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Our Forum is the all year around meeting place, where drivers and owners come for Information or discuss trucking and expediting related questions. Whether you drive a Tractor/Trailer, Expediter Straight Truck or Van, you are very welcome here in Expediter World. We bring you Expediting and Trucking News on a regular basis. Trucking Professionals as well as Newbie's enjoy our Photo Gallery and NEW Free Classifieds. You can also find the right job with our new website, please visit us at www.expediterjobsonline.com. You can also check diesel fuel prices with our National Truckstop fuel price locator. Join us in relaxing, having fun and playing games.
Locked in a Tesla patent suit, Nikola nabs $210M at $1.1B valuation for hydrogen |  | 
Nikola, the hydrogen trucking startup currently suing Tesla for patent infringement (those are the actual names, sorry spirit of real Nikola Tesla), today announced that it has raised $210 million in its Series C round of funding. The company had previously announced in August that it had raised $100 million of the round; now it has closed it out. The company has confirmed to us that the round was done at a $1.1 billion valuation. In a short note announcing the news, Nikola described it as “oversubscribed” after racking up $12 billion in pre-orders, with $380 million of those specifically for its newest model, called the Tre European designed for the Europe market. Pending regulation in Europe that aims to reduce diesel emissions from heavy-duty vehicles — which produce one-quarter of all CO2 emissions in Europe — are leading transport companies and others to search for viable alternatives, and this has partly fuelled interest in the company, it seems. Nikola said that the cost per-mile for its Tre truck is also expected to be 10-20 percent less than diesels. “Once the Nikola Tre arrives in Europe, diesel will finally be on its way out, ” said CEO Trevor Milton in a statement. Ultimately, Nikola aims to sell trucks in the US, Europe, Canada and Australia. That rush for more efficient and eco-friendly trucking vehicles is also in part behind the lawsuit with Tesla. Nikola claims that Tesla has stolen its designs for its truck from its Nikola One and is winning business through market confusion. “Tesla’s design has caused confusion among customers,” the company wrote in its suit. “The confusion has diverted sales from Nikola to Tesla. Further, any problems with the Tesla Semi will be attributed to the Nikola One, causing harm to the Nikola brand.” But in the meantime, Tesla has secured its own patents for its trucking design. Nikola would not comment on the case today, as it is still ongoing. Existing investors in Nikola include the strategics Nel Hydrogen, a Norwegian company that is also helping it build filling stations; and Wabco, an automotive OEM, and Nikola has said that it is not releasing the names of any other investors at the moment. American trucker treats busload of Canadian veterans to dinner | |
An American trucker passing through Ottawa treated a busload of Canadian veterans to dinner to honour their service. The gesture happened on September 11 at Robbie’s Spaghetti House, where 17 veterans from the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre were enjoying a night out. Trucker John Meiring was at the same restaurant when he noticed the group, who arrived in a bus with “Vets on Wheels” on the front. He had an idea, so he approached their table “He said, ‘I want to pay for the meals for all the veterans.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding?’” recalled Phil Lepage, a veteran of the Korean War, to CTV Ottawa’s Joel Haslam. Meiring told CTV Ottawa that the idea came from a personal place. His son serves in Afghanistan with the U.S. military, and he wanted to show the veterans that he appreciated all that they’ve done -- no matter which country they served. “It put a smile on everybody’s face. It’s going to be one of my greatest memories of my life,” Meiring said. “It warmed my heart immensely that I could do this for them.” He added that he likes to think of how “badass” the veterans were in their heyday, and that the free dinner was the least he could do to pay his respects. “A lot have made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home. I want people to think about that,” Meiring said. Staff at the facility said the act of kindness is something they won’t soon forget. “I think every outing we go on, we’ll always be thinking about our night at Robbie’s and a truck driver from Ohio,” said Robyn Orazietti with the health centre. Real time parking management system aims to be a cure for truck parking woes | |
A smart parking technology platform debuting in January 2019 will hopes to make it easier for truck drivers to find safe, available parking spaces. Supported by a $25 million TIGER grant, the Truck Parking Information Management System identifies empty parking spaces along interstate highways, then funnels the information to truckers through mobile apps or highway signage. The project got off the ground a few years ago, when the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) applied for the federal grant to create a system that would inform truck drivers in advance of the amount of parking at public rest areas as well as private businesses. TIGER grants stand for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. Hours of service limitations for truck drivers mean drivers can only be on the road for so long before taking rests, said Phil Mescher, project manager for the Truck Parking Information Management system in Iowa, one of eight MAASTO member states. “If they are out of hours, they will pull off on exit ramps or park on highways. It’s a dangerous situation.” An American Transportation Research Institute survey released earlier this week showed that parking ranks toward the top of the list of truck driver concerns. Mescher, the Iowa DOT’s Travel Modeling, Forecasting & Telemetrics team leader, said the TPIM projects in each state share similar branding and design but differ in some of the technical details. The Iowa initiative focuses on that state’s portion of coast-to-coast Interstate 80. The team installed “magnetometers” — a puck-like device that uses magnetic waves to detect vehicles — in all the public rest stop parking spaces. To monitor private truck stops, the team will use cameras equipped with video analytics software that can count vehicles when they exit. The system gets recalibrated over time so the data stays relevant. Drivers can access the data feeds via smart phone app, truck in-cab information systems and the DOT 511 platform, Mescher said. The app will have options for drivers to be notified by voice when truck stops or rest areas are coming up and if they have available parking. Indiana is developing the truck parking project along I-65 and I-70, I-94 in Northwest Indiana and I-69 between Indianapolis and the Michigan border, said INDOT spokesman Scott Manning. Its system also uses magnetometers for vehicle detection. The data is transmitted via INDOT’s existing intelligent transportation system (ITS) network to the dynamic message signs, the DOT webpage and mobile app. The data will also be shared with the TrucksParkHere app, a third-party app that functions similar to Google Maps and Waze, Manning said. Mescher said Iowa is the only state in the MAASTO consortium that won’t be making the data available on highway signs. The decision was driven by cost, as well as a desire to cut down on sign clutter, he said. The eight states are on target to meet a soft launch deadline in December. January 4, 2019 is the “go live” date. The system will run for three years and then each state will decide how to proceed beyond that, Mescher said. The ATRI study revealed a dichotomy of views between drivers and their companies on the issue of parking. Drivers rated it as their second-highest concern behind Hours of Service; management had it 9th. This comment from the FreightWaves story on the ATRI study, if it doesn’t come from a driver, does at least appear to reflect the driver view. “Well I can tell you part of the difference between the driver’s priority on parking and the companies perspective. The company sees all their customers that allow parking and the fact that out west there are a lot of places to park off the highway in the desert, they don't take into account that there is no facilities of any kind at most of these places and the fact that many are just plain unsafe when it comes to parking on the street or in a customer’s yard. Yes, some of them are fine, but most are not. The desert is generally safe and quiet, but again no facilities. Once you remove these variables you start to see why drivers are more concerned.” Survey finds driver shortage, HOS rules top list of concerns in trucking industry; ATRI to create ELD data clearinghouse | |
 Austin, TX — A perceived growing shortage of commercial motor vehicle drivers and potential changes to hours-of-service rules are the top issues affecting the trucking industry, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute. ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, released the survey results Oct. 29 during the 2018 ATA Management Conference and Exhibition. More than 1,500 respondents offered their input, with motor carriers and CMV drivers comprising nearly 90 percent of the participant pool. The driver shortage is No. 1 in the survey for the second straight year. Concerns about HOS rules, which held the top spot from 2013 to 2015, rank second. In a notice published in the Aug. 23 Federal Register, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on HOS regulations for CMV drivers. Possible revisions the agency is considering include:
Uneasiness over the driver shortage was renewed by an October 2017 report from ATA chief economist Bob Costello that warned the trucking industry could experience a potential shortage of 50,000 drivers by the end of that year, climbing from 36,500 in 2016. If nothing were to change, Costello projected the shortage could exceed 174,000 drivers by 2026, with possible reasons including aging drivers, lifestyle issues and regulatory challenges. However, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association disputes the validity of the shortage. On Oct. 25, the organization posted a video on its YouTube page featuring commentary from Todd Spencer, its president and CEO. OOIDA argues that existing data does not support the idea of a shortage, and suggests the spotlight instead should be pointed toward some large fleets’ struggles to retain drivers. In October, ATA reported that the turnover rate for carriers with more than $30 million in annual revenue stood at 98 percent. Still, FMCSA estimates that 449,000 new drivers earn entry-level commercial driver’s licenses each year. “You can be profitable in trucking even with 100 percent driver turnover, as we see all the time,” Spencer says in the video. “It’s a crazy way to do business. No other business would be like that. It sacrifices a whole lot of things, not the least of which is highway safety.” In other ATRI news, the organization on Oct. 24 introduced an initiative to gather anonymous electronic logging device data from various fleets in an effort to build a central clearinghouse intended to assist with industry analysis. Those interested can share contact information through the ATRI website. ATRI plans to schedule a webinar about the clearinghouse project in November, an organizational press release states. “The new data generated by ELDs can provide a wealth of insight and research support to our industry,” Andrew Boyle, ATRI board member and co-president of Boyle Transportation, said in the release. “But we clearly need a trusted third-party facilitator to manage and monitor how the information is used. ATRI is uniquely suited to serve that role. In the right context, ELDs can provide the real-world data needed to guide future regulations and initiatives.” FMCSA’s ELD final rule took effect Dec. 18, 2017, and an enforcement grace period ended March 31. FMCSA has extended until Dec. 7 an exemption granting an ELD exemption for livestock and insect haulers. TomTom 620 GPS designed with truckers in mind | |
You have plenty of people counting on you each time you get in your truck. They’re depending on you to get your load picked up and delivered safely and on time and with little or no hassle. You ought to be able to expect the same of the gear you use when you make that trip. That includes your truck, its trailer and the devices in your cab. 
TomTom620 GPS The TomTom Trucker 620 GPS is one of the tools on which you can rely. It was created for professional drivers for use in heavy-duty highway trucks. It’s loaded with features truckers need and displays them on an easy-to-read 6-inch screen. With built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, the Trucker 620 delivers its suite of services via voice control, meaning you keep your hands on the wheel but still get your smartphone’s messages; it also allows you to make calls. Here’s what the Trucker 620 delivers:
And, the Trucker 620’s speaker and microphone deliver quality, hands-free calls. Just connect your phone via Bluetooth, and you’ll see who’s calling on your GPS’s screen. The TomTom Truck 620 attaches to the dash of your truck with an easy to use magnetic mounting device. Available online and in travel centers. Court rules that truckers must be paid minimum wage — even when they’re not driving | |
"The decision may have national implications," according to legal experts.  A federal court ruling that took place in Arkansas late last month could totally transform the way that truck drivers are paid. On October 19, the US District Court in the Western District of Arkansas ruled against PAM Transport in a case related to minimum wage pay for commercial vehicle drivers. The judge refused PAM Transport’s request to dismiss a 2016 class action suit involving approximately 3,000 truck drivers. The suit argues that PAM Transport violated federal labor laws and minimum wage requirements when they failed to pay their drivers for the total number hours worked. By refusing to dismiss the lawsuit, the court has upheld the notion that truck drivers ought to be paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for sixteen hours per day — meaning all of the time spent in the truck except for eight hours of sleep. The court’s ruling indicates that time spent in the sleeper berth could count as work, even if that time is considered to be “off-duty.” District Court Judge Timothy Brooks shared justification for his decision in his October 19 memorandum: “There is no ambiguity here, then, as to whether an employer must count as hours worked the time that an employee spends riding in a commercial truck while neither sleeping nor eating: time thus spent “is working” and “any work” performed “while traveling must… be counted as hours worked.” Further, the court found that Department of Transportation regulations capping a driver’s on-duty time at 14 hours has little impact on how truck drivers should be paid. Justin Swidler, the lawyer representing the truck drivers in their suit against PAM Transport, says that the ruling could have huge ramifications for the way truck drivers are paid going forward. “The decision may have national implications,” he told Business Insider. The judge’s decision doesn’t mean that the lawsuit is over but does mean that it will continue to be argued. |
Diesel Slips 2.1 Cents to $3.317 a Gallon Amid Oil’s Steep Drop | |
 The U.S. average retail price of diesel dropped 2.1 cents to $3.317 a gallon Nov. 13 as the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell to an 11-month low. Investors see demand softening, supplies building and potential global tensions. It was the fourth consecutive weekly decline in the price of diesel. Still, trucking’s main fuel costs 40.2 cents a gallon more than it did a year ago, when the price was $2.915, the Department of Energy said a day after the Veterans Day holiday.
Average prices fell in all regions of the country, and by the most in California — 2.8 cents a gallon to $4.04. The national average price for regular gasoline plunged 6.7 cents to $2.686 a gallon, DOE’s Energy Information Administration said. The average is 9.4 cents higher than it was a year ago. West Texas Intermediate crude futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed at $55.23 per barrel Nov. 12 compared with $62.85 on Nov. 5. Meanwhile, one small fleet operator posted online that his fuel-efficient truck, at one point, actually made the cost of fuel free on a recent run. He went 495 miles, fueled up for $140.04 and got 10.31 miles per gallon. “Twenty-nine cents to run per mile and the surcharge pays 40. Not only is fuel cost-free, I made 11 cents a mile back, that’s where the easy money is kids,” Jamie Hagen wrote. He owns Stratford, S.D.-based Hell Bent Xpress, which operates three trucks and food-grade tankers to haul vegetable oils, milk, molasses, fructose, corn syrup, tallow and similar commodities.
“That was a particularly hot day and it was virtually windless as I headed south down Interstate 29 from Wahpeton, N.D., to Sioux City, Iowa, where I fueled. I was actually loaded for 90% of those miles. Talk about a best-case scenario,” Hagen told Transport Topics. His truck is a 2016 Mack Pinnacle outfitted with the Super Econodyne MP8 engine set to 445HP. It has a single overdrive mDrive transmission and a 2.67 ratio single rear end with tag axle chaser, he said. “We run all over the U.S. and Canada. The bulk of our miles is Midwest though, as most of our shippers are there. Just out, then back to get another one. I’m typically loaded on average 72% of all miles. With bulk that means I’m 80,000 pounds or empty — no light loads as it were,” he said. His latest average fuel mileage over 90 days is 8.63. For 30 days, it’s 8.33 mpg. “Since it’s been getting colder out, the mileage has started declining, which is common for winter,” Hagen said. In the meantime, OPEC, in its latest monthly report on conditions in the oil market, noted 2019 prospects point to higher supply growth than global requirements, which could have “repercussions” for global oil demand and lead to “widening the gap between supply and demand” next year. OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said Nov. 12 that the resurgence of non-OPEC supply was beginning to look “alarming,” Bloomberg News reported. He added that he saw the need for the group and its allies to agree on a cut of 1 million barrels a day when the cartel meets next month. While no decision to reduce supply was taken over the weekend, this month’s report will add to the chorus of views within the group, pushing for new cuts. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, also unveiled a plan to reduce its own shipments by about 500,000 barrels a day next month. Oil’s unprecedented decline deepened as investors fled a market hammered by swelling excess supplies, a darkening demand outlook and President Donald Trump’s Twitter critique of the world’s biggest crude exporter, according to Bloomberg. Trump admonished Saudi Arabia for planning to curb output and lamented prices that settled below $56 a barrel. Over 6,000 Cascadias recalled for brake light issue | |
A brake light issue on certain Freightliner Cascadia tractors has prompted Daimler Trucks North America to recall more than 6,000 units to fix the problem. Daimler’s recall affects 6,326 model year 2017-2018 Cascadia tractors in which the brake lights may remain on after the brake pedal is released. Trucks included in the recall were manufactured between June 8, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Daimler has yet to develop a remedy for the recall, but it will begin notifying affected truck owners on Dec. 17, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners of affected trucks can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-799. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-742. Trucking rap sheet: Drivers busted with drugs, CDL testing schemes, more | |
Action in five trucking-related crimes – including drug busts, CDL schemes and DOT medical exam fraud – has recently been reported by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General; the Norman (Oklahoma) Police Department; and Indiana State Police. 
Indiana State Police busted a California-licensed driver for carrying suspected cocaine and methamphetamine. (ISP photo) Driver busted in Indiana with $5 million worth of drugs A California-licensed truck driver was arrested by Indiana State Police on Oct. 30 after inspection officers found approximately $5 million worth of drugs in the trailer during an inspection. ISP reports the truck was pulled in for a routine DOT inspection, and officers noticed several “criminal indicators” in conversation with the driver. A search of the tractor-trailer yielded 220 pounds of suspected cocaine and 65 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. Ravninder Singh Kaler, age 22, of Bakersfield, California, was arrested and charged with a felony count of dealing narcotics and a felony count of possession of narcotics. Trucker caught with $4.4 million in liquid meth in fuel tank A truck driver and passenger were arrested Monday, Oct. 22 when police found $4.4 million worth of liquid methamphetamine in the passenger side fuel tank of a parked tractor-trailer. The Norman Police Department says it’s among the largest drug seizures in Oklahoma state history. The Norman Police Department reports its officers found 1,262 pounds of liquid meth inside the semi-truck in the parking lot of a hotel. Arrested were 36-year-old Enrique Lara and 21-year-old Jasmine Morales for aggravated trafficking. They were booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center. Trucking added another 2,400 jobs in Octobe | |
CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more. Continuing a 14-month rally in trucking industry job numbers, the for-hire trucking industry added another 2,400 jobs in October, according to the Department of Labor’s monthly Employment Situation Report. That’s the sixth straight month that total for-hire trucking employment has gained and the 13th month out of the last 14. In that time, the industry has added just shy of 40,000 jobs, with more than half that coming since May. For-hire trucking employment totaled 1.4922 million in October — 36,600 jobs higher than the same month last year. The U.S. economy as a whole added 250,000 jobs in the month, and the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. The manufacturing sector gained 32,000 jobs, and construction added 30,000 jobs. The umbrella group for truck transportation, the transportation and warehousing sector, added 24,800 jobs. Trucking’s total is based on payroll statistics of employers and does not account for those who change jobs in the month or for those working for private fleets. One driver shot, another robbed in separate incidents | |
A man believed to be a truck driver was shot outside of his tractor-trailer Monday, Nov. 5, around 3:36 a.m. local time in Dallas. According to the Dallas Police Department, a 32-year-old white male was shot near the 11800 block of C.F. Hawn Freeway. The victim told police he lived in his truck, a Freightliner, in the back of the call location. He told police he had exited his truck and walked to the back of the lot, located in the 2100 block of Silverado Drive, when he was approached by a white male who asked him why he was in the lot. The suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim, then fled. The victim was able to walk to the nearby Marlow’s Fuel Center to call police. He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing and the suspect remains at large, according to police. In Owensboro, Kentucky, a truck driver was robbed Sunday night, Nov. 4. According to the Owensboro Police Department, the trucker was robbed in the 2100 block of West Parrish Avenue after he stopped in a vacant business’ parking lot. While outside of his truck, the driver was approached by a man who drew a gun and demanded money. The suspect stole the driver’s wallet, cash and two cell phones. The investigation continues. Brake Safety Week: Nearly 5,000 Out-of-Service Violations | |
 Nearly 5,000 commercial vehicles were put out of service for critical brake problems during this year’s Brake Safety Week, held Sept. 16-22. During the event, coordinated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, consisted of more than 35,000 commercial motor vehicles inspections.
Law enforcement personnel in 57 jurisdictions throughout Canada and the United States conducted the inspections after brake violations were found to be the top vehicle out-of-service violation during CVSA's International Roadcheck 72-hour enforcement initiative in June. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s data snapshot as of Sept. 28, out of 2.38 million total inspections, 1.04 million were cited for brake-related violations in federal fiscal 2018. Brake Safety Week data also captured antilock braking systems violations, indicating how well ABS are maintained in accordance with federal regulations. In total, the event found that:
CVSA said Brake Safety Week deployed several strategies to help make highways safer: Prevention – Since the dates of Brake Safety Week are announced well in advance, it gives motor carriers and drivers ample opportunity to ensure their vehicles are proactively checked and properly maintained and to correct any issues found. Everyone wants the vehicles that are inspected to pass inspection. A vehicle that passes inspection increases overall safety. Education – Brake Safety Week is an opportunity for law enforcement personnel to educate drivers and motor carriers on the inspection procedure with a focus on the vehicle’s mechanical components, especially the brake systems. Education and awareness are key in prompting preventive action to ensure each commercial motor vehicle is safe and roadworthy. Action – Inspectors who identified commercial motor vehicles with critical brake issues during the inspection process were able to remove those dangerous vehicles from the roadways. If a vehicle has brake-related critical inspection items, it's law enforcement's duty and responsibility to place that vehicle out of service, safeguarding the public. Brake Safety Week is part of CVSA's Operation Airbrake Program in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators. |
- Nikola Motor unveils a new hydrogen semi truck designed for Europe
- Will The New NAFTA Prevent Mexican Trucks From Entering The U.S.?
- Pollution Controls Failed Within Years on Certain Heavy Duty Trucks, Study Finds
- Seattle Becomes Latest Test Site for Cargo e-Bikes
- Seeing the light
- Truck drivers busted with bags of pot on I-40, authorities say
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