Blog
EnRoute- May 21, 2020
- By: Shannon Davison
- On: 05/21/2020 16:53:07
- In: EnRoute
TRALA IN THE NEWS
On May 13, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced an extension of their emergency declaration which was set to expire on May 15, 2020. FULL STORY
On May 15, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury (USDT) released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application and instructions. FULL STORY
TRALA-supported Maryland vehicle height legislation, which allows for an exemption from liability on vehicle height legislation for truck renting and leasing members in Baltimore County, officially became law this month. FULL STORY
TOP STORIES
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published its long-awaited final rule on changes to hours-of-service regulations in a move intended to increase flexibility for truck drivers. FULL STORY
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have told the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that if California's new worker classification law stands, it would devastate the trucking industry and undermine the federal law designed to deregulate it. FULL STORY
The novel coronavirus crisis continues to pummel the U.S. labor market, suggesting a second wave of layoffs in industries and jobs not initially impacted by business closures caused by the pandemic. FULL STORY
The California Trucking Association continued laying the legal groundwork to block the state of California from enforcing a new state law aimed at reclassifying owner-operators as motor carrier employees. FULL STORY
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Daimler Trucks AG and Volvo Group recently announced their joint venture to develop, produce, and commercialize fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicle applications and other uses like stationary power. FULL STORY
Meritor, Inc. recently made some changes to its site, MeritorPartsXpress.com, to help fleets find exactly what they need faster, as well as speeding up the ordering process. FULL STORY
Initially introduced with a limited production run in 2014 and 2017, Peterbilt Motors Company has brought back the Model 389 Pride & Class package due to popular demand. FULL STORY
Today, more than ever, work truck fleets are relying on advanced technology instead of outdated paper- and spreadsheet-based systems to track vehicle use and maintenance cycles. FULL STORY
Carrier Transicold has launched its innovative Vector™ 8611MT multi-temperature trailer refrigeration unit. FULL STORY
While technology is providing many advances for today's truck fleet manager, it also comes with its own share of challenges. FULL STORY
BRIEFLY
TRUCK-LITE HOLDINGS announced that it has changed its corporate name to Clarience Technologies, LLC. . . Goodwill South Florida produced 20,000 face masks to protect RYDER essential employees working on the logistics front lines in the fight against COVID-19. . . RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. is joining a nationwide campaign to honor some of our nation's heroes, truck drivers, as they deliver medical equipment, groceries and other needed supplies as well as perform vital services to keep our communities running. . . FLEETWORTHY SOLUTIONS is partnering with Asurint and Samba Safety for Department of Transportation compliance and safety podcast miniseries with Chad Hendricks. . . ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS has announced the implementation of its Complete Clean Pledge amid COVID-19 outbreak. The program includes expanded and more comprehensive cleaning protocols to protect employees and customers. These mandates include enhanced cleaning guidance for vehicles, shuttles and branch locations, as well as social distancing practices. . . MHC KENWORTH has opened a new location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to offer increased support to customers operating in Nashville's busy metropolitan area. . . GREAT DANE is partnering with Velocity Vehicle Group (VVG), which will sell and service the manufacturer's flatbed, dry freight and refrigerated van trailers and truck bodies in Fontana CA under the name Southern California Great Dane. . . FORD started resuming production and operations in the United States on May 18, 2020, including all of its factories that produce commercial vehicles. . . PETERBILT OF LOUISIANA GROUP is opening a new full service Peterbilt dealership in Gray, Louisiana. . . MICHELIN VENTURES has invested in Pyrowave, a Canadian business looking to transform waste plastics into a renewable resource that could eventually be used to help make tires. . . GEOTAB'S new Commercial Transportation Recovery Dashboard draws on data from more than 2 million vehicles connected through Geotab, helping to visualize commercial transportation and trade activity. . . HENDRICKSON TRAILER COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS announced the launch of their online digital Trailer Suspension Parts Catalog, which can be found at https://www.maaxuptime.com.
PEOPLE
DR. HONG YANG has joined Dana Incorporated as its senior director of electric vehicle systems engineering for its Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion business unit. . . NATE HURST will join Wells Fargo on June 1 to oversee a newly combined organization that includes Corporate Responsibility, Philanthropy, Community Relations, and Sustainability. He will also serve as president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. The company also added CHINTAN MEHTA as chief information officer (CIO) and head of Digital Technology & Innovation and MUNISH KUMAR was named CIO and head of Wealth & Investment Management Technology.. . . Fleet Advantage CEO JOHN FLYNN has been included in the Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine's list of 2020 Pros to Know in the supply chain industry for the second consecutive year.
NUMBERS
Data from FourKites research shows that 67% of large carriers have seen increased volumes since January, while only 48% of small carriers have experienced a similar increase. FULL STORY
More than 88,000 trucking jobs were lost in the month of April, a 5.8% drop from March, both the steepest drops on record – part of a record-setting 20.5 million job loss across the country, as the nation's unemployment rate rose to 14.7%. FULL STORY
Preliminary used Class 8 volumes contracted 8% month-over-month in April of 2020, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. FULL STORY
Consumer prices in April took their biggest drop in history going back to at least 1957 as the economy reeled from restrictions imposed to control the coronavirus. FULL STORY
Class 8 retail pricing held up in April according to analysts from J.D. Power Valuation Services. FULL STORY
TRALA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deadline Approaching! Apply for TRALA's Industry Scholarship Program Today!
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, don't forget to APPLY for TRALA's Industry Scholarship today!
The deadline to submit an application is Monday, June 1, 2020.
Share 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.
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 details regarding the TRALA Industry Scholarship Program visit: https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/trala/
For more information on the Industry Scholarship Program or questions regarding eligibility, contact:
Email: trala@scholarshipamerica.org
Call: 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the TRALA Industry Scholarship Program
Please contact TRALA's Elizabeth Hyers at ehyers@trala.org or Tonya Gibbs at tgibbs@trala.org with any questions or if you need additional information.