cross-border
Teletrac, MeLeod Software Extend Partnership
GARDEN GROVE, CA - A telematics provider and a trucking software company have extended their partnership into a new realm. By connecting the Teletrac Fleet Director Hours of Service (HOS) platform with McLeod Software's LoadMaster, which manages transportation dispatching and accounting, fleet managers can quickly review drivers' HOS statuses and create U.S.-compliant loads assignments, according to an announcement.
Trucking in Canada a Breeze Compared to Mexico
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO -- You might think that trucking in Canada is overregulated, but Mexican fleets might envy you, because the lack of regulation way to the south creates economic chaos in the country, according to what we heard at a press event organized by Daimler Trucks North America in Puerto Vallarta. Daimler invited three fleet executives to take part in a discussion panel where all questions were welcomed and candidly answered. The age of the fleets, unfair and illegal competition, diesel black market, waiting times and lack of good infrastructures are among the main problems according to panelists.
U.S. Requiring Electronic Logging Devices in Two Years
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Thursday announced the adoption new regulations that will require the use of electronic logging devices (ELD) for truckers to keep track of their hours of service. The rules, which are set to be published on Dec. 16, will take effect two years afterwards and require Canadian and Mexican domiciled drivers to use the devices when operating on U.S. roadways. The regulations have a few exemptions that were not in the 2014 proposal, including excepting drivers who keep records of duty status in eight or fewer days out of every 30 working days; drivers in drive-away and tow-away operations and truckers operating vehicles older than model year 2000.
CTA: Canada Should Follow U.S. ELD Mandate
TORONTO, ON - Thursday's announcement of the final U.S. rule requiring the use of electronic logging devices (ELD) in late 2017, puts Canada "under the gun" to do the same thing, according to one group here at home, while reaction to the plan where it was born is mixed. The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says the move by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration removes any remaining argument for the Canadian governments not to move forward with a similar mandate in Canada.
U.S. Proposes Tougher Truck Underride Guard Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new regulations that focus on upgrading its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) that address underride protection in light-vehicle crashes into the rear of trailers and semitrailers.
7 Key Trucking Items in New U.S. Highway Funding Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - There are several items of importance to Canadian fleets and drivers who haul in United States in highway legislation passed by Congress and signed into law Friday by President Obama. Know as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), it authorizes spending US$305 billion on highways and transit. But in trucking its likely better known for the special provisions that made into the new law - and those that didn't. Overall, the reaction from the various trucking groups, ranging from those representing fleets to drivers, has generally been positive. While many did not get everything they wanted in the new law, it marks the first time a federal highway funding bill longer than two years has been passed since 2005.
Diesel Prices Decline for Third Straight Week
LONDON, ON and WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Average diesel prices in both Canada and the U.S. have turned lower for the third consecutive week as oil prices could possibly head even lower while one nation's crude exports have returned to its highest level in decades.
U.S. Rules Against Driver Coercion to Soon Take Effect
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced new regulations that will take effect on Jan. 29, 2016 that it believes will help further safeguard commercial truck and bus drivers from being compelled to violate federal safety regulations. The rules over so-called driver coercion, provides FMCSA with the authority to take enforcement action not only against motor carriers, but also against shippers, receivers, and transportation intermediaries. The regulations address three key areas concerning driver coercion: procedures for commercial truck and bus drivers to report incidents of coercion to the FMCSA, steps the agency could take when responding to such allegations, and penalties of up to US$16,000 that may be imposed on entities found to have coerced drivers.