Truckers Gear up for National Truck Driving Championships

The 2016 National Truck Driving Championships winner, Charles White Photo: ATA

American Trucking Associations is set to welcome more than 420 of the trucking industry's top truck drivers to Orlando, Fla., for the 80th annual National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships.

The National Truck Driving Championships opens August 9 with competitors taking a walk through of the driving course and registering for the different events.

Participants in different vehicle classes will partake in three phases of competition: a written examination testing background knowledge of rules and procedures pertinent to the trucking industry, a vehicle inspection to test competitors' ability to detect vehicle malfunctions, and a driving skills test where competitors are graded on their ability to operate a truck through a series of obstacles.

“Safety and precision will be the focus of these impressive professional truck drivers during this week in Orlando as they compete for honors at the National Truck Driving Championships,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “Truck drivers work their entire careers and practice for moments like this to showcase their safety skills and compete among friends.”

Over four days, 428 competitors from all 50 states, including 35 first-time participants, representing 97 companies will compete for honors in one of eight different classes for the distinction of being crowned National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion.

The competition concludes on Aug. 12 with the announcement of the National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion, along with the winners of each vehicle class and awards for the top performing state delegation, rookie of the year, and other recognitions.

“These championships are a great spectacle and I couldn't be more proud to interact with drivers from all corners of the country,” said Kevin Burch ATA Chairman, president of Jet Express. “The drivers take this event very seriously and practice and study ...Read the rest of this story

Trucking Freight Growth up Nearly 38% Since End of Great Recession

Freight TSI modal data, January 2000-December 2016. Graphic: U.S. DOT

Newly released U.S. Transportation Department figures show all but one of the major freight modes have grown since the end of the Great Recession, with trucking posting the second-highest increase.

Trucking's growth of 37.8% was bested only by rail intermodal, which rose 50.6% from June 2009 through December 2016, as measured by the department's freight Transportation Service Index. The index measures month-to-month changes in for-hire freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index.

The seasonally adjusted index showed trucking's growth was followed by the modes of pipeline at 29.6%, water­borne at 23.2%, and air freight at 21.7%. During this period the overall freight TSI rose 29.7%.

The sole exception was rail carloads, which declined 0.8%. The drop in rail carload shipments took place at the same time as a decline in coal shipments. Total coal shipped by major railroads peaked in 2008 at 878.6 million tons before declining to 787.6 million tons in 2009, and continued to fall to 638.1 million tons in 2015.

All freight transportation modes declined during the recession, and the freight TSI fell 16.3% from January 2008 to its low point in April 2009. The biggest decline was in the air freight index, 26.5%, followed by rail carloads, 23%; waterborne, 18.6%; rail intermodal, 18.1%; trucking, 14.5%; and pipeline, 4.7%.

According to the department, the freight TSI tends to turn in advance of slowdowns and accelerations in economic growth. The most recent data show two economic accelerations following the recession; the first from June 2009 to December 2012 and the second from July 2013 to December 2014. The freight TSI led both accelerations.

While the newly identified turns in the freight TSI continue to lead growth cycles, the relationship between the freight TSI and growth cycles ...Read the rest of this story

VW CEO: Tesla Among Our Top Competitors

In an interview with VW's Inside magazine, CEO Herbert Diess said Tesla is the company's main competitor today. Photo: Volkswagen

In a sign of changing times, Volkswagen's CEO has identified his company's chief competitor today – and it's not who you think.

VW chief executive Herbert Diess, in an interview published on the automaker's homepage, said that in the “old world,” the competition was Toyota, Hyundai and French OEMs. In today's new world, however, he has his eyes firmly fixed on Tesla.

And while he was talking about cars, his points about staying on top of "disruptive" technologies and emerging competitors are revelant to trucks as well. Of course, VW also makes commercial trucks – and has a stake in Navistar International in the U.S.

At first glance, Diess' concerns seem unfounded: Volkswagen sold over 5 million vehicles last year, while Tesla only sold 83,922. But, Diess said, "Tesla belongs among the competitors which has abilities that we currently do not have. Around half of Tesla's engineers are software experts, while at VW's core brand it is a much lower proportion," Diess said. "Tesla has good electric motors, a fast charging network, autonomous driving technology, internet connectivity, and a new approach toward vehicle distribution.”

The lesson, Diess said, is that VW needs to improve its operations by measuring up against Tesla with the goal of catching up to, and overtaking, the electric vehicle manufacturer.

Diess also noted the emerging importance of connected vehicles in the interview, noting that VW's new Modular Electrification Toolkit is currently undergoing development across the company's entire brand offerings. “Our electric vehicles of the future will, just like smartphones, always be online and updatable,” Diess said. “Making a success of this new vehicle architecture is a huge endeavor, one that can secure our future in the new automotive world.”

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ISE Adds Electronic Logging Solution to FMCSA ELD List

Photo: ISE

ISE announced that its eFleetSuite electronic logging device solution was self-certified and listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's ELD online registry.

With the FMCSA's mandated deadline of Dec. 18, 2017, for fleets to switch to electronic logs, ISE said it has invested time in ensuring that the eFleetSuite would meet required specifications for the rule. ISE also says its solution is backward compatible for those who have mixed ELD and Automatic On-Board Recording Device fleets.

The eFleetSuite solution is fully featured compliance application designed for quick adoption by fleets and telematics service providers. It consists of a mobile interface, a web interface, and an adaptable communications channel. ISE offers it as an all-in-one Android device that has been ruggedized for commercial use and is designed for easy installation.

The ISE Fleet Services' ELD plugs directly into the vehicle's diagnostic port. The mobile interface automatically records driving status, calculates available driving time, and notifies the driver of compliance status. Comprehensive back-office reporting allows fleet personnel to make decisions to avoid hours of service violations and optimize resources. The web interface provides the capability to view, edit, and print driver logs. The communications channel supports cellular networks.

Related: ELD Certification: What Does it Really Mean?

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Food Transporters Group Launches Food Safety Compliance Tool

Photo via ATA

Carriers can now use an online self-assessment tool designed to help evaluate their processes and procedures for complying with the Food Safety Modernization Act. It was developed by American Trucking Associations' Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference, along with the American Frozen Food Institute.

The tool generates a detailed readiness report and indicates where action may be needed by food shippers, carriers, receivers, and loaders in order to stay compliant with FSMA.

"The changing regulatory environment can be a challenge for motor carriers," said Jon Samson, AFTC executive director. "This tool can help fleets ensure they are complying with these rules related to the transportation of food."

Once the self-assessment is completed, a listing of food safety, transportation, and logistics related service providers is generated, offering various entities in the food supply chain with solutions in each of these operational areas.

The tool is available for purchase for $199 for ATA members and $495 for non-members.

Related: Is Your Fleet Ready for the New Food Transport Rules?

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FMCSA Moving toward Dropping Diabetic Exemption Requirement

Image: FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration is seeking public comment on whether it should eliminate the requirement that drivers with insulin-treated diabetes seek a formal exemption from the agency to be allowed to operate a commercial vehicle.

Specifically, FMCSA stated in the Federal Register for July 27 that it invites comment on a revision to its medical qualification requirements, covered by OMB Control Number 2126-0006), which is due to expire on August 31, 2018.

The revision reflects the agency's “anticipation of a final rule to revise its regulations to eliminate the blanket prohibition against insulin-dependent diabetic individuals' operation of commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

That rule would be based on a 2015 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and subsequent recommendations provided by FMCSA's Medical Review Board after an analysis of the comments received in response to the NPRM.

“Based on the MRB's analysis of the comments and their recommendations,” the agency said it is “considering replacing the previously proposed written notification from the treating clinician (TC) with a form titled Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form to be completed by the TC and provided to the certified medical examiner (certified ME). This form could be required for CMV drivers treated with insulin for diabetes who wish to drive in interstate commerce.”

FMCSA is open to comment on both the proposed IC revision and the new assessment form that it is being considered.

Click here to read the Federal Register notice and to learn how to provide comments to the agency on the proposed revision and form.

Related: FMCSA Seeks Comment on Report Filed for Proposed Diabetes Rule

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Bendix wants more discussion of automated vehicle ‘ecosystem’

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