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FedEx Ground names U.S. Xpress ‘Carrier of the Year’ |  | 
FedEx Ground has named U.S. Xpress its 2019 Carrier of the Year, the second time U.S. Xpress has received the award. U.S. Xpress was selected based on achievements in on-time service and customer contact. FedEx Ground has used U.S. Xpress’ services for over two decades and is one of the fleet’s top 10 customers. “I am proud of the strong working partnership we have developed over the years, and even more proud of our team who has worked so hard to make this happen,” said Eric Fuller, president and CEO of U.S. Xpress. Link promises smooth ride with ROI Cabmate suspension | |
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Link Mfg. is promising drivers a smoother ride than ever before, launching the ROI Cabmate semi-active cab suspension that responds to everything from rough roads to harsh crosswinds. Company president Jim Huls refers to it as nothing less than a “revolution in computer-controlled suspension systems.” The heart of the ROI Cabmate is an electronic control unit (ECU) that draws data in real time from an accelerometer, which monitors cab motion, and a position sensor that tracks the cab’s position and velocity relative to the frame. The underlying algorithms are then used to adjust the suspension’s shock absorbers by filling or exhausting the air springs. The end result absorbs the road shock and vibration normally transmitted through the frame and solid cab mounts, generating a quieter and smoother ride. “It’s a chain reaction that happens 200 times per second,” says Michael Hof, vice-president of new business development. “Drivers and passengers immediately have a very soft shock when traveling on a smooth highway, and a very stiff shock when driving on uneven or off-road terrain. The system deals with unexpected encounters, like potholes, in real time.” “The shock plays a bigger role in the new system than the air spring does,” he adds. “The air spring provides the cushion, but the shock is going to control the severe (events).” The added electronics draw less than 10 watts of power. While such electronic shocks are found in automotive applications, this will be unusual for trucking. “The semi-active damper provides access to a range of damping force at a given velocity – not one set value based on tuning,” says Bill Ott, Link’s vice-president of engineering. The traditional approach usually sees the suspensions tuned to a specific route. This may ensure the smoothest-riding 2 mile journey the truck can deliver, but road condition varies dramatically. Competitive with premium seats Some truck owners opt for premium seats to smooth out a ride, and these options work by overfilling and dumping air bags, says Hof, who spent 20 years in the seating industry. But there are limits to that. “This only protects the driver and the occupant, but what about the cab?” he asks. The steering wheel, shifter and pedals continue to move around, as do any occupants on the bunk in the sleeper. Links says the ROI Cabmate Semi-Active Cab suspension will be cost-competitive with the seating, too. “They can expect to spend less for the semi-active suspension systems than they would for two advanced seating systems,” Hof says. “We’re hoping to have this stay below [US] $2,000 to our end users.” A bolt-on retrofit version is to be available by the middle of next year, and negotiations are underway with original equipment manufacturers OEMs. Link Mfg. has already completed about 2 million miles of on-road tests using 20 units running with CR England, Ploger Transportation, Valley Transportation Service, and Mexican-based Transportadora Consolidada.
The first Link ROI Cabmate suspensions will be available as retrofits, but discussions are underway with OEMs. “It’s one of the products that I think is going to have an impact on the overall efficiency of our fleet and driver quality of life,” says Joel Morrow, Ploger Transportation’s head of research and development, and senior driver. With the smoother ride, the fleet may be able to shorten truck wheelbases. And that would lead to a tighter gap between tractors and trailers to improve fuel economy. The systems could also solve issues where restarting anti-idling equipment rocks a cab and wakes drivers with a jolt of adrenaline, thinking someone has backed into the cab, he says. “You generally don’t get back to sleep after that.” “It’s maintenance-free. We don’t need to interact,” adds Captain Fausto Velazquez, president and CEO of Transportadora Consolidada, which has been responsible for 325,000 miles of test data. Link’s existing Cabmate suspensions have been on the market since 1980, and the company manufactured its 2 millionth unit this May. A traditional Cabmate includes the shock absorbers, air springs, height control valve, and linkage between the cab frame and chassis. Control rods maintain the stability, and the air in the spring controls the cab’s bounce. The company itself was founded by a truck driver, and owners are still connected to the industry as the owners of Van Wyk Trucking, which runs more than 200 units across the U.S. It makes auxiliary axles, trailer suspensions, and specialty products such as the Cat’s Eye tire pressure monitoring systems. While based in Iowa, it also has a 34,000-sq-ft facility in Nisku, Alta., which focuses on heavy vocational and military applications. Expect more to come under the ROI brand, which refers to Road-Optimized Innovations. “It represents a product category that’s designed to enhance the performance of Link’s traditional suspensions through electronics,” Hof says. “With this new technology we think we have an even better system than what we have today … It’s pretty special.” Union Pacific to fine truckers who are late or miss appointments | |
Union Pacific is implementing a new digital reservation system to try to increase efficiency.  Starting in September, railroad company Union Pacific will start issuing fines to truckers and trucking companies who miss their intermodal deliveries at six west coast terminals. On July 2, Union Pacific issued a customer announcement stating that the company plans to increase efficiency by introducing a new digital Intermodal Terminal Reservation System (ITR) at six intermodal terminals. The ITR system will replace the existing Gate Reservation System (GRS) at those terminals. Because the new ITR system, “will more closely tie customer reservations to train capacity and terminal fluidity” truckers who fail to show up for appointments or those who fail to cancel appointments to remove containers are now subject to fines. Union Pacific says that a reservation canceled less than 24 hours prior to gate cutoff will be assessed a $25 fee. A reservation requested, unutilized, and not canceled, will be assessed a $50 fee, according to the announcement. Union Pacific says that this “no show fee” applies to any reservation where the unit is not ingated by gate cutoff time. Under the new ITR system, on-time drop offs that do not depart on the scheduled train will receive a $100 credit. The ITR system will go into effect on August 6 at the following terminals: East Los Angeles, LATC, City of Industry, Lathrop, Brooklyn, and TacSim. Union Pacific will start issuing fines on September 3. Union Pacific plans to roll out the ITR system at other U.S. terminals in the future. You can click here for more information on the new ITR system and fines. California trucking company closes for good | |
 A California-based trucking company announced that they would be shutting their doors for good due to pressure from regulations and equipment costs. On Friday, July 12, Ceres, California, based company Starlite Trucking announced that the company was closing “after 40 years of reliable and professional service to hundreds of clients in 11 Western states.” The closure is effective immediately, according to the announcement. The company said that management told its 30 employees about the closure on Friday morning. Company leaders say that they are working to try to find jobs for the laid off workers with other local trucking companies. Company leaders said that the cost of upgrading equipment along with state and federal regulations are the reasons behind the shut down. Starlight Trucking CEO Colby Bell said, “We tried to provide a healthy work environment for our employees and give them the best wages and benefits we could, but in the end, the rates that were available did not support the cost structure needed to compensate our employees appropriately. Bell says that he and a small crew will stay on to sell off all company equipment over the next 60 to 90 days. According to the news release on Starlight’s closure, the company founded in 1979 in Ceres by the Timmerman family and specialized in agriculture hauling, particularly almonds, walnuts, and livestock feed. The Timmerman family thanked current and former customers for 40 years of business. Starlight Trucking was the second trucking company to announce its permanent closure last week after Minnesota-based carrier LME, Inc. announced that it was shutting down for good.
FMCSA extends comments time on under-21 drivers | |
The deadline for members of the trucking industry to comment on a proposal that would create a second pilot program for under-21-year-olds to drive commercial vehicles in interstate commerce has been extended by 30 days. The deadline to comment was Monday, July 15, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended it an additional 30 days. The new deadline is Aug. 14. The American Trucking Associations requested the extension earlier this month. In its request, the ATA said it “is continuing to gather safety performance data and other relevant information. We believe that additional time will allow us and other stakeholders to more fully address the issues in a way that will benefit the Agency as it considers this pilot program.” In a recent online poll on Truckers News, 83% of respondents said under-21-year-old driver should not be allowed to drive interstate while 13% said they should, and 4% were unsure. A year ago, the FMCSA announced a pilot program that would allow 18- to 20-year-old military veterans and reservists to drive interstate. A second, similar pilot program for non-military drivers the same age was proposed May 15. Comments can be submitted at Regulations.gov by including Docket ID FMCSA-2018-0346, or by mailing Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation; 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE; West Building Ground Floor Room W-12-140; Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Voyager 5200 helps you hear and be heard | |
Good communication is essential to the trucking industry as a whole and to individual drivers in specific. Without it, things can go badly — or come to a halt — pretty quickly. So, hearing and being heard is as important as the engine turning over when you turn the key, and your truck coming to a safe stop when you put on the brakes. The Plantronics Voyager 5200 headset helps ensure incoming and outgoing messages are loud and clear. And it does so with comfort and without costing you an arm and a leg. The Voyager 5200 features up-to-date noise-canceling technology to make sure all your calls are clear. It’s also lightweight so you can wear it for even your longest trips. The Voyager 5200:
The Voyager 5200 is available online and at travel centers for about $100. |
TravelCenters Raises Money for St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief | |
The SCF has helped more than 2,700 truck drivers and their families with monthly bills totaling more than $2.7 million.
TravelCenters of America LLC has launched its tenth annual campaign in support of the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF), a non-profit organization that helps truck drivers who are unable to work due to medical issues. The month-long campaign is running at participating TA, Petro and TA Express travel centers through July 31.
One hundred percent of donations go directly to the SCF to provide financial assistance to over-the-road and regional professional truck drivers who are unable to work due to medical issues. The SCF assists with mortgage/rent, utilities, vehicle payments and insurance bills while drivers are out of work. “Drivers who suffer from an illness or injury are coping with treatments and trying to recover,” said TravelCenters President and COO Barry Richards. “The stress of a financial burden can get in the way of that recovery. The St. Christopher Fund provides medical and financial guidance and assistance so drivers can fully focus on their health and wellness. It’s an honor to be in our tenth year of supporting the ‘Band Together’ campaign,” he added. TravelCenters began its support of the SCF in 2010. The ‘Band Together for SCF’ annual campaign marks the largest single contribution the Fund receives each year. TravelCenters purchases and donates all of the wristbands and keychains so that 100% of donations can be contributed to the SCF. “We are forever grateful for the support we have received from TravelCenters for the last ten years,” said Dr. Donna Kennedy, Executive Director of the SCF. “Truck drivers look forward to the ‘Band Together’ campaign every year so they can make their donation to help their fellow drivers. There are also many drivers who have received our assistance — now back on the road and back on their feet — who make donations to pay it forward,” said Kennedy. “In the last ten years, the SCF has become a common name in the trucking industry, and we thank TravelCenters for their part in helping us achieve that.” As of June 2019, the SCF has helped more than 2,700 truck drivers and their families with monthly bills totaling more than $2.7 million. Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters includes travel centers in 43 states and in Canada, and restaurants in 14 states. Its travel centers operate under the TravelCenters of America, TA, TA Express, Petro Stopping Centers and Petro brand names. UPDATED: U.S. trucker shortage swells to 60,800 in 2018 | |
ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. driver shortage rose to 60,800 last year, up nearly 20% from 50,700 in 2017, the American Trucking Associations said in a study released Wednesday. The group warned that the shortage could hit 100,000 in five years and 160,000 by 2028. “Over the past 15 years, we’ve watched the shortage rise and fall with economic trends, but it ballooned last year to the highest level we’ve seen to date,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “The combination of a surging freight economy and carriers’ need for qualified drivers could severely disrupt the supply chain.” An aging driver population, increases in freight volumes and competition from other blue-collar careers were the main reasons for the shortage. The report, however, said that the shortfall is expected to ease slightly by the end of this year from a combination of slower economic growth and a small bump in supply. In order to meet America’s freight demand, the report said the trucking industry will need to hire 1.1 million new drivers over the next decade – an average of 110,000 per year to replace retiring truckers and keep up with growth in the economy. In Canada, it is estimated that the industry will face a shortage of close to 50,000 drivers by 2024. Trucker arrested following triple fatal pileup | |
The truck driver told police that he'd been cut off by a car, but state troopers believe that speed was a factor.  Indiana State Police say that they have arrested a truck driver for his role in an eight vehicle chain-reaction crash that claimed the life of a mother and her two twins. The crash happened around noon on Sunday, July 14, on I-465 near Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana. Authorities say that six cars, a truck pulling a mobile home, and a semi truck were all involved in a pileup in the eastbound lanes of the interstate where traffic was slowed for construction, but the truck driver’s story conflicts with what police investigators are saying about the cause of the crash. Fifty-seven year old Missouri-based semi truck driver Bruce Pollard told police that he was eastbound on I-465 when he was cut off by a white car that was not involved in the crash. Pollard said that the white car sped away but that the cutoff forced him to crash into other vehicles. Indiana State Police, however, said investigators believe that speed was a factor in the crash. They said that Pollard failed to slow down for the traffic caused by the construction and crashed into several vehicles at a while he was driving at an unsafe speed. From the news release from Indiana State Police:
The car that was hit first by the semi truck was carrying Alanna Norman Koons, 29, and her 18 month old twin daughters. All three died in the crash. Seven other people were taken to the hospital for treatment of various injuries. Indiana State Police later announced that they placed Pollard under arrest on preliminary charges of three counts of reckless homicide and five counts of criminal recklessness causing injury. Troopers say that their initial investigation uncovered that the Pollard “was allegedly driving well above the posted speed limit at the time of the collision.” SuperRigs truck show rolls into Minnesota July 25-27 | |
This is a truck show that lives up to its name: Shell Rotella SuperRigs. One of the premier custom truck shows, which will be held July 25-27 at the Trails Travel Center in Albert Lea, Minnesota, attracts more than its share of super rigs. This is the 37th year for the show, which this year is located south of Minneapolis and almost on the Iowa border near when Interstates 35 and 90 cross. Truck show participants compete to win cash and prizes of up to $25,000 and the opportunity to be selected for the 2020 Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar. Another highlight of the show is a convoy into Albert Lea. There’s also a best lights contest, fireworks and live music. Awards are handed out at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Morgan Truck Body adds new Ohio plant | |
Morgan Truck Body LLC is adding a new facility is located at 600 East Chestnut St. in Orrville, Ohio, approximately 30 minutes west of Canton. The company says it will be capable of producing a combination of 4,000 dry freight and refrigerated truck bodies annually, supporting both retail and fleet customers. Morgan expects to employ approximately 140 team members in a facility that will encompass roughly 210,000 square feet of production, office and warehouse space. When combined with Morgan’s acquisition of Multivans in Bolton, Ontario and the opening of a plant in Plainfield, Connecticut in late 2018, the Orrville plant represents Morgan’s 14th in the U.S. and Canada. Eaton extends clutch warranties | |
Eaton has extended the warranties for its Advantage and EverTough Series of aftermarket clutches. The Advantage Self-Adjust and Easy Pedal Advantage clutches are now covered for three years and unlimited miles, up from two years. The standard warranty periods for the EverTough Self-Adjust and EverTough Manual Adjust clutches increase to two years and unlimited miles, up from one year. The new warranties apply to designated clutches purchased on or after July 1. Advantage Series clutches include a specially tuned, dual-damper system to absorb engine vibrations and prevent idle rattle, while soft rate springs protect driveline components. They also offer 80,000-km lubrication intervals, and feature two wear indicators. |
Customers and employees of TA, Petro and TA Express are invited to make a donation of $1 or more. Commemorative wristbands are given to those making a $1 donation, while $5 donors receive celebratory die-cast metal keychains.
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