Latest Industry News Briefs Courtesy of PMTA
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Decreased 1.5% in June Index 0.5% Above June 2020
Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 1.5% in June after falling 1% in May. In June, the index equaled 111.6 (2015=100) compared with 113.3 in May.
“Tonnage has definitely flattened out, on average, over the last six to nine months,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The good news is that it remains slightly above 2020 levels.
“Supply chain issues are likely putting some downward pressure on tonnage,” he said. “But it is also likely that tonnage isn’t growing as much as it could because of industry-specific supply constraints. This index is dominated by contract freight, and the for-hire truckload carriers have seen their tractor counts fall because they are having difficulty finding qualified drivers. It is difficult to move more tonnage with less equipment, which is why we are seeing strong volumes in the spot market as shippers scramble to get loads moved.”
May’s reading was revised down slightly to -1% from our June 22 press release.
Compared with June 2020, the SA index rose 0.5%, which was preceded by a 3.3% year-over-year increase in May. Year-to-date, compared with the same six months in 2020, tonnage is up 0.3%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 116.2 in June, 2.4% above the May level (113.4). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.5% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.84 billion tons of freight in 2019. Motor carriers collected $791.7 billion, or 80.4% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear on the Passing of Richard Trumka
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued this statement following reports on the passing of Richard Trumka:
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Trumka. From humble roots, he rose through the ranks of the American labor movement to become one of the most iconic leaders in its storied history. His influence spanned decades – touching every corner of the U.S. economy and countless lives, as well as promoting human rights and freedom of association internationally. He’ll be remembered as one of the most formidable advocates to ever navigate the halls of Washington, leaving a lasting legacy through the cause for which he devoted so much of his life’s work.
“Personally, it was a privilege to work with Richard Trumka during the past three decades on labor and trade issues. He was a battle-hardened and passionate advocate for those he represented and someone I personally and professionally admired and respected. Testifying alongside him on infrastructure and funding solutions, we were able to demonstrate that, despite policy and political divides, business and labor can work together to make sure Congress puts good-paying American jobs before their own.
ATA Statement on Budget Reconciliation
Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement today after the Senate adopted a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint by party-line vote:
“On the heels of a momentous, bipartisan achievement for our nation's infrastructure, Congress is now turning its back on middle America to placate elite, liberal interests.
“President Biden led bipartisan talks through listening, compromise and keeping his word. These traits and common sense have become the exception in Washington, not the rule. With a 50-50 tie in the Senate and almost the same in the House, President Biden could again call for consensus and compromise. Americans are worried about rising inflation, getting back to work and responding to COVID and national disasters. Demonizing businesses and enabling partisan tax-and-spend policies following such a vital, bipartisan triumph is regrettable, will dampen our economic recovery and jeopardizes the fragile gains we’ve made.
"The trucking industry and the families and businesses who depend on the supply chain call on President Biden, Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to work in good faith across party lines for solutions all Americans can be proud of, not just a handful of liberal activists.”
CVSA Releases 2021 International Roadcheck Results
More than 40,000 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted May 4-6 for International Roadcheck, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual high-volume, high-visibility inspection and enforcement initiative. Approximately 83.5% of the commercial motor vehicles examined had no out-of-service (OOS) violations. However, inspectors had to remove 6,710 commercial motor vehicles and 2,080 drivers from roadways – a 16.5% vehicle and 5.3% driver out-of-service rate – over that three-day period after the discovery of out-of-service violations during inspections.
CVSA-certified inspectors at weigh stations, inspection stations, roadside and designated inspection sites in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. inspected commercial trucks and combinations, cargo tank hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) trucks and combinations, non-cargo tank HM/DG trucks and combinations, and motorcoaches/buses during International Roadcheck.
Inspectors primarily conducted the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step inspection process that involves thorough inspection of the vehicle (including underneath the vehicle) and the driver. Inspectors performed 23,135 Level I Inspections and removed 5,048 vehicles (21.8%) and 1,200 (5.2%) drivers from roadways due to the discovery of critical vehicle or driver inspection item violations as identified in the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.
Table 1: Level I Inspections
Country
# of Level I Inspections
# of OOS Vehicles
% of OOS Vehicles
# of OOS Drivers
% of OOS Drivers
U.S.
19,786
4,136
20.9%
1,083
5.5%
Canada
3,349
912
27.2%
117
3.5%
In addition to Level I Inspections, inspectors also conducted Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspections, Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspections and Level V Vehicle-Only Inspections.
In Canada and the U.S., inspectors conducted 9,410 Level II Inspections and placed 1,593 (16.9%) vehicles and 549 drivers (5.8%) out of service. They also conducted 6,836 Level III Inspections and placed 331 drivers out of service. That is a 4.8% driver out-of-service rate.
In Mexico, inspectors with the Ministry of Communications and Transportation and the National Guard conducted 1,288 Level V Inspections. Note: Since Level V Inspections are vehicle-only inspections, there is no driver out-of-service rate to report.
Table 2: Level V Inspections
Country
# of Level V Inspections
# of OOS Vehicles
% of OOS Vehicles
Mexico
1,288
36
2.8%
Vehicles that pass a Level I or V inspection with no critical vehicle inspection item violations are eligible to receive a CVSA decal. Generally, vehicles displaying a valid CVSA decal, valid for up to three months, are not subjected to inspection. Instead, jurisdictions typically focus their efforts on vehicles that do not display a valid decal.
CVSA decals were placed on 9,951 power units, 3,795 trailers and 190 motorcoaches/buses for a total of 13,936 decals.
•Of the 24,423 Level I and V Inspections conducted throughout North America, 5,084 vehicles and 1,200 drivers were placed out of service, which is a 20.8% vehicle out-of-service rate and a 4.9% driver out-of-service rate.
Each year, CVSA highlights a category of violations during International Roadcheck to bring awareness to certain aspects of a routine roadside inspection. This year, inspectors captured data on two categories – hours of service and lighting.
There were 1,367 out-of-service lighting violations, accounting for 14.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations. It was the third most-cited violation, after brake systems and tires. Out-of-service lighting device violations include headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps on projecting loads.
Of the 9,691 out-of-service vehicle violations issued, the top five violations were for:
Table 3: Top Five OOS Vehicle Violations
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Brake Systems
2,564
26.5%
2
Tires
1,804
18.6%
3
Lights
1,367
14.1%
4
Brake Adjustment
1,203
12.4%
5
Cargo Securement
1,192
12.3%
The second focus area, hours of service, was the most cited driver out-of-service violation, accounting for 41.5% of all driver out-of-service violations. That’s 1,203 violations. Hours-of-service rules limit the number of hours that drivers of commercial property- and passenger-carrying vehicles are permitted to spend driving and working and regulate the minimum amount of time drivers must rest between driving shifts. Canada, Mexico and the U.S. all have strict hours-of-service regulations in place to help reduce the occurrence of driver fatigue.
Of the 2,898 out-of-service driver violations issued, the top five violations were for:
Table 4: Top Five OOS Driver Violations
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Hours of Service
1,203
41.5%
2
Wrong Class License
565
19.5%
3
*Other
482
16.6%
4
False Logs
427
14.7%
5
Suspended License
132
4.6%
*Examples of “Other” driver violations include operating without the required operating authority, expired or no medical certificate, operating a commercial motor vehicle while ill or fatigued, driving while prohibited in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, etc.
During a Level I Inspection, inspectors will also check for hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG). They’ll check shipping papers, markings, labels and placards, and will look for any leaking material or unsecured cargo.
Of the 195 HM/DG out-of-service violations, the top five violations were for:
Table 5: Top Five OOS HM/DG Violations
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Loading
78
40.0%
2
Placards
35
17.9%
3
Shipping Papers
30
15.4%
4
Markings
14
7.2%
5
Training Certificate
8
4.1%
Last year, in the U.S. alone, there were more than 32,000 “failure to use a seatbelt while operating a commercial motor vehicle” violations, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Motor Carrier Management Information System. It was the fourth most-cited driver violation in 2020. During this year’s International Roadcheck, inspectors checked safety belt usage during inspections and issued 773 seatbelt violations. Four were issued in Mexico, 305 in Canada and 464 in the U.S.
According to the National Safety Council, roadway fatalities increased 24% in 2020 compared to the previous 12-month period, even though miles driven decreased 13% due to the pandemic. International Roadcheck is the commercial motor vehicle law enforcement community’s effort to reduce commercial motor vehicle-involved crashes by inspecting, identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles and drivers from roadways.
Here are the International Roadcheck results, broken out by country:
U.S.
Table 6: U.S. – Top Five Vehicle OOS Violations (out of 8,293 vehicle OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Brake Systems
2,151
25.9%
2
Tires
1,643
19.8%
3
Lights
1,163
14.0%
4
Brake Adjustment
1,051
12.7%
5
Cargo Securement
956
11.5%
Table 7: U.S. – Top Five Driver OOS Violations (out of 2,477 driver OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Hours of Service
832
33.6%
2
Wrong Class License
553
22.3%
3
Other
481
19.4%
4
False Logs
411
16.6%
5
Suspended License
127
5.1%
Table 8: U.S. – Top Five HM/DG OOS Violations (out of 149 HM/DG OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Loading
77
51.7%
3
Placards
32
21.5%
2
Shipping Papers
23
15.4%
4
Markings
10
6.7%
5
Other HM
7
4.7%
Table 9: U.S. – Decals Issued
Power Units
8,489
Trailers
2,898
Buses
189
Total
11,576
Canada
Table 10: Canada – Top Five Vehicle OOS Violations (out of 8,293 vehicle OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Brake Systems
400
30.2%
2
Cargo Securement
236
17.8%
3
Lights
165
12.4%
4
Tires
159
12.0%
5
Brake Adjustment
145
10.9%
Table 11: Canada – Top Five Driver OOS Violations (out of 139 driver OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Hours of Service
89
64.0%
2
False Logs
16
11.5%
3
Wrong Class License
12
8.6%
4
Violating License Restriction
10
7.2%
5
Suspended License
5
3.6%
Table 12: Canada – Top Five HM/DG OOS Violations (out of 31 HM/DG OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Training Certification
8
25.8%
1
Package Integrity
8
25.8%
2
Shipping Papers
7
22.6%
3
Markings
4
12.9%
4
Placards
3
9.7%
5
Loading
1
3.2%
Table 13: Canada – Decals Issued
Power Units
1,462
Trailers
897
Buses
1
Total
2,360
Mexico
Table 14: Mexico – Top Five Vehicle OOS Violations (out of 72 vehicle OOS violations)
Category
Number
Percentage
1
Lights
39
54.2%
2
Brake Systems
13
18.1%
3
Brake Adjustment
7
9.7%
4
Wheels
4
5.6%
5
Tires
2
2.8%
5
Coupling Devices
2
2.8%
5
Fuel System
2
2.8%
5
Exhaust
2
2.8%
Since its inception in 1988, more than 1.7 million roadside inspections have been conducted during International Roadcheck campaigns. International Roadcheck is a CVSA program with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation and the National Guard.
Trucking Praises Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
Arlington, VA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued this statement on the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill:
“For nearly three decades, our nation and industry have been held hostage by empty promises—all talk, no action. Today, the Senate put America ahead of itself.
“Passage of this bipartisan infrastructure bill is a groundbreaking step toward revitalizing America’s decaying roads and bridges, supporting our supply chain and economy with the foundation they need to grow, compete globally and lead the world. The bill also contains significant measures to grow and strengthen trucking’s essential workforce.
“The men and women who carry this economy on trucks thank those senators who had the courage to bridge the partisan divide, putting the interests of our nation above politics.”
Trucking Industry Praises Introduction of the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act
The American Trucking Associations praised the introduction of the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2021 by Senators Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland). The bipartisan legislation would repeal the 12% federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks, which currently adds approximately $22,000 to the cost of a new tractor-trailer.
“The federal excise tax on heavy trucks is a relic from the First World War that’s now serving to keep cleaner, safer trucks off of our nation’s roads today,” said Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations. “By repealing this antiquated tax, Congress can deliver a win for the environment, highway safety, manufacturing jobs and supply-chain efficiency. We thank Senators Young and Cardin for their bipartisan leadership in advancing a common-sense solution to the benefit of American truckers and the motoring public.”
Although technological advances have made the latest tractor-trailers cleaner and safer than ever before, the FET creates a disincentive for motor carriers to modernize their fleets by placing a punitive surcharge on investments in new equipment. As a result, the average age of a truck on the road today is nearly ten years old.
Over the past two decades, cleaner fuel and engines used in new trucks have combined to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 97% and particulate matter emissions by 98%. Since 2010, more fuel-efficient diesel trucks have saved 101 million barrels of crude oil and reduced CO2 emissions by 43 million tons. Life-saving, driver-assist safety technologies that weren’t widely available or effective a decade ago, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision mitigation and electronic stability technology, are now offered in new models.
The FET was enacted by Congress in 1917 at three percent to raise revenue for World War 1. Today it stands at 12%–making it the highest excise tax the federal government levies on any good across the entire economy. The bill calls on Congress to find more reliable and consistent revenue streams to sustain the Highway Trust Fund.
“Funding our national infrastructure need not come at the expense of highway safety or environmental health. Our industry will continue to advocate for equitable and sustainable user fees that align the goals of safer roads, cleaner air and a growing economy," said Spear.
A 2020 survey by American Trucking Associations found 60% of fleets would be either somewhat likely or very likely to buy additional trucks and trailers beyond currently scheduled purchase if the FET were repealed.
Trucking Cheers Bipartisan Infrastructure Agreement
VA… American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued this statement following reports that Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a bipartisan framework for infrastructure legislation:
“It’s refreshing to see Congress do its job and address national problems facing businesses and families. Americans, and the hardworking men and women who carry this economy on trucks, have waited long enough for Washington to act on our decaying infrastructure. We cheer this bipartisan breakthrough and hope it helps elected officials find more areas where they can work together to actually get things done.”
PDA Releases 2nd Quarter Driver Data
Brentwood, TN… PDA released data compiled from thousands of phone calls with professional truck drivers during the second quarter of 2021. The data was gathered as part of PDA’s efforts to help trucking companies curb turnover while providing accurate and actionable data to address their drivers’ concerns.
As in the two previous quarters, the two most mentioned concerns were equipment and compensation issues.
“For the sixth quarter in a row, equipment and compensation issues continue to be the top driver issue,” said Scott Dismuke, PDA’s director of operations. “The fact that these two issues are at the top is not an anomaly. As we have examined the data, drivers that experience equipment issues, also experience compensation issues weeks later as a result of being in the shop.”
Dismuke noted that while pay, home time, and driver respect get most of the attention when it comes to driver feedback, equipment issues are proving to be a key retention tool for carriers trying to keep drivers in their trucks.
“If a driver is consistently in the shop for breakdowns, they are not logging miles,” said Dismuke. “If they are not logging miles, then they are not making the pay that a company promises. So, an equipment issue for the driver this week, becomes a compensation problem for a driver next week.”
Overall compensation issues dropped slightly in Q2, going from 25% in Q1 to 24% in Q2. However, miles-related compensation issues rose to 46% in Q2 after dropping for the past three quarters. Dismuke noted that in a strong freight market and a very competitive driver market, drivers struggling with miles could be a high turnover risk.
“In this market, it is essential that companies know which drivers are struggling to log miles so they can intervene and assist the driver,” stated Dismuke. “With companies raising pay across the industry, it is important that drivers are making the pay being promised. If they are not making the pay being promised, they are receiving multiple calls from recruiters each day trying to lure them away.”
Operations issues were the third top issue for the fifth straight quarter, up slightly to 13% in Q2 from 12% in Q1. Driver feedback about operations continues to center on driver manager communication issues which rose 5% from 40% in Q1 of 2020 to 45% in Q2.
Dismuke notes that communication issues have spiked over the last three quarters and will continue to be a key to retaining drivers in this market.
“Communication issues are up 15% since Q4 of 2020.” said Dismuke. “As we have said previously, for drivers, communication is about respect. Whether it is pay, home time or responding to a driver’s questions, keeping drivers in the communication loop and responding to them goes a long way to relieving driver frustration.”
Dismuke stated that PDA continues to see driver churn that was present in Q1 and that as long as freight remains strong and the driver market remains tight, they expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
“There is no doubt that this is a tough driver market, from both a recruiting and retention standpoint,” stated Dismuke. “Those carriers that proactively communicate with their drivers, attempt to reduce frustration and minimize a driver’s time in the shop are the best prepared to keep drivers during this time.”
OOIDA Responds To Infrastructure Package, Frustrated With Lack Of Parking Funding
Given how critical drivers are to our nation’s supply chain, it is extremely frustrating to see lawmakers continue to treat truckers as an afterthought. Despite the disappointing outcome, we want to thank Senators Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. for championing Amendment 2615, which would have helped increase truck parking capacity across the country. We will continue work with them to identify other opportunities to address the lack of parking.
Truckers are routinely expected to simply be thankful for more highway funding and accept the fact all their unique needs are ignored time and time again. Years of inaction on addressing the lack of truck parking has created a nationwide crisis that threatens the safety of millions of professional drivers, and increasingly the motoring public. By failing to include the Kelly/Lummis amendment, the Senate has missed yet another opportunity to enact meaningful policies that would immediately improve drivers’ lives and highway safety.
This should have been a bipartisan slam dunk. Instead, the continued lack of action has demonstrated to America’s truckers that, despite all their hard work keeping the country safe and supplied throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they largely remain an afterthought in the Senate. The lack of dedicated funding to address the truck parking crisis is a major reason OOIDA could not support the bill.
And we will continue to oppose surface transportation legislation that doesn’t prioritize the needs of professional drivers.
Fortunately, the legislation does not increase minimum insurance levels and will invest hundreds of billions for roads, highways, and bridges. We will continue to monitor as the bill now advances to the House of Representatives where further action is expected this fall.
Landmark $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Improves Freight Policy; Builds on CAGTC’s Long-held Principles
WASHINGTON, DC… The Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) congratulates the U.S. Senate for passing today the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), an historic $1 trillion bill, $567.4 billion of which is dedicated to improving our nation’s transportation systems. Up to $77.9 billion of that funding is available to address varying freight system needs across the United States. Of note, IIJA’s funding for freight formula and Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) programs is 40 percent above the 2015 FAST Act levels.
While echoing support for many of the programs and freight policies long championed by CAGTC since its formation 20 years ago, the IIJA begins to make up for years of underinvestment and to address growing freight system demands. The upper chamber’s efforts are occurring at a critical time, given that freight transport is projected to increase 2.6-fold by 2050. If passed into law, the investments provided by the IIJA are projected to add approximately two million jobs annually to the U.S. economy.
“We commend the diligent and bipartisan work by Members of the Senate to deliver an investment plan that will serve our nation over the next five years,” stated CAGTC Executive Director Elaine Nessle. “The legislation prioritizes our nation’s economic competitiveness in the global marketplace by increasing the level of investment in multimodal freight infrastructure and strengthening the policy and programming that guides those investments. In response to CAGTC’s long-held advocacy, the proposal establishes an Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy (Freight Office) within the U.S. Department of Transportation to guide national multimodal freight planning and better inform system-wide programming. The Freight Office will oversee freight planning activities at the national and state level and manage the administration of multimodal grant programs, including INFRA, RAISE/TIGER/BUILD, and the new megaprojects program, reviewing applications with an eye toward increasing freight system performance, safety, and reliability. Each program is essential to funding large-scale goods movement infrastructure projects, which are difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods such as formula programs.”
The IIJA contains several programs that are freight-specific as well as programs that include freight investment among the program’s objectives and eligibilities. These programs include:
Multimodal freight grant programs: given the complex nature of many freight projects, robust competitive grant funding has been a longstanding priority for CAGTC. The IIJA responds to that priority by providing an unprecedented $20.5 billion over five years for three major multimodal discretionary programs. The INFRA grant program is funded at $8 billion over five years. Whereas the FAST Act limited funding for non-highway freight projects to approximately 11 percent of total funding, the IIJA increases the amount of multimodal eligible funding to 30 percent annually. While CAGTC has advocated for elimination of this cap, tripling the amount of funding available for multimodal freight projects is noteworthy.
“The INFRA program has invested millions of dollars in untangling critical freight and passenger rail systems in northeastern Illinois,” said Erin Aleman, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). “The country’s movement of goods relies on these nationally significant projects in our region and keeps our economy moving.”
Freight formula program: recognizing that each state’s freight needs vary in size, CAGTC supports federal programs seeking to address these needs through a combination of funding distribution methods. While discretionary programs are critical in supporting large, multijurisdictional projects, the National Highway Freight (freight formula) Program offers necessary additional resources to address statewide freight projects. The Act provides increased funding levels for the freight formula program and raises the amount available to multimodal projects from 10 percent annually to 30 percent, advancing state freight investment and planning efforts.
“The state of Tennessee strongly supports efforts regarding the importance of freight in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, specifically the increased funding for the freight formula program to address statewide freight projects,” said Dan Pallme, Director of Freight & Logistics, Tennessee Department of Transportation. “Freight is such an important aspect to many states with regards to economic development, industry, jobs, equity and safety. Understanding the movements of freight is critical to long-term success for not only our state but also regional and national efforts. More effective collecting, monitoring, and planning for growth in freight traffic through efforts like these, without slowing down industry, is critical to long-term success for all states.”
Port Investment Program: the bill includes $2.25 billion over five years, or $450 million annually, for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which provides grants to improve facilities, operations, and intermodal connections near or within seaports, inland ports, and Great Lakes ports. The program remains separate from surface transportation authorizations within the IIJA, funded through multi-year direct appropriations from the General Fund at significantly increased levels to enhance maritime and intermodal transportation infrastructure.
"Port Tampa Bay is pleased to see the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act pass through the Senate. This bill supports our nation's seaports and port-related infrastructure improvements and would invest in critical freight programs. This legislation would create the flexibility to invest in projects that have the capacity to create more jobs and increase long-term economic growth, which will impact entire regions," explained Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay President & CEO.
Bridge Funding: the legislation provides $40 billion over five years for bridge improvement projects through new competitive and formula funding programs. Many bridges across the country are in poor condition, resulting weight restrictions or closures strain freight movement by increasing travel times and congestion. Investments in bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects, particularly on designated Interstate and U.S. highway bridges, will improve national and regional freight efficiency as well as roadway safety.
"The question of whether to build a new bridge over the Mississippi River at Memphis isn't one of want but of need,” said Bobby White, Chief Public Policy Officer for the Greater Memphis Chamber. “Memphis is 'America's Distribution Center' and is home to the world's busiest cargo airport, to the nation's third-busiest trucking corridor, and to homegrown Fortune 500 shipping company FedEx. Memphis moves packages anywhere and everywhere, the world over. But despite Memphis' global value, the city only has two, aging bridges: the 48-year-old I-40 bridge and the 72-year-old I-55 bridge. The supply chains of the nation and the world cannot afford to have Memphis operating with a single bridge for an extended period, as it had to do for more than two months after a critical fracture was discovered in an I-40 bridge truss in May. To deliver the reliability citizens need, our nation must make America's River Crossing a priority."
Highway/ Rail Grade Crossing and Separation Funds: there are over 220,000 public and private grade crossings in the U.S., some of which raise safety and congestion concerns in impacted communities. The IIJA creates a new grant program for highway-rail grade crossing improvement projects, providing targeted funding for projects that support passenger and freight mobility, efficiency, and safety.
"We applaud the unprecedented augmentation in funding provided for nationally and regionally significant freight infrastructure projects, particularly as the pandemic has revealed the importance of a robust supply chain. Goods often must move between truck, train and ship and we also appreciate the increased flexibility to direct funding to the most meritorious highway, rail and port projects," said Paul Hubler, Chairman of the Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors and Director of Government and Community Relations for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, which is overseeing the Alameda Corridor-East rail-roadway program and a highway improvement project at the worst truck choke point in California. "The strong funding support proposed for railway-highway crossing separations and improvements in particular could help fund projects to eliminate hazards which have resulted in scores of deaths and injuries at crossings in eastern Los Angeles County."
CAGTC looks forward to working with the House of Representatives and the Administration to ensure that the IIJA is signed into law.
Inspectors Remove More Than 1,200 Commercial Motor Vehicles With Critical Brake Violations From Roadways During CVSA’s Unannounced Brake Safety Day
Commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 10,091 inspections and placed 1,273 vehicles out of service for brake-related critical vehicle inspection items on May 26. Inspectors tracked and reported this data to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) for Brake Safety Day, the Alliance’s unannounced one-day inspection and enforcement initiative focused on brake systems.
“Inspectors conducted their usual inspections and reported brake-related data to CVSA for Brake Safety Day,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “We are sharing the results to call attention to the importance of commercial motor vehicle brake safety.”
Why does CVSA devote an inspection day specifically to brakes? Brakes are one of the most important systems within a commercial motor vehicle; however, despite our knowledge of how crucial those systems are, brake-related violations continue to dominate vehicle out-of-service conditions. Brake system violations was the top vehicle out-of-service category during last year’s three-day International Roadcheck commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and enforcement safety initiative.
Each year, for Brake Safety Day, CVSA-certified inspectors conduct inspections, focusing on the vehicle’s brake systems and components, and remove commercial motor vehicles with brake-related out-of-service violations from roadways. Here are the results from May 26:
* Six jurisdictions from Canada, 42 U.S. jurisdictions, and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and National Guard participated.
* Inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 10,091 inspections and placed 1,273 vehicles out of service for brake violations.
* The brake-related out-of-service rate in North America was 12.6%.
* The U.S. brake-violation out-of-service rate was 13.3%. In Canada, the rate was 11.4% and in Mexico, the rate was 2.9%.
* In Canada, 946 inspections were conducted. In Mexico, inspectors conducted 487 inspections, and in the U.S., 8,658 inspections were conducted.
* Fourteen vehicles were removed from roadways in Mexico for brake violations. In Canada, 108 vehicles were placed out of service for brake violations, and in the U.S., 1,151 vehicles had to be removed from roadways due to brake violations.
In addition, inspectors compiled and reported data specifically on brake hoses/tubing, the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Day. Canada, Mexico and the U.S. reported a total of 1,725 brake hoses/tubing violations from the one-day unannounced brake safety initiative. Broken out by country: Canada reported 251 chafing violations, Mexico reported 186 and the U.S. reported 1,288.
CVSA asked inspectors to submit data on five different brake hose/tubing chafing violations:
* Category 1 violations were defined as brake hose/tubing wear that had extended into the outer protective material. Thirty-eight percent (664) of brake hose chafing violations met that definition. This is not an out-of-service condition.
* A category 2 violation means wear had extended through the brake hose/tubing outer protective material into the outer rubber cover. Thirty percent (509) of brake hose chafing violations were category 2. Category 2 violations are not out-of-service conditions.
* When the brake hose/tubing wear makes the reinforcement ply visible, but the ply is still intact, that is a category 3 violation. Sixteen percent (275) of brake hose chafing violations were category 3. This is not an out-of-service condition.
* A category 4 violation is when the reinforcement ply is visible and the ply is completely frayed, severed or cut through. Ten percent (169) of brake hose chafing violations were category 4. Vehicles with category 4 chafed hose conditions were placed out of service.
* Brake hose/tubing wear for category 5 violations extended through the reinforcement ply to the inner rubber layer. Six percent (108) of brake hose chafing violations were identified as category 5, which is an out-of-service condition.
“Brake hoses and tubing are essential brake system components and must be properly attached, undamaged, without leaks and flexible,” said Sgt. Samis. “We chose to focus on brake hoses/tubing this year in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries as a result of commercial motor vehicle brake-system failures from pressure or vacuum loss due to brake hose/tubing deficiencies.”
Some jurisdictions in the U.S. use performance-based brake testers (PBBT) as part of their vehicle inspection process. A PBBT is a machine that assesses the braking performance of a vehicle. On Brake Safety Day, 68 PBBT tests were conducted. Four percent of PBBT-tested commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for insufficient brake performance.
Brake Safety Day is the Alliance’s unannounced brake safety initiative; however, CVSA also holds Brake Safety Week each year and announces those dates publicly well in advance. This year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 22-28.
Brake Safety Day and Brake Safety Week are part of CVSA’s Operation Airbrake program in partnership with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and the National Guard. Operation Airbrake is a comprehensive program dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to reduce the number of highway crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.
Governor Pritzker Signs Bill Creating Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission
CHICAGO, IL… Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB399 on Friday, a bill authorizing the formation of the Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission. The commission will be responsible for creating a statewide plan for a high-speed line and feeder network connecting Chicago to St. Louis. It will be integrated with existing Amtrak and Metra services, intercity bus service and connect the Illinois cities of Rockford, Moline, Peoria and Decatur. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, and Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines.
“Establishing high speed rail lines that connect Chicago, St. Louis and several other cities throughout Illinois will create thousands of jobs, spur economic growth, lower carbon emissions, improve transportation safety and relieve congestion in cities,” said Rick Harnish, executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance. HSRA has been advocating for the creation of the commission for more than three years.
Under the newly passed law, the commission has been tasked with conducting a ridership study and issuing its findings and recommendations concerning a governance structure, the frequency of service and implementation of the plan. The commission is required to provide yearly reports and be assisted by the state Department of Transportation.
“With the signing of this bill, we have taken an important first step towards creating a statewide network that feeds into the high-speed backbone,” Harnish said. “The plan would encourage coordination and cooperation between state agencies, railroads and local governments to invest wisely in targeted upgrades to the existing rail network. Improving existing tracks and connecting them to a new high-speed line would create the heart of a Midwest high-speed network and make same-day round-trips possible between all of Illinois’ major cities and destinations.
“Every Illinosian will benefit from faster trains, but without a big-picture view, it was hard to coordinate all the stakeholders.”
The proposed high speed rail line would start at O'Hare International Airport and take just 127 minutes to reach downtown St. Louis, stopping at Champaign-Urbana in less than an hour. Springfield would be 78 minutes away from Chicago's Union Station. Champaign to downtown Indianapolis would take about a half-hour.
"Creating a high-speed rail network would provide a fast, safe and reliable way to travel across the state," says Sen. Stadelman. "This investment in high speed rail networks will expand travel opportunities for the residents of Rockford and the entire state."
The Commission will be composed of appointees by the governor, the four top leaders in the General Assembly, the Transportation secretary, chairs of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Interstate Commerce Commission and Metra board of directors, the Chicago mayor, a rail workers union, a rail-industry trade group, the Metropolitan Mayors and Managers Association, Illinois Railroad Association, the University of Illinois System, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Illinois Municipal League, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District and regional planning agencies from the Rockford, Bloomington and Metro East (St. Louis) areas. The commission is authorized to work from the bill’s signing through 2026.
Creation of High-Speed Railway Commission Comes at the Right Time
The creation of the commission comes at an opportune time, as the infrastructure bill moves through both the U.S. House and Senate, with provisions that would commit $66 billion to passenger and freight rail over 5 years, and another $39 billion to public transit.
The formation of the commission puts Illinois in an ideal position to move forward quickly once infrastructure legislation passes. It will create a much-needed forum that the Illinois Department of Transportation can use to move from its current wish-list of individual projects to a true, state-wide railway transportation plan.
Looking ahead, the Illinois network could eventually be connected to other cities in the Midwest and the rest of the nation through a high-speed rail network such as the one envisioned by HRSA. The national network would modernize intercity and commuter trains, transit systems and buses, and integrate them into a nationally connected network, with a 220-mph high-speed trunk line to tie the network together.
The High Speed Rail Alliance is a growing community working to bring the game-changing power of fast, frequent and affordable trains to North America. We know that high-speed trains, integrated with expanding transit networks, will revitalize cities, towns and regions by making visits to family, friends and business partners easier, more productive and more affordable. And they will dramatically reduce carbon emissions in the process. For more information go to https://www.hsrail.org/.
Canadian Federal Government Announcement Regarding Mandatory Vaccinations
TORONTO, CANADA… Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced in a press conference today the Government of Canada’s intent to require vaccination for the federal public service as early as the end of September.
The government also announced it will require employees in the federally regulated transportation sectors of air, rail, and marine to be vaccinated by no later than the end of October. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers, including all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships. The federally regulated trucking sector will not be included in this regulatory change.
For all other federally regulated sectors, including trucking, both ministers are “strongly encouraging” employers to continuously urge vaccination within their workforce.
Face Masks Required In DMV Offices Due To Summer COVID-19 Surge
Remember to bring your face mask when you go to a DMV office. Masks are required inside DMV offices and during drive tests conducted by DMV, regardless of vaccination status.
All state offices with public contact resumed this safety precaution July 30 due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Oregon this summer. State offices are following the latest Oregon Health Authority guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
OHA strongly recommends face masks in indoor public settings. For the latest news and guidelines for COVID safety, visit the OHA site.
Also, remember to check DMV2U.Oregon.gov whenever you need a DMV service.
DMV has added over 20 new on-line services to DMV2U including driver license renewal. You also can make an appointment for services that must be done in person – such as applying for a new license or the Real ID option for air travel. And you can see the most current COVID-19 safety requirements, location and hours of DMV offices near you.