The Nation

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has opened new locations in Illinois, Florida and Georgia. A new location in Atkinson, Illinois, on Interstate 80 and State Street adds 60 jobs to Henry County and 137 truck and 74 car parking spots. A new location at Lake Wells, Florida, on Highway 27 adds 70 jobs and 68 truck parking spaces to Polk County. A new location in Commerce, Georgia, adds 70 jobs and 114 truck parking spaces to Jackson County. “We’re excited to open our 20th store in Illinois and fourth this year,” said Tom Love, executive chairman and founder of Love’s. “Atkinson is a great location in a heavily traveled corridor and this store is packed with amenities to accommodate traffic.” Love said his company was excited to expand our footprint in Florida and Georgia. “We want to place Love’s in locations that are convenient for professional and four-wheel drivers and both of these central locations will ensure that customers have access to quality products and services as they travel throughout each state,” he said. All locations are open 24/7. The Atkinson location offers amenities including Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza, Subway, eight diesel bays, seven showers, laundry facilities, CAT scale, on-site Speedco, Mobile to Go Zone, bean-to-cup gourmet coffee and brand-name snacks. The Lake Wales location offers more than 8,000-square-feet of floor space, Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway, 68 truck parking spaces, 71 car parking spaces, 71 car parking spaces, seven diesel bays, five showers, Love’s Truck Tire Care center, laundry facilities, bean to cup gourmet coffee, brand name snacks, Mobile to Go Zone with the latest electronics, CAT scale and dog park. The Commerce location offers more than 13,000 square feet of floor space, Dunkin, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway,  114 truck parking spaces, 81 car parking spaces, seven RV parking spaces, nine diesel bays, eight showers, Speedco location on site, laundry facilities, Bean to cut gourmet coffee, brand name snacks , CAT scale and a dog park. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s donated $2,000 to the Atkinson community which will be split between Foster Hope Inc. and Sol’s Legacy Ministries. Love’s donated $2,000 to the Citrus Boys and Girls Club in Lake Wales and $2,000 to Commerce Middle School. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is a travel stop network with more than 490 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 25,000 people. Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love’s has more than 350 truck service centers, which include on-site and stand-alone Speedco and Love’s Truck Tire Care locations. Love’s and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventive maintenance and total truck care nationwide network. To learn more, visit loves.com.    

PHOENIX — PrePass is expanding into Canada. A new agreement between PrePass Safety Alliance and British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure allows PrePass users to bypass weigh stations in British Columbia, thus adding 11 locations to PrePass bypass sites. PrePass users who want to bypass at Weigh2GoBC locations only need to visit the Weigh2GoBC website to register for the BCeID (British Columbia electronic ID), and enroll their truck(s) with the PrePass transponder for the Weigh2GoBC service. No additional fees are required for carriers to enroll PrePass transponders in or to participate in the Weigh2GoBC program. However, service at Weigh2GoBC sites is available through transponder-based bypassing only and is not compatible with cellular bypass services. The agreement also allows Canadian-based trucks and fleets that are using Weigh2GoBC to fully use PrePass bypassing in the United States, subject to individual states’ PrePass bypass criteria. These same trucks and fleets can also use PrePass’ electronic toll payment services within the program’s area of operation. Transponders allow qualified trucks to bypass weigh stations by electronically verifying a truck’s legal weight, safety rating and credentials while the truck operates at highway speeds. Based on the carrier’s safety score, credentials and truck weight, drivers receive on their transponder either a green light to continue driving or a red light indicating they must report to the weigh station for a possible inspection or weighing on a static scale. Transponder use keeps safe and compliant trucks on the road, reduces travel time, improves overall highway safety and reduces fuel consumption. Previously, PrePass drivers and fleets operating in British Columbia obtained a Weigh2GoBC transponder from the British Columbia government, meaning some drivers had to carry two transponders. The new agreement means drivers can carry just one transponder — PrePass or Weigh2GoBC — because the systems are now fully interoperable. For more information about PrePass, visit http://www.prepass.com. For information on Weigh2GoBC, visit www.weigh2gobc.ca PrePass Safety Alliance (formerly HELP Inc.), is the non-profit provider of PrePass weigh station bypass and toll payment services. The Alliance was formed in 1993 by trucking industry leaders, enforcement agencies and state DOTs to improve the safety and efficiency of the trucking industry. The organization’s Board of Directors is comprised of an equal number of industry and government representatives to ensure that services are balanced between safety and efficiency. To date, the Alliance has invested more than $700 million nationwide to deploy services to improve safety, reduce truck-related emissions and preserve highway infrastructure. For more information about the organization, visit www.prepassalliance.org. 8

The average price for a gallon of diesel nationwide fell by 1.1 cents for the week ending August 26, to stand at $2.983 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This follows a pattern of small but consistent drops that’s been going on since mid-May. Those pennies are adding up. Drivers are now saving almost a quarter on every gallon they buy compared to a year ago. The slight improvement was felt across the country, with the one exception being California, which ever so slightly widened its already wide claim on the highest diesel prices in the nation. While prices fell everywhere else, if only by les than two cents, they stood still in California, at $3.887. On the rest of the West Coast, diesel fell by 1.9 cents, to $3.139. That brought the West Coast overall to $3.556. The improvement was barely perceptible in the Rocky Mountain region. Diesel fell by 0.3 cents to stand at $2.936. But that’s nothing for the folks in the Rocky Mountains to come down from their high about. Diesel is currently 42.8 cents cheaper there than it was this time last year, the best comparison in the country. Things are looking good in the Gulf Coast, as well, where diesel fell another 0.7 cents to drop prices there to a nation-low $2.744. The Midwest has nothing to grouse about, either. Diesel fell a full penny and is now at $2.890. All three regions of the East Coast saw similar improvements. In the Lower Atlantic, diesel fell 1.8 cents, to $2.874; while in New England it fell 1.7 cents, to $3.031. In between, in the Central Atlantic, it fell by 1.3 cents, to $3.186, for an East Coast average drop of 1.6 cents, to $3.003. On Monday, Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell 50 cents, or 0.84%, to settle at $58.84 a barrel. U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 37 cents, or 0.68%, to settle at $53.80 a barrel. Click here for a complete list of average prices by region for the past three weeks.

DALLAS — Four professional truck drivers who have each served their country with distinction achieved another distinction in their new careers during the Great American Trucking Show, as they were named finalists in the annual Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence contest. In 2016, the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program, along with Kenworth and FASTPORT, came together “to find America’s top rookie military veteran,” according to the program’s website, who has made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. And for the fourth consecutive year, the winner will receive a a fully-loaded Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and a complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and PACCAR 40K tandem axles. Ten semifinalists were invited to Dallas, where they were all honored at a dinner August 22 at the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The next day, the four finalists were announced. The four finalists are: Christopher Bacon, a 31-year-old who hails from St. Louis and drives for TMC Transportation. Bacon served two combat tours in the Marine Corps, one each in Afghanistan and Iraq, as an anti-tank missileman. After an honorable discharge in 2010, Bacon worked as an automotive technician and service advisor before deciding to fulfill his dream of becoming a truck driver. Wade Bumgarner, who drives for Veriha Trucking, grew up in a military family. His father served 23 years in the Air Force before taking on a 13-year career with U.S. Customs. Bumgarner, joined the Navy in 1976 and has since been actively involved in helping transitioning veterans for many years, assisting vets with job search skills, resume writing and job-search strategies. In 2014, he played a key role in establishing an award-winning internship program for vets at The Manitowoc Company, where he was employed at the time. Joseph Campbell served a combined 24 years in the Army and Marines prior to beginning his truck-driving career in Roehl Transport’s Flatbed division. His first responsibility is protecting the motoring public and then picking up and delivering cargo on-time and undamaged. Campbell is training to become a certified trainer and he is a member of the Driver Advisory Group. He hopes to become an owner-operator soon. Steve Harris was born and raised in Atlanta. After he graduated from high school, he attended the Army Mountain Warfare School. Upon completion in 2002, Harris joined the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, during which time he received the Combat Action Ribbon. After his deployments, Steve worked as a corrections officer for one year in Georgia but wanted more freedom in his job. He started driving for Stevens Transport and hasn’t looked back since. “This year’s four finalists had significant accomplishments in their military careers and now are making excellent achievements as professional truck drivers,” said Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president. “We urge the trucking industry and organizations across the United States to especially reach out to our veterans and help them make a smooth transition back into civilian life.” Other truck drivers who achieved the Top 10 finalists list and were recognized at GATS are: –Thomas Blitch/U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves/Werner Enterprises –Keso Going/U.S. Army/Epes Transport –Kevin Lassing/ U.S. Army/U.S. Xpress –Maliq Melton/U.S. Army/ Melton Truck Lines –Monte Morrone/U.S. Army and U.S. Marines/Prime Inc. –Timothy Raub/ U.S. Navy/Averitt Express Videos featuring each of the four finalists will be posted on the Transition Trucking website, transitiontrucking.org, where a public vote will determine the winner. The online voting will be from October 1 through November 1. The winner will be announced at a presentation at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation December 6 in Washington, D. C. There, the winner will be presented with the Kenworth T680. The first runner-up will receive $10,000, while the two other finalists will receive $5,000 each. For more information on the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award program, visit transitiontrucking.org.

As the trucking industry grudgingly lurches forward in the face of inevitable change —specifically, to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse — the agency has announced what the new database, set to go into effect at the start of next year, is going to cost to use. Per a directive from Congress in 2012, the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will a national electronic database that will keep individual records of CDL holders of any positive drug or alcohol test results, as well as any test refusals and other drug and alcohol violations. The database will also record when a driver completes the return-to-duty process following a violation. As of January 6, when the clearinghouse is officially activated, employers looking to hire a driver for a CDL-required position will be required to conduct a query through the database as part of the hiring process. Employers will also be required to perform a query at least once a year on every driver holding a CDL that is in their employ. Trucking companies and owner-operators will have two options for paying query fees to access the records of drivers in the database. The first option will be to pay at a rate of $1.25 per query. Carriers and owner-operators will be required to purchase what the agency is calling a query “bundle” on FMCSA’s website. There will be 19 bundles, ranging from a single query for $1.25 to a bundle of 7,500 queries for $9,375. These bundles are valid indefinitely, although FMCSA is recommending employers purchase bundles based on a year’s anticipated need. If a carrier runs out of queries, they can purchase another bundle, but FMCSA recommends carriers choose a bundle based on the size of their fleet. Large fleets have the option of paying a flat rate of $24,500 for a year of unlimited queries. There will be two levels of queries into the database. The first is the limited query, for which the driver must give their permission. The limited query will simply indicate whether there are any items in the driver’s file. With a full query, the file is opened to show detailed information about any resolved or unresolved violations in the driver’s record. “Purchasing a query plan enables employers, and their designated consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs) to conduct queries on prospective and current drivers in the Clearinghouse,” FMCSA said, noting that third-party administrators will not be allowed to purchase query plans on their own. At the same time, FMCSA noted that owner-operators will be required to work through a C/TPA to manage a drug and alcohol testing program. The $1.25 fee applies to both limited and full queries. However, the FMCSA website explains, “If a limited query returns a result that there is information recorded in the Clearinghouse about the queried driver, and the employer follows up with a full query to access the detailed violation information, the employer will only be charged once for both queries.”

GOLDEN, Colo. — Drivewyze has added to its Drivewyze Safety Notifications service with the launching of mountain corridor safety alerts. The new service, free to current Drivewyze customers, was released in conjunction with a Colorado Department of Transportation’s news conference that launched its “The Mountain Rules” truck safety campaign. The conference was held Tuesday near the Mount Vernon Canyon runaway truck ramp, near Golden. “It’s no secret that our mountains create immense challenges for semi-truck drivers,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.  “The Mountain Rules has a simple mission – to get everyone home safely and this campaign, which supports CDOT’s Whole Safety – Whole System initiative, is a major step towards achieving that goal.” “I want to dispel any misconceptions, myths or rumors about truck ramps for all commercial carriers who travel our mountain corridors,” said Col. Matthew Packard of the Colorado State Patrol. “Commercial carriers will not be cited by law enforcement for using truck ramps. Should your brakes fail, please save lives and use the ramps.” With the alerts, Drivewyze subscribers will have their drivers receive in-cab alerts of upcoming safe locations to pull over for brake check inspections and see prompts to gear low while showing suggested maximum speeds down steep grades. It will also alert drivers of upcoming runaway ramps. Colorado is Drivewyze’s first state in the new alert program. Seven Colorado mountain passes are part of the Drivewyze Safety Notifications package, with 22 more states to follow by the end of August. According to Brian Mofford, vice president of government experience at Drivewyze, Colorado’s I-70 west, which goes from Vail Pass from the west, through Eisenhower Tunnel (elevation 11,158) to Mt. Vernon Canyon to the east, represents 60 miles of difficult driving. “It’s a challenge for truck drivers, with steep grades and heavy traffic, especially for those new to mountain driving,” Mofford said. “Drivers have to be in tune with their surroundings, check their brakes and be prepared for constant downshifting and speed control. Brakes can get hot and fail for those who are not ready. It’s why we also have notifications for runaway ramps as a last resort safeguard for a safe stop. Our alerts will help keep preparations top of mind to help keep truck drivers and the motoring public safer.” I-70 is known as having one of the country’s most difficult passes for truck drivers. A runaway truck in April slammed into stopped traffic near Lakewood, killing four people. Other tragedies have been averted thanks to truck drivers using the corridor’s five runaway truck ramps along the route. The Lower Straight Creek runaway truck ramp along westbound I-70 at milepost 211.83 is the most used truck ramp in the United States, being used once a week on average during the summer months. “The goal is to not have to use the ramps at all, by having drivers better prepared,” Mofford said. “Our alerts will keep safety front and center and prompt drivers to check their brakes, allowing them to cool down, and remind them to downshift to a lower gear.” In addition to I-70, Drivewyze is providing alerts for Rabbit Ears Pass, Loveland Pass, Monarch Pass, Slickrock Pass, Wolf Creek Pass and Coal Bank Pass. The mountain corridor alerts join two other Drivewyze Safety Notifications that were introduced last month. Rollover alerts, on targeted exit ramps and curves, are geofenced at 500 locations in 32 states, while l,500 low-bridge warnings are given to drivers approaching bridges in the United States, with 300 more just added on Canadian roadways. Both the Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass application, and the Drivewyze Safety Notifications service, are available to carriers on supported ELDs and other in-cab devices, through the Drivewyze partner network. Subscribers interested in deploying the Drivewyze safety notifications service should contact their ELD or in-cab device provider, or their Drivewyze customer success manager.              

ANAHEIM, Calif. — CDL Meals, the division of Fresh n’ Lean that focuses on nutritious offerings for truck drivers, is offering a special promotion to help transportation companies celebrate National Driver Appreciation Week. For National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), fleet operators can purchase discounted meals and receive free Hot Logic heating bags. There is a minimum purchase of 50 meals required to receive the free bag. Purchases of 100 meals receive two free bags. Companies can also purchase gift cards for drivers to buy meals at their convenience. Orders are being taken through August 30. The annual NTDAW, taking place this year September 8-14 commemorates and honors all professional drivers for their hard work and commitment to one of the country’s most demanding jobs. “We are proud to support drivers across the country with delicious food that encourages better health,” said Bob Perry, director of CDL Meals. “This special promotion gives fleets a chance to support their drivers with something that’s good for them, too.” The nature of truck driving can also lend itself to a less than healthy lifestyle, which is why CDL Meals focuses solely on this underserved profession. CDL Meals are chef developed using wholesome, organic ingredients and offer a flavorful balanced meal that includes protein, carbs, and vegetables. The meals are delivered fresh and can be refrigerated for up to seven days. The vacuum sealed trays can be heated quickly and enjoyed any time. Along with the meals, CDL provides a driver wellness education booklet with tips and suggestions to improve your health with easy lifestyle changes. Meals are $10 each for purchases up to 100 meals, with cost savings when purchasing more than 150 meals. CDL Meals was launched earlier this year and was a beneficial part of the healthful transformation for Danny Jewell, 2018 Owner/Operator of the Year, who lost more than 25 pounds with the meal plan and coaching from Bob Perry, the Trucker Trainer. With more than 50 years on the road and 6 million miles without an incident, Jewell was recognized for his professionalism and commitment to the industry.          

ITASCA, Ill. — Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate the four-year upward trend in motor vehicle deaths that began in 2015 is ebbing with the number of fatalities in the first six months of 2019 dropping 3 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2018. An estimated 18,580 people died on U.S. roadways between January and June of this year, compared to the council’s revised estimate of 19,060 during the same period last year. An additional 2.1 million people are estimated to have sustained serious crash-related injuries during the first six months of 2018 – a 1 percent drop from 2018 six-month projections. The estimate caps a three-year period in which roadway deaths topped 40,000 each year for the first time since the mid-2000s. A total of 118,315 people died on the roadways between 2015 and 2017, and an estimated 40,000 additional people perished last year. However, drivers still face the same fatality risk this year as they did when fatalities were eclipsing 40,000 annually, because the estimated annual rate of deaths per miles driven has remained stable – NSC estimates 1.2 deaths per every million vehicle miles traveled, unchanged from 2018 rates. “While the numbers indicate a slight improvement, the rate of deaths remains stagnant, and 18,580 deaths so far this year is unacceptable,” said Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “We cannot accept death as the price of mobility. We urge all drivers to slow down, buckle up, pay attention and drive defensively.” The council’s early estimates indicate significant progress in some states. In the first half of this year, several states have experienced at least a 10% percent drop in motor vehicle deaths, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and Utah. A sample of states with increases through the first six months include Kentucky (6%), Hawaii (20%), Oregon (6%) and New Mexico (15%). A complete list of state results is available here. To help ensure safer roads, NSC urges motorists to: Practice defensive driving. Buckle up, designate a sober driver or arrange alternative transportation, get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue, and drive attentively, avoiding distractions. Visit nsc.org for defensive driving tips. Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from cannabis and opioids. Visit StopEverydayKillers.org to understand the impact of the nation’s opioid crisis. Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits. Visit DriveitHOME.org for resources. Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them. Visit MyCarDoesWhat.org for information. Fix recalls immediately. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to ensure your vehicle does not have an open recall. Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways. The NSC State of Safety report shows which states have the strongest and weakest traffic safety laws. Get involved in the Road to Zero Coalition, a group of more than 900 organizations across the country focused on eliminating roadway deaths by 2050. Visit nsc.org/roadtozero to join. The National Safety Council has tracked fatality trends and issued estimates for nearly 100 years. All estimates are subject to slight increases and decreases as the data mature. NSC collects fatality data every month from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics, so that deaths occurring within one year of the crash and on both public and private roadways – such as parking lots and driveways – are included in the estimates. Supplemental estimate information can be found here. The NSC defines “serious” injuries as those requiring medical attention. The National Safety Council uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics – an arm of the CDC – when calculating its estimates, because these data are the most comprehensive and inclusive numbers available.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — If more Americans are working, a new report confirms, more of us are also tied up in traffic. The picture is painted clearly in the 2019 Urban Mobility Report, published by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). Along with illustrating the problem, researchers also stress the same straightforward solutions they’ve long advocated: more of everything — roads, transit, squeezing as much efficiency out of the existing system as possible, reducing demand through telework, better balancing demand, and roadway capacity by adjusting work hours, and smarter land use. “No single approach will ever solve this complex problem,” said Tim Lomax, a report author, and Regents Fellow at TTI. “We know what works. What the country needs is a robust, information-powered conversation at the local, state and national levels about what steps should be taken. We have many strategies; we have to figure out the right solution for each problem and a way to pay for them.” The United States added 1.9 million jobs from 2016 to 2017 — slower growth than the 2.3 million-plus growth in four of the five previous years, but more than enough to exacerbate the nation’s traffic woes. TTI’s gridlock data extends back to 1982, when Ronald Reagan was in his first term, a postage stamp cost 20 cents, and gas was about $1.25 a gallon. Since that time, the number of jobs in the nation has grown almost nonstop by just over 50 percent to the current total of 153 million. Furthermore, since 1982: The number of hours per commuter lost to traffic delay has nearly tripled, climbing to 54 hours a year. The annual cost of that delay per commuter has nearly doubled, to $1,010. The nationwide cost of gridlock has grown more than tenfold, to $166 billion a year. The amount of fuel wasted in stalled traffic has more than tripled, to 3.3 billion gallons a year. “The value of investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure in a strategic and effective manner cannot be overstated as these added costs impact our national productivity, quality of life, economic efficiency and global competitiveness,” said Marc Williams, deputy executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, which funded the TTI research. The 2008–2009 recession produced only a brief pause in traffic congestion growth, which bounced back at an even quicker pace than associated job recovery. The result of today’s urban congestion is that the average freeway traveler has to allow almost twice the expected trip duration to ensure dependable arrival for time-sensitive things like medical appointments, day-care pickup, and airline flights compared to what would be required without congestion. Instead of the 20 minutes needed in light traffic, it’s best to plan a 34-minute trip. “Those minutes don’t sound like much, but they add up quickly over a year,” says David Schrank, a TTI senior research scientist, and report author. “Eventually, we’re talking billions of wasted hours, and the cost of delay at that scale is just enormous.” Simply put, travel demand is growing faster than the system’s ability to absorb that demand. Once considered a problem exclusive to big cities, roadway gridlock now afflicts urban areas of all sizes and consumes far more of each day, making “rush hour” a long-outdated reference. “The problem affects not only commuters, but also manufacturers and shippers whose travel delay costs are passed on to consumers,” said Bill Eisele, a report author, and TTI senior research engineer. “While trucks constitute only 7 percent of road traffic, they account for 12 percent of congestion cost.” Researchers emphasize that it’s urgent for the nation to develop consensus on specific strategies for each urban travel corridor now, since major projects, programs, and funding strategies take a decade or more to develop and bear fruit. Almost every strategy works somewhere and in some situations, they say, and almost every strategy is the wrong idea in certain places at certain times. Using a balanced and diversified approach that focuses on more of everything — tempered by realistic expectations — is the best way forward. The 2019 Urban Mobility Report examines conditions in 494 urban areas across all states and Puerto Rico. The research was supported by INRIX, a leading provider of transportation data and analytics. For a nationwide interactive map of congestion conditions visit https://mobility.tamu.edu/umr/              

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Colorado State Patrol, the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and in-cab driver alert providers PrePass Safety Alliance and Drivewyze, is helping enhance safety for truckers traveling through the state’s mountainous areas. The Mountain Rules is a comprehensive, strategic and safety-focused effort to inform and educate in-state and interstate trucking companies and drivers on the challenges of driving in Colorado’s mountains. It includes information on potential hazards and a consistent reminder on the need to be slow, steady, and safe for the long haul. “It’s no secret that our mountains create immense challenges for semi-truck drivers,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “The Mountain Rules has a simple mission — get everyone home safely — and this campaign, which supports CDOT’s Whole Safety – Whole System initiative, is a major step towards achieving that goal.” In addition to an educational effort, The Mountain Rules consists of infrastructure and informational improvements, including: Signing eastbound Interstate 70 and all eastbound chain stations, east of the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels, with information on the brake check locations for truckers. Restriping the wide eastbound exit ramp at the Genesee Park Interchange into a more defined short-term truck parking area where overheated brakes can cool down and equipment checks can take place prior to the final descent into the Golden area. A new subscription-based, in-cab alert system, warning truck drivers about specific areas where brake failures could occur, and the location of brake check and runaway truck ramps. Information gathering on the feasibility of a new ramp and other measures to mitigate runaway trucks, such as geometric and signage improvements to the existing Mount Vernon Canyon Truck Runaway Ramp. “I want to dispel any misconceptions, myths or rumors about truck ramps for all commercial carriers who travel our mountain corridors,” said CSP Col. Matthew Packard. “Commercial carriers will not be cited by law enforcement for using truck ramps. Should your brakes fail, please save lives and use the ramps.” The I-70 Mountain Corridor will be the initial pilot for The Mountain Rules. CDOT then will expand the program to other mountainous locations. “Our mountains and the highways winding through them provide some of the greatest vistas in the world and make Colorado special,” said the Chairman of the CMCA Jim Coleman. “These same roadways, such as I-70, pose a particular challenge for truck drivers and truck brakes, with long and steep downgrades of up to 7% percent. This outreach effort and program will go a long way in educating truck drivers of how to navigate through our mountains, which will enhance safety for all highway users.” Drivewyze said with its alerts subscribers will have their drivers receive in-cab alerts of upcoming safe locations to pull over for brake check inspections and see prompts to gear low while showing suggested maximum speeds down steep grades. It will also alert drivers of upcoming runaway ramps. Colorado was Drivewyze’s first state in the new alert program. Seven Colorado mountain passes are part of the Drivewyze Safety According to Brian Mofford, vice president of government experience at Drivewyze, Colorado’s I-70 West, which goes from Vail Pass from the west through Eisenhower Tunnel (elevation 11,158) to Mt. Vernon Canyon to the east, represents 60 miles of difficult driving. “It’s a challenge for truck drivers with steep grades and heavy traffic, especially for those new to mountain driving,” he said. “Drivers have to be in tune with their surroundings, check their brakes and be prepared for constant downshifting and speed control. Brakes can get hot and fail for those who are not ready. It’s why we also have notifications for runaway ramps as a last resort safeguard for a safe stop. Our alerts will help keep preparations top of mind to help keep truck drivers and the motoring public safer.” PrePass said its alerts are a feature of the MOTION weigh station bypass mobile application. The alerts notify truck drivers of steep grades ahead from a distance of approximately five miles away, and also notify them as they approach any of five runaway truck ramps along the route. Drivers will also receive alerts for seven sites along I-70 where they can perform brake checks and/or during winter, complete truck tire chain-ups or removals. “These dynamic alerts will improve highway safety by notifying truck drivers well in advance of steep grades and sites where they can check their brakes,” said Terry Maple, regional director for PrePass Safety Alliance. Maple, former Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said the additional alerts will minimize distractions because they require no interaction on the part of the driver. I-70 is known as having one of the country’s most difficult passes for truck drivers. An out-of-control runaway truck in April slammed into stopped traffic near Lakewood, killing four people. Other tragedies have been averted thanks to truck drivers using the corridor’s five runaway truck ramps along the route. The Lower Straight Creek runaway truck ramp along westbound I-70 at milepost 211.83 is the most used truck ramp in the United States, being used once a week on average during the summer months.      

WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada — Speeding is the riskiest kind of aggressive driving, according to a unique analysis of data from on-board devices in vehicles. Researchers at the University of Waterloo examined data from 28 million trips for possible links between four bad driving behaviors – speeding, hard braking, hard acceleration and hard cornering – and the likelihood of crashes. Their analysis revealed speeding is a strong predictor of crashes, while statistically significant links for the other kinds of aggressive driving couldn’t be established. “For insurance companies using this telematics data to assess who is a good risk and who isn’t, our suggestion based on the data is to look at speed, at people driving too fast,” said Stefan Steiner, a statistics professor in Waterloo’s faculty of mathematics. Data for the study came from insurance companies in Ontario and Texas with clients who had on-board diagnostic devices installed in their vehicles. In the first study of its kind, researchers initially analyzed the data to identify 28 crashes based on indicators such as rapid deceleration. Each vehicle in those crashes was then matched with 20 control vehicles that had not been in crashes, but were similar in terms of other characteristics, including geographic location and driving distance. Steiner said when the crash cases were compared to the control cases using a sophisticated penalty system for the four kinds of bad driving, speeding emerged as the key difference between them. “Some of the results are no surprise, but prior to this we had a whole industry based on intuition,” said Allaa (Ella) Hilal, an adjunct professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Now it is formulated. We know aggressive driving has an impact.” Steiner cautioned that the study was limited by several unknowns, such as different drivers using the same vehicle, and more research is needed to verify the results. But he said the analysis of telematics data could eventually revolutionize the insurance industry by enabling fairer, personalized premiums based on actual driving behavior, not age, gender or location. Hilal believes the data could also make roads safer by giving drivers both tangible evidence and financial incentives to change. “Having this information exposed and understood allows people to wrap their minds around their true risks and improve their driving behaviors,” she said. “We are super pumped about its potential.” Manda Winlaw, a former mathematics post-doctoral fellow, and statistics professor Jock MacKay also collaborated on the study, using telematics data to find risky driver behaviour, which appears in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.              

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NATSO, representing America’s travel plazas and truckstops, has released a detailed industry guide  answering the top questions about the travel center industry. Industry knowledge can improve business performance and help operators drive targeted results, according to Darren Schulte, NATSO’s vice president, membership. But finding answers isn’t always easy. This is why Schulte dug into the more frequently asked questions about the truckstop and travel center industry and answered them in this new industry guide. “Answers to the Top 18 Questions about the Travel Center Industry” is an essential resource for data on travel center and truckstop industry operations, Schulte said. The guide contains comparable data that operators can utilize to assess their own operations and better understand the competitive landscape. Operators can then use this information to improve their analysis and strategize advantageous investment decisions. With the report in hand, operators can gain greater insight into the average sales at a full-service restaurant or a garage or service center, how much a professional truck driver spends on fuel at a truckstop, average staffing costs at a location, and specific sales and costs within a location. The downloadable “Answers to the Top 18 Questions About the Travel Center Industry” is available for free to NATSO members and non-members for $250. To download or purchase the guide, click here.  “The Answers to the Top 18 Questions About the Travel Center Industry” was produced in partnership with Travel Center Profit Drivers, a NATSO initiative that provides access to specialized, experienced consultants and the tools they have created to help travel centers thrive. Truckstop and travel center operators looking for help building or growing their business should contact Don Quinn, NATSO Services vice president, at (703) 739-8572 or [email protected] to discuss how the NATSO team can help.

DENTON, Texas — Peterbilt Motors Co. has opened the company’s fifth Peterbilt Technician Institute (PTI) campus in Rancho Cucamonga, California. “The PTI program helps meet the Peterbilt dealer network’s growing demand for entry level qualified diesel technicians.  The unique value proposition for graduates of PTI is finding its graduates jobs that often turn into long-term careers,” said Brian Brooks, program manager for the Peterbilt Technician Institute. “The 50% growth of the Peterbilt dealer network this decade ensures that there are plenty of long-term career opportunities with our dealers, many of which begin as a diesel technician. Through the Peterbilt Technician Institute, Peterbilt is educating the next generation of diesel technicians to deliver exceptional service and drive uptime for our customers,” added Peterbilt’s Technician Program Manager Curtis Crisp. Since launching in 2013, the PTI program has graduated more than 600 factory-certified technicians and boasts a 95% placement rate at a Peterbilt service location. Each PTI student earns 12 Peterbilt certifications as well as certifications for both the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines as they prepare for a career in the diesel industry. PTI is a collaborative program with Universal Technical Institute. For more information about Peterbilt, visit www.peterbilt.com.            

PITTSBURGH — Sgt. Benjamin Schropfer of the Nebraska State Patrol has earned the 2019 Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s highest honor for the commercial motor vehicle roadside inspector. After a week of in-depth training and intense competition, Schropfer received the award Saturday at the North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) here at a joint awards ceremony with the American Trucking Associations National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships. Every year since NAIC started 27 years ago, each jurisdiction from Canada, Mexico and the United States is eligible to send one inspector to represent their jurisdiction, receive valuable training and compete against other top inspectors for the ultimate title of NAIC Grand Champion. This year, 51 commercial motor vehicle inspectors gathered in Pittsburgh, August 13-17 to compete at NAIC, the only event dedicated to testing, recognizing and awarding commercial motor vehicle inspector excellence. Each contestant competes in six inspection categories. The competition includes a North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria exam as well as thorough assessments of each inspector’s knowledge and expertise by providing various identical vehicles from which contestants must identify regulatory violations and critical vehicle inspection item out-of-service conditions, all while being timed. Contestants are tested on real-world vehicle and driver inspection scenarios and must appropriately evaluate the situation and properly identify violations within the recreated roadside inspection scenario. Inspectors are tested on the out-of-service criteria, inspection procedures, hazardous materials/dangerous goods requirements, passenger carrier vehicles and more. In addition to the NAIC Grand Champion Award, other notable awards were earned by this year’s competing inspectors. The one inspector who scores the most points representing each of the three participating countries in the competition receives their country’s High Points Award. The following High Points Awards were presented: Sean McAlister High Points Canada Award: Brittany Linde, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure High Points Mexico Award: Gustavo Ruiz Alvarado, Policía Federal High Points United States Award: Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska State Patrol First, second and third place awards are given for the following inspection categories: The North American Standard Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods and Cargo Tank/Bulk Packagings Inspection is an inspection of the requirements related to identifying hazardous materials/dangerous goods markings, labeling, placarding, packaging, identification, etc. First Place: Brittany Linde, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Second Place: Michael Trautwein, local member, Houston Police Department Third Place: Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska State Patrol The North American Standard Level I Inspection is the most commonly performed inspection. It is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. First Place: Delaney Malsbury, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General Second Place: Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska State Patrol Third Place: Andrew James – Arkansas Highway Police The Team Award is given to the team with the highest combined score. The team with the highest score this year was the Blue Team, led by team leader Joe Manning with Pennsylvania State Police. The Blue Team had the following members: Brittany Linde, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; Stanton Ishii, Hawaii Department of Transportation; Ryan Dahm, Iowa Department of Transportation; Herbert Bradley, Kansas Highway Patrol; Level Walley, Mississippi Department of Public Safety; Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska State Patrol; Tommy Torok, South Dakota Highway Patrol; Jose Najera, Texas Department of Public Safety; and Vidal Zamora – U.S. DOT/FMCSA. This year, NAIC contestants voted to present the John Youngblood Award of Excellence to Joshua Bradley with the Georgia Department of Public Safety. The John Youngblood Award of Excellence is an honor NAIC contestants bestow upon a fellow NAIC inspector who exemplifies high standards and unwavering dedication to the profession. It’s the only award that is awarded to one inspector by their peers. Inspectors vote for the inspector who exemplifies the spirit of cooperation, leadership, a professional image, a dedication to their profession, a positive attitude, organizational ability and congeniality. “I started my CVSA career 16 years ago at the 2003 North American Inspectors Championship in Columbus, Ohio, so this competition is near and dear to my heart,” said CVSA President Chief Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police. “I know firsthand what an honor it is to be selected by your agency to compete on behalf of your jurisdiction against the best of the best inspectors from across North America. Each competing inspector – whether they receive a trophy or not – leaves NAIC as a winner.” In addition to the competitive events, each inspector receives hands-on training on the latest safety information, technology, standards and procedures, while sharing ideas, techniques and experiences with fellow inspectors. Since NAIC is co-located with ATA’s championship, certified inspectors and professional drivers are in an environment where they can interact with, learn from and support each other throughout the week. NAIC was created to recognize roadside inspectors and enforcement personnel – the backbone of the commercial motor vehicle safety program in North America – and to promote uniformity of inspections through training and education. Next year’s NAIC is scheduled for August 18-22, 2020, in Indianapolis.  

PLOVER, Wis. — Women In Trucking Association President and CEO Ellen Voie has been named the 2019 Cinderella to CEO of the Year — along with winning her award category “Climbing the Beanstalk” — for cultivating an innovative improvement to the workplace that creates inroads for women to achieve career goals and enhances work-life balance opportunities for all genders. The Cinderella to CEO Awards recognize women who have overcome obstacles to change businesses, communities and industries for the better. The inaugural awards, inspired by the book “From Cinderella to CEO, How to Master the 10 Lessons of Fairy Tales to Transform Your Work Life,” by Cary Broussard, honored 200 women across industries and communities who were nominated for the awards. “Our goal is to accelerate the successes of women who have worked hard and helped others to also succeed by connecting them to opportunities and each other,” said Broussard, CEO of Broussard Global. “In 2030, women in the U.S. are expected to control 75 percent of the wealth in this country. We want the wealth to be in the good, caring hands of those who strive to make the world a better place.” Nine category winners, including Voie, were recognized by a Cinderella to CEO panel of judges for their support of other women, their transformational ability to overcome obstacles and barriers, and their desire to motivate others to accomplish their dreams. Each award category is tied to a chapter in Broussard’s book. “I am so honored to receive the very first Cinderella to CEO award, as there were hundreds of nominations featuring some amazing women who have done truly notable and altruistic projects,” Voie said. “I am especially thrilled to be recognized by an organization outside the trucking industry, which makes the award even more special.” The Women In Trucking Association is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission.