Pilot Flying J to add new maintenance services

Hot off the heels of investing $40 million into its network of 650-plus facilities this year – opening 17 new locations in 2016, with 15 in the U.S. and two in Canada, while adding some 1,300 new parking spaces – truck stop chain Pilot Flying J (PFJ) is planning to spend some $85 million in 2017 on a range of endeavors, which includes the addition of a roadside service fleet and construction of some 20 tire and light maintenance shops.

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Fix in place to keep 34-hour restart as is for now, pending bill passage

FMCSA opts for proficiency-based driver training requirement

Spot Load Availability Soars, Rates Inch Higher Over Past Week

The number of available loads on the spot truckload freight market surged last week compared to the previous week as expected, following the Thanksgiving holiday, while rates moved to their best levels out of the last four weeks, according to DAT Solutions.

Less expected was the unseasonably high number of loads posted to the DAT network of load boards during the week ending Dec. 3, a 64% jump in the number of available loads compared to a 13% increase in the number of posted trucks.

The spot van load-to-truck ratio is the highest since June 2014 while the refrigerated ratio is at its highest since March 2015, according to DAT. The van load-to-truck ratio skyrocketed 61% to 4.7 loads per truck. Impressive, but lesser gains were seen by reefers and flatbeds, increasing 36% and 27% respectively, with the reefer ratio at 8.2 to 1 and flatbeds at 18.8 to 1.

With demand on the upswing, rates rose across all three equipment types with vans leading the way with an 8 cents increase for an average of $1.74 per mile. Reefers increased 1 cent to an average of $1.96 per mile while flatbeds gained 2 cents for an average of $1.91 per mile.

All rates include fuel surcharges. The average price of on-highway diesel gained 2.4% compared to the previous week at $2.48 per gallon.

The number of van load posts soared 80% and truck posts increased 11% week-over-week. Spot van rates stayed strong in key regional markets:

Reefer load posts were up 49% last week and truck posts increased 9%. With holiday produce on the move, the national average rate for November was 6 cents ...Read the rest of this story

Fix for HOS Glitch in the Works

Image: Haldex

Special legislation, in the form of a Continuing Resolution, introduced in Congress in hopes of averting a year-end government shutdown contains language that would permanently fix the glitch in previous legislation that threatened the use of a 34-hour restart as part of the hours-of-service rule for truck drivers.

The specific provision within the Continuing Resolution (H.R. 2028) requires that DOT “follow the existing 34-hour restart Hours of Service rule for truck drivers to ensure continuity in federal rest regulations, should the report on the rule (mandated in prior Acts) not meet the criteria set by Congress.”

The problem stemmed from a policy rider attached to a bill last year that was so poorly written it inadvertently added requirements to a Department of Transportation study on the effectiveness of the restart provisions. That study had been mandated earlier by Congress. The problematic legislation excised language on which HOS rule would apply if the goals to be weighed by the study were not met.

Because of the legislative glitch, if the DOT study— which is still underway-- finds that some restrictions on the restart imposed by DOT in 2013 do not provide specific health and safety benefits to drivers, the entire restart, not just the restrictions, could be eliminated. Those restrictions were suspended while the DOT performs the study.

Earlier this year, trucking advocates had pushed for Congress to simply restore the 2005 restart rules, which allow unlimited use of the restart provision and do not require two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods in any restart, as was called for in the 2011 rule.

The American Trucking Associations welcomed word of the new measure. “ATA thanks Congress for including what should be a permanent fix to the hours-of-service restart in this Continuing Resolution, and we look forward to its final passage into law ...Read the rest of this story

Tool Designed to Remove Tie Rods and Ball Joints

OTC's universal heavy-duty puller removes a wide range of tie rods and ball joints from a variety of vehicles including trucks and commercial vehicles.

The 7503HD has a 10-ton pulling capacity, twice the force applied by the company's original 7503. The Jaws spread and reach have been increased to three and four inches for a wider variety of applications and larger vehicles.

A heavier duty forcing screw is used with interchangeable tips including cone, flat and cup for multiple applications. The tool will also remove pitman arms and can be used in many pulling situations that require a 2 jaw puller on other vehicles types and machinery.

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HDT Opens Nominations for 2017 Truck Fleet Innovators

Heavy Duty Trucking magazine is looking for the trucking industry's most innovative leaders.

We want to find the fleet executives who are leading with innovative ideas and solutions to problems like driver retention, fuel economy, sustainability, equipment specs, maintenance, and are pushing the envelope with technology.

Of the nominations we receive, three to five leaders will be honored as our 2017 HDT Truck Fleet Innovators and will be featured and profiled in the April 2017 issue. They will also be featured on a panel discussion at the Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange to be held on May 9, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nominations can be submitted by fleets, suppliers, dealers and associations as well as by HDT editors. The winners will be determined by HDT's editorial staff.

The nomination deadline is January 15, 2017 — so get them in soon and get your chance to be recognized or to recognize someone you know for innovative thinking in this challenging industry.

To nominate yourself or someone you know, click here.

Related: The 2016 Truck Fleet Innovators

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