Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022:
ATA, Canadian Trucking Alliance ask U.S. to end cross-border vax requirement
A joint letter from the American Trucking Associations and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) calls on the U.S. government to remove all U.S. COVID-19 entry requirements impacting non-U.S. citizens, including the Canadian trucking sector.
The request follows Canada’s decision to end its cross-border vaccine requirement on Oct. 1. Last week, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association made a similar request of the Biden Administration.
In the letter, both trucking groups urged that officials in Washington announce reciprocal changes while highlighting that truck drivers have remained essential workers and were permitted to cross the Canada-U.S. border during the first part of the pandemic, delivering much- needed products to both countries.
The joint correspondence also outlined that trucking companies would benefit from the removal of the U.S. border vaccination policy through a significant increase to their cross-border driver pools, and an improved ability to deliver U.S. exports to the benefit of U.S. businesses and commerce.
These facts were further reinforced to the Council of Governors and National Governors Association (NGA), with CTA and ATA asking these groups to support and echo their request to Washington to remove the U.S. border mandate to the benefit of the cross-border supply chain and economy.
With Canada being the number one export market for most U.S. states, and with most Canada-U.S. trade moving by truck, CTA reiterated that the reciprocity of these changes would add considerable freight capacity and allow the trucking sector to better service the constituents and businesses within many states the governors represent.
[Related: Canada ends border vaccine mandate, OOIDA calls on Biden to follow suit]
Iowa temporarily expands weight limits for certain ag haulers on non-interstate highways
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer and manure.
The proclamation is effective through Oct. 30 and allows trucks transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.
The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system.
Comdata intros new eReceipts for Lumper Payments service
Comdata has added an eReceipt feature to its Lumper Payments offering, giving customers the ability to initiate, pay for and obtain a receipt for lumper transactions and reduce potential for delays, lost receipts and the overall hassle of retrieving lumper expense reimbursements.
Comdata’s Lumper Payments service has nationwide acceptance at leading warehouses and provides contactless, instant payments via digital Comcheks and a Comdata Fuel Card.
“Our new eReceipt feature for Lumper Payments addresses significant pain points for truck drivers today,” said Eric Dowdell, president of Comdata’s North American Trucking division. “Lost receipts and potential delays have historically created issues for drivers.”
Through Comdata’s customer portal, fleet managers will now have access to receipt images and transaction details.
