The Nation

WASHINGTON — The chairman and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the chairs and ranking members of two of the House T&I subcommittees on Thursday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting two committee-related priorities be included in any upcoming budget agreement. The letter was signed by T&I Chair Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Sam Graves, R-Mo.; Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C, and Ranking Member Rodney Davis, R-Ill.; and Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chair Grace F. Napolitano, D-Calif., and Ranking Member Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. First, the members requested a repeal of the $7.6 billion rescission contained in the most recent surface transportation law, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The letter said the rescission, if carried out, would mean that highway funding provided by Congress would be taken back, impacting all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The members wrote: “…the rescission will significantly limit the flexibility of all states and impact the ability to plan and execute highway and bridge projects.  These projects are necessary in order to grow the U.S. economy, create jobs, and ensure the nation’s global competitiveness.  We therefore request that the rescission be repealed as part of any budget agreement.” The amount rescinded from each state would vary. For example, the letter said $693 million of the total is projected to come out of California’s remaining contract authority, $731 million would be rescinded from Texas, New York would face $487 million in reduced contract authority, and $83 million of the rescission would come from Kentucky. “Regardless of the amount rescinded from each state, the rescission will significantly limit the flexibility of all states and impact the ability to plan and execute highway and bridge projects,” the letter said. The members also requested that a mechanism to ensure full utilization of annual Harbor Maintenance Tax collections for harbor maintenance and access to the remaining balance in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund be included in the budget agreement. Enacting such a mechanism would make sure the nation’s ports and harbors are fully maintained with the fees collected for this very purpose, the letter said. “Both requests will ensure our country is able to save and create jobs, grow businesses, and keep our nation globally competitive,” the members said.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  Pilot Flying J Truck Care is providing free mid-trip inspections, a value of $50, at its Service Center locations now through June 7 to help professional drivers and trucking companies prepare for Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck event on June 4-6. Certain conditions apply, company officials said. There is a limit of one visual inspection only complimentary inspection per truck during the promotional period. The inspection is available for booking at any Pilot Flying J Truck Care Service Center location or through Roadside Assistance mobile units. Completion of visual inspection shall in no way guarantee a truck is CVSA-certified or otherwise free of CVSA violations. Drivers will be notified of any issues or problems identified during the inspection, and corrective or maintenance services may be made available for an additional charge. No purchase necessary for inspection. No cash value, rainchecks or substitutes are allowed. In addition to participating in the mid-trip inspection, Pilot Flying J Truck Care recommends professional drivers take advantage of the below tips to help prepare for the upcoming CVSA Roadcheck and future travels: Check your vehicles and check them often. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections are imperative to find issues with the vehicle. Bad brakes or lights are easy to spot and easy to fix Keep up on preventative maintenance. Proper lubrication at set intervals prolongs the life of any moving parts Check tires for irregular wear. If a tire is not wearing evenly this could be a telltale sign of a steering and suspension issue Do not ignore noises. A lot of the time an issue in the steering system can be heard before it is seen. A whining steering box or a popping king pin or tie rod end can lead to something bigger if ignored Professional drivers and trucking companies can download the Pilot Flying J app or visit https://pilotflyingj.com/service-centers/ to find participating Service Center or Roadside Assistance locations.          

CHICAGO — TruckPark has launched a mobile-accessible truck parking app in the United States that the company says enables drivers to reserve overnight parking. Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Anthony Petitte said TruckPark is a Chicago-based company committed to improving the truck driving experience using technology to overcome the problem of finding safe and secure parking. Finding an available parking spot has become increasingly difficult for commercial truck drivers. There are about 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the U.S., according to the American Trucking Associations, but fewer than 400,000 available parking spots. “When drivers get near their limit for the day, they need to find available parking right away,” Petitte said. “Too often, drivers waste valuable time searching for a place to park. We are introducing a technology solution to enable them to quickly and easily overcome this persistent problem.” “We are helping address a national issue,” said Joshua Walls, chief operating officer and co-founder of TruckPark. “More than 90 percent of drivers experience problems finding safe parking at night. And those drivers spend an average of 54 minutes daily searching for parking. The TruckPark app will not only help them find a secure parking spot, but also enable them to reserve the space so it is still available to them when they arrive.” The TruckPark app is free to download and is now available in both the Apple and Android app stores. Walls said the TruckPark app will help increase safety and security for truck drivers, who will occasionally park on the side of the highway or at an unsecured lot when they cannot find suitable parking. “More than 85 percent of truck cargo theft happens in unsecured areas,” Walls said. “Each parking lot TruckPark partners with is vetted for security.” TruckPark is partnering with an increasing number of parking facilities along or near major highways throughout the U.S., beginning with areas known for hard-to-find parking. Initially, TruckPark is announcing eight locations in the Chicago area and will announce in rapid succession parking facilities in other areas of the country, Wall said. “TruckPark Inc. is a values-based company driven by the mission to empower truck drivers while providing a safe and unmatched experience,” Petitte said. “We will revolutionize the trucking industry by providing drivers with an easy and reliable app to find safe, secure parking, and an opportunity for private lot owners to maximize their revenues.” For more information, visit www.truckpark.com.  

The average price for a gallon of diesel nationwide rose two-cents of a cent for the week ending May 6, to currently stand at $3.171 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That puts the national average price for diesel at exactly the same price it was one year ago. There was an even split among the regions that experienced price increases and decreases for the week. In almost every region, the change was minimal, with the one exception being California, where diesel rose 6.2 cents per gallon, to finish the week at $4.097. By contract the rest of the West Coast saw a decrease of one-tenth of a cent, to rest at $3.345, averaging out to an increase of 3.5 cents for the West Coast overall, and an average price of $3.765. The gap between the price of diesel in California and everywhere else in the nation continues to widen. Diesel in California is now 23.4 cents above what is was a year ago. The next-highest increase is in the Central Atlantic region, where diesel is 4.3 cents higher year-over-year after falling this week $0.006 per gallon, to $3.379. The largest drop in price was experienced in the Gulf Coast region, where diesel prices were already the lowest in the nation. With a drop of 1.2 cents, the price there is now $2.927, still the only region where diesel is under $3 per gallon. While the Lower Atlantic matched the Central Atlantic’s weekly gain of 0.6 cents, New England saw a price increase of 0.9 cents, to bring the East Coast overall to an average decrease of 0.4 cents, to $3.190. The price of diesel is higher than it was a year ago in all three regions of the East Coast. In the middle of the country, the Midwest saw an increase of 0.6 cents, to $3.064, while the Rocky Mountain region experienced a 0.3 cents increase, to stand at $3.186. On Monday, Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 39 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $71.24 a barrel. U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate crude rose 31 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $62.25 a barrel. Click here for a complete list of average prices by region for the past three weeks.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Florida is on the fast track to building three new major toll highways in mostly rural areas under a bill sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis by the state House on Wednesday despite concerns over their potential negative impact on the environment. The bill, passed on a 76-36 vote, creates task forces to study the potential routes and commits tens of millions of dollars for eventual construction of the highways. Supporters say the roads will spur rural job growth, relieve congestion on Interstate 75 and Interstate 4 — the main tourist road to Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme parks — and create new hurricane evacuation routes. Republican Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City, the chief House sponsor, invoked the interstate highway system’s creation by President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s and the building of Florida’s Turnpike as examples of essential and economically successful projects. “Could you imagine today if you were driving through Florida without the turnpike system?” Trumbull said. “We have the ability today to push our state forward.” One highway would connect Collier County in the southwest to Lakeland, located between Tampa and Orlando. Another would extend the Suncoast Parkway from Citrus County to Jefferson County at the Georgia border. The third would extend from the north end of the Florida Turnpike to the Suncoast Parkway. All would be toll roads. Construction would begin before Dec. 31, 2022, with a goal of opening all three highways to traffic by Dec. 31, 2030. The task forces would select the exact routes. Opponents said a financial commitment to the roads should await studies on whether they will harm wetlands and wildlife and spur urban sprawl. They also said the bill amounts to a handout to the highway construction industry. “The bill before us today is the most massive expansion of our highway system since the 1950s. Let’s not green-light a project without having the proper facts,” said Rep. Bobby DuBose, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat. “We are basically handing over a blank check.” The legislation, however, was a top priority of Senate President Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, and was destined to pass from the beginning of the 60-day legislative session. Galvano said the bill requires the task forces to evaluate wildlife crossing design features that would protect endangered Florida panthers and other habitat, as well as measures that would safeguard water quality and agricultural land use. “These new infrastructure corridors will help Florida strategically plan for future population growth, revitalize rural communities, and enhance public safety, while at the same time protecting Florida’s unique natural resources and habitats,” Galvano said in a statement. That did not sit well with groups who say the money could be better spent on greater needs. “This is why Floridians are so cynical about government,” said Jonathan Webber, deputy director of Florida Conservation Voters. “Just imagine the amount of good we could do if this money was spent on cleaning our water, building more parks, or finding solutions to the growing climate crisis.”

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — C.H. Robinson held its second annual Carrier of the Year Awards program April 30, recognizing its most outstanding North American truckload contract carriers for 2018. Robinson created the awards program to recognize truckload carriers that go above and beyond by displaying the highest level of service, embracing technology and establishing quality relationships with C.H. Robinson. With more than 300 offices and over 15,000 employees in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, C.H. Robinson has contractual relationships with thousands of transportation companies, including motor carriers, railroads, air freight, and ocean carriers. The company also provides services including supply chain analysis, freight consolidation, core carrier program management, and information reporting. “We are fortunate to have the largest carrier network in North America, and appreciate the work every one of our 76,000 contract carriers does for our customers,” said Mac Pinkerton, C.H. Robinson’s president of North American surface transportation, as he emceed the awards ceremony at the company headquarters in Eden Prairie. Minnesota. “The contract carriers recognized for the 2018 awards are the very best examples of the reliable, high-quality carriers that make up our network. We value the strong relationships that we have established and want to reward those exceptional carriers that go above and beyond to allow our organizations to grow together.” Robinson expanded its awards from its inaugural year, adding three new categories: Flatbed carriers, temperature-controlled carriers and a “Rookie of the Year” carrier, which recognizes a contract carrier that worked with C.H. Robinson for the first time in 2018. In all, 12 recipients were named in 10 categories. The C.H. Robinson 2018 Contract Carrier of the Year Award winners include: Truck owner-operators: Jose Sanchez, Maywood, California; and StanTranz, Walkertown, North Carolina 2-10 trucks: Avalon National LLC, Cassadaga, New York; and Jeffrey D. Leyk, Burtrum, Minnesota 11-50 trucks: Jack Rust, Rogersville, Missouri 51-100 trucks: Pope Trucking, Inc., Pearson, Georgia 101-299 trucks: A.N. Webber, Inc., Chebanse, Illinois 300-999 trucks: Nussbaum Transportation, Hudson, Illinois 1,000+ trucks: Covenant Transport, Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee Flatbed: Cheetah Transportation Systems, Houston, Texas Temperature Controlled: Orbitz Trans Inc., Riverside, California Rookie of the Year: DJP Trucking LLC, Trevor, Wisconsin “These contract carriers provide incredible value through their dedication to efficient business practices and the strong relationships they have built with our team. They are critical to our business,” said Bruce Johnson, C.H. Robinson’s vice president of capacity development. “We want to celebrate the accomplishments of those contract carriers that allow us to provide reliable, high-quality capacity to serve our diverse customer base.” All of the winners are key carriers in C.H. Robinson’s Carrier Advantage Program and were nominated by their carrier representatives. The C.H. Robinson Carrier Advantage program provides contract carriers earlier access to freight, a dedicated carrier representative, discounts with the QuickPay program, and contractual freight opportunities via Navistar Carrier, C.H. Robinson’s technology platform.

The old man sat down on the front stoop, as I’d often seen him do, and fumbled in the pocket of his wrinkled khakis for his pipe. “Doggone,” he said. “I forgot my do-hickey.” He felt in the pocket of a work shirt that was so faded it was almost white and pulled out his pouch of tobacco, expertly taking a pinch and putting it in the pipe bowl. “Dad-gummit, where’s my thing-a-ma-jig?” He felt in his front pants pockets for the thing he tamped down his tobacco with, rising to a crouch to feel in his back pockets and realized he’d been sitting on it. “Always losin’ my whatcha-ma-callit,” he mumbled. Tamp, tamp, tamp. He felt in his other shirt pocket for his matches, practically turning the pocket inside out. “Gul-durn, where’d I put my matches?” “Uh, other pocket?” I guessed. Before he could explore his pockets again, we heard a holler, then a splash coming from the direction of the creek behind the house. Then there was a high-pitched scream. “Gul-durn-it,” he said. “Neighbors don’t mind their grandkids and those city young-uns is scared a everthang.” He heaved himself to his feet and went to look, taking off his worn straw hat and putting his pipe, tobacco and tamper do-hickey in it and laying it on the porch. I followed him as he took off in his clumsy bow-legged stride down to the creek. A little blonde girl of about 9 was standing on the creek bank sopping wet screaming, “Ewwwh,” at the top of her lungs. “What’s wrong, Maisy,” he said. “I’m Jenny,” she said. “Maisy has brown hair and is a head shorter than me.” “OK, OK,” he said. “What’s wrong, young-un?” “It’s this awful crustacean! It’s icky. Ewwwh! Get it off!” “Oh mercy me,” grandpa groaned. “That ain’t nothin’ but a little ol’ crawdad. It ain’t gonna hurt ya none.’” “GET IT OUT! IT’S IN MY HAIR!” “No need for all this folderol,” he said as he reached over, plucked it out of her hair and threw it back in the water. “It weren’t gonna do nuthin’ to ya hair.” “There should be a sign warning people of dangerous creatures in the water,” Jenny said, pursing her mouth in a self-righteous way.  She hiccupped and then wailed: “I need my inhaler.” He turned to me. “What kind of a thing-a-ma-bob is she yackin’ on about?” “It’s uh, a thing-ah-ma-jigger to help you breathe,” I said. “It’s a medical device for asthma,” Jenny said. “It helps to open my airways when they get constricted.” Grandpa scratched his head. “Well why didn’t ya brang this do-hickey down here with ya?” he said. “I thought the country was supposed to be peaceful,” she said. “That gray and white bird, it dived down and tried to bite me and I was so startled I fell in the water.” “Oh now, that Mockinbird’s got a nest up there with little baby birds in it. It’s just bein’ a good mama,” he said. “Why did it try and bite me,” Jenny said, looking up at him accusingly.  “I wasn’t going to climb up there and bother its babies.” She wrung out her hair and made a face. “Awe shug, it don’t know that. You got all het up over nuthin.’ Not a thang in this whole wide world to be afeared of.” “You talk funny,” she said. “And you’re gettin’ too big for yur britches,” he said. “You need to mind your manners. If’n you keep it up, your mama will tan your hide.” “Our family doesn’t believe in corporal punishment,” she said coolly. He shook his head sadly as he turned and went back up to the house. “That’s the younger generation for you,” I said. “Yeah,” he said, “they got a mouth problem. Think they know more’n everbody and always gotta sass back their elders.” “Yep,” he muttered to himself. “And they don’t understand plain English, neither.” He eased himself back down on the porch with a grunt. “OK. We can finally get back to lollygaggin’. Now, where’d I put my do-hickey?” Hey readers, you may be bumfuzzled by this column but since it’s the very last one before I retire (I got talked into working another month), I just wanted to make something up out of my imagination and use a bunch of words like do-hickey. It’s been wonderful writing for you guys and gals. As always, please be safe out there and God bless.

THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Old Dominion Freight Line stepped up to the plate recently and donated 12,000 baseballs to an organization that works to make sure kids who want to take to the diamond can do so, even if they can’t afford equipment. Founded in 2005, Pitch In for Baseball & Softball (PIFBS) helps give boys and girls access to recreation and contributes to positive youth development by providing baseball and softball equipment to children around the world. Over the past 14 years, PIFBS has helped to eliminate equipment as a barrier for more than 900,000 boys and girls in the U.S. and more than 100 countries internationally. For Old Dominion to contribute to an organization like Pitch In for Baseball & Softball seems to be a natural. Back at the beginning of 2017, the less-than-truckload carrier became “The Official Freight Carrier of Major League Baseball. As part of the partnership, Old Dominion put MLB branding on its tractor-trailer fleet, and showcases its brand on various media associated with Major League Baseball, as well as through partnerships with 10 teams: the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Possible the most eye-catching promotion has been Old Dominion’s “clear” trailer that travelled around the country in 2017 and 2018 on a marketing and promotional tour. During the 2017 season, the truck was the subject of a “Seats to the World Series” contest, in which fans were invited to guess how many baseballs were in the trailer. In October of that year, after 51,000 entries, Nicholas Haas of Roanoke, Texas, had the winning guess of 178,596 baseballs, just in time to win tickets to see his beloved Houston Astros in the World Series, along with tickets to the next two World Series, as well. With the promotional tour ended, Old Dominion found itself with a bunch of baseballs. PIFBS was happy to take some off their hands. Meredith Kim, COO of PIFBS, said: “This donation changed the conversation with potential grantees. These baseballs help us uphold our commitment to provide baseball equipment to various programs and, in turn, reaffirms the programs’ trust in us to provide for their teams. We are extremely appreciative of Old Dominion Freight Line and their generous donation.” PIFBS has already given baseballs to numerous clubs and organizations across the country. Several Major League teams have “RBI” programs, which stands for “Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.” PIFBS provided balls for several of those, benefitting 195 teams across the country. Baseballs have also gone to The BASE, a Boston-based program committed to reimagining pathways to success for kids; The Philadelphia School Program, which was presented with two dozen baseballs each for 47 high school baseball teams across 38 schools, impacting 750 student-athletes. Another beneficiary was Play Ball Pittsburgh, a partnership between PIFBS, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Tull Family Foundation. Through a partnership with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Felix Mantilla Little League and Beckum Stapleton Little League received baseballs, as well. “Old Dominion’s baseballs served their purpose for two great years in the clear trailer, kicking off our World Series sweepstakes and offering a fun photo opportunity for baseball fans as well as serving as a symbol of our partnership with Major League Baseball,” said Dick Podiak, vice president of marketing and communication at Old Dominion Freight Line. “We are happy that the baseballs will be put to good use and go to the young people who need them. This donation to Pitch In for Baseball & Softball can give the baseballs a second life.” For more information about Old Dominion, visit www.odfl.com.

There are reports aplenty that cross our desk every day, some good, some bad, some just plain stupid. The most recent, and this is one of the good ones, finds that American motorists “strongly support” a broad array of safety measures, from reducing local street speed limits and building more roundabout intersections to stricter seatbelt enforcement efforts. The report was based on a survey of 2,000 U.S. motorists conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the Road to Zero Coalition. The Road to Zero Coalition is managed by the National Safety Council and has issued a roadmap to end roadway deaths in the U.S. by 2050. There are almost 900 members of the coalition, the first time so many organizations have collaborated to put forth a plan to address motor vehicle fatalities, which recently increased after years of decline. (As a footnote, the NORC was established in 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, hence the name NORC). The NORC report, titled “Underutilized Strategies in Traffic Safety: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey,” found support for a variety of motor vehicle safety initiatives. They are listed below with the percentage of survey respondents who named the initiative, along with some personal comments from yours truly: Increasing the use of sobriety checkpoints to discourage impaired driving (65%). We most often hear of sobriety checkpoints during the Christmas-New Year time frame, but here in Little Rock, the bars are full every weekend. Deployment of more speed and red-light cameras to discourage reckless driving (60%). Our office window overlooks a stoplight at the intersection of the Interstate 630 exit and University Avenue, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. Most of the time, when the light turns red for University Avenue traffic, two or three cars go through the red light. Reducing local speed limits by 5 miles per hour (69%). The odds of lower speed limits slowing down traffic are about as good as winning the lottery. Alcohol ignition locks for people who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated (83 %). Good idea, given the lack of sobriety checkpoints. Saliva screening to prevent drugged driving (74%). Stricter seat belt law enforcement (82%). We think drivers are pretty good about buckling up. We seldom see anyone not wearing a seatbelt. Requiring cars to have seat belt reminder chimes (70%). Most do, and they are quick to chime when someone tries to drive unbuckled. Passing mandatory motorcycle helmet laws (86%). Cyclists riding without a helmet have much, much better odds of being severely injured or killed than they have of winning the lottery. Replacing dangerous intersections with roundabouts (73%). We despise roundabouts, especially installed at an intersection where a stop sign would work just as well. Here in Little Rock, city fathers use roundabouts to display some of the most horrid metal artwork we’ve ever seen. Installing rumble strips on more roads (90%). A nuisance, especially like the ones in Little Rock that have been installed 10 feet from a stop sign. The only question on which those motorists polled were totally divided was lowering the blood alcohol limit to .05 in their state. Yet 56 percent of the drivers participating in the survey said they would support such a lower limit if the penalty involved fines and the suspension of one’s license rather than criminal charges. We think legislators should listen to doctors for advice about how low to set the limit. We say, the lower the better, especially since there are so few sobriety check points. The survey also found that drivers were taking advantage of ridesharing services to avoid drinking and driving as 60 percent of those who said they’d used a ride sharing service in the past year said they had done so at least once to avoid drinking and driving. “The results of this poll are clear: Safe roads are a priority for Americans, and they support ideas that encourage everyone to slow down and avoid impaired driving. Given the research available, this makes perfect sense,” said James Fell, a principal research scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago, in a statement. “Drivers are also now taking the extra step to do something about making our roads safer as evidenced by their use of ridesharing apps to get home safely.” If you want to suggest some initiatives to foster safer driving, write us at [email protected].

Remember back in school, I mean way back in school, like, grade school or middle school? Remember how teachers would try to scare you out of misbehaving by warning you that whatever mischief you were considering would go on your “permanent record”? By the time you were in high school you figured out (at least I hope you did) that the permanent record wasn’t so permanent, in fact it wasn’t even real. That time in fourth grade when you got in trouble for throwing Tater Tots at the girls wasn’t going to dog you for the rest of your days. But by then it didn’t matter. Just as Santa Claus had (presuming you got past that one by high school, too), the specter of the permanent record hovering over you had done its job and had helped keep you in line as you were growing up. Well, professional truck drivers of America, soon you’ll get to feel like a kid again. Shortly after the start of 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will launch its latest version of the “permanent record,” the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.  But alas, none of us are kids anymore. This time, the record is real and so are the consequences it carries. Not too long ago, I wrote about a presentation at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show by FMCSA Director of Enforcement and Compliance Joe DeLorenzo about the clearinghouse. The purpose was to get the word out about the clearinghouse, what it was all about, how it will work and why every driver needs to get registered on it when the time comes. By the way, if you’re ever at a trucking event and you hear Joe is going to explain something on behalf of FMCSA, make sure you go. He’s a great presenter — he has a relaxed, personable style and he explains things so clearly it’s hard to believe he works for the government. The crux of his presentation at MATS was that, hey, we know that compared to a lot of other issues, this clearinghouse has been hovering around for a couple of years, not grabbing too many headlines, and a lot of people haven’t paid it much attention. And we know it’s still (at the time) almost 10 months away (more like eight months now), but you all need to start thinking about this thing, and here’s why. In a nutshell, the clearinghouse will keep a running record of all failed drug or alcohol tests, including any test refusals, which in case anyone was planning ahead, weighs just as heavily on the record as a positive test. This clearinghouse was created by a congressional mandate that stipulates that carriers will be required to add all positive tests and refusals into the database, and they will be required to check the database to make sure your record for the previous three years is clear as part of the hiring process. But, here’s the rub. They can’t check your record without your permission, and for you to give permission, you have to be registered in the system. So, basically, if you think that someday after January 6, 2020, you might want to apply at a new carrier, as farfetched as that may seem, you will have to be registered in the clearinghouse. DeLorenzo explained that clearly enough, just as he explained why the system is being set up as it is. Simply, it’s to thwart the kind of driver who applies for a job, fails the drug screen, then manages to stay clean long enough or finds some other way to apply at another carrier and beat the test. With this database, if you test positive, that’s going to follow you around for the next three years — maybe not a permanent record, but as far as your career is concerned, that could be a real backbreaker. Inevitably, some drivers will ballyhoo about registering in the clearinghouse, about what a horrible imposition is being forced upon them. And they’ll wail that it’s the greatest affront to American ideals since the British burnt down the White House in 1814. Please. First of all, the process will not be difficult, just a simple online registration. You’re not being asked to take a drug test just for this. Second, this isn’t like ELDs; it won’t cost you a nickel, there’s nothing to buy, and no new gizmo you have to install or learn how to use. Third, also unlike ELDs, there is no hard deadline to register. In fact, there’s nothing that says you ever have to register, unless, of course you want to apply for a job in trucking any time after January 6. The only people who should be upset about the clearinghouse are those who want to make the argument that it will infringe on what they imagine to be their constitutional right to game the system. And we can assume gaming the system is the only way they can stay employed, and they know it and don’t want anyone else to know it. So, I hope we can skip the usual caterwauling about the heavy hand of Big Brother on this one. We’re talking about drinking, drugs and driving. The game of hide and seek is over. This isn’t kid stuff.

At one time or another we all take selfies on the job or snag a few shots of the safest drivers in our fleet or capture our truck in front of a spectacular mountain vista or a beautiful sunset on the beach. It could be a photo of a group of drivers who have raised money for their favorite charity. Do you have a favorite photo on the job or behind the wheel? Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) is seeking great photos of members of the industry. TMAF, formed to publicize how safe, considerate and necessary professional truck drivers are, moving not just the economy, but often helping their fellow motorists along the way and risking their lives in the process. It could be as simple as a photo of you near your truck or at your desk, or with your family or pets. Whatever your favorite photos are, TMAF wants to see them. They’d like for you to share them for a chance to be featured on their social media channels. Submit your photos by emailing [email protected]. As a trucking professional, you know that safety always comes first. Please be sure to take your photos while you are stopped and at a safe location off the road.    

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders agreed Tuesday to work together on a $2 trillion infrastructure package, but put off for later the difficult question of how to pay for it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said there was “good will in the meeting,”  a marked departure from the last meeting between Trump, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which ended with Trump walking out in a huff. Schumer said the two sides agreed that infrastructure investments create jobs and make the United States more competitive economically with the rest of the world. Most importantly, Schumer said, “we agreed on a number.” “Originally, we had started a little lower,” Schumer said. “Even the president was eager to push it up to $2 trillion, and that is a very good thing.” Pelosi added, “We did come to one agreement: that the agreement would be big and bold.” Pelosi and congressional Democrats had asked for the meeting with Trump to discuss launching an ambitious building program that’s a top priority for the party and has been a rare area of potential bipartisan accord with Republicans. Trump, too, has long promised a big infrastructure plan. The dozen Democratic lawmakers in the meeting with the president called it a constructive start. They said Trump agreed that infrastructure investments should go beyond roads and bridges and include broadband, water systems and enhancements to the electrical grid. Democrats also put the onus on Trump to come up with a funding source and said they would meet again in three weeks, when the president will present his ideas. The nation’s top business groups and labor unions support increasing the federal gasoline tax, currently 18.3 cents a gallon. It was last raised in 1993. Infrastructure is seen as the one issue with the best chance for the two sides to work together this Congress — and even that isn’t given good odds for a fruitful ending. The meeting played out against the backdrop of high tensions over escalating Democratic investigations following the release of  special counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian meddling. Lawmakers and the Republican president also have on eye on the 2020 elections, meaning every provision of an infrastructure package — including how to pay for it — will be made with that in mind. Still, advocates for an infrastructure package boost see a narrow window for action. “I think a deal can be had if everybody is willing to put their battle axes away for a period,” said former Republican Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, who served as chairman of the House’s transportation committee for six years. A compromise could offer political benefits to both sides. Trump’s re-election prospects are tied to a strong economy that would get another boost from new road and bridge projects. House Democrats have passed an array of bills that have gone nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate. Pelosi has dozens of new Democratic House members who won in competitive districts, said Shuster, and “they need to be able to go home next year and say they’ve accomplished something.” But the two sides also have some competing priorities that will complicate matters. The president and Republican leaders want to speed up the permitting process for building energy and transportation projects and that’s not on most Democratic lawmakers’ to-do lists. Democrats are looking for ways to pay for greater infrastructure spending without adding to the national debt, and that could mean higher fuel taxes. Committees in both chambers of Congress have started to lay the groundwork for an infrastructure bill through hearings, with Democratic lawmakers hoping to have legislation ready for consideration by June or July. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will give every House lawmaker a chance to share their infrastructure priorities on Wednesday. The infrastructure issue has aligned the nation’s top business groups and unions, a rarity in Washington. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has proposed increasing the federal fuel tax 5 cents a year for five years, then allowing it to increase with inflation. So far this year, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio and Virginia have enacted gas tax increases, although Virginia’s only applies to a portion of the state. Some 30 states have done so since 2013.  

The average price for a gallon of diesel nationwide rose 2.2 cents for the week ending April 29, currently standing at $3.169 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The average price for diesel risen every week but one over the past three months and is now higher than it was a year ago, albeit only by 1.2 cents. This week’s price increase was felt in every region of the country, with the western third of the nation continuing to take a bigger hit than the rest of the country. The Rocky Mountain region experienced the steepest gain in diesel prices, an even 4 cents, to end the week at $3.183 per gallon. Out on the West Coast, the overall price of diesel went up an average of 3.4 cents, to stand at $3.73 per gallon. California saw less of a gain than the rest of its pacific neighbors. The price there increased. 3.2 cents, lower than the rest of the West Coast or the Rocky Mountains, but still higher than anywhere else in the nation. The price of diesel per gallon in California is now $4.035, far and away the highest in the country. The Gulf Coast, by comparison, continues to be the only region where diesel is still less than $3 per gallon, $2.939 to be exact, after an increase of 2.2 cents for the week. The Midwest and Lower Atlantic regions continue to vie for the next-lowest prices in the nation, though both continue in the wrong direction. Diesel rose 1.6 cents in the Midwest, to finish at $3.058, while the Lower Atlantic climbed 2.4 cents, to $3.057. Further up the East Coast, diesel rose in the New England region by 1.9 cents per gallon, to stand at $3.236, while the Central Atlantic region had the smallest increase in the nation this week, 1.5 cents. The price of a gallon there is now $3.385. That’s 6.4 cents above the price a year ago, which is more than any other region with the notable exception of California, where diesel is 20.1 cents more expensive than a year ago. On Monday, Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell by 11 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at $72.04 a barrel. U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate crude rose 20 cents, or 0.3%, to settle at $63.50 a barrel. Click here for a complete list of average prices by region for the past three weeks.

So how was your weekend? It was probably better than the one employees of Falcon Transport just had, as the people who work for the flatbed truckload carrier were informed without prior warning that the company was shutting down immediately. Falcon’s nearly 600 employees received email and text messages at around 8 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday from Falcon Transport’s Director of Operations Jayson Calhoun stating: “We regret to inform you that Falcon Transport is not able to continue operations and will be shutting down effective today. Please stop any work you are doing for the company effective immediately. You are not expected to return to work. Please be on the lookout for further information we will be sending regarding this situation.” According to multiple reports, many employees commented on social media that they did not receive their pay Friday, and that it had been explained that there had been a technical issue that would soon be fixed. Some drivers said their fuel cards had been deactivated after the message went out, and there were reports of drivers being stranded around the country, along with offers on social media to help get them home. Other now-former employees warned that the company’s DOT number was no longer valid, so it was illegal for Falcon’s trucks to be out on the road. Drivers were said to have taken the message at its word and stopped working as soon as they could, leaving their trucks or trailers at the first place they could and going home. It was in inglorious end for a company that had been in existence for more than a century. According to the company website, which was still up and running Monday, including a scrolling banner calling for new drivers, Falcon was “founded in 1903 with a single horse and wagon.” Falcon was family-owned and operated until it was purchased by the private equity firm CounterPoint Capital Partners, based out of Los Angeles, in 2017. Much of the immediate speculation for the cause of the company’s demise was that it could have had something to do with the closing of General Motors’ Lordstown Assembly plant in March. A great deal of Falcon’s business had been with the automotive industry. The Lordstown Assembly plant had been a major client and employees speculated that the company was unable to find enough loads to replace the lost revenue.