Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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JOURNAL NEWS INBRIEF 11/12 expanded its Pre-Employment Screening Program to eligible intrastate motor carriers and companies. FMCSA also launched an iPhone application for PSP available for free download by searching "DOT PSP" in the Apple iTunes store. President Obama signed , a bill sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) that would allow uniformed servicemembers to obtain a CDL where they are stationed rather than in their home state. After a sharp decline in fuel prices resulted in decreased trucking industry costs between 2008 and 2009, costs have risen steadily through 2010 and 2011, according to the update to its "Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking." The report is available at www.atri-online.org. reported a 9 percent increase in motor vehicle traffic fatalities for the first half of 2012, the largest jump during the first six months of any year since data was first collected in 1975. Indianapolis-based purchased a portion of the operating equipment of Columbus, Ohio-based Robinson Transport Inc. to increase its density in Midwest traffic lanes and reinforce its driver pool; terms were not announced. Minneapolis-based sold T-Chek Systems to Electronic Funds Source; terms were not announced. and the expect to begin negotiations on a new collective bargain- ing agreement on Dec. 18. The current agreement expires at midnight on March 31, 2013. and the agreed to extend their contract negotiations as a deadline loomed prior to a possible strike of East Coast ports. 10 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2012 ATA'S GRAVES continued from page 9 to the shipping community and the media. On hours of service, Graves said litigation is always a last resort, but the Obama administration forced ATA down that path. "I have no doubt that the changes were the result of political pressures brought to bear from the White House and not the result of FMCSA professionals believing further changes are necessary or could be justified." On electronic onboard recorders and ATA's victory in having EOBR language included in the MAP-21 highway bill, Graves said, "It's imperative that we keep the Department of Transportation on this path, no matter what happens in the November elections." In other MC&E news: oming on the heels of a 4,000-truck statewide inspection blitz, the California Air Resources Board said it hopes it sent a "clear message to truckers" about its clean air laws. Members of the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the California Department of Food and Agriculture inspected 4,053 trucks at 40 locations in August for overall compliance with air pollution laws, including those requiring owners of certain model-year vehicles to install diesel soot filters. C A total of 817 citations were given during the four-week Gear Up for Clean Truck Month campaign. Reefer unit noncompliance accounted for 212 viola- tions, noncompliance with CARB's Bus and Truck rule totaled 191 violations, idling infractions accounted for 187, and Emissions Certification Label viola- tions accounted for 174. The campaign focused on enforcement in Fresno, Otay Mesa and the Port of Oakland. CARB also extended the registration deadline for its small fleet compliance plan regarding the state's tractor-trailer greenhouse gas regulation to Jan. 1, 2013. CARB said the extension would provide fleets with 20 or fewer affected trailers to participate in an extended phase-in option that begins in 2013 and ends in 2016. Volvo Trucks and Michelin America Truck Tires recognized Muñoz Trucking and Erb International as the recipients of the Volvo Trucks Safety Award in recognition of their low accident frequency rates and comprehensive safety programs. urged that any future government decisions on sleep disorder screening for commercial drivers be made following a regular science-based process. announced its ongoing support for America's Road Team, while Mack Trucks announced that it again will sponsor the Share the Road program. of Combined Transport of Central Point, Ore., was elected as ATA's 68th chairman. executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, received the President's Trucking Association Executives Council Leadership Award. the Nevada Trucking Association and Travel Centers of America/ Petro Stopping Centers were winners of the sixth annual Mike Russell "Good Stuff" Trucking Image Awards. – Jeff Crissey CARB serves notice with 4,000-truck inspection