Latest Industry News Briefs Courtesy of PMTA

November 2019

ATA Calls for Common Sense Approach to Liberalizing Marijuana Law - Trucking Group Backs Comprehensive Approach to Address Legalized Recreational Pot

San Diego, CA… The Board of Directors of the American Trucking Associations endorsed a new set of policies aimed at helping the industry continue to safely operate in an environment where more states are liberalizing laws related to the recreational use of marijuana.

“ATA has long been an advocate for reducing impaired driving – in all its forms – so it only makes sense that we would call upon state and federal governments to consider the impact of increased use of marijuana on our roadways,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear.“As an industry that operates in all 50 states and across national borders, we need all levels of government to help us keep our roads and drivers drug-free.”

ATA’s new platform bolsters the federation’s already robust impaired driving policies to deal specifically with marijuana, now that more than 93 million Americans live where the drug is legal for recreational use. Developed by ATA’s Controlled Substances and Driver Health and Wellness Working Group, the new policy and recommendations:

* Call for the government to maintain the right of employers to test for marijuana if they determine that use could adversely affect safety;

* Support a lifting of the federal restrictions on marijuana research and call for more research into marijuana’s impact on impairment, especially in conjunction with other substances;

* Back the development of oral fluid testing and impairment standards; and

* Call for the creation of a marijuana victim’s compensation fund – paid for by dispensaries, cultivators and manufacturers.

This is in addition to ATA’s existing policies calling for the government to allow alternative drug testing methods, creation of a national database of positive drug and alcohol test results and strong anti-impaired driving laws.

“This policy allows us to, while recognizing that the modern world is changing, advocate for strong, safety-oriented policies backed by sound science and data,” Spear said.

ATA Congratulates 2019 EPA SmartWay Excellence Award Winners

San Diego, CA… The American Trucking Associations congratulated 30 member fleets and shippers for winning SmartWay Excellence Awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Over the past 15 years, the U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transportation Partnership has provided the tools and information for thousands of companies to create leaner, more efficient supply chains,” said EPA’s Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality Sarah Dunham. “This year, EPA is recognizing 72 companies with SmartWay Excellence Awards for outstanding environmental achievements and leadership in goods movement. These truck carriers, shippers, and third party logistics providers are leading the industry and showing that it is possible to move more goods using less fuel, resulting in fewer emissions and air pollutants while also reducing costs and conserving energy.”

“EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a perfect example of the business community and government working together to address a significant challenge,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “ATA is proud that so many of our members not only participate in this program, but that so many of them are honored for that participation with a SmartWay Excellence Award.

The ATA members honored with SmartWay Excellence Awards are:

* ABF Freight System Inc.

* C.R. England Inc.

* Combined Transport Inc.

* Contract Transportation Systems Co.

* CRST Dedicated Services Inc.

* CRST Expedited Inc.

* Doug Andrus Distributing LLC

* Duncan and Son Lines Inc.

* Fortune Transportation

* Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP

* Hirschbach Motor Lines

* Hub Group

* J.B. Hunt Transport Inc.

* McFarland Truck Lines Inc.

* Meijer

* Meijer Logistics LLC

* Mesilla Valley Transportation

* Michelin North America Inc.

* Nussbaum Transportation Services Inc.

* Nu-Way Transportation Services Inc.

* Old Dominion Freight Line Inc.

* OutWest Express LLC

* Roehl Transport Inc.

* Ruan Transportation Management Systems Inc.

* Southeast Transportation Systems Inc.

* Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona LLC

* Trinity Logistics Group Inc.

* Walmart Transportation LLC

* Werner Enterprises

* Woody Bogler Trucking Company

EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible to protect public health and reduce emissions. Demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility and freight efficiency through SmartWay provides for a more sustainable and competitive business environment.

Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 119 million metric tons of harmful air pollution, while saving 249 million barrels of oil and $33.4 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating annual energy use in over 16 million homes. SmartWay partners also help protect clean and healthy air by significantly reducing pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

For more information about SmartWay Excellence Awards, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-a...

ATA Honors Rhode Island’s Chris Maxwell with President’s TAEC Award

San Diego, CA… Rhode Island Trucking Association President and CEO Chris Maxwell was named the 18th recipient of the American Trucking Associations’ President’s Trucking Association Executives Council Leadership Award during ATA’s 86th Management Conference and Exhibition.

“It is an honor to recognize someone who, in a relatively short time, has become an incredibly active state executive and leading voice on one of our industry’s most pressing issues: tolling,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Chris is relentless and has put his heart and soul into fighting tolling. He has worked hand in glove with ATA and our Litigation Center, bringing together many stakeholders in his state to join the battle, and energizing and deploying his membership to do the same.”

Maxwell joined the Rhode Island Trucking Association in 2011 after more than two decades of service in the trucking industry. In his time as RITA CEO, he was been a staunch advocate for the industry, highlighted by his efforts to turn back Rhode Island’s truck-only toll scheme.

The Trucking Association Executives Council is comprised of staff executives of state trucking associations and conferences affiliated with the American Trucking Associations. TAEC serves to promote the trucking industry; contribute to the improvement of the associations and organizations established to serve the trucking industry; and advance the professional stature and capabilities of the managers and executives of such associations.

The President’s TAEC Leadership Award was created in 2002 by ATA to honor a state trucking association leader and to create an enduring legacy for that leader and for the industry. The award comes with a $10,000 grant for a non-profit 501(c)(3) trucking education or research organization chosen by Newton.

“Chris’ tireless work is an example for all state executives in our Federation,” said incoming ATA Chairman Randy Guillot, president of Triple G Express Inc. “His efforts have drawn notice not just within trucking, but among leaders in Rhode Island who now know just how formidable our industry is. His energy is an inspiration to all us in the ATA Federation.”

Past winners of the award are: Shannon Newton of Arkansas, Shawn Yadon of California, Brenda Neville of Iowa, John Esparza of Texas, Kendra Hems of New York, Mike Riley of Connecticut, Rick Todd of South Carolina, George Burruss of Missouri, Karen Rasmussen of Arizona, Jim Runk of Pennsylvania, Tom Howells of Wisconsin, John Hausladen of Minnesota, Dale Hanington of Maine, Larry Davis of Ohio, Dale Bennett of Virginia, Cathy Gautreaux of Louisiana and Dave Huneryager of Tennessee.

ATA Honors Trucking Advocates with Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards

San Diego, CA… American Trucking Associations presented the Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards to one motor carrier, one state trucking association, one fleet executive, and one professional truck driver. The awards honor trucking’s champions of image, professionalism and safety, and recognize individuals and groups that use innovative approaches to improve the image of the trucking industry.

“Over my past year as chairman of ATA, I’ve seen from coast to coast the types of positive impacts we’re having on improving the image of trucking,” said ATA Chairman Barry Pottle, president of Pottle’s Transportation LLC.“Whether we’re introducing local lawmakers to some of Maine’s professional truck drivers or hosting high school students at MCE here in San Diego, our industry does a lot of great work to showcase who we are and how important we are to the general public.”

This year’s winners of the Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards are:

* Covenant Transport for developing the Tomorrow’s Truckers program and providing the tools to ATA to offer the program industry-wide. Covenant also supports ATA’s image programs including the newly-launched Workforce Heroes program, and many of the industry’s disaster relief efforts.

* Minnesota Trucking Association for being one of the leading trucking image supporters at the state level, specifically by creating a three-pronged public relations campaign focusing on the need to develop reliable information, provide access to subject matter experts, and engage in working sessions with safety partners. Through this campaign the Minnesota Trucking Association developed a close relationship with the state DOT and the Governor’s office to pass major highway safety legislation, including the Hands Free Cell Phone Law and the Truck Platooning Law.

* Fleet executive Kevin Burch of Jet Express Inc. for developing some of the industry’s high-profile image efforts, including Trucking Moves America Forward trailer wraps and Safety Sammy, as well as “pinning” President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao, countless public officials and members of the public with I Love Trucks pins. Burch makes trucking image a part of his everyday life.

* America’s Road Team Captain and YRC Freight professional truck driver Steve Fields for being the epitome of an American truck driver in his actions, professionalism and words. Fields is a mentor to many drivers in the trucking industry and serves as an ambassador to the motoring public. He is passionate about his career in trucking, so passionate that he famously “pinned” a hesitant Brad Paisley at the 2017 MCE in Orlando.

The Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards are named in honor of the late Mike Russell, a trucking industry supporter and former ATA vice president of public affairs. The awards are sponsored by HireRight.

“HireRight is appreciative of each of these award winners for what they do to champion our industry and we are proud to honor them with the Mike Russell Trucking Image Awards,” said Dr. Todd Simo, HireRight chief medical officer and managing director of transportation. “These awards are aligned with HireRight’s mission to recruit hardworking professionals into the trucking industry and empower them to succeed.”

“The image of trucking improves each year due to the efforts of these champions,” said ATA Executive Vice President, Industry Affairs and Senior Adviser Elisabeth Barna. “Today’s honorees have made a substantial impact on our industry’s public perception through their words and deeds. As an industry, we appreciate their efforts and encourage others to use their work as a model for improving our industry’s image going forward.”

ATA President Calls on Industry to Focus on Solving Future Challenges - Spear Announces Elevation of Tort Reform and Marijuana as Top Issues

San Diego, CA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear urged the Federation to work together, and with anyone who is willing to work with trucking, to continue shaping a strong, positive future for the industry.

“As an association that puts its members, industry and country first, we must always adhere to the value of working with anyone willing to work with us. Since becoming your President and CEO, ATA’s focus on your priorities has been relentless, posting key wins... from federal tax reform to the preemption of California’s duplicative meal and rest break requirements,” Spear said this morning at the ATA’s 86th Management Conference & Exhibition. “These results contribute to a growth environment.”

Working with lawmakers and officials from both sides of the political divide, as well as with the many parts of an industry as diverse as trucking is critical to achieving success on behalf of the industry.

“The fact is, the relationships ATA has with the House and Senate -- and both governing parties – are real, strategic and impactful,” he said. “The right wing and left wing belong to the same bird. And as an association that puts its members, industry and country first, we must always adhere to the value of working with anyone willing to work with us. We do that and we soar.”

In looking ahead, Spear said it was crucial to trucking, in addition to continuing to make progress key issues like trade and infrastructure, to address looming challenges now like the driver shortage, tort reform and relaxation of laws surrounding recreational marijuana, so ATA can shape solutions that benefit the industry.

On the shortage, Spear said ignoring or denying the existence of the shortage is not an option, and there are a number of potential solutions including allowing younger drivers to obtain a commercial license with improved oversight and safety training, working to improve access to affordable health care and wellness programs that keep our employees healthy and recruiting drivers from underrepresented and nontraditional demographics.

“Let me be clear, poaching talent from other carriers is not a sustainable growth strategy,” he said.

Spear also cited new work to be done in the arenas of tort reform and the industry’s response to a number of states legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

“Eleven states, DC and Canada have now legalized the recreational use of marijuana... all while our federal government turns a blind eye. You can just see the trial lawyers – sitting on the edge of their high, wing-back leather chairs – drooling over the thought of more legal ambiguity,” he said. “We can’t just sit back and hand them yet another opportunity to litigate our industry. That’s why we’re announcing the first meeting of ATA’s new Controlled Substances, Health and Wellness Subcommittee here in San Diego. We need a member-led policy platform that helps lawmakers, regulators and courts make informed decisions about the impact substance abuse is having on safety and interstate commerce.”

Those decisions, he said, should include moving forward on completing the federal clearinghouse of drug and alcohol test results, hair follicle testing and research into a roadside test for impairment from marijuana.

Finally, Spear told ATA’s members that the Federation was making “tort reform a tier one priority at the state and federal level.”

“We will continue to grow the ATA Litigation Center, and increase the number of lawsuits. And we will back our state association executives that pursue ballot initiatives – going state-to-state to fight… until we have won,” he said.

ATA Statement on FMCSA Administrator Martinez’ Departure

Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement after it was announced Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Ray Martinez would be leaving the agency to take a position at DOT’s John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center:

"We wish Administrator Martinez well in his new role at the Volpe Center, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with FMCSA’s new leadership as we work on our shared goal of improving highway safety.”

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Fell 3.2% in August

Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index declined 3.2% in August after jumping 6.2% in July. In August, the index equaled 118.3 (2015=100) compared with 122.2 in July.

“The large swings continued in August, but the good news is the trend line is still up,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “While there is concern over economic growth, truck tonnage shows that it is unlikely that the economy is slipping into a recession. It is important to note that ATA’s tonnage data is dominated by contract freight, which is performing significantly better than the plunge in spot market freight this year.”

July’s reading was revised down compared with our August press release.

Compared with August 2018, the SA index increased 4.1%. The index is up 4.3% year-to-date compared with the same period last year.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 125.1 in August, 2.2% above the July level (122.3). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.

ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.

Canadian Trucking Alliance Statement Regarding Actions Needed to Address Fleet Safety & Protect Immigrant Drivers

TORONTO, CANADA… The Canadian trucking industry employs about 320,000 commercial vehicle operators across Canada – the vast majority of whom work for fleets that have excellent training, fleet management and health and safety programs. Although the vast majority of the professional men and women who work in trucking have excellent training, fleet management and health and safety programs and have made successful careers while enjoying the benefits of living and working in the greatest country in the world, there are, unfortunately, some carriers throughout all of Canada – from every culture – who do not follow all the rules governing the trucking sector, such as health and safety, environmental, and equipment maintenance regulations. These non-compliant carriers are the same companies that are abusing drivers – robbing these hard-working individuals of the rewarding career experience enjoyed by thousands of Canadians (as highlighted by the growing number of fleets in Trucking HR Canada’s Top Fleet Employers Program).

As a national body, we at the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) are embarrassed by the actions of a small element of our sector that engage and build a business model around violating and circumventing rules governing our sector. CTA believes we must change the enforcement dialogue to address such carriers. Work is ongoing with various levels of governments to bring about this change – but change cannot come fast enough for the CTA membership and, no doubt, the Canadian public who share the road with these fleets that show a complete disregard for public safety and the human dignity of the hard-working immigrants looking to make a better life in Canada.

So, what can we do? The answer is not to stop federal/provincial immigration programs. There are too many commercial drivers going through various programs that are employed by legally compliant and ethically responsible carriers who are facing a driver shortage. The reality is that Canadian demographic rates can no longer sustain our economy – 71 per cent of our population growth and over 90 per cent of labour market growth is due to immigration. As the dominant freight mode and the backbone of Canada’s economy, the trucking and logistics sector has, worryingly, one of the highest job vacancy rates at 6.6 per cent. Currently there are more than 20,000 unfilled truck driver positions in Canada – more than double the vacancies just three years ago, in 2016. If the trucks don’t keep moving, the economy will simply grind to a halt.

When it comes to the future of immigration programs, the Government of Canada needs to continue working with the trucking industry and other sectors to create trusted and effective employer programs. The immigration programs currently in place must ensure participating companies have the required standards in place for training, environmental, equipment, and health and safety before they can take part in such programs. To protect workers from abuse, while also supporting the Canadian economy, it’s imperative our valued new immigrants end up with the majority of compliant, responsible fleets operating in Canada.

As for the fleets exhibiting grossly unsafe operating behaviour, which is typically a strong indication of illegal labour practices, CTA has developed a plan. Following the Humboldt tragedy, CTA developed a Ten Point Action Plan to address ensure that the small underbelly of non-compliant carriers get the regulatory attention they deserve from provincial and federal enforcement officials. Part of that plan included improved regulatory oversight of trucking firms entering the sector as well as those already operating on our roadways. Simply put, it’s far too easy to start a trucking company in Canada; and once in the sector, it’s hardly complicated for these unscrupulous carriers to coast under the regulatory radar and avoid enforcement and sanctions.

Transport Canada and CTA have formed a working group to develop actions that would improve provincial trucking safety regulatory oversight. However, it is important to keep in mind that the provinces have the responsibility to monitor federally regulated trucking fleets. Consequently, we will require political fortitude from all levels of government to implement effective safety enforcement changes coast-to-coast. CTA expects to have a final industry-government regulatory work plan in place in early 2020. With stricter entry requirements and better monitoring of existing carriers, unsuspecting drivers would be far less exposed to the trucking fleets with a complete disregard for compliance and labour rights.

While road safety is the enforcement domain of the provinces, the federal government can immediately take the bull by the horns to assist abused drivers by focusing their enforcement resources on an industry labour misclassification scam known as Driver Inc. This driver abuse perpetrated by the bottom of our industry has allowed unprincipled fleet owners to rob truck drivers of their health and safety rights along with exposing them to significant tax penalties. CTA remains hopeful that both Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency will begin a significant targeted campaign that is focused on Driver Inc.

CTA will continue to work with the Government of Canada and all provinces to ensure that gross violators receive the enforcement attention they require and that our immigration programs grow to meet the needs of responsible and accountable fleets so future truck drivers coming to Canada for a better life never have to experience abhorrent treatment from a safety and labour perspective. Operating a commercial vehicle on a public highway is a privilege, not a right. Carriers that build a business model on circumventing labour, tax, safety and environmental regulations have no place in our great industry. CTA is committed to working with all levels of government and all supply chain members to rid ourselves, once and for all, of carriers who come into our proud sector with no intention of following the regulations that make commercial vehicles the safest vehicles on the road and the labour rules that attract thousands of Canadians to work and thrive in our sector.

CTA Call to Action: Make Next Government Prioritize Trucking Issues Like Driver Inc.

Toronto, Canada…. The Canadian Trucking Alliance is imploring trucking companies to let the next federal government know that industry competitiveness issues, like the tax avoidance scheme known as Driver Inc., needs to be dealt with by Ottawa.

Following the fall election this October, the elected Prime Minister will issue “mandate letters” to the new cabinet outlining the priorities for each minister. Basically, mandate letters are ‘to-do’ lists the Prime Minister’s Office wants completed by the end of each minister’s mandate. CTA has submitted a policy paper to all federal political party leaders, which outlines industry priorities that should be included in future mandate letters. Solving the Driver Inc. issue is front-and-centre in the CTA submission.

“The trucking industry is the number one employer of Canadian males, most of whom are truck drivers. A large percentage of these hard-working individuals are employed by hundreds of small trucking businesses from coast-to-coast. Yet these jobs are at high risk, as their employers are under attack by fleets engaged in the tax scam known as Driver Inc,” said CTA President Stephen Laskowski. “Whoever forms the next Government of Canada must make the enforcement of Driver Inc. a top priority.”

The CTA submission also provides examples of other competitive fairness, level-playing field issues the industry is grappling with in areas of environmental compliance, labour and truck safety that should also be included in future mandate letters. The issues were identified as top priorities by Canadian fleets of all different sizes across the country in a 2019 Nanos Research poll.

CTA is calling on its 5000-plus carrier members to send each political party leader a letter or e-mail in support of CTA’s request to include these issues of fair competitiveness in future mandate letters.

“We understand there are a lot of demands put on all parties by all sectors of the economy. But as an industry, we need to make sure our voice is heard loud and clear,” said Laskowski.

To assist the membership, CTA has prepared some read-to-use talking points to include in a company letter or e-mail to the leaders of the four political parties.

Small-Business Truckers Not Surprised Survey Repeats Shortage Myth While Driver Pay Is Not Even A Thought

WASHINGTON, DC… The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association responded with advice to motor carriers that, according to a new survey, are highly concerned about hiring and keeping drivers, more so than any other critical issues in trucking.

“Pay them,” said OOIDA vice president Lewie Pugh. “As a matter of fact, trucking companies could solve both of their top two concerns by addressing what matters most to drivers.”

The survey was conducted by American Transportation Research Institute. They asked participants, who identified themselves by their occupations, to rank trucking’s most critical issues in order of importance.

Truck driver respondents said compensation is the most critical issue in the industry, while carriers insisted on perpetuating their decades-old claim that they can’t find enough workers.

“The real problem is carriers aren’t taking the necessary steps to keep their drivers,” said Pugh. “This fact is demonstrated in other ongoing research and the high ranking of retention in this latest survey.”

OOIDA has long held that the myth of a truck driver shortage is actually more of an extremely high turnover problem in the truckload sector.

“There is a pretty simple solution to everything and that is to pay drivers for their time,” he added. “We think it’s rather hypocritical for big trucking to keep saying there is a shortage when, according to the survey, the top concern of drivers isn’t even on their radar.”

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.

Randy Guillot Elected 75th Chairman of ATA

San Diego, CA… The Board of Directors of the American Trucking Associations elected Randy Guillot, president of Triple G Express Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, the federation’s 75th chairman.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected as chairman of ATA,” Guillot said. “I look forward to spending the next year speaking up and speaking out on behalf of our industry and our association as we work to advance ATA’s agenda on a number of fronts including tort reform, infrastructure, trade and most importantly safety.”

Guillot replaces Barry Pottle, CEO of Pottle’s Transportation, Bangor, Maine, as chairman.

“Randy has been a tremendous advocate for our industry at the state level and at the national level on a number of issues of vital importance to our industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “I congratulate him on this honor, and I’m confident he will continue to be a strong voice on behalf of trucking.”

In addition to his work with ATA, Guillot is past chairman of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, chairman of ATA’s Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference, as well as treasurer and a board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative.

The Board also elected as Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Garner Trucking, Findlay, Ohio, ATA first vice chairman; Harold Summerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines Inc., Birmingham, Alabama as ATA second vice chairman; as well as Dan Van Alstine, president and COO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems and Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation, Billerica, Massachusetts, as ATA vice chairmen. In addition, the Board re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of Admiralty Holdings Inc., as secretary and John A. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, as treasurer.

Remembering TCA’s William Giroux

Alexandria, VA… The Truckload Carriers Association’s Executive Vice President of Presidential Projects, William “Bill” Giroux, passed away Friday, October 4 at his residence.

Bill dedicated 28 years to the Association and has seen the evolution of trucking. During his tenure he was instrumental in ensuring that TCA’s membership received the best possible experience at on-site events. He acted as a staff liaison for TCA’s Bylaws, Carrier/Shipper Relations, and Nominating Committees.

Bill’s career in the nonprofit association world started in high school, and soon thereafter lead him to answer an ad seeking a director of meetings and education position with the Interstate Truckload Carriers Conference (ITCC), now the Truckload Carriers Association.

“I love this industry and I would love to serve the membership as long as they’re willing to have me,” shared Giroux in the August 2015 edition of Truckload Authority magazine. “It’s just a great industry. I’ve been in this industry long enough to see the next generation take over, and I’m left with the kind of memories I will always cherish.”

Giroux is survived by his spouse, Bob, a multitude of family and friends, and his beloved Sheltie.

In the upcoming weeks TCA will share funeral information and obituary.

Truckers Make Final Push For Safer, More Flexible Hours-Of-Service

Washington, DC… As the deadline to comment on the federal government’s proposal to modernize hours-of-service regulations approaches, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association urged truckers to also make their voices heard on how long they should work and drive.

OOIDA supports the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s common sense approach to reforming HOS, which in part mirrors a petition the Association submitted in February 2018. The comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking closes on Oct. 21.

“Truck drivers are more regulated and more compliant than ever, but crashes keep going up,” said Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA. “FMCSA’s proposal is the best chance of reversing that trend and now is a critical time for drivers to submit comments on how flexibility would improve their ability to operate safely.”

OOIDA emphasized in comments that in order for new changes to have the most safety benefits, drivers should have sole discretion about how and when to use the proposed provisions.

“Truck drivers know better than anyone when they should take a break or when road conditions are too dangerous. They ask for flexibility not only for themselves but also for the safety of all highway users. For too long we’ve allowed people that have never spent time in a truck to dictate a driver’s daily schedule. This has to stop,” said Spencer.

Below are highlights of OOIDA’s positions on the provisions in the proposal and recommendations to make further improvements:

1. OOIDA recommends eliminating the 30-minute rest break altogether. However, as an alternative, drivers should be allowed to split the 30-minute break in smaller segments, such as multiple 5 or 10 minute breaks.

2. OOIDA supports the 7/3 split sleeper provision, but recommends the agency also include 6/4 and 5/5 options.

3. OOIDA supports split-duty provision which will allow drivers to “pause” the 14-hour clock for up to 3 consecutive hours once per duty period.

4. OOIDA supports both changes to the short haul exceptions, which will extend the driving window from 12 to 14 hours and expand the air mile radius from 100 to 150 air miles. OOIDA also recommends allowing drivers using the short haul exception to end their work shift at a location different from their original dispatch.

5. OOIDA supports extending the duty period from 14 to 16 hours for drivers that use the adverse driving provision. OOIDA also recommends expanding and clarifying conditions that would qualify for the adverse driving provision.

“What we’ve suggested will provide drivers more opportunities to rest when they are tired, to stay off the road during adverse driving conditions, and to maintain greater control over their own schedules,” added Spencer. “We’re confident these changes, if finalized, will provide measurable improvements in highway safety.”

Trucking Congratulates Scalia on Confirmation as Labor Secretary

Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate confirmed Eugene Scalia’s nomination for Secretary of Labor:

“We congratulate Gene Scalia on his confirmation to serve as our nation’s next Secretary of Labor, and we look forward to working with him as he takes leadership of the Department. Labor Secretary is a role we view as critical to our industry – and all American businesses – in advancing policies that enable workers to prosper and employers to create jobs in this 21st century economy.

“More than 7.8 million individuals in our nation are employed in jobs that relate to trucking, and it is the most common job in 29 states. Mr. Scalia’s extensive experience with labor policy throughout his career, and the respect he’s earned across party lines for his ability and integrity, will serve him well as Labor Secretary.”