The Nation

Earl Congdon, center, accepts the American Trucking Associations Diamond Legacy Award from ATA President and CEO Chris Spear, left. David Congdon, vice chairman and CEO, looks on. (Courtesy: AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS) ARLINGTON, Va. — Old Dominion Freight Line Executive Chairman Earl E. Congdon was honored by American Trucking Associations with the Diamond Legacy Award at a recent ceremony in Orlando, Florida. The inaugural award recognizes the lasting legacy Congdon has created at ODFL, in ATA and throughout the trucking industry from a career that spans more than half a century. “Earl comes from one of trucking’s great families. He grew his parents’ company, which began with one truck in 1934, into a billion-dollar, worldwide, world-class carrier,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “His story is trucking’s story. The strength of our industry draws from remarkable family-owned and family-run companies like Old Dominion, and none exemplify that culture like the Congdons do.” Headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina, ODFL was founded in 1934 by Earl’s parents, Earl and Lillian Congdon. Following the passing of Earl Sr., Earl joined the company, which soon began growing its network and expanding into new markets over the course of several decades. The company went public in 1991 and, since 1998, has acquired more than eight trucking companies to further its expansion. Today, ODFL employs more than 17,000 people and does nearly $3 billion in revenue. Spear said Earl Condon’s legacy extends well beyond ODFL. He has been a champion for the trucking industry, working to burnish its image as a ground-level member of Trucking Moves America Forward. Many communities and organizations have been touched by his charity, including a pledge of $15 million to High Point University for the School of Health Sciences and a proposed school of Pharmacy. He has endowed a scholarship at the university’s School of Business, and he and his wife are donors to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation. Old Dominion remains the No. 1 giver to United Way of Greater High Point, pledging more than $470,000 last year. Since the United Way began its CANpaign food drive in 2010, Old Dominion has donated a driver and trailers to carry the food, totaling approximately 100,000 pounds each year. “Earl is a titan of trucking who has made an indelible mark on this great industry of ours,” said ATA Chairman Dave Manning. “He has paved the way for so many to follow his lead, and we could not be more proud and grateful for his service and commitment to the ATA family.”

This photo shows the SUV that was struck in the rear by the tractor-trailer. There is substantial damage to the entire vehicle with the most damage in the rear. (Courtesy: NTSB) WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board said a highway accident brief published by the NTSB Tuesday for its investigation of a June 2016 highway crash that killed six people and injured five, illustrates the need to implement 15 safety recommendations associated with the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements for fatigue, occupant protection and collision avoidance. A seven-passenger sport utility vehicle with a total of 11 occupants was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer on Interstate70 near Goodland, Kansas, June 29, 2016, at 2:15 a.m. Survivors of the crash said they believed the SUV was traveling near the posted minimum speed limit of 40 mph while the tractor-trailer was traveling near the posted maximum speed limit of 75 mph at the time of impact. “While the NTSB did not issue safety recommendations based upon the findings of this investigation, the investigation does emphasize the need to implement 15 NTSB safety recommendations to improve highway safety and to reduce the number and severity of highway crashes,” said Rob Molloy, director of the NTSB’s office of highway safety. “The causal and contributing factors to this tragic and completely preventable crash demonstrate why the issues of fatigue, occupant protection and collision avoidance are on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. In this crash, a collision avoidance system, especially one capable of automatically applying the brakes, might have prevented this accident or at least lessened the severity of the crash.” The NTSB determined that the tractor-trailer driver’s failure to take effective action to avoid the crash due to his fatigue and lack of expectancy to encounter the slow-moving SUV, led to the crash. The SUV driver’s decision to continue traveling at a reduced speed on the highway without the use of flashing hazard lights contributed to the crash, as well. The overloading of the SUV and the lack of a collision avoidance system on the truck contributed to the severity of the crash. “Of the 315 open safety recommendations associated with the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, 15 relate to the issues identified in this crash investigation,” said Molloy. “Of the 39,339 transportation fatalities in 2016, highway fatalities accounted for 37,461 deaths, or 95 percent of all transportation fatalities in 2016. We view the implementation of these recommendations as vital to ensuring the safety of America’s transportation system. The longer it takes for NTSB safety recommendations to be implemented, the longer an identified safety need remains unaddressed, potentially threatening the safety of travelers and transportation workers.” The NTSB has no regulatory authority, but can make safety recommendations to governmental  agencies.  

The Province of Ontario is conducting a survey among truck drivers to identify where additional parking is needed. (©2018 FOTOSEARCH) TORONTO — The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is currently exploring ways to improve truck parking along Southern Ontario highways. The Province of Ontario would like to identify where additional truck parking is needed. The firm SPR Associates has been contracted to carry out a survey to assess the availability of truck parking along various segments of major Southern Ontario highways. “We are requesting the assistance of all those involved in the trucking sector in both Canada and the United States,” said Ted Harvey, the study’s director. “Our goal is to obtain the opinions of truck drivers who use Southern Ontario highways, including drivers from the U.S. The survey asks drivers to identify where they feel additional parking is needed and to identify any services or amenities that should be provided or improved at truck stops along Southern Ontario highways. Improved availability of truck parking is believed to have significant economic benefits to the entire North American trucking sector, according to studies by the American Transportation Research Institute and Trucker Path. Recent research has shown that a lack of truck parking costs around $4,600 for each truck on the road. The survey is supported by trucking associations across Canada and the U.S., and by Radio Nemo. “Since the survey was launched in November 2017, we have received responses from more than 1,500 truck drivers,” Harvey said, adding that SPR Associates would appreciate more responses. The survey website, which also contains direct weblinks to the survey is available at  www.surveycentral.ca.  

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa officials say a surge in construction projects and an increase in miles driven by motorists have led to a high number of people dying in road construction work zone crashes this year. Ten people have died in work zone crashes this year, compared to 13 deaths last year, the Des Moines Register reported. “Ten deaths in work zones is way too many, and it is a terrible number,” said Steve Gent, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s traffic and safety office in Ames. “This is one of the areas that we continue to work on, not only on the primary highway system, but on county and city road systems.” Department officials say speeding and distracted driving, such as texting behind the wheel, are contributing factors. The Legislature recently passed a state law prohibiting texting while driving. As of Oct. 31, officers had issued almost 500 citations for texting while driving, compared to 174 citations in 2016. Transportation department officials are also increasing safety measures in an effort to combat work zone crashes. Efforts include having extra enforcement by state troopers and department officers, using electronic speed sensors, traffic sensors, and electronic message boards to warn motorists of problems ahead. That the overall number of traffic fatalities across the state is declining overall, state officials said. So far there have been 295 traffic fatalities this year, which is 55 fewer than the same time last year. There were also fewer people killed in motorcycle crashes and a small decrease in alcohol-related fatalities, said Patrick Hoye, chief of the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The transportation department will spend $680 million on construction projects this year, compared to $695 million spent on road projects last year.

Monday, October 23, 2017 by THE TRUCKER STAFF ORLANDO, Fla. — American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear Monday told delegates to the organization’s annual Management Conference and Exhibition that efforts to unify and strengthen the industry group have raised ATA’s profile and resulted in important victories for trucking. “Your story is now being told to the highest levels of government, to the media and to the American people,” Spear said in his annual State of the Industry address. “Together we are building trucking’s future.” Spear pointed to victory in securing permanent Hours of Service reform, a higher profile for ATA on autonomous vehicle issues, withdrawal of rigid sleep apnea rules and stalling of a poorly crafted speed-limiter rule as significant triumphs for the industry that were the result of the federation’s elevated profile. “We earned that victory,” Spear said of the HOS win. “You helped make that happen, and this win serves as a reminder to each of us, of the sheer strength of this association when we work together.” Spear’s HOS remarks were in reference to what he called the “ill-conceived” restart rule that required two consecutive 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. off-duty time periods. In addition, the restart could only be used once every seven days. Obama’s action returned the restart rule to its original requirement that set on limit on the frequency of a restart and didn’t require the two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. time periods. “Last December, Congress passed and President Obama signed legislation that permanently struck his own administration’s ill-conceived, special interest-driven HOS rule. We earned that victory. You helped make that happen. And this win serves as a reminder to each of us, the sheer strength of this association, when we work together.” ATA’s strength, Spear said, was on display when the association put two trucks on the South Lawn of the White House in March, and again earlier this month joining President Trump in Pennsylvania to support a tax reform plan “with one very special benefactor … trucking.” “ATA has put its own members in a position to shape public policy at the highest level,” he said. “And with the president now championing our best interests, the entire nation is paying attention to what we have to say.” Spear said with the nation paying attention to ATA, the association would continue to advocate policies “that produce measurable benefits to our industry, our customers and the general public,” specifically calling out federal preemption of state-level meal and rest break rules as “an issue we have to win and we will …,” and the coming implementation of the electronic logging device mandate in December. “This issue has been legislated, promulgated and litigated,” he said. “It is now time to move forward. ELD technology removes one’s ability to exceed the legal hours of services, ushering in a safe, efficient and fair playing field for the nation’s trucking industry.” Spear also said ATA would take a new leadership role in addressing a persistent issue in trucking: the driver shortage. “Our industry faces several barriers that must be addressed if we’re to grow, including: establishing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs, and hiring and training 18-21 year-olds. We need interstate recognition of credentials, entry-level training standards for veterans and nonveteran employees, solutions for the impact of detention time and congestion on drivers’ hours of service, and more,” he said. To address these issues, Spear announced the creation of a new Workforce Development subcommittee to be chaired by ATA Secretary John Smith, chairman of CRST International Inc. “This subcommittee will enable ATA to work closely with this Administration, Congress and state governments to solve this problem,” he said. Finally, Spear again called for unity in the trucking industry, even in the face increasing anti-truck sentiment. “Back in Washington, anti-truck and amateur hour advocacy groups believe they know what’s best for our industry. This wave of special interests has built a cottage industry fueled by ideology, emotion and misguided narratives – all intended to divide our industry and this association. Obstruction is their weapon of choice,” he said. “Rest assured, ATA will not be driven into this rut, nor allow such division to impede our ability to win. Our focus will remain on safety, sound data, the truth… doing what’s best for our industry and the country, not what’s good for a political party or one’s personal agenda.”