Upcoming Events:
- December 11th, 2024: Surviving a DOT / Compliance Seminar
- December 18th, 2024: HazMat Seminar
Announcements:
Gene England (1919 – 2024)
Larry Luke (1947 – 2024)
Events and Announcements:
Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
Resources:
Samba Safety
Utah Trucking Association 401K
News:
| American Trucking Associations Congratulates President Trump on Reelection |
| Washington – American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement today on the election of Donald Trump to serve as the 47th President of the United States: “We congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on their victory and look forward to working with their transition team and new administration in the days and months ahead. “President Trump made trucking a priority throughout his first term and partnered with us to enact policies that strengthened the supply chain, grew the economy, and delivered for all Americans. His second term offers an historic opportunity to build upon that record and show why the best approach to governing is one paved by common sense. That begins by replacing EPA’s electric-truck rule with national emission standards that are technologically achievable and account for the operational realities of our essential industry.”With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire next year, ATA stands ready to work across the aisle on Capitol Hill to achieve pro-growth tax reform, including repealing the century-old, punitive federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks and trailers that penalizes our industry for investing in newer, cleaner, and safer equipment. We also look forward to working with the Trump Administration and Congress on a host of policies to support our workforce, protect the right of independent truckers to choose their own career path, and end lawsuit abuse by restoring balance and fairness to the civil justice system. “The next four years will present big decisions for our nation. As we tackle these challenges and opportunities together, the Trump Administration and 119th Congress will find a constructive partner in ATA.” |
| ATA’s Statement on President Trump’s DOT Secretary Nomination |
| Washington – Today, following President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he is nominating former Congressman Sean Duffy to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear released the following statement:“During his time in the House, Sean Duffy was focused on issues facing our industry and supported pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain and our ability to keep the nation’s goods moving safely and efficiently. “Roads and bridges are our shop floor. We know Congressman Duffy understands that and the opportunity now before us to improve our transportation network by reducing congestion, investing in truck parking, enhancing highway safety and supporting the development of innovative technologies. He is an exceptional choice to lead the Department of Transportation, and we congratulate him on his nomination and look forward to working with him in this role.” |
| ATA Urges Truck Manufacturers to Partner with Industry on Emissions Goals |
| Washington – Today, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear called upon the nation’s heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers to abandon their agreement with California regulators to abide by the state’s increasingly untenable and unachievable zero-emission vehicle regulations. “By strong-arming our industry into unachievable targets and timelines void of operational and economic reality, the California Air Resources Board’s mad dash to zero has set our industry up for failure, sowing the seeds of another supply chain crisis,” Spear wrote in a letter to the nation’s truck and engine makers. “California’s ideological approach has cratered the truck market; sales are down by over 50 percent compared to last year. Availability of California-certified diesel engines are hard to come by and expensive, rationed due to zero-emission truck sales requirements.” Spear decried the agreement CARB struck with the Clean Truck Partnership, a consortium of truck makers, as “deeply flawed and coercive,” and urged the organization to vacate the pact, citing a lawsuit filed by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and the “shifting political landscape,” which should allow the manufacturers to partner with their customers to advance their shared goal of reducing emissions. “As your customers and partners, we ask that you work with all members of the American Trucking Associations to forge a viable path forward. Abandon the CTP and work with us and the incoming Administration in Washington to reopen Greenhouse Gas Phase 3 and revise it with achievable, national standards that put our industry on a sustainable and successful path towards a zero-emissions vehicle future,” Spear wrote. To read the letter in full, click here. |
Three Effective Tips for Improving Truck Driver Retention
Retention is just as important to a full fleet as is effective recruiting. Click learn three tips for improving truck driver retention!
CDL holders listed as “prohibited” in FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse will have their licenses automatically downgraded, losing their commercial operating privileges, beginning Monday, Nov. 18th. FMCSA
More than 178,000 truck drivers and other CDL holders who find themselves in “prohibited” status in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse will have their licenses downgraded and their commercial driving privileges revoked on Monday, November 18.
This move is what FMCSA refers to as Clearinghouse II, or Phase 2 of its Clearinghouse that first launched at the beginning of 2020.
Up until now, drivers who have a failed drug or alcohol test reported to the Clearinghouse have been listed as “Prohibited,” but it’s up to their employer or prospective employer, or law enforcement at the roadside or scale house, to query the Clearinghouse and remove them from the road. Drivers can earn their way out of “prohibited” status by completing the required return-to-duty (RTD) process.
With the second phase of the Clearinghouse rule taking effect Monday, state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) will be required to remove the commercial driving privileges of drivers in “prohibited” status in the Clearinghouse, which would result in a downgrade of the CDL until the driver completes the RTD process. Some states have already been conducting the automatic CDL downgrades ahead of FMCSA’s Nov.18 TH compliance date. All states are required to do so beginning Monday.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is warning the trucking industry about an email scam targeting carriers.
The agency brought attention to the scam in a recent update to the “Fraud Alerts” page on its website. In the post, FMCSA said it was “aware of fake documents” being sent via email to carriers. While the senders claim to be FMCSA government officials, the agency said the documents are not official correspondence and are “fictitious in nature.”
“This is a new, aggressive scheme where the visual design, English spelling and FMCSA government officials’ positions are not accurate,” the agency said.
According to FMCSA, those receiving the scam emails should not respond or provide information to the senders. Other tips from FMCSA for carriers who receive the fraudulent emails are:
- Do not click any suspicious links; hover overthem to see the real email address or URL of that link and click only on links you deem trustworthy.
- Follow the Federal Trade Commission recommendations for email verification.
- File a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigations by using its IC3 site.
- File a report with your local or state law enforcement agencies.
If you have been a target of an email scam, you are encouraged to contact FMCSA online or by phone at 1-800-832-5660.
FMCSA isn’t the only government agency to recently caution carriers about a possible scam. Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared information about a telephone phishing scam targeting individuals “nationwide.”
According to CBP, the potential targets said the scam callers claim that CBP agents have intercepted a shipment of drugs with their name and address. The scammers then tell the targets they need to confirm certain personal information and that “cooperation is important to ensure the case is resolved.”
“To be clear, CBP will not make telephone calls threatening citizens that law enforcement is on the way or promising money for information,” Rod Hudson, acting director of field operations for CBP Houston, said in a statement. “Anyone receiving a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about a shipment of drugs or money should recognize that it is a scam regardless of how authentic the caller may sound.”
ATA’s Spear Hopeful Trump Presidency Again Makes ‘Trucking a Priority’
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said President Trump made trucking a priority throughout his first term and partnered with us to enact policies that strengthened the supply chain, grew the economy, and delivered for all Americans.
DOT Amends Oral Fluid Drug Testing Procedures
The DOT said it has determined that various aspects of last year’s rule “need to be further amended due to unforeseen circumstances that have rendered it impossible to comply with requirements for mock oral fluid collection observers, for consistency with regard to privacy during the specimen collection, and to clarify the means by which collectors document that a sufficient volume of oral fluid was collected.”
Insurance Costs on the Rise for Carriers
Insurance. It’s a necessary and expensive budget line item that trucking companies must endure to keep their assets on the road. Many technologies, like dash cameras, ADAS and telematics, can help carriers alleviate those costs as more insurers use data from those devices to inform the underwriting of their policies. But those technologies bring new challenges, increasing costs for carriers in a new area: cyber insurance.
How Much Does Detention Time Cost the Trucking Industry?
Detention time and delays at customer facilities have been among the trucking industry’s top concerns since 2019 and, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s latest Top Industry Issues report, it ranks as the No. 8 concern among survey respondents. While detention didn’t make the top 10 concerns for motor carriers, it was the No. 4 top concern for truck drivers.
Trucking Job Numbers Hold Steady in October
Predictions of a strong peak season this year are keeping truck drivers in seats, with trucking jobs mostly unchanged in October during a time of overcapacity. Virtually unchanged, the trucking employment situation had been mostly stable since August despite many in the industry warning about a driver glut.
Parts and Labor Expense Continues to Fall, Report Finds
Heavy-duty parts and labor costs continue decline, according to a report from American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and Decisiv Inc., but those declines slowed in the second quarter this year.
Thousands of Commercial Drivers Could Have Their CDL or CLP Revoked Under New Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is reminding drivers about an upcoming compliance date that would result in over 178,000 commercial driver’s license and commercial learner’s permit holders having their commercial driving privileges revoked. Beginning Nov. 18, state driver licensing agencies will be required to “remove the CLP or CDL privilege from the driver’s license of an individual” carrying a “prohibited” status in the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Once downgraded, those privileges can be reinstated only after the “driver complies with return-to-duty requirements.”
California Regulators Approve Stricter Rules for Low Carbon Fuels
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved stricter policies to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Higher fuel prices could be one negative result. Despite criticism arguing that the stricter policies could result in increased fuel prices, CARB ultimately voted 12 to 2 in favor of the updates.
Beyond Maintenance: How Fleets Can Prepare for Safe Winter Operations
Snow and ice threaten the safety of truck drivers, their equipment, their cargo, and the motoring public. However, proper preparation, technology, and communication can help mitigate winter risks. There are multiple things truck drivers can do to promote their own safety before even setting out on the road. Here are a few tips from CloudTrucks on how to prepare this winter:
Trump’s Pick for EPA Chief Set to ‘Roll Back Regulations’
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday picked former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency under his coming administration. In a statement posted to X, the former Twitter platform, Zeldin called it an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. “Looking forward to getting straight to work as part of President Trump’s Cabinet to unleash U.S. energy dominance, make America the AI capital of the world, bring American auto jobs back home, and so much more,” he posted Tuesday morning.
3 Ways a Republican Sweep Could Change the Trucking Industry
Republican wins in the executive and legislative branches will have widespread repercussions for years. For trucking, these likely include weaker environmental regulations through Trump, lower taxes through Congress, and an abandonment of speed limiter mandates through both.
What Would a Fed Rate Cut Mean for Trucking?
ACT Research’s Jim Meil shares expert insights into the trucking economy and details what a Fed rate cut could mean for carriers. In this video with FleetOwner, he compares the current freight recession to past swings and advisesfleets on what to watch over the coming months.
Public-Private Partnerships Propel Hydrogen Infrastructure
With help from the U.S. Department of Energy, the hydrogen industry and truck makers are working to develop a hydrogen refueling infrastructure that can support cost-effective, environmentally viable fleet operations. A major part of the effort is a DOE program called Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, created through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Trump Taps Former Congressman Sean Duffy for DOT Chief
President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy as the head of his Department of Transportation. The trucking industry quickly endorsed the choice. American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear praised Duffy’s understanding of transportation issues, noting his support of “pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain.”
Gene England, 105, Leaves Behind Long Trucking Legacy of Family and Safety
Gene England, Chairman Emeritus of Salt Lake City-based C.R. England (CCJ Top 250, No. 32) has passed away at the age of 105, the company announced. An icon of the transportation industry, “he was one of the original truckers, driving millions of miles throughout his life while leading the company with his brother, sons, and grandchildren,” the company noted in announcing Gene’s passing. “Despite his many responsibilities in the office, Gene had a passion to get behind the wheel and get the work done as a professional driver.” Gene England also earned a Bronze Star, serving in Okinawa during World War II.
Three ELDs Removed From FMCSA’s Registered Devices List
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Monday removed three electronic logging devices from its list of registered devices. As a result, drivers are asked to discontinue use of the revoked devices within the next 60 days. Keep Tracking ELD, Rollingtrans ELD Accurate One, Rollingtrans RT ELD Plus — Accurate Plus.
Will Trump’s Tariff Policies Boost Domestic Freight?
While the Trump administration’s plans remain unclear, the anticipation of higher tariffs may lead importers to pull forward shipments. Some analysts note that the proposed tariffs could lead to a higher demand for domestic freight services since goods made in the U.S. would need to be transported across the country.
CVSA Blitz Discovers Violations on 14% of Trucks Hauling Hazmat, Dangerous Goods
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspectors discovered violations on 14% of vehicles transporting hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) in Canada and the U.S. over five days this summer. Inspectors conducted 3,929 inspections of commercial motor vehicles June 10-14 as part of the CVSA’s unannounced HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative, according to a release.
