US
» Pilot/Flying J
» Petro
» Speedway
» TA Travel Center
» Pilot
» Iowa 80
» AMBEST
» LOVES
Canada
» Fifth Wheel
» Pilot/Flying J
» Husky
» Roadking
Welcome Members and Guests to our World of Trucking and Expediting
Our Forum is the all year around meeting place, where drivers and owners come for Information or discuss trucking and expediting related questions. Whether you drive a Tractor/Trailer, Expediter Straight Truck or Van, you are very welcome here in Expediter World. We bring you Expediting and Trucking News on a regular basis. Trucking Professionals as well as Newbie's enjoy our Photo Gallery and NEW Free Classifieds. You can also find the right job with our new website, please visit us at www.expediterjobsonline.com. You can also check diesel fuel prices with our National Truckstop fuel price locator. Join us in relaxing, having fun and playing games.
Walmart Named Safest Trucking Fleet in the State |  | 
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KFTA) – Walmart was named the safest trucking fleet in the state. The State Trucking Association gave the company the honor. Walmart transportation has won the award five out of the last 10 years. It's trucks logged more than 20 million miles on Arkansas highways last year with only one reportable incident. Storm prompts FMCSA to suspend hours regs for relief loads | |
A regional emergency has been declared by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Western and Southern Service Centers in response to Subtropical Storm Alberto. The emergency declaration suspends hours of service regulations for truckers hauling relief loads and emergency supplies to states in the path of the storm. The slow-moving storm is expected to make landfall this evening and deliver heavy rains and high winds from Mobile, Alabama to the Big Bend region of Florida along the Gulf Coast. The forecast calls for the storm to weaken as it moves northward throughout the rest of the week, reaching the Great Lakes by Thursday morning. The declaration applies to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas, and lasts “for the duration of the emergency,” or until June 27, whichever is earlier. Covered by the temporary waiver are, drivers “providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, equipment and persons into or from the affected states or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency resulting from the storm,” it states. Drivers hauling fuel products to the affected areas are also covered by the waiver. 600,000 Brazilian truckers are back to work after week-long strike paralyzes country | |
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Brazilian President Michel Temer says he will concede to demands just a week after 600,000 truckers went on strike paralyzing the country. A state of emergency was declared in Brazil and the army was ordered to clear highways over the weekend as the country struggled with food and fuel shortages that shut down much of the nation, including international airports, after drivers went on strike a week ago to protest fuel prices. CNN is reporting that with increasing concerns about a lack of goods getting to consumers, including medical supplies, Temer said the government would subsidize the cost of diesel fuel for the next 60 days in order to get drivers back to work. Pump prices will be cut to $0.46 reals per liter (about $0.16 CND per liter) from $3.60 reals ($1.26 CND) for two months, followed by increases only once a month. Some taxes on diesel will also be eliminated. Truckers spent the week blocking the highways after fuel prices had increased five times in week prior to the strike. The government will make up the difference with subsidies paid to the government-run oil company. The government estimates that that subsidies will cost the government up to $10 billion reals (about $3.5 billion CND). Brazil has recently gone through one of the biggest recessions in the country’s history and will be going to the polls in October for their presidential elections. Truck Gets Stuck Under Railroad Bridge in Scranton | |
SCRANTON, Pa. -- A tractor trailer was wedged under a railroad bridge in Scranton. The truck got stuck while trying to turn onto N. Main Avenue in the city from the Main Avenue exit of the North Scranton Expressway. The truck only had minimal damage but the scene did tie up traffic in the area. The truck driver was able to let air out of the tires to create room to back the truck out from under the bridge in Lackawanna County. Truck industry leader blames ‘economic dysfunction’ for shortage | |
A truck industry leader blamed a shortage of available drivers plaguing some companies on “economic dysfunction”, like long hours, bad pay and a lack of advancement opportunities. “It’s nutty,” Todd Spencer, the owner-operator of Independent Drivers Association, told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney during an interview on Wednesday. “The most important person in trucking is the person behind the wheel, and that’s the person who virtually always gets short-changed throughout the supply chain.” According to the American Truck Association, the industry was short more than 36,000 drivers in 2016. It estimated the number could surpass 63,000 in 2018, and 174,000 in 2026. The trade group attributes the driver shortage, in part, to a lack of qualified applicants that lack the desired experience or qualifications. Spencer, however, said that’s an issue largely unique to large, public companies look to cut costs. Private companies and less-than-truckload shipping -- the transportation of relatively small freight -- are mostly unaffected by the shortage, he said. “And the characteristics of those companies is that they pay their drivers well and they have good working conditions,” he said. “Drivers come and stay.” The typical workweek for a truck driver who isn’t working for a private company is between 70 to 80 hours, and drivers are largely at the mercy of other people’s schedules, Spencer said. A driver could also spend an additional 20 or 30 hours waiting to load or unload their freight. “That’s part of the economic dysfunction that makes this an occupation that people don’t want to pursue as a career,” he said. Sheriff's Office searching for missing truck in Campbell County | |
The Campbell County Sheriff's Office is searching for a white 2014 Chevrolet Box Truck 3500 model. Deputies say the truck was stolen from the Timberlake Road area early Tuesday morning. The Chevrolet truck has Virginia tags T/X175-205. Anyone with information on the incident are asked to call Crime Stoppers. The Sheriff's Office says they have seen an increase in the amount of cars that are stolen. Deputies want to remind residents to remove keys and valuables from their vehicles to reduce the risk of theft, |
Inspection blitz looms; HOS to be scrutinized. Are you ready? | |
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance‘s annual International Roadcheck, a three-day enforcement blitz of trucks and buses across North America, is June 5-7, and this year’s focus will be on hours-of-service compliance. 
Be prepared to have your ELD or AORBD checked. “The top reason drivers were placed out of service during 2017 International Roadcheck was for hours-of-service violations,” said CVSA President Capt. Christopher Turner of the Kansas Highway Patrol. “Although the electronic logging device rule that went into effect on Dec. 18 does not change any of the underlying hours-of-service rules or exceptions, the ELD mandate placed a spotlight on hours-of-service compliance.” However, inspectors will perform full Level I inspections on most rigs checked during the inspection blitz. Level I inspections are the most thorough, including examination of both driver compliance and vehicle-related violations. In last year’s Roadcheck, 15,000 out-of-service orders were issued. Of those, 12,000 were for vehicle-related violations and 3,000 were for driver-related violations. Pilot Flying J Offers Mid-Trip Inspections Pilot Flying J offers free mid-trip visual inspections, a value of $50, through its Pilot Flying J Truck Care program through June 7 to help drivers prepare for the Roadcheck. Mid-trip inspections focus on checking the tires and brakes of trucks, and also include the inspection of windshields, exhaust, lights and more. The three most common failed items are tires, brakes and lights. Performing proper inspections on each of these will help reduce the chances of receiving a violation. PFJ offers the following tips for drivers to prepare for the 72-hour inspection blitz:
Drivers are also urged to be prepared to have their AORBD or ELD inspected, and to have the driver, inspector and troubleshooting guides at hand. Drivers also ought to have at least eight days of blank paper logs available too. Roadcheck inspectors this year will be focusing on hours-related violations. Senate introduces livestock trucker regulation reform | |
 It also modifies the Hours of Service (HOS) rules, exempting loading and unloading as part of the driving time. Also allowing drivers to complete their trip regardless of hours of service requirements, as long as they come within 150 air-miles of their delivery point. Law limits commercial truckers to 11 hours of driving time, this act bumps it up to 15 hours. Michael Formica with the National Pork Producers Council says, "Which is what some states allow already in state, and Canada allows 15 hours, so we want it to be uniform across the board. And then it would dictate how much time and how much rest you'd need to take at the end of that day before you can begin driving again." HOS and the Electronic Logging Device mandate started in December and had been suspended for livestock haulers to protect animals. Truckers were concerned if there were delays, they would be legally obligated to stop their truck for 10 hours, which they say could threaten livestock. The bill is sponsored by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. In a statement she says, “The transport of agricultural commodities, particularly livestock, poses unique challenges not faced by other segments of the trucking industry.” Formica agrees, "There's a variety of industries that need these changes. So they should have targeted rules based on the needs of those user groups. So, when hauling hogs have very specific needs. They're going to be different than someone hauling stereos, or somebody hauling sneakers." Pilot Flying J is helping drivers get ready for CVSA Roadcheck | |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Roadcheck is coming and to help drivers through the inspections Pilot Flying J is offering free mid-trip inspections. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck event will run June 5-7 and will focus on Hours of Service (HoS) compliance. The CVSA says HoS was the top reason drivers were placed out-of-service during 2017’s annual Roadcheck. Drivers should be prepared for the checks on all operational and mechanical fronts, however. The CVSA inspections conducted will primarily be North American Standard Level I inspections, which are made up of a 37-step procedure, including brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs, and windshield wipers. The three most common mechanical reasons for failing an inspection are tires, brakes and lights. By focusing on these items in the mid-trip inspections Pilot Flying J is hoping to reduce the number of violations drivers receive. “Leading up to the event, Pilot Flying J Truck Care is here to provide necessary preparation tips to professional drivers and to help ensure trucks meet the requirements necessary for the checks. By offering free mid-trip inspections, our hope is that we help more professional drivers pass the checks successfully,” said director of operations for Pilot Flying J Truck Care Service Centers Jason Davis. Other tips for passing through the CVSA Roadcheck without incident include wearing a seatbelt, ensuring all proper documentation is up-to-date and easily accessible, ensuring all tires, wheels, rims and hubs are free from damage, and making sure all lights are properly mounted and functioning. The free mid-trip inspections will be available until June 7 through the Pilot Flying J Care program at 16 Pilot Flying J Truck Care Service Centers. Roadside assistance is also available. Police: Truck driver racks up $6,000 in tolls on stolen E-ZPass device | |
A truck driver racked up $6,000 in turnpike tolls, police said Police said he used an stolen E-ZPass from a Westmoreland County trucking company. Joe Maher has owned Fleet Equipment in Hempfield Township since 1976, but has never faced a problem like this. "We have no idea how that E-ZPass transponder disappeared from the truck," Maher said. Maher said his truck was in a shop for service when he noticed huge E-ZPass bills for more than $6,000 for the transponder assigned to it. State police got a search warrant for the turnpike commissioner, which took weeks, but resulted in the photos at the boots of a vehicle using the stolen transponder. Police said the truck belonged to Double R Trucking in Perryopolis. Investigators interviewed the driver who denied using the E-ZPass transponder, but said he was the only person who uses the truck. That driver, Scott Young, has now been charged with theft, stolen property and other charges. Channel 11 was unable to reach Young for comment and a man who answered at Double R Trucking said they had no comment. Air Resources Board sets up surprise truck inspection site in Santa Maria | |
Some truck drivers in Santa Maria were met with surprise inspections on Tuesday. The California Air Resources Board set up a checkpoint on West Main Street where trucks were stopped and inspected for compliance with state air pollution laws. Inspectors checked the diesel emissions as well as the refrigeration units that keep the produce cool. "We've had some complaints in the area there are a number of folks who are running old (refrigeration units) on their trucks, and we would look at that anyway, but that's one of the reasons we are in this particular area today," said Bruce Tuter, Air Resources Supervisor for the California Air Resources Board. Drivers found to be breaking the law could be issued a citation for noncompliance and fined up to $1,000 per day. Air Resources officials say they inspect as many as 50 trucks per day at each of their checkpoints. 90,000 New Drivers Per Year for Next 10 Years Needed to Meet Trucking Demands | |
The American Trucking Associations estimates that America will need 90,000 new truck drivers on the road every year for the next decade to keep up with transport and shipping demands. Some of the issues at the root of the problem include low unemployment rates, the lifestyle of living on the road, and the pay. "The truck driver shortage is being driven by a lot of things," Jeff Shefchik, president of Paper Transport Inc., said. "The low unemployment rate throughout the country , it's even lower in Wisconsin. Also the truck driving job is a challenging job." Fox Valley Technical College graduates about 600 students from their truck driving program every year with a wide age range of students. Many of them are sent by companies willing to pay for their training. Sam Eustice, an instructor at the college, says one of the barriers for young students isn't the lifestyle or pay, but a federal law that doesn't allow truck drivers to cross state lines while on the road until they're 21 years-old. By then, high school graduates have chosen other careers. "One thing we're trying to do, we're trying to get down to the high schools, because what happens is right now you're typically can't go out of state until you're at least 21 years-old, so you're 18 years-old, you want to drive a truck, you gotta find something else to do for four or five years," Eustice explained. Eustice hopes to see that age regulation change. Meanwhile, the industry is trying to change what seems most unappealing about the job. "In order to get drivers in the door, in order to get drivers in our trucks we're going to have to increase pay, and that pay is going to be passed on to our customers and ultimately to consumers, but we're also looking at changing the job," Shefchik said. "How do you make the job more attractive, how do you get the drivers home more frequently, a little bit easier on the family life." While there can be drawbacks to living on the road, there are also benefits. Eustice says he has seen former students become drivers who take time to get out and explore the more scenic areas the job can take them, while technology like FaceTime keeps them connected to their family. There's also more flexible schedules. "This has never been a better time to get into a trucking career," Eustice said. "The pay is getting better, lifestyle is getting better, technology. A lot of big benefits of the job that way, lifestyle-wise." Fox Valley Technical College sees 96% of its students find months within 6 months of graduating. The Wisconsin Technical College System is also expanding their trucking program to more campuses to help meet more federal training requirements that drivers will need starting in 2020. |
- Shippers, Truckers Deal With Soaring Fuel and Labor Costs
- Two More Trucking Companies Raise Driver Pay
- FedEx drivers win champion, rookie of the year titles in Ohio
- 30 senators ask FMCSA to consider HOS changes
- Top 5 overlooked reasons for truck driver constraint
- Kind Truck Driver Rescued a Piglet Who Fell Off a Transport Truck and Showed Him People Can Be Good
|
Click a logo above to |
