Fleet News

Seeing double: California bill mandates speed limiters, side underride guards for trucks

2024-01-26T12:00:00.001-08:00

A California state senator has introduced legislation that includes two provisions that would impact truckers and equipment manufacturers based and/or doing business in the state.

Senate Bill 961, introduced by California Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) on Jan. 23, would require that every vehicle -- passenger vehicles, “motortrucks” and buses -- manufactured or sold in the state be equipped with speed limiters that prevent the driver from exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour. Speed limiters under the bill would "only be capable of being temporarily disabled by the driver of the vehicle.”

The requirement would begin with the 2027 model year, should the bill pass and be signed into law. Emergency vehicles would be exempt from the requirement.

In addition to speed limiters, the bill would also require every “motortruck, trailer, or semitrailer” with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds that is manufactured, sold or registered in California to be equipped with side underride guards. It would also require drivers of these vehicles “to conduct regular inspections of side guards for damage and functionality and to repair or replace damaged units as necessary.”

The bill defines side guards as a “lateral protection system” that provides “crash protection for a midsize car to prevent the intrusion of the occupant survival space when struck at any location and from any angle [at] any speed up to 40 miles per hour.” The guards would also be required to cover and protect “any exposed space between the front and rear wheels” of the included vehicles.

Both speed limiters and side underride guards, of course, are also under the microscope with potential mandates for carriers and manufacturers at the federal level. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is set to publish a rulemaking proposal at any time to require speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks.

Likewise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, signaling it will forge ahead with rulemaking that would require trailers be equipped with side underride guards.

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ELD maker Motive, formerly KeepTruckin, sued by competitor

2024-01-25T13:00:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024:

Samsara suing Motive over alleged patent infringement

Samsara claims this image is of video footage that shows Motive's CEO, Shoaib Makani (left) and Chief Product Officer, Jairam Ranganathan, driving a vehicle, testing and commenting on the performance of Samsara's products and features.Samsara

A popular tech provider in the trucking industry has filed suit against a competitor, alleging intellectual property theft. San Francisco-based Samsara, which provides ELDs, telematics, safety cameras and more, claims fleet management provider Motive Technologies Inc. has engaged in illegal conduct that includes patent infringement and false advertisement.

Samsara is asking the court to enter judgment recognizing Motive’s infringement of the company’s patents covering several of its solutions in fleet management and driver safety included within Samsara’s telematics, video-based safety and sustainability solutions, to permanently stop Motive’s conduct. The company is also requesting the court order Motive to compensate Samsara for its losses and damages under state and federal law.

Samsara Founders Sanjit Biswas and John Bicket said via statement that prospective customers would remark how similar Motive’s products appeared to Samsara's in terms of form and functionality. That escalated, the pair claimed, into "Motive deploying misleading marketing campaigns and sales tactics, which led us to take a closer look."

The lawsuit, filed in a Delaware federal court, states that Motive -- formerly known as KeepTruckin -- based much of its product line and even its business strategy on routinely stealing Samsara’s technologies and fraudulently accessing Samsara’s platforms. The filing asserts that Motive illegally accessed Samsara’s platform, copied Samsara’s marketing materials and made unsubstantiated advertising statements.

Motive Co-Founder and CEO Shoaib Makani said in a statement Thursday to Overdrive sister publication CCJ that "Samsara’s allegations and associated campaign against Motive are meritless. They are a result of Samsara’s inability to develop competitive AI technology and the fact that they are losing customers, especially large enterprise accounts, to Motive. This courtroom tactic is an attempt to limit competition and we will fight these baseless accusations to the fullest extent."

Read the full report from Overdrive sister publication CCJ.

Eaton Endurant XD transmission now available in certain Internationals

Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies has announced its Endurant XD series automated transmission is now available in select International truck models in North America.

As part of the Cummins integrated powertrain, Endurant XD and Endurant XD Pro paired with the Cummins X15 engine are now available in the International LT and HX models.

The Endurant XD series are all-new, purpose-built, 18-speed automated transmissions designed for on-highway applications with high gross combined weight ratings, such as double- and triple-trailer trucks, and vocational applications operating in harsh environments.

“For International fleets, the Endurant XD series delivers the capability, efficiency and uptime they demand,” said Dave Karnes, vice president of sales, Eaton Cummins.

The Endurant XD series offers low-speed maneuverability and optimized software that makes smart shifting decisions, the company said. It includes new Performance Goals to control transmission shift points and other features, up to six reverse gears, and a comprehensive suite of GearLogic features that improve efficiency and performance.

Atlas Van Lines agent re-joins company's network

Atlas Van Lines and the Suddath Companies announced that Suddath Moving & Storage LLC is re-joining Atlas's network. That means Atlas Van Lines will grow its footprint in household goods moving and storage.

Atlas Van Lines, the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group, is owned by its Agents, providing household relocation moving services and specialized transportation of high-value items. Suddath, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, has been a respected name in relocation services, serving corporate, military, and B2C customers domestically and internationally, the companies said. Combined, they hold more than 100 years of experience, a wide breadth of services, and advanced technology.

With 15 locations and an extensive domestic and global partner network, Suddath provides national and global reach. Its footprint in Texas is bolstered by its Daryl Flood Moving & Storage brand, with more than 40 years of moving experience in Texas.

Through the partnership, Suddath will build on its current customer base, the companies said.

“Household goods continues to be a critical part of Suddath’s core business, and partnering with Atlas will help us accelerate our growth strategy, especially in the corporate, B2C, and military relocation segments,” said Mike Brannigan, President and CEO of the Suddath Companies.

Atlas and Suddath have a long history together. Suddath was a key Atlas Agent and stockholder partner from 1950 to 1981. Suddath’s return to Atlas was a logical decision for both organizations, they said.

“Suddath coming home to Atlas brings two highly regarded brands back together in the moving industry and further positions Atlas as an industry-leading van line,” said Jack Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group.

Trucker recognized for helping extinguish car fire

Eric Melo, from St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for stopping to help the occupants of a car that was on fire, and extinguishing the blaze. Melo drives for Mill Creek Automotive, out of Ayr, Ontario.

Eric MeloOn the evening of Nov. 14, Melo was on his way to East Liberty, Ohio, when he saw a passenger vehicle traveling ahead of him with flames coming from underneath it. He followed the car when it pulled over on the shoulder of the interstate.

“Once I noticed he was starting to stop his vehicle, I actually followed him into the shoulder,” Melo said. “Once he stopped, after that it was more or less a blur.”

Melo quickly exited his truck with his fire extinguisher in hand, and hurried ahead to attempt to douse the fire with the extinguisher. He then went to check on the people still sitting in the vehicle. With his encouragement, they left their belongings behind and moved away from the still-burning car to the safety of Melo’s truck.

By the time the couple was inside his truck, their vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The entire incident -- from when Melo pulled onto the shoulder until he had escorted the couple safely back to his truck -- took about 3.5 minutes. He stayed with the couple until the state troopers arrived and then proceeded on his way to complete delivery to the Honda plant in East Liberty.

“No one stopped -- it was just me,” he said. “I thought, ‘I gotta do something. I might as well do something to help.’”

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Old Man Winter delivered a boost in spot rates

2024-01-24T14:00:00.001-08:00

Tough winter weather across the nation delivered a spot-rates increase to owner-operators and small fleets last week, with FTR Transportation Intelligence and the Truckstop load board network reporting a 3% rise overall with mixed pictures in the major dry van, flatbed and refrigerated segments. Rates for all three, however, heated up by varying degrees as temps plummeted.

Find Truckstop and FTR's full market commentary for the week via this link.

DAT Freight & Analytics saw similar dynamics, attributing the boost to shippers scrambling to move loads and contract carriers hampered by weather, necessitating a turn to brokers and owner-operators on the spot market. If the boost in spot volumes persists through this week, it could further narrow the spread between spot and contract rates averages, a signal some watchers feel shows the market turning.

Last week, DAT's monthly Truckload Volume Index illustrated the contract/spot spread for vans had narrowed again in December to 39 cents overall, with spot rates continuing to lag below the average contract move, as they have for well more than a year now. A convergence of spot and contract rates, DAT reported, would signal an end to the current cycle of falling prices for truckload services.

Averaged over the month of December, “at 39 cents, the spread between spot and contract van rates is still substantial but was down 7 cents compared to November,” said DAT Chief of Analytics Ken Adamo. Prices to move van freight rate under contract hit the lowest average in three years, he added, and spot rates gained, adding three cents. Entering 2024, while shippers were still "in a strong position as they negotiate contract rates," carriers on the spot market would be justified to "have some optimism that the market will turn.”

Negative contract pressures remain high

Henderson, Kentucky-based Silver Creek Transportation's Jason Cowan, 2021 winner of Overdrive's Small Fleet Champ award, has seen the downward pressure on contract rates over the last year, he said, with big brokers and low-cost carriers underbidding his company in some instances with direct customers. "We’re glad we diversified so that we can duck the bad market," he said. To an extent, that is. "It’s my experience that 'Hey, I give great service and we’re always there on-time' only goes so far [with customers] when the market dips" as far as it has. Customers will eventually "take a chance on somebody else who will do it cheaper."

Silver Creek has focused on "taking care of the customers who are willing to pay for the service," generally speaking, he said, adding "there's no magic bullet out there. I'm sad for my friends who haven't made it through" the tough times, including many owner-operators in his area.

Bigger companies, too, have failed. He pointed to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of nearby, and much larger than 35-truck Silver Creek, Elmer Buchta Trucking, likewise two others nearby who bailed out the market at different points in 2023 as low spot rates drew the contract market down with them.

Meantime, Cowan got to calculating and running the numbers on a new contract opportunity to "reinvest and hope for the best," he said. "We bought 26 walking floor trailers" to add to a stable of, variously, tankers, flatbeds and vans and "got into the recycling business" hauling paper for that customer. "Those kind of things have helped us to stay healthy -- anything that you can do that nobody else can" to set yourself apart.

Hopefully for independent owner-operators and small fleets in the spot market, last week's weather explosion helps, at least short-term. So far in January, according to DAT's Trendlines metrics for the week, the contract/spot spread for vans has narrowed another nickel.

Here's average spot rates all-in, from FTR's most-recent-week analysis of Truckstop load board data, over the course of the last year.

Rates all-in, Truckstop and FTR reported, were at their highest level since the end of June 2023, though still 2.5% below the same January week in 2023. That year-over-year deficit, though, was the smallest since July 2022.

DAT's look at underlying linehaul rates, calculated by subtracting an average fuel surcharge (44 cents for vans, 49 for reefers, flats 52), showed similar dynamics, with reefers benefiting from demand for temp-control equipment to keep goods from freezing in some cases, no doubt.

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Canadian government's effort to shut down 2022 'Freedom Convoy' ruled 'unreasonable'

2024-01-24T11:00:00.001-08:00

A Canadian federal court ruled Tuesday that the country’s government was not justified in invoking the Emergencies Act during the early-2022 “Freedom Convoy” protests involving truck drivers and others in Ottawa and across the country. According to reports, the Canadian government plans to appeal the court’s decision.

Federal Court of Canada Judge Richard G. Mosley wrote in his decision that “there was no national emergency justifying the invocation of the Emergencies Act and the decision to do so was therefore unreasonable and ultra vires,” -- the Latin term for acting “beyond the powers.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, 2022, in response to protests across Canada, including in the capital of Ottawa, largely made up of truck owners and operators. The protests were in response to the nation’s public health orders related to the COVID-19 vaccine that went into effect in January 2022, likewise U.S. and Canadian border rules that required vaccines for those crossing into each country.

According to court documents, on Jan. 13, 2022, the Canadian Minister of Health clarified that an unvaccinated Canadian truck driver could not be denied entry into Canada from the U.S., but would need to meet requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day 8 (post-entry) testing, as well as quarantine requirements.

As a result of those restrictions, among others, a group of individuals on Jan. 22 began driving across Canada in what was known as “Freedom Convoy 2022.” The convoy officially started in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, with the goal of arriving in Ottawa on Jan. 29.

By the time the convoy arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 28, “it consisted of hundreds of vehicles of various types, including tractor-trailer units and thousands of individuals, who intended to protest Canada’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the new vaccination requirements for cross-border truckers,” Mosley said in his decision. “The protestors and vehicles occupied much of the downtown core of Ottawa, including streets in the vicinity of the Parliamentary precinct, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Courts. Among other things, the effect was to block vehicular traffic and pedestrian access to offices, businesses, churches and residences in the affected area.”

The court decision added that over the next few days, the protest evolved into a blockade of the downtown area, “accompanied by incessant noise from truck horns, train type whistles, late night street parties, fireworks and constant megaphone amplified hollers of ‘freedom.’ Fumes from the exhausts of diesel and gasoline engines permeated the air," wafting into neighboring areas. There were also reported incidents of “harassment, minor assaults and intimidation,” creating “intolerable conditions for many residents and workers in the district,” the court added.

A state of emergency was declared for the city of Ottawa on Feb. 6, and a day later, the convoy was identified by government officials as a “threat to national security.” Several provinces also declared emergencies during the protests.

In addition to the protests in Ottawa, border blockades set up at numerous border crossings, including the Sweetgrass-Coutts, Alberta, crossing; the Ambassador Bridge crossing in Windsor, Ontario; the Sarnia Blue Water Bridge in Ontario; Emerson, Manitoba; the Peace Bridge port of entry at Fort Erie, Ontario; and South Surrey, British Columbia. Multiple arrests were made in several of these blockades, the court wrote.

This all led up to Trudeau and his administration issuing the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14. The court said at the time, there were still an estimated 500 trucks and other vehicles parked in downtown Ottawa.

Between Feb. 15 and Feb. 23, approximately 257 bank accounts belonging to approximately 57 entities and individuals were temporarily frozen. Hundreds of individuals were also arrested during this time, with more than 100 vehicles being removed from downtown Ottawa.

“The blockades are harming our economy and endangering public safety," Trudeau said when announcing invocation of the act. "Critical supply chains have been disrupted. This is hurting workers who rely on these jobs to feed their families." He added at the time that Canada was "not using the Emergencies Act to deploy the military" and it would not suspend "fundamental rights" such as free speech and assembly.

The act allowed financial institutions to restrict funding or funds to protesters.

On Feb. 23, the declaration was revoked.

The case against the Trudeau government was brought by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Constitution Foundation and individuals.

Mosley said in his decision that, while the Emergencies Act doesn’t require unanimous consent from the provinces to invoke the act, most provincial leaders informed Trudeau that they could handle the situation in their provinces without the federal government stepping in.

Ultimately, Mosley concluded that there was no national emergency justifying the invocation of the Emergencies Act. Additionally, he wrote that “the harm being caused to Canada’s economy, trade and commerce was very real and concerning, but it did not constitute threats or the use of serious violence to persons or property,” and therefore did not meet the “threats to the security of Canada” threshold within the act.

The public interest groups that brought the case against the government did not seek compensation in the case, and thus were not awarded any. The individuals in the case did request compensation, and Mosley said they are entitled to be compensated, at least for the hearing.

According to an Associated Press report, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government will appeal, saying the government believed the protests were “a serious threat to public safety, national security and Canada’s economic security.”

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FMCSA could remove 16K DOT docs from registry | Smuggled tramadol found in-cab at border

2024-01-23T13:00:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024:

FMCSA proposes to remove certain medical examiners from registry

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing to remove medical examiners (MEs) from its National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners who have failed to access their National Registry account using login.gov and update the profile information in their account as required.

Since June 2018, by using the email, physical address and telephone number these MEs provided to FMCSA in their National Registry account, the agency has attempted to notify them of the requirement to access their account using login.gov.

There are approximately 15,727 examiners in the registry of docs and other examiners who perform or performed DOT physicals who have not accessed their National Registry account using login.gov. As a result, those examiners are not able to fulfill regulatory requirements, such as reporting results of DOT physicals performed on drivers, receiving FMCSA communications, and completing required training.

MEs who are removed from the National Registry will no longer be certified to perform DOT physicals of truckers. To avoid being removed from the National Registry, MEs to whom this notice applies must complete certain corrective actions within 30 days of the notice being published on Wednesday, Jan. 24. MEs who are subject to the notice must create a login.gov account and correct all outdated contact information in their profiles.

Examiners who do not complete this process within 30 days will be removed from the National Registry.

The agency said MEs not using login.gov must be removed from the National Registry before June 23, 2025, when FMCSA will begin electronically transmitting medical certification information for drivers from the National Registry to the state driver’s licensing agencies. If an ME does not access their National Registry account using login.gov and report results of physicals performed, FMCSA will not be able to electronically transmit those results for posting to the drivers’ records.

Medical certificates issued by MEs who are removed from the Registry before they are removed will not be invalidated. MEs removed from the Registry will continue to appear on the public website for three years following the date of their removal, along with an indication that they are no longer certified as an ME.

Border Patrol seizes ‘significant amount’ of tramadol from truck at border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, recently seized a significant amount of tramadol within a commercial truck.

Boxes containing 159 pounds of tramadol were seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge.U.S. CBP“Frontline officers at the World Trade Bridge demonstrated exceptional effort in successfully disrupting this smuggling attempt,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “This drug bust is a prime example of the efficient targeting strategies utilized in the cargo environment to help disrupt the illicit smuggling of this highly addictive opioid into our communities.”

The seizure occurred on Thursday, Jan. 18, when a CBP officer referred a 2012 Freightliner for a secondary inspection. Following non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 159.65 pounds of tramadol within the cab area of the truck.

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic medication prescribed for pain relief. If misused, this drug could lead to potentially adverse health effects and addiction, CBP said.

CBP seized the controlled medication and Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating the seizure.

I-8 rest areas in Arizona reopen

The Interstate 8 Sentinel Rest Areas located about 30 miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona, have reopened after renovations to their restrooms, parking lots, water and wastewater systems, and more.

The facilities, serving both directions of I-8 at milepost 83, closed in late 2021. Other improvements from the $7.6 million renovation include updated pavement markings and signage, along with improving access for individuals with disabilities.

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Lease-purchase task force zeroes in on restrictive maintenance convenants

2024-01-23T11:59:00.001-08:00

Thursday, January 18, the third meeting of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Truck Leasing Task Force kicked off with a reminder from task force Chairman Steve Rush, retired founder of fleet Carbon Express, of the panel's mission. In his words: to "prevent predatory people of taking advantage of the drivers, through lease-purchase."

To that end, the group focused in on maintenance covenants in inequitable lease-purchase contracts carriers/affiliated leasing companies and operators. Though the new task presented to the group asked specifically about how terms in lease agreements might impact maintenance of the vehicle itself, much of the conversation around the topic focused on how inequitable contracts in practice can disadvantage the operator leasing the truck, in various ways.

"Often the problem is not necessarily the language of the leasing agreements themselves," said Paul Cullen Jr., task force member attorney with the Cullen Law Firm. "Problems that occur are with the motor carrier or the leasing company’s failure to abide by the agreements, or actions that are apart from the agreement."

Maintenance escrows nickel-and-dimed by a motor carrier or leasing company near end of the operator's time with the company, for instance, to zero them out before severing ties. Another problematic practice can be terms that limit use of service facilities to those owned by or in the preferred network of the carrier itself, with fees charged for taking the truck out of network for service.

Illustrating the latter, some contracts "will say the lease-purchase-ee is responsible for all the maintenance and service," said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Supervisor Jim Jefferson, another task force member. "In some cases you’ll see they have a maintenance fee collected out of the settlements," often building in an escrow account, "but the lessor gets to pick where the truck is fixed. And they charge you for taking it elsewhere."

Greater freedom of choice around maintenance in lease-purchase contracts would allow the free market for services to work like it should, several panel members suggested, and mitigate issues that stem from the lessor carrier's control of both revenue opportunity and, with respect to maintenance, cost of operation for the operator lessee in the worst deals.

In lease-purchase contracts that are inequitable to start with, equipment failures can tend to have a cascading effect, Jefferson and others added. "What’s more important, putting food on the table or getting the oil changed? Because the lease isn’t fair and equitable, [operators] don’t have the funds to maintain the truck and keep them safe the way they should be."

In addition to Rush, Cullen and Jefferson, four other of the nine empaneled task force members contributed to the discussion last week:

Brock Logistics owner-operator Tamara Brock
Joshua Krause, COO of OTR Leasing
Lesley Tse, attorney with Getman, Sweeney and Dunn
Steve Viscelli, University of Pennsylvania economic sociologist

The task force is charged with issuing recommendations to FMCSA’s Administrator in a comprehensive report later this year. The agency will review the final report and submit it to the Secretaries of Transportation and Labor, as well as to the appropriate congressional committees. The third meeting continued discussion toward that end, and also launched a new effort to potential host a meeting and public forum alongside the Mid-America Trucking Show in March.

Used-truck lease-purchases can saddle lessee with 'mechanical debt'

Tamara Brock, one of a couple working owner-operators among task force membership, has shared her own story of getting into business ownership via a lease-purchase program in her early years in business. That story was referenced by task force members numerous times throughout last week's discussion as underpinning a desire among some to combat predatory lease-purchase practices without driving a veritable stake in the heart of the carrier lease-purchase model itself.

Brock offered a distinction between outcomes of various lease-purchases depending on whether the truck leased is brand-new or a used, sometimes even previously leased vehicle.

"If you do not get a brand-new truck that is fully under warranty and everything is taken care of other than tires and PMs," Brock said, a lease-purchase operator holds a "much greater risk to lose everything you invested in that truck. It's not if but when it’s going to break down."

Aftertreatment-related equipment she singled out as particularly pricey and prone to failure in this day and age.

For an operator who runs into a repair so expensive that it exhausts funds in the maintenance escrow many deals come equipped with, furthermore, carriers might front the money to fix the truck, then turn that into a loan with various terms the operator's now committed to in addition. "Now you’ve got an extra expense," she said. The "main reason" most lease operators aren’t able to complete the lease payments and ultimately purchase the truck, she added, had all to do with maintenance.

"Once you get to about 500,000 miles, a lot of expensive issues begin to pop up," she said, and as a truck operator "you’re going to do whatever it takes to get the truck back on the road," even if it means going into further debt to the lessor. The lessor carrier then could be expected to well know that "something else is going to happen."

When it does, she said, speaking from the point of view of the lessor carrier, "Bam, I've got a truck that the owner-operator had previously paid off" to put a company driver in or lease to yet another operator.

Josh Krause of OTR Leasing called maintenance dynamics in used-truck lease-purchases "mechanical debt," of a fashion, an unsuspecting operator inherits the minute they enter into a contract. "Mechanical failure is a significant reason for an owner to fail in their contractual agreement," he said. "Yet it’s the inconsistency of the mechanical failure matched with the inconsistency of the relative compensation to the individual" that then creates the cascading effects that lead to the failure -- with the lessee without reserves enough to "handle the significant downtime," even short-term downtime in the worst cases.

Cullen and others pointed toward federal Truth in Leasing regulations for a potential model for used lease-purchases when it comes to disclosure of maintenance records. In those regulations, rules related to the establishment of escrows by the carrier require disclosure of "how much will be deducted" and "what things deductions will be made for. In many instances, it’s for maintenance," Cullen noted.

Thinking about a potential recommendation for regulation around carrier lease-purchases, Cullen offered the notion of a requirement of disclosure of maintenance, yet "not after the fact," he said. Rather: on the front end before the operator enters into the contract on a used truck in the first place.

Steve Viscelli agreed. "That would at least help drivers assess what they’re getting," Viscelli said. "Carriers should at least have the responsibility of disclosing what they know about that vehicle."

Lease-purchase contract examples, experiences sought

Throughout the task force's meeting, a variation on a theme emerged -- the need for a better tranche of lease-purchase contract examples than what the task force had seen to date. Here's how Ryan Kelly, representative from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sitting in on the meeting, put it:

"It would be very helpful to know what’s in the contracts, though it’s not the full story. We need to see contract language and financial data that’s richer than what we have."

For that, and for getting closer to the "full story" when it comes to predatory practices around lease-purchases, task force members began to prep for a potential session at the Mid-America Trucking Show in March, which would be the task force's official fourth meeting but also a chance to engage with those in the public who've administered and/or participated in lease-purchase programs.

A draft series of questions/requests for information the task force considered putting forward to the public included the following, presented in partial form/summary. (If the task force moves forward with the MATS meeting, expect a notice with more detail in the Federal Register and/or notification on the Truck Leasing Task Force website.)

Data collection

Examples from operators of lease-purchase contracts, with all terms specified
Underwriting of lease-purchases: Are consumer credit scores used or simply cash flow?
Carrier examples of new- v. used-truck leases and how operators end up with one or the other

Potential questions/discussion topics

Biggest challenge/challenges about relationship with the carrier? What's worth changing?
Before signing lease-purchase contract, was enough time given/taken for considering/understanding terms?
Lessee opportunity to inspect the leased equipment? History of damage to the vehicle supplied?
Criteria used by lessee in choosing truck?
Lease-purchase generally: Why, versus other options that exist to get in business and/or gain driving employment?
Maintenance/repair responsibilities: Is the picture clear?
Freight downturn issues: How does the lessor prioritize (or not) independent contractors for freight movement?

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Power Heavy Duty celebrating 30 years of helping service specialists and distributors grow and excel

2024-01-23T10:59:00.001-08:00

Power Heavy Duty marks its 30th anniversary this year of helping independent service specialists and parts distributors grow their businesses and thrive in an ever-competitive aftermarket.

The buying and marketing group was founded in 1994 by Brett Upton with a handful of independent service providers, primarily spring and suspension specialists, nd parts manufacturers serving this segment.

Three decades later later, Power Heavy Duty has a record 224 locations throughout the U.S., and added 18 new members in 2023, another record.

“My family operated a large automotive parts buying group for many years and some of our largest members were also very active with heavy-duty accounts. At their request, we pursued additional programs for them with suppliers more focused on the heavy-duty aftermarket, and that led to the creation of Power Heavy Duty,” says Upton. “The relationships we built with these suppliers and group members was key to our early growth and is still the driving force behind our continued success.”

Power Heavy Duty was acquired by VIPAR Heavy Duty in 2014 and is part of the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. Together, they represent more than 920 locations throughout North America, including 600 service providers, with an estimated $2.5 billion in final point-of-sale revenue.

“Power Heavy Duty joining the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies was significant in positioning us to include the full range of independent aftermarket service providers and parts distributors,” says VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO Chris Baer. “It has been a very successful union that brings greater value to our distributors and supplier partners, but more importantly, it delivers greater value to our end-user customers. The ‘Power’ brand is a critical part of our growth acceleration plans.”

Starting with a fairly specialized membership, Power Heavy Duty members now include service providers and parts distributors that are as diversified as the aftermarket itself. The network includes businesses of all sizes, serving every market and providing solutions for every customer’s needs.

The organization’s extensive product lines and broad range of marketing and communications resources have helped fuel its growth and increase value for both members and supplier partners, the company says.

“Cummins-Meritor has been a steadfast advocate of the Power Heavy Duty network since Meritor’s acquisition of the Euclid brand,” says David Wintle, national accounts manager for Cummins-Meritor. “Power Heavy Duty’s membership consists of experienced industry veterans, many with expertise in the spring and suspension business, which is a great fit with Euclid’s core business to this day. The partnership has grown through the years with new product lines and new ways to support the expanding network, and the collaboration between Cummins-Meritor, Power Heavy Duty and VIPAR Heavy Duty will lead into the future for years to come.”

When it comes to being an industry veteran and spring and suspension expert, Tampa Spring Company, which was founded in 1927 and among the earliest companies to join the network leads the way.

“I was at the Spring and Suspension Association show [now the Service Specialists Association] and was speaking with a supplier who recommended I join one of the buying groups, and his suggestion was Power Heavy Duty,” says John Messina, owner of Tampa Spring Company and a member of the Power Heavy Duty advisory council. “Brett was at the event recruiting new members. After we spoke and I looked at our options, they seemed to be the best fit for us, and it was the right choice. We joined and it’s been a good relationship; in fact, it’s become a great relationship.”

He notes the relationship continues to evolve and bring new benefits, such as the IMPACT Conference, which included Power Heavy Duty for the first-time last year. Messina, who attended the event, says it was a great opportunity to network with peers, strengthen relationships with suppliers and make new ones, and learn more about industry issues and best business practices, such as the session on cybersecurity.

Dayton Parts is an original supplier partner and remains a strong ally. Walter Sherbourne, vice president of Canada, Mexico and group sales for Dayton Parts, says, “Traditionally, Power Heavy Duty members were spring and service facilities — a key segment for us as our product portfolio centers around undercarriage components — but over time they have seen extensive expansion into new channels by adding warehouse distributors and diesel specialists.

“We anticipate our relationship to keep growing as they continue to increase their footprint and play a vital role in connecting Dayton Parts with quality businesses who provide parts and service solutions to the transportation industry.”

Cyphers Truck Parts has been a Power Heavy Duty member since 1997 and its owner, Kevin Cyphers, sits on the group’s advisory council. He says it’s brought numerous advantages.

“Instead of being a little fish in your own little pond, you become a much bigger voice with greater access to suppliers, product lines and group pricing. If I call up and say ‘I’m part of Power Heavy Duty,’ people listen,” he says. “It’s also facilitated many new friendships and peer-to-peer relationships.”

One of those relationships helped his 83-year-old business survive a catastrophic event. He recalls that in 2010 a major fire destroyed the company’s facility and inventory. “While some competitors are trying to put you in the ground, the group helps everyone pull in the same direction,” he says. “During that very difficult time for us, we got a helping hand from Associated Truck Parts, a VIPAR Heavy Duty distributor, who helped us with products and allowed us to continue to serve our customers. It was assistance that came from a personal place, not just two businesses doing business together. It shows what the value of being in the group really is.”

As new members are brought into the network, the benefits are quickly realized. USA 1 Diesel Truck & Trailer Parts in Penitas, Texas, joined Power Heavy Duty last year. Its manager, Mario Hinojosa, says they have already increased their product lines, grown their sales and brought customers greater cost savings.

“It’s a great organization and works well for businesses like us. It was easy to integrate into our heavy-duty parts distribution model,” Hinojosa says. “We see the benefits. We have access to more suppliers and get our inventory with better pricing.”

Through three decades there are many stories from many service providers, distributors and suppliers that tell of similar support, camaraderie and growth.

“Our goal from day one was to support independent service specialists and parts distributors through access to the products they need – at competitive prices — and provide them the best support possible to achieve their full potential and be leaders in their markets,” says Upton, Power Heavy Duty’s director of business development within the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. “And 30 years later, we’re still doing it!”

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ATRI wants to hear from owner-ops on detention | New HOS waivers in the Plains

2024-01-22T12:59:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Jan. 22, 2024:

ATRI calls for owner-op input on detention time

As part of a larger study on the impacts of truck driver detention on the trucking industry, the American Transportation Research Institute has issued a call for owner-operators and motor carriers to participate in a new ATRI data collection on the consequences of driver detention in the industry.

Driver detention -- time spent waiting at shipper or receiver facilities outside of loading/unloading -- is of course a longstanding issue in trucking. ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) identified the need for new research to document the widespread negative consequences of driver detention for carriers, truck drivers, shippers and the economy as a whole.

The short survey asks owner-operators to share details on their experiences with detention and how the problems bears on their operations, as well as any strategies designed to mitigate detention.

Later this year ATRI will release two additional surveys as part of this research -- one for company drivers and one for shippers/receivers.

Motor carriers and owner-operators can complete the survey here.

Two Plains states issue HOS waivers due to weather

Certain truck drivers traveling through Montana and North Dakota can operate with an hours of service waiver temporarily as a result of harsh winter weather.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Jan. 19 signed an executive order waiving parts 395.3 of the federal hours of service regulations (maximum driving time) for motor carriers and drivers hauling residential heating fuels through Feb. 1. Commodities included in the waiver include heating oil, natural gas and propane.

Gianforte said “recent historic low temperatures and ongoing conditions have caused an increased short-term demand for propane and heating oil and necessitate the timely delivery of these products.”

Additionally, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum issued a 30-day waiver from Parts 390-399 of the federal hours of service regulations through Feb. 17. North Dakota’s waiver applies to drivers transporting propane supplies.

Paccar recalls 11K Kenworth, Peterbilt trucks over mirror issue

Paccar is recalling more than 11,000 Class 5-8 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks for an issue related to the cab mirrors, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.

Affected trucks include model year 2022-‘24 Peterbilt 535, 536, 537 and 548 models, and Kenworth T180, T280, T380 and T480 trucks.

In the affected units, the glass lock ring on the cab mirror assembly may not be fully seated, allowing the mirror glass to detach.

Dealers will inspect the mirror glass lock ring and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15. Owners can contact Kenworth customer service at 425-828-5888 with recall number 24KWA or Peterbilt customer service at 940-591-4220 with recall number 24PBA. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-017.

Landstar breaks ground on new Indiana facility

Landstar broke ground on a 14-acre site in Crawfordsville, Indiana, for its newest field operations center.Landstar

Landstar System announced Friday, Jan. 19, the groundbreaking of its new field operations center in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

The center is being built on a 14-acre site west of I-74 in Crawfordsville with Landstar’s nearly 10,000 independent leased owner-operators in mind, the company said.. The new 7,000-square-foot building will include classrooms, a conference room and several convenient amenities for owner-operators, such as a business center with free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, showers and a breakroom.

“Landstar maintains facilities focused on its leased owner-operators across the United States and in Canada,” said Rocco Davanzo, Landstar Transportation Logistics executive vice president of capacity development. “They serve as domicile locations and designated places for Landstar independent owner-operators to connect and network with each other, and to participate in continuous professional education to keep their businesses running smoothly.”

Landstar owner-operators who visit the new center also will have access to the facility’s secured parking lot, which has spaces for more than 100 trucks and 70 additional passenger vehicles.

Cummins, Paccar, Daimler joint venture picks location for battery plant

Marshall County, Mississippi, roughly 60 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, will be the home of an advanced battery cell manufacturing facility for a joint venture founded by Cummins' zero-emissions business segment Accelera, Daimler Trucks & Buses U.S. Holding, and Paccar, the companies announced last week.

The 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory is expected to begin producing battery cells in 2027. The joint venture, announced in September 2023, localizes battery cell production for commercial electric vehicles and is expected to create more than 2,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs, with the option for further expansion as demand grows.

Accelera, Daimler and Paccar will each own 30% of, and jointly control, the business, which will focus on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technology for commercial battery-electric trucks. EVE Energy will serve as the technology partner in the joint venture with 10% ownership and will contribute its battery cell design and manufacturing expertise to the future cell manufacturing plant.

DTNA President and CEO John O’Leary noted that localized battery cell production is expected to help drive down costs while the collaboration among truck manufacturers’ biggest players should produce differentiated battery cell technology that supports the adoption of electric vehicles for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

“This site selection represents an exciting and tangible step toward advancing our Destination Zero strategy and our vision to lead the industry toward a decarbonized future,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins Chair and CEO. “We are excited to join the Marshall County community to drive economic growth and job creation in Mississippi, while continuing to expand our strong partnerships and serve the diverse needs of our customers.”

The Marshall County site solidifies Paccar's presence in The Magnolia State, as its MX engine line is produced about 130 miles east in Columbus.

"The state, the communities and the people of Mississippi are wonderful business partners for Paccar. We look forward to expanding that partnership in northern Mississippi with this new battery cell factory that will provide industry-leading cost effective zero-emissions solutions for our customers,” said Paccar CEO Preston Feight.

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FMCSA's revised Medical Examiner Handbook holds no new sleep apnea guidance

2024-01-19T11:00:00.001-08:00

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Monday will publish its updated Medical Examiner’s Handbook (MEH), which includes updates to the Medical Advisory Criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations.

The MEH provides information about regulatory requirements and guidance to medical examiners (MEs) listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, who perform DOT physicals for commercial drivers of all stripes. The January 2024 edition of the MEH will replace all previous handbook editions.

The agency noted that the MEH "is a guidance document that does not amend any agency regulation or establish any requirements for MEs or drivers not found in existing regulations."

FMCSA first posted the MEH to its website in 2008, intended to provide guidance to doctors on the physical qualification standards in regulation, and the conducting of the DOT physical exam. FMCSA has also issued guidance for MEs in the form of Medical Advisory Criteria, now published at 49 CFR part 391, Appendix A.

The handbook has been officially withdrawn for nearly a decade at this point. In 2015, because some of the information was obsolete or was prescriptive in nature, FMCSA said it informed examiners and training organizations that the handbook was no longer in use and should not be considered as agency guidance.

The agency in 2022 released a draft handbook with proposed changes, then accepted public comments on the draft.

The new handbook includes “numerous changes to improve the overall clarity, quality and substance" of the book, "based on suggestions from commenters,” the agency said.

Sleep apnea in focus

Of particular concern to truck drivers over the last decade has been guidance around the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) condition. In 2012, after an explosion of referrals of medical-card candidates for apnea testing and treatment during DOT physicals, and considerable confusion around the issue, Congress passed legislation that forbade FMCSA to pursue official apnea guidelines outside of a full rulemaking process.

An early draft handbook, nonetheless, contained detailed guidelines similar to those the agency had written when it was pursuing a rulemaking (later withdrawn) around the condition. Overdrive reported on what followed as the agency removed the apnea criteria amid Medical Review Board meetings and debate around the handbook. A later, 2022 draft handbook then included simply a link to those same sleep apnea screening recommendations issued in 2016 by FMCSA’s advisory Medical Review Board and Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.

The agency is continuing to include that link to apnea information for examiners in the final version, with added text to state that the joint recommendations include information on screening and diagnosing individuals with moderate-to-severe OSA, and not just certifying such individuals.

FMCSA noted it went “to great efforts throughout the MEH to distinguish between regulatory requirements and non-binding guidance,” adding that the handbook makes clear that doctors are free to choose whether to utilize guidance and recommendations as a basis for decision-making. The agency further noted that because the revised handbook is not a rulemaking proceeding, it can't accommodate requests by certain commenters to require examiners to use specific, objective criteria for sleep apnea screening, treatment and treatment evaluation.

The handbook clearly states, too, that federal regulations "do not include requirements for MEs to screen individuals for OSA or to recommend that an individual be referred for OSA testing," FMCSA said, "and do not include preferred diagnostic testing methods, treatment methods, or requirements by which to assess compliance with treatment. Instead, the MEH presents various considerations for ME[s] when making a physical qualification determination.”

The agency added that “the MEH guidance leaves it to the ME to determine whether an individual needs to be screened [for sleep apnea] based on the individual circumstances.”

Other updates: Hypertension, diabetes

The updated handbook also removes the hypertension (high blood pressure) table -- because it had “the potential to create confusion.” Instead, FMCSA will continue with the guidance in the Medical Advisory Criteria related to hypertension.

FMCSA also provided additional information related to individuals with non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, including considerations for MEs when making a physical qualification determination for these individuals. The agency said it is working on getting approval from the Office of Management and Budget for a new Non-Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form which, if approved, MEs could use as a voluntary, optional tool to request additional information, with a driver's consent, when making a physical qualification determination.

The agency said it expects to review the guidance within the handbook no later than five years after it’s published and will consider at that time whether it should be withdrawn, reissued or incorporated into regulations.

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Brokered-freight rates transparency: Weigh in on these two questions

2024-01-19T08:59:00.001-08:00

The survey below follows recent reporting around average spot rate indices as well as the issue of brokered-freight "transparency," or the transaction records required to be made available to owner-operators after any brokered load they move. The regulation, codified in 49 Code of Federal Regulations 371.3, spells out that those records include payment amounts on both sides of the brokered transaction.

As noted, the FMCSA is making a move toward potentially changing records requirements after a petition that asked for automated brokered-records disclosure. (After making your selections in the survey module below, don't forget to tap/click "Finish survey" to make sure your answers are submitted and recorded.)

View Survey

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FMCSA's Hutcheson resigning from Administrator post

2024-01-19T07:00:00.001-08:00

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Friday morning that Robin Hutcheson, the agency’s administrator since September 2022, plans to resign, effective Jan. 26.

Sue Lawless, FMCSA Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer, will serve as Acting Deputy Administrator and lead the agency.

Hutcheson was the Biden Administration’s pick to lead FMCSA after the administration’s first acting administrator, Meera Joshi, left the position. She was named FMCSA’s Deputy Administrator in January 2022 and immediately became Acting Administrator on the heels of Joshi's resignation.

“It has been the most profound honor to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration, and I am grateful to President Biden for appointing me to these roles,” Hutcheson said. “I thank Secretary Buttigieg for his leadership and confidence and recognize the dedicated team of professionals at the Department of Transportation who work hand in hand with industry partners to serve the American people and keep our country moving forward.”

Before being named FMCSA’s Deputy Administrator, Hutcheson served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Safety Policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Biden-Harris Administration, leading safety policy for the department and coordinating other efforts like COVID-19 response and recovery.

Prior to Hutcheson, FMCSA hadn't had a full-time administrator since Ray Martinez, who stepped down from the post in October 2019. The job was held in the interim by Jim Mullen, Wiley Deck, Joshi and then Hutcheson, each as acting administrator.

As Administrator, Hutcheson focused on the safety of truck and bus drivers to improve safety outcomes and strengthen the supply chain, FMCSA said. During her tenure, at the direction of Congress FMCSA established the Women of Trucking Advisory Board, the Truck Leasing Task Force and more.

Notably, too, during her tenure the agency began to move in response to industry petitions around boosted enforcement of brokered-freight transparency regulations and finalized rules intended in part to tighten screws on fraud in the brokered-freight markets, allowing for more speedy authority suspensions with claims.

The agency also began working toward changes to its Safety Measurement System and its system for determining a motor carrier’s safety fitness, among other things, including a restart of its pursuit of a mandate for use of speed limiters and automatic emergency braking systems on heavy-duty trucks.

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ELS sells flatbed division to PS Logistics

2024-01-18T12:59:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024:

PS Logistics makes another acquisition

PS Logistics entered the new year in growth mode. Not even three weeks into 2024, the Birmingham, Alabama-based trucking conglomerate has announced two acquisitions: Buddy Moore Trucking a week ago and, Tuesday, through subsidiary Blair Logistics, the flatbed division of Kenly, North Carolina-based ELS. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ELS will retain its heavy-haul and intermodal divisions and operate under the same name. The flatbed division will now operate as Blair.

"The ELS flatbed division will be complementary to our existing over-length operations and allow us to provide enhanced geographic coverage and service offerings to our customers while simultaneously providing greater opportunities to drivers," said Scott Smith, chief executive officer and co-founder of PS Logistics.

The transaction cements PS Logistics among the largest 53-foot flatbed carriers in the country with more than 500 power units and 1,250 over-length trailers.

Headquartered in Kenly, North Carolina, ELS was founded in 2009 by Tim Butts and operates as a family-owned business. ELS’s flatbed division maintains a fleet of more than 90 tractors and more than 240 over-length flatbed trailers, primarily hauling steel, industrial materials, lumber and other building materials.

PS Logistics has acquired more than two dozen trucking operations and five non-asset logistics operations across the country since 2016, four of them in the last six months.

Berkshire Hathaway acquires remaining Pilot ownership

Berkshire Hathaway on Tuesday acquired the remaining 20% of Pilot Corporation it didn't previously own, giving the multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, 100% ownership of Pilot Travel Centers.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but Berkshire Hathaway had spent upwards of $11 billion to acquire an 80% stake.

Pilot is the second piece of a major on-highway fuel-stop overhaul that's taken place in less than a year. BP Products North America Inc., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of BP p.l.c., completed its $1.3 billion acquisition of TravelCenters of America last May.

Berkshire Hathaway, where billionaire investor Warren Buffett serves as chairman and CEO, purchased a 38.6% stake in Pilot Flying J in 2017. The Maggelet family, owners of FJ Management, Inc., retained 11.3% ownership at the time with the Haslam family holding the balance. Berkshire in 2023 became the majority shareholder by acquiring an additional 41.4% stake. The Haslam family retained 20% ownership and remained involved with the truck stop chain until Tuesday.

"While this has certainly been an emotional decision for us, it is one we felt was right for our family at this time," said Jim Haslam II, founder of Pilot Travel Centers. "We look forward to continuing to support our life-long home of Knoxville, Tennessee, and to furthering our deep commitment and philanthropy throughout the region that we all love."

FMCSA renews HOS exemption for certain paper mill drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is provisionally renewing an exemption from the hours-of-service regulations for WestRock (formerly RockTenn) that allows its employees to operate with special time limits on a specific section of public road between its shipping and receiving locations.

The exemption is restricted to a specific route, measuring less than 300 feet in one direction, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, allowing WestRock’s shipping department employees and occasional substitute CDL holders to occasionally work up to 16 consecutive hours and be allowed to return to work with less than the mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty.

FMCSA previously determined that the operations of WestRock’s drivers under this exemption would likely maintain a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved in the absence of the exemption. The exemption renewal is for 5 years, effective April 17, 2024, through April 16, 2029.

In its exemption application, WestRock said its shipping and receiving departments are on opposite sides of the paper mill, requiring driver-employees to travel on a public road to shuttle trailers as needed. These drivers utilize a public road an average of 40 times per day to travel between WestRock’s manufacturing facility and shipping and receiving docks.

FMCSA said it’s “unaware of any evidence of a degradation of safety attributable to the current exemption for WestRock’s drivers.”

Iowa’s harvest proclamation waiving weight limits extended again

Grain, fertilizer and manure haulers traveling on non-interstate highways and roads in Iowa are getting even more time to operate outside normal weight restrictions.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Dec. 13 signed an extension to the harvest proclamation that has been in effect since Sept. 11 and has now been extended four times since in one-month increments.

The proclamation, now effective through Feb. 12, allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of the waiver.

It applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those that don't exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight. Other stipulations that must be met to take advantage of the exemption:

The load cannot exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b) by more than 12.5%
The load cannot exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds
Drivers must comply with posted weight limits on roads and bridges

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POLL: Owner-operators, do you carry health insurance today?

2024-01-18T09:59:00.001-08:00

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How much money are brokers really making from owner-operators' hauls?

2024-01-17T15:59:00.001-08:00

How much do brokers make on the loads you haul? How much do they deserve to make, and can they be trusted to honestly report the numbers?

It might just be the most heated conversation in trucking, with groups like the National Owner Operators Association outright accusing big brokers, mega carriers, and load boards and other freight-data analytics providers of either manipulating rates data, or allowing deception on the platforms. For instance, NOOA engages in frequent sparring matches with DAT Chief of Analytics Ken Adamo on Twitter (now called X) over just how much brokers are really making off their hauls.

Adamo, for his part, made himself available to questions and encouraged skepticism and constructive feedback on the company’s data products. Despite this, and his rigor in sharing sources and methodology, many remain unconvinced. A recent nine-page study from Adamo looked at data submitted by DAT's customers and reported back analysis of the margins posted by brokers, as shown in the chart below. Flatbed brokers came out with the highest mean (average) margin of more than 15%, with reefer (almost 14%) and dry van (13%) following.

“When looking at margin percentages by equipment type," according to the published paper, "flatbed (F) comes in on top with a mean margin of 15.14%, followed by refrigerated (R) at 13.82%, with dry van (V) at the lowest margin" at 13.01%. The mean (average) margin reported among all the loads in the sample was 13.47%DAT's Ken Adamo

DAT gets the numbers from customers who become "contributors," or undergo an onboarding process where they learn to submit standardized data reporting which is "verified by both DAT and the customer to be correct," according to Adamo's study. The contributors were brokers and broker/carrier customers, and most submitted data "directly out of their TMS systems."

The paper contains a few ideas for avoiding brokers reaping a high margin from your haul.

Interestingly for the long-distance OTR crowd, the study found that "margin decreases as the length of haul increases," which Adamo attributed to fixed costs of truckers and brokers on a per-load basis amortizing over longer distances. The average margin under 250 miles sat at 15.2%. The 1,000-plus-mile haul segment sees just 11.7% average margins for brokers.

According to DAT's data, the map below shows the load-origin states where brokers reap the highest margins -- another area an owner-operator can gut-check the findings. Do brokers have an easier time booking loads out of Florida, Maine or Massachusetts than in Idaho, North Dakota, or Mississippi?Ken Adamo

But to get value out of the report, one has to trust the underlying data. A NOOA spokesperson contended these numbers weren't audited by a party outside DAT itself, and that DAT puts disclaimers on their data products warning users to use the data at their own risk.

That's all true, but DAT's numbers line up with other publicly available figures that do undergo independent scrutiny. Publicly traded brokerages, who are subject to independent audits and face stiff federal fines and penalties for misconduct, offer another potential example of real-world margins.

C.H. Robinson, in its latest quarterly release, said it made $386 million in adjusted gross profits (gross revenue less labor, overhead costs) on about $3.1 billion in revenue. This isn't an exact "broker margin" calculation, but that comes out to a 12.45% profit margin for the company overall. That profit number is down 31% year-over-year. In the comparison quarter in 2022 (Q3), Robinson noted it made 563 million on $4 billion, about 14% profit. J.B. Hunt's 360 brokerage has faired similarly over the course of the rates downturn, according to the company's latest quarterly earnings.

A few recent broker bankruptcies, like Convoy's $3.8 billion collapse and back in June the implosion of Mississippi-based Transplus Freight System, made headlines, too. Kevin Hill of Brush Pass Research recently posted on LinkedIn that, according to the latest numbers, in December broker authorities have seen negative year-over-year growth of about 6%.

Of course, carriers are going out of business too. Assuming a few raw deals from a hard-negotiating broker might sink a shaky trucking business, it's important to watch every percentage point.

Interrogating the broker-margin numbers

Adamo's paper passes the sniff test in particular ways, for instance showing a big uptick in loads booked for just above a zero percent margin. This suggests brokers, as with truckers, really don't like to lose money on loads. Some percentage of the time a broker tells you a price is their "bottom dollar," they might just be telling the truth.

Owner-operators among NOOA's membership aren't exactly buying it, though. Officially, NOOA has launched a boycott of big brokers like TQL and Hunt over transparency issues.

Remember the 44% margin this owner-operator in December noted she discovered on a TQL load after FMCSA compelled the broker to provide the documentation? Many owner-operators, including among NOOA's members, suspect that high margins like that may be closer to the norm than any major industry figure wants to admit.

Adamo's white paper sought to dispel that with a sample of "500,000 randomly selected shipments from 521 unique contributors" among brokerages, "totaling $930m in shipper revenue and $803m in freight spend," according to the white paper. The samples included short hauls and long hauls, and "consisted of 70% van, 16% flatbed, and 14% reefer" as far as equipment types go.

Again, the entire study showed about a 15% margin for brokers, which is in line with what the Transportation Intermediaries Association, the most prominent group representing brokers, has said in its most recent quarterly industry reports. This chart from TIA's most recent 3PL Market Report shows that average broker margins recently did reach nearly 18% on average, and that margins don't always line up with revenue. Still, many owner-operators don't exactly trust TIA, either.Transportation Intermediaries Association

With the release of Adamo's analysis, the NOOA spokesperson said the report did a good job addressing the need for a representative sample, but "the report's limitation lies in the fact that the sample represents only approximately 20% of DAT’s total broker contribution volume for 2023, which does not fully capture the variability of the freight market or brokers' margins."

Adamo disagreed, to an extent: "While it’s true that this dataset was sampled from a filtered subset of our contribution data and I understand that there is concern over the sample size, I am not sure the exact nature of the concern. Unless NOOA has reason to believe that the 20% was sampled in a way that wasn’t representative" -- over-sampling in a particular geography, for instance, time of year, or other factor -- "then the size of this base dataset is well within the bounds of what would be considered for an analysis of this type."

That is, from a bare-bones data perspective, the sample size ought to be big enough to reflect the general nature of the whole. Consider that presidential election polls, important and well-funded as they are, typically get a sample size of 1,000 or so likely voters. Meanwhile, they're routinely used to make conclusions about the 170 million or so likely voters in the country. Half a million loads is certainly a bigger chunk of the brokered-freight whole. Other disciplines would be more than happy with that, in other words, as a representative sample

Adamo added that NOOA's concern "only has merit if NOOA believes that the sampled data is missing or is skewed towards a biased subset of the total brokered load population."

If NOOA or anyone can demonstrate how the numbers are skewed, Adamo said he's all ears for how to improve the study. "I would like to understand where they believe this bias exists, and I would be more than willing to test for it in the underlying dataset."

Some among NOOA members dismiss DAT's numbers entirely, citing aforementioned data disclaimers and/or lack of third-party audits. NOOA successfully kicked up lots of dust and questions around the DAT margins analysis, yet the organization has not proven the numbers false, or that they're without some merit. Any medicine, plane ticket, new truck from Peterbilt ... comes with some kind of disclaimer. Reports of brokers making massive margins on loads don't get audited, either, in large part, due to confidentiality requirements in contract language.

So how much are brokers making off owner-operators?

Brokers make as much money from doing business with you as you let them, in the end. And regardless of how much a broker makes, owner-operators find themselves in a tough market, where better defenses against loss remain knowing your business, cutting costs where you can and owning your backyard by making direct contact with shippers.

It's not hard to find brokers bragging about making 40%, 50%, or even 100% margin on loads. Recently a court found TQL guilty of not paying overtime to 4,500 employees who were "strongly encouraged" to work 60 hours a week, revealing how brokers face pressure to work long hours and drive hard bargains.

Maybe that's why many owner-operators distrust brokers, because they're also hardworking and pursuing the best possible profits, only on the carrier side.

Jayme Anderson, a NOOA member owner-operator, said he routinely books loads for $1 to $1.50 higher than DAT's data products average the lanes, something he attributed to being a "hard negotiator" and having an iron grip on his own numbers. Anderson suggested big shippers and brokers cherry-pick the data they submit to systems like those of DAT to manipulate the market. But he also said he ran a mostly cash operation and, like the vast majority of owner-operators, didn't report his rates to DAT, until he was recently invited to by Adamo.

"My specific question is how am I represented in data that determines the rate analytics?" said Anderson, who runs almost entirely on the spot market.

"Under the current structure" of DAT's rate calculations, customers can only be onboarded into the reporting protocol by the company's Data Operations department, explained Adamo, who welcomed more small fleet participation on the platform.

But the NOOA spokesperson suggested that might just be a bid for more customers, and that fraudulent activity on DAT's platform while many small carriers don't contribute directly cast doubt on the averages.

In the entire argument over margins and rates and reporting, a conspicuous lack of trust between the NOOA-affiliated owner-ops and DAT made reconciling the two accounts of the market almost impossible.

Anderson and others at NOOA promised a long-in-the-making project with "more representative" rates data that would debunk DAT's narrative about rates and margins. It remains a work in progress for now, but NOOA hopes to present it to Senators, and then the public, when it's ready.

Adamo said that within DAT's data "the extreme majority of freight moved by brokers comes from the top 1,000 brokers." (Keep in mind, the loads reported by brokers do represent loads hauled by small carriers/owner-operators who haven't been onboarded in DAT's data reporting system.)

"Even though there are 27,000 active freight brokerages, the top 1,000 control 80% of the domestic transportation management market," research from Hill's Brush Pass Research indicated.

So there may be some truth to the smallest carriers and brokers missing out on representation in DAT's data products, but if they don't report the loads to anyone, how could DAT possibly include them?

As these larger questions swarm around trucking, we'll continue to seek answers. We invite anyone with meaningful challenges to either DAT or NOOA's narrative on rates to contact alexlockie@randallreilly.com.

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Cold weather brings HOS relief for these propane haulers | Truck stops hit milestones

2024-01-17T11:59:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024:

Propane haulers get HOS relief in Indiana

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb this week issued an emergency declaration that exempts propane haulers from hours of service regulations in the state.

Holcomb cited “extraordinarily cold weather” and “a significant increase in demand for propane gas in recent days” as part of the reason for issuing the declaration.

He added that suspending hours of service regulations for propane haulers “will help ensure that adequate supplies thereof are distributed throughout Indiana.”

The order is effective through Jan. 25, unless it is terminated or further extended by Holcomb. The declaration comes on the immediate heels of Nebraska issuing a similar waiver for heating fuel haulers.

[Related: New HOS waiver for fuel haulers]

Danny’s Big Rig Resort acquired by TA

TravelCenters of America has opened a new TA truck stop in Phoenix, Arizona, through acquisition, the company’s 10th location in the state.

Formerly Danny’s Big Rig Resort, the site is located off I-10 at exit 137 (6741 W. Latham Street).

The new TA offers 70 truck parking spaces, The Diner restaurant, a TA Truck Service Center with four bays, emergency roadside assistance services, TA Mobile Maintenance, a truck wash, six private showers, a professional drivers' lounge and more.

[Related: TA closes deal with BP]

Iowa 80 celebrates 60th anniversary

The Iowa 80 Truckstop in 2024 is celebrating its 60th consecutive year in business serving professional truck drivers and other travelers.

Bill Moon, entrepreneur and founder of the Iowa 80, loved to sit at the counter in the restaurant and talk with drivers. He asked them about their families, their lives, and what they needed while they were on the road. He took those suggestions to heart and started adding amenities to the property. In addition to the Iowa 80 Truckstop, he also founded Truckomat Truck Washes, and CAT Scale Company.

The Iowa 80 Truckstop began as a small building with six diesel pumps and a 50-seat restaurant at what would become Exit 284. Moon located the spot for Standard Oil before the interstate was completed.

They built and opened the truck stop with Moon taking over management a year later, in 1965. Years passed, Interstate 80 was completed and hundreds, then thousands of truckers and travelers stopped by Iowa 80 to fuel, grab a bite to eat and head on down the road.

In 1984, Standard Oil (now Amoco) decided to sell the facility. Moon, who had been managing the place for nearly 20 years, jumped at the chance. He and his wife, Carolyn, leveraged everything they had, including borrowing money from friends, to purchase Iowa 80.

Once the Moon Family owned Iowa 80, they expanded the building and added services as needed. Today, after 32 expansions and remodels, Iowa 80 is overseen by the second generation of the Moon Family, who have dedicated their lives to providing a home away from home for the thousands of people who visit Iowa 80 each day.

The Iowa 80 Truckstop includes a gift store, the Super Truck Showroom, a dentist, barber shop, chiropractor, workout room, laundry facilities, a 60-seat movie theater, a trucker’s TV lounge, 24 private showers, and many restaurant options including the Iowa 80 Kitchen, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Einstein Bagels and Caribou Coffee, Blimpie, and Chester’s Chicken. The truck stop also boasts a convenience store, a custom embroidery and vinyl shop, 42 BP-branded gas and diesel fueling positions at the main building, 34 high-speed diesel pumps for truckers at the fuel center, a seven-bay truck service center, a three-bay Truckomat truck wash, a CAT Scale, a Dogomat Pet Wash, and the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum.

“It is really amazing to have reached this milestone,” said Delia Moon Meier, Senior Vice President. “We are so fortunate to have such wonderful, dedicated employees and loyal customers.”

Each year in July, Iowa 80 hosts the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, a three-day event dedicated to celebrating America’s truckers. Last year attendance hit a record 56,000 people.

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Randall Reilly launches new business, Fusable, in strategic separation from talent acquisition business

2024-01-17T07:00:00.001-08:00

Overdrive parent company Randall Reilly LLC is strategically separating its talent acquisition business and its industrial data business with its accompanying services. The talent acquisition side will be doing business as Randall Reilly, while the data business is launching as a new brand, doing business as Fusable.

Matt Reilly, formerly CEO of the combined Randall Reilly LLC venture, and now CEO of Fusable, said that “what’s remarkably consistent in our history since our first brands began in 1911, is that we’ve constantly innovated and evolved.” He frequently refers to the business as a “110-year-old startup.”

Scott Miller has transitioned to CEO of the new Randall Reilly Talent LLC from his role of general manager of the Talent Intelligence division of Randall Reilly.

“We are working on simplifying the companies so we can both focus on our strengths,” said Miller. “Ours is talent acquisition, and Fusable's is using data to deliver outcomes. We have reached the point where it makes sense for our businesses to operate independently.”

The move positions Fusable, with its best-in-class data products such as EDA, Central Analysis Bureau, EquipmentWatch, Iron Solutions, RigDig, Price Digests, and Fusable Digital to leverage data-driven solutions for industrial sectors, fostering its growth as a standalone entity. Fusable will also retain the media brands such as Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ), Overdrive, Trucks, Parts, Service (TPS), Clean Trucking, Equipment World and Total Landscape Care, renowned for their industry expertise and thought leadership.

The separation underscores the commitment of both companies to the growth and evolution of each. It allows each company to operate independently, focusing on its core strengths and further developing tailored solutions, the companies said.

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NHTSA underride committee sets next four meetings | New HOS waiver for fuel haulers

2024-01-16T14:00:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024:

NHTSA sets next four underride advisory committee meetings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced the dates for the next four meetings of its Advisory Committee on Underride Protection (ACUP), which is tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on safety regulations to reduce underride crashes and fatalities related to underride crashes.

The next four ACUP meetings will be held Feb. 8, March 13, April 24, and May 22 -- each from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern. Pre-registration is required to attend each online meeting. A link allowing access to each meeting will be distributed to registrants within 24 hours of the meeting start time.

Each meeting will be open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom. Information and registration for the meetings will be available on the NHTSA website at least one week in advance of each meeting, NHTSA said. The committee's establishment comes after NHTSA last year published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking signaling the possibility of a mandate for side-underride guards on trailers. Study of the issue was required by 2021-passed infrastructure legislation, directing the DOT to complete research on side underride guards to better understand their overall effectiveness and assess the feasibility, benefits, and costs..

The committee during the Feb. 8 meeting will discuss rear underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies, and the committee’s recommendations to the DOT. The March 13 meeting will cover side underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies and the committee’s recommendations.

The April 24 meeting will cover front underride crashes and prevention and mitigation technologies, and the final scheduled meeting on May 22 will cover underride data needs.

Western Star trucks recalled for parking brake issue

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling approximately 149 Western Star trucks in which a defect in the inversion valve may delay the engagement of the parking brake, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents said this causes the trucks to fall out of compliance with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Affected units include certain 2023-’24 Western Star 4900 trucks and 2023 Western Star 6900 trucks.

The remedy to fix the issue is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 10. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 800-547-0712 with recall number FL992. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-013.

[Related: Two new Mack/Volvo recalls]

Nebraska waives HOS regs for heating fuel haulers

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Jan. 12 issued an executive order temporarily waiving the maximum driving time limits (49 Code of Federal Regulations 395.3) for drivers hauling residential heating fuels and oils or fuel used to generate power for residential heat into or within the state.

Pillen’s order said the state “is experiencing extreme cold weather creating unexpected demand for heating fuel and oils needed to support the health and welfare” of residents.

Drivers utilizing the waiver are required to carry a copy of the order as evidence of their direct support to the state during the emergency.

Pillen said the order “will help reduce delays to ensure power districts have the fuel reserves needed to keep up with surging demand.” It is effective immediately and will remain in effect through Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m.

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'STAY HOME!!!' Winter weather snarls interstates, knocks out Teslas

2024-01-16T12:59:00.001-08:00

This graphic from the National Weather Service shows much of the country plunged into icy cold, which has led to serious snowstorms and pile-ups across the nation.National Weather ServiceAs a blanket of frigid winter air set over the vast majority of the U.S. on Tuesday, interstates from Oregon to Tennessee and beyond became impassable and downright dangerous, with truckers often catching the worst of it.

On I-5 near Eugene, Oregon, major storms on Friday and Saturday backed up at least 12 miles of the interstate, according to David House, public affairs specialist at the Oregon DOT.

"It was something like 20 to 30 commercial motor vehicles for every passenger vehicle in the backup," said House. "We've been warning residents since last week about the unprecedented ice storm and extremely low temperatures. We haven't done this much deicing, sanding and plowing in years."

But those warnings, unfortunately, didn't reach, or simply went unheeded by, many Class 8 haulers.

"Some" trucks were complying with chain requirements, House added. "Some reluctantly put on chains while stopped in travel lanes," said House. "We had trucks stopped in both lanes of travel" putting on tire chains.

This led to an "avalanche of complaints from passenger car drivers, some that got stuck in that stretch for 12 hours," he said. Also, presumably, an avalanche of $800 tickets for ignoring chain requirements, which any vehicle pulling a trailer must heed.

House said he had "sympathy" for the truck drivers, and that some of them even got out of the truck and handed out water and aid to stranded drivers, but ultimately, "it only takes one or two not chained up to block the highway for everybody."

The road crews remain on-scene, and I-5 is now open, though House warned it's "very, very slow going" and a "skating rink" out there as plows can't exactly plow miles and miles of hard ice.

ODOT expects another ice storm today and Wednesday, so avoid the area until Thursday if possible.

Tennessee tells drivers 'stay home'

The Tennessee Department of Transportation strongly urged motorists to stay home for the next 24 hours on Monday night. "TDOT crews are going on their third day of clearing the roads and due to the prolonged weather event, coupled with the dangerously low temperatures, conditions will remain hazardous for at least the next 24 hours," the agency wrote.

"In the mid-state alone TDOT relocated 275 vehicles. In West Tennessee, 82 drivers have been helped in the last 24 hours, and in East Tennessee more than 200," it wrote.

On Tuesday, a jack-knifed tractor-trailer blocked all lanes on I-24 near Chattanooga. Otherwise, interstates have cleared besides a few accidents outside of Knoxville, according to TDOT's realtime traffic page.

Headed into a snowy area North, South, East or West this week? Keep tabs on new road updates via Overdrive's Roads 511 list on X/Twitter aggregating state DOTs' 511 and other travel-info services.

Tesla chargers apparently useless in Chicago cold

Tesla hopes its all-electric Semi will revolutionize the trucking industry, but on Monday, a packed charging lot in the Chicago area saw some very disturbing signs for the ambitious auto maker, according to Fox Chicago.

Local news reported dozens of Tesla owners trying to power up their cars at a supercharging station in Oak Brook. But with temperatures in the single digits and down to zero, they apparently had no luck.

"Nothing. No juice. Still on zero percent," Tesla owner Tyler Beard, who had been trying to get a charge since Sunday, told Fox Chicago. "And this is like three hours being out here after being out here three hours yesterday."

"We got a bunch of dead robots out here," another Tesla owner said of the situation.

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Owner's tuned-up Signature 600-powered 2011 Pete 386

2024-01-16T09:00:00.001-08:00

Ewert Nel owns and operates this 2011 Peterbilt 386, which is equipped with a 620-hp Cummins Signature 600 with a 13-speed. The motor is outfitted with a Full Tilt manifold and Full Tilt Signature 600 turbo. The engine work was done by Premier Service Center in Fargo, North Dakota.

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Spot freight rates down, but not as much as usual, to open 2024

2024-01-15T08:59:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Jan. 15, 2024:

If you're headed into a snowy area North, South, East or West this week, you can keep tabs on new road updates via Overdrive's Roads 511 list on X/Twitter aggregating state DOTs' 511 and other travel-info services.

Rates saw muted decline in first week of ‘24

Broker-posted rates in the Truckstop system fell during the week ended Jan. 5, as they always do during the first week of the year, though the fall was the smallest for the beginning of a year since 2018. That’s according to the weekly spot update from FTR Transportation Intelligence and the Truckstop load board.

Refrigerated spot rates gave back less than 20% of their gains in the prior two weeks, and the decline in dry van spot rates was barely more than a penny. Flatbed spot rates, which usually decline in the first week of the year, rose slightly. Total load volume was up sharply.

The total broker-posted rate during the week decreased 7.4 cents after rising nearly 10 cents during the previous week. Rates were nearly 11% below the same 2023 week and about 6% below the five-year average.

Spot rates always fall during the first week of the year as capacity starts to normalize past the holidays, but the decrease was the smallest since the first week of 2018, which was just a couple of weeks after the electronic logging device mandate took effect.

Load volume on the spot market was down about 28% compared to the same 2023 week and was around 37% below the five-year average. Truck postings increased 7%, and the total Market Demand Index -- the ratio of loads to trucks -- rose its highest level since the week of the International Roadcheck inspection event in May.

Texas gets $70M to build hydrogen fueling stations

The Biden-Harris Administration last week announced $623 million in grants to help build out an electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the U.S.

As part of that funding, the the North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $70 million to build up to five hydrogen fueling stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The project will help create a hydrogen corridor from southern California to Texas, the Federal Highway Administration said in a press release.

The grants come by way of the 2021 infrastructure legislation's $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, a competitive funding program, and will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports.

The city of Blythe, California, will also receive $19.6 million for a WattEV truck charging terminal.

TEL donates truck to mobile medical clinic

Transport Enterprise Leasing's David Bellner (left) hands over the 2022 Freightliner Cascadia's keys to Chris Hall (center) and John Volpe of Remote Area Medical.Transport Enterprise Leasing

Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) has donated a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia to Remote Area Medical (RAM) to power the nonprofit’s free pop-up clinics, announced Victor Duggard, chief financial officer of TEL.

The truck, valued at $85,000, will transport RAM’s mobile clinic to locations throughout the region where the charity provides medical, dental and vision care to the uninsured and underserved.

“There is a tremendous need for medical services for individuals without insurance or the money to get medical services in our society. This is where RAM fills the void,” said TEL CFO Victor Duggard. “Partnering with a great organization like this is a great way for us to give back in our community.”

Dozens of clinics are scheduled for the coming months in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and in states as far away as Alaska.

“RAM is grateful for this generous donation from Transport Enterprise Leasing,” said Chris Hall, chief operations officer. “This commercial truck will allow us to continue to provide free, quality healthcare to those in need across the United States. As we expand our services and number of clinics, our fleet of tractor-trailers becomes an ever-growing, important aspect of delivering the care that countless individuals are seeking. Barriers exist for our patients in many different ways. With this truck, we are able to continue to remove those barriers that stand in the way of access to healthcare.”

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North Carolina-based owner-op's flattop 1988 Peterbilt 379

2024-01-12T11:00:00.001-08:00

This 1988 Peterbilt 379 is owned by Jesse James, proprietor of North Carolina-based Jesse James Trucking. The truck is powered by a 425-hp Cat with a 15-speed overdrive and sits on a 325-inch wheelbase. James said he painted the truck and built the motor himself. He runs "multiple trailer operations throughout the Southeast."

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Congress again eyes massive trucking insurance hike

2024-01-11T13:59:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024:

Bill intro’d, again, to hike trucking insurance minimums

In what has become something of a ritual in Congress, a bill has been introduced that would, if passed and signed into law, increase the minimum liability insurance requirements for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5 million.

Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Illinois) and Hank Johnson (D-Georgia) introduced the “Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act” on Dec. 22. Garcia has previously authored the “Improving National Safety by Updating the Required Amount of Insurance Needed by Commercial Motor Vehicles per Event (INSURANCE) Act.”

Like previous attempts to increase insurance minimums for truck owners, the new legislation also ties the minimums to inflation to keep pace “with the rising cost of healthcare and other expenses,” a press release from Garcia said.

The bill would require the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to adjust the liability insurance minimum every five years for inflation relating to medical care.

“For too long, truck crash victims and their families have been burdened by tremendous emotional and financial consequences, facing a mountain of medical debt and shattered lives,” Garcia said. “The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act is about justice, responsibility, and protecting our communities. It's time to ensure that trucking companies have adequate insurance to cover the true cost of their actions and prevent families from being financially destroyed by crashes they had no control over.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-California), John Garamendi (D-California), Adriano Espaillat (D-New York), and Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee).

Previous attempts to increase insurance minimums have stalled before reaching the full House floor for a vote.

GoFundMe started for family of truck driver killed at Tenn. truck stop

The mother of truck driver David White, who was shot and killed at a Nashville-area truck stop on Sunday, has started a GoFundMe to help get White home to North Carolina.

“My son David White was shot and killed in his truck,” Rosemary White said on the GoFundMe page. “Parked at a truck stop trying to eat a bite of food. Trying to work for a living. He was killed in Tennessee and needs to get back to North Carolina. Any help would be appreciated. He loved his family, and others. He wanted to set a good example for others. He loved God and wanted to live for Him. We loved Him but God loved him best.”

According to Nashville police, White was found in his truck parked on Lucas Lane, adjacent to the Love’s Travel Stops location in East Nashville. Police asked "anyone with information about this case" to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. "Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a $5k cash reward."

Love’s celebrates 60th anniversary

Love's Travel Stops on Jan. 8 celebrated 60 years of operations, marking a legacy of innovation, growth and community impact since its first store opened in Watonga, Oklahoma, in 1964, the company said.

"That year, Tom and Judy Love were looking for a way to support their growing family,” the Love family said in a press release. “So, they leased a filling station in Watonga and with Tom’s boots-on-the ground, community- and people-focused mentality he kept his entire career, that one store led to a nationally recognized brand.”

Love’s said it is the only major travel stop that is still family-owned and -operated and is now a national travel stop and convenience store network with 637 locations in 42 states and nearly 40,000 employees in North America and Europe. Its growing family of companies includes Musket Corp., Trillium Energy Solutions, Gemini and Speedco.

Tom Love was an innovator from the start, the company said, opening a combined convenience store and filling station at a time when that was practically unheard of. His innovative spirit is at the heart of every addition the company has had over the years – from expanding into travel stops, adding the Gemini Motor Transport fleet, and restaurant and fresh food options, to total truck care solutions, alternative fuels, and private label offerings, just to name a few.

“Tom Love said it best, ‘yesterday’s trophies don’t win tomorrow’s games,’ and even after six decades we still live by that motto, constantly innovating and improving,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s. “The secret formula behind the company’s success is our employees and how they model the core values Love’s was built on and sustain a legacy of driving for excellence.”

Love’s 60th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year.

ATA relaunches Women in Motion as council

The American Trucking Associations on Wednesday relaunched its Women in Motion program as an ATA Council.

ATA said the move will allow “for women across the trucking and transportation industry to join a dynamic and growing community focused on professional development and mentorship.”

“Since its inception, Women in Motion has been focused on promoting the role of women in the trucking industry,” said ATA COO Sarah Rajtik, co-chair of Women in Motion. “With this transition, we are hoping to capitalize on the work we’ve already done to reach a much larger group – creating more opportunities for women to connect and empower one another in order to make this great industry better for everyone.”

Members of WIM are eligible to receive a number of exclusive benefits, including:

Access to the WIM electronic yearbook
Quarterly newsletters with special articles written by WIM members, upcoming events and ways to get involved
Action alerts with legislative updates
Member pricing on products, courses, events and more
Priority placement when WIM Speakers’ Bureau speaker requests are submitted
Access to WIM networking events at ATA meetings
WIM ribbon at ATA events
Eligible for any WIM awards
Corporate members are listed on WIM website with link to company webpage
Corporate members received a special logo that they can use to identify themselves as affiliates

“By re-launching WIM as an ATA Council, we hope to create a community of like-minded women in this industry,” said Iowa Motor Truck Association President and CEO Brenda Neville, co-chair of Women in Motion. “I encourage any woman in this industry – from drivers to technicians and dispatchers to the C-suite – to come join us as we work to shape the future of this industry – breaking down barriers and paving the way for a new era of inclusivity and leadership in trucking.”

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Canadian fleet shut down after six bridge crashes

2024-01-10T14:00:00.005-08:00

Chohan Freight Forwarders, a 65-truck fleet based in British Columbia in Canada, has been shut down by the province's Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming following a troubling pattern of trucks crashing into infrastructure.

After another of the trucks running under Chohan's authority struck a bridge on December 28, Fleming laid down the law with some strong language.

“This needs to stop. We know that the vast majority of commercial drivers in B.C. operate safely and responsibly. However, some operators are not getting the message," he wrote in an official statement:

In the interest of public safety, B.C.’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch (CVSE) has used its new powers to suspend the safety certificate for Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. This means the company’s entire fleet of 65 commercial vehicles will be unable to operate in B.C. as of 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time) on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. Furthermore, the driver and the carrier responsible will face the toughest fines in the country. The outcome of the investigation could lead to further action. This suspension is a result of the company’s unwillingness or inability to operate safely within the province, following its sixth infrastructure crash in two years."

The B.C. CVSE, the statement highlighted, recently announced boosted fines and the ability to fully halt fleets with suspensions for patterns like these bridge strikes. Around Canada, motorists continued to report seeing Chohan-branded trucks on the road. Local news reported that Chohan-associated carriers in other provinces still have the right to operate, and a staff member at Chohan told Overdrive that no trucks with the suspended MC number are currently operating.

In a statement to CBC news, Chohan blamed the crash on an owner-operator:

"Unfortunately, one of our trucks operated by an owner operator was involved in an accident today in Delta," Chohan told CBC News. "The driver, who is not a company driver, failed to wait to receive his permit and route directions for his oversized load."

The company laid out a timeline of mere minutes between the safety department asking the operator to wait before driving to obtain the right permit and a call notifying safety he'd crashed into an overpass.

Among the other five crashes authorities highlighted, at least one happened at the same bridge. A PR firm retained by Chohan didn't respond to request for comment from Overdrive. Chohan's United States Department of Transportation records, reflecting inspections that occurred in the United States, detail 16 truck inspections with a 40% out-of-service rate, well above the national average of 22.26%. The company told CBC it had an "exemplary" safety record.

Chohan Freight Forwarders, the suspended MC, belongs to a group of companies called the Chohan Group, which advertises itself as having an "impressive fleet of flatbeds to handle virtually any freight situation" and an "entire team" that's "made up of experienced transportation pros."

The crash took place on Highway 99 in Delta, British Columbia, right near the U.S. border. Another local news outlet suggested that Canadian bridges showing measurements in meters, not feet and inches, may have contributed to the problem.

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'Senseless act of violence': Driver shot and killed at Nashville truck stop

2024-01-10T14:00:00.003-08:00

A young truck driver was shot and killed near the East Nashville, Tennessee, Love's over the weekend, and Metro Nashville Police Department detectives are seeking information to help find the killer.

"Homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of truck driver David White, 37, of NC, who was found today dead in his rig. It was parked on Lucas Ln adjacent to Love's Travel Stop in East Nashville. He was last seen buying food at Love's at 7:20 p.m. Sun," the police wrote on Twitter.

Police asked "anyone with information about this case" to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. "Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a $5k cash reward."

The driver's employer, KA Logistics -- a Bolingbrook, Illinois-based fleet with some 80 drivers hauling general freight -- sent us this statement mourning the driver's loss of life to a "senseless act of violence."

The statement from KA's safety team in full below:

It is with deep sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the tragic incident that occurred on January 7th, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Our valued driver, David White, lost his life in a senseless act of violence.

David was not just a member of the KA Logistics Inc. team; he was a dedicated professional, a reliable colleague, and a friend to many within our organization. His unwavering commitment to his responsibilities and his positive demeanor left a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of working alongside him.

As we mourn the loss of David, our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We understand that no words can fully alleviate the pain and grief they are experiencing, but we extend our heartfelt condolences and offer our support in any way that may be needed.

We are working closely with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. The safety and well-being of our employees have always been a top priority for KA Logistics Inc., and we will continue to take every measure to enhance security and support our team members.

As we reflect on the loss of our dear colleague, let us remember David for the positive energy he brought to our workplace and the warmth he shared with everyone around him.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this profoundly difficult time.

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Kwik Star in Iowa back on top of truck stop rankings

2024-01-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024:

Trucker Path users ID nation’s top truck stops

Trucker Path on Wednesday revealed the results of its annual Top 100 Truck Stops ranking, based on more than 34 million in-app ratings and reviews over the last 12 months.

For the second year in a row, the Kwik Star located at 13888 118th Ave. in Davenport, Iowa, was rated the No. 1 overall truck stop by Trucker Path users.

“We are humbled and grateful to be voted the number one truck stop in the nation for the second year in a row,” said Kathleen Ball, store leader for the Davenport Kwik Star store. “Our team is committed to providing the best possible experience for all our guests. We will continue to work hard to give our drivers the best guest service that they rely on. Thank you for letting us serve you. See you next time!”

Recognized by nearly 1 million drivers using the Trucker Path app, the top 100 truck stops are considered the top places for drivers to stop based on their offerings and customer service.

“Being named to the list of Top Truck Stops means they are the best of the best,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “In addition to the 2024 winners, there were 11 locations that pulled off a hat trick and have ranked in the Top 100 for three consecutive years. With over 12,000 trucks stops and roughly 11,000 additional fueling locations on our app for drivers to rate, this is a huge accomplishment and those facilities should be exceptionally proud.”

The following Top 5 lists of truck stops include the chain and independent locations with the highest ratings in their respective categories. Drivers across the nation can look for Trucker Path Top 100 Truck Stops, which display a window decal honoring the locations for their place in the annual ranking.

Overall Top Truck Stops

1st place -- Kwik Star #1071, Davenport, Iowa
2nd place -- Discount Truck Parking, Pompano Beach, Florida
3rd place -- Workman's Travel Center, Ozark, Arkansas
4th place -- Compass Travel Center, Demotte, Indiana
5th place -- Bert's Travel Plaza, Wellsville, Kansas

Independent Truck Stops

1st place -- Discount Truck Parking, Pompano Beach, Florida
2nd place -- Workman's Travel Center, Ozark, Arkansas
3rd place -- Compass Travel Center, Demotte, Indiana
4th place -- Bert's Travel Plaza, Wellsville, Kansas
5th place -- Stones Truck Stop, Watertown, South Dakota

Chain Truck Stops

1st place -- Kwik Star #1071, Davenport, Iowa
2nd place -- Kwik Trip #202, Plover, Wisconsin
3rd place -- Kwik Trip #1048, West Salem, Wisconsin
4th place -- TA Ozarks #924, Mt. Vernon, Missouri
5th place -- Love’s Travel Stop #665, Angleton, Texas

A complete list of the 2024 Trucker Path Top 100 Truck Stops and the three-year consecutive Top 100 companies can be found here.

[Related: What makes a top-rated truck stop]

Dana Aftermarket expands YouTube channel with how-tos, more

Dana Incorporated has recently added new video content to its Aftermarket YouTube channel, which provide product tips, how-to content and more.

Most recently, a webinar about the new Dana EZ-ID digital tool was added to the platform. The webinar was developed to help Dana customers learn how to use the Dana EZ-ID tool to quickly identify part numbers for driveline assemblies that lack product tags or other identification markers and order the correct parts through the Spicer ReadyShaft program, which provides next-day direct shipment of complete driveshaft assemblies.

The Dana Aftermarket YouTube channel houses informative, educational content, including product tips and tools, how-to video content, and product information about Dana Aftermarket brands, such as Spicer Select and Victor Reinz.

Driver recognized as Highway Angel for helping stranded mother, three children

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) in October named truck driver Keith Rahn, of Radford, Virginia, a TCA Highway Angel for the second time in two months.

Keith RahnThe WEL Companies driver was recognized for helping a mother with her three children stranded in a car on the highway.

On Sept. 29 around 9:20 p.m., Rahn was driving in dense fog in the right lane of I-80 eastbound in Ohio when he noticed a car stranded in his lane ahead of him.

“Thankfully I saw her,” Rahn said. “She was actually in traffic, had lost power, and she didn’t have power even for the lights on her car. She was dead stopped.”

According to the TCA Highway Angel nomination form submitted by the woman in the car, Jessica Lynn Daniels, she was traveling with her two infants and 7-year-old in the car and was frantically trying to seek a solution or get the attention of other passing motorists. She did not have a phone with her.

“Thankfully he was observant in the heavy fog and was able to stop and help push my car off the roadway and onto the shoulder before I was struck by another car,” Daniels wrote about Rahn. “Nobody was stopping until this driver came and helped. He gave me all of his information, called the Ohio State Troopers and stayed with me until they arrived to assist. I really am grateful for this driver, and I am sure that he saved our lives. God bless him.”

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