Roses & Razzberries – May 2022
ROSES go out to the hundreds of truckers who created a funeral procession in honor of a 13-year-old boy from Missouri. The boy, whose family owned Frank Boys Trucking, spent many hours around the shop learning firsthand about trucks and the business. As many as 200 trucks took part in the convoy, which began in Eugene, Mo., and ended in Jefferson City, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol provided an escort. The convoy was not only a memorial but a message against bullying, which was what ultimately led to the tragic loss of life. Members of the convoy urged anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
ROSES for the improvements coming to Pilot Co. travel centers as part of a $1 billion initiative called New Horizons. The three-year investment will consist of improvements being made at more than 400 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. Among the upgrades will be remodeled restrooms and showers, expanded kitchen and dining areas, improved driver-focused amenities, expanded digital engagement, and upgraded fueling and retail technologies. Shareholders will pay for the project, which is expected to begin with major remodeling at 60 locations in 2022.
RAZZBERRIES go out to all of the knuckleheads in passenger vehicles who took advantage of the open roads during the pandemic, leading to grim results in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report for 2020. Nearly 39,000 people were killed in a vehicle crash in 2020, which is up nearly 7% from 2019. What’s more, this was the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2007 when more than 41,000 people were killed. Alcohol-impaired, speeding-related, ejected passenger vehicle occupants, and nighttime incidents all significantly increased. However, it should be noted that trucking-specific crashes saw more favorable numbers, with a 7% decrease in occupants killed in crashes.
RAZZBERRIES to Trimac Transportation for a second lawsuit alleging chemical exposure of employees one year after a similar lawsuit was filed by a different group of employees. Seventeen former Trimac employees accuse the company of lying to them about the dangers of chemicals they were exposed to, including benzene, formaldehyde, methylene, nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The plaintiffs claim these exposures led directly to diagnoses of lymphoma, colon cancer, pancreatic tumors, partial loss of sight, memory loss and difficulty breathing. The complaint also names CSX and several of the world’s largest chemical makers as defendants.
RAZZBERRIES to a recent claim by Allen Hodges, president and CEO of the Idaho Trucking Association, that pay has little to do with ongoing supply chain issues. “I don’t believe it’s how much they’re earning, because we have members now that are paid six figures to drive a truck,” Hodges said during an appearance on Bloomberg TV. However, those six figures are often offset by higher costs for truck payments, insurance and the cost of doing business. A 2019 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics differed from Hodges’ claim as did OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh. “Pay them, and they won’t have a shortage,” Pugh told Land Line. “The top issue with drivers is pay and parking. That’s according to drivers.”
ROSES to Gerald “Andy” Wright who was named the 37th Goodyear Highway Hero at the 2022 Technology & Maintenance Council conference in Orlando, Fla. Wright, from Jacksonville, Ill., earned the distinction for his actions that helped save four people from a burning vehicle. Wright has 19 years and 2 million miles of driving experience. He drives for Wausau Supply Co. Wright is also a volunteer emergency responder for the Alexander Fire Protection District in central Illinois. He received $1,000 as well as custom prizes from Goodyear as part of the award ceremony.
ROSES to the Washington State Legislature, which recently advanced two bills intended to aid truck drivers at rest areas and port facilities. This move comes on the heels of the efforts of the Washington Truck Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the American Trucking Associations to educate legislators about the need for truck drivers to have access to rest areas and restrooms. More help is needed, specifically in terms of truck parking, but legislation such as this builds momentum, OOIDA says. LL