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Please note that in some articles, symbols such as a %
[percent] sign were inadvertantly stripped out. If you see a number in
a paragraph that doesn't seem to flow well without a symbol, please let
it be understood that one belongs there.
Truck Stop Coupons app
now
on Android
Randall-Reilly recently introduced its Truck Stop
Coupons app
on the Android platform. The free app, developed in conjunction with
Salebug.com and ProMiles, already is in use daily by truckers with
iPhones and Blackberries. Also new to the app are accurate real-time
diesel fuel prices for 5,000-plus truckstop locations.
...
IdleAir opens two new
locations
IdleAir has two new locations, one in Shepherd, TX, and
one in
Claysville, PA. IdleAir now operates 21 sites in nine states (Arkansas,
California, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas
and Utah).
...
The company plans to expand to 30 sites by year-end, including new
sites in Colorado, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia and Arizona.
...
Georgia trucker
arrested in
NY for carrying gun without permit
A truck driver from Georgia was arrested in upstate New
York
recently after admitting he was carrying a 9 mm gun in his truck that
he purchased for protection. ...
Even if Davis had had the proper permit in Georgia, it still wouldn't
have been recognized by New York because there is no reciprocity
between the two states, according to Road Law attorney Jeff McConnell.
In recent years, many truckers hauling high-dollar loads have found
themselves targets for criminals looking to make a quick buck by
robbing them of their possessions, freight and - in some cases - their
lives. ...
McConnell said many drivers who have concealed carry permits from their
home states don't realize that taking their guns across state lines can
prove costly, both financially and to their trucking careers.
...
How to spot
flood-damaged
trucks
Used truck experts say flood-damaged passenger vehicles
are
much more common on the market than flood-damaged trucks, but truck
customers still should use caution.
...
New emissions rule to
drive
truck prices higher
The first-ever regulation for truck fuel consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions, announced Aug. 9, is expected to cut diesel
use by 4 gallons per 100 miles traveled by the time 2018 models are
sold. New trucks are expected to cost $6,220 more because of the rule.
...
ANALYSIS: Fuel economy
rulemaking declares destination with no roadmap
... In a backgrounder call with the press held on Monday
afternoon, the added cost for complying with the regulation was
estimated to be approximately $6,620 per truck. However, it should be
noted that with the three-tiered emission regulations announced in
2001, the cost of compliance was estimated at $1,200 to $1,900 per
truck. Yet, comparable 2011 models cost $30,000 to $40,000 more than
the 2001 trucks.
...
Despite scientific support for the idea of a driver's role in fuel
economy, EPA ignored the findings of the National Academy of Sciences
and instead developed a rule that will cause many small businesses to
keep and rebuild older equipment. In 2010, the academy found evidence
that driver training offers potential fuel savings for the trucking
sector that rivals the savings available from technology add-ons and
mandates. The Academy called for consideration of this alternative
before any regulation was developed.
"But EPA ignored this recommendation," said Rajkovacz. "The new rule is
just another example of big moneyed interests working with government
to protect their own bottom line. Instead of standing up for all motor
carriers, regardless of size, the American Trucking Associations was
out in front in their support of this regulation."
Rajkovacz added, "This rulemaking basically takes EPA's SmartWay
program and mandates participation - regardless of whether certain
technologies are appropriate for a particular operation."
...
Conversely, OOIDA would like congressional appropriators to seriously
consider defunding EPA's SmartWay program because the adoption of this
rulemaking makes the program obsolete and a waste of taxpayer money.
In fact, when the final rule is looked at closely, it is long (958
pages) on rhetoric, but short on details of how the mandate should be
accomplished.
...
US sets fuel economy
targets
for heavy vehicles
... Obama said the industry will enjoy US$50 billion in
net
benefits from the program over the life of model year 2014 to 2018
trucks. The technology required to meet the standards will pay for
itself in one year, the Administration estimates.
Semi-trucks will be required to achieve a 20 improvement in fuel
economy by 2018 while vocational trucks will be expected to improve
their fuel economy by 10 by the model year 2018.
Reaction from the industry came quickly and was mostly positive. ...
...
But not everyone was happy. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers
Association (OODIA) suggested small business truckers will be hurt by a
"flawed, one-size-fits-all rule."
"By totally ignoring the impact on small-business trucking, the EPA has
demonstrated yet another example of our wretchedly broken regulatory
process," said Joe Rajkovacz, director of regulatory affairs for OOIDA.
"Congress should take action when they return in September to rein in
the bureaucracy and push forward regulatory reform legislation that has
already been introduced."
OOIDA said decision makers didn't consider the impact the rules will
have on small business truckers, who may have to pay more for new
trucks.
"They also totally overlooked the most effective fuel-savings method of
all," added Rajkovacz. "Driver training, which is responsible for 35 of
fuel economy and which costs far less than any new technology, should
have been the priority."
...
Federal fuel
efficiency
rules revealed
In two years, buses, medium- and heavy-duty trucks will
be
required to meet federally mandated fuel efficiency rules designed to
reduce the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they produce.
...
Most, but not all, tractor-trailers will be required to achieve up to
approximately a 20 reduction in fuel consumption and GHG emissions by
model year 2018, saving up to 4 gals. of fuel for every 100 mi.
traveled. ...
Becoming a Successful
Owner/Operator Part 7: Buying a Truck
... New owner/operators who find the lifestyle is not
for them
will have a difficult time getting out of a new truck without taking a
considerable loss, Haight explained.
"If you buy a truck that's two or three years old, you can sell that
truck if it's not for you. But try getting out of a four- or five-year
lease. The payout on that lease is going to be very large," he warned.
...
[Ray Haight, CEO of ATBS Canada] also urged owner/operators to make
fuel mileage a priority when choosing a truck.
...
Public could soon own
troubled California toll road
A California toll road that was once hailed as a
flagship for
public-private partnerships is on the verge of being sold back to the
public just months after emerging from bankruptcy. The South Bay
Expressway in San Diego County has been operated by Macquarie
Infrastructure Group of Australia and has never been profitable.
...
The operator has used toll increases to offset financial losses across
its network of toll road concessions around the country, but has
recently lowered the rates on the South Bay Expressway to attract more
traffic.
The most recent toll adjustment occurred June 1 of this year. Truck
tolls had been as high as $11.25 for a full-length trip but have more
recently averaged $8.
...
Federal fuel tax and
other
taxes set to expire Sept. 30
Members of Congress will have another important
expiration
date to deal with when they return from summer recess, and this one
affects all highway users. The taxes the feds collect on gasoline,
diesel fuel, truck tires, heavy equipment and heavy-vehicle road use
are all set to expire Sept. 30.
The transportation law known as SAFETEA-LU - the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users -
expired in 2009, but it allowed the taxes going into the Highway Trust
Fund to be collected for an additional two years. Those two years are
just about up.
The Association is weighing the implications of what the expiration
could mean, Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said.
...
Cheers all around as
Obama
sets fuel efficiency goals for big trucks
-- First US fuel efficiency rules for heavy-duty trucks,
unveiled Tuesday, are embraced by trucking firms, manufacturers, and
environmentalists. They'll cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
...
Coming on the heels of the administration's move to require better
mileage for cars and light trucks, the new standards for heavy trucks
are calculated to save 530 million barrels of oil, cut $50 billion from
fuel costs, and slash greenhouse gas emissions by about 270 million
tons over the lifetimes of trucks built from 2014 to 2018.
The standards call for commercial trucks to reduce by up to 20 percent
fuel consumption and pollution emissions, beginning with 2014 models.
Heavy-duty pickups and vans, a separate class of vehicles, will need to
curb fuel use and emissions to achieve up to a 15 percent reduction by
2018. So-called "vocational vehicles," such as garbage trucks or fire
engines, will have to cut emissions and fuel use by about 10 percent by
2018.
...
Conti rolls out new
fuel-saving light truck tire
Continental Tire is introducing a new light truck
all-season
tire model designed to improve fuel economy, extend tread life, and
beef up traction on rainy/snowy road conditions.
The new CrossContact Lx20 that incorporates Continental's EcoPlus
technology can save the average driver up to 2,500 mi. worth of fuel
over the life of the tire, the company said. ...
...
Man who robbed
deliverymen
gets 158 years
A 25-year-old Reading man was sentenced Thursday in U.S.
District Court in Allentown to 158 years in prison for a series of
armed robberies of delivery truck drivers in Reading.
Robert J. Pennington of the 200 block of North Front Street also was
ordered by Judge James Knoll Gardner to pay $3,651 in restitution.
Pennington was convicted Dec. 10 of multiple robberies and armed
assaults of the drivers from Dec. 27, 2007, to Feb. 4, 2008.
...
South
Carolina official indicted in CDL scheme
A former South Carolina official has fled a federal
court's
jurisdiction after a grand jury indicted her on multiple counts related
to issuing commercial drivers licenses to unqualified applicants.
...
Officials instituted Administrative Revocations of the drivers'
credentials and offered re-examinations of drivers believed to have
received fraudulent CDLs. ...
Low-cost
EOBR introduced
Late in 2010, Rand McNally took an ownership stake in
DriverTech, an in-vehicle mobile computing technology. That pairing has
produced TruckPC, a solution that uses DriverTech's secure onboard
computing platform combined with Rand McNally's IntelliRoute TND truck
navigation solution.
... The Rand McNally TND 760 Fleet Edition is a mobile communication
and truck navigation device that will retail for less than $800, Rand
McNally said. ...
Shorepower
seeks truck stops for electrification
Shorepower Technologies is seeking truck stops with at
least
75 parking spaces to participate in a national truck stop
electrification program to reduce idling.
Through the federally funded Shorepower Truck Electrification Project,
qualifying truck stops can receive a complete TSE system at no cost to
them. Shorepower will handle everything from construction through grand
opening. Truck stop operators will share revenues with Shorepower.
Installations will take place over the next 18 months, but Shorepower
needs to select the sites by September, the company said. ...
...
Drivers will be able to access 120-volt, 208-volt or 240-volt AC power
sources. Power will be sold at $1 an hour, and cable TV will be
included at most locations, with wireless Internet available for an
additional charge. Access and payment can be handled with a card,
smartphone, laptop or telephone activation system.
...
Hybrids
to rule the alternative power world by 2020
A new study by global research firm Frost &
Sullivan
indicates that hybrid propulsion technology is far and away going to be
the leading alternative power choice in the world's medium-heavy
commercial truck and bus market by 2020. ...
Better
Stopping Performance Now Built Into Highway Tractors as New Rules Take
Effect
Emerging from truck factories in the U.S. right now are
road
tractors that can stop in substantially shorter distances than those
built last week. That's because new government stopping-distance
requirements took effect August 1st.
The changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121, the air-brake
performance regulation, require most highway tractors to stop in about
30 less distance than before during high-speed panic situations. ...
FreightWatch:
Cargo Thefts Declined Slightly in 2011's First Half
FreightWatch recorded 433 cargo theft incidents in the
first
half of 2011, a 6.8 decline from the same time period in 2010.
The average value per recorded incident from January to June of 2011
was $447,346. By comparison, the average loss value in the first half
of 2010, if the $76 million warehouse burglary is included in the
calculations, is $584,875. However, if the Enfield loss is discarded as
an outlier, then the value is $286,791.
Although the overall number of thefts is down slightly for the time
period, it is vital that shippers, logistics providers and
transportation companies be aware of several trends that emerged or
continued to plague the supply chain industry during the period,
FreightWatch says.
...
Fixed
cameras for speeding trucks on South Eastern Freeway
[Australia] Forty-eight truck drivers received formal
police
cautions during the State Government's education period for the new
heavy-vehicle laws which ended at midnight last night.
Traffic Support Branch Superintendent Linda Fellows said the laws which
took effect on May 1 required heavy vehicles of five axles or more to
travel in the left lane on the down track between the Crafers entry and
Eagle on the Hill exit.
...
Truck drivers failing to keep in the left lane face a fine of about
$250 and will receive standard fines and demerit point losses for
speeding.
...
Trucking
company owner admits he scammed drivers out of $120,000
The owner of two Minnesota-based trucking companies has
pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding 27 drivers out of more
than $120,000.
On Friday, July 29, Marlon Louis Danner, 66, of Inver Grove Heights,
MN, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, admitting he forced
drivers who received court-ordered payments from his companies to
return their checks to him. Danner's companies provided trucks and
drivers for state road construction projects in Minnesota.
According to the indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in
Minneapolis in December 2010, Danner, owner of Danner Inc. and Bull Dog
Leasing Inc., underpaid drivers he contracted with in 2008 and 2009 on
a joint highway construction project with the Minnesota Department of
Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
Since federal funding was used, Danner was contractually obligated to
pay the drivers a certain truck rental rate, but it was later
discovered during an investigation by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation that he underpaid them. Danner was then required to pay
the drivers more than $185,000. ...
Comchek
fraud: Former freight broker employee admits stealing
A former employee of a Texas freight broker has admitted
to
stealing $50,000 from his company through Comdata checks.
...
How
to save fuel: 'Fix the roads!' researchers say
We all know the tire makers have done their due in
improving
truck-tire rolling resistance in recent years to help operators save
fuel with tire choices. Two Auburn University researchers say it's time
for the paving industry and the governments that allocate funds for
roads to step up to the plate. They located a holy grail of sorts in
fuel savings via the analytical report they presented at the midyear
meeting of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Smoothing the
pavement on the road under your tractor's drives and steers, it turns
out, could save a national cumulative $12.5 billion yearly in fuel.
That's 3.7 billion gallons of gas and 1.3 of diesel, said Richard
Willis and Rob Jackson.
...
Private
companies set to bid on U.S. 460 toll road in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Transportation has tapped
three
private investor groups to submit detailed plans to design and build a
55-mile toll road leading in and out of the Hampton Roads port system.
Early indications are that truck tolls could run up to $75 for a
full-length trip on U.S. 460 once it is completed in about four years.
...
Wisconsin
truckers can apply for idle reduction grants
The state of Wisconsin announced it is accepting
applications
from motor carriers for grants as part of its Diesel Truck Idling
Reduction Grant Program. The grants provide Wisconsin-based trucking
companies a reimbursement of up to 50 of the cost of idle reduction
equipment and installation for heavy-duty diesel truck-tractors.
...
Red-light
cameras to be removed in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 on Wednesday,
July 27,
to terminate its current contract for red-light cameras at 32
intersections. The operator is to begin removing the cameras in short
order.
The unanimous vote sends a strong signal that the $2.7 million contract
with American Traffic Solutions was just not worth it. Despite fines of
$466 for violations - many of which were levied against drivers of
vehicles making right-hand turns at intersections - the program had
been losing money.
...
Illinois
Simplifies State Truck Laws
... Senate Bill 1644 standardizes gross weight
regulations for
trucks. Some confusion arose after previous legislation allowed
standard 80,000-pound trucks onto local Illinois roads. The bill also
grants a 400-pound weight exemption for trucks fitted with auxiliary
power units. ...
Illinois
approves uniform speeds on more roadways
Truckers traveling through Illinois soon will be able to
drive
the same speed as other vehicles on more roadways throughout the state.
...
Truckers will be able to drive the same speed as cars on affected
roadways starting Jan. 1, 2012.
...
Truckstop
Electrification Program Opens First Location on I-84 in Oregon
The Baker Truck Corral on I-84 will provide electric
shore
power starting August 12. It is the first electrified truckstop parking
location to become operational as part of the national Shorepower Truck
Electrification Project program funded by the US Dept. of Energy. It is
the first of 50 truckstops across the country that will be electrified
in the next 12-18 months through the program.
The Baker Truck Corral, at milepost 304 on Interstate 84 in eastern
Oregon, is located about 450 miles west of Salt Lake City on the way to
Portland, Ore. (300 miles) or Seattle (380 miles). ...
ACT:
Used truck sales rise
Used Class 3-8 truck sales in June increased 9 percent
over
May despite a lack of available inventory, said ACT Research Co. For
the year, used sales are 6 percent behind last year's pace.
...
Anti-rollover
gear on tankers should be mandatory, says NTSB
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Everybody in trucking knows that in
emergency situations, tanker trailers are harder to handle.
In recognition of same, the American National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) is lobbying for more rules that pertain to the manufacture
and operation of tankers. This week, the Board issued a list of 20
tanker-trailer suggestions to various regulatory agencies, including
the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA). ...
[Click link for rest of article
NTSB
Recommends Rollover/Stability Protection For Tank Trailers
The National Transportation Safety Board says more needs
to be
done to make tanker trailers less prone to rollovers, including
mandatory stability control systems, following its investigation of a
2009 rollover accident involving a tractor and tanker trailer.
...
Illinois
DOT Warns of Three-Day I-57 Closure
... On Tuesday, August 16, Interstate 57 will be closed
to all
traffic, both north and southbound to allow the contractor to make
bridge repairs. This is anticipated to be a three-day closure, August
16, 17 and 18. ...
Freight
Association Warns Road Haulage Operators to Lock Up
... According to the UKBA it is estimated that criminals
who
steal lorry loads cost the economy about 250m per year. Coupled with
the constant threat of illegal immigration whilst returning from the
continent, drivers and haulage companies need to remain vigilant.
A new leaflet - titled 'Lorry Crime Prevention' - aimed at drivers has
been produced to remind them to get into the habit of making sure that
trailers doors and panniers are locked to make their vehicle less of a
target for criminals and stowaways.
...
Those who fail to provide adequate checks can face a penalty of up to
2,000 per person found. ...
CARB
to offer up to $16 million for clean trucks
The California Air Resources Board has approved between
$11
and $16 million for the third year of funding toward the purchase of
lower-emitting and fuel-efficient hybrid and zero-emissions trucks and
buses.
The money is part of a $40 million funding for the third year of the
program, which promotes the purchase of the next-generation of clean
cars, trucks, and off-road equipment.
...
Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission Approves 2012 Toll Increas
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 2012
rate
schedule that will result in overall toll-revenue growth of 3.
The measure, effective Jan. 1, 2012, is expected to generate
approximately $23 million in new revenue for calendar-year 2012. It
includes a 10-percent toll increase for cash-paying customers but no
rate increase for those who pay with E-ZPass.
...
In addition to the 2012 toll increase, the commission also approved
overall toll-revenue increases of 3 for 2013 and 2014, though it did
not specify precisely how much rates would increase for cash and
E-ZPass customers in those years.
...
What
do we learn from Roadcheck?
... I'd like to know why the out of service rate isn't
100
percent. This year, the vehicle OOS rate for Level 1 inspections was
19.3, which means that 80.7 of the 70-some-thousand inspections they
did during Roadcheck were a waste of time. Why are we throwing money
down the drain inspecting perfectly good trucks? For that matter,
what's in it for a carrier that runs good equipment and routinely
passes inspections to be held up at a scale for 45 minutes to an hour
so the cops can crow about the great job they're doing?
I think the inspections should be targeted at the carriers needing it
most. ...
...
Election
News National News World News Top Stories Most Popular Of Interest News
Links Home : News : Top Stories EPD Officers cite dozens of truck
drivers for not wearing seatbelts
A push from Eugene Police on Thursday in efforts to make
Interstate 5 and local roads safer by looking out for commercial truck
drivers violating the rules of the road.
Several Eugene Police Officers took part in an Interstate 5 commercial
truck surveillance operation Thursday, July 21st, 2011, watching for
truckers either speeding or not wearing their seatbelts from the I5
footbridge near Gateway Mall.
...
...Getting caught not wearing a seatbelt in Oregon can result in a $142
ticket. For truckers, the citation goes into an international database
(Canada, Mexico & USA) that patrol officers have access to.
As part of Thursday's operation, any truck pulled over by officers was
given a "level 2" inspection by EPD officers, which includes these
steps:
...
Hydrogen
fuel cell electric Class 8 truck enters port duty
Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) has taken
delivery
of a "zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck," as part
of a plan to purchase 100 of the vehicles from Vision Industries Corp.
TTSI plans to use the truck to shuttle freight containers from port
terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to rail yards and
other distribution facilities in the area. ...
Back in 2008, eight Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks
operated by TTSI became the first alternative-fueled vehicles to
operate in full-time drayage service at the Ports of Los Angeles and
Long Beach.
...
Diesel
prices rise 3rd week in row
For a third straight week, the national average retail
price
of diesel increased the week ended July 25, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. The national
average price gained 2.6 cents to $3.949.
...
Trash
trucks fueled by 'trash gas': a growing trend
The company that operates the largest trucking fleet in
the
waste industry is fueling more and more trucks with so-called trash
gas. On Tuesday, Houston-based Waste Management Inc. will add its
1,000th truck fueled with natural gas. Powered with captured and
converted methane gas from the company's Altamont, Calif., landfill,
the new truck will service Long Beach, picking up recyclables.
...
Customers
threaten to cancel trucking contracts because of high CSA scores
It's been a little over six months since the USDOT
launched
the public availability of its new truck and bus safety measurement
system and some motor carriers are reporting unpleasant surprises. ...
Another area of surprise to some firms, particularly the ones with poor
safety scores, is the reaction of some of their customers. I recently
received a frantic call from a Midwest trucking company asking for help
in driving their scores down to below intervention threshold levels.
...
New
York mandates front-end mirrors for certain trucks
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that is
intended to
eliminate blind spots for truck drivers traveling in New York City.
Starting Jan. 18, 2012, large trucks base-plated in New York will be
required to have front-end mirrors installed if traveling through any
of the five boroughs. Specifically, the law applies to all affected
trucks weighing at least 26,000 pounds with conventional cabs.
...
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in previous comments that
the mirrors can be mounted for about $150 apiece. Trucks used by city
agencies already use the mirrors.
...
Truck
Drivers Work to Stay Cool on Roads
... "It's a hundred degrees outside, inside the bunk
area, it
might be almost 200, so in that situation we're going to idle. So, the
air conditioning will be on," William Herndon, who was driving to Ohio,
said.
Most of the state and county regulations across the country, including
West Virginia, allow truck drivers to idle longer than 15 minutes when
temperatures are higher than 75 degrees.
Truckers are usually only allowed to idle for 15 minutes in a one hour
period. If drivers idle longer they can face fines of up to $300 in
West Virginia. ...
Truck
Drivers Say New Safety Rules Could Backfire
... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will
publish new rules just weeks from now. Current proposals limit drive
time to only 10 hours and reduce on-duty hours to 13.
Virginia Driver Vearl Mullins says that will hit his pocket hard,
"We're pinching pennies now to survive out here."
A one hour reduction could mean $24 out of each day's paycheck, or
more...
Experienced drivers average roughly 40 cents per mile. The say these
new regs not only cut into their pay, but could force them to take
risks.
...
The news rules take effect July 26th.
Failure to comply could mean a $2750 penalty for drivers and an $11,000
penalty for trucking companies.
Small
businesses concerned about pending fuel standards for trucks
Two federal agencies that are developing the first ever
fuel-mileage and emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks
could issue a final rule by the end of this week, sources on Capitol
Hill said Monday, July 25. OOIDA leadership says small businesses have
every right to be concerned with the one-size-fits-all approach and the
costs it will add to their operations.
...
"Exceptionally high fuel prices, overreaching regulations, and a
strained economy have created an environment of deepening uncertainty,
and hampered growth for independent truck drivers and motor carriers
who live shipment-to-shipment with diminishing profit margins," the
lawmakers wrote.
Bowley says increasing costs in the industry will force truck owners to
hold on to older equipment as long as possible, and may trigger pre-buy
conditions right before the new regulations take effect.
It is a well-known fact that driving habits have a significant effect
on fuel economy.
"The government's own studies say you can achieve significant fuel
savings, which would have an effect on emissions as well, if you have a
trained, experienced driver behind the wheel," Bowley said.
Yet the EPA/NHTSA proposal does not go there. Instead, it focuses on
costly upgrades to engines and add-on technology at the manufacturing
level without considering the end user who purchases and runs the
equipment.
...
Truck
Drivers Protest Axle Load Charges
[ModernGhana.com] About 20 truck drivers plying the
Tema-Paga
trunk road yesterday blocked traffic on the portion of the route in
Bolgatanga to protest against axle load charges.
According to the drivers, they were compelled to pay axle load charges
in Bolgatanga, although they had paid similar charges at Yapei in the
Northern Region.
"We do not understand why, after weighing at Yapei, we should be made
to weigh and pay fines one more time in Bolgatanga," they were said to
have queried.
The drivers were also said to have complained about the exorbitant axle
load charges.
...
YouTube:
The Carbon Tax will kill the trucking industry
The Transport Union warned a Senate Enquiry the Carbon
Tax
will cost Australian lives.
Tony Sheldon says "we'll see more Australian truck drivers killed on
our roads, more people in cars, innocent road users being killed
because of pressure that happens in the trucking industry".
Also unhappy with the Carbon Tax is power operator Macquarie Generation
which told the enquiry the tax will cost the company half a billion
dollars.
ATRI
Updates Online Idling Regulations Compendium
ARLINGTON, Va., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
The
American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has updated the
listing of state and local idling regulations found on its website,
www.atri-online.org. The updated listing is provided in two forms, a
cab card which can be downloaded and carried in the glove box of a
truck and the online compendium which provides links to individual
regulations.
...
Carbon
tax to hit NSW taxpayer: power boss
[Australia] Taxpayers in NSW will lose hundreds of
millions in
dividends from power generator Macquarie Generation under a carbon tax,
with the head of the state-owned company warning its profits could be
eaten away.
...
The Transport Workers Union (TWU), appearing at the inquiry on behalf
of truck drivers, also claimed the carbon tax could "wipe out" profits
of owner-operators, fleet operators and some trucking companies.
TWU national president Tony Sheldon labelled the carbon tax a "death
tax", saying truck drivers would be unable to pass on the $150 to $200
a week impact of the tax.
"The issue of whether it is a carbon tax, or any other cost impost on
the industry that can't be passed on is that people are sent to their
deaths," Mr Sheldon said.
"In the trucking industry there has been a history of incapacity ... of
being able to pass costs on, and what happens is that truck drivers and
trucks get sweated, and when they get sweated, that's what increases
the death rates.
"A big hit like $150-$200 a week is a death tax."
Carriers
dangle incentives for owner-operators
As driver pools tighten, carriers are offering sign-on
bonuses
as high as $10,000 and other incentives to attract owner-operators.
Over the last year, several carriers have increased per-mile and fuel
rates, posted bonuses and reduced truck-lease payments to compete for
operators or persuade company drivers to convert to ownership.
...
Pennsylvania
panel proposes road, bridge funding options
In Pennsylvania, a governor-appointed panel adopted
recommendations this week that would raise about $2.5 billion in new
funding annually for transportation projects throughout the state. ...
Biodiesel
mandate coming to Canada this fall
OTTAWA, Ont. -- It's official: a biodiesel mandate is
coming
to Canada. Effective 60 days from July 20, diesel fuel sold in British
Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario will have to
contain an average annual biofuel blend of 2. Diesel fuel sold in
Quebec and the Maritimes will be exempt until Dec. 31, 2012. There is a
permanent exemption for Newfoundland and Labrador. ...
...
The CTA is advising carriers to work with their equipment and fuel
suppliers to discuss transitional issues including warranty
considerations and fuel quality specifications they should be demanding
from their fuel suppliers. The group also says it will be monitoring
the impact of the mandate over time.
Toll
talk continues at statehouses
Each year at statehouses around the country legislators
spend
a lot of time discussing methods to fund transportation work. One
funding option that tends to receive a lot of attention is tolls.
State lawmakers in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are discussing
multiple efforts that address needs and concerns associated with
revenue generation.
...
New
Oregon laws cover truck issues
Oregon has some notable new rules that truckers need to
know.
New laws cover indemnification clauses, idling, medical certification
and driving through roundabouts.
...
Starting Jan. 1, 2012, another new law is intended to crack down on
unnecessary idling of trucks. It sets a statewide standard for idling.
Commercial vehicles will be prohibited from idling for more than five
minutes each hour on property open to the public. Violators would face
$180 fines.
Various exceptions to the rule are included. Examples of circumstances
that warrant additional idling are to operate defrosting, heating or
air conditioners.
An exception would also be made for air conditioning or heating during
a rest or sleep period when the outside temperature is below 50 degrees
or above 75 degrees.
...
The
payback on driver training: Why training should be seen as an
investment and not an expense
KING CITY, Ont. -- It's a constant source of frustration
for
Rick Geller, director of safety and signature services with Markel
Insurance. Carrier executives often tell him they're reluctant to
invest in driver training programs for fear the driver will move on to
another company only to have them benefit from the initial training
investment. Geller's response is always the same: "Ask yourself what
happens if you don't put that training into them and they stay? That's
when they're going to hurt you."
Geller was presenting at the recent Private Motor Truck Council of
Canada's annual convention on the value of driver training. Too often,
he said, training programs are perceived as an expense when they should
really be measured by how much value they bring to the company in the
form of reduced accidents, lower insurance premiums and improved bottom
line.
"Let's look at training as a capital investment rather than an
expense," he implored delegates before providing some pretty convincing
evidence on the value of driver training.
Calculating the potential return on investment for a driver training
program begins with fully understanding how much accidents are truly
costing your business, Geller said.
"I can't urge you strongly enough to make sure you are capturing all
the costs associated with crashes," he said. "It's very important to
collect that data and make sure that the cost doesn't get hidden in a
maintenance budget."
Even the costs of repairing small dings and scratches should be
included in the calculations, Geller pointed out.
In addition to the obvious direct costs - such as towing, equipment and
cargo damage, medical bills and payment to injured workers - there's
also an assortment of indirect costs, which often get overlooked.
Indirect costs can include loss of productivity, the cost of training
replacement workers, reputational costs and rising insurance premiums.
...
Atlanta
lands federal loan to add toll lanes to I-75 and I-575
... The proposed Northwest Corridor Project would add
express
toll lanes to I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties. The total
price tag is close to $1 billion.
Once built, it will be the first toll project under the state's new
public-private law. The eventual private operator of the managed lanes
will repay the federal government using toll revenue.
...
Law
Requiring Drivers to Move Over Begins
PHOENIX - A new Arizona law requiring drivers to move
over and
give stranded motorists along state highways a break is set to begin
July 20.
Motorists who see a vehicle on the side of the road, displaying
alternately flashing lights or warning lights are required to slow down
or move over a lane if it's safe to do so.
...
If a driver fails to move over, he or she faces a citation fee of $168,
according to Maricopa County Justice Court.
...
NRA
proposes EIGHT new toll charges
[IrishTrucker] The pain of increased driving costs is
set to
continue after the NRA admitted it is looking at introducing a
staggering eight new toll charges.
Drivers will be hit with the new toll charges under proposals aimed at
widening the toll net to ensure nobody escapes.
The NRA is hiring consultants to examine potential on eight new
recommended toll locations. As part of the money-grabbing plan, all
drivers using Dublin's M50 will be required to pay a charge, no matter
how short their journey on the motorway.
Tolls are being planned on...
...
Praise
for Volvo crash warning system
Volvo's new forward collision warning system could
reduce
low-speed crashes by 25.
This is according to a study released by the Insurance Industry for
Highway Safety in the US.
The group found that owners of Volvo Xc60 - which has an advanced
forward collision warning system - filed insurance damage claims 27
less often than owners of other midsize luxury SUVs.
...
Golden
Ears Bridge toll hike in effect
SURREY, B.C. - If you crossed the Golden Ears Bridge
this past
weekend in Lower Mainland, B.C., you may have noticed a bump in tolls.
That's because effective July 15 TransLink increased the toll for
trucks by 30 cents.
The charge for commercial vehicles with a transponder is now $8.70
(from $8.40); while pay-as-you-go vehicles will be subject to a toll of
$9.85
...
Texas
governor signs natural gas bills
... Senate Bill 20 establishes a natural gas
transportation
corridor in the Texas Triangle, which includes Austin, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Houston and San Antonio, by increasing the number of natural gas
refueling stations and supporting the use of natural gas-powered
trucks.
Master
Fleet announces 24/7 roadside service
Master Fleet, LLC has announced expansion into a
nationwide,
one-call emergency roadside assistance service for semi-tractors,
trailers and straight trucks that is available around the clock,
seven-days-a-week through its toll-free number, ...
Master Fleet's Fleet Roadside Assistance features coverage options for
drivers and fleet managers that can be tailored to best suit individual
business needs, according to Larry Chaplin, Master Fleet's president.
...
Chaplin said he's particularly pleased Master Fleet is able to offer
Fleet Roadside Assistance with no monthly, yearly or start-up fees.
...
8
ways to manage distractions while driving
Distracted drivers pose a deadly risk to everyone on the
road,
according to the Governors Highway Safety Assn. The state governors
safety group points to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) estimates that in 2008 - the most recent year
for which data is available - 5,870 people lost their lives and another
515,000 were injured in police-reported crashes in which one form of
distraction was noted on the crash report.
Drivers engage in a range of distracting activities, according to the
safety group, which offers the following tips for managing some of the
most common distractions:
...
$150
million gives natural gas infrastructure a boost
The announcement last week that Chesapeake Energy Corp.
would
be investing $150 million in Clean Energy Fuels is welcomed news to
natural gas supporters in this country, particularly in trucking.
...
Approximately 150 liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations
will be built at "strategic truck-stop locations along major trucking
corridors" in the U.S.
Clean Energy said many of the stations will be built at Pilot Flying J
Travel Centers. Clean Energy already has an agreement with Pilot Travel
Centers to own and operate public compressed natural gas and LNG
stations. Pilot Flying J has more than 440 retail facilities in 40
states.
"With the advent of new natural gas truck engines well-suited for
heavy-duty, over-the-road trucking, it is time to build America's
natural gas highway," said Andrew J. Littlefair, president &
CEO of Clean Energy. "The investment by Chesapeake will help us
accelerate the development of this important fueling network."
...
International
firms show interest in Houston toll road
... Toll opponents point out that taxpayers will be on
the
hook for billions in subsidies, as much as $4.8 billion, for the toll
road while the eventual private operator will benefit from toll revenue
for decades to come.
"At the end of the day, if there's $4.8 billion in taxpayer money going
into the deal, everyone around this state ought to be concerned about
it because that's money that's being pulled away from fixing our
freeways and keeping them free," Terri Hall, spokeswoman for TURF, the
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, told Land Line Now on Sirius XM.
"That's a huge issue for truckers, as you know. They are literally
trying to turn Texas into a massive network of toll roads. It's
unaffordable and unsustainable."
...
Its
not too late to right the ship
... Most of us have learned to scale back. Many people,
including small-business owners, have had to tap into savings,
eliminate frills and cut costs. Most of us are doing more with less.
We're stretching our vehicles and equipment further, we've pinched our
pennies and we've taken "staycations."
...
EnviroDock,
Inc Announces the Opening of its New Truck Electrification Site at TR
Auto Truck Plaza in Dandridge, TN
EnviroDock, Inc is helping drivers save money and
helping
Tennessee save the environment. With the installation of EnviroDock's
E-Dock and PowrDock units, TR Auto Truck Plaza now offers 30 parking
spaces equipped with services that enable drivers to shut off their
engines while they rest and save money by eliminating the costly
practice of idling.
...
IOWA80.com
holds Dreams of Chrome Sweepstakes
Drivers can register for 25 prizes yet to be given away
in
IOWA80.com's six-month Dreams of Chrome Sweepstakes.
...
MaxxCare
launches 'Million Point Giveaway' promotion
Boss Truck Shops Inc., a subsidiary of Bosselman Inc.,
and
Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems, a subsidiary of The Goodyear Tire
& Rubber Co., announced a Million Point Giveaway promotion in
association with MaxxCare, their new rewards program. The promotion is
being offered in conjunction with Goodyear's launch of its new Uni-Maxx
Truck Care network, in which Wingfoot, via the Wingfoot Truck Care
Centers, and Boss Shops are the first two participants.
...
Former
Swift trucking school students win court battle
Thousands of former students of a truck driving school
operated by Swift Transportation are now eligible to join a lawsuit
against the trucking giant.
On July 1, U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald granted class action
status to as many as 8,700 former students of a Swift's driving school.
The ruling means the group has the power to combine individual
interests for either a settlement or court trial win.
The former trucking school students say Swift's testing procedures
violated state and federal law, and resulted in Tennessee and other
states revoking their licenses after an intense multi-agency raid on
Swift offices.
...
CAT
Scale introduces free Android app
The CAT Scale Locator application is now available for
Android
users in the Android Marketplace, CAT Scale Co. announced. The app
allows drivers to locate the nearest CAT Scale through GPS on their
phone. ...
...
I-75s
danger zone for truckers
Truckers should be wary when traveling I-75 in Ohio
through
Warren and Butler Counties, where a huge highway construction project
has led to a dramatic increase in big rig accidents, according to the
Oxford Press.
Narrowing lanes due to a construction project to widen the highway and
the resulting heavy traffic make for a dangerous drive for truckers
attempting to navigate the highway between Ohio 129 near Liberty Twp.
through Dayton.
In the past three years since the road construction began, commercial
vehicles were involved in 708 crashes along the route, according to the
Ohio State Highway Patrol.
...
Bosselman,
Wingfoot announce MaxxCare rewards program
Boss Truck Shops Inc., a subsidiary of Bosselman Inc.,
and
Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems, a subsidiary of The Goodyear Tire
& Rubber Co., announced a new loyalty rewards program called
MaxxCare, a card-based loyalty program that rewards drivers for
purchases at participating Wingfoot (currently, only Wingfoot Truck
Care Centers) and Boss Shop locations.
At present, the program rewards 3 points per dollar spent on preventive
maintenance services and 1 point per dollar for other repairs at
participating locations.
...
Caltrans
stresses driver safety in work zones
... Three fatalities in the past three months involving
Caltrans workers struck on Southern California highways has officials
statewide stressing that drivers have to be aware and cautious in
construction zones and where they see maintenance and emergency
workers, ranging from police to Caltrans crews and tow truck drivers.
CHP and Caltrans officials gathered in San Bernardino on Wednesday to
remind drivers that California law requires them, if able, to move one
lane away from stopped emergency and maintenance vehicles. ...
...
Trucker
sentenced for killing two in 2009, after falsifying logbook and driving
over hours of service limit
A few seconds changed Curtis Hawkins' life forever. This
husband and father to four children was not paying attention at the
wheel of his semi. In October 2009, his truck slammed into cars stopped
in a construction zone on I-43 near Belgium.
...
Hawkins, now 37-years-old, lied on his log and drove beyond his legal
hours limit. ...
Wisconsin
opens up diesel idling reduction grant program
Dozens of OOIDA members have obtained grants through
Wisconsin's diesel emission reduction programs, and it looks as if
trucking businesses will have another crack at grants for the state's
2011-2012 program.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services is
providing reimbursement grants for up to 50 percent of the cost of
idling-reduction equipment such as APUs.
Applicants must be ...
...
TSA
report: Criminals hijacked 10,000 Mexican truckloads in 2010
Fresh off the recent announcement that the U.S. and
Mexico
will expand cross-border trucking comes startling figures that show the
saturation of organized crime in Mexico and the target that commercial
trucks have become.
According to TSA, criminals in Mexico hijacked more than 10,000
commercial trucks last year ...
Judge
rejects petition to reopen rest areas in MN
Late Monday, July 11, a Minnesota Chief District Judge
rejected the Minnesota Trucking Association's petition to reopen the
state's safety rest areas during the shutdown, which began on July 1.
The judge deemed that they are not a critical core function of the
government as state lawmakers continue to haggle over a budget
agreement. ...
...
California
bill would end warrantless cellphone searches
A bill that is nearing passage in the California
Legislature
would reverse a court ruling that allows police to search cellphones
without a warrant.
In January, the state Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement
officers, without a warrant, can search the contents of a cellphone
confiscated from anyone under arrest.
The majority of justices said arrestees lose their right of privacy in
anything they are carrying when taken into custody.
Shortly after the decision was handed down an effort was introduced at
the California statehouse to counter it. ...
...
States
define aggressive driving differently
The term aggressive driving covers a range of unsafe
driver
behaviors including speeding, running red lights, failure to yield,
tailgating and improper passing. To date, 15 states have addressed
aggressive driving in their legislatures and 11 states have passed laws
specifically defining aggressive driving actions. State laws define
what constitutes aggressive driving and stipulate the related fines and
penalties. Often, a driver must demonstrate more than one action to be
considered aggressive, according the Governors Highway Safety Assn.
...
Recycling
90 per cent of a truck
Volvo Trucks is at the absolute cutting edge when it
comes to
dealing with old trucks in an environmentally sustainable manner. When
a truck is scrapped, almost everything is recycled.
Nowadays, no less than 90 per cent of a truck can be recycled...
...
Rising
Tolls Hold Freight And Logistics Sector To Ransom As Haulage Operators
Hit:: Government Claim to Hold Consultation Appears Laughable
UK - In October last year when we got the first whiff of
a
massive increase in toll charges at the Dartford River Crossing, the
only practical arterial route for M25 motorway and East of London
Thames crossing traffic, we posed the question 'Truck tolls to rise 66
as are private cars?' . Now we know the answer is no - they will rise
63, hitting haulage operators during a period in which the Government
has claimed they intend to help the freight and logistics sector
through difficult times. ...
As
Tire Prices Rise, Association Warns of Casing Shortage
The Retread Tire Association is warning of a severe
shortage
of retreadable truck tires, also known as casings, as the first week of
July saw another round of tire price hikes.
"Whether or not you retread your tires or buy retreads, this shortage
can have a negative impact on you, whether you have one truck or one
thousand," says RTA Managing Director Harvey Brodsky. "Retreads act as
a brake on new tire prices. Whenever there is a shortage of retreads,
new tire manufacturers do not have any reason to hold back on raising
their prices, and everyone who purchases truck tires feels the pain in
their checkbooks."
There are a number of reasons tire makers have recently been raising
prices, including ...
...
Maryland
to Close Lanes on Southbound I-95 in Greenbelt starting July 13
Beginning Wednesday night, July 13, the Maryland State
Highway
Administration will close up to three lanes on southbound I-95/I-495 on
the Capital Beltway at the MD 201 Bridge, Kenilworth Avenue, weather
permitting.
SHA will begin with a single right lane closure at 8 p.m. and progress
to a three-lane closure by 10 p.m. with one lane open to traffic. The
overnight lane closures will be in place Sunday through Thursday nights
for approximately two weeks to remove the existing concrete 'deck' on
the bridge. Crews will re-open all lanes by 5 a.m. each morning.
...
'Carmageddon'
coming to City of Angels
... Between Friday July 15 and Sunday July 17, L.A. is
shutting down the city's main artery, I-405, so construction crews can
install a 16-km carpool lane. This stretch of road is reputed to be the
busiest in America.
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, has asked
citizens to steer clear of the route. ...
...
Trucks
to pass carbon tax buck
[Australia] TRANSPORT companies have been spared in the
federal government's carbon tax package.
But it's not going to last, with the Prime Minister announcing cuts to
the diesel rebate scheme to take effect in 2014.
The Transport Workers Union estimates the tax will cost truck drivers
up to $200 a week in fuel costs.
...
Drivers
Coached To Avoid Bribes
Truck drivers carrying livestock along trade corridors
in West
Africa would have paid over US$1million in bribes without 'road
coaching' during the first quarter of this year, a monitoring report of
USAID Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (USAID ATP) project has
revealed.
"By applying our strategy, they have saved about a quarter million US
dollars," said the report.
...
C.R.
England offers fuel-saving tips for drivers
With diesel prices exceeding $4 a gal. and rising, every
gallon saved is money in the bank for truck operators. Truckload
carrier, C.R. England, based in Salt Lake City, has compiled a number
of fuel economy tips to help drivers and owner-operators manage their
miles per gallon:
...
Cummins
fined $500,000 for not retesting in-use engines
Engine-maker Cummins Inc. has paid $500,000 for failing
to
properly retest its diesel engines from model years 1998 through 2006
after the engines were in use.
The penalties are split between the California Air Pollution Control
Fund, which received $125,000, and the U.S. EPA, which received
$375,000.
According to CARB, Cummins failed to test ...
...
Idle
reduction contest at U.S. Xpress
Reducing the amount of time a truck idles is one of the
most
critical factors fleets can control in order to improve fuel economy.
But truck drivers are literally in the driver's seat when it comes to
how much they actually shut the truck down when out on the road. One
fleet has come up with a unique solution as an incentive to get drivers
to limit idle time.
...
Angry
truckies take to the city to protest tax
[Australia] A convoy of 40 truck drivers cruised through
Perth's business district to protest the decay of their industry as low
pay and the looming carbon tax threaten to send operators to the wall.
...
Most
Carriers Expect Driver Pay to Increase This Year
Two thirds of carriers expect driver wage increases of
1-5 in
the recent Second Quarter Business Expectations Survey by Transport
Capital Partners. ...
Roadcheck
2011 Saw Lowest Out-of-Service Rates Ever
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Roadcheck 2011
produced the lowest out-of-service rates recorded in its history.
Results from the CVSA's Roadcheck 2011, the three-day, commercial
vehicle safety enforcement and education campaign, reveal that the
commercial motor carrier and motor coach industries continue to improve
the maintenance and safety of their operations, with overall
out-of-service rates being the lowest since Roadcheck began in 1991.
...
Filing
season for HVUT delayed
Before you make a mad dash to the IRS office to file
your Form
2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, hold on. A week before filing season for
the IRS Form 2290 was due to begin on July 1, the Internal Revenue
Service announced a delay. New legislation needs to be passed before
IRS can collect the HVUT for the entire year. And right now that tax
legislation is tied up in Congress. This means that your normal filing,
which was for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011, won't happen.
...
IOWA80.com
holds Dreams of Chrome Sweepstakes
Drivers can register for 25 prizes yet to be given away
in
IOWA80.com's six-month Dreams of Chrome Sweepstakes. The first round of
winners has been selected and the second group of 25 more will be
awarded in September. Registration for the sweepstakes online at
dreamsofchrome.com is ongoing until Aug. 31, 2011. ...
Legislation
would prevent U.S. from paying for EOBRs on Mexican trucks
Legislation submitted shortly after the formalization of
a new
U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking program on Wednesday, July 6, would
specifically prevent the use of U.S. funds to pay for electronic
onboard recorders on Mexican trucks. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.),
ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, says
the U.S. Department of Transportation's EOBR measure is an
inappropriate use of U.S. funds.
...
Tips
for Truck Drivers on Creating Online Applications
JiggyJobs.com provides tips for truck drivers on
creating
online applications that make carriers want to follow up with them.
Whether an applicant is seeking over the road trucking jobs or the
highest paying truck driving jobs, it's important to remember to ...
...
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