Mar 22, 2019 • Carriers

Industry Update March 22, 2019

Industry Update March 22, 2019

Trucking Industry Update March 22, 2019

By Jeremy Feucht

Did you Know?

March 22, 1933, President Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue act, which basically killed Prohibition. This started the shipment of alcohol again in earnest and culminated in the signing of the 21^st Amendment in December of 1933, officially ending Prohibition.

Trucking tip of the Week

Getting loads to the final destination on time is key to getting paid the full rate. During the Spring, especially this Spring, wind has been a major factor. Trucks, being top heavy, are easily tipped over. Pay attention to wind speeds in the area you are going through, in particularly through the Plains. Being late is better than not getting there at all.

Declarations of Emergency

This section has been a constant for the last several weeks. This week is no different. Nebraska is having massive flooding issues and are in desperate need of water, fuel and many other items. Make sure you are planning accordingly if your route takes you through Nebraska.

Toll Road Fight

The ATA sued the state of Rhode Island on their implementation of toll roads. The suit was initially brought up in July of 2018 but is just now being ruled on. Unfortunately, the suit has been dismissed but not due to the legality of the law. The presiding judge felt that the suit should be brought up in state court first. The ATA has declared that they will continue the fight.

Legislation

If you drive in the agriculture business, a new piece of legislation has been introduced that you need to keep an eye out on. HR 1673, The Agricultural Trucking Relief Act, has been introduced by Representative Austin Scott (R-GA),is set to further clarify what is classified as an agricultural commodity. While the full bill has yet to be released, you will be able to read the bill in its entirety here when its released.

TagsATA trucking Declaration of Emergency Legislation weather Wind Nebraska beer wine Toll Roads Rhode Island

Truck Sanitation Tips <h2></h2> During the last few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to have an effect on everyone in the world. While truckers continue to deliver the vital needs of the country, there is continued risk in accumulating and spreading the virus in doing so. There is a lot that we can do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since truck drivers spend more time inside their trucks, it is important to make sure that it is a clean environment for you and for anyone who rides in it. In this article, we have put together a list of tips on how to clean and disinfect your truck. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst2.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst2-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5233" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>1. Choosing Your Cleaning Materials</strong></h3> The first step to cleaning and disinfecting your truck is to choose the right cleaning agents and materials you will use. Isopropyl alcohol is a proven disinfectant, and is also safe to use on most truck interior surfaces. In fact, it is used in many production plants to put a final touch on interior components before they are shipped out. Isopropyl alcohol will remove many stains, smudges and residues, as well as kill bacteria and viruses. However, that stain removing quality can also cause problems with leather. <h2></h2> For leather components such as steering wheels, seating, and trim, a combination of soap and water is a safe and sufficient way to clean them. Avoid hard scrubbing when cleaning your leather interior, and avoid excess suds and water. Hand washing has been recommended as a primary way to protect oneself against infection by COVID-19, this holds true for washing your leather interior as well. <h2></h2> Another cleaning agent is chlorine dioxide (ClO2). It is a common disinfectant and odor eliminator, already prevalent in many shops. It is available in the form of tablets, and depending on the amount of water added, can be used in a vapor or liquid form. <h2></h2> It is recommended to use microfiber towels as cleaning material as it lessens the damage on any surface. Wash the towels thoroughly after each cleaning session. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst3.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst3-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5234" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>2. Cleaning & Disinfecting Truck Interiors</strong></h3> While truck interiors are built to be tough, hard scrubbing or using a rough cloth can cause scratches or even discoloration. A wipe with alcohol on hard surfaces and gentle circular cleaning on upholstery are the best bets for both cleaning and maintaining your truck interior. <h2></h2> It is also very important not to use too much water on your seats. If cloth upholstery soaks through with water, it can get into the cushion beneath. This can cause the growth of mold and that musty smell you will recognize if you've left your windows open in the rain. <h2></h2> If washing the seats of your truck, it is best to wet a cloth or sponge with soap and water and wipe the seats. You do not want to leave excess soap or water, as it can take a long time to dry. Isopropyl alcohol can safely be used on non-leather seats. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst4.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst4-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5235" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>3. Cleaning & Disinfecting Truck Exteriors</strong></h3> Truck exteriors should not be left behind. Wash you trucks regularly at truckstops. Pay attention to the parts which have frequent contact with your hands and shoes such as step boards and exterior door handles. You may clean these areas with soap. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst5.jpeg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/tst5-300x156.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="156" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5236" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>4. Keeping Clean While on the Road</strong></h3> While you're out, you're exposed to germs and viruses that can follow you back into your truck. If you don't have enough time to do a thorough truck clean, keep in mind of the common contact points such as door handles and controls, keys or start button, steering wheel, gear shift, seats, CB radio, all buttons and knobs on your dash, sun visor, anything touchscreen, the console and cup holders. <h2></h2> You can use disinfectant wipes on most surfaces. Wipe your mobile phones while you're at it too. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Jul 29, 2020 • Carriers

Trucking Industry Update February 22, 2019 <h3>Trucking Industry Update February 22, 2019</h3> <h4>By Jeremy Feucht</h4> <h2><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h2> We all know that trucking carries roughly 73% of all goods shipped in the US, but did you know that 94% of all hazardous material moved in the US is shipped via truck? <h2><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h2> Trip planning is essential. If it is a lane you have never driven before, planning becomes all that more imperative. When you leave could mean the difference between hitting traffic in a big city or not. Many areas have low bridges that semis cannot fit under. You need to know how to get around those. Knowing the best places to fill up with fuel and where scales are so you are filling up after leaving a scale. Filling up after leaving a scale can help you stay weight compliant yet have a full tank of fuel. Plenty of things to think about when planning your trip. <h2><strong><u>Driver’s Pay</u></strong></h2> There are signs that companies may be changing the way they pay their drivers. For the Owner-Operator, that could be a good sign. As companies increase the pay for their drivers in hopes of stabilizing retention rates, fewer and fewer drivers will attempt the owner-operator method. This means more loads on the spot market for them to find. <a href="https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/labor/new-truck-driver-pay-model-aimed-capacity-retention_20190220.html">Companies are looking into salaries</a>, amongst other ways to pay their drivers. Wages will be dependent upon their track record and in some cases tenure within the company. <h2><strong><u>Technology in Trucking</u></strong></h2> Companies are doing many different things to ensure the quality of the driver they are putting behind the wheel. Instead of waiting on the government to figure out what should be the minimum amount of training needed before driving, <a href="https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/technology/businessinsider/article/America-s-fifth-largest-trucking-company-has-a-13630774.php">Xpress, the fifth largest carrier company in the US</a>, sought out advice from its own drivers. Moving away from the classroom type setting, Xpress is creating a technology-based, self-paced learning regiment. On top of that, they have created a virtual reality simulator that their prospective drivers must pass long before getting behind the wheel of an actual truck. Could this be the wave of the future? <h2><strong><u>Toll Roads</u></strong></h2> Much like Virginia did a few weeks back, Connecticut is moving away from an idea of placing a heavy burden on truckers moving through their state. The governor, Ned Lamont, had sought to <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/governor-flip-flops-away-from-truck-only-toll-promise/">create Truck only toll roads in the state of Connecticut</a>. Due to legal issues, he has backed off that idea. Instead, he is looking at creating toll roads across the entire state for all vehicles. The chances of this happening are slim because people, while naïve to the plight of the trucker and they tend not to worry about things that indirectly affect them, will not be in support of something that adds a more direct burden on themselves.

Feb 22, 2019 • Carriers

Trucking Industry Update February 15, 2019 <h4>Trucking Industry Update February 15, 2019</h4> <h6>By Jeremy Feucht</h6> <h1></h1> <h1><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h1> The regulation of the transportation industry, including today’s semis, began in earnest this week in history. On February 10, 1966, Ralph Nader testified before Congress regarding a book he had published called “Unsafe at Any Speed.” His testimony initiated the move towards an emphasis on safety as opposed to power and speed. <h1><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h1> With all the winter weather still occurring across the US, it is important to make sure you are keeping your headlights clear of dirt. Road dirt and other debris mixed with wet conditions can make your headlights less effective. Remember to wipe them off during your pre- and post-trip inspections. <h1><strong><u>Trucker’s Fees</u></strong></h1> One week after news broke that the US House of Representatives is considering a move towards a weight mileage tax on truckers, the US Senate has announced a similar initiative. While discussions are ongoing, there is also talk about increased fuel taxes in the interim while the weight/mileage change in implemented. During the hearing that occurred on February 13, the number thrown around was an increase of nearly $.20 per gallon. If you would like to listen to the hearing, you can access it <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=A73B1CC1-D6D6-4B18-A419-9F33FB5F69BA">here</a> (fast forward to the 2:12:00 mark). <h1><strong><u>Autonomous Technology</u></strong></h1> TuSimple, a company attempting to lead the way in autonomous trucking, has raised nearly $100 million dollars in a funding campaign. With its latest round of funding, TuSimple is now pushing a <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/autonomous-trucking-leader-tusimple-closes-110000387.html">$1 billion dollar valuation</a>. This ultimately means that TuSimple is making gains in their push towards a fully autonomous truck. However, this technology has yet to be fully approved for use in the US. While some states have allowed testing, many others have not. This will be an interesting topic to watch moving forward. <h1><strong><u>Declarations of Emergency</u></strong></h1> There are at least 32 states under declarations of emergency due to winter conditions in the US. Several are set to expire by the end of the week. Please check the <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations">FMCSA’s Declaration of Emergency page</a> to ensure you are not caught in a bad situation. If you are operating under the HOS exemption granted by such declaration, make sure the declaration is still in effect, so you do not receive a citation for hours violations.

Feb 15, 2019 • Carriers