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Multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 claims life

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. —  One person is dead after a fatal Friday crash involving a tractor-trailer in Indiana. Indiana State Police and the White County Sheriff’s Department responded to a fatal crash northbound on Interstate 65, north of the 191-mile marker just after 2:45 p.m. on Friday. Traffic was stopped at the time of the crash due to other crashes that happened earlier in the day in White and Jasper counties. A preliminary investigation found that a 2017 Jeep Wrangler driven by Abigail Hollenbaugh, 37, of Greenwood, Indiana, and a 2013 Volvo semi-truck and trailer driven by Benjamin McNeil, 47, of Dolton, Illinois, were traveling northbound on Interstate 65 in the right lane. Hollenbaugh and McNeil noticed that traffic was stopped and began to slow down. At that time, the driver of a 2016 Dodge Dart failed to slow down for traffic, side-swiped the Jeep and ran into the back of the Volvo’s trailer. The driver of the Dodge Dart succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. The dead driver’s name is being withheld pending identification and notification to the family. Neither Hollenbaugh nor McNeil were injured in the crash.

Toll Road crash claims life of Pennsylvania man

LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind. — A tractor-trailer driver is dead after being ran over by another tractor-trailer driver on a toll road in Indiana. Indiana State Police said the fatal crash happened on the Interstate 80/90 toll road near Shipshewana, and claimed the life of Shamshitdin Nuridinov, 45, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Just after midnight Sunday morning, troopers from the toll road post were dispatched to the area of the westbound 114-mile marker to investigate a reported semi crash. Upon arrival troopers located two tractor-trailers. One that was parked on the right shoulder with cautionary triangles displayed and one crashed down in the north ditch. Troopers also located Nuridinov severely injured and unresponsive in the north ditch. Troopers immediately began providing CPR until LaGrange County EMS paramedics arrived and took over. Due to the extent and severity of Nuridinov’s injuries, all life saving measures attempted at the scene were unsuccessful. Nuridinov was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaGrange County Coroner. Trooper George Youpel’s preliminary investigation determined the following chain of events: Shamshitdin Nuridinov had been operating a 2019 Volvo tractor-trailer that apparently ran out of fuel and had become disabled on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes. Nuridinov had exited his vehicle and was standing well off the road in the side ditch, where he was engaged in a phone call with his trucking company dispatcher. Joseph Jett, 35, of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, was operating a white 2022 Freightliner tractor-trailer in the right westbound lane approaching Nuridinov’s disabled vehicle. Jett’s semi-tractor crossed over the white fog line, first striking the left rear of the Nuridinov’s semi-trailer, then side swiped the cab of the disabled semi, veered off road ahead of the disabled semi, crashed through a guard rail along the north shoulder, ran over Nuridinov, and then came to rest down in the side ditch after impacting a concrete abutment. Jett was wearing his seatbelt during the crash and his vehicle’s air bags deployed as intended.  He was not injured in the crash, but due to the severity of the crash he was transported to Parkview hospital in LaGrange for medical evaluation and clearance. Neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected, but as required by Indiana law of all drivers involved in a personal injury or death crash, Jett voluntarily submitted to chemical testing as part of the investigatory process. Both tractor-trailers sustained significant damage. Both were towed from the scene by Grate’s Towing Service to Grate’s impound yard, where they will be held pending an inspection by the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Traffic was restricted to the left lane only for approximately four hours to clean up the crash debris. Family notifications were made earlier Sunday morning with the assistance of Pennsylvania officials. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Currently, there is no further information to release. Once the overall crash investigation has been completed, the investigative findings will be turned over to the LaGrange County Prosecutor for review and determination of charges to be filed, if charges are warranted.  

May 1 opening planned for OR 224 east of Estacada 

ESTACADA, Ore. — OR 224 east of Estacada will open to traffic by May 1, with Clackamas River access points available to users. Travelers should expect occasional delays as work will continue in the corridor through the summer. Nineteen miles of the road of the road have been closed since the devastating Labor Day 2020 wildfires. Since then, crews have been removing dead trees, replacing signs, installing new guardrails, repairing the road and taking the necessary steps to make the road safe again. The schedule may change due to unexpected circumstances. Much work remains to be done, including removing stacked trees, road repairs and repaving. What’s happening now Eight miles of new and repaired guardrail has been installed, with an additional 3.7 miles of new installation under way. Guardrail was needed at 11 sites in the corridor. This work may continue after the road re-opens. Patching pavement holes continues. Rough Road signs will be posted in some locations. Full paving of the road will be done this summer. The U.S. Forest Service continues work but doesn’t expect to re-open any sites, campground or boating access points, in 2022. Arborists continue looking for dead or dying trees to see if any more need removal. This work should be complete by May. A helicopter will operate this week to remove trees from the high ridge. Go here to see video of the ODOT video team shot last week. For more information go to the Wildfire Recovery website.  

Macdonald-Cartier Bridge connecting Quebec, Ottawa to close lanes

GATINEAU, Quebec — Out of an abundance of caution and safety due to the ongoing demonstration taking place in Ottawa, Public Services and Procurement Canada advises motorists that there will be lane closures on the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge from Friday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 21, at 6 a.m. During this period, two lanes in each direction on the bridge will be open to vehicular traffic. PSPC is monitoring the situation closely and may implement additional unplanned lane closures for the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge if required.

One person can make a difference: TAT ambassadors share how truckers can join the fight against human trafficking

WASHINGTON — Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing global criminal enterprises, and is estimated to be a $150 billion industry. Today, there are an estimated 40 million men, women and children across the world trapped in this web of modern-day slavery. Each January, during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) shines a light on the dark practice of human trafficking. “The trucking industry is uniquely positioned to help combat this epidemic by operating as America’s eyes and ears on the road,” TMAF officials said. Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) seeks to “raise up a mobile army of transportation professionals in the fight against human trafficking” through training on the warning signs of this crime and how to aid law enforcement, according to TMAF. Following are stories from four professional truck drivers who are ambassadors for TAT and who have seen first-hand how the issue of human trafficking touches the trucking industry. GARY SMITH Gary Smith is an over-the-road truck driver from Ohio for Garner Trucking. He has been driving for more than 13 years, and operates in the nation’s upper Midwest region. In 2017 he was selected to be an America’s Road Team (ATA) captain and an ambassador for TAT. Smith recently shared a story about a time when he was a new truck driver, and a young woman came knocking on his truck door in the middle of the night at a truck struck. “I expected to see another truck driver saying that I was blocking him in, but standing outside my door in a torrential downpour, was a young girl — as young as maybe 15 or 16 years old — and she asked me if I wanted some company,” Smith recalled. “I told her to go away, and she just stared at me momentarily and then turned and walked away. Because of ignorance and a lack of awareness about human trafficking, I never gave that young girl a chance to be rescued,” he said. “I wish I could turn back the hands of time, but what I can do now is educate others.” Regrets about this experience led Smith to become TAT-certified in 2014. He now works to educate truck drivers and the general public about the horrors of human trafficking. “I try to talk to everyone I can,” he said. “The more people that understand human trafficking and realize that it is real and understand that it could be one of your children or grandchildren snatched off the street and sold into slavery, increases the number of people who can help.” Speaking about meeting and working with Survivors, Gary said, “When they tell you their stories about what their lives were like, you can’t even fathom that people would treat another person that way. When I hear these stories about how people treat other people, a righteous indignation rises up inside of you and you realize this has to stop. You are called to action.” When educating people about what they can do to help, Gary said, “It’s about raising your level of situational awareness. Human trafficking is real: it’s happening in our backyard, and we need to be more aware of it. I tell people: keep your eyes open. If you see something, say something. Make the call. Save a life.” Smith said it’s vital that truckers know the warning signs of human trafficking so they can spot and potentially help rescue victims. “I still see that young girl’s face outside my truck. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the opportunity to save a victim, but as long as I can educate as many people as possible, I know that I can do my part and help make a difference,” Smith concluded. RHONDA HARTMAN Rhonda Hartman, who lives in Iowa, is a less-than-truckload driver for Old Dominion Freight Line. She began her trucking career as an owner-operator and has been a professional truck driver for more than 38 years. She has accumulated more than 2.8 million accident-free miles. The first time Hartman believed she witnessed human trafficking, she said didn’t know what to do. “I was driving late at night when a van came flying down the highway next to my truck,” Hartman recalled. “Normally, I don’t look down at vehicles, but something inside me told me to look down into this van,” she said. “I saw several small children in car seats that were bolted to the floor. The children were all crying. The woman driving the van was alone in the front and there were no other adults with her. I felt instantly that these children had all been abducted. I felt this had to have been a transport.” This event happened in the days before cellphones, and unfortunately, the van got away before Hartman was able to get in touch with someone by radio to call 911. To this day, she does not know if the children were ever rescued. This event had such an impact on Smith that it moved her to learn more about human trafficking and how to report it, which led her to become an ambassador for TAT. She now works to educate other drivers. “I make it personal: This could be your child, grandchild or sibling,” she said, adding that it’s better to call for help and be wrong about suspicious activity than to do nothing and be right. Rhonda also discussed the advantage that truck drivers have in the war against trafficking. “Truck drivers are often overlooked because people are so used to seeing trucks on the road, but since we’re always paying attention and alert, we are able to see everything around us,” she said. “As truck drivers, we are the eyes and ears on the road. We can see things that the public and even law enforcement cannot.” BILL KROUSE Third-generation driver Bill Krouse, who lives in Minnesota, has been a trucker for 38 years. He has been driving for YRC Freight/Yellow Corp. for the past 35 years, hauling non-refrigerated goods, and has accrued more than 3 million accident-free miles throughout his career. When Krouse was first approached by TAT, he said he wasn’t aware about the human trafficking crisis. “Once I found out about it, I had to act,” he said. “I watched one of TAT’s videos and I said to myself, ‘This is something I feel in my heart that I can talk to people about and make a difference.’” Krouse become TAT-certified last year. “Now, I know what to look for,” he said. “I’m much more aware of my surroundings than I was before and I’m always watching to see if anything is out of the ordinary.” Krouse reiterated the importance of the trucking industry in the fight against human trafficking. “We’re all over the country,” he said. “That’s over 3 million drivers who can be scanning streets across the country. If you factor in all of the other transportation drivers, like bus drivers, taxi drivers and others, that’s a lot of people who can help call something in.” Krouse advises drivers to keep an eye out in specific areas that are considered high traffic areas for human trafficking, such as rest areas, truck stops, restaurants and hotels. TIM TAYLOR Tim Taylor has been a professional truck driver for more than 30 years and has been driving with FedEx Freight for 27 of those years. He lives in Georgia. While attending the Georgia Truck Driving Championships in the early 2000s, Taylor was approached by a TAT representative who was educating drivers about the organization. Taylor went through the certification process and learned to spot the common signs of human trafficking so he would know what to look for while on the road. “TAT opened my eyes to the human trafficking crisis,” he said. “I learned the signs to watch and listen for that someone that may be in a human trafficking situation may be presenting.” After learning more about human trafficking and the warning signs, Taylor said believes he came across a victim earlier in his career before he was TAT-certified. He recalled pulling into a gas station in Florida one night to park. A car pulled up next to his truck. “A young teenage girl came out of the car dressed provocatively,” he said. “She started towards us and offered commercial sex that night.” Because of the age of the girl and the fact that she was with an older woman, whom Taylor describes as “grandmotherly,” he was concerned. “I knew it my heart and my gut that something was wrong,” he said. “We told her we weren’t interested and left. Knowing now what I know, I wish I would have known back then. I believe that older woman was in control of that girl. If that was to happen to me now, I would know what to do.” Since becoming TAT-certified, Taylor works to educate others about the warning signs of human trafficking and what to do if they encounter a human trafficking situation. “I wish we could get every truck driver that has a CDL TAT-trained. It’s so easy. It’s as easy as sitting at your computer or downloading an app,” he said. “Whenever truck drivers get ready to haul our loads every day, we do a pre-trip on our tractors and trailers. We know what to look for; we’ve been trained on what to look form” he explained. “It’s the same with human trafficking; you’ve got to be trained.” When a person is trapped in a human-trafficking situation, they are reliant on others for help, he noted. “If a person is in a trafficking situation and nothing’s done, they’re going to remain in that trafficking situation. That’s a lifetime of trafficking,” Taylor said. “If one person can make a difference, one person is saved from modern day slavery.”

New ATRI research evaluates motor carrier strategies for responding to rising insurance costs

Arlington, Va. – The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released a new report analyzing trucking industry impacts from the rising costs of insurance. This analysis utilized detailed financial and insurance data from dozens of motor carriers and commercial insurers. The report, issued on Feb. 17, assesses immediate and longer-term impacts that rising insurance costs have on carrier financial conditions, safety technology investments and crash outcomes as well as strategies used by carriers to manage escalating insurance costs. The study found that carrier strategies included decreasing insurance coverage levels, raising deductibles and/or Self-Insurance Retention levels and decreasing investments in other cost centers. Despite this increased liability exposure, out-of-pocket incident costs and carrier crash involvement remained stable or decreased among most respondents. Despite reductions in insurance coverage, rising deductibles and improved safety, almost all motor carriers experienced substantial increases in insurance costs from 2018 to 2020. Premiums increased across all fleet sizes and sectors, with small fleets paying more than three times as much as very large fleets on a per-mile basis. One-third of respondents reported cutting wages or bonuses due to rising insurance costs, and 22 percent cut investments in equipment and technology – potentially creating future safety and driver shortage concerns. However, in the short-term, crash data confirms that carriers that raised deductibles or reduced insurance coverage were generally incentivized to reduce crashes in the subsequent year. Finally, the research describes a process for calculating the “Total Cost of Risk” to evaluate the full scale and impact of rising insurance costs on a carrier’s long-term safety and financial viability, including safety investments in drivers, programs and technologies. “ATRI’s study corroborates the Triple-I’s research on rising insurance costs and social inflation – that increased litigation and other factors dramatically raise insurers’ claim payouts,” Dale Porfilio, chief insurance officer of the Insurance Information Institute, said. “External factors that go well beyond carrier safety force commercial trucking insurance costs to increase, which then requires carriers to redesign their business strategies. The higher premiums ultimately tend to be passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services.” A copy of the full report is available here.

Canadian police clear Parliament street to end siege

OTTAWA, Ontario — Hundreds of police in riot gear swept through the streets of Canada’s besieged capital Saturday, arresting or driving out protesters, towing away their trucks and finally retaking control of the streets in front of the country’s Parliament buildings. With protesters in clear retreat in the largest police operation in the country’s history, the end of the three-week protest of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions and the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to be in sight. Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said that while some smaller protests continued “this unlawful occupation is over. We will continue with our mission until it is complete.” While some protesters vowed to stay on Ottawa’s streets, one prominent organizer told reporters they had “decided to peacefully withdraw.” “We will simply regroup as a grassroots movement,” Tom Marazzo said at a press conference. Police had been brought in from across the country to help in the clearance operation, Bell said, adding that 170 people were arrested Friday and Saturday and multiple investigations had been launched because of weapons seizures. “We’re not going anywhere until you have your streets back,” he said at a press conference, vowing to go after protesters who don’t disperse with “financial sanctions and criminal charges.” By early Saturday afternoon, protesters were gone from the street in front of Parliament Hill, the collection of government offices that includes the Parliament buildings, which had the heart of the protests. It had been occupied by protesters and their trucks since late last month, turning into a carnival on weekends. “They are trying to push us all away,” said one protester, Jeremy Glass of Shelburne, Ontario, as authorities forced the crowds to move further from the Parliament buildings. “The main camp is seized now. We’re no longer in possession of it.” Police said protesters remained “aggressive and assaultive” and that pepper spray had been used to protect officers. Authorities also said children had been brought right to the police lines, saying it was “putting the children at risk.” Canadian authorities also announced they had used emergency powers to seize 76 bank accounts connected to protesters, totaling roughly $3.2 million ($2.5 million U.S.). On Saturday, they also closed a bridge into the nation’s capital from Quebec to prevent a renewed influx of protesters. Around midday, protest organizers said they had ordered truckers to move away from Parliament Hill, decrying the police’s actions as “abuses of power.” “To move the trucks will require time,” organizers said in a statement. “We hope that (police) will show judicious restraint.” Earlier, Ottawa police addressed the protesters in a tweet: “We told you to leave. We gave you time to leave. We were slow and methodical, yet you were assaultive and aggressive with officers and the horses. Based on your behavior, we are responding by including helmets and batons for our safety.” Police said one protester launched a gas canister and was arrested as they advanced. Earlier, Bell said most of the arrests were for mischief charges and that no protesters had been hurt. One officer had a minor injury, he said. Those arrested included four protest leaders. One received bail while the others remained jailed. Tow truck operators wearing neon-green ski masks, with their companies’ decals taped over on their trucks to conceal their identities, arrived under police escort and started removing hundreds of big rigs, campers and other vehicles parked shoulder to shoulder near Parliament. Police smashed through the door of at least one camper before hauling it away. The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began Friday morning, when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying automatic weapons, descended into the protest zone and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs through the snowy streets as holdout truckers blared their horns. The capital and its paralyzed streets represented the movement’s last stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S. and created one of the most serious tests yet for Trudeau. They also shook Canada’s reputation for civility, with some blaming America’s influence. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada’s vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broad attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau’s government. Ottawa residents complained of being harassed and intimidated by the truckers and obtained a court injunction to stop their incessant honking. Trudeau portrayed the protesters as members of a “fringe” element. Canadians have largely embraced the country’s COVID-19 restrictions, with the vast majority vaccinated, including an estimated 90% of the nation’s truckers. Some of the vaccine and mask mandates imposed by the provinces are already falling away rapidly. The biggest border blockade, at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, disrupted the flow of auto parts between the two countries and forced the industry to curtail production. Authorities lifted the siege last weekend after arresting dozens of protesters. The final border blockade, in Manitoba, across from North Dakota, ended peacefully on Wednesday. The protests have been cheered on and received donations from conservatives in the U.S.

Ottawa crackdown: police arrest 100 after 3-week protest

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Police arrested scores of demonstrators and towed away vehicles Friday in Canada’s besieged capital, and a stream of trucks started leaving under the pressure, raising authorities’ hopes for an end to the three-week protest the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. By evening, at least 100 people had been arrested, mostly on mischief charges, and nearly two dozen vehicles had been towed, including all of those blocking one of the city’s major streets, authorities said. One officer had a minor injury, but no protesters were hurt, interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said. Police “continue to push forward to take control of our streets,” he said, adding: “We will work day and night until this is completed.” Those arrested included four protest leaders. One received bail while the others remained jailed. The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began in the morning, when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying automatic weapons, descended into the protest zone and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs through the snowy streets as holdout truckers blared their horns. Tow truck operators — wearing neon-green ski masks, with their companies’ decals taped over on their trucks to conceal their identities — arrived under police escort and started removing the hundreds of big rigs, campers and other vehicles parked shoulder-to-shoulder near Parliament. Police smashed through the door of at least one RV camper before hauling it away. Scuffles broke out in places, and police repeatedly went nose-to-nose with the protesters and pushed the crowd back amid cries of “Freedom!” and the singing of the national anthem, “O Canada.” Police said late in the afternoon that protesters had assaulted officers and tried to take their weapons. Some began dismantling equipment at a stage where they had played music for weeks, saying they didn’t want it to get destroyed. Many protesters stood their ground in the face of one of the biggest police enforcement actions in Canada’s history, with officers drawn from around the country. “Freedom was never free,” said trucker Kevin Homaund, of Montreal. “So, what if they put the handcuffs on us and they put us in jail?” But a steady procession of trucks began leaving Parliament Hill in the afternoon. “There are indications we are now starting to see progress,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. Police would not disclose how many protesters or vehicles remained downtown. All indications were that police would be working into the weekend to clear the area. The capital and its paralyzed streets represented the movement’s last stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S. and created one of the most serious tests yet for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They also shook Canada’s reputation for civility, with some blaming America’s influence. Authorities had hesitated to move against the protests, in part because of fears of violence. The demonstrations have drawn right-wing extremists and veterans, some of them armed. With police and the government facing accusations that they let the protests get out of hand, Trudeau on Monday invoked Canada’s Emergencies Act. That gave law enforcement extraordinary authority to declare the blockades illegal, tow away trucks, arrest the drivers, suspend their licenses and freeze their bank accounts. Ottawa police made their first move to end the occupation late Thursday with the arrest of two key protest leaders. They also sealed off much of the downtown area to outsiders to prevent them from coming to the aid of the protesters. The emergency act enabled law enforcement authorities to compel tow truck companies to assist. Ottawa police said earlier that they couldn’t find tow truck drivers willing to help because they either sympathized with the movement or feared retaliation. As police worked to dismantle the siege, Pat King, one of the protest leaders, told truckers, “Please stay peaceful,” while also threatening the livelihoods of the tow truck operators. “You are committing career suicide,” King warned on Facebook. “We know where the trucks came from.” King himself was later arrested by officers who surrounded him in his car. Ottawa police had made it clear for days that they were preparing to retake the streets. On Friday, even as the operation was underway, police issued another round of warnings via social media and loudspeaker, offering protesters one more chance to leave and avoid arrest. Some locked arms instead as officers formed a line to push them back. Dan Holland, a protester from London Ontario, packed up his car as police closed in. “I don’t want to get beat up by these police,” he said. Children bundled up in coats and hats stood amid the crowd. Police said the protesters had put the youngsters in the middle in the confrontation. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada’s vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broad attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau’s government. Ottawa residents complained of being harassed and intimidated by the truckers and obtained a court injunction to stop their incessant honking. Trudeau portrayed the protesters as members of a “fringe” element. Canadians have largely embraced the country’s COVID-19 restrictions, with the vast majority vaccinated, including an estimated 90% of the nation’s truckers. Some of the vaccine and mask mandates imposed by the provinces are already falling away rapidly. The biggest border blockade, at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, disrupted the flow of auto parts between the two countries and forced the industry to curtail production. Authorities lifted the siege last weekend after arresting dozens of protesters. The final border blockade, in Manitoba, across from North Dakota, ended peacefully on Wednesday. The protests have been cheered on and received donations from conservatives in the U.S.

US paves way for resumption of Mexico avocado exports

MEXICO CITY — The U.S. Embassy announced Friday that Washington is lifting a ban on inspections of Mexican avocados, freeing the way for exports to resume. The suspension of inspections had threatened Mexico’s $3 billion annual exports and raised the possibility of prices increases for U.S. consumers. Ambassador Ken Salazar said in a statement the decision came after Mexico and the United States agreed “to enact the measures that ensure the safety” of agricultural inspectors who are in charge of making sure Mexican avocados don’t carry diseases or pests that would harm U.S. orchards. Salazar did not describe those measures or whether they would address reports of Mexican growers and packers playing fast and lose with sanitary measures designed to protect U.S. production. The inspections were halted last week after one of the U.S. inspectors was threatened in the western state of Michoacan, where growers are routinely subject to extortion by drug cartels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Thursday that the inspector had received a threat “against him and his family.” It said the inspector had “questioned the integrity of a certain shipment, and refused to certify it based on concrete issues.” Michoacan is the only Mexican state certified as pest-free and able to export avocados to the U.S. market. There have been frequent reports that some packers in Mexico are buying avocados from other, non-certified states, and trying to pass them off as being from Michoacan. “I am pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service has determined it will immediately resume its avocado inspection program in Michoacán,” Salazar wrote. The service said Friday that “avocado exports to the United States have resumed.” The week-old ban had already been taking a toll on avocado pickers in Michoacan, who stood on a roadside this week outside the city of Uruapan asking for donations after they lost their work. Holding up signs saying “Voluntary donations” and “We make our living off avocado picking,” they waited for motorists to drop spare change into buckets they held. There were signs that supplies may have tightened since the inspection suspension was announced last Saturday and that the damage to Mexico’s violence-plagued avocado industry may be lasting: It could prompt companies that import avocados to look beyond Mexico, which currently supplies about 92% of U.S. imports of the fruit. Peru, Colombia and Chile already ship avocados to the United States, but in quantities that are only a tiny fraction of Mexico’s production. That may change. “I was talking with a few buyers of avocado domestically, and on toward the future, they know they need to diversify suppliers,” said Miguel Gómez, professor of applied economics and management in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. “The issue is that they realized that it would be very risky to depend on a single source.” Exports from Mexico were largely responsible for the huge increase in U.S. avocado consumption in recent decades because they made the fruit available year-round, most famously during the Super Bowl. U.S. per capita consumption of avocados tripled since 2001 to 8 pounds per person in 2018. The Mexican harvest is January through March, while U.S production runs from April to September. While there is concern about the deforestation and violence that have resulted from the avocado boom in Michoacan, it is unclear whether Americans would be willing to pay more for avocados produced by growers who do not pay protection money demanded by drug cartels in Michoacan. “It’s requiring Americans to really ask themselves, do they want to pay more to have a quality product or do they want to kind of look the other way and be able to slice their toast accordingly?” said Desirée LeClercq, a professor of employment law at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. “And I think that consumers are becoming more educated on how these products are made. But whether or not that’s going to trickle into consumer behavior, I think has yet to be seen.”

Arkansas State Police remember trooper killed in big rig accident

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is remembering a trooper who was killed on Feb. 18, 1989, in an accident involving an 18-wheeler. According to the ASP’s Facebook page, Trooper Clark Kent Simpson died when a tractor-trailer struck his patrol car from behind on Interstate 40. Simpson had pulled over another tractor-trailer for speeding and had issued the driver a summons before preparing to leave the scene. Simpson remained behind that truck with his lights activated as the big rig accelerated on the shoulder to pull into the travel lane. As Simpson pulled into the travel lane behind the truck, a second tractor-trailer rear-ended his patrol car, sending it off the roadway into several trees, where it caught fire. Simpson, who had served just seven months with the ASP, and the truck driver who hit him were killed. The Facebook tribute ends with this exclamation: “A HERO REMEMBERED NEVER DIES!!”

Crews begin towing trucks at Ottawa protest, arrests continue

OTTAWA, Ontario — Police began arresting demonstrators and towing away vehicles Friday in Canada’s besieged capital city, and a stream of trucks soon began leaving under the pressure, raising authorities’ hopes for an end to the three-week protest against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began in the morning, when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying automatic weapons, descended into the protest zone and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs as holdout truckers blared their horns in protest. Police smashed through the door of at least one RV camper before hauling it away. A steady procession of trucks began leaving Parliament Hill in the afternoon as lines of officers pushed through the streets. Tow truck operators — wearing neon-green ski masks, with their companies’ decals taped over on their trucks to conceal their identities — arrived under police escort and got to work removing the big rigs, campers and other vehicles parked bumper to bumper and shoulder to shoulder near Parliament. Scuffles broke out in places, and police repeatedly went nose-to-nose with the protesters and pushed the crowd back amid cries of “Freedom!” and the singing of the national anthem, “O Canada.” Hours into the show of force, authorities said 21 people had been arrested and roughly two dozen vehicles had been towed, including all of those blocking one of city’s major streets. There was no immediate word of any injuries in one of the biggest police enforcement actions in Canada’s history, with officers drawn from around the country. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said around midday: “There are indications we are now starting to see progress.” Many protesters stood their ground as the show of force escalated. “Freedom was never free,” said trucker Kevin Homaund, of Montreal. “So what if they put the handcuffs on us and they put us in jail?” The capital and its paralyzed streets represented the movement’s last stronghold after three weeks of demonstrations  and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S., caused economic damage to both countries and created a political crisis for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They also shook Canada’s reputation for civility, with some foes of the unrest blaming the influence of the United States. Over the past weeks, authorities had hesitated to move against many of the protesters, in part for fear of violence. The demonstrations have drawn right-wing extremists and veterans, some of them armed. With police and the government facing accusations that they let the protests gain strength and spread, Trudeau on Monday invoked Canada’s Emergencies Act, giving law enforcement extraordinary authority to declare the blockades illegal, tow away trucks, arrest the drivers, suspend their licenses and freeze their bank accounts. Ottawa police made their first move to end the occupation late Thursday with the arrest of two key protest leaders. They also sealed off much of the downtown area to outsiders to prevent them from coming to the aid of the protesters. The emergency act also enabled law enforcement authorities to compel tow truck companies to assist. Ottawa police said earlier that they couldn’t find tow truck drivers willing to help because they either sympathized with the movement or feared retaliation. As police worked to dismantle the siege, Pat King, a protest leader who has made white supremacist comments in the past, told truckers, “Please stay peaceful,” while also threatening the livelihoods of the tow truck operators. “You are committing career suicide,” King warned on Facebook. “We know where the trucks came from.” King himself was later arrested by officers who surrounded him in his car. Ottawa police had made it clear for days that they were preparing to end the protest and remove the more than 300 trucks at any moment. On Friday, even as the operation was underway, police issued another round of warnings via social media and loudspeaker, offering protesters one more chance to leave and avoid arrest. Some locked arms instead as officers formed a line to push them back. “This is not Canada. We don’t need a split country!” one woman yelled. Dan Holland, a protester from London Ontario, packed up his car, which was parked amid the trucks, as police closed in. “I don’t want to get beat up by this police,” he said. Children bundled up in coats and hats stood amid the crowd. Police said that the protesters had put the youngsters in the middle in the confrontation and that the youngsters would be brought to a place of safety. The two protest leaders arrested a day earlier  were due in court Friday. Among the charges: mischief and obstructing police. The occupation infuriated many Ottawa residents, who complained of being harassed and intimidated on the streets and obtained a court injunction to stop the truckers’ incessant honking of their horns. The demonstrations around the country by protesters in trucks, tractors and motor homes initially focused on Canada’s vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broad attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau’s government. Trudeau portrayed the protesters as member of a “fringe” element, and Canadians have largely embraced the country’s COVID-19 restrictions, with the vast majority of the population vaccinated, including an estimated 90% of the nation’s truckers. Some of the vaccine and mask mandates imposed by the provinces are already falling away rapidly. The biggest border blockade, at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, disrupted the flow of auto parts between the two countries and forced the industry to curtail production. Authorities lifted the siege last weekend after arresting dozens of protesters. The final border blockade, in Manitoba, across from North Dakota, ended peacefully on Wednesday. The protests have been cheered on and received donations from conservatives  in the U.S.  

Snowstorm pileup shuts interstate in Illinois for 2nd day

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A pileup involving about 100 cars, trucks and big rigs during a blinding snowstorm has left a 17-mile stretch of interstate in central Illinois shut down for a second day Friday. Interstate 39 north of Bloomington was closed as crews worked to untangle the nine passenger vehicles and 19 commercial vehicles as well as retrieve dozens more that slid Thursday off the icy roadway, Illinois State Police Trooper Haylie Polistina said. There were no reports of injuries in the crashes, which happened as winds gusting up to 40 mph cut visibility during a storm that swept through the Midwest and other parts of the country. Authorities were able to escort all the stranded motorists to warming centers, state police said in a statement. The storm created travel problems in Illinois and elsewhere. Chicago’s two international airports saw more than 500 flights canceled during the storm, which dropped more than 4 inches of snow across the region.

Blizzard conditions close portions of ND, Minnesota roadways

The above video is from the Minnesota State Patrol’s Facebook site. It shows the fierceness of the current winter storm. FARGO, N.D. — Blizzard conditions have closed portions an interstate and highways in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota Friday. The North Dakota Highway Patrol has closed Interstate 29 from Fargo to the Canadian border due to blowing snow and near-zero visibility. Motorists face fines if they travel on roads that have been closed. Highway 2 from Devils Lake to Grand Forks is also closed. No travel is advised in much of the Red River Valley. “Those winds are making their way into the Valley from north to south. As to conditions on I-29 right now, with the temperature changing, we’ve got icy roads combined with zero visibility,” said Highway Patrol Capt. Brian Niewind. More than a dozen vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 94 just west of Valley City on Friday morning, Niewind told KOVC-AM. Three people were hurt. The crashes closed the westbound lane of the interstate for nearly three hours, he said. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for all of eastern North Dakota and parts of northwestern Minnesota. Wind gusts of up to 65 mph were expected with isolated gusts of 70 mph. The Minnesota Department of Transportation and State Patrol have also closed parts of at least 11 highways in northwestern Minnesota.

Alabama Community College System launches rapid training for trucking, other skilled positions

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) has launched its first of several programs designed to help students find immediate employment, including in the trucking industry. “This is an exciting time for the community college system,” ACCS Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker said in a presentation Monday at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “We will step up and meet the need if we know what the need is.” The Innovation Center’s rapid training programs will help trainees find jobs quickly, but also help cut the state’s supply chain problems and small business closures, said Mara Harrison, interim executive director of the Innovation Center. Hospitality courses began last month and commercial driving courses for 18-wheelers and passenger buses, such as school buses, are ready, said Harrison. Training programs for grocery butchers, heavy equipment operators, plumbing and facilities maintenance are among the first to target high-demand industries, AL.com reported. Each program includes classroom courses that can be taken virtually, along with in-person lab work that will focus on hands-on training at regional community college locations. Students who complete the training will get an ACCS credential and be ready to work when they complete the courses, Harrison said. Twenty-three rapid training programs will be offered. The training is job-specific and was developed by businesses and industries to help students find jobs immediately with employers who are struggling to find workers. The Innovation Center will be based in Decatur, Alabama, Baker said. The program has first-year funding of $10 million approved from the state’s education fund, he said. Mark Colson, president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, said the nation’s commercial trucking industry is facing a critical shortage of about 80,000 professional drivers. “We’re feeling the driver shortage in Alabama,” Colson said. He said that increasing the role of the community college system in training commercial drivers, diesel mechanics and tractor-trailer repairers should help enhance the training pipeline. “We are proud to partner with the Alabama Community College System to ramp up efforts to attract and connect job-seekers with the training they need to enter the trucking industry,” he said. “The ACCS Innovation Center is the right program to supercharge the availability of CDL offerings in our state and enhance the existing programs that are already preparing our future workforce.” The Innovation Center has already successfully collaborated with the Alabama Tourism Department to help workers train for and find jobs in the state’s $16 billion hospitality industry, thanks to a $1 million grant from Gov. Kay Ivey. All graduates of this pilot training project hosted by Coastal Community College were matched with jobs and 100% of students were hired upon completion of the training, officials said.

Illinois Tollway approves key agreement with City of Chicago

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors announced Thursday that a key agreement with the City of Chicago necessary to construct the new Interstate 490 Tollway and complete the $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure has been reached. The agreement approved during the February Board meeting positions the tollway to build and operate a completely new roadway in the shadow of one of the nation’s largest airports, guiding the design efforts and providing land access needed for completion. “My administration is proud to mark yet another milestone in enhancing transportation in the Chicago metropolitan region, paving the way for additional access to O’Hare,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said. “When complete, this project will enhance access for countless Illinoisans to not only one of the world’s busiest airports, but additional highways, transit centers, businesses and communities throughout the region. I thank our City of Chicago partners for working alongside the Illinois Tollway to see this project through.” As a result of the recent, historic agreements with the Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific railroads that were necessary for the new I-490 Tollway to cross the Canadian Pacific Railway Bensenville Intermodal Yard, the final design required additional negotiations with the City of Chicago. This agreement provides additional land, while defining a process by which the design of the southern portion of the new road will be managed and coordinated in complete cooperation with the Chicago Department of Aviation, which owns and operates O’Hare International Airport on behalf of the City of Chicago. “The amended agreement with the Illinois Tollway, which I will introduce to City Council next week, provides a clear path forward toward the jobs, minority contracting opportunities, and improved airport access offered by the I-490 plan,” Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said. “I thank Commissioner Rhee and her staff for their stewardship in making these negotiations possible, as well as Executive Director Alvarez and the entire tollway team for their continued partnership in the years ahead.” Currently, this portion of the new I-490 Tollway is still under design, and the agreement provides the Illinois Tollway with a clear framework for the land and construction parameters that are necessary to ensure the continuity of the critical transportation network that operates in the area. A final design is expected later this year, with additional details presented to the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Local Corridor Advisory Committee, as well as local and regional stakeholders, and the public at large this summer. “The level of partnership required between the tollway, City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation and the railroads to achieve our mutual goals on this complex project cannot be understated,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez said. “I’d like to thank Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Commissioner Rhee and her entire team, and reiterate our thanks to the railroad leadership, as well as local, state and federal stakeholders for their continued support.” The agreement will be introduced to the Chicago City Council by Lightfoot on Wednesday and referred to the City Council Committee on Aviation for its review and consideration. Also, during the February Board meeting, the Illinois Tollway approved 11 construction and engineering contracts totaling nearly $76 million including three firms stepping up to be first-time primes with the tollway. February construction contracts awarded include: A $30.9 million contract to Plote Construction Inc./Peter Baker & Sons & Co., Hoffman Estates, IL, for pavement rehabilitation, on the North Tri-State Tollway (I-94) between Half Day Road and Atkinson Road. A $17.3 million contract to Plote Construction Inc., Hoffman Estates, Illinois, for pavement and shoulder rehabilitation on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between Flagg Creek and Cermak Road. A $9.3 million contract to Lorig Construction Co., Des Plaines, Illinois, for roadway and bridge construction on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the new 88th/Cork Avenue Interchange. A $2.6 million contract to Path Construction Company Inc., Arlington Heights, Illinois, for structural rehabilitation work on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway. A $1.8 million contract to Areatha Construction Co. Inc., Streamwood, Illinois, for noise wall replacement near Ogden Avenue on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294). A $1.3 million contract to Hecker and Company Inc., Wheeling, Illinois, for material fabrication and storage for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) material on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between 95th Street and Flagg Creek. A $1.2 million contract to Meru Corporation, Niles, Illinois, for utility relocation under the Union Pacific Railroad on the new I-490 Tollway. A $674,357 contract to Natural Creations Landscaping, Joliet, Illinois, for landscape planting improvements on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) between I-55 and Ogden Avenue. February professional engineering services contracts awarded include: A $5 million contract to TranSystems Corporation, Schaumburg, Illinois, construction management services upon request systemwide. A $3 million contract to Patrick Engineering Inc., Lisle, Illinois, construction management services upon request on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). A $3 million contract to ABNA Engineering Inc., Chicago, Illinois, for design services upon request on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). The Illinois Tollway broadcasts all public meetings on the tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com. This includes all board meetings and public bid openings. Also provided is detailed information about current tollway construction and professional engineering services contracts through the Construction Contract Tracker.

Pennsylvania third-Party CDL examiner pleads guilty to wire fraud

PHILEDELPHIA — A former Pennsylvania third-party commercial driver’s license examiner pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Jan. 31, 2021. Roberto Correas pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to 12 counts of wire fraud. In November 2021, Correas, a former third-party CDL examiner, was charged. The investigation revealed that between February and March 2018, Correas provided pre-signed CDL skills examination score sheets to a co-conspirator, who completed the sheets with passing scores to fraudulently qualify individuals who did not actually take the CDL test. In addition, between September and October 2018, Correas conducted CDL skills examinations on a company’s behalf. Correas charged applicants $275 each but kept the money instead of submitting it to the company. DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.  

In GOP embrace of truckers, some see racist double standard

OTTAWA, Ontario — Former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly called Black Lives Matter protesters “thugs” and “anarchists,” said there’s “a lot of respect” for the overwhelmingly white truckers who blocked streets in the Canadian capital and shut down border crossings with the U.S. to oppose COVID-19 restrictions. To Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, the truckers who parked bumper to bumper are “heroes” fighting for a righteous cause. Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity sent “solidarity, love and support” to the drivers, who also defied police orders to clear Ottawa’s streets and ignored a court order forbidding them from blaring their horns. GOP Sen. Rand Paul encouraged them to head south and “clog” streets in the U.S. The embrace of the truckers by some of the nation’s most prominent conservative voices has drawn new accusations of hypocrisy and allegations that GOP leaders apply a racist double standard to large protests, including the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol involving a mostly white crowd of Trump supporters. Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee called the Jan. 6 attack “legitimate political discourse.” But only months before the insurrection, Trump, Cruz and other conservatives excoriated protests against police brutality and racial injustice that were largely peaceful, with some instances of looting and unrest. “This shows again that there is just an unequal right to express dissent in the United States,” said Karen Pita Loor, a professor at Boston University’s School of Law. She called conservatives’ support “two-faced,” saying that conservatives appear to support a white, conservative rights movement, but “when you have Black Lives Matter protesters on the street that are ‘thugs,’ they scare you.” Conservatives counter that there’s a double standard on the other side — that liberals support the idea of protesting, until they disagree with the cause. The Canadian protests known as the Freedom Convoy were declared a national emergency and an illegal occupation of the capital. For weeks, the drivers blocked streets to oppose vaccine mandates for truckers in Canada and other pandemic restrictions. They also blocked U.S. border crossings, inflicting economic damage on both countries. On Thursday, hundreds of truckers in Ottawa stood their ground as police poured in, threatening to break up the demonstration. Workers put up extra fences around government buildings, and officers began sealing off much of the downtown area to outsiders to prevent them from coming to the aid of the protesters. Conservatives say there is a clear distinction between the Canadian protests and instances of violence during protests over the killing of George Floyd by a white officer in Minneapolis, including buildings set on fire in that city and Portland, Oregon. “All Americans have the right to peacefully protest. But there’s a stark contrast between civil disobedience — which has been a time-honored tradition in our country — and burning down buildings, looting businesses, and violently attacking actual peaceful protesters and innocent bystanders,” Paul said. The Republican from Kentucky was surrounded and confronted in 2020 by people protesting the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman fatally shot by police. A Cruz spokesperson echoed those comments, saying that the senator “has been very clear” about the right to nonviolent protest. “What people don’t have the right to do is assault another person, loot and firebomb buildings — those actions are not exercising a constitutional right no matter the circumstance.” Hannity said this week that the difference between the Black Lives Matter protests and the truckers is that the demonstrations in Canada have been peaceful. At the Alberta border town of Coutts, across from Montana, where a blockade disrupted trade for more than two weeks, police arrested 13 people and seized guns and ammunition earlier this week. Four men also face a charge of conspiracy alleging that they plotted to kill Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. The support from conservatives in the U.S. goes beyond the words of politicians. Right-wing activists who oppose pandemic mandates and Canada’s liberal prime minster, Justin Trudeau, have also donated money to the demonstrations, hoping that the protests will help motivate American voters ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Mario Morrow, a Black political consultant who has served both GOP and Democratic governors in Michigan, called Republicans’ support for the Canadian protests “hypocrisy at its highest level.” The protests included a blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Canada, and carries 25% of all trade between the two countries. The demonstrations also forced the shutdown of a Canadian Ford plant last week. Shortages due to the blockade forced General Motors to cancel a shift last week at its midsize-SUV factory near Lansing, Michigan. Police broke the blockade at the bridge — the border’s busiest and most important crossing — last weekend, arresting dozens of demonstrators. “There is no way that the supporters, especially Republicans, can justify the funding support, the moral support and the political statements they are making by supporting these tactics,” Morrow said. He also said the protesters would not get the same support if they were “anything other than conservative white individuals.” “They would have been locked up — day one,” he said. Cruz last week praised the truckers for standing up against liberals who imposed mandates they “have no right to impose.” He said the protesters spoke not just for Canadians, but also for Americans. “I think it is powerful to watch,” he said.

The Trucker exclusive: White House shares Trucking Action Plan update

WASHINGTON — Marking 60 days since announcing the Trucking Action Plan (TAP), the White House has shared an exclusive update on the initiative with The Trucker. President Joe Biden said the plan is designed to help bolster the trucking industry at a time when more drivers are needed and the supply chain’s stress level is critical. “With more than 70 percent of all goods in America shipped by truck, America’s trucking workforce plays a critical role in the U.S. supply chain and the broader economy,” a statement to The Trucker from Jennifer Molina, White House senior director of Coalitions Media, read. “However, outdated infrastructure, the COVID-19 pandemic and a historic volume of goods moving through the nation’s economy have strained capacity across the supply chain, including in trucking.” The White House said that while more work remains, the TAP “has made remarkable progress in the last 60 days.” The Biden administration shared with The Trucker that more than 20 employers have so far signed up to participate in expanded registered apprenticeship programs, which are designed to help fast-track new drivers into big rigs. “Partners like the American Trucking Associations, the North American Punjabi Trucking Association (and the) Minority Professional Truckers Association have stepped forward to partner with the administration to expand apprenticeships,” according to the White House. Administration officials said they are working to “cut red tape so it’s easier for drivers to get commercial driver’s licenses. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced over $32 million in funding to help states upgrade their processing systems as well as technical assistance to speed up issuances.” The White House also shared with The Trucker that the Veterans Service Organizations, which represents nearly 4 million military veterans, is currently discussing ways the administration and industry can attract, train, place and retain veterans in trucking jobs. The departments of Labor, Transportation, Defense and Veterans Affairs, along with the Small Business Administration, have released a fact sheet to raise awareness about 16 different federal programs that can connect transitioning military personnel and veterans to careers in the trucking industry, according to the White House. “These programs will boost efficiency in the industry, connecting firms to countless potential workers,” the White House statement read. “A highlight of these efforts is the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship program.” The administration also plans to focus on women in the trucking industry. This week, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg plans to sign the charter document officially launching the Women of Trucking Advisory Board. As the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established, this task force will help inform efforts to increase the number of women in trucking. “Based on feedback received in recent listening sessions with leaders and advocates, the task force will provide recommendations to address the challenges facing current and prospective women, such as barriers to entry, on-the-job safety risks, workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, mentorship, quality training and opportunities for advancement,” according to the White House. Additionally, the administration plans to sign a charter document to form a new task force to investigate predatory truck leasing arrangements. The FMCSA, DOL and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) formed a Truck Leasing Task Force that will review leasing arrangements to identify actions that could make leases more equitable and transparent. Finally, the White House shared with The Trucker that the administration plans to deliver a “comprehensive new action plan, informed by a series of DOL and DOT listening sessions, outlining any further administrative and regulatory actions the administration can take to support quality trucking jobs.” Industry reaction to the plan has been mostly positive, though many truckers wish it had addressed the lack of safe truck parking across the nation. “As one of the top five industry-rated challenges voiced by professional drivers in the recent ATRI (American Transportation Research Institute) study, and an issue that has been top 10 on company and truckers’ minds for years, it is more than disappointing that specific funds were not earmarked to meet this problem,” said Mark Walker, chairman and CEO of Missouri-based TransLand. “It’s unbelievable.” American Trucking Associations (ATA) Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan praised the TAP, saying, “We are encouraged that the Biden Administration has not only recognized the importance of adding new and well-trained Americans to the trucking workforce, but has announced a path forward with what we believe will become a robust training opportunity for future commercial truck drivers.” Shannon Newton, president of Arkansas Trucking Association, also lauded the plan. “We thank the president and his administration for recognizing the important work of the men and women in the trucking industry,” she said. “We appreciate any effort to support and expand access to quality driving jobs and address the pandemic-driven delays in obtaining a commercial driver’s license. We welcome the opportunity to work together in sharing our industry with a new cohort of drivers.” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), hasn’t been as enthusiastic. “There are some elements in the plan we support, including further analysis of driver compensation and unpaid detention time,” Spencer said. “However, the plan fails to address excessively high driver turnover rates. Attracting and training new drivers won’t solve the larger problem of retention.”

6-State Trooper Project to focus on Interstate 75

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with members of the 6-State Trooper Project to enforce speed, safety belts and OVI (operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs) on Interstate 75. The project will run from 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 18 through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 20. The high-visibility campaign includes the Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP). Last year during the same 6-State initiative, the OSHP cited 748 drivers for speed-related violations and 81 for safety belt infractions. The Patrol also charged 24 with OVI. The 6-State Trooper Project is a multi-state law enforcement partnership aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol, and information sharing

Canadian police arrest 2 leaders of protesting truckers

OTTAWA, Ontario — Hundreds of truckers clogging Canada’s capital stood their ground and defiantly blasted their horns Thursday, even as police arrested two protest leaders and threatened to break up the nearly three-week protest against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. Busloads of police arrived near Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, and workers put up extra fences around government buildings. Police also essentially began sealing off much of the downtown area to outsiders to prevent them from coming to the aid of the protesters. “The action is imminent,” said interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell. “We absolutely are committed to end this unlawful demonstration.” Police arrested organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber around Parliament Hill, but officers were not moving in force on the demonstrators. Police took Lich into custody late Thursday. Police continued negotiating with the protesters and trying to persuade them to go home, Bell said. “We want this demonstration to end peacefully,” he said, but added: “If they do not peacefully leave, we have plans.” Many of the truckers in the self-styled Freedom Convoy appeared unmoved by days of warnings from police and the government that they were risking arrest and could see their rigs seized and bank accounts frozen. “I’m prepared to sit on my ass and watch them hit me with pepper spray,” said one of their leaders, Pat King. As for the trucks parked bumper-to-bumper, he said: “There’s no tow trucks in Canada that will touch them.” King later told truckers to lock their doors. Amid the rising tensions, truckers outside Parliament blared their horns in defiance of a court injunction against honking, issued for the benefit of neighborhood residents. Ottawa represented the movement’s last stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S., inflicted economic damage on both countries and created a political crisis for Trudeau. Ottawa police began locking down a wide swath of the downtown area, allowing in only those who live or work there after they pass through one of more than 100 checkpoints, the interim chief said. Police were especially worried about the children among the protesters. Bell said police were working with child-welfare agencies to determine how to safely remove the youngsters before authorities move in. Early this week, the prime minister invoked Canada’s Emergencies Act, empowering law enforcement authorities to declare the blockades illegal, tow away trucks, arrest the drivers, suspend their licenses and take other measures. On Thursday, Trudeau and some of his top ministers took turns warning the protesters to leave, in an apparent move by the government to avert a clash, or at least show it had gone the extra mile to avoid one. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government began freezing truckers’ accounts as threatened. “It is happening. I do have the numbers in front of me,” she said. Ottawa police likewise handed out leaflets for the second straight day demanding the truckers end the siege, and helpfully placed notices on vehicles informing owners how and where to pick up their trucks if they are towed. The occupation has infuriated many Ottawa residents. “We’ve seen people intimidated, harassed and threatened. We’ve seen apartment buildings that have been chained up. We have seen fires set in the corridors. Residents are terrorized,” said Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino. The protests by demonstrators in trucks, tractors and motor homes initially focused on Canada’s vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broader attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau’s government.