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News

Browse stories from the iTrucker archive.

News · Jan 3, 2020

Snowstorms to hit two corners of US this weekend (with forecast video)

Story by: Nick Austin, Director of Weather Analytics and Senior Meteorologist @ FreightWaves.com Rough weather will challenge truckers in opposite corners of the country this weekend. Two more rounds of heavy snowfall and strong winds will slam the Pacific Northwest, where freight markets have been quite volatile; and snow will also cover much of New England. Drivers will have to chain up. They, along with shippers, will have to prepare for possible delays.[Original image could not be recovered]

News · Jan 1, 2020

Breaking: federal judge temporarily blocks AB5 enforcement against California trucking

Story by: John Kingston @ freightwaves.com A federal judge has handed down a temporary restraining order blocking the Jan. 1 implementation of California’s AB5 against motor carriers. AB5 is the law restricting the ability of independent operators — including truck drivers — to operate in the state. In a case brought by the California Trucking Association, Judge Roger T. Benitez of the U.S. Southern District Court ordered the state not to enforce AB5 against any motor carrier in California, pend

News · Jan 1, 2020

Texas-based flatbed carrier with 260 trucks shuts down, citing insurance costs

Story by: Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Texas-based flatbed and oilfield truckload carrier Fleetwood Transportation hauled its last loads on Tuesday after deciding to shutter operations, citing insurance costs. SaferWatch reports that the carrier had 252 trucks, 673 trailers and employed 240 drivers. The fleet, based in Diboll, Texas (100 mile north of Houston), primarily hauled building materials and oilfield equipment. The company had been operating for 63 years, having commenced operation

News · Dec 31, 2019

Last-mile delivery and logistics poised to take center stage in the new decade

Story by: Mark Solomon @ freightwaves.com The 2010s started with logistics in its traditional place toward the back of the bus. The decade ended with logistics behind the wheel. It began with the sector, like the rest of the U.S. and world economies, digging out from the worst recession in more than 70 years. E-commerce existed but was hardly mainstream. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) sold stuff and used others to ship it. XPO (NYSE:XPO) were letters in the alphabet before they became linked with

News · Dec 31, 2019

Some California truckers exit state before AB5 labor law takes effect

Story by: Clarissa Hawes @ http://freightwaves.com Some California truckers weigh options before AB5 labor law takes effect on Jan. 1. After 43 years in California, truck drivers Brian Gray and his wife, Karol, packed up their belongings and headed to Oklahoma in early December after news that the new sweeping labor law, AB5, was set to take effect on Jan. 1. “I once made a good living in California, but it’s all gone,” Brian Gray told FreightWaves. “I am tired of being persecuted in California

News · Dec 30, 2019

Georgia trucking company shuts down after 38 years

Story by: Noi Mahoney @ freightwaves.com Company officials cite a mix of market conditions, insurance costs and aging ownership. Albany, Georgia-based trucking company Commercial Shuttle Service (CSS) ceased operations in mid-December, citing a mix of market conditions, insurance costs and aging ownership. The company had 55 total employees, including 41 drivers, and 41 power units, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER database. “My dad, AJ Collins, the company’s

News · Dec 30, 2019

Drug & Alcohol clearinghouse predicted to have a greater impact on capacity than ELD

Story by: John Gallagher, Washington Correspondent @ FreightWaves.com When electronic logging devices (ELDs) became the law of the land in the United States two years ago, trucking rates edged up as capacity left the market after drivers used to cheating the system were sidelined by stricter enforcement of hours-of-service rules. But the federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, set to launch on Jan. 6, will have an even greater effect on capacity than ELD, according to top industry executives, beca

News · Dec 30, 2019

Fleet, freight contract from ‘Ice Road Truckers’ carrier for sale

Story by: Nate Tabak, Canada Correspondent @ FreightWaves.com Prospective buyers can bid on defunct Canadian firm’s trucks, trailers and a contract to haul cement to a diamond mine. Anyone who has ever considered getting into the ice road trucking business now has a chance. The fleet of defunct Canadian carrier Tli Cho Landtran Transport and affiliates, and a freight contract are for sale. The court-approved sale includes about 230 pieces of transportation equipment, primarily trucks and trailer

News · Dec 26, 2019

FMCSA increases random drug testing rate to 50%

Story by: John Gallagher, Washington Correspondent @ FreightWaves.com Federal regulators surprised the trucking industry the day after Christmas by announcing an increase in the minimum annual rate for random drug testing from 25% to 50% of the average number of a carrier’s drivers. The increase, made public by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in a federal notice on Dec. 26, begins on Jan. 1 and is in place for the 2020 calendar year. It was based on the results of 2018 FM

News · Dec 26, 2019

I-80 Westbound between I-355 and US Route 30 is shut down due to rolled-over semi-truck

ALERT!!! Use alternate routes.I-80 Westbound between I-355 and US Route 30 is shut down. ISP is on the scene of a rolled-over semi. Traffic is being diverted onto I-355. Please use alternate routes. This will be shut down for an extended amount of time. First Responder personnel is on the scene attempting to determine the contents of the load that spilled from the commercial motor vehicle. At this time we are asking all motorists to avoid this area. According to Illinois State Police District 5

News · Dec 25, 2019

What truckers are thinking about this holiday season

Story by: Linda Baker, Staff Writer @ FreightWaves.com FreightWaves caught up with a few truckers at the Jubitz Travel Center in Portland, Oregon, where conversation revolved around holiday plans and a profession in flux. Patrick Maher, owner-operator, Logix Transportation (Image: Linda Baker) What I’m doing: LaundryWhat I’m driving: 2013 Kenworth tractorWhat I’m hauling: Trade show equipmentWhere I’m going: St. Paul, Minnesota, then back home to Fort Worth, TexasYears on the road: 35. I’m 60 ye

News · Dec 24, 2019

Days before Christmas, Universal Logistics lays off 70 Port drivers

Story by: Linda Baker, Staff Writer @ FreightWaves.com Citing a weak freight market, logistics company Universal Logistics Holdings (NASDAQ: ULH) has laid off up to 70 employee port and intermodal drivers at three subsidiaries – Universal Intermodal Services, Universal Truckload Services and Roadrunner Intermodal Services. The layoffs, which occurred last week, have impacted employees working at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. They took place less than one month after 28 employee driver