Roses & Razzberries – July 2023
RAZZBERRIES for the flawed changes FMCSA proposed to its CSA Safety Measurement System. According to comments filed by OOIDA, the proposal does not take the steps needed “to accurately identify at-risk carriers and reduce truck crashes.” The proposed changes included reorganizing BASICS and roadside violations, simplified severity weights, updated utilization factor, and new segmentation, among others. “The overwhelming majority of data the agency collects and analyzes has absolutely no connection to crashes,” OOIDA wrote. “Thus, further relying on this data is a misguided approach that will not fix the inherent problems with the Compliance, Safety, Accountability and Safety Measurement System programs.”
RAZZBERRIES to a North Carolina man who lied about a trucking company to receive Paycheck Protection Program loans. Joseph Alexander Casillas was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Casillas will also have to pay nearly $93,000 for submitting two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans for more than $20,000 each in March and April 2021. Not only did Casillas falsely state he was the sole proprietor of a longstanding truck business that was incurring nearly $100,000 in annual payroll costs, he also provided the lender with a fraudulent 2019 tax record. What’s more, he applied for the loans through a trucking company that did not actually exist.
ROSES for expanded truck parking in Illinois. Specifically, the Rail Splitter, Fort Massac and Coalfield rest areas. The Illinois Department of Transportation says as many as 140 commercial truck parking spaces could be added between the three sites. In addition, each rest area will see updates to restroom facilities, vending, tourism areas and security. Picnic and pet areas, walking or exercise areas, and lighting will be among the outdoor amenities. These projects are part of the state’s 2023 Freight Investment Plan. “Freight drives the Illinois economy in our role as the transportation hub of North America,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said in a statement. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is committed to improving freight movement locally, ultimately making Illinois more competitive in the global marketplace.”
ROSES for the creation of the Truck Leasing Task Force to evaluate lease agreements and how they can affect safety. FMCSA recently announced the nine members of the task force which include Jim Jefferson of OOIDA’s Business Services. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson said the task force addresses a great challenge in the industry. “Leasing can have a major impact on people choosing trucking as their career, and protecting drivers is of the utmost importance,” Hutcheson said. “FMCSA is committed to addressing issues that may impact the recruitment and retention of drivers in the trucking industry.”
RAZZBERRIES to the comments made by American Trucking Associations president Chris Spear in which he claimed OOIDA is “very anti-safety” for its stance on speed limiters. Interestingly enough, it was Spear in 2016 who labeled the Obama administration’s attempt to mandate speed limiters “dangerous.” In addition, ATA has been in opposition of a minimum number of behind-the-wheel hours included in an entry-level driver training rule while fighting to lower the interstate driving age from 21 to 18. “There’s no telling what ATA’s position is on a given day, but you can almost always count on them not supporting professional drivers and their needs,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said. “That’s the difference between OOIDA and ATA. We trust the men and women who make their living behind the wheel to know what will improve safety on our highways.”
ROSES for Flock Freight’s efforts to identify what it says are the best places for truckers to eat. The “Professional Truck Driver’s Guide to America’s 12 Best Roadside Eats,” examined truck parking availability, operating hours, online reviews, food options and other amenities in determining the best of the best. The top five included; 45 Truck Stop in Corinth, Miss.; Dysart’s Restaurant and Truck Stop in Hermon, Maine; South of the Border in Hamer, S.C.; White’s Travel Center in Raphine, Va.; and Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott, Iowa. LL