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FMCSA deliberates UCR filing fee reduction

While it is now time for trucking businesses to pay annual UCR fees, probable fee reductions are afoot. That’s why OOIDA says it would be smart to wait or you may pay too much. The Unified Carrier Registration program is an annual, federally mandated, state-administered registration program for motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders. As […]

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Retired truck driver among fatalities in Las Vegas shooting

A retired truck driver was among the 58 people killed after a gunman opened fire at a country music festival on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Las Vegas. Nearly 500 others were reported injured. Brett Schwanbeck, 61, of Bullhead City, Ariz., died from a head wound sustained in the incident, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported. According to […]

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Trucker Buddy names new executive director

For the first time in almost a decade, Trucker Buddy International has a new executive director. Randy Schwartzenburg recently retired after nine years in the position, and former Randall-Reilly employee Alan Welborn will fill the role. Schwartzenburg, who said he has been involved with the program for 25 years, will continue to work with the nonprofit organization […]

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Volvo recalls certain VNLs and VNMs over steer axle issue

Volvo Trucks North America is recalling certain VNL and VNM trucks because of a steering axle issue, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. More specifically, several hundred 2016 Volvo VNL and VNM trucks equipped with certain Dana Spicer D-Series and E-Series steer axles are being recalled. The castellated nut on the steer axles […]

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Protest, convoys, coalitions all demonstrate unity against ELD mandate

Individuals and groups of professional truckers protested, convoyed and visited lawmakers last week in well organized and peaceful demonstrations to make their voices heard coast to coast. The truckers are opposing an impending mandate coming Dec. 18 that forces tight-fisted electronic surveillance on a work force that must have flexibility. Meanwhile, actions on other levels […]

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Roads closed, thousands evacuate as fires destroy structures in Northern California

More than 14 wildfires in Northern California have caused more than 20,000 residents to evacuate and destroyed 1,500 homes and businesses as of 11:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Oct. 9. Several highways have been closed in the area as emergency crews battle the fires. At approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, 50 mph […]

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FMSCA hosts two hours-of-service Q and A sessions in October

Do you have questions on the complex and often thorny hours-of-service rules? Maybe a better question would be – are there any truckers who wouldn’t like expert clarification on one area or another? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration invites CDL holders to brush up on hours-of-service rules with a live question and answer session […]

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Transport jobs up in September, down across all industries first time since 2010

Despite the first monthly job loss across all industries in seven years because of devastating hurricanes, transportation jobs overall scored an eighth consecutive month of job gains in September. The transport sector netted 21,800 jobs to the economy. Trucking jobs were down a smidge after a significant decrease in August. So far, the trucking subsector […]

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Four Gulf Coast states prepare for Tropical Storm Nate

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle are preparing for another potential hurricane this weekend as Tropical Storm Nate is expected to strengthen to a Category 1 storm and reach landfall on Saturday. Louisiana and Alabama have declared states of emergency, while declarations of emergencies have remained local in Mississippi. As of publication time, Tropical […]

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Maryland governor proposes privatization, tolls to widen highways

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced the administration’s plans to add lanes to three key transportation routes. Privatization deals would be tapped to get the work done. Specifically, plans detailed late last month call for adding four lanes to Interstate 270, the Maryland portion of the Capital Beltway, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The Republican governor’s […]