| Dear {FName}, |
November 1, 2011 |
It’s Truckvember!
Oh, wait a minute, we used that idea last month.
This month we’ll just tell you that for more than 15 years, TruckDriver.com has been matching truck drivers all over the USA and Canada with top trucking firms seeking qualified truck drivers and owner operators and go from there.
ATA, TCA Unite in Call for Increased Truck Productivity
The nation's two leading trucking industry trade groups - American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers Association - came together at the conclusion of ATA's Management Conference & Exhibition to call on policy makers to allow for increased truck productivity.
“The trucking industry, like any family, sometimes takes a while to reach a consensus, but we're happy that we have been able to bring our respective policies on truck productivity in line,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “It is critical that we petition our elected leaders with one voice and this brings us closer to our industry unity.”
TCA President Chris Burruss agrees. “Considering all of the challenges we face as an industry, it should always be our priority to find common ground on as many issues as possible,” said Burruss. “I applaud the leadership of TCA and ATA for finding common ground on this difficult issue.”
The ATA Board of Directors voted to add 88,000-pound, five-axle combinations with enhanced braking capability, to its list of preferred productivity improvements. This new component joins 97,000-pound, six-axle combinations and harmonization of longer-combination vehicles on the menu of productivity improvements ATA will advocate for in Washington and state capitals across the country. ATA endorsed increasing truck weight limits to 97,000 pounds in 2006.
Also this week, TCA voted to approve a two-tiered productivity policy of supporting combinations of 88,000 pounds on five axles as well as 97,000 pounds on six axles.
“With possible hours-of-service changes threatening to limit capacity, congestion choking our highways and the driver shortage worsening, we need to find ways to improve our industry's productivity in order to continue delivering the nation's essential goods,” ATA Chairman Dan England, chairman C.R. England, said. “Studies have shown that more productive trucks are safer, more efficient and greener than conventional combinations without causing more wear and tear on our roads, and now that we and TCA have come together on this issue, we’re in a better position to continue to make that case to policymakers.”
TCA Chairman Gary Salisbury, president and CEO of Fikes Truck Line, Hope, Ark., said by coming together, TCA and ATA have sent a strong message to policy makers. “Given the advances in brake technology, an 88,000-pound, five axle truck using enhanced brakes will meet federal rules limiting commercial vehicle stopping distance,” said Salisbury. “By amending our policies and compromising, TCA and ATA have set the trucking industry on the road to success.”
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BTS Releases State Transportation Statistics 2010.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today released State Transportation Statistics 2010 (STS) – a web-only reference guide to transportation data by state.
The eighth annual STS consists of 112 tables of state data on infrastructure, safety, freight transportation, passenger travel, registered vehicles and vehicle-miles traveled, economy and finance, and energy and environment, plus a U.S. Fast Facts page. STS 2010 can be viewed on the BTS website.
STUBBORN ECONOMY, HOURS-OF-SERVICE CHANGES TOP LIST OF
CONCERNS IN ANNUAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY SURVEY
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research institute, today unveiled its list of the top ten critical issues facing the North American trucking industry.
The state of the economy tops the list for the third consecutive year in ATRI’s survey of more than 4,000 trucking industry executives. The complete results were released at the 2011 Management Conference and Exhibition of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) meeting in Grapevine, TX – the nation’s largest gathering of motor carrier executives. The ATRI Top Industry Issues report also solicited and tabulated specific strategies for addressing each issue.
The proposed changes to federal commercial driver Hours-of-Service rules caused that issue to climb in this year’s survey to the number two spot. In contrast to concerns over the economy, a driver shortage is affecting parts of the industry, causing that issue to rise to the third position on the list. While many stakeholders believe that the impacts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) program may be a contributing factor to the driver shortage, a growing understanding and acceptance of CSA led it to drop two places to number four on the list.
The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be utilized by the ATA Federation to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.
"ATRI's annual survey of industry concerns provides ATA, and all of trucking, a blueprint for identifying the top issues we need to take up with our elected leaders and policymakers across the country," said ATA Chairman Barbara Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation Inc.
"As we navigate these increasingly challenging times, it is critical for our industry leaders to advocate for policies that make it easier for them to deliver life’s essentials safely and efficiently,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “In order to be effective advocates, we must base our arguments in sound research and in common sense. The results of ATRI’s survey not only give us the tools to do that, but should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers nationwide.”
ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.
A copy of the survey results is available from ATRI at www.atri-online.org.
We never did learn the results of the TruckDriver.com I’m Not Telling Survey, but we did learn something from our follow up poll.
Did you miss the polls while it was broken?
Yes, very much - 35%
Not so much - 5%
What poll? - 60%
Now that the poll is up and working again take the TruckDriver.com the Economy and Me Survey and let us know how things are looking for you. .
Until next time, keep on truckin’ and please drive safely!
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