TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - What can plastic do for you ?

* Georgia - UPS tests composite delivery truck that cut weight by 1,000 pounds

(Video from You Tube, by UPS 6 May 2011: Test drive of the new UPS Composite Car)
Sandy Springs,GA,USA -Jalopnik, by Mike Spinelli -May 31, 2011: -- UPS is known for its amazing level of efficiency, and that reputation could soon extend to fuel savings thanks to a prototype dubbed CV-23. The delivery company has ordered five of these prototypes to be tested through the end of 2011, but this is no ordinary next-generation package hauler... The CV-23 weighs about a thousand pounds less than the typical UPS truck, thanks to the fact that it is made with composite materials instead of metal. The lightweight materials could help UPS deliver up to 40 percent better fuel economy than the current UPS fleet truck. Those kinds of fuel economy gains can pay huge dividends in rural areas where trucks are required to drive large distances. And since the body panels are plastic, bumpers, panels and other parts can be replaced easily... If the company is sufficiently impressed, the guys and gals in brown could order more trucks, potentially saving 84 million gallons of fuel per year. We're guessing drivers will want to see some crash test data before seeing what brown plastic can do for them, but otherwise, this seems like a pretty good idea...


* Kansas - Roadrunner buys Bruenger Trucking

Cudahy,WI,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -Jun 1, 2011: -- Roadrunner Transportation Systems acquired M. Bruenger Trucking, a truckload carrier with headquarters in Wichita, Kans., for approximately $10.6 million...  The transaction also includes an earn-out capped at $3 million, Roadrunner said. Bruenger’s former owner and management team will stay with the operation...  The earn-out will be paid if Bruenger hits certain performance targets...  The carrier’s Midwest coverage and its East-West traffic will the predominantly LTL carrier more effectively cross-sell its truckload services, DiBlasi said...  Acquisitions can help carriers expand capacity by buying existing operations and customer relations without adding new vehicles to their core fleets...

* Missouri - MoDOT converts aging rest areas into truck-only parking sites

Mineola,MO,USA -Land Line, by Clarissa Kell-Holland -31 May 2011: -- The Missouri Department of Transportation was scheduled to tear down two aging rest areas at mile marker 168 at Mineola on Interstate 70 on Tuesday, May 31...  However, instead of closing the sites completely, DeAnne Rickabaugh of MoDOT Motor Carrier Services, told that they recognize the importance of having safe spots for truckers to rest and will reopen them as truck-only lots...  “We are going to allow trucks to go ahead and park in the safe areas and that will be any night as long as it’s safe to do so and truckers respect the construction barriers,” Rickabaugh said... (Photo: Mineola Rest Area - Eastbound I-70, 6 Miles East of Route D/YY and I-70, Mile Marker 168)

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA & Canada - CARB amendments to on-road rule could affect long-haul trucks

Sacramento,CAL,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Charlie Morasch -May 25,2011: -- The California Air Resources Board has proposed several amendments to its on-road rule, also known as the truck and bus rule...  The on-road truck and bus regulation requires all trucks to meet 2010 model year engine emissions standards by the year 2023. Fleets will be required to begin meeting other diesel emission standards by 2014 through a variety of compliance options...  CARB has developed an online calculator available here to help truck owners navigate the rule...  (Photo: All trucks on California roads must to meet the lower 2010 emissions standards)

* New York - Bill would mandate front-end mirrors for trucks

New York,NY,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Keith Goble -May 27 2011: -- An initiative on its way to the governor is intended to eliminate blindspots for truck drivers traveling in New York City. Large trucks base-plated in New York would be required to have front-end mirrors installed if traveling through any of the five boroughs...  The Assembly voted 103-39 to advance a bill to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, that would apply to all trucks weighing at least 26,000 pounds with conventional cabs. The Senate already approved it...  Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the mirrors can be mounted for about $150 apiece. Trucks used by city agencies already use the mirrors...  (Photo from 3.bp.blogspot: Catching the front end in the sideview mirror)

* Maryland - Economy looking great for tank truck carriers

Baltimore,MD,USA -Bulk Transporter -May 25, 2011: -- Tank truck carriers are outpacing the rest of the trucking industry, said Bob Costello, chief economist for the American Trucking Associations, during the National Tank Truck Carriers 63rd Annual Conference... In fact, tank truck activity is up around 20%, and the sector is in full economic recovery... Dennis Slagle, president and CEO of Mack Trucks, said most of the truck buying right now is for replacement. Very few new truck purchases are going to fleet expansion. Still, truck orders have been strong, and manufacturers should build 230,000 to 240,000 Class 8 trucks for the North American market this year... Tank trailer production also is growing, according to Theodore J Fick, president and CEO of Polar Corporation. He estimates that the industry will build around 8,950 tank trailers this year and 9,900 in 2012. About two-thirds of the production will be liquid cargo tanks. A significant number of the cargo tanks will be for fleet expansion especially for carriers involved in oil and gas production operations... (Photo from bigrigdriving: Magicfields tc)

* Canada - Deregulation was cause

Vancouver,BC,CAN -The Province, by Shawn Storey -May 26, 2011: -- I have been in the trucking industry for close to 30 years and Jon Ferry is bang on regarding truck safety, but he does not understand who is at fault...  The industry can do better, but the main problem for these types of drivers on the road is the B.C. government. When they introduced deregulation so trucks didn't need motor carrier plates around 17 years ago, it enabled anybody that had a truck to open their own company whether they had skill or not and many did...  When motor carrier plates were required, these drivers not only had to pass a school course and a road exam, but companies in town also would retest drivers, as some still do...  (Picture from nwwone.org: DCP-custom Peterbilt-379 stretched frame)

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - Battling Fuel Prices: YRC Worldwide Inc. and Knight Transportation Inc.

Higher fuel costs are adversely affecting the trucking industry

Johannesburg,South Africa -Marketwire/StockCall - May 24, 2011:  ...  Trucking companies have been raising prices and tacking on fuel surcharges. Costs of switching to digital logs also hurt revenues in the beginning of the year... Higher diesel prices were partially responsible for the 19.5% decline in first quarter profits of Knight Transportation Inc.  Stronger demand, however, was the key for the company improving revenues by 12.5%. Lessening the impact of fuel costs will be key for the remainder of the year... To combat fuel costs, some companies are taking steps to improve fuel efficiency. YRC Worldwide recently began a year long process of converting its fleet to 5W motor oil. The change is expected to save the company about 100,000 gallons of fuel and lessen oil waste by nearly 30,000 gallons annually... (Photo from teamsters: YRC's trucks partner Yellow)

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - Con-way Truckload Recovering From Tornado Hit

* Missouri - Deadly storm missed headquarters of carrier that employs 500 in Joplin

Joplin,Missouri,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -May 23, 2011: -- Major highways around Joplin were open Monday following a deadly tornado that killed at least 90 people and left a large section of the Missouri city in ruins...  The tornado that struck Sunday evening destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, damaging about a third of the city, and a trucking hub in southwestern Missouri...  Roads into many heavily damaged areas were blocked Monday, according to news reports, as rescuers searched through the wreckage for injured survivors...  Con-way Truckload’s headquarters, which were on the edge of the tornado’s path, were damaged but functioning Monday. The company employs 500 people in Joplin...  Other motor carriers and truck stops in the area weren’t in the storm’s path and avoided damage. One carrier, R&R Trucking, is helping relief efforts...  (Image from a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net:    Tornado damaging a Flying J truckstop and Con-way Truckload's headquarters)

* Ohio - YRC, Con-way make cost-cutting strides. As the trucking industry picks up steam, trucking companies are going to greater lengths to offset higher fuel costs

Dayton,OH,USA -The Dayton Business Journal, by Joe Cogliano -May 19, 2011: ... A new Bedford Report says YRC Worldwide Inc. has started a yearlong process of switching its trucks to 5W, full-synthetic motor oil... YRC officials expect the switch to save about 100,000 gallons of fuel a year companywide and reduce waste oil disposal by 28,000 gallons. Earlier this month YRC said it lost $102 million, or $2.14 per share, in the most recent quarter, an improvement from a year earlier when it lost $274 million, or $13.15 per share... In addition to YRC, the report said Con-way Inc. also has made strides in reducing fuel costs... As such, Con-way posted first quarter revenues well above analyst estimates, the Bedford Report says... The Dayton region has long been a hub for trucking companies because of its central Midwest location and the intersection of Interstates 75 and 70...

* Ohio - Report: U.S. freight economy expected to grow, led by acceleration in the trucking industry, according to a new forecast

Dayton,OH,USA -The Dayton Business Journal -May 20, 2011: -- The U.S. freight economy is expected to grow significantly during the next decade, led by acceleration in the trucking industry, according to a forecast by American Trucking Associations...  The trade association’s "  U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2022"    predicts that freight tonnage will grow 24 percent by 2022, with revenue ticking up even more -66 percent...  By 2022, trucking will have a 70 percent share of freight and an 81.4 percent share of revenue, up slightly from the current 81.2 percent...  The Dayton region has long been a hub for trucking companies because of its central Midwest location and the intersection of Interstates 75 and 70...  The American Trucking Associations worked with IHS Global Insight and Martin Labbe Associates to compile the forecast...

* Pennsylvania - New Regulatory Requirements Impact Hazmat Transportation

Philadelphia,PENN,USA -Business Wire/CNBC -May 19, 2011:  --  ACE Westchester, the U.S.-based wholesale-focused insurance operation of the ACE Group, today announced the availability of its latest report...   "What Does CSA Mean for Commercial Trucking Companies?" The new ACE Progress Report(SM), discusses key regulations likely to impact professional truck drivers and trucking company owners - including those hauling commodities deemed hazardous by the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT)...  The report, authored by Roger Murphy, Assistant Vice President, ACE Westchester Environmental, discusses the important aspects of new timetables for Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) -- particularly how new regulatory requirements for hazardous waste transporters may impact driver retention, and the overall impact on the trucking industry. The basic premise of CSA is simple: driver infractions, incidents, accidents, inspections -- while on duty --will be aggregated and attributed to the motor carrier the driver worked for at the time of the incident. As a result, a motor carrier's rating will be reflective of the drivers they employ...

* New York - UPS delivers strong results despite fuel costs, and  backs carbon tax, with conditions

New York,NY,USA -FT, by Jeremy Lemer -May 22, 2011: -- United Parcel Service, the package delivery company, would throw its weight behind a carbon tax to help tackle global warming – but only if the proceeds were tied to infrastructure improvement projects...  Scott Davis, chief executive officer of UPS, said his company would back a federal tax on carbon as part of a broad sweep of measures to restore America’s creaking infrastructure...  A tax on carbon would effectively raise the price of using energy for businesses and individuals, encouraging them to reduce their consumption, but as a result it has been heavily opposed by some politicians and interest groups...  Mr Davis comments added an influential voice to efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide that have been linked to a rise in global temperatures...  UPS runs a fleet of about 100,000 cars and trucks and about 230 aircraft. In 2010 UPS spent almost $3bn on fuel, although much of the cost was passed on to customers through surcharges...  Mr Davis estimates that if UPS’s US truck and package car fleet spends just five minutes a day stuck idling in traffic it costs the company $100m a year...

TRUCKING INDUSTRY * USA - USPS Says Cash Shortfall Would Hit Operations

* DC - Postal Service wants relief from pension payment due this fall

Washington,DC,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online -May 17, 2011: --  The U.S. Postal Service is putting new urgency on its bid for financial relief from Congress, saying its operations will be hit if the USPS runs out of cash this fall as predicted...  Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe, was asking Congress to change the requirement that the USPS prefund retiree health benefits, a mandate that would mean a payment of $5.5 billion to $5.8 billion dollars to fund the Retiree Health Benefit Trust fund through 2016...  The postmaster told the Federal Financial Management Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs that the relief would help the Postal Service become profitable once again...   The USPS has struggled financially after losing huge volume to the greater use of e-mail and e-commerce. The Postal Service has a $15 billion line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. However, only $2.5 billion of that money remains...  According to the USPS, it has overpaid billions of dollars to the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employee System... 

* Texas: Nears passage of uniform speeds all day

Austin,TX,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Keith Goble -16 May 2011: -- A Texas' bill would allow truckers and other drivers to travel at the same speed, night and day. Texas law now authorizes drivers to travel 70 mph during the day along most rural highways. The speed limit drops to 65 mph at night. Trucks are slowed to 60 mph on farm-to-market roads...  Sections of Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 in west Texas are posted at 80 mph during the day for motorists while trucks are limited to 70 mph. Speeds for all vehicles are lowered to 65 mph at night...  The Senate Transportation Committee voted, to advance a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the speed limit on most rural highways to 75 mph day and night – as long as state studies deem it safe. In addition, any speed differential between cars and trucks would be eliminated...  The 80 mph speed limit in West Texas would also apply to all vehicles 24 hours a day...  (Photo from t0.gstatic: Interstate 10 in Texas)

* Oregon - Bills on the move cover emissions, indemnification

Salem,ORE,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Keith Goble -May 16, 2011: -- Two bills winding their way through the Oregon Legislature cover trucking issues that address emissions rules and indemnification... Intended to crack down on unnecessary idling of trucks, the bill would prohibit commercial vehicles from idling for more than five minutes each hour on property open to the public... Examples of circumstances that would warrant additional idling are to operate defrosting, heating or air conditioners – or installing equipment necessary to comply with manufacturers’ operating requirements, specifications and warranties, or with federal, state or local safety regulations... An exception would also be made for air conditioning or heating during a rest or sleep period when the outside temperature is below 50 degrees or above 75 degrees... (Image from fhwa.dot.gov: Portland, Oregon overview. Trucks in Congested Traffic)

* Utah - C. R. England to Lease Kenworth LNG Tractors

Salt Lake City,UT,USA -Transport Topics -19 May 2011: -- Truck and engine manufacturer Paccar Inc. said it has reached agreement to lease new Kenworth T800 day cab tractors with 15-liter liquefied natural gas engines to a division of truckload carrier C.R. England Inc... C.R. England dedicated will operate the trucks on existing routes between Ontario, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev., and expects to put them into service this summer, Paccar said Tuesday... C.R. England operates 2,900 of its own tractors and works with 1,100 owner-operators, and the carrier said its dedicated division has 1,200 trucks... Original equipment manufacturer Paccar, which owns both Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., manufactures Paccar MX heavy-duty diesel engines... Westport Innovations, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, builds the 450-horsepower GX 15-liter LNG engine that will power the Kenworth day cabs... (Image from hankstruckpictures, by Paul Kane: CR England's Freightliner truck in Utah)

BILLS & DRAFTS * USA - Limiting tax authority of out-of-state truckers pursued on Capitol Hill

“Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2011”

Washington,DC,USA -Land Line Magazine, by Jami Jones -4 May 2011: -- More and more states, as well as cities, are cashing in on out-of-state truckers doing business in the area. That patchwork of tax laws is the target of a new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The “Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2011,” was introduced by Rep. Robert Goodlatte, R-VA, in the House on April 8. It addresses such taxes as corporate taxes, franchise taxes, income taxes and business activity taxes...  The bill seeks to establish a national standard on these taxes so they can only apply to businesses located in a city or state...  The bill would allow the taxes on businesses that are physically located in the state or local jurisdiction. That means businesses with employees, a building, etc. The bill seeks to prevent taxes on “transient business activity,” for example trucks picking up and delivering freight...

* USA - HOS : Safety advisory committee focuses on trucker detention time

Washington,DC,USA -Land Line Magazine, by David Tanner -4 May 2011: -- Time squandered at the shipping docks is an issue of trucker safety and hours-of-service compliance, according to a federally appointed committee that has taken up the issue of detention time...  The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, is urging FMCSA to seek the authority to address the issue and hold shippers and others more accountable...  When a trucker is needlessly detained at the docks without consideration or compensation for time spent, that trucker’s ability to comply with hours-of-service rules is compromised, committee members said...

* Obama Draft Plan Eyes VMT, Interstate Tolling

Washington,DC,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by John D. Boyd -May 5, 2011: -- Informal working document for highway bill also would set up a freight office at the DOT... The Obama administration has been floating draft language for surface transportation legislation that could lead to a tax on vehicle miles traveled, allow states to impose tolls on some existing interstate highways and set up an Office of Freight Policy inside the Department of Transportation... DOT officials will not confirm that the “Transportation Opportunities Act” is their work. But industry groups are taking it seriously as a first sign of what the administration is considering in detail, while committees in Congress prepare to write their own versions of a six-year surface transportation bill to replace programs that will expire in September... Washington sources say the document now getting attention was first distributed in March to a small group of transportation specialists. The administration sent out the draft for their comments to help shape a future plan, sources say, with the understanding they would not discuss it...