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Jul 17, 2018
Study to allow younger Interstate drivers piques interest of Werner, Crete trucking execs

By Steve Jordon / World-Herald staff writer

Jul 17, 2018
Can Shippers or Brokers Legally Offset Freight Loss and Damage Claims Against Unpaid Motor Carrier Freight Charges?
Jul 16, 2018
A new frac sand giant is born amid an industry shift
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Jul 17, 2018
Study to allow younger Interstate drivers piques interest of Werner, Crete trucking execs

By Steve Jordon / World-Herald staff writer

Jul 17, 2018
Can Shippers or Brokers Legally Offset Freight Loss and Damage Claims Against Unpaid Motor Carrier Freight Charges?

A lot of people in the transportation industry still believe there is a federal law prohibiting shippers or brokers from recovering amounts owed by motor carriers when freight loss or damage has occurred by offsetting those amounts against what the shipper or broker owes the carrier for delivery services.

Jul 16, 2018
A new frac sand giant is born amid an industry shift

The newest frac sand company, Covia Holdings, is also the largest Frac sand production transitioning to local sources to eliminate $30-60 per ton railroad costs New mines in shale plays coming online may create an oversupply of sand

Jul 16, 2018
Two men vindicated after allegations of swiping $8,700 worth of grain in Cass County

FARGO Two men accused of stealing about $8,700 worth of grain have been cleared of charges after a jury acquitted one of them and the case against the other was dropped.

Jul 16, 2018
Trucker pays it forward after he gets a hand from a fellow driver

Broke down this morning around 11am in this small town of Concordia,KS. Damn fuel fitting cracked and then broke off when i tried to take it out,now im stuck with one half of the fitting inside of the head. Well its sunday, they dont have cab service or uber in this area. Theres OReillys in town few miles south of me, my fat ass walked there and bought the bolt extractor tool. On my way back to my truck a pickup pulls up and offers me a ride,t

Jul 14, 2018
One of the biggest problems facing self-driving trucks has little to do with the technology

Tesla, Otto, and other companies have been developing driverless vehicles for years, with Mercedez-Benz placing a semi-autonomous truck on the road

Jul 13, 2018
How Trucker Shortages Will Affect Businesses From Amazon And Walmart To Tyson Foods And Union Pacific

There is a shortage of truck drivers, and low unemployment is making them difficult to replace. Rising diesel prices and incentives to lure truck drivers, along with demand over capacity, have driven shipping costs sky-high. This will dig into earnings of retailers - especially those with a focus on ecommerce such as Amazon and Walmart. Railroad companies will be the beneficiaries as they accommodate the difference between supply and demand and increase their rates in the

Jul 13, 2018
Zeeland Farm Services: The family-owned company quietly conquering midwestern agri-business

For drivers taking I-196 from Grand Rapids toward the lakeshore, Zeeland Farm Services is a familiar landmark, its steel grain bins towering over Exit 55, the brothy smell of heated soybeans coming through the car windows. ZFS, which buys, sells and transports corn, wheat, and soy and operates Michigans only soy processing plant, has long been a behemoth in the states agribusiness economyand its only getting bigger. In recent years

Jul 12, 2018
Study shows US became dumping ground for imports of fraudulent organic feed commodities

The Cornucopia Institute is calling for stricter oversight and legal reform to curb infiltration of questionable organic feed raw material imports into the US.

Jul 12, 2018
National trucking industry files lawsuit over tolls

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A national trucking industry group is fighting Rhode Island over new tolls arguing that large commercial tractors are being unfairly targeted. The lawsuit was filed in Providence federal court Tuesday by Virginia-based American Trucking Associations and claims Rhode Island Department of Transportation tolls violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Jul 12, 2018
Grain handler pleads guilty to stealing more than $3 million from farmers

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels announced today that a Huron County man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the theft of more than $3 million in grain from 35 farmers in Ohio.

Jul 12, 2018
Flooding continues to impact crop farms

REGIONALNWest Iowa corn and soybean producers still are recovering after the recent flooding, and some experts say the effects could be felt for a long time to come.

Jul 11, 2018
EPA says it will not enforce glider truck cap through 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a loophole that will allow glider kit manufacturers to avoid certain Obama-era emissions regulations and, effectively, build as many trucks as they deem fit, according to the New York Times.

Jul 11, 2018
Bill aims to elevate shippers’ FMC awareness

Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., has proposed legislation that aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean shipping services agreements, use of ocean transportation intermediaries and other shipping services through the U.S. Federal Maritime Commissions Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (CADRS).

Jul 11, 2018
Grain hopper manufacturer proposes Whitestown facility

A Nebraska-based grain hopper manufacturer plans to open a retail and repair facility in Whitestown. Timpte Industries Inc. has requested a real property tax abatement from the town of Whitestown as an incentive for building the 12,100-square-foot facility at 3945 S. Indianapolis Road. The facility would be constructed near Exit 133 off Interstate 65. Timpte said it plans to spend about $2.2 million on the project. It would be Timptes first Indiana operation and wo

Jul 11, 2018
Worthless Just Two Years Ago, West Texas Sand Now Brings in Billions

Standing high on top of a windswept dune in the West Texas plains, Greg Edwards stares out into a vast ocean of sand. It stretches in every direction, interrupted only by an occasional strip of asphalt or clusters of silos that rise high into the sky.

Jul 11, 2018
Is trucking headed for a decline?

For-hire trucking is about to lose a lot of business, as much as 20 percent over the next 10 years. Thats the word from Craig Fuller, CEO of Chattanooga, Tenn.-based FreightWaves, a company that gathers and analyzes market data for the freight transportation industry.

Jul 10, 2018
Scott Pruitt's Loophole for Glider Truck Manufacturers Faces Backlash

Former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt dealt a final blow to clean air initiatives before resigning Friday, implementing a loophole that will allow the production of thousands of diesel freight trucks with high emissions. The decision effectively undoes an Obama administration move that intended to cap production of these trucks at 300 per year, beginning this year.

Jul 10, 2018
DRIVERS WANTED: HOW A SHORTAGE OF TRUCKERS COULD CONSTRAIN THE GROWTH OF U.S. OIL PRODUCTION

In some circles, a career as a truck driver comes attached with a certain stigma. Long hours on the road, eating alone at highway diners, mediocre pay, and a stationary job with no company in the cabin but an AM/FM radio. Enter todays developing crisis regarding a nationwide shortage of truck drivers and resulting trucker pay in many cases of $100k+/year with signing bonuses. Suddenly, that stigma quickly dissipates.

Jul 10, 2018
We're raising trucker pay, so let's tell everybody

Whats notable about the announcement by Heartland Express late last week on its increase in pay is not that pay was increased; everybody is increasing trucker pay. Whats notable is that Heartland put it out as a press release. Looking over the press release archive on Heartlands home page, press releases are few and far between, and as far as we can tell, press releases on pay incre

Jul 9, 2018
Heavy-Truck Orders Explode

Orders for heavy trucks that haul trailers loaded with anything from junk food to oil-field equipment across the US skyrocketed 141% in June compared to a year ago, to 41,800 orders, making it the highest June ever recorded, according to transportation data provider FTR. For the first six months this year, order volume of Class 8 trucks surged nearly 90% from a year ago to a phenomenal 23

Jul 7, 2018
House bill would require DOT to study how many drivers quit trucking over ELD mandate

A bill filed in the U.S. House last week would, if passed, require the U.S. DOT to perform a study to determine how many drivers, including both company drivers and leased owner-operators, quit the industry over the electronic logging device mandate

Jul 6, 2018
Truck size and weight: Transparency vs. deception

If you tell a kindergartener that he or she can have ice cream for breakfast with no ill effect and that it will make the lima beans at lunch taste better, that kid will hug your leg and tell you that youre the best. They dont see the tummy ache coming or know that youre lying about the lima beans.

Jul 6, 2018
Kansas wheat harvest progressing despite setbacks

KANSAS CITY Kansas wheat producers managed to advance the winter wheat harvest 19 percentage points last week despite regular rains that some farmers say have reduced test weights. In its weekly Crop Progress report issued late July 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated Kansas winter wheat harvest was 71% completed by July 1 compared with 52% a week earlier and 63% as the 2013-17 average for the date. Harvest in adjacent states was 98% completed in Oklahoma (90% as th

Jul 4, 2018
You don’t have to buy an electric truck to drive an electrified one

The electrification of trucking may the next big thing but the electrification of the truck itself isnt an entirely new concept. The differentiator of the two discussions is a big one. The electrification of trucking centers on removing a traditional driveline and replacing it with a number of electric driv

Jul 3, 2018
Major tech changes will hurt the for-hire trucking market within the next decade

In the next decade, three major technological disruptions will drastically shrink demand for for-hire trucking services. Nearly 20% of for-hire truckload freight is at risk, putting the trucking industry at risk of experiencing one of the most drastic freight-demand declines in history, matched only by the great recession (Cass Freight Index showed a 20% volume decline between summer 2008 and summer 2009, according to

Jul 3, 2018
Driver Dearth Means Higher Freight Prices

Things are getting really tight for American trucking companies. That means things are going to get more expensive for everyone else, too. The current driver shortage has been well documented. The American Trucking Associations estimated a shortage of more than 170,000 drivers by 2024.

Jul 2, 2018
How a 91-year-old trucking guru built a transportation company from the ground up

Ross Neely started a trucking company in 1958 with one $240 truck. The company generated $7.3 million in gross revenue in 2017.

Jul 2, 2018
Amid trucker shortage, Trump team pilots program to drop driving age requirement to 18

Trump administration is advancing a program to let some younger workers drive big trucks across state lines, signaling an openness to lowering the driving age more broadly amid a massive trucker shortage.

Jun 30, 2018
Should Tractor-Trailer Trucks Be Self-Driving?

Daimler, Tesla, Uber, Volvo, and Waymo are among the manufacturers working to perfect the software and sensors needed to develop fully automated big rigs. There have been a few demonstration projects, such as Ubers trucking subsidiary, Otto, arranging a 120-mile beer delivery last year in Colorado.

Jun 30, 2018
Brokers must consider minutes in new way under ELDs

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia Not enough is a common phrase in the trucking industry. Not enough drivers. Not enough pay. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) have added a new one: not enough minutes. Its true that the hours-of-service regulations didn't change. Not enough minutes is a byproduct of the digitization of time. Paper logs are out, electronics are in. Small ca

Jun 30, 2018
New weigh station promotes trucker safety, brings in money

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TX (KTRE) - Commercial motor vehicle stations, often referred to as weigh stations, are significant to motorists other than truck drivers. A weigh strip that opened today in Nacogdoches County will create safer roadways as well as significant local revenue.

Jun 29, 2018
ADM Animal Nutrition Opens New Feed Plant in Nebraska

American agribusiness Archer Daniels Midlands (ADM) Animal Nutrition business recently opened a new feed plant in Columbus, NE, the company announced in a press release.

Jun 29, 2018
Senate Passes Farm Bill, Setting Up Food-Stamp Fight With House

The Senate passed bipartisan farm legislation that sets up a clash with the House and President Donald Trump over imposing broad new work requirements for food stamp recipients. The Senate bill, passed 86-11 Thursday, would renew subsidies for farmers and crop-insurance companies, along with food aid for low-income families. The Senate bill doesnt include the work rules. The House version would make work requirements stricter and would shift some food-stamp benefits to job-train

Jun 28, 2018
America's Trucker Shortage Is Hitting Home

THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, the backbone of the U.S. economy, is carrying more weight than ever despite a critical shortage of drivers. And now this compression point is sending waves of pain through the supply chain from distributors and wholesalers to retailers and consumers in the form of fast-rising shipping costs. Even Amazon and its Prime members are feeling the pinch. This predicament was a long time coming. An a

Jun 28, 2018
Why now might be the time to slow your truck’s speed

As the price of diesel fuel has increased in 2018, so too have fleet fuel costs. For larger fleets with leverage, that fuel cost has shifted to shippers that are paying more in fuel surcharges. For smaller fleets and owner-operators, shifting that burden may be a little more difficult, especially if they dont operate with a fuel surcharge program.

Jun 27, 2018
Markets Now: Global Demand For Soybeans Will Remain

June has been a volatile month for soybean markets and commodity markets in general. As news broke how China planned to proceed with tariffs on U.S. agricultural products such as soybeans and orange juice, soybean prices tanked. During the trade on Tuesday, soybean prices dropped 40 cents. Its not solely China thats creating volatility in the markets. Last week, Commerce Secretary

Jun 27, 2018
Age Requirement Commercial Truck Drivers

There has been an ongoing debate in the trucking industry about whether the minimum age for commercial drivers should be lowered. Those who support the lower age requirement say that it will provide job opportunities, address the driver shortage problem, and keep the economy going. However, those who oppose the lower age requirement say that drivers under the age of 21 are much more likely to be involved in serious accidents. Congress is considering legislation that will allow 18-year-olds with

Jun 27, 2018
Trump to hit refiners with a bio fuels boost

Refiners would have to blend 19.88 billion gallons of biofuels into petroleum next year under an administration proposal set to be unveiled Tuesday, as President Donald Trump tries to strike a balance between two competing constituencies. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to maintain a 15 billion gallon quota for conventional renewable fuels such as corn-based ethanol, even as it gives a modest 3.1 percent increase to overall biofuel-blending requirements in the proposal set t

Jun 27, 2018
FMCSA: Numbers Show ELD Mandate Is Working

The electronic logging device mandate is working, said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as it posted a new infographic on its website it plans to update monthly. FMCSA describes the infographic as a snapshot of the positive impact electronic logging devices (ELDs) are having on improving hours-of-service complianc

Jun 26, 2018
Electronic logging felt by more than just truckers

From beer to Bobcat machinery, mandated electronic logging devices are affecting more than just the trucking industry. Area businesses that rely upon drivers for their operational supplies are experiencing delays, too.

Jun 26, 2018
Stakeholders split on whether bill would lead to safer US truckers

Shippers want to use safe and reliable trucking companies to move their freight for a reasonable rate, but there can be a black hole in the US spot market about the quality of the person behind the wheel. An effort is under way to establish standards on freight brokers hiring a carrier on behalf of a shipper, but some safety groups argue that the proposal doesn't go far enough.

Jun 26, 2018
Where Have America’s Truck Drivers Gone?

The internet doesnt carry goods, only more and more orders for them. Self-driving trucks are a long way off. In the meantime, somebody has to haul freight and make deliveries.

Jun 25, 2018
Goodyear rolls out latest long-haul steer tire

New product offers more miles and complements Goodyear Endurance LHD drive tire, company noted.

Jun 25, 2018
How can owner-operators get the best deal on trucking insurance?

There are a lot of reasons why its hard for owner-operators to get the best deal possible on their truck insurance. Owner-operators are busy. For one thing, their work requires them to be on the road concentrating on the road ahead, and using two hands. They have loads to deliverthey dont have loads of time to analyze and interpret various insurance rates on a regular basis to make sure theyre getting the best value for their needs. On top of that owner-operators are

Jun 25, 2018
Soybeans are Getting Crushed but this Grain Processor is Looking Strong

A combination of a U.S. supply glut and recently imposed Chinese tariffs on imports of American agricultural products has soybeans trading at their lowest level in 9 years. Prices for corn and wheat are also trading near multi-year lows, buy soybeans have been especially hard-hit because the biggest importer of American soybeans is China.

Jun 22, 2018
3 BIG THINGS

SOYBEANS, GRAINS MIXED OVERNIGHT AMID TRADE UNCERTAINTY ETHANOL PRODUCTION RISES TO HIGHEST SINCE FEBRUARY, STOCKPILES DECLINE FLOOD WARNINGS, FLASH FLOOD WATCHES MOVE EAST INTO ILLINOIS

Jun 21, 2018
Commodities Slide as U.S.-China Spat Hits Soy to Steelmakers

A Bloomberg agriculture index fell to the lowest since at least 1991, while a gauge of global mining stocks headed for the biggest decline in almost two years. Industrial metals fell, with aluminum, nickel and zinc all giving up more than 2 percent. Freeport-McMoRan Inc., the worlds largest publicly traded copper producer, and Alcoa Corp., the biggest U.S. aluminum make, lost more than 3 percent. First Quantum Minerals Ltd. dropped more than 4 percent. The spat is upending commo

Jun 20, 2018
Analysis: What Higher Fuel Prices Mean for Trucking

Theres little doubt that trucking has been enjoying some of the best business conditions in memory, with rates at or near record highs, thanks to plentiful freight and tight trucking capacity. But that could soon be curtailed to varying degrees, all due to fuel prices. Fuel prices are on the rise, and while that obviously means increased expenses for fleets, there is also another concern. And this one has to do with the effect on freight demand

Jun 19, 2018
Man killed in hopper bottom trailer accident

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AR (KAIT) - According to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, a man was killed Saturday morning in an apparent farm accident. Deputies went to the area of County Road 615, just off Highway 412, around 8 a.m. June 16 after getting a call about the accident. Authorities believe 22-year-old Cody Crow became trapped in a hopper bottom fertilizer trailer after slipping and falling.

Jun 18, 2018
Utah drillers import fracking sand from Wisconsin, but there may a cheaper place

A trainload of sand, enough to fill 50 or more rail cars, can disappear down a single bore hole when drillers frack oil and gas wells in eastern Utahs Uinta Basin.

Jun 18, 2018
War on trucking industry can cripple the whole economy

In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the war on one group and another but there is a war going on in this country that will cripple the whole economy if it isnt stopped. That is the war on the trucking industry.

Jun 16, 2018
US Xpress CEO: Tightest driving market we've seen

U.S. Xpress Enterprises CEO Eric Fuller discusses the outlook for the trucking industry including trade issues, driver shortages and autonomous technology.

Jun 15, 2018
Wheat harvest continues in NW Oklahoma

ADM Grain in Enid has yields averaging 20 to 30 bushels per acre, with the highest being a 50 on an isolated field and the lowest reported at 9, said ADM grain merchandiser Matt Landwehr. He said test weights have been holding in at around 59 pounds.

Jun 15, 2018
Scoular acquires Farmers Grain Company in Colorado

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, U.S. The Scoular Co. has acquired Farmers Grain Company (known locally as Kontny Grain) of Julesburg, Colorado, U.S. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Jun 15, 2018
Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act Looks To Reform HOS And ELD Regulations

Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have introduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Further, the enforcement of the ELD rule would be delayed until the reforms required under the bill are formally proposed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Jun 15, 2018
Safety, trucking groups blast ELD exemption bill for ag, livestock haulers

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and The Trucking Alliance, a coalition of trucking companies, have written senators asking them to oppose legislation introduced in May that would exempt livestock haulers from ELD requirements.

Jun 15, 2018
Trucking industry wants changes in place to stop 'chameleon carriers'

Albertas trucking industry is calling for rule changes after a trucking company connected to the deadly Humboldt Broncos crash has opened up a new business.

Jun 14, 2018
Pursuing stability through change at The Andersons

MAUMEE, OHIO Measured by volume, the specialty grains business of The Andersons, Inc. could be viewed as a niche operation, a modest complement to the Maumee, Ohio-based companys core segments of grain, fertilizer, ethanol and rail. To Patrick E. Bowe, president and chief executive officer, the companys foray into specialty food grains is important to a long-term strategy aimed at generating growth while providing more stable earnings.

Jun 14, 2018
Congress Should Keep America Trucking With Twin 33s

Need dog food? Or maybe baby formula, diapers and toilet paper in bulk? These days, simply click and your order is processed, shipped and delivered to your front door. Amazon Prime and other subscription delivery services have revolutionized how Americans buy things.

Jun 14, 2018
Worry less on getting paid, guaranteed next day!

Specializing in Factoring for the Bulk Trucking Industry, we will buy your freight bills and pay you next day! We understand the day-to-day challenges a small to medium sized trucking company faces and cash flow should not be one of them. That's why we are here to help. We don't have any contracts or hidden fees. Our service is easy. We buy your freight bills and turn them into cash for you.

Jun 13, 2018
This Sioux Falls-based company is making more product than anyone in its industry, in the world

A Sioux Falls-based company just gained the crown as the biggest producer in its industry. Poet, the biofuels maker, just topped long-time title holder Archer Daniels Midland Co. as the No. 1 biofuels producer in the world, according to a

Jun 13, 2018
Trucking company owner sentenced in tax evasion case

An Iowa trucking company owner has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for tax evasion and ordered to pay restitution and a fine totaling more than $105,000.

Jun 12, 2018
260,000 UPS Teamsters authorize a strike, if necessary

United Parcel Service (UPS) management and unionized workers represented by the Teamsters are conducting intense negotiations to replace a five-year contract that expires July 31. Last night, the Teamsters ratcheted up the pressure by voting overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in case the talks fail. More than 90% of the 260,000 Teamsters voted to authorize the strike. Any walkout would not take place before August, but the union said the strength of rank-and-file support gives their negotiator

Jun 12, 2018
Trucking rates for produce jump $1,000 ahead of Roadcheck

Trucking rates for fresh produce rose by as much as $1,000 in some regions of North America, The Packer reported, in the week leading up to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck.

Jun 11, 2018
How Drivers and Autonomous Trucks Could Work Together to Move Freight

The advent of automated driving technology is poised to transform the trucking industry in the years and decades to come, but it is clear that autonomous trucks will not be ready to handle all driving tasks and conditions anytime soon.

Jun 11, 2018
Trucking industry effort to allow larger trucks on highways stalls in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON D.C. A renewed effort by segments of the trucking industry to allow larger twin-trailers trucks on U.S. highways stalled in the U.S. Senate this week. The Senate Appropriations Committee never took up a proposed amendment to the 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD, pronounced t-hud) bill to increase federal limit for 80,000-pound twin-trailer rigs from 28.5 feet per trailer to 33 feet.

Jun 11, 2018
Texas Truck Drivers Make $140k, Forces Rising Wages in Other Industries

Big Oil is having an incredible impact, again, in Texas. Midland, TX is experiencing such a booming shale-oil economy that truck drivers are making more than $100,000.

Jun 9, 2018
Truck rules help produce haulers with hours-of-service, ELDs

In a relief to produce haulers and the industry in general, the federal government has said hours-of-service rules dont kick in until a driver goes 150 miles from the original pickup. The Department of Transportations Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on June 7 published clarifications to trucking regulations that defined when electronic logging devices (ELDs) should start the clock on hours-of-service deadlines. Since a federal mandate to use the ELDs went into

Jun 9, 2018
America’s Largest Private Company Reboots a 153-Year-Old Strategy

Cargill is a major grain trader and the second-largest U.S. beef packer, with operations spanning the globe, but digital upheaval down on the farm is bringing big changes.

Jun 9, 2018
If you don’t have anything nice to say about trucking, go sit beside Chris

One of the most disheartening things Ive learned about trucking is the minuscule amount of knowledge the unaffiliated general public has about an industry that quite literally and functionally makes life as they know it possible

Jun 9, 2018
Where Is the Trucking Industry Headed?

In this episode of MarketFoolery, host Chris Hill and Motley Fool Asset Management's Bill Barker take a look at the S&P 500's massive weighting in the tech sector, the future of trucking, and developments in the war on cash.

Jun 8, 2018
Focusing on fatigued truck drivers: As freight grows across Iowa, so do its dangers

Chris Wicklund, an officer with the Iowa Department of Transportations Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency, performs an inspection Wednesday at the Interstate 380 weigh station north of Brandon. During A 72-hour targeted enforcement period, called International Roadcheck, officers inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers for compliance with safety standards. Drivers can be taken out of service if they or their vehicle is in violation of federal or state law.

Jun 7, 2018
New operator sees potential at the river port

A new operator has big plans to increase business activity on St. Josephs Missouri River port. This really is an opportunity for the community, said Bill Becker, the chief executive officer of Transport 360. Our organization may be the piece of the puzzle that theyve needed. Were going to make this thing go. The St. Joseph Regional Port Authority entered into a lease agreement with Transport 360 to operate the Missouri River port.

Jun 7, 2018
If a truck driver is speeding, it's likely there are some other bad things going on too

What jumps out at you when you read the SmartDrive annual survey on speeding is that going too fast is just one of many unsafe behaviors engaged in by the truck driver. The results of the survey, released in recent weeks, shows a tremendous propensity of speeding drivers to take many other unsafe actions. Looking over the data, it's hard to know

Jun 7, 2018
Ag shippers may see relief on transportation regulations, legislation

Farmers and ranchers shipping livestock received good news from the Senate with the introduction of the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act, S.2938, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated rules.

Jun 7, 2018
Alpine Silica Announces New Frac Sand Plants in Texas and Oklahoma

KERMIT, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alpine Silica, a leading domestic producer and supplier of premium frac sand, announced today two new projects in Van Horn, Texas and Fay, Oklahoma, further adding to their existing portfolio. The firm currently owns and operates one plant in the Permian basin, with production capacity of approximately three million tons of high-quality frac sand per year.

Jun 6, 2018
Why is there a pink barge on the Mississippi River?

It's called the Big Hope I, and it's the only pink barge on any US waterway that does more than just transport goods. A portion of the profits goes towards cancer research. So far the barge has brought in more than $860,000.

Jun 6, 2018
Lansing Trade Group leases export facility at Port of Houston

Previously leased by Louis Dreyfus Co., the 6.3-million-bu bulk export facility is capable of loading up to Panamax sized vessels and can receive grain by truck or rail with access to the Union Pacific, BNSF, and Kansas City Southern through Beaumont, Texas.

Jun 5, 2018
Utah trucker stops rig on Wyoming highway to help trooper

Wyoming Highway Patrol officials are praising a Utah trucker who stopped to help a trooper wrestling roadside with a man for the troopers gun.

Jun 5, 2018
Regulation is Slowing the Trucking Industry

Regulations introduced during the Bush and Obama administrations have decreased the attractiveness of driving and caused drivers to leave the trucking industry. In our view, a combination of truck driver shortages, the 2003 Hours-of-Service rule, and ELDs is disrupting the trucking industry business model just as online sales are driving shipping volume higher and stressing the logistic network.

Jun 5, 2018
Time Running Out for Agriculture ELD Exemption

While the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) 90-day electronic logging device (ELD) waiver for agriculture truckers expires June 18, one group has already been granted an extension until fall. When President Donald Trump signed the $1.3 trillion spending bill in March 2018, it also passed an extension on the ELD implementation for livestock haulers. The bill, passed on March 23, included a mandate for livestock and insect haulers to have an

Jun 4, 2018
New tech to let trucks 'talk' to traffic lights to ease congestion

A new technology will let trucks around Sydney communicate with traffic lights in a bid to ease congestion.

Jun 4, 2018
So you want to be a trucker? Here are some facts and figures about the industry

Nationwide, the trucking industry is short about 50,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Associations, and that number is expected to grow.

Jun 2, 2018
FMCSA allows personal conveyance use from a shipper/receiver to a parking location

Effective immediately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has said it will allow drivers to use personal conveyance status to get to the nearest safe parking spot/rest location after hours are exhausted by a shipper/receiver, or off-duty periods are interrupted by law enforcement.

Jun 2, 2018
On-farm grain storage third highest in 10 years

Prairie farmers had an estimated 29 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds on their farms as of March 31, according to Statistics Canadas Stocks of Grain and Oilseeds report released May 11. Thats slightly higher than the five-year average of 28.4 million tonnes, according to historical StatsCan data. Its also the third highest amount of March-ending stocks on prairie farms over the past decade.

Jun 2, 2018
Trucking Interests Battle GOP Members of Congress on EPA Proposed Repeal of Glider Rule

A trucking industry-related coalition is engaged in a behind-the-scenes skirmish with two dozen Republican members of Congress over whether the Environmental Protection Agency should be required to conduct a regulatory impact analysis to support the agencys proposal to repeal an Obama administration rule limiting the manufacture of glider kits.

Jun 2, 2018
Preferred Sands to open new frac sand mine in Oklahoma

Pennsylvania-based Preferred Proppants, LLC (Preferred Sands) plans to open an in-basin frac sand mine in Oakwood, Okla., to serve

Jun 1, 2018
Proposed Bills Would Exempt Small Carriers from the ELD Mandate

Updated - New legislation brought to the U.S. House of Representatives by congressmen from Montana and Minnesota proposes an exemption from the electronic logging device mandate for small carriers and agricultural haulers.

Jun 1, 2018
FMCSA issues regulatory clarification on agricultural hauling

WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is bringing clarity to the Hours of Service (HoS) exemptions for agricultural haulers. The FMCSA received 566 comments and questions during a public consultation period this winter on the proposed regulatory guidance surrounding the issue and is providing answers to areas of the exemptions that were less than clear.

May 31, 2018
Ag-Blockchain Nexus Growing

OMAHA (DTN) -- Investigators at the Food and Drug Administration spent the past two months trying to track the source of romaine lettuce linked to 172 confirmed illnesses, 75 hospitalizations and at least one death. The FDA found at least one Arizona farm involved but agency investigators can't confirm if all of the illnesses came from one grower, harvester, processor or distributor. They are still looking.

May 31, 2018
A panel of top trucking execs weighs in on ELDs, pricing and the driver squeeze

A heavyweight panel of trucking industry executives opined on a variety of issues earlier this month at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation Conference in New York, and tight capacity was the theme of the day. Some of the highlights of their hour-long discussion are summarized below: (Freightwaves was not present at the session, but listened to the audio of it, which can be accessed online.)

May 31, 2018
Grain elevator explodes in Nebraska

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) -- There are reports of a grain elevator explosion in South Sioux City, Nebraska. A witness told Nexstar contributing station KCAU that they saw smoke billowing but that they weren't close enough to see any flames. So far, several area residents have reported a massive explosion during the afternoon. It reportedly happened on the west side of the city. Crews are on scene and ask that people stay clear of the area.

May 31, 2018
Trucking Group to Challenge California Supreme Court's Independent Contractor Ruling

The Western States Trucking Association plans to challenge a California Supreme Court ruling that it says will effectively end the use of trucking owner-operators in the state.

May 30, 2018
America has a massive truck driver shortage. Here’s why few want an $80,000 job.

America has a massive shortage of truck drivers. Joyce Brenny, head of Brenny Transportation in Minnesota, increased driver pay 15 percent this year to try to attract more drivers. Many of her drivers now earn $80,000, she says, yet she still can't find enough people for the job.

May 30, 2018
ELDs add $12 billion to truckers' pockets

ELDs have been the most polarizing subject in the freight markets over the past few years. The large enterprise carriers have wanted them to ensure that every carrier followed the same set of rules. Smaller owner-operators and voice freight brokers felt as if ELDs were government encroachment into their lives. The fear of big-brother monitoring every move is more emotional than reality, but the economic impacts are real.

May 30, 2018
Frac sand plant being built south of San Antonio to support Eagle Ford Shale regrowth

The Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas is, once again, showing signs of growth for the oil and gas industry, and frac sand operations are taking notice. My San Antonio reports that Fort Worth-based Black Mountain Sand plans to cons

May 30, 2018
The Truck Driver Shortage Can Be Solved By Paying Drivers For All The Work They Do

How should drivers be paid. When it comes to long haul shipments, drivers are paid mainly based on the distance they travel. Should drivers be paid instead based on the hours a trip takes to complete? There are good arguments that can be made for this.

May 29, 2018
Gavilon Grain plans new mill, seeks air permit

Corn steam flaking mill to have new grain handling, storage and cleaning systems.

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