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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.
Inspectors sideline 13.5% of CMVs for brake violations during blitz |  | 
Brake Safety Week 2019 results are in.  The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the results from their September brake-focused inspection campaign. On November 12, the CVSA shared results from Brake Safety Week 2019, which was conducted in the U.S. and Canada on September 15 — 21. During Brake Safety Week, 34,320 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted. Of those inspected vehicles, 4,626 — or 13.5% — were placed out of service for brake violations. This year, inspectors were focused on brake hoses and tubing. The CVSA shared a few key points of data on this focus.
“Inspectors conduct more than 4 million roadside inspections every year and checking brake components is just one element of the inspection procedure inspectors perform on commercial motor vehicles every day,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “This inspection and enforcement event reminds drivers and motor carriers of the importance of properly functioning brakes and spotlights the work done by inspectors, motor carriers and drivers every day to keep our roadways safe by ensuring vehicles are in appropriate working condition.” The CVSA pointed to enforcement activities like Brake Safety Week as a way to improve highway safety and cut down on rising truck fatalities:
During Brake Safety Week 2018, 35,080 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted and 4,955 –14.1% — of inspected vehicles were taken out of service for brake violations. Amazon has quietly ordered 2,000-plus vans | |
Amazon vans are already on the road.
Last week, a vehicle company in Michigan announced it had landed an order of more than 2,000 delivery vans from "North America's leading e-commerce retailer." Amazon confirmed to Business Insider on Wednesday that the Seattle e-commerce giant was indeed that retailer.
The press release from the Michigan company, Spartan, said the 2,237 delivery vans from its Utilimaster brand would be built during the second half of 2019 and were being customized for Amazon and its "last mile delivery requirements." The order underlines again where Amazon's delivery aspirations lie. Rather than depending on the US Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx for its last-mile deliveries, Amazon will continue to invest in its own network, experts say. "For that last-mile final delivery, it just kind of fits Amazon would do this as they build out their independent-service-provider network," Kevin Sterling, a managing director at Seaport Global Securities, told Business Insider.
8 states under FMCSA emergency declaration | |
Winter’s earlier than normal arrival in parts of the upper Midwest promoted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to make an emergency declaration for eight states.
The declaration covers:
The declaration was made as severe weather conditions caused a decrease in the availability of household heating fuel, including propane. It triggers the temporary suspension of certain federal safety regulations for motor carriers and drivers engaged in specific aspects of the emergency relief effort. Cummins Puts Faith in Diesel, Readies for Hydrogen | |
A view of the Cummins exhibit at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta.
ATLANTA — Cummins Inc., underscoring its belief in the power of choice, announced its latest advances in fuel efficiency for its heavy-duty diesel engines and showcased hydrogen fuel cell technology in its own Class 8 demonstration model.
The company made its announcements Oct. 29 at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. Cummins believes diesel engines will remain the central powertrain for many markets over the decades ahead. “We have scale. We make 1.4 million on-highway engines a year [globally], and that is double anyone else,” Brett Merritt, vice president of on-highway engine business, told Transport Topics. “[With on-highway engines], we would be the second or third market share in China. We make more diesel [engines] in China for China than we do in the U.S. for the U.S. We do have natural gas in China, and there is definitely electric business with their bus. And it looks like there will be some fuel cell applications for China.” Cummins has a 60% share of the heavy-duty segment in India with 6.7 liter and 5.9 liter engines, he said. “So that’s just a different scale. But we are giving those offerings, and we think we can grow in each of those areas.” In North America, its X15 engine series for 2020 includes the new X15 Efficiency model. Base engine hardware improvements and advancements in air handling deliver up to a 3.5% better fuel economy when compared with the 2017 model, according to the Columbus, Ind.-based company. The 2020 X15 Efficiency also includes new EX ratings, which deliver expanded powertrain capabilities that can deliver up to an additional 1.5% of fuel efficiency. New capabilities include predictive gear shifting, predictive braking, dynamic power and industry-exclusive on-ramp boost that allows added acceleration. Cummins is conducting research on advanced diesel technologies to further enhance turbocharger efficiencies and reduce emissions across the engine system. The concept is to package new air handling and aftertreatment architectures closer together, which allows the turbocharger to work as efficiently as possible while still enabling effective thermal management. The system is being designed to help customers address future challenges with emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and smog-forming nitrogen oxides. The company also plans to enhance its connected vehicle application with prognostics to help detect and diagnose issues early and pair that with pre-emptive parts procurement to streamline service experiences. The company also is planning to use over-the-air programming to support fuel efficiency, driver behavior and road speed governance. At the same time, Cummins is no stranger to fuel cells; it began working on developing its capabilities more than 20 years ago. At the show, it displayed a Class 8, 6 × 4 day cab with fuel cell and battery electric power — suitable for regional haul, urban delivery operations, port drayage and terminal container handling. Cummins intentionally designed and integrated the truck without collaboration from its truck maker partners including the PEM [proton exchange membrane] fuel cell, system controller, powertrain controls, wire harnesses and junction boxes, among other features. At the initial NACV in 2017, Cummins showcased its AEOS model, a battery-electric Class 7 it had designed and integrated. The company has introduced complete electrified powertrain solutions in six markets across seven applications, including medium-duty trucks. The demonstration hydrogen truck has a range of 150 to 250 miles between filling up. However, that could be extended with additional hydrogen tanks. In related news, the company announced in September that it acquired fuel cell and hydrogen production technologies provider Hydrogenics Corp. In addition, Cummins recently announced an investment in Loop Energy, which provides electric-range extenders for fuel cells, and signed a memo of understanding with Hyundai Motor Co. to collaborate on hydrogen fuel cell technology across commercial markets in North America. Source of this article and other great articles
Fueling yourself on the road | |
 Photo: American Trucker
Your rig just takes diesel. What you need to run properly is more complicated, especially at night
Nightmare eating. It's the witching hour. You're driving late. It's dark. There is a growling sound in your stomach. What you're about to put in your stomach… chips, cookies, chocolate, would be wrong. This nightmare can end, and you can see the happy results with a slimmer waistline if you can conquer nighttime cravings. "People who think they are naturally hungry late at night are believing a myth," said Marilyn Smith, a nutritionist who specializes in working with men. "You are not programmed to be hungry late at night. You're programmed to be tired." Drivers who indeed are hungry at night simply haven't followed a few easy steps to chase away the late-night longing for fatty and unhealthy snacks. Here are ways to change that. Eat All Day. "Ironically, the one thing that many guys do and think they're cutting calories is what actually can put on the fat," said Smith. She's referring to the typical pattern of skipping breakfast, gulping cups of coffee, eating a snack in place of lunch, and finally at night eating a hefty meal. What's wrong with this picture? Three things, said Smith: 1. By not eating more during the day, you make yourself hungrier and hungrier. So by nighttime you're ravenous. It makes grabbing fast food or ready-made fattening snacks much more tempting. 2. Eating such a heavy dinner makes you less likely to have an appetite in the morning. This makes it easier to skip breakfast, which repeats the daily cycle. 3. Drinking coffee all day might jolt you awake, but caffeine is a stimulant, and thus stimulates your appetite. What to do, then? Make sure you eat breakfast, even if it's just a protein bar. Take time for a break snack in mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and eat lunch. You can eat a lighter lunch doing things this way, said Smith, because with the two daily snacks you are having a regular intake of food. For evening eating, choose a healthy balanced meal with protein and carbohydrates--and keep it on the lighter side. Since you've been eating during the day, you won't need to stuff yourself. Pack a Snack. A great strategy is to have snacks available in the cab, whether homemade or store-bought, based on a variety of cravings. "Many times, when we want a late-night snack, we say we feel like chips, candy or whatever," said Smith. What we're really craving are particular types of food--salty, sweet, sugary, crunchy, creamy, etc. "It's actually taste and or texture we're seeking." If you have alternatives on hand and don't have the chips and candy available, you will make choices that are better for you. Think first about what you're craving, then make the choice. "If there's an 'always-okay' food you can have, that's great," said Smith. "For instance, I always allow fresh fruit in the evening, without any quantity limits. I don't put sugar or anything on it, and it's not something I can really overeat. Just knowing I can have berries or melon anytime I want keeps me from feeling deprived. Even if I eat a lot of fruit at night, I'm still not taking in too many calories, and I'm getting vitamins and fiber." Make Portions. Having snack-sized healthy treats available for daytime or nighttime can be a huge bonus. Why do you grab the pre-packaged stuff like chips and little cakes with cream filling? Because it's convenient, doesn't need cooking, and is small enough that you think you're just having a "little bit." That little bit, of course, can add up to a lot of calories. Buy snacks you like, along with a monstrous quantity of sandwich-sized locking plastic bags. Divvy up the food, whether it's low-fat cookies, baked chips, or other snacks, and have 'em ready. Leave some at home and put some in your cab. "The added bonus with this method is that you'll save money, too," said Smith. "Even if you don't care about saving money, you'll always save calories, because you'll have healthy snacks ready when you need them." You can do this with fresh fruit or other items, if you are planning to eat them that day. "Sometimes, you don't reach for an orange while driving because you have to peel it, get a paper towel because it will be a mess, and all that," said Smith. "Make it easy by having bite-sized pieces ready to eat." Make It Hot. A hot drink can be a miracle food to conquer late-night eating, said Smith. "Get hot decaf teas, decaf coffee, or low-fat hot chocolate, whatever you prefer," advised Smith. Source of this article and other great articles
Omnitracs says most devices back on track after major ELD malfunction | |
The company says that more than 80% of affected ELD devices should now be functioning normally.  UPDATE 3 PM, November 5———————————————————————— Days after a major ELD outage affected many Omnitracs customers, the company says that service has been restored for most users. Company CEO Ray Greer detailed the efforts to restore service in a blog post on the company website:
ORIGINAL REPORT——————————————————————————— One of the nation’s largest Electronic Logging Device (ELD) providers has confirmed that a software malfunction forced a large number of truck drivers to abandon their devices and resort to paper logs. Omnitracs confirmed via a blog post on the company website that a November 2 “GPS rollover event” left MCP telematics units affected. The company has advised drivers to use paper logs until the malfunction is corrected. It isn’t clear at this time when a solution will be available or how many drivers are affected by the ELD outage. Current ELD regulations allow drivers to use paper logs for up to eight days if their ELD devices malfunction. Omnitracs CEO Ray Greer writes, “While our backend systems remain fully functional and have bi-directional communications with the devices, we are aware that on some devices, our customers are unable to access both accurate time and location data. Resolving this issue is our highest priority, and our team is working around the clock until all units are again fully operational.” Several drivers took to Facebook to report the Omnitracs problem. Driver Deanna Mase-Parks wrote in a Facebook post, “We have had a complete Qualcomm/Omni tracs failure. It is nationwide. It is a Y2K GPS bug believe it of not. Our logs do not show any driving history and the computer has reverted back to the date 03/18/2000.” Omnitracs says that the company’s IVG, Android XRS, and Roadnet devices are not affected and continue to operate normally. Greer says, “As someone who has spent 30 years in the operational side of the transportation industry, I fully understand the impact this has on operations and the frustration this creates for drivers and their companies.” |
Truckers sue California over labor law that threatens 70,000 owner-operators | |
The lawsuit argues that AB 5 infringes on interstate commerce and threatens the ability of approximately 70,000 independent truckers within the state to earn a living.  The California Trucking Association (CTA) has filed a federal lawsuit in California to try to stop an impending law that they say threatens the livelihood of tens of thousands of truck drivers. On Tuesday, November 12, the CTA and two California-based owner-operators filed suit in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of California, asking the court to block Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5). AB 5, which goes into effect on January 1, 2020, would force many companies that employ independent contractors to reclassify these workers as employees who are entitled to minimum wage and workers compensation. An employer who violates AB 5 would risk costly fines. The CTA’s lawsuit argues that AB 5 infringes on interstate commerce and threatens the ability of approximately 70,000 independent truckers within the state to earn a living. From the suit:
The suit also points out that many California owner-operator have spent thousands of dollars on CARB-compliant trucks, an investment that they say AB 5 would render useless. Under AB 5, a workers must pass the “ABC Test” to be labeled as an independent contractor — meaning the worker must be free from control of the company, the worker must perform work “outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business”, and the worker must be engaged in an independently established trade or business of the same nature as the work that they are performing. CTA CEO Shawn Yadon said, “Independent truckers are typically experienced drivers who have previously worked as employees and have, by choice, struck out on their own. We should not deprive them of that choice. We can protect workers from misclassification without infringing upon independent truckers’ right to make a living in California.” Source of this article and other great articles
3 lanes of I-65 bridge in Kentucky/Indiana to close for repairs | |
If you travel Interstate 65 between southern Indiana and Kentucky, expect traffic to slow down on a key bridge over the Ohio River starting later this week. Kentucky Department of Transportation officials say lane closures are planned on The Kennedy Bridge between Louisville and southern Indiana starting Friday, Nov. 8 at midnight. The right three lanes of I-65 South are scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. Nov. 27. The DOT said travelers should expect traffic to slow down during the project. The left three lanes of I-65 will be closed in December as part of the same project. Truck stops adding national chain restaurants | |
Two major truck stop companies are adding nationally-recognized chain restaurants as dining options. TravelCenters of America Inc. is opening a Kentucky Fried Chicken in its TA travel center in Greenwood, Louisiana, located at Interstate 20, Exit 5. This is the first KFC to open in TA’s network. The new restaurant has dining room seating for 60 guests and features design elements that connect to KFC’s heritage and its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, including:
KFC has a rich history of feeding America’s travelers. The fried chicken chain was founded in 1952 in a roadside café in Corbin, Kentucky. Signage on the restaurant hails from Kentucky and has ties to Colonel Sanders. It was created by Ruggles Sign Company of Versailles, which was founded by the husband of one of Colonel Sanders’ daughters. TA-Petro plans nearly 100 IHOP restaurants Guests at IHOP restaurants in TA-Petro travel centers will be able to order from the brand’s full menu, including pancakes, omelets, burgers, chicken and more. Boise Stage Stop feeds truckers for free on ThanksgivingAs it has for many years, the Boise Stage Stop in Idaho is showing its appreciation for truck drivers with a free Thanksgiving dinner on the holiday, Nov. 28. All you need to do is show a valid CDL for a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. You will also be entered in a drawing for other prizes. The Boise Stage Stop is located off Interstate 84 at Exit 71 in Boise. According to its website, the truck stop is one of the oldest businesses in the state, tracing its history to 1891 as The Regina Store operated by the local postmaster. Roadrunner Sells Intermodal Business to Universal Logistics for $51 Million | |
Sale Comes After Net Loss of $97.8 Million in Q3
 The intermodal business had revenue of approximately $125 million for the 12 months ended Sept. 30 and was part of the company’s truckload segment, according to Roadrunner officials. (Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc.)
Roadrunner Transportation Systems has sold its intermodal business to Universal Logistics Holdings for $51.25 million in cash, the company announced Nov. 5, after a disappointing third quarter in which the company was hit with costly strikes and computer malware attacks.
The sale preceded the Nov. 6 announcement of earnings for the third quarter of 2019, in which Roadrunner posted a net loss of $97.8 million, more than double the net loss of $41.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
Stoelting Earnings per share were minus $2.60 for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with minus $26.99 in 2018. Revenue decreased 14% to $459.1 million in the third quarter of 2019 from $536.6 million a year ago. Roadrunner officials said the General Motors Co. strike and a malware attack hit the company in the quarter, both costing the Downers Grove, Ill.-based company $24 million in September alone. CEO Curt Stoelting told analysts on a Nov. 6 conference call that the trucking company believed the third quarter would be difficult, with lower freight volumes and softening rates that came with them. But new challenges also arose. “We expected some bumps in the road, and we certainly got them,” Stoelting said on the call. It wasn’t just about the softer freight volume in the quarter, a problem many freight companies had, Roadrunner officials said. Stoelting and Roadrunner executives told analysts that a malware attack on the computer systems cost the company about $7 million in September. The attack problems continued into the present fourth quarter, costing an additional $3 million in October, company officials said. The malware attack affected freight visibility, leading to delays in shipments, Stoelting said. Stoelting and other officials said the bigger, costlier problem in the third quarter was the GM strike. GM is Roadrunner’s biggest customer, Stoelting said, and the work stoppage cost Roadrunner $17 million in September, and will cost $31 million more in October, part of the present fourth quarter. GM and the United Auto Workers agreed to end the six-week strike in late October. Bruce Chan of Stifel Capital Markets asked Stoelting what the freight environment looked like for Roadrunner outside of those two events, with officials responding that Roadrunner had no unique perspective outside of noting the general softness that hit the U.S. freight market in the third quarter. Chief Financial Officer Patrick Unzicker told analysts the recent sale of Roadrunner Intermodal Services will help the company’s liquidity in the fourth quarter. The sale was completed outside of the third quarter, on Nov. 5. Unzicker said the company had $35 million in cash on hand, excluding the sale’s proceeds. The company said the sale of the intermodal division will eliminate $22.3 million in debt and 700 power units. Roadrunner officials said the proceeds also will repay finance leases and debt associated with Roadrunner Intermodal Services, and pay transaction costs, with the remaining cash available for general corporate purposes. Roadrunner Intermodal Services provides drayage and chassis management services to transport freight among ocean ports, rail ramps and shipping docks through 23 U.S. terminals. The intermodal business had revenue of approximately $125 million for the 12 months ended Sept. 30 and was part of the company’s truckload segment, according to Roadrunner officials. The sale of the intermodal division will simplify the company’s portfolio by focusing on logistics and asset-light less-than-truckload segments to improve operating performance, Stoelting said in the earnings release. Universal Logistics was a good fit for the intermodal services business, he added. Roadrunner has been attempting to adjust its business model after a 2017 accounting scandal and a softer freight market in 2019. In April, the Securities and Exchange Commission formally charged former Chief Financial Officer Peter Armbruster and two of his associates with accounting fraud and misleading investors about the company’s financial results. Armbruster was accused of hiding expenses by improperly deferring and spreading them across multiple quarters to minimize the impact on net earnings. On Sept. 30, Roadrunner announced that it would lay off 450 employees and downsize its dry van business, a truckload segment the company said had become unprofitable. Roadrunner officials told analysts Nov. 6 that the downsizing will eliminate another 350 power units and five terminals. Roadrunner ranks No. 17 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. Universal Logistics Holdings, based in Warren, Mich., provides transportation and logistics services, including dry van and flatbed truckload, intermodal and freight brokerage, dedicated contract carriage, and warehousing and distribution. Universal ranks No. 28 on the for-hire TT100 and No. 27 on the Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest logistics companies in North America. Trucker sues company over CBD gummy candy | |
The driver lost his job after ingesting watermelon gummy rings  An Illinois trucker has filed suit against a CBD candy maker after he lost his job due to a failed drug test. On October 28, truck driver Trevor Darrow filed a class action suit against Florida-based Just Brands USA in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois In the suit, Darrow argues that Just Brands USA violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act by labelling their CBD products “No THC” when he says that they do in fact contain THC. According to the suit, Darrow purchased gummy watermelon rings made by Just Brands USA in July 2019 to help him cope with sleeplessness. Later, when Darrow was asked to take a drug test for his employer, he failed the test due to the presence of THC in his sample, which he blames on the CBD candy. Darrow was fired by his employer as a result of the failed drug test and was out of work for a couple of months before finding a new job. The class action suit is open to persons who have purchased Just Brands USA CBD products labeled “No THC” in the state of Illinois within three years of filing. You can click here for more information on the class action suit. You can also view a video created earlier this year by OOIDA highlighting the risks of CBD use for CDL holders by clicking here. Kentucky carrier CoreTrans hikes driver pay | |
Kentucky-based CoreTrans recently announced a five-cents-per-mile pay increase. Drivers will also receive a half-cent-per-mile raise every six months with no maximum, according to a statement from the company. Brian Whitaker, president of CoreTrans, said this is the latest effort by the company to ensure its drivers are fairly compensated and rewarded. “Professional drivers are key to our operation, so we want them to feel how much they are valued,” he said. “We strive to do that in our everyday interactions, but it is important for them to see it in their compensation as well.” With the new pay program, CoreTrans’ top drivers can earn up to $80,000 per year, according to the company. In addition to the pay increase, CoreTrans offers $500 paid orientation, a $2,000 sign-on bonus, and weekly home time. Founded in 2002 by Whitaker, a third-generation trucker, CoreTrans operates 135 trucks, and 265 53-foot-long dry van trailers. The company is headquartered in Somerset, Kentucky. Source of this article and other great articles
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- Site lists jobs in 18-20-year-old military pilot program
- Kentucky truckers help one of their own
- North American 'Road Blitz' Puts 683 Hazmat Trucks Out of Service
- USDA Final Interim Rule Affirms Interstate Transport of Hemp
- Thousands of truckers ask Trump to immediately shut down ELDs
- Concept semi truck looks more interstellar than interstate
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