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Big rig plows into stopped traffic, mother, her 18-month-old twins killed

The Trucker News Staff - July 15, 2019

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police said Sunday night that a 57-year-old truck driver involved in a crash that killed a mother and her twins and sent seven people to the hospitals has been arrested. Bruce Pollard of Sturgeon, Missouri, faces three preliminary counts of reckless homicide and five counts of criminal recklessness causing injury. He remained in jail Sunday night. Pollard is employed by Weston Transportation of Sturgeon, Missouri, according to Indiana officials The mother and her twin girls have been identified as 29-year-old Alanna Koons and 18-month-old June and Ruby Koons. Police said Pollard was traveling well above the posted speed limit when he plowed his truck into traffic stopped for construction, hitting six cars and overturning a truck. His truck was carrying sheet metal, police said. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes of I-465 near mile marker 33. Pollard told police a white car cut in front of him, slammed on its brakes and sped away, causing him to brake and hit the cars in front of him. Witnesses at the scene told authorities the semi driver failed to see traffic was stopped and hit the vehicles in front of him, according to Indianapolis Fire Department. The first car struck by the semi burst into flames, witnesses told IFD. Authorities believe the mother and her twins were in that car and died at the scene. Police said the tractor-trailer hit two other cars, overturned a truck with a trailer and pinned a car against the interstate shoulder, dragging it 300 yards before hitting two more cars, according to IFD. Crews from Indianapolis, Carmel and Pike Township fire departments responded to the scene, which included a debris field three-quarters of a mile long, IFD said. In all, seven adults were taken to area hospitals – two with critical injuries and five in good condition, ISP said. Pollard was treated for a minor abrasion at the scene, IFD said.

OOIDA: Speed limiters constrain small businesses, would cause more crashes

The Trucker News Staff - July 12, 2019

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — Mandating the use of speed limiters set at 65 mph takes control of a commercial motor vehicle out of the hands of the driver and unnecessarily constrains small businesses, the president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told two senators who have introduced legislation that require such devices in all CMVs to promote safety on America’s highways. “There are countless scenarios where a driver’s expertise and discretion is needed to avoid an accident or other dangerous situations, but their abilities would be arbitrarily curtailed by speed limiters,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in a July 11 letter to Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Chris Coons, D-Del. “Rather than mandating speed limiters, the most efficient and cost-effective means to promote safer roads is simply enforcing existing speed limits, which Congress authorized states to set based on their own unique factors. Additionally, Congress should consider measures that would actually improve safety, such as enhanced training that would help drivers understand how their rate of speed affects safety.” The legislation, S.2033) in question is called the Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019, named after Cullum Owings, who was killed by a speeding tractor-trailer during a trip back to college in Virginia after Thanksgiving in 2002. Isakson spokeswoman Marie Gordon said making the bipartisan legislation was a top priority for him “and we’ll be working hard to demonstrate that this is a commonsense idea that will protect millions of America’s drivers.” OOIDA says it represents the interests of owner-operators, small-business motor carriers, and professional truck drivers. It has more than 160,000 members located in all 50 states. Spencer said the bill would not only fail to improve safety but would likely lead to more crashes involving CMVs. “We are adamantly opposed to S. 2033 and any other federal mandate that would create a separate nationwide speed limit for CMVs,” Spencer wrote, noting that by establishing a one-size-fits-all federal mandate limiting CMVs to 65 mph, the legislation would create dangerous speed differentials between CMVs and other vehicles. “Decades of highway research shows greater speed differentials increase interactions between truck drivers and other road users,” Spencer said. “Studies have consistently demonstrated that increasing interactions between vehicles directly increases the likelihood of crashes. Speed limiters also create dangerous driving conditions, including challenges navigating merges and running blockades (known as elephant races) that increase ‘road rage’ among other drivers. Arbitrary speed limits make it difficult for truck drivers to switch lanes to accommodate merging traffic at entrance ramps – or to merge themselves. Other drivers often react to these situations in aggressive and unpredictable ways, creating unnecessary hazards for themselves and our members.” Spencer said speed limiting trucks also increases pressure and stress on professional drivers to complete their work. “Truckers required to operate below the posted speed limit are forced to drive maximum hours to cover the same distance, which increases their fatigue and places even greater stress on them to comply with burdensome Hours of Service regulations,” he said. “Furthermore, our members who have used speed-limited trucks report feeling pressure to drive faster on roads where they would prefer to drive slower in order to keep their schedule.” Speed limiting trucks also increases pressure and stress on professional drivers to complete their work, Spencer said, adding that truckers required to operate below the posted speed limit are forced to drive maximum hours to cover the same distance, which increases their fatigue and places even greater stress on them to comply with HOS. “Furthermore, our members who have used speed-limited trucks report feeling pressure to drive faster on roads where they would prefer to drive slower in order to keep their schedule,” he said. The two senators said another reason for introducing the legislation was to circumvent the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation, which has delayed any action on the proposed rule indefinitely as part of a sweeping retreat from regulations, which the president says slow the economy. The rule, which didn’t propose a top speed but said the government had studied 60, 65 and 68 mph, has been at a standstill since it moved through the public comment stage in November of 2016 toward the end of the Obama administration. The next action on the rule is listed as “undetermined” on a federal website. Spencer said even the proposed rule, a joint proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pointed out that “this joint rulemaking could put owner-operators and small fleet owners…at a disadvantage in some circumstances.” “One remaining competitive advantage for small trucking companies over their larger competitors is the lack of a need to speed limit trucks for fleet management purposes,” Spencer said. “Instead, small trucking businesses are able to operate at the speeds determined to be safe by state officials, which in many cases is above 65 mph. Indeed, FMCSA and NHTSA concluded that as a result of losing this advantage, ‘some of the affected owner-operators would work for trucking companies as independent contractors.’”

Trucker’s action, lack of access to AV manual controller cited as causes of wreck

The Trucker News Staff - July 11, 2019

WASHINGTON — The truck driver’s actions and the autonomous vehicle attendant’s lack of easy access to a manual controller are cited in the probable cause of a November 8, 2017, minor collision between a commercial truck and an autonomous shuttle in Las Vegas. There were no injuries to the seven passengers and one attendant aboard the shuttle or to the driver of the truck. The accident caused minor damage to the lower left front of the shuttle’s body and a minor abrasion to the truck’s tire. “The NTSB would normally not investigate a minor collision, but the involvement of a highly automated vehicle warranted having our investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the collision,” said Kris Poland, deputy director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety. “We wanted to examine the process of introducing an autonomous shuttle onto public roads as well as the role of the operator, the vehicle manufacturer, and the city. The NTSB also examined the technology and the safety considerations that were in place at that time.” The autonomous shuttle was a two-axle, battery-powered, test vehicle designed primarily for autonomous operation and therefore did not have a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator pedal. The shuttle allowed for manual operation using a hand-held controller. The shuttle could operate autonomously only on a predetermined route that had been fully mapped. The route was planned by Keolis (a public transportation service operator), Navya (the shuttle manufacturer) and AAA (sponsor of the shuttle) with input from the city. Navya and Keolis had the required state and federal approval to test autonomous shuttle operations on public roads. The collision happened after the shuttle turned from Carson Avenue onto South 6th Street, where the truck was backing into an alley. The truck driver said he saw the shuttle turn onto 6th Street and assumed it would stop a “reasonable” distance from the truck. According to Navya’s incident report, the shuttle’s sensor system detected the truck at 147.6 feet and tracked it continuously as it backed up. Programmed to stop 9.8 feet from any obstacle, the shuttle began to decelerate when it was 98.4 feet from the truck. When the shuttle was 10.2 feet from the truck and nearly stopped, the attendant pressed one of the emergency stop buttons. The attendant and passengers waved to gain the truck driver’s attention but 11 seconds after the shuttle stopped, the right front tire of the slow-moving truck struck the shuttle. The shuttle was equipped with numerous sensing devices that provided a 360-degree view of the environment with hazard detection capabilities. Some of the sensing devices included eight light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors, two stereoscopic cameras and a differential global positioning system. The shuttle was also equipped with a dedicated short-range communication system and a long-term evolution antenna that communicated with traffic signals along the route. Navya could monitor the shuttle’s performance in real time from its control center in Lyon, France. The shuttle was equipped with a Lytx DriveCam monitoring and recording device that tracked driving metrics and recorded telematic and visual information triggered by critical events. The NTSB said prior to the collision the hand-held controller for manual operation was stored in an enclosed space at one end of the passenger compartment and the attendant did not retrieve the controller during the event. Since the accident, Keolis implemented a new policy to make the controller more accessible, allowing attendants to remove the controller from storage at the start of a trip and keep the controller available throughout a trip.

Big rig drivers unknowingly transported aliens in transportation scheme

The Trucker News Staff - July 11, 2019

VICTORIA, Texas – A 47-year-old Mexican national who resided in McAllen, Texas, and Houston has pleaded guilty on the day trial was set to begin on charges he was part of an organization that smuggled people across the border illegally, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick said Monday. Humberto Ramirez-Santos admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy between October 2011 and July 2017. The smuggling organization facilitated border crossings for people from several countries including individuals from China, Russia, India, Brazil, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Ages of those smuggled into the country ranged from toddlers to the elderly, but the majority were young adults. At the hearing, the court heard that smuggling trips were taken every week and the total number of people transported are incalculable. The organization used various methods to facilitate the smuggling. Co-conspirators drove cars and trucks to locations south of Border Patrol checkpoints. There, they were guided through South Texas ranches to avoid detection. They also used Penske trucks and tractor trailers to get them through various checkpoints. A favorite tactic was to select a tractor trailer parked at a South Texas truck stop with a suitable temperature. They would then remove the seal and load the people on board. Members of the organization would follow the vehicle to the next stop somewhere north of the checkpoint to later retrieve them. The drivers would be unaware of their human cargo and were potentially exposed to criminal liability. The border crossers were then be transported in closed Penske trucks to Houston. Ramirez-Santos provided customers to be smuggled through his contacts in Mexico. He also trained the young members of the organization in how to do countersurveillance and instructed younger family members in how to transport them. Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Oct. 1, 2019. At that time, Ramirez-Santos faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine. Previously released on bond, he was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is prosecuting the case.

Trucking Alliance, Truckload Carriers Association back speed limiter bill

The Trucker News Staff - July 11, 2019

WASHINGTON and ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Alliance for Driver Safety & Security (Trucking Alliance) and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) both said Wednesday they were in support of legislation to limit the maximum speed of tractor-trailers on the nation’s highways. The Trucking Alliance is an industry-based safety coalition headquartered in Washington. TCA is an association representing the interests of the truckload segment of trucking. The “Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019” (S.2033) would direct the Secretary of Transportation to create a federal safety standard that requires all large commercial trucks to not exceed 65 miles per hour on the nation’s highways. “The mission of the Trucking Alliance is to reduce and eventually eliminate all large truck fatalities and truck speed limiters are integral to achieving that objective,” said Steve Williams, chairman and CEO of Maverick USA in Little Rock, Arkansas, co-founder and president of the Trucking Alliance and also a former chairman of the American Trucking Associations. “Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Chris Coons, D-Del., should be applauded for making highway safety a bipartisan issue.” “The long-standing policy of TCA is that all electronically governed Class 7 and 8 trucks manufactured after 1992 should be governed at a maximum speed not to exceed 65 miles per hour,” David Heller, TCA’s vice president of government affairs, said when the bill was introduced. When the bill was introduced June 27, a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations said the ATA is in the process of reviewing the details of the bill. “Our policies support speed limiters, but only do so in the context of more uniform national speed limits for all vehicles,” said Jeremy Kirkpatrick, ATA’s director of strategic communications. “As the national trend on speed limits moves in the opposite direction with increasing variance, federal speed limiter efforts must at a minimum account for speed differentials and any potential safety risks that they can create.” Regardless of the outcome of S.2033, the ATA takes a strong speed limiter position in a bill known as the DRIVE Safe Act, legislation designed to facilitate the ability of 18- 20-year old CDL holders to carry interstate commerce. The bill is backed by the ATA as a member of the DRIVE Safe Act Coalition, co-led by ATA and the International Foodservice Distributors of America, and includes the National Association of Manufacturers, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders of America and more than 40 other national trade associations and companies. The DRIVE Safe Act sets forth a 120-hour probationary period and a requirement that the driver complete 280 hours of on-duty time, of which not less than 160 hours are driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. During that entire period the tractor driven by the prospective interstate driver would have to be governed at speeds of 65 miles per hour at the pedal and 65 miles per hour under adaptive cruise control. As for S.2033, in a prepared statement, TCA said that its association represents roughly 78 percent of the freight market by revenue share. “It is fair to say that any rule regarding speed limiters will have the greatest effect on our segment of the trucking industry,” the statement said. “TCA’s members spoke with a unified voice when developing our policy in support of speed limiters, and today we are using this focus to lend support to a bill that we feel could make significant safety strides for all motorists on the nation’s roadways. TCA, and our truckload carrier members, recognize that traveling too fast for conditions is one of the most prominent reasons for accidents on our roads today.” Heller said TCA’s carrier members represent the best that the trucking industry has to offer and have demonstrated time and again that they are ahead of the curve when it comes to trucking technology and its usefulness within their fleets. “Speed limiting devices are just one example of this,” he said. “The majority of TCA’s members have already adopted speed limiters, in addition to many other safety technologies that we believe will save countless lives, and they are using their electronic logging devices to identify drivers in need of remediation.” Williams said both his late father and grandfather drove trucks for a living. “I’ve spent my entire career in the trucking industry,” he said. “There’s simply no legitimate reason for an 80-foot tractor trailer to be driven within a few feet of other motorists, at speeds of 70 or 75 or 80 miles per hour. The safety benefits of Senate Bill 2033 are obvious.” S,2033 is named for Cullum Owings, who was killed by a speeding tractor-trailer during a trip back to college in Virginia after Thanksgiving in 2002.

R.I. governor signs bill to crack down on bridge toll violators

The Associated Press - July 9, 2019

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s governor has signed legislation aimed at cracking down on people who repeatedly fail to pay their bridge tolls. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo on Monday signed the bill that lawmakers approved last month. Under the new law, introduced by state House Majority Whip John G. Edwards and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, the number of infractions for a person to be considered a “toll violator” has been reduced from 20 to 10. The act also reduces the number of infractions for a person to be considered a “toll evader” from 100 to 20. “When drivers rack up that many toll violations, it becomes unfair to everyone else who diligently pays the tolls every time they go over a tolled bridge,” Edwards said in a statement. “It unfairly shifts the financial burden of maintaining those bridges to other users. And we owe it to taxpayers to see that those projects are funded in a fair and equitable manner.” Toll violators are reported to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. The violators cannot renew their driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations until any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Toll evaders may receive a traffic violation summons to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, which may suspend the toll evader’s driver’s license for up to six months and assess a fine of up to $500, or both. “When you have electronic tolling, such as E-Z Pass, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have toll violators,” DiPalma said in a statement. “For those few who don’t take the bridge tolls seriously, this legislation will give us a way to get their attention, and let them know that they’re going to be expected to pay the same as everyone else.” WPRI reported in April that motorists crossing the Pell Bridge racked up $9.6 million in unpaid tolls plus fees and fines over the last six years. They reported that the vast majority of the $9.6 million — 85% — represents fees and fines, meaning only about $1.4 million is actual unpaid tolls, according to Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Executive Director Buddy Croft. Class 8 tractor trailers pay $10 to cross the bridge, according to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.

Big rig overturns, dumps 60,000 pounds of garbage on Interstate 89

The Associated Press - July 9, 2019

WARNER, N.H. — New Hampshire troopers say a tractor-trailer hauling 60,000 pounds of garbage overturned on I-89, sending trash across the highway in Warner. “I saw the truck coming up the ramp, and I merged into the left lane, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw it going, and there was no stopping,” said witness Tyler Cushman when interviewed by television station WMUR-TV. Cushman said he had one thought going through his mind. “Not getting crushed,” he said. Neither Cushman nor the driver of the tractor trailer, Shilo White, 46, were injured. White was charged with speeding, and Jewell Transportation of Claremont, owner of the big rig, could be cited as well, police said, pending an investigation. The crash at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday shut down the two southbound lanes for the day. Officials hoped to complete the cleanup and reopen the lanes Tuesday afternoon. Neither Cushman nor the driver of the tractor-trailer were injured, and no other vehicles were involved. Reflectors along the highway were flattened by the truck, and marks on the road showed the path it took. “The initial indicators for the cause of the crash is the vehicle was traveling too fast for the curve, and the load shifted and caused it to roll over,” state police Lt. Andrew Player said. “The biggest concern is not getting any more contaminants into the Warner River,” said Scott Reed of Reed Truck Services. “We’re trying to pull everything away from the guardrail, get it contained, get it loaded into dumpsters, kind of get it off scene so the wind isn’t blowing it around.”

23 governors join California in opposing Trump mileage standards

The Associated Press - July 9, 2019

WASHINGTON — Citing climate-damaging tailpipe emissions, 23 governors signed a pledge Tuesday backing California leaders in their showdown with the Trump administration over its plans to relax vehicle mileage standards . The pledge by leaders of states and Puerto Rico, most of them Democrats, comes as the administration seeks to ease tougher mileage standards laid out by former President Barack Obama as part of his efforts against climate change. Legal challenges to Trump’s policy proposal threaten to disrupt the auto industry for years, and an influential auto industry trade group is renewing its appeal for the compromise. The administration says American consumers increasingly want bigger, less-efficient SUVs and pickup trucks. It argues that demanding ever-more fuel-efficient vehicles will drive up automobile costs and keep less-safe, older vehicles on the road longer; opponents challenge that claim. The administration is expected to release its final rules on the mileage changes in late summer or early fall. California and other states have promised litigation to block them. The governors’ pledge commits to sticking broadly to the pre-President Donald Trump mileage goals, a program of annual tightening in mileage standards that reduce climate-changing carbon emissions. Transportation and the power sector are the largest sources of heat-trapping fossil fuel pollution in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Michael Abboud said the administration was “pursuing one national standard to provide safe, affordable vehicles for consumers while also improving environmental outcomes.” At stake is California’s ability to set its own emissions and fuel economy standards, a power granted by Congress in the Clean Air Act to combat the state’s smog problems in the 1970s. The state at one time had more stringent standards than federal ones, but the two sides voluntarily synced their standards under Obama. The Trump administration has threatened to challenge California’s authority to set its own mileage standards, which are followed by about a dozen states. The pledge says governors “will not compromise on our responsibility to protect the health of our communities, our climate, and the savings consumers stand to gain at the pump.” It promises “additional concrete actions to fulfill this duty and defend against any threats.” Besides California and Puerto Rico, the pledge was signed by the leaders of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The commitment from the states — representing a sizable share of the U.S. car market — underscores prospects for years of legal challenges and regulatory uncertainty for automakers if Trump moves ahead on the mileage freeze. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, urged automakers to get behind the states in the interests of cutting carbon emission and advancing cleaner-burning vehicles. “Since the Trump administration seems determined to put all environmental progress into reverse, automakers should make clear that they will not support this rollback by working directly with California and these 23 states to drive automobile technology into the future,” Carper said in a statement. But an auto industry group made clear it had worries about both sides’ position in the dispute. “It is untenable to face a marketplace with different standards in different states, but it also untenable to face standards that rise so high that only a handful of electric vehicles can achieve them,” said Gloria Bergquist, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “That is why automakers keep urging the federal government and states to find a middle ground that raises standards year over year while aligning with market demand.” Trump has pushed automakers to back his approach. Last month, major automakers instead appealed for the administration to return to talks with California. California Gov. Gavin Newson indicated he wasn’t optimistic about any breakthroughs with the administration. “I don’t sense they’re sincere in their commitment to sit down and negotiate,” he said, and cited the administration’s overall backing for the country’s oil and gas industry.

Prime, Inc. takes Amazon to court over retailer’s use of ‘Prime’ on its trucks

The Trucker News Staff - July 9, 2019

Within the world of trucking, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s never heard of Prime, Inc. The Springfield, Missouri-based carrier is one of the largest trucking companies in the nation. But to the general population, say the word “Prime,” and a different, even larger company is apt to come to mind, and since transporting goods is a big part of what this company does, the folks at Prime, Inc. are concerned about public misconceptions about whose trucks are whose. They are so concerned, in fact, that on July 2, Prime, Inc. filed a lawsuit in U.S District Court, Western District of Missouri seeking to have Amazon’s trademark revoked on its Amazon Prime name and that Prime, Inc. is entitled to “the greater of three times Amazon’s profits or three times any damages” the carrier has sustained since Amazon began running its own trucks with the Amazon Prime logo in 2016. Amazon was founded in 1994 and has grown to be the world’s largest retailer. In 2005, it began a premium service called Amazon Prime, providing customers with expedited delivery for an annual fee. In 2016, it was reported that Amazon had 54 million Prime subscribers in 17 countries. Over the years, Amazon has used the “Prime” name for a number of optional services for Amazon Prime members: Prime Music streaming, Prime Reading e-books, Prime Pantry grocery delivery, Prime Video (later changed to Amazon Instant Video), and Prime Now, a service in some cities that provides deliveries within two hours of order. In 2013, it was announced the company was developing Prime Air, which is expected in the next few years to provide regular deliveries by drone for small orders within a few miles of an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Prime, Inc. isn’t concerned with those services, per se. Their problem is with Amazon’s use of the word “prime” on its trucks, which the carrier says has the potential to cause confusion and do harm to its reputation and bottom line. According to the lawsuit, Prime, Inc. first made an assertion of copyright infringement more than two year ago when it complained directly to Amazon. By continuing to use the logo, the lawsuit contends, Amazon’s actions are “intentional, willful and malicious.” The lawsuit claims that even though the logos the two companies use are distinctive in appearance, the main element of both is the word “prime,” which is enough to cause confusion. It is Prime, Inc.’s contention that this confusion is harmful for two reasons. The first assertion is that Prime, Inc., which was founded in 1970, has been running its trucks with its logo since 1980, and had established a reputation from which Amazon has unfairly benefited. The suit also contends that Prime, Inc. is at risk of having its reputation damaged when dissatisfied Amazon customers erroneously confuse the two companies. Prime, Inc.’s lawsuit argues that the carrier had established common law rights to the name. But in 2005, Amazon received a trademark for its “Prime” name. So, when Prime, Inc. sought a trademark on the “prime” name in 2011 and again in 2017, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application both times because of the close similarity to the already-registered Amazon Prime. The lawsuit seeks to have Amazon’s trademark revoked, alleging that Amazon had falsely represented in its application that their service would provide “expedited shipping service for others” when in fact it did not even transport its own goods until nearly a decade later.

CFI wrap graphics remember those who serve

The Trucker News Staff - July 9, 2019

Truckload carrier CFI has added to its fleet of big-rig trucks with custom-designed, large format truck wrap graphics recognizing those who serve. The company recently introduced a special unit honoring Joplin’s First Responders, which pictures actual Joplin fire, medical and emergency service personnel. The rig (left), is piloted by CFI professional driver Larry Dohogne, a trained fire and EMS responder who volunteers with local agencies and served in the military. CFI also rolled out two new “True to the Troops” tractors and trailers honoring America’s soldiers. Chosen to operate the new “Eagle” tractor (above) was CFI professional driver Chuck Corkill, a U.S. Army reserves veteran and former volunteer fireman, assistant fire chief and EMT. Corkill also has delivered Wreaths Across America loads honoring the nation’s fallen soldiers, with transportation donated by CFI. The new commemorative trucks join CFI’s fleet traveling the nation’s highways as working big rigs. They recognize the professional excellence and critical role first responders play in safeguarding our communities and the service of America’s military veterans. CFI rolled out its first commemorative “True to the Troops” trucks in 2015. In addition to the new first-responder truck, CFI has seven military-themed trucks and four trailers, representing each branch of the armed forces. Some 16 percent of CFI’s 2,000-person driver workforce are military veterans.

Carrier Transicold donates reefer unit to Nevada food bank

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

LAS VEGAS — Carrier Transicold’s gift of a Supra 960 truck refrigeration unit to Three Square Food Bank in Southern Nevada is helping the hunger relief organization in its mission to provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. The Supra 960 unit is Carrier Transicold’s highest-capacity single-temperature diesel-powered truck refrigeration unit and helps to ensure that perishable food stays fresher, longer. The grant is funded in part by Carrier and its parent company, United Technologies Corp., to aid food banks within the Feeding America network. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. “Carrier Transicold’s contribution is helping to make a real difference in the lives of hungry families and our neighbors in need,” said Brian Burton, president and chief executive officer, Three Square. “The value of the Supra unit is equal to the cost of more than 51,000 meals we serve to those who need them most, and we are incredibly grateful for this support.” CT Power, a Carrier Transicold dealer located in North Las Vegas, handled the installation onto a 24-foot box truck. “Three Square does a tremendous amount of good for the community, and we are so proud that CT Power has been able to help the organization in fulfilling its mission,” said Kelly Hunt, operations manager at CT Power. “This was definitely a great experience for us.” Serving Clark, Nye, Lincoln and Esmeralda counties, with a service network of nearly 1,400 community partners and a fleet of 33 refrigerated trucks, Three Square collected and distributed more than 47 million pounds of food and grocery products in 2018, the equivalent of more than 39 million meals. Since 2017, Carrier Transicold’s grant program in support of Feeding America’s network of food banks across the U.S. has funded $300,000 worth of equipment and installation of truck and trailer refrigeration units for individual food banks. Beyond Three Square in Nevada, the program has helped food banks serving parts of Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, South Dakota, Utah and California. “Our cold-chain technologies help preserve, protect and deliver the world’s food supply,” said Jon Shaw, director, global communications & sustainability, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems. “In supporting Feeding America and its network members, such as Three Square, we are also helping to get nutritious and healthy perishable food to those most in need here in the United States.”

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems joins Trucking Alliance

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

WASHINGTON — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a tier one supplier of commercial vehicle integrated safety technologies, is joining the Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, also known as the Trucking Alliance, a safety coalition of transportation, logistics and supporting businesses. “The Trucking Alliance mission is to advance technologies and public policies that can eventually eliminate all large truck crash fatalities,” said Steve Williams, co-founder and president of the Trucking Alliance and chairman and CEO of Maverick USA in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Bendix offers its Advanced Driver Assistance System and other electronic technologies that help commercial drivers mitigate, or potentially lessen the severity of accidents. We’re excited Bendix is partnering with the Trucking Alliance, as we work to make many of these electronic systems standard equipment on new trucks.” Williams said for nearly nine decades, Bendix has been setting the industry standard for commercial vehicle air brake charging and control systems. Today, the company is applying that leadership and momentum to integrated and advanced technologies that contribute to vehicle safety as well as lower the total cost of ownership, performance and efficiency, he said. “The Trucking Alliance’s advocacy on key initiatives across our industry is a vital effort,” said Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president – sales, marketing, and business development. “Safety is multidimensional, whether you operate one vehicle or 100,000. With the emergence of new technologies and new practices, plus the evolution of nearly every aspect of today’s commercial vehicle, the issues we face are everchanging. Education, awareness, and a strong strategic approach are essential. Bendix is honored to be a part of the Trucking Alliance and we applaud its efforts to help improve the safety of everyone who shares the road.” Burkhart said no technology can replace a safe, alert, professional driver practicing safe driving habits, supported by proactive, ongoing driver training. “Bendix safety technologies complement these safe driving practices and are not intended to enable or encourage aggressive driving. Responsibility for safe vehicle operation remains with the driver at all times,” he said. Jim Eaton, director-corporate marketing at Bendix, will serve on the Trucking Alliance Advisory Group, whose members are an educational resource to public policy makers, serve governmental affairs roles and advise the Trucking Alliance board of directors. The advisory group is chaired by Greer Woodruff, senior vice president of safety, security and driver personnel at J.B. Hunt Transport. For more information about Bendix, visit Bendix.com. For more information about the Trucking Alliance, visit truckingalliance.org.

In a hectic profession, remembering to pay homage to a great journalist, person: Dorothy Cox

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

We at The Trucker collaborate with the Truckload Carriers Association to publish Truckload Authority, the official publication of the association that represents the interests of the truckload industry. The magazine is published every two months, and the week of publication is quite intense as we simultaneously work on the next issue of The Trucker. The week of June 10 was one of those weeks, as we constantly communicated back and forth with the fine folks at TCA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, via text, phone and e-mail. As I sat at my desk and listened to the lively — and never tense despite the clock winding down toward the deadline for transmitting the publication to the printer — banter back and forth among our editorial and production staff, I was reminded that I’d never paid proper homage to one of the greatest trucking journalists in the business. It was her infectious laughter that became the catalyst for this column. I first met Dorothy Cox when I went to work at the Arkansas Democrat in the early 1970s. She eventually left the Democrat and moved across downtown to the Arkansas Gazette. Going to work for the Gazette — which was considered one of the best newspapers in the country and which had won a Pulitzer Prize in 1958 for its pro-integration stance in the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis the year before — was the dream of every journalist in Arkansas. Dorothy was still working at the Gazette on October 19, 1991, when the Democrat bought the Gazette and its employees were ordered under guard to remove personal property and leave the building post haste. By that time, the Gazette, which had been owned by the well-respected Patterson family, had been sold to the national media company Gannett, which had immense assets with which to fight the Democrat but received criticism for bringing in out-of-town reporters and staff and losing the local feel of the paper. The Gazette, nicknamed the “Old Gray Lady,” became flashier, but critics complained that the paper had lost the respect of its hometown readership and ultimately the war with the Democrat. I left the daily newspaper business in Little Rock in 1983 and lost track of many acquaintances, including Dorothy, a feisty lady who was photographed on one occasion puffing on a big cigar. Then came one day in 2004 when I began the interview process that led me to my current position. Then-publisher Laura Stacks was showing me around the office and when we walked into the editorial department, there was Dorothy pounding away on one of those old-fashioned colorful iMacs. Between November 2004 and late last year when she went part-time, Dorothy was our assistant editor, finally retiring full time April 30 of this year. Fortunately for us, our management team has given us the privilege of calling on Dorothy for occasions such as press day for Truckload Authority, so she was in the office June 13-14. It wasn’t long after she arrived, something funny happened and the room was filled with Dorothy’s infectious laughter. There were occasions over the years that she laughed so hard she would lose her breath and we’d all rush to her desk, first to make sure she was going to be able to breath again and second to see what in the world was so funny it had set her off. Dorothy’s knowledge of the industry allowed her to talk with truck drivers about anything and everything, and she was always patient with callers, who were just looking for someone to listen about their needs. Her writing and editing skills were impeccable. And I’ve never seen anyone to could conduct and interview and literally type every word the interviewee said in copy so clean that it could have almost been printed verbatim. When I tried to do the same, it came out some like this…”skgd (Smith) said, adging (adding) he sirht (might) kange (change) hid numd (mind).” Two of her passions were the fight against human trafficking and the desire to see more and more women both behind the wheel and in corporate offices. She was a dedicated Christian lady whose values were always evident in her mannerism and her loyalty. We will miss Dorothy. To Dorothy, we will say what she wrote at the end of her Around the Bend column each issue. Be safe and God bless.

TravelCenters launches new round of updates to TruckSmart app

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America, nationwide operator of the TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express travel center network, has launched a new round of updates to its TruckSmart app. With notable features like entering a shower queue and paying for showers and parking right from the app and the ability to search for a location by amenity, including food, fuel type and truck services needs, TruckSmart makes life easier for professional drivers while on the road, according to Barry Richards, president and COO of TravelCenters. Richards said the new intuitive design helps users easily find what they are looking for and allows them to move effortlessly through the app, quickly getting to the features they need. The simple, secure sign-in and the ability to safely and securely link a credit card to conveniently pay from the app gives users the ability to confidently use TruckSmart knowing their information is protected. The app now also allows UltraONE members to make account updates and delivers real-time, member-specific information. Not only can members track their points and UltraCredits in the app, they can also see their current month gear level, as well as their gallon balance toward the next gear. “Our goal was to update the TruckSmart app so it works better, harder and smarter for the driver,” Richards said. “We want the app to be a tool to help drivers save time while they are on the road. Whether its reserving parking, entering the queue for truck service or a shower or accessing real-time location updates, TruckSmart ensures drivers can arrive at a TA, Petro or TA Express location with confidence knowing their time is well spent and they will get the service they need.” This app update is the first of several in a series of planned updates resulting from driver feedback and aimed at continuing to improve features and add a more significant time management tool for professional drivers. The app is available through the App Store for Apple phones with iOS and Google Play for Android.

Pilot Flying J accepting nominations for Road Warrior honoree

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Flying J’s annual Road Warrior program returning and is accepting nominations to recognize professional drivers in the U.S. who demonstrate superior efforts in the trucking industry. Anyone can nominate a professional driver at RoadWarrior.PilotFlyingJ.com from July 8-21 for the chance to be named the 2019 grand prize Road Warrior winner and receive a $10,000 prize. Through hard work and dedication, more than 3.8 million professional drivers deliver goods each day to the country’s smallest towns and biggest cities, making sure all are safe along the way, according to Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J. The sixth annual Road Warrior program will honor these unsung “heroes on the road,” who show dedication to the industry and go above and beyond in their profession, by accepting online story submissions for a chance to win big cash prizes. Last year, the Road Warrior program received nearly 1,000 nominations. “Each year, we are excited to celebrate professional drivers and show appreciation for their tireless work and commitment to delivering the goods that make daily life possible,” said Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J. “The Road Warrior program is our way of thanking and recognizing the many exceptional drivers that are critical to the industry and our economy. We look forward to reading the inspiring stories that are shared with this year’s nominations.” In August, Pilot Flying J will invite its social media community to vote among the top three finalists to determine the grand prize winner. The 2019 grand prize Road Warrior winner will receive $10,000. Second and third place finalists will receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. Winners will be announced during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in September. Nominators of the grand, second and third place winners will also receive a $500 prize. Victoria Andrade, a UPS driver and full-time mom, was named the 2018 grand prize Road Warrior winner. Andrade was recognized by Pilot Flying J for her dedication to the industry and her family. She began working at UPS as a part-time car washer to help support her eight siblings and pay for her college education. Andrade graduated with her degree and remained with UPS, working her way up to be the first female in South Texas to become a feeder driver for UPS. “I was beyond words to receive such recognition for my daily efforts. As a single mom and UPS employee, I am honored,” Andrade said. “To my peers on the road, I say, ‘Stay focused, be aware of your surroundings and take pride in your daily work.’” Entering the Road Warrior contest is fast, free and easy, Parent said. To nominate a professional driver, learn more about the Road Warrior program, view complete contest rules, read about previous winners and follow inspirational submissions, visit RoadWarrior.PilotFlyingJ.com. To join the Road Warrior conversation, follow #RoadWarrior. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states, roadside assistance available at over 135 locations nationwide and growing as part of its Truck Care program, 44 Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers, and 34 Boss Shops. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 72,000 parking spaces for trucks with Prime Parking at more than 400 locations, 5,200 deluxe showers and more than 6,200 diesel lanes with 5,200 offering Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) at the pump. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 14 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Visit https://pilotflyingj.com/ for more information.

Potential tolls for Alabama highway project spark opposition

The Associated Press - July 8, 2019

MOBILE, Ala. — City officials in Mobile say they’re confident the state of Alabama will reduce toll amounts for the proposed Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. The Alabama Department of Transportation is considering a $3 to $6 one-way toll to provide the money necessary to pay for the massive project. The plan under consideration would grant a discount to frequent drivers, Al.com reported . If there must be a toll, “our goal is to make it the lowest possible for citizens of Mobile,” said George Talbot, a spokesman for Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. Talbot added that city officials are also committed to establishing at least one free route for local drivers. Other local politicians have made similar statements in recent months. State lawmakers and local officials have said they support the bridge project but were hopeful the Alabama Department of Transportation would lower tolls on local users. Opposition to any kind of tolls has risen on social media. The Block the Mobile Bayway Toll Facebook group has amassed more than 18,000 followers, and a large portion of them adamantly oppose tolls of any kind. The project involves building a six-lane cable stay bridge above the Mobile River. It would be 2.5 miles long. The bridge would be among the tallest in North America, and only 5 feet shorter than the 220-foot height of the Golden Gate Bridge in northern California. The entire Bayway would also be replaced, rather than merely widened as originally projected. The new Bayway would be a 7.5-mile, eight-lane span crossing Mobile Bay, elevated to a height that would be above a 100-year storm surge level.

Iowa 80 Trucking Museum to hold party for 100 year old trucks

The Trucker News Staff - July 8, 2019

WALCOTT, Iowa — Iowa 80 Trucking Museum will host a 100th Birthday party for two of its 1919 trucks as part of the 40th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree set for Thursday through Saturday this week. On Friday at 2:30 p.m., a celebration will be held for a 1919 International Model F1 and a 1919 Pierce Arrow. The public is welcome to attend the celebration. “The 1919 International is the first truck Bill Moon ever purchased”, said Dave Meier, museum curator. “He kept the truck at his house under the car port. His kids played on it and Bill drove it in many parades. It was the truck that started his love of collecting.” It’s important to note that that same model of truck was the first to climb Pike’s Peak. A total of 1,591 of these trucks were produced. The truck had a top speed of 17 mph. Then the 1919 Pierce Arrow was purchased, but it looked nothing like it does today. The truck has been completely restored. It is a crank start, has solid rubber tires and a worm drive. The dump bed is hydraulic. “By 1919 Pierce Arrow already a history of building luxury cars, but there was nothing luxurious about this 1919 Pierce Arrow truck,” Meier said. “It performed well and held up under heavy use, but there was definitely no luxury involved.” For more information on the jamboree, visit https://iowa80truckstop.com/trucker-jamboree/.

ATA reveals logo for 2019 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

The Trucker News Staff - July 5, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations has revealed the official 2019 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week logo and thank-a-trucker toolkit. The association also announced Trucking Day at Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, an event in which professional truck drivers will sing the National Anthem, receive mid-game recognitions from the fans, and participate in on-field activities. “Every September, trucking comes together to recognize what we consider the most important profession in the country: truck drivers.” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This year, ATA is partnering with leading trucking companies, industry suppliers and state associations to salute truck drivers throughout North America, and we think the 2019 logo does a great job of telling our industry’s story to the public.” National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, an annual celebration of America’s 3.5 million professional truck drivers, is the motoring public’s opportunity to thank truck drivers for delivering critical goods to their communities. Because professional truck drivers deliver hot dogs, drinks, hats and everything that goes into America’s favorite pastime, ATA decided to honor truck drivers on Friday, September 13 with special recognition at Nationals Park in Washington during the Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves game. This year, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week runs September 8-14. Trucking industry organizations honor truck drivers by hosting company barbeques, offering safety bonuses, handing out safety awards, and making other special efforts. Trucking Moves America Forward, the trucking’s industry-wide image movement, is again offering state trucking associations partnership opportunities on strategically located National Truck Driver Appreciation Week billboards. “National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is one of the trucking industry’s favorite weeks,” said ATA Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs Elisabeth Barna. “It’s a chance for the industry to work with the general public, policymakers and members of the media to acknowledge truck drivers for their dedication to safety and professionalism. We encourage everyone to visit the official NTDAW website to see the variety of tools we use to spread the word about National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, such as suggested events, sample op-eds and press releases.” The official 2019 NTDAW logo is available for industry affiliates seeking to promote the week at [email protected]. ATA also released a selection of sample documents intended to enhance the week through various media campaigns, legislative items and events. Last year, President Trump released a statement celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and recognizing “hardworking truck drivers who help ensure the safe and efficient flow of goods across our country.” ATA’s toolkit is made available to the trucking industry in order to continue elevating the important and safe work that truck drivers do on behalf of America’s economy.

Doron Doravi named Highway Angel for rescuing fellow driver

The Trucker News Staff - July 5, 2019

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Doron “D” Doravi of Phoenix, a professional truck driver for Diamond Transportation System of Racine, Wisconsin, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association. He is being recognized for his willingness to stop and rescue a fellow truck driver after a rollover accident. On May 3, Doravi, an owner-operator, was hauling a load from Fargo, North Dakota, to Amarillo, Texas. He was southbound on Highway 81, several miles south of York, Nebraska, when he noticed something in the northbound lanes. It took a moment to register what he was seeing: An overturned tractor trailer lying on the cab’s passenger side, stretched across the two-northbound lanes and the grass center median. It appeared the truck driver had lost control as he approached a curve. Part of the trailer’s roof was sheared open and its contents, salt blocks used for livestock, had spilled out on the pavement. Doravi pulled to the shoulder and ran over to help. A driver of a flatbed truck had stopped just ahead of him to assist. As Doravi looked around the rolled-over tractor trailer, he noticed fluid leaking from the truck and asked the flatbed driver to get his fire extinguisher. Another motorist was calling 911 as the first driver then helped Doravi climb up the driver’s side of the overturned cab. The driver was alert, talking, and didn’t indicate any injuries or any passengers with him, but he was badly shaken. He was still strapped into his seatbelt and couldn’t reach to unhook it. Doravi used a knife he carries with him to cut the seatbelt. He and the other driver helped pull the man out of the cab. A short while later, emergency services arrived including a rural fire department that took over securing the accident scene. “This is something to learn from,” Doravi said. “I don’t know what happened (that day). But if you’re carrying a heavy load you go slower. If you’re tired you need to find a safe spot to take a nap.” Doravi is a former reserve fire fighter and EMT and is in the habit of carrying a knife which can be used in an emergency to cut a seatbelt or to cut clothing to check for injuries. He also carries a backpack with medical supplies. “You don’t know what you’re gonna find out on the road,” he said. For his willingness to assist his fellow drivers, TCA has presented Doravi with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. Doravi’s employer has also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. Since the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job.

TravelCenters conducting 10th annual ‘Band Together’ campaign for St. Christopher Fund

The Trucker News Staff - July 3, 2019

WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America LLC, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express brands, has launched its 10th annual Band Together for SCF campaign in support of the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF), a nonprofit organization that helps truck drivers who are going through financial hardship as a result of being out of work due to an illness or injury. The monthlong campaign will run at participating TA, Petro and TA Express travel centers through July 31. Throughout the month, guests and employees of TA, Petro and TA Express will be invited to make a donation of $1 or more. Commemorative wristbands will be given to those who make a $1 donation, while $5 donors will receive celebratory die-cast metal key chains. All donations go directly to the SCF to provide financial assistance to over-the-road and regional professional truck drivers who are unable to work due to medical issues. The SCF assists with mortgage/rent, utilities, vehicle payments and insurance bills while drivers are out of work. “Drivers who suffer from an illness or injury are coping with treatments and trying to recover,” said Barry Richards, president and COO of TravelCenters. “The stress of a financial burden can get in the way of that recovery. The St. Christopher Fund provides medical and financial guidance and assistance so drivers can fully focus on their health and wellness. It’s an honor to be in our 10th year of supporting the Band Together campaign.” TravelCenters began its support of the SCF in 2010. The Band Together for SCF annual campaign marks the largest single contribution the fund receives each year. TravelCenters purchases and donates all of the wristbands and key chains so that 100% of the donations can be contributed to the SCF. “We are forever grateful for the support we have received from TravelCenters for the last 10 years,” said Dr. Donna Kennedy, executive director of the SCF. “Truck drivers look forward to the Band Together campaign every year so they can make their donation to help their fellow drivers. There are also many drivers who have received our assistance — now back on the road and back on their feet — who make donations to pay it forward,” Kennedy said. “In the last 10 years, the SCF has become a common name in the trucking industry, and we thank TravelCenters for their part in helping us achieve that.” The SCF has helped more than 2,700 truck drivers and their families with monthly bills totaling more than $2.7 million. Professional drivers who are suffering from financial hardships due to medical problems can find out more about the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund and apply to the SCF for assistance at www.truckersfund.org.