Industry Update

A Closer Look at the Trucking Industry in America

Oct 15, 2020 • Community

FMCSA Updated Hours of Service (HOS) Rules [p]The FMCSA has changed some of the rules within the <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-of-service">Hours of Service (HOS) regulations</a> which took effect yesterday, September 29, 2020. [/p] <h2></h2> <blockquote>“FMCSA wants drivers and all CMV stakeholders to share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed changes to hours of service rules that we are putting forward today,” said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez, who spoke with reporters on a conference call Wednesday morning. “We listened directly to the concerns of drivers for rules that are safer and have more flexibility—and we have acted. We encourage everyone to review and comment on this proposal.”</blockquote> [p]FMCSA’s newly proposed HOS rule offers a couple of revisions to the existing HOS rules, which Martinez said are based on extensive public comments shared with the agency since last year. [/p] [p][b]Here are the key changes which are important to note:[/b][/p] <ul> <li>Increase in short-haul radius to 150 air-miles no matter the size of the vehicle</li> <li>Short-haul drive time has been extended from 12 to 14 hours. </li> <li>Extension of the driving window by up to 2 hours for adverse conditions</li> <li>30-minute break can be taken in “On Duty, Not Driving” status</li> <li>30 consecutive minute break must be taken after driving eight hours</li> <li>Split sleeper can now be taken within a minimum of 7 hours in sleeper berth. The remainder of the 10 hours can be taken in “Off Duty” status and must be consecutive in nature. Neither period will count against the 14-hour driving window when utilized properly.</li> </ul> [p]In line with the above, an update to <a href="http://eld.truckerpath.com/">Trucker Path's ELD Pro</a> has also been rolled out. We urge all Trucker Path ELD Pro users to update their application in either <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.truckerpatheld&hl=en">Google Play Store</a> or the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/trucker-path-eld-pro/id1488420043">Apple App Store</a> to take advantage of the new rules. [/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/hos2.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Trucker Path[/b][/p]

Sep 30, 2020 • Carriers

Jun 18, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - June 2, 2020 <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b21.jpg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b21-300x156.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4991" /></a> <h3><strong>DOT to Distribute 2.1 Million Masks to Truckers</strong></h3> The U.S. Department of Transportation will distribute around 2.1 million face masks to truck drivers. This is part of a larger initiative to distribute masks to transportation workers across the country. “Transportation workers are on the frontlines of keeping our transportation systems operational during this public health emergency and their wellbeing and safety is paramount,” said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. DOT announced that the masks will be sent out over the coming weeks through the U.S. Postal Service. The breakdown of masks by transportation sector is as follows: <ul> <li>Mass transit and passenger rail – 4.8 million</li> <li>Aviation – 3.8 million</li> <li>Maritime – 2.4 million</li> <li>Freight rail – 2.2 million</li> <li>Highway and motor carrier – 2.1 million</li> <li>Pipeline systems – 258,000</li> </ul> For detailed distribution locations and current dates of distribution, please visit: <a href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/masks">www.fmcsa.dot.gov/masks</a> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b19.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b19-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4988" /></a> <h3><strong>Volumes Now Up 10% vs Last Year</strong></h3> <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/volumes-fall-week-over-week-but-now-up-10-year-over-year">Outbound tender volumes are benefiting greatly from the reopening of the economy</a> and a release of pent-up consumer demand. Supply dynamics are taking longer to adjust and capacity remains loose. While rates are coming off a depressed base, spot rates have surged to $1.47 per mile and have increased in the vast majority of lanes. <h2></h2> Volumes should continue to be supported by most of the states reopening, continued plugging of the income gap by generous unemployment benefits and stimulus, auto plants reopening, and produce seasons kicking into gear. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b20.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/06/b20-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4989" /></a> <h3><strong>Blinking Lights Cut Tanker-Truck-Crashes By Nearly 34%</strong></h3> As part of their safety efforts, Groendyke Transport installed $150 blinking amber lights to the back of their tanker trucks. They reported a 33.7% drop in rear-end collisions over a 31-month period, according to company officials. In addition, there were zero rear-end collisions at railroad crossing during a test period of one year and seven months. <h2></h2> The Groendyke Transport fleet currently has 900 trailers with the lights after almost three years of testing and now has <a href="https://beta.regulations.gov/document/FMCSA-2018-0223-0036">permission from FMCSA</a> to use them. <h2></h2> The cost of the strobe and installation is about $150. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Jun 02, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - May 19, 2020 <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b1.jpeg" alt="Truck Stops" /> <h3><strong>Truck Stops to Remain Open</strong></h3> As the nation endures the Covid-19 pandemic, <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/truck-stops-remain-open-pandemic-despite-hit-bottom-line">truck stops have been working to ensure that drivers have a helping hand</a>. Some truck stops like Iowa 80 have enforced measures to limit the Covid-19 spread while keeping the showers and restrooms open. Loves installed plexiglass at all its stores, restaurants, and truck registers. Petro has remained open and has packaged their convenience store foods in a way that prioritizes customer safety. <h2></h2> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b2.jpeg" alt="FMCSA" /> <h3><strong>FMCSA HOS Rule Updates</strong></h3> The <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/hours-service-drivers-final-rule">Final Rule</a> features four key changes to existing Hours of Service requirements. <ul> <li>The Agency will increase safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by requiring a break after 8 hours of consecutive driving and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on-duty, not driving status, rather than off-duty status.</li> <li>The Agency will modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: an 8/2 split, or a 7/3 split—with neither period counting against the driver’s 14‑hour driving window.</li> <li>The Agency will modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by two hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.</li> <li>The Agency will change the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b3.jpeg" alt="Jobs" /> <h3><strong>More than 80,000 Jobs Lost Last April</strong></h3> According to the<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm"> Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, 88,300 jobs were lost in the trucking industry, a 6.2% year-over-year decline, as the entire economy continues to suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that around 60% of the jobs mentioned are drivers.

May 19, 2020 • Carriers