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Bridge lanes closed indefinitely after fiery five truck crash |  | 
Transportation officials are concerned that the fire caused structural damage to the bridge.  Louisiana transportation officials say that all lanes of westbound I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge will remain closed following a multiple vehicle crash. The crash occurred around 2 p.m. on Monday, August 26, in the westbound lanes of I-10 at mile marker 125 over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Police believe that there were three separate crashes at the same location that involved one passenger vehicle and five commercial vehicles. Two of the trucks involved in the crash were hauling flammable materials and several of the vehicles involved in the pileup caught fire after the crash. At least one person died in the crash. The identity of this person has not been released. Five others were injured and taken to the hospital. Both directions of I-10 were shut down as multiple fire crews worked to contain the blaze Eastbound I-10 has reopened, but it isn’t clear when the westbound lanes will reopen because the bridge must be inspected for structural damage caused by the fire. “With a fire that burns that hot, they’ll be checking the stability of the bridge to make sure it’s not deteriorated in any way before they open it back up,” said Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Millis trucking company in Black River Falls acquired by competitor in $150 million deal | |
The Millis Transfer trucking company in Black River Falls has been purchased by an Iowa-based competitor. Representatives from Heartland Express, headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa, announced the $150 million deal in a press release Monday. “We expect Millis to contribute to our ongoing success immediately, and with opportunities for further improvement, get even better over the long term,” Michael Gerdin, Heartland’s president and CEO, wrote in a statement. “Millis has an outstanding fleet of equipment, and we look forward to utilizing their fleet and professional drivers to serve our combined group of customers.” The companies gave no indication that operations at Millis will be affected by the deal and did not immediately disclose how many people work there. According to Gerdin, the Millis family management team will remain with the business in their current roles. Executives Dave, Steve and Dan Millis wrote in a statement that the companies are a natural fit. “From the first time we met with Mike Gerdin and some of his executives we knew that this was the right decision for our drivers, employees and family,” they wrote. “We are very excited to continue providing the high quality of service that our customers have come to expect. We believe the current culture that was started by our father, Bill Millis, 35 years ago and still exists today, will complement Heartland. “We look forward to contributing and growing their business through our combined networks and customer relationships.” Founded in 1936 as a small beer distributor, Millis Transfer has grown into one of the largest and most successful trucking companies in the Upper Midwest. The company, known for its maroon and white trailers, has maintenance facilities all over the United States: Black River Falls and Richfield, Wisconsin; Weedsport, New York; Eden, North Carolina; Albany and Cartersville, Georgia; Burleson, Texas; and Trenton, Ohio. It also runs a school for prospective truck drivers, the Millis Training Institute, which has locations in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Ohio. Deputies: Kittens die after being thrown out truck window; investigation underway | |
LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) - The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after two kittens were reportedly thrown out of a truck’s window and died. Deputies were called around 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday “about an unknown make or model, older small pickup truck, primer grey in color driving eastbound on Jefferson Highway (Rt33) in the area of the reservoir throwing kittens out the window.” Animal control responded and found two kittens about 6 weeks old. Deputies said one was dead on the roadway and the second died on the way to the vet. Anyone with information is asked to call the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office at (540)967-1234. California bill on independent contractors likely to pass without any carve-out for truckers | |
 If the California Senate approves the legislation codifying the provisions of the Dynamex decision regarding the classification of independent contract workers – like drivers – it likely won’t have an exemption for the trucking industry. That’s the conclusion of Joe Rajkovacz, director of governmental affairs & communications for the Western States Trucking Association (WSTA), following comments made last week by the Senate’s top legislator. “AB 5 is going to pass in this legislative session,” Rajkovacz said in an email to FreightWaves. “What isn’t likely to be dealt with in the few weeks remaining in the legislative session are amendments to protect various industries such as the ‘gig companies’ nor with increasing disappointment for us, trucking.” AB5 passed the California Assembly in late May. It puts into law the provisions of the Dynamex decision – almost verbatim – that came out of that transportation services company’s decision to convert all its workers en masse from employees to independent contractors. The Dynamex decision, handed down in early 2018, ruled against Dynamex in the lawsuit that followed the company’s changes. The decision was notable primarily for its so-called “ABC test,” three provisions that the court said should be used to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.
It is what Rajkovacz calls the “B prong” of that decision – and the legislation modeled after it in AB5 – that concerns the trucking industry. It states a worker can be an independent contractor if that person “performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.” It is being interpreted by the trucking industry as meaning a trucking company could not hire an independent owner-operator or a driver on lease and consider them a contractor. Since the trucking company is hiring somebody to drive a truck – the hiring company’s primary business – that person should be considered an employee, according to the interpretation of the rule by WSTA and others. The authors of AB5 made concessions to the fact that such a situation could be complicated. Their acknowledgment of that can be seen in the fact that they added carve-outs to a disparate group of professions that ranges from hairdressers to surgeons. And in an interview with a California public radio station, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins conceded the issue was complex. “And so I think, as we look at a gig economy, which provides some benefits to people who want to work in a different way – want to take advantage of innovation and just a change in how we work – we want to continue to make sure that those workers have the flexibility, but also have the ability to make a decent living,” Atkins said, according to a transcript of her remarks. “And that is about benefits, workers’ compensation and workers’ rights.” But her statements gave no indication that those industries’ specific issues would get settled this year. The issue would be discussed “into next year.” Atkins said, “I think at some point, we move forward and we take action on this piece of legislation. And there’s no doubt in my mind that we probably have more work to do going into next year, as we continue to have conversations throughout the state for various professions.” Rajkovacz expressed pessimism that the issue would be dealt with by the legislature. “What has been telegraphed by leaders in the legislature is that industries not included in current ‘carve outs’ will be addressed next year, if ever,” he said in his email. Last month, Rajkovacz expressed optimism that discussions with legislative leaders would lead to a carve-out for trucking. “We are actively involved in what is going on behind the scenes,” Rajkovacz said at that time. “From a trucking industry standpoint, what we would like to see is where it is acknowledged that if you’re an independent contractor with your own authority, you are truly an independent contractor.”
That lack of optimism on the future may mean a trip to the court system for WSTA. “For trucking, the best hope lies with litigation to stop the application of the “B” prong,” he said.
Interstate Shut Down After Tractor Trailer Plunged Off Overpass | |
 Ohio transportation officials are warning drivers to seek alternate routes after a semi truck plunged off an overpass, forcing the closure of a portion of southbound I-77. The incident occurred near Canton, Ohio on Wednesday, August 21 when a semi truck crashed off an overpass onto the roadway below. Minor injuries have been reported Southbound I-77 is closed between State Route 800 and Fohl Street, according to Canton city officials. It isn’t clear when the interstate will reopen. Heavy traffic backups have been reported and drivers are asked to avoid the area. The Ohio Department of Transportation lists the detour route as SR-627 to US-30 to SR-21 south to I-77 south. This is a developing story and it isn’t yet clear whether any other vehicles were involved or how the crash occurred. Missouri drivers protest autonomous trucks | |
A group of truckers protested at the Missouri statehouse Wednesday, asking lawmakers to keep autonomous trucks off the state’s highways. KRCG-TV reports Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove is said to be working on a bill that could stop them from driving in Missouri. Meanwhile, Louisiana’s new laws on autonomous trucks became effective Aug. 1. It allows commercial vehicle travel without a human driver providing it’s registered, complies with federal and state laws, and is insured for at least $2 million. |
Company shows drivers appreciation with cruises | |
As part of its observation of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Sept. 8-14, Comcar Industries will award ocean cruises to seven of its drivers. The cruises will be awarded during daily live drawings on Facebook. To qualify to win one of the cruises, drivers must have had a safe driving record with the company for one full year. Comcar Industries has some 800 drivers. Drivers from each of the company’s subsidiary and service companies are eligible including CT Transportation, CTL Transportation, MCT Transportation, CCC Transportation, Fleet Management Services Winners will receive a certificate valid for a cruise for two people each for a five-day, four-night cruise aboard select cruises offered by Pacific Coast Travel. Each certificate has a retail value of $1,798. “Our drivers are the most important part of our company,” said Mike Ryan, president and CEO of Comcar Industries. “We feel it is important to recognize their accomplishments during Driver Appreciation Week. And we feel especially privileged to extend this to offering cruises for the first time.” Comcar’s corporate headquarters is in Auburndale, Florida. Truck driver arrested for hauling hemp in South Dakota | |
A truck driver transporting hundreds of pounds of hemp to Minnesota from Colorado has been arrested in South Dakota and charged with marijuana possession. The Minnesota Hemp Association's Joe Radinovich complains that South Dakota is violating the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp. "Because of the actions of South Dakota Law Enforcement and the inability of Governor Noem and the South Dakota Legislature to resolve this issue, the businessmen involved have lost tens of thousands of dollars." Radinovich says the load of hemp had been tested in Colorado to ensure that it was well below the legal threshold to be categorized as marijuana. The driver was stopped for speeding in Jackson County in July on Interstate 90. The arrest affidavit said that the trooper "smelled a strong odor of marijuana." Hemp is legal in 47 states, but not in South Dakota. A State Highway Patrol Spokesman points out that transporting hemp, that happens to be legal in other states, through South Dakota is still illegal. Governor Noem has said that one of the problems she has with legalizing hemp is the law enforcement challenges because of its connection to marijuana. Truck driver charged after police discovers cocaine in tractor trailer | |
Harlingen police are investigating after eight kilos of cocaine were discovered in the cab of a tractor trailer on Sunday. Officers arrested Floriberto Andraca and he was formally arraigned Monday. Andraca was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony and is being held on a $75,000 bond. According to a release, police say that at approximately 3:00 p.m Sunday, they received multiple complaints of vehicles racing on Expressway 77/83. While patrolling the area, officers pulled over a trailer for tailgating another vehicle. As they interviewed Andraca, officers noticed he became increasingly nervous. Officers then conducted a search of the vehicle and found a duffle bag in the cab of the truck that contained a white powdery substance. A Narcotics K9 was taken to the scene and continued a search of the vehicle. Fired Trucker Fatally Shoots Boss, Self, At Distribution Center | |
 Workers at a Pennsylvania distribution center are reeling this morning after a murder-suicide centering around a recently fired worker. According to a report from the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department, the fatal shooting happened on Wednesday, August 21, at the the Plainville Farms distribution center in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Police say that around 5:20 a.m., 58 year old transportation manager John Frey arrived for work and parked in the employee lot at the distribution center. As Frey was exiting his vehicle, a Dodge Caravan also parked in the employee lot and 75 year old truck driver Phillip Michael Hughes got out and confronted Frey. Hughes fired two shots at Frey at point-blank range before he turned the gun on himself. The coroner pronounced both men dead around 6 a.m. Police say that Hughes was “an independent trucking contractor working for Plainville Farms who was recently terminated the day before.” The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide, according to police. Plainville Farms is a poultry plant that employs about 600 workers. They issued the following statement about the incident: The Plainville Farms family experienced a terrible, senseless tragedy at our Distribution Center in New Oxford early this morning. Plainville Farms is working closely with law enforcement in their investigation of this fatal incident that involved a manager at Plainville and an independent contractor. Plainville Farms is a family and we are in mourning. Counseling will be provided to all of our employees to help with the healing process. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by this tragedy. Source of this article and other great articles
Comment period for hours of service changes opens | |
Truckers and others in the trucking industry have 45 days — until Oct. 7 — to file formal feedback for the U.S. DOT to consider when crafting a rule to overhaul federal hours of service regulations. Comments can be filed at the regulations.gov rulemaking portal. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that included proposed changes to federal hours of service regulations. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on today, Aug. 22, which opened the public comment period. Proposed changes include allowing drivers to pause their 14-hour on-duty clock for up to three hours and extending the split sleeper berth options for drivers to include splits of seven hours and three hours. The agency also proposed more flexible limits around the 30-minute break requirement and allowing drivers to extend their 14-hour on-duty window due if the face adverse conditions like weather or traffic congestion. Lastly, FMCSA proposed expanding the short-haul exemption that could allow more short-haul drivers to skip keeping records of duty status. FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez will hold a listening session at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, in the lower “C” meeting rooms, room number C146. 14 tractor-trailers destroyed in western New York fire | |
Fire destroyed 14 tractor-trailers at Draper Trucking in Holland, New York Aug. 20 (Photo by Holland Volunteer Fire Department) A fire destroyed a western New York trucking company’s facility and 14 tractor-trailers Tuesday, Aug. 20. Fire officials told WIBV-TV facilities of Draper Trucking in Holland, which is southeast of Buffalo, are a total loss after a fire that was reported at about 5:30 p. m. Tuesday. No cause for the fire was given and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation. Crews from 18 local departments responded to the blaze, said to have started in a metal-sided pole barn. |
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