The Nation

LAREDO, Texas — An unlucky smuggler watched his cargo go “down the drain” Oct. 2 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered 13,744 pounds of alleged marijuana hidden in a shipment of toilets. CBP officers stopped the 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer, inbound from Mexico, at the World Trade Bridge and referred the vehicle for a canine and nonintrusive imaging system inspection. The inspection revealed more than just commodes — officers found 1,017 packages containing narcotics with an estimated street value of $2,748,404. The alleged marijuana was seized by CBP, and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation. “As our frontline CBP officers at World Trade Bridge seek to facilitate lawful commerce in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they maintain a robust enforcement posture and that vigilance and attention to detail resulted in the seizure of more than six and a half tons of marijuana hidden within the commodity,” said Andrew Douglas, acting port director for the Laredo Port of Entry.

LAREDO, Texas, and WASHINGTON — Agents with Laredo sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last week stopped two human-smuggling attempts by drivers of commercial trucks. The first incident occurred late Sept. 29, when a tractor-trailer approached the U.S. 83 checkpoint and a service canine alerted agents’ attention to the rig. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 117 people hidden inside the trailer, all illegally present in the U.S. from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. The 117 illegal immigrants and the driver, a U.S. citizen, were taken into custody and turned over to special agents of Homeland Security Investigations. The tractor-trailer was seized by CBP. The second event took place early Oct. 1 when a tractor hauling a belly dump trailer approached the Freer Station checkpoint on U.S. 59. While CBP agents conducted an immigration inspection on the driver, a service canine alerted agents’ attention to the vehicle. The driver was referred for a secondary inspection. Agents searched the trailer and discovered 29 people, all illegally present in the U.S. from the countries of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. None of the 29 had any personal protective equipment (PPE), and all were immediately medically evaluated. The driver, a U.S. citizen, and the 29 immigrants were placed under arrest, and the case was turned over to special agents of Homeland Security Investigations. CBP seized the tractor and trailer. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease, human smugglers continue to place migrants in harm’s way — and commercial tractor-trailers are the conveyance of choice for smuggling large numbers of people into the U.S., according to a statement from CBP. Migrants are often forced to travel inside crowded trailers, with no ventilation, no water and no food for hours — or even days. The CBP’s Laredo and Rio Grande Valley sectors in Texas have traditionally been the hot spot for tractor-trailers loaded with migrants from Mexico and Central America, the CBP statement continues. In fiscal year 2020 through August, these two sectors have seen more than 226 tractor-trailer cases, with 3,740 individuals discovered concealed in dangerous and life-threating conditions, a 37% increase from the same time frame fiscal year 2019. “Smugglers are unscrupulous criminals and will stop at nothing to enrich their pockets, even if it involves locking human beings in trailers intended for animals,” said Mark Morgan, acting CBP commissioner. “They treat illegal aliens as a commodity, inhumanely holding them captive in overcrowded stash houses with limited access to food and water.” In a previously released video testimonial, a young Central American mother, whose identity is protected, describes her frightening experience: “You suffer a lot, and you encounter people that try to sexually abuse you. Sometimes you travel in tractor-trailer boxes unable to breathe. At the end of it all, nothing was like they say it would be.” She is an anonymous voice of thousands of Central American migrants, including unaccompanied children, who in recent years have endured a myriad of atrocities, sexual abuse, extortion, assault, kidnapping and exploitation in the hands of coyotes or human smugglers, the CBP said. Smugglers may demand from $6,000 to upwards of $12,000 per person to smuggle individuals into the U.S. via tractor-trailers. Beyond the financial losses that migrants will never recover, entrusting a smuggler comes with the potential cost of their lives. Never has that been truer than during the global pandemic. Smugglers often pack their human cargo into dangerously hot, crowded trailers, typically with no means of escape. According to CBP, Border Patrol agents often find human remains or encounter lost migrants who are ill or injured, or were abandoned by smugglers. Smuggling is a multibillion-dollar industry that only enriches criminal organizations, that, after extracting every dollar they can, are indifferent to migrants’ inevitable removal from the U.S., according to CBP. “Migrants should never risk their lives or waste their life savings by paying their hard-earned money to smugglers who have no regard for human life by attempting the long and dangerous journey to the U.S.,” said Rodney Scott, Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A convoy of low-emission and electric trucks took the first drive across the newly completed Port of Long Beach bridge on Friday, Oct. 2. The $1.47 billion structure replaces and dwarfs the existing Gerald Desmond Bridge over a major channel in the Port of Long Beach. The bridge will serve Southern California’s massive twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The convoy consisted of seven fleet operators—NFI, Total Transportation Solutions, Inc. (TTSI), MDB Transportation, Tradelink Transport, Pacific 9 Transportation, Overseas Freight, and Green Trucking—who collectively operate 157 natural gas heavy-duty trucks that log more than 6.4 million miles per year, hauling freight daily to and from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The first truck to cross the bridge was a Volvo Trucks North America Class 8 VNR Electric truck representing NFI. It was joined by a second Volvo VNR Electric truck from Dependable Highway Express (DHE). The two fleets, partners in the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project, are piloting Volvo Trucks’ battery-electric models through 2021. “The ports have been a fantastic partner in the Volvo LIGHTS project, helping us to assess infrastructure needs to encourage early adoption of battery-electric trucks at California’s ports,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. The new Port of Long Beach bridge—a 7-year joint effort with Caltrans, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)— provides greater access for larger cargo ships to enter the port’s inner harbor terminals and provide expanded capacity for truck traffic. Combined, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles handle nearly 40% of the nation’s total containerized import traffic and 25% of its total exports. “This is an amazing day and it’s a colossal achievement,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia before waving a checkered flag to signal a ceremonial convoy of trucks and other vehicles to cross the span. The cable-stayed bridge was designed to be high enough — 205 feet (62.48 meters) above the water — to allow the largest container ships to pass underneath. Eighty cables strung from two 515-foot-tall (156.9-meter) towers hold up the road deck. Nearly 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) long, the replacement bridge has three lanes in each direction, plus emergency lanes and bicycle and pedestrian paths. Designed to be highly resilient to earthquakes, it is intended to last 100 years. Construction began in 2013. The old, four-lane bridge built in the 1960s currently carries 15% of all containerized goods coming into the U.S. It will be demolished. — The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — In May, a group of determined truckers descended on Washington to protest low freight rates, broker transparency and other issues. As the calendar turned to October, some of those same truckers have returned to promote the industry and help educate the public. In May, trucks lined Constitution Avenue for blocks. In October, they were parked right in the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol building clearly visible on one side and the Washington Monument on the other. “It’s a really good mood,” said Steven Myers, one of the organizers of the annual event. “Lots of kids want to get up in the trucks and check them out.” Myers said about 32 trucks were parked on the mall. A video posted on social media showed American flags waving in a brisk breeze under a near-perfect, cloud-dotted blue sky. Myers, an owner-operator leased to Birmingham, Alabama-based Watkins Trucking Co., described how participants were engaging passers-by, talking about truckers and the industry they serve. “We try to educate them on where the stuff they buy comes from,” he said. Ten Four DC (tenfourdc.com) organizes the event each year, scheduled around Oct. 4 in a nod to the “Ten-Four” code on the C.B. radio that indicates an affirmative answer. This year’s event, however, is being held in a time of national unrest, and concerns over potential damage to participants equipment or persons have impacted participation. According to Myers, the group is smaller than last year’s, and drivers plan to leave before expected weekend protests begin. “We’re pretty much parked at ground zero for any demonstrations,” he said. “We’re not allowed to move unless we’re leaving the area, so we’re trying to make sure everyone stays safe.” Myers is an administrator for the Facebook group “The Disrespected Trucker,” whose membership has more than doubled in size since the “May Day” protests the group helped organized — the group now has more than 12,000 members. After the May protest, Myers, who is an ordained minister, decided that another group was needed to help meet the spiritual needs of truckers, who often don’t have available resources while on the road. He and Jeremy Johnson, another Disrespected Trucker administrator, founded the Facebook group Truckers for Christ. That group has grown to nearly 1,800 members. The Truckers for Christ Facebook page offers online teaching, including sermons, for those who can’t be home on Sundays, but Myers stresses the importance of person-to-person contact. “Sometimes, a person who’s a thousand miles from home just needs somebody to talk to or to pray with them,” he said. “I’ve made my personal phone number available for anyone who needs counseling or help. I get between 200 and 400 calls every month.” Not all of those calls are from the faithful. however. Myers has received death threats for himself and his family for his efforts, “from an untraceable number, of course,” he said. For now, Myers is enjoying the sights in the nation’s capital like any other tourist. “Most of us have only seen Washington from the highway, missing the history that’s available here,” he explained. “We’re seeing the sights while we can.” There’s no centralized leadership to the group in Washington, Myers said. “It’s not about you, not about me,” he explained. “It’s about US.” Earlier this week, he and other members of the group attended a fund-raising event for a trucker diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. “We need to take care of one another,” he said. Next week, Myers will be hauling steel and other products on his flatbed trailer, likely on a regular run from Birmingham to Arizona. For now, however, he is content to see the sights and make sure others know about America’s hard-working truckers.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, upon the recommendation of Congress, has taken steps to preserve the nation’s infrastructure and ensure the maintenance and repairs of the roads traveled by truck drivers every day. On Thursday, Oct. 1 — the beginning of fiscal year 2021 — Trump signed into law the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 8337), which provides fiscal-year 2021 appropriations to federal agencies through Dec. 11, 2020, for “continuing projects and activities of the federal government.” After clearing the House of Representatives on Sept. 22 with a vote of 359 to 59, with one member voting “present,” H.R. 8337 moved on to the Senate, where it was passed Sept. 30 by a vote of 84 to 10. Of primary interest to those in the trucking industry is the one-year extension of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, with an additional $13.6 billion added to the nation’s Highway Trust Fund. The act is now set to expire Sept. 30, 2021. The FAST Act initially signed into law Dec. 4, 2015, by President Barack Obama and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was set to expire Sept. 30, 2020. The act ensures long-term funding for surface-transportation programs, and allotted more than $305 billion in federal aid for fiscal years 2016 through 2020. In a nutshell, the FAST Act is designed to improve mobility on America’s highways through the funding of transportation projects “to ease congestion and facilitate the movement of freight on the Interstate System and other major roads,” according to FHWA. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) was quick to commend the passage of the legislation, but stressed “there is still a great deal of work to be done for the trucking industry” in an Oct. 1 statement. “We are nevertheless concerned about the continued push for changes that harm small-business truckers,” said Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of OOIDA. “Efforts to increase insurance minimums will be vigorously challenged, and we are determined to see the shortage of safe truck parking addressed as part of a final, long-term reauthorization bill.” The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) also lauded the signing of H.R. 8337. “We are pleased that Congress approved the $13.6 billion transfer to the Highway Trust Fund and that states will have certainty for planning their 2021 programs, knowing the current surface transportation legislation remains in place for another year,” said Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director, in an Oct. 1 article in the AASHTO Journal. “We look forward to working with Congress and committee staff on a reauthorization that will address the challenges facing surface transportation, including the need for a long-term fix for the Highway Trust Fund.” The Journal article also noted that, according to an analysis by the AASHTO policy team, the FAST Act extension within the continuing resolution provides: Obligation limitation through Dec. 11, 2020, estimated to be $9.1 billion for the Federal-aid Highway Program. An extension of FAST Act funding and provisions from fiscal year 2020 to all of fiscal year 2021, including contract authority formula apportionments to states. A $10.4 billion general fund transfer to the Highway Trust Fund’s Highway Account and a $3.2 billion transfer to the Mass Transit Account. A $14 billion general fund transfer to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, making up for the aviation excise tax holiday included in the $2 trillion CARES Act passed in March. Suspension of the Rostenkowski fiscal solvency test for the Mass Transit Account for fiscal year 2021. Without suspending that “test” — crafted by the late Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D), who served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in the 1980s — significant reductions in transit obligation funds would occur in fiscal year 2021. An increase to the “multimodal cap” within the U.S. DOT’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, or INFRA, discretionary grant program from $500 million to $600 million. An extension of 2017 and 2018 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD grant program, obligation deadlines through September 30, 2021. In addition to the FAST Act, H.R. 8337 extends public health, Medicare and Medicaid authorities and programs; several authorities related to veterans benefits; authorities to waive certain requirements for nutrition programs; the National Flood Insurance Program; the Appalachian Regional Commission; the U.S. Parole Commission; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and several authorities related to immigration. The bill also includes provisions that will allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue making certain payments to farmers by accelerating reimbursements to the Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC) for net realized losses. The bill prohibits the USDA from using CCC funds to provide payments or support to fossil fuel refiners and importers. Other items include the expansion of nutrition-assistance programs; the increase and expansion of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fees for providing premium processing services for certain immigration-related applications; and reauthorization of a program that provides incentives for corporations to self-report antitrust violations to the Department of Justice.

MONTREAL — Project Butane, an investigation begun in 2018 by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) of a suspected contraband tobacco network, has resulted in charges against 13 people, CBSA announced Sept. 29. The network’s operations, which included transporting contraband using commercial tractor-trailers, allegedly cost the Canadian government an estimated $450 million. The 13 are facing a total of 15 charges, including fraud upon the governments of Canada and Quebec, contraband tobacco, possession of unstamped tobacco products, and conspiracy to move contraband tobacco and to possess unstamped tobacco products. In addition to the two alleged leaders of the network, Martin Bessette and Éric Landry, those charged include Alfred Binette, Serge Bourque, Étienne Demers, Kedryc Girouard-Fournier, Pierre Leblanc, Michel Savoie, Michel Frédéric Riendeau, Mathieu Dinnigan-Lanthier, Reynald Jacques, Christos Georgaros and Curtis Lewis Thompson. According to the CBSA, the investigation, which began in 2018, the accused are part of a criminal organization that imported contraband tobacco in bulk. The evidence collected during the investigation established that the organization had 88 loads of bulk tobacco brought in between Sept. 2, 2017, and May 27, 2019. The fraud strategies of this organization allegedly led to an estimated $450 million in lost tobacco duties and taxes. As part of this investigation, two loads of around 18,000 kg of bulk tobacco each, were intercepted on May 10, 2018, and May 27, 2019, at the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle and Herdman, in Montérégie, border crossings, respectively. In the first seizure, the bulk tobacco had been declared as a load of fruit, and in the second, it was concealed under a load of wood chips. Additionally, on June 5, 2019, more than 100 CBSA officers, supported by the Sûreté du Québec and some municipal police forces, executed 26 search warrants in Montérégie and Centre-du-Québec, and made eight arrests, collecting several pieces of evidence that allowed for these charges to be filed. During the investigation, CBSA seized 36,000 kilograms (nearly 80,000 pounds) of tobacco, three tractor-trailers, one SUV, 38 cell phones and 12 computers. “The CBSA and its officers are very attentive to contraband tobacco, in particular with regard to large-scale contraband strategies in commercial vehicles,” read a Sept. 29 statement from CBSA. “This type of activity harms Canada’s economy by encouraging the black market. All offenders are subject to sanctions and legal proceedings.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chief Andrew Wheeler on Sept. 28 ridiculed California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, saying the proposal raises “significant questions of legality.” Last week, Newsom signed an executive order directing state regulators to come up with rules that would ban the sale of all new gas-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035. He said the plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35%. On Sept. 28, Wheeler sent Newsom a letter questioning how the state could add millions of electric vehicles despite having “a record of rolling blackouts.” He said it “begs the question of how you expect to run an electric car fleet that will come with significant increases in electricity demand, when you can’t even keep the lights on today.” California had its first rolling blackouts in nearly 20 years in August 2020, when demand for electricity during a heat wave was so high the state ran out of power. More than half a million homes and businesses lost power for about an hour. The state came close to mandatory power shutoffs a few other times this year, but was able to avoid them. “The truth is that if the state were driving 100% electric vehicles today, the state would be dealing with even worse power shortages than the ones that have already caused a series of otherwise preventable environmental and public health consequences,” Wheeler wrote. The blackouts in August were complicated by a heat wave that blanketed much of the West, making it more difficult for California to purchase surplus power from other states. Newsom has ordered an investigation of the blackouts and has signed an emergency proclamation allowing more energy users and providers to tap into backup power. Meanwhile, massive wildfires continue to burn across the state, aided in size and intensity by climate change. Newsom has said the fires have strengthened his resolve to combat climate change. “While the Trump administration tries to drive this country off a climate cliff, California is once again assuming the mantle of leadership in the fight against climate change,” said Newsom spokesman Jesse Melgar. “We aren’t going to back down from protecting our kids’ health and the air they breathe.” By Adam Beam of the Associated Press

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Demolition on the damaged area of Florida’s Pensacola Bay Bridge, popularly known as the Three-Mile Bridge, began Monday, Sept. 28, according to a statement released by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The bridge has been closed to traffic since Hurricane Sally swept through the area Sept. 17, resulting in damage to the structure. According to FDOT, inspection and assessment of damage to the bridge is nearing completion: The survey of the piers and topside inspections have been completed along with most of the underwater footings. Demolition experts are first focusing on areas of the bridge that need to be cleared for dive access to examine the final 22 footings below the waterline. The contractor is utilizing additional resources to expedite demolition, FDOT said. Three of the contractor’s barges remain on or under the structure and the removal of those barges will have to be done with great caution. The contractor has prioritized the removal of the barges and will work closely with FDOT to ensure the least amount of additional damage possible to the bridge in this effort. The design is underway for the permanent repairs and reestablishment of four lanes of traffic on the bridge. Durability, and ensuring there is absolutely no reduction in the bridge’s strength as a result of the repairs, remains paramount in the design plans. “Although we hope to have the final total number of the spans/piers that will ultimately need to be replaced by the end of this week, the contractor has already fabricated 25 beams and the piers needed to begin repairs,” FDOT’s statement reads. “The contractor has also begun constructing more replacement beams and piers at its offsite yard and has reached out to other facilities to assist in production. This aggressive effort will allow the installation of these items to commence as soon as demolition of the damaged items are complete.” Further preliminary inspection findings for the structure include: To date, FDOT divers have inspected 202 underwater footings while top-side inspection teams have assessed 105 spans, 202 piers and 525 beams. The number of spans requiring full replacement remains at five, and FDOT has identified an additional two that will require partial replacement. FDOT will have to replace a number of beams and is still determining the specific number needing replacement. The bridge will remain closed until further notice, according to FDOT. Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge have been suspended through 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Details about the detour routes, including graphics, FAQs and regular updates, can be found on the FDOT website.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is now accepting applications for its new commercial motor vehicle driver subcommittee. This panel, which is a subcomponent of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC), will provide direct feedback from commercial drivers to the FMCSA about important issues facing the driving community, such as safety, hours-of-service regulations, training, parking and driver experience. The new panel will be comprised of 20 to 25 drivers from all sectors of the CMV industry — tractor-trailer drivers, straight-truck drivers, motor-coach drivers, hazardous-materials drivers, agriculture haulers and more. FMCSA’s goal with the new driver panel is to capture the wide array of viewpoints and experiences within the CMV community. To apply, drivers are asked to submit a resume detailing their driving experience, as well as a personal statement outlining how these qualifications and experience as a driver make them suitable for membership on this panel. Drivers may include a letter of recommendation, but this is not required. Documents should be emailed directly to [email protected] by Friday, Oct. 16, 2020.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Sept. 25 announced the immediate availability of $460,000 in “quick release” emergency relief (ER) funds to help the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) repair damages from recent wildfires. Hot, dry weather conditions in Washington State led to multiple ongoing wildfires earlier this year. Strong winds in early September aggravated the situation, causing one of the quickest and largest wildfire seasons to erupt in the state’s history. The wildfires destroyed traffic-control devices and other highway infrastructure, and charred terrain caused slope destabilization and rock crumbling. According to the FHWA, these “quick release” funds will make it possible to make immediate repairs to roads and bridges and avert further damage. The agency’s ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. The funds are an initial installment of funds used to restore essential traffic and to limit further highway damage.

Tuesday, Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day. Whether you call it java, joe or coffee, drink it plain or “doctored” with sugar and cream, it’s no secret that this caffeinated beverage is a favorite of truckers across the U.S. and Canada. To celebrate, Love’s Travel Stops, Pilot Flying J and Travel Centers of America are offering special prices and freebies. Love’s Travel Stops Love’s is celebrating National Coffee Day by offering customers any sized coffee or hot beverage for the reduced price of $1 on Sept. 29. In addition, when coffee purchases are made through the Love’s Connect app, all proceeds will go to Love’s annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign. My Love Rewards members can use a free drink refill credit for the purchase, and Love’s will donate $1 on their behalf. “National Coffee Day is a great way to show our support for CMN Hospitals,” said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer of Love’s. “We appreciate our customers who are so generous in helping sick and injured children across the country through our campaign.” This year, for the first time, customers can reply to Love’s social media posts on National Coffee Day with a photo of their Love’s coffee, and Love’s will donate an additional dollar to CMN Hospitals. Drink options for the day include Love’s signature house or dark roast blend; Colombian or Brazilian blend; pumpkin-flavored coffee; Cinnabon, Pumpkin Spice or any cappuccino flavor; and hot tea. Pilot Flying J Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers in North America, is calling all coffee lovers to celebrate National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 with a free cup of the “best coffee on the interstate.” Guests who download or open the Pilot Flying J app on Sept. 29 will find an exclusive offer to redeem one free hot or iced Pilot coffee. “Celebrate National Coffee Day with us and enjoy a free cup from our exclusive line of premium coffee varieties,” said Jamie King, senior director of food and beverage for Pilot Flying J. “For drivers embarking on a journey of a thousand miles — or just across town — Pilot Coffee is a co-pilot worthy of the trip, made complete with our wide variety of creamers, syrups and toppings.” In addition to the classic Pilot House blend, guests can try seasonal or limited-time brews such as Nicaraguan blend, vanilla cold brew, pumpkin-maple cappuccino and others. TravelCenters of America Professional drivers across the country can enjoy a free cup of coffee on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as TravelCenters of America celebrates National Coffee Day at select TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express locations. Members of TA’s UltraONE loyalty program can swipe their card at the kiosk and receive a coupon to redeem their free cup from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on National Coffee Day All four flavors of TA’s World Blends coffee will be offered — extreme, Columbian, high mountain Arabica and the seasonal flavor, bourbon pecan.