The Nation Archives

Long-term lane closures scheduled on Joliet Road in Indian Head Park for central tri-state tollway project

The Trucker News Staff - March 14, 2022

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The Illinois Tollway is scheduled to begin a long-term lane closure next week on Joliet Road under the Tri-State Tollway in Indian Head Park as work resumes to rebuild the Interstate 294 bridge over Joliet Road. Reconstruction of bridges and ramps in the Interstate 55 Interchange area is necessary to accommodate the rebuilding and widening of I-294, as well as to reduce congestion, improve safety and address operational issues as well as infrastructure conditions. Beginning the week of March 14, traffic on Joliet Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction under I-294. The lane closures are needed to safety accommodate traffic while the I-294 bridge over Joliet being rebuilt and widened. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance on Joliet Road and I-294 to advise drivers of the construction work zones and lane closures. Up-to-date closure information will be posted on the Tollway website in the Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent. Lane closures on Joliet Road are scheduled to remain in place through summer. Additional closures, including intermittent 15-minute full closures, and traffic shifts on Joliet Road will be scheduled throughout project as needed. Local road closures in this area are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook Country Department of Transportation and Highways and the Village of Indian Head Park, as well as local fire and police departments.

Big truck parking shortage at center stage of New Jersey’s transportation plans

The Trucker News Staff - March 14, 2022

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey officials want to make their highways safer, and part of accomplishing that is creating more parking for truck drivers. The state’s transportation officials said recently that providing adequate facilities along big highways for truckers is one of the state’s most severe challenges. New Jersey Department of Transportation spokesman Stephen Schapiro said that consideration for improving truck parking will be part of a statewide freight plan to be released later this year, according to NJ.com. “Investments that facilitate the flow of freight, such as improving the availability of parking, will contribute toward ensuring the reliability and safety of these supply chains,” Schapiro said. The U.S. House included $1 billion to address the truck parking shortage problem in the transportation bill that was passed in July 2021, that $1 billion never made it into President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law. Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged during a hearing of the Environment and Public Works Senate Committee that a lack of safe truck parking is a serious issue that must be addressed. “If you talk with any truck driver, it’s not only an issue of convenience, it’s an issue of safety,” Buttigieg said. “And, I might add, with the idling that goes on, it’s even an issue of emissions.” A new U.S. Department of Transportation report looking at supply chains, which have been disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, called on federal and state officials and the private sector to expand parking facilities for truckers, who have complained about the shortage of spaces to rest after they reach the limit on how long they can drive in a day. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and American Trucking Associations (ATA) point out that there are about 3.5 million truck drivers and only 313,000 truck parking spaces nationally. Both groups recently sent a letter to Buttigieg urging Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds be prioritized to boost the nation’s truck parking capacity. The groups say the nationwide shortage of available parking has plagued America’s truck drivers for decades, with a wide range of consequences for highway safety, driver health and well-being, supply-chain efficiency and the environment. New Jersey is also looking to address the number of fatalities on its roadways. Fatal accidents on New Jersey’s highways went up from 587 in 2020 to 702 in 2021, according to New Jersey State Police. So far this year there has been 106 fatalities on New Jersey roads compared to 93 this time in 2021 and 94 in 2020, according to New Jersey State Police. Of 2022’s deaths, 100 have been due to crashes.

New Mexico governor sets sights on building hydrogen economy

Joseph Price - March 11, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took another step Thursday to put New Mexico on the hydrogen map, signing an executive order she said will help establish a roadmap making clear that hydrogen will be a key focus of the state as it works to transform its energy economy. The Democratic governor said she hopes the order will provide predictability for businesses and hopefully result in more of them choosing to relocate to New Mexico. The order directs members of her cabinet to work together in pursuing opportunities for building a “green” hydrogen economy. It also calls for hydrogen to be included as a key sector for the state Economic Development Department. “I want this priority to get the attention it deserves over the coming days, weeks and months,” Lujan Grisham said. The state also is working on developing recommendations for the federal government as part of an effort by Rocky Mountain states to developing ways to make hydrogen more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains. Lujan Grisham said there also are opportunities when it comes to aviation as she announced a $254 million investment by Universal Hydrogen Co. to build a manufacturing center in Albuquerque that will support its plans to retrofit and fuel planes with hydrogen. The company has developed proprietary storage capsules that could be shipped from hydrogen production facilities to airports, where they could be loaded directly onto aircraft that have been retrofitted with hydrogen-specific powertrains. New Mexico is pledging $10 million in local economic development funds for the project, and the city of Albuquerque is considering providing additional funding. Jon Gordon, co-founder and general counsel for Universal Hydrogen, said the company has agreements with 11 carriers to retrofit nearly 100 regional turboprop planes with a goal of being FAA-certified and in commercial service by 2025. Gordon told reporters there’s also potential for developing modular fueling systems for larger commercial airplanes as well as drones, industrial equipment and ground transportation. Still, he called it a “chicken and egg problem,” explaining that the hydrogen market is in its infancy. Hydrogen can be derived from water using an electric current and when burned emits only water vapor as a byproduct. Advocates have said the fuel could theoretically reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution, depending on how it’s obtained. Critics argue that as it’s now produced, hydrogen isn’t green, carbon-free or unlimited. Currently nearly all hydrogen commercially produced in the U.S. comes not from water but natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That debate hit a boiling point during the recent New Mexico legislative session, as environmentalists lobbied against several proposed incentives. Lujan Grisham acknowledged their concerns Thursday. “I would guess that there’s not a single person in this room that doesn’t wish that we don’t need a transition of any kind, that it would be very easy if the technology and innovations were immediate. They’re not,” she said, adding that her administration will continue trying to attract companies with “the lowest carbon intensity possible.

Florida-based moving company operators indicted for $12M fraud scheme

The Trucker News Staff - March 11, 2022

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced Wednesday that Matthew Pardi, 37, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ashley Lynn Hars, of Plantation, Florida, along with Pardi’s wholly owned corporation, Proud American Vanlines, LLC, formerly known as Moving Accounting Department, LLC, were charged by indictment with wire fraud, interstate transportation of property obtained by fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme in which they held customers’ belongings for ransom. The indictment alleges that over the course of more than three years, Pardi and Hars created a series of online profiles for moving companies, stealing the identities of legitimate companies to support their fake identities. The defendants falsely claimed that the companies were “family owned,” that they had been in business for over a decade and boasted more than a thousand satisfied customers. The defendants created false five-star reviews on their own websites and on legitimate review websites such as the Better Business Bureau and Yelp!, in order to trick customers into booking their moving services and providing deposits, according to the indictment, which stated that once the customer was ensnared, the defendants routinely increased the estimate of their fees, both before the move was begun and after the goods were loaded onto the moving truck, “in clear violation of federal regulations.” If a customer refused to agree to pay the increased price, the defendants refused to deliver the customer’s household goods, according to the indictment. As a result of the alleged scheme, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $12 million, the indictment stated. The defendants and their associates allegedly created and conducted business under the following Pardi Company names and websites: American Eagle Moving (americaneaglemoving.net); Alliance Movers (alliancemoversinc.com); Titan Moving and Storage (titanmovingandstorage.com); First Call Relocations (firstcallrelocations.com); Trans World Van Lines, Inc. (transworldvanlinesinc.com, transworldvanlines.net); Safeway Moving System (safewaymovingsystem.com); Gateway Moving and Storage (gatewaymovingand-storage.com); and Prestige Worldwide Moving (prestigeworldwidemoving.com), among others. “With spring right around the corner and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering, many Americans will be boxing up their belongings and moving to a new home that better suits their changed lifestyle,” Williams said. “During what is typically a very stressful transition, consumers need to be able to rely upon the trustworthiness of the companies they hire to safeguard their valuables and transport them to their destination. We will continue to do everything we can to protect the public from fraudsters who employ illegal, extortionate tactics.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire said fraudsters can try to use multiple aliases behind which to hide their fraud, and various ways by which to manipulate public reviews, so as to fool even people who were doing their due diligence. “The bottom line is, together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will still find you,” Maguire said. “And as we do our work to bring the criminals to justice, we remind the public that research and awareness are still the best forms of protection. Before contracting with a moving company, be sure to search reviews, seek recommendations from those you trust, and obtain bids from multiple sources. Don’t let price drive your decision, or it could end up costing you far more than you imagine. If you were victimized by any of the Pardi Companies listed in the indictment, we want to hear from you at [email protected].” Joseph Harris, regional special agent-in-charge at Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General of the Northeastern Region, said the indictment “demonstrates our commitment to detecting and pursuing fraudulent household goods movers who unscrupulously take advantage of customers by being deceitful about the services they provide. As we continue working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, we also encourage the public to review resources and tools available at https://www.oig.dot.gov/investigations/household-goods-moving-fraud.” If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of more than 300 years in prison, and fines of up to $6.25 million. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Rue.

$1B in grants secured for clean energy medium, heavy duty trucks

The Trucker News Staff - March 11, 2022

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Clean transportation and energy consultants Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) announced Thursday that it has secured more than $1 billion in public agency grants and funding for more than 500 transportation stakeholders who are transitioning commercial transportation to low-and-zero-emission technologies. “These funding awards have directly supported client deployments of more than 8,400 clean medium-and-heavy-duty vehicles, several hundred clean fuel and electric charging stations, along with other innovative clean transportation projects,” according to a news release. Additionally, $50 million in monetized credits will be provided to clients via California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. GNA manages more electric fuel supply equipment than any other LCFS service provider under CARB’s program. “In reaching this milestone, GNA has maintained a 90% success rate on grant applications,” the news release stated. “This track record reflects GNA’s diligence working with clients to craft outstanding projects and grant applications that deliver on the public benefit goals of grantmaking agencies at the forefront of emissions reduction policy efforts. In addition to routinely developing and submitting successful applications, GNA’s Funding 360 program informs clients by tracking and reporting on new grant opportunities across North America.” Erik Neandross, CEO of GNA, said that “our partners — the progressive fleets, vehicle manufacturers, and public agencies — are a huge part of this success, and this milestone represents the progress we are making together to transform transportation.” “Grant funding, including new funding streams created by expanding LCFS programs and the federal infrastructure bill, will continue to rapidly grow the advanced transportation market for the foreseeable future. GNA looks forward to continuing to support our clients in maximizing the financial benefits of advanced vehicles and clean fuels.” The news release stated that “with nearly one third of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to transportation, and heavy-duty trucks emitting the bulk of harmful particulates and NOx emissions, GNA continues to help clients across the transportation industry measurably reduce or eliminate emissions and achieve corporate sustainability goals. GNA’s grant writing work places a significant focus on improving air quality in communities most impacted by diesel truck emissions, which are disproportionately low-income and communities of color.” Recent winning grant applications for include: Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI), a South Coast Air Quality Management District led project to deploy 100 battery-electric Class 8 Freightliner and Volvo trucks with NFI and Schneider in Southern California, benefitting disadvantaged communities and serving as a replicable model for other large-scale, zero-emission fleets. Frito-Lay’s initiative to replace the use of all diesel-powered freight equipment with near zero emission tractors using low carbon renewable natural gas fuel, and an array of on and off-road zero-emission technologies at one of its largest manufacturing facilities in Modesto, California. “It is immensely rewarding to work with our clients to secure initial research grants, and then ramp up to full implementation with grants for deployment,” Karen Mann, GNA partner and senior vice president of programs, said. “By paying attention to economic viability and technical feasibility of projects, we craft an impactful and achievable grant application, and help our clients define market direction for clean transportation.”

Trucking industry to Biden: Increase domestic oil production now

The Trucker News Staff - March 11, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is calling on the Biden administration to take immediate steps to boost domestic energy production as gasoline and diesel fuel prices soar on the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, there was some cause for hope late Thursday as benchmark U.S. crude oil for April delivery fell $2.68 to $106.02 a barrel Thursday. Brent crude for May delivery fell $1.81 to $109.33 a barrel. But any relief at the pump won’t likely be seen for at least a couple of weeks, according to industry analysists. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in the U.S. is still hovering right at $5 per gallon. In a letter sent Thursday afternoon to the White House, the ATA outlined specific actions the U.S. can take to provide relief at the pump for motor carriers and motorists across the country. Fuel is the second largest operating expense for trucking fleets, and surging diesel prices threaten to decimate trucking capacity at a time when the supply chain is already under extreme stress. “The trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy, moving 73 percent of our nation’s freight, or 10 billion tons of goods annually,” wrote Chris Spear, president and CEO of ATA, in the organization’s letter to Biden. “Our ability to do so on a cost-efficient basis for our customers throughout the supply chain depends on certain economic conditions, including fuel prices, which are typically a fleet’s second highest operating expense. Right now, escalating fuel prices are driving up the transportation cost of all goods, adding yet another layer of inflationary pressure on every sector throughout the entire economy.” Spear wrote that the impact is particularly hard on the 97 percent of motor carriers that operate 20 trucks or fewer and are designated as small businesses. “These fleets do not operate at a scale necessary to negotiate lower fuel prices or to offset costs from shippers,” Spear stated in the letter. “Lacking the financial reserves to weather this storm, many of these companies are at risk of failing given current projections for global crude prices over the next 12 months. This would decimate U.S. trucking capacity, unleashing catastrophic consequences for a supply chain that’s already overstressed.” Spear wrote that increasing oil and natural gas production in the U.S. would “help bring down domestic fuel prices, providing immediate relief to our nation’s supply lines. We cannot let an energy crisis compound the supply chain crisis, and we have the power and resources to prevent that from happening.” Specifically, ATA calls on the administration to: Expedite onshore and offshore oil and natural gas permitting to spur expanded production; Initiate immediate lease sales in current production areas in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico; Encourage expedited carbon capture & sequestration rulemaking to ensure that America remains the world’s leader in carbon reduction technology development; Work with both domestic and international oil and natural gas producing nations to help reduce global oil prices; and Consider timed releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In 2019, commercial trucks consumed 46 billion gallons of diesel and gasoline. Motor carriers spent $112 billion on diesel fuel that year, when the annual cost of diesel ranged between $2.97 and $3.17 per gallon. This week, the U.S. Department of Energy reported the national average diesel fuel price at $4.85 per gallon as of March 7—the highest price in U.S. history. Diesel fuel prices on the West Coast are extraordinarily high, with an average price of $5.76 per gallon in California. More than half the cost of a gallon of diesel fuel is attributed to the price of crude. Crude prices are now well over $100 per barrel, with forecasters predicting $185 per barrel by year’s end. “These trend lines are not sustainable for the trucking industry and signal a major warning for the supply chain,” Spear wrote to the president. “We cannot afford to ignore our nation’s current energy needs in a fog of partisan idealism about the future of energy use. The trucking industry supports an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to securing our energy future. But the transition to cleaner and renewable fuels over the horizon requires a practical, actionable bridge in the here-and-now, beginning with the abundant sources readily available at home.” Spear concluded: “Taken together and immediately, the actions outlined above would bring immediate relief at the pump for America’s truckers and all motorists. ATA stands ready to assist you in keeping our economy and nation united, connected and strong.”

Traffic shifts resuming on I-294 in Illinois

The Trucker News Staff - March 11, 2022

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The Illinois Tollway is scheduled to resume work on the Central Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) Project’s southern section between Interstate 55 and 95th Street, including the continued reconstruction and widening of the roadway to five lanes in both directions. All work is weather dependent. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to changes in traffic patterns. Up-to-date information regarding lane closures will be available in the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alert. On I-294 between the I-55 Interchange and 75th Street, beginning the week of March 14, traffic is scheduled to be shifted on southbound I-294 with overnight lane closures scheduled between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane at times while work is under way to shift southbound traffic to the right onto newly constructed pavement. Once the complete, southbound traffic will be reduced to three lanes. Northbound I-294 between 75th Street and the I-55 Interchange will be reduced to three lanes with traffic shifts beginning in early April. The new traffic configuration will shift northbound I-294 traffic to the left with three lanes traveling on the southbound side in a counterflow configuration. A fourth northbound lane will be maintained as an exit only lane to I-55. Traffic in both directions between I-55 and 75th Street will remain in this configuration through late summer. Work in this area includes continued construction of the northbound mainline pavement, reconstruction of the I-294 bridge over I-55, noise wall construction and storm sewer and utility work. Additionally, during the week of March 14, on northbound I-294 between 83rd Street Plaza to LaGrange Road, traffic is scheduled to shift and overnight lane closures, including intermittent 15-minute closures, will be needed to complete the work. When the shift is complete, two northbound I-294 lanes will be traveling on the southbound side in a counterflow configuration and two northbound lanes will remain on the northbound side shifted to the inside. Southbound traffic in this area is currently shifted and will remain in this configuration. Traffic between 83rd Street Plaza and LaGrange Road will remain in this configuration through late spring. Work in this area includes northbound pavement and utility work. During the week of March 28, on southbound I-294 between the 83rd Street Toll Plaza and 95th Street traffic shifts will be scheduled to begin with overnight lane closures to complete the shifts. Four lanes of traffic will be maintained on southbound I-294 with two lanes shifted into the northbound side in a counterflow configuration. Traffic traveling in the counterflow lanes will not have access to the 95th Street exits. Northbound traffic in this area is currently shifted and will remain in this configuration. Traffic between the 83rd Street Toll Plaza and 95th Street will remain in this configuration through early summer with work continuing on the northbound I-294 bridge over 87th Street and the beginning of construction for the new southbound I-294 bridge over 87th Street. Work also includes mainline construction and noise wall, median, storm sewer and utility work. In addition, the ramp connecting eastbound Archer Avenue to southbound I-294 will remain closed through the summer and traffic shifts are scheduled on the ramps connecting 75th Street to I-294. Additional traffic shifts will be scheduled in spring including in both directions on I-294 between I-55 and the Mile Long Bridge, as well as on the ramps connecting I-55 to northbound I-294 and southbound I-294 to I-55. The traffic shifts, lane reductions and ramp detours will continue through the end of 2022 to complete the reconstruction and widening on I-294 between I-55 and 95th Street. Work in this area is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Village of Burr Ridge, City of Countryside, City of Hickory Hills, Village of Hodgkins, Village of Indian Head, Village of Justice, as well as local fire and police departments. Construction updates, project information, maps and detour information for work that is part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is available in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

Yellow Corporation settles lawsuit with feds

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2022

NASHVILLE — Yellow Corporation announced this week that it has reached a $6.8 million settlement with the U.S. government to end a lawsuit alleging that the company overcharged Uncle Sam for certain freight shipments for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) between 2005 and 2013. In reaching that agreement, Yellow admitted no liability while denying the government’s core allegations. Yellow continued delivering for the government during the lawsuit period, adding that its volume of DOD-related freight is larger now than when the lawsuit was filed. The U.S. Department of Justice filed its claim against Yellow on on Dec. 12, 2018, alleging that the company, which was then doing business under its prior name, YRC Freight Inc., overcharged DOD from a period between September 2005 and October 2013 for thousands of shipments that were lighter and cheaper than the weights that the carrier charged the Pentagon. “We remain confident that we complied with the then-existing rules and our contractual obligations,” said Leah Dawson, Yellow’s executive vice president and general counsel. “While we believe we had strong defenses, we decided, in the best interests of all parties, to resolve this matter for a small fraction of the amount originally demanded.” Darren Hawkins, CEO of Yellow, said the company is “pleased to have come to a resolution.” “Now we can continue to focus on the important work ahead,” he added. “With our nation’s current supply chain constraints and the critical role Yellow plays in delivering freight, there’s no time for distraction. Putting this matter behind us also helps Yellow move forward with its corporate mission of transforming our nearly 100-year-old company into one of the nation’s preeminent super-regional and long-haul less-than-truckload carriers.”

Collision with tractor-trailer leaves 1 dead on I-84

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2022

UNION COUNTY, Ore. — A two-vehicle crash Wednesday on Interstate 84 in Oregon has left one person dead. At approximately 8:50 a.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-84 near milepost 259. Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound silver Mercedes GLS, operated by Brian Burton, 59, of Portland was stopped in the roadway for an earlier commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crash. An eastbound blue Freightliner, operated by Eddi Morales, 30, of Othello, Washington, came around a curve and was unable to stop and collided with the left side of the Mercedes. Burton sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. A passenger in the Mercedes, Helen Burton, 62, of Portland, was uninjured. Morales was also uninjured in the crash. I-84 eastbound was closed for more than five hours. Icy roadways and speed are being investigated as contributing factors to the crash. OSP was assisted by Union County Fire and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

FMCSA increases windshield area for mounted safety technology

Joseph Price - March 10, 2022

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has amended Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to increase the area on the interior of commercial motor vehicle windshields where certain vehicle safety technology devices may be mounted. FMCSA also added items to the definition of vehicle safety technology. The announcement came in an entry into the Federal Register under the Department of Transportation. The new rules go into effect on May 6. Under the existing definitions, vehicle safety technology includes fleet-related incident management systems, performance or behavior management systems, speed management systems, lane departure warning systems, forward collision warning or mitigation systems, active cruise control systems and transponders. The amendments expand the definition of vehicle safety technology to also include braking warning systems, braking assist systems, driver camera systems, attention assist warning, GPS, and traffic sign recognition. Vehicle safety technology includes systems and devices that contain cameras, lidar, radar, sensors and/or video. Devices with vehicle safety technologies may be mounted: Not more than 216 mm (8.5 inches) below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers; Not more than 175 mm (7 inches) above the lower edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers; and Outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals. “Motor carriers, industry technological manufacturers, and drivers will not incur any new costs associated with this final rule,” according to the Federal Register entry. “Adopting and using windshield-mounted technologies is purely optional. Those who install and use windshield-mounted technologies will experience no added burdens or costs as a result of this rule.” Adoption of the rule is expected to generate cost savings for both industry and the Federal Government by reducing the overall time burden associated with the exemption request and approval process associated with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and the implementing regulations under 49 CFR part 381. The Agency estimates this NPRM would result in total annualized cost savings of $12,184 and $10,705 at 3 percent and 7 percent discount rates, respectively. The final changes to current rules can be read here.

Road project aims to increase safety in northern Kentucky

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2022

COVINGTON, Ky. — A project intended to help drivers in Covington travel north on the interstate is slated to begin this month, officials said. Construction of a Texas Turnaround that will help move traffic north on Interstate 71/75 will begin on March 16 if weather permits, a statement from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said. The turnaround, which started in Texas, helps traffic move more efficiently through busy highway interchange areas, the statement said. Currently, drivers coming onto the interstate from Fourth Street in Covington must cross multiple lanes of traffic on a bridge to go north, engineer Bob Yeager said in the statement. “The new travel pattern will provide more time for drivers to safely change lanes,” he said. The project is scheduled to be complete by Dec. 1.

PennDOT picks construction group for bridge-tolling project

The Associated Press - March 10, 2022

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has picked a consortium of companies to manage construction on as many as nine major interstate bridges in Pennsylvania — upgrades on the aging spans that are to be paid for by tolls under the administration’s current plan. Wolf’s push for tolling comes as states increasingly look to user fees to make up for declining gas tax revenue. However, it has spurred opposition from some communities and Republican lawmakers, who say it will be costly to locals and businesses and create congestion. It also comes amid rising gas prices. Wolf’s Department of Transportation selected the group from among three finalists, but also said Wednesday that it has not decided which of the nine bridges it will toll. PennDOT has not made the application public, but said it made the selection based on an analysis of experience and qualifications on similarly sized projects, investment and financial experience, understanding of the project and approach to satisfy its requirements. The winning application includes three international firms: U.S.-based subsidiaries of Israel-based Shikun & Binui, a development subsidiary of Australia-based Macquarie Group and Spanish construction firm FCC Construcción. The application includes four other firms that specialize in design or heavy construction and that have U.S.-based parent companies with a headquarters in Pennsylvania. Republican lawmakers have countered that the Wolf administration could instead use federal infrastructure aid or borrow the money from the federal government. But PennDOT has said neither helps fix a long-term gap of billions of dollars in highway construction and maintenance funding. PennDOT and the consortium — called Bridging Pennsylvania Partners — will now enter into a “pre-development agreement” to finalize the design and packaging of the bridges to be built, financed and maintained, PennDOT said. All construction work is mandated to be performed by contractors prequalified for work in Pennsylvania, and at least 65% of the construction work will be subcontracted, PennDOT said. The nine candidate bridges are I-78’s Lenhartsville Bridge in Berks County; I-79’s bridges over State Route 50 in Allegheny County; I-80’s bridges across Canoe Creek in Clarion County, Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County, North Fork in Jefferson County and the Lehigh River, near Wilkes-Barre; I-81 over the Susquehanna River in northern Pennsylvania; I-83’s South Bridge across the Susquehanna River, a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the state Capitol; and Girard Point Bridge on I-95 in Philadelphia. The bridges were selected because they are relatively large, costly projects that require improvements sooner, PennDOT has said. The agency tried to give geographical balance to the bridges it selected to distribute the impact. Tolls would be between $1 and $2, probably both ways, raise more than $2 billion and could last from the start of construction for up to 30 years, the length allowed under current law, PennDOT officials have said. Gantries installed at the bridges would read E-ZPass transponders or license plates to collect fees, and are expected to be managed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission under an interagency agreement, PennDOT said. PennDOT said it is in the midst of conducting public hearings and environmental reviews on the bridges. The first package of bridges is scheduled to be under contract by December, it said. After the design process, construction is expected to begin between fall 2023 and spring 2024, it said. Pennsylvania’s gasoline taxes are among the nation’s highest, but PennDOT has said its current highway and bridge budget for construction and maintenance is about $6.9 billion per year, less than half of the $15 billion that is needed to keep Pennsylvania’s highways and bridges in good condition and ease major traffic bottlenecks.

GPA increasing Brunswick’s annual capacity to 1.4M vehicles

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2022

SAVANNAH, Ga. – At the Brunswick State of the Port event Wednesday, the Georgia Ports Authority unveiled plans to grow capacity at Brunswick’s flagship auto port and its breakbulk terminal for forest products. “We’re expanding berth and terminal capacity at both Colonel’s Island and Mayor’s Point so that we are ready to take on additional trade,” Griff Lynch, GPA executive director, said. “The investments we are making will lay the groundwork for job growth and new opportunity in the Brunswick region.” As the nation’s second-busiest hub for Ro/Ro cargo, behind only Baltimore, the Port of Brunswick moved 650,000 units of vehicles and heavy machinery in Calendar Year 2021, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. “A testament to the trust customers have in the Georgia Ports Authority and its partners across the logistics community, the Port of Brunswick delivered an outstanding performance this year – despite economic headwinds,” Gov. Brian P. Kemp, said. “In the coming years, Georgia’s posture as the number one state for forestry and as a global leader in the automotive industry – for automakers of both combustion and non-combustion engines – will continue to strengthen, and I’m confident given the exemplary leadership and hardworking Georgians who keep cargo moving, that the Port of Brunswick will continue to be a driving force behind the Peach State’s success.” At the Wednesday event, hosted by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, GPA Chief Administrative Officer Jamie McCurry outlined a $150 million development plan. GPA will add a fourth berth at Colonel’s Island, 360,000 square feet of new warehousing, and 85 additional acres for autoprocessing. The new pavement and buildings are slated to be completed in 2023. The additional auto storage on the south side of the island will increase the terminal’s annual capacity from 1.2 million to 1.4 million vehicles. Colonel’s Island has a total of 355 acres permitted for expansion. “Home to more than 20 automaker brands, Colonel’s Island is poised to become the Southeast’s premier auto port,” GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten said. “With more room to grow, better connections to inland markets, and an operation dedicated to Roll-on/Roll-off cargo, Colonel’s Island is the region’s busiest gateway for autos and machinery.” The new berth, recently approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will include a concrete deck and system of mooring dolphins extending Ro/Ro vessel berthing space from 3,355 feet to 4,630 feet. Construction is anticipated to begin at the end of 2022 and take two years to complete. In addition to growing the auto trade, GPA will upgrade near-dock storage areas to better accommodate heavy machinery used in agriculture, construction and warehousing operations. The GPA also reported that bulk cargo handled by terminal operator Logistec totaled 902,000 tons at East River Terminal last year, while Mayor’s Point handled 88,380 tons of forest products in 2021.

California pipeline at issue after ExxonMobil’s plan to truck oil fails

The Associated Press - March 10, 2022

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — The defeat of an ExxonMobil proposal to run thousands of truck trips a year in central California to transport oil from now-idled offshore platforms has intensified the focus on an even larger dispute: building a pipeline across the state to move the crude. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors rejected the interim trucking plan Tuesday on a 3-2 vote, denying the company a crucial step in its hopes of resuming production at the decades-old trio of drilling platforms. The company has said trucking was the only option to transport crude to markets until a pipeline is available. In a separate proposal under review by regulators, Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline wants to replace a pipeline that was shut down in 2015 after causing California’s worst coastal spill in 25 years. For decades, that line had been the link between the platforms in the Pacific and processing plants on shore. A complex environmental review of the pipeline plan is not expected until October. The emerging debate is playing out amid the global climate crisis, as the state moves toward banning gas-powered vehicles and oil drilling, while record gas prices have left consumers with sticker shock at the pumps. It wasn’t immediately clear if ExxonMobil would try to challenge the decision in court. Ben Oakley, manager of the California coastal region for the Western States Petroleum Association, said the supervisors “chose to make California even more reliant on imported energy at a time when Californians are already struggling with some of the highest energy costs on record.” The trucking proposal and the pipeline development have been opposed by environmentalists, who want the state’s transition to renewables accelerated and point to recent spills and potential threats from aging equipment. With the state dotted with oil infrastructure, “sticking a Band-Aid on these pipelines is not going to protect coastal resources,” said Julie Teel Simmonds, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. Pipelines and platforms built decades ago “are posing a big threat because they’re just continuing to age and corrode.” California Democratic U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is among those who oppose rebuilding the pipeline, bluntly warning of future risks. The Plains pipeline was shut down on May 19, 2015, when a corroded section above ground and running west of Santa Barbara ruptured, sending 140,000 gallons (529,958 liters) of oil onto a state beach and into the ocean. ExxonMobil proposed sending up to 24,820 tanker trucks a year on coastal Highway 101 and State Route 166 for up to seven years or until the pipeline is repaired or replaced. But recent oil spills brought renewed scrutiny to the issue. In May 2020, a tanker truck crash off State Route 166 spilled more than 4,500 gallons (17,034 liters) of oil into the Cuyama River. And last October, an offshore pipeline break near Huntington Beach released at least 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters) of crude that closed beaches and took a deadly toll on sea life along one of the world’s fabled surf breaks. Californians have taken a harder look in recent years at the state’s oil and gas industry, which directly and indirectly supports over 365,000 jobs and has an annual output of over $150 billion, one study of 2017 data estimated. Climate change is expanding the threat of wildfires, drought and tidal surges, and the state has positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy and pioneering policies intended to slow the planet’s warming. The state plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035 and end oil production a decade later. Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said California is still years away from being able to eliminate oil and gas in favor of alternative energy sources. “The reality is: as much as we want that to happen, as much as I have voted for it to happen, it’s not there yet and we have to continue to produce fossil fuels as we transition,” he said.

8-vehicle crash closes southbound lanes of I-81 in Rockbridge County, Virginia

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2022

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. — At least one person is dead after an eight-vehicle crash Wednesday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Four tractor-trailers and four passenger vehicles were involved in the crash, according to WXFR. They reported that the crash happened at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday morning. The Virginia Department of Transportation said both southbound lanes of Interstate 81 were closed near mile marker 198, between exit 200 at Fairfield and exit 195 at Lexington. Traffic was diverted onto Route 11 at exit 200 at Fairfield and exit 205 at Raphine. As of this writing, the left lane at mile marker 198 has been reopened only to allow the passage of vehicles that were trapped south of exit 200. Otherwise, the current detour remains in place. Southbound #I81 update: Left lane at mile marker 198 in #Rockbridge County has reopened ONLY to release vehicles "trapped" south of exit 200. Detour remains in place for all other traffic, but we hope to lift the detour soon. pic.twitter.com/eB53HW7zBF — VDOT Staunton (@VaDOTStaunton) March 9, 2022 Cleanup efforts are underway. The trucks reported spilled lumber and water bottles on the highway. WXFR said that they were told that the cleanup will take a significant amount of time. Southbound #I81 update: Crews have finished pumping fuel from wrecked tractor trailers. They continue removing vehicles and spilled cargo. Both southbound lanes remain closed at mile 198 in #Rockbridge County. Major backups. Traffic detoured onto Route 11. pic.twitter.com/qZRITpZBmk — VDOT Staunton (@VaDOTStaunton) March 9, 2022 The person who died in the crash has not been identified, and it is not known which vehicle they were driving. There was also another crash involving a tractor-trailer near the end of the Rockbridge County backup, according to WXFR. Virginia Department of Transportation officials said that crash has only resulted in a shoulder closure at this time.

California county rejects ExxonMobil plan to truck oil

The Associated Press - March 9, 2022

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A bid by ExxonMobil to restart offshore oil wells shut down in 2015 after a pipeline leak caused the worst coastal spill in 25 years was rejected Tuesday amid lingering environmental concerns. ExxonMobil’s request to set up interim trucking routes to transport oil — a crucial step toward allowing three dormant 1980s-era drilling platforms to resume production — was rejected by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on a 3-2 vote. “We disagree with the decision, which disregards our employees, contractors and countless others working in California’s oil and gas industry who depend on these jobs to support their families,” ExxonMobil said in a statement. “ExxonMobil has met all of the requirements for issuance of the permit, which has gone through extensive environmental review and public comment.” A pipeline carrying oil to shore was shut down on May 19, 2015, when a corroded section above ground and running west of Santa Barbara ruptured, sending 140,000 gallons (529,958 liters) of oil onto a state beach and into the ocean. ExxonMobil proposed sending up to 24,820 tanker trucks a year on coastal Highway 101 and State Route 166 for up to seven years or until the pipeline is repaired or replaced. ExxonMobil argued that trucking was the only way to bring offshore crude to market until then and the project would bring jobs and money to the area. But two recent oil spills brought renewed scrutiny to the issue. In May 2020, a tanker truck crash off State Route 166 spilled more than 4,500 gallons (17,034 liters) of oil into the Cuyama River. And last October, an offshore pipeline break near Huntington Beach released at least 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters) of crude that closed beaches and took a deadly toll on sea life along one of the world’s fabled surf breaks. Environmentalists applauded the decision to put the brakes on the trucking proposal. “Exxon’s trucking proposal was a step in the wrong direction on climate and put Californians and our coastal resources in harm’s way from spills, crashes, pollution and fires,” said a statement from the Environmental Affairs Board at University of California, Santa Barbara. Californians have taken a harder look in recent years at the state’s oil and gas industry, which directly and indirectly supports over 365,000 jobs and has an annual output of over $150 billion, one study of 2017 data estimated. Climate change is expanding the threat of wildfires, drought and tidal surges, and the state has positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy and pioneering policies intended to slow the planet’s warming. The state plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035 and end oil production a decade later. On Tuesday, opponents cited environmental concerns and oil industry workers said approval would help keep good-paying jobs in the county. Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said California is still years away from being able to eliminate oil and gas in favor of alternative energy sources. “The reality is: as much as we want that to happen, as much as I have voted for it to happen, it’s not there yet and we have to continue to produce fossil fuels as we transition,” he said.

State official calls for investigation into high fuel prices

The Associated Press - March 9, 2022

BOSTON — The Massachusetts secretary of state has called for an investigation into the sudden surge of fuel and heating oil prices across the state that have occurred since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to make sure retailers and wholesalers are not gouging the public. “They have a right to a profit, they don’t have a right to an exorbitant profit,” Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin told WBZ-TV on Tuesday. Galvin said he has no proof of price gouging but is concerned about the soaring costs. Prices vary widely across the state and gasoline being sold at the pumps was paid for before the Russia-Ukraine war, he said. “Not an ounce of fuel that’s being sold here either for heating or gasoline right now was taken out of ground after the invasion of Ukraine. The pricing practices have to be reviewed,” he said. He has asked state Attorney General Maura Healey’s office to investigate whether state consumer protection laws are being violated. Healey’s office in a statement said it has received several complaints about possible price gouging and is monitoring the situation. Her office encouraged anyone with evidence of gouging or of companies colluding to raise prices to contact them. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts has risen to a record high of $4.16 as of Tuesday, according to AAA Northeast, soaring 54 cents in a week. Home heating oil is selling for an average of $5.02 per gallon as of Monday, according to the state Department of Energy Resources, with a high of $6 per gallon. The average was up more than $1 per gallon from the previous week. The average diesel price in the state is $4.62 per gallon, up from $3.79 just a month ago. Gas station owners are also stressed by the high prices, according to the executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Council, an industry trade group. “This is a very painful time for retailers, prices going up makes margins next to nothing,” Jon Shaer told WHDH-TV. “I would say categorically there is no price gouging going on in the Commonwealth.” The Trucker Staff contributed to this report.

FMCSA nixes driver reporting of annual violations

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will no longer require commercial drivers to provide previous traffic violations to their employers on an annual basis. The new rule will take effect on May 9. According to an FMCSA filing with the Federal Register, the rule was “duplicative of a separate rule that requires each motor carrier to make an annual inquiry to obtain the motor vehicle record for each driver it employs from every state in which the driver holds or has held a CMV (commercial motor vehicle) operator’s license or permit in the past year.” Eliminating this requirement will save drivers and carriers money, the FMCSA filing states, because “they will no longer spend time completing a list of convictions for traffic violations or certificate of no convictions. It also results in cost savings to motor carriers, as they no longer have to file the lists or certificates in driver qualification files.” The FMCSA says that the resulting cost savings will amount to almost $25 million over 10 years, at a 7% discount rate. The annual cost savings are estimated to be $3.5 million. The FMCSA is also amending the rule for drivers licensed in Mexico or Canada “to provide that motor carriers must make an annual inquiry to each driver’s licensing authority where a driver holds or has held a CMV operator’s license or permit.” The FMCSA will require that drivers report any active driver’s licenses, along with the issuing authorities, on their employment applications. Around 80% of those commenting supported the rule, including the American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and the Tennessee Trucking Association.

Collision with commercial vehicle leaves Wyoming teen dead

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2022

WHEATLAND, Wyo. — A Monday morning collision in Wyoming has left a teenager dead after colliding with a commercial vehicle. The crash happened around milepost three on Wyoming 320 north of Wheatland, according to Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP). WHP said that a 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis was headed north on Wyoming 320 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and entered the southbound lane colliding with a 2014 Peterbilt commercial vehicle. The roadways were snow and ice-covered at the time of the crash. The driver of the Mercury is identified as 18-year-old Wheatland resident Karson M. Yorges. Yorges was not wearing a seatbelt and succumbed to his injuries at the crash scene. The driver of the Peterbilt has been identified as 44-year-old Fort Laramie, Wyoming, resident Russell G. Smith. Smith was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the crash. The crash is still under investigation for potential contributing factors. This is the 13th fatality on Wyoming’s roadways in 2022 compared to 18 in 2021, 11 in 2020, and 27 in 2019 to date.

NASCAR hauler driver killed in East Texas crash

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2022

LONGVIEW, Texas – A NASCAR hauler driver was killed and four others were injured early Tuesday in a crash along Interstate 20 in East Texas. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the team transporter for David Gilliand Racing was traveling westbound when driver Steven Stotts, 54, smashed into the back of a small box trailer being hauled by a westbound Honda SUV. An accident report stated that after the collision, the hauler’s rig rolled onto its side into the center median, causing the trailer to “vault over the concrete barrier into the eastbound lane.” The rig then caught fire, which spread to the front of the trailer. The report noted that the Honda also traveled into the median, struck the concrete barrier and caught fire. The driver was taken to an area hospital in stable condition. Two passengers in the hauler, John P. Zaverl, 38, and Michael Mizzelle, 45, were taken to the hospital and are listed in stable condition. The hauler was heading to Arizona for the ARCA Menards Series Friday night event at Phoenix Raceway. The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR. “We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Steven Stotts,” team officials said on Twitter. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Steven’s family and friends.”