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12/05/24 - TA opens Wisconsin location with 50 truck parking spaces

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:52:44pm -

Major truck stop chain TravelCenters of America (TA) announced the opening of a new location in New Lisbon, Wisconsin.

The new store is a TA Express located at 1700 E. Bridge Street in New Lisbon, off I-90 at mile marker 61.

Amenities at the New Lisbon TA Express include:

• Miss J’s Café restaurant (Second quick service restaurant coming soon)
• Five diesel fueling positions with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) on all lanes
• 50 truck parking spaces
• Four private showers
• Laundry facilities
• Driver’s lounge

The post TA opens Wisconsin location with 50 truck parking spaces appeared first on CDLLife.

12/05/24 - Baltimore tunnel partially shutdown for semi truck fire

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:52:44pm -

A tunnel in Baltimore was shut down during rush hour on Thursday after a semi truck caught fire at the entrance. 

The fire happened on December 5th at the southbound Ft. McHenry Tunnel on Interstate 95 south at about 6:40 a.m. 

According to WMAR2, the truck fire occurred at the southbound entrance to the tunnel, forcing the shutdown of both southbound tubes, and affected traffic on the northbound side as well. Drivers were diverted off of I-95 at Keith Avenue. 

One tube of the southbound tunnel has been reopened for traffic, but cleanup of the wreckage and subsequent fuel leak continues. 

The truck was hauling produce at the time of the fire. The truck driver sustained minor injuries. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The post Baltimore tunnel partially shutdown for semi truck fire appeared first on CDLLife.

12/05/24 - FMCSA Adds Four Crash Types to Non-Preventable List

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:51:30pm -

The addition brings to 21 the total number of crash types included in the program, according to a Dec. 3 announcement from FMCSA.

12/05/24 - Canada Trade Surplus With US Narrows as Tariff Fight Looms

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:51:30pm -

Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. helped avoid a deeper deficit, underscoring the importance of its biggest trading partner as President-elect Donald Trump threatens crippling tariffs.

12/05/24 - Fleetworthy expands services with Empire Commercial Services acquisition

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:33:15pm -

ALBANY, N.Y. —  Fleetworthy has acquired Empire Commercial Services, L.P., a provider of commercial vehicle parking violation management and resolution in New York City.

“The team at Empire Commercial Services has done a tremendous job building a system that helps its customers more efficiently manage violations they receive in NYC and the surrounding area,” said Mike Precia, Fleetworthy president and chief strategy officer. “This acquisition aligns with our mission to deliver our customers a full technology suite that can help fleets manage their businesses more efficiently. We see an opportunity to scale the offerings that Empire provides beyond New York and to other high-density urban areas, and we look forward to collaborating with the Empire team to make that happen.”

According to a company press release, Fleetworthy will now offer a comprehensive technology suite covering all aspects of tolling, weigh station bypass, compliance, safety, and regional parking and traffic violations for commercial fleets of all sizes.

Precia noted that Empire Commercial Services’ platform and expertise in managing parking and other traffic violations for its customers will complement Fleetworthy’s suite of fleet management technology.

According to the release, since Empire Commercial Services’ founding in 1992, the company has processed and defended more than 4 million NYC parking violations, saving commercial fleets more than $200 million in fines by dismissals. Its Summons Management And Resolution Tracking (S.M.A.R.T) System makes it easy for fleets to manage and reconcile parking fines that occur in NYC. In recent years, Empire Commercial Services has expanded its technology offerings to assist fleets with commercial permits and vehicle renewals and manage traffic violations such as speeding tickets, moving violations, and more in the New York metropolitan area.

“Our mission is similar to Fleetworthy’s in that we’re committed to alleviating the operational challenges fleets face, specifically when it comes to managing violations such as parking tickets,” said Joseph Fama, Empire Commercial Services president and CEO. “We’re excited to join Fleetworthy as this agreement will allow our existing customers seamless access to more fleet management solutions that can help mitigate other challenges fleets experience operating in the New York Metropolitan area.”

Under the agreement, Empire Commercial Services will continue to operate under its current brand and retain its scope of business as a Fleetworthy product offering. For Empire Commercial Services customers, there will be no disruption to existing technology and support.

12/05/24 - Members of OPEC+ Postpone Production Increases

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 03:21:57pm -

FRANKFURT, Germany — Eight members of OPEC+ decided Dec. 5 to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries,

12/05/24 - Port Operators Draw the Line at Automation Issue

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 02:51:33pm -

Operators of East and Gulf Coast port terminals said they won’t continue bargaining with union dockworkers if it means giving up their right to invest in semi-automated cargo handling equipment.

12/05/24 - Global Fire Truck Industry Forecast: Expected to Reach USD 8,549.6 Million by 2033, Expanding at a 3.9% CAGR | FMI Reports

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 04:50:20am - The global fire trucks industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2023 to 2033, with an expected market value of USD 8,549.6 million by 2033. In 2023, the ...

12/05/24 - Land Line Now, Dec. 4, 2024

Fastertruck News - 12/05/24 - 12:40:13am -

FMCSA’s Truck Leasing Task Force is ready for its final report, which is likely not good news for lease-purchase deals. Also, Andrew King and Charles Sperry of the OOIDA Foundation explain what they’re seeing that gives them hope a turnaround is coming soon. Then, Road Dog Coffee company discusses the new blend it’s brewed up to honor radio personality Dave Nemo. And the Thanksgiving holiday disrupted the freight market, but Truckstop expects things to return to business as usual.

0:00 – Task force to recommend end of lease-purchase model

10:06 – Report shows hope for coming turnaround in freight market

25:00 – New coffee blend will honor a radio legend

39:51 – Truckstop: business as usual by end of year

12/04/24 - Arizona man who recruited truck drivers to transport drugs sentenced to prison

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 11:38:30pm -

An Arizona-based drug trafficker was sentenced to more than a decade in prison, according to federal officials.

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that Avondale resident Heriberto Lopez-Landeros, 44, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In August 2024, Lopez-Landeros pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

According to the DEA, Lopez-Landeros was the head of a drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin from Mexico to locations all across the U.S.

In order to transport the drugs, Lopez-Landeros recruited semi truck drivers to participate in the trafficking operation, with many of them transporting drugs in the cab of their trucks.

“During a year-and-a-half long investigation, investigators were able to seize several large loads of drugs connected with Lopez-Landeros, including 83 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of fentanyl, and 645 grams of heroin,” officials said.

The case agaisnt Lopez-Landeros was investigated by the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Avondale Police Department.

The post Arizona man who recruited truck drivers to transport drugs sentenced to prison appeared first on CDLLife.

12/04/24 - House and Senate Finalize Water Infrastructure Package

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 11:03:07pm -

Transportation policymakers on Capitol Hill finalized a comprehensive water infrastructure legislative package, paving the way for its end-of-the-year passage.

12/04/24 - Alternative fuels: Could they be a good fit for your trucking business?

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 09:44:01pm -

If you own your own business — and this applies to owner-operators as well as fleets — it’s probably safe to assume you’re concerned about the costs of operating your business.

With all the stories in the news about the “fuel of the future,” who could be blamed for wondering about alternatives to the tried-and-true diesel engine for future equipment purchases?

The biggest issue with non-traditional powered vehicles in the trucking industry is availability.

Natural gas, hydrogen and electricity all have advantages over diesel fuel, but none are as readily available and accessible as diesel.

If your business is irregular-route trucking that keeps you on the road for a week or more at a time, taking you to different destinations, diesel fuel is still your only viable option.

But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for other types of engines and fuel sources.

Changes are being made in certain areas of transportation.

Consider passenger vehicles.

Households that depend on one vehicle sometimes face the same issue as long-haul truckers when it comes to the availability of fuel. One-car families that use their vehicles for vacations or other long trips as well as for local travel are likely better served with gasoline or diesel power. But those households are in the minority.

According to a March 2024 article in Forbes Advisor, “Car Ownership Statistics 2024,” 59.1% of American households owned two or more vehicles in 2022.

For these millions of households, it makes perfect sense to use one vehicle for long-distance trips and another for commuting to and from work or school, local shopping and so forth. Vehicles fueled by electricity, natural gas or other fuels could work well — and save the owner some cash in the long run.

The same changes are occurring in trucking.

Local trucking businesses, such as those that haul trash, beverages or passengers (such as buses, trolley or tram systems) have been experimenting with other forms of power for years, with varying degrees of success. Many metro areas use natural gas to power bus transportation, benefitting from the lower cost and reduced emission levels provided by the fuel. Electric vehicles are also becoming more common.

If your trucking business is local or regional in nature — and especially if your vehicle returns to the same location each evening — an alternative fuel could give you a competitive advantage … but only if the details are in your favor.

For example, you might need to have an electric charging station or a natural gas fueling station installed where you park your vehicle. The cost of installation, the difficulty of getting supplied by the local power company and the cost of the specific alternative fuel are factors to consider.

Charging is a major factor for electric vehicles.

Many homes already have the electrical service necessary to charge an electric car.

However, charging heavy trucks generally requires more power than is available at a typical home. Businesses may need to upgrade their electrical service, and local grids may not be able to handle the increase without long delays (if at all).

Battery electric trucks require chargers that can handle 250-750 Kilowatt-hours (kWh). That’s five to 10 times the electricity required to charge a car.

Additionally, truck charging stations are usually designed to charge multiple vehicles at once. Often, installing chargers of that capacity requires additional cables, transformers and other hardware from the local electric company. Even then, the grid in that area may not be capable of handling the extra capacity.

The cost of electricity is another issue.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), costs per kWh of electricity in 2023 ranged from just over eight cents in North Dakota to just under 25 cents in California. In other words, the cost of electricity in California was more than three times the cost in North Dakota. (The national average cost was 12.68 cents.) Obviously, the cost of electricity in your area can make a huge difference in charging costs, whether you’re looking at powering a passenger vehicle or a Class 8 truck.

Natural gas prices vary by state as well.

The standard unit used to measure the energy capacity of natural gas is the “therm.” One therm is equal to about 100,000 British thermal units (BTUs), or about 29.3 kilowatt-hours of electricity. It’s the energy of about 100 cubic feet of natural gas at standard temperature and pressure.

As with electricity, natural gas prices are high in California and in the Northeast U.S. where they run almost double the cost in the Midwest. As with electric charging stations, it’s important to check with the local service provider to find out costs for both the product and for installation of charging infrastructure.

Natural gas fuels do offer other benefits.

One benefit of using natural gas to fuel your vehicles is that there is an infrastructure on the road, even if it’s still pretty small.

With its 2016 purchase of Trillium CNG, Love’s Travel Centers secured a supplier for natural gas refueling as well as new fueling stations. The chain now offers 65 fueling locations for natural gas. The truck stop stations are mostly in Texas and Oklahoma, but Trillium locations can be found from Florida to California.

British Petroleum (BP) last year announced that it had purchased the TravelCenters of America (TA) chain. BP plans to use TA locations to expand and develop new fuel offerings, including electric charging stations and natural gas.

Hydrogen is considered an up-and-coming fuel … but unless you live near a facility that makes it available, it’s probably not your fuel of choice.

It’s worth noting that the fuels mentioned above are often used to produce other fuels. For example, hydrogen is often manufactured from natural gas — using electricity. Natural gas is burned in some power plants that generate electricity. In areas where the cost of natural gas is high, the price for electricity or hydrogen produced from it is likely to be high as well.

So, what’s the answer?

That depends on your specific situation and needs. Before you make the decision to move to an alternate fuel, it’s important to find out who will perform maintenance on your vehicle and where maintenance services can be obtained.

Some tasks, such as oil changes, won’t change much, but a breakdown without a technician that knows the system could be a major problem.

Vehicles using natural gas as fuel and electric vehicles have been around long enough that both are available on the used truck market.

If your trucking business can work with limited fueling/charging capabilities, there might be an opportunity to reduce operational expenses and increase profitability by investing in an alternative-fuel vehicle.

12/04/24 - Two exit ramps closed indefinitely after I-10 oversize load bridge strike

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 09:36:45pm -

A portion of Interstate 10 was shut down in Louisiana on Tuesday after a semi truck tried to go beneath an overpass with a large load. 

The accident happened on the evening of December 3rd in Lafayette, Louisiana on Interstate 10 just before 5:30 p.m. 

According to News15, the semi truck collided with the overpass on I-10 eastbound while hauling an oversize load. The incident forced the closure of I-10 and Interstate 49 for cleanup of the wreck and inspection of the overpass. 

 I-49 northbound and southbound, along with I-10 eastbound at University Avenue, were shut down during the cleanup and inspection. They have since been reopened. 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has warned drivers that  the exit ramp from I-10 East to I-49 North and exit ramp from I-49 South to I-10 East will remain closed until further notice as a result of the incident. 

The post Two exit ramps closed indefinitely after I-10 oversize load bridge strike appeared first on CDLLife.

12/04/24 - Idaho truck stop continues tradition of free Thanksgiving meals for truck drivers

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 09:36:45pm -

An Idaho truck stop continued its decades-long tradition of treating truckers who are out on the road for the holiday to a free Thanksgiving meal.

For many years, the Boise Stage Stop (located between Boise and Mountain Home) has shown appreciation for the trucking community by offering a free full turkey dinner and pumpkin pie dessert to any CDL holder who stops in.

 

 

 

 

 

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The annual event is a way to provide truckers who have to spend the Thanksgiving holiday away from family with community and a hot meal.

Truck driver Kelly Willis told 11Alive, “It means everything because we spend so much time on the road. A lot of times we don’t have a place where we can be with our families. So having a place where we can come and be treated like family is priceless.”

Check out video from the Thanksgiving Day trucker appreciation festivities below.

The post Idaho truck stop continues tradition of free Thanksgiving meals for truck drivers appeared first on CDLLife.

12/04/24 - MARAD Awards $4.85M to Improve Cargo Flow on Marine Highways

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 09:30:53pm -

USDOT's Maritime Administration has awarded $4.85 million in grants to fund several marine highway projects including new cargo-handling equipment in Louisiana and Washington.

12/04/24 - DAT Launch & Learn Webinar for Brokers: December 2024 Session

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 09:30:25pm -

You’re invited to the next Launch & Learn webinar, featuring an in-depth look at DAT’s product suite. Get demos of the latest features from our product team, and learn more about DAT’s existing solutions that can help you optimize your business.

12/04/24 - J.B. Hunt among Newsweek’s America’s Most Reliable Companies 2025

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 07:49:56pm -

LOWELL, Ark. —  J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Reliable Companies 2025, recognizing the company’s integrity, commitment to service quality and say-do culture. This prestigious award is presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

“We are honored to be included among America’s Most Reliable Companies, as it is a strong testament to the hard work of our people,” said Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of sales and marketing at J.B. Hunt. “Every day our teams reflect our values of integrity, respect, innovation, safety and excellence. We strive to create the best customer experience with every interaction, ultimately delivering high service levels and strengthening the relationships we have with our customers. We know people do business with people they trust, and we look forward to building on that in the years to come.”

According to Newsweek and Statista, a reliable company is one that consistently honors its commitments, providing quality products or services while upholding high standards. They foster trust by demonstrating integrity, being attentive to customer needs and taking responsibility for their actions. The full list can currently be viewed on Newsweek’s website.

America’s Most Reliable Companies 2025 were identified through an independent survey that included over 1,700 participants across the nation, according to a company media release. The survey highlighted the following parameters: Likelihood of Recommendation, Ease of Doing Business, Value for Money, Consistency of Deliverables and Reputation for Dependability.

J.B. Hunt was recently recognized as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for its ongoing corporate responsibility efforts, complementing its recognition by USA Today earlier this year as one of America’s Climate Leaders. Additional honors for the company this year include TIME World’s Best Companies, one of the most admired companies in the world and several awards for its veteran-friendly culture.

12/04/24 - Truck Leasing Task Force calls lease-purchase programs ‘irredeemable tools of fraud’

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 07:48:19pm - The Truck Leasing Task Force is taking a big swing as to what should be done to protect truckers from predatory lease-purchase agreements.

12/04/24 - Taking too long at diesel pumps led to truck stop stabbing in Oregon, per report

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 07:34:18pm -

A violent altercation occurred at an Oregon truck stop’s fuel island over the weekend.

Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to a Love’s truck stop location in Troutdale, Oregon for a reported stabbing.

Deputies found a victim at the diesel pumps who had been stabbed in his upper body.

The victim told police that he had been stabbed during an argument with a truck driver over how long he was taking at the fuel pumps, KATU reports.

The suspect left the scene in his semi truck following the stabbing.

Police viewed witness and security video and were able to identify the suspect as Sean Alexis White, 59.

MCSO was able to locate White at Jackson’s Gas Station and take him into custody.

The victim was hospitalized and required surgery.

White faces charges of second degree assault, attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless endangerment.

The post Taking too long at diesel pumps led to truck stop stabbing in Oregon, per report appeared first on CDLLife.

12/04/24 - Torc Robotics Plans Dallas-Fort Worth, Ann Arbor Offices

Fastertruck News - 12/04/24 - 07:28:31pm -

The company is shutting down its European operations simultaneously, and existing employees in Europe will have to reapply for new jobs.