Friday, March 22, 2002

Truckload Carriers Association votes unanimously to support fuel surcharge legislation

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association welcomes the support of the Truckload Carriers Association for mandatory fuel surcharge legislation. On March 3, the TCA Board of Directors voted unanimously to support S. 1914, the Motor Carrier Fuel Cost Equity Act of 2002.

This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Kit Bond (R-MO) would mandate a fuel surcharge for those not already paying one when the price of diesel fuel rises above $1.15 per gallon.

Jim Johnston, President of OOIDA, said "The truckload industry must speak with one voice to address the devastating effect that high fuel prices have on our industry. This bill will help both motor carriers and owner-operators recoup their higher fuel costs, and prevent the demise of thousands of small businesses."

It has been reported that over 200,000 trucks were repossessed and over 7,000 motor carriers filed for bankruptcy in the aftermath of high diesel fuel prices during the last two years.

Johnston continued, "We fully expect fuel prices to go higher this year, as they have each time during the last thirty years when there was unrest in the Middle East. In just the past two weeks, the national average price of fuel has jumped almost ten cents per gallon."

"We appreciate the willingness of the TCA to work with OOIDA on this important issue, and thank Bob Molinaro, President of Warren Transport, in Waterloo, Iowa, for his leadership in this effort," Johnston stated.

Security update: Legislators approve INS revamp

Republicans and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee agreed March 21 on a plan to revamp the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Under the plan, INS would be replaced by two separate bureaus providing immigration law enforcement and immigration services. The bureaus would report to the Department of Justice.

House negotiators reached the compromise after the disclosure last week that the INS had approved visas for two of the Sept. 11 hijackers six months after the terrorist attacks.

The agreement would create the position of associate attorney general for immigration affairs, who would be the department's third-ranking official. Meanwhile, a proposal is expected from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) that would give more power to the Justice Department official overseeing the two INS divisions.

Truck X-ray technology takes center stage

On route to Monterrey, Mexico March 20, President Bush stopped to announce a security plan to speed traffic and goods across the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border and "weed out" terrorists.

Bush also went to a U.S. Customs cargo inspection facility at the "Bridge of the Americas" crossing in El Paso, TX to watch a truck being inspected by an X-ray machine. The demonstration meant to show how cross-border traffic could be inspected quickly.

Meanwhile, companies providing X-ray technology including American Science & Engineering Inc., Santa Clara, CA, and Billerica, MA, stand to gain from increased federal spending on security. The company's MobileSearch product line is a truck-mounted X-ray detection system. Two MobileSearch units are in place in the Pharr, TX and Ysletta, TX Ports of Entry.

This technology "will continue to play a major role in our growth as the number of trucks entering from the U.S. from Mexico continues to increase," the company's web site said.

Meanwhile, the White House said plans to speed legal traffic among NAFTA partners include introducing "smart cards" for trusted cross-border commuters and inspecting and sealing cargo at the point of origin so it does not need to be inspected. The United States and Canada have already agreed to tighten security by developing permanent resident cards and a joint immigration database.

Decker Truck Lines hiring drivers from defunct Umthun

When Umthun Trucking closed its doors March 1, Decker Truck Lines began serving the defunct trucking company's former customers at Umthun's request. Decker took its agreement one step further by hiring most of Umthun's drivers.

In a press release, Decker President Donald L. Decker said he expects a very large percentage of Umthun's estimated 300 drivers to join Decker. He added that the two companies have been providing similar services for "many decades and it is a natural fit to expand Decker's workforce with Umthun's employees, drivers and owner-operators."

OOIDA member recovering at home after shooting

OOIDA member Donald Turkelson is home recovering from a gunshot wound to his left thigh after a masked man accosted him in a trucking company drop-off lot March 19. He returned home Thursday evening to Byron Center, MI, outside Grand Rapids, after spending two days in a Gary, IN, hospital.

The incident occurred around 2 a.m. after Turkelson had dropped off an empty trailer and picked up a loaded trailer in KLLM's drop-off lot in Portage, IN. While sitting in his truck updating his logbook, Turkelson heard his trailer air line losing air. He got out of his truck to inspect the air line and discovered it was disconnected. As he reattached the line, a masked gunman bumped him and ordered Turkelson at gunpoint to get into the truck. As he followed the gunman's orders and got into his truck, Turkelson shut the door on the gunman, who managed to fire a shot at him before the door closed.

The 59-year-old retired Army chaplain and company driver for KLLM says his only request from the trucking community is for prayers.

"I'm very blessed to be alive," said Turkelson, who expects to be off the road for at least a month for recovery.

After being shot, Turkelson drove to the guard shack for help. He recalls being afraid the gunman would follow and shoot him and the guard. However, the gunman fled on foot and is still at large.

Turkelson's description of the gunman as a male approximately 5-foot, 7 or 8 inches tall with a medium build did not include the man's race because the mask made it impossible to see anything except the man's eyes. Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Detective Sgt. Roger Getz at (219) 762-3122.

I-84 at Hood River now able to carry more wide loads

Recently, construction along Interstate 84 at Hood River, OR, has allowed the highway to be open to wide loads only every third week, generally from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. However, a change will allow more access to the highway by wide loads.

The contractor's schedule now calls for leaving I-84 open to wide loads in both directions through at least April 22.

There is still a weight restriction on I-84 westbound, limiting gross vehicle weight to 105,500 pounds with legal axle weights only.

The next closure on I-84 at Hood River is anticipated to begin April 22.

Nuke waste could be barged as well as shipped by rail and truck

According to a congressional report, radioactive nuclear waste could be carried over Lake Michigan and other waterways before passing through the nation's sea and river ports on its way to a proposed waste dump in Yucca Mountain, Nev. The proposal would bring 21,572 tons of nuclear waste - or 19 percent of all the commercial power plant waste destined for Yucca Mountain - into commercial ports.

A U.S. Department of Energy report says if Congress endorses President Bush's decision to open the dump in 2010, thousands of radioactive shipments could be barged from 17 nuclear power plants through 15 commercial ports during a 38-year shipping campaign, a U.S. Department of energy report shows.

The congressional report says waste from the Kewaunee and Point Beach nuclear power plants in Northeastern Wisconsin could be taken by barge on Lake Michigan to the Port of Milwaukee. The waste shipments would then be placed on railcars and sent to Nevada where they would be trucked to the site. Reportedly, environmental groups say moving waste over waterways could be more dangerous than trucking it.

A total of 453 shipments from the Kewaunee, Point Beach and Palisades nuclear power plants in Michigan and Wisconsin could be shipped into the ports of Milwaukee and Muskegon, the federal report says.

Bekins pays $2 million to end double-billing foul up

Illinois-based Bekins Van Lines has agreed to settle charges it double billed some moving expenses for about 200 military personnel, federal prosecutors in Indianapolis announced.

The Indianapolis Star reported that U.S. Attorney Susan W. Brooks said government investigators found Bekins submitted 328 invoices containing duplicate or even triplicate charges to the Defense Department's finance center in Indianapolis, IN.

The bills resulted in overpayments to Bekins of $1,093,356 between March 2000, about the time Bekins began submitting its invoices electronically, and May 2001. Brooks said the overcharges resulted from poor billing practices, not criminal intent.

Scott Ogden, Bekins' general counsel, told the paper the problem was a "glitch" in the company's billing system. However, he said the finance center's system should have identified previously paid charges. Ogden said the company fixed the problem as soon as it was found and, "we worked out an arrangement to pay the money back."

Under the federal False Claims Act, government contractors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their billings. Companies that submit false claims are liable for up to three times the government's loss, plus a civil penalty.

Bostrom to participate in Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Championship

Bostrom Seating, Inc., a business unit of Transportation Technologies Industries, Inc. will be providing prizes for two of the winners in the Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Beauty Championship this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

Bostrom will award two premium Wide Ride seats to the first place winner and one Wide Ride seat to the second place winner in the "Best Interior" portion of the contest.

MATS 2002: New Mexico trucker named Goodyear's North American Highway Hero for 2001

The winner of Goodyear's 19th annual North American Highway Hero award is Larry "Scott" Travis, a professional truckdriver from Albuquerque, NM, who saved a woman's life by pulling her from a burning vehicle just before it exploded.

Travis is a 10-year veteran and a master trainer for Covenant Transportation in Chattanooga, TN. He accepted the 2001 Goodyear North American Highway Hero award, along with a $10,000 savings bond and diamond ring during a press conference March 22 at the Mid America Truck Show in Louisville.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 7, 2001, Travis was traveling just outside Sheridan, AR, when he saw flames shooting into the air from an SUV that had run off the road into a deep ditch. Bystanders could not tell him if the vehicle was occupied, but Travis thought he saw some slight movement at the driver's side door. Fire extinguisher in hand, he rushed into the deep ditch.

As he approached the vehicle, Travis realized there was a woman behind the wheel, apparently unconscious. Passing his fire extinguisher to another bystander, Travis reached through an opening in the flames to pull the woman from the SUV, suffering burns on his own body in the process. He struggled to pull her through the high overgrowth, and was repeatedly showered with flame and ash. Just seconds after pulling the woman from the vehicle, it exploded.

"Mr. Travis put himself in extreme danger to rescue a total stranger and demonstrated a courage under pressure that is truly awe-inspiring," said Ted Fick, vice president of Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. "He embodies the spirit of the Goodyear Highway Hero program."

Founded by Goodyear in 1983, the North America Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and the oftentimes unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across the country.

Travis was nominated for the award during the annual nationwide search for heroic truck drivers for the 2001 North America Highway Hero Program. Five finalists won an all-expenses-paid trip to the Mid-America Trucking Show for themselves and a guest. Each of the other four drivers received a $5,000 savings bond and a commemorative plaque.

MATS 2002: EPA's deadline for Oct. 1 creating uncertainty

In 1998, five heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers (Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Volvo and Mack) agreed - as part of a consent decree - to meet new emissions requirements in October 2002 instead of the previously set date of January 2004. This "consent decree" came about as part of the EPA's claim that the engine manufacturers had been using certain devices to get around emission standards.

Since then, the five engine manufacturers have been working to come up with technology that would meet the stringent NOx standard.

Along with several other manufacturers, Cummins has pursued a technology called cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Earlier this week at the Columbus, IN, Cummins plant, the engine maker was effusive about its readiness for Oct. 1.

On Thursday, Mack Trucks announced it would meet the EPA '02 deadline with "application-specific" engines. Mack said the new technology uses two different approaches, one for vocational trucks and one for on-highway applications. For highway trucks, the engine will feature cooled EGR. Exhaust gasses will be diverted from the exhaust system, cooled and then re-mixed with air coming back into the engine for combustion. For vocational trucks with lower power and more stop and go, a percentage of exhaust gasses will be allowed to remain in the cylinders of the engine from one combustion cycle to another.

Volvo also is using the EGR technology to build a "certifiable" engine. This week the company announced it will use jacket-water-cooled EGR in its engines, but will use a complicated new technology called "V-Pulse" to make the exhaust gas flow.

Detroit Diesel's Series 60, first produced in 1987, was the first fully integrated heavy duty diesel engine with electronic controls in the world. The company says the 2002 DDEC Series 60 is employing advanced turbocharger technology with EGR to meet emission standards and most ratings should be available after October.

While Cummins was effusive, Caterpillar was evasive. They are investing hundreds of millions of dollars pursuing technologies other than ERG to meet the standards. In March last year, Cat announced its new Advanced Combustion Emissions Reduction Technology (ACERT), involving higher injection pressures, injection timing and possibly exhaust after-treatment. Caterpillar says the new engines won't be available until 2003, after completing the proper field tests. While this seems to mean the company will not be ready for Oct. 1, this week in Louisville, Caterpillar said it will "ship product" in October, unconditionally, and will have engines in October that will be certifiable in every state. They did not disclose the levels of NOx to which the engines will be certified.

For companies that may not have a compliant engine available in time to meet the October deadline, EPA allows payment of so-called "non-conformance penalties" (NCPs). Recent rules proposed by EPA indicate NCPs could be as much as half the price of the engine and could go as high as three or four times what was anticipated in the consent decree.

By EPA's own estimates, cooled EGR could cost the end customer as much as an additional $15,000 per vehicle over the period of ownership, 50 percent more for the engine along with higher operating costs and up to 4 percent lower fuel economy. Caterpillar says its customers and OEMs hear EPA's own estimates that the new engines will have higher costs and poorer reliability compared to current engines.

"Fleet owners are saying that without a reasonably priced, reliable product for October 2002," says Caterpillar, "they will hold off buying engines at all. There already are signs of some pre-buy activity. And some are urging a delay in implementing the October 2002 standard."

Caterpillar says it is supporting truck industry efforts to call on the EPA to postpone implementation of the October standard. A year delay would be coupled with an agreement between EPA and engine manufacturers for a one-for-one payback on emissions during that time. The delay also would allow time for adequate field tests of compliant engines. Other enginemakers are not optimistic there will be a stay of execution. In Louisville, Mack CEO Paul Vikner spoke March 22 at the annual breakfast of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, saying as far as he knew, there was "every indication it will happen on Oct. 1."

MATS 2002: Smartbrake introduces new endurance brake

Smartbrake calls its new endurance brake the Air-Set Smartbrake and describes it as the "most versatile, durable, reliable and powerful" multifunctional endurance brake on the market today. And it's QUIET!

The company held its first Mid-America Trucking Show press conference Wednesday afternoon and answered the big question - why choose the Smartbrake over an engine pressure release brake? The Michigan-based company that manufactures this brake says there's plenty of reasons. It's lighter, less expensive, it requires minimal service attention and, unlike the engine brake, it does not require the engine be at a working temperature to operate effectively. In fact, Smartbrake says it may be used to assist warm up and eliminate "white smoke" in cold climate conditions.

What does it sound like? The company says the Smartbrake emits a "low growl" when operated, unlike the higher pitched noise associated with engine brakes, and trucks equipped with the Smartbrake have had no problems in areas banning engine brakes.

"The Air-Set Smartbrake has evolved into a versatile and multifunctional tool, which will perform operations far outside the normal scope of retarding devices," says Vic Harris, founder and owner. The Smartbrake is made for small, medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

For more information, go to www.the-smartbrake.com.

MATS 2002: One more time, Freightliner appoints Coronado the flagship

"The successful independent trucker deserves a distinctive truck that doesn't sacrifice style, performance, comfort, efficiency or anything else," says Mark Lampert, Freightliner's senior vice president of sales and marketing. And Lampert says Freightliner's 132-inch BBC long conventional, the Coronado, is that truck.

The company was gearing up to make a splash with the Coronado more than a year ago when the industry's economic temperature plunged and "the bottom fell out of the owner-operator market." Lampert said the company would ramp up Coronado production at the Portland, OR, plant in June.

MATS 2002: Delphi and XM Debut Satellite Radio

Now comes an alternative for commercial truck drivers who have long endured the constraints of traditional radio - satellite radio. Along with an XM Satellite Radio, Delphi offers a satellite receiver and antenna built specifically for the harsh environment of commercial vehicles.

"With truck drivers logging more than 150 billion miles each year, it's no surprise that they're looking for better entertainment options," said Bob Schumacher, general director of Delphi's Mobile MultiMedia Business Unit. "The trucking industry has a history of being the first to adopt new innovations in the vehicle and we believe truckers will play an important part in the development of satellite radio."

The system offers coast-to-coast coverage, digital-quality sound and a variety of programming options from XM's 100 channels. The satellite's user interface is as simple to use as traditional AM/FM band radios. For more information, visit www.xmradio.com.

MATS 2002: Freightliner rolls out M2 at truck show

Freightliner is showing off its new Business Class M2 medium-duty and vocational truck line to Louisville crowds this week.

The Business Class M2 can be customized to a number of commercial truck applications, working well in local and regional distribution, food and beverage delivery, fire and emergency services, fuel oil delivery, utilities, government services, towing and recover, agriculture and more.

With its tractor configuration and extended hood, rugged construction and roomy cab, it will be available in a 106-inch BBC configuration, the company said. Extended cabs and crew cabs will be available in late 2002. A 100-inch BBC model and a 112-inch BBC model will be ready by 2003. The new trucks offer a wide range of component options, including Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions.

Production begins in June at Freightliner's truck manufacturing plant in Mt. Holly, NC.

MATS 2002: Knights Inn backs driver Mike Bliss in NASCAR Truck Series

The 2002 NASCAR racing season has sparked the marketing efforts of Knights Franchise Systems Inc., which announced this week its season-long sponsorship of the #16 Chevy entry with Xpress Motorsports and driver Mike Bliss in the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Lori Smith, Knights Inn director of marketing, said the sponsorship is expected to significantly increase the budget chain's visibility, helping promote the brand's operating philosophy and service culture, "Every Knight. Just right."

MATS 2002: Kenworth T800 High-Tech Truck showcases latest in security, safety and productivity

Security, safety and productivity are the focus of Kenworth Truck Co.'s latest high-tech concept vehicle unveiled Thursday at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

"In today's world, it's even more imperative for truck manufacturers to push the envelope by providing truck fleets with effective security and safety technology." said Ed Caudill, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president.

"This new Kenworth T800 High-Tech Truck is really a technological marvel," Caudill said. "It features technologies that could be part of a secret agent's repertoire - biometrics authentication, GPS-based telematics tracking systems, Surround Electronic Vision System, Kenworth Night Vision and high-intensity discharge headlamps. Kenworth is truly on technology's cutting edge with this latest concept vehicle."

Kenworth teamed with Heil Trailer International to produce a T800 High-Tech Truck specifically designed for bulk haulers, which typically transport cargo such as fuel and hazardous materials. Tractor and trailer systems are integrated so they can electronically "communicate" with each other.

The Kenworth truck's key security technology is a biometric authentication system, which checks a driver's authorization to operate a specific truck within a fleet. "When the driver's fingerprint is verified via a sensor, the ignition system is enabled and the vehicle can be operated at normal traffic speeds," said Jim Bechtold, Kenworth chief engineer. "If the fingerprint doesn't match, the vehicle can still be started. But it's at a severely restricted horsepower, thus limiting operation to well below normal speeds. The fleet dispatcher also receives an alert message via wireless communication that an unauthorized user is involved."

Kenworth's GPS-based telematics tracking system allows fleet dispatchers to track the movement of a truck throughout North America. The dispatcher receives information on the driver's identity, adherence to a predetermined and authorized route, vehicle weight and other data.

"If a truck is stolen or hijacked, the system allows the truck to be tracked and the driver and cargo found quickly by the authorities," Bechtold said. "Even if the driver is forced to give a fingerprint, the dispatcher can still disable the truck remotely by using wireless technology."

The Kenworth Surround Electronic Vision System provides nearly 360-degrees of coverage around the tractor and trailer to enhance safety while driving and security while parked. From the comfort of the T800's new extended daycab option, the driver can view a flat-panel display screen in the cab and use five cameras.

"There's three cameras on the trailer, including one rear view and two side-view," Bechtold said. "A curbside-view camera for enhanced right-side viewing is outside on the cab's passenger side. The forward-looking Kenworth Night Vision, the fifth camera, can see 1,500 feet ahead or about five times normal headlights. This offers the driver additional time to react to potential situations, providing increased safety during darkness, dusk and dawn."

To help make the trip more productive, the Kenworth Vehicle Information Center (VIC) provides the drivers with information on fuel economy, loads, service and maintenance.

"With VIC, the driver can also check the truck's current status through electronic tire pressure, electronic brake monitoring and Air-Weigh's on-board electronic scale system," Bechtold said. "All these systems are fully integrated between the Kenworth T800 and the Heil advanced concept trailer. VIC also offers two-way email messaging over a wireless connection."

The high-intensity discharge headlamps offer increased illumination on the road ahead for enhanced safety and decreased driver fatigue. The driver's view during adverse weather conditions has been improved through use of Guardian hydrophobic window glass. The high-tech glass provides a permanent, water-shedding coating bonded to all the truck cab's glass surfaces.

"Bulk haulers are concerned about weight, so we've incorporated many lightweight features to help them maximize their payload," Bechtold said. "As a result, the truck only weighs 13,900 pounds."

Kenworth used Bridgestone's GREATEC wide-based single drive tires and Alcoa aluminum wheels on both the tractor and trailer, reducing overall weight by nearly 600 pounds. Other lightweight components include the new Kenworth AG380 introduced Thursday, ZF Meritor FreedomLine automated transmission and composite leaf springs.

The high-performance brake system features Dana Spicer 16.5 x 5 front drum brakes. To assist the driver with pre-trip inspections, the MGM e-Stroke brake monitoring system is integrated into the Kenworth Vehicle Information Center for real-time diagnostics.

The Kenworth High-Tech Truck is on display (Booth 3410) before thousands of attendees at this week's annual Mid-America Trucking Show.

MATS 2002: Link brings FlexPro and UltraRide to Louisville

In Louisville this week, the 2002 Mid-America Trucking Show is showcasing hundreds of companies and their innovative products. One company is Link Manufacturing Ltd., a company well known for products such as Cabmate, Cat's Eye, Liftable Suspensions and FlexPro.

FlexPro is described by Link as the new alternative for cab suspension comfort. Its patented design utilizes a torsional elastomeric cartridge Link says eliminates the need for air springs and height control valves.

This year at MATS, Link also introduced a complete air suspension system designed for light and medium-duty pickups and chassis cab vehicles. It's called UltraRide Chassis Air Suspension.