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The Trucker News Staff

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About The Trucker News Staff
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Posts by The Trucker News Staff

Drivers Legal Plan commemorates 30th anniversary

By The Trucker News Staff -

Drivers Legal Plan, a national law firm that defends truck drivers exclusively, is celebrating more than a quarter-century of operation this month. Jim Klepper founded the company in 1991 with input from trucking industry executives who were concerned that the advent of CDLs could lead to unnecessary traffic convictions and have detrimental effects on driver safety profiles and retention records. “It gives me enormous pride to celebrate our 30th year in business,” said Brad Klepper, who is president of Drivers Legal Plan as well as Jim Klepper’s son. “We have been sincerely blessed to have long-standing relationships with trucking companies and a highly skilled, dedicated team of employees. Over the years, we have established ourselves as America’s most experienced CDL defense law firm,” he continued. Drivers Legal Plan defends carriers and drivers in both CDL citations and CSA violations, including both moving and non-moving, throughout the 48 contiguous United States. “We know the courts well,” Brad Klepper said. “We excel at securing the best possible outcomes for our clients due to our extensive legal experience across the U.S., and we are continuously learning. Particularly during the pandemic, we have adapted to the changing rules and regulations while remaining vigilantly focused on representing our clients’ interests.” Brad Klepper’s column “Ask the Attorney” appears in the bi-monthly print edition of The Trucker. You can read it online by clicking here.

Celebrations abound in recognition of truckers

By The Trucker News Staff -

September 12-18 marks a special time for the trucking industry. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is earmarked as a time for America to honor professional drivers for their hard work and sacrifices in delivering necessities across our continent. The industry is often referred to as the backbone of the economy, with the drivers acting as the heart. Last year, truck drivers delivered 11.84 billion tons of freight around the country, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Today, more than 80% of U.S. communities rely on truck drivers to deliver goods, allowing some of the nation’s most remote locations access to modern conveniences. With stringent regulations and commercial training, professional drivers are committed to safely delivering all the things that make our collective quality of life possible. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week was founded by ATA in 1998 as a way to honor drivers. This year, there are many different events held by various companies and organizations to show appreciation to truckers. NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his racing team have partnered with Pilot Flying J to raise awareness about the importance of trucking with an initiative called #ThankATrucker. “At JR Motorsports, we know the importance and value of our nation’s truck drivers. Our drivers travel the country to NASCAR Xfinity Series events, and the trailers they carry allow us to do our job on the track each week. We join Pilot Flying J in thanking all the men and women who keep our country moving every day. Take the time today to #ThankATrucker,” Earnhardt said. Featured on the hood of the No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet NASCAR is the saying, “If you’ve got it, a trucker brought it” and #ThankATrucker is emblazoned across the rear of the car. Steve Vanderink, vice president of regional sales for Pilot Flying J, along with Earnhardt, recently revealed the racecar’s new look. Vanderink thanked the fleet customers whowere special guests at the event, representing the thousands of fleets and millions of professional drivers across the industry. “Pro drivers have carried us through this past year, delivering food, supplies and medicines around the country,” Vanderink said. “They have been our heroes during the pandemic. We hope this Driver Appreciation month will help raise awareness of their sacrifices and inspire all of us to celebrate what they do.” Michael Annett, who has driven the Pilot Flying J car since 2007, has a special place in his heart for the transportation industry. His dad was the chairman of TMC Transportation, so he knows first-hand how important trucking is and can appreciate being a “pro” behind the wheel. The special NASCAR vehicle can be seen racing Sept. 11 at Richmond Raceway and on Sept.18 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Additionally, Pilot Co. is encouraging motorists to join in bringing back the “trucker salute.” Pilot stores will be rewarding professional drivers all month long with free drinks, bonus loyalty points and more perks. “Professional drivers have carried us through many tough times, especially over this past year and a half, and we all owe them our gratitude and thanks,” said Shameek Konar, CEO of Pilot Co. “Our annual Driver Appreciation month in September is a special time to recognize and celebrate professional drivers everywhere, including our own Pilot drivers. The Pilot team thanks all of you and gives you a ‘Trucker Salute’ for working incredibly hard to haul all of the goods needed across the nation.” For those unfamiliar with the “Trucker Salute,” Pilot Company produced a video of the classic arm pump gesture that many professional drivers miss seeing and responding to with a friendly blow of their horn. To help bring back this beloved tradition, share a video of a “Trucker Salute” on social media. Pilot Co. will donate $5 to Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) for each post that tags @PilotFlyingJ and uses the #ThankATrucker hashtag, up to $25,000. Most other trucks stops across the nation are also offering promotions and specials as a way to thank truckers for their work. Travel Centers of America (TA) is holding an appreciation “swipestakes” where drivers can swipe their UltraONE card at the pump, truck service shop or UltraONE Kiosks. The grand prize is 1,500,000 UltraOne Points; second prize is an Indian Scout Bobber or Rolex watch; third prize is two plane tickets anywhere in the continental U.S. plus a $500 gift card; and 70 runners up will receive 50,000 UltraOne points. At Love’s, giveaways include a chance to win $100 instantly by using the My Love Rewards card each day in September. Drivers can enter to win 1 million Love Rewards points using the touch screen kiosks at the truckstop locations. Love’s is also offering a special on apparel, giving away a free hat with the purchase of three pairs of Love’s gloves.

Safety first: Experts offer tips to eliminate drowsy and distracted driving

By The Trucker News Staff -

Written by Don Osterberg, safety advisor to Omnitracs We all know we’re not superheroes, impervious to pain. But frequently, we fall victim to bad habits behind the wheel and engage in driving behaviors as if we’re invincible — often without realizing it. Drowsy and distracted driving have resulted in a longstanding epidemic that has only worsened with the coupling of our misplaced enthusiasm for multitasking and now-continuous connection to technology. On July 27, Don Osterberg, safety advisor at Omnitracs, and Jeff Griswold, Omnitracs director of product management, joined forces to host the 4 Actions to Eliminate Drowsy or Distracted Driving webinar. Osterberg is a recognized authority on carrier safety, while Griswold has managed Omnitracs’ SmartDrive suite of fleet safety solutions — including video-based safety — since 2014. Read on for several top insights from the webinar. Deciphering differences between drowsy and distracted driving According to the National Safety Council, truck-involved fatalities increased by nearly 50% from 2009 to 2019, with drowsy and distracted driving both topping the list of causal factors resulting in high-severity crashes. The terms “drowsy” and “distracted” describe two distinctive behaviors that are interrelated. Drowsy driving pertains to fatigue-like behaviors and dangers, while distracted driving focuses on manual, visual and cognitive distractions, such as cellphone use and smoking. Many of us are unaware of how drastically drowsiness alters our alertness and responsiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that being awake for 24 hours is the same as having a blood alcohol content of .10% — which is higher than the legal limit in the U.S. The estimated societal cost of fatigue-related crashes and injuries is $109 billion every year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Researchers concluded this in 2016, when one of the most recent comprehensive studies on this subject was conducted. Now, in 2021, this metric is likely much higher. Distracted driving metrics don’t fare much better. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for at least five seconds — enough time to drive about the length of a football field. Imagine driving through a football field with your eyes sealed tight. Suddenly, answering that text may not seem so important. Every driver is susceptible to drowsy or distracted driving dangers. Still, commercial drivers often operate heavy vehicles, balancing long workdays with multiple day-to-day tasks against the backdrop of extreme supply chain pressure for on-time deliveries. Understanding and eliminating dangerous driving behaviors in the fleet world is critical to driver safety, road safety and driver retention. What distracted or drowsy driving looks like up close One common element of drowsy or distracted driving is a perception of invincibility. Most professional drivers undoubtedly take their roles and commitment to safety seriously. But we’re all human, susceptible to habit and fatigue. We can often slip unknowingly, pushing on for “just one more hour” or pressing “send” on a text message. We may think, “I know bad things can happen, but I don’t believe it’ll happen to me today.” Or we may tell ourselves, “I’ve driven tired before, and nothing bad happened, so I’ll fight through it.” To avoid this, we must identify three different kinds of distractions: Manual, Visual and Cognitive. Manual distractions involve taking your hands away from the wheel to eat, drink or smoke. Visual distractions lead to you taking your eyes away from the road to do something like search for items in the cab or adjust your non-cab-compatible GPS. Cognitive distractions result in your mind wandering away from your driving task due to road rage or speaking on your cellphone. Interestingly, as our data shows below, nearly 90% of these distractions happen under clear skies and in the daytime. The standard in post-crash litigation today is to ask carriers what they could have done to prevent collisions. The paradigm has shifted, and many de-facto standards of care have emerged. Carriers can protect drivers and keep their business brand — and profits — out of the courtroom with help from comprehensive safety, security and video solutions. Steps to mitigate distracted or drowsy driving Fleet leaders can combine leading transportation technology with successful safety management and driver coaching practices to reduce distracted or drowsy driving. Other actions leaders can take include: Prioritize a strong culture of safety by making safety a core value, not just a priority. Carriers should also consider creating a no-cellphone use policy. Educate family members to eliminate unnecessary phone calls to their driver, and make sure they truly understand the risks drowsy or distracted driving pose to their loved ones. Also, leaders should tell family members to encourage quality, restorative sleep for professional drivers. Finally, family education on the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea will result in drivers being tested and treated for this common, fatigue-causing illness. Utilize a video-based safety solution that alerts drivers as they unknowingly fall victim to habit. This lets drivers alter their behavior before a severe incident and provides personalized insights and training tailored to their unique behaviors, so they are empowered to improve their driving skillsets. Offer drivers a leading commercial vehicle navigation application mounted in a location that’s easy to see, so that they don’t have to fiddle with the GPS on their phone or read a map or road signs. The safest carriers use leading safety, security and video solutions to reduce crash frequencies and avoid nuclear verdicts. One leading carrier Omnitracs partnered with reduced crashes by 60%, while another carrier generated a whopping 11 exonerations in one year. The bottom line is clear: To reverse the negative trends in truck-involved injury and fatality crashes, we must do more and be better. As transportation professionals, we have a moral obligation to do so. The greatest risk today is doing nothing. There are proven technologies available today that result in improved safety. Ask yourself, “If we had a driver who was driving drowsy or distracted, would we want to know?” If you want to know, there are ways today that you can. We owe it to both our drivers and the motoring public to operate as safely as we can. The discussion with Don Osterberg and Jeff Griswold included many more valuable tips as well as downloadable resources for your drivers, so tune in to the entire webinar to learn more about how you can mitigate risk for your fleet and empower your drivers to improve!

DOE project to feature Kenworth next gen battery

By The Trucker News Staff -

KIRKLAND Wash. — Kenworth is participating in a research project that will add wireless fast charging to Class 8 battery electric vehicles (EVs), according to a company news release. Wireless charging at a 1-megawatt rate will allow electric vehicle batteries to fully charge in 30 minutes or less. The company said the batteries will be designed specifically for regional-haul routes. The program is funded through an $8 million cost-share project by the Vehicle Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project includes Kenworth, Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) and Utah State University. Kenworth will provide a T680 Next Generation battery-electric vehicle with a traction motor rated at 420 kW and 560 hp, a battery capacity of 660 kWh and a target range of at least 170 miles before requiring a recharge. The T680 Next Gen will operate in a two-shift haul to and from Seattle and Portland, Oregon, with regional deliveries en route combined with local in-city deliveries to exceed 400 miles daily. “This project offers an excellent opportunity to team with the participants to foster important advancements that extend Class 8 battery electric vehicle range and reduce recharge times,” said Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. WAVE’s high-power wireless chargers have been used in mass transit applications since 2017. The company is working with power electronics researchers at Utah State University to design a 1-megawatt, wireless inductive charging solution for designated facilities in both Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Seattle City Light and Portland General Electric will be involved in the respective site installation in their cities; installations are expected to be completed in 2022. “At the megawatt power levels required by Class 8 EVs, there are significant advantages to eliminating mechanical movement and human contact associated with current charging technologies,” said WAVE CEO Michael Masquelier. “The work we are doing with Kenworth and Utah State University will help enable fleet operators to extend the range of heavy-duty EVs, making the industry’s zero emission goals more attainable.”  

Tanker spill snarls I-10 on West Coast

By The Trucker News Staff -

A gasoline tanker truck overturned on Interstate 10 in Banning, California, on the morning of Aug. 31, spilling 9,000 gallons and closing all lanes between Ramsey and Eighth Street for several hours, according to the California Transportation Department’s District 8 Twitter feed. At just after 7 a.m. local time, two of the four interstate lanes (eastbound) had reopened at Banning, CALTRANS reported. There was no information on the driver’s condition.

Flooding closes roads, kills dozens in northeast

By The Trucker News Staff -

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA – The remnants of Hurricane Ida have inundated the northeastern U.S. with torrential rains and flooding over the past several days, killing more than 25 people and causing billions of dollars in damage. From hard-hit Pennsylvania to Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island, residents faced ruined property, supply shortages and grief. President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged robust federal help for areas from the Gulf Coast to the northeast affected by Ida. The president said he will further press Congress to pass his nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill to improve roads, bridges, the electric grid and sewer systems. “It’s a matter of life and death and we’re all in this together,” the president said. In rain-soaked Pennsylvania, there are 389 roads closed statewide, with 243 shut as a result of flooding. Many are also impassable due to downed trees and limbs as well as utilities, state emergency officials said Thursday. There are 16 major state interstates or expressways closed as well. Dozens of roads in New Jersey and New York were also flooded. The fire department in Wilmington, Delaware, performed water rescues and many streets and bridges remain closed, officials said. Flooding affected several neighborhoods and a Wilmington Fire Department spokesperson said crews had rescued 60 to 80 people by noon, The News Journal reported. Delaware Department of Transportation Community Relations Director CR McLeod said the flooding was impacting homes and businesses and there were many vehicles underwater, WDEL-FM reported. More than 50 bridges would need to be surveyed and assessed, he said. “A lot of this water is coming down from Pennsylvania with the excessive amounts of rain that they had associated with the storm yesterday. All that water is going to make its way down toward the Delaware River, and it’s all coming down the Brandywine.” The Brandywine entered a major flood stage Wednesday night and by Thursday morning it reached a maximum crest of 23.1 feet, a new record, according to the National Weather Service. Waters began to recede and the it was expected to fall below flood stage early Friday, according to the agency. In Connecticut, an on-duty state police sergeant died after his cruiser was swept away in flood waters early Thursday morning in Woodbury. The 26-year veteran of the department called for help at about 3:30 a.m. Police searched the area with divers, helicopters, boats and drones and found the sergeant in the swollen river later in the morning after daybreak. First responders performed live-saving measures and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials did not release the sergeant’s name, saying family notifications were still pending. In Frederick County, Maryland, first responders used a boat to rescue 10 children and a driver from a school bus caught in rising flood waters. The county’s school superintendent faced criticism for not dismissing students early. He apologized, saying the decision to remain open led to “stress and anxiety for many,” The Frederick News-Post reported. Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield said that “While the water is receding in most parts of the state, we are still seeing ongoing flooding in the southeast portion of the state, some of which is surpassing record flood levels. “We also know that Ida has not only caused significant damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure, but for many it has significantly disrupted lives and families. We continue to work with our federal and county partners to ensure that response and recovery efforts continue to move forward.” Pennsylvania saw prolific rainfall, both in storm totals and rates. Reports from across the state range from 5 to 8 inches, some falling in a short time. Daily all-time records were broken; specifically, Scranton saw its second wettest day on record and Harrisburg and Altoona recorded their third wettest day. “The remnants of Ida brought historic rainfall to Pennsylvania over the last several days,” Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said in a news release. “This was a rare culmination of events that caused record flooding in many places around the commonwealth. Many people across the state are dealing with the aftereffects of the storm today.” The National Weather Service will be out surveying potential tornado damage in Chester and Montgomery counties today, as well as three areas of Bucks County. Rivers and waterways are still high across the state, especially in southeastern Pennsylvania. Several waterways shattered previous crest records, including points along the East Branch of the Brandywine, the Brandywine, the Perkiomen, and the Schuylkill rivers. Approximately 120 Pennsylvania National Guard members remain on active duty statewide to support local emergency and rescue operations. The Commonwealth Response Coordination Center at PEMA remains activated. “We understand that closed roadways and other impacts from the storm can be frustrating,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Batula. “Even though the rains have stopped, it is still so important that the public remain vigilant, and allow space for our crews and for emergency workers to do their jobs.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TruckPark announces partnership with Roady’s

By The Trucker News Staff -

CHICAGO — TruckPark and Roady’s Truck Stops announced on Thursday a new partnership to offer Roady’s members parking using TruckPark’s on-demand app. TruckPark is a Chicago-based company that uses technology to help truckers find spaces for their rigs. “This agreement is aimed to significantly address the national shortage of parking for long-haul truckers,” said Anthony Petitte, CEO of TruckPark. “Our goal from the beginning has been to offer safe, secure and easily accessible parking solutions to truck drivers. Partnering with Roady’s will enable us to help make truck drivers’ lives easier and less stressful.” “Each year more than 10,000,000 truckers and travelers visit a Roady’s facility and purchase over a billion gallons of fuel across more than 300 retail locations,” said Scott Rhinehart of Roady’s Truck Stops. “With that large platform, Roady’s and our independent truck stops can make a sizable difference in the persistent problem truckers face—finding secure parking when and where they need it.” Roady’s Truck Stops has locations across 38 states.  

Florida Gators football player injured in big rig wreck

By The Trucker News Staff -

GAINESVILLE, Fla — A University of Florida football player was injured recently when he steered his scooter into the trailer of an 18-wheeler. Gainesville police said that Yousef Mugharbil, 18, was hit and dragged by a semi-truck on the morning of Aug. 30 on University Avenue, receiving only minor injuries. The semi truck was headed on West University Ave. and attempted to turn right on Northwest 16th St. While driving a scooter, Mugharbil sped up while in an undesignated driving lane and the semi hit him, police said. A witness, Josue Robateaw, said he saw Mugharbil get dragged about 100 feet, according to a report by Gainesville news station WCJB. “There was blood everywhere and under the truck too,” Robateaw told WCJB. Robateaw was working when he said he saw the 18-year-old in between the tires of the semi. He was able to get the young man out and said with blood everywhere and some getting on his clothes, it’s a moment he’ll never forget. “Instead of yielding to the semi-truck, the scooter got into a non-navigable lane,” GPD spokesman Graham Glover said. “That’s one of the lanes that was striped off where you shouldn’t have been driving. It caused the scooter to go straight into the truck that was turning right and had the right of way to make that turn.” Mugharbil, of Murphy, North Carolina, enrolled at Florida over the summer as one of three offensive line signees in the class of 2021. He is not listed on Florida’s unofficial depth chart for this weekend’s game against Florida Atlantic. Florida Gators Head Coach Dan Mullins said he was aware of the accident and said that Mugharbil is “OK.”

Finalists for top rookie military driver announced; winner will receive a Kenworth T680

By The Trucker News Staff -

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Ten military veterans have been named as finalists for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award, a program dedicated to finding America’s top rookie military veteran driver. The program recognizes top drivers who have made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. The winner of the award will receive a Kenworth T680 tractor with a 76-inch sleeper. The T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. This is the sixth consecutive year that Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program to support the program. “We have an impressive group of drivers selected as finalists in the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program,” said Genevieve Bekkerus, Kenworth marketing director. “Kenworth Truck Co. thanks them for their military service to the country and appreciates their dedication on the road in pursuit of their new profession as truck drivers.” The Top 10 drivers are: Steven Brown, EPES Transport System (U.S. Navy); Lacresha Daniels, Prime Inc. (U.S. Navy); Marcus Ellis, Stevens Transport (U.S. Air Force); William Gamez, Roehl Transport (U.S. Army, Army National Guard); Scott McFadden, Melton Truck Lines (U.S. Navy); Jimmy Reddell, Stevens Transport (U.S. Army, Army Reserves); James C. Rose, Prime Inc. (U.S. Marine Corps); Christopher Slindee, Knight Transportation (U.S. Army); Brad Stonebraker, Melton Truck Lines (U.S. Army); and Justin Utt, Swift Transportation (U.S. Marine Corps Reserve). “It was certainly a challenging task to reduce the list of our talented nominees down to the Top 10. Our finalists are outstanding examples of the over-the-road service that veterans can offer the trucking industry, and they represent a variety of military branches,” said FASTPORT President Brad Bentley. “It is important for organizations across the United States to especially reach out to our veterans to help them make a smooth transition back into civilian life.” Drivers were nominated by trucking companies that have made a hiring commitment and pledge to hire veterans on truckingtrack.org, members of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS), or Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) member school. To qualify, drivers must: Have been active military or a member of the National Guard or Reserve; Graduated from a PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS or CVTA member driver training school and hold a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL); and Been first hired in a trucking position between Jan. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021. The top three finalists will be announced Oct. 6 at the MHC Road Ready Center in Chillicothe, Ohio, following a recognition event and tour of the adjacent Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant. The public can participate in a popular vote, conducted online from Oct. 28 through Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day); the final winner will be determined by a selection committee. The winner will be announced Dec. 17 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. For more information about the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program, click here.

Charging solutions: California’s first electric truck stop in the works

By The Trucker News Staff -

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A California startup company has announced plans to build the state’s first solar-powered truck stop for heavy-duty, Class 8 electric trucks. WattEV Inc. said it is slated to receive a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to build the facility in Bakersfield, California. Additionally, the company said it has raised $6 million in private equity seed funding led by Canon Equity. Groundbreaking is expected in late October. The announcement was made at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo 2021 in Long Beach, California, on Aug. 30. WattEV, based in El Segundo, California, said the CEC should approve the grant Sept. 8 at its monthly business meeting. “Our successful private-equity seed funding, in addition to the grant awarded for this project, are important milestones in our effort to deploy 12,000 electric heavy-duty trucks on the road by 2030,” said Salim Youssefzadeh, CEO of WattEV. “The electric truck stop in Bakersfield is the first step toward our commitment to help build the charging infrastructure network necessary to accelerate the heavy-duty trucking sector’s transition to electric drive,” he added. Partners joining WattEV and the CEC on the Bakersfield electric truck stop project include the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the Central California Asthma Collaborative, Greenlots, Power Electronics and several others. In addition to the Bakersfield project, WattEV is in the planning stages for similar projects in San Bernardino and Gardena in Southern California. Both electric truck stops will serve the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, as well as the warehouses fed by goods coming through the ports. WattEV has also secured purchase incentive vouchers through the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, and plans to initially buy six VNR Electric Class 8 trucks from Volvo Group. WattEV has has applied for 24 more electric truck HVIP vouchers for future purchases. All told, WattEV plans to run its own fleet of 30 heavy-duty electric trucks by the end of 2022. The fleet will be deployed under contract with several Southern California fleet customers. The first fleet partnership is with Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), which serves the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and has a presence in Bakersfield. TTSI will be offering electric transport freight services to shippers in Southern California on routes served by WattEV’s platform. To help accelerate the transition to electric goods movement, WattEV is developing an advanced software platform — trucks-as-a-service, or TaaS — designed specifically for the use of electric trucks within its network of charging stations on designated routes. The TaaS platform will offer an all-inclusive, charge-per-mile formula that will enable a transporter to use an electric truck to move goods normally handled with diesel trucks on the routes selected by shippers.

Trucking Cares: Play-Doh drive to benefit Dallas hospital

By The Trucker News Staff -

Good ideas seem to always survive the test of time, even in the midst of a pandemic. While planning for the 2019 McLeod Software Users Conference in Denver, Hoekstra Transportation Director of Administration and TCA’s Communications & Image Committee Chair Lori Teders had an idea — a way to benefit children and give the trucking industry a “shot” in the public relations arm. After a connection was made between Children’s Health/Children’s Medical Center and McLeod Software’s Director of Special Events Mark Stephens, a partnership was molded. “This year at our annual User Conference in Grapevine, Texas, we and hundreds of our customers from the trucking industry, will try and lend a hand to UT Southwestern Children’s Health hospital by collecting donated items and contributions for in-patient children who are receiving treatment at the Center,” shared Stephens. “Items such as Play-Doh, coloring books, crayons, among others are a few of the items requested by Children’s Health.” Teders agreed. “It’s so simple to pack something you’re going to leave behind after the conference. The great thing is that we as an industry can make such a positive impact. We need to highlight the positive things about our industry,” she explained, adding that contributing locally to a cause is just one of the ways to accomplish this. Children’s Health is one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and is the leading pediatric health system in North Texas. They are a leader in life-changing treatments, innovative technology, and ground-breaking pediatric research. “Children’s Health proudly serves nearly 300,000 patients annually,” shared Kendall Rowden, Development officer for Corporate Partnerships for the Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “We are grateful to our friends at Hoekstra Transportation and McLeod Software for their tremendous efforts in coordinating this large-scale Play-Doh donation drive. Our Child Life team uses Play-Doh for many purposes, including therapeutic play, stress relief, helping patients communicate through sculpting, and recreational play and crafts,” Rowden continued. “Generous donations like this help us as we continue to make life better for children.” Interested in making a donation? Visit the registration desk at the McLeod Users Conference, scheduled for September 12-15 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.

Louisiana interstates reopen

By The Trucker News Staff -

NEW ORLEANS — All interstate systems in Louisiana are back open after being closed due to the effects of Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced Tuesday afternoon. “DOTD crews have worked around the clock to get all of Louisiana’s interstates reopened, and I’m extremely grateful to them for their tireless work,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson. “But we still urge motorists to keep the interstates clear for emergency responders, as undue traveling could potentially burden emergency services. Check with your parish before returning because essentials like food, water and gas can be hard to come by and local, state and federal responders have already begun the recovery process. Let’s all work together to recover from this storm.” Many other state roadways remain impacted by the storm and DOTD crews from around the state are working to clear them, officials said. The DOTD advises checking 511la.org before traveling, and check with parish officials before returning to impacted areas.

Ida wreaks havoc on Gulf Coast highways

By The Trucker News Staff -

LUCEDALE, Miss. — Two people were killed and at least 10 others were injured late Monday night, Aug. 30, when their vehicles plunged into a deep hole where a Mississippi highway collapsed after Hurricane Ida blew through. Meanwhile, Interstate 10 between New Orleans and Baton Rouge was open only to emergency traffic. Officials announced Tuesday afternoon that the state’s interstate system was completely reopened to traffic. Torrential rain may have caused the highway collapse in Mississippi, and the drivers may not have seen that the roadway in front of them had disappeared Monday night, Mississippi Highway Patrol Cp. Cal Robertson said. “Some of these cars are stacked on top of each other,” he said. Seven vehicles were involved, including a motorcycle. A crane was brought in to lift them out of the hole. WDSU-TV reports that state troopers, emergency workers and rescue teams responded to Highway 26 west of Lucedale, Mississippi, about 60 miles northeast of Biloxi, to find both the east and westbound lanes collapsed. Robertson said the hole is 50 to 60 feet long and 20 to 30 feet deep. The identities and conditions of the of those involved in the accident have not yet been released. More than 8 inches of rain fell in the area during Ida, according to the National Weather Service. Between 3,100 and 5,700 vehicles drive along the stretch of two-lane highway on an average day, according to Mississippi Department of Transportation data. Back in Louisiana, the state’s department of transportation said that I-10 exit ramps at Highway 51 in LaPlace are closed due to flooding. I-55 northbound is also closed from Hammond to the Mississippi state line due to fallen trees blocking the road. Hurricane Ida blasted ashore Sunday as a Category 4 storm, one of the most powerful ever to hit the U.S. mainland. It knocked out power to much of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, blowing roofs off buildings and reversing the flow of the Mississippi River. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Navistar pegs Mathias Carlbaum to succeed Persio Lisboa as company president and CEO

By The Trucker News Staff -

MUNICH — The Navistar board of directors has appointed Mathias Carlbaum as the new president and CEO of Navistar International Corp., effective Sept. 1, 2021. Carlbaum will succeed Persio Lisboa, who has been with Navistar 35 years and has held the position of president and CEO since July 2020. Lisboa will retire following a short transition phase. Navistar is the parent company of International brand commercial trucks and engines; IC Bus brand school and commercial buses; all-makes OnCommand Connection advanced connectivity services; aftermarket parts brands Fleetrite, ReNEWed and Diamond Advantage; and Brazilian manufacturer of engines and gensets MWM Motores Diesel e Geradores. Beginning in April 2021, Carlbaum has led the post-merger management of Navistar on behalf of the TRATON Group. A binding merger agreement was signed in November 2020. The merger was closed on July 1, 2021, with TRATON paying approximately $3.7 billion for all of Navistar’s common shares. Before joining Navistar, Carlbaum served as executive vice president of commercial operations for Scania CV AB. “Mathias Carlbaum is an internationally experienced manager with the right skills and mindset to lead Navistar into this new era as part of TRATON Group,” said Matthias Gründler, CEO of TRATON SE and a member of Navistar’s board of directors. “I am welcoming Mathias in his new responsibility, he continued. “A great thanks goes to Persio Lisboa for his great support before, during and after the merger.” In addition to appointing Carlbaum to lead the company, Navistar’s board of directors appointed an executive board, effective Sept. 1. Walter G. Borst will continue his role as chief financial officer until Jan. 1, 2022, when Do Young Kim will take over as chief financial officer. Borst will continue to serve as a member of Navistar’s board of directors. Kim’s current role is project lead for TRATON’s IPO and the merger with Navistar. Michael Grahe, formerly chief technical officer for the TRATON Group, will head operations. Navistar’s current president of operations, Phil Christman, will remain at Navistar until March 2022 to oversee Mexico and Brazil, as well as transition-related tasks. Donna G. Dorsey will retain responsibility for Navistar’s people and culture, and Friedrich W. Baumann remains responsible for sales, marketing and aftersales. Mark Hernandez will remain in charge of manufacturing, and will also be appointed to Navistar’s executive board.

Former transportation secretary Chao joins board of directors at Hyliion

By The Trucker News Staff -

AUSTIN, Texas — Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao is joining the board of directors for Hyliion Holdings Corp., the company announced Aug. 24. Hyliion specializes in creating electric powertrains for Class 8 trucks as well as for passenger cars. “Elaine Chao has had an incredibly distinguished career promoting innovation and American excellence, and we are fortunate to have her join our board,” said Thomas Healy, founder and CEO of Hyliion. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from both a transportation and competitiveness viewpoint that will support Hyliion as we continue to move along our path to commercialization and work toward our vision of a global net-carbon-negative commercial trucking industry.” Chao, who served as the nation’s secretary of transportation from January 2017 to January 2021, has also served as president and CEO of United Way of America and as head of the Peace Corps, as well as a banker with Citicorp and Bank of America. She has also served on a number of Fortune 500 public boards, and now serves on the board of Kroger Co.

California company employs 10 Peterbilt Class 8 electric trucks in port drayage operations

By The Trucker News Staff -

DENTON, Texas — Peterbilt Motors Co. has completed the delivery of Class 8 electric trucks to California-based Shippers Transport Express. The 10 Model 579EVs will immediately be put to work as part of the company’s drayage operations at the Port of Oakland. In November, the company plans to put an additional five Model 579EVs into service as part of its Port of Long Beach drayage operations. “With the recent completion of the charging infrastructure at the Port of Oakland, right now is the perfect time to put our 10 Peterbilt Model 579EVs into service and demonstrate the benefits zero-emission trucks will provide moving cargo around our California ports,” said Guy Sanderson, general manager of Shippers Transport Express-Oakland. According to Peterbilt, the fully integrated, battery-electric 579EV in operation by Shippers Transport is optimized for drayage operations requiring two to three trips a day, of up to 50 miles in length before returning home at night to recharge. When used in conjunction with a recommended DC fast-charger, the high-energy density battery packs recharge in three to four hours. “The delivery of new Model 579EVs to Shippers Transport is another example of how Peterbilt’s battery electric vehicles are hard at work with customers across the country in a variety of applications. We are very excited to see our 579EVs moving around the Port of Oakland with the Port of Long Beach set to come online shortly,” said Jason Skoog Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. The order with Shipper’s Transport Express is part of a $50 million grant obtained from the California Air Resources Board’s Zero and Near Zero Emission Freight Facility (ZANZEFF) program. ZANZEFF funds transform emissions reduction strategies at freight facilities throughout the state. The project is also part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment–particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Love’s kicks off Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising campaign

By The Trucker News Staff -

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops has launched a fundraising campaign to benefit more than 110 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals throughout the U.S. From Aug. 26 through Sept. 30, customers can donate at any Love’s Travel Stop, Country Store, Truck Care, Love’s-owned hotel and participating Speedco locations. “Love’s is honored to continue its partnership with CMN Hospitals to help kids who need medical treatment in the communities where our team members work and live across the country,” said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer and executive vice president of Love’s. “As times continue to be difficult for many people, these funds will ease the burden for caregivers and help kids improve their health.” To donate, customers can purchase a paper balloon for $1, $5, $10 or $20, or they can “round up the change” to the nearest dollar at the register. In addition, stores will safely hold raffles and fundraisers and sell CMN Hospitals merchandise such as teddy bears and golf towels. To celebrate National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, customers may purchase any size coffee for $1 using the Love’s Connect app; all proceeds will go to CMN Hospitals. “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are on the front lines when it comes to protecting the health of future generations,” said Teri Nestel, president and CEO of CMN Hospitals. “But they can’t do it alone. Without the help of caring partners, like Love’s Travel Stops, children will face significant impacts in the short and long term. Every dollar raised can change kids’ health and change the future for each community our member hospitals serve.” CMN Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments annually to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund hospitals in each community. Of the 170 CMN Hospitals in the U.S., 113 benefit from Love’s annual campaign.

Xos Hub offers mobile vehicle charging for commercial truck fleets

By The Trucker News Staff -

LOS ANGELES — Xos Inc., a manufacturer of fully electric Class 5 to Class 8 commercial vehicles, recently unveiled the Xos Hub, a mobile charging station to help its fleet customers access charging infrastructure at their fleet yard without having to wait for traditional infrastructure installation. The Xos Hub is part of the larger service offering of Xos Energy Solutions, a new business unit within Xos that provides comprehensive infrastructure services to accelerate large-scale deployments of commercial electric vehicles. The services include Xos Hub and Xos Serve, an on-demand infrastructure-as-a-service platform that includes site evaluations, energy storage development, and installation and energy management services. According to a statement from Xos, the Xos Hub, which fits into the space of about two parking spots, can charge up to five vehicles at a time. A solar array on the roof of the Xos Hub powers the cloud-enabled control and safety systems. The Xos Hub is currently available for lease as a standalone offering or within Xos’ Fleet-as-a-Service offering. “We are excited to roll out our charging infrastructure and products in order to continue fulfilling the needs of our fleet customers,” said Dakota Semler, CEO and co-founder of Xos. “Everything — from individual state regulations, to commitments by large fleet operators to convert to zero-emission electric vehicles, to President (Joe) Biden’s infrastructure plan — is pointing to electric vehicles as our future,” Semler continued. “It’s vital that we help our fleet customers move in that direction with sustainable, efficient charging infrastructure, and give our partners the ability to electrify their fleets now without having to wait for traditional fixed charging infrastructure.”