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J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Participates in Wreaths Across America for Third Consecutive Year

Parking Searches Can Cost Drivers $4,600 Annually

Truck parking availability is a top concern of the trucking industry and ATRI highlighted the anxiety that truckers feel through its Truck Parking Diary research findings.

The truck parking diary collected detailed data from commercial truck drivers who agreed to provide documentation of their challenges in looking for safe, available truck parking. Over the course of 14 days, these truckers recorded their parking experiences and issues, representing over 4,700 parking stops.

By breaking down these instances over the course of two weeks, ATRI found that several trends were common to many of the participants in the study.

Weekends and mid-day were often the easiest times to find available parking, according to the study. The most difficult times were during the week after 7 p.m., when most of the available parking had already been taken up. Parking stayed full and difficult to find until 5 a.m. when truckers begin their next driving period.

There were interesting exceptions to this, including a higher instance of non-commercial vehicles taking up commercial vehicle parking spaces on the weekends, adding to the difficulties even during non-peak hours. ATRI concluded that more flexible shipper/receiver appointment times would allow drivers to shift when they operate to less busy times so they could take advantage of off-peak parking times.

Drivers typically dedicated an average of 56 minutes of available drive time to parking, rather than risking not being able to find parking down the road. Since time is money for drivers, the unused drive time effectively reduced a driver's productivity by 9,300 minutes annually, equal to a lost wage of $4,600.

For 10-hour required hours of service breaks, drivers tended to devote more time to finding parking to ensure that basic amenities were available. Factors drivers considered when searching for parking were practical with proximity to a route being the number one concern, followed ...Read the rest of this story

Ontario tow operators prepare for CVOR system

Trucking Industry Transports Wreaths Across America

Photo via Wreaths Across America

Several companies, associations, and fleets in the trucking industry are once again participating in the Wreaths Across America cause, honoring veterans who have died by placing a wreath on their graves.

Every year, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and at more than 1,100 other locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. This year, the wreath laying ceremony will take place on Dec. 17 and, as in past years, the trucking industry has pledged its support to the holiday cause.

Efforts like the Truckload Carriers Association's Truckload of Respect, which organizes carriers to deliver wreaths to veteran's cemeteries nationwide, are pivotal to the cause of honoring the sacrifices of veterans everywhere during the holiday season.

The American Trucking Associations participated in the wreath laying activities, helping to deliver the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. ATA's Share the Road Highway Safety Program joined a convoy of trucks to deliver the wreaths from Maine to Arlington, Va.

Driving the program's Mack Pinnacle, truck drivers Ralph Garcia and Nate McCarty also participated in engaging education sessions for students and communities to learn about the trucking industry's importance and the need to honor the nation's military veterans.

“As a veteran and as a truck driver, I feel tremendous pride knowing that the load I'm carrying will be used to honor and show gratitude to such a deserving group of Americans” said McCarty, a driver for ABF Freight. “In my past experiences as part of this convoy, I've met Gold Star Mothers and heard moving stories of heroism, and I look forward to sharing this journey with my friends in the trucking community.”

A. Duie Pyle is participating this year by transporting wreaths to the cemetery in Oxford, Penn. Three of Pyle's drivers volunteered to participate in the ...Read the rest of this story

Will others follow Toronto with tolls?

Commentary: What Does a Trump Win Say About Us?

Deborah Lockridge

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States came as a surprise to many. In the December issue of the magazine, we try to bring you insight into what the Trump administration may mean for trucking and for the economy. But in this column, I want to talk about a couple of things that became evident surrounding the campaign that concern me. And I believe they should concern you, too.

The first is that many people apparently voted based on false, misleading, or biased information. Websites on both the left and the right of the political spectrum presented information that was biased, taken out of context, or outright fake. Fake news abounded, especially on Facebook.

As a journalist, and as a citizen, this scares me, as do Donald Trump's attacks on newspapers and other outlets trying to report fairly and honestly. Democracy depends on an informed electorate.

At HDT, we try to bring you information and insight that will help you run your business more successfully. We don't rely on a single source to do that, and neither should you. We talk to suppliers. We talk to associations. We talk to fleets. We talk to consultants. We talk to researchers. We read other publications, both inside and out of trucking. We report first-person observations. All in an effort to help you be informed and make better decisions.

I encourage you, whether you're making decisions about your business or presidents or anything else in your life, to do the same. To do your own research. To rely on more than what pops up in your Facebook feed or on Twitter or your favorite TV or radio news/talk channel. To be skeptical and be your own fact-checker. To listen to the opinions of people whose viewpoints differ from your own.

Which ...Read the rest of this story