Survey Shows More Than Half of Small Fleets Not Yet ELD Compliant

Graphs courtesy CarrierLists

With less than six weeks until the Dec. 18 deadline for fleets to install mandatory electronic logging devices, one survey indicates there will be a lot of smaller fleets who are at risk for citations and fines – or who will give up on the industry altogether.

“It looks like the run up to the deadline in six weeks will be quite chaotic,” said Kevin Hill, president and founder of CarrierLists, which publishes a weekly survey of carrier readiness for the ELD mandate.

Its Nov. 3 survey of 1,900 carriers showed only 40% of fleets running five to 100 tractors are compliant already or have started the process of installing ELDs – although its two-week rolling average of 46% shows install rates are accelerating.

In early October, the survey showed only 23% of fleets operating 5 to 100 trucks had or were in the process of installing ELDs.

“Think about it. 30 working days left for 60% of small fleets to take action, or face fines and safety violations until April 1,” Hill said. (Drivers and fleets won't be put out of service for not having ELDs until that date.)

Those who are in a last-minute scramble to meet the deadline may find it difficult to become compliant in the short time remaining.

Eric Witty with PeopleNet recently told HDT in an interview, “it seems … there's going to be a pretty large number of people that aren't going to have product” come December. “With all the new vendors, maybe there's enough supply out, there but it sure seems like there's a lot of people still waiting. If they all wake up on Dec 5 and say, ‘I need something,' it could be an interesting rush to figure out how to get everyone ...Read the rest of this story

For-Hire Freight Level Continues Hitting New Record Highs

Freight Transportation Services Index, September 2012 - September 2017. Graphic: U.S. DOT

A U.S. Transportation Department measure of the amount of freight moved by the nation's for-hire transportation industry reached another all-time monthly high in September, according to newly released figures, rising 0.2% above the previous highest level hit a month earlier.

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) reading of 129.9 in September is also 6.7% higher than compared to the same time a year ago and is the largest year-over-year hike since December 2010.

The August index was revised downward to 129.0 from 130.7 in last month's release. Monthly numbers for January through March and May were revised up slightly.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index and consists of data from trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Significant increases in trucking and pipeline led the September increase in the Freight TSI while other modes declined, according to the department.

The TSI increase took place against a background of mixed results for other indicators. The Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production index rose by 0.3% in September, with increases in all sectors. Also, employment rose, personal income grew and the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing index rose to a level of 60.8, indicating accelerating growth. In contrast, housing starts fell by 4.5%.

The 2.4% increase in Freight TSI in the third quarter was consistent with the pace of growth of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), which was 3% in the third quarter. GDP growth had been 3.1% in second quarter, when Freight TSI also grew. GDP growth was slower in the first quarter of 2017, when Freight TSI declined.

The Freight TSI's new all-time high in September is also 3.5% above the level of 124.9 from July ...Read the rest of this story

Women in Trucking, TranStrategy Partners Offer Professional Development Certification

The Women In Trucking Association and TranStrategy Partners have launched a Professional Development Certification program for association members.

Participants must pass 30 courses on industry knowledge, leadership, and career development. Courses on topics such as time management, conflict resolution, financial planning for truck drivers, leadership courses, harassment, service, highway safety, and managing your career will provide foundational learning, best practices and useful strategies to help members navigate their career pathways and strengthen their personal brand.

“A certification program is not only a way for members to gain knowledge about diversity issues in the trucking industry, it is also a way for them to help their company attract and retain more women in all roles,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of Women in Trucking.

The program is designed to deliver both industry-specific education as well as personal and professional development.

TransStrategy Partners provides coaching and training for freight brokerage firms and others in the transportation industry looking to maximize their business and accelerate their performance.

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Pilot Flying J Fuel Rebate Trial Begins

HDT file photo

The Pilot Flying J Fraud trial has started this week with the prosecution and representatives of the four accused former executives offering opening statements in a Chattanooga, Tennessee, courtroom.

Mark Hazelwood, former executive vice president and president of Pilot Flying J, Scott Wombold, former vice president of national accounts, and two former sales representatives, Karen Mann and Heather Jones, are on trial for a diesel fuel rebate scam. In a case dating back to 2012, the FBI found that Pilot defrauded as many as 5,500 customers of more than $56 million in rebates that were owed but never paid. The company reached settlements with authorities and customers in 2014 for $92 million and $87 million respectively.

In an opening statement, federal prosecutors described the sales department of Pilot Flying J as being "infected" with fraud, according to local news channel ABC 6 Wate.com. The defendants were accused of lying to and cheating customers in order to profit themselves, specifically going after customers that it saw as easier targets.

In September, four former Pilot employees plead guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with the scam, including former Pilot Sales Vice President John Freeman, former Pilot Regional Sales Manager John Spiewak, former Director of Inside Sales Vicki Borden, and former regional sales representative Katy Bibee. Prosecutors said it was likely that the 14 former Pilot employees who have pleaded guilty for their roles in this scandal will be brought in as witnesses.

Attorneys for Hazelwood and Wombold argued that their clients were only guilty by association. Attorneys for Mann and Jones argued that their clients did not intend to commit fraud and were unaware of any conspiracy to scam customers, according to a CBS Cleveland report.

The FBI and IRS raided Pilot Flying J ...Read the rest of this story