EnRoute- April 9, 2020

• By: Shannon Davison
• On: 04/09/2020 16:27:35
• In: EnRoute

TRALA IN THE NEWS

Many states have chosen to close or reduce their Departments of Motor Vehicles because of COVID-19, which has reduced their ability to answer questions and process services for motor carriers. FULL STORY
 
TRALA has been closely monitoring the sales and use tax impact caused by the COVID-19 outbreak across the nation. FULL STORY
 
The United States government has passed multiple bills to directly combat the COVID-19 virus. FULL STORY
 
The Canadian federal government is proposing several economic assistance programs to try and stabilize the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. FULL STORY

The DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the United Kingdom's NCSC released a joint alert on how cyber criminals are exploiting Americans and British citizen amid the coronavirus global pandemic. FULL STORY

TOP STORIES

In addition to small business loans available through the recently passed CARES Act, Congress has extended other benefits to businesses. FULL STORY
 
The Federal Highway Administration has issued a notice to state departments of transportation that the agency will allow food trucks at federally funded interstate highway rest areas to support commercial truck drivers during the coronavirus emergency. FULL STORY
 
Despite the U.S. temporarily suspending hours-of-service (HoS) rules for drivers hauling COVID-19 relief items, Canada has not yet followed suit. FULL STORY
 
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, auto- and truckmakers are announcing extended production and factory closures. FULL STORY

 

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

A new audit conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of the Inspector General has documented a general decline from fiscal years 2006 to 2018 in the EPA's compliance monitoring activities, enforcement actions and enforcement results. FULL STORY
 
Advances and changes to new trucks are impacting overall truck fleet maintenance. Keeping up with these changes can be challenging. FULL STORY
 
Mercedes-Benz, a Daimler AG company, is manufacturing medical equipment to help with the fight against COVID-19. FULL STORY
 
Cummins has teamed with DuPont to use its NanoNet and NanoForce filtration technologies to produce N95 respirator masks, for use in the fight against Covid-19. FULL STORY

BRIEFLY

MACK TRUCKS has launched info.macktrucks.com/thankyou, an online resource for trucking companies and dealers offering useful information from government agencies, trucking industry experts and Mack to assist them in navigating through the COVID-19 situation. . . TRUCK-LITE CO., LLC has entered an agreement with STAR LEASING COMPANY to supply LED lighting and harnessing products as standard equipment on new trailer builds and to integrate the Road Ready telematics system into the fleet's new and existing trailers. . . CARRIER TRANSICOLD now offers a solar-powered charging system for trailer refrigeration unit batteries that delivers more power faster and is innovatively designed to fit neatly on the top of the refrigeration unit. . . DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA is increasing annual potential network capacity in the U.S and Canada by up to 3.5 million service hours, adding 700 new service bays across 40 locations. . . NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL CORP. announced it is broadening its temporary suspension in manufacturing operations to its engine assembly plant in Huntsville, Ala., and truck assembly plant in Escobedo, Mexico. Production will resume at both locations April 13. . . GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. has extended its shutdown of tire manufacturing plants in the Americas "until further notice.". . . DIESEL LAPTOPS will host a virtual trade show April 29-30, 2020. . . PACCAR INC. announced that it suspended truck and engine production at its factories worldwide from March 24 until April 6 amid COVID-19.

PEOPLE

Dana Incorporated announced that RYAN LASKEY has been named to lead the company's Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems business.

NUMBERS

The economic damage from the coronavirus crisis piled up as an unprecedented 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in a single week. FULL STORY
 
Jobless claims reached a new record in the week ending March 21, as 3.283 million applicants filed for unemployment benefits, an increase of 91.4% from the previous week. FULL STORY
 
Where and how consumers and businesses are spending money now, and how those habits might shift in the near future, will shape how the economy and the trucking industry will manage through the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. FULL STORY
 
Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders in March fell to 7,800 units, down 45% from February and 51% lower than an easy year-ago comparison. March's Classes 5-7 net orders were 14,700 units, down 36% from February and 31% from year-ago levels. FULL STORY

TRALA ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRALA Industry Scholarship Program has LAUNCHED!    
Are you or someone you know pursuing a certificate as a maintenance technician or a 4-year degree in the truck transportation industry for academic year 2020? If so, APPLY for TRALA's Industry Scholarship. Help us spread the word. Print this FLYER and post it in your break room.
 
The deadline to submit an application is Monday, June 1, 2020.
 
Help us spread the word! Share this email with your colleagues who may be interested or have children who are eligible. Don't forget, the applications must be submitted on or before 3:00 p.m Central Time on June 1, 2020. 
 
About the Program
The TRALA Industry Scholarship Program awards scholarships to TRALA-member company employees or their children to pursue vocational training as maintenance technicians or are seeking a 4-year degree in the truck transportation industry. The program has no age limit and eligible veterans are also encouraged to apply. 

Eligibility
Applicants to the TRALA Industry Scholarship Program must be:
·   Employees or interns of TRALA member companies in North America, or dependents/children of part-time or full-time employees of TRALA member companies in North America.
·   Pursuing a course of study related to the truck transportation industry at an accredited two-year vocational program or four-year college or university. Examples include, but are not limited to Heavy Duty Truck Technology, Diesel Technology, Industrial Mechanics and Medium/Heavy Vehicle Technology.
 
*Dependents/children are defined as natural and legally adopted children, stepchildren or legal wards.
 
For any questions or additional information, please contact TRALA's Elizabeth Hyers at ehyers@trala.org or Tonya Gibbs at tgibbs@trala.org.