Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, April 28, 2020:
Knight-Swift, Werner, Covenant execs take pay cuts
Top-level executives at some of the country’s largest trucking companies have agreed to accept voluntary, temporary salary reductions to help cut costs as the coronavirus slowdown freezes freight movement.
Knight-Swift, Werner Enterprises and Covenant Transportation have filed public notices with the Securities and Exchange Commission to document the reductions.
At Knight-Swift, the company’s CEO David Jackson, CFO Adam Miller, Chairman Kevin Knight and Vice Chairman Gary Knight have agreed to a 20% reduction in their base salary from April 13 through July 10.
Werner said in its filing that Executive Chairman Clarence Werner will take a pay cut of $250,000 for the rest of the year. CEO Derek Leathers has agreed to a salary reduction of 25% through July 2. Others taking a 15% cut through July 2 include COO Marty Nordlund, CFO John Steele and Chief Administrative Officer Jim Schelble. Senior VPs have agreed to a salary reduction of 10%.
Covenant Transportation CEO David Parker will take a 15% pay cut for the remainder of the year. Other executives will take a 10% cut, including CFO Richard Cribbs and President Joey Hogan. John Tweed, head of Covenant subsidiary LandAir, and Ryan Rogers, Covenant executive vice president, will also see a 10% pay cut through the end of the year.
FMCSA adds more mask distribution locations for truckers
While specific dates for the distribution of approximately 800,000 masks for truckers working during the COVID-19 pandemic are still mostly unknown, the agency has added around 30 more distribution locations in six states in addition to the six announced last week.
The only state with specified dates is Nebraska, where masks will be handed out on Wednesday, April 29, and Thursday, April 30, at the following locations:
Wednesday, April 29:
- Melia Hills Rest Area (Omaha) – I-80 westbound at milemarker 431 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Waverly – I-80 eastbound at milemarker 415 from 7 a.m. to noon
- Waverly – I-80 westbound at milemarker 415 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- North Platte – I-80 eastbound at milemarker 180 from noon to 8 p.m.
- North Platte – I-80 westbound at milemarker 181 from 7 a.m. to noon
- Nebraska City – Highway 2 in both directions at milemarker 501 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fremont – Highway 77/275 in both directions at milemarker 123 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Hebron – Highway 81 in both directions at milemarker 4 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 30:
- Goehner Truck Parking Area – I-80 westbound at milemarker 375 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Melia Hills Rest Area (Omaha) – I-80 westbound at milemarker 431 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Waverly – I-80 eastbound at milemarker 415 from 7 a.m. to noon
- Waverly – I-80 westbound at milemarker 415 from noon to 8 p.m.
- North Platte – I-80 eastbound at milemarker 180 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- North Platte – I-80 westbound at milemarker 181 from 7 a.m. to noon
- Nebraska City – Highway 2 in both directions at milemarker 501 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fremont – Highway 77/275 in both directions at milemarker 123 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Hebron – Highway 81 in both directions at milemarker 4 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other locations added without specific dates include:
Arkansas
- I-30 in both directions at log mile 93.2
- Alma – I-40 in both directions at Arkansas-Oklahoma border
- Hope – I-30 in both directions at Arkansas-Texas border
- Riverside – I-40 westbound at Arkansas-Tennessee border
- Bridgeport – I-55 westbound at Arkansas-Tennessee border
Georgia
- I-75 southbound at milemarker 179 in Forsyth/Juliette
- I-85 southbound at Georgia-South Carolina border at milemarker 169
- I-95 southbound at Georgia-South Carolina border at milemarker 111
- I-75 northbound at Georgia-Florida border at milemarker 23
- I-75 southbound at Georgia-Tennessee border at milemarker 343
- I-85 northbound at Georgia-Alabama border at milemarker 23
- I-95 northbound at Georgia-Florida border at milemarker 55
- I-20 westbound at Georgia-South Carolina border at milemarker 188
- I-20 westbound at Georgia-Alabama Border at milemarker 43
- I-16 westbound from Savannah Port Area at milemarker 144
Illinois
- I-55 southbound at milemarker 108, Williamsville scale
Indiana
- I-70 eastbound/westbound at milemarker 107
- I-65 southbound at milemarker 150
- I-65 northbound at milemarker 72
- I-70 eastbound at milemarker 107
- I-70 eastbound at milemarker 65
Texas
- Texas inspections sites in Mount Pleasant, Queen City, New Waverly, Falfurrias, Riviera, Penwell, Devine and Seguin
Prime makes $700k donation to hospital for COVID ward
Prime Inc. President and Founder Robert Low and his wife, Lawana, donated $700,000 on behalf of Prime towards a new COVID-19 unit at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. The hospital says the donation covers all construction costs associated with the project.
“During this chaotic time, it’s important to come together as a community. So, when CoxHealth leadership told us about this need, we were glad to contribute,” Robert Low said. “We are all in this together. We will persevere and defeat this virus. We thank our Prime associates – in-house and drivers – who are certainly doing their part to keep essential goods moving throughout the nation. We also want to thank our front-line health care workers, and let them know: We support you.”
The COVID-19 unit at the hospital was completed this month and includes a 51-bed, ward-style Intensive Care Ventilator Unit.
Navistar recalls 27,000 trucks over fuel heater issue
Navistar has recalled approximately 27,421 trucks and buses with Cummins B6.7 diesel engines with a fuel module option number FS90301 or FS90453, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. The recall includes approximately 26,835 International DuraStar, WorkStar, HV and MV truck models. The remaining 586 vehicles in the recall are buses.
Affected truck models include model year 2017-2020 DuraStar medium-duty trucks, model year 2017-2020 WorkStar severe duty trucks, model year 2018-2021 HV severe duty trucks and model year 2018-2021 MV medium duty trucks.
In the affected trucks, the electric fuel heater within the fuel module may overheat and cause plastic in the fuel heater to melt and potentially spark a fire. It could also lead to engine stalling.
A remedy for the recall is still under development. Cummins will notify affected Navistar customers. Owners can contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467. NHTSA’s recall number is 20V-219.
Pilot donating $225k to charities
Pilot Company is donating $225,000 to local charities in East Tennessee to help the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be used to provide support for the local community, truck drivers and frontline workers in need of financial relief, food and childcare.
Charities receiving the funds include the United Way of Greater Knoxville’s COVID-19 Response Fund, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, and the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund.
