Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023:
CARB hosting webinars for new Clean Truck Check Reporting system
The California Air Resources Board is inviting trucking companies to participate in one of four public online training webinars on its new Clean Truck Check-Visual Inspection System (CTC-VIS) reporting site.
Clean Truck Check staff held and recorded a webinar on Sept. 27 to walk fleet representatives through the reporting process. CARB staff highly recommends watching this recording, accessed at this page, prior to registering for one of the other webinars to determine if registering for an upcoming webinar is necessary. Seven training module videos have also been posted for those who only need to better understand a specific aspect of reporting.
The upcoming webinars will be held via Zoom. Interested parties must register for a specific date to participate. The Nov. 16 and Dec. 5 meetings will be recorded and made available on the Clean Truck Check Reporting page. Questions answered during the Nov. 3 and Dec. 18 meetings will be posted to the page after the meeting’s conclusion.
Those interested can register for the meeting they wish to attend by clicking the links below:
- Nov. 3 (English), 8:30 a.m. – noon Pacific
- Nov. 16 (English), 4-7:30 p.m. Pacific
- Dec. 5 (Spanish), 1:30-5 p.m. Pacific
- Dec. 18 (English), 1:30-5 p.m. Pacific
As previously reported, CARB’s new Clean Truck Check program requires fleets to register any trucks operating in California, regardless of where the truck is plated, in the new system and pay a $30-per-truck fee. The program requires non-gasoline (diesel, alternative fuel, and hybrid) trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles (such as California-registered motorhomes) with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds to undergo emissions testing if they operate in the state.
[Related: California puts teeth in emission regs with new 'smog check' system]
I-55 NB remains closed near New Orleans, with one SB lane open
Interstate 55 near New Orleans was the setting for a horrific crash that involved more than 150 vehicles and claimed seven lives on Oct. 23 as a result of a “super fog” event that reduced visibility to basically nothing.
The interstate was shut down in both directions in the area of the crash until Thursday, Oct. 26, when one southbound lane reopened.
In a new update Thursday, Nov. 2, the Louisiana Department off Transportation and Development (DOTD) said it is preparing to begin permanent repairs for the portion of I-55 damaged by the crash and resulting fire.
For the northbound lanes, inspection results show that, due to extensive spalling (breakage of the concrete), a partial deck replacement is needed for the impacted area.
The top portion of the deck will be removed. Once complete, crews will replace that top layer with a modified concrete overlay. Contractors will begin mobilizing next week. Once repairs begin, and assuming no new damages are discovered, the northbound repairs could take up to two weeks to complete.
DOTD and its contractors have already begun permanent repairs to the southbound lanes. Contractors are working on the right lane in the area at the crash site, removing the damaged portion of the deck, and preparing to begin patching.
DOTD plans to temporarily close I-55 southbound for a six-hour period sometime this weekend. At that time, crews will switch the single-lane closure near the crash site. I-55 southbound will reopen, and traffic will taper down to the right lane near the crash site as crews begin to repair the left lane. Those repairs may take up to two weeks to complete. Once done, all of I-55 southbound will be permanently repaired and open to the public.
Southbound travelers are advised to be aware of their surroundings and of the crews working on-site. Northbound travelers will continue using Old US-51 as an alternate route for the time being.
I-10, I-17 closures planned in Phoenix this weekend
A pair of busy Phoenix freeways will be closed this weekend (Nov. 3-6) for separate improvement project work by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) and Valley Metro.
Drivers should plan to use alternate routes if possible to avoid delays and slow-moving traffic while the following stretches of I-10 and I-17 are closed:
Eastbound I-10 will be closed between the I-17 “Stack” interchange (near 27th Avenue) and 7th Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday for ADOT bridge inspection and maintenance work. Both I-17 ramps to eastbound I-10 at the Stack will be closed.
Drivers traveling eastbound on I-10 can detour to southbound I-17 and connect with I-10 at the “Split” interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Drivers in the West Valley also can consider using southbound/eastbound Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) to connect with I-10 near Chandler Boulevard.
Northbound I-17 will be closed between Dunlap Avenue and Union Hills Drive from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for APS powerline work and Valley Metro’s light rail bridge project. Northbound I-17 on-ramps at Bethany Home Road, Glendale Avenue and Northern Avenue will also be closed.
Drivers can consider alternate routes including northbound SR 51 to westbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) in north Phoenix to avoid closure.
Additionally, I-17 SB will be closed between Loop 101 and Union Hills Drive in north Phoenix from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for APS powerline work. The southbound I-17 on-ramp at Rose Garden Lane and both Loop 101 ramps to southbound I-17 will also closed.
Drivers can consider using eastbound Loop 101 to southbound SR 51 as an alternate freeway route to the downtown Phoenix/Sky Harbor Airport area.
Love’s opens two new locations
Drivers traveling through Shreveport, Louisiana, and Herculaneum, Missouri, have new parking and fueling options with the opening of two new Love’s Travel Stops locations.
The location in Shreveport is off I-49 at Exit 215 and offers 109 truck parking spaces. It also features a Carl’s Jr. restaurant opening Nov. 6, seven diesel bays, seven showers and more.
The Herculaneum location is at Exit 178 off of I-55 and offers 80 truck parking spaces, an Arby’s opening Nov. 6, eight diesel bays, seven showers and more.
