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American Trucking Associations elects new chairman

NASHVILLE — The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Board of Directors has elected Harold Sumerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, as their 77th chairman. “This couldn’t be a better time to be not just a member of ATA, but chairman of the board,” Sumerford said. “I’m honored and humbled to be chosen by my fellow members to represent ATA and the trucking industry at this critical time.” Sumerford, who was elected on Oct. 26, succeeds Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Garner Trucking, as chairman. “Harold is the consummate professional, and a tremendous ambassador for our industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “His story — working in the family business until he ran the family business — could not be more representative of what trucking is all about. I’m looking forward to working more closely with him as chairman and want to congratulate him on this honor.” Sumerford has been deeply involved in the trucking industry and is a past chairman of ATA Federation members the Georgia Motor Truck Association and the National Tank Truck Carriers, according to an ATA news release. In addition, he and J&M have been longtime members and supporters of the American Transportation Research Institute and the Truckload Carriers Association, in addition to the Georgia Motor Trucking Association and the National Tank Truck Carriers. Under Sumerford’s leadership, J&M Tank Lines has won numerous state and national safety awards and an ATA Mike Russell Trucking Image Award for the company’s work during the pandemic, the news release stated. The board also elected Dan Van Alstine, president and COO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems in Des Moines, Iowa, as ATA first vice chairman, and Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation in Billerica, Massachusetts, ATA second vice chairman. In addition, the board named Darren Hawkins, CEO of YRC Worldwide Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, and Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters in Hickory, North Carolina, as ATA vice chairmen. The board also re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of Admiralty Holdings Inc., as secretary and John A. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, as treasurer.    

U.S. 60 reopens to traffic in Arizona

PHOENIX — U.S. 60 has reopened to traffic in Arizona between Superior and Miami after an extended closure due to delays removing a section of the old Pinto Creek Bridge. According to a news release from the Arizona Department of Transportation, an additional full closure has been scheduled between 9 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Oct. 27. During the closure, all eastbound vehicles will be redirected at State Route 177 in Superior, and all westbound vehicles will be redirected at the west end of Miami. Traffic will not be allowed to queue at the closure locations. Motorists with a destination between SR 177 and Top-of-the-World west of Pinto Creek or between Miami and Pinto Valley Mine Road east of Pinto Creek will be allowed to pass; however, no vehicles will be allowed between Top-of-the-World and Pinto Valley Mine Road. Traffic will be detoured to SR 177 in Superior and SR 77 in Globe. The detour includes a 10% grade and will significantly increase travel time. Motorists should proceed with caution, slow down, watch for equipment, and follow the directions of flaggers and law enforcement.

$5 million in pot found in bathroom vanity shipment

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Port of Buffalo seized 2,554 pounds of marijuana in a commercial shipment on Oct. 20. According to a CBP news release, officers assigned to the Peace Bridge selected a commercial shipment that was manifested as “bathroom vanities” for additional examination. The truck and trailer underwent a non-intrusive inspection, which revealed anomalies in the trailer, prompting it to be sent to the commercial vehicle inspection area. “CBP officers then performed a physical inspection of the shipment and discovered vacuum-sealed marijuana packages secreted within the pallet-shipment-boxes,” the news release stated. “A thorough inventory of the shipment resulted in the seizure of 2,302 packages of marijuana that field-tested positive for the properties of marijuana. CBP officers determined the seizure of marijuana has an estimated street value of $5 million.” The seizure is currently under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Criminal organizations continue to attempt to exploit the border for their personal gain, however the skills, training and dedication of our officers have once again halted their plan.” said Acting Buffalo Port Director John Madsen. “I am proud of the persistent efforts of our resilient workforce in securing the border ensuring these narcotics were prevented from entering our country.” Matthew Scarpino, acting special agent in charge of HSI Buffalo, said the HSI “is committed with CBP to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs smuggled into the United States. Through the HSI Border Enforcement Security Task Force, HSI will continue to investigate these significant seizures, with our Canadian law enforcement partners, to combat the transnational criminal networks that threaten our international region.”

Fiery crash leaves rig dangling from bridge

FLORISTON, Calif. — CAL FIRE’s Nevada Yuba Placer Unit fought an 18-wheeler blaze Sunday along Interstate 80. According to a CAL FIRE Facebook post, the truck’s cab was engulfed in flames while hanging off the overpass. The occupants made it out uninjured. CAL FIRE reported that there was active fuel leak from the rig; however, “firefighters’ quick action prevented entry into the Truckee River.”

Volvo issues recall for transmission issues

WASHINGTON — Volvo Trucks is recalling approximately 162 model year 2022 VNL tractors for an issue with the ECM that affects the transmission, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents. The NHTSA said that the electronic control unit software may allow the transmission to shift into neutral unexpectedly. Affected trucks include 2022 VNLs manufactured between Jan. 4, 2021 and Oct. 4, 2021, with a Cummins ISL and Eaton Endurant transmission. The software issue deals with Volvo Electronic Control Unit software and is not an Eaton or Cummins issue, according to the recall notice. Dealers will reprogram the ECM free of charge. Owners can contact Volvo Trucks’ customer service at 1-800-528-6586. With recall number RVXX2104. NHTSA’s recall number is 21V-781.

ATA: Mandatory vaccines could ‘cripple the supply chain’

ARLINGTON, Va . — Representatives from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) are scheduled to meet this week with members of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (WHOMB) to discuss concerns over the Biden administration’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccine order. The vaccine order is being administered through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and has not yet gone into effect. There is no firm timeline on when it will. ATA President Chris Spear, in a letter sent to the WHOMB on Oct. 21, warned that such a mandate would likely create serious problems within the trucking industry. “While much of the country was sequestered in their homes, the trucking industry served its essential function and did so successfully with safety standards developed by public health experts,” Spear wrote. “Now placing vaccination mandates on employers, which in turn force employees to be vaccinated, will create a workforce crisis for our industry and the communities, families and businesses we serve. In fact, should the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the leadership of the federal task force on COVID continue on the paths they are on, the nation’s motor carriers – who exclusively supply 80% of the country and move 70% of all US freight tonnage – could lose up to 37% of their drivers to retirements, attrition to smaller carriers and/or conversion to independent contractor owner-operators.” Spear went on to say that the ATA supports “the administration’s goals of increased vaccination rates and clear health guidelines to enhance protections for all Americans. We have urged trucking industry employees to get vaccinated and will continue to do so. We will also continue to work with federal authorities to increase voluntary vaccination rates for our sector.” In his letter, Spear said that the ATA is asking for an exemption for truck drivers “akin to that provided by Canada for its drivers or alternatively deferring coverage of truck drivers to the tradition regulating agency with transportation expertise rather than OSHA. Federal contractors that implement the vaccine mandate required in Executive Order 14042 should not have to comply with a second set of OSHA rules — those that implement the E.O. 14042 mandate should be deemed compliant with the OSHA ETS and ideally vice versa to avoid overlapping and contradictory requirements. …” Spear also warned that the mandates could further damage the supply chain. “The U.S. is already facing unprecedented supply chain disruptions and delays due to many factors, including significant labor shortages, production shutdowns, a shortage of raw materials, and pent-up consumer demand,” he wrote said. “…Our data shows that a vaccine mandate may very well further cripple the supply chain throughout the country by forcing up to 13% of drivers to leave the industry entirely.”

Transport of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree has begun

MAD RIVER, Calif. – The 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree began its journey on Oct. 23 from the Mad River Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest in California to Washington, D.C., following its harvesting. According to a news release, the harvest ceremony included brief remarks by USDA Forest Service leadership, local elected officials and project partners, as well as a blessing by the Lassic Band of Wylacki-Wintoon Family Group Inc. The “People’s Tree” was harvested using a two-person crosscut saw, which celebrates decades of U.S. Forest Service crosscutting tradition. A Kenworth T680 Next Generation will transport the 84-foot White Fir, nicknamed “Sugar Bear,” to a full slate of community celebrations during a 3,300-mile journey from Northern California to Washington, D.C. “Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree” is the tour theme. System Transport, the official designated tour carrier, is using its new T680 Next Gen equipped with a 76-inch mid-roof sleeper to carry the special tree. The community celebrations take place from Oct. 29 – Nov. 16 throughout California and across the U.S., culminating with the official tree lighting on the West Lawn in early December. Smaller companion trees also will be provided to decorate offices inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other sites throughout Washington, D.C., along with 15,000 handmade ornaments created by Californians. Below is the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour public schedule: Oct. 29: Crescent City and Eureka, Calif. Oct. 30: Willow Creek and Fortuna, Calif. Oct. 31: Ukiah, Calif. Nov. 1: Sausalito and Vallejo, Calif. Nov. 2: Dixon, Calif. Nov. 3: Sacramento and Sonora, Calif. Nov. 4: Mariposa, Calif. Nov. 6: Pasadena and Redlands, Calif. Nov. 8: Holbrook, Ariz. Nov. 9: Phoenix, Ariz. Nov. 11: Albuquerque, N.M. Nov. 13: Fayetteville, Ark. and Springfield, Mo. Nov. 16: Williamsport, Md. Nov. 19: Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building (Washington, D.C.)

Blaze claims 12 trailers at Goodwill Industries

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — The Colorado Springs Fire Department is investigating a Monday morning fire that destroyed 12 semi-trailers at a Goodwill Industries warehouse. The trailers were full of donations that were waiting to be sorted. No injuries were reported, and the building was not damaged. A cause for the fire was not released, although fire officials said they received tips that someone suspicious was seen in the area before the blaze.    

U.S. trailer orders grow, though still down from 2020

COLUMBUS, Ind. – September net US trailer orders of 28,127 units rose nearly 126% from the previous month but were more than 45% lower compared to September 2020. According to a news release from ACT Research, before accounting for cancellations, new orders of 32,400 units were up almost 140% versus August but 38% lower than the previous September. Net orders for the first nine months of 2021 were up 11%, while new orders grew 8% compared to the same time period in 2020, which included the COVID-stricken spring data. ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers, trailer OEMs, and suppliers to better understand the market. “September total net trailer orders grew mainly as the result of a 268% month-over-month surge in dry van orders for the month, as some 2022 order books were very cautiously cracked open,” said Frank Maly, Director–CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research. “It appears that OEMs are being extremely careful regarding acceptance of additional orders, although the caution is more centered in the higher-volume dry van, reefer, and flatbed categories.” Maly added, “Dry van and reefer OEMs are trying to walk a very delicate line, setting their pricing in a very challenging inflationary environment while also balancing production commitments with component and material availability and staffing concerns.” He concluded, “Staffing seems to have become a more challenging issue for the industry. Adds to staff are very difficult, while consistent attendance of existing staff is also reported to be problematic.”  

Report: Lack of parking a top concern for truckers

NASHVILLE – The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released its 17th annual Top Industry Issues report, identifying concerns of industry leaders, drivers and owner-operators. Chief among them: A lack of parking for big rigs, driver shortages and fuel prices. However, the list of concerns varied widely from the industry as a whole to the everyday working trucker. American Trucking Associations Chair Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Garner Trucking, said of the list: “The ATRI list of top industry issues provides a critical snapshot of the challenges impacting our industry at any given moment … this year is no exception as supply chain constraints dominate the nation’s headlines. ATRI’s annual analysis not only captures the industry’s sentiment on the criticality of each of these issues but also maps out a course for addressing each through the stakeholder-ranked strategies.” For the fifth year in a row, the driver shortage topped the list of industry concerns, garnering more than four times as many first-place votes as the number two issue, driver retention. Further reflecting the industry’s workforce challenges, driver compensation was ranked third overall. Lawsuit abuse reform rose three spots this year to take the number four spot and the lack of available truck parking rounded out the top five industry concerns. The diesel technician shortage made the top 10 list for the first time this year, as the 10th ranked most critical issue in the industry. Nearly 25 percent of the survey respondents were professional truck drivers. Among their top concerns were driver compensation and truck parking, which tied for the number one industry concern. Detention and delay at customer facilities was ranked by drivers as their second most pressing concern among drivers. More than 2,500 trucking industry stakeholders participated in this year’s survey, including motor carriers, drivers, industry suppliers, driver trainers, law enforcement, and others. “This year’s large response shows just how serious our industry is about identifying the most critical concerns and more importantly, figuring out how we collectively deal with each issue,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster. “It really is no surprise that truck driver-related issues – notably the driver shortage and driver retention – ranked so high on the survey. Coming out of the pandemic, with the increased demand for goods and other pressures on the supply chain, getting and keeping drivers has been a real challenge industrywide,” Brewster said. “We also see the impacts of the current supply chain crunch in how highly issues like driver compensation, truck parking, infrastructure and driver detention ranked on the list.”    

Inspections find thousands of hazardous material haulers in violation

WASHINGTON —  Federal highway safety inspectors found more than 2,700 violations on rigs transporting hazardous materials in North America during an operation over the summer, according to a report released by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) on Oct. 13. The operation, which inspected 13,471 vehicles in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, was part of an enforcement initiative by the CVSA. From June 21-25 in the U.S. and Canada, 10,905 commercial motor vehicles and 8,363 packages were inspected, identifying 2,714 violations, according to the CVSA report. The report didn’t note how many violations were found in Mexico. Problems found in the U.S. included: 496 shipping papers violations 628 non-bulk/small means of containment packaging violations 390 bulk packaging/large means of containment placarding violations 277 non-bulk/small means of containment labeling violations 307 bulk/large means of containment placarding violations 167 other safety marks violations 288 loading and securement violations 50 package integrity (leaking) violations

ATA helps Afghan refugees through deliveries

ARLINGTON, Va. – In response to the humanitarian crisis following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the American Trucking Associations delivered for hundreds of refugees being re-settled in the United States. In August, when many Afghan refugees were first taken to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia, for quarantine and processing, area residents began dropping off donations of clothing, diapers and other staples, according to an ATA news release. “When those refugees were relocated to U.S. military bases, ATA stepped in to get those dontations from member company Interstate Van Lines, which managed collection and storage of the items, to where they were needed,” the news release stated. “We heard the call and saw a need and were happy to respond,” said Nate McCarty, a professional driver with ABF Freight and an America’s Road Team Captain, who drove ATA’s image truck and Louisa Swain trailer from Northern Virginia to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin with 24 pallets of donations. “These people had been through so much, so if we could make things just a little bit easier for the, it was just something we had to do,” said Jeff Payne, a professional driver with Yellow Corp., who moved 24 pallets of donated goods to Camp Atterbury in Indiana, in ATA’s Workforce Heroes truck. ATA, through its members and through the Trucking Cares Foundation and Trucking Moves America Forward, makes numerous charity moves like these two annually. “Trucking is always first to respond when people are in need,” said ATA Executive Vice President Elisabeth Barna. “Whether it is drivers like Nate and Jeff delivering for these refugees, or the countless drivers who respond to natural disasters every year, this is the kind of commitment to service we expect from our professional heroes.”

DOT identifies major cyber security flaws at FMCSA

WASHINGTON — In a report issued Friday, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) said a recent investigation found multiple critical vulnerabilities on web servers that function within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “FMCSA did not detect our access or placement of malware on the network in part because it did not use required automated detection tools and malicious code protections,” the DOT report stated. “We also gained access to 13.6 million unencrypted (personal identity) records. Had malicious hackers obtained (these records) it could have cost FMCSA up to $570 million in credit monitoring fees. Furthermore, the agency does not always remediate vulnerabilities as quickly as DOT policy requires. These weaknesses put FMCSA’s network and data at risk for unauthorized access and compromise.” The FMCSA uses 13 web-based applications to aid vehicle registration, inspections and other activities. “Many of FMCSA’s information systems contain sensitive data, including personally identifiable information,” the DOT report stated. “Due to the importance of FMCSA’s programs to the transportation system and sensitivity of some Agency information, we conducted this audit of FMCSA’s information technology (IT) infrastructure. Our objective was to determine whether FMCSA’s IT infrastructure contains security weaknesses that could compromise the Agency’s systems and data. The DOT said it recommended 13 different points of action that FMCSA officials need to take in order to better secure their information. “We consider all 13 recommendations resolved but open pending FMCSA’s completion of planned actions,” DOT officials said.  

Port of Savannah’s new container space coming online 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Port of Savannah achieved its busiest September ever, moving 472,000 20-foot equivalent container units, which is up 14.5%, according to a news release. Port officials reported that the Garden City Terminal has seen steady improvement in the speed of cargo moving from dock to destination. “Our team is doing a great job, handling an immense volume of cargo every day,” Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, said. “I’d also like to extend our appreciation to our many customers who are working in lockstep with us to move cargo more quickly and work vessels with greater efficiency.” Partnering with importers to clear long-dwelling containers, the Port of Savannah has achieved a 55% reduction in the number of import boxes that have been on Garden City Terminal for longer than four weeks, the news release stated. The average dwell time for import containers is now 11 days, while exports average seven days. GPA has also adjusted its container receiving window to provide greater predictability for export customers. Total cargo for September reached 3.3 million tons, up 250,000 or 8%. Truck traffic remains fluid at Garden City Terminal, where single container moves over the past month averaged 38 minutes and dual import-export moves 60 minutes. The port’s truck gates are averaging 70,000 moves per week, counting both import and export cargo, while intermodal containers take less than two days to move from vessel offload to departing rail. To help address current and future needs, Georgia Ports will soon roll out two major capacity enhancements: completion of the Mason Mega Rail Terminal and Phase I of the Peak Capacity project. With the Mason Mega Rail Terminal fully operational by the end of October, the Port of Savannah’s annual rail capacity will be 2 million TEUs per year. The Port of Savannah is averaging less than two days from vessel offload to departing train, and rail providers Norfolk Southern and CSX have untapped capacity to destinations such as Atlanta, Memphis, Tennessee, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama. “GPA is encouraging port customers to transfer containers from truck to rail in order to expedite cargo and reduce carbon emissions. The authority is also making more room for on-terminal container storage,” the news release stated. GPA’s other project soon to be commissioned is Peak Capacity, Phase I. This project, more than 80% complete, will come online in December with three new rubber-tired gantry crane rows providing an additional 300,000 TEUs of annual capacity. Phase II will add a fourth RTG row and additional empty container space by the spring of 2022. The entire project will add 800,000 TEUs of annual capacity. GPA is currently investing $700 million in projects to expand berth capacity and to add 1 million TEUs of yard capacity. By next spring, additional projects will bring the total capacity increase to 2 million TEUs. Other infrastructure projects in the works include: Garden City West Phase I, a new 25-acre chassis yard. Notice to proceed on construction goes out Monday. The chassis yard is set to open in March 2022. Garden City West Phase II, a 92-acre container yard, goes before the GPA Board for consideration in March. Will add 750,000 TEUs of annual container space in 2023. Berth 1 Expansion: 17% complete. The project, slated to come online in 2023, will allow Savannah to simultaneously serve four 16,000-TEU vessels, and three additional ships. Ship-to-Shore Crane order: First four, 15% complete; second four, 5% complete. Eight new ship-to-shore cranes will arrive in 2023, bringing Garden City Terminal’s total fleet to 38. Savannah Harbor Expansion Project: 93% complete. With a high-tide depth of 54 feet, the deeper harbor will allow vessels in the 16,000+ TEU range to take on heavier loads with fewer tidal restrictions. With another five feet of channel depth, departing vessels will be able to take on 1,000 additional export containers, which will speed American-made goods to market. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 496,700 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $29 billion in income, $122 billion in revenue and $3.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 9.3% of total U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10.5% of all U.S. containerized exports in fiscal year 2020.      

Thousands of brake violations found during inspections

GREENBELT, Md. — Highway safety officials in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. inspected 35,764 commercial motor vehicles during this year’s Brake Safety Week — a seven-day inspection and enforcement initiative sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The annual event, held this year on Aug. 22-28, is aimed at inspecting commercial motor vehicles roadside and identifying and removing any commercial motor vehicles with dangerous brake-related issues from our roadways, according to a CVSA news release issued on Wednesday. In North America combined, a total of 35,764 commercial motor vehicles were inspected. Twelve percent of those were restricted from travel because inspectors found critical, brake-related problems and placed them out of service. “That also means that 88% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected throughout North America during Brake Safety Week did not have brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations,” the news release pointed out. “Vehicles that did not have any vehicle and driver out-of-service conditions during a Level I or Level V Inspection may have received a CVSA decal, which is a visual indicator to inspectors that the vehicle was recently inspected (valid for three months) and had no critical vehicle inspection item violations.” Every year for Brake Safety Week, law enforcement jurisdictions with the CVSA conduct commercial motor vehicle and driver inspections at fixed weigh stations, temporary pop-up inspection sites and during roving roadway patrols, paying special attention to brake components and systems. Participating jurisdictions capture and report data on inspections and the special focus area for that year. This year, the focus was on brake hose chafing violations. “Properly functioning brakes may mean the difference between a catastrophic collision or the ability to avoid a crash,” CVSA President Captain John Broers, who is with the South Dakota Highway Patrol, said. Brake-related violations accounted for eight out of the top 20 vehicle violations in 2020, according to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s data. And brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for more out-of-service vehicle conditions than any other vehicle violation during CVSA’s three-day International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative in May. The out-of-service rate related to brakes in the U.S. was 13.5% out of the 28,694 commercial motor vehicles inspected, according to the CVSA. In addition, inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. recorded 5,667 brake hose chafing violations, which are a common brake-related violation, whether out-of-service or not. Inspectors reported brake hose chafing violations in five different categories, illustrating levels of chafing severity, including two which are out-of-service conditions, and submitted that data to CVSA.  

Trucking school owner sentenced in fraud scheme

LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley truck driving school owner has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison after defrauding the United States Department of Veterans Affairs out of more than $4 million. Emmit Marshall, 53, of Woodland Hills, was sentenced on Oct. 5 by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson. He pleaded guilty in July 2019 to five counts of wire fraud According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Marshall was also ordered to pay $4.1 million in restitution. At the hearing, Wilson called Marshall’s actions “a very serious fraud on the government,” which involved “calculated, criminal acts that cannot be condoned.” Marshall is the owner and president of the Chatsworth-based Alliance School of Trucking (AST). Marshall and a co-defendant, AST Vice President Robert Waggoner, 57, of Canyon Country, recruited eligible veterans to take trucking classes paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. AST was certified to offer classes under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including a 160-hour Tractor Trailer & Safety class and a 600-hour Select Driver Development Program. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the VA paid tuition and fees directly to the school at which veterans were enrolled. The VA also paid a housing allowance to veterans enrolled full-time in an approved program, and, in some cases, the VA paid for books and supplies for veterans’ benefit. From July 2011 to April 2015, Marshall and Waggoner convinced more than 100 veterans to participate by telling them they were entitled to VA education benefits, even if they did not attend classes, the U.S. attorney’s office reported. Despite not taking classes, the veterans who agreed to join the scheme accepted education benefits for housing while AST collected the benefits for tuition, resulting in a total loss to the VA of at least $4.1 million. In addition, Marshall resorted to occasionally using veterans’ personal information to sign them up for benefits, forging signatures, sometimes without the veterans’ permission. Finally, in an attempt to obfuscate the overall scheme and the forgeries of student enrollment paperwork, Marshall directed the veteran-students to lie to VA investigators and ordered the destruction of AST paperwork by co-schemers. “[Marshall] profited most from this conduct, pocketing nearly $1 million himself, which he used for jewelry, a cruise, a trip to Hawaii, property taxes on his Woodland Hills residence, purchase of a Ford F-150 and purchase of semi-tractor trailers for a new business,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. Waggoner pleaded guilty on February 24 to five counts of wire fraud and will be sentenced later.

Woman survives crash with semi, gets DUI

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A 23-year-old California woman walked away from a horrific accident on Wednesday night after crashing into the rear of a big rig’s trailer. According to a Facebook post by the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Ana Area, the woman, whose name wasn’t given, was traveling more than 100 miles per hour on State Highway 91 when she veered to the right and struck the semi. Her car spun out of control, then hit the center divider. “After the collision, the female got out of her car, uninjured, and began to walk westbound in eastbound lanes,” the CHP post stated. “Officers arrived on scene, located the driver, and subsequently placed her under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (with a BAC three times the legal limit).” No injuries were reported.

Shipping container crushes car in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department is keeping a close eye on traffic in the city’s Wilmington neighborhood after a shipping container fell from a moving truck onto a parked vehicle, pancaking it. No injuries were reported. The incident comes as hundreds of trucks are entering and exiting the port to help ease the backlog of goods. Dozens of cargo ships are anchored off the coast waiting to unload at the clogged port. Many residents around the port have put up signs re-directing truck traffic around their neighborhood streets. “The trucks should not be going through the residential street and we need to put a stop to that getting a truck route,” Valerie Contreras of the Wilmington Neighborhood Council told CBSLA. “Also, there are too many trucks coming to Wilmington meaning there are too many storage yards and facilities and we need to make sure is regulated.”

Fired truckers reinstated after federal ruling

LOS ANGELES — Dozens of California port truck drivers were fired just weeks after they voted to form a union. But a federal judge ruled on Oct. 19 that their termination letters violated federal labor laws. The truckers will be reinstated and be given back pay, with interest, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The drivers worked for Universal Intermodal, which operates several companies that transport freight containers through the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. The group of about 30 drivers voted to join a local of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Administrative Law Judge Michael A. Rosas found in his ruling that the company was in violation of federal labor law on multiple counts, according to the Times. He said that the company unlawfully interrogated and fired two employees leading union efforts and that once workers at the facility unionized, it slashed their hours, closed the Compton facility where many of them worked, and laid off the unionized workers in order to punish them for organizing. The company laid off about 70 employees in total from facilities in Compton and Fontana, including workers employed by its Roadrunner and Universal Trucking subsidiaries. Rosas said in his ruling that the company laid off these other workers to crack down on future union activity by getting rid of “all employee drivers who were or could be tainted by the union,” and then moving forward with plans to hire new “untainted employee drivers days after the layoff.” “Judge Rosas today made clear that the Universal group of companies violated the law at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in a blatant effort to trample on employees’ fundamental right to form a union,” Ron Herrera, the Teamsters port division director, said in a statement. “We cannot allow any corporation, no matter how big, to ignore the law, especially as drivers work tirelessly to address the backlog at the ports and supply our community with the goods they need this holiday season.”

Supply chain snarled: California governor issues executive order on ports

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order directing state agencies to identify additional ways to alleviate congestion at California ports. The executive order builds on earlier efforts this year by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to ease supply chain issues by “engaging the diverse network of stakeholders along the supply chain to discuss key challenges and identify short-term and long-term solutions,” according to a news release. Record demand for imported goods combined with capacity issues across the entire supply chain have slowed distribution at ports on the California coast. “California’s ports are critical to our local, state and national economies and the state is taking action to support goods movement in the face of global disruptions,” Newsom said. “My administration will continue to work with federal, state, labor and industry partners on innovative solutions to tackle immediate challenges while also bringing our distribution processes into the 21st century.” The total customs value of the Port of Los Angeles’ containerized imports in 2020 was $211.9 billion. According to the publication American Shipper, given that imports totaled 4,827,040 TEUs, this equates to an average of $43,899 per import TEU. (Several other sources also estimated average cargo value at around $40,000 per TEU.) “This suggests that the cargo currently waiting off the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is worth around $22 billion, roughly the equivalent of the annual revenues of McDonald’s or the GDP of Iceland,” American Shipper reported. The executive order, signed on Thursday, directs state agencies to continue coordinating with the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to address state, national and global supply chain challenges. The executive order also directs the Department of Finance to work with state agencies to develop longer-term solutions that support port operations and goods movement for consideration in the Jan. 10 governor’s budget, which may include port and transportation infrastructure improvements, electrification of the goods movement system from port to delivery, and workforce development. Additionally, the executive order directs state agencies to identify state-owned properties and other locations that could be available to address short-term storage needs once goods are unloaded from ships; to identify priority freight routes to be considered for a temporary exemption to current gross vehicle limits to allow for trucks to carry additional goods; and to create workforce training and education programs. AB 639’s (Cervantes, 2020) implementation is also expedited through this executive order. Earlier this year, GO-Biz launched the California Supply Chain Success Initiative, a partnership with the California State Transportation Agency, the Port of Long Beach, and the CSU Long Beach Center for International Trade and Transportation to engage the diverse network of stakeholders along the supply chain to discuss key challenges and identify creative solutions. This effort, which brought together federal, state and local leaders, is focused on both short-term and long-term steps to address port congestion, including implementing a new 24/7 environment across the supply chain, a move the state worked with the Biden-Harris Administration on, improving collaboration, and exploring policies to remove obstacles and improve the movement of goods.