|
TCA Website helps
truck
drivers find next week's NTDAW events
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is Sept. 11-17,
and
the Truckload Carriers Association reminds professional truck drivers
that freebies, entertainment, special events and discounts will be
available to CDL holders during NTDAW by checking
DriverAppreciation.com before they hit the road. The website sponsored
by TCA and its industry partner, uDrove, allows professional truck
drivers to locate upcoming NTDAW activities taking place in North
America and plan their schedules accordingly.
...
NTDAW is an annual industrywide effort to honor and recognize
professional truck drivers and to draw public attention to the role
that trucking plays in the economic growth of North America.
CVSA: Half of
Roadcheck
out-of-service violations were brake-related
More than 50 percent of commercial motor vehicle
out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections were for
brake-related violations, according to Commercial Vehicle Safety
Alliance Roadcheck 2011 data - indicating much more education and
awareness is needed to reduce the number of highway crashes caused each
year by poorly maintained braking systems on commercial vehicles. CVSA
is working with drivers, mechanics and others during the week of Sept.
11-17, Brake Safety Week, to enhance knowledge, regulatory compliance
and performance of CMV braking systems.
...
CVSA Brake Safety Week
planned for Sept. 11-17
Truckers will want to mark their calendars for CVSA
Brake
Safety week, which starts this coming Sunday. The event, scheduled for
Sept. 11-17, is held nationwide by participating members of the
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. For more information, visit
cvsa.org.
Shell announces LNG
for
heavy-duty trucks
CALGARY -- Shell says it will be providing liquefied
natural
gas (LNG) for heavy-duty fleets beginning in 2012 at Shell Flying J
truck stops, starting in Alberta.
...
Shell is also actively developing new business opportunities with truck
OEMs to substitute LNG for diesel and propane in a number of industrial
sectors, including on-road trucking and oil and gas drilling
applications.
...
Marvin Odum, president of Shell, said that the initiative will give
larger fleet vehicles a reduction in emissions and offer a
cost-competitive alternative to other fuels.
However, a report by the Globe and Mail on the same story points to the
cost of installing an LNG engine is about $50,000 to $60,000 on top of
the cost of the truck itself.
...
Illinois requires
posting of
truck routes, education on truck GPS
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed legislation aimed
at
enhancing truck safety in the state by making truck routing and
restrictions more accessible to the commercial trucking industry. The
new law also provides a program to educate professional truck drivers
about the vast differences between truck and car GPS devices.
...
"The difference between a truck-specific GPS and a device designed for
car routing is significant," says Rep. Michael Zalewski, task force
chairman and state representative for the 21st Illinois Congressional
District. "Using the appropriate tool for the job will benefit the
citizens of Illinois by reducing accidents, congestion and the costs of
repairing infrastructure damaged by accidents involving commercial
vehicles."
...
In Vt., closed roads
take
toll on trucks, buses
... The washout of hundreds of Vermont roads and bridges
by
floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Irene has meant big detours
-- and increased costs -- for just about everyone who drives in
southern and central Vermont.
With major east-west routes U.S. 4 and U.S. 9 and north-south U.S.
Route 7 closed in parts because of damage from the Aug. 28 storm, the
wheels of commerce have had to travel farther.
"It's costing us more, and it's inconvenient," said James Pratt, senior
vice president of operations for cheese maker Cabot Creamery. "It's
made our distribution more creative, that's for sure."
It's still unclear how quickly full access will be restored to the
highways. State officials have yet to put a repair cost on all the
damage or give a timetable for repairs.
...
About 40 percent of the company's Vermont truck routes have been
affected by the road closures, according to Anisa Balgam, route
assistant.
...
Bellavance Trucking President Roland Bellavance said about 40 percent
of his trucks have had to deal with route changes. The company hauls
granite, coffee and paper, among other things, and its operations have
been most compromised in and around Bethel and Killington, Bellavance
said.
The company has had to absorb the added time and fuel costs, he said.
"It adds quite a few miles, but what are you going to do?" he said.
"We've pretty much just had to eat it."
...
Trucking wages to rise
by 30
percent
US trucking companies may face a massive 30 percent
surge in
wages by 2014 as rising demand for freight shipments threatens to push
the industry's driver shortage to the longest on record, according to
freight transport analysis firm, FTR Associates.
...
National Trucking
Week:
David Bradley pens open letter to the men and women of the Canadian
trucking industry
OTTAWA, Ont. -- National Trucking Week 2011 is being
celebrated from Sept. 4-10.
What started as an idea from the Canadian Trucking Alliance in the
latter part of the 1990s, National Trucking Week has been embraced by
the industry as a way to spotlight the contributions of the hundreds of
thousands of men and women of the Canadian trucking industry who keep
the country's freight moving, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
...
Proposed HoS reduction
would
impact wages, economy: ATA
... "Late last year, DoT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) proposed costly changes to truck drivers'
hours-of-service rules which, if finalized, would result in reduced
wages for hundreds of thousands of drivers, significant administrative
and efficiency costs for trucking companies, and most importantly,
billions of dollars in lost productivity," [ATA senior vice-president
of policy and regulatory affairs Dave] Osiecki wrote in the Sept. 2
letter to [Cass] Sunstein [, administrator of the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget]. "These
inefficiencies and costs would deal a serious and sustained blow to the
huge 'tangible goods' economy that trucking supports, affecting not
only shippers of freight, but ultimately consumers."
Osiecki pointed out the FMCSA's own regulatory impact analysis found
the proposed changes would result in costs that would outweigh any
crash reduction benefits. He also indicated that US truck safety has
improved since the current rules were put into place in 2004.
...
Rand McNally Offers
Buyers
Lifetime Map Updates
Rand McNally Co. said buyers of its IntelliRoute GPS
devices
will be eligible to participate in a lifetime map program.
For a one-time fee of $89.99, IntelliRoute customers will have access
to Rand McNally map up-dates as long as they own the device. Rand
McNally now provides free updates and upgrades to its IntelliRoute GPS
products.
...
HOS, EOBR Rules Among
Costliest
Proposed regulations to change maximum truck driver
hours and
require electronic onboard recorders for almost all trucks are among
the most costly rules currently being considered by the Obama
administration, the president wrote in a letter.
The EOBR rule, which has an estimated economic burden of $2 billion,
and the hours-of-service rule, with a price tag of $1 billion, are two
of seven regulations President Obama told House Speaker John Boehner
(R-Ohio) will cost at least $1 billion. ...
Three travel plazas
close
temporarily on Pennsylvania Turnpike
Three travel plazas on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are
scheduled
to be closed for approximately nine months for repairs starting in
September.
...
Patriot Farms Flying
Js on
I-95 now accepts Transflo Express
Pegasus TransTech has announced that its Transflo
Express
truckstop scanning now is available at three Pilot Flying J locations
along Interstate 95 from Maryland to South Carolina. All are operated
by Highway Service Ventures Inc.; all three are named Patriot Farms
Flying J.
...
With Transflo Express, drivers hand their delivery documents to a
cashier for scanning. In seconds, these documents are delivered
electronically to headquarters for immediate billing and payroll
processing. Transflo Express helps speed the flow of paperwork,
reducing days-sales-outstanding and increasing cash flow.
...
After 9/11,
international
border patrol staff doubles; fewer tourists cross border, more
criminals caught
... Technology has played a key role in finding the
drugs,
Smith noted. "We've got the ability to look at things closer now,"
Smith said. "We've got all the technology now: gamma ray inspection of
trucks ... it allows us to look at a commercial truck without
physically going into it."
And they're finding plenty.
According to CBP, ecstasy seizures along the U.S.-Canada border have
increased significantly over the years, from 1.1 million doses in 2004
to more than 2 million doses in 2009. Marijuana seizures have increased
22[percent].
Detroit, in particular, has turned into a hotbed for ecstasy.
"We're the first stop on the line for ecstasy coming in," said Daniel
Lemisch, chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office
in Detroit. "It all gets funneled through our district because of the
bridges and tunnels."
Federal agents say they've witnessed major ecstasy busts in recent
years at the border, the bulk involving Canadian truck drivers. For
example, at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, agents seized more
than 80,000 ecstasy pills hidden in the walls of a tractor-trailer last
September.
At the same bridge last year, agents seized more than 250,000 ecstasy
tablets hidden in a truck carrying a shipment of health and beauty
products bound for Texas. ...
...
9/11 security fallout
still
a headache for truckers
B.C.'s trucking industry is still struggling to recover
from
the security changes wrought 10 years ago after the Sept. 11 attacks,
thousands of kilometres away.
Trucks carry more than six billion tonnes of freight every year in B.C.
alone, and much of that makes its way across the international border
into the U.S., a trip that is ultimately more costly and often takes
longer since 9/11.
...
Transport Canada estimates the impact of U.S. security measures costs
Canadian truckers up to $400 million a year.
But what are people like [Fred] de Boer [, owner of Mainland Floral
Distributors Ltd.,] getting for their money?
Since 2006, wait times at the border have started to go down, according
to University of British Columbia associate professor Garland Chow, who
studies freight security and transportation systems.
Trucking operations with security clearance do get through the border
faster, providing the companies a competitive advantage, said Chow.
"By having that, they can sell to their customers a greater chance that
if there's a problem, they are going to get through more quickly," said
Chow. "Even right now get through more quickly."
Fred de Boer's said he's not convinced his trucks are getting across
the border any faster than his non-certified competitors.
...
Semi drags boulder
onto
I-205 near airport
A commercial semi-truck driver dragged a huge boulder
from
IKEA to I-205 Saturday and he didn't even realize it was there, police
said.
A landscaper alerted police after following large scrape marks all the
way from the Cascade Station IKEA store to the freeway, and then
spotting the truck with the boulder still under it.
...
The boulder damaged the undercarriage of the truck, which eventually
caused the driver to stop on the freeway.
...
TCA partners with
clinic on
weight-loss contest
The Truckload Carriers Association is partnering with
Lindora
Clinic, providers of a medically based weight-loss/management wellness
program, to create a weight-loss contest aimed specifically at truck
drivers and other trucking industry workers.
Prizes will be awarded to the fleet and individual achieving the
greatest percentages of weight loss.
Fleet applications to compete in the contest will be accepted from ...
...
California bill would
tweak
transit tax vote rule
Only days remain in the regular session in California.
Among
the bills that could advance to the governor before time runs out is an
effort to help relieve traffic congestion.
...
Supporters say the fees would provide a direct benefit to travelers
paying the surcharge because there would be less congestion for
truckers and other drivers.
...
Shoemaker's offers
electrified parking spots
Shoemaker's Travel Center on I-80 in Lincoln, Neb., is
the
latest truck stop to add electrification by offering 24 electrified
parking spaces.
Shoemaker's has signed up the national Shorepower Truck Electrification
Project program funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy. STEP aims to
finance electrification at 50 truck stops nationally over the next 18
months.
The facility at milepost 395 on I-80 will have a grand opening Sept. 9,
co-hosted by Shorepower Technologies and Cascade Sierra Solutions,
which are partnering on STEP.
...
How Much Should You
Save for
Emergencies?
A few years ago, the personal saving rate had dwindled
to
barely one percent. Americans were spending nearly all of their
disposable incomes. Now, however, the personal saving rate hovers at
about five percent. With all this saving going on, many folks are faced
with a burning question: How much should we save, anyhow? How much is
enough to survive a financial emergency?
...
Oh, the Irony:
Identity
Theft Prosecutor Falls Victim to Identity Theft
Credit card skimming, in which a crook installs a device
in an
ATM or payment terminal to steal account information, can happen to
anybody. For proof, look to Seattle, where Jenny Durkan, the U.S.
Attorney for the Western District of Washington and chair of the
Justice Department's Cybercrime Subcommittee tells local news outlets
she had a card compromised by skimmers.
...
Drivers urged to guard
cargo
over holiday weekend
Drivers should be aware of increased cargo theft
especially at
terminals and drop yards during Labor Day weekend, says Dan Burges of
security provider FreightWatch International.
Cargo theft rates rise an average of 28 percent over this and other
long weekends, he says, noting that they "provide criminals with
excellent opportunities to target, steal and transport goods to their
storage locations before the product is even discovered missing."
Loaded trailers that are parked for long periods over the weekend are
vulnerable, Burges says.
...
Three-day weekend
brings
increased truck cargo thefts, firm warns
Parking your truck and/or load for the Labor Day
three-day
weekend?
If so, you may want to keep this in mind: Security experts say cargo
theft rates increase about 28 percent over long weekends.
FreightWatch International, a logistics security firm, recently
reminded truck and cargo owners of the increased cargo theft incidents
during three-day weekends, "especially at terminals and drop yards
where loaded trailers are parked for long periods of time."
Truck drivers stopped at high-risk areas like truck stops and rest
areas should maintain communication with dispatchers, and shouldn't
drop or leave loads unattended, the company said.
...
NYC Toll Increase
Riles
Trucking Group, Commuters
... ATA President and CEO Bill Graves wrote a letter
Aug. 25
asking Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New
York, who appoint the authority's board, to reconsider what Graves
called an "ill-conceived and unprecedented" toll hike. "We urge you to
veto this proposal, which will not only devastate trucking companies
who serve the New York City area, but will also increase the cost of
doing business in a region already regarded as among the most expensive
in the nation," Graves wrote. He said ATA and the state trucking
associations in New York and New Jersey strongly oppose a plan where "a
majority of new revenues will subsidize projects with no benefit to
those paying the tolls."
Graves said the proposed tolls for five-axle trucks will be nearly
three times higher than for comparable bridges nationwide, and if
Maryland's proposed increases are implemented, tolls for a truck
hauling goods from Baltimore to Manhattan will rise from $114.25 today
to $209.25 within three years. "If the proposal is approved, ATA will
be compelled to consider its legal and legislative options," Graves
added.
...
Professional Truck
Drivers
Offer Highway Safety Tips for Labor Day Holiday
A group of elite professional truck drivers with
millions of
accident-free miles are offering advice on how to navigate through
highway traffic and arrive at your destination safely. Tips include...
...
Rand McNally lowers
price
for IntelliRoute GPS products
Rand McNally announced that it is dropping the price of
its
line of IntelliRoute TND products. Effective immediately, the
IntelliRoute TND 510 now is priced at $299.99 plus applicable taxes,
and the TND 710 is priced at $399.99 plus applicable taxes. The $50
price reduction includes the recently announced Lifetime Map Program
...
...
Pilot Flying J Now
Offers
At-the-Pump DEF at 135 Locations
... At Pilot Flying J travel centers and travel plazas,
DEF
and fuel dispensers are located together on one pump, so customers
swipe their card once to re-fuel and fill up with DEF.
...
Truck Drivers Now Have
a
Better Way to Scan, Send, and Store Freight Documents
Eleos Technologies today announced the release of Drive
Axle,
a cloud-based service that enables owner operators to scan, send, and
store freight documents with an iPhone or Android smart phone.
Documents can be scanned from anywhere with no need to locate a fax
machine, scanner, or overnight mail drop box. Documents are organized
and stored securely online for one year, where they can be easily
retrieved from any web browser. The service is priced at a flat
$29/month.
...
LogBook: New regs will
increase truck cost
The first-ever regulation for truck fuel consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions 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.
New truck fuel efficiency rules will cut fuel consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions beginning with 2014 models.
President Obama announced the new standard would yield a total fuel
savings of $73,000 over a truck's life. Heavy-duty trucks should expect
a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
by model year 2018 under a new Heavy-Duty National Program.
Many organizations applauded the development, but the Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers Association criticized it, saying there are cheaper
ways to achieve the same goals.
...
High water keeps Iowa
roads
closed
Some portions of major Iowa highways remain closed after
almost three months, forcing truckers to detour as much as 121 miles,
and a reopening schedule is not yet available.
Recently, the Missouri River has receded from flooding that began June
9. Iowa Department of Transportation employees are getting their first
post-flood glimpses of Interstate 680 at the Interstate 29 interchange.
Damage assessment will take time, but reopening will not occur this
year, said spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher.
...
I-680 in Iowa Severely
Damaged by Floodwaters; Repairs to Take Months
... The 3-mile stretch on I-680 at the I-29 interchange
down
to the Missouri River has been nearly obliterated. Pavement is cracked
and buckled into large chunks, giving the look of an intentional
demolition project.
The impressively bad damage was caused not just by submersion for
several weeks, but aldo by the continuous flow of water. The force of
the river washed out any and all loose sediment, getting into cracks
and leaving the pavement without support. ...
Feds to Trucking
Company:
You Cannot Fire Alcoholic Drivers
The federal government has sued a major trucking company
for
its firing of driver with an admitted alcohol abuse problem.
Alcoholism is classified as a disability under the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the suit maintains, and therefore employees cannot be
prohibited even from driving 18 wheelers due to their histories of
abuse.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the suit
against the Old Dominion Freight Line trucking company on August 16,
noted that while "an employer's concern regarding safety on our
highways is a legitimate issue, an employer can both ensure safety and
comply with the ADA."
...
If the EEOC prevails, of course, it will mean that Old Dominion will
still be liable both for any damage to life or property that results
from a potential relapse by one of its recovering drivers - which in
turn increases the risks involved in investment in the company - and
for the cost of trying to ensure that such damage never occurs. All of
these new burdens will raise Old Dominion's cost of doing business, and
hence the cost of everything they transport. And all of this can't
possibly ensure that a recovering driver does not relapse without the
company's knowledge.
...
Despite the apparent precedent for alcoholism-related lawsuits, EEOC's
case might not be a slam dunk. As the Competitive Enterprise
Institute's Hans Bader notes, a federal appellate court ruled in 1995
that employers can fire someone for problems caused by an ADA-qualified
disability if that disability "poses a significant risk [to others]
that cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation."
...
I-90 closures create
traffic
headaches for truck drivers
Gregory Ward had his truck route all mapped out. On
Monday he
figured the Thruway would be the quickest route from Saratoga County to
Onondaga County, but that wasn't the case.
"I spent the better part of nine hours sitting in that traffic. It was
totally ridiculous. There was no where we could go," said Ward.
The reason he and many others couldn't go anywhere: The Thruway was
closed. A portion of the interstate was closed Monday so crews could
determine the damage to Thruway bridges around Schoharie Creek. The
trip should have taken the Houston native three hours, but it tripled
with his many detours.
...
CVSA Brake Safety Week
planned for Sept. 11-17
Truckers will want to mark their calendars for CVSA
Brake
Safety week, scheduled for Sept. 11-17. The event is held nationwide by
participating members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. ...
Love's Installing RFID
Technology Chainwide
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores will
install
radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at all of its
locations, Tire Business reported.
Similar to bridge and tunnel transactions operated by groups such as
E-Z Pass, the technology when combined with a RFID tag in the cab of a
truck will allow fuel transactions to occur wirelessly without the use
of a credit or debit card. When a truck enters Love's fuel lane, the
RFID technology will instantly link to the user's account.
Called Fuel Island Manager, the program reduces a driver's time at the
pump because he or she does not need to enter any payment information.
Love's is rolling out the program at more than 270 locations and 100
tire stations in 39 states during the fourth quarter of this year,
according to the report.
...
Comdata markets
cardless
fueling system
Comdata Corp., a provider of electronic payment
innovation,
announced a new cardless fueling solution for travel centers and
transportation companies. The company says the program provides a
faster, more efficient way for drivers to fuel, while giving
transportation companies more options to control the fuel-purchasing
process.
The cardless program uses radio frequency identification technology to
initiate transactions at the fuel terminal, instead of requiring the
presence of a card to facilitate the process. Companies install RFID
tags in each of their vehicles that activate fuel terminals at approved
RFID-equipped locations as the vehicles pull alongside them.
...
Trucking companies and
terminal operators discuss snow removal
HALIFAX -- Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the
Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, has begun pushing for port
terminals to take responsibility for snow removal from containers and
trailers, reported The Chronicle Herald. Picard noted that it can be
difficult for carriers to arrange for snow removal, which usually
involves driving to another part of the city.
...
New EPA, DOT truck
fuel
economy rules undervalue nat gas
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
Department of
Transportation (DOT) are drawing criticism for not doing more to reduce
foreign oil imports with the newly proposed regulations covering
emissions and fuel economy for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
NGVAmerica is one of the groups saying it believes that the rules could
have been even more effective in reducing emissions and reducing the
use of imported petroleum. In particular, the federal government should
have done more to promote and encourage the use of fuels such as
natural gas. ...
Electrification of
truck
stop spaces revives
As fuel prices spiked in 2007-08, a large majority of
truckers' anti-idling interest was focused on dedicated auxiliary power
units, which market expanded dramatically with a profusion of new
manufacturers. This time around, with the economy still somewhat shaky,
owner-operator and fleet interest in up-front investment in
full-function APU technology may be taking a back seat infrastructure
improvements and use of electrified truckstop parking space services
when needed. For operators who don't already have APUs, these new
spaces will be a big boon to on-road comfort in the inclement seasons.
...
Truck drivers get a
seat on
tax forum
The chairman of the Australian Trucking Association,
David
Simon, has been appointed to the Australian Government's Tax Forum, to
be held in Canberra on 4-5 October. The government has invited 184
representatives of the community, business, unions and government, as
well as academics and other tax experts, to attend the forum, which
will debate priorities for reforming Australia's tax and transfer
system. The forum will consider road charging and other environmental
and social taxes on the afternoon of 4 October.
...
Post-Storm Flooding,
Road
Debris Slows Trucking: East Coast interstates open, but side routes
still restricted by damage
Major trucking companies along the U.S. East Coast were
restricting operations Monday in some areas hardest hit by the high
winds and flooding of Irene and taking stock of damage to roads and
their equipment.
Although most interstates appeared to be open and undamaged, several
major state roads and side routes were littered with trees and other
debris and authorities reported some roads near rivers up to Vermont
were flooded out. Widespread power outages meant truckers couldn't buy
fuel in some areas, and those headed into the hardest hit regions
should fuel up beforehand.
...
New fuel card program
offered
Wright Express Corp., a provider of business payment
processing and information management systems has launched the OTR PRO
fuel card program.
Designed for long-haul fleets and truck stop owners, the card offers
0.5-3-cent discounts on in-network fuel purchases at more than 700
independent truck stops and regional chain locations.
...
Appeals Court Throws
Out
EOBR Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's
electronic
onboard recorder 2010 final rule for motor carriers with significant
hours-of-service violations does not protect truck drivers from
potential harassment by their employers, a federal appeals court has
ruled.
Siding with three truck drivers and the Owner Operator Independent
Drivers Association, a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
on Aug. 26 vacated and remanded the rule back to the agency for further
proceedings.
...
U.S. diesel price
climbs
after falling for a month
After declining for four consecutive weeks, the U.S.
average
price of a gallon of diesel fuel increased 1.0 cent to $3.82 for the
week ending Monday, Aug. 29, according to the U.S. Department of
Energy's Energy Information Administration. The price, which had fallen
13.9 cents since July 25, is 88.2 cents higher than the same week last
year.
...
Experts: Tire
maintenance
critical in CSA era
Truckers should make sure their tires are properly
mounted,
suit the hauls they carry and are fuel-efficient, experts said Friday,
Aug. 26, during a tire technology seminar at the Great American
Trucking Show in Dallas.
...
Georgia lawmakers
approve
fuel tax freeze
A special session in Georgia geared toward nailing down
the
state's legislative district maps also provided some answers to two
questions that covered transportation issues.
State lawmakers ratified a freeze in the tax collected on fuel
purchases.
Georgia's fuel tax is a two-part tax. A 4 percent portion of the tax is
calculated twice per year and is based on the average price per gallon
of fuel in the state at the time. The rate can change every six months
on Jan. 1 and July 1.
Gov. Nathan Deal decided in June to freeze the state's fuel taxes to
help consumers avoid more pain at the pump. The tax rates were slated
to increase the first of July.
As required by state law, the Georgia House and Senate approved the
freeze through the end of the year with passage of a bill - HB2EX.
...
New law eliminates
reduced
speed limits
Starting Thursday, motorists on highways posted with 70
mph
speed limits no longer will have to drive slower at night.
A new law lifted the reduced 65 mph speed limits on state highways for
nighttime motorists. It also lifts the 65 mph limits that were posted
for truck drivers, said Mark Cross, spokesman for the Texas Department
of Transportation.
...
FL cargo theft
impacting
drug shortages, prices
It's a theft more lucrative than robbing a bank and the
evidence often vanishes by consuming it. Pharmaceutical cargo theft is
big business in Florida. It's so big its impacting the price you pay
for medicine.
Gone in 90 seconds. That's how fast truck drivers says criminals can
steal cargo containers.
...
Pa. governor's panel
advises
more red-light cameras
Cameras that catch people who run red lights have been
spreading across the country, along with controversy.
Now a panel appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett has recommended that
Pennsylvania cities be allowed to deploy them to reduce crashes at
dangerous intersections.
"It's using technology to affect behavior, reduce the cost of
enforcement and improve enforcement," said state Transportation
Secretary Barry Schoch, who chaired the governor's Transportation
Funding Advisory Commission.
...
More than 500 cities in 25 states use the cameras, and the number is
growing, said David Kelly, president and executive director of the
National Coalition for Safer Roads, formed to advocate for the systems
and a recipient of funding from companies that market them.
The Insurance Industry for Highway Safety says its study showed a 24
percent decline in fatalities from red-light running in cities where
the cameras are used, and reductions of 40 to 96 percent in violations.
It has estimated that 150 lives were saved over five years in the 14
biggest cities that use them.
"The greatest determining factor in getting people to change their
behavior is the threat of a ticket," Mr. Kelly said.
The cameras have critics who say they don't reduce crashes and are
deployed primarily to raise revenue. Some also have questioned the
legality of citations issued without a police officer personally
observing the violation.
In Los Angeles and Houston, the city councils have voted recently to
remove the cameras. The action in Houston followed a referendum in
which voters by a small margin opted to eliminate them.
...
Pilot Flying J to
offer
gyms, membership to truckers
... Each gym will be staffed by fitness professionals
and
include top-of-the-line fitness equipment, Snap Fitness said. A monthly
membership of $29.95 will provide access to any of more than 1,300 Snap
Fitness clubs worldwide. Family membership options for the trucking
community will also be offered.
...
Two New Low-Cost EOBRs
Ready
to Enter In-Cab Device Market
The market for low-cost electronic onboard recorders is
getting two new entrants.
Rand McNally Co. has elbowed its way onto the EOBR scene by unveiling a
new in-cab communication device it calls the TND 760 Fleet Edition and
sells for $799, while cab-communications giant Qualcomm Inc. said it
will meet that price with a new model to be introduced later this year.
...
Most EOBRs are more than just recording devices. They provide automated
driver logs and include other fleet-management services such as load
assignments, location tracking, vehicle diagnostics, navigation and
mobile communications.
Many EOBR models cost be-tween $1,000 and $2,000, and this does not
include a monthly service fee between $30 and $50 for each vehicle. The
fees depend on what range of services are provided.
...
Cargo thieves change
tactics: High-tech fraudsters use fake identities to lure customers
Thieves are taking cargo thefts to a new level, experts
say.
In some cases, thieves are impersonating legitimate trucking companies.
In other cases, they are setting up bogus businesses that appear to be
real to gain access to trucking company shipments, the experts say.
...
Sources say cargo thieves will even go so far as setting up a shell
company with a website to add legitimacy, then place bids on electronic
"broker load boards" to haul freight that shippers need help in
delivering. "If they win work off the board, they walk in and take the
cargo," Mr. Kirk said.
...
Penn lawmaker goes on
offensive to curb toll increases
... Adding to public angst about how the [Delaware River
Joint] toll bridge commission is run, the agency enacted a new toll
rate structure on July 1. As a result, large trucks are paying 75 cents
more per axle - to $4 from $3.25 per axle. Tolls for passenger vehicles
are up 25 cents - to $1 from 75 cents.
Discounted E-ZPass rates remain available for truckers and other users
that travel during off-peak periods.
Agency officials said the rate hikes are necessary to keep up with
capital improvements. An agency press release notes that higher truck
fees reflect the "greater wear and tear trucks cause" on roads and
bridges.
Emrick labeled the fare increase a tax on users in more ways than one.
"Businesses that use the bridges regularly will pass the 'tax' along to
their customers and consumers, who will be hit again. There has to be a
better way," he stated.
...
Illinois approves toll
increase for $12 billion plan
Tolls for passenger vehicles are going up in Illinois on
Jan.
1, 2012. The Illinois Tollway Authority has already enacted a toll
increase for trucks as part of a $12 billion plan to reconstruct, widen
and improve portions of interstates 90, 94, 294 and 57.
...
Tollway price hike
approved
... On Thursday, the Illinois State Toll Highway
Authority
Board voted, 7-1, to approve the measure, which will increase most
tolls by 87.5 percent to pay for the plan. The increase takes effect on
Jan. 1.
...
Matt Hart, the executive director of the Illinois Trucking Association,
said he feared that truck drivers are upset over the 60 percent
increase they will have to pay between 2015 and 2017. Increases after
that are tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Hart says the toll roads are the safest routes for truckers, and he
said it's possible that many will opt to choose local roads if tollways
become too expensive.
"Our biggest issue is safety," Hart said. "We operate on a very thin
margin, and if it's more cost-efficient, they will [avoid toll roads]."
...
Truckers triumph.
EOBRs are
O-U-T. Court rules driver harassment argument enough to vacate
rulemaking
... The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
sided
with OOIDA saying that the FMCSA ignored a federal statute that any
regulation imposed for the use of monitoring devices in commercial
vehicles must ensure that the devices are not used to harass vehicle
operators. The court said that EOBR technology allows the pressuring of
drivers to perform at higher levels and to even drive when tired, and
thus it vacated the rule.
"Companies can and do use technology to harass drivers by interrupting
rest periods," said Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of OOIDA.
"This decision not only dealt with the issue of harassment, but the
court also made it clear there were other aspects of the rule they
believed problematic."
In 2010, the FMCSA enacted a final rule to mandate EOBRs for interstate
commercial motor carriers that have a greater than 10 percent rate of
noncompliance with hours-of-service rules in any single compliance
review.
OOIDA challenged the regulation in court with three arguments. The
Association said that it was arbitrary and capricious based on the
harassment aspect, that the cost-benefit analysis failed to demonstrate
the benefits of the technology, and that EOBRs violate the Fourth
Amendment.
...
Courts toss FMCSA's
EOBR rule
The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association
(OOIDA)
successfully won a nearly year-long court battle to get mandates for
electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs) promulgated by the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) disallowed - primarily as they
would be a form of "harassment," violating a drivers' right to privacy
under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Natural gas gaining
traction
as tank truck fleet fuel
On August 14, the first four truck-tractors in a
42-truck
order were delivered to Fair Oaks Farms near Fair Oaks IN. Fueled with
methane from the dairy farm, this milk-hauling fleet operation is being
described as the largest transport-related renewable compressed natural
gas (CNG) project in the United States.
...
"We believe there is a big future for heavy-duty trucks fueled with
natural gas," said Andy Douglas, Kenworth national sales manager,
specialty markets. "Customers are asking for these products, which use
existing diesel technology that is robust, tough, and proven.
"Here in the United States, we sit on the world's largest natural gas
reserves. Other countries are using it more in transportation than we
are. Oil will continue to face price pressures, while natural gas
prices have remained relatively constant."
About 23,000 vehicles in the United States are fueled by natural gas at
this time. That includes approximately 800 tractors that have gone into
port drayage operations in California and other states as part of
emission-reduction campaigns.
...
Carriers, East Coast
brace
for the wrath of Irene
As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, and in
particular the Northeast, this weekend, trucking fleets are busy
preparing for the storm. Whether it is rerouting trucks or battening
down the hatches at terminals, carriers are preparing for the worst and
hoping for the best. ...
According to weather.com, Irene is expected to make an initial landfall
along the Cape Hatteras area of North Carolina later tonight and into
Saturday. The storm is then expected to skirt the coastline before
finally coming ashore across Long Island and into Connecticut and up
through Western Massachusetts on Sunday and into Monday morning.
Because of the size of the storm, nearly 400 mi. wide, hurricane and
tropical storm conditions could be felt up to 200 mi. inland even if
the storm stays just offshore, according to experts.
...
Revamped IdleAir plans
expansion
Electrification services will expand from 21 sites
currently
in operation to 100 by the end of 2013 with more expansion planned,
shorepower provider IdleAir announced Aug. 25 at the Great American
Trucking Show in Dallas.
Regions targeted for site development include Interstate 95 along the
East Coast, the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, where demand is
highest in the summer for air conditioning service, said IdleAir
president Mike Fielden. ...
Fielden and [CEO Ethan] Garber touted fuel and cost savings for those
who use the service, citing that the provider saves 5,000 gallons of
diesel use a day collectively.
Each station provided at truck stops across the nation costs $1.99 per
hour and $1.25 per hour after 10 hours of use.
...
Texas Simplifies
Vehicle
Registration Fee Structure
A new system that standardizes and simplifies
registration
fees for nearly every vehicle owner in Texas begins September 1.
Currently, Texas has 1,745 fee categories for registration. That number
is being reduced to nine weight classifications. The simplified
structure makes it easier for Texans to know what they owe, and reduces
administrative costs for the state, counties and private businesses.
...
"This fee modification will save time and money, positively affecting
the more than 15,000 trucking companies across the state as well as the
hundreds of thousands of professional truck drivers who live and work
in Texas," said John D. Esparza, president and chief executive officer
of the Texas Motor Transportation Association. "We are pleased that
this new structure simplifies and standardizes a convoluted system and
modernizes an outdated process."
Fees also change for trailer owners. The 75 different trailer
categories, which include travel trailers, are reduced to one annual
fee. It will cost $45 to register any trailer or travel trailer up to
6,000 pounds.
...
Some Texans also will pay a new $1 automation fee. This fee was
assessed in Texas' largest 60 counties, but now applies statewide. ...
...
Tolls to jump
87.5[percent]
on Illinois Tollway
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Board approved
an
87.5[percent] increase in tolls for the road last night, effective Jan.
1, 2012.
...
Tollway board approves
toll
hike
The Illinois Tollway board today approved a plan that
would
nearly double tolls to pay for an ambitious $12.1 billion program of
expanding and building highways.
Basic I-Pass toll rates will rise from 40 cents to 75 cents, with those
who use cash continuing to pay double what I-Pass users do.
...
Great America Trucking
Show
Specials
Even though we can not be there, You can still buy and
save
with our show specials on truck wash:
...
Show specials are available up to Friday, September 30, 2011.
...
Truckstop Chains
Upping
Fitness Options
TravelCenters of America is expanding its StayFit
program by
adding new sites, and Flying J will be adding fitness centers through a
partnership between Snap Fitness and Rolling Strong.
...
The 960-square-foot workout centers "are designed to accommodate the
trucking community and those who travel frequently for business or
vacation, so they can get the workouts they need quickly and
conveniently," said Peter Taunton, CEO and founder of Snap Fitness.
Each Snap Fitness Rolling Strong gym will be located at a Pilot Flying
J travel center or travel plaza, staffed by fitness professionals and
will include a variety of top-of-the-line fitness equipment. Monthly
gym dues are $29.95 for the trucking community, and will provide access
to the Snap Fitness Rolling Strong gyms as well as any of the 1,300
Snap Fitness clubs worldwide. ...
U.S. braces for
Hurricane
Irene
Truck drivers are often on the front lines when severe
weather
hits. Many are preparing for Hurricane Irene, expected to hit the
Carolinas sometime Saturday, Aug. 27.
...
Trucker ordered to pay
restitution for falsely reporting 'stolen' Peterbilt
New Jersey prosecutors say a truck driver reported that
his
2007 Peterbilt had been stolen, though investigators later proved the
driver still had the truck, which he had repainted.
Casey M. Wendling, 28, of Millville, NJ, was sentenced Aug. 19 to five
years of probation and ordered to pay $52,978 in restitution. He
pleaded guilty on June 3, admitting that between September 2008 and
August 2010 he had submitted a fraudulent vehicle theft claim to the
Lincoln General Insurance company.
...
The Great American
Trucking
Show takes over Dallas this weekend
... The Great American Trucking Show will be held at the
Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, TX, Aug 25-27. It's the nation's
second-largest trucking trade show.
...
Ride and Roll is partnering with Crete Carrier Corp. to give away a
bicycle. Register for the drawing at the Ride and Roll booth in the
parking lot.
...
OOIDA Senior Member Jon Osburn will have the Medical Education Research
Vehicle, aka the MERV, on site. Visit him for an affordable health
screening.
...
In addition to the sights and sounds, a number of free seminars and
events will be offered, covering hot industry topics such as CSA,
EOBRs, tire technology, safety audits and more.
...
Can taxing trucks by
the
mile help save transportation funding?
Transportation researcher Richard Mudge is looking for
ways to
make sure states can afford to fix and build roads and bridges, even as
gas taxes become less effective. Like other experts, he wants to start
taxing vehicles for how far they drive, instead of the current system
based on how much gas they use. The difference is that Mudge wants to
start using the system on trucks, not cars.
...
Rand McNally offering
Lifetime Map updates for GPS products
At the Great American Trucking Show, Rand McNally
announced
that all IntelliRoute TND GPS purchasers will be eligible to
participate in a Lifetime Map Program. For a one-time fee of $89.99,
participating IntelliRoute TND customers will have access to the latest
Rand McNally map updates as long as they own the device.
...
California DMV
Employee
Charged with Taking Bribes to Falsify CDL Records
An employee of the California Department of Motor
Vehicles has
been charged with taking bribes to alter driver's license records and
issue commercial licenses to individuals who had not passed the
required written and driving tests.
Michelle Carbajal, 37, is charged with 19 felony counts of altering
public documents and 19 felony counts of computer access and fraud. If
convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison.
...
Between June 10, 2009, and April 27, 2010, Carbajal is accused of
accepting money from 12 individuals in exchange for unlawfully altering
their driver's license records.
She is accused of marking in the records of the 12 individuals that
they had passed both the written and driving tests to obtain a
commercial license. In fact, none of the 12 had passed any of the
tests.
In all, the 12 purchasers paid $23,000. ...
Illinois approves
privatization for new roads
Illinois officials now are authorized to tap private
companies
to get new roads built. The state has already resorted to using the
funding method to build the long-sought Illiana Expressway.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law Tuesday, Aug. 23, to open the
door to allowing the state to form partnerships with private groups to
get more road work done. The partnership would permit private business
to partially or fully fund construction in return for revenues, such as
tolls.
...
Is a low-cost truck
invasion
on the horizon?
... [Sandeep] Kar [, global director, commercial vehicle
research for Frost & Sullivan, a research group that
concentrates on global infrastructure and transportation issues,]
defines a "low-cost" truck as a vehicle that sells for 20 to 25 percent
less than a current, new low-cab-forward commercial vehicle today. And
he notes that in the U.S. today, there are virtually no truck models
available for sale in that price bandwidth. "This tremendous pricing
gap today is and will attract truck-makers from all over the globe," he
notes. "And it demands a response from U.S. truck manufacturers today."
Kar notes that moving into the North American market will not be easy
for foreign manufacturers with unknown reputations for reliability.
Although he says that recent inroads in the auto industry by foreign
brands have lowered that hurdle somewhat. "The key will be not to build
cheap trucks," he says. "But rather to build good trucks cheaply."
...
Tracking device leads
to
cache of 'hot' parts
A tracking device on a stolen trailer led police to a
cache of
auto parts, lighting fixtures and forklifts in rural Wells County.
Carter Express Inc. in Anderson reported Monday that one of its
trailers loaded with Nissan auto parts was stolen from a parking lot
off Interstate 69 in Gas City over the weekend, Gas City Police Chief
Kirk McCollum said.
The parts were valued at more than ...
...
Scam pretends truckers
owe
NY State Police
In early August, Don Endecott saw an email from a
@nyc.gov
address that was purportedly from the New York State Police.
It included file attachments under the name: "Uniform Traffic Ticket."
Don, an OOIDA member and 61-year veteran of trucking, clicked on the
attachment - something he immediately regretted. It locked up his
computer.
...
Pennsylvania Turnpike
may
soon do away with cash option
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is studying whether
to
transition to a cashless system of toll collection, but truckers say
the agency should keep a cash option available.
The commission recently published an online survey and called on
truckers, especially those who pay cash, for input.
Most frequent users have E-ZPass, but some still prefer to pay cash,
says OOIDA Senior Member Chris Behrens of Brodheadsville, PA.
...
Truckers upset over
NY/NJ
toll hikes
Using the bridges and tunnels between New York City and
New
Jersey will cost truckers a pretty penny with a Port Authority toll
hike approved Friday that will increase fares to 5-axle trucks from $40
to $65 per trip beginning next month.
Eventually, those trucks will have to fork over $105 per trip in 2015,
a 125 increase, as the Port Authority plans to gradually increases the
fee.
Under the plan, trucks that use E-Z Pass will pay an extra $2 per axle
beginning in September 2011. The toll will rise by the same amount each
December from 2012 to 2015. Cash-paying truck drivers will pay the same
increase - plus a $3 per axle penalty.
...
Truckers insulted by
125
percent tax increase in NY-NJ
The governors of New York and New Jersey vowed not to
raise
taxes, but that's precisely what has happened in a deal struck Friday
with the local port authority to increase truck tolls by 125 percent
and car tolls by 67 percent. The fast-tracked plan has left truckers
with feelings of betrayal as only a fraction of the new revenue will be
used to improve infrastructure.
As part of the plan, the $40 truck toll on the George Washington Bridge
will become $50 on Sept. 1 of this year. Then the truck rate will
increase $10 each December from 2012 through 2015, ending up at $90.
That amounts to a 125 percent increase by 2015.
And that's for the E-ZPass customers. Cash customers will make out much
worse. ...
...
Truckers take carbon
tax
fight to Canberra
[Australia] Demonstrators led by about 200 truck drivers
have
protested against a range of Federal Government policies outside
Parliament House.
...
Trucking industry
calls for
permanent exemption from carbon tax
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) is calling for
the
Federal Government to permanently exempt the trucking industry from the
carbon tax.
Under the government's proposed carbon tax, which is set to come into
effect on 1 July 2012, the trucking industry will be exempt from paying
a price on carbon for two years.
...
New Illinois Law to
Improve
Oversize/Overweight Permits
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation allowing the
state
Department of Transportation to issue permits for loads that previously
exceeded size and weight restrictions for travel on state highways if
specific conditions are met.
"This law will significantly cut transportation costs for companies
throughout Illinois," Quinn said. "Common sense laws like this will
help us continue to strengthen Illinois' position as the nation's
inland port."
...
Illinois laws cover
truck
ops, road repairs and safety
Multiple new laws in Illinois are intended to reduce
costs for
trucking operations, save the state money on road repairs, and improve
safety on roadways.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed one bill into law on Monday, Aug. 22, which is
intended to reduce fuel and equipment costs for trucking companies
throughout the state.
...
Road train speed limit
increase
South Australian truck speed limits are lining up with
other
states after the road train speed limit increased from 90 to 100
kilometres per hour at the start of this month.
...
Graves calls on NY, NJ
governors to veto toll increases
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill
Graves
Thursday called on Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo
of New York to reconsider what Graves called an "ill-conceived and
unprecedented" toll hike recently approved board of the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey.
"We urge you to veto this proposal, which will not only devastate
trucking companies who serve the New York City area, but will also
increase the cost of doing business in a region already regarded as
among the most expensive in the nation," Graves, a former two-term
governor of Kansas, wrote in an Aug. 25 letter.
...
The Port Authority's original plan called for truck tolls per axle
using E-ZPass in off-peak hours to increase from $7 to $13 roundtrip
and in peak hours from $8 to $14, with an additional $2
per-axle-increase in 2014 for both off-peak and peak hours. A similar
cash surcharge of $3 per axle will be applied to trucks in 2011 that
continue to use the optional cash system with an additional $2 per axle
in 2014.
The governors' proposal approved last week requires trucks to pay an
additional $2 per axle beginning next month and then an additional $2
per axle in December of each year from 2012-2015. Tolls on trucks
paying cash will have the same increase but would be subject to an
additional $3 per axle cash penalty under the governors' proposal.
The approved plan means that by the end of 2015, EZPASS roundtrip truck
tolls will be $90 for a five-axle rig. ...
... if these, as well as other proposed increases in the I-95 corridor
are implemented a truck hauling goods from Baltimore to Manhattan will
see its toll burden rise from $114.25 today to $209.25 in just three
years, he said.
...
NY-NJ Truck Tolls to
Double
Truck tolls at bridges and tunnels linking New Jersey
and New
York City will more than double over the next five years under an
increase approved Friday by the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey.
The port authority board approved scaled-back toll increases proposed
by Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey, who
appoint members of the bistate board.
Tolls for trucks using E-Z Pass payment tags will rise $2 per axle in
September, or $10 for a five-axle vehicle. Tolls will rise an
additional $2 per axle each December between 2012 and 2015, resulting
in a total increase of $50 per five-axle truck over five years.
Under the toll increase that takes effect next month, trucks paying in
cash will pay a penalty of $3 per axle. A five-axle truck using E-Z
Pass currently pay a total of $40 during peak hours, $35 during
off-peak hours and $27.50 during overnight hours on weekdays. The tolls
apply only to eastbound crossings.
...
Port Authority
officials
back reduced toll, fare hikes
Port Authority officials say they support a scaled-back
toll-
and fare-increase package proposed by Govs. Chris Christie of New
Jersey and Andrew M. Cuomo of New York...
The package would roll back the base toll increase to cross the
authority's Hudson River bridges and tunnels and the fare to ride its
PATH rail system and instead proposes small annual increases for
several years afterward instead of the big bite the agency proposed on
Aug. 5.
...
Freightliner
focuses on fuel economy: Challenging accuracy of competitors' ECM fuel
consumption data, Freightliner develops its own fuel testing methodology
Freightliner Trucks has set an ambitious goal of
improving the
fuel efficiency of its flagship Cascadia by 5[percent] every two years.
The company shared some insight on where it stands today and how it
will deliver further fuel economy improvements during a recent press
briefing here. David Hames, Freightliner's general manager, marketing
and strategy, said the company improved the fuel efficiency of its
Cascadia by 5 when introducing its EPA2010 emissions package using
selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment, achieving a
baseline of 6.7 mpg in typical linehaul operations.
That was improved another 3.5[percent] in 2011 with a recently
introduced aerodynamic package including improved chassis fairings. ...
...
Virtual
Technician keeps Freightliner fleets connected
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has made its Virtual
Technician remote engine diagnostics tool standard on Freightliner
trucks with Detroit Diesel engines.
...
When a Check Engine light appears on a truck's dash, an engine fault
code is immediately sent to the Detroit Diesel Customer Support Center.
A technician assesses the urgency of the situation and then advises the
driver or fleet manager on the appropriate course of action. If
immediate servicing is required, the driver or fleet manager will be
provided with a list of the nearest approved service centres, including
their current inventory of required parts.
...
The ultimate goal ... is to increase uptime and reduce the time spent
waiting for parts and service when a repair is necessary. Providing
details on truck breakdowns in real-time also allows fleets to better
make contingency plans; they'll know as soon as the Check Engine light
appears how long it will take to resolve the issue and whether or not
it's necessary to dispatch a second truck to deliver the load.
...
Port
Authority officials back reduced toll, fare hikes
Port Authority officials say they support a scaled-back
toll-
and fare-increase package proposed by Govs. Chris Christie of New
Jersey and Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, which will be voted on by the
bi-state agency's board of commissioners this morning.
The package would roll back the base toll increase to cross the
authority's Hudson River bridges and tunnels and the fare to ride its
PATH rail system and instead proposes small annual increases for
several years afterward instead of the big bite the agency proposed on
Aug. 5.
...
Dynasys
APU System Give-A-Way
As a truck owner operator or fleet owner, how would you
like
to win a Dynasys APU for your truck?
The unit, valued at $8,200 installed, will be awarded to the winner of
the Dynasys APU Give-A-Way, presented by Hodyon, Inc., during the
upcoming Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas.
Hodyon, one of the top APU manufacturers in the country, will give away
the unit during the show, to be held between August 25-27, 2011.
The contest rules could not be easier. ...
...
RI
Wants Tolls on I-95
Rhode Island has asked the federal government for
permission
to charge tolls on Interstate 95 near the Connecticut border.
As WPRI reports, the state Department of Transportation filed an
application in late June asking the federal government to approve the
installation of tollbooths between Exits 1 and 2 on both sides of I-95
in Hopkinton. No tolls are proposed at the Massachusetts border.
The documents don't say how much the toll would be.
...
Used
tire program recycles 25 millionth tire in Ontario
TORONTO, Ont. -- Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) has
recycled
its 25 millionth scrap tire in the province since the start of its Used
Tires Program in 2009. To date, more than 125,000 tonnes of tires have
been recycled in Ontario and made into a range of innovative tire
derived products.
...
Officials say the program has not only significantly reduced tire waste
in Ontario, but has also fostered positive change in the province's
tire recycling industry, generating $23 million for the industry in the
first year alone.
...
NHTSA
Preparing to Require Stability Control Systems on Tractors
A pending federal proposal to require stability control
systems on truck tractors is getting a mixed reaction from the trucking
industry.
The proposal, scheduled to be published by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration at the end of the year, would specify the details
of a technology standard that that a growing number of fleets already
have adopted voluntarily because they see safety benefits.
... two types of stability systems on the market, Roll Stability
Control and Electronic Stability Control. ...
The agency ... says that rollover and loss-of-control crashes are
responsible for 304 deaths and 2,738 injuries a year. And stability
control systems are effective in up to 56[percent] of single-vehicle
tractor trailer rollover crashes, and up to 14[percent] in crashes from
skidding. From this, the agency estimates that the systems will save as
many as 66 lives a year and prevent almost 1,000 injuries.
The systems would cost the industry up to $107 million a year, but that
cost would be outweighed by up to $372 million in savings from
preventing property damage and travel delays, the agency said.
...
Forecast:
Operator pay rising
Over the next 12 months, owner-operator pay will rise 4
to 6
cents a mile and company driver pay 3 to 5 cents a mile as carriers
compete for a diminished supply of quality candidates, predicted pay
specialist Gordon Klemp Aug. 15 at an online seminar.
...
Trucker
fights prohibited credit card surcharge
Is it worth it?
That's the question many truck drivers ask themselves after they've
discovered an accounting error on a repair or parts bill, but are
sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles down the road.
Depending on the amount, many drivers choose to "eat" the cost because
it's not worth the time and effort to try to recoup their losses.
The owner of a small trucking company in Texas is urging all drivers to
review their purchases to make sure they get what they paid for - and
no surcharges are added to their bills.
...
Truck
Driver DAC Report Class Action Registry
... One of the major obstacle that truck drivers face is
the
ability to find employment, once false information has been reported on
their DAC report. It can literally destroy their career.
Most often, the false information has been reported to USIS DAC
Services by the trucking company for retaliation purposes against the
driver; even for such reasons as the driver leaving for better
employment.
...
Port
eyes higher tolls
A proposal by the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey
could sharply increase tolls on bridges and tunnels starting in
September.
The plan would raise cash tolls for 5-axle trucks to $85 from $40
roundtrip. E-ZPass users would see peak fees increase to $70 from $40
and off-peak would go up to $65 from $35.
The E-ZPass overnight fee would remain at $27.50 and ...
...
E-toll
fee adoption 'bold, progressive'
[South Africa] The ANC has called Cabinet's approval of
the
tariffs for the controversial e-toll system "bold and progressive".
It says it commends Cabinet for endorsing the revised tariffs that saw
a slight reduction on the fee structure initially gazetted and
subsequently suspended earlier this year.
Click here
The ruling party specifically highlights the exemption of all taxis and
buses from the e-toll system, which is based on a user-pay principle.
"This will result in motorists, motorcyclists and truck drivers paying
much reduced toll fees. ...
...
Freight
Wing offers OOIDA member discounts on side skirts
Owner-operators who own their own trailers can save on
their
fuel bills if they run with aerodynamic trailer side skirts. If they
happen to be OOIDA members, they can save even more, thanks to a 15
percent OOIDA member discount being offered by Freight Wing, the
company that manufactures EPA SmartWay-verified Aeroflex side skirts.
...
Natural
gas growing as trucking fuel option
Natural gas is slowly making inroads in trucking as
carriers
are buying NG-powered trucks and more LNG and CNG fueling stations are
opened, executives reported Aug. 11 at a green trucking event presented
by Kenworth.
...
Helping drive the interest in NG is the price of diesel and growing
availability of NG fueling locations. NG costs about half diesel's
current price on an equivalent diesel basis and is projected to stay at
that price for the foreseeable future, [Andy] Douglas [, Kenworth
national sales manager for specialty markets] said. NG also releases
about 25 percent fewer emissions when burned. Its attractiveness is
enhanced because it can be used with existing diesel engine technology
with a few modifications.
Interest in NG trucks is increasing despite a 30 percent to 40 percent
higher cost. Most of the additional cost comes from ...
...
Would
You Pay to Use Your Debit Card?
Banks have been scrambling to find ways to boost their
revenue
after the government stepped in to quash overdraft abuses and cap
interchange fees. Free checking accounts have already become harder to
come by as banks have upped their minimum balance requirements or
required direct deposit. They've added or increased fees for everything
from talking to a teller to using an out-of-network ATM. The newest
volley comes from Wells Fargo, which is charging some of its customers
in five states $3 a month just to use their debit cards.
Starting in October, some checking account customers in Georgia, New
Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington will be charged $3 for each month
they use their debit cards. It doesn't matter whether the customer
presses "credit" or "debit" on a checkout payment terminal; the fee
still applies...
...
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