts, left the driver of the vehicle dead early Monday morning. At approximately 3:35 a.m. Monday, Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the State Police-Foxboro Barracks responded to a crash on Route 495 southbound in Mansfield. When Troopers arrived on the scene, they found a 2022 Freightliner approximately 150 feet into the wood line. Preliminary investigation indicates that the tractor-trailer, while northbound on 495, and for reasons still under investigation, crossed the median and all three southbound lanes and crashed into the woods. No other vehicles were involved. Troopers located the operator, Peter Fennell, 55, of Missouri, removed him from the vehicle, and performed CPR until Foxboro and Mansfield EMS arrived on the scene. Despite the efforts of all first responders, Fennell succumbed to his injuries on the scene. The facts and circumstances of the crash, including what caused the operator to lose control of the vehicle, remain under investigation by Troop H of the Massachusetts State Police along with the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section and the State Police Detective Unit assigned to Bristol County. Troopers were assisted on scene by Foxborough and Mansfield Fire and EMS, and MassDOT.  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Autonomous driving company Waymo has filed a complaint against the California Department of Motor Vehicles after a public records request was made for how it handles autonomous vehicle emergencies, including collisions. Waymo brings this action to prevent the disclosure by the DMV of what it says is sensitive trade secret information and records on its operations in response to public records requests made under the California Public Records Act. Waymo claims the information, which was redacted, would put it at a competitive disadvantage. The request was made by an unidentified third party. Information that is sought includes circumstances in which a vehicle’s autonomous system would switch to control to a trained driver, how vehicles assess disengagement incidents and how it assesses collision incidents. Waymo said the DMV notified it of the records release request on Oct. 18, 2021. Waymo said it provided a redacted version of the requested materials to protect its proprietary and trade secret information. The DMV notified Waymo that certain redactions had been challenged by the third-party requester. Waymo holds that the third party is seeking to have the trade secret information that was redacted. On Jan. 3, the DMV advised Waymo that it intended to release the redacted information unless Waymo sought an injunction to prohibit it. On Jan. 20, Waymo informed the DMV that it was willing to withdraw some of the challenged redactions. The complaint states in the filing that allowing the release of trade secret information “will have a chilling effect across the industry. Potential market participants interested in deploying autonomous vehicles in California will be dissuaded from investing valuable time and resources developing this technology if there is a demonstrated track record of their trade secrets being released.” Waymo is owned by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. The complaint filed by Waymo is available online.