Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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JOURNAL NEWS INBRIEF 01/12 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration received numerous inquiries from fleets about vendors using aggressive market- ing tactics to sell allegedly FMCSA-endorsed supervisor training to employers who may be subject to drug and alcohol testing requirements. The agency said it is not familiar with these compa- nies nor the training they offer. FMCSA granted a temporary exemption period allowing commercial motor vehicle operators to use trailer- mounted surge brakes. CK Commercial Vehicle Research's annual fleet study for 2011 showed that 84 per- cent of survey respondents operating Class 8 vehicles and 33 percent operating medium-duty vehicles intend to purchase new equipment in 2012, with their average order size equal to 16 percent of their current fleet popula- tion. One in four plan to add capacity with new equip- ment. U.S. Xpress Enterprises Co-Chairman and President Patrick Quinn died Dec. 13 following a battle with brain cancer; he was 65. Quinn's 40-year career in trucking was highlighted by numer- ous leadership roles, includ- ing terms as chairman of both the American Trucking Associations and Truckload Carriers Association. YRC Worldwide stockhold- ers authorized the com- pany's board of directors to conduct a reverse stock split of its common stock and to proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock. FedEx Corp. increased ship- ping rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by a net average of 4.9 percent. Continued from page 11 In the final rule, FMCSA stated that commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event, and dialing a handheld cell phone makes it six times more likely that commer- cial drivers will be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Following the rule's announcement, the National Transportation Safety Board last month voted to recommend banning all U.S. drivers from using handheld mobile phones or sending text messages as well as hands-free devices other than those installed by vehicle manufacturers. The recommendation would have to be adopted separately by each U.S. state since states have authority over driver behavior. To view the final rule, go to www.regulations.gov; the docket numbers are FMCSA–2010-0096 and PHMSA-2010- 0227. – Jeff Crissey Bill would provide more scrutiny for new, reincarnated companies U .S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, and John Rockfeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, last month introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act, a bill that would reauthorize the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and strengthen federal truck and bus safety standards. The act would provide more scrutiny before new motor car- riers and drivers are able to enter the industry, strengthen the 12 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JANUARY 2012 Write 232 on Reader Service Card or visit ccjdigital.com/info