Truckers Help Honor Veterans for Wreaths Across America Day

March 18, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Truck drivers have collaborated with volunteers, military personnel, and cemetery employees across more than 2,500 cemeteries to make Wreaths Across America Day a success.

The annual event’s organizers ensure the nation’s fallen soldiers are honored with holiday wreaths in their final resting places. This year, adorning the graves of 1.7 million American veterans proved to be trickier than usual in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, event attendance at these cemeteries was very limited and even nearly canceled in some areas due to efforts to control the spread of the virus; the event at the Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington was even canceled in November but reinstated once Secretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy, announced it could proceed in a safe way.

Thanks to America’s truckers, these events continued on to make sure veterans were properly honored in time for the holidays.

“It’s an honor to do this, a real honor,” said volunteer driver James David Walker, who transported wreaths from Maine’s pine tree farms to the Arlington cemetery through blizzard-like conditions on the southbound route through New York and New Jersey. “We’re just keeping the mission moving. A veteran sacrificed his life and liberty, and the best we can do is ‘remember, honor, and teach.’”

Walker, a driver out of Quincy, Illinois for Gully Transportation, had a strong motive for helping with the special event. Walker is not only a Navy veteran but honors his son, Marine Lance Corporal Jeffrey Walker, who died in Fallujah, Iraq in 2007. Jeffrey is now buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia.

2020 was Walker’s fourth year as a volunteer driver for Wreaths Across America, and explained that he and other volunteers he knew were all determined to make sure the event ran smoothly regardless of pandemic-related limitations.

“The state troopers have been escorting us down, we had a briefing every morning, and they said we were doing a great job,” Walker said. “There’s a lot of patriotism–knowing what these veterans died for. During this pandemic, we won’t give up, just like they didn’t give up. It’s part of the healing process, and it helps other Gold Star Family members, and it helps veterans.”

Officials for Wreaths Across America have shown their gratitude for the help of truck drivers and other volunteers making the event possible. They also believe that the event will be back in full force–pandemic permitting–in 2021.

“The 2020 theme for Wreaths Across America has been ‘Be an American worth fighting for,’ and this year, I have been blessed to see my fair share [of those Americans]” said Karen Worcester, Executive Director for Wreaths Across America. “The determination of the American people and their commitment to the mission to ‘remember, honor, teach’ made it possible for us to move forward this year–safely. We are humbled and forever grateful for the outpouring of support from all across the country.”

At the wreath-laying events at Arlington and other cemeteries throughout the United States, Gold Star Families was able to participate virtually. At the cemetery in 2019, an estimated 70,000 volunteers participated.

“We have friends that we’ve made, and we can’t see them this year,” said Greg Madore, a volunteer for Wreaths Across America.

Lewiston, Maine Walmart Trucker Dave Mott volunteered as a driver for the fourth time in 2020, and said two of his sons have served as Army Rangers. Although the pandemic’s challenges made organizing the event more difficult this year, Mott notes that event officials, truckers, and volunteers worked together to do everything they could to make honoring veterans in this way as easy as could be in such a difficult year.

“Wreaths Across America has done a good job, building a place for the truckers with the trucker’s lounge,” he explained. “The truck drivers are a very important part of this effort. This year, it was a little different. We had fewer people in the trucker’s lounge, and it was difficult to get the trucks in and out and loaded. It was a challenge, but they did it, and it was a great job.”

For this event, volunteers laid wreaths at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial in an effort to honor the 184 people who died inside the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11th, 2001. This gesture was especially moving to Mott.

“Everyone is here for the same reason; most of this is donated time and labor, effort and fuel,” he said. “It was a challenge this year, but these guys did a great job.”

Trucking Experts Answer Common HOS Questions in Midst of Regulation Changes

March 17, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration representatives are working to get all public questions answered regarding the newest hours-of-service regulations, which have now offically been in effect for a few months.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and the toll it took on the nation’s truck drivers, the Trump Administration worked to relax trucking regulations. During this time, an hours-of-service regulation flexibility proposal was implemented, allowing drivers to: extend their potential driving time by two hours during challenging driving conditions, divide their 10-hour mandatory rest times into 5-5 or 6-4 hour splits (giving them more control over their rest breaks and whether or not they are actually resting during that time), and lengthen their maximum on-duty time from a 12-hour period to a 14-hour period.

Because this final rule change has only been active for a short amount of time, FMCSA reps addressed public concerns during a virtual question-and-answer session in December. The final rule took effect at the end of September.

Among some of the topics given the most attention was that of efficient record-keeping, with emphasis on a motor carrier’s need to properly record a driver’s time in, time out, and exact number of hours worked each day. Joe DeLorenzo, FMCSA’s Director of Enforcement and Compliance, noted that these records need to be kept on file for at least six months.

In regards to short haul exceptions, the final regulation change made the exception available to particular drivers by not only lengthening their maximum on-duty periods, but also the distance limit a driver can operate from 100 total air miles to 150.

Drivers do not need to fill out a graph grid log or electronic logging device record–they are permitted to instead use a time record while operating under the new short haul exception.

“You do have to have some sort of account of your time,” DeLorenzo reiterated. “Managing that and thinking through that up front is pretty important.”

DeLorenzo made clear that if a driver travels farther than the allowed 150 air miles or cannot report back in time, or otherwise does not meet the exception, they must fill out a manual log for that day. If a driver has to complete eight or fewer log days within a month, that driver may use a paper log with a graph grid. On the other hand, a driver must use an electronic logging device if he or she has to complete a log more than eight days within the span of a month.

Additionally, DeLorenzo notes that drivers should record driving conditions for the day if they are challenging or adverse, and this record should be taken at the time of the obstacle–not at the end of the day, when the driver may have exceeded the hour limit.

“That will help you to establish, when anybody asks,” he said. “That’s always helpful when somebody questions your log down the road.”

Adverse driving conditions considered in this modification include snow, ice, fog, sleet, or other conditions in traffic or weather that are unexpected by a driver immediately before embarking on his or her operations for the day.

Trucker-involved road incidents will not qualify as an adverse driving condition for that particular trucker, and rush-hour traffic is also not included, explained FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division transportation specialist, Rich Clemente.

“[Applicable circumstances] are unforeseen events, such as a highway that may get closed because of an accident,” he said.

The representatives also spoke about the new regulations in regards to sleeper berth rules–with exceptions now in place for the mandatory 30-minute rest break. Now, these breaks have boosted flexibility by requiring break only after every eight consecutive hours of driving. The break can be satisfied now by a driver using an “on-duty, not driving” status in lieu of an “off-duty” status. The break requirement can also be met by a driver using a “sleeper berth” status.

Clemente explained that the necessary 30 minutes must be consecutive and can consist of a combination of qualifying statuses during that period. Yard moves are not permitted on public roadways, but can count toward a 30-minute break requirement, as can roadside inspections. This time period can also consist of the time a driver fuels his or her truck or gets a snack or meal.

To continue helping carriers and drivers better understand the updated hours-of-service rules, FMCSA recently released an online tool: the Educational Tool for Hours of Service. This resource allows users to log their duty status and can show them what potential violations may have occurred.

2020 Shows True Capability and Dedication of Trucking Industry

March 16, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

2020 was a year of many tests for the trucking industry as the COVID-19 pandemic sent more customers than ever online for shopping, and grocery stores and medical centers needing boosted supplies of household goods and medical gear.

Because of this, publicly-traded fleets saw rising spot rates and financial results throughout the course of the year.

Additionally, workers throughout the industry, including suppliers, logistics providers, truck manufacturers, and fleets themselves did their part to lower the potential spread of the coronavirus within their workspaces and in public. These protocols brought about social distancing and remote work where applicable, and trucks and facilities are now regularly and more vigorously sanitized and cleaned. Drivers and other industry workers have also been provided with plenty of masks and cleaning supplies.

These changes didn’t mean challenges didn’t continue on for the industry, though.

“In February, we were coming off an all-time record unit year in 2019, and still going flat-out,” said Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. senior vice president, Craig Bennett. “Then, in March, the bottom fell out, and numerous orders were canceled and delayed. We furloughed or laid off around 1,100 people and reassigned all other teams.”

These difficulties brought about a record low of 209 industry trailer orders in April, with Class 8 orders dropping to 4,251–as compared to 14,859 the year prior–during the same month. Still, as fleets added trucks for replacement, Class 8 sales stayed mostly consistent throughout 2020.

In regards to laid-off or furloughed workers, around 70% have been rehired, with new employees onboarded as well, according to Bennett.

Because of truckers’ boosted efforts to deliver the most important freight for our nation’s well-being, they understandably were considered heroes during 2020 with truckload carriers receiving the most work and benefit, according to SJ Consulting Group founder Satish Jindel.

Less-than-truckload carriers that rely on retail or heavier industrial shipments in the public sectors saw more decline in the second quarter of the year, with a revenue drop of 17.9% and a 16% year-over-year shipment decline.

“The pandemic effect on LTLs was significant,” Jindel said.

Although the virus’s long-term effects were felt industry-wide, Bob Costello, chief economist for American Trucking Associations, assured that already-in-place business practices were not a factor.

“It was a health crisis that morphed,” he said. “We have to get solutions to the health issues for trucking to come out of this completely. Eventually, the economy is going to grow at a really strong clip to historic highs.”

As oil prices rose in the later end of 2020, hopes surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine remained high, and industry experts expected the global fuel demand would relax as these vaccines became available.

“We’re seeing a rebound in demand, and refiners have been tightening to the [oil] supply,” said Phil Flynn, an industry analyst based in Chicago. “The refiners had to work off a lot of diesel supply, and they have done all they can to draw down those inventories because there’s been a glut. We’re also seeing demand here in the U.S. and China start to go through the roof again.”

As the virus began showing up across North America, oil demand was not quickly considered anything to worry about.

“The reality is that, at first, there was not much attention paid to it,” said John Lyboldt, president of the Truckload Carriers Association. “But after a week, COVID-19 became the buzzword and we were grateful to have concluded a successful event just before the virus grew into the global pandemic that it became.”

During this time, communication throughout the industry and its relationships with collaborators were forced to evolve, according to North American council for Freight Efficiency executive director, Mike Roeth. Work was still completed as usual, but the majority of contact between fleets, employers, distributors, manufacturers, and customers became digital and distant.

“I am so proud of how this industry continued its great collaborative work during this pandemic,” said Roeth. “It is just extraordinary and a testament to this industry and our ability to get things done.”

COVID-19’s Impact on Trucking in 2020–A Look Back

March 15, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Throughout the one-of-a-kind year that 2020 turned out to be, truckers received much more attention and praise than ever before thanks to their efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“American truckers are the foot soldiers who are really carrying us to victory,” said Donald Trump at a White House ceremony early on the pandemic. “They’ve done an incredible job.”

Truck drivers played a key role in ensuring individuals, hospitals, and supermarkets received all of the vital items they needed during the country’s shelter-in-place mandates, and American citizens often made sure to thank drivers for their boosted efforts in whatever way they could.

“We obviously have an industry filled with some of the hardest-working, patriotic people in the U.S.,” said Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations president, during the ceremony at the White House. “Those drivers are moms, dads; they’re husbands, wives. They’re involved in their communities. They’re very charitable. They are the essence of the American spirit and to see it recognized like this in a time of crisis–I have to say–I think that is really an extraordinarily important thing for the leader of our country to do.”

Within the nation’s government, officials worked to help the COVID-19 response. Regulators and legislators moved to pass emergency aid bills and regulatory relief packages in order to help the transportation industry’s efforts be as impactful and efficient as possible.

In fact, a huge multi-trillion dollar aid measure was passed in Congress after policymakers had already approved multi-billion dollar packages; the $2 trillion bill was approved in the spring and included $4 billion for cargo airlines and $25 billion for passenger airlines. Congress was later pressured for further transportation industry emergency aid, especially by Amtrak, port officials, state highway agencies, and transit operators who requested the approval billions of dollars for relief programs within new legislation.

Following these efforts, ATA urged congressional leaders to safeguard motor carriers from particular liability risks affiliated with the COVID-19 virus.

“The trucking industry is proud to play an outsized role in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, and we ask that you consider the essential nature of the trucking industry as you consider the inclusion of reasonable liability protections in any future legislation,” said ATA’s Spear while Congress worked on new relief packages in December.

Now, President Biden’s “Build Back Better” infrastructure proposal aims to improve commercial corridor access–a topic Trump also showed passion towards. Now, Biden enters office while infrastructure funding policy is discussed within the congressional and executive branches and while America’s highway law reauthorization efforts continue to be negotiated. The majority of those within the transportation industry have pushed policymakers to create further investments throughout mobility grids, and these discussions are continuing into the new year.

During 2020, new exemptions, regulation changes, and waivers came to the forefront of transportation industry discussion as industry regulators made many changes in response to the pandemic.

The most controversial, perhaps, is the update on hours-of-service regulation, which were announced by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration acting administrator Jim Mullen in May.

This final rule decision came after more than a year of agency debate and public comment, and was based on a proposed rulemaking announcement that was made public in August of 2019.

This updated regulation brings much more flexibility to truckers, especially in regards to 30-minute rest break rules, sleeper berth time requirements, and extended on-duty driving time limits. Many safety advocates have proceeded with legal action and continue to object to the increased flexibility, claiming that truckers will be expected to work for longer hours with less rest, making roads much more dangerous.

Also in August, FMCSA released an announcement stating that Mullen would be leaving his post as acting administrator, and that Wiley Deck, former DOT Office of the Secretary senior policy adviser, would take over as deputy administrator for the agency. The following month, TuSimple, an automated technology developer, announced Mullen would be working as the company’s chief legal and risk officer.

Additionally, it was announced that crashes involving not-at-fault drivers could be permitted from FMCSA’s safety profile through its crash preventability program. FMCSA also launched its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse database with more than 46,000 drug violations logged within the base’s first year of operation. Additionally, the agency started its military pilot program focusing on younger drivers. Finally, FMCSA officials also announced their intention to begin a Large Truck Crash Causal Factors Study, which would be the first update regarding this kind of data in 17 years.

Dedication of Truckers During 2020 Expected to Pay Off Politically in 2021

March 15, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

“What made this year unique was the conditions our industry was forced to work in,” said Chris Spear, President of American Trucking Associations. “Consumers have witnessed now, firsthand, what we do all the time. Unfortunately, it takes a worldwide pandemic for that to come to the surface, but the recognition is so well-earned and deserved.”

Throughout 2020, the response and action made by the trucking industry in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a revamped perception of the public in regards to truckers and their efforts. This perception is expected to carry on in the coming years, which, many industry experts believe, will likely boost trucking’s infrastructure policy efforts–and their support–on Capitol Hill.

“2020 was a very defining year for trucking,” Spear added.

There have been, of course, a myriad of obstacles truckers have had to defy throughout 2020, including adapting to restrictions made in order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, like social distancing and more virtual communication, as well as rest break, meal, and shower location limitations or even closures.

“Year-to-year, we’re accustomed to challenges, but I think the environment we had to perform in was so different–it was something we had to adjust to,” Spear continued. “There’s been a mental toll that this has had on everyone, particularly for drivers being out on the road, away from their families. They can’t telecommute. This is their office. This is where they do their jobs.”

Fortunately, many people across the nation made their appreciation for truck drivers heard, especially during events like Truck Driver Appreciation Week which gained traction across social media and saw companies, groups, and individuals offering food, drinks, discounts, and other goodies to truckers in an effort to show gratitude for their boosted efforts throughout the pandemic and all that was asked of them.

As the country saw truckers stepping up to help deliver the exponentially higher numbers of home deliveries, shipments to medical centers and hospitals, and stock needed in grocery stores and restaurants, their appreciation kept truckers pushing forward.

“In every community across the country, there have been hot meals being made for our drivers, police escorting drivers to where they can get a shower, kids handing out cookies to drivers at truck stops,” said Spear. “You just can’t make it up. It’s such a heartwarming story.”

Spear believes that this recognition, albeit more than ever before, will have lasting effects through this year and beyond.

“It is so different than any other year,” he said. “I believe we will be able to ride this crest into 2021 and it will pay forward. We need to ensure that the public recognizes the importance of our industry and what we do”

Now, the trucking industry’s vital responsibilities include ensuring the shipments of new COVID-19 vaccines to citizens throughout the United States.

“A number of our members, those particularly that are equipped with air logistics capabilities–UPS and FedEx are perhaps two of the most notable in terms of providing support globally–this is what they do, they do it day in and day out,” said Spear.

He also noted that truckers, and other professionals in the transportation sector, are doing their best to bring this new resource to where it’s needed as fast as they can.

“It’s not just the ground; it’s also air. Here we are again, not only making sure we survived the pandemic, but as we transition, we’re that bridge to recovery that stems from the vaccine. Our industry will play a key role so Americans have it as quickly as possible.”

Now, as more and more bills are brought to Washington and other state capitals in attempts to grow, expand, and improve the trucking industry, Spear believes that the industry’s now-glowing reputation will help these efforts become successful more easily.

“Our message is not aligned solely with one political party over another,” Spear explained. “Our message, our narrative, our story speaks to Americans. Our story should resonate with either party, no matter who is in charge. They should have an incentive to work with us. When you are 7.6 million strong, one in 16 jobs in the U.S., where the top job in 29 states is a truck driver, and you’re moving 71% of the economy–you need us. Now, we’re transitioning to distribute the vaccine–they need us.”

ATA is hopeful that President Biden’s administration will push forward major infrastructure legislation as the pandemic eases, and Spear notes that his team has been working with Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill as often as possible.

“We will–in April, May, June–switch gears to an infrastructure bill,” said Spear. “We’ve already been working with the Biden transition team and House Democratic leaders. I have a good understanding of what that bill will look like and the provisions we need to be aggressive to get a fully-funded bill done. It will be good for the economy, [and will help with] the job [losses] we have experienced in 2020, putting people back to work, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than with an infrastructure bill.”

All in all, ATA is looking forward to action in the new year.

“I am very optimistic about where we are heading,” Spear said.

FMCSA Makes Updates to Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Website

March 8, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The FMCSA made some changes to its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website and registration process based on feedback it has received from drivers, motor carriers, and service agents. The Clearinghouse is a database that allows government regulators, law enforcement, and companies that employ commercial vehicle drivers access to those drivers’ drug and alcohol program record. It is meant to keep track of any violations and compliance with rules related to those violations.

If a driver violates Federal regulations regarding drug and alcohol prohibitions in Title 49 of the Federal Regulations, Part 382, Subpart B, which include testing positive for drug or alcohol use and refusal to take a test the database will be able to show current status in real time. The database also contains information about a driver’s compliance with the return-to-duty process and follow-up testing.

Some of the changes to the website include a new look for the homepage that places the “Register” and “Log In” buttons in a prominent place. There is also a section titled, “Learn More” containing links to informational resources.

The website also has an entirely new page called “Before You Register” that gives drivers who are enrolling a list of information they will need in order to properly register. This page also has information about how to create an account. These changes are meant to make the user experience easier.

Of course, anything that makes using the Clearinghouse database easier and keeping it current is a good thing. This is not only a plus for public safety, but streamlining the process for properly qualified drivers to be able to register and keep current allows CDL workers, who are essential to our economy, to avoid being unnecessarily restricted from duty.

It is additionally imperative that proper measures can be taken to prevent a driver who violates drug or alcohol use provisions from getting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. As important as professional truck drivers are to keeping things moving in this country, it is also a dangerous profession. CDL drivers have a duty to keep themselves and their colleagues safe as well as all other travelers. Government and industry should work together to keep the Clearinghouse database as user friendly as possible. It may seem like a simple thing, but it can hopefully save lives.