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  • December 13, 2022 10:33 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    The final 3G network sunset date is December 31, 2022. Are you prepared?

    Replace or upgrade your 3G-reliant ELDs today.

    Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which may impact motor carriers if their ELDs rely on a 3G network. Read more about the 3G sunset.

    The final announced 3G sunset date is December 31, 2022, when Verizon will complete the shutdown of its 3G network.

    Any ELD that requires 3G cellular connectivity to perform its functionality will no longer be in compliance with the technical specifications in the ELD rule after the 3G network it relies on is sunset.

    When in an area that does not support 3G, a 3G device will register a malfunction. In accordance with 49 CFR 395.34, the carrier has 8 days to get the malfunction resolved, in this case by replacement, unless an extension is granted.


  • December 08, 2022 10:41 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Stand Against Impaired Driving This Month

    December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

    Don’t forget, during the month of December, FMCSA is reminding employers of CDL drivers about their requirements to register in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and to query CDL drivers they employ or are considering hiring. 

    Download the campaign materials and share them throughout the month of December and all year long.

    Downloads include:

    • An article or short blurbs to include in your organization’s newsletter. 
    • Sample social media posts you can post to your channels. 
    • Web graphics and online ads you can include on your website.

    And don’t forget to follow FMCSA’s social media channels, where you can like and share our posts. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

    Truck Driver

    DOWNLOAD THE CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

    Questions?

    If you have questions about the Clearinghouse requirements, browse the Clearinghouse FAQs or visit the Clearinghouse Learning Center.  

    If these materials do not cover your question, you can also contact the Clearinghouse Team.   


  • December 07, 2022 12:48 PM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced the opening of two new truck parking lots.

    The locations in Medina County, along Interstate 76 eastbound between SR 3 and SR 57, and in Ashland County, along Interstate 71 southbound between SR 539 and U.S. 250, each have about 18 spaces, ODOT officials stated in a news release.

    There are no restroom facilities, however.

    The openings are part of a major project to transform 13 closed weigh stations into parking lots for big rigs.

    ODOT has finished 10 so far and will begin work on the final three in 2023.


  • December 06, 2022 2:53 PM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    According to the research, the top 10 distractions that increased the risk of an unsafe event or incident were:

    1. Reaching for an object (4.57)
    2. Reading (3.27)
    3. Adjusting/monitoring devices integral to the vehicle (3.31)
    4. Removing/adjusting clothes (3.01)
    5. Adjusting or using an electronic device (other than an electronic dispatching device) (2.87)
    6. Reaching for food- or drink-related object (1.67)
    7. Adjusting or using an electronic dispatching device (1.44)
    8. External distraction (1.21)
    9. Tobacco use (1.16)
    10. Eating (1.11)

    The tasks that decreased the risk of being in an unsafe event were talking/singing (.60) and dancing (.40).


  • December 05, 2022 8:17 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Texas border agents seize $8.3M in meth from big rig

    The Truckers News Staff

    Buckets containing 913 pounds of methamphetamine seized by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge are shown. The drugs were seized from the tractor of an 18-wheeler. (Courtesy: CBP)

    LAREDO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), along with Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers assigned to the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, recently seized a large amount of methamphetamine, totaling more than $8,300,000 in street value, from an 18-wheeler.

    The seizure occurred on Monday, Nov. 28, according to a news release.

    After CBP officers referred a 34-year-old male Mexican citizen, who was driving a 2005 International tractor hauling an empty trailer, for secondary inspection, they discovered a total of 913.50 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the tractor.

    The narcotics had a combined street value of $8,399,905, the news release noted.

    CBP seized the narcotics and tractor-trailer.

    “Methamphetamine is a controlling and highly addictive chemical substance that gravely affects its consumers,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry utilize their enforcement strategies to target high-risk commodities and intercept these deadly narcotics at the border.”


  • November 30, 2022 11:21 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    1. Speeding                2,577 warnings 1490 citations

    2. Failure to obey traffic control device 944 warnings 735 citations

    3. Seat belt not in use 678 warnings 505 citations

    4. Hand held device/texting 215 warnings 239 citations

    5. Improper lane change 175 warnings 84 citations

    Passenger vehicles were targeted also and a higher percentage of the violators received citations rather than warnings.

  • November 29, 2022 9:05 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    New per-mile & weight-based CMV highway fee to go into effect in Connecticut in January 2023

    Ashley

    Truckers who use roadways in Connecticut should be aware of a new highway usage fee going into effect early next year.

    Starting on January 1, 2023, a “Highway Use Fee” will be “imposed on certain carriers for the privilege of operating, or causing to be operated, certain heavy, multi-unit motor vehicles on any highway (i.e., public road) in Connecticut,” according to state officials.

    Connecticut governor Ned Lamont previously stated that the new Highway Use Fee is expected to generate $90 million in annual revenue for the state after fiscal year 2023.

    How Much Will Truckers Pay To Use Connecticut Roads Under The New Fee?

    The new Highway Use Fee will be calculated based on the motor vehicle’s weight and the number of miles driven in Connecticut. The per‑mile fee rate increases based on the carrier’s gross weight, ranging from 2.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing 26,000-28,000 pounds to 17.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing more than 80,000 pounds

    See the table below for the rate per mile based on gross weight.

    Highway Use Fee Rates (per mile) 

    Gross Weight (lbs)

    Rate (cents per mile)

    Gross Weight (lbs)

    Rate (cents per mile)

    26,000-28,000

    0.025

    54,001-56,000

    0.0654 

    28,001-30,000

    0.0279

    56,001-58,000

    0.0683

    30,001-32,000

    0.0308

    58,001-60,000

    0.0712

    32,001-34,000

    0.0337

    60,001-62,000

    0.074

    34,001-36,000

    0.0365

    62,001-64,000

    0.0769

    36,001-38,000

    0.0394

    64,001-66,000

    0.0798

    38,001-40,000

    0.0423

    66,001-68,000

    0.0827

    40,001-42,000

    0.0452

    68,001-70,000

    0.0856

    42,001-44,000

    0.0481

    70,001-72,000

    0.0885

    44,001-46,000

    0.051

    72,001-74,000

    0.0913

    46,001-48,000

    0.0538

    74,001-76,000

    0.0942

    48,001-50,000

    0.0567

    76,001-78,000

    0.0971

    50,001-52,000

    0.0596

    78,001-80,000

    0.1

    52,001-54,000

    0.0625

    80,001 and over

    0.175

    Carriers will be responsible for reporting the number of miles travelled in Connecticut by each vehicle via the myconneCT online portal.

    Who Must Register For A Highway User Fee Permit?

    According to the Connecticut State Department of Revenue Services (DRS), carriers must register with DRS for the Highway Use Fee by January 1, 2023 to obtain a Highway User Fee Permit. The first Highway Use Fee Return is due on or before February 28, 2023.

    The Highway Use Fee is applicable to any person that operates or causes to be operated on any highway in Connecticut any eligible motor vehicle. An eligible motor vehicle has a gross weight of twenty-six thousand pounds or more and carries a classification between Class 8 and Class 13, inclusive, under the Federal Highway Administration vehicle classification system must register for a Highway Use Fee Permit, state officials say.


  • November 28, 2022 12:30 PM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    The short survey asks fleets to share which types of predatory towing they deal with most frequently, what fees or delays they consider predatory, and in which states they have encountered predatory tows. It also seeks participants for a second round of more detailed data collection that will allow ATRI to quantify the frequency and operational impact of each type of predatory event. All data collected will be kept completely confidential.

     

    “We all know that predatory towing is an issue, yet until now there has been no robust analysis on how, when, and where it happens or the impact of legislation designed to regulate these predatory practices,” said Shawn R. Brown, Cargo Transporters Vice President of Safety. “By participating in ATRI’s data-driven research, carriers will be helping to answer these questions and outline solutions.”

     https://www.research.net/r/ATRI-Pred-Towing-Survey

    Motor carriers and drivers are encouraged to complete the survey by clicking here.


  • November 22, 2022 10:24 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    ATRI CRASH PREDICTOR ANALYSIS INDICATES FOUR DRIVING BEHAVIOR THAT PREDICT A CRASH WILL OCCUR OVER 100% OF THE TIME:

    FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHTOF WAY  141%

    FAILURE TO SIGNAL                          116%

    A PAST CRASH 113%

    RECKLESS DRIVING 104%

  • November 22, 2022 10:20 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.  ANNUAL LIMITED QUERIES MUST BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY 6, 2023.  THE DEADLINE IS DRAWING NEAR.

John's Safety Minute

My name is John Rigney and I am a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper. I retired in July of 2011 as a Sergeant in charge of Staff Services at Troop J, Lancaster. While there I received extensive training in emergency response with PEMA and FEMA. I was heavily involved in Motor Carrier safety and was certified by PADOT and FMCSA as an instructor for the roadside inspection processes. I hold a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Forest Products from the Pennsylvania State University. I also hold a Certified Safety Supervisor accreditation from the National Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) which is administered by the University of Central Florida. 

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