Trucking Industry Congratulates Ray Martinez on Nomination to Head FMCSA

Longtime Vehicle Administrator Will Bring Professionalism and Safety Focus to Role

Trucking industry officials expressed their congratulations to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Ray Martinez on his nomination to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

“Mr. Martinez is well-known to our industry from his work in New Jersey and New York, and exudes the kind of professionalism, integrity and focus on safety that FMCSA needs,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “On behalf of ATA, I congratulate him on his nomination, and urge the Senate to quickly confirm him so we can begin working together on important highway safety issues.”

“As Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Mr. Martinez quickly earned a reputation for being hands-on and willing to work with the trucking industry to solve problems," said New Jersey Motor Truck Association Executive Director Gail Toth. “Martinez brings with him the experience of leading the motor vehicle agencies of both New York and New Jersey – the ‘International Gateway to the Northeast’ and his insight and experience will be an asset to the FMCSA. We look forward to working with him on a host of issues impacting the trucking industry.”

Prior to his time at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Martinez was Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

“As the NYSDMV Commissioner, Ray Martinez proved to be a fair regulator, working to continually improve the safety of the trucking industry without implementing unnecessary or burdensome regulations,” said Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York. “He always made the safety of the motoring public his top priority, and I am confident that he will continue that focus as the FMCSA Administrator. I encourage the Senate to confirm his nomination and look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Truckload Turnover Surges in Second Quarter

Churn Picks Up at Both Small and Large Fleets

The turnover rate at truckload carriers surged in the second quarter of the year, a sign that the market for drivers is quickly tightening, according to American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello.

“We saw double digit gains in the annualized turnover rate for both small and large truckload fleets,” Costello said. “After a period of relatively low turnover, it appears the driver market is tightening again, which coupled with increased demand for freight movement, could rapidly exacerbate the driver shortage.”

According to ATA’s quarterly report, the turnover rate at large truckload carriers jumped 16 percentage points to 90% – the highest it has been since the final quarter of 2015. The 16-point increase is the largest quarterly jump since the fourth quarter of 2010.

At smaller carriers, fleets with less than $30 million in annual revenue, the turnover rate swelled by 19 percentage points to 85%, the highest it has been since the first quarter of 2016.

The turnover picture at less-than-truckload fleets was more muddled, with over-the-road LTL turnover dipping one point to 9%, but the rate for local LTL drivers was 14%, up two percentage points from the previous quarter and the highest rate in three years.

North America's Best Professional Truck Drivers Could Win $25,000

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), and partners Overdrive and Truckers News, officially opened nominations for the 2017 Driver of the Year Contests, sponsored by Cummins Inc. and Love’s Travel Stops, today. Nominations will be accepted until November 10th.

The competition is divided into two categories: the Company Driver of the Year Contest (now in its 27th year) and the Owner Operator of the Year Contest (now in its 29th year). Company drivers must be nominated by the motor carriers that employ them, while owner operators may be nominated by themselves, spouses, or by carriers they have been leased to for a period of three or more years. The two overall winners will receive $25,000 each and the two runners-up in each division will win $2,500.

Nominees must demonstrate a safe driving record with a minimum of one million consecutive accident-free miles, a strong work ethic, and a desire to improve their community and the image of the trucking industry. In addition to providing proof of operating information, work history, and safety record, nominees are asked to write a 300-word essay explaining why they are good “trucking citizens” and should be a candidate for the grand prize. Owner operator nominees are also required to provide documentation such as equipment specifications, business plans, and financial statements.

To nominate a company driver or owner operator, please visittruckload.org/driver-of-the-year.

The 2016 company driver grand prize winner, Murray Manuliak, has been a professional truck driver for over 25 years, accruing more than 3.1 million accident-free miles. He currently drives for Bison Transport, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and attributes his successes to his dedication to safety: “I keep safety at the forefront of everything I do—I drive safe, I teach safety to new Bison drivers. Safety is at the foundation of my success, and it is what has kept me on the road all these years.”

Last year’s owner operator grand prize winner was Gary Buchs, who is leased to Landstar System, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida. A professional truck driver for over 27 years, who has driven more than 2.3 million consecutive accident-free miles, Buchs dedicates his time while not on the road to helping others and staying active. He completed the Chicago marathon in 2015, spends at least one week per year assisting victims of major wind or flood damage, and donates produce from his farmstead to local food pantries.

Jim Gattoni, president and CEO of Landstar said, “Gary’s commitment to the safety and education of others speaks to his ability to represent our industry in a positive light. He [is] an outstanding ambassador to the public, projecting an image that is worthy of the industry’s safe, honorable, customer-driven professionals who deliver the goods that touch our lives every day.”

A panel of judges will select the top three finalists for each contest, to be announced in December. Each of the six finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to attend TCA’s Annual Convention, scheduled for March 25-28, 2018, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, where one grand prizewinner will be selected for each contest.

For more information about TCA and its activities, please visit truckload.org and follow the organization on Facebook—truckload.org/Facebook—and Twitter—truckload.org/Twitter.