The Road to Electrification Runs Through Utilities
Ashley Wagener
Over the past year and a half, I’ve written a number of blogs on electric trucks and how the industry needs to be prepared for this technology. I’ve covered the why fleets need to get ready for a transition, the impact on the power grid, the potential for recruiting young technicians, and more. There’s no […]
The Truck Parking Shortage Finally Gets the Attention It Deserves
Ashley Wagener
Earlier this year, I posted a blog on the lack of parking for truckers and how that can impact not just the driver, but the company as well. Now, it looks like that concern is being addressed. It seems as though shortages of every kind are plaguing our industry: equipment shortages, parts shortages, driver shortages, […]
Fleet Manager Challenges Keep Expanding
Ashley Wagener
The job of a fleet manager keeps getting more complex and more challenging. Today, fleet managers face supply chain issues that are forcing fleets to extend the lifecycle of existing vehicles due to, not just a lack of new trucks, but a shortage of components and parts as well. There is a change in work […]
4 Ways Private Fleets Can Keep Costs Down During Times of Uncertainty
Ashley Wagener
Every business today is facing unprecedented challenges. Many of these challenges have been ongoing or have occurred in the past; the problem today is that all of these challenges are happening at the same time resulting in a tsunami of obstacles to growth. Private fleets are hardly immune; they face supply chain backlogs, inflation, driver […]
New Fuel Taxes Kick in July 1 in Number of States
Ashley Wagener
Higher gas taxes will sweep across pumps in several states on July 1 to drive fuel prices even higher. From the West Coast across the Midwest, South and East Coast, fuel prices will jump as new state taxes — mostly to fund transportation projects — take effect: California A new fuel tax rate will be […]
Texas to deploy new semi truck inspection checkpoints, ‘strike teams’, following San Antonio tragedy
Ashley Wagener
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced new border security measures in the wake of a deadly human smuggling incident in San Antonio earlier this week. On June 29, Abbott announced plans to establish “new vehicle inspection checkpoints targeting semi-trucks” after dozens of suspected migrants were found dead in a sweltering semi trailer on Monday. “In response […]
Biden Calls for Three-Month Suspension of Gas, Diesel Taxes
Ashley Wagener
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on June 22 called on Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months — an election-year move meant to ease financial pressures that was greeted with doubts by many lawmakers. The Democratic president also called on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, […]
Experts Urge Preparation Now for Transition to EVs
Ashley Wagener
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sometime in the 2020s or early 2030s a growing number of traditional longhaul trucks could be running on hydrogen fuel cell systems while vans and trucks running regional and local routes — in the 150- to 250-mile per day range or going in and out of ports — will rely on battery-electric […]
DTNA Unveils Production-Ready eCascadia at ACT Expo
Ashley Wagener
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Freightliner Trucks, a division of Daimler Truck North America, has unveiled its production-ready eCascadia Class 8 electric truck, built on the best-selling heavy-duty truck platform in North America. “The introduction of zero-emission trucks and all their needed support systems is truly a game changer,” said DTNA CEO John O’Leary. “By developing […]
White House Aims to Boost Electrical Grid With Grant Program
Ashley Wagener
Launching a $2.3 billion effort for states and tribes to revamp the national power grid is the latest White House effort to bolster electricity usage to modernize transportation infrastructure. The national power grid is facing numerous challenges resulting from extreme weather, insufficient transmission capacity to transfer power across regions and aging transmission lines and transformers […]
Morgan Unveils Electrified Refrigerated Concept Truck Body
Ashley Wagener
Morgan Truck Body announced a new electrified refrigerated concept truck body. Mounted on a Lion Electric Lion6 chassis and using a Thermo King all-electric refrigerated unit, the 24-foot truck body is constructed with state-of-the-art materials that are designed to maximize thermal efficiency and lighten the load, and includes a full complement of situational awareness sensors, […]
FMCSA Distributes 1 Million Masks to Truckers
Ashley Wagener
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is distributing 1 million protective masks to commercial truck drivers to enhance safety during the coronavirus pandemic. The agency announced the distribution effort, led by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, on April 29. The effort reflects a partnership with state representatives, industry groups and motor carriers. The Federal Emergency Management […]
Daimler recalls 63K trucks for exterior lighting issue
Ashley Wagener
Daimler Trucks North America recently issued a recall for tens of thousands of trucks for a lighting defect. Daimler recently notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a recall impacting 63,175 Freightliner and Western Star trucks. According to NHTSA documents, “The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, […]
FMCSA issues three-month waiver for CDL, CLP holders
Ashley Wagener
FMCSA has granted an extension on the validity of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and commercial learner’s permits (CLP) that expire between March 1, 2020, and June 29, 2020. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted an extension on the validity of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and commercial learner’s permits (CLP) that expire between […]
More than 450,000 Kenworths and Peterbilts recalled for warning light defect that could increase crash risk
Ashley Wagener
PACCAR recently issued a massive recall for certain Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks for a defect that could increase the risk of a crash. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents, PACCAR will recall hundreds of thousands of trucks manufactured between 2008 and 2020. A total of 455,458 truck are affected by the recall. […]
Paccar Recalls 35,671 Peterbilt Trucks for Fire Risk
Ashley Wagener
Peterbilt Motors Co. is recalling 35,671 trucks to repair an issue with battery cables on certain models, according to a March 18 notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects Peterbilt Model 365, 389, 567 and 579 trucks manufactured between 2015 and 2020, parent company Paccar Inc. said in the notice. The […]
FMCSA offers drivers HOS relief in emergency COVID-19 response
Ashley Wagener
This declaration is the first time FMCSA has issued nation-wide relief and follows President Trump issuing of a national emergency declaration in response to the virus. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to […]
USDOT Announces $1 Billion Funding Notice for Infrastructure Grants
Ashley Wagener
Transportation agencies aiming to improve connectivity along highways may apply for infrastructure grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. An official Notice of Funding Opportunity outlined the requirements for qualifying for a fiscal 2020 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, grant, for which $1 billion has been allocated. The grants are meant for […]
Federal Policymakers to Draft Self-Driving Vehicles Bill
Ashley Wagener
WASHINGTON — Policymakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are aiming to draft a bipartisan measure that would guarantee the deployment of lifesaving technologies in self-driving vehicles, the chairman of a key committee said Feb. 11. However, as the current session of Congress winds down, transportation leaders have yet to proceed with comprehensive legislation meant […]
Navistar International Recalls More Than 12,000 Trucks
Ashley Wagener
Navistar Inc. has issued a safety recall for 12,539 International brand trucks that are at risk of unintended movement when the parking brake is in use. The recall applies to four truck models: 2019-20 International MV, 2018-20 International WorkStar, 2019-20 International HV and 2018-19 International DuraStar. These vehicles are medium-duty work trucks that can be […]
The Feds just charged a massive fuel-card company with fleecing truckers out of hundreds of millions of dollars
Ashley Wagener
One of the trucking industry’s largest companies just got slammed with a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission. Atlanta, Georgia-based FleetCor counts tens of thousands of small businesses and individual truck drivers among its customer base. And, according to an FTC suit filed on Dec. 20, it’s fleeced those truckers out of “at least hundreds […]
The Dawn of Electric Trucks
Ashley Wagener
Batteries, Hydrogen Fuel Cells Poised to Power a New Segment of Commercial Transportation The introduction of electric-powered commercial trucks continued to gain momentum in 2019 with more investment, more prototypes unveiled and more deployments in real-world freight operations. This emerging segment of the commercial vehicle market is still in its infancy, but the world’s largest […]
Trailer technology and safety systems on the rise
Ashley Wagener
A number of safety-related items for dry van trailers are growing in popularity among fleets, said Mark Schultz, dry van product director, Great Dane Trailers. “Rear bumpers like the Great Dane RIG30 are available to meet the 30% offset guidelines,” he noted. “There are high-mounted dual turn and stop indicator lamps on rear frame headers, […]
Cummins Puts Faith in Diesel, Readies for Hydrogen
Ashley Wagener
Cummins Inc., underscoring its belief in the power of choice, announced its latest advances in fuel efficiency for its heavy-duty diesel engines and showcased hydrogen fuel cell technology in its own Class 8 demonstration model. The company made its announcements Oct. 29 at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. Cummins believes diesel engines will remain […]
Avoid Aftertreatment Woes With Routine Preventive Maintenance
Ashley Wagener
Heading off engine exhaust aftertreatment headaches can be as simple as doing preventive maintenance by the book, representatives of fleets and truck and engine makers said. Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems have helped Class 8 trucks cut emissions of particulate matter, or soot, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) compounds as a […]
Engine Maker Acquisition Could Fuel Hydrogen Disruption
Ashley Wagener
Cummins’ acquisition of Hydrogenics indicates the diesel market leader could own the next engine tech, too. Cummins, the current leading supplier of Class 8 diesel engines—at about 38% in 2018, according to WardsAuto— knows that nothing lasts forever, particularly the fossil fuel painstakingly dug up from the deep within the Earth’s crust that post-internal combustion, […]
Six strategies for drivers to reduce stress on the road
Ashley Wagener
Ways and means to keep mentally strong longer If you drive for a living, then chances are you’re on the road more often than not. Although stress is a normal part of everybody’s day, the stress is even greater for truck drivers, as they are away from home, family, and friends for several days or […]
EPA IG Finds Study Critical of Glider Emissions Was Properly Conducted
Ashley Wagener
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General audit has given a 2017 agency study critical of glider truck emissions a clean bill of health. The audit found that the study was “consistent with Clean Air Act authority, standard EPA practices and relevant policies and procedures.” In our first episode of RoadSigns, Season Three, we ask: […]
Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards Tackle Latest Challenges
Ashley Wagener
Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards emerged nearly 50 years ago and are used by many different organizations across the trucking industry, but there are aspects of them that deserve more attention, experts said. Technology & Maintenance Council’s S.5 Fleet Maintenance Management Study Group is responsible for maintenance and oversight of VMRS. TMC is a division of […]
Kenworth, Peterbilt recall mirror glass
Ashley Wagener
Recall began May 31, 2019. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Peterbilt 567 and 579 vehicles and Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 vehicles due to a defect of the mirror glass which may detach from the mirror carrier plate due to inadequate adhesion. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 3,907 […]
CEO Made $357 Million From Small Businesses, $3.50 at a Time
Ashley Wagener
In her 35 years running a small business, Maria Kirk dealt with only one company that made her physically ill: fuel card provider FleetCor Technologies Inc. and the thousands of dollars in fees it charged. “Many companies try to nickel-and-dime you, but this can’t even compare,’’ said Kirk, the owner of an ice-delivery firm in […]
Fontaine recalls certain hydraulic tail trailers
Ashley Wagener
Fontaine Trailer Company announced recently it is recalling approximately 123 of its Traverse hydraulic tail trailers, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. The recall affects model year 2017-2019 Traverse HT trailers in which the hydraulic cylinder retaining pin for the main tail may disconnect from the trailer unexpectedly. This could cause the hydraulic […]
Over 1800 trucks recalled for parking brake defect
Ashley Wagener
The defect is triggered by cold temperatures and there’s currently no solution for the problem. Paccar has issued a recall for certain Kenworth trucks due to a defect that could cause the parking brake to fail, resulting in a crash or injuries. The recall affects 1837 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks model year 2018 – […]
Navistar Recalls 25,000 Trucks Whose Tailpipes May Detach
Ashley Wagener
Navistar International Corp. is recalling some 73-inch sleeper cab models from 2016 to 2020 because the rear exhaust hanger brackets could crack, allowing the tailpipe to detach and fall onto the roadway, where it could cause a crash if struck by another vehicle. Navistar told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of eight cases of […]
The CVSA just released the dates for this year’s 72-hour Roadcheck inspection spree
Ashley Wagener
It’s that time of the year again; the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 29th annual International Roadcheck is right around the corner. This year, the 72-hour commercial vehicle inspection spree will take place from June 7th to June 9th. The International Roadcheck is a joint effort between the CVSA, FMCSA, as well as Canadian and […]
Tax law tips for trucking in 2019
Ashley Wagener
When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 it came under immediate criticism by many as a boon to those in the higher tax brackets and a gift to corporations at the expense of mid- to lower-level wage earners. The administration rejected these characterizations as wrong. However, as of February 8, […]
Virginia Lawmakers Strike Tolling Plan From I-81 Bills
Ashley Wagener
Legislation outlining an improvement program for Interstate 81 in Virginia has been amended to exclude plans for tolls along the route. Four lawmakers introduced two identical pieces of legislation Jan. 15. The bills were revised in both the House and the Senate on Jan. 31 to omit plans for tolls as a fundraising mechanism. The […]
Are you cranking safely?
Ashley Wagener
Cranking landing gear on trailers is one of the more common jobs for drivers, but it can cause pain and injury if done improperly. What is the best way to reduce injuries? Researcher Jia-Hua Lin of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries wanted to find out because there has been no definitive guideline for […]
Thousands of truckers in a Facebook group called ‘Black Smoke Matters’ are planning a one-day nationwide strike this April
Ashley Wagener
An unpopular law, a lack of parking, too much waiting at warehouses, and a litany of other frustrations are driving truckers to plan a strike on April 12. First reported by CDL Life, truck drivers are organizing the strike in a Facebook group called “Black Smoke Matters.” It has more than 9,000 members. Last year […]
Love’s is adding dog parks to dozens of truck stop locations
Ashley Wagener
This week, Love’s Travel Centers announced that they’ll be catering to truck drivers with canine companions by adding dog parks to many of their truck stop locations. Love’s has plans to open 29 dog parks at existing truck stop locations in 2019. And two more locations are set to open up before the end of […]
Tens of thousands of trucks are being recalled for a clutch component defect that could cause a crash.
Ashley Wagener
Navistar recently announced that they’ll be recalling tens of thousands of trucks for a clutch component defect that could increase the risk of a crash. The recall affects certain 2019 International HV, MV, 2018-2019 HX, LT, RH, LoneStar, ProStar, WorkStar, and 2018 TranStar automated manual transmission vehicles that are equipped with Eaton ECA heavy-duty truck clutches. According […]
ATRI: Congestion Costing Trucking $74 Billion a Year
Ashley Wagener
Traffic congestion slammed trucking with nearly $74.5 billion in operational costs in 2016, a 0.5% increase over 2015, according to research released on Oct. 18 by the American Transportation Research Institute. ATRI said the report, its latest Cost of Congestion analysis, calculated that delays for operating only on the U.S. National Highway System amounted nearly […]
Cummins shows at IAA why diesel will remain ‘primary source of power’
Ashley Wagener
HANOVER, Germany. Cummins Inc. displayed various emissions reductions technologies at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show aimed making diesel engines more efficient. “With our technical advancements, we see diesel remaining as the primary source of power in the commercial vehicle sector for the foreseeable future,” said Tim Proctor, executive director of product management and market innovation. The […]
Martinez: FMCSA wants to hear from truckers on HOS proposal
Ashley Wagener
Ray Martinez wants you to take him at his word. The administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says he wants to hear what truckers have to say. That’s why he was at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas last week, the latest stop in his efforts to talk with truckers. FMCSA Administrator […]
Bridgestone Introduces Firestone FD711 Drive Tire
Ashley Wagener
Bridgestone Americas Inc. has expanded its Firestone commercial truck tire portfolio with the launch of the Firestone FD711 drive tire. Engineered for durable, long-lasting performance in high-scrub and high-traction applications, the Firestone FD711 tire offers solid grip, long wear and enhanced retread capability. The tire is recommended for a wide range of applications including long […]
Shuster tries to kick-start highway funding debate, calls for hike in fuel
Ashley Wagener
The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is calling for an increase in federal fuel taxes, as well as pilot programs to test future funding methods. A draft proposal from Rep. Bill Shuster, who announced in January he will not see reelection, calls for a temporary hike of the federal diesel tax by 20 […]
Feds sue Werner Enterprises for refusing to hire deaf truck driver
Ashley Wagener
ST. LOUIS – Werner Enterprises, Inc., a truckload carrier headquartered in Omaha, Neb., violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it refused to hire an applicant as a truck driver because he is deaf, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a lawsuit filed today. According to EEOC’s suit, Werner told Andrew Deuschle […]
Israeli Entrepreneur Races Tesla to Get Electric Trucks on Road
Ashley Wagener
Tevva Motors Ltd., headed by a former Israeli submariner who’s vying with Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. to develop electric-powered trucks, secured a major investment that will enable it to put the vehicles on the road this year. Fifteen 7.5-ton electric-powered trucks will be delivered to UPS Inc. in the U.K. this summer, following a successful […]
Uber Freight Launches ‘Fleet Mode’
Ashley Wagener
Uber Freight has added a “fleet mode” to its mobile app to enable dispatchers at small fleets to find and book loads and assign them to their drivers. With this feature, dispatchers can view all available loads as well as a list of drivers with details on their schedules and availability without needing to exit […]
Roadcheck enforcement spree next week, inspectors to key in on hours of service violations
Ashley Wagener
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual International Roadcheck, a three-day ramp up of truck and bus enforcement across North America, is scheduled for June 5-7. The year’s focus will be on hours-of-service compliance, says CVSA, due in part to the implementation of the U.S. DOT’s electronic logging device mandate. “The top reason drivers were placed […]
Digital diagnostics: A trucking ‘best-kept secret’
Ashley Wagener
The job of truck technician today just might be the perfect modern vocational/trade position. A high school grad can get certified for it faster than a four-year college degree would take, so educational costs are less, but earnings potential out of the gate is nearly comparable—with high demand making it likely the technician will land […]
Bill in Congress would allow drivers to pause 14-hour clock for up to three hours
Ashley Wagener
A bill filed in the U.S. House Thursday by Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) would allow drivers to take one break per day — of up to three hours — that does not count against their 14-hour on-duty allotment. The bill mirrors a petition filed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association last month with FMCSA, which […]
Ag haulers get 90-day ELD waiver extension
Ashley Wagener
With an original waiver of the electronic logging device rule about to expire, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration gave haulers of agricultural products a second 90-day break on compliance. The agency also said that during this time it will publish final guidance on both the agricultural 150 air-mile hours-of-service exemption and personal conveyance. “We […]
Parking app now offers fuel information
Ashley Wagener
Truck Parking USA, an online and mobile app for truck parking facilities, has entered into a partnership with commercial truck routing software company ProMiles to include a location-based fuel pricing tool for truck drivers. The app also considers routes based on truck parking capacity. The app has been tested over 140,000 truck drivers. Drivers receive […]