Business: Page 306

Embark deploys autonomous trucks in four states

Ryder tractors equipped with Embark’s Level 2 autonomous system operated in an autonomous mode in on-highway segments during trips of about 650 miles, the company says. Drivers operated the rigs on surface streets.

November 21, 2017

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Roundup: A source of supposed DOT ‘bot attack’; The ‘fatbergs’ clogging the regs swamp

Source of supposed “bot” attack on regulatory reform comments identified. And transport attorney Henry Seaton’s talk at NASTC’s annual meeting identifies safety-rating, hours and other issues as principal fatbergs to clear in regs-reform efforts.

November 21, 2017

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Cross-border trucking reforms part of NAFTA negotiations

A rework of the U.S. DOT’s cross-border trucking program with Mexico is under consideration in a planned update of the North American Free Trade Agreement, according to Teamster staffer Mike Dolan. NAFTA currently allows any Mexican-based carrier to apply for authority to operate in the U.S.

November 21, 2017

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Overdrive Extra

A potential role for cameras and wearables in regulating drowsy driving

Until very recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has largely ignored fatigue monitoring technology, and therefore any potential it has for a significant revision of the hours of service. Instead, regulators for decades have tinkered with the hours of service as if it were a magic template to solve the fatigue problem for every […]

November 21, 2017

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Electronic Logging Devices

A guide to ELDs: Many choices, some low cost, for meeting mandate

On Monday, the U.S. DOT begins enforcement of its ELD mandate, which requires drivers to use electronic logging devices to track hours of service. See Overdrive’s comprehensive guide to ELD compliance here…

November 20, 2017

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Electronic Logging Devices

FMCSA delays ELD compliance for ag haulers for 90 days

Truckers hauling agriculture loads and livestock will receive an additional 90 days to comply with the U.S. DOT’s electronic logging device mandate, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Monday. The waiver gives such haulers until mid-March to adopt an ELD.

November 20, 2017

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Things that aren’t in the news, but should be

“The same people who don’t hesitate to sit in the fuel island for 30 minutes will lose their mind trying to get out of the parking lot. It’s like a switch is flipped from ‘Nope, not moving,’ to ‘GOTTAGOFAST!’ (The first person to blame this on ELDs gets a throat chop.)” …

November 20, 2017

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Chuck Timbrook’s ‘Black Out’ vets-support rig now available at 1/32 scale

Regular readers will recall owner-operator Chuck Timbrook’s now-famous military veterans-support “Black Out” 1999 Freightliner — a scale model of the unit is now available, produced by the New-Ray model manufacturer.

November 17, 2017

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NASTC honors 2017 ‘America’s Best Drivers’

At this week’s annual meeting of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, 16 drivers for member companies were honored for accident-free performance throughout million-plus-mile careers.

November 17, 2017

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Spotted salamander for a thousand, Alex

“Rest easy, Pennsylvania. Your concerns as a constituency are 100 percent being met in the salamander department by the gubmint, because they’re here to help. Salamanders. Truckers, not so much.”

November 17, 2017

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Why driver fatigue-monitoring tech could spread quickly among fleets

While fatigue–monitoring technology holds the potential for a new approach to addressing hours of service, few observers anticipate federal action in that direction in the near future. The integration of such systems, though, appears to be well on its way, with no need for a government decree.

November 17, 2017

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Bulldog Hiway Express offering its owner-ops ELDs

The fleet’s program also offers contracted owner-operators and small fleets benefits such as an interest-earning escrow account to cover truck maintenance, a discount fuel purchase program, legal prepaid services, EpicVue in-cab satellite TV and more.

November 17, 2017

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Overdrive Extra

Flatbed operators prospering as economy rebounds

Through September, flatbedder clients of ATBS had net income of $51,602. Even though miles driven did not change much during the first three quarters, net income per mile rose dramatically each quarter, indicating rapidly rising rates: 67.3 cents per mile, 74.7 cpm and 81.7 cpm.

November 17, 2017

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Tesla unveils all-electric, semi-autonomous big rig with re-imagined truck design

After 15 months of much-hyped speculation and teases, electric vehicle pioneer Tesla on Thursday night debuted its Tesla Semi, a Class 8 truck that the company says offers a 500-mile range on a single charge and can tow up to 80,000 pounds.

November 17, 2017

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NJ dump truck driver, small fleet owner arrested for more than $60k in unpaid tolls

He was pulled over, and authorities found the E-ZPass account had been revoked and suspended with more than 500 violations. He was arrested on the scene.

November 16, 2017

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Apex Capital joins blockchain alliance

Founded just this year, the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance believes so-called “blockchain” technology, the network technology that underpins Bitcoin and generally offers greater transactional security and automation in the online world, is “one of the most significant developments for the industry” since the Internet itself.

November 16, 2017

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POLL: How familiar are you with ‘blockchain’ network transaction technology?

The latest hype machine in tech circles has been built around so-called “blockchain” technology, the networked structure that underlies Bitcoin. With some trucking interests organizing to develop blockchain standards for better security in virtual trasactions, what’s your level of familiarity with the technology?

November 16, 2017

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Iowa college using FMCSA grant to help military vets obtain CDLs

Des Moines Area Community College received the $88,460 grant through FMCSA’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant program to help military veterans to obtain a CDL.

November 16, 2017

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Page 306 of 1356

Drivers Paperwork Sign Scale House Inspections

Roadcheck results: 10K vehicles, 3K drivers sidelined for OOS violations

During the 72-hour International Roadcheck inspection blitz in May, inspectors found more than 81% of trucks and 94% of drivers had no out-of-service violations. Brakes, hours of service, no-CDL among top violation categories.

International Trucks In Workshop Stx Assembly Line 231205 7075 wx L Nyyn Jte

President Trump updates timeline for heavy-duty truck tariffs, adds medium-duty trucks

Parked up at the Cowboy Cafe, Lyman, Woming

Last cafe for 1,200 miles -- Lyman, Wyoming: Report

Four fleets represented by the pictures above will square off in the final round of the Small Fleet Championship for the title belt in their respective categories October 23, 2025, at the annual NASTC conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Turnage, TFX, Oberman, Clifford Hay advance to Small Fleet Champ final round

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FMCSA's GBATS session: Truckers' applause for Trump DOT moves not hard to find

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