Jan 24, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - January 24, 2020

Industry Update - January 24, 2020

By Paul DeCoste

Industry Update

Curious about the top issues discussed in the trucking industry in 2019? Take a look at this graphic from the ATRI Top Industry Issues 2019 survey.

Weather Update

This snowstorm has been building up over the past few days and drivers need to be aware of some potential snowfall in the Midwest. The following locations should be driven on with caution for the weekend; Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, Michigan’s upper peninsula, Chicago and South Bend, Indiana.

Pilot Name Change

Just yesterday, Pilot Flying J announced that they are changing their company name to “Pilot Company”. This new corporate name is meant to, “serve as an umbrella that captures the total portfolio of the business as it continues to expand its retail and energy operations.”

Driver Saves Lives

Linden O’Donnell went out of his way to put out a car fire and help several motorists. He was driving on the right side of Interstate 280 when he witnessed a car smash into the back of a stalled SUV. Thankfully the SUV was empty, but the passengers of the car were barely conscious and in need of help. As fire crept from the engine to the cab, Linden ran to grab his fire extinguisher and put out the flames. This allowed Linden to safely assist the drivers out of the car and out of harm’s way. His courage and ability to react deserves the honor he is receiving.

New Tech

This pilot study done by American Electric Power and Nissan Motor Co., is testing the reuse of old batteries to reduce costs for electric cars. This new process has the potential to lower system costs by one-half and even extend the power of lithium batteries by one-third.

TagsTruckloads road closure Truck Driver Owner Operator trucking Trucker Path Freight Factoring Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Freight Broker Owner Operators Freight Brokers national truck driver appreciation week Industry Update Did you Know Trucking Tips MATS 2019

Top 10 Counties For Cargo Theft [p]Cargo theft is a growing concern for the trucking industry with driver safety at the forefront. Here's a closer look at the worst areas.[/p] [h2]Top 10 Counties for Cargo Theft in America[/h2] [p]Being a truck driver is the most dangerous job in America and the threat of cargo theft from potentially armed thieves looking to steal truck cargo escalates the risks for truck drivers.[/p] [p]According to CargoNet, there were 836 occurrences of cargo theft resulting in an estimated $172.9 million in losses during 2016. [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]Los Angeles County had 329 thefts reported from July 2013 – July 2016, the most of any other county in America.[/a] The worst state for cargo thefts was California, with 228 thefts, an increase of 36 percent from 2015. The most common day of the week for cargo thefts was Friday with 164 incidents. There was a 5.1 percent decrease in total cargo thefts in 2016 compared to 2015.[/p] [ol-2] [li]Los Angeles County, CA[/li] [li]Dallas County, TX[/li] [li]San Bernardino County, CA[/li] [li]Chicago Cook County, IL[/li] [li]Miami-Dade County, FL[/li] [li]Houston Harris County, TX[/li] [li]Tarrant County, TX[/li] [li]Edison Middlesex County, IL[/li] [li]Bolingbrook Will County, IL[/li] [li]Riverside County, CA[/li] [/ol-2] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/cargoNet.jpg" alt=""] [h2]Most Common Cargo Theft Locations[/h2] [ol] [li]Warehouse/Distribution Center – 329[/li] [li]Other – 295[/li] [li]Parking Lot – 170[/li] [li]Secured Yard – 166[/li] [li]Unsecured Yard – 120[/li] [/ol] [h2] Avoid Cargo Theft - Find Truck Parking with Trucker Path [/h2] [p] With over 8,000 locations to find parking in our app, you can find safe truck parking at the truck stop, rest area even Wal-mart of your choice. We even have a list of the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/best-truck-stops/">best truck stops in America!</a> [p]Best of all you can see how many truck parking spots a truck stop has and see if there are any available in real-time. Download our free app today in order to save yourself time and provide you with the peace of mind you deserve.[/p] [button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cargotheft2015"]Learn More About Trucker Path![/button-green] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [quote]“Cargo theft continues to be a pervasive issue,” said Anthony Canale, general manager of CargoNet. “Our 2015 year-end report indicated 881 incidents of cargo theft took place across North America. That increased from 844 cargo thefts reported in 2014 and accounted for more than $175 million in goods. While thieves continue to get more tech-savvy with their approaches, there are measures that can be put in place to stop them, ranging from proactive deterrence tactics to extensive recovery assistance.”[/quote] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/02/CARGO-THEFT-FB.jpg" alt=""]

Feb 03, 2017 • Carriers

Industry Update - January 17, 2020 <h4>By Paul DeCoste</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Did you Know?</strong></h3> This week, the Senate passed a <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/senate-passes-usmca-trade-deal">new trade deal with Canada and Mexico</a> that will boost current American exports to those countries by $33 billion. The official 89-10 Senate vote gave us a rare example of bipartisanship in modern politics. Since this deal expands the amount of agriculture and manufacturing that needs to be transported, it will end up being great for the trucking industry. On top of that, this deal introduces new ways to eliminate fraud and counterfeit goods, allowing the digital sector of the American economy to flourish. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Trucking Tip of the Week</strong></h3> <a href="https://www.truckersnews.com/gear/roaster-makes-in-cab-cooking-taste-homemade/">Cooking on the road?</a> RoadPro’s new portable roaster makes it easy to cook delicious meals right in your cab. The roaster plugs into any 12-volt power outlet and can accommodate glass baking sheets or reusable aluminum baking pans. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Startup Technology</strong></h3> <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/toyota-invests-394-million-in-flying-taxi-startup-joby-aviation">This startup company is reinventing the way we think about commuting.</a> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> This week, Joby Aviation received a $394 million investment from Toyota. Joby Aviation is working to create a flying taxi that can hit top speeds of 200 mph and run off a battery charge for over 150 miles. In addition to the capital that Toyota has invested, Joby has raised a total of $720 million to make their transportation solution practical for the masses. Although most of the information about this VTOL aircraft is kept secret, pictures prove that it consists of six rotors and has five seats inside the cockpit. <h3></h3> <h3>Combating<strong> Human Trafficking</strong></h3> Susan Collins, along with 7 other members of Congress, <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/susan-collins-7-other-lawmakers-recognized-combating-human-trafficking">was recognized for her legislative efforts</a> to reduce human trafficking throughout the nation. Over the past few years, Senator Collins has supported legislation that targets online forums that solicit human trafficking. She recently helped pass the “Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2019” legislation. <h3></h3> <h3>Tire Thieves Caught</h3> <a href="https://cdllife.com/2020/texas-couple-sentenced-for-semi-truck-tire-theft-conspiracy/">Joel Vargas, 34 and his wife, Angelica Vargas, 39</a>, were recently sentenced to 235 months and 60 months, respectively, in federal prison for robbing more than 100 tire stores over a 15-year period. They continuously targeted commercial tire businesses and stole numerous amounts of rental vehicles to carry out their jobs. They are part of a multiple-person conspiracy which ended with the convictions of five other individuals.

Jan 17, 2020 • Carriers

10 Safety Tips for Hitting the Road this Winter <span style="font-weight: 400;">Navigating the road during winter can be difficult even for expert truckers. During this season, truckers have to put up with icy roads, poor visibility, and reduced traction while driving a big rig. However, implementing preventive safety precautions can help you sail smoothly throughout winter without any major problems.</span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Vehicle Inspection</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Before anything else, you need to ensure that your truck is in the best shape to survive the tough conditions of the winter season. See your tire pressure, antifreeze levels, and engine oil before your trip. If you have the time and the means, have a mechanic inspect your vehicle. This will help ensure that your vehicle can withstand the harsh conditions during winter.</span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Watch Your Speed</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Accidents during the winter season mostly happen due to overspeeding. Driving through an icy road can result in poor traction. This is why it’s wise to compensate by reducing your speed. Going easy on your accelerator also gives you a longer reaction time should things go south. </span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Allot Extra Space</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">While driving on wet roads, stopping distance is usually twice more than normal. However, stopping distance increases to 10 times more than usual on icy roads. This is why you have to leave lots of room between your truck and the vehicle in front of you. Doing this will keep you out of harm’s way during accidents.</span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Be Smooth</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t do any sudden movements on icy roads. Refrain from sudden brakes, acceleration, etc. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, lightly pump your brakes. Be sure to keep your speed consistent. Avoid doing anything that will reduce your traction on a slippery, icy road.</span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Pay Attention to Tire Spray</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">One quick way to assess the road’s condition is to observe the water coming off the tires of surrounding vehicles. More water indicates wetter roads. Meanwhile, less tire spray indicates icy roads. This should prompt you to exercise more caution while driving. </span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Light the Way</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Visibility can decrease relatively due to poor weather conditions. Don’t forget to turn your headlights on while driving. This allows other drivers to keep a safe distance from your truck. </span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Be Evasive</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Be evasive on snow-covered roads. This is relatively better instead of sudden and hard braking. Decelerate your truck slightly and carefully maneuver through obstacles to avoid collisions.</span> <h3></h3> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b><i>Avoid Extreme Conditions</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">If the weather seems too severe, pull over. There’s no point in risking a drive during extreme weather conditions. Your safety should always come first. If the weather gets too extreme, find a safe way to get off the road and wait until it’s safe enough to drive. </span> <h3></h3> <h3><b><i>Prepare Yourself</i></b></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">After you’ve ensured that your vehicle is ready for winter, it’s time to prep for the cold weather. Be sure to carry warm clothes and thick blankets. It won’t hurt to bring miscellaneous items like a flashlight, shovel, matches, traction devices, etc. You would never know when these things may come in handy. It’s also to make sure you have roadside assistance for trucks should you encounter trouble on the road.</span> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <span style="font-weight: 400;">During a whiteout blizzard, visibility is compromised. This will make it difficult to see traffic lights and road signs. Stay safe by looking twice before proceeding on intersections or one-way streets.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Truckers are constantly being tested on the road. As winter begins, it brings with it obstacles that make driving challenging. During this season, it’s important to exercise caution while driving. These tips can help prevent accidents and mishaps from happening during the drive.</span>

Nov 26, 2019 • Carriers