The Trucker News Staff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) announced that country music singer Wynonna Judd will headline the organization’s first ever virtual benefit concert “Highway to Hope,” which is scheduled for Sunday, May 16. SCF is a truck driver charity that helps over-the-road and regional semi-truck drivers and their families when an illness or injury has caused them to be out of work. Judd will be joined by other country music artists who have been supportive of the trucking industry in the past, including John Schneider, Billy Dean, Lindsay Lawler and Heath Sanders. The event will be hosted by a familiar face — or voice — in the trucking industry: Radio Nemo host Jimmy Mac. “The first-ever Highway to Hope benefit concert will be a fun virtual event bringing our industry together, at a time when we are far apart, to raise support for SCF and our highway heroes with amazing artists that want to give back to this industry,” said Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy and development for SCF. Judd has multiple Billboard Music Awards to her name. She got her start in the music business in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi Judd, as part of the country music duo The Judds. Her latest EP, “Recollections,” was released in October 2020. In 2007, Judd was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Actor and musician John Schneider, known for his role as Bo Duke on “Dukes of Hazard” television show in the 1980s, recently released an album titled “Truck On” that salutes the American truck driver. Proceeds from sale of the album and single track of the same name will also benefit the SCF. Billy Dean was born in the small town of Quincy, Florida, and started his music career at the age of 8, singing with his father’s band The Country Rocks. After touring the Gulf Coast circuit in his late teens and early twenties, Billy’s first big break came in 1988 when he won Best Male Vocalist on “Star Search.” His success on the show led to signing with Capitol Records and the release of his debut album “Young Man” in 1990. “A Red River Girl,” Lindsay Lawler was born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas. A radio producer and host, Lawler moved to Los Angeles in the early 2000s to continue on-air radio work and tour with her rock band. She has spent the past 14 years as a singer and songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a top performer downtown on Broadway. She formed a partnership in 2011 with the Truckload Carriers Association and toured as the national spokesperson for the association’s Highway Angel program, performing free concerts for truck drivers across the country. Heath Sanders is an Arkansas natural gas-worker-turned-songwriter whose realness informs the music he crafts. After he posted a cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Either Way” in early 2018, he became an overnight viral sensation in the nation’s Midwest region. Drawing upon a lifetime of early mornings and long days, Heath emerges as the new voice of folks who identify with hard work and have the sore backs and tired feet to show for it. His debut single “Old School’s In” is part of a four-song collection called “Common Ground.” Tickets for the livestream event are available for $20 on the SCF website at livestream.truckersfund.org, which will also be the site for the livestream. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will go directly to SCF to support truck drivers in need. Donations can be made during the live event, scheduled for Sunday, May 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. central time. Individual ticket purchasers in the U.S. will receive a free CD from the National Association of Small Trucking Companies’ (NASTC) Grand O Trucking Show.

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced this week that the reopening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge linking Gulf Breeze and Pensacola will be delayed until the week of May 31. The approximately 3-mile-long structure, which has been closed since sustaining heavy damage last fall from Hurricane Sally, was originally scheduled for a partial reopening in late March. However, FDOT said, a recent analysis revealed that more repair work is required. During repair efforts on the trophy pieces at pier 70, repair crews identified additional damage that warranted replacing the interior trophy piece at pier 70. According to a statement from FDOT, the trophy piece’s replacement at pier 70 is critical because the demolition, pile driving, trophy installation, beam placement and deck pouring will be required. The full replacement of the trophy piece will deliver a bridge with a 75-year design life. Multiple crews are working around the clock to complete repairs that are critical to the opening of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, and FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project. The anticipated completion date for all repairs and improvements, allowing the bridge to fully reopen to traffic, is currently set for January 2022. Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Friday, April 9. Details about detour routes, including graphics, FAQs and regular updates can be found on FDOT’s website.

WASHINGTON — After receiving two citations for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in a span of just 12 days, Julio Perea Ayala, a Nevada-licensed commercial driver, has been declared to be an imminent hazard to public safety by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ayala has been ordered not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce; he was served the federal order March 26. Ayala was arrested by the Nevada Highway Patrol for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol while operating a commercial motor vehicle on two separate occasions, once March 5 and then again March 17. At the time of each incident, Ayala was also charged with having open containers of alcohol, and operating a vehicle with expired registration. The Nevada Highway Patrol impounded Ayala’s truck in each instance. On March 5, Ayala was stopped for erratic driving; his blood alcohol content measured 0.337. Less than two weeks later, on March 17, Ayala was pulled over again; his blood alcohol content measured 0.282. Having an alcohol concentration of more than 0.04 while operating a commercial vehicle weighing more than 26,001 pounds and requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a violation of federal safety regulations. FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Ayala’s “blatant and egregious violations of the [federal safety regulations] and disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and/or to the motoring public if not discontinued immediately.” Failing to comply with the provisions of the federal imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $1,928 for each violation. Knowing and/or willful violations may result in criminal penalties. Ayala may not operate a commercial motor vehicle until such time as he successfully completes the statutorily required return-to-duty process overseen by a substance abuse professional.

WASHINGTON — Bipartisan legislation aimed at creating safe, secure parking sites for commercial truckers was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives March 29. Under H.R.6104, known as the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, $755 million would be set aside from the federal Highway Trust Fund to help states finance projects that would increase the nation’s number of truck parking spaces. The bill’s original cosponsors, Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) — a former truck driver — and Angie Craig (D-Minn.), were joined by Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.). “I grew up in a family trucking business and spent years driving over the road,” Bost said. “Since then, we’ve seen the need for more trucks and drivers increase significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when trucking helped to keep our economy going. However, the number of truck parking spaces hasn’t kept pace. That means that drivers are forced to park in unsafe locations, which puts both them and other motorists at risk. Creating sufficient parking options for long-haul truckers will not only help keep truckers safe during their rest breaks but will also mean safer roads for everyone.” Currently, there are more than 11 truck drivers for every one parking space. Studies show that 98% of drivers report problems finding safe truck parking, and the average driver spends 56 minutes of available drive time every day looking for parking. That wasted time amounts to a $5,500 loss in annual compensation, equivalent to a 12% annual pay cut. Moreover, 58% of all drivers admit to parking in unauthorized or undesignated spots at least three times per week to meet their parking needs. “Without adequate parking, truck drivers are forced to pull to the side of the road or continue driving — both of which are risky,” Craig said. “I’m proud to join Rep. Bost to reintroduce the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which would increase truck parking spaces and improve safety for the folks who transport our goods, and everyone on our roads.” Trucking associations and other groups — including American Trucking Associations (ATA), Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), National Association of Small Trucking Companies, National Motorists Association, Transportation Intermediaries Association, American Highway Users Alliance and Institute for Safer Trucking — were quick to voice support of the bill. Chris Spear, president and CEO of ATA, extended a word of thanks to Bost, Craig, Garamendi, Wild, Johnson and Stauber for their “unwavering leadership” on the issue of safe parking. “The severe shortage of safe parking presents truckers with an untenable dilemma: either keep driving when they are fatigued and possibly in violation of their federal hours-of-service requirement — or park in unsafe, sometimes illegal locations, such as a roadside shoulder,” Spear said. “The health and well-being of our drivers, the safety of the motoring public and the sustainability of our supply chain all depend on Congress addressing this issue with adequate funding in a surface transportation bill.” Funding could be used for the construction of new truck parking facilities, the expansion of truck parking at existing rest areas, the conversion of space at existing weigh stations or any other projects that would increase a site’s truck parking capacity. Funding would be awarded on a competitive basis, and applicants would be required to submit detailed proposals to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). “We’ve been sounding the alarm on the truck parking crisis for decades,” said Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA. “While Congress and the Federal Highway Administration have tried to address this issue with the enactment of Jason’s Law and launching the National Coalition on Truck Parking, the continued growth of the parking shortage shows the status quo is not sustainable. Congress must provide dedicated federal investment to expand capacity if it is serious about addressing the problem.” David Heller, vice president of government affairs for TCA, said the lack of safe truck parking is top of mind for the association. “Truck parking consistently ranks as one of the most important issues for the Truckload Carriers Association and trucking stakeholders across the country. On a daily basis, our companies’ drivers face dangerous conditions due to the lack of safe and convenient parking options,” Heller said. “TCA applauds Representatives Bost and Craig for their dedication to resolving this critical safety obstacle through this legislation, which will devote significant funding toward the development of suitable parking on our nation’s highways.” The legislation would not only benefit the trucking industry; it could also help make the nation’s roadways safer for all drivers, according to Gary Biller, president of the National Motorists Association. “Overall, more Highway Trust Fund money needs to be spent on improving/expanding roads and bridges, but that should not be at the exclusion of adequate parking facilities for commercial motor vehicles,” Biller noted. “An expansion of options for long-haul truck drivers made possible by the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act will benefit all highway users.”

PLOVER Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced its fourth annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation March 22. The 73 women noted on the list were selected by the editorial staff of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine based on their recent career accomplishments and efforts to promote gender diversity. “This accomplished group of women represent a wide range of skill sets and expertise, and highlight how women bring diverse thought, value and results to businesses in the industry,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “These impressive women have made a tremendous impact in their fields during this pandemic and are pushing the envelope for women in the industry. We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.” Those named to the 2021 Top Women to Watch in Transportation list work for a broad range of company types, including motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, equipment manufacturers, retail truck dealers, professional services companies, technology innovators and private fleets. Their job functions include corporate management, operations and safety, sales and marketing, human resources, engineering and product development; in addition, there are professional drivers noted on the list. “This year, we received a record-breaking number of nominations who rose to the challenge in a particularly difficult, stressful year during the COVID pandemic,” said Brian Everett, group editorial director and publisher of Redefining the Road magazine. “Through this year’s evaluation process, we identified 73 amazingly resourceful, creative, talented women who stand out as top performers in the field of transportation.” Of the 73 Top Women to Watch in 2021, 11 employees of Yellow Corp. were selected: Andrea Anderson, equipment manager; Patrice Brown, assistant general counsel; Heather Callaway, audit manager; Lea Dawson, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary; Summer Dean, talent acquisition director; Lucia Dorr, talent development specialist; Maria Grasty, operations manager; Tamara Jalving, vice president, safety; Melissa Jass, senior organizational development business partner; Heather Noland, human resources director; and Deanna Parker, payroll director “It’s always exciting when a third party recognizes the contributions of our employees, who in this case are among the trucking industry’s top professionals,” said Darren Hawkins, Yellow Corp. CEO. “The contributions of these women, not only to Yellow but to our entire industry, are truly remarkable, as they champion diversity and inclusion across all levels of the company and in our communities.” Yellow expanded its resources for women by creating a Women’s Inclusion Network, an employee resource group designed to foster relationships, enhance the employee experience, support women behind the wheel and develop a strong pool of future leaders in what’s traditionally been a male-dominated industry. “We recognize the value women bring to the table, and our newly expanded Women’s Inclusion Network offers mentoring, safety training, leadership development and enrichment opportunities that help drive our recruitment and retention strategy for women,” said Sarah Statlander, the company’s vice president of human capital and talent acquisition. Statlander was recognized on WIT’s Top Women to Watch in Transportation list for 2020. Five employees of Ryder are noted on the list: Amy Carroll, director of sales; Marilyn Pape: manager of strategic analytics; Lindsey Trent: manager of business and customer development; Jessica Weaver: manager of group logistics; and Stacey Weidner: senior director of human resources. “These five astounding women have been invaluable leaders across Ryder’s business in their commitment to advancing gender diversity within the transportation industry, an integral part of our core values,” said Delores Lail, Ryder’s senior vice president of sales for the east region and a member of the WIT board of directors. “From building successful teams and mentoring female colleagues to driving innovation and fostering key customer relationships, Ryder celebrates this accomplished group of women and remains dedicated to fostering a culture that empowers our employees to succeed at all levels.” In 2019 and 2020, Ryder was a recipient of WIT’s Top Companies for Women to Work for in Transportation, an award honoring companies for commitment to the employment of women in the trucking industry. As an active participant of the WIT Association, PACCAR Parts, Schneider National, Visible Supply Chain Management and Fleet Advantage are also honoring employees who made this year’s list. PAACAR Parts honors Brook Vasquez, who serves as the company’s director of operations in Europe and is responsible for operations at six aftermarket parts distribution centers, including supply chain management and logistic functions to support DAF trucks worldwide. Vasquez focuses on maximizing customer uptime by providing industry-leading parts availability and speed of delivery. “Brooke Vasquez is an inspiration to others and is dedicated to her customers and team members. She sets clear expectations, leads by example and is a valuable member of our global organization,” said David Danforth, PACCAR Parts general manager and PACCAR vice president. “I have worked at PACCAR Parts facilities all over the world and that experience has given me a well-rounded perspective of the trucking industry. I can relate to other women in the industry and offer advice on how they can advance in their careers,” Vasquez said. “I enjoy mentoring employees and empowering them to take charge of their career development.” Carmen Cucinello, vice president of operations at Schneider National, is being recognized for supporting gender equality in the trucking industry. “The fact that this spotlight exists for women within the transportation industry is exciting, and much deserved,” said Cucinello, who began her career at Schneider more than 25 years ago. “I strongly admire the women in this industry and have been motivated by their achievements throughout my career. Being included with this esteemed group is an incredible honor.” Schneider President and CEO Mark Rourke praised Cucinello. “Carmen brings passion, innovation, creativity and humor to everything she does,” Rourke said. “She is an outstanding role model. I couldn’t be more inspired by her hard work and pure grit.” Emma Leonard, who serves as executive vice president of transportation and procurement for Visible Supply Chain Management, was recognized for her efforts to spur the company’s growth, save customers money and mentor other female leaders. “Emma has exhibited strong leadership abilities by building and managing a cross-functional team of transportation professionals, analysts and managers. She has successfully implemented a new parcel pricing strategy and scaled that strategy to support Visible’s aggressive growth,” said Casey Adams, president of Visible. “Her efforts have played a major role in achieving double-digit revenue growth year over year.” Leonard advocates for gender equality in the supply chain space through her involvement in AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education). She is also a pillar for local women in logistics by mentoring her peers. She organizes and facilitates local meetups and networking events. Ludmila Manin, a remarketing sales associate for Fleet Advantage was also noted on WIT’s Top Women to Watch in Transportation for 2021. The only woman on the team, Manin was the top salesperson in 2020, selling more than $6.3 million dollars in off-lease equipment into the secondary marketplace. She also played a direct and instrumental role in the financial integrity of the company and its clients. “2020 was our largest year to date with over 1,500 off-lease vehicles,” said Francis Maloney, remarketing sales manager for Fleet advantage. “We were in a low-valued used truck market, and Ludmila and our remarketing sales team recruited, hired, trained and implemented a consistent sales and marketing process.” Other people recognized as WIT’s Top Women to Watch in Transportation for 2021 include: Carmen Anderson, company driver for America’s Service Line; Amy Barzdukas, chief marketing officer for Omnitracs; Jessica Brooks, vice president of customer experience for J.B. Hunt; Chavela Brown, area vice president for Penske Truck Leasing; DeeDee Cox, vice president of human resources for Old Dominion Freight Line; Kimberly Craib, assistant vice president of terminal operations for Day & Ross; Candi Cybator, director of marketing for PITT OHIO; Susie DeRidder, company driver for Armour Transportation; Bonnie Diaz, CDS, NE SHE&S manager for Linden Bulk Transportation; Laura Dickinson, vice president of safety and compliance in North America for Day & Ross; Lisa Disbrow, director of public affairs for Waste Management Inc.; Deb Donohue, company driver for Denney Transport; Donna England, vice president of safety and member services for Tennessee Trucking Association; Suzann Fakhoury, vice president of operations for Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance; Leigh Foxall, CEO and founder of Truck Parking Reservations; Melissa Gaglione, president of Safety4her; Nicole Glenn, president of Candor Expedite; Lindsey Grammel, vice president of global brand development for TruNorth Reghan Grasty, associate general counsel for Apex Capital Corp.; Arelis Gutierrez, president of Aria Logistics; Leslie Kilgore, vice president of engineering for Thomas Built Buses, Daimler Trucks North America; Dayna Harap, co-founder and vice president of sales and marketing for Direct Expedite; Katie Helton, chief administrative officer for Jack Cooper Transportation; Jennifer Hoffman, director of agent services for Trinity Logistics; Ashley Jankowski, vice president of Bat Logistics Elaine Kapusta, managing director of finance for FedEx Custom Critical; Samka Keranovic, vice president and COO for US Truck Driver Training School; Donna Kintop, senior vice president of client experience for DDC FPO; Shelley Koch, president and owner of K & J Trucking Inc.; Katie Lee, director of national accounts and truckload for Day & Ross; Erin Luke, assistant director of North America materials for Peterbilt Motors; Tracy Mack-Askew, general manager and strategy executive for Daimler Trucks North America; Lisa Massello-Hodges, safety manager for Asset Based Intermodal; Whitney McClendon, CEO of Eemerg Roadside Assistance Marketplace; Morgan McCoy, human resources manager for NAPA Transportation; Jennifer Mead, CEO of S-2international; Krystal Menzo, president of Global Express Transportation; Justina Morosin, vice president of commercial transformation for Navistar; Amanda Morrison, senior vice president of Grammer Logistics; Lindsay Paul, logistics operations manager for Quadway Freight; Charlee Poineau, program manager for TuSimple; Claudia Ratica, director of talent management for TravelCenters of America; Jill Schmieg, founder and chief strategist of Sol de Naples Marketing; Jin Stedge, CEO of TruNorth Transportation Co.; Vivian Sun, head of business development for TuSimple; Bonnie Supan, vice president of operations and finance for Brenny Transportation; Joyce Tam, director of product management for TuSimple; Tiffany Trent-Abram, senior manager of product management for Amazon; Nicole Wiggins, corporate diversity and inclusion director for Navistar; Darlene Wolf, senior vice president of strategic partners for Arrive Logistics; Jennifer Wong, head of sustainability for Convoy; Chelsea Woodhead, chief people officer for Arrive Logistics; and Andrea Woodruff, vice president of administration, compensation and procedure for John Christner Trucking. All 73 women will be recognized at the upcoming 2021 Women In Trucking Accelerate! Conference, which is scheduled for Nov. 7-9 in Dallas.