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Truckers
Complaining About Wait Times at International Bridges
Sitting and waiting, it will cost you money. Commercial
trucks
are backed up along international bridges in the Rio Grande Valley.
We're talking hundreds and thousands of dollars spent waiting in line.
Commercial truck drivers have to get their load into the United States.
It's a trip that doesn't come easy. Companies we spoke with say it's a
cost you eventually see on store shelves.
...
Tennessee
bills cover ticket cameras, truck rules, rest areas
Tennessee lawmakers are addressing multiple issues of
interest
to truck drivers. The issues include ticket cameras, federal truck
rules, loose loads, rest areas and fuel haulers.
...
Senate Transportation Chairman Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, said the bill
addresses concerns about the cameras being used as revenue generators.
"My goal is to protect the public from abuse of these camera systems by
providing clear guidelines to ensure that the focus is on public
safety," Tracy said in a statement.
OOIDA leadership says the focus on ticket cameras ignores the more
logical and reasoned approach to roads and traffic.
"The goal should be to keep traffic moving in as safe a manner as
possible," said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.
Communities should be pursuing "intelligent traffic lights that
actually monitor traffic and are triggered by traffic flow," he said.
...
CARB
offers early action compliance credit
The California Air Resources Board on Wednesday, April
6,
announced an early action compliance credit for trucking fleets that
install a particulate filter by July 1 or that make a commitment to
purchase a particulate filter by May 1. By installing a particulate
filter early on one truck, the fleet will be able to delay compliance
for a second truck in the fleet until Jan. 1, 2017.
The early action "buy-one-get-one-free" credit applies to heavier
trucks with a manufacturers gross vehicle weight rating of more than
26,000 pounds. There is no limit on how many trucks in the fleet can
earn the early action credit.
...
FinditParts.com
website launched
FinditParts.com officially launched its new website. The
site
features an inventory of more than one million parts from more than 800
manufacturers and OEMs, including hard-to-find parts. Users can search
by part number, manufacturer or most popular part. Additionally, access
to parts specialists is available through a special help feature that
allows buyers to "click to chat" or to send a photo of their part via
e-mail to FinditParts sourcing agents.
"The heavy-duty truck market is huge and complex, not only with the
sheer number of parts which we've only tapped the surface of, but the
nearly 1,000 manufacturers and OEMs," says David Seewack, chief
executive officer. ...
NTEA
publishes Federal Excise Tax Guide
The National Truck Equipment Association recently
introduced
its "Federal Excise Tax Guide," a new publication for the work truck
industry. "For more than 30 years, the NTEA has been the leading source
of excise tax information to the work truck industry," says Jim Carney,
NTEA executive director. "We felt it was time to publish a
comprehensive guide that would help retailers avoid pitfalls that can
result in huge IRS tax assessments."
...
Senate
votes to repeal expanded 1099 tax reporting mandate
The U.S. Senate passed HR 4, a bill to fully repeal the
expanded 1099 tax reporting mandate passed as part of last year's
health care law. The 1099 requirement was passed in 2010 as part of the
health care reform law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act. This provision would have forced all businesses to issue a
Form 1099 to vendors from whom they buy $600 worth of goods or more on
an annual basis, and was scheduled to take effect in 2012.
...
Gordon
Trucking to install 2,000 additional side skirts
Washington-based Gordon Trucking Inc. (GTI) will install
2,000
additional sets of Freight Wing Aeroflex trailer side skirts on its
trailers, joining nearly 2,200 trailers already outfitted.
"Fleets are always looking for ways to control fuel costs, especially
as fuel prices increase and fuel surcharge lags behind," Kirk
Altrichter, vice president of maintenance, said. "During our testing,
we saw a 0.3 mpg improvement, and that gives GTI a payback of less than
18 months."
...
Driver
Faces Federal Charges After Fatal Pennsylvania Truck Accident
In January 2009, 57-year-old Valerijs Belovs was driving
a
semi-truck with faulty brakes outside of Philadelphia. When rounding a
curve on the I-76 expressway, Belovs saw that traffic had halted but
was unable to stop his large tractor trailer, which was carrying a load
of produce to New Jersey.
The truck slammed into stopped traffic, killing 49-year-old David
Schreffler. Recently, Belovs pled guilty to vehicular homicide and now
faces federal charges due to 15 falsified entries made in his logbook
prior to the 2009 truck crash. ...
New
Hampshire lawmakers OK anti-idling incentive
An incentive to reduce truck idling in New Hampshire is
headed
to the governor's desk.
The Senate voted to send a bill to Gov. John Lynch that would increase
the maximum weight limits for large trucks equipped with idle-reduction
technology. The House has already approved the bill - Hb117.
If signed into law, commercial vehicles equipped with auxiliary power
units would be authorized to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds.
...
Indiana
bill would give governor sole toll power
An Indiana House panel is expected to take up for
consideration this week a bill that would take decisions about
partnering with private groups for toll roads out of the hands of state
lawmakers.
...
Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville, is greatly concerned about handing
over sole responsibility on toll decisions to one person.
"The value in legislative review is that it makes sure the general
public has a chance to weigh in on issues such as relocation of homes
and, above all, the impact that tolls will have on them financially,"
Riecken said in a statement.
...
ATA
points out outdated rules to DOT
Responding to President Obama's call to help reduce the
regulatory burden on U.S. businesses, the American Trucking
Associations on Monday, April 4, highlighted nine outdated, obsolete or
onerous rules that the U.S. Department of Transportation should
reconsider. In comments filed April 1, ATA pointed to a number of rules
issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as unnecessary
or redundant.
...
Tolls
removed from Saint John Harbour Bridge
The tolls on the Saint John Harbour Bridge were finally
removed over the weekend.
"With the tolls now being removed for good, a long-standing irritant
for local residents and all users will be eliminated," said
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams said in a
statement to the legislative assembly.
...
"Removing these tolls will ensure drivers in Saint John and throughout
our province are treated fairly, and this important component of the
Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor can function more efficiently,"
added Williams.
...
Truckers
link police to highway robbers
[Kenya] Police were on Monday accused of conniving with
robbers targeting goods in transit on the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
Truck drivers claimed some local police officers were working in
cahoots with highway robbers and were turning a blind eye to a cartel
operating between Salgaa and Total Junction trading centres.
On Sunday, the drivers blocked the road for more than seven hours,
demanding that Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere addresses them after
six of their colleagues were attacked and the goods in their vehicles
stolen on Saturday night.
...
The drivers blocked the road at the notorious spot near Sachang'wan
trading centre in Molo with more than 300 trucks.
It took the intervention of Molo district commissioner Julius Kavita
and area police boss Litabalia Achesa to persuade the truck drivers to
open up the road after four hours.
Mr Achesa promised to take prompt action against local youth engaged in
highway robbery.
He also promised the truck drivers that security in the area would be
tightened through increased and more frequent police patrols.
...
Oregon
Increases Biodiesel to 5
Oregon has recently announced a requirement that the
majority
or the diesel fuel in the state contain 5 biodiesel. This is an
increase from the 2 that is currently required throughout the state.
...
How
to: Replace Gladhand Seals
Keep your air dry for better braking
...
Trailer
enhancements
Great Dane introduced major advances to its Classic
Truckload
refrigerated trailer and its Composite dry freight van Thursday, March
31, at a press event in Louisville, Ky.
Weight was trimmed out of the Classic Truckload, while maintaining its
strength, said Rick Mullininx, executive vice president of engineering.
Its bonded roof construction reduces weight while increasing durability
and maintaining optimal thermal efficiency through the lamination
process. And its lighter, yet stronger lining is designed to withstand
everyday wear and tear and protect cargo.
...
Thermo
King debuts new cooling solutions
Thermo King on Thursday, March 31, introduced two new
roofline
application cooling solutions for smaller large-commercial van fleets -
the V-520 RT for fresh applications, and the V-520 RT MAX for frozen
applications.
...
Thermo King also introduced an electronic throttling valve (ETV) for
straight trucks designed to allow them to optimize energy and
operational efficiency while improving product quality on delivery. The
ETV enhances the company's T-Series T-600, T-800 and T-1000 single-temp
truck units with scroll compressors.
"Our customers are saying they need to do even more with their limited
resources, and this unique solution helps them do just that," [Doug]
Lenz [director of product management for Thermo King] said. "The ETV
enables straight truck owners and operators to spend less money
delivering higher-quality foods, pharmaceuticals and other fresh and
frozen products to their customers."
...
Sapp
Bros. celebrates 40th anniversary along I-80
The Sapp Bros. chain of travel centers is celebrating
its 40th
anniversary at its 16 locations along I-80 from Clearfield, Pa., to
Salt Lake City with service specials and prizes including fuel and
drink discounts and a grand prize drawing....
... Each preliminary winner will receive $100.
Sapp is also offering a $189.99 preventive maintenance special...
...
Speed
limiter law appears to have slowed truckers
While most truck drivers travelling through Ontario
appear to
be obeying the speed limiter law, those that aren't may still not be
breaking highway speed limits.
Trucks with speed limiters are required to set them to 105 kilometres
per hour while travelling on Ontario highways, but not all of them are
obeying the 2009 legislation.
Since January 2009, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has handed out
more than 2,000 tickets to truckers ignoring the speed limiter law. ...
Truckers
Say EOBR Bill Will Not Make Highways Safer
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
(OOIDA)
responded to the announcement by U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that they were introducing a bill to mandate
electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) for interstate commercial motor
carriers.
"With all due respect to Senator Pryor, EOBRs will not improve highway
safety. However, they sure will cost small-business truckers their
hard-earned money and their privacy," said Todd Spencer, Executive Vice
President of OOIDA. "EOBRs are nothing more than over-priced record
keepers lobbied by big business trucking companies to wipe out small
business competition."
...
New
audit could cost truck drivers
Fees for truck drivers may be about to go up.
A recent audit shows that Michigan isn't charging heavy truck drivers
enough to cover the cost of repairing the roads they damage.
Oversize rigs tear up concrete and put stress on bridges. In a year's
time, M-DOT says the damage totals $135 million, and it only gets a
small amount of funding to fix the trouble spots.
The audit could wind up costing truck drivers a lot more if Michigan
raises fees on all trucks or increases the tax on gas. One trucker who
drives an average-sized 80,000 pound truck says the best idea may be to
stop allowing heavier loads of up to 160,000 pounds. He says they do
the most damage. ...
#MATS:
New aerodynamic fairing and enhancements add significant boost to fuel
efficiency for Mack's Pinnacle tractors
... Mack rolled out redesigned roof fairings for its
Pinnacle
70-inch high-rise, 70-inch mid-rise and 60-inch mid-rise sleepers. The
company also debuted stronger, lighter, longer chassis fairings,
covering up to a 140 gallon fuel tank - yet costing considerably less
than the previous option. Customers ordering Mack Pinnacle model
sleepers with improved aerodynamics can expect up to a six percent fuel
efficiency improvement, according to Jerry Warmkessel, marketing
manager, highway products said. "The new roof fairings are optimized
for the lowest possible coefficient of drag and a much smoother
transfer of air from the truck to the trailer," Warmkessel said. "The
design of the new chassis fairings is simpler, and more aerodynamic.
The fuel efficiency improvements achievable with these optimized aero
aids and the proven performance of our MP engines with ClearTech SCR
positions the Mack Pinnacle among the best in highway fuel efficiency."
...
Truck
drivers block highway to protest robberies
[Kenya] Truck drivers blocked both sides of the Nakuru -
Eldoret highway at Salgaa center on Sunday morning to protest what they
say is an increased rate of attacks and theft of cargo by highway
robbers.
...
The more than 300 truck drivers barricaded both sides of the highway to
protest an attack against six of their colleagues by suspected highway
robbers on Saturday night.
The six reportedly refused to stop at a road block erected by the
robbers at a notorious spot. The robbers reportedly managed to take
away several sacks of wheat destined for Kampala from Mombasa port.
"When we were attacked I saw a police officer about 50 meters away and
when I tried to plead with him to do something he told me to mind my
business and this proves that they are part of a cartel harassing us
along the highway," said Mark Juma a Congolese driver ferrying goods
from Mombasa to Congo.
...
CSA
and Safety Scores
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new
Compliance, Safety, Accountability program is finally getting the
attention of many in the trucking industry. Inspections are being seen
in a new light. Owner-operators and carriers are trying to figure out
how the scoring works and how it's going to affect their livelihood.
"Is it really going to take the bad characters off the road?"
owner-operator Don Bradley says. "Or is it going to get the Don
Bradleys of the world, who have a lot of time and a lot of safe miles?
And last week I got my first moving violation in 50 years." Bradley,
who's been trucking for 10 of those years, missed a sign prohibiting
trucks on an exit in the Northeast.
It's hard for Bradley not to think about that violation in the context
of CSA. By itself it isn't enough to put Bradley out of service or
jeopardize his lease with his carrier.
It will, however, contribute points to the carrier's CSA ranking in the
Unsafe Driving BASIC (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement
Category). It will show up on Bradley's Pre-Employment Screening
Program (PSP) report, which documents drivers' inspection and crash
histories going back five and three years, respectively. If within
three years Bradley attempts to lease to a different carrier, it's
highly likely the new carrier will evaluate his PSP, and he will have
to explain the minor violation.
...
Volvo
sees 8 fuel economy gain over 2007
Volvo has said its EPA 2010 diesel engines achieved a 5
percent increase in overall fuel economy compared to its 2007 engine
family due to use of selective catalytic reduction emissions
technology. Now, Ron Huibers, senior vice president of sales and
marketing for Volvo Trucks North America, said the company is going a
step further, using new, aerodynamic features and powertrain
enhancements to boost Volvo VN fuel economy another 3 percent for an
overall gain of 8 percent compared with 2007 Volvo diesel engines.
...
New
refrigerated trailer comes with 10-year warranty
A new refrigerated trailer from Dorsey Trailer includes
a
10-year warranty. The LiteGuard 5000, unveiled at a press briefing here
at the Mid-America Trucking Show, is engineered to be the toughest,
lightest, and most energy efficient reefer ever produced by Dorsey.
...
The company is also celebrating its 100th anniversary and will be
giving away a LiteGuard 5000 at the 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show. The
giveaway is open to anyone 21 years of age or older holding a current,
valid Class A Commercial Driver's License issued in any of the 50
United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
To sign up, visit http://dorseytrailer.net/contest.html.
Join
OOIDA or renew your membership
... at the @truckingshow & receive a $20
discount.
#Trucking #MATS
@MATS:
Volvo, Mack boast 8-12 fuel savings with enhancements
Volvo Trucks and sister company Mack Trucks exuberantly
proclaimed that aerodynamic design improvements and new torque
optimization on class 8 trucks provide significant gains in fuel
economy over pre-2010 model trucks.
Volvo Trucks says its newly designed VN highway series improves fuel
consumption by 3 percent; and, combined with a 5-percent gain with its
SCR emissions solution engine, the truck can achieve as much as
8-percent savings, the company said.
Even more boldly, Mack Trucks claimed as much as a 12-percent
improvement on its Pinnacle highway tractor when combining its SCR
ClearTech engine, new aerodynamic roof and side fairings, and recently
optimized power displacement enhancements.
...
Truck
Drivers Told They Need To Pay A Licensing Fee To Listen To Music While
Driving
... Every time we post this kind of thing, people joke
that it
won't be long before they want to charge people a separate license for
listening to music in your car with the windows rolled down. We haven't
quite reached that point yet, but the Belgian collection society SABAM,
who was recently caught accepting payments for made up bands, is now
claiming that truck drivers listening to the radio need to pay a
performance fee as well, since the cabs of their trucks are technically
their "workplace." ...
Mack:
Fairings help increase fuel efficiency 12
Mack unveiled several new aerodynamic enhancements to
its
on-highway Pinnacle model that can increase fuel efficiency by up to
12.5 percent, On-Highway Marketing Manager Jerry Warmkessel said
Thursday, March 31, at a press event in Louisville.
"I'm confident with the 12.5 percent," Warmkessel said. "That's an
accurate number."
...
Volvo
claims 8 fuel economy gain
Volvo has said its EPA 2010 diesel engines achieved a 5
percent increase in overall fuel economy compared to its 2007 engine
family due to use of selective catalytic reduction emissions
technology. Now, Ron Huibers, senior vice president of sales and
marketing for Volvo Trucks North America, said the company is going a
step further, using new, aerodynamic features and powertrain
enhancements to boost Volvo VN fuel economy another 3 percent for an
overall gain of 8 percent compared with 2007 Volvo diesel engines.
...
Ticketing
to start in emergency zones
Starting Friday, state troopers will be issuing $190
tickets
to drivers who fail to slow down - and move over one lane, if possible
- when they see the flashing lights of fire trucks, police cars,
ambulances, tow trucks and vehicles operated by state Department of
Transportation employees stopped up ahead on the side of the highway.
...
The $190 ticket fines increase if a driver was speeding or driving
recklessly through the emergency zone, and it can be a crime if a
driver endangers emergency workers, said Trooper Steve Schatzel, the
WSP's spokesman in this area.
...
Washington
trucking company adds aerodynamic skirts
A Seattle-area trucking company has announced plans to
put
aerodynamic skirts on another 2,000 of its trucks...
Trailer Body Builders reports that Gordon Trucking Inc. - also known as
GTI - saw a .3 mile-per-gallon improvement in fuel economy during
testing.
...
Wyoming
law increases large truck fines
Gov. Matt Mead signed into law a bill to boost fines in
Wyoming for oversized and overweight trucks. It takes effect July 1.
Currently, the fine for oversize vehicles ranges from $50 to $500.
Previously Sf124, the new law increases the minimum fine amount to
$100. ...
Also, the schedule of fines for overweight vehicle violations will be
changed. Fine amounts will range from $25 to $1,000 - up from a maximum
of $750.
The additional $100 fine for each 1,000 pounds, or fraction thereof,
exceeding 20,000 pounds over the legal limit will be doubled to $200.
...
Uniform
speeds in Texas one step closer to reality
Keeping track of the speed limit while driving through
Texas
could soon be a whole lot easier. A Texas House panel has advanced a
bill that would also allow trucks to travel at the same speed as other
vehicles.
Texas law now authorizes motorists to travel 70 mph during the day
along most rural highways. The speed limit drops to 65 mph at night.
Trucks travel 10 mph slower than other vehicles throughout the day.
...
Todd Spencer, executive vice president for the Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers Association, said the only speed limit policy that
makes sense is to have all vehicles traveling at the same speed.
Requiring trucks to drive at speeds slower than other vehicles does not
promote safety. It does exactly the opposite by requiring vehicles to
be constantly in conflict with each other," Spencer said.
...
Cummins
ISX15 boosts fuel economy
The latest calibrations and optimized combustion process
introduced at the beginning of this year in Cummins' ISX15 engine has
resulted in a 6 improvement in fuel economy, the company said during
the Mid-America Trucking Show here.
When compared to the 2007 ISX engine, the 6 improvement is an average,
and could be more, according to Steve Charlton, vice president
& chief technical officer-Engine Business.
...
Truck
drivers raise fees due to high fuel prices :- In the news Todays trends
Kampala
Importers will have to pay more than double the price to move cargo
from Mombasa port to Uganda after truckers announced new transport
rates in response to rising fuel prices.
In a media notice issued recently, Kenya Transport Association (KTA) -
the umbrella body for truckers - increased the charge for moving
containerised cargo from Mombasa to Kampala to about Shs9.1 million
($3,800) from about Shs5.2 million ($2,200) per truck.
...
Increased fuel prices KTA cited increased fuel costs among other
expenses over the past 14 months in taking the decision. "We note that
fuel rates have increased by approximately 40 per cent from Kshs64.06
(Shs1,767) in January 2010 to Ksh89.50 (Shs2,469) in March 2011 while
other expenses have gone up by 32 per cent in the same period. Fuel
currently constitutes 42 per cent of transport costs as opposed to the
ratio of 27 per cent in other countries," KTA said in a media notice.
...
Yokohama
debuts new wide single, prototype drive tire
A new wide base trailer tire and a prototype drive tire
are on
display this week at the Yokohama Tire Corp. booth at the Mid-America
Trucking Show (MATS) here.
The Ry407 wide base single, which officially debuted at last year's
MATS, is now in production. It is a SmartWay verified tire, meaning it
meets low-rolling resistance standards, said Rick Phillips, director of
commercial sales. ...
The drive tire offers low-rolling resistance; improved fuel economy; a
unique tread design; solid shoulder rib and serpentine grooves for
extra rigidity and stability; Yokohama's patented stress control groove
that redistributes shoulder load to prevent step-down wear; and a
Z-block design to offer improved wet traction.
Cummins
sees 6 fuel economy gain
Cummins is achieving a 6 percent improvement in fuel
economy
in its 2010 engines compared with 2007 technology, Steve Charlton, vice
president and chief technical officer of engine business, said March 29
in Louisville, Ky.
Charlton credited the fuel economy improvement to optimized combustion.
...
Florida
bill out to clear left lanes
A renewed effort at the Florida Legislature would keep
most
drivers out of the state's fast lanes.
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has once again introduced a bill that
is intended to combat aggressive driving on the state's multilane
highways by reducing the number of drivers in the far left-hand lane.
This is the seventh time in recent years the effort has been pursued at
the statehouse.
...
The bill also targets those drivers who get upset by slower moving
vehicles. Tailgating and other risky maneuvers in response to slower
drivers could result in $100 fines. Repeat offenders would face as much
as a $500 fine and a mandatory court appearance for "aggressive
careless driving." Offenders also would receive points for each offense
committed.
...
Diesel
tax ballot effort heads to Arkansas governor
Truckers in Arkansas could soon be footing more
responsibility
to help make sure roads are in good shape.
A bill on its way to Gov. Mike Beebe would let voters decide whether to
boost the 22.5-cent diesel tax by 5 cents per gallon. The increase is
one-half of a two-part plan that would help fund nearly $3 billion in
interstate highway repairs and construction throughout the state.
...
The nickel increase in the diesel tax would be tacked on to the 4 cents
of the tax now tied to a $575 million bond program for interstates,
which was approved more than a decade ago. The bond program is slated
to go before voters for renewal in 2012.
...
Some
Truck Drivers Unhappy With Idling Ordinance
A new Dane County ordinance aimed at cutting down on air
pollution from motor vehicles is meeting some resistance.
...
Specifically, the ordinance prohibits diesel trucks from idling more
than five minutes an hour.
...
The rule has several exceptions for emergency vehicles, vehicles having
maintenance work done and vehicles operating auxiliary equipment, such
as a refrigeration system.
The ordinance also allows 15 minutes of idling when temperatures are
below 40 or above 80 degrees.
But some truck drivers said they have concerns about the rule.
...
The biggest concern among Converse and other truck drivers is running
heat or air conditioning.
...
Truck drivers said that many who spend nights at truck stops need to
keep their engines running to operate climate control during winter and
summer months.
...
While some trucks use auxiliary generators to power heat and cooling,
Converse said not everyone can afford to install such equipment.
...
The fine for breaking the ordinance will be $50 and will likely be
enforced on a complaint basis. It will set to go into effect in
September. ...
E-ZPass
rule changes could affect discount
Drivers who have out-of-state E-ZPass accounts ... many
of
whom live in New Jersey ... and toll violators soon might have to dig
deeper in their pockets.
...
New Jersey Turnpike Authority commissioners also proposed ending
off-peak E-ZPass discounts for Turnpike drivers whose E-ZPass accounts
are with agencies outside New Jersey and drive a "class one" passenger
vehicle.
...
The change to eliminate off-peak-hour E-ZPass discounts would earn an
additional $16 million if it is in effect in 2011, and it is being done
to raise revenue, Feeney said.
...
Fuel
Efficiency Pays For Adaptations To Freight Trailers Say Haulage Group
... With the bog standard road trailer having all the
aerodynamic efficiency of a house brick the use of air dams, deflectors
and the like have become the norm for haulage operators purchasing
equipment but it seems there are always ways to squeeze out the extra
mpg. ...
According to Gordon's, the 24th largest truckload carrier in the
States, each trailer sees a 0.3 mile per gallon improvement when fitted
with the skirts which the company estimates will save 13,000 tonnes of
carbon dioxide per year if they outfit their entire fleet, not to
mention the potential $4.5 million saved in fuel costs!
...
Return on investment for most big rigs will be less than 50,000 miles
at today's fuel prices and with ecologically aware California
prohibiting the sale of trailers without skirts from this year, and
refusing admission to any truck not suitably kitted out by 2013, it
looks like the estimated 7 fuel saving which Freight Wing claim for
their product might well be simply a no brainer for any sizeable truck
operator.
Valley
truck drivers brace for new regulations
Valley truck drivers bracing for new diesel regulations
learned about funding sources available to help them Saturday. ...
Air quality officials say they understand the process is costly so
they're trying to spread the word about grants available.
They say drivers can get up to $60,000 for retrofitting or replacing
their trucks. ...
Hydrogen-generating
systems are a tough sell
Why Canadian flets are not warming up to
hydrogen-generating
systems despite the claimed fuel savings advantages
Despite constant pressure to reduce fuel costs and particulate
emissions, many carriers ignore an innovation that could fix both
problems. Hydrogen-generating systems (HGS) have been retrofitted on a
select group of trucks in Canada, the US and elsewhere for several
years. However, recently re-engineered products from two major Canadian
vendors, Hy-Drive Technologies Ltd. and Dynamic Fuel Systems (DFS) Inc.
continue to face an uphill struggle to gain credibility and sales.
...
Three
Sentenced in Broker Fraud Scheme
Three California men have been sentenced to jail and
ordered
to pay restitution for a fraud scheme that involved double brokering of
trucking loads.
Rubik Avetyan and his sons Alfred and Allen Avetyan, through their
company State Transport, obtained loads from brokers and then brokered
the loads again to carriers, the U.S. Department of Transportation's
Office of Inspector General said earlier this month.
The Avetyans received payment from the brokers but did not pay the
carriers....
WV
Parkways Authority shelves U.S. 35 toll plan
Truckers were among those who took the lead in opposing
a toll
road in the West Virginia counties of Mason and Putnam. That effort
paid off on Thursday, March 24, as the West Virginia Parkways Authority
shelved the toll proposal for U.S. 35 indefinitely.
...
Had the roadway been approved, the toll for five-axle trucks would have
amounted to $1.21 per mile.
...
Two
Tire Associations Ready to Serve Retread Industry
The tire industry got a bit of a shock last fall when
the Tire
Retread & Repair Information Bureau let Harvey Brodsky go.
David Stevens has filled the managing director position held by Brodsky
for years at TRIB, and Brodsky has started a new advocacy group for
retreaders called the Retread Tire Association.
The industry now has two associations working to promote retreading and
serving as technical resources. Both of them are exhibiting at the
Mid-America Trucking Show....
Schneider
National increases van owner-operator compensation
Schneider National announced Thursday, March 24, that it
is
increasing compensation for its van owner-operators by $0.05 per mile.
Under the new lease, owner-operators will earn $0.95 per mile (up to
$1.65/mile with short-haul premiums) plus fuel surcharge. Schneider
owner-operators will earn $0.92 per mile and an additional $0.03 per
mile in a quarterly performance premium.
...
Maine
rejects snow removal rule
Maine will not be mirroring New Jersey with a law that
requires drivers to remove snow and ice build-up from atop their
vehicle roofs and trailers.
According to OOIDA, the Legislature's Transportation Committee voted to
kill a bill that required vehicles traveling in excess of 40 mph to be
clear of snow or ice.
Violators would have faced first-time fines of $250.
...
Warning
system identifies loose lug nuts
A new patent-pending indicator warning system from
ZamLok
System identifies loose lug nuts on commercial vehicles. The ZamLok lug
nut retention and torque monitoring system is available in standard 33
mm on 3.5 in. stud centers.
The system uses resistance between two nuts to minimize their ability
to loosen up to 40 lbs.-ft. If they do loosen, than a warning indicator
alerts the driver or shop personnel, explained Zamlok.
...
Flashpass?
Proposal would extend TWIC renewal
Truckers who rely on the Transportation Worker
Identification
Credential ID program to get in and out of ports and some warehouses
may not have to pay to replace expiring TWIC cards, when the earliest
issued credentials begin expiring next year.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-MS, has introduced a bill that would
extend TWIC renewal deadlines until Dec. 31, 2014 or until DHS issues
the final card reader rule, "whichever is earlier," Thompson said in a
statement.
More than 1.8 million U.S. workers have enrolled in TWIC, including
more than 300,000 truck drivers. ...
...
"Hard-working transportation workers shouldn't have to go through the
time and expense of renewing their TWICs if DHS doesn't even have a
finalized plan for deployment of the readers. My bill will address this
unique problem by delaying the necessary renewal of these expensive
cards until DHS issues the final reader rule or December 31, 2014,
whichever is earlier," Thompson said in the statement.
...
Standard TWIC enrollment costs $132.50, although workers with "current,
comparable" threat assessment background checks such as hazmat
endorsements, Merchant Mariner Documents or Free and Secure Trade
(FAST) cards may obtain a TWIC card with a shorter lifespan for
$105.25. The card is designed to last five years with new background
checks.
...
Bridgestone
Bandag launches retread campaign
As rising oil prices contributes to a rapid escalation
in new
tire costs, Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), a division of
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, is launching a campaign to
promote the wider use of retreads by truck fleets. "Tightness in the
market supply for new replacement tires in 2011 has made retreading
more attractive for all types of fleets," explained Chris Ripani, BBTS
director of marketing for strategic brands and channels.
"Fleets that now retread are extending their [tire casing] age limits
to realize the most value from the casings they own," he said. "We've
also seen fleets return to retreading, or perhaps evaluate retreads for
the very first time, as a strategy to maximize their tire programs and
keep their trucks rolling."
...
Truckers
need protection against biodiesel consequences: CTA
OTTAWA - The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says a
national
biodiesel mandate would be great for biofuel producers... not so much
for consumers or the trucking industry.
Reiterating its stance on the issue, CTA says consumers need protection
from runaway costs, loss of fuel efficiency, and engine problems
stemming from sub-standard fuel.
CTA head David Bradley says the federal government's own analysis
suggests truckers have reason to be concerned with the mandate,
scheduled to take effect July 1.
"There is no protection for the consumer, either from higher fuel costs
as a result of the mandate, or from low-quality biofuel or blending
processes that could gum up our engines," he says.
...
Illegal
dumping clampdown
[IrishTrucker.com] A major operation is currently
underway in
Cork where a clampdown against the illegal operation of dumping scrap
metal is occurring.
The sale of scrap metal for recycling is turning out to be a lucrative
business and there has been an increase in the activity over the past
12 months.
However, there are many rogue operators out there that are not adhering
to the many legislations that are in place and in Cork a massive
operation has seized three truck loads of materials as well as
vehicles.
...
Leave
the snow on; Wisniewski wants commercial trucks exempt from tickets
Assemblyman and Assembly Transportation Chairman John
Wisniewski allegedly would like to exempt commercial trucks from a law
that he originally sponsored requiring drivers to remove snow from
their vehicles before they take to the roads. ...
Technology
solving cell-phone truck use dilemma
Last December, Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood,
proposed
banning interstate bus and truck drivers from using handheld cell
phones while operating a vehicle. Meanwhile, the number of productivity
apps that can be loaded onto cell phones just keeps
mushrooming--leaving fleets to seriously wonder how viable an IT
platform cell phones will be for trucking business solutions down the
road.
That proposed rule would specifically ban drivers from "reaching for,
holding or dialing a cell phone" while driving. Vehicle operators who
violate the rule could be charged $2,750 and risk losing their CDL for
multiple offenses. Motor carriers that allow their drivers to use
hand-held cell phones while driving would face a maximum penalty of
$11,000. ...
Virginia-based ZoomSafer also offers software designed to prevent
employee use of mobile phones while driving. Called FleetSafer Mobile,
the software works on Blackberry and Windows mobile phones and an
Android version is coming soon. It is designed to automatically lock
the phone while driving to prevent calls, texts and emails. FleetSafer
will also send auto-reply messages to incoming texts and emails.
According to the company, it can be triggered by telematics, Bluetooth
technology, or GPS and is customizable to a company's mobile phone
usage policies.
...
"In addition to locking the phone down, it offers fleets the ability to
tell if a cell phone was used while the vehicle was in motion, even if
there was no accident related to that usage," he continued. "For
instance, they can see that a 17-second call was made at 3:11 p.m.
Tuesday and match that to GPS data to see that the call occurred while
the vehicle was traveling down the Interstate at 67 miles per hour.
With [safety and liability concerns], CSA and distracted driving
regulations the risk is just too high for fleets not to track usage."
There are still more companies offering other technologies to control
cell phone usage. Cellcontrol, for instance, makes use of an "always-on
cabin module" installed in the vehicle communications port to control
use of mobile device functions on multiple units available to the
driver and passengers. Special features include the ability to allow
calls when a Bluetooth headset is detected.
The availability of various technologies to restrict and track
in-vehicle use of mobile devices is likely to continue to expand right
along with the growth in the functionality and use of mobile devices
themselves. ...
Trucker
pleads guilty to fuel card scheme
A trucker faces sentencing July 8 after pleading guilty
to
using fuel cards without authorization to steal more than $300,000 from
the U.S. Postal Service.
On March 11, Vincenzo Bender, 36, of Collings Lakes, N.J., entered a
guilty plea to one count of theft of government property before U.S.
District Judge Joseph E. Irenas in Camden, N.J. ...
Bender admitted that from November 2005 to October 2008, he used the
cards to make numerous unauthorized purchases of fuel for personal use,
including for his side towing business and to sell to others at a
discount.
...
The charge's maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine,
or twice the amount of loss Bender caused. He agreed to pay $335,972 in
restitution. The judge released him on a $50,000 bond until sentencing.
TWIC:
Where's the pot of gold?
After the distress truckers and the more than 1 million
other
workers have endured, is TWIC going to be the next federal program
deemed inefficient and ineffective?
More than 300,000 truckers have enrolled in the Transportation Worker
Identification Credential program.
...
It appears that for all their efforts, TWIC may not be all that
effective. Recent reports at the Port of Baltimore revealed that about
one fourth of the nearly 1,000 longshoremen at the port have been
convicted of a crime in Maryland. ...
Pressured
truck drivers told to speak up
[Australasian Transport News] Drivers who feel pressured
by
their employers to work longer hours and go a greater distance are
encouraged to contact the police, an expert says.
Victoria Police Superintendent David Newton, who works as a transport
industry liaison officer, believes more drivers are put under greater
stress by their managers and therefore take drugs to stay awake.
During selective drug testing, one in 20 drivers was found to have used
amphetamines while on the road, Newton says. He says the problem is not
improving and is particularly prevalent in the long haul sector.
...
Texas
to add PrePass technology
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced it will
be
equipping five of its truck inspection facilities at three separate
locations with PrePass commercial vehicle safety technology starting
this summer.
PrePass is a technology that enables commercial motor carriers equipped
with transponders to be screened at designated weigh stations. Cleared
vehicles can then bypass the inspection facility while traveling at
highway speed. ...
MATS:
mark your calendars for March 31-April 2
... Q: Where can I park my truck?
A: Tractor/trailer parking is $30 and spots with hook-ups are available
for $50. Spots with hook-ups must be reserved by calling 502-367-5384.
Free tractor-trailer parking is available courtesy of show management
at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Shuttle buses to and from the Kentucky
Expo Center are also provided for anyone parking at Papa John's.
Truck
drivers charged with using device to steal fuel at Pilot station
Three truck drivers were arrested Tuesday afternoon,
accused
of using an electronic device to try to take diesel fuel from a gas
station.
It was at least the third time such an incident was reported in less
than two weeks at the Pilot Travel Center at 2020 SW 135th St.
...
The employees were watching the pumps Tuesday after more than 1,700
gallons of diesel, worth nearly $6,800, were taken Sunday by five
semi-tractors.
...
The damage to the pump was estimated at approximately $2,500, according
to reports.
...
Long-Haul
Truckers Use Gadget To Steal Gas
Some long-haul truckers found a new way to steal diesel,
Marion County deputies said Wednesday. Deputies said they caught three
of them using a special gadget that allowed them to pump fuel for free.
...
The three truckers are facing felony charges for grand theft, fraud,
and illegally using a scanning device.
Hundreds of long-haul truckers fill their tanks at an I-75 Pilot gas
station every day. Managers believe 99.9 percent of them are honest,
but deputies said the ones caught on surveillance Tuesday were not.
"And the drivers were acting a little bit suspicious. They were
interacting like they knew each other," said Jen Fisher of the Marion
County Sheriff's Office.
Two South Florida drivers and one from Texas, who deputies said pried
open a pump and inserted the gadget, did know each other.
"It's some kind of circuit board type that the criminals plug into our
pump to try to override our system," Pilot gas station manager Steve
Freant said.
Freant said it allows thieves to bypass the payment system so the
truckers could pump fuel for free. Last Sunday, at 5:30 in the morning
at the same station, five truckers used the device and took turns
filling their tanks. They stole a total of 1,700 gallons of diesel.
...
FMCSA
fires up regulatory machine
Expect to see a bevy of activity by the Federal Motor
Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) on several truck-related regulatory
fronts later in the year along with somenew proposals from the agency
as well, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro told attendees here at the 2011
Truckload Carriers Assn. Annual convention.
...
Trucker
admits to stealing $335,000 from Postal Service through fuel cards
A truck driver has pleaded guilty to stealing $335,000
from
the U.S. Postal Service by illegally using government-provided fuel
cards during a three-year span.
According to court documents, Vincenzo Bender, 36, of Collings Lakes,
NJ, used fuel cards provided by the U.S. Postal Service to fill up his
tow truck and personal vehicles and to sell fuel to others at
discounted prices between 2005 and 2008.
...
Opinion:
Dont Waste Your Precious Profits
Staggeringly high prices for fuel are with us again. The
last
time fuel prices were hovering in the neighborhood of $3.80 to $4.40
per gallon, many trucking companies fought back aggressively, using
fuel conservation techniques and making sure drivers used the cheapest
options available. However, for others it was just one more thing to
put up with - with the help of fuel surcharges.
Many carriers climbed aboard the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
"SmartWay" bandwagon, which encourages companies to be fuel efficient
while being good to the ecosystem. The problem with that is if a
carrier lacks an "official" fuel conservation program, being "SmartWay"
certified is almost a matter of "ready, shoot, aim" and doesn't
accomplish much beyond its public-relations value. You even can get an
outside expert to fill out the documentation SmartWay requires, and
many companies have taken that route.
I hasten to add that there's nothing at all wrong with being SmartWay
certified, or even outsourcing its paperwork. But the simple truth is
even with SmartWay, your effect on the environment is negligible unless
you are managing the one factor with a 30 to 35 effect on fuel economy
- your drivers. ...
Trucker
launches online convoy for no-per-mile pay
BELLE RIVER, Ont-- A veteran southern Ontario trucker is
adding his voice to the anti-pay-per-mile chorus.
...
He says he's seen his base wage go from $0.32/mile in 1989 to
$0.42/mile today. "That equates to an increase of less than $0.005/mile
per year. I can't be the only one that sees a problem with that."
...
Cargo
insurance rule ends for most truckers
The federal cargo insurance mandate ends March 21 for
most
truckers, but the 76-year-old requirement will continue for household
goods carriers and freight forwarders.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration final rule ends the
$5,000 cargo coverage minimum requirement affecting for-hire motor
common carriers of property and having to file proof of coverage with
the agency. ...
'Here
comes plug-in diesel!'
... While clearly not aimed at the highway-haul market
(payload capacity is in the neighborhood of 4,000 pounds), the eStar
all-electric, medium-duty commercial vehicle is suitable for in-city
delivery driving with a range of up to 100 miles per charge and can be
plugged in and fully recharged within six to eight hours. It's equipped
with a quick-change cassette-type battery that can be swapped out in 20
minutes.
Furthermore, all the major truck makers - Kenworth, Peterbilt,
Freightliner, Volvo, Mack - have been engaged some hybrid-production
activity over the last several years. While governmental incentives for
customers to buy the vehicles dried up in some locales with the
recession, diesel prices of late you can expect to generate further
activity, including interest from buyers as a result of the search for
relief from fuel prices alone.
...
Truckers
face perfect storm of more regulation, high prices
... The price of diesel fuel has gone from below 50
cents a
gallon in 1973, when Daggett started working for his father, Charles
Daggett, to near $4 a gallon now. Fully loaded, Daggett's truck
averages fewer than five miles per gallon. The cost of a truck itself
was approximately $16,000 back then, compared with around $120,000 now.
"I make less now than I did back then," said Daggett, 60, who owns the
company with his wife, Dianne. "Do you think we've gotten a raise? No.
The costs of everything will go up for a long time before we'll get a
raise."
For hauling a load of pulpwood from Dover-Foxcroft to Verso's Bucksport
mill, a round trip of about 100 miles, Daggett said, he earned
approximately $250. Nearly $100 of that paid for fuel, with more profit
siphoned off for insurance, which Daggett said costs $10,000 per year.
"When I was first hauling in 1973, we were getting paid within $1 per
100 miles of what we're getting now," said Daggett. "You do the math.
I'm making less now than I did years ago."
The economics of Daggett's small-time operation provide a glimpse into
an industry that most people take for granted. Most every product there
is comes to consumers on a road, rails, waterway or by air. When times
are tough in the transportation industry, the effects rampage through
the economy, making it difficult for manufacturers to move their
products and for consumers to afford them.
And right now, times are tough for the trucking industry, and not just
for small-time operators.
...
The
Disappearing American Trucker
... Regulating the industry or regulating truck drivers?
Personal bankruptcies for the month of February, 2011 were 102,686. In
2009, one out of every 300 people in America filed bankruptcy. Since
2006, over five million have done so and many states are on the verge
of filing as well, not to mention concerns that even the United States
Government is on the brink. As the economic chaos continues, the
American trucker and trucking companies alike, continue to see
regulation after regulation being forced upon them, creating further
financial responsibilities: * Speed Limiters * CSA * EOBR's * HOS
changes * Carbon based emission controls * Sleep Apnea screening tests
With the continuation of increasing transportation bureaucracy, there
is only one way for the industry regulators to keep up . . . to hit the
industry and truck drivers with more regulations and fees.
...
Japan
earthquake impacts California ports, shippers
Two Southern California ports on Friday, March 11, took
precautionary measures in response to the tsunami advisory issued after
a major earthquake struck Japan. The Port of Los Angeles said it
temporarily suspended the transfer of hazardous materials and bunkering
fuel operations as a precaution, but that normal cargo operations were
not interrupted.
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan triggered a
tsunami warning for Southern California. The Port of Long Beach
reported minor interruption in operations, and port officials monitored
the situation in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and other
government agencies. The port said a 2007 report showed that it faced a
minimal risk of inundation by tsunami.
...
Is
large truck lemon law needed?
There's only a couple effective lemon laws in the
country that
actually provide protection from "defective" Class 8s for buyers.
...
Truck
Drivers Parked Alongside Freeways Owe a Duty to Motorists
Should the duty of drivers to exercise ordinary care for
others in their use of streets and highways include truck drivers
parked alongside a freeway? The Supreme Court of California's recent
decision in Cabral v. Ralphs Grocery Company (Feb. 28, 2011) No
S178799, concerning an automobile/truck accident found no exception for
truck drivers.
...
Lower
Your Fuel Costs
...Detroit Diesel's turbo compounding system saves fuel
without sacrificing power, making it the best way to battle today's
soaring fuel prices.
...
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