Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

At a time of a shortage of 80,000 truck drivers, new legislation introduced by Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., looks to lower Obama-era regulations requiring additional training for truck drivers for the ag sector or smaller businesses.

The advanced notice of proposed rulemaking is to be published in the Federal Register on Friday. It is in response to a request in February 2015 by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to reconsider a similar request by CVSA that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration denied in 2013.

A major spill is causing delays on highway US-27 in Pendleton County. According to officials, on Wednesday afternoon a semitrailer turned over after the driver swerved to avoid another vehicle on US-27 at Country Club Drive.

In 2012, then-President Obama signed into law legislation that set in motion a new rule that created a requirement for Entry-Level Driver Training. The final rulemaking went into effect earlier this year. All new drivers who wish to obtain their Commercial Drivers License must now complete Entry-Level Driver Training, adding a burdensome requirement at a time when the American Trucking Association estimates a nationwide trucker shortage of 80,000 drivers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for comments on how to improve its mandatory electronic logging device regulations, which potentially could result in the first substantial changes to the ELD rules since their implementation.

Jared brings on Scott Rea with AvatarFleet to discuss driver recruiting. Scott is on a mission to help trucking companies fill empty seats by doing driver marketing the smart way. They talk about what you can do to be the "purple cow" and stand out from the crowd.

Frances Hall, 59, provided false payroll information over a seven-year period to avoid more than $9 million in insurance premium payments while she was co-owner of the company with her late husband, Bill Hall Jr., a release from Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) claims.

When a company makes a claim about its environmental or social practices that is not true, thats called greenwashing. Companies that do this are often seeking customer or investor support or approval, especially if they are under pressure to reduce emissions.

Recent requests seeking exemptions from trucking hours-of-service rules have raised questions about how federal regulators view such requests and what kind of response they are required to provide.

Under the proposal, manufacturers couldnt sell new medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks fueled by diesel or gasoline that operate in California, instead turning to electric models. In addition, large trucking companies would have to gradually convert their existing fleets to zero-emission vehicles, buying more over time until all are zero emissions by 2042.

The Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers (TRUCKS) Act, would allow states to issue a new Small Business Restricted CDL so ELDT requirements would not affect small businesses with nine CDLs or less. This would make certain any driver obtaining a CDL without completing the ELDT process could not switch to a larger company and bring a Small Business Restricted CDL with them.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US CHS Inc., a leading US agribusiness cooperative, announced on Sept. 14 that it intends to return a total of $1 billion in cash patronage and equity redemptions to its owners in calendar year 2023, delivering on its objectives to share profits with owners and contribute to building strength in rural America.

Columbia Grain International (CGI), a global supplier of grains, beans and pulses, announced Sept. 13 that it has acquired the grain handling assets of Grafton Farmers Co-op Grain Co., a local cooperative grain originator and merchandiser with locations in Grafton, North Dakota, US. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In this video clip, a couple of sturdy mules are on hand to help unload a truck.

One of the unions representing rail workers said Wednesday that its members rejected a proposed deal with rail carriers and voted to move forward with a strike that could have severe consequences for the U.S. economy.

Dubbed the Great Plains Rural Freight Technology Corridor Project, the $14.6 million venture aims to install 100 miles of fiber-optic cable and advanced technologies on a 100-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 83. Officials say around 5,000 commercial vehicles use the route daily.

The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act was introduced September 12 by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The bill would repeal the motor carrier provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), which excludes many truckers from overtime protections enjoyed by other workers.

Some U.S. railroads will start halting crop shipments on Thursday, a day ahead of a potential work stoppage, an agricultural association and sources at two grain cooperatives said on Tuesday, threatening exports and feed deliveries for livestock.

Three more railroad unions have reached tentative agreements with U.S. freight railroads on a new labor contract, announced the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). The tentative agreements announced Sunday include the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Department.

The FMCSA cited "the companys failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A" as cause for revocation. That particular guidance requires ELDs without a printer to be designed so that the display may be reasonably viewed by an authorized safety official without entering the commercial motor vehicle.

Jared brings on Glenn Johnson with The Vizius Group to talk about all things cyber security. Glenn is an expert in cyber security and shares his knowledge in this episode. He provides great tips on how to protect your business from ransomware attacks and scams.

On Friday, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) told lawmakers that a looming railroad workers strike could have a devastating impact on the U.S. trucking industry and the supply chain at large.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has removed a popular electronic logging device (ELD) from its list of approved devices, making those who use it non-compliant with federal regulations.

As pump prices soared, many carriers took a closer look at fresh ways to further maximize vehicle efficiency and productivity. Streamlined route planning and top-notch maintenance programs can provide big boosts in these areas. Though often overlooked, improving truck driver behavior packs a punch when it comes to maximizing fuel efficiency. Research shows up to 30% of fuel consumption comes from decisions drivers make on the road.

To become a truck owner in the US, and even more so to start offering your services to customers, you will not only have to pass tests from US law but also comply with all tax requirements and fees from the state.

On August 27, the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a temporary hoursof- service (HOS) exemption for motor carriers and drivers transporting fuel and other refined petroleum products to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

After being blasted, GoFundMe has decided to automatically refund some $9 million donated to the anti-vax Freedom Convoy 2022 protest that has turned into an occupation in Ottawa, Canada.

During court proceedings, Kingston and Merrick admitted that Merrick was paid $354,870 for phantom loads of the product. After receiving payment from Gavilon Grain, Bennett says Merrick would make a cash payment to Kingston.

For now, grain producers overall are expressing some nervousness about rail service, given the service issues that arose earlier this year, particularly in the western U.S.

Jared brings on Jason Wheeler and Roger Gattis with White Commercial to talk about grain merchandising. White Commercial is a commodity futures broker that focuses on consulting and education with merchandising. Jason and Roger are also hosts of "The Elevators Cut" podcast that can

In honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in September, Pilot Company is extending its annual celebration for professional truck drivers.

According to court documents, the pair used Richard Best Transfer Inc. (RBT), a transportation company used by international food processors, and would steal from their shipments of canola. The estimated product taken is said to be worth $4.8 million.

Dispatching is one of the most important, yet thankless, jobs in trucking. Primarily, I was focused on answering phone calls from truck drivers, solving their issues and communicating with everyone involved in a freight movement brokers, drivers, customers and more. I never really got caught up with the workload. When you get hired at an enterprise trucking carrier, you often get a crash course in trucking. I say crash course because you spend your first few days understanding the geo

Over the next few days, more than 108 semi-trucks of water are coming into Jackson and seven mega distribution sites will have 36 truckloads of water a day for the public to be able to retrieve, according to Lt. Col. Stephen McCraney, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency director.

The freight market is a pendulum and when it swings, it may be the buyers or sellers of capacity that now have the power in rate negotiations. Ever since the summer of 2020, trucking companies have largely held all of the power in rate negotiations, based on their ability to squeeze their shipper customers for rate premiums.

That comes at an already fragile moment as premiums and payouts have seen hefty increases in recent years, according to a report by the American Transportation Research Institute. Insurance premium costs increased 47% over the last decade, and incurred losses increased 50% from 2015 to 2019, the report said.

Wolf, who did not hold a legally required grain buyers license, repeatedly purchased nonorganic corn and soybeans from a grain seller and resold the grain as organic product. As part of his scheme, Wolf also grew conventionally farmed crops using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in violation of organic farming standards.

NDSP, jointly owned by Covington, Louisiana, US-based CGB and Brewer, Minnesota, US-based MnSP, will own and operate the new facility. The plant, which is expected to crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in its first year, will produce soybean oil, soybean meal and hulls. It is planned to be fully operational in 2024 and support 50 to 60 jobs.

Jared brings on Jeremy Mullen with Northern Ag Transportation to discuss commodity trading within the fertilizer sector. Jeremy brings up some interesting points regarding trader-trucker relationships and how they can make or break someone in the industry. Jeremy talks about what we can expect from the fertilizer markets for the fall season of 2022. Check out Northern Ag Transportation her

Long-haul truckers who leased their trucks from Pathway Leasing LLC were independent contractors, rather than employees, and therefore werent subject to the minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Tenth Circuit said Friday.

In the class action suit, the truckers claim that the company failed to pay OTR employees minimum wage for all hours worked, made unlawful deductions from their paychecks through an escrow account; and applied usurious interest on employee advances all actions that violate Arkansas and federal law, according to the filing.

FOB shipping point and FOB destination indicate the point at which the title of goods transfers from the seller to the buyer. The distinction is important in specifying who is liable for goods lost or damaged during shipping. The primary difference between the two contracts is in the timing of the transfer of the title for the goods.

In addition to its weekly rail traffic report, the Associations of American Railroads (AAR) recently issued a statement commenting on the Presidential Emergency Boards (PEB) call for the largest general wage increase for railroad workers in 40 years.

Express Grain Terminals LLC has filed lawsuits in Leflore County seeking payments totaling more than $244,000 that it alleges it never received from four companies. Two suits have been filed in Leflore County Circuit Court and two in Leflore County Court.

The second suit involved a decision in a Nevada district court appealed to the Ninth Circuit against large broker C.H. Robinson after a 2016 crash that involved a carrier hauling a Costco load brokered by C.H. Robinson. The Ninth Circuit sent that case back to the district court after it had argued that C.H. Robinson was shielded from liability claims for the crash by the FAAAA.

The four largest grain-trading firms are Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, known collectively as the ABCD companies. They control an estimated 70% to 90% of the global grain trade among them, and have been reporting record or near-record sales and profits. Cargill had a 23% increase in revenue in its recently ended fiscal year, while Archer-Daniels-Midlands last quarter was the most profitable in its history. Sales and profits rose sharply at Bunge and Louis Dre

The company saw revenues rise 23% over the previous fiscal year.

A professor at Louisiana State University is hoping his research on truck platooning could lead to solutions for a struggling supply chain. Hany Hassan, assistant professor of transportation engineering in the LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is in charge of the study. According to the university, Hassans research focuses on improvements to the supply chain while making traffic safety a priority using autonomous vehicles.

Brake Safety Week kicked off on Monday. Its the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliances seven-day brake inspection and brake-safety outreach campaign designed to raise awareness of brake safety issues. The week-long initiative is not about writing as many tickets as possible and chalking up points for the creeper-cops. Its more about getting fleets, drivers, and technicians to take brake inspections and maintenance more seriously.

We won't make you sign a contract because we HATE contracts. We're old school and believe you should be in control of your money, if you want to stop using us at any time, you're free to. Cash flow is huge in not only trucking but the bulk industry. Most companies pay within 20-30 days, Smart Freight users get paid within 24-hours upon submitting their documents. Imagine driving, instead of doing paperwork. When you sign up with Smart Freight, you get a personal accountant assigned to you to

Frances Hall, former co-owner of San Antonio gravel-hauling business Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, has been accused of scamming Texas Mutual. Hall and her now-deceased husband, Bill Hall Jr., obtained workers compensation insurance from Texas Mutual between October 2009 and February 2016.

While many young drivers who dream of owning their own trucking operation fail due to lack of experience, Jones succeeded by focusing on steady and sustainable growth, delivering high levels of customer service, and creating a driver-first company culture to attract and keep safe drivers. From a single truck, Redbone Trucking has now expanded to a fleet of more than 160 trucks, employing more than 200 drivers.