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Trucker News

Trucking adds 1,400 to rolls

U.S. employers added 96,000 jobs last month, a weak figure that could slow any momentum President Barack Obama hoped to gain from his speech to the Democratic National Convention.
cent from 8.3 percent in July, the Labor Department said Friday. But that was only because more people gave up looking for work. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching.

The government also said 41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than first estimated. The economy has added just 139,000 jobs a month since
The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 perthe beginning of the year, below 2011’s average of 153,000.

For-hire trucking picked up 1,400 jobs for the month, and has added jobs every month this year except for March. The preliminary August number for trucking is better than the same month a year ago by 49,000 jobs, and it’s 117,000 jobs better than March 2010, the low point in the downturn. But the current total is still 103,100 jobs shy of the industry peak in early 2007 — a slip of 7.1 percent.

Dow Jones industrial futures, which had been up before the report, fell soon after it was released.

The report was weak throughout. Hourly pay fell, manufacturers cut the most jobs in two years and the number of people in the work force dropped to its lowest level in 31 years.

Sluggish hiring could nudge the Federal Reserve to announce some new action to boost growth after its meeting next week.

The report on hiring and unemployment is among the most politically consequential of the campaign. The figures arrive just as the presidential race enters its final stretch. Jobs are the core issue, and the report could sway some undecided voters.

There will be two additional employment reports before Election Day Nov. 6. But by then, more Americans will have made up their minds.

In his speech Thursday night, Obama acknowledged incomplete progress in repairing the still-struggling economy and asked voters to remain patient.

“The truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over the decades,” Obama said.

In addition to those who’ve given up looking for work, many young Americans are avoiding the job market by remaining in school. All told, the proportion of the population that is either working or looking for work fell to 63.5 percent. That’s the lowest level in 31 years for the labor force participation rate.

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Maryland to ticket trucks parked on I-83

Maryland State Police say commercial truck drivers should plan in advance where they want to park when they need a break — and not park on the shoulder of Interstate 83. Good luck, says the head of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.

The police say there’s been an increase in tractor-trailers parked on the side of the highway between Interstate 695 in Towson and the Pennsylvania state line. Police say the parked trucks lead to “extremely dangerous conditions.”

Starting Friday, Sept. 7, police are implementing a zero-tolerance policy and will issue $60 tickets to truck drivers who park on the shoulder.

“State police are correct that parking on the shoulder of I-83 is significant, but what they overlook is that there aren’t sufficient spaces available for the trucking industry, not just on I-83, but the entire state,” Louis Campion, MMTA president told The Trucker.There is not a single truck stop along I-83 in Maryland, which runs from Baltimore to Harrisburg, Pa.

For the Maryland State Police to take the position that drivers needs need to adequately plan routes to make sure they can stop at a parking facility represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what these drivers face every day — weather, congestion, available hours to drive — without providing them with adequate parking,” Campion said. “What other option do they have? Drive tired? No one wants to see them to do that.”

Campion noted that a truck partnership study conducted in 2006 clearly identified no truck parking on I-83 as an issue and recommended two overarching strategies —public-private partnerships and local problem solving.

Six years later a major parking program remains, he said, but did note that a federal grant had been awarded to help add over 20 spaces at a welcome center on I-95 south of Baltimore.
Campion said police can only give truckers found parked on an I-83 shoulder the $60 citation.

Truckers can’t be forced to move because most stop only because they are out of hours.
Truck drivers are urged to stop at rest areas, welcome centers or weigh stations.
The state police said electronic highway signs will also be used to remind drivers about the increased enforcement.

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Trucker News

The IRS E-Filing Deadline for the Tax Form 2290 Has Been Extended

The IRS Form 2290 is traditionally due on August 31st at midnight, but due to the maintenance it was stopped at 1:00pm EST. Over the Labor Day weekend, the IRS shut down their E-Filing system for maintenance. During this time, taxpayers were not able to E-File the IRS Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes. This E-File shutdown came at a particularly inconvenient time for Truckers, Trucking Companies, and anyone else owning a heavy vehicle. As with most IRS taxes, people often wait until the deadline, and this shutdown caused a serious delay for anyone attempting to E-File this return at the last minute. However difficult this may have been, ExpressTruckTax has made it easy to submit this information to the IRS as soon as they begin processing returns again.

Fortunately, the IRS system will be back up and running at 12:00pm on Tuesday, September 4th. According to a recent letter from the IRS, any Form 2290 returns E-Filed by Friday, September 7th will still be considered on time. The IRS has extended the E-Filing deadline for the Form 2290 from August 31 to Friday, September 7th.

The Form 2290 can still be completed online through ExpressTruckTax. Once all the information is submitted, it will be transmitted to the IRS on September 4th when E-Filing becomes active again. If any truck driver, owner operator, trucking company, or anyone else owning a heavy vehicle still needs to file the Form 2290, they are strongly urged to get it E-Filed this week, or IRS fines and penalties will be incurred.

This tax must be filed by anyone owning a vehicle weighing at least 55,000 pounds using the IRS Form 2290 on an annual basis. This means that every heavy vehicle must be filed for during the months of July and August. Individuals and businesses with 25 or more vehicles are required by the IRS to E-File the return rather than paper filing.

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Truck Driver From Northeast Missouri Convicted In Double-Fatal Crash

An eastern Missouri truck driver has been convicted of failing to properly secure a bulldozer that fell off his flatbed and fatally injured two women.

St. Charles County jurors deliberated about four hours Friday before finding 27-year-old Adam L. Steinmann of Marthasville guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that jurors also convicted him of a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license.

The bulldozer tumbled off Steinmann’s trailer in July 2009, bounced and landed on a car driven by 63-year-old Judith Ulery, of New Melle. She died 44 days after the crash. Her 86-year-old mother, Elsie Sherman, died about nine months later.

Steinmann’s attorney blamed brake problems and described what happened as “a tragic accident.”Sentencing is set for Oct. 30.

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Trucker News

Converting Truck for Haul Freight

Hauling freight with a truck is common practice; unfortunately, you can’t just throw a bunch of stuff in the back of a truck and drive away; loose cargo can fall out, so it needs to be properly secured first. Follow safety precautions and secure the load to the truck before attempting to haul cargo. When attaching a trailer to a tow hitch, it helps to have somebody assist you.Here are the thing that you have to do;Arrange the cargo so the weight is evenly distributed in the truck bed. Always load cargo as close to the truck cab as possible.Locate the loopholes on the walls of the truck bed nearest the truck cab.Insert the hook of one end of a bungee cord into one of the loopholes.Stretch the bungee cord across the cargo and pull it tight.Insert the hook of the bungee cord into the loophole on the opposite side of the truck bed. Make sure the bungee cord is taut and holds the cargo against the truck cab. If the cargo is large, attach a second bungee cord.

On installing a Trailer Hitch,here are what you have to do;Jack up the rear end of the truck so you can fit underneath.Lay underneath the truck. Take the installation instructions with you. Consult the installation manual during installation. Most trailer hitches are similar in design, but installation instructions may vary. Remove any spare tires or skid plates from underneath the truck. Review the installation instructions to help you locate the bolt holes on the underside of the truck used during installation.Drill a hole into the truck bed in the appropriate location using the appropriate drill bit or punch press. Center the hole between the two tires.Get out from underneath the truck and insert the drop bolt into the hole.Lay underneath the truck. Take the hitch frame and any necessary tools (screwdriver, adjustable wrench) with you. Hold up the hitch frame to the underside of the truck and align the mounting holes with the holes located on the truck. Insert the appropriate bolts and tighten with an adjustable wrench. Some trailer hitches require you to drill mounting holes into the truck bed. Consult the owner’s manual for the model’s specific mounting instructions.Get out from underneath the truck and insert the ball into the ball mount. Some balls attach to the ball mount by screwing them into place, while others require you to tighten a nut onto the threaded end of the ball. If the ball attaches to the ball mount with a nut, tighten the nut into place with an adjustable wrench. Consult the installation manual for ball mounting instructions.

Using a Trailer Hitch;Have somebody stand by the cargo vehicle, which could be a trailer or travel cart.Back up the truck so the ball mount is lined up with the tow mount of the trailer.Have somebody jack up the trailer so the tow mount sits higher than the ball mount on the truck. Back up the truck slowly until the ball mount is directly below the trailer’s tow mount. Have the person standing by the trailer tell you when you are properly aligned. Stop the truck and put it into park once the two mount is aligned with the ball mount.Lower the trailer, making sure the tow mount slides on top of the ball mount. You should feel the tow mount clamp onto the ball mount when it is properly secured.

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Carriers Trucker News

BTS releases state, government guides

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released its annual State Transportation Statistics 2011, a Web-only reference guide to transportation data for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and Government Transportation Financial Statistics, which consists of 43 tables showing federal, state and local transportation expenditures and revenue in current and inflation-adjusted dollars from 1995 through 2009.

STS 2011 includes a wide range of state-by-state information, such as the calculations showing which states had the highest and lowest number of highway traffic fatalities per 100,000 population in 2010. The ninth annual STS consists of 115 tables of state data on infrastructure, safety, freight transportation, passenger travel, registered vehicles and vehicle-miles traveled, economy and finance, and energy and environment, plus a U.S. Fast Facts page.

According to the GTFS, federal and state government expenditures on transportation were almost $243 billion in 2009; $200 billion of the expenditures were by state governments, with $43 billion from the federal government. More than 50 percent of the funds were used for highways, with 22 percent for transit and 20 percent for aviation. Total revenue allocated for transportation in 2009 was almost $245 billion.

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Ways Determine Freight Class for Truck Shipping

All items that move by ground in the United States are subject to regulations administrated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Commonly know as the DOT, this agency regulates safe ground commerce by enforcing guidelines for trucking companies that handle freight. The NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) breaks down all shippable items in categories into which all freight must be properly classified prior to being shipped. To the surprise of many first-time shippers, each classification code affects the cost of transportation. In order to avoid confusion and possible fines for infractions, it is imperative to properly classify freight.

Determine what item is going to be shipped. Make a list of items to be shipped if there are more than one. Describe in great detail what the item is made of, its purpose, its value and its condition. Weigh and measure the dimensions of all packages being shipped. MNFC classification codes are extremely detailed, so any additional details, such as types of packaging, is helpful.

Contact a local LTL carrier. An LTL (less than truckload) carrier is a trucking company that consolidates various customers’ orders to fill trucks. Contacting a local LTL carrier is easiest by calling during business hours, but is also possible in many case online.

Give a description of the item to ship, along with all additional information, to LTL carrier. List all items that follow under different classification numbers, so that an accurate price can be quoted. The trucking company will help you classify the items by looking up the freight in the MNFC classification manual.

Calculate the density of the freight. Density is calculated by dividing pounds by cubic feet. Classifications are determined not only by classification number, but by density.

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Carriers Trucker News

FMCSA shuts down reincarnation of horse hauler

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ordered the Tennessee-based truck company Terri’s Farm to immediately cease all interstate transportation services based on evidence that it was a chameleon operation for an unsafe truck company previously shut down by the agency.

Following a thorough review of the company’s operations, FMCSA shut down Terri’s Farm after finding that it was operating the same vehicles, and maintaining the same operational and safety management structure as former horse transporter Three Angels Farms.

On June 29, FMCSA ordered Three Angels Farms, its officers and vehicles out of service after safety investigators found multiple safety infractions that substantially increased the likelihood of serious injury to the traveling public.

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TCA announces participants in 2nd Weight Loss Showdown

The Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) first weight loss challenge (held earlier this year) helped individuals lose a combined 3,022 pounds, or 10 percent of their collective body weight. The event was such a success that TCA will host another.From September 24-December 2, 2012, the following six trucking companies will participate in the 2nd North American Battle of Trucking’s Weight Loss Showdown:Bison Transport of Winnipeg, Manitoba,Dutch Maid Logistics of Willard, Ohio, Erb Transport of New Hamburg, Ontario ,John Veriha Trucking of Marinette, Wis. ,PGT Trucking of Monaca, Pa. ,Tyson Foods of Springdale, Ark.

Trucking’s Weight Loss Showdown is a competition that challenges teams of drivers and staff from TCA-member truckload carrier to determine which individual and which company can achieve the greatest percentages of weight loss. The battle will last 10 weeks and will be managed for TCA by Lindora Clinic, America’s leading clinical weight management provider. Participants will follow Lindora’s Lean for Life On-the-Road program, which stresses a low-carbohydrate, low-fat, moderate protein menu plan coupled with exercise, nutrition education, and lifestyle changes. Lindora coaches will contact each individual throughout the battle to provide nutrition education, help boost morale, discuss obstacles, and record weight loss.Kathy Ayres, Lean for Life On-the-Road project manager for Lindora Clinic, said, “The Lindora team is really looking forward to the second Trucking’s Weight Loss Showdown! After the amazing success of the first Showdown, and the synergy that was created with those teams, we are thrilled to have an opportunity to recreate the magic with this new group of Showdown contenders.”

Chris Burruss, TCA’s president, agreed. “The first Showdown was just the beginning, providing an intriguing glimpse at the positive results that can be achieved when people get motivated,” he said. “I hope there will be many more to come… Showdowns are an excellent way for trucking companies to give back to their drivers and staff, helping them shed pounds toward the goal of improved overall health.”For a second time, TravelCenters of America / Petro Stopping Centers of Westlake, Ohio, will provide the incentive for the company whose team collectively loses the greatest percentage of weight. Its StayFit fitness room equipment package is valued at $13,000 (shipping not included) and includes the following commercial grade items: a cable motion dual pulley strength frame rack, an Integrity elliptical cross trainer, and a recumbent stationary bike. The company will also provide restaurant and food gift cards or certificates valued at $3,000.

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Drivers Dreams Program to Honor Truckers by Granting Wishes

Truckload freight brokerage firm Total Quality Logistics is saying thank you to truck drivers with its new Drivers Dreams program.Drivers Dreams is like a make-a-wish program for truck drivers.It might be a dream to take a long overdue family vacation. It might be a wish to go back to school. It might be assistance in paying bills. Any dream is acceptable.

A Dream Team made up of TQL employees will choose the 10 most compelling submissions during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 16-22. Drivers will cast their vote for the wish they feel is most worthy. The dream or dreams with the most votes win. A total of $10,000 will be granted to make dreams come true.For every dream submitted and every vote cast, TQL will donate $1 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development & Relief Fund, a charity that assists truck drivers and their families. TQL will donate up to $25,000 to SCF.The Drivers Dreams program began Monday, Aug. 27. Dream submissions will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, Sept. 22. On Sunday, Sept. 16, the 10 most compelling dreams and wishes will be chosen where they feel are most worthy. The winning dream will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

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