FMCSA extends comment period on broker transparency petitions

Updated Oct 16, 2020

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020: 

FMCSA gives another month to comment on broker transparency petitions
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the comment period on petitions from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and another group requesting that brokers be required to automatically send electronic records of each transaction record to carriers within 48 hours of loads being completed and prohibit brokers from including provisions in contracts that require carriers to waive their rights to transaction records.

The comment period was set to expire Oct. 19 and has now been extended a month to Nov. 18. Comments can be made here. As of Thursday morning, the petitions had received more than 1,000 comments.

FMCSA announced last week it is holding a listening session on the subject on Oct. 28. The extension of the comment period, FMCSA says, will give interested parties additional time to submit their responses to the petitions.

Landstar opened a new facility for drivers in Carnesville, Georgia.Landstar opened a new facility for drivers in Carnesville, Georgia.

Landstar opens new facility in Georgia
Landstar has announced the opening of its new 8,000 square-foot facility in Carnesville, Georgia.

Located at Exit 160 off I-85, the new location includes classrooms, a conference room and several convenient amenities for owner-operators leased to Landstar, such as a business center with free Wi-Fi, laundry, showers and breakrooms.

“The location has easy truck access for our owner-operators with multiple driver-focused businesses at the same exit in Carnesville,” said Rocco Davanzo, Landstar Transportation Logistics executive vice president of capacity development. “Landstar maintains facilities focused on its leased owner-operators across the United States and in Canada. These locations are designated places for independent owner-operators to connect with Landstar, network with others, and participate in continuous professional education to keep their businesses running smoothly.”

Landstar owner-operators who visit the new center also have access to the facility’s secured parking lot with more than 120 tractor-trailer combinations and 70 additional passenger vehicle spaces.

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Driver named Highway Angel for stopping to assist at accident scene
Donna Wright, a Kelowna, British Columbia-based truck driver for Challenger Motor Freight, was named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for stopping at the scene of an accident and rushing to dispatch first responders.

Wright, who has been team driving with her husband, Geoffrey, for four years, was driving early on June 6 from Vancouver to Ontario on the Trans-Canada Highway. She noticed a lot of mud strewn across the highway and, looking farther ahead, she saw a tractor-trailer 20 feet off the side of the road in a marshy area with the tractor on its side.

Donna WrightDonna Wright

She put her hazards on and pulled over, then grabbed her headset as she jumped out of the cab.

“My heart was racing,” she said. “I knew in my heart of hearts that I needed to do what I could, but I don’t deal well with tragedy or blood.” In fact, she can become faint in a moment. “The best thing I could do was to call 911 and get them dispatched.”

While she knew she couldn’t get too close, she called out to the driver to see if he was OK and if there was anyone else in the cab. About that time, a pickup truck pulled over, and the driver ran into the marsh. At this point, the truck driver emerged and was able to pull himself out of the truck.

“He was coherent and was able to answer questions and didn’t appear to have any serious injuries,” Wright said.

For her willingness to help, TCA presented Wright with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. Challenger Motor Freight also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. EpicVue sponsors the TCA Highway Angel program.

Love’s opens new truck maintenance locations
Love’s Travel Stops this month announced the opening of five new Love’s Truck Care and Speedco locations that are open 24/7.

The locations offer tire, lube and light mechanical services for truck drivers. The company now offers more than 390 locations across the country with these services.

The five new locations are:

  • Oak Grove, Kentucky – Love’s Truck Care
  • Ellabell, Georgia – Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco
  • Holladay, Tennessee – Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco
  • New Florence, Missouri – Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco
  • Wadsworth, Illinois – Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco