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Posted by Comments Off on How Automated Pre-Tripping of Trailers Could Help Fleets with CSA
There always have been a lot of reasons for drivers to do effective pre- and post-trip inspections on trailers and power units. Starting in 2010, we’ve had another: Compliance, Safety, Accountability better known as CSA.
Posted by Comments Off on A look back at the LA Race Riots, a trucker beating and the heroes who came to his aid
Last week marked the 20th anniversary of an ugly event in American history — the LA race riots.
Posted by Comments Off on How to be Proactive With CSA
There are two types of carrier reactions when it comes to navigating the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability program launched by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, better known simply as CSA.
Posted by Comments Off on New Jersey Congressmen Call for Suspension in Toll Hikes
Several New Jersey Congressmen asked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to delay a second round of toll hikes scheduled for December until the agency can prove it has its finances in order, reports New Jersey’s Star-Ledger.
“The planned toll hikes should be suspended until an external audit determines that the audit recommendations have been addressed,” wrote U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in a letter
Posted by Comments Off on More Fleets Report Positive 1Q Financials
(UPDATED) Most carriers are reporting positive first quarter financial results, and some are setting records with their numbers. Paccar, P.A.M, UPS, Old Dominion, Ryder, Celadon, Knight, Landstar and Universal Truckload all reported increased revenues for the first quarter of 2012.
Posted by Comments Off on Drivers Get to Show Off in Driving Skills Safety Challenge
The Mack Driving Skills Safety Challenge, scheduled for May 1-2 at Waste Expo 2012 in Las Vegas, allows drivers to show off how to safely operating refuse and recycling routes while competing for prizes.
Posted by Comments Off on FMCSA Cracks Down on Reincarnated Carriers
A new rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration makes it tougher for carriers that have been sanctioned to reincarnate themselves under a new identity.
The agency last week posted a final rule that changes its procedures in several areas affecting truck lines, intermodal equipment providers, brokers, freight forwards and hazmat proceedings.
Posted by Comments Off on Truck Sales Help Daimler Post Profit for First Quarter
Boosted by booming sales for Daimler Trucks and Mercedes-Benz cars, Daimler reported positive numbers for 1Q 2012 despite higher spending.
Posted by Comments Off on Watch for Highway Restrictions During Chicago NATO Summit
The Illinois DOT says during the NATO Summit in Chicago May 20-21, it’s best to avoid the city, especially downtown and South Loop, during that week. It’s also placing certain restrictions (with no permit loads) on oversize and overweight loads.
Posted by Comments Off on Arpin International Opens Office in Arizona
Arpin International Group has opened a new branch office in Phoenix, the company’s first in Arizona, to accommodate its growing operation in the Southwest. The office is at 11225 N. 28th Drive.
Posted by Comments Off on The successful salesperson
Is selling in the trucking industry nothing more than pricing?
Posted by Comments Off on Volvo Sees Promising Future for Bio-DME as a Vehicle Fuel
Volvo’s European Bio-DME project, which aims to assess whether there is a market for Bio-DME (Di-Methyl-Ether) for commercial vehicles, shows promise, the company says.
Posted by Comments Off on Costco "Hot Fuel" Settlement Approved
In an approved settlement for a lawsuit over hot fuel, Costco Wholesale Corp. has agreed to convert gas pumps in some states during the next five years to automatically compensate for expansion in fuel due to changing temperatures, reports the Kansas City Business Journal.
Posted by Comments Off on Highway Bill Conferees Face Tough Funding Issues but Share Some Common Ground on Policy
The House and Senate have chosen their conferees for negotiations on the highway bill. They have until June 30 to work out a deal or pass another extension.
The conferees’ toughest challenge will be to agree on the duration and funding of the bill, but their portfolio includes numerous important policy issues, including truck safety and program reforms at the Department of Transportation.
Posted by Comments Off on Report: Florida Troopers Erred Before Jan. Crashes
A report released by Florida state investigators Thursday is faulting the Florida Highway Patrol for reopening a foggy stretch of I-75 that was later the scene of of a series of crashes that killed 11 people on Jan. 29.
Posted by Comments Off on More Fleets Report Positive 1Q Financials
Most carriers are reporting positive first quarter financial results, and some are setting records with their numbers. P.A.M, UPS, Old Dominion, Ryder, Celadon, Knight, Landstar and Universal Truckload all reported increased revenues for the first quarter of 2012. Covenant Transport reported some decreases, but its numbers were an improvement over 1Q 2011.
Posted by Comments Off on Pricing for Used Class 8 Slips Again in March
March saw Class 8 used-truck pricing slip for the second consecutive month.
Posted by Comments Off on Azure Dynamics Hedges on Warranties, Shrinks Board Size, Finds Support Funding
Azure Dynamics Corp., the British Columbia-based specialty vehicle builder now struggling through the Canadian equivalent of a managed bankruptcy, says it might not be able to honor warranties it reinstated last week.
Posted by Comments Off on Volvo Reports Record 1Q Sales Thanks to North America
Volvo AB reported record first-quarter sales for 2012, boosted by North American numbers for the strongest numbers recorded in this period despite a 2% drop in profits in the first quarter.
Posted by Comments Off on Schneider National, Covenant Offer Team Bonuses
Two major carriers, Schneider National and Covenant Transport, have announced large bonuses to help attract teams.
Posted by Comments Off on Truckstop Says "Name That Burger"
TravelCenters of America and Petro have come up with a couple of burger creations and want drivers to help name them.
Posted by Comments Off on Hardwood forests are healthy and growing in Appalachia, trade group says
“Save a tree,” environments preach. That’s not an option when you’re building anything with wood, like a hardwood-composite floor for a van trailer.
Posted by Comments Off on Screwed if you don’t. Screwed if you do.
The firing of a Texas-based flat-bedder for refusing to haul an improperly secured and unsafe load illustrates how CSA and the courts are failing truck drivers.
Posted by Comments Off on "California-Only" Diesel Will Come at High Cost for State, Study Says
Significant job losses directly attributable to California Air Resources Board’s fuel policies, says a new study by the California Trucking Association. Goods movement and agriculture sectors will be especially hard hit if the policies are allowed to go into effect as currently designed.
Posted by Comments Off on March Net Orders Signal Healthy Trailer Industry
Net orders for trailers fell 11% month-over-month in March, but were almost identical to orders in March 2011, according to State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers published by ACT Research Co.
Posted by Comments Off on ATA, OOIDA Square Off on EOBR Debate
In advance of the upcoming conference committee meetings on the surface transportation bill, the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association are urging passage or rejection (respectively) of the Senate’s EOBR requirement.
Posted by Comments Off on Navistar Continues Global Growth Efforts At Beijing Auto Show
This week at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Navistar continued to demonstrate its global growth capabilities with new product opportunities for the Chinese market.
Posted by Comments Off on FMCSA Seeks Carriers for Safety Research
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is conducting research to determine whether onboard monitoring systems will improve driver safety performance and reduce risky driving behavior. The agency is hosting a webinar on May 9 to discuss the details of the study for carriers that would like to participate.
Posted by Comments Off on Transcraft to Expand Operations, Add Jobs in Kentucky
Transcraft, a subsidiary of Wabash National Corp. and producer of platform trailers, is expanding its Trigg County operations in Cadiz, Ky.
Posted by Comments Off on Dana Reports Fourth Consecutive Quarter of Positive Net Income.
Dana Holding Corp. announced strong results for the first quarter of 2012 with a fourth straight quarter of positive net income. The company’s net income for the quarter was $70 million, compared to a net loss of $30 million for the same period in 2011.
Posted by Comments Off on Accuride On Track for 2012, Company Says
Accuride Corp. says its on track for 2012 after releasing first quarter financial results.
Posted by Comments Off on TWT Refrigerated Service Boosts Owner-Operator Pay to $1/Mile
TWT Refrigerated Service is increasing its owner-operator (solo, team and multi-fleet owners) pay package to $1 per mile effective May 1.
Posted by Comments Off on New FedEx Freight Service Center Opens in Alberta
FedEx Freight Canada has opened its new Alberta service center.
Posted by Comments Off on EOBR Mandate Could Lead to Further Driver Harassment
As the FMCSA begins their listening session today concerning the issue of driver harassment by use of EOBR, the ATA continues its push for the mandate while OOIDA voices their opposition.
The listening session, schedule between 1:30 to 5:30 PM is said to be focusing on the possible harassment concern and welcomes comments by drivers.
To register for the “live” webcast and be provided the call-in number to participate in the session visit here: FMCSA EOBR Listening Session.
Since the FMCSA listening sessions are basically useless for truck drivers since most are on the road, unable to attend, you can share your thoughts with the FMCSA concerning EOBR driver harassment by faxing your comments to: 1-202-493-2251.
Although the FMCSA seeks comments from drivers during the “listening” session, truck drivers seldom have the opportunity to comment due to one problem: their driving. OODIA will be present to represent drivers during the session.
The only real problem I have with mandating the EOBR in all trucks is the harassment issue. More than once I have had dispatch send a message telling me to “get moving” when I was on my break or if I was just too tired at the time and was taking a quick 30 or 60 minute rest period.
With future EOBR usage, truck drivers must have a way to record any such messages to protect themselves from illegal dispatch orders. Currently, drivers can only take a photo of the message. Just as most EOBR’s have canned messages, technology should be available to the driver to maintain or retrieve such illegal messages which force them to violate FMCSA rules.
All messages sent or received through the EOBR are maintained for six months and furthermore, drivers should be allowed to request and receive any message from the EOBR by the carrier when the driver does so request. By mandating EOBR’s, without any such protection provided to the driver, the FMCSA is simply handing motor carriers additional power to push drivers harder and continue the driver harassment that takes place within the industry.
The information that the FMCSA says it is looking for by drivers are:
© 2012, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.
Technorati Tags: EOBR, EOBR mandate, FMCSA, FMCSA EOBR listening session, harassment, rulemaking, truck driver, trucking
Posted by Comments Off on Walmart Tests New Truck Prototypes to Increase Efficiency
To improve the efficiency of its Class 8 heavy-duty trucks, Walmart U.S. Logistics, in partnership with truck and component manufacturers, built the following prototype tractors, according to its 2011 Global Responsibility Report.
Posted by Comments Off on Canadian Agency Says Fleets Could Save With Natural Gas
Despite the higher upfront costs for engines that run natural gas, The Conference Board of Canada says that converting fleets to natural gas could produce savings of approximately $150,000 per truck over a 10-year period.
Posted by Comments Off on Transport Experts Say Public Must Push Congress to Act on Highways
Congress can’t do its job on the highway bill, so the public is going to have to take the lead, says a group of infrastructure experts including five former secretaries of transportation.
The federal highway program is now running on its ninth temporary extension because Congress will not compromise on how to pay for it, said the 60 experts brought together by the University Virginia’s Miller Center.
Posted by Comments Off on Truck Tonnage Inches up in March
Don’t expect the rate of growth this year to mirror the last couple of years, said American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello, referring to the 5.8% growth in both 2010 and 2011.
Posted by Comments Off on Record Parts and Service Help Drive Strong 1Q Results for Rush
Megadealer Rush Enterprises announced that for the first quarter of 2012, the company’s net income was $15.9 million, or 40 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $7.3 million,
Posted by Comments Off on $20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at improving air quality and Americans’ health.