Month: May 2011

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Trucker News

NY port expands drayage truck incentives

The board of commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey expanded eligibility of drayage trucks that can be replaced under its Truck Replacement Program to include trucks with model year engines 2003 or older.

The TRP is a first-come first-served limited offer to provide grants and financing to eligible truck owners to help them purchase newer, cleaner and more environmentally friendly trucks. Eligible applicants, either licensed motor carriers or owner-operators, will receive a grant that will cover up to 25 percent of the purchase price of a newer truck and also may qualify for low-interest financing.

The Port Authority implemented a plan to phase out older trucks serving its marine terminals. As of Jan. 1, port drayage trucks equipped with engines model year 1993 and older are not allowed access to the Port Authority’s marine terminals. In addition, starting Jan. 1, 2017, only trucks equipped with engines that meet or exceed engine model year 2007 federal emissions standards will be allowed access.

The Port Authority has received $8.57 million in grant funding to assist with the TRP’s implementation. The Port Authority has additionally dedicated up to $25.7 million to provide qualified truck purchasers that may cover up to 75 percent of the cost of the replacement truck at a 5.25 percent interest rate over five years.

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Trucker News

FMCSA sets rules calendar

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a new schedule of pending rulemaking, which includes anticipating publishing a Dec. 9 final rule establishing a national medical examiner registry.

Some rulemaking has been delayed for reasons that include a need for further analysis, insufficient resources or staffing and more pressing priorities. Explanations are not always provided for postponing publication and some schedule information is incomplete.

The Dec. 9 final rule will establish training, testing and certification standards for medical examiners; provide a medical examiner database; and require medical examiners to identify drivers they have examined to the FMCSA

The agency anticipates publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for safety auditor certification May 29, 2012. It would require safety inspections or audits and compliance reviews be conducted by a certified inspector, auditor or investigator.

The agency did not provide publication dates for new rules regarding Mexican carriers to operate in the U.S. and distracted driving.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

Roadcheck to focus on hours of service, movers

Truck and bus safety inspectors will be on the road night and day during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 72-hour International Roadcheck on June 7-9, checking vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites along major highways across North America.

In addition, roving patrols will inspect vehicles and drivers traveling other roadways.

Since its inception in 1988, the roadside inspections conducted during the annual Roadcheck have numbered more than one million. It also has provided for the distribution of educational literature and safety events to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.

With the recent increased attention on driver hours of service and electronic onboard recorders, this year’s Roadcheck will emphasize checking driver logbooks and underscore to drivers the importance of maintaining their logbooks, taking breaks, preventing fatigue, and driving without distractions. Also, Roadcheck 2011 will include added emphasis on finding carriers of household goods who may be operating under the radar by using improperly marked rental vehicles and/or operating as a property carrier rather than a HHG carrier.

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Trucker News

DOT gives road repair funds

The U.S. Department of Transportation on May 24 made $1 million in quick release emergency funds immediately available to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to repair roads and bridges damaged by floods from this spring’s snowmelt.

Quick release emergency funds provided by DOT’s Federal Highway Administration will be used to reimburse the state and counties for repair costs.

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez says the program is bracing for additional funding requests from states across the country this year that have been battered by extreme weather events.Widespread flooding in more than 40 counties and tribal nations near the Mississippi, MnDOT will use the funds to continue repairs on roads and bridges that were damaged by erosion and seepage.

Road Funds

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Trucker News

Missouri urges truckers to bypass Joplin

Missouri is asking truckers to not exit Interstate 44 in Joplin, except for exit 4’s fueling plazas, but state officials are expediting trucking permits and waiving fees following the city’s deadly tornado.

The Missouri Department of Transportation issued an update Tuesday, May 24, after the May 22 tornado that resulted in 117 fatalities in Joplin. Fuel is not available at I-44 exit 11 and other truck services are unavailable in the Joplin area.

MDOT said certain trucking permits will be issued free and requests will receive priority service around the clock. Carriers entering the area with heavier, wider or longer than normally allowed must request an oversize/overweight permit. Out-of-state carriers that do not hold authority to operate in Missouri can request registration and fuel permits.

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Trucker News

Diesel tumbles 6.4 cents

For a third straight week and fourth in the last five weeks, the national average retail price of diesel fell during the week ended May 23, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The national average price plunged 6.4 cents to $3.997, the first time it’s been below $4 since early April.

Diesel

The weekly price decrease was the largest since 7.3 cents a year ago.

All regions dropped in price, with the California price falling 8.4 cents a gallon to $4.287, the most expensive. The West Coast excluding California fell 4.7 cents to $4.201. The Midwest declined 7.3 cents to $3.942. The other region dipping below $4 was the Lower Atlantic at $3.943, following the Gulf Coast the previous week.

The record diesel price was $4.764 in July 2008.

For diesel price information, click here.

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Trucker News

FMCSA extends intermodal inspection

Intermodal Equipment Providers (IEPs) are required to register an Intermodal Equipment Provider Identification Report (form MCS-150C) with the FMCSA. The intermodal equipment (IME) must then establish a systematic inspection and a repair and maintenance program to assure the safe operating condition of each intermodal chassis. The IME must also maintain documentation of the maintenance program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended until June 30, 2012, the compliance date of the requirement for drivers and motor carriers to prepare a driver-vehicle inspection report on intermodal equipment when no damage, defects or deficiencies are discovered by, or reported to, the driver.

The previous compliance date was June 30, as a result of the agency’s amended final rule of Aug. 20, 2010, which extended the compliance date of the same provision of the Dec. 17, 2008, final rule concerning maintenance responsibilities for intermodal equipment. FMCSA said this action is being taken to provide it sufficient time to address a petition from both the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association and the Institute of International Container Lessors to rescind the requirement for no-defect DVIRs.

FMCSA said all other requirements concerning drivers’ preparation of DVIRs to report damage, defects or deficiencies to intermodal equipment providers remain in effect, as well as requirements for intermodal equipment providers to take appropriate action in addressing these safety issues.

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Trucker News

Road Team driver promotes trucking at White House

Ralph Garcia, a driver with ABF Freight System Inc. and a member of America’s Road Team, told Obama administration officials about the rewards and challenges of a career in trucking during a White House forum as part of National Transportation Week.

“It was an honor to be invited to the White House to promote something I believe in so strongly – the importance of the trucking industry,” Garcia, a native of Rio Rancho, N.M., said following the forum.

Garcia was one of 20 transportation professionals who participated in the May 16 White House “Champions of Change” roundtable that focused on how best to promote careers in transportation.

“There’s no better way to earn a living than behind the wheel as a professional driver,” Garcia said. “In my 30 years as a driver, I’ve seen so much of this great country that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience.”

The government, Garcia said, could do more to encourage Americans to explore a career, or remain, in the trucking industry.

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Trucker News

Rest areas closing

Nationwide, rest areas are closing because of flooding or budget shortfalls. On the other hand, one is being converted to truck parking.

On May 16, Illinois announced rest area closings, but did not provide complete information. On Interstate 24, the state shut the Fort Massac Rest Area at milepost 1 for six weeks for roof repairs and Illinois 164 Oquawka Rest Area will close Nov. 8 for various improvements.

Also, the I-57 Rend Lake Rest Area, southbound side, is closed and the I-74 KrisdalaBaka Rest Area near Woodhull will be closed May 31 until July 1.

North Dakota has closed its Medina rest area on westbound I-94 because water is over the entrance ramp.

A tight budget is forcing South Carolina to close I-85 Northbound Rest Area at mile marker 88 on June 3. The annual savings will be about $220,000.

In Missouri, the I-70 Mineola rest areas are being converted to truck parking only soon after Memorial Day. Both west and eastbound locations will be closed periodically during the conversion.

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Lifestyle Trucker News

FMCSA seeks comments on medical rule

Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.

As a car driver, you are required to meet certain medical standards in order to legally drive. As well as the initial eyesight test that forms part of the driving test.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for public review and comments for the core curriculum that could be used by training providers in implementing the proposed National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

On Dec. 1, 2008, the agency published a proposal to implement the registry, which included minimum training requirements for medical examiners.