Trucking News

LiberalTrucker contributed this post for Masslogics Trucking News. The trucking industry is taking a beating not only from high prices of diesel but also from the environmentalists and health fanatics.

Trucks have been the backbone of the American transport industry. From the very beginning, trucks have played an important role in the transport of goods across the country. There are 1000’s of trucks on almost every highway in the nation. While essential and ubiquitous, they have also earned a less desireable reputation. They crowd the roads, congest the highways, are involved in accidents, and pollute the environment.

Trucks burn diesel fuel causing emission of dangerous particles which have health risks. In many parts if the country, these sulfur and nitrogen particles have been shown to worsen asthmatic attacks.

Before the Clean Air Act of 1970, the USA had no national emissions standards for either cars or trucks. With growing awareness of pollution from fuels, strict regulations, better engine technology, and reformulated gasoline were developed. These advances have significantly decreased the amount of pollution from vehicles over the last 3 decades. The EPA estimates that today’s automobile emits 75 – 90% less pollution for each mile driven than cars built before 1970.

The same goes for the newer heavy-duty trucks which have become more environmentally friendly. Today’s large trucks emit nearly 70% less nitrogen oxide and other particles compared to vehicles built in the 1980s.

However, there are still a fair number of older trucks still running around and the ARB has now taken significant steps to clean up the diesel churning trucks. Numerous regulations have been proposed to make it mandatory for trucks to clean up through retrofits or upgrading to newer vehicles

Hopefully, approving and executing regulations that will reduce diesel pollution from trucks will safeguard public health, meet federal air quality standards, and reduce cancer risks for everyone.

LiberalTrucker contributed this post for Masslogics Trucking News.   “Bigger is Better” has always been an American motto. And now many trucking companies are asking Washington to allow them to have bigger trucks.

A coalition of truck drivers wants to ensure that a Bill can be reauthorized by Congress to allow for bigger trucks on the road at the end of next year. For the past several years, big trucks were banned from many of the highways in the country. Now, the truckers want to get permission from Congress to be able to drive their large vehicles in several states including Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Georgia and possibly Texas.

These States have been selected partly because of their economic benefits of having a seaport location or border crossing with either Canada or Mexico.

Owner operators believe that American drivers are at a major disadvantage compared to their Canadian and Mexican colleagues who can drive heavier trucks on six axles. Having access to the big trucks at the cross Border States like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Texas and the Canadian border will bring the truckers on parity when it comes to the loads that they can carry over the border.

The truckers also claim that with the larger vehicles they will be able to reduce the size of their fleets which in turn could lead to lower overhead costs, less impact on the environment and decreased damage to the highways.

However, this does not sit well with many other Unions, esp. the Teamsters. Jim Hoffa the president of Teamsters Union says that having bigger trucks on the road is more dangerous and will completely ruin our already poor road infrastructure. He thinks the idea borders on insanity.

Not to be outdone, Joan Claybrook who is President of Parents Against Tired Truckers has urged Congress to simply ignore the demands of the certain truckers. She thinks that are clueless.

More than likely this demand by the truckers is going to fail, but one can never know.

One should note is that many studies have shown that larger trucks are more likely to have fatal accidents compare to their smaller counterparts. The DOT claims that the currently designed large trucks can be expected to experience a fatal crash of 11% higher than single trailer combinations- perhaps Congress should have this data before agreeing to any demands by the truckers.

OTRJoe Response to “Ban Independent Truck Drivers…” The Port of LA is a complex issue. What he’s not saying is the port’s plan is instituting laws regulating the age of truck used in the port. I believe no truck older than 2005 will be allowed unless it is retrofitted with special emmissions equipment that brings the truck up to 2005 emissions standards. Plus, they are initiating a port hauler fee of around $5000 per truck. It’s obvious from this plan that only the large carriers with cash reserves for newer trucks and the new fee will remain. Once that happens, these larger carriers will have higher haul rates to move the freight, thus raising the transportation costs which will filter down to raising the costs of goods in the stores. Largely what comes into the ports is fisnished goods from Asian manufacturers, so it will definitely impact the costs of stuff at Wal-Mart and Target.

That being said, there is a HUGE traffic/pollution issue at the LA port. I’m not sure if this is the right solution, but they definitely need to do something to address the issues at hand. Of course, it’s highly possible that the larger carriers that will benefit from this new plan are supporting the gov’t departments that are bringing it about. Isn’t that the American way?

LiberalTrucker contributed this post for Masslogics Trucking News.

America has been a world leader in providing opportunities for everyone. In the last 20 years, the deregulated trucking industry has contributed to a fair share of problems both off and on the roads. There is worse traffic, more pollution, pitiful working conditions and below par safety standards on the roads. However, the California port authority is now taking control of this situation. It has banned all independent truck drivers from the Port of LA. This is the first step to regain control of the roads, remove traffic congestion and lessen environmental pollution.

Reports have indicated that pollution from trucks in the Post of Oakland have been responsible for causing asthmatic attacks in 1/5 children in that area. Since many of these independent truckers make minimum wages they are unable to afford upgrading of their trucks and maintain safety. These independent truckers are also not part of any union and thus have no bargaining power in terms of wages, rights or benefits

The ongoing turmoil over the trucks on LA roads finally led the port authority of LA to ban all independent truckers. Numerous organizations have supported the port authority in their bid to develop a clean and safe port. The port authority says they are not discriminating against independent truckers, but they in fact claim that their actions will hopefully require trucking companies to use port based trucks driven by employee drivers.

A plan to completely ban independent truck drivers from the Port of Los Angeles by the end of 2013 was approved Thursday night.

This will hopefully led to an improvement in wages, limit pollution, lead to reliable short haul trucking system and assign due to labor law rights to all drivers.

Port officials have said that the plan will hold trucking companies accountable for maintaining big rigs, while also employing properly credentialed drivers. This does not sit well with the trucking companies who claim that this will lead to higher salaries, increased cost of labor and in the end, additional cost to the average consumer.

The constant rise in diesel fuel prices is pushing the small independent trucking companies out of business.   With the independents dropping out like flies¹, what else could they possibly have to endure?

Well, with the help of a new regulation proposed by Department of Transportation (DoT) officials it looks like the independent trucker is about to get reamed yet again.

Big Rigs may be getting their speedometers clipped.  The DoT bureaucrats are proposing to mandate devices on commercial trucks that limit a truckers top speed to 68 mph.  This idea has support by many of the corporate trucking giants, but is strongly opposed by many independent truckers.

Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said “Most truckers are paid by the mile, so the financial pain of slower limits would be felt mostly by the drivers while the benefits would be reaped by corporations represented by the ATA (American Trucking Associations).”

OOIDA believes the legislation to be completely misguided and outrageous when you examine the safety data.

“There is nothing desirable about turning trucks into rolling roadblocks and obstacles for other drivers,” Spencer said.  “Slower isn’t safer. Every year, NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) accident data shows that cars are far more likely to run into the backs of trucks than the other way around.   Real highway safety experts have always known that highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same speed.” says Spencer.

The largest trucking conglomerates favor the 68 mph speed limit, since it will force even more of the smaller, independent carriers out of business.  The collusion between transportation authorities and corporate trucking lobbyists is stomping the life out of the entrepreneurial trucker. 

The speed control campaign is led by Road Safe America, an Atlanta advocacy group that was started by a couple whose son was in an accident with a tractor trailer in 2002.  When moms get involved in road safety it’s only a matter of time before the proverbial hammer gets dropped.

Road Safe America has a history of pushing legislation for emotional reasons while ignoring the facts. The facts are split speed limits decrease road safety².

Forget common sense. Big business and big government are about to kill independent truckers with irrational legislation.  So grab your ankles my fellow independent truckers, it’s going to be a tough one to take.

References:
¹ Landline Magazine
² Safety Testimony