TheTrucker.com

Tennessee stepping up patrols for holiday weekend

NASHVILLE –The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will conduct a strict traffic safety enforcement campaign during the 2021 New Year’s Eve holiday period beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31, and concluding at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2. According to a news release, state troopers will perform traffic saturation patrols, seat belt, sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints during the holiday. “Our goal is to keep everyone safe on Tennessee roadways,” Colonel Matt Perry said.  “We will not tolerate drivers that endanger the public with their bad choices. Now is the time to start planning for your safe and sober ride.” Anyone who sees unsafe driving should report it by dialing *THP (*847) from a cell phone. During last year’s New Year’s holiday period, nine people were killed in eight traffic crashes on Tennessee roadways. These crash fatalities included one motorcyclist, five passenger car occupants and three pedestrians. Over the 2020 New Year’s holiday period, state troopers arrested 104 individuals for alcohol-impaired driving. For a list of Tennessee Highway Patrol checkpoints click here.  

Arkansas DOT rolling out new social media sites in ’21

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Drivers in Arkansas will soon have additional ways to follow statewide traffic and transportation. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will join two social media platforms in the New Year: Facebook and Instagram. According to an ARDOT news release, Twitter is currently the only social media platform on which ARDOT has an official page. The first week of January, the agency will create official pages on Facebook and Instagram. “Joining additional social media platforms was a natural next step in connecting with more Arkansans and bringing them information they need in a timely manner,” said Ellen Coulter, ARDOT’s Media Communications Manager and Deputy Public Information Officer. “We need to meet Arkansans where they’re at – if they’re on social media, we should be on social media. We’re excited to meet this goal in the New Year.” Additional details, including ARDOT’s new social media handles, will follow in a news release in the first week of January when the pages are live. In the meantime, follow ARDOT on Twitter @myARDOT and @iDriveArkansas, or visit them online at Ardot.Gov and iDriveArkansas.com.

Trucker charged in crash that killed North Carolina officer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 50-year-old North Carolina truck driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed and felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles after his involvement in a Dec. 22 crash that killed a Charlotte police officer. Police said Daniel Leon Morgan was driving along Interstate 85 south in his 2020 Volvo VNL tractor-trailer when he failed to slow down and move to the left away from several police vehicles that were on another call. Before striking the police units, authorities said that Morgan hit another 18-wheeler, and both rigs slammed into the police cruisers, including one belonging to officer Mia Goodwin, 33, a mother of three. Goodwin died at the scene; three other officers were injured. The incident happened at around 3:30 a.m., police reported. Charlotte television station WCTI12 reported that their records check on Morgan showed that he does not hold a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). And, according to the Charlotte Observer newspaper, court records show Morgan pleaded guilty in 2015 to driving without a CDL in Iredell County, North Carolina. The newspaper reported that he paid a fine but was not given jail time. From that same case, he was cited with a federal safety inspection violation. However, the charge was dismissed under a plea deal. Morgan was then cited in 2008 and 2014 for speeding but in both cases had the charges reduced to improper equipment, court records show. In a statement to the media, Morgan’s attorney, Harold Cogdell Jr., wrote:  “I can’t begin to imagine the devasting (sic) impact that this tragic accident will have on her husband and three young children. There are no words that can express the extent of my sorrow.” The driver of the other truck, a 2016 Freightliner, was transported to a hospital after his interview with detectives for an elevated heart rate, police said. It’s not known if that driver will face charges. Morgan has been released on bond.  

Police: Semi pileup on I-90 due to speed, icy conditions

EASTON, Wash. — Icy conditions and speed contributed to a Tuesday pileup involving three 18-wheelers along Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). A cab of one of the semis involved in the wreck was twisted 90 degrees. All westbound lanes were blocked for several hours. WSP did not say whether there were injuries. On Wednesday morning, WSP on Twitter reported a jack-knifed rig in the same area.

Autonomous truck company TuSimple logs first no-human road test

NEW YORK — A semitruck guided by technology from the company TuSimple completed an 80-mile route in Arizona with no human on board and no human intervention during the trip, the company said Wednesday. San Diego-based TuSimple says it’s the first successful fully-autonomous run by a class 8 truck on open public roads with no human intervention. The nighttime trip earlier this month started at a railyard in Tucson, Arizona, and ended at a distribution center in Phoenix with approval and supervision from the Arizona Department of Transportation and law enforcement. “By achieving this momentous technical milestone, we demonstrated the advanced capabilities of TuSimple’s autonomous driving system and the commercial maturity of our testing process, prioritizing safety and collaboration every step of the way. This test reinforces what we believe is our unique position at the forefront of autonomous trucking, delivering advanced driving technology at commercial scale,” said Cheng Lu, president and CEO of TuSimple. “This year, we were laser-focused on putting our technology through a rigorous test on open public roads under real-world conditions, and to see all our hard work and dedication come together is extremely rewarding.” Founded in 2015, TuSimple says it has 70 autonomous trucks globally.

CVSA adopts North American Fatigue Management Program

WASHINGTON — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has partnered with the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) to help mitigate crash risks due to drowsy drivers behind the wheel. The NAFMP was developed by medical and sleep scientists from Canada and the United States through a multi-year, four-phase comprehensive process, according to a CVSA news release. “Our goal at CVSA is to prevent crashes involving commercial motor vehicles,” said CVSA President Capt. John Broers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. “Offering the North American Fatigue Management Program as one of the Alliance’s driver-related educational programs helps us do our part to combat crashes caused by driver fatigue and exhaustion.” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi said that her agency is “excited for this additional opportunity to partner with CVSA to address driver fatigue. FMCSA has supported the NAFMP since its inception and looks forward to CVSA continuing to provide this important program to educate the motor carrier industry on driver fatigue.” The program aims to prevent driver fatigue and eliminate fatigue-related crashes by: Offering easy-to-access online fatigue prevention training and education to commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carrier executives and managers, freight shippers and receivers, dispatchers, driver managers, driver’s spouses and families, safety managers and trainers, etc.; Encouraging a motor carrier safety culture that proactively considers situations that may contribute to driver fatigue and fights to prevent it; Identifying sleep disorders and treatment options; and Utilizing driver fatigue management technologies. In addition, CVSA plans to enhance, improve and grow the program by: Hosting live and recorded Q&A sessions; Offering a moderated forum where users may ask questions and provide feedback; Offering information sessions at CVSA events and conferences; Hosting program and steering committee meetings to discuss program improvements; Offering webinars on various topics relevant to fatigue management; and Offering Spanish content in addition to English and French. “CVSA has the ideal infrastructure of events and channels of communication to foster the NAFMP,” said NAFMP Steering Committee Chair Roger Clarke. Carriers, owner-operators and drivers can download a step-by-step implementation manual and register in the eLearning platform for the program courses. “This program has the potential to reduce fatigue-related risks, improve driver alertness, health and wellness, increase productivity, and decrease crashes and roadway fatalities,” Broers said. “The online training and educational courses available through this program are free, voluntary, self-paced and available 24/7. We encourage all drivers and motor carriers to utilize these online tools.” Click here for more information.

Law enforcement from 12 western states joining forces for New Year’s Eve patrols

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has announced a joint effort with 10 other western states’ law enforcement agencies to provide enhanced patrols over the New Year’s holiday. According to a WSP news release, the Western States Traffic Safety Coalition (WSTSC) “will initiate a special effort this New Year’s Eve to ensure dangerous driver behaviors don’t result in the senseless loss of life and injury due to collisions on our roadways.” The coalition is made up of 11 states that include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, California Highway Patrol, Colorado State Patrol, Idaho State Police, Montana Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol, Oregon State Police, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Utah Highway Patrol, Washington State Patrol and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. WSP Chief John R. Batiste said that he and his agency “enjoy the opportunity to work with our neighbors of the west to give a unified message to the traveling public – Slow down! Drive sober and pay attention! And know that law enforcement works together and will always do what is necessary to keep dangerous drivers off our roads and keep you safe during the holidays.” This New Year’s Eve emphasis on impaired driving will be the third WSTSC joint initiative in recent years. “We receive constant feedback from Washingtonians that underscores the public’s demand that law enforcement strictly enforce laws that protect our loved ones and the traveling public,” Batiste added. “Impaired driving, speed and distracted driving can turn holidays from a time of celebration to time of sorrow and we are going to do all we can to keep that from happening.” An average of 300 people die in the US each year in impaired driving crashes alone the week between Christmas and New Year’s, according to the WSP. Last year, more than 10,000 people killed nationwide in impaired driving crashes accounting for nearly one-third of the yearly driving fatalities. “These deaths are 100% preventable,” the WSP news release stated. “The tragedy of these deaths is felt year-round, but for many, most strongly during the holidays. Last year between Christmas and New Year’s Day, the WSP made 359 arrests for impaired driving. This shows that people are still making poor choices. Because of those choices, the WSP will be out looking for these impaired drivers, in hopes that all travelers arrive safely.”  

Driver OK after rig careens off I-20 into Georgia canal

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A truck driver suffered only minor injuries Monday after crashing their 18-wheeler filled with paint into a murky Georgia canal along Interstate 20. The accident happened on eastbound I-20 near the South Carolina State Line, according to Georgia officials. No other vehicles were involved. The eastbound lanes were closed overnight after the late-Monday-afternoon crash. A wrecker crew worked Tuesday to successfully remove the tractor-trailer from the water, its headlights still shining. The Georgia Department of Transportation reported at least one lane of I-20 could remain closed until Thursday, if not later. Since the truck was hauling paint, hazardous materials and environmental crews were called to the scene as a precaution. An oily sheen on the water’s surface surrounded the wreckage Tuesday. Authorities have not said what caused the wreck. The driver was not identified.  

UPS driver robbed, tied up inside trailer

ATLANTA — Atlanta police say a UPS truck driver was robbed at gunpoint, tied up and left inside the semi’s trailer Monday morning in the city’s northwest district while several people looted cargo. Police said the incident happened at around 3:30 a.m. near Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Bankhead Court. While the truck was stopped at a traffic light, an armed person got into the cab and forced the driver to travel a short distance, police said. Once there, a group of people reportedly tied the driver up and placed them in the trailer after stealing packages. The driver was not injured. Police are still investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made, according to WSBTV.      

New portable toilet promises an easier number two go on the road

WALLINGFORD, Conn. — Between fighting clogged roadways, cranky dispatchers and receivers who make drivers wait for hours on end just to get unloaded, going number two on the road ranks right up there with the top pains in the neck for busy truckers. One company says it has invented a portable toilet to make the latter much easier. According to a news release, “The Laveo™ portable electric toilet by Dry Flush is an innovative and practical solution to this common, awkward dilemma.” The waterless, odorless, chemical-free, no-freeze, low-maintenance and compact portable electric toilet measures 16 inches in width, 20 inches in diameter and 18 inches high. It weighs 29 pounds. “For comfort, the seat and height are standard toilet sizes,” according to the news release. “When done, users simply push the flush button as they would with a traditional toilet.” Instead of requiring water, extensive plumbing or expensive chemicals, the proprietary Laveo double-layered barrier bag automatically encloses urine and stool in a spill-resistant, odorless way, the news release stated. The dispenser automatically brings in new, clean barrier bag material for the next flush. Each barrier bag cartridge can handle an average of 15 flushes. Once full, a cartridge may be easily removed in a sanitary way and discarded in a trash container. There is no dirty water to dump or chemicals to pour. Installing a new cartridge takes less than one minute. The self-contained Laveo Dry Flush portable toilet uses 12V DC power with 4.9 amp flush and 0.0 amp idle. Power options include long-life rechargeable batteries, solar chargers and AC adaptors. A charger cable is included. Other options include handrails and privacy shelters. The “go anywhere” Laveo toilet may be permanently installed or easily removed, utilized elsewhere and re-installed whenever needed. Click here for more information.    

Austin’s I-35 tops most congested roadways for truckers in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — In 2020, Interstate 35 through Austin was the most congested road for truckers in all of Texas, costing more than 600,000 hours in lost time and $118 million in economic losses. This is according to a new study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which releases an annual congestion report of Texas highways. The study notes that “calendar year 2020 was not a normal year — the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily changed travel in Texas as it did everywhere. Still, many of the most congested road sections remained near the top of the list, even as congestion dropped across the state.” In Fort Worth, I-35, also known as the “North Freeway,” came in second on the list, up from sixth in 2019. Five of the top 10 most congested roadways in Texas were in Houston, including Interstate 69. In total, truckers were delayed 15.3 million hours in traffic backups across Texas, wasting 24.7 million gallons of fuel and costing the industry $797 million in lost time and fuel costs in 2020. The year 2020 is the second year that Austin’s I-35 has been named the top congested spot in Texas.    

Many truckers idled due to severe winter weather

SEATTLE — Wild winter storms have wreaked havoc from the Pacific northwest to California and Minnesota over the past several days, dumping mounds of snow, icing over key travel arteries and creating thousands of accidents. And it’s made the life of a trucker that much harder on the road. A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days. That’s where professional driver Sal Tucker and his big rig were parked at a truck stop trying to wait out the storm. He has a delivery that’s due in Los Angeles this week. “It’s been a nightmare, man,” Tucker said. “Running behind, mad customers. Everyone wants it right now, but it ain’t happening with this weather.” The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for much of the southeastern portion of North Dakota and a winter storm warning for the eastern and central parts of the state through Monday evening. Authorities were still advising people not to travel across much of that state and complained that motorists were getting stuck on secondary roads that were not plowed. Many county offices were closed expect for emergency services. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported snowfall totals ranging from less than 2 inches to almost 3 inches in the Twin Cities. Freezing temperatures and drizzle have glazed the new snow with ice, making for slow going on roads and treacherous footing on sidewalks. Other areas in central and northern Minnesota got more snow. Little Falls reported 5 inches and Grand Marais reported 13 inches.­ The Minnesota State Patrol reported it had responded to 189 crashes on state highways between noon Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday, along with 200 vehicles that slid off roadways and eight jackknifed semis. Authorities near Reno said three people were injured in a 20-car pileup on U.S. Route 395, where drivers described limited visibility on Sunday. Tee Hill, a professional driver from Dallas, said she was caught in the traffic backup associated with that wreck on 395. She said it took hours to get free of the congestion. “Pick one. The weather, crazy drivers, snow, wind, fog. It’s all out here, and it’s bad,” Hill said. “I just want to tell folks to be careful and be respectful out here on the roads. Nothing is worth more than a life. So, I will be late. That is better than someone digging my grave.” Further west, a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 was shut until at least Monday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line, costing millions as semi trucks full of goods are stuck on both sides of the closure awaiting clearer weather. The economic impact of the lengthy closure was felt Monday morning at Nevcal Trucking in Sparks, where dozens of empty semi trucks were parked. When I-80 shuts down, it creates havoc. “If the trucks are not running, the drivers aren’t making money, the company’s not making money” Nevcal Safety Director Matthew Andersen told mynews4.com. Emergency warming shelters were open throughout western Washington and Oregon as temperatures plunged into the teens and forecasters said an arctic blast would last for several days. Sunday’s snow showers blew into the Pacific Northwest from the Gulf of Alaska, dumping up to 6 inches across the Seattle area. More than a foot was reported near Port Angeles across the Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. Portland, Oregon, also received snowfall. Icy roads will make the commute challenging in Seattle, Portland and elsewhere. Forecasters said more snow was likely for the Portland metro area, with up to 3 inches possible by Tuesday morning. But officials were especially worried about the extreme cold. Temperatures in western Washington and Oregon aren’t forecast to rise above freezing until at least Thursday, and possibly not until the weekend. Several days of below freezing temperature is rare for the region, which typically has mild, rainy winters. “It’s just, you know, they’re talking right now like it’s going to be, you know, four or five days before we get above freezing again. So, you know, this is not a short event,” said Keith Hughes, of West Seattle American Legion Hall Post 160, where a warming center was set up up to a dozen people. Hughes said capacity was limited by a lack of volunteers. “Volunteers, this is a problem for myself as well as everyone else in town, it’s really hard to get with COVID going on,” he said. Multiple daily cold records were broken. The National Weather Service said Seattle’s low Sunday was 20 degrees F, breaking a mark set in 1948. Bellingham was 9 degrees F, three degrees colder than the previous record set in 1971. In Portland in the early part of the week, overnight temperatures will get down to the low teens. State officials in Oregon have declared an emergency. In Multnomah County — home to Portland — six severe weather shelters are open with plans to open additional sites, including at the Oregon Convention Center. “We expect many more people to need a warm place to sleep as temperatures drop and more snow is forecast,” said Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, the county communications director. On Sunday night officials said the shelters were at 63% capacity with 248 people — most of whom are experiencing homelessness. Seattle city leaders also opened at least six severe weather shelters that will remain open through the new year, city officials said Monday. Nearly 200 people stayed at the shelters overnight on Sunday, officials said, and they were expecting the numbers to grow. Kaety West took refuge at the center in West Seattle, leaving her tent just a few blocks from it. “I’m not even willing to stay in it right now. It’s just so difficult,” she said. Meanwhile, a winter storm made life in North Dakota and Minnesota tough Monday morning. The Bismarck Tribune reported the storm dumped 6 inches of snow on Bismarck on Sunday. Authorities closed Interstate 94 between Bismarck and Fargo and Interstate 29 from Grand Forks to the South Dakota border. The entire interstate system in the state had reopened by 4 p.m. Forecasts call for frigid temperatures after the storm moves through, with Friday highs in Bismarck expected to top out at minus 10. Highs in the Twin Cities are expected to range from 10 degrees to minus 10 the rest of the week. Winter storms also blasted freezing air and blinding snow across northern Nevada on Monday, affecting travel and business, with Sierra Nevada highway passes closed, airport flights delayed and canceled and state offices shut down. Washoe County Emergency Management raised the avalanche danger to high for areas north of Lake Tahoe. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak issued an order late Sunday telling nonessential state workers other than public safety and corrections personnel to remain home Monday. Tire chains or four-wheel drive were required for vehicles on California and Nevada state highways and on U.S. 6 and U.S. 50. U.S. 395 was closed in Washoe Valley after at least two wrecks sent at least six people to hospitals, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said. Weather and travel advisories were in place on most roads across northern Nevada, with the National Weather Service in Elko warning of difficult driving due to wind gusts greater than 40 mph and the possibility of blowing and drifting snow. The University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College canceled on campus in-person operations and classes. The National Weather Service in Reno extended a weather advisory in Nevada to 7 p.m. Monday. Frigid cold was expected to remain for most of the week, with high temperatures in the Reno area in the 20s and lows in the teens. Low temperatures in northeast Nevada were expected to be in the single digits. In California, the Department of Transportation closed many other roads while warning of slippery conditions for motorists. “Expect major travel delays on all roads,” the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada, said Sunday on Twitter. “Today is the type of day to just stay home if you can. More snow is on the way too!” The weather service issued a winter storm warning for greater Lake Tahoe until 1 a.m. Tuesday because of possible “widespread whiteout conditions” and wind gusts that could top 45 mph. Turbulent weather stretched from San Diego to Seattle. More than a foot of snow was reported near Port Angeles on Washington state’s Puget Sound. Portland, Oregon received a dusting, but the city was expected to get another 2.5 inches by Monday morning, according to the weather service. In California, rockslides caused by heavy rain closed more than 40 miles of coastal Highway 1 in the Big Sur region south of the San Francisco Bay Area. There was no estimate for the reopening of the scenic stretch that is frequently shut after wet weather. The latest in a series of blustery storms hit Southern California with heavy rain and wind that flooded streets and knocked down power lines late Saturday. In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, crews were repairing a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rain late Thursday. The closure of the major route into the Big Bear ski resort area could last for weeks, officials said. Back in Minnesota, professional driver “Little T” Jackson said he was going toward the Twin Cities when roads started getting icy. He said he feels blessed that he wasn’t a part of one of the many wrecks reported there. “Just slow down,” Jackson said. “I saw many of my fellow trucking brothers and sisters either slid off the road or involved in wrecks. There isn’t much you can do when it gets this bad. Get off the road if you can when it gets this bad.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

Heniff Transportation set to purchase Nikola electric tractors

OAK BROOK, Ill — Heniff Transportation Systems has ordered 10 Nikola Tre BEV (battery electric vehicle) tractors and signed a letter of intent to purchase 90 more. According to a news release, Heniff will purchase the tractors from Thompson Truck Centers. Deliveries are expected to commence during the first half of 2022. Heniff has nearly 100 locations connected nationwide and more than 2,000 tractors. The news release stated that the agreement between Heniff and Thompson is a fleet-as-a-service model where Thompson will provide the sales, service, maintenance and energy infrastructure required to operate the Nikola Tre BEV trucks. “The Nikola dealer network is a key component to delivering innovative zero-emissions products to our customers,” said Nikola Energy and Commercial President, Pablo Koziner. “This agreement is intended to be a true turnkey solution, with the goal for Heniff Transportation to realize zero-emissions transportation with first-class dealer support.” Mark McDonell, COO of Thompson Machinery, said that “With the rapid regulatory changes around electric vehicles, it is important for Thompson to deliver innovative products to our customers that will meet the new standards of zero-emissions for transportation. This partnership with Heniff Transportation is an exciting first step in their journey to add zero-emission vehicles in their fleet.” Bob Heniff, CEO of Heniff Transportation, said he and his team were dazzled by Nikola after a recent tour of their Arizona manufacturing facility and taking a rest ride in the Tre BEV. “We were impressed by the power, performance, engineering and quality of the truck,” Heniff said. “We see this partnership with Nikola and Thompson as a means to accelerate our strategy for electrification of our fleet and as a positive benefit for our customers, communities, employees, and stakeholders.”  

South Dakota launches new truck information website

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT), in collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and South Dakota Department of Revenue (DOR), have officially launched a major update to the SDTruckInfo website. The website is a central location for South Dakota trucking information, including Commercial Driver Licensing (CDL); special load permits; emergency notices for the trucking industry; legal weights and sizes for loads; and rules and regulations for interstate, intrastate, and agricultural carriers. “This launch represents a major upgrade to the current system,” said Dave Huft, intelligent transportation systems program manager for the DOT. “The website is a true expression of the state’s commitment to safety, efficiency, convenience for the trucking industry, the traveling public, and the state economy.” Highway Patrol Capt. John Broers, who leads the Patrol’s Motor Carriers Division, said the update is partially funded by a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “The website provides a one-stop portal to access vital information for motor carriers to operate lawfully within the state of South Dakota,” Broers said. “The newly designed website is better organized, has more content, and provides easier navigation for our users.” Users can also access contact information for South Dakota agencies and click on direct links to South Dakota’s Automated Permitting System, SD511 travel information, other states’ motor carrier agencies, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “One of the newest features is a searchable electronic copy of the completely updated 2022 South Dakota Commercial and Agricultural Vehicle Handbook,” Huft said. “We are excited to offer the electronic version of the new handbook in addition to the published hard copy, which will be available from SDDOT, SD Highway Patrol, SDDOR, and county treasurers in January 2022.” To visit the new site, click here.

Arizona announces partnership to ‘streamline’ CMV enforcement

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) are partnering to better enforce laws on commercial motor vehicles (CMV). The agreement is set to begin Jan. 8 for two years initially; after that, it will be subject to annual renewal. According to an ADOT news release, the partnership will “streamline and enhance CMV enforcement at Arizona’s ports-of-entry located at interstate and international borders.” Under the partnership, 89 sworn ADOT enforcement officers and 49 non-sworn personnel will be assigned to the DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force on a full-time basis. “This will enhance officer safety as well as increase efficiency and operational consistency for both agencies,” the news release stated. “The sworn ADOT personnel are uniformed officers certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. They provide commercial vehicle safety compliance, size and weight enforcement, oversize and overweight permitting and other related enforcement services at ADOT ports-of-entry located near the state lines of California, New Mexico, Utah and the international border with Mexico.” ADOT Director John Halikowski said of the partnership: “ADOT and DPS have a longstanding and beneficial partnership that is dedicated to keeping our highways and freeways operating safely.” “Streamlining ADOT’s Enforcement Services Bureau with a single management structure is a better use of personnel, uses financial resources more wisely and strengthens public safety for everyone who travels Arizona’s roads.” Col. Heston Silbert, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said, “This will enhance border security at our ports of entry and provide consistent commercial vehicle enforcement to enhance the movement of intra and interstate commerce.”  

HOLT Truck Centers purchases several Summit locations

SAN ANTONIO – HOLT Truck Center has purchased five Summit Truck Group locations in Oklahoma, along with the territorial selling rights for Wichita Falls, Texas. The purchase means that HOLT becomes Navistar’s authorized International truck and IC Bus dealer in Oklahoma and Wichita Falls. HOLT will also continue to sell Isuzu commercial trucks, Ottawa and Crane Carrier specialty vehicles while continuing to service all makes and models throughout all of its locations, according to a HOLT news release. The five locations in Oklahoma include: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ardmore, Enid and Muskogee. There are not yet any physical locations in Wichita Falls, according to a HOLT news release. The acquisition of Summit Truck Group’s operations will bring HOLT Truck Centers to a total of 12 locations in Texas and Oklahoma. “We have deep roots in the on-highway truck business and are committed to ensuring our customers will continue to receive superior products and services to meet their diverse needs,” said Bert Fulgium, senior vice president for HOLT Truck Centers and Product Support for HOLT CAT. “We know our customers travel beyond Texas and recognize the benefit this will offer them as we remain committed to providing the same legendary service they are accustomed to when traveling in Oklahoma.”    

Trucking industry shines in Christmas giving campaign

WASHINGTON — Many trucking companies and organizations associated with the trucking industry gave back to their communities in a big way this Christmas season. Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) has compiled a list of some of those good deeds. “Over the past year, our industry and nation have all faced extraordinary challenges as we recover from economic hardships from the global pandemic and work around the clock to prevent supply chain disruptions,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and vice president of government affairs and sales at MTS. “Despite these challenges, our front-line workers in the trucking industry have shown consistency and resilience by keeping a steady hand on the wheel to keep our nation moving forward,” he continued. “We are proud to help our communities stay healthy and safe by ensuring the delivery of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.” Following is a list of trucking companies and organizations that gave back to their communities during the 2021 holiday season. Advantage Truck Group (ATG) in Central Massachusetts participated in its annual charitable initiative — Haulin’ 4 Hunger — to help families in need this holiday season. The program supplies families within the local communities of ATG dealerships with fresh meals. Since the beginning of the program, ATG has provided 23,000 fresh meals to families in need. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) continued its annual participation in the Wreaths Across America convoy from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery, along with many ATA members. ATA continues to donate goods and transportation to disaster relief. America’s Road Team and Workforce Heroes programs partnered with Interstate Moving Relocation Logistics to deliver donations for Afghan refugees housed at different military bases across the country. The LEAD ATA Class built and donated bikes for the local Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio during its Mid-Year Management Session, and ATA awarded The Trucking Cares Foundation’s Premier Achievement Award to professional driver John Lex. This award is bestowed annually to an individual or company that exemplifies trucking’s spirit of giving. Brenny Transportation Inc. once again participated in the local WinterWalk that takes place every year in St. Joseph, Minnesota. This year, the company drove out to the local arboretum and loaded up a 50-foot-tall blue spruce tree to haul to the Church of St. Joseph. Upon arrival, the tree was placed for all to see and then decorated with lights. Brenny Transportation’s team also raised over $8,000 to donate to families in need this holiday season. In 2021, C.H. Robinson, a multimodal transportation services and third-party logistics provider in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, launched a thank-you campaign and sweepstakes designed show the nation’s appreciation for the truck drivers who never left the road and never stopped delivering, even during the most challenging of times. Two thousand thank-you letters were submitted. As part of the campaign, the company gave away $100,000 in cash sweepstakes to truck drivers and carriers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 12-18). The company also supported families, organizations and causes through grants and scholarship programs, and the C.H. Robinson Foundation donated $100,000 over two years to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. Estes Express Lines, based in Richmond, Virginia, participated in the “Bikes for Kids” bike drive by delivering 415 bikes from New Jersey to River City to be assembled by volunteers from the Richmond Area Bicycle Association, an organization that raised more than $35,000 to buy the bikes for kids in need this holiday season. From Augusta, Georgia, F&W Transportation, in partnership with E-Z-GO/Textron Specialized Vehicles, donated and delivered 1,200 cases of bottled water to Texas to benefit relief efforts following the devastation of Winter Storm Uri. Garner Trucking Inc. in Findlay, Ohio, provided food transportation for a local food drive, collected and donated coats for a local drive, sponsored a local child, and collected holiday gifts for a local family. The company also participated in Wreaths Across America, donating over 1,000 wreaths to honor the fallen veterans. Other contributions include providing transportation for food donations from the University of Findlay to Chopin Hall, a partnership with The City Mission of Findlay to help the homeless; the delivery of coats for those in need; and a partnership with Keeping Our Kids Safe, a local community organization that allows individuals to sponsor a child for the holidays. Keller Logistics, headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, and its in-house philanthropy team raised over $48,000 for Operation K.A.V.I.C. (Keller Assists Veterans in Crisis), which helps local veterans when there are financial gaps in their veterans’ benefits. The company hosted a free dinner in November for all local veterans and their families. Keller also supported Wreaths Across America by delivering wreaths to Ohio cemeteries and sponsored a series of events to encourage families to shop locally this holiday season. Kentucky Truck Sales Inc., based in Jeffersonville, Indiana, partnered with its sister company, Century NationaLease, to donate to a local facility that fosters and counsels youth in the area in July. The donations came from 75 employees from both companies, who took the donations directly to the center. Landstar System Inc. employees donated gifts to benefit children at the Child Guidance Center’s Angel Tree program in Jacksonville, Florida. Landstar’s Rockford-based employees supported the Winnebago/Boone Foster Care Alliance, a collaboration of child welfare agencies in the Winnebago and Boone counties in Illinois. Landstar employees also donated 50 $25 gift cards that can be used to purchase gifts or necessities at Walmart, Target, Visa or Amazon. Old Dominion Freight Line, based in Thomasville, North Carolina, made a $100,000 donation to Toys for Tots in 2021. The company hosts over 80 Toys for Tots toy drives annually at the corporate office and across the company’s vast network of service centers. They also donated over 200,000 canned foods to the salvation army. In addition, Old Dominion partnered with the Salvation Army to hold a food drive, where they donated over 4,000 canned food items. Pilot Co., based in Knoxville, Tennessee, raised a record-breaking $1.75 million from a three-week in-store round-up campaign to benefit the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit organization committed to placing veterans into high-quality jobs after their service. This amount triples the original 2021 goal of $500,000 and will assist more than 3,000 service members in their search for employment. Pilot also donated $30,000 to Wreaths Across America and gave a $150,000 donation to feature TMAF on the No.1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet at the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Michigan International Speedway in August. The TMAF-branded car promoted the importance of trucking and raised awareness on how the trucking industry continues to keep the country moving forward. The Rhode Island Trucking Association hosted its Annual Torch Run Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. In 2021, association members raised over $8,000. All the money was donated to the Rhode Island Special Olympics athletes. From Central Texas, SH 130 Concession Co. partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff Department’s Brown Santa program to donated 150 toys, games and books for local families in need. The company also donated $5,000 to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, which supports health care workers and hospitals in the region. Smith Trucking, located in Worthington, Minnesota, participated once again in a donation drive for families in need in its local community this holiday season. This year, the donations amounted to $2,850. Each year, the Trucking Association of New York holds two golf outings, one in the western region of the state and one in the metro region of the state. Both golf outings raise money for local nonprofits. This year, the Western Region Golf Outing raised over $3,000 for a Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that provides beds for children. The metro region raised over $14,000 for Tunnel 2 Towers. Truckers Christmas Group, a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, Kansas, that raises funds to help professional CDL drivers and their families in the U.S. and Canada, hosted its 14th Annual Holiday Fundraising Campaign. A major part of the campaign was the Winter Virtual Concert. The donations of goods and funds help ensure that every truck driver in need can support their family during the holiday season. Other charitable contributions included donating grants of $650 each to 35 different families, raffling off two pairs of boots valued at over $1,000, and partnering with RoadPro to donate a selection of goods valued at over $500. System Transport, based in Cheney, Washington, which is a member of the Truckload Carriers Association, was selected to drive the truck that delivered the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Six Rivers National Forest in California to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Additionally, TCA and its member companies were instrumental in the delivery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s The Wall That Heals mobile education center and Wreaths Across America remembrance wreaths.  

USDOT doling out $1.39B in emergency relief for road, bridge repairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will award $1.39 billion in Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by a variety of storms, floods, wildfires and other events. “Emergency relief funding is critical to restoring vital transportation links damaged by severe weather and other unexpected events that are heavily relied upon by communities for daily travel,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. Deputy Administrator Pollack added that the new programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — including the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program — “will advance the use of materials and structural techniques to ensure highways are better prepared to withstand weather events and natural disasters.” The emergency relief program “complements Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs and provisions through its encouragement that agencies identify and implement measures to make the restored infrastructure more resilient and better able to withstand damage from future events,” according to a USDOT news release. “Further, FHWA is updating its ER Manual for 2022 to spotlight the program’s impact on improvements to system resilience and the equity of infrastructure spending.” FHWA’s ER Program provides funding reimbursement to states, territories, federal land management agencies and tribal governments for the reconstruction, restoration and repair of federal-aid and federally-owned transportation facilities that have suffered damage from natural disasters or catastrophic failure from external causes. The news release notes that “the allocation will help facilitate recovery from nearly 200 different emergency events, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico; storms and flooding in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, California, Alabama and Kentucky; and many others. The funds will help pay for the reconstruction or replacement of damaged highways and bridges along with the arrangement of detours and replacement of damaged safety devices.”

More than 100 vehicles involved in western Wisconsin crashes

OSSEO, Wis. — Authorities in western Wisconsin are trying to sort out multiple crashes along an icy Interstate 94. WITI-TV reported more than 100 vehicles were involved in a pile-up Thursday morning in Jackson County. WEAU-TV reported that authorities were dealing with multiple crashes, including a semi-trailer on fire, and that the interstate was impassable between Osseo and Northfield. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol didn’t immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking details. Jackson County Emergency Management Director Kristina Page said in a brief telephone interview that she didn’t have any information but that she expects the State Patrol to issue a news release soon. The State Patrol’s Eau Claire post tweeted early Thursday morning that freezing rain had left roads icy and hazardous.

Amazon truck leaps over bridge

SAN ANTONIO — The driver of an Amazon tractor-trailer was uninjured Thursday morning after reportedly being cut off by another vehicle and driving off of an Interstate 35 bridge in San Antonio. Authorities said the trailer was empty at the time of the crash. A photo of the tractor shows that the wreck displaced the cab from the chassis.