James Jaillet

James Jaillet was Randall-Reilly's executive editor of trucking, focusing on coverage of business and regulatory updates and trucking industry trends for the Commercial Carrier Journal and Overdrive, until the Spring of 2021.

Judge rules drivers should be paid minimum wage for all hours worked — including sleeper berth time

The judge’s Oct. 19 opinion says that drivers’ total compensation, once divided by the total number of hours worked, should equal at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. However, the ruling only affects this case and doesn’t have a direct impact on the industry’s per-mile pay model.

December 6, 2018

trucker sleeper-2017-06-05-10-19

Rates a mixed bag in November as flatbed continues slide

Per-mile flatbed rates on the spot market continued to fall off in November, according to monthly rates data from Truckstop.com. Meanwhile, reefer rates surged and van rates dropped a nickel a mile.

December 3, 2018

Screen Shot 2018-12-03 at 12.27.18 PM-2018-12-03-15-42

Engine tinkerers, beware: Emissions tech, steep fines and increased enforcement put the brakes on illegal engine mods

Highly publicized crackdowns by EPA and DOT point to a new, and sobering, reality for owner-operators: In the age of modern emissions control systems, there’s often little that can be done legally or practically to alter engines away from their stock specifications, especially if it means touching emissions control components.

November 30, 2018

Owner-operator status in question in California, carriers try to find work-arounds

The fix? Have previously single-truck operators leased to carriers obtain their own authority and become independent owner-operators and have carriers separate their trucking arms and brokerage arms.

November 29, 2018

Case to protect owner-operator status in California heads to court

Earlier this month, a federal court in California heard oral arguments in the Western State Trucking Association’s lawsuit against a California Supreme Court ruling that WSTA says could effectively block owner-operators from operating in the state.

November 28, 2018

CARB lead featured

Denham, top recipient of trucking campaign dollars and ATA ally, loses re-election bid

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), the top beneficiary of trucking industry political campaign contributions for the 2018 midterms, has lost his seat in the U.S. House. Denham had been a strong ally of ATA’s in the fight against California’s meal and rest break requirements.

November 14, 2018

denham1-2018-11-14-09-49

EPA intends to review truck emissions regs to uniform rules, add tighter NOx standards

The U.S. EPA on Tuesday announced plans to explore overhauling emissions regulations for heavy-duty trucks and engines, aiming for greater simplicity of emissions regulations and national uniformity of such regs, said EPA Acting Administrator, Andrew Wheeler.

November 13, 2018

truck-on-highway-in-rear-view-2018-09-19-13-49

New CVSA policy stresses that inspectors shouldn’t interrupt off-duty drivers for random inspection

Updated policy guidance from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance issued in late September establishes that inspectors should not disrupt drivers’ off-duty or sleeper berth time, when they’re legally parked, for a random inspection.

November 12, 2018

Hours of Service Restart

UPS Freight’s Teamsters-backed drivers agree to labor deal, preventing strike

The nearly 12,000 Teamsters-represented drivers at UPS Freight threatened to begin a work stoppage if they voted against the deal.

November 12, 2018

upsltl-2018-11-09-07-50

UPS Freight prepping for potential strike by Teamsters-backed drivers

UPS Freight says it is working “to empty [its] network of freight by Friday,” due to the potential for a work stoppage by its drivers. UPS Freight is the company’s less-than-truckload division, for which about 12,000 drivers work.

November 9, 2018

upsltl-2018-11-09-07-50

Page 20 of 190

MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford today hauls direct freight outbound for customers in part built from his years of ownership of another fleet, since sold after years of growth. MRL in some ways is Ledford's effort to right-size a business for his life today.

Right-sizing for management: MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford hits five trucks

Ledford got his start trucking after working a dock where his manager said Ledford would never drive truck. Not only would he drive, he'd grow a fleet well beyond 30 trucks before selling out. MRL Transport is his second turn in the barrel, and Ledford's hit a profitability sweet spot.

Ovd Radio Thumbnail (you Tube) 9 8

Small-biz trucking success, with family assist: The woman behind owner-operator Jason Shelly

Trucks Cars Highway Adobe Stock 180348823

FMCSA, other agencies update timelines for bevy of in-progress regs

The Small Fleet Championship's title belts are on the line for this year's competition, both to be delivered to a final winner in two categories after the final round October 23 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Meet Overdrive's 2025 Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists

BlueParrott S650-XT Bluetooth Headset

BlueParrott S650-XT Bluetooth Headset