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The bill will call for the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement to publish a list of port drayage carriers, or their successor companies, together with outstanding conclusions for wage offenses and other labor law violations. The accountability of customers will likely be determined through civil court or through the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement. The passage by the appropriations committee, which has a state on almost any legislation with financial or budgetary impact, sets the stage for a vote by the complete meeting, which could occur early next week.

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WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced $4,872,000 in grants to six Marine Highway projects. The funding, provided by the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, will help enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York, and Connecticut, and support the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island.

“Strengthening the country’s waterways and domestic seaports stimulates economic growth, reduces congestion and increases the efficiency of our national freight transportation system,” said Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

The Marine Highway Program supports the expanded use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, provide new transportation options, and generate other public benefits by increasing the efficiency of the surface transportation system. The program works with public and private stakeholders to achieve these goals.

“These marine highway grants will help expand freight movement on the water and modernize our inland ports and waterways,” said Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby.

Marine Highways provide new modal choices to cargo shippers, which reduces transportation costs while providing the public benefits of reduced road maintenance costs and improved safety. Expanding the use of our waterways supports jobs at U.S. ports and shipyards, and marine highway services also benefit national security by providing an alternate mode of transportation and adding to our strategic sealift resources.

Projects receiving grant funding are:

Port of Baton Rouge and Port of New Orleans Container-on-Barge (awarded $2,507,200)

The grant will be used to purchase marine terminal and handling equipment for efficient loading and unloading of container-on-barge operations in New Orleans. The existing service, which operates on a regular, reliable schedule, is designed to relocate empty containers in Memphis to meet export customer demand in Baton Rouge. This grant will allow the service to expand to the New Orleans France Road terminal and will allow northbound containers to be offloaded as far north as Memphis, TN.

Davisville/Brooklyn/Newark Container-on-Barge Service (awarded $855,200)

Sponsored by the Quonset Development Corporation, this service will run between Brooklyn, NY, Newark, NJ and the Port of Davisville in Rhode Island. The service will include a dedicated run twice a week utilizing one 800-TEU capacity deck barge and will remove approximately 83,200 containers and 14,976,000 vehicular miles annually from the road. It will also relieve landside congestion and lower transportation costs for shippers while providing additional economic opportunities regionally.

James River Expansion Project on the M-64 (awarded $456,000)

Sponsored by the Port of Virginia, this regularly scheduled service operates three times a week between terminals in Hampton Roads, and the Richmond Marine Terminal.  The grant will allow the service to continue expanding by increasing freight handling capacity at the Richmond Marine Terminal, enabling it to provide a more efficient level of service.

New York Harbor Container and Trailer-on-Barge Service (awarded $298,423)

Sponsored by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the grant will assist with funding a planning study to look at how marine highway services can be expanded throughout the Northeast region from New York Harbor to other points. Since many of the terminals at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are reaching capacity; the study will provide the data necessary to establish the business case to support shipping container movement by barge between terminals and beyond. Services derived from this study could reduce landside congestion, provide greater market access and improve terminal capacity and efficiency. 

Cross Sound Enhancement Project (awarded $503,250)

Sponsored by the Connecticut Port Authority, this grant will support the improvement of the Cross-Sound Ferry by expanding the dock and supporting infrastructure. The project will focus on maintaining and improving operational safety and efficiency. The grants funding will be utilized for shoreside infrastructure improvements and more efficient direction of vehicular traffic.

Paducah-McCracken Riverport Container-on-Barge Service (awarded $251,927)

Sponsored by the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority, the grant funding will be applied to an 18-month demonstration of container-on-barge services that would stretch across three states and three marine highways. Specifically, the funds would be utilized for leasing and/or purchase of shoreside container handling equipment.

Cedar-Rapids, Iowa-based CRST’s current exemption operates from Sept. 23, 2016, through Sept. 24, 2018. CRST Expedited is requesting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to revive an exemption which permits the Cedar Rapids Iowa-based trucking company wants student drivers to run the team using a commercial driver’s license holder.

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The FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) Website has been updated with the July 27, 2018 snapshot from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).  The term "snapshot" refers to data captured from the MCMIS database as it appears on a particular date.

Request an Updated Report

You may now check your latest PSP record at: https://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov.

China announced a list of $60 billion (Dh220.4b) worth of US imports it intends to apply tariffs on should the Trump administration follow through with its latest trade dangers. The Trump administration slapped duties about $34b of Chinese products last month, and which prompted immediate retaliation in China, plus yet another $16b will likely follow in the coming days or weeks.round of all tariffs which took effect a month.
Duties ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent will be imposed on 5,207 types of American imports if the US provides its proposed taxes on a different $200b of Chinese products, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Friday.

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Toyota took the next great leap towards the future of zero-emission trucking, unveiling the second iteration of its hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck before a crowd of media and industry leaders during the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars in Northern Michigan.

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Authorities say anyone who has fallen prey to the scam is encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Division at 605-773-4400.

According to its website, South Dakota Trucks is located in Rapid City, but the Department of Revenue's investigation has concluded there is no such business at the address listed. The provider's website features a list of trailers, trucks and more.

The South Dakota Department of Revenue is urging customers to take caution when doing business using a fictitious trucking dealership by the title of South Dakota Trucks.

The Department of Revenue's motor car division decided that this stock is already categorized in different states through various automobile dealers.

Cummins Inc. will voluntarily recall about 500,000 plus model year 2010-2015 heavy and medium duty trucks, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared on Tuesday.

The recall will soon replace a faulty emissions control systems element which causes excess emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), as stated by the EPA. This recall is that the largest voluntary truck emissions remember thus far. The difficulty Cummins is acting to correct is the consequence of a defective part -- perhaps not a defeat device, like the application illegally employed by Volkswagen to pass U.S. emission evaluations.

"Here is the way it's supposed to work. Our follow up testing attempts to make sure that pollution controls work through an engine's life. And, if they don't, then companies step up to put things right."

A spokesman for Cummins said the recall was"in the best interests of our client and the environment," The recall will likely be rolled out in two phases, beginning with heavy duty trucks this month and medium-duty trucks at March

Medium- and - heavy-duty categories contain vehicles ranging from bigger pickup trucks to vocational vehicles into large rigs. A previous recall, already underway, concerned about 232,000 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, bringing the whole number of vehicles that are affected to approximately 770,000.

Cummins will recall the remaining affected vehicles in two stages. The company is going to contact owners with directions regarding how and when to receive their truck fixed. Owners should contact Cummins for further specifics regarding the products that are affected and recall program.

This recall is the largest voluntary truck emissions recall thus far, according to EPA.

The trucks being recalled are equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) programs developed to control NOx emissions. The SCR catalysts that'll be substituted via the recall were found to be less durable than is required, degrading in a couple of years instead of controlling NOx contamination for the regulatory total operational life of the truck. The recall will replace these SCR system parts. The whole useful life span of medium-duty automobiles is 185,000 miles or ten years (whichever is first), and also the full useful life of heavy-duty vehicles is 435,000 miles or ten years.

The problem was discovered through government supervision programs that test vehicles for compliance with emissions standards throughout their useful life. Initial testing identified high NOx emissions from trucks equipped with Cummins motors. EPA and CARB shared outcomes with Cummins, which consented to conduct the voluntary recall after the organization's own followup testing confirmed that deteriorating elements inside the SCR system were causing emissions to exceed Federal and California pollution criteria.

Atlanta, Ga – July 26, 2018 – Price Digests announced that its industry-leading vehicle database is now available through new online software at https://app.pricedigests.com/. The new platform provides insurance and valuation professionals with a single source for rich spec data and accurate market values across eight key asset categories.

The platform consolidates and improves the functionality of multiple trusted websites, combining the power of the Truck Blue Book, Commercial Trailer Blue Book, Auto Red Book, Powersport Blue Book, ABOS Marine Blue Book, Recreational Vehicle Blue Book, Grounds Maintenance Blue Book and Official Tractor Blue Book into a single platform.

With the best VIN hit-rate in the industry, this new comprehensive software allows users to pull specs and values for every key asset category, including Commercial Truck, Commercial Trailers, Passenger Vehicles, Boats, Powersport, RVs, Grounds Maintenance and Agricultural Tractors. The database is regularly updated by Price Digests analysts, making it the most up-to-date, premium resource of its kind.

“Expanded specifications, consistent renewal and the addition of data, as well as the unique ability to meet Commercial Trailer needs truly establishes this software as the top resource for insurance and valuation professionals,” stated Sam Giffin, director of business insights for Price Digests.

“Price Digests customers now have all of their specification and market valuation needs solved in one place. We are ecstatic to bring this most comprehensive, cutting-edge platform to market,” added Dan Smith, managing director of Price Digests.

Additional next-generation software features of the new software include the ability to save and organize fleet information and create custom-prepared pdfs.

All information included in the software platform is also available through API for direct integrations.

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., July 27, 2018 – Whenever a Kenworth T680 or T880 equipped with Kenworth TruckTech+^® Remote Diagnostics arrives at the NorCal Kenworth – San Leandro requiring service, the dealership’s branch manager Josh Hayes and his team are ready.

 

In many cases, they already know where to start the repairs and what parts they’ll need to resolve the issue. As a result, chances are good it will spend less time in the NorCal Kenworth dealership’s shop than it otherwise would have.

 

“With the improved tracking of the truck, and steps in the service event and communication with the truck fleet that Kenworth TruckTech+ Service Management^* can offer, we have found it can cut the time a unit is in our shop by 30 percent,” Hayes explained. “We’ve also found that among trucks with TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics, we’re seeing about a 15 percent reduction in the number of those trucks that must be towed in. That’s because remote diagnostics allows us to monitor fault codes and remotely diagnose issues to determine if a truck can be driven into the shop or if it should be towed in.

 

“We can also determine where the truck is and when it’s due to arrive. That allows us to plan and be ready for the truck so that our team can hit the ground running when it arrives,” Hayes added. “I can rearrange schedules when necessary to be sure that certain technicians with specific skills or expertise are available to look at the truck and initiate repairs as soon as possible. TruckTech+ helps drive up our shop efficiency, which gives us the ability to get our customers’ trucks back on the road faster.”

 

Veritable Vegetable fleet director Tom Howard appreciates the rapid response from his company’s local Kenworth dealer and from other Kenworth dealers throughout the West, made possible in part by TruckTech+. Kenworth TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics continuously transmits vehicle diagnostics from Veritable Vegetable’s fleet of Kenworth T680s round the clock to NorCal Kenworth – San Leandro, which is a Kenworth PremierCare® Gold Certified dealership, and to other dealers in the Kenworth dealer network along the vehicles’ routes.

 

Anytime sensors on board T680s or T880s detect issues that require servicing, Kenworth TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics transmits email alerts with detailed information that Howard can view on his smartphone. The email alerts, which are also sent to NorCal Kenworth, include links to the PACCAR Solutions web portal.

 

In the PACCAR Solutions Remote Diagnostics web portal, Howard can monitor the company’s trucks in real time to get up-to-date information and find the nearest Kenworth dealers relative to its location. If the problem can’t wait until the truck returns to the company’s warehouse in San Francisco, particularly if the issue triggers activation of the truck engine protection system, Howard can quickly locate a nearby Kenworth dealer and direct the driver to it. The dealer’s service shop can immediately start the process of identifying potential issues and options before the truck arrives.

 

Once the truck arrives, the Kenworth Gold Certified dealer network location can provide Howard with an estimate of time to repair within two hours. Meanwhile, Hayes or others at NorCal Kenworth can monitor the situation and assist with any necessary follow-up with rental trucks, for example, or respond to any warranty coverage questions Howard may have later.

 

“Kenworth TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics helps me guide drivers to a quick and often simple solution,” Howard said. “Recently we had a situation involving a driver who runs a Kenworth T680 from San Francisco to Durango (Colorado), then to Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque (New Mexico), before picking up backhaul loads in Nogales (Arizona), and returning to San Francisco. Using TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics, I was able to work with the driver to resolve the situation, which involved the truck’s radiator, and get him back on the road.

 

“If this would have happened to a truck without TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics, it’s likely we would have had to find a mobile technician, ask the driver to take a chance and drive it to the nearest KenworthPremierCare^® Gold Certified dealer, or to play it safe, we might have had the truck towed there,” Howard added. “That’s because an unresolved radiator issue could easily lead to an engine de-rate and eventually damage the engine.

 

“If we have to stop and have the truck towed in for servicing immediately, depending on where the incident takes place, the towing bill alone could be about $2,000,” Howard said. “But that’s only the half of it. Then it all becomes this giant shell game because we deal with tightly scheduled pickup and deliveries of high-value and highly perishable organic produce. We may have to rent a truck and have it hooked to the loaded trailer so the driver can complete those deliveries if he’s not running up against hours-of-service compliance issues.

 

“Kenworth TruckTech+ helps us avoid all these hassles by allowing us to determine if there’s an easier fix or if the truck can be driven to a Kenworth dealership instead of having it towed in. That’s great for our company’s bottom line,” Howard said. “But perhaps most importantly, because TruckTech+ Service Management can help us avoid unplanned and extended service calls, we won’t get those delays in our deliveries that can damage our reputation of transporting perishable produce on time and without incident. A damaged reputation is not something you can easily fix.”