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Washington winter storm forecast; have chains readyThe Washington Trucking Association has a good reminder if your driving takes you their way: if you’re traveling Interstate 90 through the Cascade Mountain Range’s Snoqualmie Pass, make sure you follow that state’s chain requirements. Failing to do so can be costly. The warning comes at an opportune time as heavy snows and difficult travel are forecast for today through early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Storm Warning for the Cascades for today through 4 a.m. Wednesday. Between 1 to 2 feet of snow is expected above 2,500 feet, with up to 3 feet possible at higher elevations. The passes will be affected, and travel may be very difficult to impossible. In a recent Facebook post the WTA says the Washington State Department of Transportation is working with the Washington State Patrol, which will be enforcing chain requirements during winter storms and inclement weather on Snoqualmie Pass. Ignoring the chain requirements could cost you between $136 and $500. Vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or greater – including some large SUVs and RVs – must install chains when traction tires are required, according to the WTA. See the state’s complete tire chain law. The WTA says more than 30,000 vehicles travel across Snoqualmie Pass every day. Over the last several years, more than half of I-90 closures on Snoqualmie Pass have been caused by drivers who ignore chain-up requirements, according to WSDOT. Source of article and other great articles click here : Truckers News MnDOT: Winter truck load increases to beginWinter truck load increases will begin Friday on unrestricted highways in the central frost zone, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Winter load increases have already begun in the north and north-central zones. Vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight tolerances. Drivers should check with local agencies before increasing any weights on city, county and township routes. The sign erected on the roadway governs the load limit in effect. A winter weight increase permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways only; a permit is not required for state trunk highways. For questions about over legal weight/size “heavy haul” trucking, call MnDOT’s Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Weight Permits at 651-296-6000 or email ofcvopermits.dot@state.mn.us. For questions about enforcement, call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement at 651-405-6196. The start and end dates for winter load increases are based on how weather is affecting roadway strength. These dates are established by monitoring roadway strength as weather conditions change. The end date for winter load increases is variable and drivers should check for updates throughout the year. Vehicle operators are required to check with MnDOT for the exact start and end dates. All changes are made with a minimum three-day notice. For the most current information, go to MnDOT’s automated 24-hour message center at 800-723-6543 for the U.S. and Canada, or 651-366-5400 for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. This information is also published on the MnDOT seasonal load limits website at www.dot.state.mn.us/materials/. For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org. Source of article and other great articles click here : Alberta Lea Tribune
Local truck driver to participate in Arlington wreath deliveryQUINCY -- J.D. Walker knows visiting Arlington National Cemetery can be an emotional experience. A Navy veteran, Walker knows the sacrifices men and women have made for their country, as well the families they leave at home. His son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Walker was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on May 14, 2007. Jeffrey, 21, had just called his mother to wish her a Happy Mother's Day when he was shot just 20 minutes later. Walker, who is a truck driver for Gully Transportation, will be driving to Maine next week to pick up thousands of wreaths and deliver them to Arlington National Cemetery with a convoy of other truck drivers. Volunteers will place the wreaths on the graves of veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day on Dec. 15 for National Wreaths Across America Day. Volunteers who place the wreaths are asked to say the veteran's name aloud and thank them for their service. "It's definitely going to be emotional," Walker said. "It's a lot of grace and a lot of God up there. That's how I see it." Gully Transportation is providing a trailer with a new wrap promoting Wreaths Across America campaign to "Remember. Honor. Teach.," as well as the seals of the five branches of the military. Walker honors his son during the run, but he makes the trip for all veterans. "For me, it makes me feel really good to be able to do what I'm doing and going to Arlington and being able to actually deliver the wreaths to the fallen," he said. "That's a great honor." Walker made the trip last year, bringing a load of wreaths to national cemeteries and other locations in Missouri. Though the trailer only had a couple of Wreaths Across America on it, Walker noticed people looking at it. "I had a lot of people taking lots of pictures of the truck itself, even though it wasn't like the one here," he said. "I'm sure I'll have plenty of people wanting photos this year." The trucks leave Maine together in a convoy Walker estimated to be about 65 semitrailers. "I followed the convoy all the way to the state border of Maine, and then I had to break off and go toward Missouri," Walker said. "They only allow anywhere from 10 to 13 trucks to be in the actual convoy going down through the rest of the states to get to Arlington." The new trailer will make its public debut during Saturday's Christmas Parade in Hannibal, Mo. The parade starts at 6 p.m. in the Broadway Save-A-Lot parking lot. It heads toward the Mississippi River before making a turn on North Main Street. During the parade, Walker and the trailer will be accompanied by the American Legion honor guard and the Marine Corps Service League. Source of article and other great articles click here : Herald-WHIG Judge says drivers should be paid for sleeper berth timeIn a recent decision, a federal judge in Arkansas has said that drivers should be paid at least minimum wage for time spent off-duty and in their sleeper berths. The ruling doesn’t institute any new requirements for carriers, but it could open the door to lawsuits brought by drivers. The decision also doesn’t stipulate that drivers should necessarily be paid directly for sleeper berth time, but according to this ruling, sleeper berth time is compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA), says trucking attorney Eddie Wayland of King & Ballow. The opinion by Judge Timothy L. Brooks, of the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Arkansas, says that, under the FSLA, drivers’ total compensation, once divided by the total number of hours worked, should equal at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Having to account for sleeper berth time “is a big deal,” says Wayland, “because that’s a lot of time every day that would be considered compensable.” Brooks issued the opinion on Oct. 19 in a case in which three drivers filed a class-action lawsuit against P.A.M. Transportation, the 59th largest carrier in the country, according to the CCJ Top 250. Brooks ruled that sleeper berth time is compensable under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Wayland says this is one of the first decisions by a federal judge that finds sleeper berth time as compensable hours. The decision doesn’t necessarily have an impact on other carriers’ operations, says Wayland, but it could open carriers up to similar litigation brought by drivers. And it is now currently the law in this case, Wayland says, though P.A.M. could continue to litigate and fight the judge’s ruling, “by asking for reconsideration or appealing,” Wayland says. P.A.M. did not respond to multiple inquiries about the ruling or whether the company intends to fight the decision. The company could also choose to settle the plaintiffs, which could number into the thousands. The lawsuit was originally filed in December 2016 by P.A.M. drivers David Browne, Antonio Caldwell and Lucretia Hall, who allege that the company didn’t pay them minimum wage for all hours worked. Brooks’ Oct. 19 decision wasn’t a verdict in the case, but rather in an opinion dismissing a motion by P.A.M. to have the lawsuit thrown out. His opinion involves varying rules from federal departments. While the U.S. DOT dictates drivers’ hours of service and duty periods, the U.S. Department of Labor abides by different definitions of on-duty vs. off-duty time, despite using the same phrasing. “The DOT regulations aim to make our roads safe, while the DOL regulations aim to provide workers with adequate compensation,” writes Brooks. “If the DOT prohibits commercial truck drivers from driving more than 14 hours (sic) in a 24-hour period while the DOL requires their employers nevertheless to pay them for at least 16 hours in that same period, then this court sees nothing inconsistent or inharmonious about that state of affairs.” Source of article and other great articles click here : CCJ Digital
Trucking industry faces burdens
Advancing technology and changing regulations have affected every government entity, industry, and individual. Few feel these struggles more than trucking. Every company with a truck, every commercial truck driver, and every truck used must meet stringent government safety regulations, taxes, and fees that go beyond most consumers’ and suppliers’ imaginations. The struggle to manage compliance has taken drivers out of trucks and added back-office personnel to meet these demands. Voters often view trucking as something to avoid, allowing regulators to increase associated fees with relative ease. A truck is often required to pay those fees in every state they pass through. The fee to use Oregon roads for a large semi-truck increased last year by 25 percent per mile traveled, with a 35 percent increase scheduled over the next five years. A recent federal mandate forced trucking to purchase electronic driver hours-of-service equipment to help enforce driving time regulations, and emission regulation has added $60,000-plus to the purchase price of a single large truck. While we hope readers become more aware of our industry’s burden, we invite all who are held to trucking’s regulations to attend the free 2019 Trucking Safety & Compliance Conference, Jan. 25 in Clackamas, Ore., which will cover many of these topics. Get information at www.glostone.com/conference2019/. Source of article and other great articles click here : The Columbian Love’s adds 2 new stores, 141 parking spotsCombined, two new Love’s Travel Stops — one in Indiana and the other in Virginia — will provide 141 new truck parking spots. The two new locations opened for business today. Located at 2201 County Road 17 (off U.S. Highway 20) the new Love’s in Elkhart, Indiana includes:
The new Love’s in Low Moor, Virginia is located at 9104 Winterberry Ave. (off I-64, Exit 21) and has:
These new travel stops will bring the number of Love’s locations in Indiana to 19 and 12 in Virginia. “We’re proud to add truck parking and jobs to new areas of Indiana and Virginia,” said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “Love’s is excited to serve customers in the bustling Elkhart and South Bend areas, as well as those traveling in western Virginia to and from West Virginia on I-64.” Source of article and other great articles click here : Truckers News |
Police searching for trucker missing since NovemberPolice are searching for truck driver John Ring, who was reported missing Nov. 21. Police continue searching for missing truck driver John Ring, whose family told police they last heard from him Oct. 31 in Hammonton, New Jersey, and whose truck tracker data shows it was last moved Nov. 1. Ring was reported missing to the Hammonton Police Department on Nov. 21. Ring drives for Express Dedicated LLC. When the fleet was unable to reach Ring, a state trooper was sent to check on him and found the truck locked with Ring’s belongings inside. His tractor-trailer was found on I-85 northbound at a rest stop near Dolphin, Virginia Nov. 1. He is described as a white male, 62 years old, 6 feet tall, approximately 180-200 pounds, with brown eyes and grey hair. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are not known, according to the Hammonton Police Department. Anyone with information on Ring’s whereabouts should contact police at 609-567-4300 Ext. 237. Truckers News reached out to the Hammonton Police Department to inquire about any updates in the case but had not received a response by the time of this article’s publication. This story will be updated with new information as it becomes available. Source of article and other great articles click here : Truckers News Danbury Trucking and Logistics Firm Acquires RivalDANBURY, CT — The Danbury-based Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation, a provider of freight transport, has announced it has completed the acquisition of AFF Global Logistics for $465 million. Odyssey's services include international transportation management, intermodal services, trucking services, and managed services and consulting. The company has operations in North America, Europe and Asia. AFF is headquartered in Fife, WA, and is recognized as a leading U.S. domestic offshore provider (Alaska/Hawaii/Puerto Rico), with additional ground, rail and air transportation, ocean freight forwarding of dry and temperature-controlled products, project logistics, and warehouse and distribution services offered worldwide. "The acquisition of AFF is a significant achievement in the continued evolution of Odyssey," said Bob Shellman, president and chief executive officer, Odyssey. "It creates tremendous and immediate value for Odyssey and its customers. Our combined market leverage supports a significant enterprise multiplier as we integrate our comprehensive solutions globally." To support the transaction, Odyssey's Multimodal Global Solutions Division has been established to integrate Odyssey and AFF business units that offer complementary modes and services across common global markets. The new division will be led by Keith Hancock, who previously served as president and CEO of Odyssey's Capital Transportation Solutions subsidiary. Source of article and other great articles click here : Patch Police: Kentucky armored truck driver reported missingLOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) - Police in Kentucky are asking for the public's help locating an armored truck driver. The Louisville Metro Police Department says it is looking for Mark Espinosa, 29. He is 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 225 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark blue shirt with dark blue pants. The truck was found nearby, but cash was missing. Espinosa hasn't been seen since, and police aren't ruling out whether he took the money himself. Police have searched his home and vehicle. "We're looking into every aspect of this," LMPD Lt. Steve Kaufling said. "If he's missing, if he could be a danger, if he could be a suspect." If you have any info on the whereabouts of Espinosa, you are asked to call 502-574-LMPD (5673). Source of article and other great articles click here : WKYT
Massive boulder nearly kills trucker on Seward Highway
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - Commercial trucking is often regarded as being a dangerous job in Alaska, and Anchorage driver Craig Maddex experienced the truth of that during Friday’s earthquake. ![]() A massive boulder crashed into the cab of a semi-truck on the Seward Highway during Friday's earthquake. Photo courtesy of Craig Maddex.“When that boulder came down and hit me, it just sounded like a blast going off,” Maddex said. “It was hair-raising, something I don’t want to experience again, that’s for sure.” Maddex works for a commercial trucking company delivering goods to all corners of Alaska. On Friday morning, he happened to be driving up the Seward Highway on a return trip from the Kenai Peninsula. "I noticed some small rocks were coming down, but that's pretty common out there on the Seward Highway,” he said. “I didn't think too much of it." At the stroke of 8:29 a.m., the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit, dislodging dangerously large rocks right onto the highway. Before he could react, a landslide of tumbling boulders near McHugh Creek took out the semi's engine. Channel 2 asked Maddex what his reaction was directly following the impact. “I thought I was dead. I’m just thankful,” he said. “I definitely have an angel looking over my shoulder.” With just two cuts on his knuckles, Maddex says perhaps the most damaging thing to come out of this is the nickname anointed to him by his fellow drivers. "They're calling me, ‘Here comes 'the Rock Maddex',” he said through bouts of laughter. “I suppose I'm going to get stuck with that nickname for a while." Maddex recommends more damage control on the stretch of Seward Highway between mile posts 104 and 114, where rockfall is expected to continue along with recurring aftershocks. He also cautions anyone who regularly makes that commute to either stay home or remain highly vigilant and alert while driving on the highway. This is echoed by the Alaska Department of Transportation, which still includes that stretch of the Seward Highway on the state’s alert list following Friday’s earthquake. Source of article and other great articles click here : KTUU Drugs, alcohol found in trucker in Chesapeake Bay crashThe truck driver who died after going off the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in July was under the influence of alcohol and multiple drugs, according to a medical examiner’s report. Jervone Hall is said to have had seven drugs in his system: amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, ethanol, ephedrine/pseudoephedrine, benzoylecgonine (a product of metabolized cocaine) and THC (the active ingredient of marijuana). The Norfolk, Virginia medical examiner’s report of the July 27 accident shows Hall had a blood alcohol content of .062, which is over the .04 legal limit for a commercial vehicle driver. The amount of meth in his system, detailed in the toxicology report, was roughly five to six times the amount considered drugged driving in the commonwealth, according to a story in the Virginian-Pilot. Hall’s tractor-trailer struck a minivan in heavy rain before going off the side of the 17-mile-long bridge. A passenger in the truck also drowned. Source of article and other great articles click here : Truckers News 7 trucks crash; close I-80 in Wyoming![]() Two of seven trucks involved in a chain-reaction accident on I-80 in western Wyoming Wednesday (Photos: Unita County Fire and Ambulance) Seven tractor-trailers and two passenger vehicles were involved in a massive pileup that closed I-80 in both directions in western Wyoming for several hours Wednesday. The chain-reaction crash occurred Wednesday morning at mile marker 27 on snow-covered I-80 westbound near Evanston. The Unita County Fire and Ambulance reported on its Facebook page that four people were taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. One of the trucks was carrying cases of beer which spilled onto the highway. I-80 was reopened at about 4:30 p.m. Source of article and other great articles click here : Truckers News |
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