Latest Industry News Briefs Courtesy of PMTA

December 2023

Werner Enterprises Becomes 19th Member of TCF Founders Club

Washington, DC… American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation announced that Werner Enterprises has committed to becoming the 19th member of the TCF Founders Club.

“Werner emphasizes safety, service, leadership and community as four of our core values, where we strive to leave the communities in which we serve better than how we found them,” said Derek Leathers, Werner’s chairman, president and CEO. “Being a Founders Club member of ATA’s Trucking Cares Foundation reflects Werner choosing to lead from the front. Our company goals align with TCF’s goals through their work in improving the safety of the trucking industry and the safety, security and sustainability of America’s highways and the communities we serve.”

The Founders Club is a special class of donors comprised of individuals and corporations committing to a $100,000 contribution over a 10-year period. Founders Club members will receive special recognition across Trucking Cares Foundation programs for their early and generous commitments to making our mission a reality.

“Because of the support of Founders Club members like Werner, the Trucking Cares Foundation is able to provide critical support for important causes in the US and around the world,” said TCF President John Lynch. “These donations allow us to respond quickly to when needs arise, as well as make ongoing contributions to important causes throughout the year.”

The Trucking Cares Foundation is the trucking industry’s charitable arm, focusing on several core areas, including humanitarian and disaster relief; eradicating human trafficking; leadership development; strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement, the military and veterans’ organizations; safety and research opportunities.

For more information on the Trucking Cares Foundation, visit https://www.truckingcares.org/.

Volvo To Acquire Battery Business From Proterra Inc. And Proterra Operating Company

Proterra Inc. and Proterra Operating Company Inc. are in a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process in the US. Volvo Group has been selected as the winning bidder in an auction for the business and assets of the Proterra Powered business unit at a purchase price ofUSD 210M.

The transaction between Proterra Inc. and Proterra Operating Company as sellers and Volvo is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court in the US. In addition, closing of the transaction, which is expected early 2024, will be subject to merger clearance and certain other conditions.

The assets to be acquired include a development center for battery modules and packs in California and an assembly factory in South Carolina. With this acquisition, Volvo Group will complement the current, and accelerate its future, battery-electric road map.

The transaction has no material impact on the Volvo Group financial performance.

Trucking Industry Recognizes Issa, Craig, Reed, and Capito for Fighting Against Fentanyl

Washington, DC… The American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation honored four Members of Congress who have taken a major role in addressing the fentanyl crisis that is plaguing cities and towns nationwide.

In a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Representatives Darrell Issa (R-California) and Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) and Senators Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) were recognized for receiving TCF’s 2023 Congressional Hero Awards.

“The epidemic of deadly fentanyl is having a devastating effect on individuals, families, and communities. The Trucking Cares Foundation is determined to raise awareness about this growing crisis and recognize elected officials who are shaping our government’s response,” said TCF Chairman Phil Byrd. “Representatives Issa and Craig and Senators Reed and Capito are outstanding champions for this cause, and they have secured significant resources needed to support our hometowns and loved ones. We are grateful for their leadership that has made a difference in countless lives.”

“Nationwide drug-related fatalities claimed the lives of nearly 110,000 Americans last year, a tragic record. This staggering number of deaths demands action,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “When America faces crises, the trucking industry steps up to answer the call to service. We are proud to recognize these Members of Congress for their exceptional work to eliminate this scourge, and we will continue to stand with them in their fight to stop fentanyl trafficking and to provide support for those struggling with addiction.”

The honorees were recognized for sponsoring and passing legislation to block the flow of fentanyl and prevent overdose deaths. Additional details on their noteworthy contributions to this effort are below:

* Rep. Darrell Issa is the founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus. The Caucus was announced during the Congressman’s roundtable on the ongoing fentanyl crisis in 2022. Last Congress, Representative Issa cosponsored and championed the bipartisan Halt Act to classify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug, which the Drug Enforcement Agency has named its #1 legislative priority. Representative Issa also championed the bipartisan Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act, a bill aimed at giving schools flexibility to use COVID relief dollars to purchase life-saving overdose reversal medication and provide related training to students and teachers.

* Rep. Angie Craig serves as a member of the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus and is an original cosponsor of both the END FENTANYL Act and STOP Fentanyl Overdoses Act of 2023. These two bipartisan bills would dramatically aid in ending the fentanyl crisis by supporting more reporting between Customs and Border Protection and Congress, fund public health education efforts, and provide nationwide availability of overdose reversal medication.

* Sen. Jack Reed has brought his national security background to the fight to combat fentanyl. The Senator is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act and played a significant role in advancing the bill to the Senate floor. The legislation aims to stop the flow of illicit fentanyl supply chains from Chinese suppliers to cartels trafficking drugs into the U.S. The bill strengthens existing laws, while also directing the U.S. Treasury Department to target, sanction, and block transnational criminal organizations’ financial assets.

* Sen. Shelly Moore Capito has been a consistent advocate in blocking fentanyl from entering the United States since her efforts shepherding the 2018 Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act into law. Building on these efforts, she helped introduce the bipartisan STOP Act 2.0, which requires advance electronic data to be included on all inbound international packages shipped through the U.S. Postal Service to prevent fentanyl from being smuggled through the U.S. by mail. The Senator also helped introduce the bipartisan PREVENT Fentanyl Act to increase investigation training for fentanyl cyber trafficking crimes. This legislation would allow the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s HERO Child-Rescue corps members to assist in fentanyl trafficking investigations in addition to their human trafficking efforts.

The Trucking Cares Foundation is the trucking industry’s charitable arm, focusing on several core areas, including: humanitarian and disaster relief, eradicating human trafficking, leadership development, strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement and military and veterans’ organizations, and safety and research opportunities.

In July, the Trucking Cares Foundation donated $25,000 to Voices for Awareness, a national organization devoted to raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and providing assistance to individuals suffering from addiction.

For more information on the Trucking Cares Foundation, visit https://www.truckingcares.org/.

Trucking Cares Foundation, Tennessee Trucking Donate $10,000 for Car Seats

Washington, DC… The Trucking Cares Foundation and the Tennessee Trucking Foundation each donated $5,000 to help purchase car seats for parents and guardians in Tennessee who are unable to afford them.

“In the event of an accident, a properly fitted car seat provides the maximum amount of protection for young children,” said John Lynch, president of the Trucking Cares Foundation. “We are pleased to support this effort to equip more Tennessee families with new car seats to keep their most precious cargo safe. This donation aligns with the Trucking Cares Foundation’s objective to harness the power of the ATA Federation to help others while also promoting highway safety.”

In 2021, 710 children were killed in passenger vehicles, and more than 100,000 were injured. More than a third of the children who died were unrestrained.

September 17 – 23, was National Child Passenger Safety Week. The annual event raises awareness about the importance of ensuring that all children are properly secured in an appropriate car seat or seatbelt.

The giveaway is being done in partnership with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office on Child Passenger Safety. There were several technicians on site from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to assist with car seat checks. TTF also had their no-zone tractor trailer at the event, and there was also tours of a police car and fire truck, free pumpkins and face painting, food, and family activities.

This event is connected with “The 24/7 Movement” that focuses on helping “reduce and prevent impaired driving and to keep drivers and passengers safe on Tennessee’s roads.” The remaining car seats will go to fitting stations across Tennessee to assist with child passenger safety checks in those areas.

Study: Transportation Industry Ranks Among Top 10 In Client Data Leaks

Organizations operating in the transportation field have leaked consumers’ data more than most other industries, reveals the latest research by NordPass. Since late 2019, almost 280 transportation organizations have suffered data breaches during which various consumer data (e.g., email addresses, passwords, and usernames) was leaked. This places the transportation industry in the top 10 among sectors with the most client data leaks.

To conduct this study, NordPass partnered with independent third-party researchers who investigated which companies in the transportation and other industries in terms of their size, type (i.e., private, non-profit), and origin are failing to secure consumers’ data the most.

Other industries failing with clients’ data

Researchers found that entertainment companies are the worst in ensuring clients’ data. However, technology companies are also not much better, with this industry having experienced similarly many cybersecurity incidents and revealing clients’ data as a result.

Firms operating in retail, business services, and the education fields are also responsible for a significant portion of consumers’ data leaks worldwide.

Most affected countries

Of transportation organizations worldwide that are responsible for exposing clients’ data to hackers, almost a third are based in the United States (US). With US companies leading the list, the United Kingdom (UK) and France follow with 31 and 25 businesses respectively.

“In a constantly challenged cyber environment, businesses no longer have the luxury to store consumer data in plain text on Excel or otherwise neglect basic cybersecurity practices. To avoid financial and reputational risks, companies should consider it their personal duty to ensure clients’ data is secured against online threats, even if the legislation is not there yet,” says Tomas Smalakys, the CTO of NordPass.

Private companies are the number one target

In terms of organization’s type, private companies were of most interest to hackers. Based on the study, they make up 60% of organizations that had their clients’ data stolen. Less so, cybercriminals have also targeted solopreneur businesses (6%), public companies (6%), and other types of organizations.

Researchers have also concluded that smaller companies are more likely to experience a data breach and lose clients’ data as a result. In the transportation industry, companies with up to 50 employees had their clients’ data compromised the most.

How to secure clients’ data?

Despite intensifying cyber risks, many transportation organizations, especially smaller ones, lack awareness on why they should and how they should secure clients’ data.

Setting up a cyber resilience plan and organizing employee training could be a good start, says Smalakys. Additionally, companies should consider network security solutions, such as business VPNs, that restrict unauthorized access to computing systems. They have proved to be an effective solution against malware and other malicious attacks.

Password management is another field to improve, says Smalakys. While many cybersecurity incidents happen simply due to compromised credentials, even the world’s biggest companies do not abandon poor password management practices, reveals an earlier study by NordPass. Up to 32% of their passwords contain a direct reference to the company, which is a gift to hackers.

To address this issue, Smalakys recommends adopting password managers, which allow people within the organization to store, manage, and share passkeys in an end-to-end encrypted space. In addition, companies can try out passkeys, the new alternative method of online authentication, currently considered the most secure alternative to passwords. Progressive companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, PayPal, and KAYAK, already allow account access with passkeys.

Methodology: The study was conducted in partnership with independent researchers specializing in research of cybersecurity incidents. They looked for databases leaked from various organizations and analyzed them based on various criteria, such as country, industry, business type, size of the company, and data items’ type. The research represents the breaches that happened between December 2019 and July 2023.

NordPass is a password manager for both business and consumer clients. It’s powered by the latest technology for the utmost security. Developed with affordability, simplicity, and ease of use in mind, NordPass allows users to access passwords securely on desktop, mobile, and browsers. All passwords are encrypted on the device, so only the user can access them. NordPass was created by the experts behind NordVPN — the advanced security and privacy app trusted by more than 14 million customers worldwide. For more information: nordpass.com.

Pennsylvania Road Team Captain selected as ATA America's Road Team Finalist

By Megan Magensky (PMTA Administrator)

One of Pennsylvania's Road Team Captains was selected along with 35 other professional truck drivers as a finalist for the 2024-2025 America’s Road Team.

“These men and women were selected as finalists for America’s Road Team because they have outstanding safe driving records, share a passion for the trucking industry and are role models among their peers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We owe these professional drivers our gratitude, without them the American economy would come to a halt.”

UPS driver Bernie Wanyo has been driving professionally for 25 years. With upwards of 1,800,000 safe driving miles under his belt, he's been recognized as a 2022 Driver of the Month and a Pennsylvania Road Team member.

Wanyo placed second in the Sleeper Berth category at Pennsylvania's 2023 Truck Driving Championships. He's been recognized with UPS CEO Carol Tome Safety Challenge Coin, UPS 1-19 Year Safe Driving Awards, ATA One Million Mile Award, 2022 Safety Drive for a Cure Rookie of the Year (placing second in the Sleeper class and participating as a member on the winning Small Team). Bernie has also volunteered at the 2019 and 2022 ATA National Truck Driving Championships.

Wanyo has driven wreaths to Indiantown Gap National Memorial Cemetery for Wreaths Across America and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, fishing and motorcycling.

America’s Road Team is a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records. It was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate a few days each month to attending industry events, speaking at schools, or meeting policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.

The 36 finalists will advance to the final round of the selection process, which will be held this January in Washington. A panel of evaluators, including industry officials and trucking news media representatives, will judge the contenders on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages and overall safe driving record. The finalists – with a combined total of 81 million safe-driving miles and 1,035 years as professional truck drivers – are highway safety experts eager to share their experiences with the motoring public.

The newly chosen 2024-2025 America’s Road Team will be announced on January 16, following a ceremony at ATA’s Headquarters in Washington. New Captains, after receiving their signature navy blue America’s Road Team blazer, will begin working to share the industry’s message of safety, essentiality and sustainability with the motoring public, media, business and community groups, public officials and their fellow truck drivers around the country.

Captains from previous teams continue to serve as ambassadors to the industry and are called upon frequently to participate in safety events, speaking appearances and industry conferences.

“Being named a finalist for America’s Road Team is a major achievement for professional truck drivers, and ATA congratulates each of them for this accomplishment," said ATA Chief Operating Officer Sarah Rajtik. “America’s Road Team will continue to serve as a voice for the industry, which benefits from their professionalism, dedication and safety as they educate the public on highway safety, the positive impact the trucking industry plays in our economy and why a career in professional truck driving is great.”

Pennsylvania Road Team Captains Doug Frombaugh, Bill Bennett and John McGown have previously been selected to serve on America's Road Team.

Parts And Labor Costs Dropped In The Second Quarter Of 2023 - Benchmarking Report From TMC And Decisiv Reveals Improving News For Fleets And Service Providers

Cleveland, OH… The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and Decisiv Inc., said parts and labor expenses dropped during the second quarter of 2023, according to data released in the latest Decisiv/TMC North American Service Event Benchmark Report.

“With rising build rates for new equipment and less mileage reducing the need to operate aging trucks, fleets are finally seeing a definite improvement in parts and labor costs,” said Decisiv President and CEO Dick Hyatt. “The data that Decisiv collects and analyzes for TMC on Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standard system level codes points to a return to normalized trade cycles and more predictable service and repair costs. Along with greater stability, the highly detailed data and reporting enabled by Decisiv SRM allows fleets and service providers to focus on ways to continue to drive down expenses.”

After an extended period of cost increases, the combined parts and labor costs for the top 25 VMRS codes fell 1.3% in the second quarter from the first. Labor costs decreased for the first time in the past year and parts costs were down for the second quarter in a row. On a year-over-year basis, from combined parts and labor costs rose only 5.57% in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period last year – which is far slower than the 15% increase in costs seen 2022.

“After many months of rapidly increasing parts and labor costs, we are pleased to see this positive trend in the maintenance expense data,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “The Council’s fleet membership will benefit from this important parts and labor cost analysis and plan accordingly going forward.”

While economic and inflation pressures are still driving parts prices and labor rates to comparatively high levels, OEMs are effectively managing fewer supply chain disruptions that had negatively impacted production capacity. With the steady elimination of pent-up demand, fleets are finally taking delivery of new, less repair intensive trucks. Additionally, the influx of replacement vehicles and lower freight volumes are decreasing the demand for service and repair activity and consequently lowering parts and labor costs.

The data reflecting lower parts and labor expenses in this quarter’s Decisiv TMC Benchmark Report indicates how a number of factors interactively impact service activity. Changes in mileage related to freight volumes, the effect of newer versus aging trucks and the ongoing stabilization of the supply chain all impact each other and have a resulting effect on fleet service operations.

Looking ahead, there is a growing expectation that service and repair costs will find a new equilibrium and consequently settle into a more predictable cycle in line with what was experienced in the past.

Data on the top ten VMRS code categories shows that engines and related systems accounted for the largest percentage of all costs in the second quarter. In total, Powerplant (35.9%), Exhaust (12.9%) Cooling (6.1%) and Fuel Systems (5.3%) equaled 60.2% of costs during the quarter.

The Decisiv/TMC North American Service Event Benchmark Reports are generated using data from the Decisiv SRM platform on service and repair events for more than 7 million commercial assets operating across the U.S. and Canada. The industry’s largest asset service management system is being used to manage a weekly average of 70,000 service events at nearly 5,000 locations.

ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council issues the reports to its fleet members. The reports are organized based on the Council’s Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards sorted by VMRS-coded vehicle systems and geographic location.

TMC fleet members will receive the report electronically via email. For more information on joining TMC, call (703) 838-1763 or visit http://tmc.trucking.org.

New Forecast Projects Continued Growth of Truck Freight

Washington, DC… THE American Trucking Associations released new projections showing truck tonnage will grow to 14.2 billion tons by the year 2034, securing the industry’s position as the dominant mover of goods in the United States.

“In this edition of Forecast, you will see that the trucking industry continues to dominate the freight transportation industry in terms of both tonnage and revenue, comprising 72.2% of tonnage and 79.2% of revenue in 2022,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “That market share will continue to hold over the next decade, as the country will still rely on trucking to move the vast majority of freight.”

Among the key findings in ATA Freight Transportation Forecast 2023 to 2034 are:

* Overall truck tonnage will grow from an estimated 11.3 billion tons this year to 14.2 billion tons in 2034, this represents 72.4% of the freight tonnage in 2023 and 72.6% of tonnage at the end of the forecast period.

* Trucking’s revenues will grow from $1.01 trillion in 2023 to $1.51 trillion in 2034, which will account for 78.8% of the freight market.

* In other modes:

o As coal and bulk petroleum shipments wane over time, rail carload tonnage will fall from 11% of total freight to 10.1% by 2034.

o Rail intermodal revenues will grow from $21.7 billion in 2023 to $35.2 billion in 2034.

o Air cargo tonnage will grow from 17.6 million tons this year to 23.7 million tons in 2034.

o Pipelines will see their share of freight tonnage grow from 9.8% in 2023 to 10.4% in 2034.

“Knowing where our industry and economy are headed is critical for decision makers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This Freight Forecast should be top of mind for policymakers in Washington, Sacramento and wherever decisions are being made that affect trucking.”

ATA Freight Transportation Forecast 2023 to 2034, done in collaboration with IHS Markit, is available for purchase at www.atabusinesssolutions.com or by calling 866-821-3468.

PMTA And ATA Call On Governor Shapiro To Increase Truck Parking In Pennsylvania

By Megan Magensky (PMTA Administrator)

The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) are calling on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to prioritize truck parking with infrastructure spending.

In a letter to Governor Shapiro PMTA and ATA spelled out the numerous new resources provided by the federal government, including new funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to improve and expand truck parking facilities.

“The lack of available truck parking has dire safety implications for both truck drivers and the motoring public,” the letter states. “When drivers are unable to find safe, authorized parking, they are stuck in an untenable situation, forced to either park in unsafe or illegal locations, or violate federal hours-of-service regulations by continuing to search for safer, legal alternatives. As a last resort, drivers reluctantly park in unsafe locations—such as highway shoulders, interstate entrance and exit ramps, and abandoned properties—creating heightened safety risks for themselves and other motorists.”

A U.S. Department of Transportation report found that 98 percent of truck drivers regularly experience problems finding safe parking. A staggering 70 percent of drivers have been forced to violate federal hours-of-service rules because of this common scenario.

“Construction of new truck parking capacity at rest areas or adjacent to private facilities is eligible for funding, as are improvements that allow for increased parking capacity at nontraditional locations, such as weigh stations and commuter lots, when appropriate,” the letter said.

The letter details some of the federal-aid highway programs and USDOT programs offering grant funding for truck parking projects.

“Truck drivers are the backbone of our society and our economy,” the letter said. “Without them, the daily conveniences we take for granted—from fresh water to fuel to the literal roofs over our heads—would not exist. We urge you to examine the availability of truck parking within your State and take such actions as are necessary to ensure that truck drivers have a safe place to sleep when they are out on the road delivering more than 70% of America’s freight. We hope you will use the aforementioned resources, as well as other non-Federal resources, to prioritize and address this serious safety problem.”

Drivewyze Expands Smart Roadways Service to Delaware with Real-Time Sudden Slowdown Alerts

PLANO, TX… Drivewyze, the North American leader in connected truck services and the largest public-private weigh station bypass network operator, has expanded its Smart Roadways service through a new partnership with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).

Commercial truck drivers, traveling on all freeways through the state, have access to real-time heavy congestion and slowdown traffic alerts. The alerts notify truck drivers about hazards, such as where drastic speed changes or heavier than normal congestion is detected, using visual messages such as “sudden slowdown ahead” along with an audible chime. The alerts are configured to allow ample time for trucks to slow down or stop. The alerts are also available in six other states – North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. More states are expected to be added in the near future.

"We are continually working to improve safety on our roads and Smart Roadways will benefit commercial drivers across the state by providing critical in-cab traveler information where and when drivers need it most," said Nicole Majeski, Delaware’s Secretary of Transportation. "Studies have shown nearly 30% of collisions occur on interstates, and many are secondary incidents, where a vehicle is rear-ended when in a queue from an initial crash. This Smart Roadways program will help reduce those numbers."

The congestion and sudden slowdown alerts, part of Drivewyze Smart Roadways, was developed through a partnership between Drivewyze and INRIX. Leveraging INRIX real-time traffic data allows DelDOT, and other partner states, to send real-time alerts to commercial truck drivers through the Drivewyze software application. This application is embedded in most Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), as well as on mounted mobile devices. Alerts are also available for free on any Android smartphone (and soon iOS phones) for all truck drivers who download the Drivewyze app -- no subscription required.

“Over the last decade, Drivewyze has invested in the in-cab-infrastructure and partnerships that allow state transportation agencies, like Delaware, to communicate directly with drivers,” said Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze. “Our Smart Roadways services, which include alerts for upcoming congestion, work zones, and active service vehicles, amongst others, allow these agencies, for the first time, to extend their transportation safety programs into commercial motor vehicles.”

To learn more about Drivewyze, visit https://drivewyze.com/.

CVSA Transitions to New Leadership for 2023-2024

Washington, DC… As of Oct. 1, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has transitioned to new leadership for 2023-2024. Col. Russ Christoferson, with the Montana Department of Transportation, is the new president of the Alliance. Capt. John Hahn, of the Colorado State Patrol, is CVSA’s vice president. And Maj. Chris Nordloh, from the Texas Department of Public Safety, moves into his three-year term as past president.

On Sept. 20, CVSA Class I Members and Class II Local Members elected Maj. Erick McGuire, with the Florida Highway Patrol, to the position of CVSA secretary. Maj. McGuire will serve one year as secretary of the Alliance, while concurrently serving as chair of the CVSA Election Committee. Then, he’ll serve one year as vice president of the Alliance and chair of the CVSA Finance Committee. The year after that, he will become CVSA’s president. After one year as president, Maj. McGuire will then serve three years as past president – making the entire obligation a six-year commitment.

In addition to the executive leadership transition, the following region changes were made:

* Tpr. Brian Pfarrer, with the New Jersey State Police, is president of Region I. Sgt. Abraham Rosario, from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, is vice president.

* Region III’s president is Lt. Mike Maytum, with the Nebraska State Patrol, and Lt. Christopher Keller, with the Michigan State Police, is vice president.

* Krista Cull, from Newfoundland and Labrador, is Region V president. From the Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, Sgt. Mathew Austin will serve as vice president.

The following committee changes were made:

* Lt. Mike Maytum, from the Nebraska State Patrol, is chair of the Crash Data and Investigation Standards Committee.

* The new chair of the Passenger Carrier Committee is Tpr. Brian Pfarrer, with the New Jersey State Police.

* Tpr. William Alarcon, with the New Jersey State Police, will chair the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

In addition, the board voted to create a new committee – the Audits and Investigations Committee. Keith Kerns, with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, will chair the new committee.

CVSA would like to thank the following members of leadership who devoted their time to serving the membership and whose terms expired this year, who retired or who stepped down from their leadership positions:

* New Jersey State Police’s Tpr. William Alarcon served as Region I president and chair of the Passenger Carrier Committee.

* Maj. Jon Smithers, with the Indiana State Police, was president of Region III.

* Richard Roberts, of the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, was Region V president and served in Region V leadership for a total of six years.

* Bryant Gay, from the Florida Highway Patrol, was chair of the Crash Data and Investigation Standards Committee.

* Capt. Jon Olsen, with the Minnesota State Patrol, was chair of the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

CVSA Releases 2023 Brake Safety Week Results

Inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 18,875 commercial motor vehicle inspections Aug. 20-26 for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week. For the weeklong inspection and enforcement initiative, inspectors focused on the brake systems and components of commercial motor vehicles and submitted brake-related data to the Alliance. Of the total vehicles inspected, 87.4% did not have any brake-related out-of-service violations.

Commercial motor vehicles are placed out of service – meaning restricted from further travel – when an inspector identifies critical vehicle inspection item violations, as outlined in the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.

Of the 18,875 total commercial motor vehicles inspected, 2,375 (12.6%) were removed from roadways because inspectors discovered brake-related out-of-service violations. Some examples of brake-related out-of-service violations that automatically place the vehicle out of service include broken brake drums, loose air tanks, corroded holes in a spring brake housing, inoperative tractor protection valves, etc. Service brake violations, such as cracked linings, brake adjustment or loose chambers, may combine to put the combination of vehicles out of service under the 20% brake criterion. Certain service brake violations are automatically placed out of service when found on the steering axle.

Of the 2,375 commercial motor vehicles that were placed out of service, 295 (12.4%) had steering axle brake violations, 1,127 (47.5%) had stand-alone brake violations and 1,394 (58.7%) failed the 20% defective brakes criterion, which states that a vehicle is out of service if the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination.

The focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week was lining/pad violations. Throughout the week, and just as they do normally when inspecting the vehicle components of commercial motor vehicles, inspectors checked brake lining/pads for cracks, voids and contamination. They also looked for loose, missing or worn brake lining/pads. A total of 379 power (tractor) units and 261 towed (trailer) units had lining/pad violations.

Although lining/pad violations are not necessarily out-of-service violations, CVSA selected lining/pads as the focus for this year’s Brake Safety Week because brake lining/pad violations still affect a motor carrier’s safety rating. If left unaddressed, brake lining/pad violations may lead to more serious problems and can be out-of-service violations if they are on the steering axle or combined with other brake violations for the 20% brake criterion.

Fifty-six U.S. and Canadian states/provinces and territories and Mexico participated in this year’s Brake Safety Week.

* In Canada, 1,327 commercial motor vehicles were inspected. Ten percent (134) had brake-related out-of-service violations. Twenty-six power units and 25 towed units had lining/pad violations.

* Nine commercial motor vehicles were inspected in Mexico. One (11%) was placed out of service for brake-related violations. Lining/pad violations were identified on one power unit.

* In the U.S., of the 18,031 commercial motor vehicles inspected, 2,240 (12.4%) had brake-related out-of-service violations. There were lining/pad violations on 352 power units and 236 towed units.

Eleven states with performance-based brake testers (PBBT) participated in this year’s Brake Safety Week by conducting inspections using their PBBTs. A PBBT is a machine that assesses the braking performance of a vehicle.

Of the 397 PBBT inspections, there were 18 failures, which is a 4.5% out-of-service rate. Ninety-five vehicles passed with at least one wheel below the 43.5% threshold. U.S. federal regulations and the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria require a minimum braking efficiency of 43.5%.

Brake Safety Week is part of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, a comprehensive program dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to reduce the number of crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.

Next year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 25-31, 2024.

Breakthrough For Fast Charging Of Electric Trucks – Volvo Trucks Launches New Service

A national network of public fast chargers for heavy electric trucks is opening in Sweden. The charging network is powered by renewable energy. A new service from Volvo Trucks makes it easy for haulers to find and access the charging stations.

A network for fast charging of electric trucks is a key part of the transition to more sustainable heavy transportation. In Sweden, some 130 charging stations in total are planned to open in 2023 and 2024. The stations are operated by several different companies, and Volvo Trucks is one of the partners involved.

Volvo Trucks is now launching a new service that lets haulers find and access the charging stations. The service will first be launched in Sweden*, with other markets in Europe and other parts of the world to follow.

“This is a real breakthrough for the electrification of heavy transport. Our customers will be able to access public fast chargers all around Sweden, and as a result going electric is easier than ever,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.

The new service is open to all truck brands and displays all charging stations suitable for heavy duty vehicles, regardless of who operates them. The user can pay for charging via the new platform: in the near future, booking of charging time will also be possible.

“Customers will be able to obtain reliable information about where to find charging stations for heavy electric trucks, and they can be assured that they are paying a fair market price with no hidden fees. With the possibility to plan the route ahead in a good way and a minimum of administration, I am convinced that this is an important step towards making electric trucks even more popular with fleet owners,” says Roger Alm.

Volvo Trucks is working closely with charge point operators around the world to expand the charging network and the service as seamlessly and quickly as possible.

Volvo Trucks, an integral part of Volvo Group, is also building charging infrastructure via Milence, a joint venture formed with Daimler Truck and the Traton Group. The partnership will result in the installation and operation of at least 1,700 high-performance green energy charging points on, and close to, highways as well as at logistics hubs across Europe. The infrastructure will offer charging to all heavy-duty battery electric vehicles, regardless of brand.

This is how Volvo Trucks’ charging service works:

* The charging service is part of Volvo Connect, Volvo Trucks’ interface for digital services.

* The customer can find and pay for the charging via Volvo Connect and a mobile app. A digital map shows the charging stations and if they are available. In the near future booking of charging time will be possible.

* The charging service is part of Volvo Connect, Volvo Trucks’ interface for digital services.

* When arriving at a charging station, the customer uses a card or a mobile app for identification and to start the charging.

* The customer receives one, consolidated invoice.

*Volvo’s charging service will in the first wave provide seamless access to the 29 charging stations that are operated by OKQ8. The charging stations will be powered by green electricity.

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Fell 1.1% in September

Washington, DC… American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.1% in September after rising 0.2% in August. In September, the index equaled 113.9 (2015=100) compared with 115.2 in August.

“After hitting a bottom in April, tonnage increased in three of the previous four months, gaining a total of 2.2% before September’s drop,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello.“However, this freight market remains in flux, and the index contracted by 1.1% in September, which erased half of those gains. Additionally, the year-over-year decrease was the largest drop since November 2020 on a very difficult comparison – September 2022 – which was the previous cycle high. While it is likely a bottom has been hit in truck freight tonnage, there could still be choppy waters ahead as the freight market remains volatile.”

August’s increase was unchanged from our September 19 press release.

Compared with September 2022, the SA index fell 4.1%, which was the seventh straight year-over-year decrease and the largest over that period. In August, the index was down 2.4% from a year earlier.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 112.5 in September, 6.8% below the August level (120.7). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.6% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.46 billion tons of freight in 2022. Motor carriers collected $940.8 billion, or 80.7% 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.

ATA Names 36 Professional Drivers as Finalists for 2024-2025 America’s Road Team

Washington, DC… American Trucking Associations released the list of 36 professional truck drivers named as finalists for the 2024-2025 America’s Road Team.

America’s Road Team, a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records, was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate a few days each month to attending industry events, speaking at schools, or meeting policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.

The 36 finalists advance to the final round of the selection process, which will be held this January in Washington. A panel of evaluators, including industry officials and trucking news media representatives, will judge the contenders on their knowledge of the trucking industry, dedication to safety, ability to communicate the industry’s messages and overall safe driving record. The finalists – with a combined total of 81 million safe-driving miles and 1,035 years as professional truck drivers – are highway safety experts eager to share their experiences with the motoring public.

Captains from previous teams continue to serve as ambassadors to the industry and are called upon frequently to participate in safety events, speaking appearances and industry conferences.

“Being named a finalist for America’s Road Team is a major achievement for professional truck drivers, and ATA congratulates each of them for this accomplishment," said ATA Chief Operating Officer Sarah Rajtik, “America’s Road Team will continue to serve as a voice for the industry, which benefits from their professionalism, dedication and safety as they educate the public on highway safety, the positive impact the trucking industry plays in our economy and why a career in professional truck driving is great.”

This year’s finalists hail from 20 different states, haul a diverse assortment of products and materials and range from short haul drivers to over-the-road drivers operating in all the lower 48 states. The finalists represent a cross-section of the industry with experience ranging from six to 46 years as professional truck drivers with anywhere from 350,000 to 4 million safe driving miles.

The finalists are:

* Mike Alpine, ABF Freight System Inc., Arizona

* Ben Atkinson, ABF Freight System, Inc., Florida

* Willie Baylor, FedEx Freight, Indiana

* Terry Bennett, ABF Freight System Inc., Florida

* Joe Busch, ABF Freight System Inc., Iowa

* Perry Carter, Cargo Transporters Inc., North Carolina

* Joseph Collins, FedEx Ground – Spartan Logistics, Minnesota

* Robbie Cottrell, XPO, Virginia

* Howard Crawford, United Parcel Service, North Carolina

* Damon Evans, United Parcel Service, California

* Orlando Fraley, FedEx Freight, Georgia

* Dennis Hall, Tyson Foods Inc., Texas

* Robert Hare, FedEx Freight, Virginia

* Dave Hedicker, ABF Freight System Inc., Ohio

* Lloyd Howell, TCW, Alabama

* John Lemmons, United Parcel Service, Tennessee

* Ronnie Mahan, FedEx Freight, Arkansas

* Sean McClure, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Utah

* Rodney McNew, Groendyke Transport Inc., Texas

* Mike Middleton, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Tennessee

* Pete Palczynski, Walmart Transportation, Illinois

* Emily Plummer, Prime Inc., Missouri

* Wayne Ponschke, United Parcel Service, California

* Scott Post, FedEx Ground – Spartan Logistics, Minnesota

* John Antoine Sadler, Walmart Transportation, North Carolina

* Gary Schmidt, Jacobson Transport & Cliff Viessman Inc., Minnesota

* Brian Sheehan, CRST The Transportation Solution Inc., Indiana

* Molly Shultz, TransLand, Missouri

* Anthony Tirone, Walmart Transportation, Florida

* Chevelle Walker, Werner Enterprises, Florida

* Bernard Wanyo, United Parcel Service, Pennsylvania

* Thomas Warters, Penske Logistics, Florida

* Mike Whitehead, FedEx Freight, South Dakota

* James "Gragg" Wilson, United Parcel Service, Nevada

* Ryan Ybarra, United Parcel Service, California

* David Young, FedEx Freight, North Carolina

ATA Honors 10th Graduating Class of Lead ATA Industry Leadership

Austin, TX… The American Trucking Associations recognized 18 industry leaders for their completion of the LEAD ATA leadership program, while also welcoming 15 executives into the program during the annual ATA Management Conference and Exhibition.

“Cultivating the next generation of leadership is crucial to our industry’s continued growth,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Each year I am impressed by the men and women who emerge from the LEAD ATA program. They are setting our industry and association up for success.”

LEAD ATA, sponsored by DriverReach, offers exclusive educational opportunities for trucking industry executives, incorporating real-world problem solving and advanced industry insights. Throughout the course of the yearlong program, “LEADers” are educated about the regulatory and legislative processes, and ATA's efforts to shape those processes, including advocacy, image and outreach, research and leadership training.

During this year’s MCE, ATA recognized 18 members of the class first introduced last year in San Diego as the tenth group of graduates to complete the program:

* Jeremy Carmichael, Ruan Transportation Management Systems

* Kyle Check, Pressure Systems International

* Madison Conway, DDC Freight Process Outsourcing

* Tyer Damazo, PGT Trucking

* Monika Darwish, Remora Carbon

* Carson Davidenko, FedEx Freight

* Kelsey Gibson, Covenant Transport

* Mitch Giesey, FedEx Ground

* Jonathan Gong, Youngs Commercial Transfer

* Amy Kofoed, Navistar

* Issac Issa, Legacy Express Trucking Inc.

* Meredith Preistley, Cargo Transporters Inc.

* Grant Russo, Cummins Inc.

* Amanda Schuier, Jetco Delivery

* William Usher, Usher Transport Inc.

* John Waters

* Sabrina Williams, J&M Tank Lines Inc.

* John Zuckett

In addition, ATA announced that 15 rising industry leaders would be participating in the program in the coming year:

* Ryan Bennett, Bennett Family of Companies

* Joseph Briner, Hoffman Transportation Inc.

* Jackie Bull, Cummins Inc.

* Christopher Eckhart, Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary, P.C.

* Andy Engardio, AssuredPartners

* Matt Fleming, Ruan Transportation Management Systems

* Manny Hoyt, TrueNorth Companies

* Quetura Hudson, DDC Freight Process Outsourcing

* Joshua Mecca, Grammer Logistics

* Issac Ramirez, United Parcel Service

* Derek Sizemore, United Parcel Service

* Adam Smith, KSM Transport Advisors

* Joe Soliz, Link Labs

* Dana Spencer, CRST The Transportation Solutions Inc.

* Joshua Wallace, FedEx Freight

“The LEAD ATA program was created with the future in mind, continually encouraging the development of the next generation of leaders in the trucking industry. LEAD ATA graduates are not only involved with the American Trucking Associations, but on Capitol Hill, with their companies, and with their local communities,” said DriverReach Founder Jeremy Reymer. “As a proud sponsor, DriverReach has had the opportunity to engage with these dynamic leaders and watch this program grow immensely. On behalf of DriverReach, we are thrilled to welcome the 11th Class of LEAD ATA.”