The Nation

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — The 37th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs will be held July 25-27 at Trail’s Travel Center located just off Interstate 35 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Contestants and attendees will be able to see the hardest working trucks in the industry and enjoy all the amenities on site throughout the three-day event. There is no fee to enter SuperRigs and the weekend is designed to be fun for the whole family, organizers said. Highlights include: Annual fireworks display Truck lights competition Music throughout the weekend Competitor BBQ lunch The great prize pursuit The Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition is considered the premier truck beauty contest for actively working trucks. Owner-operator truckers from across the United States and Canada compete annually for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes. Twelve drivers will be selected to have their trucks featured in the 2020 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar. Details for Shell Rotella SuperRigs are subject to change and additional activities will be announced as they are finalized. To register and for more information about Shell Rotella SuperRigs, visit www.Rotella.com. Event registration is recommended, but not required. Follow Shell Rotella on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on SuperRigs and Shell Rotella products and programs.  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations Wednesday released its figures on truck driver turnover in the fourth quarter, showing a continued downward trend in the churn rate. “The driver market continues to be tight, but not quite as much as the middle of 2018. The overall trend late last year was that turnover is slowing,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “There can be various reasons for this – either freight volumes are decelerating and as such fleets pulled back on recruiting efforts or fleets’ efforts to increase pay are paying dividends in the form or reduced turnover. The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but it is a trend that bears watching.” In the fourth quarter, the turnover rate at fleets with more than $30 million revenue fell nine points to 78 percent. It is now 10 points lower than it was during the same quarter in 2017. For the year, the turnover rate at large fleets averaged 89 percent – two points higher than the previous year. At smaller carriers, the turnover rate rose five points to 77 percent. That mark was three points lower than the rate in the final quarter of 2017. The rate averaged 73 percent for the year – the lowest churn rate since 2011. Turnover at less-than-truckload fleets was unchanged at 10 percent and averaged 11 percent on the year.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Flying J said the company raised $1,068,243 in support of the American Heart Association’s “Life Is Why We Give” campaign, presenting a check to the organization at a celebration at the Pilot Travel Center on Strawberry Plains Pike near the company’s headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. In honor of American Heart Month, Pilot Flying J and its network of travel centers and convenience stores partnered with guests across the country to support the American Heart Association’s stated mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The contribution exceeds the company’s goal of raising $1 million during the month of February, surpassing the $981,000 it raised in 2018. This donation places Pilot Flying J third among top national fundraisers for the AHA’s “Life Is Why We Give” campaign. “It is always a source of pride to support great organizations such as the American Heart Association, and I am overwhelmed by the combined efforts of our Pilot Flying J team members and guests to make such a big impact for the cause of heart health,” said Mike Rodgers, senior vice president and chief strategy and information officer at Pilot Flying J. “We set a lofty goal, and we’re thrilled we reached it. But our true hope is that participating in this campaign has raised awareness and action in pursuing heart health and helping those impacted by heart disease and stroke. On behalf of everyone at Pilot Flying J, I extend a huge thanks for all of the support.” In February, Pilot Flying J’s fundraising initiatives included the sale of paper hearts for $1, $3 or $5 and the ability for guests to round-up their purchases to the next dollar at the more than 650 Pilot and Flying J locations in the U.S. Guests could also donate through a link on the Pilot Flying J website. The company also featured exclusive offers in the Pilot Flying J mobile app for free healthier food and beverage items with the purchase of a $5 paper heart. To celebrate American Heart Month and an early Valentine’s Day, Pilot Flying J partnered with University of Tennessee (UT) student-athletes and the American Heart Association to surprise patients at UT Medical Center’s Heart Hospital. The student-athletes delivered red balloons, cards signed by Pilot Flying J team members and $50 Pilot Flying J gift cards to help fuel each patient’s journey toward better health. “Pilot Flying J’s team has again gone above and beyond in supporting our mission through this campaign,” said David Markiewicz, executive vice president for the American Heart Association’s Greater Southeast Affiliate. “The generous support of companies like Pilot Flying J make a significant impact on the American Heart Association’s programs and initiatives. The team created a great combination of fundraising measures and even found the time to spread goodwill to current heart patients. We appreciate all of the Pilot Flying J guests and team members who made this donation a reality.” To learn more about the Pilot Flying J’s giving back programs, visit www.pilotflyingj.com/giving-back.  

RALEIGH, N.C. — With smartphones now ever-present, North Carolina lawmakers are revisiting distracted driving laws and on Tuesday advanced a prohibition on hand-held cellphone use they say will reduce accidents and potentially rein in insurance rates. The House Transportation Committee overwhelmingly backed legislation to bar all motorists from holding wireless devices with their hands or against their body while operating their cars. Drivers would also not be allowed to text or watch videos. First-time violators would face $100 fines, growing to $200 with additional penalties on insurance records for repeat offenses. There would be exceptions for all in emergencies, and adults could use hand-held phones sitting on stands or in drink holders for a call if pressing only one button to start or end it. Drivers under 18 would be barred from using a device except to follow a preset navigation system route. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia now prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cellphones, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A new Georgia law began last summer. North Carolina has had a prohibition on texting or emailing while driving since 2009, and drivers under 18 can’t use mobile phones at all. But backers of the legislation say a stronger ban is needed in light of automobile crashes, deaths and injuries related to distracted driving. Adults also could no longer make calls or texts while idling at a stop light, as is currently allowed. “I tend to not be very excited about regulation, telling people what they can and cannot do,” said Rep. Jon Hardister, a Guilford County Republican and one of nearly four dozen sponsors of the bill. “But liberty has to stop whenever your actions put others in danger, especially when it puts their lives in danger.” Tammy Garlock’s 17-year-old son died in a 2008 accident in suburban Charlotte that she later learned likely happened as he tried to make a cellphone call. She told House members the current cellphone laws are unenforceable because it’s difficult to prove a violation. “There are more drivers on the road than ever, and there are more people focused on the road on (their phones) instead of the primary task at hand,” Garlock said. “The only way to enforce a ban on doing things other than talking is to get the phone out of the hand.” But some lawmakers said there are already laws dealing with reckless or careless driving, and that preventing motorists from holding their device didn’t eliminate the real distraction. “The problem is the conversation. Are we as a legislature willing to legislate no phone calls while you’re driving?” asked Rep. Michael Speciale, a Craven County Republican and one of two committee members voting against recommending the bill. “And if we’re not willing to do that, then we’re not going to solve the problem.” Lobbyists for the state’s independent insurance agents’ association, General Motors and state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey spoke in support of the bill. George Robinson, who represented Causey, said fewer accidents due to the law could result in lower personal injury expenses and insurance costs. The bipartisan legislation still must go through several more House committees before reaching the floor. It also would have to pass the Senate before heading to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk. Jennifer Smith with the nonprofit group StopDistractions.org said Georgia has seen positive results since the new law took effect there, including a 22 percent drop in phone swiping or typing by motorists, based on telecommunications data. In 13 of 15 other states where the law has been implemented, traffic fatalities fell 16 percent within two years of a ban, according to the Hands Free North Carolina coalition. In North Carolina, distracted driving contributed to 49,643 crashes in 2012, growing to 54,302 in 2016, while related fatalities increased from 140 to 177 during the same period, according to the state Department of Transportation. While fatalities declined in 2017 to 152, crashes largely stayed flat. DOT said the extent of distracted driving may be greater since the factor is self-reported.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  — A top Democratic lawmaker Monday said Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s plan to borrow $350 million to repair bridges across the state is a “nonstarter.” Rep. Kip Kendrick, the top Democrat on the influential House Budget Committee, told reporters that House Democrats generally oppose using un-earmarked general revenue to fund infrastructure. Road and bridge work has previously been funded primarily through the state’s gas tax, federal funding and fees. Under Parson’s plan , the state would repay the $350-million loan with general revenue in $30-million-a-year payments over 15 years. The state would owe an estimated $100 million in interest. “It’s no disrespect to the governor, he wanted to put a proposal out there that started the conversation,” Kendrick said. “I just think that proposal is a nonstarter.” House Democrats have limited power in Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature. Their opposition is notable because it comes as other factions of lawmakers are also moving away from Parson’s plan and shifting to other possible sources of infrastructure funding. Republican House Committee Chairman Cody Smith instead pitched setting aside $100 million in general revenue each year for road and bridge work, a plan that earned support from the Senate’s Conservative Caucus. Kendrick said that plan won’t provide enough money to adequately address infrastructure maintenance for the state. He urged colleagues to consider long-term funding solutions, such as toll roads or asking voters again to increase the gas tax. Kendrick said $100 million is significant, but “it does not get anywhere close to addressing this long-term problem.” Parson spokesman Steele Shippy said the governor is sticking by his priority to fund infrastructure but noted that voters last year defeated a proposal to raise the state’s 17-cent gas tax to 27 cents per gallon. “The people of Missouri spoke loud and clear about their position on an increase in the fuel tax,” Parson said. “The governor believes it’s our job as leaders to find solutions to meet our critical infrastructure needs.”

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Transportation Research Institute Wednesday published research detailing issues and solutions related to marijuana-impaired driving, a top safety research priority identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2018. With more states legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana, professional truck drivers are more likely to be sharing the roadway with car drivers operating under the influence of marijuana. ATRI’s research sought to document the most promising methods to identify and deter marijuana-impaired driving. The study recommends: increased data collection on the frequency and impacts of marijuana-impaired driving; public education and information on the risks of impaired driving; better equipping law enforcement and the court system to intercept and ultimately prosecute impaired drivers; and targeting tax revenue generated from marijuana sales to fund these activities. “It is extremely concerning to motor carriers and our drivers that recreational marijuana is legal in so many states, yet as the ATRI report documents, a valid and widely accepted breathalyzer-type test is not available to law enforcement,” said Mike Card, president  of Combined Transport. “ATRI’s study clearly defines a role for federal and state leaders to support law enforcement and others in keeping the roadways safe from those who choose to drive high.” In particular, the report highlights the importance of training law enforcement to identify and collect evidence of marijuana-impaired driving, particularly through the development of more drug recognition experts (DREs). “As ATRI’s research identifies, a key tool for combating drugged drivers is deploying additional drug recognition experts,” said Mark Savage, Deputy Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “A DRE can bring critical evidence to prosecutors that other tests simply cannot measure.”

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  — Arkansas’ governor on Tuesday signed a $95 million highway funding bill that will raise fuel taxes for the first time in 20 years, setting up an election year fight over a plan to ask voters to keep paying a half-cent sales tax for road needs. The legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson imposes a new wholesale tax on fuel that will raise gas prices by 3 cents a gallon and diesel by 6 cents. The new law also taps into at least $35 million in expected revenue from casinos voters approved last year, and imposes an additional registration fee on electric and hybrid vehicles. The tax and fee increases will take effect in October. Arkansas is home to two key trucking lanes, Interstate 30 and Interstate 40. I-40 between Little Rock and West Memphis, Arkansas, carries several thousand trucks a day. “This is a balanced plan. There’s never been a highway plan balanced in this fashion,” Hutchinson said. The proposals are part of a $300 million highway funding plan Hutchinson and legislative leaders unveiled last month. Another part of the plan, a proposal to permanently extend a half-cent sales tax for roads, goes to voters next year. The Legislature last week gave final approval to putting the half-cent tax extension on the ballot, but that doesn’t require the governor’s signature. Voters approved the half-cent tax in 2012 and it’s set to expire in 2023. Groups that backed Hutchinson’s highway plan, including the state Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Trucking Association, said they’re prepared to campaign for the extension next year. Shannon Newton, president of the Trucking Association, said she expected the campaign would likely need more money than the $1.6 million that was spent in favor of the half-cent in 2012. It’s unclear what organized opposition the proposal will face, though it drew complaints from some Republicans in the Legislature who said the state should instead look at using existing revenue for roads. A spokesman for Americans for Prosperity, which opposed the highway plan, said all options were on the table when asked if it would campaign against the measure.

AUSTIN – As part of a statewide effort to raise awareness, increase vigilance and report signs of human trafficking, the Texas Department of Transportation, in partnership with the governor’s office, law enforcement and industry partners, is launching its “On the Road to End Human Trafficking” initiative. “Human trafficking is a horrific crime that knows no boundaries and, sadly, affects hundreds of thousands of women, children and men across our state and around the world,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We are proud to work with the Governor’s Commission for Women and other partners to bring an end to this modern-day slavery.” Similar to a neighborhood watch program, the initiative encourages everyone to know, watch for and report signs of trafficking. According to University of Texas research, more than 300,000 people are trafficked in Texas at any given time, including 79,000 youth victims. These innocent human beings are horrifically abused by being forced into slavery, either in the form of hard labor or sex/prostitution. To raise public awareness and help eradicate this criminal activity, TxDOT is educating its employees as well as travelers. For employees, a wallet card along with an information sheet to keep in TxDOT vehicles provide details on signs to look for and steps to take to report trafficking. Posters and restroom stall signs also will be displayed in TxDOT’s Texas Travel Information Centers and Safety Rest Areas across the state to provide critical information to victims of human trafficking on how to reach out for help. The public is encouraged to use a toll-free, 24/7 confidential phone number, 888-373-7888, to report suspected trafficking; victims are encouraged to call 911. TxDOT’s human trafficking materials are available for others to download and use at www.txdot.gov. “By taking part in this initiative to eradicate human trafficking, TxDOT is living up to a core agency value – the well-being, safety and quality of life for Texans and all travelers,” Bass said.

AUSTIN, Texas — Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Tuesday said she had created a Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council, an internal deliberative body at the U.S. Department of Transportation tasked with identifying and resolving jurisdictional and regulatory gaps that may impede the deployment of new technology, such as tunneling, hyperloop, autonomous vehicles, and other innovations. Secretary Chao made the announcement during her remarks at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas. “New technologies increasingly straddle more than one mode of transportation, so I’ve signed an order creating a new internal department council to better coordinate the review of innovation that have multi-modal applications,” Chao said. USDOT consists of 11 operating administrations, each with its own traditional jurisdiction over certain environmental and regulatory approvals. New technologies may not always fit precisely into the department’s existing regulatory structure, potentially resulting in a slower pace of transportation innovation. Inventors and investors approach USDOT to obtain necessary safety authorizations, permits, and funding and often face uncertainty about how to coordinate with the department. The NETT Council will address these challenges by ensuring that the traditional modal silos at DOT do not impede the deployment of new technology, Chao said, adding that it will give project sponsors a single point of access to discuss plans and proposals. The NETT Council represents a major step forward for USDOT in reducing regulatory burdens and paving the way for emerging technologies in the transportation industry, the secretary said. The internal council will hold its organizing meeting this week and will first take on the topic of tunneling technologies seeking various approvals in several states. Representatives from the USDOT held a series of interactive sessions and demonstrations at SXSW to showcase the department’s overarching efforts to support innovation and market solutions to address transportation challenges across the country.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It will be a country music celebration as Westwood One’s Red Eye Radio network kicks the Mid-America Trucking Show up a notch. Celebrating 50 years of radio, Red Eye Radio will be celebrating its anniversary at the Mid-America Trucking Show. There will be live appearances and musical performances by Country artists Gretchen Wilson, Jessie G, Bridgette Tatum, Jayne Denham, Dustin Collins, Olivia Ooms, Taylor Barker, Tony Justice and more. Gretchen Wilson went overnight from talented obscurity to phenomenon. Her meteoric rise, the kind experienced by only a handful of artists in the past few decades, was that rare instance where talent and moment meet to form a cultural tidal wave. Her accolades include over 10 Million Albums sold worldwide, 11 major music awards (including a Grammy), and 10 top 10 hits. She will be at the Red Eye Radio Lobby Booth Thursday, March 28 for an autograph session where she will meet and greet MATS attendees. In addition to Gretchen on site, her friends Jessie G and Bridgette Tatum will also be performing at the Red Eye Radio booth. Other performers include Jayne Denham, Dustin Collins, Olivia Ooms, Taylor Barker, and Tony Justice with a special guest appearance by Mountain Man from A&E’s Duck Dynasty. Visitors to the booth will also be able to register for daily drawings for CB Radios, GPS Units, and much more. The Mid-America Trucking Show, a trucking convention with over 70,000 attendees, will take place March 28-30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Eric Harley, host of Red Eye Radio, will be on site to introduce attendees to the sizzling lineup of country music artists who will mix and mingle, take photos, sign autographs, and engage with drivers. It’s all happening at Red Eye Radio’s South Wing lobby booth 41064. For specific days, schedule, and details visit www.redeyeradioshow.com. For 50 years, Red Eye Radio Network has been a part of the fabric of the trucking industry by consistently providing professional drivers up-to-the-minute news, information, and entertainment. The show is motivated by one purpose — to deliver a positive, in-cab experience by helping trucker drivers/owner operators and fleet owners stay informed, engaged, and entertained on the road or wherever they are in their daily lives. With coverage across the United States and most of Canada, Red Eye Radio is hosted by radio veterans Harley and Gary McNamara. The program airs Monday through Sunday from 1 a.m.- 6 a.m. eastern time on more than 240 AM/FM stations, on-demand/podcasts, on Red Eye Radio’s free downloadable app from iTunes and the Google Play Store, Amazon’s Alexa, and Live Streaming.  

A couple of Saturdays ago, I had nothing to do and all day to do it, so I decided to go out to the nearby truck stop where we look for people to interview. Usually, when I go to the truck stop the trip is very purposeful. I show up with my camera around my neck, notepad and digital recorder in hand, and try to find a truck driver who’s in the right frame of mind to chew the fat for a few minutes – and that’s not a dig at truck stop food. We talk, I snap a couple of photos, and I’m off. This time, I thought, I’m going to do something I’ve always thought about doing. I want to take my time, just hang out, spend a couple of hours and just observe. I mean, who spends that much time at a truck stop, other than truckers or the people who work there? So, I plopped myself down at a centrally located small table near the restrooms and doodled in my notepad while watching the people go by. As I sat for a while watching the free-form parade pass left and right, the prevailing impression that came over me was what an anonymous experience the truck stop can be. People come through, do whatever they are there to do and pay little attention to anything or anyone else. I’d sat there for a couple hours, hadn’t spoken to anyone and no one had spoken to me. I noticed that a couple of the employees had noticed me, but I got the impression that my just sitting there might be a little confusing, a little unusual, but since I wasn’t causing any trouble, they had figured, “OK, let him sit.” I started to play a game – guess who’s a trucker and who’s a four-wheeler. Some were obvious. The white-haired little old lady in the shiny purple Disney jacket making a beeline for the restroom, I’m pretty sure she’s travelling by car. Truck drivers come on all shapes, sizes, and styles, but I have picked up some pretty certain tip-offs. Anybody at the truck stop wearing a headset, even if it’s around their neck – almost for sure a trucker. If they’re lugging a duffel bag full of laundry, that’s another safe bet. I’ve also noticed more often, anyone wearing flip-flops or Crocs in the dead of winter – for some reason that seems to be a fashion trend among drivers, stretched-out socks optional. Why do I see more and more drivers at the truck stop not wearing grownup shoes? I must look into that sometime. Let’s look at the bright side, at least they haven’t adopted the pajamas-in-public look. Clomping around in sweats is bad enough. Seinfeld said it best, that’s a look that says, “I give up; I might as well be comfortable.” Eventually, an employee parked a utility cart outside the men’s room, temporarily closing it for maintenance. A minute later, a would-be patron decided to wait it out and to put the time to good use helping his fellow man. Every few moments, another guy would approach, and when stopped by the utility cart barricade, his body language would express mild panic and confusion, as though the realization the men’s room was closed had snapped them out of a trance. Every time, the man who was waiting would say, “it’s closed,” as though his soothing words were there to help ease the others on their jolting transition back into reality. Some would simply sink back into their comfortable private stupor and trudge off in a different direction. A few acted as though they were personally offended by the inconvenience. Finally, one guy saw the cart, and when the first guy offered the complimentary, “it’s closed” confirmation, just smiled and decided to wait it out, too. The two immediately started comparing their trips. One of them had started in Joplin and was headed to Charleston. The other was on his way to Houston from Indiana. They talked about the weather they’d encountered. The driver from Indiana won; his weather had been worse. The two men chatted and chuckled for two or three minutes. Then the restroom reopened, and the conversation ended as quickly as it had started. The second man headed into the facilities. Oddly, the man who’d been waiting longer did not. He went off in a different direction. I didn’t even notice that until I replayed it in my head. Come to think of it, the two guys never introduced themselves to one another, and there was nothing in their clothes or their conversation that indicated whether either of them was a truck driver or just a guy on a road trip. Plainly, they’d never met, and I’d be willing to bet by the time this is published, they might not be able to pick each other out of a lineup if they were asked to. But for a couple minutes, they made their trips and each other’s trips a little more enjoyable. Maybe it was just the setting that lent to the symbolism I was reading into it, there at the truck stop, a place designed for people’s paths to intersect but not necessarily connect.  it was such a perfect example of how easily it is to pass through life anonymously, and how easy it is not to. I decided I wasn’t going to snag any interviews just sitting there, so I got up and started pulling out my equipment. Just then a woman walked by. I noticed the blinking headset draped around her neck. “Excuse me, are you a truck driver?”

WASHINGTON — Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., have reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Stop Underrides Act, which they say will help prevent deadly truck underride crashes. The act was introduced in the previous Congress, but never got out of committee. The legislation is opposed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. Neither did it get an endorsement from the American Trucking Associations. An underride crash occurs when a car slides under a large truck, such as a semi-trailer, during an accident. When these accidents happen, a car’s safety features are rendered useless because most of the car slides under the trailer and the truck crashes straight through the windows and into the passengers, the four members of Congress said in a news release. Under the bill, all commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more would be required to be outfitted with underride guards on both side and the rear. According to the lawmakers, studies and pilot programs show that a simple barrier attached to the lower area of a truck, called an “underride guard,” would help prevent a car from sliding underneath a truck in an accident. Under current federal law, underride guards are not required to be on the sides or front of trucks. Underride guards are already required for the back of a truck, but the standards are outdated. The bipartisan Stop Underrides Act would require underride guards on the sides and front of a truck and would update the outdated standards for underride guards on the back of trucks. “Congress has the ability to make simple and commonsense changes that would save lives on the roads. Truck underride guards are one of the best and easiest solutions for protecting passengers and preventing them from being killed when a car collides with a truck,” Gillibrand said. “ATA believes the government should focus on crash avoidance technologies and strategies rather than expensive and unproven collision mitigation equipment,” said Sean McNally, ATA vice president of communications and press secretary. “This legislation, while well-intended and a heartfelt response to family tragedy, seeks to address a certain type of truck-involved accident through a highly prescriptive mandate. Regrettably, the bill is not based on science, data or safety benefit. Moreover, the bill ignores the potential technical issues it raises, as well as the diversity of our industry and other technologies for addressing these and other crashes.” OOIDA said such requirements cannot be accommodated on most trucking equipment and would yield little if any safety benefit, while costing truckers billions to comply. OOIDA had previously opposed the same effort a year ago, particularly with regard to the requirements for putting side and front underride guards on all trucks and trailers retroactively. “There is no assurance that such installations would result in fewer or less severe crashes involving heavy vehicles,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. Spencer said OOIDA is aware that for several decades the federal government has considered numerous proposed rules involving underride guards, but consistently concluded that the costs and impracticality would far outweigh perceived benefits to safety. “Nothing has changed over these years,” said Spencer. “Proponents of this effort have given little consideration to the impact that front and side underride guards would have on the daily operations of truckers,” Spencer said. “Truck drivers would face serious challenges navigating grade crossings, high curbs and numerous other road conditions. Additionally, no front underride equipment is currently on the market because the concept lacks any practicality.” Similar to original efforts last year, two newly introduced bills, H.R. 1511 and S. 665, also seek updates to existing regulations for rear underride guards.  The association does not object to this portion of the proposals, Spencer said. “We agree that the underride guards on the backs of trailers could be improved,” he said. “But the proposals as written go too far in broadly, retroactively requiring them on all trucks and trailers. Trucking is a diverse industry and such devices just simply can’t be attached to all types of equipment.” DeSaulnier said in the news release that each year, truck underride collisions claim the lives of at least 300 people. “No parent, friend, or loved one should have to suffer such a loss when there are commonsense safety improvements that can be made,” DeSaulnier said. “I am particularly thankful to Marianne Karth and Lois Durso, who each lost children in truck underride collisions, for their tireless work to make sure no other family suffers this same kind of loss.” The Stop Underrides Act is supported by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Consumer Reports, Truck Safety Coalition, National Safety Council, and Road to Zero Coalition.      

CINCINNATI — Ohio House Republicans have proposed cutting Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s 18-cents-per-gallon recommended gas-tax increase to maintain roads and bridges to 10.7 cents. Republicans unveiled their plan Tuesday in a substitute version of the state transportation budget. The House finance committee planned to vote on the substitution Wednesday with a full House vote expected Thursday. DeWine proposes raising Ohio’s current tax of 28 cents per gallon by 18 cents per gallon starting July 1 and adjusting it annually for inflation. The House proposes an increase of 10.7 cents a gallon over three years beginning Oct. 1. The House proposal would increase the current 28-cents-per-gallon diesel-fuel tax by 20 cents a gallon, with that increase also phased in over a three-year period. The House plan increase, which would not be indexed to inflation, would raise about $872 million per year, compared with about $1.2 billion from DeWine’s plan. DeWine pushed his recommended tax increase during his State of the State speech on Tuesday and urged lawmakers not to reduce it. The governor called his proposal a “minimalist approach” that’s necessary to fix the most serious problems as soon as possible. DeWine repeated his support Wednesday for his proposal, calling the 18-cent increase “the bare minimum” needed to address needed repairs of poorly rated bridges, dangerous intersections and some new construction. “Anything less than that, we’re not going to be doing enough for public safety,” DeWine said. House GOP members have indicated their plan would lessen the impact of a tax increase on consumers while still meeting road-maintenance needs. Republican Rep. Scott Oelslager, chairman of the House Finance Committee, has described the plan as a “more equitable” distribution of the tax burden. The House GOP budget version also includes $70 million per year for public mass transit, compared with DeWine’s recommended $40 million, and a $200 registration fee for electric vehicles. It also would impose a $100 fee on hybrid vehicles and repeal the current requirement that Ohio vehicles have a front license plate in addition to one on the back. The gas-tax revenue split between the state and local governments would remain at 60 percent for the state and 40 percent for local governments. Ohio hasn’t increased its state gas tax since 2005.  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  — Florida could outlaw drivers from putting on makeup, holding a cellphone, reading or performing other distracting activities under a bill unanimously approved by a Senate committee Wednesday. The Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee approved the measure after heart-wrenching testimony from parents whose children that have been killed in accidents caused by districted drivers. Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson said distracted driving has become an epidemic in Florida, and not just involving cars hitting other cars. “Bike riding, hiking, jogging — all of those things — we’ve had record numbers of deaths in this state by distracted driving,” Simpson said. Right now, it is illegal to text and drive in Florida, but drivers can only be ticketed if they are first pulled over for another reason. Simpson’s bill would make distracted driving a primary offense, meaning law enforcement wouldn’t need another reason to ticket a driver. If enacted, Florida would ease into the law by creating a three-month period where law enforcement would only give warnings. After Dec. 1, police would be able to issue tickets. Hands-free cellphone use would be allowed, and drivers would be able to check their phones as long as their cars aren’t moving, such as at a stop light or while idling in a parking lot. Law enforcement officers would also have to record the race and ethnicity of ticketed drivers and an annual report would have to be given to the governor, House speaker and Senate president. Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy asked for that provision to be included due to concerns that a distracted driving ban could be used for racial profiling. Several parents who lost children in accidents urged the committee to approve the bill. Debbie Wanninkhof said her 25-year-old son, Patrick, died in an accident caused by a driver using a cellphone. “We need to wake up to the danger of wireless communication device addicts,” she said. “Cellphone use … is an addiction for many. You hear the stimulus of a ping and you immediately grab the phone and you respond instantly. It happens over and over again, and just like a drug addiction, it can be deadly.” The Senate bill has been unanimously approved in its first two of four committee stops. A similar House bill hasn’t been heard in committee yet, but House sponsor Rep. Jackie Toledo said House Speaker Jose Oliva has promised it will get a hearing.