| |
Truckerbuddy
|
|
Sponsors of Truckstop USA
|
|  |
We welcome all professional Truck Drivers and Owner Operators to our Truckstop Community
It does not matter if you are an OTR Trucker or a Truck Driver with local deliveries, Truckstop USA is your Home Online. TruckStop USA's Trucker Forum provides a place where Truck Drivers can come in for information or discuss Trucking News, Truck Photos, Trucker Classifieds, Trucker Jokes, Trucking related questions or have a Trucker Live Chat with other Truck Driver Members. You also are able to find your next trucking job right here, or the Truckstop diesel fuel prices. We would be honored to welcome you as a Member in our professional Trucker Forum. Enjoy and have fun in TruckstopUSA |
|
Last week's column on over driving low beam headlights resulted in some
interesting comments. Chief among them was the thought that this wasn't
a problem because the driver had installed high wattage bulbs and now
had more light to see with. Do you suppose that these drivers don't
know this is a bad practice or just don't care about themselves and
others who use the highway?
In general, low beam headlight bulbs use in the neighborhood of 50
watts of electrical power. The lens assemblies, switches and wiring are
designed with this in mind. If you purchase and install "off highway"
higher wattage bulbs you are not doing yourself or others a favor.
Glare is the main worry when this has been done. The lenses will tend
to scatter some of the extra light which bothers oncoming drivers. If
it is foggy, snowing or raining, the light will back scatter from these
conditions and interfere with the driver's ability to see as well.
The extra current demanded by these lamps will result in heat
generation within the electrical components and the headlight lens
assemblies. Premature wear, melting of plastic parts and the possibly
an electrical fire could be the result. Do you still think that this is
an acceptable solution to the possibility of over-driving your low beam
headlights?
Reference Links
|
|
Truckers are not hauling the transports higher today
|
The Dow Jones Transportation Average(NYSE:IYT) is trading sharply lower
today as a couple of leading trucking stocks had a negative reaction
after their earnings report. The transportation index is extremely
important to follow. This index is the barometer of business when it is
all said and done. Most professional traders will want to know what the
transportation index is doing everyday. Generally, if this index is
strong the market is strong and when it is weak the market is weak.
Many times when you see the market higher on the day and the transports
are weak this is a signal of overall weakness in the market. The
opposite of that is true when the market is weak and the transportation
index is strong it is prudent to not look for too much to the downside
in the market.
Today Ryder System Inc(NYSE:R), and C.H. Robinson
Worldwide(Nasdaq:CHRW) both reported earnings that were worst than
expected and the stocks are reacting poorly today. Ryder posted a
profit of $8.2 million, or 15 cents a share, down from $10.6 million,
or 19 cents a share, a year earlier. The revenue also fell to $1.25
billion from $1.34 billion. Their guidance was also lower than expected
going forward.
Meanwhile, C.H. Robinson Worldwide reported earnings that were not much
better. CHRW reported a profit of $87.7 million, or 52 cents a share,
Slightly lower than $88.8 million, or 52 cents a share from a year ago.
However, the revenue reported was slightly higher by $2.01 billion from
$1.96 billion. They also noted that their margin comparisons will be
challenging going forward.
While these stocks were downgraded from several major firms today it is
telling us that 2010 could lead to challenging times ahead. If the
transportation average cannot lead the markets higher who can? Since
the mid- January market high the Baltic Dry index has declined sharply
and this is telling us that the transport average is important for the
entire global economy. The Baltic Dry Index is a number issued daily by
the London-based Baltic Exchange. Not restricted to Baltic Sea
countries, the Index tracks worldwide international shipping prices of
various dry bulk cargoes.
Source: Inthemoneystocks
|
|
Truckers onboard with texting while driving ban
|
Sending or receiving a text message generally costs less than some
pocket change. But texting while driving now will cost a lot more for
truck and bus drivers - and as far as some local truckers and motorists
are concerned, that's fine.
Last week, the U.S.
Department of Transportation banned drivers of commercial trucks and
buses from texting while driving. Those who violate the ban may be
subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. Drivers
who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an
average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds spent texting, according
to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. At
55 mph, a texting driver is traveling the length of a football field,
including end zones, without looking at the road, according to the
Transportation Department. During interviews last week at a gas station near Interstate 75, drivers expressed support for the new rule. "I
can't imagine anyone would think it's intelligent to text and drive,"
said Lee Whitridge, a Fort Pierce woman. Whitridge said texting should
be illegal for all drivers, but banning it for truck and bus drivers is
a good place to start. Richard
Melton of Dunnellon said a ban on texting is "a good idea." He said
it's not right that the ban applies only to truck and bus drivers, as
he has seen motorists swerving on the road, distracted by their cell
phones. "It should be for everyone," Melton said. "I
want people to be focused on the road," said Susan Harris of Maryland.
Both of her sons have been rear-ended in accidents by drivers who were
using cell phones. Harris said the ban should be for all drivers, not
just truck and bus drivers. In fact, truck and bus
drivers usually are more experienced drivers because they go through
training and testing for their commercial licenses, Harris said. Thomas
Perez, a truck driver for 15 years, said when drivers take their eyes
off the road to text, it's dangerous for everyone. He said texting
ought to be prohibited for all drivers, not just truck and bus drivers. Perez said he occasionally sends and receives text messages while driving, but the ban and the fine will change his habits. Perez
also regularly uses an in-cab computer to communicate with dispatchers
while driving, which is just as distracting as texting, he said. The
Transportation Department said it plans to regulate the use of other
electronic devices in the coming months. "Text
messaging should be illegal all the way around," said Larry Cairnas, a
truck driver for 18 years. Truck drivers are supposed to be
professional, so the higher standards are understandable, he said. Cairnas
said from high in the cab of his truck that he has seen drivers using
laptops, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, and just about
everything else. Texting is just another thing to distract drivers, he
said. Daniel Prinz, a
truck driver for 10 years, said that while he does not like additional
regulations, a texting ban is probably a good thing. Prinz said he does
not text while driving, but he often sees drivers "messing with their
phones." Nineteen states
and the District of Columbia already have text messaging bans for all
drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Florida
does not have statewide restrictions on texting. In July 2009, U.S. Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced a bill that would reduce the amount
of federal highway funding by 25 percent for states that did not enact
texting bans. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works. The
government's announcement last week was followed by an unexpected
announcement. According to USA Today, a study by the Highway Loss Data
Institute found no reduction in vehicle crashes after bans on handheld
cell phones were enacted in New York, Connecticut, California and
Washington, D.C. Source: Ocala
|
|
CARB to hand out $20 million for hybrid trucks
|
The California Air Resources Board has launched a $20 million
“funding assistance program” aimed at spurring the purchase of hybrid
trucks and buses. As usual with most CARB grant programs – the program
is restricted to vehicles to be used in-state only.
CARB will
hand out vouchers ranging from $10,000 to $45,000. The program is
expected to put as many as 800 vehicles on the road. Vouchers will be
distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Regardless of the size of their fleet, (each) is limited to a maximum of 100 vouchers,” a CARB statement read.
“This
will accelerate our progress in cleaning up the air we breathe and
reaching our climate change reduction goals,” CARB Chairman Mary
Nichols stated.
Program participants must agree to register and operate the vehicle in California for three years.
For more information, visit californiahvip.org.
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
|
|
Local tractor-trailer driver earns national recognition
|
James E. DeHaven of Corriganville has been recognized by the
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for four years of safe,
accident-free driving of a commercial tractor-trailer.
DeHaven has been driving professionally for four years and currently hauls general freight.
The
OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program is designed to recognize and reward
OOIDA members for their safe, accident-free years while operating a
commercial vehicle. Safe driving awards are available to all eligible
members who qualify based upon the number of years for which the member
has operated a commercial vehicle without being involved in a
preventable accident.
The national trade association, which
represents the interests of small-business trucking professionals and
professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is
headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area. The association
has more than 159,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.
Source: Times News
|
|
Short on air? IdleAire shutdown unplugs many in-truck CPAPs
|
Ernie Howe has grown familiar with his routine.
Running
from his home in Parma, ID, to Los Angeles and Phoenix, the OOIDA
member spends most nights of the week at truck stops equipped with
IdleAire plug-ins. Before bed, Howe will plug in his CPAP machine,
strap on a mouth and nose-covering mask, and hit the pillow.
Diagnosed
with sleep apnea a year ago, Howe says a relatively low amount of
pressure from the CPAP machine helps him obtain a healthy eight hours
of sleep each night.
“I can sleep without it, but I’d rather
use it,” Howe said about the machine, which provides continuous air
pressure through a patient’s breathing faculties.
Since
IdleAire ceased operations last week, thousands of truckers who have
obstructive sleep apnea and who use CPAP machines have been scrambling
to find ways to get a peaceful sleep.
Howe – who has driven
truck since 1976, said he was preparing to plug in to IdleAire service
at a truck stop in Hesperia, CA, last week when he was told IdleAire
was shutting down.
Because Howe’s company hasn’t installed
APUs on its trucks, IdleAire’s closing will mean trucks will be idling
at night to provide heat and hotel power. The realities of work time
spent at loading docks and other trucking factors make battery-usage
difficult, he said, especially combined with the power needs for eight
hours of CPAP use.
“I’ve got an inverter, but I’d much rather
use electric-line power – especially if the company is going to pay for
it,” Howe said. “If you leave it plugged to the battery power all night
long, it will run your batteries dead.”
For more information on CPAP machines and inverters, read this May 2008 Land Line article, and this 2007 article.
As for Howe, he’ll either bunk indoors to use his CPAP or go without using it at all.
“I’m going to stop at my sister’s house tonight,” he said. “I can get by without it, but I’d rather not do without.”
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
Rep. Thompson asks PA attorney general to investigate claims
|
A lawsuit involving a former Pennsylvania Turnpike employee who
claims he was wrongfully terminated for exposing alleged corruption has
gotten the attention of a U.S. representative and the state attorney
general.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-PA, wrote a letter
urging state Attorney General Tom Corbett to “investigate the potential
for criminal charges” in reference to a lawsuit filed in 2009 by
plaintiff Ralph M. Bailets against the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
and two of Bailets’ former superiors at the Commission.
Bailets,
according to Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Docket 265-MD-2009,
says he was wrongfully terminated after raising issues about waste and
alleged corruption within the Turnpike offices. The lawsuit was made
public in a Jan. 25 article by Toll Roads News.
In
the lawsuit, Bailets accuses his former superiors of perpetuating a
“pay to play campaign contribution scheme,” allegedly duplicating
billable hours and allegedly exploiting electronic tolling discounts
for personal gain.
Rep. Thompson said the seriousness of the claims prompted his letter to Corbett.
“The
severity of the accusations made within the complaint are so egregious,
that I am compelled to ask that you investigate the criminality of the
claims against those named in the complaint, and additionally those in
charge of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, for any misuse of
Turnpike (taxpayer) funds,” Thompson wrote.
Thompson added
that “motorists using the Pennsylvania Turnpike deserve to know that
their toll dollars are not being squandered on political patronage and
personal gain.”
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission told Land Line that the agency is declining an opportunity to comment because the matter involves pending legal action.
– By David Tanner, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
ATA to back Court Case Against Californian Pollution Watchdog
|
US - Once again the battle lines are drawn up between the environmentally sound principles of the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) and the equally passionate practicalities of the states truckers
supporting a mixed group of farmers’ representatives, renewable fuel
producers and supporters as the state pushes for a lower carbon fuel
standard. The new law will mean that within ten years all fuel sold in
the state must produce 10% less carbon than at present. Only military
trucks are exempt and feelings run high amongst the California’s
freight truck firms who say this is an imposition too far. The American Trucking Associations
yesterday joined in a law suit initiated by the Center for North
American Energy Security, Consumer Energy Alliance and National
Petrochemical and Refiners Association. The crux of the argument is
that a state wide legislation merely transfers the low cost petroleum
and diesel available from areas where it is not mandatory with the
associated extra costs. The scheme discriminates against companies like
POET LLC,
which produce ethanol from biomass materials and who it is reported,
have filed a separate suit and say there will be no overall gain from
implementing a change. The ATA legal challenge is largely based
on the Commerce Clause with assertions that the "shuffling" of
low-carbon fuel to California and away from other states will
significantly burden fuel providers and consumers without any net
change in fuel's carbon-intensity on a global scale. The
scheme, say the ATA, will effectively ban the sale of fuels derived
from unconventional sources such as converted domestic coal and oil
from sands or shale in Canada and the western USA. The rule will also
apply it seems to sales not use and therefore out of state truckers
might continue to pass through parts of the state with impunity. If
that is the case we may possibly have the situation which existed in
Ireland some years ago when truckers close to the border would cross,
fill bulk tanks with cheaper fuel and then cross back to use up their
reserves on their own fleets. CARB have reacted strongly to the challenge. In a statement the chairman Mary Nichols said of the objectors: "Their
actions are shameful. This is a critical tool to help us break our
dependence on fossil fuels. It will protect us from volatile oil prices
and provide consumers with cleaner fuels and provide the nation with
greater energy security. Our analysis shows that producing alternative
fuels under this standard can save consumers as much as $11 billion
over the next decade, and that's in California alone. Instead of
fighting us in court, they should be working with us to provide
consumers in California and the rest of the nation with the next
generation of cleaner fuels."
Source: Handy Shipping Guide
|
|
Highway tax dollars for ‘livable communities’
|
What exactly are “livable communities,” and how much do they cost?
If you’re a highway user, you could begin paying soon for livable
communities even if it’s not clear where the money would go.
The
Obama administration is proposing to create a new Office of Livable
Communities and fund it with $500 million from the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
The administration included the concept as
part of a $3.8 trillion federal budget request issued Monday, Feb. 1.
The budget request includes $78.8 billion for the U.S. Department of
Transportation of which $500 million would be used to fund and staff
the new office.
Truckers who operate just 4 percent of the
registered vehicles on the roadways – but who pay a 36 percent share of
the bill for highways and transportation through taxes and fees –
deserve to know where the money for “livable communities” will go,
OOIDA leadership says.
“We certainly have some concern with
it because we believe there could be a serious diversion of highway
user dollars to these so-called livable communities and this Office of
Livable Communities,” OOIDA Director of Legislative Affairs Mike Joyce
told Land Line Now on Sirius XM.
“We’re not sure what the benefits truly will be for America’s highway users and America’s truckers.”
Without
a clear intention for the money, the government is leaving no choice
but for the highway user to be skeptical, Joyce says.
“I don’t think anybody at DOT or from the Congress has clearly defined what livable communities are,” Joyce said.
“The
fear is that there is no definition, that there are no true parameters
to what livable communities are and how money can be spent on livable
communities. … And so it ends up at the discretion of the secretary of
transportation and the folks that are running that office as to how
they want to spend that money. That’s a very serious concern.”
– By David Tanner, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
Photo enforcement under the gun in Tennessee
|
The topic of traffic cameras is a hot issue this year at the
Tennessee statehouse. In the months leading up to the start of the
regular session a panel of lawmakers hammered out a proposal to rein in
the use of the enforcement tool. Since then, many more bills have been
offered that cover an array of concerns about camera use.
Many
communities throughout Tennessee permit the use of red-light and speed
cameras to help with enforcement efforts. Supporters say the devices
are about safety and using technology in a helpful way. Others say the
devices free up police to address bigger issues.
Opponents,
including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, question
the claim that cameras are intended solely to keep people safe. The
Association says the motivation of the local jurisdiction and the
manufacturer is economics.
Concern about using the cameras as
a revenue enhancer has spurred lawmakers to pursue legislation that is
intended to either limit use of the technology or outright ban it.
The
main bill on traffic cameras is the result of months of work by the
House Transportation Committee. Among the provisions included in HB3024
is a two-year moratorium on putting new cameras in place and renewals
of existing contracts. In the meantime, a study would be done on their
effectiveness and usage.>>>>>>>>>>>>..........................
|
| |
|
CB radios OK for use, for now
|
Truck drivers who use CB radios to communicate are
able to continue to use those radios for at least another three years,
despite the new distracted driving legislation.
The legislation, which came into effect in October, bans talki
ng, texting or using an MP3 player or GPS unit while driving. As of Monday, violators face $155 tickets.
Stephen Conners, a dispatcher with Glenn Windrem Trucking on
Whittington Dr. in Lindsay, said the legislation allows professional
truck drivers use of CB sets.
After about three years, he said, those sets will be replaced by hands-free CB sets.
Police are advising amateur CB and ham radio users to adhere to
the new driver distraction legislation, saying a microphone is no
different than a cellphone. The Ministry of Transportation says if
those radios are being used to assist in an emergency situation, users
are covered under three-year exemption until January 1, 2013.
City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service Acting Staff Sgt. Kirk
Robertson told QMI Agency that in non-emergency situations "they should
be pulling over to the side of the road."
He said there is a three-year phase out on the use of handheld
two-way radios for police, fire, emergency medical services, the public
service and commercial vehicles, such as transport trucks -- to allow
for the development of hands-free solutions -- but that does not extend
to amateur radio users who are simply communicating.
Ernie Roylance, treasurer of the Victoria Haliburton Amateur Radio Association, said that was his understanding as well.
"It's the same as a cellphone. A microphone is a hand-held device," he said.
He said ham radio and CB operators will also have to wait until hands-free solutions are developed for their older radios. Amateur radio operators have been successful in getting exemptions in
some other provinces and the Radio Association of Canada is expected to
take up the fight in Ontario, he said.
Source: The Peterborough Examiner
|
|
YRC customers offered their money back
|
Motor carrier YRC is offering customers a no-fee, 100 percent
money-back guarantee on its standard LTL services throughout the United
States and to/from Canada.
Mike Smid, YRC president and COO of YRC Worldwide said, “Shippers
want peace of mind, knowing their goods will deliver as scheduled.
Given the performance excellence of our comprehensive network, it was
an easy decision to offer the added value of a guarantee at no
additional charge.”
Highlights of the program include a refund of
all net line-haul charges and fuel surcharges if the company fails to
deliver by end of day as scheduled.
The money-back offer is also available on YRC guaranteed AM and PM and “Multiday Window” services.
At
the end of 2009, YRC successfully completed a debt-for-equity exchange.
Fourth quarter and full-year earnings will be announced Feb. 5, 2010.
Analyst estimates suggest the trucking group that includes Roadway and
Yellow Freight will lose $10.50 per share for calendar 2009. Source: Air Cargo World
|
|
Celadon Recognized by Transplace as a "Platinum" Carrier
|
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb 05, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Celadon Trucking Services, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celadon
Group, Inc.
/quotes/comstock/13*!cgi/quotes/nls/cgi
( CGI
10.06,
+0.45,
+4.68%)
has been named by Transplace to the Platinum
Level of the Transplace Carrier Merit Program, which "represents the
highest level of service, customer satisfaction, dedication, and
reliability" according to George Abernathy, Executive Vice President &
Chief Operating Officer of Transplace.
In addition to honoring Celadon through the Carrier Merit Program,
Transplace recognized Celadon driver Alan Bruns for his professionalism,
safety, and service. Mr. Bruns, who retired from the United States Army
after 28 years of service, has been an over-the-road driver for 18
years. During that time, he has driven over two million accident free
miles. He has obtained an endorsement from the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) to transport hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and a
certification from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to transport
international freight through the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program.
Mr. Bruns' other achievements include receiving the Indiana Motor Truck
Association (IMTA) "Master Truck Driver Award" in 2008, three Truckload
Carriers Association (TCA) "Highway Angel" awards for good deeds
performed to assist fellow motorists, and recognition as "Trainer of the
Year" in 1995 while working for Burlington Motor Carriers, Inc. Celadon
acquired Burlington Motor Carriers, Inc. in 2002.
"We're fortunate to have drivers like Alan Bruns," said Celadon
President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Hines. "Qualities exhibited
by Mr. Bruns are essential in maintaining Celadon's status as one of the
top fleets in the industry."
Celadon Group Inc. (www.celadongroup.com),
through its subsidiaries, primarily provides long haul, full-truckload
freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company
also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage;
Celadon Dedicated Services, which provides supply chain management
solutions, such as warehousing and dedicated fleet services; and
TruckersB2B (www.truckersb2b.com)
which provides cost savings to member fleets.
TruckstopUSA
|
|
Former Arrow Trucking driver hits rock bottom
|
Everything that could go wrong probably has gone wrong for Larry Cook.
A
former driver for Tulsa-based Arrow Trucking, Cook said he stands to
lose everything if his luck doesn’t turn around soon since being hurt
on the job in October 2009.
Cook said his “nightmare” started
back on October 29, 2009, when he was instructed by his former company,
Arrow Trucking, to pick up a load of empty trailers in Los Angeles and
haul them to a terminal in Phoenix.
He said a wrecker
service was stacking the trailers when Cook noticed that one wasn’t
lining up quite right. He told the wrecker operator to stop so he could
climb up and fix the problem.
“Once I got it situated, I
hollered down to the wrecker operator to ease it down and something
either slipped or broke, I don’t know which. But the trailer hit me in
the head and the next thing I know I am on the ground and medics are
working on me and I am being taken by ambulance to the hospital,” Cook
told Land Line recently.
After about 20 hours in
the emergency room, Cook, who suffered a head wound and two bulging
discs in his neck, was released from the hospital. He took a cab back
to his truck, where he then set out on his six and-a-half hour trek
back to his home near Phoenix.
“Arrow (Trucking) had someone
pick up my load, but I had to drive myself back – in a neck brace – to
my home in Arizona,” he said.
Cook said once home, he called Arrow Trucking, who was self-insured and had an in-house workers compensation department.
The
news he received was not good. Cook said a claims adjuster told him he
needed to hop on a Greyhound bus and head back to Tulsa for treatment.
The company would not pay for out-of-state treatment.
“At
that time I could barely sit in the car to and from my doctor’s office
and they wanted me to sit on a bus for 1,100 miles back to Tulsa – I
just couldn’t imagine doing that,” Cook said.
His doctor in
Arizona also sent a statement to Arrow Trucking that he was in no
condition to travel until further tests were done to determine the full
extent of his injuries.
“The adjuster kept telling me the
only way we can pay the claim is to go to a Tulsa doctor, which I
couldn’t do, so they kept jacking me around on not paying for anything
up until the day they closed their doors,” he said.
Arrow Trucking shuttered operations just before Christmas, stranding drivers and equipment out on the highways without notice.
He
has received some support from a trucker assistance group known as
Trucker Charity Inc. Currently, Cook said he is receiving government
assistance from the state of Arizona. But he has had no other income
since October 2009 and is behind on his rent, car payment and medical
bills from the accident in California. To make matters worse, his wife
had two heart attacks in August 2009 and has no income coming in at the
present time.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Cook said he was referred to a surgeon who may have to remove one of the bulging discs in his neck.
Up
until a few days ago, Cook said still had hope that he would receive
some compensation from Arrow Trucking stemming from being hurt on the
job. That’s because his former company had a $2.35 million bond and
former Arrow Trucking attorney Jay McAtee was hired by the state to pay
Arrow Trucking’s outstanding workers compensation claims.
Cook
said his Tulsa-based attorney called him with the news that there were
“at least 90 claims ahead of us and money was going fast.”
The Tulsa World
interviewed one former claims worker who said “there was a closet that
had a waist-high stack of bills and claims in it.” However, another
former employee stated it was “more like a file room” than a closet.
“I
don’t know what to do anymore,” Cook said. “I told the wife that this
latest news is just another stab in the gut with a knife from Arrow
(Trucking) and every day they keep twisting it in a little harder,” he
said.
– By Clarissa Kell-Holland, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
Arrow-gate: Layers of deception ran deep at Tulsa-based Arrow Trucking
|
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott
Attorneys
and forensic accountants, along with some former Arrow Trucking
employees, are still sifting through the financial nightmare nearly two
months after the Tulsa-based company’s abrupt collapse.
In
December 2009, the Tulsa, OK-based motor carrier unexpectedly shuttered
its doors and left several hundred drivers stranded all over the
country, some under loads with no fuel, no way to get home, and no
guidance from company executives. Instead, the trucking community
banded together to get these drivers home.>>>>>>>>>.....................
|
|
Minnesota diesel program loans money to small business truckers
|
Small trucking businesses from Minnesota have an opportunity to
obtain a low-interest loan for specific equipment purchases that will
cut emissions.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Small
Business Environmental Improvement Loan Program provides loans of
between $1,000 and $50,000 at an interest rate of either 4 percent or
half the prime rate – whichever is higher. The repayment term is a
maximum of seven years.
Applications will be evaluated based
on the applicant’s financial need and ability to secure and repay the
loan, as well as the projects’ expected environmental benefits.
“Benefits
include reduced worker exposures … and reduced regulatory burdens,” the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency stated on its Web site. “Frequently, these benefits also have a positive impact on the businesses’ bottom line.”
The
loan program will accept applications based on quarterly deadlines,
including by April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1. For more information, contact
Mike Nelson at 800-985-4247 or e-mail michael.nelson@pca.state.mn.us.
Joe
Rajkovacz, OOIDA director of regulatory affairs, said the Association
will continue to make truckers aware of local, state and federal grant
programs. OOIDA informs members through its Web sites, Land Line Magazine and daily satellite radio show Land Line Now on Sirius XM.
“It’s
important that small-business truckers know this money is out there,”
Rajkovacz said. “We’ve helped to put literally millions of dollars into
the hands of our members.”
OOIDA’s Guide to Free Money is available here.
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
MRAP can take fight off-road
|
"The latest armored vehicles aimed at stopping roadside bombs are so
maneuverable off roads that they give U.S. troops an offensive
advantage as they prepare for major operations against insurgents this
spring, a Marine general running the vehicle program says.";
Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The latest armored vehicles aimed
at shielding troops from roadside bombs are so maneuverable off roads
that they give U.S. troops an offensive advantage as they prepare for
major operations against insurgents this spring, a Marine general running the vehicle program says.
The speed and maneuverability of the new Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles transform it "from simply a
means of transportation to an offensive capability," Brig. Gen. Michael
Brogan said.
There are about 300 of the all-terrain MRAPs
being used in combat, Brogan said. Military leaders seek 6,000 more of
the vehicles to protect troops from improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). Last year, the number of IEDs planted by insurgents more than
doubled to nearly 8,000.
The ability to travel off-road is critical in Afghanistan.
The country is about the size of Texas and has rugged terrain and few
paved routes. Standard MRAP trucks, which have a high center of gravity
and weigh more than 30,000 pounds, have been confined mostly to the
roads that do exist.
Lack of mobility makes MRAPs and other heavier
vehicles easier to target for insurgents, Brogan says. Better mobility
was a key requirement for the new truck.
"This vehicle offers the ability that the
baseline MRAPs didn't, namely the ability to get off-road and
maneuver," Brogan said. "That makes the targeting exponentially more
difficult for the bad guys."
The vehicle enables troops to stay unpredictable
and confound insurgents, says Dakota Wood, a military analyst with the
Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
"As long as you have to travel on roads, you
make yourself an easier target," Wood said. "If you broaden your
options on where you can go, that's good for you."
MRAPs have proved far safer in bomb blasts in
Afghanistan than any other vehicle. Troops are "tens of times" more
likely to be wounded or killed in other vehicles in an IED attack,
according to the Pentagon's Joint IED Defeat Organization.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates
told a Senate panel Tuesday that IEDs are "absolutely the worst killer
and maimer of our troops." He said MRAPs made "a huge difference" in
limiting the carnage from IEDs.
Starting this month, 500 to 1,000 new MRAPs will begin arriving per month in Afghanistan, Gates told senators.
There are more than 70,000 U.S. servicemembers
in Afghanistan, and about 100,000 will be there later this year as part
of the escalation ordered by President Obama. There may be the need for
4,000 more MRAPs, Brogan said. The final number will be determined by
the Pentagon and combat commanders.
It takes about 14 hours for Oshkosh Defense,
the truck's maker, to produce the vehicle on its assembly lines in
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Brogan said. The company is about 300
trucks ahead of schedule, he said.
It's an expensive effort. The trucks cost about
$1 million apiece. Demand for them requires that each is flown in by
cargo jet. It costs more than $150,000 to fly each one aboard an Air
Force C-17 cargo jet or $140,000 aboard a commercial flight. By spring,
the Pentagon hopes to have enough of the trucks in Afghanistan to begin
sending them by ship, a slower but cheaper alternative to flying,
Brogan said. Source: USA TODAY
|
|
SPECIAL REPORT: Another good ruling for OOIDA in C.R. England case
|
OOIDA received another good ruling last week from U.S. Magistrate Judge David Nuffer in the case of OOIDA v. C.R. England.
The
class action lawsuit was first filed in 2002 and went to trial in
federal court in 2006. The takeaway for OOIDA and trucker plaintiffs
was a benchmark truth-in-leasing victory for truckers.
Following
the decision in Salt Lake City, U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart
referred the case to Magistrate Judge David Nuffer to oversee the
disposition of individual class members’ escrow claims.
One
issue before Judge Nuffer was whether Utah-based motor carrier C.R.
England could assert set-offs for alleged repair and maintenance costs
against individual class members’ escrow accounts in the damages phase
of the case. OOIDA and the truckers had moved to exclude these set-offs
from consideration on the ground that the court required C.R. England
to deduct any repair and maintenance charges from class members’ escrow
funds when the motor carrier filed its final accounting in November
2008. The company opposed OOIDA’s motion on the ground that these
repair and maintenance charges were “newly discovered” and were
“legitimate set-offs.”
The magistrate judge rejected C.R.
England’s arguments and ruled that it could not assert any claim for
repair or maintenance charges against class members during the current
damages phase of the case.
He said that the plain language of the court’s ruling prohibited the consideration of these set-offs during the damages phase.
“Essentially,
Judge Nuffer said that C.R. England missed the boat by not identifying
these set-offs in its final accounting,” said David A. Cohen, attorney
for The Cullen Law Firm, OOIDA’s litigation counsel. “The judge also
said that letting C.R. England assert these claims at this late date
would only serve to prolong a case that has been pending for many
years.”
Cohen called this latest ruling another big win for OOIDA and members of the class action.
“It
takes over $600,000 in alleged set-offs against individual class
members off the table. Many of the affected class members (roughly
half) are entitled to 18 percent interest per year on their unlawfully
retained escrow funds. My preliminary calculations are that, based on
this ruling and the 18 percent ruling, C.R. England will owe the class
roughly $1 million just on these repair and maintenance set-offs.”
Cohen
said the $1 million does not include additional damages owed to class
members based on the court’s prior exclusion of refurbishment claims.
Cohen said C.R. England may appeal Judge Nuffer’s ruling.
– By Land Line staff
|
|
Bills to increase Virginia speeds to 70 mph advance
|
Virginia lawmakers are moving full speed ahead with legislation to
allow vehicles to travel faster along some highways throughout the
state.
The Virginia Senate voted 29-11 Tuesday, Feb. 2, to
approve a bill that would increase the 65 mph speed limit to 70 mph for
all vehicles on rural sections of interstates where engineers deemed it
safe. The change would also apply to other multilane, divided,
limited-access highways and high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
The
bill – SB537 – now moves to the House where an identical measure was
approved Tuesday on a 71-26 vote. The House bill – HB856 – is on its
way to the Senate for further consideration.
One version of
the legislation must gain approval from both chambers before it can
advance to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s desk for his signature.
The
pursuit of higher speeds has the backing of McDonnell. He pledged
during his run for governor to pursue faster travel on rural stretches
of highway statewide. During his recent State of the Commonwealth
Address, he reiterated his desire to see 70 mph speeds implemented on
stretches of I-95, I-64, I-77 and I-81. McDonnell pointed out that 32
states already have 70 mph speed limits, and 13 states have speeds set
at 75 mph.>>>>>>>>>>>>>..........................
|
|
Ontario, B.C. handing out fines for distracted driving
|
The warning period is over and fines have begun for distracted drivers in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Police
began handing out fines starting Monday, Feb. 1, for those caught using
hand-held communications devices while behind the wheel. Fines are $155
in Ontario and $167 in B.C. Those caught texting in B.C. while on
graduated licensing could receive three penalty points.
“The
distracted driving law makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text,
type, dial or e-mail using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held
communications and entertainment devices,” Ontario Ministry of
Transportation officials stated. The ban also applies to laptop
computers and DVD players.
Pressing one button to answer a
call is permitted, while hands-free technology and the use of
communications for emergency purposes are exempt.
According to Ontario’s posted regulations,
some commercial applications are exempt from the law until Jan. 1,
2013. Commercial exemptions apply to drivers engaged in work duties
using two-way radio communications in the following: courier delivery
vehicles, tow trucks, roadside assistance, taxicabs, limousines, street
cars and road-building machines.
The B.C. law allows the use of two-way radios for commercial purposes.
– By David Tanner, staff writer Courtesy of LandLine Magazine
|
|
Useful Links Helpful Industry related Links
Government Links:
Misc. Resources
|
|
|  |
|
There isn't a Biggest Story for Today, yet.
|
|
|