News

Livestock haulers to get a 90-day ELD waiver

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is giving carriers who haul livestock a break when it comes to Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). Regulations come into effect on Dec. 18 making the devices mandatory for carriers in the United States, however the government agency announced it will give a 90-waiver to the agricultural industry, in addition to other efforts to make the transition for fleets easier. The 90-day waiver on the devices will allow agricultural carriers to continue to use paper logging until March 18, 2018 to allow time for the exemption request filed on behalf of the industry to be evaluated, as well as allowing for more input from that segment of the industry. Other efforts have already been announced to help make it easier for fleets to make the move to ELDs, and a significant number of carrier may need the transition period.

A road to the Arctic Ocean preview image A road to the Arctic Ocean article image

A road to the Arctic Ocean

INUVIK, NWT - The road residents of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in Canada's Northwest Territories have been championing for more than 50 years is finally here. While final road-grading, and the installation of signage and guardrails continues, the all-weather road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, ending on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, was officially opened Nov.15. Construction of the 138-kilometer northern highway began in January 2014, but lobbying efforts by the community to get a passage built to allow year-round shipment of goods and a lower cost of living for those in Tuktoyaktuk began in the 1960s. The new extension to the MacKenzie Valley Highway will replace the annual construction of the 187-kilometer winter road required to get shipments in and out of the town. Until last week, when the four-month winter ice road wasn't in service, the only way into Tuktoyaktuk was by plane. The cost of food in the community was more than double that of places like Edmonton, and rising at a rate of up to 6% per year, according to a 2013 research study done by Dennis Bevington, federal Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic area.

Pilot Flying J ‘harvesting’ extra food for those in need

KNOXVILLE, TN - At the beginning of a season of giving, Pilot Flying J and Food Donation Connection (FDC) have announced a partnership to supply extra food items to local non-profits and food bank agencies to help families facing hunger next year. The largest operator of travel centers in North America said they will be participating in the Harvest Program, a nation-wide initiative in the United States to combat hunger in areas Pilot Flying J is located by 'harvesting' surplus food - such as hot PJ Fresh pizza slices, burgers and premium breakfast sandwiches - and safely prepare and freeze it for donation to local food banks and shelters.