Long-time OTA employee Jackie Dobrowolski leaving the association

Getting insight into the regulatory process: Part 1

As the confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet progress this week (with the one for Elaine Chao, the incoming Secretary of Transportation, perhaps the most noteworthy for trucking) many in the freight industry may very well be thinking to themselves, “how will these appointments impact the rules and regulations governing my business?”

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A Not-So-Gentle Reminder

As is customary, I found some time over the holidays and slipped down to Stewart, Alabama (which is basically just a name on a map – and nothing more), to go hunting one afternoon. I came back with more than I bargained for.

The weather has been horrible since the Fall, so I didn't expect to see anything – and didn't. It was dark when I came out, a little foggy and trying to rain. I got in the truck and started heading home.

Now, it used to be that when you went hunting, you were pretty much disconnected from the wider world out there. That's not the case anymore. But since chattering away on the phone is not conducive to seeing game while you're in a blind, I did have to catch up on a couple of phone calls. I opened a can of soda, took a sip and tucked it in between my legs, fished my cellphone out and called my dad back.

I pulled onto the narrow little country road that runs up to the main highway. I grew up running these backroads. So I tend to drive too fast on them. And this night was no exception. And it had been raining.

The details of the conservation aren't important – although I will say that it involved family-related holiday stuff and I was having to explain to him for the umpteenth time that I, you know, actually have a life.

So, we were having a delightful time chatting when a pair of headlights crested the hill in front of me. I had my high beams on, so, instinctively, I took my hand off the steering wheel to flip the dimmer stalk. At the same instant, I realized the oncoming car was over in my lane – Probably because this idiot is ...Read the rest of this story

Omnitracs Releases Virtual Load View App

Omnitracs has added a mobile application to its Virtual Load View solution, providing access to real-time load tracking data.

The mobile app allows brokers and shippers to use Virtual Load View in cases where an Omnitracs unit is not available. Virtual Load View helps brokers, shippers, and carriers track loads through their own back office systems. It can replace manual tracking, identify problem loads, and reduce overhead for fleets.

“Traditionally, brokers have not had direct access to their carriers' telematics, which forced them to rely on costly call centers to plan loads, track the position of trucks, contact drivers and act on problem loads,” said Jeff Champa, vice president of product management at Omnitracs. “Companies that use Omnitracs' Virtual Load View can reduce the required resources for real-time load tracking and realize significant ROI by replacing manual tracking of loads with Omnitracs' VLV solution.”

Brokers and shippers that track loads through Virtual Load View have the data sent to their back office system through integration. Position data about the load is shared from the Omnitracs Intelligent Vehicle Gateway or Mobile Computing Platform Unit or, if no Omnitracs unit is available, with the mobile app.

For fleets looking to find out more, Omnitracs is hosting a webinar on Jan. 18.

Related: Omnitracs' New Virtual Load View Application Provides Enhanced Visibility into Supply Chain

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Full Width Tow Guard Protects Trailers From Debris

Luverne Truck Equipment's Textured Rubber Tow Guard is a mud flap that offers full protection for a trailer from road debris while it is being towed.

The Textured Rubber Tow Guard attaches to a trailer hitch and provides a reliable barrier between the tow vehicle and the trailer. It acts like a set of heavy-duty mud flaps, serving as a full-width wall at the rear of the vehicle.

It is constructed of powder-coated steel and heavy duty rubber and comes fully factory assembled and ready for installation. It can be installed or removed as needed using a trailer hitch and ball mount shank.

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Huayi Tire names Chore to manager role

Honda Prepping Hybrid Pickup Truck

Photo of Clarity Fuel Cell courtesy of Honda.

The vehicles are part of the Honda Electrification Initiative to expand the company's list of electrified vehicles. The new hybrid will utilize Honda's two-motor hybrid system, which is currently deployed in the Accord Hybrid that's achieved a rating of 49 mpg in city driving from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Half of the all-new models Honda will launch in the U.S. in the coming two years will be electrified vehicles," said Takahiro Hachigo, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "In the long term, electrified vehicles are key to the future of carbon-free mobility."

Honda has set a global target for two-thirds of its sales to come from electrified models by 2030 and hopes to halve its carbon-dioxide emissions by 2050.

In December, Honda launched the zero-emissions vehicle Clarity Fuel Cell as the first part of its Clarity series.

Related: Honda Adds Clarity PHEV, EV

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