Upcoming Events:
- February 21st, 2024: Hours of Service / Logbook Seminar (Registration Below)
- February 28th, 2024: DOT Audit Compliance Seminar (Registration Below)
- March 11th – March 15th, 2024: CSS/CDS NATMI Training (Registration Below)
- March 20th, 2024: Drug & Alcohol Seminar for Safety Supervisors (Registration Below)
- 18th Annual Southern Utah Trucking Association Charitable Golf Tournament (Registration Below)
- May 8th – 10th, 2024: 2024 Management Conference & Trucking Expo (Registration Below)
- June 6th – 8th, 2024: (Save the Date): UTA Truck Driving Championship
Announcements:
- We are still working on updating our membership benefits page. Anyone who feels like they have information that would be beneficial to all UTA members, please email Jon Boyer at jon@utahtrucking.com with the information you would like to submit.
- Driver of the Month Applications has been updated all applications can now be submitted online.
- 2024 SUTA Scholarship Applications has been updated all applications can now be submitted online.
Special Offers:
Events and Announcements:
Resources:
Samba Safety
News:
New ATRI Research Analyzes Predatory Towing and Efforts to Prevent It
ATRI has released research that examines the causes and countermeasures of predatory heavy-duty towing, with the goal of improving the relationship between the towing and trucking industries.
Is California Ready for an Electric Vehicle Future?
ATRI has released an analysis examining the state of California’s readiness for full vehicle electrification. The research expands on ATRI’s 2022 report, Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet, by providing a more granular analysis of the challenges in one state as it moves toward widespread deployment of electric vehicles. Following a similar methodology as ATRI’s national analysis, this statewide analysis focuses on grid sufficiency for powering all vehicles, the cost of electricity, the challenges in sourcing materials for batteries, and the expected increase in supply chain costs as the trucking industry experiences significantly increased vehicle costs.
The Impact of New DOL Regulations on Trucking Opportunities
A recent rule released by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) appears to potentially limit the opportunities for truck drivers to live out their American Dream. The rule changes the definition of an independent contractor by now looking at six factors.
Driver Input Sought on Detention Time
How does detention time affect your day-to-day? The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know. It’s asking motor carriers and owner-operators to complete a survey on the ATRI website about the consequences of driver detention in the trucking industry.
FMCSA Administrator Hutcheson Leaving Agency
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Robin Hutcheson is leaving after two years heading up the agency, following the departure earlier this month of Deputy Administrator Earl Adams Jr. Hutcheson will leave on Jan. 26. Sue Lawless, FMCSA executive director and chief safety officer, will serve as acting deputy administrator and lead the agency.
Over 15,000 CDL Medical Examiners Need to Update Their Info, or Else
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a notice of proposed removal from the National Registry of certified medical examiners for those who “failed to access … and have failed to update the profile information in their National Registry account as required.”
American Trucking Associations Launches Compensation Survey
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has announced the opening of its 2024 ATA Driver Compensation Study. “The Driver Compensation Study is an invaluable and one-of-a-kind benchmarking tool,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. o participate and review the benefits that come with participating, please visit https://www.trucking.org/driver-compensation-study. Participants should complete and return the survey to DriverCompSurvey@trucking.org by March 29.
Idaho Offers New Online Renewals for Commercial Bulk Permits
Idaho is now offering commercial vehicle operators the option of bulk online renewal of annual special permits in an effort to help save time and money. All annual bulk permit types for reducible and nonreducible loads now can be renewed at the Idaho Transportation Department’s new “Company Dashboard” via permits4idaho.com.
House GOP Urges Biden to Protect Supply Chain
Senior House Republicans on a transportation committee urged the Biden administration to prevent potential disruptions to the country’s supply chain. During a Jan. 17 hearing with stakeholders, GOP leadership on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advocated for economic assurances across freight sectors amid international connectivity concerns.
FMCSA Pushes Back Rulemaking on Truck Speed Limiters to May
But according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest significant rulemaking report, the speed limiter rule will not be out for another five months — or possibly longer. The rule would require that trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds be equipped with an electronic speed governor to set the device at a maximum speed, which is expected to be revealed in the rule.
Governors From 16 States Ask Biden to Roll Back EV Mandates
Governors from 16 states have sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to rescind his electric vehicle mandates in favor of letting the market determine adoption. EV owners are finding it’sdifficult to charge the batteries in single-digit temperatures.
California Bill Mandates Speed Limiters, Side Underride Guards for Trucks
A California state senator has introduced legislation that includes two provisions that would impacttruckers and equipment manufacturers based and/or doing business in the state.
Pension Tussle Taking Center Stage in Yellow Bankruptcy
In recent weeks, Yellow attorneys exchanged filings with their peers at the Central States Pension Fund and the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware about how to resolve the question of the company’s remaining pension obligations.
Cargo Theft 2024 Outlook: All-Time High
Cargo theft continues to plague freight haulers across the U.S. With more spikes around the holiday season, according to the most recent Cargonet report, thieves have increasingly preyed on the trucking industry over the past five years.
Work-Related Deaths Rise in 2022, BLS Report Finds
Transportation Incidents Accounted for 37.7% of All Occupational Fatalities. “In 2022, 5,486 workers in the U.S. lost their lives. This equates to one worker death every 96 minutes, with deaths the highest among transportation and construction workers,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Trucker Wisdom: Veterans of the Road Offer 10 Tips for Success to New Drivers
As we bring in a new year, it’s the perfect time for those considering a career change to explore the world of trucking. Seeking advice from seasoned professionals can make the journey go a lot smoother. The RoadPro Pro Driver Council, a group of experienced drivers, shared valuable tips for new drivers.
TruckTonnage Fell 1.7% in 2023
While it may come as no surprise to many owner-operators and small fleets who lived it through the last year, the calculators have made it official: Trucks hauled less freight in 2023 than in 2022, according to the American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
Jackson Group Peterbilt 2023 North American Dealer Group of the Year Award
Peterbilt announced Jackson Group Peterbilt (JGP) as the 2023 North American Dealer Group of the Year at its annual Dealer Meeting this week in Palm Springs, Calif. Peterbilt says the prestigious Dealer Group of the Year recognition is awarded to the dealership group that best exemplifies Peterbilt’s commitment to class, achieves the highest scores in Peterbilt’s rigorous Standards of Excellence program and leverages effective management practices to promote brand advocacy.
5 Ways to Improve Your CSA Score
If you’re looking to better your trucking business, improving your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score has several benefits. Issued by the safety compliance and enforcement program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a good CSA score can produce lower insurance premiums, help to attract and retain business, and potentially reduce the frequency of Department of Transportation audits.
2024 Regulations Roadmap: Part 1
A gridlocked U.S. Congress can be good news for those in the trucking industry who prefer less regulatory guidance from lawmakers. But a do-nothing House and Senate doesn’t prevent the federal bureaucracy from fiddling with laws already on the books. The trucking industry faces some regulatory changes this year. Here are some of the topics for fleets to watch.
FMCSA to Delay Heavy Truck Speed Limiters Proposal Until May
FMCSA did not state a reason for the delay in the update, published Jan. 28, and has not indicatedhow long a potential rulemaking on the matter might take before reaching the final rule stage. The proposal has been percolating for years.
Salt Lake Trucking Group Found Guilty of Financial Fraud Against FedEx
A federal jury has convicted two owners of a Salt Lake City trucking conglomerate of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants and their coconspirators paid more than $300,000 in bribes to FedEx Ground employees, which resulted in SLTG receiving $108 million from FedEx over a 10-year period.
What to Expect with the Freight Market in 2024
Trucking tech firm Motive has been keeping its finger on the pulse of the economy as it relates to the freight markets, and according to its January economic report, trucking saw its biggest contraction of the 2023 in December.
Yellow Repays $700M COVID-Era Treasury Loan Plus Interest
Yellow Corp. has repaid a $700 million loan it received from the U.S. Department of the Treasurythrough the pandemic-era Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the bankrupt less-than-truckload carrier said late Feb. 5.
FMCSA Weighs Commercial Driver License Streamlining
Federal trucking regulators are proposing to speed up the process for obtaining a commercial driver license by removing a number of regulatory restrictions. he agency said the proposed rule could affect states, third-party knowledge examiners, CDL applicants, CMV drivers and motor carriers.
Do Fleets Need to Comply with California’s Now-Halted Diesel Ban?
The California Air Resources Board’s first real attempt to ban diesel trucks from hauling in the state recently got shot down, at least partially, in court. Fleets and owner-operators now might be left wondering if CARB’s diesel drayage ban is dead, paused, or just lingering in the shadows until the next regulatory cycle.
UPS to cut 12,000 jobs, May Sell Coyote Brokerage Unit
UPS Inc. said that it will explore strategic alternatives for its struggling truckload brokerage business, Coyote Logistics, including a possible sale. In addition, UPS said it will cut 12,000 full- and part-time management and contract jobs this year as part of a new initiative called “Fit to Serve.”
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s New Reporting Requirement Hits Owner-Operators, Small Fleets
The United States Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) now administers a reporting system aimed at all manner of small businesses throughout the United States. Since the first of this year, any newly established LLC, corporation, LLP and some other business types, including any owner-operator or small fleet who’s filed with their Secretary of State to establish the business, have 90 days to report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) to FinCen and the Treasury.
DOT’s Buttigieg, FMCSA Call Out Predatory Towing, Propose Penalties
Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, along with FMCSA on Wednesday called out “junk fees” charged by predatory towing companies and parking lot pirates that “use their possession of the vehicle as leverage to prey upon truckers who are in no position to push back.”
CVSA’s Out of Service Handbook Now Available; Changes Effective April 1
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2024 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria spiral-bound handbook is now available for purchase. UTA has placed an order> Will let you know when they come in.
What is CVSA Focusing on in 2024 Roadcheck Truck Inspection Blitz? May 14-16
This year’s annual Roadcheck inspection safety blitz, May 14-16, will focus on tractor protection systems and alcohol and controlled substance possession. CVSA-certified law enforcement personnel will inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites and mobile patrols.
DOT’s Buttigieg, FMCSA Call Out Predatory Towing, Propose Penalties
Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, along with FMCSA on Wednesday called out “junk fees” charged by predatory towing companies and parking lot pirates that “use their possession of the vehicle as leverage to prey upon truckers who are in no position to push back.”
ACT Research Offers Insights into Alternative Power Adoption Rates
ACT Research’s recently released decarbonization forecast, North America Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK Plus, incorporates expected advancements in zero-emission technologies of battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell-electric vehicles (FCEV), and natural gas (NG) as an alternative decarbonization technology.
An Accurate, Current MCS-150: More Important Than You Realize
Not only is the MCS-150 about compliance with FMCSA rules, but it can also determine which insurance companies will offer you insurance and the cost of your premiums. In some cases, information there can result in claims being denied.
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