Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS) announced an insurance telematics offering that meets the specific fleet insurance needs of commercial lines carriers, combined with full fleet management capabilities.
IMS Commercial Insurance Telematics offerings include:
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...Read the rest of this storyA bill introduced in July by U.S. Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) to prohibit funds from being used to implement or enforce the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate scheduled to go into effect on December 18 failed to pass in the House of Representatives last night.
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...Read the rest of this storyThe House passed legislation on Sept. 6 that gives the Department of Transportation (DOT) the ability to set performance standards for autonomous vehicles under 10,000 lbs.
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...Read the rest of this storyHurricane Irma's likely path will take it along Florida's southern tip. Graphic: National Hurricane Center
">Hurricane Irma's likely path will take it along Florida's southern tip. Graphic: National Hurricane Center
">Hurricane Irma, already one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever develop in the Atlantic, will likely make landfall on the U.S. mainland by the end of the week. In preparation, state and federal agencies are already declaring an emergency on the ground.
Similar to a declaration made for Hurricane Harvey, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily suspended several trucking regulations in the states in and around the expected path of Irma. Carriers and drivers in direct support of relief efforts related to Hurricane Irma are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations. By lifting regulations, FMCSA aims to ease the flow of emergency goods, fuel, and aid to and from the region.
The suspended regulations include those concerned with hours of service, inspection, repair, and maintenance, hazardous materials transportation, driving, parking, and other health and safety standards.
States covered by the Irma temporary suspension currently include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FMCSA has also set up page with all the latest transportation updates related to Hurricane Irma.
The same suspension of regulations was declared for 26 states during Hurricane Harvey and it is still in effect. FMCSA's Hurricane Harvey page is available here.
On Sept. 5, President Trump declared an emergency in the state of Florida, Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida Governor Rick Scott also declared an emergency in the state and ordered the Florida National Guard to report for duty.
Irma is expected to make landfall on the southern tip of Florida. Mandatory evacuations began in Key West and more mandatory evacuations are likely as the storm nears. ...Read the rest of this story
Photo: J.J. Keller
">Photo: J.J. Keller
">Being the less deliberative and thus the more unpredictable chamber of the U.S. Congress, the House of Representatives presents a playing field ripe for Hail Mary Passes. And so it goes that not even four months to go until the much-debated electronic logging device mandate starts to kick in, no less than two legislative measures have been introduced in the House that are intended one way or another to derail the rule.
The quarterback flinging both of these passes is Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX). The first is H.R. 3282, the ELD Extension Act of 2017, which the congressman introduced in July. The bill would delay implementation of the ELD rule for two years. So far, it has attracted 45 co-sponsors in the House.
In early September, Babin tossed his second bomb in the form of an anti-ELD amendment that was offered up for attachment to some unrelated legislation (H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act of 2018).
This measure aims to prevent funding of the ELD mandate altogether. The rider would prohibit funds from being used “to implement or enforce” the ELD rule. It has been cleared by the House Rules Committee for consideration by the full chamber during floor votes, which were scheduled for Sept. 6.
Marking both of these measures as Hail Mary Passes is the reality that every notable trucking stakeholder group except the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association remains solidly in favor of implementing the ELD rule with no further delays.
That means a lot of lobbying will be unleashed for keeping the rule as it is and keeping its initial effective date what it is: Dec. 18 of this year. What's more, no companion legislation to delay or defund the ELD mandate has yet to be introduced – nor is it ...Read the rest of this story
‘Get Home' shown in the ‘For You' load recommendations. Photo: Uber Freight
">‘Get Home' shown in the ‘For You' load recommendations. Photo: Uber Freight
">Uber Freight announced a new feature, called “Take Me Home,” designed to highlight loads that can help drivers return home.
The Uber Freight app, initially launched in May, now will be able to give load recommendations that guide a driver back in the direction of a home, allowing them to return home faster while getting paid for the journey.
Uber says it created the feature after speaking with a driver who said that a feature that helped him find return loads would make his life easier. Uber Freight requires new company recruits to spend time on a ride-along with truck drivers to learn first hand how to improve the app, and this latest feature came out of one of those sessions.
The feature is part of the Uber Freight app's “For You” section, which shows drivers personalized load recommendations and notifications based on location and past loads. The “Take Me Home” feature will be implemented for drivers using the Uber Freight app in the coming weeks.
Related: How Disruptive Will Uber Freight be for Trucking?
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Class 8 truck orders continued to climb steadily in August, while medium-duty truck orders have stagnated a little, according to preliminary numbers from transportation analysts FTR and ACT Research.
Class 8 orders are expected to hit 20,700 units for the month, according to FTR, an increase of 14% from July and 50% better than in the same month a year ago. It is projected to be the best August for Class 8 orders since 2014.
“August orders continue the positive trend in the Class 8 market,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May's 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year. Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4.”
Class 5-7 medium duty truck orders have flattened in the past two months after a strong start to 2017, and are expected to hit 18,800 units in August, according to preliminary numbers from ACT Research.
“Following robust performance through the first half of the year, [North American] Classes 5-7 net orders have moderated the past two months. Preliminary, medium-duty orders rebounded from a soft July,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research. “Despite the relative softness, August's intake was up 10% year over year.”
Tightening capacity in the freight markets this year has led to increased demand for heavy-duty vehicles.
“Freight continues to show some impressive growth,” said Ake. “This has created capacity tightness in some regions, which is expected to spread to more areas as economic growth expands. The capacity crunch will be exacerbated by the ELD mandate, spurring demand for trucks and trailers in 2018.”
Related: Spot Truckload Freight Rates Jump as Harvey Disrupts Supply Chains
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