Backlash to FREE EOBR's for Mexican Truckers

From Transport Topics
3/23/2011

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood outlining his opposition to the U.S. proposal to buy electronic onboard recorders for Mexican trucks that will travel within the United States.

“I do not believe this concept is fair for U.S. carriers who are not eligible for such payments,” Pryor wrote in a letter dated Thursday.

exotic tie down strap

A Department of Transportation official said earlier this month that DOT will pay for EOBRs for Mexican trucks entering the United States under an agreement with Mexico. The program is meant to ensure drivers’ compliance with hours-of-service regulations while in the U.S.




To read the full article click HERE

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Jobless Claims Falling....

Image via Wikipedia

From Transport Topics
4/7/2011

Initial jobless claims fell by 10,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

New claims fell to 382,000 for the week ended Saturday, below economists’ forecasts of a drop to 385,000 from the originally reported 388,000 in the prior week, Bloomberg reported.

It was the lowest level since Feb. 26.

To read the full article click HERE

Towing Part: 4 point tie down kit

Someone has to make this heavy haul possible...Spe

Specialized Hauling Driver securing the load

Many mornings I come outside and the specialized hauling fleets will be loading with things that look they are part of other bigger things or are used to make other bigger things.Today was very mundane. A simple transport of an xl trailer used for specialized hauling to another location to haul bigger things.For a moment I was disappointed, BUT I did

notice one of our dedicated drivers working with the lever binders to make sure the load was secure.

This is an often overlooked part of the process. Someone has to make sure these loads are secure, or the consequences could be disastrous. I have never heard of one of these loads coming loose, which is a good reflection on our drivers who skillfully tie these down each day.

From Truckinginfo.com
Image by Getty Images via @daylife4/5/2011

National on-highway diesel prices climbed for the second week in a row, rising 4.4 cents to $3.976. The national average is up almost 96 cents from last year.

New England experienced the smallest cost increase at 1.4 cents; California prices rose the most, 6.7 cents, to $4.323, up $1.17 from last year.

Trucking part: Clearance light, Pete Light

 

To read the full article click HERE

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• Petrol prices rise to 2009 high (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• Petrol prices soar to record high (mirror.co.uk)
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Another specialized haul: Industrial machinery....

What the ? is that thing you are hauling

Yes, we continue to haul specialized equipment as the economy recovers. I get up, grab the camera and head out to photograph the next "interesting" specialized hauling project we have going. This is what I saw being loaded to the truck:

It looks industrial, its got pipes and valves and after five minutes I still dont know what it is. So I use the power of deductive reasoning and go ask the service manager. Turns out this is an industrial vaccum hooked that hooks to the back of a building. I guess they have to come from somewhere...well, another successful haul.

The roller coaster doesn’t get to the theme park by itself. Someone has to move it. East Coast Specialized Hauling has moved military equipment, construction products, and things that I don’t even know what they are. Located at the Port of Virginia a little bit of everything comes and goes. This item however is a first.

                                       Image via Wikipedia...not actual coasterI stood there trying to figure out what was being hauled until finally I broke down and Asked. (very similar to asking for directions…you just don’t want to do it) Turns out this is a piece of a roller coaster rail. Of course it is. These theme parks don’t get there by accident, specialized hauling and heavy haul companies like East Coast have to move these monstrosities so they can be assembled on a job site.

Another Heavy Haul done right!

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House Reintroduces Safe & Efficient Transportation Act

From TruckingInfo.com
2/21/11Image via Wikipedia

At the urging of The Coalition for Transportation Productivity, the Safe & Efficient Transportation Act has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)as H.R. 763.

SETA would, if passed, increase the federal weight limits on Interstate Highways. The bill's reintroduction comes as Congress considers the first Highway Reauthorization package in more than six years.

Condor Cycle Loader: for Rollbacks & Towers

The U.S. federal weight limit has been set at 80,000 pounds since 1982 - forcing shippers that meet this limit with space left in their trailers to use more trucks and fuel than necessary. The goal of SETA is to make truck transportation safer and more sustainable by giving states the ability to adjust federal weight limits on interstates within their borders.

Under SETA, each state would have the option to set interstate weight limits of up to 97,000 pounds -- giving shippers the ability to utilize more truck space. The higher weight limit would only apply to trucks equipped with six axles instead of the typical five. Without making the truck any larger, the additional axle maintains safety specifications, including stopping capability and current weight per tire.

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"SETA provides a critical opportunity for Congress to enact a Highway Reauthorization proposal that modernizes American truck shipping standards in order to protect motorists and the environment, and give U.S. manufacturers and producers a competitive edge," said CTP Executive Director John Runyan. "Many shippers hit the 30-year-old federal weight limit with significant space left in their rigs and must use more truckloads, fuel and vehicle miles than necessary to get products to market. … Six-axle trucks can safely handle more weight, so American companies can utilize more rig space, minimize the trucks they need to meet demand and reduce their dependency on foreign oil."

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According to CTP, the current 80,000-lb weight limit places U.S. industry at a competitive disadvantage when compared to producers in Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

to read the full article click HERE