The Nation Archives

Seat belt check leads to criminal charges for driver of tractor-trailer

The Trucker News Staff - March 11, 2021

PERU, Ind. — Following a traffic stop earlier this week, an Indiana man has been arrested and is facing multiple charges, according to the Indiana State Police (ISP). At about 5:54 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, ISP Lt. T.J. Zeiser stopped a 2010 Volvo tractor, which was pulling an enclosed trailer, on U.S. 31 near Miami County Road 200 North near Peru. The driver, later identified as Omar Muhammad, 48, of Indianapolis, was reportedly not wearing a seat belt. During the traffic stop, Muhammad allegedly provided a driver’s license identifying him as someone else. Further investigation revealed that the person identified on the license was wanted on a criminal arrest warrant from Texas. This prompted Muhammad to provide his true identity, along with the information that he was allegedly driving without a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Muhammad was arrested and booked into the Miami County Jail to face criminal charges for synthetic identity deception, forgery, obstruction of justice and having a counterfeit government-issued identification.

Washington farm exports hampered by cargo-container shortage

The Associated Press - March 11, 2021

SEATTLE — Farm exporters in Washington state have been left with stockpiles of product and idle trucks as the pandemic has created a shortage of cargo containers. Dave Martin, export sales manager for Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, one of the state’s biggest tree-fruit exporters, said the company would ship up to 15 containers of fruit a week to Taiwan before the pandemic. “This week, we will not have a ship,” he said. The shortage has prompted foreign customers of Stemilt to look to competitors in countries such as Chile, where the apple harvest just started. “Those sales are lost,” Martin said, commenting on the numerous shipments forgone since November. The shortage of cargo space is the latest problem the pandemic has caused the global trade system. It has brought entire sectors to a virtual standstill, The Seattle Times reported March 9. Americans’ spending with online retailers, such as Amazon, since the pandemic began last March, has resulted in a surge of imports from Asia. The increase has overwhelmed some West Coast ports, where ships often sit for days to be unloaded, delaying cargo pickups and deliveries at other ports, including Seattle and Tacoma. “We are now experiencing unprecedented eastbound cargo volumes coming out of Asia to the U.S., and it’s creating huge disruptions within the supply chain,” said John Wolfe, CEO of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which manages marine cargo operations in the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. Shipping companies are able to make more money by quickly sending empty containers from the U.S. to Asia to accommodate the surge in imports, rather than refill them with American farm products. A container of Chinese electronics, apparel and other exports is worth more than one filled with American farm products, said Peter Friedmann with the Agriculture Transportation Coalition in Washington, D.C. Data from the Northwest Seaport Alliance show 37% of containers exported from Seattle and Tacoma in January 2020 were empty compared to this year when more than half were shipped empty. Wolfe explained that many businesses are in a rush to get their vessels and container equipment back to Asia to capitalize on the high-value shipments from Asia to the U.S. Trade economists and policymakers expect the capacity shortages to decline as consumers return to normal purchasing patterns. But many exporters are concerned they permanently lost some market share. “My biggest worry is that suddenly what seemed like a blip in exports and a temporary problem becomes, well, now China is going elsewhere for their apples and their cherries and their hay,” Democratic state Rep. Kim Schrier said. Schrier said she wants the government to pressure shipping companies to make more room for American exports on westbound ships by minimizing the number of empty containers on their way back to Asia. The Federal Maritime Commission is already exploring whether shipping companies’ practices violate U.S. shipping law, Schrier said. Two of the ports’ biggest carriers — MSC and Maersk — did not respond to requests for comment.

Wrong-way trucker involved in fatal crash declared imminent hazard by FMCSA

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2021

WASHINGTON — An Ohio-licensed commercial driver who caused a fatal head-on collision while traveling the wrong way on a Virginia highway has been declared an imminent hazard to public safety by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and has been ordered not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. On Feb. 24, 2021, Travis Lee Tolliver, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, was operating a tractor-trailer in Wise County, Virginia, when he traveled in the wrong direction along Route 23 for approximately 2 miles before crashing head-on into another vehicle. The passenger in the vehicle was killed, and the driver was seriously injured. Tolliver was also taken to a hospital where he refused to provide blood for drug testing. Tolliver was charged by the Commonwealth of Virginia with manslaughter under aggravated circumstances; driving while intoxicated; driving while under the influence of alcohol or a narcotic drug; and unlawfully, after having been arrested, unreasonably refusing to have a sample of blood taken for chemical tests to determine alcohol or drug content. An investigation by FMCSA found that on the day of the crash, Tolliver had failed to maintain records-of-duty-status. Investigators further found that, on multiple occasions in the days leading up to the crash, Tolliver had exceeded the allowable on-duty driving hours and failed to maintain records-of-duty-status as required by federal regulations. FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Tolliver’s “blatant and egregious violations of the (federal safety regulations) and disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and/or to the motoring public.” Failing to comply with the provisions of the federal imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $1,895 for each violation; knowing and/or willful violations could result in criminal penalties. Tolliver, who was served the federal order March 5, may not operate a commercial motor vehicle until such time he successfully completes the statutorily required return-to-duty process overseen by a substance abuse professional.

State lawmaker introduces bill calling for halt to PennDOT plan to toll nine bridges

The Associated Press - March 10, 2021

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The chair of Pennsylvania’s Senate Transportation Committee on March 10 said he wants to halt plans to toll nine major bridges on interstates and, at the very least, require those plans to undergo more scrutiny and a vote by lawmakers. Senate Transportation Committee Chair Wayne Langerholc (R-Cambria) said he opposes the proposals by Gov. Tom Wolf’s Department of Transportation. Eight of the nine bridges are in the districts of Republican senators — including independent Sen. John Yudichak who caucuses with Republicans — and Langerholc said he has support from the Senate’s Republican majority leaders to move against the bridge-tolling proposal. Legislation newly introduced by Langerholc would not necessarily kill PennDOT’s proposal. But Langerholc wants to subject it to approval by lawmakers and questioned whether the process used to approve the department’s plans were really envisioned by a 2012 law that created it. “Now we see how PennDOT is attempting to use this for this size and scope of this large of a plan, and in my opinion, the legislation’s intent may not have been of this size and scope back then,” Langerholc said. Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian has told lawmakers that the aging bridges are in need of major reconstruction and the department needs billions more to keep up with its public safety obligations. Tolls would be between $1 and $2, probably both ways, raise about $2.2 billion and last from the start of construction in 2023 for three or four years until construction is finished, Gramian told lawmakers last month. Langerholc’s bill would require legislative authorization of any proposed transportation project with a user fee, even it is approved by the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board that lawmakers created in 2012. The bill also aims to require PennDOT to provide more details to the board, lawmakers and the public about a proposed project before the board can approve it. Wolf’s administration opposes Langerholc’s bill and, in a statement, PennDOT said it adds unnecessary and duplicative bureaucracy and “politicizes a process designed to foster innovation and efficient public-private collaboration.” The board is composed of appointees of the governor and top lawmakers. In November, it authorized PennDOT to install electronic tolling gantries on bridges to finance their reconstruction, the first time it had approved toll projects. The department named nine bridges last month, sparking protests from some lawmakers who said the tolls would be an unfair and unaffordable price for motorists and commercial haulers to pay. “I think we need a much more comprehensive discussion around transportation funding,” said Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery). “PennDOT has got to stop scaring and surprising people. Yeah, I know we have a crisis, but it’s got to be something that’s more equitable for the state.” PennDOT’s plans have received an important note of support from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York), who told a hearing last month that PennDOT’s plans are “reasonable” and something that will undergo public hearings and comment. PennDOT is currently taking public comments online for all the projects. Lawmakers had an opportunity under the existing law to block PennDOT’s plan, but did not during the time allotted. However, Langerholc questioned whether PennDOT’s plans met the requirements of the law to trigger the start of that period. Rep. Mike Carroll (D-Luzerne), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, said lawmakers knew about the deadline to object and let it pass. When lawmakers created the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board in 2012, Carroll voted against it and warned colleagues during floor debate that it “hands off the direct authority to toll interstates, to toll bridges and to toll other transportation network features to an unelected commission.” PennDOT’s plans were precisely what was envisioned by the 2012 law, and PennDOT followed the law to get them approved to raise the $2 billion that it needs, Carroll said. “If somebody has a better proposal, let’s see it,” Carroll said. By Marc Levy, The Associated Press

Border Patrol agents stop human-smuggling attempts using tractor-trailers, apprehend 111 people

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2021

LAREDO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the Laredo North Station kicked off the week by stopping three human-smuggling attempts using tractor trailers. The first incident occurred during the late evening of Sunday, March 8, when a tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint on Interstate 35. During an immigration inspection, a CBP K-9 drew agents’ attention to the vehicle, which was referred for a secondary inspection, where a search revealed 44 people. Just a few minutes later, while conducting a vehicle stop on a commercial tractor hauling a tanker on the interstate’s west access road, agents discovered 43 people hidden in the vehicle. The third incident took place the morning of Monday, March 9, when a tractor-trailer arrived at the I-35 checkpoint for an immigration inspection. A CBP K-9 alerted agents to the vehicle; during a secondary inspection and search, 24 people were found. All 111 people were determined to be in the United States illegally from the countries of Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. None of the individuals were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE); all were medically screened and provided PPE before being placed under arrest pending further investigation by Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations. All three tractor-trailers were seized by CBP.

Clean fuel proposal gets green light from New Mexico panel

The Associated Press - March 9, 2021

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico legislative panel on March 9 advanced a measure that would set the stage for the creation of a clean fuel standard that environmentalists and Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham say would move the state closer to reaching its carbon reduction goals. Cars, trucks and commercial vehicles traveling throughout the expansive state amount to the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico. State environment officials say targeting the types of fuel that are offered and creating a voluntary credit program that monetizes emission reductions would put a dent in methane and other pollutants. Bill sponsor Sen. Mimi Stewart contends that emissions could be reduced by 4.7 million metric tons over the next two decades by requiring fuel providers that refine, blend, make or import fuel to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of the fuel itself. “That’s like taking 44,000 cars off the road every year for 15 years,” the Albuquerque Democrat said in a recent opinion piece. “A clean fuel standard would not apply to retail gas stations or cause cost increases at the pump.” Republican lawmakers and other critics dispute that claim, saying such a proposal would lead to higher gas prices in the poverty-stricken state and the burden would be felt mostly by lower income residents. The state Economic Development Department has acknowledged that New Mexico could see an increase in prices of less than 5%, but the agency argues that the cost of alternative fuel vehicles is expected to decrease over time, resulting in reduced alternative fuel prices as demand increases for such vehicles. The state’s Senate Finance Committee approved the bill March 9 during a brief meeting that did not include any public comments. The measure still needs the approval of the full New Mexico Senate and the House before lawmakers adjourn in less than two weeks. With the clock ticking, some say the bill could be fast-tracked by the Democrat-led legislature since it’s a priority of the governor. Upon taking office in 2019, Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on addressing climate change and preventing waste across the energy sector. So far, that has included efforts by the state to craft new rules for the oil and gas industry aimed at limiting venting and flaring and boosting reporting requirements. If adopted, New Mexico would join California and Oregon in offering credits generated by emissions-reducing technology. Some other states are considering similar clean fuel legislation. The governor has billed the pollution measures as ways to attract new businesses and jobs focused on environmental protection and public health. Her administration has claimed that a clean fuel standard alone could spur tens of millions of dollars in annual economic investment. “As the first state in the Southwest to seek a clean fuel standard program, we are blazing a path toward significant economic investments while tackling emissions that contribute to climate change,” the governor said in a statement. If the measure is enacted, fuel producers and importers would have to reduce the amount of carbon in fuels by 10% by 2030 and more than double that a decade later. If they fall short, producers can purchase credits to meet the standard. Supporters of the legislation said utilities could generate credits through sequestering greenhouse gas emissions. Other possibilities include credits from oil and gas operations and the agriculture and waste management industries. Larry Behrens with Power the Future, an advocacy group that supports New Mexico’s traditional energy industry, said a statewide clean fuel standard would raise gas prices at a time when prices already are going up and families have yet to recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic. The legislation includes money for the state Environment Department to craft new rules within two years. Registration fees charged to producers and those who generate credits would go into a fund to pay for oversight and enforcement by the agency. By Susan Montoya Bryan, The Associated Press

ATA, OOIDA square off in renewed speed-limiter debate

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2021

A letter sent March 3 to the new Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg by the American Trucking Associations and Road Safe America has reignited a debate about requiring the use of speed limiters on large commercial trucks. The letter, signed by ATA president and CEO Chris Spear and Road Safe America president and co-founder Steve Owings, notes the organizations’ support of the proposed Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019. If passed, the bill would require all new commercial motor vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed-limiting technology, that speed-limiting technology already installed in heavy-duty commercial vehicles be used, and that the speed be set at a maximum of 65 mph. This support is a reversal of ATA’s stance on a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking published by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “Much has changed since 2016. Technological advancements have increasingly enabled motor carriers to adopt proven safety technologies, prompting ATA to support new and safer approaches to speed management,” the letter notes, pointing to motor carriers’ adoption of automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control systems on commercial vehicles. “The integration of these devices with speed governing technology is showing enormous promise for transportation safety,” the letter continues. “Given the rapid development and widespread adoption of this integrated technology and the safety benefits they produce, we believe the issue of speed governing should be addressed with a 21st-century solution to ensure maximum adaptability.” Just one day later, on March 4, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) responded, sending its own letter to Buttigieg decrying the mandated use of speed limiters. OOIDA has long opposed efforts to mandate speed-limiting devices, saying the technology actually makes roads less safe, increasing traffic congestion and speed differentials between commercial and passenger vehicles and ultimately leading to more crashes. In its March 4 letter, OOIDA cites studies showing the detrimental effects of speed limiters, including increased equipment cost and added stress on truck drivers who would potentially be forced to drive at a speed lower than the posted speed limit. “Studies and research have already proven what we were all taught long ago in driver’s ed classes: Traffic is safest when vehicles travel at the same relative speed,” said Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA, in a prepared statement. “What the motoring public should know is that when they are stuck behind trucks on long stretches of highway, those trucks are limited by a device to a speed well under the posted limit. This proposal would make that the norm for every truck on the road.” OOIDA’s letter calls the proposed legislation “nothing more than an attempt to eliminate one of the few economic advantages small-business truckers currently enjoy” — the ability to let drivers operate at posted speed limits, reducing the risk of hours-of-service violations by drivers attempting to make scheduled deliveries while traveling at slower speeds than surrounding traffic. “Drivers hate speed limiters because of the operational and safety problems they create,” Spencer explained. “Large carriers would love nothing more than to ensure every truck and carrier is stuck with these devices, so their drivers stop fleeing for jobs at more trucker-friendly carriers.” Spencer also noted that ATA has pushed for speed-limiter mandates in the past, only to oppose the legislation later. “To be frank, it is difficult to keep track of what ATA and its members think about speed limiters,” Spencer said. “We would recommend that DOT hold off on a mandate, if only because we’re not sure where ATA will be on this by the time the agency could produce a proposal.”

A voice for drivers, an ear from the FMCSA: Drivers selected for advisory panel share changes they want to see in trucking

Hannah Butler - March 8, 2021

WASHINGTON — Some applied because they were recommended. Others applied because they wanted to make a difference in the trucking industry. No matter the reason for applying to serve, these 25 people have one similarity: Each is a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver. These 25 drivers have been selected to make up an advisory panel to the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Leading the panel as chair is Todd Spencer, a current member of MCSAC and the president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). “My role is to try to be a conduit for what’s possible and what’s not,” Spencer said. “I’m certain that all of these folks have something on their mind that they would like to share. It would be my hope that the agency will be interested in receiving that input.” FMCSA announced the advisory panel appointments Jan. 15. There is no set date for when the panel will begin meeting, although the FMCSA is going through leadership changes as President Joe Biden’s administration continues to move key players into leadership positions. Commercial drivers were asked to submit a resume and personal statement detailing their qualifications during the 21-day application period in September and October 2020. “There are new people being appointed or selected for FMCSA, and I think those new people will have an interest in the driver panel,” he said. “I suspect that is some of what is going on in the FMCSA right now.” Spencer said his hope is that the agency considers the input suggested by the panel. A concern he’d like to see brought up is driver detention. “One of the things that plagues drivers in so many ways, in so many areas — and hurts the entire industry — is what happens in the unloading and loading environment, where drivers are detained, routinely and regularly,” Spencer said. “Nobody benefits when drivers are detained needlessly and unable to actually be productive.” Deb Labree, an owner-operator who drives for Castle Transport, said being selected to serve on the panel is “pretty exciting.” “I was completely shocked and honored that my application to be on the panel was accepted,” she said. “I’m just thrilled about it.” Labree has been in the trucking industry for 14 years, and said she’s learned change requires action. “You can either complain about things in the industry, or you can be a voice and educate others so that better decisions are made for us all,” she said. “If you want to make a difference, you have to get out there and make a difference. You have to volunteer your time and be a part of panels like this to educate and maybe see better things happen for our industry.” Like other truck drivers on the panel, Labree said she is hoping to see improvements in safe truck parking. Another panelist, Desiree Wood, is also concerned with the efforts of truck parking. “Truck parking is something I got super involved in because of Jason’s Law,” Wood said. Jason’s Law was passed in 2012 to enact programs and awareness for safe truck parking spaces. The law was enacted after truck driver Jason Rivenburg was murdered in 2009 during an attempted robbery while parked in an unsafe location. Wood is also the founder of Real Women in Trucking, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a safe trucking experience for women. Wood said she hopes the panel takes action rather than becoming what she calls a “paper tiger” advisory panel. By definition from Oxford Languages, a paper tiger is a person or thing that appears threatening but is ineffectual. “(Paper tigers) look like they’re doing something, but they’re really not doing anything,” Wood said. “They’re not going to talk about anything controversial, they’re not going to hold anybody accountable, but they want the public to think they’re doing so.” Steve Fields, a panelist and driver for YRC Freight, said he’s excited about advocating for his industry. “It’s important for me to give my opinion,” Fields said. “It’s all of our jobs in the industry to voice your opinion. Each driver can bring something different and unique, and a different opinion.” Fields has been driving for 35 years and has achieved 3 million miles without an accident. With experience in delivery and city runs, as well as a familiarity with different types of equipment, Fields said he has a wealth of prior knowledge to bring the table. “As drivers, we pretty much know how important trucking is to the United States and the world,” Fields said. “Recently, with COVID, I think it’s shed some light for the public to understand and actually realize how important trucking is to this country. If you think about the toilet paper shortage, paper towel shortages and water shortages, (they) didn’t last very long — and trucking was on its way. We got the shelves stocked back up, and we were seeing people on the overpasses waving at the truckers. I think it’s shed a lot of light on how important this industry is to this country.” As a part of the panel, he hopes to be involved in producing safer conditions for drivers. “My biggest concern is safety and making drivers aware of bad situations, whether it be slick roads, weather, disability or just being tired at the wheel,” he said. “Those are bad situations that can get people hurt. That’s what I’m most looking forward to — helping with the rules about safety and making drivers more aware.” Panelist Kellylynn McLaughlin, a driver for Schneider International, is also hoping to see safety issues changed. “My main goal is to improve safety, efficiency and the whole driver experience,” she said. “By being on the panel, I have the opportunity to share my perspective as a woman and as a company driver.” McLaughlin has been with Schneider for five years. In that time, she has made changes for the industry, becoming an ambassador for Women In Trucking, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging diversity in employment of trucking. As a driver ambassador, McLaughlin shares motivation, informational tips and behind-the-scenes of being a truck driver. “All along, I have wanted to have these conversations with the people who make decisions that affect me — ‘me’ being drivers on the ground level,” she said. “The FMCSA makes the decisions that affect us. There’s no better place to be able to participate in our regulatory process than to be sitting at that table. I’m incredibly honored, and want to make the best use of their time and my time.” In addition to the panelists mentioned above, there are 20 other professional drivers who will serve on the panel, including: William Bennett III, UPS Freight; Teddy Cranford, Waste Management of Maryland Inc.; Debra Desiderato, Walkabout Transport; Douglas Feathers, URS Midwest Inc.; JoAnne Forbes, MBT Worldwide Inc.; Gerald Fritts Jr., American Overland Freight; John Grosvenor, McKiernan Trucking; Attila Gyorfi, RSP Express Inc.; Scott Harrison, K Limited Carriers; Rhonda Hartman, Old Dominion Freight Lines; Darwin Hershberger; Hershberger Livestock LLC; Daniel Kobussen, Kobussen Buses Ltd.; Alphonso Lewis, YRC Freight; Don Logan, FedEx Freight; Tina Peterson, Ravenwood Transport; Stephen Pryor, Greyhound Lines Inc.; Kevin (Brandy) Russell, Transport America; Douglas Smith, Ralph Smith Co.; Kevin Steichen, Steichen Trucking; and Angelique Temple, Atlantic Bulk Carrier. In a nutshell, the panelists simply want the voices of drivers across the U.S. to be heard, and for their input to be considered. “You hope that when they [FMCSA] request a panel like this, that they really are serious about hearing about each one of us and each one of our experiences,” Labree said. “We all haul different kinds of freight, we all have different experiences, and we can take all that and be able to make better, sound rules for us that maybe have some flexibility and better utilize time and resources.”

New names add personality to South Dakota snowplows

The Trucker News Staff - March 8, 2021

PIERRE, S.D. — Darth Blader. Mt. Plowmore. Blizzard Wizard. Frosty the Snowplow. These are just a few of the monikers assigned to the snowplows of South Dakota. Back in January, the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) rolled out the agency’s first-ever “Name the Snowplow” contest. When the contest ended Jan. 31, more than 800 entries had been submitted by individuals, families, elementary classrooms, senior living centers and businesses throughout the state. “The contest was designed to engage people across the state with the SDDOT in a fun and unique way,” said Joel Jundt, South Dakota’s interim secretary of transportation. “Safety on our roadways is our number one priority, and winter driving and snowplow safety awareness is vital to keeping people safe each and every day. Voting was conducted by the SDDOT staff, and 12 winners were selected. The winners will soon officially meet and take photos with their locally named snowplows. While most of the snowplow names will inspire chuckles, the snowplow assigned to the state’s Belle Fourche Area honors the late Art DeKnikker, a former DDOT snowplow operator. “The name ‘Art’ was submitted by several people in the Belle Fourche Area in memory of 43-year SDDOT veteran snowplow operator, Art DeKnikker,” said Todd Seaman, Rapid City Region engineer. “The opportunity to honor Art’s dedicated public service is a true testament to all our plow operators who work hard every day to keep citizens safe.” The newly named plows include: Aberdeen Area: Darth Blader, submitted by Dave Bacon; Belle Fourche Area: Art, submitted by family and friends of Art DeKnikker; Custer Area: Mt. Plowmore, submitted by Landon Harrod; Huron Area: Snow Mater, submitted by Jim Bruce; Mitchell Area: Blizzard Wizard, submitted by Cordell Davis; Mobridge Area: Winter Warrior, submitted by Marion Goehring; Pierre Area: Lewis & Clark, submitted by Jackie Heier; Rapid City Area: Polar Patroller, submitted by Tiffany Hoff; Sioux Falls Area: SnowBeGone Kenobi, submitted by Shawn Hanson; Watertown Area: Thaw Enforcement, submitted by Robert Innes; Winner Area: Walter the Salter, submitted by the Dairy Queen of Winner staff; and Yankton Area: Frosty the Snowplow, submitted by Lilly Kroger. Once SDDOT has photographed the winners and their snowplows, photos and local stories will be shared on the agency’s website.

South Carolina House passes bill to ticket slow left lane drivers

The Associated Press - March 8, 2021

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House has passed a bill that would let police write a ticket for someone driving too slow in the left lane. On March 4, the House voted 108-0 to pass the bill, which would make it illegal for a driver to stay in the left lane if they know or should know they are going to be overtaken by a faster vehicle and can safely change lanes. Violators could face a $200 fine or 30 days in jail. The House removed a two-point penalty on the violator’s driver’s license before voting Thursday. The bill now goes to the Senate. Similar proposals have been frequently debated in recent years at the state’s General Assembly, but have not passed. House Speaker Jay Lucas called it the “oft debated, seldom passed” bill as he called for the vote. Supporters have been passionate about it. “I have been working on not using profanity as much,” said Rep. Cezar McKnight, a Democrat who drives from Kingstree to Columbia about every day during session. “Did you know the people who are violating the laws as stated in your bill are keeping me from fulfilling my promise to myself?”

California agency releases long-range plan for sustainable transportation system

The Trucker News Staff - March 5, 2021

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — By the year 2050, moving around California will be safer, cleaner and simpler, with more mobility options, according to Caltrans, the state’s transportation department. The California Transportation Plan (CTP) 2050, released by Caltrans this week, details the state’s long-range transportation vision and establishes a roadmap to improve mobility and accessibility in the state while reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation. “California’s transportation system connects 40 million residents to jobs, housing, vital services and recreation,” said Toks Omishakin, director of Caltrans. “The plan sets a bold vision to foster economic vitality, protect our environment and meet the transportation needs of all Californians.” Rather than focusing on individual projects and budgets, according to Caltrans, the CTP 2050 is a comprehensive, ambitious plan that examines wide-ranging policies and strategies to meet key objectives, such as expanding economici opportunities, creating a low-carbon transportation system, enhancing safety and security on bridges and roads, enhancing quality of life, and more. By 2050, Caltrans estimates that California’s transportation system will need to support 45 million residents. In addition, the state has a goal of reducing transportation-generated greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 emissions levels by 2050. To help achieve these goals, Caltrans, in cooperation with local transportation agencies, included the following priorities in the CTP 2050: Safety: Provide a safe and secure system designed to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries and withstand natural disasters. Climate: Achieve statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and make the state’s transportation system more resilient to climate change. Equity: Eliminate transportation barriers and expand access across all communities, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color and for people with disabilities. Accessibility: Improve mobility across all modes of transportation, including transit, walking, biking and vehicle travel so all Californians can safely and easily reach their destination. Quality of life and public health: Enable vibrant, healthy communities through expanded walking and bicycling paths and convenient transit options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on driving. Economy: Support a vibrant, resilient economy by improving freight movement and access to housing and jobs. Environment: Reduce the negative impacts of transportation by expanding low-carbon and sustainable mobility options. Infrastructure: Maintain a reliable transportation system that is sustainable and resilient to climate change and natural disasters. To view Caltrans’ CTP 2050 report, click here.

Love’s Travel Stops opens new location off I-86 in Bath, New York

The Trucker News Staff - March 5, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Bath, New York, thanks to a truck stop that opened Thursday, March 4. The Bath store, located off Interstate 86, adds 45 jobs and 56 truck parking spaces to Steuben County. “With this new location, we’re excited to better serve professional drivers in the Northeast by opening our third New York location,” said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “Our team members are great people who care and are ready to help get professional drivers and four-wheel customers back on the road quickly and safely.” This location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 12,000 square feet; Wendy’s; 56 truck parking spaces; 85 car parking spaces; Nine RV parking spaces; Seven diesel bays; Seven showers; Laundry facilities; Love’s Truck Care; Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee; Brand-name snacks; Fresh Kitchen concept; Mobile to Go Zone with the latest electronics; CAT scale; and Dog park (coming soon). In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 to Haverling High School in Bath.

Trucking groups ask CDC to designate truck stops as COVID-19 vaccine sites

The Trucker News Staff - March 5, 2021

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A group of organizations representing the trucking industry have asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use truck stops and travel plazas across the U.S. as COVID-19 vaccination sites. In addition to NATSO, which represents truck stops and travel plazas, the group includes the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the National Private Truck Council, the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and the Tank Truck Carriers In a Feb. 25 letter addressed to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the group offered its assistance in meeting President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million people in 100 days. “Truck stops and travel plazas are designed to cater to the unique needs of truck drivers, who spend hundreds of days each year away from home,” said Lisa Mullings, president and CEO of NATSO. “Commercial drivers who are unable to access medical services in their home state or while driving a tractor-trailer already are accustomed to accessing these services at truck stops and travel centers. Designating our network as mobile vaccination sites will ensure efficient vaccinations for the essential truck drivers who deliver America’s needs as well as the employees who serve them.” Using truck stops and travel plazas as mobile vaccination sites would alleviate significant challenges faced by truck drivers in receiving the vaccine. Many states, for example, currently require proof of residency to receive a vaccine. Truck drivers, however, are often on the road for weeks or even months at a time, away from their home state. Under this plan, truck drivers would be allowed to receive a vaccine in any state, and they would be allowed to receive their second vaccination at a different location because of the difficulty in arranging their schedules to return to the primary vaccination site on a specific date or time. “TCA continues to be awed by the dedication of the hardworking men and women in our industry who put their own health and well-being on the line to ensure the vaccine makes it safely to its final destination, all while wondering when they will be able to receive their own shots,” said John Lyboldt, president of TCA. “We stand ready to help in any way possible to alleviate this concern, and urge the CDC to prioritize the trucking industry as the vaccination effort expands.” Dan Horvath, vice president of safety policy for ATA, said it’s important to make sure members of the trucking industry have access to the COVID-19 vaccine while on the road. “We cannot expect drivers — some of whom are actively transporting the vaccine — to return to their home domicile in order to receive the vaccine. Removing the red tape and using truck stops and travel plazas as mobile distribution sites exclusively for our industry will assist in making the vaccine available for those who choose to receive it,” he said. Donna Kennedy, executive director of the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, pointed to the vital role of truckers. “Throughout the last year truck drivers have continued risking their lives to bring us food, supplies, medical equipment, PPE, and now, vaccines,” she said. “It only seems right that our Highway Heroes, these essential workers, be prioritized with immunization against the virus. The St. Christopher Fund feels that it is vital for truck drivers to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible, and that they have easy access to the vaccines. To help with this, we are working with pharmacies and NATSO to make a nationwide plan to have vaccine clinics at truck stops.”

SUV came through hole in border fence before crash with semi, 13 dead

The Associated Press - March 4, 2021

HOLTVILLE, Calif. — The 13 people killed in one of the deadliest highway crashes involving migrants sneaking into the U.S. had entered California through a section of border fence with Mexico that was cut away — apparently by smugglers — immigration officials said Wednesday, March 3. Surveillance video showed a Ford Expedition and a Chevrolet Suburban drive through the opening early Tuesday, said Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol’s El Centro sector chief. The video has not been publicly released because it’s part of an ongoing investigation. The Suburban, which carried 19 people, caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Expedition, crammed with 25 people continued on, and a tractor-trailer struck it a short time later. Ten of the 13 killed in that crash have been identified as Mexican citizens. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the wreck. The opening in the fence was about 30 miles east of the crash in the heart of California’s Imperial Valley, a major farming region now at the height of a harvest that provides much of the lettuce, onions, broccoli and winter vegetables to U.S. supermarkets. The fence is made of steel bollards that were built before former President Donald Trump blanketed much of the border with taller barriers that go deeper into the ground. Photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris. “Human smugglers have proven time and again they have little regard for human life,” Bovino said. “Those who may be contemplating crossing the border illegally should pause to think of the dangers that all too often end in tragedy, tragedies our Border Patrol Agents and first responders are unfortunately very familiar with.” The breach occurred in a busy area for illegal crossings near the Imperial Sand Dunes, where migrants often climb over an aging barrier and wait for drivers to pick them up, hoping to avoid the scrutiny of Border Patrol agents at checkpoints on highways leading to Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. A pandemic-related measure that allows the Border Patrol to expel people without an opportunity to seek asylum potentially leads some to try to evade authorities instead of surrendering, sometimes with fatal consequences. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced expulsion powers nearly a year ago under Trump, and the Biden administration has signaled no plans to lift them anytime soon. The cause of Tuesday’s collision wasn’t yet known, authorities said. The Expedition is built to hold eight people safely, but smugglers are known to pack people into vehicles in extremely unsafe conditions to maximize their profits. Seats in the SUV had been removed except for those for the driver and front passenger, said Omar Watson, chief of the California Highway Patrol’s border division. The crash happened in an area that became a major route for illegal border crossings in the late 1990s after heightened enforcement in San Diego pushed migrants to more remote areas. Barely a mile from the crash, there is a cemetery with rows of unmarked bricks that is a burial ground for migrants who died crossing the border. In 2001, John Hunter founded Water Station, a volunteer group that leaves jugs of water in giant plastic drums for dehydrated migrants. “I was trying to figure out how to stop the deaths,” said Hunter, whose brother Duncan strongly advocated for border wall construction as a congressman. Illegal crossings in the area fell sharply in the mid-2000s, but the area has remained a draw for migrants and was a priority for wall construction under Trump. His administration’s first wall project was in Calexico. When police arrived Tuesday at the crash site about 125 miles east of San Diego, some passengers were trying to crawl out of the crumpled SUV. Others were wandering around the nearby fields. The big rig’s front end was pushed into the SUV’s left side and two empty trailers were jackknifed behind it. The men and women in the SUV ranged in age from 15 to 53, and those who survived had injuries that were minor to severe, including fractures and head trauma, officials said. The driver was from Mexicali, Mexico, just across the border, and was among those killed. The 68-year-old driver of the big rig, who is from the nearby California community of El Centro, suffered moderate injuries. The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. under a clear, sunny sky at an intersection just outside the community of Holtville, about 11 miles north of the border. Authorities said the tractor-trailer was heading north on a highway when the SUV pulled in front of it from a road with a stop sign. It’s not clear if the SUV ran the stop sign or had stopped before entering the highway. How fast both vehicles were going also wasn’t yet known. A 1997 Ford Expedition can carry a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds. If it had 25 people inside, that would easily exceed the payload limit, taxing the brakes and making it tougher to steer the vehicle, said Frank Borris, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation. “You’re going to have extended stopping distances, delayed reactions to steering inputs and potential overreaction to any type of high-speed lane change,” said Borris, who now runs a safety consulting business. By Elliot Spagat, The Associated Press. Associated Press reporters Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Julie Watson in San Diego, Anita Snow in Phoenix, Tom Krisher in Detroit and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed.

USDOT’s inspector general faults former Secretary Elaine Chao over ethics concerns

The Associated Press - March 4, 2021

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s watchdog asked the Justice Department to criminally investigate Elaine Chao late last year over concerns that she misused her office when she was transportation secretary under President Donald Trump but was rebuffed, according to a report released Wednesday, March 3. The report said the department’s inspector general found that Chao used her staff and office for personal tasks and to promote a shipping business owned by Chao’s father and sisters, in an apparent violation of federal ethics rules. But when the inspector general’s office referred its findings to the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington and prosecutors at the Justice Department who focus on public integrity cases, both declined to bring charges, the report said. “A formal investigation into potential misuses of position was warranted,” deputy inspector general Mitch Behm wrote in a letter to lawmakers. Chao, the wife of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, stepped down from her job early this year in the last weeks of the Trump administration, citing her disapproval over the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by Trump’s supporters. Chao has denied wrongdoing. In the report released March 3, she did not specifically respond to allegations, instead providing a September 2020 memo that argued promoting her family was an appropriate part of her official duties at the department. The shipping company owned by her family does substantial business with China. “Asian audiences welcome and respond positively to actions by the secretary that include her father in activities when appropriate,” that memo said. The watchdog report cited several instances that raised ethical concerns. In one, Chao instructed political appointees in the department to contact the Homeland Security Department to check personally on the status of a work permit application for a student who was a recipient of her family’s philanthropic foundation. Chao also made extensive plans for an official trip to China in November 2017 — before she canceled it — that would have included stops at places that had received support from her family’s business, the New York-based Foremost Group. According to department emails, Chao directed her staff to include her relatives in the official events and high-level meetings during the trip. “Above all, let’s keep (the Secretary) happy,” one of the department’s employees wrote to another staffer regarding Chao’s father. “If Dr. Chao is happy, then we should be flying with a feather in our hat.” The report found that Chao also directed the department’s public affairs staff to assist her father in the marketing of his personal biography and to edit his Wikipedia page, and used staff to check on repairs of an item at a store for her father. The inspector general’s report said Justice Department officials ultimately declined to take up a criminal review, saying there “may be ethical and/or administrative issues” but no evidence to support possible criminal charges. As a result, the inspector general’s office said in the report it was now closing its investigation “based on the lack of prosecutorial interest” from the Justice Department. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House transportation committee, who requested the investigation, expressed disappointment that the review was not completed and released while Chao was still in office. “Public servants, especially those responsible for leading tens of thousands of other public servants, must know that they serve the public and not their family’s private commercial interests,” he said. By Hope Yen, The Associated Press

Charges pending against driver, passenger who crashed into semi during police chase

The Trucker News Staff - March 3, 2021

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — The driver and passenger of a passenger vehicle that crashed into a tractor-trailer while attempting to flee Indiana State Police during the early hours of March 3 have been arrested pending felony and misdemeanor charges. At 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 3, Indiana State Trooper Dennis Griffin observed a black 2010 Volkswagen traveling east on Interstate 80/94 near Cline Avenue, at a high rate of speed. A radar check revealed the car’s speed as 96 mph in a posted 55 mph zone. Griffin pursued the Volkswagen, pacing it at 100 mph as the driver began to “make unsafe lane movements,” according to a statement from the Indiana State Police. When Griffin attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver of the Volkswagen accelerated, and a pursuit was initiated when the vehicle exited the interstate at Grant Street and then reentered the westbound lanes toward Illinois. As the pursuit continued, the driver turned off all the lights on the suspect vehicle in what Griffin believed was a further attempt to flee. While traveling without lights, the vehicle crashed into the trailer of a semi that was also traveling westbound. The two vehicles then stopped near Calumet Ave. Both occupants of the car were immediately taken into custody. Neither the driver of the semi nor the occupants of the Volkswagen were injured as a result of the crash. Troopers recovered a loaded .45 caliber Glock handgun from the scene and later seized a bag of suspected marijuana from the passenger. The driver, Aris J. Lawson, 25, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and passenger, Kayla J. Davis, 23, of Sauk Village, Illinois, were transported to the Lake County Jail for booking. In addition to an outstanding warrant for possession of marijuana in Lake County, preliminary charges against Lawson include: Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon (Level 5 felony); Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 felony); Handgun, no license (Class A misdemeanor); and Reckless Driving (Class B misdemeanor). Preliminary charges against Davis include: Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor); Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A misdemeanor); and Possession of Marijuana (Class B misdemeanor). All persons named are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.

US infrastructure gets C- from engineers as roads stagnate

The Associated Press - March 3, 2021

AUSTIN, Texas — America’s infrastructure has scored near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit and storm water systems due to years of inaction from the federal government, the American Society of Civil Engineers reports. Its overall grade: a mediocre C-. In its “Infrastructure Report Card” released Wednesday, March 3, the group called for “big and bold” relief, estimating it would cost $5.9 trillion over the next decade to bring roads, bridges and airports to a safe and sustainable level. That’s about $2.6 trillion more than what government and the private sector already spend. “America’s infrastructure is not functioning as it should, and families are losing thousands of dollars a year in disposable income as a result of cities having to fix potholes, people getting stuck in traffic or due to repairs when a water line breaks or the energy grid goes down,” said Greg DiLoreto, one of the group’s past presidents. “It’s critical we take action now,” he said, expressing optimism that the federal government is now making it a “top priority.” During Donald Trump’s four years in the White House, his administration often held “Infrastructure Week” events and touted transportation improvements. But it was not able to push Congress to pass any broad plan to update the nation’s roads and bridges, rails and airports. The overall C- grade on America’s infrastructure — reflecting a “mediocre” condition with “significant deficiencies” — is a slight improvement from its D+ grade in 2017. The group cited in part state and local government and private-sector efforts, which have turned to new technology to pinpoint water main leaks and prioritize fixes. But of the 17 categories making up the overall grade, 11 were in the D range that indicated a “significant deterioration” with a “strong risk of failure.” They included public transit, storm water infrastructure, airports, and roads and highways, which make up the biggest chunk of U.S. infrastructure spending at $1.6 trillion, according to the group. Four areas got Cs: bridges, which dropped from a C+ to a C in 2021, energy, drinking water and solid waste. Just two areas — ports and rail — scored higher, with a B- and B, respectively. President Joe Biden’s administration and lawmakers in recent weeks have begun laying the groundwork for a long-sought boost to the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure of $2 trillion or more, to be unveiled after Congress approves legislation on COVID-19 relief. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has been meeting with lawmakers about the effort, has said the aim would be to rejuvenate the post-coronavirus pandemic economy and boost crumbling roads and bridges while encouraging alternative forms of transportation to cars, as well as create thousands of green jobs by making environmentally friendly retrofits and public works improvements. “This report card is a warning and a call to action,” Buttigieg told The Associated Press. “A generation of disinvestment is catching up to us, and we must choose whether to allow our global competitors to pull ahead permanently, or to invest in the safety, equity, resilience and economic strength that superior infrastructure can bring to Americans.” Buttigieg announced on March 2 the first low-cost federal transportation loan in the Biden administration, up to $448 million to Texas for toll-road projects in Austin to ease congestion, touting bike-friendly features such as a planned 10-foot-wide paved sidewalk for cyclists and pedestrians with access to trails. “As communities across the country continue to battle the pandemic, we are committed to being a partner to help them save money, reduce congestion and improve mobility, safety, and accessibility,” said Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who will address the engineers group later Wednesday. In its report card, the group said years of inaction has had consequences. It cited growing costs being passed along to consumers as cities and states grapple with funding shortages to fix roads and bridges and delay other major upgrades to infrastructure. The nation’s weak infrastructure has been a problem for communities, including Texas’ recent struggles with power outages and water shortages after a brutal winter storm. Unusually frigid conditions led to frozen pipes that burst and flooded homes, and millions of residents lost heat and running water. According to the report card, the nation is only paying about half of what it needs to lift overall U.S. infrastructure to an acceptable “B” level. Left unaddressed, America’s overdue infrastructure bill by 2039 will cost the average American household $3,300 a year, or $63 a week, the group said. It urged strong leadership, greater investment and “new approaches,” such as taking into account the reality of climate change in longer-term capital improvement plans. “Big and bold action from Washington, as well as continued prioritization by states and localities, is needed to bring all our infrastructure to a state of good repair,” the report card said. By Hope Yen, The Associated Press

Senators reintroduce bill to promote women in trucking

The Trucker News Staff - March 2, 2021

WASHINGTON — The Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act was reintroduced in Congress in late February by members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “In Wisconsin, we make things, and we need to ensure we have a strong workforce to transport our goods to market,” Baldwin said. “Removing the barriers that get in the way of women pursuing and retaining careers in trucking is key. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Sen. Moran, because more job opportunities for Wisconsin women will lead to more economic security for working families.” The Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act (S.2858) was originally introduced Nov. 14, 2019, and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bipartisan legislation, designed to support women in the trucking industry, directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) to establish and facilitate a Women of Trucking Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that (1) provide education, training, mentorship, or outreach to women in the trucking industry; and (2) recruit women into the trucking industry. “Over the past year, we have relied on the essential service the trucking industry provides to transport critical resources to Kansas and across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moran said. “As the trucking industry continues to face a driver shortage, we must find new ways to recruit and retain drivers, including supporting women pursuing careers in trucking.” The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women make up 46.8% of the nation’s total workforce but make up just 24% of the U.S. trucking industry — and only 7% of drivers are women. “Truckers are essential to keeping Nebraska’s economy running, but the industry is experiencing a shortage of drivers,” said Senator Fischer. “Examining ways to encourage more women to enter the trucking industry is good policy and could connect more women with good jobs.” Tester noted that, while women are a growing force in transportation, they still face obstacles when pursuing careers in trucking. “This bill is a hat trick, ensuring we’re breaking down barriers for Montana women, bringing more good-paying jobs to the Treasure State, and strengthening our workforce so we can deliver more of our world-class products to market,” he said. The legislation received support from shipping and trucking organizations, including FedEx, American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Women In Trucking Association (WIT), United Parcel Service (UPS) and others. “While the trucking industry has taken great strides over the last decade, growing the number of women truck drivers by 68% since 2010, the fact is that women remain underrepresented in the industry,” noted Edwin Gilroy, ATA’s senior vice president. “We agree that more work needs to be done. The Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act represents a tangible step toward a stronger and more diverse trucking workforce.” Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT, said she believes the proposed advisory board would help increase opportunities for women in a variety of occupations within the trucking industry, including drivers, technicians, company owners, trainers and more. “Although women have strengthened their presence in supply chain in the past few years, we know there are still issues that cause women to reject a transportation career,” she said. “Our goal is to better identify these concerns and address them to create a more diverse industry. Under the bill, the Women in Trucking Advisory Board would identify barriers that hinder the entry of women to the trucking industry, work across organizations and companies to coordinate formal education and training programs, and help identify and establish training and mentorship programs for women in the industry. The legislation also requires the FMCSA administrator to submit a report to Congress on the board’s findings and recommendations. “Working with Congress to make careers in trucking appealing, sustainable and successful for anyone who wants to enter our industry is a priority for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association,” said Todd Spencer, the organization’s president. “We support the Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act because it will not only help more women begin careers in trucking, but will improve conditions for drivers currently behind the wheel.” U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) introduced the bipartisan companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Truckers oppose PennDOT’s bridge tolling plan

Cliff Abbott - March 2, 2021

The state with the highest fuel taxes in the nation needs more money — a LOT more money — to fix crumbling bridges and highways, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The agency’s PennDOT Pathways web page says the current $6.9 billion budget is $8.1 billion short of the $15 billion it claims are needed to make repairs. PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian, in an Associated Press article, blamed current funding methods for the shortfall. “Our reliance on funding models from the last century leaves us especially vulnerable to fund losses stemming from volatile economic conditions and the increasing transition to alternative-fuel or electric vehicles,” she said. To address the shortfall, Pennsylvania is once again looking at tolling. Through the PennDOT Pathways Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (P3), contracts to repair or replace nine bridges on interstate highways would be signed with private contractors, who would then collect tolls for a specified period to recoup costs of construction and tolling infrastructure. “This initiative will help us make much-needed improvements without compromising the routine projects our communities and industry partners rely on,” Gramian explained. Because the P3 commission was already approved by the Pennsylvania legislature, further approval to implement bridge tolling isn’t necessary. As expected, Pennsylvania’s trucking industry is strongly opposed to new tolling. At a Jan. 25 hearing about the P3 tolling initiative before the Pennsylvania Senate, Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) Interim President Joe Butzer and Chairman Mark Giuffre presented information outlining the effects of Act 89, passed in 2013 to increase funding for infrastructure improvements. The presentation showed that taxes paid per truck registered in Pennsylvania and running 100,000 miles in the state had increased by more than $7,452 in less than a decade. “We are not willing to fund another increase,” Butzer told the group. “It’s just not a fee that we can pass on to our customers.” Small fleet owner and driver Lamar Buckwalter is also tired of trucking footing the bill for road maintenance. “Government and lawyers always go after the truck. We are guaranteed money,” he explained. “I’m sorry, but I find it very disturbing to always go after the truck. (The) general public just doesn’t understand that we can only absorb so much before we need to push our rates up to cover the expenses.” Butzer pointed out to the Senate, “In Pennsylvania, trucking pays almost 40% of the cost of building and maintaining roadways, despite totaling only 9% of the miles.” In a Dec. 7, 2020, letter to Pennsylvania senators, Butzer was more critical. “Pennsylvania has the second highest fuel taxes [highest diesel fuel tax] in the entire U.S. and in addition, has one of the highest costs to register a tractor trailer in this nation,” he said. “How can every other state DOT in the nation meet their highway needs, but PennDOT is continually asking for more money?” Pennsylvania already has more than 500 miles of toll roads, including the well-known Pennsylvania Turnpike. The state is a thoroughfare for truck traffic originating in the upper Midwest to the Northwest and destined for highly populated areas of the Northeast. Tolls on bridges located on major interstates, including four on Interstate 80 and one each on Interstates 78, 79, 81, 83 and 95, would impact nearly every truck traveling through the state. In 2007, a proposal to make I-80 through Pennsylvania a toll road was strongly opposed by the trucking industry before being rejected by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Some of the contention over the latest proposal stems from the trucking industry’s support of Act 89, passed in November 2013 with the goal of increasing transportation funding in the state by $2.3 billion per year. In a January 2014 informational publication, PennDOT called Act 89 “the most comprehensive piece of state transportation legislation in decades.” The agency claimed “thousands of bridges and more than 10,000 roadway miles will be improved or rebuilt.” In an interview with The Trucker, PMTA Director of Member Communications Brandon Moree said, “(PTMA) agreed to accept the increases with the understanding that the money raised would be used for infrastructure improvements,” reiterating Butzer’s statement, “We are not willing to fund another increase.” Seven years after the passage of Act 89, PennDOT claims that more than 2,500 bridges in the state are in poor condition — the second worst of any state in the U.S. PennDOT’s Pathways website claims, “While Act 89 was a significant achievement, it did not meet the needs identified at the time, and those needs have grown over time.” The agency threatens that some bridges in the U.S. National Highway System (NHS) could see lowered weight limits, resulting in detours that increase travel time and cost for freight haulers. That’s a threat that doesn’t sit well with the PMTA. In his letter to senators, Butzer stated, “In the final days prior to the passage of Act 89, PennDOT threatened to reduce the weight capacity of bridges throughout the Commonwealth, which forced our company owners to contact their local legislators. PennDOT cannot use this same threat to achieve even more funding.” Buckwalter is already familiar with the frequent toll increases on the Turnpike. “Every year for at least the last 6 years and I think for the next 6 years the PA Turnpike rates have gone up,” he said. “To be honest, I have no clue where that money goes or what it’s used for. Clearly not for our roads!” Buckwalter doesn’t have much confidence in the leadership abilities of current Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf. “Governor Wolf is a poor excuse for a leader,” he said. “He has cost our state thousands of jobs, forced businesses to move to other states or close, and wastes so much money.” Pennsylvania State Sen. John DiSanto (R-District 15) wants to make sure Wolf receives credit — or discredit — for his part in the bridge tolling plan. He has announced plans to introduce legislation to rename the I-83 bridge in Harrisburg the “Governor Tom Wolf Bridge.” Thousands of commuters use the bridge daily. His is not the only such proposal. State Sen. Cris Dush, a Republican, has announced a similar plan to rename the current I-95 Girard Point bridge in Philadelphia the “Governor Tom Wolf Toll-Bridge.” While the complaints continue, PennDOT plans to conduct environmental studies and accumulate public input on the nine bridge tolling proposals. Buckwalter predicts enacting the bridge tolls will have one inevitable result. “I really think you will see a lot of trucks on back roads if this proposal passes,” he said. “This, then, will upset the smaller communities. It honestly will cause more harm than good.” As vehicles become more fuel efficient and electric vehicles claim a larger share of future sales, governing bodies at all levels are seeking funding alternatives to the current fuel tax structure. Many of them will be watching for the results of the Pennsylvania bridge tolling plan.

Love’s to limit trucker services at Ormond Beach, Florida, location during Bike Week

The Trucker News Staff - March 2, 2021

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — In expectation of unusually heavy traffic as motorcyclists converge on the Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach area during Florida’s Bike Week, the Love’s Travel Stop on Interstate 95/U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach will provide truckers with fuel-and-go services only during the day beginning Friday, March 5, and continuing through Sunday, March 14. Overnight parking for commercial drivers will also be impacted. About 15 spots will be available during Bike Week; drivers must vacate the spots by 7 a.m. each day. According to a statement from Loves, Daytona Harley Davidson, located next door to the Ormond Beach travel center, is a “major participant” in the annual motorcycle event and rally, resulting in unusually heavy traffic. “In past years, the increased traffic volumes for professional drivers waiting to fuel — combined with the significant influx of cars, trucks and motorcycles — has caused severe traffic jams, forcing state police to close the exit. Love’s wants to provide necessary fueling for professional drivers. To ensure that occurs, drivers will need to continue moving in and out of the lot during the day,” the statement notes. For more information about restrictions at this location during Bike week, click here.