Hundreds of Chassis Sent to Houston as Replacements

Photo: Port Houston

Chassis provider CIMC Intermodal Equipment is sending up to 600 40-foot gooseneck chassis to the Houston area this week as replacements for equipment damaged by Hurricane Harvey flooding.

The Port of Houston opened last Friday, but current chassis being operated in the Houston area to unload shipping containers could be out of service for weeks due to flood damage to electrical, brake, wheel-end and other components. Replacement parts to fix these chassis will likely be delayed for some time, as parts availability is expected to be curtailed.

CIMC IE has been receiving requests from intermodal fleets to help replace damaged chassis since Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast last week, according to the company. The chassis being sent to Houston will be available to these operators at standard pricing, according to the company.

Port Houston late last week announced it was largely undamaged by Hurricane Harvey and would reopen Sept. 1. Strong currents in the area last week placed restrictions on vessel movements into the port; however, the Port Commission felt that it was important to restart operations as soon as possible.

Until floods completely recede, the Houston area will likely need some time to return to normal, and the storm's effects on transportation have been far-reaching.

“Employees are on site, facilities are back online, and we are ready to operate,” added Roger Guenther, Port Houston executive director. “We are restarting this economic engine again to power the region, state, and nation.”

Meanwhile, the effects of Harvey continue to be wide-reaching and the Southeast U.S. is bracing for potentially another record-setting storm.

In the latest pricing numbers from the Energy Department, average diesel fuel prices in the U.S. jumped over 15 cents last week to nearly $2.76 per gallon, its highest average price since July 2015. While the price increases were highest in ...Read the rest of this story

What You Need to Know About ELD Mandate Enforcement

Is that an AOBRD or an ELD? Photo: Roehl Transport

Whether you've got your electronic logging devices in the trucks already, on order, or you're still researching your options, there are many questions out there regarding just what's going to happen at the roadside when the ELD mandate goes into effect Dec. 18.

So we talked to Joe DeLorenzo, director of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Office of Enforcement and Compliance, about some of the most important aspects of enforcement that fleets and drivers need to know.

First of all, he emphasized that the government is ready and able to start enforcing the new rule.

One of the most common misconceptions about the ELD mandate is that the government is not ready to begin enforcement, DeLorenzo said. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and FMCSA together decided recently to announce a phased-in approach in the first six months, where drivers will not be put out of service if they don't have an ELD. However, they could still be cited and fined; each jurisdiction will decide on its own how strict that initial enforcement will be.

The move is “a recognition of the fact that this is a big change,” DeLorenzo said. “We've done this type of enforcement on other major rules to allow everyone some time.”

However, he also cautioned carriers not to take unfair advantage of that approach. “If FMCSA sees we're seeing persistent violations by a major carrier taking advantage, they could be subject to an investigation and penalties.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association recently filed a petition with the FMCSA asking it to delay implementation, contending that “26 states have not yet incorporated an electronic logging regulation into state law and are not authorized to enforce the rule until they do so.”

When ...Read the rest of this story

Daimler Selects Prestolite Starters, Alternators for Certain 2019, 2020 Models

Photo: Prestolite Electric

Prestolite Electric, manufacturer and supplier of starters and alternators, has been awarded standard position by Daimler Trucks North America on several new commercial vehicles launching in multiple markets between late 2019 and early 2020.

DTNA has selected products from Prestolite's IdlePro family of alternators to appear on Freightliner brand right-hand drive trucks bound for Australia and New Zealand along with Freightliner severe-duty and Western Star commercial trucks in North America.

Prestolite's IdlePro and IdlePro Extreme alternators include advanced features like Isolated Ground Technology, which is designed to protect engines from potentially severe electrolytic damage caused by stray voltage.

“Being awarded standard position with Daimler Trucks North America further reinforces Prestolite Electric's position as a global market leader in rotating electrical technology,” said Nick Laenen, vice president, North America, South America, Australia sales and marketing, Prestolite Electric. “The new IdlePro and IdlePro Extreme family of alternators offers enhanced performance capabilities and industry-best output at low engine speeds, and we're excited for the opportunity to make this proven technology available to Daimler's discerning customers.”

Related: Prestolite's Isolated Ground Technology Protects Engines from Stray Voltage

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Report: Countries Should Act Now to Avoid Social Disruption from Autonomous Trucks

Countries should begin working together now to ensure smooth adoption of autonomous truck technologies, says a new report. Photo: Freightliner

Autonomous trucks could reduce the demand for drivers by 50 to 70% in the U.S. and Europe by 2030, says a new report issued by the International Transport Forum on the advantages – and challenges – that emerging self-driving vehicle technology will present in the coming years.

ITF is an intergovernmental think tank with 59 member countries that focuses on global transport policies.

According to the report, trucking companies in the U.S. are Europe are projected to need 6.4 million drivers by 2030-- but autonomous technology could eliminate as many as 4.4 million of those jobs. The report also found that autonomous trucks will help save costs, lower emissions and make roads safer.

However, governments should now consider ways to manage the transition to autonomous trucks to avoid potential social disruption from those job losses, the report stressed.

“We want to ensure an orderly transition,” said José Viegas, ITF secretary-general at a press conference called to release the report. “Within 10 years, driverless trucks could be common” on many public roads, he said, adding that the only doubts are exactly when and how the technology will become commonplace.

The report makes four recommendations to help manage the transition to autonomous road freight:

Anders Kellstrom of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association pointed out that autonomous vehicles are not new, citing recent platooning trials in Europe and the U.S., and noting that the technology is quickly “accelerating and expanding.”

Related: Autonomous Trucks Could Kill Millions of Driving ...Read the rest of this story

Daseke Merges with Arms Transporter R&R Trucking

R&R Trucking transports specialty cargo requiring unique training and security clearances and is a leading specialized transporter of defense and commercial AA&E (arms, ammunitions and explosives) cargo. Photo: R&R Trucking

Daseke has announced a merger with R&R Trucking, a specialized transporter of defense and commercial arms, ammunitions, and explosives cargo – the fourth company addition for Daseke in the past four months.

Daseke is on a stated mission to expand its share of the flatbed and specialized freight market. Since becoming a publicly traded company earlier this year, the company has added on The Schilli Companies, Big Freight Systems, and The Steelman Companies.

R&R Trucking is one of fewer than 20 companies in the U.S. that are allowed to transport sensitive cargo for the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, according to Daseke. It is also one of the few companies approved by DoD to own and operate high-security terminals.

R&R Trucking moves specialty cargo requiring unique training and security clearances. This includes the transport of defense and commercial arms, ammunition, and explosives, radioactive cargo, and hazardous materials through its network of high-security terminals.

“With over 3,800 tractors and over 8,200 flatbed and specialized trailers, Daseke is the largest owner of flatbed and specialized equipment in North America, yet accounts for less than 1% of the highly fragmented $133 billion flatbed and specialized freight market,” said Don Daseke, president and chief executive officer of Daseke.

“We took Daseke public in February of this year to accelerate our vision of building North America's premier flatbed and specialized transportation company," he added. "We continue to attract top-tier companies to join us as we build upon our national scale and further enhance the synergies throughout our unique transportation network.”

Related: Don Daseke on Going Public

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Meritor Aims for Expansion with Fabco Buy

Meritor has acquired the product portfolio and related technologies of Fabco Holdings and its subsidiaries under undisclosed terms.

Fabco's suite of products will expand Meritor's portfolio of complementary products, including transfer cases, specialty gear boxes, auxiliary transmissions and power take off units for medium-, heavy- and extra-heavy vehicles and for on- and off-highway, construction, defense, rail, and other industrial applications. These products are available to both original equipment and aftermarket customers.

In addition to expanding Meritor's global ability to offer complementary products, the acquisitiion will also help the company diversify its customer base and expand into the rail, oil, and gas industries not currently served by Meritor.

"Acquiring this suite of products and technologies provides Meritor with new products and customers in important markets that we expect will contribute to significant growth in our specialty, defense and off-highway business units," said Jay Craig, CEO and president. "This transaction fits well with our plan to pursue strategic growth initiatives while maintaining a balanced approach to capital allocation as part of our M2019 plan."

Related: Meritor Looks to Electrified Future

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Nominations Open for 10th Annual Best Fleets to Drive For Contest

Photo: TCA

The Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge are once again seeking nominations for the 10th annual Best Fleets to Drive For, a list of companies that are honored for focusing on workplace culture and commitment to drivers,

Since 2008, TCA and CarriersEdge have sought to identify and recognize these top tier carriers and exactly what makes them so successful. Their 2018 Best Fleets to Drive For contest and survey is now open for nominations.

“Innovation is a necessity for trucking companies to thrive in this ever-changing industry,” said John Lyboldt, TCA president. “While keeping up with technological innovations is important for staying a step ahead of competitors, innovations in a company's relationship with its drivers are the key ingredients for building a real team.”

For a company to be eligible for the contest, a for-hire fleet must have 10 or more trucks and operate in the U.S. or Canada and a professional truck driver must nominate the company online at BestFleetsToDriveFor.com. TCA membership is not required. The nomination period is open between Sept. 5 and Oct. 31, 2017.

Once a company accepts their driver's nomination, CarriersEdge will contact them and have them complete an electronic questionnaire and telephone interview. Senior management and a random sampling of the company's drivers will be surveyed to learn more about aspects of the company's workplace environment, such as compensation, safety practices, benefits, equipment, training, etc. The answers to the survey reveal the key innovations that help to attract and retain skilled personnel in the trucking industry.

“Building on last year's insights about driver/office staff communication and the importance of making drivers feel like valued team members, we're going to be asking specifically how companies keep drivers integrated with the business,” said Jane Jazrawy, chief executive officer of CarriersEdge. “We're also digging more into maintenance, particularly around new ...Read the rest of this story