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Browse stories from the iTrucker archive.

News · Oct 7, 2019

Stevens Tanker Division closes and eliminates 586 jobs across Texas

Story by: Noi Mahoney @FreightWaves I Dallas-based Stevens Tanker Division has notified the state of Texas it will cease operations by October 15. The closure will permanently affect 586 jobs across Texas, according to a notice sent to the Texas Workforce Commission. The tanker division, part of Dallas-based Stevens Transport, serves oil and gas drilling operations in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The company was involved in the transport of water and frac sand used for drilling. Of

News · Oct 7, 2019

Driver shortage is a #1 trucking industry challenge, followed by Hours of Service and driver pay

Story by: Alan Adler @ Freightwaves Motor carriers and commercial drivers agree on just four of the Top 10 challenges facing the trucking industry, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) annual study. Driver shortage tops trucking industry’s challenges for the third consecutive year The shortage of for-hire, long-haul drivers was the top issue in ATRI’s annual survey that has taken the industry’s pulse for the last 15 years. ATRI released the 2019 critical issues re

News · Oct 7, 2019

Tomato importers worry new rules at Mexican border to cause trucks to be delayed and higher prices

Story by: Noi Mahoney @ FreightWaves Tomatoes imported from Mexico could face a supply chain squeeze caused by new regulations finalized in September between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Mexican growers, experts say. The new regulations call for up to 92% of imported Mexican tomatoes crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by truck to be inspected by officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The inspections are “to prevent the importation of low-quality, poor-condition tomatoes fr

News · Oct 7, 2019

Auto parts maker Linamar says GM strike costing them up to $750,000 per day

Story by: Nate Tabak, Canada Correspondent @ freightWaves I Canadian auto parts firm’s shares plunge by more than 10% after it warns of earnings hit from a slowdown in General Motors orders. Canadian auto parts maker Linamar (TSX:LNR) warned that the General Motors (NYSE: GM) strike is hurting its earnings by as much as $750,000 per day. Linamar’s stock fell by as much as 13% during trading on October 3 after the company made the disclosure in a mid-quarter update. The loss in business, of about

News · Oct 6, 2019

Milwaukee Tool to build $86 million factory in Mexico, husband and wife truckers killed in a crash, cocaine found in carrot shipment

Stories by: Noi Mahoney @ FreightWaves I Borderlands is a weekly rundown by FreightWaves of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Milwaukee Tool builds $86 million factory in Torreón, Mexico; husband and wife truckers killed in a crash near El Paso; $1.6 million in cocaine found in carrot shipment; Texas college expands CDL program to attract more trucking students. Milwaukee Tool to build $86 million factory in Coahuila, Mexico The Milwauk

News · Oct 6, 2019

FMCSA warming up to the idea of more automated safety features in trucks, and under-21 truckers

Story by: Alan Adler @ freightwaves I The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is working with the trucking industry to educate small fleets and owner-operators about advanced driver assistance systems that could reduce crashes and fatalities. Ray Martinez, the agency administrator, announced the collaboration during remarks covering several areas on Oct. 5, at the American Trucking Association’s Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. “There are real benefits here,” Martinez t

News · Oct 5, 2019

Freightliner to layoff 900 factory workers in North Carolina

Story by: Alan Adler @ FreightWaves Daimler Trucks North America latest to react to slumping new truck orders. Daimler Trucks North America will cut 900 workers at two Freightliner plants in North Carolina as tepid orders for new heavy- and medium-duty trucks persist following a record ordering binge in 2018. Freightliner, which holds a commanding lead in market share over its competitors, is the fourth of six major truck makers to curtail production. Only Paccar Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR) units Peterb

News · Oct 4, 2019

5 killed in cargo plane accident in Ukraine

Story by: Eric Kulisch @ FreightWaves An AN-12 cargo plane made an emergency landing Friday morning (Oct. 4) about a mile short of Lviv International Airport in Ukraine, killing five people, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said. The plane, with eight people on board, was carrying automotive parts from Vigo Airport in Spain. Three people were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The plane was operated by Ukraine Air Alliance, which has seven AN-12s in its fleet, according

News · Oct 4, 2019

PepsiCo starts replacing diesel trucks with electric Tesla trucks

Story by: Linda Baker, Staff Writer @FreightWaves PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) is introducing 15 Tesla Semi electric trucks at its Frito-Lay manufacturing site in Modesto, California, as part of a broader plan to replace diesel-powered freight equipment with zero-emission and near-zero-emission trucks. The rollout comes after the company ordered 100 Tesla Semis in 2017 and is part of the brand’s mission to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, the company said in a news release.

News · Oct 3, 2019

A passenger car struck semi-trailer killing a car driver at I-5 near Sacramento, CA

At approximately 7:55 am, a black Toyota Prius was traveling in the #1 lane of northbound I-5 north of Elk Grove Blvd. at an unknown speed. The driver of the Toyota failed to notice heavy traffic at a complete stop in front of his location. For unknown reasons, the driver of the Toyota failed to stop and collided with the rear of a truck trailer. The driver of the Toyota sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Cosumnes Fire Department. The driver of the truck was

News · Oct 3, 2019

Trucking company agrees to pay $22,500 to settle truck driver’s lawsuit over service dog

Story by: Clarissa Hawes @ FreightWaves A Minnesota-based trucking company has agreed to pay $22,500 to settle a federal lawsuit stemming from allegations it required a truck driver to pay fees to have his certified service dog ride in the truck with him. As part of the settlement, Transport America of Eagan, Minnesota, has also agreed to revise its policies to allow drivers with disabilities to have a service animal ride along without being charged. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commiss

News · Oct 2, 2019

Hours of Service reform could cause problems for Owner-operators, by cutting the freight rates

Hours of service reforms could “rip the rug out from underneath” small carriers, says Jeff Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide. Hours of service reforms proposed by the U.S. DOT in August intend to provide drivers with flexibility around managing their duty day, particularly the rigidity of the 14-hour clock. But that added flexibility could tilt the supply-demand forces in the industry and cause rates to tumble. According to Jaillet. That’s the warning of Jeff Tucker, owner, and CEO of the