From telematics, to ELD and chatbots, trucking companies are aiming to keep up with the latest technology to stay competitive. However, no matter how impressive a new technological advancement is, if it’s too complex, more often, it ends up being more of a hindrance. I’m reminded of my grandmother. A couple of years ago, I found myself faced with the daunting task of teaching her how to use Facebook. At first, the idea seemed overwhelming. My grandmother, while tech-savvy in many aspects, had little experience (and patience) with social media platforms. As I sat down with her and guided her th ..read more

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget for a new information collection request (ICR) titled “FMCSA Registration System (FRS).” In a Federal Register notice set for publication Friday, April 19, FMCSA said it is replacing its Unified Registration System (URS) with a new online registration system, which will be named the FMCSA Registration System. FMCSA announced its plans to overhaul its registration system at the Mid-America Trucking Show last month, partly in an effort to “clean up the bad actors” in the in ..read more

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, April 18, 2024: Kentucky lawmakers override veto of autonomous vehicle bill After Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a bill that would have cleared the way for fully-autonomous, driverless vehicles – including trucks – to operate in the state, lawmakers overrode the veto, allowing the bill to become law. HB 7 was passed by the state’s House and Senate before being shot down by the governor. It clears a regulatory path for fully autonomous vehicles without a human driver to operate, as long as the vehicle meets certain conditions.  Beshear, in vet ..read more

Estes Express Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 10), among the big winners in the post-bankruptcy fundraising auction of former Yellow Corp. terminals, has kicked off the reopening of those facilities. Estes acquired 24 terminals through Yellow's bankruptcy proceedings and added more than 130 tractors and 6,000 trailers along with thousands of other pieces of equipment like load bars, air bags, and freight tables to its fleet as part of those acquisitions. “These acquisitions represent the single biggest influx of terminals and equipment in Estes’ recent history,” said Webb Estes, president and COO ..read more

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has petitioned federal regulators to amend a rule related to the requirement for motor carriers to return inspection reports to the issuing agency certifying that all violations have been corrected. Currently, 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 396.9(d)(3) requires that motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers return inspection reports to the issuing agency within 15 days of issuance, certifying that all necessary repairs have been made. The regulation also requires that carriers and intermodal equipment providers retain a copy of the report at ..read more

Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, April 17, 2024: Trucking groups appeal latest AB 5 ruling Following a California district court judge last month ruling against the trucking industry in an attempt to block the AB 5 independent contractor classification law’s applicability to trucking, the industry is once again fighting back. On April 12, the California Trucking Association and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit was the court that in April 2021 reversed an injunction that had been in place exempting the ..read more

Descartes Systems Group A recent study compiled by Descartes Systems Group showed that 54% of the supply chain and logistics leaders surveyed are focused on automating non-value-added and repetitive tasks with technology to improve worker productivity. The top technologies being deployed, according to the study What Are Companies Doing to Survive the Supply Chain and Logistics Workforce Challenge?, were delivery route optimization (54%) and driver mobile productivity (45%) solutions. For knowledge workers, the top technology choice in the study was real-time shipment tracking (53 ..read more

The surge of nuclear verdicts – post-crash jury awards exceeding over $10 million – against trucking companies have sent shockwaves through the industry. Despite a decrease in fatal crashes, verdicts are increasing, according to a 2023 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform. Looking at 154 trucking litigation verdicts and settlements from June 2020 to April 2023, the statistical mean plaintiffs’ award was $27.5 million and a statistical mean award of $759,875 for settlements. Addressing lawsuit abuse is a “top tier issue” for the American Trucking Association, sa ..read more

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, April 16, 2024: Order book opens for new Volvo VNL Volvo Trucks is holding immersive dealer and customer launch events throughout the summer at the Volvo Trucks Customer Center in Dublin, Virginia. The Volvo Trucks Customer Center includes a customer experience track, recently expanded to three miles, offering a fully immersive driving experience of the full range of Volvo trucks.Volvo Trucks Sales have officially started for the all-new Volvo VNL, a revamped truck the company noted is “90% new.” Since the announcement of the revamped Volvo VNL model in Ja ..read more

The trucking industry is navigating complex terrain marked by fluctuating demand for freight movement. From global shippers to local delivery services, the need to transport products quickly and cost-effectively remains a constant. While overall growth is forecasted for the market, there is room for improvement. The recently released WorkHound 2024 Trends in Trucking Report sheds light on the issues impacting the frontline workers responsible for keeping things moving. A strong supply chain is the undeniable backbone of the economy; solving these issues effectively ensures our ability to build ..read more