Latest Industry News Briefs Courtesy of PMTA

PMTA
December 2018

Aashto Publishes New Edition Of The “Green Book”

WASHINGTON, DC…The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently released the seventh edition of A Policy on Geometric Design of Highway and Streets, commonly referred to as the AASHTO “Green Book.”

Developed by the AASHTO Technical Committee on Geometric Design, the Green Book contains the current design research and practices for highway and street geometric design. It provides guidance to highway engineers and designers, who strive to make unique design solutions that meet the needs of highway and street users on a project-by project basis, while maintaining the integrity of the environment.

“Some people in the transportation community regard the Green Book almost as the “bible” of highway engineering,” says AASHTO President Carlos Braceras, CEO, Utah Department of Transportation, and chair of the AASHTO Committee on Design. “The Green Book is guidance that provides important information for an engineer to design the appropriate facility in the context of the environment that they are working in,” Braceras adds, “and it is used, not only by state departments of transportation and U.S cities and counties, but in countries around the world.”

This revised edition contains a number of key updates from the 2011 sixth edition, including an updated framework for geometric design that is more flexible and performance-based than in previous editions. A completely rewritten chapter one, A New Framework for Geometric Design, introduces the updated approach to design, with specific design guidance throughout each chapter. In addition, the design guidelines include not only traditional functional classifications for roadways (local roads and streets, collectors, arterials, and freeways), but also an expanded set of context classifications (rural, rural town, suburban, urban, and urban core) to guide geometric design. It also describes how geometric design elements affect multiple transportation modes and users (automobiles, bicyclists, pedestrians, transit, and trucks) and recognizes the relationship between geometric design features and traffic operations.

Copies of the “Green Book” can be purchased by visiting the AASHTO Store online at https://store.transportation.org, and searching by the publication’s item code, GDHS-7. The Green Book is available in paperback, as a PDF download, and in a set that includes both the paperback and PDF download formats.

ATA Applauds EPA for First Step in NOx Rulemaking Effort

Arlington, Virginia — Today, the American Trucking Associations commended the Environmental Protection Agency for taking the first step in reviewing and implementing new standards for NOx emissions from heavy trucks.

“As an industry engaged in interstate commerce, ATA strongly favors a single national emission pathway as opposed to a patchwork of state standards,” said ATA Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan. “Clean air and a healthy environment are important to all of us, and the trucking industry has repeatedly demonstrated that it can work proactively and in partnership with the federal government in achieving these aims. We look forward to working with the EPA in developing a standard that achieves nationwide air quality improvements across the country while maintaining a strong and robust economy.”

ATA and EPA have a long history of successful, collaborative efforts to improve air quality, including the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership, and the association said it looked forward to continuing that relationship.

“Clean air is an issue that affects all of us,” said ATA Vice President, Energy & Environmental Affairs Counsel Glen Kedzie. “ATA has worked with EPA in the past to make sure emissions standards – like the current NOx rule and Phase II of the greenhouse gas emissions rules for heavy-duty vehicles – are not just achievable, but that they are indeed achieved. ATA and its members are constantly purchasing newer, cleaner, more efficient vehicles, and as a result we have achieved historic reductions in emissions of all kinds. That is a track record we are not only proud of but that we look forward to continuing into the future.”

As part of this effort, ATA is convening a task force to weigh solutions and principles to address the issue of NOx emissions.

ATA Recognizes Year’s Best in Trucking

The American Trucking Associations recognized several winners of the industry's top honors as part of the association's Leadership and Awards Luncheon at its annual Management Conference & Exhibition.

“Every day our industry provides countless examples of professionalism, hard work and commitment to safety,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Today, we take time to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to excellence and have earned the title of ‘champion’ over the past year.”

Among those honored were:

* Scott Woodrome, a professional driver with FedEx Freight from Middletown, Ohio, Bendix Grand Champion of the 2018 National Truck Driving Championship

* Phillip Pinter, a technician with FedEx Freight from Ida, Michigan, 2018 National Technician Skills Competition – TMC SuperTech – Grand Champion;

* ATA National Truck Driver of the Year David Boyer, a professional driver with ABF Freight System and an America’s Road Team Captain, from Wytheville, Virginia.

In addition, ATA honored three fleets with the ATA President’s Award:

* Sinclair Trucking Company, Salt Lake City, for fleets under 25 million miles;

* Cargo Transporters, Claremont, North Carolina, for fleets between 25 million and 100 million miles; and

* Hub Group, Oak Brook, Illinois, for fleets with more than 100 million miles.

The ATA President's Award goes to fleets who demonstrate innovative approaches to safety and go the extra mile to keep America's highways safe.

Prior to the Awards Lunch, ATA’s membership staff also honored Tom Lee, vice president of Empire Warehouse Inc., Denver, Colorado, with the 2018 Rocque Dameo Award for his service as an ATA State Vice President. Since 2014, the Dameo Award, has been awarded to ATA State Vice Presidents who have gone above and beyond in advancing the goals of the trucking industry and ATA. The award carries with it a $5,000 donation to the winner’s state association.

Beemac Trucking & Logistics Ranks No. 3501 on the 2018 Inc. 5000 with Three-Year Revenue Growth of 108 Percent

PITTSBURGH, PA… Inc. magazine revealed that Beemac Trucking & Logistics, a premier full service transportation provider based out of Ambridge, is number 3501 on its 37^th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.

“We’re proud to be included amongst some of the nation’s most well-known companies, and recognize we cannot do any of this without our loyal customers and amazing employees”

“We’re proud to be included amongst some of the nation’s most well-known companies, and recognize we cannot do any of this without our loyal customers and amazing employees,” said president of Beemac Trucking & Logistics, Loren Dworakowski. “We are looking forward to our continued growth and consistently exceeding our customers expectations.”

Beemac Trucking is a premier transportation company providing asset-based trucking, logistics, port, warehousing, and specialized services to customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Ambridge, PA, Beemac operates over 400 trucks, and has 28 terminals nationwide. For more information, please visit our website at www.beemac.com.

Beemac Logistics is an industry leading, multi-modal full services transportation and logistics provider. They offer trucking, logistics, warehousing, and specialized transportation services to customers throughout North America. Located in Beaver, PA, Beemac Logistics will be opening an additional location in Houston to meet their growing client needs.

Beemac is an innovator of logistics solutions, and we pride ourselves on unmatched service and the quality of our employees. At Beemac, we truly believe “relationships move loads.

Nearly 5,000 Commercial Motor Vehicles With Critical Brake Violations Removed From Roadways During Brake Safety Week

During Brake Safety Week, Sept. 16-22, 2018, enforcement personnel in 57 jurisdictions throughout Canada and the United States conducted 35,080 inspections on commercial motor vehicles and captured and reported data on brake violations. The majority of vehicles inspected did not have any brake-related out-of-service conditions; however, inspectors found critical vehicle inspection items in the brake systems of 4,955 (14.1 percent) of the vehicles inspected and placed those vehicles out of service until the condition(s) could be corrected.

Brake violations were the top vehicle out-of-service violation during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) International Roadcheck 72-hour enforcement initiative in June 2018. And according to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) data (snapshot as of Sept. 28, 2018), out of 2.38 million inspections, there were 1,045,335 brake-related violations in federal fiscal 2018, with a portion of those accounting for seven of the top 20 vehicle violations. In an effort to address brake system violations, jurisdictions throughout North America participated in this year's Brake Safety Week.

The goal of this week-long brake safety enforcement and outreach initiative is to reduce the number of crashes involving brake-related problems by raising awareness throughout the motor carrier community of the importance of properly functioning brake systems and by conducting roadside inspections to identify and remove vehicles with critical brake violations from our roadways.

Brake Safety Week data also captured antilock braking systems (ABS) violations, indicating how well ABS are maintained in accordance with federal regulations. ABS help the vehicle to stop in the shortest possible distance under many conditions and to maintain steering control in situations when tires may slip. Many participating jurisdictions surveyed ABS compliance. ABS violations were counted when the malfunction lamp did not illuminate or stayed on, indicating an issue of some kind. The findings are as follows:

• 26,143 air-braked power units required ABS; 8.3 percent (2,176) had ABS violations.

• 17,857 trailers required ABS; 12.5 percent (2,224) had ABS violations.

• 5,354 hydraulic-braked trucks required ABS; 4.4 percent (234) had ABS violations.

• 651 motorcoaches/buses required ABS; 2 percent (13) had ABS violations.

Brake Safety Week deployed several strategies to help make our roadways safer:

•Prevention – Since the dates of Brake Safety Week are announced well in advance, it gives motor carriers and drivers ample opportunity to ensure their vehicles are proactively checked and properly maintained and any issues found are corrected. Everyone wants the vehicles that are inspected to pass inspection. A vehicle that passes inspection increases overall safety.

•Education – Brake Safety Week is an opportunity for law enforcement personnel to educate drivers and motor carriers on the inspection procedure with a focus on the vehicle’s mechanical components, especially the brake systems. Education and awareness are key in prompting preventative action to ensure each commercial motor vehicle is safe and roadworthy.

• Action – Inspectors who identified commercial motor vehicles with critical brake issues during the inspection process were able to remove those dangerous vehicles from our roadways. If a vehicle has brake-related critical inspection items, it's law enforcement's duty and responsibility to place that vehicle out of service, safeguarding the public.

"Whether you're driving a commercial motor vehicle or inspecting one, we all know the importance of properly functioning brakes," said CVSA President Lt. Scott Carnegie with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. "It is essential that we – law enforcement, drivers and motor carriers – do all that we can through prevention, education, outreach and action to ensure only the safest commercial motor vehicles are being operated by professional drivers on our roadways."

Brake Safety Week is part of CVSA's Operation Airbrake Program in partnership with FMCSA and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

International Tolling Association Elects Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, as 2019 Second Vice-President

WASHINGTON, DC… The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA) has announced the election of Mark Compton, Chief Executive Office of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, as the association’s 2019 Second Vice-President.

Compton was elected 2019 IBTTA Second Vice-President during the association’s 86^th Annual Meeting & Exhibition held earlier this month in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting brought together more than 800 transportation leaders from 20 countries to discuss innovative practices, policies, technologies, funding options and business models helping to transform mobility for drivers.

“I am delighted to have the support of my colleagues from around the globe to serve in this leadership role. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have accomplished a great deal to provide our customers with safe, efficient travel across our 552-mile system. I hope to share my experience with others in the industry as well as to bring other best practices home to Pennsylvania,” said Mark Compton.

Compton will serve as Second Vice-President of IBTTA for one year, beginning January 1, 2019. In 2020, he will become the First Vice-President and President of IBTTA in 2021.

“Mark has served on the Board of Director’s for many years, we are honored to have him join the Executive Committee as Second Vice-President,” said Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA. “During this critical time for transportation infrastructure development and investment, Mark will lead our association in the conversation and implementation to increase greater mobility for our customers. With today’s technology rapidly changing surface transportation and tolling, this is an exciting time to be leading the world’s largest tolling association and we are honored to have Mark as part of our leadership team in 2019.”

Compton, who is from Manheim, PA, began serving as chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Feb. 1, 2013. A professional with nearly two decades of public and private-sector experience in transportation, administration and construction, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University. He previously served as PennDOT’s deputy secretary of administration, overseeing eight bureaus within the agency. Before joining PennDOT, he worked for American Infrastructure, a heavy civil construction company headquartered in Worcester, PA. Prior to that, he worked in various public and private operations, focusing largely on transportation, construction and economic development.

Lace Up To Support The Natso Foundation

Alexandria, VA… The NATSO Foundation is bringing a Fun Run to NATSO Connect 2019 to support the important work of the NATSO Foundation while also creating a fun networking event for truckstop and travel plaza operators and industry suppliers.

The community-building 5K run or walk will take place on Monday, Feb. 11, at 7 a.m., on the boardwalk outside the Disney Yacht & Beach Club in Orlando, Florida.

“This is going to be a great event, and we hope all attendees will get in on the fundraising to support the important work the NATSO Foundation takes on each year,” said Pamela Hayes, vice president of business development for NATSO.

The Fun Run will include a 5k and a one-mile course that participants are welcome to run or walk. There will be water stations and t-shirts for participants and a light breakfast on the boardwalk following the race. Race participants also may be able to pose with a Disney character or two at the finish line.

The NATSO Foundation Fun Run is sponsored by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, McLane, Pilot Flying J and TravelCenters of America.

The money raised will support the NATSO Foundation, which is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO Inc. The NATSO Foundation provides programs and products aimed at strengthening travel plazas’ ability to meet the needs of the traveling public through improved operational performance and business planning.

Registration for the Fun Run, which is separate from registration for NATSO Connect, is $50. Individuals or companies can fundraise for the race, and the NATSO Foundation will award a prize to the individual and the team that raises the most money for the cause. To register for the race, visit NATSO Connect's website.

Two $10,000 Fun Run sponsorships are still available. Sponsors receive their logo on the race t-shirt, an opportunity to put their materials on breakfast tables and more. Those interested in supporting the event as a sponsor can reach out to Pamela Hayes at (703) 739-8565 or [email protected].

NATSO Connect 2019 is scheduled to take place Feb. 10-13, at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club in Orlando, Fla. It is open to all travel plaza or truckstop owners, operators, managers, buyers and staff who want to increase their industry knowledge, gain business intelligence and see new products. Learn more on the NATSO Connect's website.

OOIDA Recognized By Public Relations Society

Grain Valley, MO… The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has received two Gold PRISM awards from the Greater Kansas City Public Relations Society of America. One award is for OOIDA’s speed limiter video and the other went to Todd Spencer, OOIDA president, for an OpEd he penned on hours-of-serve reform.

“We would like to thank the GKC-PRSA for acknowledging these works done on behalf of our members,” said Norita Taylor, director of public relations at OOIDA. “We strive to make our messages known beyond the trucking community and appreciate recognition from mainstream media as well.”

The GKC-PRSA is a chapter of the national PRSA and is a community of communications professionals across the Kansas City and midwest. Its signature event, the annual PRISM Awards honors the year’s best in communications excellence.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 160,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area.

Truckers Association Kicks Driver Shortage Myth To The Curb With New Video

Grain Valley, MO… The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association introduced a video dispelling the myth that there is a shortage of truck drivers in the United States.

“We created this video because we are concerned that messaging in mainstream media is missing the mark on the issue of high turnover,” said Norita Taylor, director of public relations at OOIDA. “The real problem is driver churn caused by low pay and poor working conditions.”

The video, which was produced in cooperation with the OOIDA Foundation, goes into details as to why there is actually not a shortage despite claims otherwise by the biggest carriers in the industry.

“The idea of a driver shortage has been around for decades and is typically used as an excuse to push other agendas that are not beneficial to small-business truckers,” said Taylor. “With turnover numbers reaching 98 percent and higher, we see a serious problem that can only be solved with compensation and better treatment of drivers.”

The video features OOIDA president Todd Spencer in combination with graphics that spell out how the numbers don’t support a shortage.

“You can be profitable in trucking even with 100 percent turnover as we see all the time. No other business would be like that. It sacrifices a whole lot of things, not the least of which is highway safety,” said Spencer.

The OOIDA Foundation is a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation which was created to research economic and safety issues affecting the small-business owner and professional truck driver. This information is used to promote the rights of truckers and to give various local, state and federal agencies insight into who these truckers are and how regulations and legislation can affect their lives.