Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/231816
JOURNAL NEWS INBRIEF 1/14 Calling for a transition to "a long-term stable funding source" for the nation's transportation infrastructure, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced , legislation aimed at a short-term fix for declining highway dollars: a 15 cents-per-gallon increase in the federal motor fuels tax. from August to October fell 9 percent from the previous rolling quarter to 212, according to FreightWatch International. The average value lost per load was $256,586. A judge ordered North Canton, Ohio-based to pay $302,000 to two drivers deemed wrongfully terminated after refusing to drive when they discovered their carriers' trucks did not have the proper information (company name or USDOT number) displayed on the vehicles. The U.S. Department of Labor filed the lawsuit on the drivers' behalf. Warren, Mich.-based truckload carrier (CCJ Top 250, No. 28) acquired Louisville, Ky.-based Westport Axle Corp. – a provider of warehousing and componentdistribution services to manufacturers of Class 4-8 trucks – from its Brazilian owners for $123 million. last month sought a limited exemption for state timber haulers from the hours-of-service 30-minute break requirement, agreeing to restrict their duty day to 12 hours if relief was granted. agreed to buy the remaining Canadian assets of Toronto-based Vitran Corp. (CCJ Top 250, No. 37) for $128 million. were shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for holding loads hostage and failing to cooperate with investigators: Allegiant Van Lines Inc., based in Davie, Fla.; Northern Van Lines Inc., based in Cooper City, Fla.; Northeastern Vanlines Inc., based in Pembroke Pines, Fla.; United West Moving and Storage Inc., based in Anderson, S.C.; and Direct Movers Inc., based in Pikesville, Md. More than 143,000 Christmas wreaths were placed at the headstones of fallen U.S. soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery by 30,000 volunteers working with , the organization said. In all, volunteers laid 540,000 wreaths delivered by more than 100 trucking companies at 908 veterans cemeteries across the United States. Wreaths Across America is sponsored in part by the Truckload Carriers Association and CCJ publisher Randall-Reilly. Can crosswinds cost more than $3000 yearly? How much does crosswind cost me and why? How come my truck can't make 10 miles per gallon? Have you ever asked yourself this? The answer is AIR DRAG. Air drag is like a turbulent "tornado" sucking the vehicle backwards. It also sucks about half of your fuel money along with it. Crosswinds add to the price tag and are like tax collectors that come out of nowhere and claim up to 40% more fuel on top of regular air drag by creating another "tornado" that pulls you sideways. During high winds you waste up to 70% of your fuel money to fight air drag. About 32% of truck accidents are turbulence related since air drag consumes your fuel, destabilizes your truck, adds to driver fatigue, and shortens the lifespan of your tires. All of those factors cause the average trucker to pay approximately $2000 to $3500 annually to overcome crosswinds. Can anything be done? One of the solutions is a VorBlade™ Invisible Fairings, introduced by Avantechs, Inc out of Boulder, CO. VorBlade™ is a system of unique vortex generators that slices harmful turbulent "tornadoes" around the truck, and is made in the USA. The technology is well-proven in the industry and verified by the EPA SmartWay. The VorBlade System creates a self-adaptive invisible shield that remarkably reduces air drag and the effects of detrimental crosswinds. A few windy days might cost you more than the VorBlade™ Cab System. Don't let your money be gone with the wind! 8 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JANUARY 2014 Text INFO to or visit