The Trucker News Staff

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Texas company has agreed to refund money to any Iowa truck drivers who paid $149 to submit federal documents that can actually be filed for free. Compliance Processing Group LLC of Frisco, Texas, sent past-due notices to Iowa truck drivers under the name “FMCSA Compliance Processing Group.” The letters warned that truckers must “contact us immediately” or risk fines of up to $10,000 a day and be put out of service, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The company’s mailer “deceptively implies it is sent by a government agency and that failure to respond could be punished with civil penalties,” according to the Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. In smaller print at the bottom of the mailers, the letters stated that FMCSA Compliance Processing Group was not a government agency. Motor carriers must update their information with the U.S. Department of Transportation every two years. This task can be done at no charge through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. “The success of the respondent’s business model depends upon exploitation of truck drivers who are attempting to be responsible, but who do not know submitting a required biennial report to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is easy and free,” according to an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) filed by Miller’s office. As part of the AVC, Compliance Processing Group agreed to refrain from soliciting, offering or selling services related to government compliance to Iowans. The company also agreed to provide full refunds to Iowa consumers who request one in the next year. “Iowa consumers may request a refund for any reason whatsoever,” the agreement states.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Trucking and transportation companies across the U.S. can access on-demand virtual healthcare through a new partnership between national telehealth provider MeMD and the Healthy Transportation Foundation (HTF), a foundation supporting the health and well-being of professional truck drivers. The partnership, part of HTF’s Shift Into Better Health initiative, enables the foundation’s member companies to sign on for telehealth solutions that meet the specific needs of drivers, including MeMD’s urgent care and virtual primary care solutions. “This is a meaningful partnership that extends the value of our Shift Into Better Health campaign, enabling HTF to improve access to care for professional drivers by offering virtual telehealth consults that can be accessed on and off the road,” said Jon Slaughter, CEO of HTF. Through the urgent care program, drivers will have 24/7 access to medical care for common illnesses and injuries via computer, mobile app or phone, including nights, weekends and holidays. “What we’ve learned in our work with transportation companies is that drivers’ schedules make it difficult for them to see a doctor when they’re sick or injured,” said Bill Goodwin, CEO of MeMD. “This results in a lot of absenteeism, which creates scheduling problems and delivery delays — especially for smaller companies. With virtual urgent care, it’s fast and easy for drivers to connect with a medical provider on the road, even in remote areas.” By creating this partnership, HTF hopes to prioritize the management of chronic disease for truck drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chronic conditions are the leading drivers of health care costs for businesses. According to HTF, more than 60% of drivers are obese, more than 60% have diabetes and related health conditions, and more than half suffer from hypertension. MeMD’s virtual primary care solution seeks to address these issues. Providers play a key role in chronic disease care while also focusing on routine screening, early detection and preventive health services. In addition, medical professionals are available outside typical office hours to accommodate drivers’ schedules and remove barriers to care. “This translates into better management for chronic disease while curbing healthcare costs,” Slaughter said. “As a result, we expect to contribute to improved individual health, employee productivity and satisfaction. MeMD is an ideal complement to our free health coach assistance and lifestyle change programs.”

Springfield, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on April 5 announced that $7 million has been awarded for 21 projects as a part of the agency’s Truck Access Route Program (TARP). The program includes upgrading roads to accommodate local truck traffic, leveraging a total investment of $36 million to create jobs and boost economic activity in communities throughout the state. “Illinois is the country’s transportation hub, with freight activity a cornerstone of the state’s economy,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “At IDOT, we want our local partners to have the necessary tools to manage traffic safely and spur even more job creation and economic growth.” The TARP allows counties, municipalities and townships to apply for assistance in upgrading roads to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks and become designated truck routes. The program provides $45,000 per lane mile and $22,000 per eligible intersection for selected projects. The program is specific to IDOT’s funding methods and implemented in the 1990s, as many locations in Illinois do not have the capabilities to accommodate trucks on highways. “We are trying to build up the web of a highway system where trucks can actually move freely throughout Illinois,” said Stephane Seck-Birhame, local program development engineer for IDOT. “That’s the goal of the program.” All funded projects are designated to connect truck routes on county roads, highways and within cities. “All this money is not to be used solely on traveling the roadway,” Seck-Birhame said. “Improving our roadways is always much more expensive than that. This is just an assistant to those already planning on improving their roadway to consider improving it in a way that can accommodate 80,000-pound trucks.” Local municipalities may apply annually to receive funding. Applications open in the fall of each year, with requirements to submit a cover letter, the project estimate, a location map and forms to be eligible. The state participation will not exceed 50 % of the total construction costs or $900,000, whichever is less. A maximum of $900,000 can be awarded to projects that improve connections to other designated truck routes and businesses that generate truck traffic. In March, IDOT provided the third of six $250 million installments to local governments as part of the six-year, $33.2 billion capital program According to a statement from IDOT, Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but it is also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation, including roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. “We want to make sure if there is already an existing truck route, a driver on that truck route and wanting to go somewhere else to another destination has the ability to do so from where they’re at,” Seck-Birhame said. Click here to view the projects that were awarded funding.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers at six new Speedco locations that are open 24/7. The locations offer tire, lube and light mechanical services, as well as U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) inspections, for professional drivers and fleets. “We’re continuing to add new products and services to help get professional drivers back on the road quickly and safely so they can continue to deliver essential goods throughout the country,” said Gary Price, executive vice president of Truck Care. “Because maintenance and uptime are high priorities for professional drivers, we’re offering high-performance, heavy-duty Love’s premium 10W-30 oil and adding lobby bay monitors at these locations so drivers can monitor service and speed.” Love’s Truck Care and Speedco is the nation’s largest preventive maintenance and total truck care network, with more than 1,500 maintenance bays and the most comprehensive roadside coverage in the country, according to a statement from Love’s. The six newest Speedco locations include: Bliss, Idaho: 680 U.S. Highway 30; Channahon, Illinois: 23733 W. Bluff Road; Hamilton, Alabama: 1126 County Highway 35; Jacksonville, Florida: 17110 Brandy Branch Road; Napoleon, Ohio: 775 American Road; and Valley City, North Dakota: 1385 Eighth Ave. SW.

INDIANAPOLIS — Ivy Tech Community College has been awarded an $85,071 Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant, to offer free CDL-A training. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ivy Tech Community College is one of 20 educational institutions nationwide to be awarded a CMVOST grant for the 2020 fiscal year. The free training is intended to increase road safety and reduce crashes involving commercial motor vehicles for West Central Indiana residents. Grant funding will cover 100% of CDL-A training, permit and licensing costs for 20 students. Residents of Indiana’s Clay, Greene, Knox, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties are eligible to apply for training. Current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reservists, their spouses and children, will be prioritized for consideration. “Ivy Tech is fortunate to receive a grant that will allow us to provide free job training while also increasing road safety in West Central Indiana,” said Lea Anne Crooks, chancellor of Ivy Tech in Terre Haute, Indiana. “The Terre Haute campus is well-positioned to offer this opportunity to military members, with six military installations within a 10-mile radius of campus. We plan to work closely with these organizations and our partners in workforce development to identify those in our community who will benefit from free training in one of Indiana’s most in-demand careers.” Training will be provided by Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute and the Driving Dynamics Center for Transportation Safety program. Students will complete four weeks of full-time training, as well as 30 to 40 hours of one-on-one driving instruction, at the Terre Haute campus. In addition, Ivy Tech will help graduates find employment through the college’s network of hiring companies, which includes national carriers along with regional and local trucking companies. According to a 2016 Indiana Employment Outlook Projections study conducted by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and STATS Indiana, the number of occupations requiring a CDL is anticipated to increase by 6.6% by 2026. In West Central Indiana, commercial vehicle drivers are calculated as a five-flame career, the highest-rank provided by the INDemand Jobs Indiana Flame Ranking system. In addition, 24,861 heavy-duty and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected to leave the occupation between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information about the program, click here.

EL PASO, Texas — Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) recently honored the inaugural graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program. The 12-week training program at Fort Bliss, the first-of-its-kind on-base diesel and commercial technician career skills program in U.S. Army history, leads directly to employment for military members that are transitioning to civilian life. “This is an important day for the Army,” said Col. Stuart James, garrison commander at Fort Bliss. “It is critical that we take care of the men and women who have selflessly taken care of our country. We need to take care of the soldiers not only when they are in the Army but when they leave. To have partners like Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute help our transitioning service members succeed in their next career is wonderful.” The service members who completed the program were honored at a ceremony at Fort Bliss on April 1. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) addressed the graduates, thanking them for their service to the country and noting that they will continue to serve society in their new careers. Executives from Premier Truck Group and UTI were also in attendance. “It’s a privilege to be here, to congratulate these eight graduates in person and to thank you for the service you’ve provided our country,” Escobar said. “You are truly our nation’s greatest assets. When service members leave the military after they have given their all to our nation, we haven’t done enough as a country to provide these tremendous men and women the opportunity to use their incredible skills in the private sector and in our economy, so I am so grateful for collaborations like this that provide solutions to challenges we can’t solve on our own.’ The Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program is tuition-free for military service members and features an on-base curriculum with hands-on technical training that meets Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines. The training focuses on diagnostic paths and service technologies unique to Premier Truck Group. The program’s next session will start April 19. “It is our honor to hire our nation’s heroes,” said Rich Shearing, president of Premier Truck Group. “Our partnership with UTI and the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss gives us the opportunity to support service members in learning the skills to transition directly into rewarding civilian careers. We are pleased to offer immediate employment to these and future graduates from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program.” The eight graduating students from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program at Fort Bliss will join the ranks of Premier Truck Group’s nearly 1,800 employees, including some 600 technicians. The following service members earned a Systems Certified Daimler Truck North America credential and will be working at Premier Truck Group: Cameron Champraya, who will work in Salt Lake City, Utah; Donald Ford, who will work in Twin Falls, Idaho; Hannah McMullin, who will work in Fort Worth, Texas; Hien Tran, who will work in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Ivan Perez, who will work in St. George, Utah; Mark Lopez, who will work in Amarillo, Texas; Timothy Phillips, who will work in North Dallas, Texas; and Tyler Walker, who will work in Ardmore, Oklahoma. “We are excited to celebrate the first graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program,” said Jerome Grant, CEO of UTI. “This program is part of UTI’s deep and long-standing commitment to serve and support our country’s veterans through quality education in partnership with industry.” For more information about the program, call 915-471-6351 or email [email protected].

LA PINE, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the city of La Pine, Oregon, and Deschutes County are working to improve conditions for drivers, travelers, big rigs and everyone who travels along U.S. 97 in Wickiup Junction. To that end, ODOT is asking for public comment on the Wickiup Junction Refinement Plan. U.S. 97 is central to life in Wickiup Junction, but it also presents safety challenges. In 2020, ODOT reached out to the public, seeking ideas for improvements. The feedback gathered, along with a technical highway analysis, was used to create a refinement plan designed to make the area safer and easier to navigate. This plan, which builds on work completed through the 2013 La Pine Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the 2012 Deschutes County TSP, will identify transportation needs and potential solutions in partnership with the City of La Pine, Deschutes County and members of the general public that live and work in the Wickiup Junction area or travel through the area. ODOT’s current plan focuses in detail on the intersections within the Wickiup Junction area for safe access to and from U.S. 97, particularly at the at-grade crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line. Comments will be accepted online through April 16. Click here to review the Wickiup Junction Refinement Plan. Visitors can use an interactive map to see the proposed improvements and provide feedback on the options. The La Pine City Council is set to review the adoption of this plan later this spring. Comments must be finalized before the meeting.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officially kicked off this year’s highway construction season April 5. Headlined by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks, the event was held along Interstate 475 at Dorr Street in Toledo, where work continues on a $46.7 million project that began in November 2019. The project is slated for completion this fall. Joining Marchbanks were ODOT District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley, Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski and Inverness Club President Dr. Gregory Kasper. Marchbanks noted that in northwest Ohio and throughout the state, projects have largely moved forward, despite the pandemic. “Thanks to the foresight of Gov. (Mike) DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly and internal operational savings identified by our workforce, we have been able to weather this global pandemic,” Marchbanks said. “Without those extra funds, we would be nearly a billion dollars in the red. While other states have been delaying or canceling projects, Ohio continues moving forward.” A separate kickoff event for projects occurring in the Lima area was held April 6. ODOT’s projects include adding a third lane of travel in each direction on a two-mile section of the I-475 and U.S. 23 corridor, constructing a new interchange at Dorr Street, and reconstructing a section of the street. The I-475 at Dorr Street project figures heavily into Toledo’s hosting of the upcoming Solheim Cup — a trans-Atlantic pro golf competition for women — in September at the Inverness Club, located on Dorr Street just east of the construction. “The ODOT project is a much-needed conduit for this part of our community. We are so pleased they have agreed to complete this project prior to the Solhiem Cup,” Kasper said. “The innovative and new interchange will create a wonderful introduction of Toledo to an international audience at the tournament this fall.” Other continuing projects in northwest Ohio include: Construction on Interstate 75 in Wood and Lucas counties. Two abutting projects between Buck Road and Dorr Street, totaling $343 million, are under way. Work began in late 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2023. Placement of a concrete overlay on the driving surface of the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge in East Toledo. Work began on the $18 million project in March 2020 and is expected to be completed this fall. A $21 million project on I-75 from just south of Beaverdam to north of Bluffton. The project includes reconstructing pavement and ramps at the I-75 interchange with State Route 696. Construction began in 2020 and is expected to be completed this summer. New projects beginning in northwest Ohio this year include: Resurfacing of I-75 between Interstate 280 and the Michigan state line in North Toledo. Work will begin in April and be completed this fall. Reconstruction of State Route 25 between Cygnet Road and U.S. 6 south of Bowling Green, including Portage. Work will begin in June and be completed in fall 2022. Safety project to improve the intersection of U.S. 20 and Reynolds Road and Heatherdowns Boulevard. Work will begin in September and be complete in June 2022. Safety project to construct a restricted crossing U-turn at the intersection of Thayer Road and U.S. 30 in Allen County. Cul-de-sacs will be constructed at the Mayberry Road and Cool Road intersections. Work will begin in August and be completed in late fall. Safety project to construct cul-de-sacs on Township Road 196 and Township Road 198 where they intersect with State Route 15 in Hancock County. The project will begin in September and wrap up in late fall. For a complete list of highway construction projects planned for northwest Ohio in 2021, click here. For statewide construction information, click here.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) in late March allocated $491 million to address transportation needs throughout the state. This investment, which includes $273 million generated from Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, will repair highways and bridges and improve California’s growing network of mass transit, bicycle and pedestrian routes. “These critical investments will help improve California’s transportation infrastructure now and into the future,” said Toks Omishakin, director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). “This includes improving safety and access for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, and planning for the long-term maintenance of these vital assets.” The following are a few projects aimed at improving or repairing some of the state’s roads and bridges. District 3 — Marysville In Sacramento County, $31.5 million was allocated for various pavement and roadside rehabilitation projects on Interstate 80, State Route 51 (Capital City Freeway) and State Route 244, which serves as a connector between I-80 and the Capital City Freeway. Improvements also include vegetation control, the construction of maintenance vehicle pullouts and utility box relocation. Sacramento County will also use $12.6 million for the American River Bridge Rehabilitation project that will remove, replace and widen the existing concrete bridge deck, and add a bike path from levee to levee. Sacramento County will designate $3.7 million to the city of Elk Grove for the Capital Southeast Connector Project. The project is widening the roadway and improving intersections at three locations on Kammerer Road from Rau Road to Lent Ranch Parkway. District 5 — San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara An $11 million allocation to rehabilitate the Garrapata Creek Bridge on Highway 1 in Monterey County with the application of an electrochemical chloride extraction and waterproofing of the structure. A $6 million allocation to replace two bridges near the Refugio Overcrossing on U.S. 101 in Santa Barbara County. A $5 million allocation to build a tieback wall, restore the roadway, improve drainage facilities and install permanent erosion control measures on State Route 236 near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. A $4 million allocation to rehabilitate the pavement, repair drainage systems, upgrade the median barrier and guardrail on U.S. 101 from north of Boronda Road to north of Crazy Horse Canyon Road near Salinas in Monterey County. A $2 million allocation to replace the San Lorenzo River Bridge and the Kings Creek Bridge on State Route 9 near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. District 6 — Fresno and Bakersfield include: A Traffic Management Program Repair Project in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties; $4.5 million will repair Transportation Management System (TMS) elements throughout District 6. This project will help reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency. A $4.2 million bridge upgrade project on State Route 99 in Tulare County will upgrade the bridge railing to current standards and install approach railings at the Avenue 48 Overcrossing, the Davis Avenue Overcrossing and the Avenue 100 Overcrossing in and near Pixley in Tulare County. District 8 — Riverside and San Bernardino counties  A Caltrans project near Needles on Interstate 40: Halfway Hills Wash Bridge. Replace bridges, and replace and expand rock slope protection limits. District 9 — Inyo and Mono counties In Mono County on U.S. 395 at various locations, and on U.S. 6 approximately 7 miles north of Bishop: This project will construct two new chain control turnouts and improve several existing chain control turnouts by widening and lengthening the pavement area, installing lighting, improving signage and constructing a median cross-over. In Inyo County near Shoshone, 42 lane miles of State Route 127 will be rehabilitated. The project will also replace signage along the highway. This project will stretch from 4.6 miles north of State Route 178 to 7.6 miles south of State Route 190, and from 0.3 miles south of State Route 190 to the Nevada state line. District 10 — Stockton A project that will repair or replace damaged and nonfunctioning Traffic Management System (TMS) elements In San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras, Merced, Mariposa, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties, on various routes — 4, 5, 26, 33, 49, 59, 99, 104, 108, 120, 132, 140, 152 and 205. This project, which received nearly $4 million, will help reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency. District 12 — Orange County  Safety improvements for Interstate 5 in Anaheim, from 0.2 mile north of Anaheim Boulevard to Santa Ana Street will be given $2.2 million. The purpose of this project is to enhance highway worker safety by upgrading access trails and access gates, relocating facilities away from traffic, and installing features to reduce repetitive maintenance activities. California’s SB1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually, which is split between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB1. For more information about other transportation projects funded by SB1, visit www.RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

AMES, Iowa — Truck drivers passing through Iowa will soon have a few more parking spaces to rest for the night. The parking-only rest area on southbound Interstate 35 in Warren County near Saint Charles is set to reopen Tuesday, April 13, at 9 a.m. The rest area, mostly used by commercial drivers, has been closed since November 2020, due to safety concerns of larger vehicles navigating the sloped entrance and exits to the area. Because the ramp from the rest area to I-35 is on an incline, large vehicles often have trouble getting traction to merge onto I-35 during winter weather, causing a dangerous situation on the roadway.