CARGO THEFT A CONCERN DURING JULY 4 WEEKEND

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – CargoNet has analyzed cargo theft data in Canada and the US from 2012 to 2015 and found that between July 2-9, nonalcoholic beverages, major appliances and copper were some of the more popular targeted items.

FIREWORKS HAULERS GRANTED HOURS EXEMPTIONS

A total of 53 fireworks haulers have been granted hours of service exemptions for the Independence Day period through 2020.

DEMAND INDICATORS FOR VANS, REEFERS, FLATS UP IN THE LAST WEEK

Flatbed, too, showed hot markets around the nation, where load-to-truck ratios on DAT Load Boards trucked well above average. Compare this map to that shown in our last flatbed update, and you’ll see that demand has improved since early June in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest states. Flatbed freight is also strong in the Southeast. The biggest improvement in June volume and rates came from Tampa, Fla., followed by Savannah. Rates in Fort Worth are rebounding now from a downturn earlier in the month, but Rock Island, Ill., outbound rates are declining, in what’s usually a busy month for farm equipment and related freight. Overall, DAT says, flatbed traffic has been subdued this year, after the end of the fracking boom. Rates went up in the first half of June for flatbeds, then dropped back in the second half of the month, to yield a stable average rate compared to May.

DRIVER SAVED BY INSPECTION CREW AFTER HEART ATTACK

A truck driver in Maryland was saved by a team of inspectors after having an apparent heart attack following a clean inspection, according to a report from WCBC in Cumberland, Md.

WCBC reports a driver ran into the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division weigh and inspection facility on I-68 in Finzel, Md., at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 27, and told the inspectors there was a man down in the parking lot.

CARGO THEFTS PREDICTED TO RISE DURING JULY 4 WEEKEND

Cargo theft firms CargoNet and FreightWatch International have released warnings and recommendations ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend.

U.S. XPRESS SPECS BENDIX AIR DISC BRAKES ON TRACTOR STEER AXLES

U.S. Xpress is spec’ing Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes on the steer axles of more than 2,800 tractors, including vehicles manufactured by Freightliner, International, Kenworth and Peterbilt. Delivery began last year and continues in 2016, according to the company.

COMBATING CARGO THEFT THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND

This coming July 4th weekend is prime time for cargo theft. According to data from Travelers Insurance, on holiday weekends, cargo theft jumps as much as 40%, as holiday weekends give thieves time to target trailers full of shipments left unattended for days.

TRUCKING’S INVESTMENT IN SAFETY TOTALS $9.5 BILLION EACH YEAR

The trucking industry invests at least $9.5 billion in safety annually according to a landmark report released Wednesday by American Trucking Associations.
“We know that this industry prioritizes and invests in improving safety on our nation’s highways,” said Dave Osiecki, ATA’s executive vice president of National Advocacy. “With the results of this survey, we now can put a dollar figure on that investment, and that figure is significant.”

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

My first job out of college (1976) was working in the military defense industry at General Electric in Utica, NY. I was doing some electronics testing for a down-looking radar system to allow missiles to fly autonomously to a target. Some of that technology was used in the early 90’s in a war we had where some may remember video of a bomb finding a chimney and going down it.

LAST WEEK’S SPOT TRUCKLOAD RATES REMAIN UNCHANGED

National average spot truckload rates were unchanged as spot market activity slowed during the week ending June 25, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
The total number of posted loads fell 6.2 percent while available truck capacity dropped 9.3 percent. Load-to-truck ratios increased across all three equipment types.

FMCSA GRANTS STATES MILITARY CDL WAIVER

90-day timeline extended to one year
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its decision to grant the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) and all other state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations.

ATA: TRUCKING INVESTS $9.5 BILLION IN SAFETY ANNUALLY

The trucking industry invests at least $9.5 billion in safety every year, according to a new report by the American Trucking Associations.

Driver safety training was the largest investment category, making up 36% of the total annual spending. The investments also include technologies such as collision avoidance systems, electronic logging devices and video event recorders.

NACFE: FLEETS SHOULD SWITCH TO LOW-VISCOSITY ENGINE OILS

Latest Confidence Report highlights fuel economy savings and potentially longer drain intervals of low-viscosity engine oil blends.
The latest Confidence Report issued by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) indicates that Class 8 tractors can gain anywhere from 0.5% to 1.5% in fuel economy when switching from 15W-40 oils to current CJ-4 5W-30 or 10W-30 blends or to CK-4 5W-30 and 10W-30 blends derived from the new PC-11 classification, which will be available in December this year.

TRUCKING HR CANADA EXPANDS ITS EFFORTS FOCUSING ON WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY

OTTAWA, Ont. – Trucking HR Canada has announced three new resources – My Toolbox for Mentoring Women, Inventory of Resources and a women in trucking video – as part of its Women With Drive initiative.

SEVEN STATES CHANGE FUEL TAX RATES AS OF JULY 1

States across the country this week are making changes to their fuel tax collection.

North Carolina’s fuel tax rate is on the way down. The action follows a 2015 state law that overhauled how the state collects tax on fuel purchases.

ARKANSAS BRIDGE CLOSED INDEFINITELY AFTER DUMP TRUCK STRIKE

Arkansas authorities say a bridge strike on the Ouachita River Bridge in Arkadelphia will send motorists on a 31-mile detour until repairs can be made.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is still assessing the damage caused after a county dump truck struck several horizontal and vertical support beams on the bridge’s superstructure. The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

NEW JERSEY TO RAISE FUEL TAX 23 CENTS ON FRIDAY?

An effort at the New Jersey statehouse to link a proposed 23-cent fuel tax rate increase to tax breaks received a huge boost overnight. The effort is underway to shore up the state’s Transportation Trust Fund for the next eight years.

INTERSTATE 70 – AS ALL-AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE AND … BASEBALL?

My home state of Missouri is one of the states that has laid claim to have historical sections of the first interstate in the U.S. That would be Interstate 70, of course, the big road that runs by our OOIDA headquarters in Grain Valley. It’s the road that never sleeps and has become a kind of white noise and constant movement that’s part of the scene here.

VOLVO TRUCKS ADDS D13 ENGINE WITH TURBO COMPOUNDING

Volvo Trucks North America is adding a turbo compounding option for the Volvo D13 engine. “By converting wasted heat energy, the 13-liter D13 with turbo compounding improves fuel efficiency by up to 6.5 percent, while also delivering up to 100 extra lb.-ft. of torque for improved performance,” the company said.

DISTRACTION IS EVERYWHERE: BEHIND THE WHEEL, ON THE SIDEWALK …

Did you know that the 4th of July holiday period is now one of the deadliest stretches of days for motorists on U.S. highways? That caught me by surprise. Then again, it shouldn’t – especially this year, as record numbers of travelers are going to hit the roads before, during, and after Independence Day.

IOWA 80 OFFERS EZ OIL DRAIN VALVES

Iowa 80, known as “The Place for Chrome,” said it is now offering the EZ Oil Drain Valves at the truck stop.

THE REGULATORY TO-DO LIST FOR 2016 AND BEYOND

Zonar’s whitepaper gives carriers an in-depth look at what to expect
The ELD mandate. Safety Fitness Determination rule. Speed limiters. Drug testing. GHG Phase 2.

The trucking industry has a lot coming up on the regulatory front. Though it may seem daunting, Zonar has released a whitepaper that fleets might find useful. The whitepaper not only highlights upcoming regulations and gives carriers a snapshot of what they can expect, but it also provides insight as to what fleets might not yet know.

DRIVERS LEGAL PLAN RENEWS ATA FEATURED PRODUCT AGREEMENT

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) said Drivers Legal Plan — a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of truck drivers and the interests of trucking companies — has renewed as an ATA Featured Product provider.

OEM: CLASS 8 ORDERS LOW, INVENTORIES GROWING, BUT '17 TECH SHOWS PROMISE

SHIPPENSBURG, PA. Noting, as many have, that retail sales for Class 8 trucks in North America have lagged this year, Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) execs say truck dealers' inventories are swelling and present a problem for the market picking back up. At the same time, the latest 2017 fuel-efficiency technologies that've come about thanks to federal Greenhouse Gas Phase I regulations are rolling out and opening new possibilities.

OMNITRACS TAKES GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE AT AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS

Omnitracs, a global pioneer of fleet management solutions to transportation and logistics companies, was named the winner of multiple Stevie Awards in the New Product or Service of the Year for Software category in the 14th annual American Business Awards.

TRUCKER DECLARED IMMINENT HAZARD AFTER FATAL CRASH

Federal agency reports alcohol and speed as contributing factors
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a Tennessee-licensed truck driver to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. The commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder was served the federal order on June 22, 2016.

DIESEL PRICES AT NATION’S TRUCK STOPS REMAIN UNCHANGED LAST WEEK

The average price for a gallon of diesel fuel remained unchanged at $2.426 last week, with various regions recording slight increases and decreases at the pump.

DIESEL NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICE UNCHANGED, UP AND DOWN REGION-BY-REGION

The average price of a gallon of on-highway diesel remained stable at $2.426 per gallon for the week ending Monday, June 27. This comes the week after the first decrease after 10 consecutive weeks of increases.

DIESEL FLAT FOR THE WEEK

Regionally, diesel prices in flux, EIA says. Yet diesel may also start trumping alternative fuels due to Phase 2 rules, agency notes.
National average retail pump prices for diesel stayed flat this week for the U.S., while the price for gasoline dropped, according the data tracked by the Energy Information Agency (EIA)

FTR SHIPPERS CONDITIONS INDEX SHOWS IMPROVEMENT IN APRIL

FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) for April rose marginally to a reading of 1.5 — up from 0.4 in March. The new reading reflects improved market conditions for shippers as freight demand remains sluggish.
The SCI is at its highest sustained level since 2011; however, conditions for shippers should reverse in 2017 as fuel prices rise and regulatory drag tightens capacity.

ACT FIGURES SHOW USED CLASS 8 TRUCK VOLUMES DROP 18% IN MAY

Used Class 8 truck same dealer sales volumes took a steep downward turn in May, falling by double-digit percentages month over month and year over year.
However, year-to-date volumes declined by a smaller percentage, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.

MILITARY VETS WITH DRIVING EXPERIENCE GET FULL YEAR TO WAIVE CDL SKILLS TEST

Military veterans who drove commercial vehicles during their service now have up to a full year after their departure from their branch of service to be exempt from the commercial driver’s license skills test when applying for a CDL.

ECONOMIC WATCH: GDP GROWTH IMPROVES JUST SLIGHTLY

U.S. economic growth improved more than previous estimates, but not by much, according to the latest GDP figures reelases by the Commerce Department June 28. Stronger net exports and business investment offset an unexpected downward revision to consumer spending.

EIA: DIESEL FLAT, GASOLINE DOWN FOR THE WEEK

Lots of fluctuation in regional prices for both fuels, though, the agency says.
National average retail pump prices for diesel stayed flat this week for the U.S., while the price for gasoline dropped, according the data tracked by the Energy Information Agency (EIA)

LOWER VISCOSITY ENGINE OILS IMPROVE FUEL SAVINGS, NACFE SAYS

Fleets that switch to lower viscosity engine oils can increase fuel savings by as much as 1.5 percent, according to a new Confidence Report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room. The top end of estimates from fleets and oil companies is even higher.

CRASH MITIGATION: A JET FUEL HAULER'S APPROACH TO SAFETY

When you're driving a Pinnacle Express fuel truck down the road — that's 130,000 lbs. of tanker truck hauling 13,400 gal. of jet fuel — and there's some obstacle or accident suddenly in front of you, you've got two possibilities: stand on those brakes and stop the truck, or hit whatever it is if you can't.

EIA PROJECTS DIESEL SAVINGS WITH PHASE 2 STANDARDS

According to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Today in Energy report, new proposed fuel standards would reduce diesel consumption in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS OPENS IN ENID, OK

Drivers traveling on U.S. Highway 412 have a new place to purchase fuel, snacks and more, as Love’s Travel Stops opened its doors for business in Enid, OK, at 42nd Street. Enid marks Love’s third location to open in Oklahoma this year and 70th overall in the Sooner State.

PENRAY INTRODUCES COOLING SYSTEM TREATMENT

Penray has introduced its new Pencool 4000 with two distinct applications. The first application is used as a water-only ELC corrosion inhibitor for marine applications. The second application is as an additive specifically formulated for nitrite-free Extended Life Coolants (ELCs) used in heavy duty, commercial applications.

NACFE: FLEETS SHOULD SWITCH TO LOW-VISCOSITY ENGINE OILS

Latest Confidence Report highlights fuel economy savings and potentially longer drain intervals of low-viscosity engine oil blends.
The latest Confidence Report issued by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) indicates that Class 8 tractors can gain anywhere from 0.5% to 1.5% in fuel economy when switching from 15W-40 oils to current CJ-4 5W-30 or 10W-30 blends or to CK-4 5W-30 and 10W-30 blends derived from the new PC-11 classification, which will be available in December this year.

TWO TRUCKING GROUPS FILE BRIEFS IN ELD SUIT – BACKING THE FULL MANDATE

The lawsuit brought by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association seeking to overturn the electronic log mandate, has two more trucking-related groups along with a third group attempting to push the mandate forward with brief filed on Wednesday, June 22.

OOIDA COMMENTS HIGHLIGHT ENFORCEMENT DISCREPANCIES

OOIDA wants the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to know that the data being used for its proposed carrier safety fitness determination rule is seriously flawed.

NEW LOVE'S IN OKLAHOMA INCLUDES MORE THAN 60 PARKING SPACES

Truckers travelling through Oklahoma on U.S. Highway 412 have another option to add to their list of places to park and rest. Love’s Travel Stops has announced a new location in Enid, Okla.

FATAL CRASH, SPEEDING AND CROWN ROYAL GET TRUCKER TOSSED BY FMCSA

A Tennessee truck driver who faces multiple counts of manslaughter following a deadly crash last March in Maine has been declared an imminent hazard to public safety.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued the imminent hazard order Friday against Randall J. Weddle, 54, of Greenville, Tenn. The order prohibits Weddle from operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

BREXIT – TOO SOON TO TALK ABOUT LONG TERM IMPACT

Brexit.

If you are on social media or flipped through the channels on your television, catching glimpses of news reports, you may have seen that term dominating headlines. But what does it mean?

GATS: EARNING A HEALTHY REPUTATION

Driver health and wellness continues to grab top billing at the Great American Trucking Show, coming up soon. The three-day event in Dallas, Texas, will create a place for drivers to annually receive free screenings, health care education and more. GATS will be held at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Aug. 25-27.

FMCSA BANS TRUCK DRIVER, CITES 'BLATANT DISREGARD' FOR SAFETY

ON 27 JUNE 2016

Alcohol involved in fatal crash; trucker's CDL previously suspended
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Tennessee-licensed truck driver Randall J. Weddle to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Weddle, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, was served the federal order on June 22, 2016, according to FMCSA.

ELD ADVOCATES FILE AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTING RULE

Groups hold that devices ensure compliance with hours-of-service requirements
Posted June 27, 2016

The Trucking Alliance for Driver Safety and Security and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety filed an Amicus Brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, supporting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) rule. The advocacy groups filed the Amicus Brief in response to the Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Association (OOIDA) legal challenge to the ELD rule.

‘INTERNET SUPER TRUCK’ ENVISIONED BY CHINESE TRUCK BUILDER, TECH GIANTS

Chinese truck and utility vehicle manufacturer Beijing Foton last week introduced the China Internet Super Truck Global Innovation Alliance and launched the debut of the Auman EST (Energy Super Truck) in Athens, Greece.

TENNESSEE TRUCK DRIVER FACES COUNTS FOLLOWING MULTIPLE FATAL CRASH

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) last week declared Tennessee-licensed truck driver Randall J. Weddle to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

UPS DRIVER TRAINING CENTER OPENS IN WEST BOYLSTON, MA

UPS announced the opening of its ninth next generation driver training facility in West Boylston, MA. Since the first UPS Integrad site opened in Landover, MD, in 2007, the company said it has seen improvements in safety, production and service indices, as well as a reduction in turnover.

TRAILER ORDERS PLUMMET 14% IN MAY; DOWN 10% YEAR OVER YEAR

Net orders for new trailers fell nearly 14 percent month over month, and contracted 10 percent year over year, according to the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report released late Friday by ACT Research Co. (ACT).

MARANGONI ADDS ST. LOUIS DEALER TO RETREAD NETWORK

Froesel Tire of St. Louis, Mo., has become a member of Marangoni Tread North America's family of independent retreaders.

Froesel will offer Marangoni’s Ringtread splice-less retreads to customers in the greater St.Louis area.

WHAT ABOUT ELECTRIC TRUCKS?

One of today's great ironies is that trucking – an industry notorious for being conservative in its outlook and slow to change – finds itself at the forefront of the technological revolution sweeping transportation today.

WINNERS PICKED FOR FMCSA’S SEAT BELT ART CONTEST

U.S. Department of Transportation officials awarded the top honors in the 2016 “Be Ready. Be Buckled.” student art contest at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

MCLEOD'S POWERBROKER INTEGRATES TRUCKSTOP.COM INSURANCE INFORMATION

Truckstop.com and McLeod have announced the integration of a carrier monitoring interface with Truckstop.com’s OnBoarding and McLeod’s PowerBroker products.

The interface will include Truckstop.com’s CACCI, which will have certificates of insurance information on more than 200,000 carriers when combined with PowerBroker. The database will also include carrier contact and policy information, insurance limits and expiration dates, along with DOT safety ratings, authority data and CPR status.

ACT: TRAILER ORDERS AND USED CLASS 8 SALES DECLINED IN MAY

Decreases indicate fleets are now more “cautious” regarding market conditions, firm says.
Net trailer orders and used Class 8 truck sales registered big declines for the month of May, according to data tracked ACT Research Co. (ACT) –indications that the trucking industry continues to become “more cautious” regarding market conditions.

ROPE FOR HOPE EVENT RAISES $67,000

LONDON, Ont. — The Rope for Hope event that saw 14 individuals from the trucking industry rappel off a 26-storey building in London, Ontario in mid-June has helped raise a total of $67,000 to help grant wishes of children with life threatening illnesses through Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario.

PEOPLENET’S VIDEO SYSTEM, ANALYTICS DASHBOARD

Some leased owner-operators and company drivers may well have seen a bit of the PeopleNet company’s Video Intelligence Solution, a relatively new option for fleets utilizing the PeopleNet onboard platform for communications, e-logs and more. The new option gives fleets single-system access to video captured from forward-facing cameras and event data captured by PeopleNet’s Onboard Event Recording (OER) application.

ATA’S NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has opened the official 2016 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week online store, featuring customizable merchandise designed to show support for the industry’s 3.5 million professional truck drivers.
This year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is Sept. 11-17.

FUTURE ATA LEADERS TAKE TRUCKING’S MESSAGE TO CAPITOL HILL

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) welcomed the 2015-16 class of LEAD ATA to the nation’s capital this week for a round of congressional visits and discussions with ATA’s legislative experts.
“As a former governor, I can tell you there’s nothing more persuasive than hearing from engaged, active constituents,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Our hope is that by coming here to Washington, these LEAD ATA participants will not just educate their representatives this week, but continue the dialogue on behalf of ATA and this industry for many years to come.”

GREAT AMERICAN TRUCKING SHOW CONVENES AUG. 25-27

This year’s Great American Trucking Show, which will be held Aug. 25-27 in Dallas, includes several new attractions as well as popular features such as Overdrive’s Pride & Polish show truck championship, Recruiting Pavilion, Partners in Business seminars and Trucker Talent Search finals.
The show is at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center, and attendance is free for truck drivers who register online prior to the event. Click here to register to attend.

COMMERCIAL TRUCKS BOLSTER NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT NUMBERS IN APRIL

Trucks carried more U.S. freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico in April 2016 compared to April 2015, according to TransBorder Freight Data released Thursday.

DAT SOLUTIONS: SPOT TRUCKLOAD MARKET DIPS 2.7% LAST WEEK

The number of available loads on the spot truckload market fell 2.7 percent during the week ending June 18, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
A 9.7 percent increase in capacity did little to move spot rates as a national average.
The van rate was unchanged at $1.61/mile compared to the previous week. The national average reefer rate gained 2 cents to $1.96/mile, including a 1-cent rise in the fuel surcharge, and the flatbed rate was $1.95/mile, up 2 cents due to a seasonal increase in demand.

TRUCKER DECLARED IMMINENT HAZARD FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED CRASH

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration declared a Tennessee-licensed driver to be an imminent hazard to public safety after reckless driving behavior, related to alcohol consumption, led to two deaths.

USED CLASS 8 SALES TAKE A STEEP DOWNTURN

Used Class 8 same-dealer truck sales volumes took a steep downturn in May, declining by 18% compared to April, according to ACT Research.

TRAILERS ORDERS DOWN 14% IN MAY

Trailer orders fell nearly 14% month over month in May, coming close to earlier projections for a seasonal slowdown, according to ACT Research.

Earlier this month, ACT projected a downturn of 16% compared to May as the expected summer slowdown approached. Compared to this month in 2015, trailer orders are down by 10%.

ECONOMIC WATCH: BUSINESS INVESTMENT SINKS AS DURABLE ORDERS DECLINE

Orders and shipments of long-lasting durable goods fell in May, according to a preliminary Commerce Department report. One measure of business investment fell by the most in three months, but other reports show homes and consumers remain a cornerstone of the economy.

FAA RELEASES RULE FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL DRONES

The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized its first operational rule for the “routine commercial use” of small drones. The agency said the move “opens pathways towards fully integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the nation’s airspace.”

REPORT SUGGESTS PROPRIETARY ENGINES ON THE RISE, DIESEL FUEL WILL LOSE MARKETSHARE IN NEXT 5 YEARS

Power train integration is increasingly becoming the norm, and that’s a trend not likely to reverse – at least in the coming five years – according to a new report from ACT Research and Rhein Associates.

STATE OF LOGISTICS: TRUCKING SUFFERING FROM RATE SOFTNESS

Annual report says dry van rates tumbled 15% over the past year, but conditions should improve for trucking in 2017.

TRUCKER PATH INCREASES TRUCK PARKING DATA BY 1,000 LOCATIONS

Trucker Path announces its trip-planning app for drivers, Trucker Path Pro, has been updated with an additional 1,000 locations to expand what it says is already the largest source of parking data in the trucking industry.

TRUCKING ALLIANCE, SAFETY GROUP FILE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF ELD RULE

The Trucking Alliance for Driver Safety and Security (Trucking Alliance) and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) have filed a joint amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, in support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s effort to fend off a legal challenge by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. to stop the agency’s electronic logging device rule for truck drivers.

Q&A: WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND TRUCKING

Mapping out safer and more efficient routs while generating higher rates are just some of the benefits trucking can gain from mobile technology, this executive says.
Better navigation is clearly one benefit gain by trucking via the wider use of mobile technology solutions. But how about getting higher freight rates? Is that possible as well?

WHY SOME BIG NAMES AREN'T ON THE FMCSA-APPROVED ELD LIST

Truckers, suppliers concerned about self-certification process, compliance
With about a year and a half left before most U.S. trucks will need to have some sort of electronic logging device, or ELD, just five vendors have added their products the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's list of compliant devices. None yet are the big-name providers of electronic driver log recording instruments that conform to FMCSA's requirements in place for Automatic On-board Recording Devices, or AOBRDs, which are the current option to paper logs and a precursor to the mandated ELDs.

CUMMINS PREPS FOR JULY ISX ECM RECALL

Faulty engine control modules (ECMs) on certain Cummins ISX12 and ISX15 truck engines are being recalled by the OEM, with notifications expected to begin on July 7 this year.

TRUCKING, SAFETY GROUPS FILE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF ELD RULE

Effort cites 'moral responsibility,' calls for end to paper log 'comic books'
The Trucking Alliance for Driver Safety and Security (Trucking Alliance) and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) have filed a joint amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, in support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s effort to fend off a legal challenge by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. to stop the agency’s electronic logging device rule for truck drivers.

CASS: TRUCKLOAD RATES CONTINUE DOWNWARD TREND

The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index fell another 1.2% year over year in May after declines of 0.6% and 2.3% in March and April respectively.

SPEED LIMITER RULE PUSHED OFF TO END OF SUMMER

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the status of several proposed new rules recently.
More than a year after being sent to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to mandate speed limiters on trucks is still hung up, and its projected publication date has once again been pushed back again. The DOT now projects the rule to be published by the end of this summer. The previous projection was for it to publish by the end of spring.

ASK A VETERAN DRIVER UNITES NEW, OLD TRUCKERS

Joan Raby, an OOIDA member from Zephyrhills, Fla., doesn’t believe she got much out of her commercial driver’s license training course. To make matters worse, she said fellow drivers were reluctant to answer her questions when she was starting her truck driving career in 2009.

FMCSA AMENDS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY PERMITS RULES

On June 17, 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule that amends its Hazardous Materials Safety Permits rules to update the current incorporation by reference of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR part 173.403.”

Currently the rules reference the April 1, 2015, edition of the out-of-service criteria. Through this final rule, which is effective June 17, 2016, the FMCSA incorporates the April 1, 2016, edition.
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ASSEMBLY TO WEIGH ROAD PLAN HIKING GAS TAX, CUTTING OTHERS

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey legislators are moving forward with a plan to pay for transportation projects by raising a wholesale fuel tax by 23 cents while also cutting retirement and estate taxes.
The legislation will get a hearing on Thursday, one week before the current $1.6 billion transportation trust fund runs out of borrowing authority, the Assembly Budget Committee said Wednesday

The legislation calls for a 10-year, $20-billion transportation trust fund, paid for in part by raising the gas tax from 14.5 cents per gallon to 37.5 cents per gallon. The plan also has tax cuts, including phasing out the estate tax, raising retirement income exclusions and increasing a tax credit for low-income filers.

OIL PRICES FALL AFTER NEWS OF MORE STOCKPILES

Oil prices fell Wednesday after U.S. energy stockpiles decreased today by a smaller amount than analysts expected.
Oil prices have tumbled in the last few years because growth in supplies has far outstripped demand. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 72 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $49.13 a barrel in New York.

TRUCKWORX KENWORTH OPENS NEW FULL-SERVICE FACILITY IN ALABAMA

Truckworx Kenworth has relocated its full-service facility in Montgomery, Ala., into a new $6 million, 39,000-square-foot building with 21 service bays, including three dedicated for washing and reconditioning trucks.

POLICE: MAN DIED WHILE UNLOADING $12 MILLION IN MARIJUANA FROM VAN, TRACTOR-TRAILER

NORCROSS, Ga. — A man appears to have died of natural causes while unloading marijuana from a van, Atlanta area police said Wednesday.
Gwinnett County police said in a statement that officers on Monday responded to a call of a man slumped over near a white van and a tractor-trailer.

TRUCK TONNAGE INDEX UP 2.7% IN MAY; UP 5.7% FROM MAY 2015

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.7 percent in May, following a revised 1.7 percent drop during April. In May, the index equaled 139 (2000=100), up from 135.3 in April. The all-time high was 144 in February.

PACCAR MX-11 ENGINE OFFERS MORE PRODUCTIVITY FOR VOCATIONAL CUSTOMERS

Incorporating the latest advancements in Paccar engine technology, the new 11-liter Paccar MX-11 engine is allowing Kenworth customers to reap productivity benefits.
That’s the word from Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “The new Paccar MX-11 engine is a great example of an engine that provides our customers with a substantial weight savings, while also driving up fuel economy across a wide range of applications,” he said. “That offers immediate payback for customers in weight-sensitive vocational applications where additional payload can significantly enhance revenues.``

TRUCKING’S TOP ROOKIE NOMINATION PERIOD ENDS FRIDAY

Time is running out to nominate yourself or someone else for an award that could make you or them $10,000 richer.

A check for $10,000 and a package of prizes awaits one skillful professional truck driver when Trucking’s Top Rookie is named in August. The award recognizes the best professional truck driver who has been on the job for less than a year.

UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE EXCUSED BY DISABILITY?

Unsatisfactory Performance Excused by Disability?

Today Federated Insurance is sharing one our “HR Questions of the Month” regarding employment-related practices liability issues.

VERIZON BUYS TELOGIS

Seeking to add Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology and services, specifically in the connected vehicle and mobile enterprise management sectors—as well as expanded distribution relationships—to its Verizon Telematics subsidiary, Verizon Communications announced it has signed an agreement to purchase Telogis.

REPORT SUGGESTS PROPRIETARY ENGINES ON THE RISE, DIESEL FUEL WILL LOSE MARKETSHARE IN NEXT 5 YEARS

Power train integration is increasingly becoming the norm, and that’s a trend not likely to reverse – at least in the coming five years – according to a new report from ACT Research and Rhein Associates.

YOUR JUNE 22 PRE-TRIP: IMPROVING CONDITIONS FOR WOMEN IN TRUCKING

Here are five things worth knowing today:

1. Former truck driver seeks to improve conditions on the road

Before earning her CDL, Kim Bourne worked as a trauma, ER and flight nurse in Kentucky for 13 years. In 2008, she earned her CDL and joined her husband on the road. According to a University of Kentucky News report, though Bourne enjoyed life on the road, she also witnessed the ugly side of trucking.

DIESEL’S DOMINANCE OF CLASS 8 ENGINES TO SHRINK BY 2021: ACT RESEARCH

COLUMBUS, Ind. – According to a new report by Americas Commercial Transportation (ACT) Research and Rhein Associates, diesel’s dominance of class 8 engine will lessen by 2021.

SUMMERTIME FUN AT TRUCK EVENTS ACROSS AMERICA IN JULY

Summer officially kicks off on June 20, and you know what that means: festivals, barbeques and truck shows. July is loaded with great truck events, including the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, Expedite Expo, Pride and Polish, the Keystone Diesel Truck Nationals and more.

RESULTS OF OPERATION CORRIDOR

LONDON, Ont. – Operation Corridor put on by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) on June 16 was a rather successful 24 hours.

TRUCKLOAD LINEHAUL, INTERMODAL RATES STILL DROPPING

 

Separate gauges of truckload line haul rates and intermodal rates both fell in May, according to newly released figures, following a Monday report showing freight levels are well below those of the last several years.
The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index fell another 1.2% year over year in May after declines of 0.6% and 2.3% in March and April respectively. The latest reading of 121.3 is the lowest since August 2014. May fell 1.3% from the month before and the April reading dropped 2.2% from March.

MAY WAS A GOOD MONTH FOR TRUCK TONNAGE

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased in May following two consecutive months of decreases.

The index was up 2.7% for the month equaling a reading of 139, up from 135.3 in April when the index fell 1.7%. Compared to May 2015, the SA index jumped 5.7%. From January through May, the Truck Tonnage Index is up 4% compared to the same period in 2015.

EARNINGS WATCH: FEDEX NARROW LOSS, WERNER LOWERS EXPECTATIONS

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) cut much, but not all, of its second quarter losses compared to a year earlier, while a preview of Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) second quarter earnings sent heartburn throughout trucking and Wall Street amid concerns about second quarter trucking profits.

SERVICES NEWS GET A QUOTE APPLY NOW CONTACT US SUCCESS INSIDER BESTPASS ADDS U.S. XPRESS TO ITS TRUCK FLEET CLIENT ROSTER

Bestpass Inc., a company that provides single-source payment and streamlined toll management services to commercial fleets, has added U.S. Xpress Inc., with more than 8,000 trucks, as a client.
U.S. Xpress is the nation’s second-largest privately owned truckload carrier, providing a wide variety of transportation solutions throughout North America. Founded in 1985 and based in Chattanooga, Tenn., the company has been named National Dry Van Carrier of the Year for four consecutive years by Ryder.

TECHNOLOGY TO CHANGE LOGISTICS BUSINESS, SAYS REPORT

U.S. business logistics costs rose at a slower rate last year as supply chain transparency continued to grow in importance, according to the the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Annual State of Logistics Report released June 21.

COMMENTS DUE THURSDAY FOR CONTROVERSIAL SAFETY FITNESS DETERMINATION PROPOSED RULE

Commenters have until Thursday, June 23 to tell the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration their thoughts on the proposed Safety Fitness Determination rule.

EAST MANUFACTURING ANNOUNCES MEISTER-SHANE AS EAST DEALER

East Manufacturing has announced that Meister-Shane Ltd. is now an authorized East dealer. Having celebrated its 70th anniversary this year as a family-owned business serving Central Illinois, Meister-Shane now carries East aluminum flatbed and drop deck trailers, both East aluminum and steel dump trailers, aluminum dump bodies, and parts and service.

Established as a welding and blacksmith shop in 1946, Meister-Shane became a truck and trailer repair facility in the 1960s. After 50 years of specializing in the repair of dump trailer including comprehensive wreck repair, the company has earned a reputation for superior quality.

POST-CRASH LITIGATION: CAMERAS AND ELD EVIDENCE

Much of the monitoring equipment that many larger carriers are investing in also gives them a critical edge in legal disputes. Video cameras, which also are used in ongoing training for drivers who exhibit unsafe habits, also can prove what really happened in a crash. Electronic logging devices, beyond their primary function, can remove a common line of legal attack by encouraging and proving bedrock compliance with hours of service.

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY OFFICIALS PUSHING BACK AGAINST 'INACCURATE' ARTICLE

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is pushing back hard against newspaper coverage and a published fuel tax map from May 10 that AHTD officials felt misrepresented the state's road project revenue relative to neighboring states, according to an article in the journal of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials (AASHTO).

GOODYEAR ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 34TH HIGHWAY HERO AWARD

AKRON, Ohio — Do you know a truck driving hero?
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company wants to hear the story.

ADDITIONAL 1,000 LOCATIONS

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Trucker Path said Monday that Trucker Pro, its trip-planning app for professional drivers has been updated with an additional 1,000 locations to expand what the company says already is the largest source of parking data in the trucking industry.

IOWA 80 TO HOST HEMMING’S MOTOR NEWS GREAT RACE

WALCOTT, Iowa — Iowa 80 Trucking Museum will host racers competing in the Hemming’s Motor News Great Race, a cross-country road rally of antique vehicles on Sunday, June 26 from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

SANDWICHED: BREAD AND DELI MEAT TRUCKS COLLIDE

We can’t make this stuff up …

ANALYSIS: FMCSA'S REPLY BRIEF IN ELD LAWSUIT A MIXED MESSAGE ON DRIVER PRIVACY

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration attempted to defend the electronic logging mandate in a reply brief filed by the agency in mid-June – using arguments for and against driver privacy.

FMCSA issued a final rule on Dec. 10, 2015, that mandates all model year 2000 and newer trucks be equipped with electronic logging devices by December 2017. Logging devices and automatic on-board recorders currently approved for use in tracking hours of service will be allowed for four years beyond the December 2017 deadline.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN THE HEAT’S GOT YOU BEAT

Editor’s Note: The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories for the central and southern Plains states as well as southern California, Arizona, and portions of western Colorado and central New Mexico. Extremely high temperatures can lead to serious illness and injury, as evidenced by this story from July 21, 2015. A trucker delivering a load to a chemical plant in Virginia suffered a dangerous heat-related illness after the facility refused to allow him to leave his truck or idle while it was being loaded. Be sure to read through for tips on what to do to treat heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and check out all of Land Line’s heat-wave coverage here.)

SOUTH JERSEY ONE STEP CLOSER TO REGULAR TURNPIKE MEETINGS

An effort to give South Jersey residents more of a say in happenings at the Turnpike Authority has cleared its first statehouse hurdle. The authority oversees the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

HEAT POSES BIG RISKS FOR TRUCKERS

From exposing you to long hours in dangerous heat to stressing dehydrated muscles from long hours behind the wheel – trucking is a job that can sure beat a body up during the summer time.
Here’s some brief info from contributing Land Line Columnist John McElligott, M.D., and a couple of quick “what to do’s” about two aggravating situations that are common to the truck driving profession.

NEW YORK SENATE BACKS BILL TO BAR UNFAIR TRUCK CONTRACT RULE

New York state lawmakers could soon remove the state from the short list of states yet to do away with indemnification clauses in trucking contracts. The clauses are created to protect shippers or hold them harmless from anything that happens with a shipment.

The Senate voted on Tuesday, June 14, to approve a bill to forbid provisions in contracts that provide for shippers to be indemnified for losses caused by their own negligence and make them “void and unenforceable.” The bill, A7307, awaits final clearance in the Assembly before moving to the governor’s desk.

DAT SOLUTIONS: A GOOD WEEK TO FIND FREIGHT

You’d expect a 20-25 percent increase in load board activity after a holiday-shortened week. However, the number of posted loads was up 36 percent during the week ending June 11, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the MembersEdge load board.

Truck posts were up, too, by only 12 percent.

NY-NY PORTS PUSHED TO REINSTATE OLDER-TRUCK BAN

Key New Jersey politicians along with activist groups, including the Teamsters union, on June 16 pushed for launching a more aggressive program to replace older trucks operating at the Port of New York and New Jersey to reduce the impact of air pollution on nearby residents, according to a Journal of Commerce news story.

IVECO'S NEW STRALIS SERIES INCLUDES GAS POWER

Iveco, the Italy-based commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced a New Stralis series of heavy trucks that includes a natural gas-fueled NP version, which officials call “a CO2 champion in every mission” for its low carbon dioxide emissions.

It also includes a diesel-powered XP, and boasts a new 12-speed automated transmission and other drivetrain advances. Iveco’s brand president, Pierre Lahutte, claimed New Stralis-series trucks will deliver the lowest total cost of ownership, or TCO.

VOLVO, MACK TRUCKS LAUNCH OMNITRACS FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks said this week they have expanded their fleet management services with the addition of Omnitracs Integrated Telematics.
Both truckbuilders now offer a new option for fleet management that is built on Volvo’s and Mack’s fully integrated remote diagnostics hardware. Omnitracs meets the needs of fleet customers seeking better data capture and analytics to drive increased productivity and safety through improvements in driver performance and behaviors.

NATION’S COMMERCIAL TRAILER DEMAND DROPS 16% FROM APRIL TO MAY

For the month of May, ACT Research Inc. said its preliminary estimate for U.S. net trailer orders is 14,250 units, adding final May numbers will be published later in the month.
“Although commercial trailer orders have been progressing at a better pace than Class 8 volumes, the expected seasonal slowdown in order placement has begun,” said Frank Maly, ACT’s director of commercial vehicle transportation analysis and research.

UPSWING CONTINUES IN U.S. SPOT TRUCKLOAD FREIGHT MARKET

The number of posted loads on the spot truckload freight market was up 36 percent during the week ending June 11, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
That made it another good week for carriers with load-to-truck ratios all jumping substantially: the van load-to-truck ratio was 3.1 loads per truck, up 23 percent; the reefer ratio climbed 29 percent to 5.9; and the flatbed ratio was 20.3, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous week.