The Nation Archives

10 finalists named in search for top rookie military veteran driver

The Trucker News Staff - August 15, 2019

KIRKLAND, Wash. — The top 10 finalists have been named in the search for the top rookie veteran driver. Kenworth has teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program to find the top rookie military veteran, who has made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. The top 10 finalists with their military branch and current truck fleet include: Chris Bacon/U.S. Marines/TMC Transportation Thomas Blitch/U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves/Werner Enterprises Wade Bumgarner/U.S. Navy/Veriha Trucking Joseph Campbell/U.S. Marines and U.S. Army/Roehl Transport Keso Going/U.S. Army/Epes Transport Steve Harris/U.S. Marines/Stevens 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. Tim Raub/ U.S. Navy/Averitt Express Drivers were nominated by trucking companies that made a hiring commitment and pledge to hire veterans on www.truckingtrack.org or, by members of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, or Commercial Vehicle Training Association-member school. “This year’s competition in the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” program features an outstanding group of 10 finalists, who are representing their fleet and branch of military service. On behalf of Kenworth, we appreciate their dedication to excel as truck drivers in their new profession, and we are grateful for their military service to the country,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “It is important for organizations across the United States to especially reach out to our veterans to help them make a smooth transition back into civilian life. This is one way that the trucking industry is doing its part,” said Brad Bentley FASTPORT president. During the Great American Trucking Show August 22-24 in Dallas, three finalists in the recognition program will be announced as America’s top rookie military drivers. All 10 drivers will receive special recognition at the President George W. Bush Library during a tour and reception. The final winner will be announced in December.

Study: Comprehensive approach needed to improve trucking safety

The Trucker News Staff - August 15, 2019

ITASCA, Ill. — Trucking companies that prioritize safety through management practices and use of advanced technologies can greatly improve their performance outcomes, according to a new study from the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (NSTSCE). The research team worked with Travelers, a leading provider of commercial motor vehicle insurance, the National Safety Council and state trucking associations to identify nine carriers that experienced significant improvements in safety, including those once classified as “high risk” by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “There are common elements to fleet safety programs that can help virtually any carrier effectively protect their equipment, their cargo and, most importantly, their drivers,” said Chris Hayes, second vice president of transportation, risk control, at Travelers. “This study highlighted safety measures that proved most effective for the participants and can be incorporated by others to achieve positive results.” Hayes said all the fleets studied have since improved their safety outcomes, meaning they have experienced decreases in the number and severity of crashes and improved safety scores. The researchers interviewed the carriers about their safety improvement strategies to identify best practices that other high-risk fleets can implement. Major study findings include: Six out of nine carriers reported that building a strong safety culture increased safety outcomes. Carriers that had developed a well-rounded safety culture experienced a substantial reduction in FMCSA-reportable crashes. Management and driver buy-in to safety programs were reported to be an especially important factor. Several carriers also reported benefits from generating buy-in from other parts of the carrier’s organization, including the operations department and dispatch. Other best practices that helped build a strong safety culture included maintaining an open-door policy for drivers to discuss safety-related issues with management, and keeping a positive, collaborative environment to allow drivers to help each other and identify strategies for improvement, sharing carrier-wide safety indicators with managers and drivers, implementing improvements in hiring policies and training procedures, and modifying driver scheduling to reduce fatigue, having zero-tolerance policies for hours-of-service violations to proactively address safety concerns and informing drivers about the carrier’s safety culture during orientation and having all employees, not just drivers, participate in safety training and education Six out of nine carriers reported that adopting at least one advanced safety technology significantly improved safety outcomes. One carrier reported a 56% decrease in preventable, rear-end collisions after equipping its trucks with automatic emergency braking systems. Other technologies utilized include video-based onboard safety monitoring systems, lane-departure warnings, blind spot detection and stability control systems. Learn more about these technologies at MyCarDoesWhat.org. Of the 69 strategies reported, 59 were pre-crash countermeasures. Further, a large portion of the pre-crash countermeasures, or proactive actions taken by carriers, focused on the management culture and leadership buy-in on safety. This supports prior research that suggests a connection between a carrier’s organizational safety culture and actual safety performance. The carriers also reviewed crash data and the information gleaned from the advanced technology systems to proactively address areas in need of improvement. There was no single fix for improved safety performance. None of the carriers that significantly improved safety implemented only one change. Instead, all the carriers made comprehensive adjustments. These included changing management practices, implementing new technologies, and improving driver and manager training, hiring guidelines, scheduling and vehicle maintenance procedures. “The results of this study indicate that a comprehensive approach to reducing crashes — which includes deploying advanced technology and building a strong organizational safety culture — can reduce fatalities and injuries on our roadways,” said Alex Epstein, NSC director of transportation safety. “We hope other carriers are able to learn from this research and take action to make their own fleets safer, the end result being safer roads for all and closer to our goal of zero fatalities.” “Our findings were largely consistent in terms of the countermeasures the nine carriers viewed as influential factors in their improved safety records,” said Matthew Camden, the project’s principal investigator and senior research associate for VTTI’s Center for Truck and Bus Safety. “Overall, the carriers attributed their success not to one ‘single fix’ solution but rather the fact that they adopted a comprehensive approach to safety culture and practices within their companies, specifically the adoption of advanced safety technologies.”

ATA pleased tariffs on Chinese-made intermodal containers won’t go into effect

The Trucker News Staff - August 15, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations said Thursday the trucking industry is pleased that tariffs on Chinese-made, 53-foot domestic intermodal containers would not go into effect as previously announced. “Trucking and trade are synonymous and we are happy with this most recent announcement by the United States trade representative that these 53-foot domestic containers won’t be subject to tariffs,” said ATA Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for International Trade Policy Bob Costello. “We explained that applying tariffs to these containers would have a tremendous impact on the entire freight logistics industry, and ultimately on U.S. consumers, so we are very pleased with the decision.” In June, ATA told the USTR that the only two manufacturers of these kind of containers, used commonly in intermodal transportation, were located in China, and as such, freight transportation companies would have no choice but to pay the additional cost because no domestic alternative existed. “Because there are no U.S.-based makers of these containers, we estimate the logistics industry would’ve paid an additional $63 million in the first year, and nearly $750 million more over the next decade for the equipment if these tariffs had not been rescinded,” Costello said. “We appreciate Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and the entire USTR for their willingness listen to ATA on this critical issue and we look forward to working with them to continue to advance U.S. trade interests and to grow our economy.” The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry.

Trump and Trucking – We want to hear your views in the comments section

The Trucker News Staff - August 15, 2019

Late night TV host Seth Meyers recently posted this video to YouTube called “The Check In: Trump and Trucking”. As a business news agency, we try and stay neutral and not have a dog in this hunt. However, we would like to know what our readers think in our comment section provided below.

Safety advocacy group, Teamsters critical of proposed HOS changes

The Trucker News Staff - August 15, 2019

WASHINGTON — Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Teamsters Union both reacted negatively to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposals to alter the Hours of Service rules. The agency released the proposed changes in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Wednesday during a news conference. “Advocates is staunchly opposed to the proposed changes in the NPRM which would significantly weaken HOS rules,” said Cathy Chase, president of the advocacy organization. “Current HOS rules already allow truck drivers to maintain demanding schedules of up to 11 hours behind the wheel during a 14-hour workday. On this existing schedule, truckers can drive up to 77 hours in seven days, double the average American work week. Any proposal that increases pressure on truck drivers, opens new opportunities for abuse of the rules, and further endangers truck drivers and all those who share the roads with them should be rejected.” Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said if implemented, the proposed rules would put road safety at risk. “While we continue to review these proposed regulatory changes by the FMCSA, the Teamsters have serious concerns about what we have seen thus far when it comes to these hours of service reforms,” Hoffa said. Chase said the proposed rule changes could have drastic safety impacts, particularly because of the potential to increase driver fatigue. “While the proposal does not technically change total driving and off-duty time, it does run counter to established science which shows that driver fatigue and crash risk is impacted by the quality of sleep, and by when driving is occurring,” Chase said. “Driving later in the day, later in a shift, and changing the nature of breaks – all lead to more fatigue and more risk of crashes. Chase listed specific concerns about each of the five key elements in the proposal. Short-Haul Exemption. The proposal would extend the short-haul driving window from 12 hours to 14 hours and would expand the radius of operations from 100 air miles to 150 air miles. These proposals coupled with existing exemptions for short-haul drivers increase the likelihood of abuse or fraud related to HOS compliance. Adverse Driving Conditions. Drivers already have flexibility for managing unexpected and adverse driving conditions including personal conveyance allowances which can be used to pull off the road safely once one’s HOS limits are reached. Extending this window by two additional hours will put truck drivers on the roads during perilous conditions, endangering both them and everyone on the roads, and could also increase the opportunity for abuse of this exemption. 30-Minute Break. This proposed change ties the 30-minute rest break to driving time as opposed to on-duty time. The proposal would also no longer require “breaks” to be taken off-duty. Therefore, a driver could complete their entire work day without ever having an off-duty break. Sleeper Berth. The current sleeper berth rule requires two sleeper berth periods, one of at least eight hours, and one of at least two hours. The proposal would shorten the first sleeper berth period to seven hours, exacerbating an already known, widespread problem of truck driver fatigue. The proposal would also allow the second sleeper berth period of two hours or more to extend the driving window, pushing driving time into later shift hours which is known to be associated with higher crash risks. Split Duty Provision. This proposal would allow drivers to “pause” their duty clock by 30 minutes and up to three hours, allowing a driver to have a driving window of up to 17 hours. Research shows that driving later in the duty period is associated with higher crash risks. “These changes and any other proposals that would further degrade HOS rules will increase driver fatigue, an issue the National Transportation Safety Board has repeatedly cited as a major contributor to truck crashes. The NTSB has included reducing fatigue-related crashes in every edition of its Most Wanted List of safety changes since 2016. Self-reports of fatigue, which almost always underestimate the problem, document that fatigue in truck operations is a significant issue.” Chase pointed to a 2006 driver survey prepared for the FMCSA that said 65 percent [of drivers] reported that they often or sometimes felt drowsy while driving” and almost half (47.6 percent) of drivers said they had fallen asleep while driving in the previous year. “Truck crash deaths continue to increase dramatically. Since 2009, a recent low, truck crash deaths have risen by 41 percent. This level of carnage would not be tolerated in any other industry,” Chase said. Yet, certain segments of the trucking industry continue to push for further weakening of HOS rules and other truck safety regulations. These safety rollbacks, called for under the guise of “flexibility,” are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to force drivers to work even more arduous schedules. Advocates will be providing comments to the Federal Docket in response to this seriously misguided proposal.” Hoffa said in the effort to increase so-called “flexibility” for trucking companies, the FMCSA is abandoning safety and allowing drivers to push themselves to the limit even further. “Changes for short-haul truckers, for example, would extend their days from 12 to 14 hours on the job. That means a longer and more exhausting workday for tens of thousands of American workers,” Hoffa said adding that the Teamsters are also concerned about language changing the 30-minute rest break and the ability of drivers to press the pause button on their hours of service clock. “Trucking is already one of the nation’s most dangerous jobs,” Hoffa said. “We shouldn’t be sacrificing the health and safety of drivers just to pad the profits of their big business bosses.”

FMCSA issues HOS NPRM, which agency says ‘improves safety, increases flexibility’

The Trucker News Staff - August 14, 2019

WASHINGTON – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Wednesday published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on changes to Hours of Service rules to what the agency said would increase safety on America’s roadways by updating existing regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers. “This proposed rule seeks to enhance safety by giving America’s commercial drivers more flexibility while maintaining the safety limits on driving time,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “FMCSA wants drivers and all CMV stakeholders to share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed changes to hours of service rules that we are putting forward today. We listened directly to the concerns of drivers for rules that are safer and have more flexibility—and we have acted. We encourage everyone to review and comment on this proposal,” said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez. First adopted in 1937, FMCSA’s Hours of Service rules specify the permitted operating hours of commercial drivers. In 2018, FMCSA authored an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to receive public comment on portions of the HOS rules to alleviate unnecessary burdens placed on drivers while maintaining safety on our Nation’s highways and roads. In response, the agency said it received more than 5,200 public comments. Based on the detailed public comments, FMCSA’s proposed rule on Hours of Service offers five key revisions to the existing HOS rules: The agency proposes to increase safety and flexibility for the 30 minute break rule by tying the break requirement to eight hours of driving time without an interruption for at least 30 minutes, and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on duty, not driving status, rather than off duty. The agency proposes to modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: one period of at least seven consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and the other period of not less than two consecutive hours, either off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would count against the driver’s 14-hour driving window. The agency proposes to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than three hours, that would pause a truck driver’s 14-hour driving window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift. The agency proposes to modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by two hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted. The agency proposes a change to the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles. The NPRM drew positive reactions from three associations and negative reactions from both the Teamsters Union and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. “We applaud the agency’s efforts to create safety-first, data-driven regulations,” said Truckload Carriers Association President John Lyboldt. “The initiative to reduce roadway fatalities represents an industry lift for which TCA is committed to uniting with our federal agency partners.” TCA Chairman Josh Kaburick said that with the publication of the NPRM the FMCSA is taking a much-needed step forward to establish added flexibility for drivers. “We as an industry applaud Administrator Martinez and his staff for these efforts,” Kaburick said. “Now is the time for the industry to actively comment and provide data to justify full sleeper berth flexibility. Only through full flexibility will our drivers truly be in control of their day and provided the opportunity to sleep when needed or take a break to avoid excessive traffic congestion.” “Secretary Chao and Administrator Martinez are to be commended for their commitment to an open and data-driven process to update the Hours of Service rules,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We look forward to studying and understanding how these proposed changes will impact our industry so we can provide relevant data and information to strengthen and support a good final rule that bolsters safety and provides drivers needed flexibility. ATA intends to fully review these proposed changes so we can shape a strong rule for our drivers, our industry and the motoring public.” “In the 15 years since the last major revisions to the hours-of-service, we as an industry have learned a great deal about how these rules impact our drivers,” said ATA Chairman Barry Pottle, president of Pottle’s Transportation. “The valuable experience and data we’ve gained over that time will make it easier to provide flexibility for drivers to get additional rest and find parking while keeping our highways safe.” Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer called thec proposal a common-sense approach. “Truckers have families and want to get home safely just like everyone else. They are the most knowledgeable, highway safety advocates and the agency’s proposal, overall, recognizes that fact,” Spencer said. “Over the past decade, truck drivers have been more regulated than ever, and more compliant than ever, and yet crashes are going up,” said Spencer. “We have pushed for flexibility in hours of service regulations for years, long before the current Administration. We do thank Administrator Ray Martinez for his commitment to the issue and for listening to those that actually drive trucks for a living.” Meanwhile, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said the proposed rules would put road safety at risk and that the union has serious concerns about the proposed changes. “In an effort to increase so-called ‘flexibility’ for trucking companies, the FMCSA is abandoning safety and allowing drivers to push themselves to the limit even further,” Hoffa said. “Changes for short-haul truckers, for example, would extend their days from 12 to 14 hours on the job. That means a longer and more exhausting workday for tens of thousands of American workers. The Teamsters are also concerned about language changing the 30-minute rest break and the ability of drivers to press the pause button on their hours of service clock.” Hoffa said trucking is already one of the nation’s most dangerous jobs. “We shouldn’t be sacrificing the health and safety of drivers just to pad the profits of their big business bosses,” he said. “Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is staunchly opposed to the proposed changes in the NPRM which would significantly weaken HOS rules,” said Cathy Chase, president of the advocacy organization. “Current HOS rules already allow truck drivers to maintain demanding schedules of up to 11 hours behind the wheel during a 14-hour workday. On this existing schedule, truckers can drive up to 77 hours in seven days, double the average American work week. Any proposal that increases pressure on truck drivers, opens new opportunities for abuse of the rules, and further endangers truck drivers and all those who share the roads with them should be rejected.” FMCSA said its proposal is crafted to improve safety on the nation’s roadways. The proposed rule would not increase driving time and would continue to prevent CMV operators from driving for more than eight consecutive hours without at least a 30-minute change in duty status. In Addition, FMCSA’s proposed rule on hours of service regulations is estimated to provide $274 million in savings for the U.S. economy and American consumers. The trucking industry is a key component to the national economy—employing more than seven million people and moves 70 percent of the nation’s domestic freight. The public comment period will be open for 45 days when the NPRM is published in the Federal Register likely on either August 19 or August 20. The Federal Register Notice, including how to submit comments, is available here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/regulations/hours-service/474821/nprmfile08-08-2019-131534.pdf.

Schneider to open new Dallas Operating Center in January 2020

The Trucker News Staff - August 13, 2019

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Schneider, one of the nation’s largest truckload carriers, is upgrading its driver facilities in the Dallas area. The company’s new operating center, which is expected to open in January 2020, will include a variety of amenities for drivers. The new location is being built at 1211 East Pleasant Run Road in Wilmer, Texas, in the heart of the Interstates 45 and 20 corridors and in close proximity to a number of Schneider customers. It will replace the current facility located at 34500 LBJ Freeway in Dallas, which Schneider opened in 2000. “Maximizing drivers’ comfort and providing the tools and facilities they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently is job No.1 for all Schneider associates,” said Dave Geyer, Schneider’s executive vice president, group president of transportation and logistics. “The new facility will include many of the amenities found at our other locations across North America, but also new features or improvement designs based on driver feedback.” To continually improve the driver experience, Geyer said Schneider’s new Dallas facility will include: Expanded tractor (304 stalls) and trailer (340 stalls) parking – nearly 50% more than the current location Driver business center Driver video lounge with power charging stations Driver quiet lounge with power charging stations Exercise equipment and space Expanded free laundry services Nine shower stalls Full-service café with seating options for powering personal and business-related hand-held devices Wi-Fi enabled yard Off-hour open-concept vending service Company retail store Onsite training simulators The new site will also include a maintenance building that will double the capacity that is available at the current location: 10 tractor bays Five trailer bays Three express bays Two PM pits A 6,700-square-foot parts room Two open steam bay stations Over 500 drivers within Schneider’s Regional, Over-the-Road and Dedicated service offerings will be managed out of the Dallas operating center. The 14,000-square-foot driver services building and 47,000-square-foot maintenance building sit on over 50 acres, which allows for future growth. For more information about joining the ranks of professionals at Schneider’s new Dallas facility, or any of the company’s more than 200 locations, visit www.SchneiderJobs.com.

OOIDA: Allowing under 21-year-olds to drive interstate would increase crashes

Lyndon Finney - August 13, 2019

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — Noting that the primary mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and business, the president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said Monday that allowing CDL holders under the age of 21 to drive interstate commerce isn’t the way to go. “When it comes to highway safety, the data is clear – younger drivers and inexperienced drivers crash more,” said OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer. “This is why OOIDA strongly opposes a pilot program that would allow drivers under the age of 21 to operate in interstate commerce.” Spencer was responding to a request by the FMCSA for comments regarding a second pilot program for under-21 drivers. A previous pilot program involving 18- to 20-year-old military veterans and reservists is in the process of being undertaken by the agency. The pilot program on which Spencer was commenting is for non-military drivers. “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for 15-20-year-olds, according to the National Center for Health Statistics,” Spencer wrote, adding that a 2017 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration analysis on younger drivers found that 8.3% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were young drivers. However, young drivers were only 5.4% of all licensed drivers in 2017. “CMV drivers under the age of 19 are four times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than all truck drivers and CMV drivers between the ages of 19-20 are six times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes compared to all truck drivers,” Spencer wrote. “Additional research has shown that most drivers under the age of 21 ‘…lack the general maturity, skill and judgment that is necessary in handling commercial motor vehicles,’ while other studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex, which is the portion of the brain responsible for complex cognitive behavior and decision making, does not fully develop until the mid-20s5 and that adults are better equipped to recognize errors in decision making. Given this existing data, we firmly believe that licensing under-21 drivers for interstate commerce will result in more crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks.” Spencer said the pilot program was at least partially fueled by claims by the largest motor carriers, and the trade associations that represent them, that there is a driver shortage, which OOIDA has long-labeled a “myth.” Spencer said OOIDA is concerned that the FMCSA is indicating its acceptance “of this notion by moving forward with this unsafe proposal and providing credence to dangerous legislation such as the DRIVE-Safe Act. Experience tells us many of the entities pushing for the change in the current age requirement would simply use it to take advantage of a new pool of drivers – teenagers, who would be subjected to poor working conditions, predatory lease-to-own schemes, and woefully inadequate compensation.” Spencer offered an option to the pilot program. “Rather than developing programs to allow more teenagers behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks, the federal government, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, should be taking steps to reverse the incessantly high driver turnover rate, which has varied between 71 and 102% among large truckload carriers over the last several years,” Spencer said. “This constant driver churn decreases highway safety as those who leave the workforce are immediately replaced with less experienced individuals in an effort to keep labor costs as low as possible and avoid improving difficult working conditions. Without addressing the underlying circumstances that have led to excessive churn, we anticipate turnover rates will remain precariously high or even increase – no matter the age of the driver.”

Diesel prices drop across the country, most notably in New England, California

The Trucker News Staff - August 13, 2019

The average price for a gallon of diesel nationwide fell by 2.1 cents for the week ending August 12, to edge tantalizingly close to $3 per gallon. It currently stands at $3.011 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The past week’s price decline continues a trend that had been almost unbroken for more than three months. On May 6, the national average price for a gallon of diesel was $3.171 per gallon, after a springtime spike. The last time the national average price of diesel was under the $3 per gallon mark was February 11, when it stood at $2.966. The average price drop along the East Coast this past week matched the national average of 2.1 cents, with New England enjoying the largest price decline of any individual region. Diesel fell there by 3.4 cents, to $3.073. The Central Atlantic and Lower Atlantic regions saw more modest declines of 1.8 cents and 1.9 cents, respectively. The price of diesel in Lower Atlantic stands at $2.904, the second-lowest nationwide, while the price is $3.215 in the Central Atlantic, the second-highest individual region nationwide. Diesel prices in California remain far and away the highest in the country. After a 3.1 cent price drop this week, a gallon of diesel in California goes for an average price of $3.909. It’s a far cry from the rest of the West Coast, where a decline of 1.8 cents set the price of diesel to $3.164. Combined, the West Coast average stands at $3.580, a number that reflects no one’s reality, given the disparity between California and its neighbors to the north. California’s neighbors to the east are doing even better. With a drop 2.5 cents this week, the diesel stands at $2.94 in the Rocky Mountain region. While further east, it’s $2.924 in the Midwest, after a decline of 1.8 cents. Meanwhile, the Gulf region continues to set the bar lower on diesel prices. With a drop 2.4 cents this past week, a gallon of diesel there goes for $2.763. After EIA’s weekly report late Monday afternoon, crude oil started the day Tuesday on an upswing. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was up $1.67, or 2.85%, to stand at $60.24 a barrel. U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.58, or 2.88%, to settle at $56.51 a barrel. Click here for a complete list of average prices by region for the past three weeks.

4 members of same family graduate from same CDL program

The Trucker News Staff - August 12, 2019

ELKO, Nev. — True grit and determination are just a few ways to describe the Sasse family. It’s not every day members of the same family graduate from the same commercial driving license program, let alone four. But Cassandra Sasse and three of her children (Kendall, Katelynn and Kodi) turned to the trucking industry as a way to support their family. “We’re no strangers to heavy duty trucks since my husband holds a Class A CDL, so my kids and I started looking at the trucking industry for opportunities,” said Cassandra Sasse. “I have seven kids, and four of them still need supervision. It was important for me to find a career that would give me the flexibility I need to watch over my young kids.” After relocating to Elko, Nevada, the Sasse family discovered that Elko’s thriving commercial transportation industry offered the financial and time flexibility the family sought. On top of that, Cassandra, Kendall, Katelynn and Kodi each applied for and received full scholarships to attend Great Basin College’s six-week CDL program, making the decision to enter the trucking industry even more enticing. They became the first students to receive scholarships for the Great Basin College CDL program. In January, Cassandra, Kendall and Katelynn Sasse enrolled in the Great Basin College CDL program and graduated with their Class A CDL in March. Kodi Sasse waited to enter the same program in May, so that she would be 21 years old and eligible to drive out-of-state following her graduation in June. While the Sasse family was in the middle of transitioning into a new way of life in Elko, the Great Basin College CDL program was also going through changes. During the time that members of the Sasse family were enrolled in the CDL program, Great Basin College added a new Kenworth T680 in February. After first learning how to operate Great Basin College’s previous Class 8 truck in January, Cassandra, Katelynn and Kendall Sasse, were the first students to drive the Kenworth T680. The differences between the T680 and the previous truck they were driving were night and day. Kenneth Pope, Great Basin College CDL program instructor who has more than 22 years of driving and teaching experience, was a big advocator for the program’s administration to add the Kenworth T680. “In my time on the road, a Kenworth truck was my favorite truck to drive,” Pope said. “Kenworth sets the bar high for the trucks they produce. When the opportunity came about to add a new truck, I told the administration to give Kenworth a hard look. The T680 is a reliable truck that will provide me many years of teaching the next generation of drivers how to operate a Class 8 truck on the best equipment available.” Great Basin’s Kenworth T680 features a 76-inch high-roof sleeper and 500 hp engine. A 13-speed manual transmission was spec’d so that students would not be limited to operating automated transmission trucks once they graduated. “We want to ensure that our students have had plenty of practice operating a manual transmission before beginning their careers,” said Pope. “In Elko, our elevation is at more than 5,000 feet and we have mountain passes all around us. I teach my students how to navigate steep slopes, acting as if they are hauling a full payload. It doesn’t matter what the weather conditions are – learning how to drive in tough conditions makes you that much more prepared for professional driving. You can imagine the beating the transmission is taking from students who are just learning.” The CDL program Great Basin College offers consists of no more than four students at a time. The small class size allows for students to get lots of hands-on driving experience. For long-distance training, Pope will take students out on a 500 to 600-mile route, switching drivers every 125 miles. Since 1990, 500 students have graduated from the Great Basin College driving school program, and 92 percent of the students who graduate find a job in the industry. With sufficient funding, Great Basin College’s CDL program will hold seven courses this year. Pope expects the Kenworth T680 will accumulate more than 30,000 miles in its first year as the program’s primary truck of use. “We feel fortunate to be able to offer our students a new truck for them to learn in and develop the skills they need once they graduate from the program,” Pope said. Since graduating from Great Basin CDL program, Cassandra, Katelynn and Kendall Sasse are driving professionally, hauling heavy equipment locally for mining companies in the Elko area. While the family describes themselves as the “Diesel Family,” Cassandra and her kids originally had no plans of becoming truck drivers, but they have quickly embraced the trucking industry. “We’re excited about the opportunities we have in the industry,” said Cassandra Sasse. “Our ultimate goal is to own and operate our own trucks and eventually drive long haul.” For more information on the Great Basin College CDL program, call (775) 753-2202 or go to www.campusce.net/gbcnv.

Traffic congestion in Massachusetts reaches tipping point

The Associated Press - August 9, 2019

BOSTON — Traffic congestion in Massachusetts has reached a tipping point as the state’s existing transportation infrastructure bumps up against a surging economy. That’s according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Transportation. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker had directed the agency last August to study when, where and why traffic congestion occurs in Massachusetts. The report found small disruptions like a fender bender or bad weather can have a greater cascading effect on traffic than in the past, causing commute times to spike. Baker said the worse part of the issue is unpredictability. “When people can’t plan for their commute to take the same amount of time each day it effects work schedules, child care arrangements, school drop offs and pick-ups and a whole variety of other issues,” he said. Some of the recommendations in the report include focusing on ways to ease traffic bottlenecks, adding separate tolled lanes to existing roads, building more affordable housing closer to public transportation and working with businesses to create new commuting routes to jobs. One focus of the report is on the creation of new “managed lanes” on one or more highways in greater Boston. The report describes managed lanes as a system of parallel lanes on a road, with one or more lanes for drivers that remain free while one or more lanes require drivers to pay a fee. The lanes could also be used by carpools, buses and vans carrying large amounts of people for no cost. State Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack said congestion is most severe in metropolitan Boston, but includes hot spots in Worcester, western Massachusetts, the Sagamore Bridge and other areas. “By 6 o’clock in the morning, one in four miles of roadway inside of Rt. 128 is already congested or highly congested and the afternoon rush hour essentially begins at 3 in the afternoon,” she said. “The commonwealth has reached a tipping point with respect to congestion.” She said the roads are so full that the smallest disruption can have ripple effects that clog up roadways more severely than in the past, in part because of the state’s red-hot economy. “While the average day has not gotten that much worse, the bad days have become much worse,” she added. “Congestion is bad because the economy is good.” Chris Dempsey, director of transportation for Massachusetts, a coalition of statewide interest groups, praised some of the recommendations, but said the report falls short on the issue of road pricing. He said the state needs to test smarter tolling approaches. “The Governor’s proposal to build new highway lanes won’t fix our congestion problem and it runs counter to the Commonwealth’s environmental and transportation goals,” Dempsey said in statement. The study also ticked off some of the state’s most congested roads including: I-93 southbound from Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford to McGrath Highway in Somerville at 7 a.m.; Route 2 eastbound approaching Alewife Station at 8 a.m.; I-93 northbound from the Braintree split to Neponset Circle at 7 a.m.; Route 2 eastbound approaching Alewife Station at 7 a.m.; and I-93 southbound from Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford to McGrath Highway in Somerville at 8 a.m. Baker is pushing a handful of transportation-related bills including a bill he filed last month calling for $18 billion in borrowing — including about $10 billion in road and highway projects and $5.7 billion for the state’s beleaguered public transit system. In June, Baker unveiled a separate plan to speed construction projects on Greater Boston’s public transit system following a pair of subway car derailments with a one-time injection of $50 million. Baker has also proposed legislation that would push ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to provide more information about where and when they’re picking up and dropping off riders. A representative of Lyft has said the company is worried some elements of Baker’s proposal, including the collection of information on trips.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opens location in Brownsville, Texas

The Trucker News Staff - August 9, 2019

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, is now serving customers in Brownsville, Texas, thanks to a new travel stop that opened Thursday. The location on highways 511 and 48, adds 21 jobs to Cameron County and 39 truck parking spots. “We’re excited to now be serving customers in Texas’s southernmost town – which also is our southernmost location in all of the U.S.,” said Tom Love, executive chairman and founder of Love’s. “The new location in Brownsville is our 73rd location in Texas and we are happy to give drivers another opportunity to get the great service and products they deserve.” The Brownsville location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities for customers to enjoy such as Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza, five diesel bays, four showers, laundry facilities, bean-to-cup gourmet coffee, brand-name snacks and CAT scales. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and donate $2,000 to the community which will be split between the Brownsville Police Department and the Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has 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. To learn more, visit loves.com.

Driver named Highway Angel after actions at accident scene showed he’s ‘D’ man

Cliff Abbott - August 9, 2019

Sometimes, being a Highway Angel comes down to one’s mindset. That’s the thinking of Doron “D” Doravi, who was recently selected as a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel for his actions on May 3, 2019. Hauling a front-end loader southbound on U.S. Highway 81, a few miles south of York Nebraska, Doravi and another CDL driver encountered an overturned truck that blocked the northbound lanes and part of the median. Observing spilled liquid, “D” asked the other driver, whose truck was closer, to get a fire extinguisher. In the meantime, Doravi focused on the driver of the overturned truck, still belted into the driver’s seat with the driver’s door facing the sky. After determining that the driver didn’t have an injury that precluded moving him, Doravi cut the seat belt and helped the driver exit the tractor. By this time, the other driver had returned and the two rescuers helped get the accident victim to the ground. Doravi stayed nearby until paramedics arrived. “The biggest point is the mindset, the other thing is the training,” Doravi explained. “How to do it quickest.” While many drivers receive training in first aid from carriers and other sources, Doravi might have a little more expertise than the average driver. His experience begins years ago, as a Sergeant and Team Leader in the Tel Aviv division of the Israeli National Police Tactical Anti-Crime and Terrorist Unit, the equivalent of the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) units familiar in the U.S. “As a member of a SWAT team, we are taught quick assessment of the situation, the ‘what, where, when’ thinking,” Doravi explained. That mindset paid off for the driver Doravi rescued and turned over to responding EMTs. The training continued after Doravi came to the U.S. “When I moved to Arizona, I became a reserve firefighter. We had training in firefighting and emergency response,” he said. He still carries a large medical pack in his tractor, just in case. “You never know when it might be needed,” he said. One of the first issues Doravi encountered upon coming to the U.S. was the pronunciation of his name. That’s mostly because the letter “R” is “rolled” in the Hebrew language, similar to the way it’s pronounced in some European languages like French and Spanish. Without an English equivalent, it’s difficult to explain the correct pronunciation of both first and last names to people he meets here in the U.S. “My American friend had trouble pronouncing my name and just started calling me ‘D,’” he said, “so that’s what everyone calls me now, even my wife.” Doravi didn’t need to rescue a fellow driver to attract the attention of Steve Weidner, operations manager at Diamond Transportation Systems, where Doravi leases his champagne-colored Kenworth W900. “He’s one of the good ones, that’s for sure,” said Weidner. “Loyal, dedicated, and a good representative of the industry and our company.” Doravi has been with Diamond for about three years. Weidner spoke of Doravi’s attention to detail and his excellent communication with customers. “He’s the epitome of what you want in an owner-operator,” he continued. “I wish I had 60 more like him.” Doravi’s journey has been long and interesting, from an Israeli SWAT team to a Phoenix, Arizona based owner operator in the trucking industry. “I want to drive the biggest thing on the road,” he said. “I haul a lot of military vehicles and a lot of farm equipment.” While the loads he hauls aren’t always the biggest, Doravi relishes the responsibility of the type of driving he does. “To me, what we do, hauling permitted loads, having to plan the trip and route, get permits, can sometimes be very challenging,” he explained. “Some of the military vehicles are very impressive looking, not necessarily big or heavy, but interesting.” While it may be gratifying to haul such interesting freight, “D” says his biggest honor was in pulling The Wall That Heals, the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Mobile Education Center. He’s had the honor twice, once on a leg from Michigan to Cravitz, Wisconsin, where he pulled the display in a parade. More than 10,000 people visited the display in Cravitz. “That’s probably the top of the top. It’s a very emotional experience,” he said. When he’s not piloting his Kenworth down the highway, Doravi enjoys shooting and motorcycle riding. Harley-Davidson owners may be disappointed to learn that he’s not a fan. “I prefer Japanese quality,” he said, but he’s not picky about the make or model. “Give me two wheels, an engine and a quality machine, that’s what it’s about,” he explained. Off-roading in four-wheeled vehicles is a passion, too, as are the four dogs he and his wife care for. “The dogs are all rescues, loving, small creatures,” he boasted. “They are my boys.” Whether he’s rescuing dogs or accident victims, “D” Doravi is equipped and ready to step up as needed. “I’m getting old and cranky,” he said, “but I’m in a good place.” Thanks to his training, preparedness and mindset, those he encounters are in a good place, too.

Largest U.S. immigration raids in a decade net 680 arrests at Mississippi plants

The Associated Press - August 8, 2019

MORTON, Miss. — U.S. immigration officials raided seven Mississippi chicken processing plants Wednesday, arresting 680 mostly Latino workers in the largest workplace sting in at least a decade. The raids, planned months ago, happened just hours before President Donald Trump visited El Paso, Texas, the majority-Latino border city where a man linked to an online screed about a “Hispanic invasion” was charged in a shooting that left 22 people dead. “On a day when we seek unifying words and acts to heal the nation’s broken heart, President Trump allows so many families and communities to be torn apart,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. About 600 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fanned out across the plants operated by five companies, surrounding the perimeters to prevent workers from fleeing. In Morton, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of the capital of Jackson, workers filled three buses — two for men and one for women — at a Koch Foods Inc. plant. Those arrested were taken to a military hangar to be processed for immigration violations. About 70 family, friends and residents waved goodbye and shouted, “Let them go! Let them go!” Later, two more buses arrived. A tearful 13-year-old boy whose parents are from Guatemala waved goodbye to his mother, a Koch worker, as he stood beside his father. Some employees tried to flee on foot but were captured in the parking lot. Workers, including Domingo Candelaria, who could show they were in the country legally were allowed to leave the plant after agents searched the trunks of their vehicles. “It was a sad situation inside,” Candelaria said. Mississippi is the nation’s fifth-largest chicken producing state and the plants’ tough processing jobs have mainly been filled by Latino immigrants eager to take whatever work they can get. Chicken plants dominate the economies of Morton and other small towns east of Jackson. Based in Park Ridge, Illinois, Koch is one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S, with operations in Mississippi and five other states. The company didn’t respond to telephone calls and emails seeking comment. Matthew Albence, ICE’s acting director, told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday in Pearl, just down the road from the Koch plant, that the raids could be the largest-ever workplace operation in any single state. Asked about their coinciding with Trump’s visit to El Paso, Albence responded, “This is a long-term operation that’s been going on.” He said raids are “racially neutral” and based on evidence of illegal residency. The companies involved could be charged with knowingly hiring workers who are in the county illegally and will be scrutinized for tax, document and wage fraud, Albence said. Bill Chandler, executive director of the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance, called the “terrible” raids “another effort to drive Latinos out of Mississippi,” and he blamed Trump for fanning racism with his past incendiary comments about immigrants. “This is the same thing that Trump is doing at the border with the Border Patrol,” he said, referring to the increased crackdown on migrants coming into the U.S. Major immigration raids were common under President George W. Bush, including one at a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, in 2008 that resulted in about 400 arrests. President Barack Obama avoided them, limiting workplace immigration efforts to low-profile audits. Trump resumed workplace raids, but the months of preparation and hefty resources they require make them rare. Last year, the administration targeted a landscaping company near Toledo, Ohio, and a meatpacking plant in eastern Tennessee. The former owner of the Tennessee plant was sentenced to 18 months in prison last month. On Wednesday, a hangar at a Mississippi Air National Guard base in Flowood, adjoining the Jackson airport, was set up to process those who were detained. Employees formed seven lines, one for each workplace raided, with fingerprint scanners and document printers at each interview station. Cooling misters blew in front of fans, and 2,000 catered meals were ordered. Agents who arrived at the Morton plant passed a chain-link fence with a sign that said the company was hiring. Workers’ wrists were tied with plastic bands and they deposited personal belongings in clear plastic bags. “This will affect the economy,” Maria Isabel Ayala, a child care worker for plant employees, said as the buses left. “Without them here, how will you get your chicken?” Other companies targeted in the raids included Peco Foods Inc., which has plants in Bay Springs, Canton and Sebastopol; PH Food Inc. in Morton; MP Food Inc. in Pelahatchie and Pearl River Foods Inc. in Carthage. “We are fully cooperating with the authorities in their investigation and are navigating a potential disruption of operations,” Peco, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, said in a statement. The company added that it participates in E-Verify, a government program to screen new hires for immigration status. No one answered the phone at Pearl River Foods. A woman who answered the phone at PH Food declined to comment or identify herself. A telephone listing could not be found for MP Food.

Driver involved in accident that killed mother and twins ordered not to drive

The Trucker News Staff - August 8, 2019

WASHINGTON — The driver of a tractor-trailer that collided with a back line of vehicles killing a mother and her twin children has been declared to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has been ordered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration not to operate any commercial vehicle in interstate commerce. He was served the federal order August 2. But not being able to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce is the least worries for Bruce Andrew Pollard, who has been arrested and charged with three counts of reckless homicide, and one count of reckless operation of a vehicle in a highway work zone. On July 14, Pollard, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, was operating a tractor-trailer in an active work zone along Interstate 465 eastbound near Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana, when his truck, traveling faster the posted speed limit, collided into the rear of a line of vehicles. A fire erupted and the two young children and their mother were killed; seven other individuals were hospitalized. The mother and her twin girls have been identified as 29-year-old Alanna Koons and 18-month-old June and Ruby Koons. A subsequent investigation by FMCSA investigators found that Pollard had a history of careless driving and had been disciplined and later terminated in April 2019 by his previous employer for repeated instances of unsafe driving. In applying for his latest truck driving position in June 2019, Pollard failed to disclose his employment with the previous motor carrier, failed to disclose his termination and the reason for his termination. Pollard falsely certified on his job application that he had not previously been involved in a crash. It is a violation of USDOT/FMCSA regulations to make fraudulent or intentionally false statements on a federally required, safety sensitive, document. FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Pollard’s “blatant and egregious violations of [federal safety regulations], local operating laws … and ongoing and repeated disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and the motoring public.” Failure to comply with the provisions of a federal imminent hazard out-of-service order may result in action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for equitable relief and punitive damages. Civil penalties of up to $1,848 may be assessed for each violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of the order. Knowing and/or willful violation of the order may also result in criminal penalties. Pollard also may be subject to a civil penalty enforcement proceeding brought by FMCSA for his violation of the Agency’s safety regulations.

FedEx to Amazon: Take your freight and shove it

The Associated Press - August 8, 2019

NEW YORK — FedEx says it will no longer make ground deliveries for Amazon as the online shopping giant builds its own fleet and becomes more of a threat to delivery companies. The announcement Wednesday comes two months after FedEx terminated its air delivery contract with Amazon. FedEx said dumping Amazon is part of its plan to go after more e-commerce deliveries from other companies. Traditional retailers like Walmart and Target want to sell more of their goods online, which in turn allows FedEx to distance itself from Amazon.com without suffering the same competitive damage it might once have. “This does not come as a surprise to us,” Citi Research analyst Christian Wetherbee said in a note to clients. “The company is clearly trying to move away from its partnership with Amazon and we believe it is using this move as a selling point to win new non-Amazon business.” Cowen analyst Helane Becker said FedEx’s profit margin on Amazon shipments is probably in the “very low single digits,” and she believes the company can replace those packages with more profitable business from other retailers. Amazon is growing its own fleet of air and ground transportation, giving it more control of how its packages are delivered while reducing its reliance on FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. The Seattle-based company has leased jets, built package-sorting hubs at airports and launched a program to let its contractor drivers start their own businesses delivering packages in vans stamped with the Amazon logo. Last month, FedEx warned for the first time in a government filing that Amazon’s fledging delivery business could lower prices, hurt its revenue and “negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.” It was a departure from previous statements by FedEx officials — and those at UPS — who have long downplayed the idea that Amazon could become a competitor in the delivery business. They noted that it took many years and billions of dollars for their companies to build extensive, worldwide networks of planes and delivery trucks. “I mean, we look at Amazon as a wonderful company and service, and they’re a good customer of ours,” said FedEx Chairman and CEO Fred Smith during an earnings call in December. “We don’t see them as a peer competitor at this point in time. For many reasons, we think it is doubtful that that will be the case.” In a regulatory filing in February, Amazon tweaked the description of its business to say that competitors include transportation companies so FedEx “is taking them at their word and dropping them as a client,” Becker said. “We think (FedEx) is treating Amazon like any other competitor. They wouldn’t carry competitor packages, like UPS, so why would they carry Amazon packages?” she said. Amazon spent $27.7 billion on sorting and shipping costs last year, up from $16.2 billion two years earlier. Amazon doesn’t say how much of its packages flow through FedEx, but it’s likely a much smaller amount compared to UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. FedEx said that Amazon made up just 1.3% of its total revenue in 2018, or about $850 million. “Nothing but respect for FedEx but they were very small piece of our network and vice versa, we wish them nothing but the best (conscious uncoupling at its finest),” tweeted Amazon executive Dave Clark, who oversees the company’s warehouses and delivery business. “We have great strategic partners who are part of our long term plan and we appreciate what they do for customers.” Besides building its own delivery business, the online retailer wants to drop off packages to its shopper’s doorsteps even faster, which is proving to be a bigger expense than expected. Last month, Amazon admitted it would cost more than the $800 million it had said it would spend to switch its Prime two-day delivery promise to one-day delivery. The higher costs were related to reconfiguring its warehouses and moving products and goods to facilities that were closer to its customers. Analysts said FedEx would still have a role in moving some Amazon packages, but it would be an even smaller part of its business. “This will make it not worth mentioning,” said Stifel analyst David Ross, in a note to clients.

1,667 trucks put out of service during unannounced brake safety initiative

The Trucker News Staff - August 8, 2019

GREENBELT, Md. — Surprise, surprise! That’s likely the reaction of 10,358 professional truck drivers who had their braking system inspected during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s unannounced brake safety inspection initiative May 15. The CVSA said out of the total CMVs inspected, 1,667, or 16.1% had brake-related critical vehicle inspection items and were placed out of service until violations were corrected. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than half a million commercial motor vehicle violations in 2017 were related to brakes. CVSA aims to call attention to this serious issue through its targeted brake safety enforcement and awareness campaigns, such as the May 15 unannounced inspection blitz, according to CVSA President Chief Jay Thompson with the Arkansas Highway Police, who said the enforcement initiative highlights the work that’s done by inspectors every day to keep our roadways safe. Checking brake systems and their components is always part of roadside vehicle inspections. Inspectors also paid close attention to violations involving brake hoses/tubing: There were 996 units with chafed rubber hose violations. 185 units had chafed thermoplastic hose violations. There were 1,125 violations of 49 Code of Federal Regulations § 393.45 and Canadian equivalent violations that included chafed rubber hoses. There were 124 violations of 49 Code of Federal Regulations § 393.45 and Canadian equivalent violations that included kinked thermoplastic hoses. “Brake hoses and tubing must be properly attached, undamaged, without leaks and appropriately flexible,” Thompson said. “Because they are such an important part of the braking system, the failure of hoses or tubing can cause problems for the entire braking system.” Fifty-five jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada participated in this focused one-day brake safety inspection and enforcement initiative. Participation by law enforcement jurisdictions is voluntary and depends upon availability of staff and resources. Each participating jurisdiction captured and reported its May 15 data to CVSA. Inspection data from Canada and the U.S. featured the following notable results: 55 jurisdictions participated – 45 U.S. states and territories and 10 Canadian provinces and territories. A total of 10,358 inspections were conducted. The U.S. conducted 8,738 commercial motor vehicle inspections; Canada conducted 1,620. 16.1% or 1,667 of commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake violations. In the U.S., 16.6% of commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for brake violations. In Canada, 13.5% of commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for brake violations. Nearly 84% of commercial motor vehicles inspected did not have any critical brake-related inspection item violations. According to FMCSA’s Analysis and Information Online 2019 calendar year data snapshot as of June 28, 2019, out of 1.8 million inspections, the top five brake-related violations were: Clamp or roto type brake out of adjustment (86,296) CMV manufactured after Oct. 19, 1994, has an automatic brake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear (45,594) Brake hose or tubing chafing and/or kinking (37,737) No or defective ABS malfunction indicator lamp for trailer manufactured after March 1, 1998 (37,343) Inoperative/defective brakes (32,125) CVSA conducts brake-focused enforcement events, such as Brake Safety Day, to identify and remove commercial motor vehicles with dangerous brake issues from our roadways to reduce the number of crashes caused by or made more severe by deficient braking system performance. CVSA is holding another brake safety enforcement event this year, Brake Safety Week, which is scheduled for Sept.15-21, at participating jurisdictions throughout North America. The week is an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial motor vehicle brake safety. Brake Safety Day and Brake Safety Week are inspection, enforcement, education and awareness initiatives that are part of the Operation Airbrake Program sponsored by CVSA in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

Much to do to keep drivers safe in automated vehicle age, panel says

The Trucker News Staff - August 6, 2019

WASHINGTON — The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Tuesday released a white paper discussing strategies for delivering safety messages to the public and preparing the criminal justice community to mitigate the ongoing risk of operator behavior as automated vehicles (AVs) take the road. The white paper summarizes the outcomes of a May 8 GHSA/State Farm interdisciplinary expert panel meeting. “Automated vehicles hold tremendous promise, but both driver-operated and highly automated vehicles will be sharing the roadways for a long time – maybe forever,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. The expert panel agreed the highway safety community needs to continue to focus on operator behavior, attitudes and culture, which will likely continue to play a leading role in highway safety. “Surveys show that many drivers do not understand or trust AVs, or appreciate their own operator responsibilities, likely due to the many mixed, confusing, or inaccurate messages about these features,” Adkins said. “We need to win the public’s trust and prepare them for safe use so that the lifesaving potential of this technology is not delayed.” The report recommends that state highway safety offices, AV developers, law enforcement and other stakeholders collaborate on a number of steps, including: Develop and deploy consistent, honest safety messages to the public about all forms of automation, from driver assistance features to full self-driving capabilities. Maintain a focus on today’s ongoing traffic safety challenges, such as impaired driving, speeding, failure to buckle up, distracted driving and sharing the road with non-motorized users. • Develop and deploy uniform policy and training for police, first responders and court officials about responding to and investigating AV crashes. “While AVs will change our lives in many ways, they raise important highway safety issues,” said Ryan Gammelgard, counsel at State Farm. “This report is a key piece to helping make sure we all work together to ensure the technology works as advertised.” GHSA will present the paper on Monday, August 26, at its 2019 annual meeting in Anaheim, California. The full meeting runs August 25-28. Other featured speakers include Uber, Waymo, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and other leading voices on AV safety. GHSA’s State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) members, which sit at a unique nexus between traffic enforcement, the media, the public and many other highway safety partners, can play a key role in public education efforts and engagement with the law enforcement community. In fact, GHSA recently announced that it has joined Partners for Automated Vehicle Education, a coalition of industry, nonprofit and academic institutions that bring realistic, factual safety information about AVs to policymakers, the media and the traveling public.

OOIDA to showcase ‘Truck to Success’ program during session at GATS

The Trucker News Staff - August 5, 2019

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association will hold a free class to showcase the association’s business education series at the Great American Trucking Show on Thursday, August 22 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This free session is called “Shift Into Success” and is open to both members and non-members of OOIDA and will cover cost of operations for owner-operators and small fleet owners. Company drivers are welcome to attend to see what lies ahead if they are considering becoming an owner operator. The “Shift Into Success” class will be in room C-147 in the convention center. Participants are not required to register in advance. It will offer a glimpse into the kind of education offered in “Truck to Success,” the associations longer and more in-depth series of classes which take place in September. “Truck to Success” is an intensive training course for drivers ready to take their first steps toward becoming an owner-operator. OOIDA conducted its first session in March 2019. The success of the class prompted OOIDA to plan a second Truck to Success training series, which is scheduled for three full days from September 10-12 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Blue Springs. Missouri, near OOIDA headquarters. The training is designed to follow a logical path of information for transitioning from a company driver to an independent contractor. Topics include: Developing a business plan. Equipment, including the decision to buy new or used and financing options. Insurance. Choosing to be an owner-operator under your own authority or lease to a carrier. Entrant safety audit and compliance review. Drug and alcohol consortium and requirements. Permits and licensing. Taxes and business structures. Broker and factoring. Current issues affecting the industry and how to have input. Tuition for “Truck to Success” is $495 per person, which includes course materials and handouts, as well as breakfast, lunch and snacks. Each attendee may bring one guest for an additional $34.50 per day or $103.50 for the course to cover food. The final day to register is September 1.

N.Y congressman gets taste of life at truck stop in visit to Love’s location

The Trucker News Staff - August 2, 2019

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., recently visited Binghamton, New York, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores location to learn about the role that travel plazas play in local economies as well as to discuss issues of importance to the truck stop and travel plaza industry, officials at NATSO reported in a news release. Brindisi for visiting its Binghamton, N.Y., location to learn about the critical role that travel plazas play in local economies as well as to discuss issues of importance to the truck stop and travel plaza industry, NATSO officials said. During the visit, Brindisi, representing New York’s 22nd District in which Binghamton is located, spent time behind the counter interacting with store employees, serving customers and meeting constituents. He also toured the location to learn more about how the fuel retailer operates. Love’s officials expressed appreciation for the lawmakers visit. “We appreciate that Rep. Brindisi took time to visit our location and meet with our customers and our employees to learn more about the fuel retailing industry and how we serve both the local community and the nation’s professional truck drivers,” said Love’s Manager of Government Affairs Tom Kirby. “Rep. Brindisi was able to see first-hand our commitment to the communities in which we operate.” Kirby said Love’s officials were particularly pleased that the lawmaker exhibited a real understanding of how federal policy directly affects the daily operations of our business, our employees and our customers.” During the visit, Love’s officials emphasized the vital role that travel stops play in helping people and goods move throughout our country. In addition, Kirby said the travel center industry serves local communities, including playing an important role in providing access to healthy food options for beneficiaries of the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Discussion during Brindisi’s visit also included the high interchange fees that travel stops must pay every time a customer swipes a credit or debit card as well as the need for Congress to extend the Biodiesel Tax Credit. The biodiesel tax credit allows fuel retailers to sell cleaner-burning biodiesel at a price that is cost competitive with diesel, thereby lowering prices at the pump and encouraging the use of more environmentally friendly fuels. NATSO is the professional trade association representing America’s travel plaza and truckstop industry and serves as the voice in Washington for off-highway fuel retailers. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores owns and operated a travel stop network with more than 490 locations in 41 states.