Category: News

Blind Spots and Safe Driving: Insights from the 2023 Safety Break

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

On May 26, 2023, the Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) and Foundation (TTF) hosted their annual “Safety Break” event, an initiative aimed at promoting highway safety and raising awareness about safe driving practices. The event brought members of the TTA Road Team, TTA Safety Management Council, and the Department of Safety to share resources and education with travelers during the Memorial Day weekend. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights of this successful event.

Each location featured a tractor-trailer on display to help travelers see the four blind spots around large vehicles where accidents are more likely to occur. Attendees were able to climb inside the trucks and experience the blind spots firsthand, which served as a powerful demonstration of the importance of being cautious around these vehicles.

Throughout the event, Road Team Captains shared safe driving practices. These discussions also shed light on the risks associated with impaired driving, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as the dangers of drowsy driving and distracted driving, including texting or using cell phones. And it wouldn’t be an event with the Road Team Captains without the use of Fatal Vision Goggles. Many participants “walked the line” while wearing goggles that simulated various levels of intoxication

In addition to the educational aspects, free refreshments were offered to visitors, creating an opportunity for casual conversations about highway safety and promoting positive interactions between the trucking industry and the public. We want to thank McKee Foods for providing a variety of Little Debbies snacks and thank all the members who provided refreshments for all of the visitors on Friday.

Thank you again to everyone who made this year’s Safety Breaks a success. Through interactive experiences, educational discussions, and community engagement, you’ve helped to continue to promote highway safety across Tennessee. We can’t wait to see everybody out again next year! 

 

Click to view more photos.

Tennessee Trucking Foundation Thanks FedEx Freight and Nashville Predators for Grant Support

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

We are excited to announce that the Tennessee Trucking Foundation is a 2023 recipient of both the FedEx Freight Charitable Giving Program and the Predators Foundation Helper Grant. These funds will allow us to continue our mission to advance highway safety and save lives on Tennessee’s roadways through education and information, as well as, through our Road Team events. Our 32 Road Team Captains are professional truck drivers who take the message of highway safety all across Tennessee. The goal of Tennessee’s Road Team is to create a safe driving environment and save lives on our highways by educating motorists, especially new teen drivers, on how to safely share the road with large trucks and commercial vehicles.

 

We would like to extend our immense gratitude to FedEx Freight and the Nashville Predators for this opportunity to continue our dedicated work of saving lives in Tennessee!

 

Sincerely,

Ashlee Taylor, Tennessee Trucking Foundation Coordinator

Charging Site Development | Call for Letters of Support

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is currently working with a variety of project partners to request funding to develop up to 10 publicly accessible medium- and heavy-duty electric truck charging sites along multiple, federally-designated alternative fuel corridors in Tennessee (I-40, I-24, and I-75).

As part of our proposal, they are hoping to demonstrate interest from fleets that could utilize this charging infrastructure, should it be funded.  

  • Please find a template of letters of support and commitment for your fleet to sign to support this proposal. All letters be submitted to us by COB on May 23. 

Overview | CFI_Corridor Fleet Letter of Commitment Template  |CFI_Corridor Fleet Letter of Support Template

 

What is the CFI Program?

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant (CFI) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is a new competitive grant program that seeks to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure near people’s homes, places of work, and along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The CFI program builds upon the FHWA Alternative Fuel Coordinator program and aims to complement the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. 

 

For questions and to submit letters of support please contact: 

Alexa Voytek | Deputy Director Programs, Innovation & Transportation, Communications

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Office of Energy Programs Coalition Director – Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition

Nashville, TN

  1. 615-613-1096

alexa.voytek@tn.gov

tn.gov/environment

Big Rigs Little Kids: Big Hearts Supporting Children’s Charities with Every Swing

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

The Tennessee Trucking Foundation’s Big Rigs for Little Kids Golf Classics have become a highly anticipated annual event. With four events taking place throughout the year, the most recent two were held on May 4th in East Tennessee and May 10th in Middle Tennessee at the Hermitage Golf Course.

These events provide a fun opportunity for participants to enjoy a round of golf while raising funds for children’s charities and scholarships. Since the program’s inception in 1989, the Big Rigs for Little Kids Golf Classics have raised over $2.3 million for children’s charities in Tennessee and the TTF Scholarship Fund.

The success of these events is due to the hard work of the amazing sponsors and participants. The proceeds from these events go to support important charities, including the Nashville Ronald McDonald House, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Shriners Alhambra Temple Transportation Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the TTF Scholarship Fund.

If you missed the first two events, don’t worry! There are still two more events planned for the year. The next Big Rigs for Little Kids event will be held on August 14th in West Tennessee. Make sure to mark your calendars and join in on the fun while supporting a great cause.

We can’t wait to see you all at the next Big Rigs event for another day of fun and fundraising.

 

Thank you to our Sponsors

 

 

 

Keeping Up With The TTF Road Team – May 2023 Events

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

The Tennessee Trucking Foundation Road Team has been having a fantastic year in 2023, representing the trucking industry with pride and professionalism at a variety of events. From the Future Farmers of America Convention to Touch-A-Truck, Battle Creek Middle School, and Chapel Hill Car Fit, the team has been making their presence felt across the state. 

Through it all, the Road Team Captains have demonstrated their expertise and commitment to safety, sharing their experiences with the public and emphasizing the importance of following the rules of the road and always wearing a seatbelt. If you’re interested in seeing the Road Team in action, be sure to check out the calendar below to stay up-to-date on upcoming events. The Tennessee Trucking Foundation is doing important work in promoting the trucking industry and safe drivers for our community, and we’re grateful for all of the hard work that the Road Team is doing to make that happen.

 

 

May 2023 | Tennessee Trucking Foundation Road Team Calendar 

  May 4 ETN Big Rigs for Little Kids Golf Tournament, Egwani Farms Golf Course
  May 4-6 Large Cars and Guitars Truck Show, Kodak TN
  May 5 Chapel Hill Elementary Touch A Truck, Chapel Hill, TN
  May 5 Greeneville Roadside, Greeneville, TN
  May 8-9 Warren County High School Teens & Trucks Event, McMinnville, TN
  May 8 National Tourism Week, Kingsport Welcome Center
  May 10 Careers on Wheels, Clinton, TN
  May 10 MTN Big Rigs Golf Tournament, Old Hickory, TN
  May 10-11

Bartlett Freshman Academy Teens & Trucks event, Bartlett, TN
  May 12 CarFit Coordinator Training, TTA Office
  May 13 Veteran’s Memorial Park Block Party, LaVergne, TN
  May 17 Oakridge Senior Center CarFit & Yellow Dot, Oak Ridge, TN
  May 17 Eastgate Community Center Senior Service Fair Yellow Dot, Chattanooga, TN
  May 18 Academy of Aviation & Transportation Spring Wing Fling, McGavock, TN
  May 19 Remake Learning Days Teens & Trucks event, TCAT Knoxville
  May 19 Brownsville Roadside, Brownsville Scales
  May 20

Fairfield Glade Police Department Motorcycle Safety Awareness Teens & Trucks and Yellow Dot event, Fairfield Glade, TN
  May 20

Jackson Madison County Health and Safety Fair, Teens & Trucks and CarFit, Jackson, TN
  May 26 Safety Breaks
  May 31 Knoxville Roadside, Knoxville Scales

Celebrating Excellence: Bobby Rue TTA 2023 Truck Driver of the Year

Posted on by TTA Account

On April 29th, 2023, at the Tennessee Truck Drivers Competition Banquet, Bobby Rue was awarded the Tennessee Trucking Association & Foundation Driver of the Year award. Bobby was recognized for his safe driving and dedication to the industry. This award was given not based on any one act but as a lifetime achievement for his outstanding work.

Each year, the Tennessee Trucking Association opens nominations for its Annual Driver of the Year Competition to be recognized at the Truck Driving Championship Awards banquet. Companies are encouraged to nominate the driver in their company most deserving of this recognition and this year’s driver is no exception.

Bobby has been driving a commercial motor vehicle for 23 years and has driven over 3,000,000 miles. He is an Over the Road Driver and has never had a preventable accident. He has never received a violation or citation and demonstrates complete professionalism at work and at home.

Before entering the trucking industry, Bobby spent 21 years as an EMT/Firefighter with the Philadelphia Volunteer Fire Department. After retiring from his firefighting career in 1999, Bobby enrolled in truck driver training school and began his career at Ozark Motor Lines, where he has been ever since.

 

Bobby is best known for his willingness to help others. He is a certified Smith System Instructor, a Truckers Against Trafficking trained Driver and a Road Team Captain for the Tennessee Trucking Foundation’s Road Team. He performs community outreach by sharing safe driving habits and sets an excellent example for his fellow drivers.

When Bobby is not working or spending time with his family, he enjoys fishing, studying American History, and searching for buried treasure with his metal detector. Bobby currently resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and is a true asset to the trucking industry.

The Tennessee Trucking Association and Foundation’s Driver of the Year award is a significant accomplishment, and we are thrilled to congratulate Bobby Rue on receiving this honor. His dedication to safety and his commitment to helping others make him an exemplary representative of the trucking industry. We’re proud to have Bobby Rue as the TTA 2023 Truck Driver of the Year.  

Chris Woody Shares 6 Steps to a Safer Trucking Fleet

Posted on by Khadejia Hupp

We are excited to share a recent blog post by one of our members, Chris Woody, Director of Safety for M&W Transportation Co. Chris is a thought leader in the trucking industry, and he recently shared his expertise in a blog post for Truckinginfo.com.

The blog post, titled “6 Steps to a Safer Trucking Fleet,” outlines the importance of safety in the trucking industry and provides practical tips for fleet managers to improve safety in their fleets. Chris covers what it takes to have the right mindset to help reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety outcomes.

As a member of the Tennessee Trucking Association, Chris embodies our commitment to safety and excellence in the industry. We are proud to have him as a member and grateful that he has shared his knowledge and expertise with the wider trucking community through his blog post.

We encourage all of our readers to check out Chris’s blog post to learn from his insights and experience. By working together and sharing our knowledge, we can continue to improve safety in the trucking industry and make our roads safer for everyone.

Tennessee Work Zone Awareness

Posted on by carol

Tennessee Work Zone Awareness

Tennessee Trucking Association

 We All Play a Role in Work Zone Safety. Join with the Trucking Industry to Keep our Roads Safe.

Spring weather means another season is also in full swing: construction season. Tennessee drivers will see more orange signs on our roadways this time of year as highway workers help repair, maintain, and upgrade our critical infrastructure. As we share the roadways this spring – drivers and workers – the trucking industry is helping to remind motorists that we all play a role in work zone safety.

Motor vehicle crashes in work zones are the leading cause of work-related deaths in America. According to the most recent data available from workzonesafety.org, there were 857 deaths, which included 117 workers, as a result of 774 fatal work zone crashes in 2020.

National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 17-21, is an annual campaign to raise awareness of and encourage safe driving while motorists travel though roadway construction sites.

Construction zones and the resulting delays in traffic and added time onto travel can be frustrating for drivers, but routine road work is critical for our communities; it ensures our infrastructure is safe for individuals and families who are traveling our local roadways, and for America’s truck drivers who are delivering the goods our communities rely on.

For those drivers who come across a work zone these warmer months, orange road signs are a sign to slow down. By slowing down, minimizing distractions, and keeping a safe following distance, senseless motor vehicle deaths in work zones can be prevented.

For America’s 3.49 million professional truck drivers, safety always comes first. Truck drivers recognize the responsibility they have while sharing the road with the individuals and families driving alongside them, as well as to their own families back at home, and know they are part of the solution to safer roads.

For America’s 3.49 millioni professional truck drivers, safety always comes first.

As the trucking industry delivers all the essential goods our nation’s families and businesses rely on, safety is what ensures that our nation’s goods are delivered on-time so that our communities are well supplied. That is why the trucking industry makes significant investments in safety. At least $10 billion is invested each year into safety programs and training for trucks. Trucking companies also empower truck drivers with the skills and training they need to operate their vehicle safely.

 

While sharing the road during these warmer months, we must all remember we all play a role in keeping our roads safe – whether you are behind the wheel of a car or a truck. Driving safely, especially through work zones, is a responsibility we all share to our fellow Americans on the road. Join with the Tennessee trucking industry and help keep our roadways safer for all drivers this spring.

Memphis Closure Issues

Posted on by TTA Account

The Memphis PD is having issues with CMV trucks going through the city because of GPS navigation issues.  

The majority of the CMV trucks are going north on I-55 near the river, but the GPS often says to keep going straight and not stay on I-55 and head West over the river.  However, going straight means running straight into the construction (in red) on Riverside Drive. Memphis PD has seen many CMV trucks driving through the city because they are lost and trying to turn around. See the photo attached. 

The best route to take is I-240 North (physical signs say I-240, but Google Maps shows the updated I-69).  This Riverside Drive closure will be well into 2024, so it will be long-term.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Memphis PD or Tennessee Trucking Association if you have any questions, or need further information.  

 

TENNESSEE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION PROMOTES “SLOW DOWN TENNESSEE” TO REDUCE SPEEDING-RELATED CRASHES

Posted on by carol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/29/2023

TENNESSEE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION

 

NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Trucking Foundation & Association is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) for “Slow Down Tennessee.” During April 14 – 28, Tennessee Trucking Association will increase education, awareness, and enforcement efforts to help reduce speeding-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities statewide.

 

According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), there were nearly 23,000 speeding-related crashes in Tennessee from 2017 to 2019. 36% of those crashes involved drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 years old.

 

Tennessee Trucking Foundation’s Road Team Captains plan to share the dangers of speeding and the importance of road safety and education throughout the community at various events, schools, and conferences. The Tennessee Trucking Association will share these initiatives and information on the “Slow Down Tennessee” program online.

 

The State of Tennessee requires motorists to always exercise due care and maintain a safe speed while driving. Speed limits may vary depending on the county and road conditions; therefore, drivers must always pay attention and adhere to posted speed limits to ensure the safety of all roadway users.

For more information about speeding, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/speeding.

# # #

Averitt delivers record donation of more than $1.2 million to St. Jude

Posted on by carol

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Truck drivers and other employees of Averitt Express recently set a new standard for their largest donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as they raised $1,200,001 in 2022.

 

The contribution was recently presented to St. Jude, and it marked the fourth consecutive year Averitt has given at least $1 million. It’s also the eighth consecutive year Averitt employees have either matched or broken their fundraising record. As has become the tradition for the last several years, the extra $1 represents what Averitt calls “The Power of One,” showing the difference every person can make.

 

The milestone was made possible by contributions from Averitt employees and retirees participating in Averitt Cares for Kids, the company’s charitable employee-giving program. More than 94% of Averitt associates are members of Averitt Cares for Kids, giving $1 per week to help St. Jude and other important causes. The donation was also bolstered by a company contribution of $750,000 in honor of associates’ accomplishments, life events and participation in community service projects.

 

“I’m humbled by the way our associates come together to support the good works of St. Jude,” said Gary Sasser, Averitt’s chairman and chief executive officer. “For more than 50 years, we’ve been committed to helping others, and I’m even more excited about how we can help the children of St. Jude in the future through Averitt Cares for Kids.”

 

Averitt Cares for Kids began in 1987 and has contributed more than $14 million to numerous charities, including over $11 million to St. Jude. Since 1990, Averitt Cares for Kids contributions have been designated to St. Jude as part of their special partnership. And in 1997, Averitt Cares for Kids completed a $1.5 million endowment to help fund the initial construction of the St. Jude Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic – 80% of all St. Jude patients visit the clinic at some point during their treatment.

 

For more information about Averitt Cares for Kids, its special relationship with St. Jude and other ways Averitt associates give back, visit Averitt.com/AverittCares.

 

About Averitt Express

Serving shippers for over 50 years, Averitt is a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management solutions with an international reach to 100+ countries. Averitt’s LTL, Truckload, Dedicated, Distribution & Fulfillment, and Integrated services provide shippers access to a wide array of services and customized solutions that cover every link in the supply chain. Together, these services and technology offerings provide “The Power of One” to shippers, allowing them access to multiple transportation solutions from a single provider. Averitt’s 9,000+ associates are dedicated to delivering the most reliable services within the industry, and to promoting a company culture that is centered around people, communities and giving back. For more information, call 1-800-AVERITT (283-7488) or visit Averitt.com.

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Clearinghouse Update: Query Notifications

Posted on by carol
 

Query Notifications

 

The Clearinghouse will now notify employers if there is a change to a driver’s Clearinghouserecord up to 12 months following a driver query. 

Previously, after conducting a pre-employment query, an employer received a notification from the Clearinghouse if there was a change to that driver’s Clearinghouse record within 30 days. FMCSA has expanded employer notifications, as explained below. 

As of March 8, 2023, an employer will be notified via email when a driver they have queried has new information recorded in their Clearinghouse record within 12 months of a pre-employment or annual query. The Query History will also be updated to reflect when new information is available, as illustrated in the screenshot below. 

 

Example of a notification of new information in a driver’s record on the Query History page.

Follow-on query is needed to view new driver information.

Note that new information in a Clearinghouse record may include changes such as an update in return-to-duty status, a removed violation, or a new violation. A full follow-on query is needed to determine if the new information results in the driver having a “Prohibited” Clearinghouse status.

The employer should complete a full follow-on query, which requires the driver’s specific consent, within 24 hours to determine if the new information prohibits the driver from performing safety-sensitive functions, such as operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).

If the employer uses the “Send Consent Request” prompt on the Query History screen, they will not be charged for the follow-on query. The follow-on query will also satisfy the employer’s annual query requirement, and employers will receive notifications of changes to the driver’s record within 12 months of a follow-on query.

For more details, see these new and updated frequently asked questions which are on the Clearinghouse website:

How is an employer notified of changes to a driver’s Clearinghouse record?

What actions should an employer take if notified of a change to a driver’s Clearinghouse record?

Which Clearinghouse users are notified when there is a change to a driver’s Clearinghouse record?

What is the annual requirement for employee queries and how is it tracked?

 

Are you up to date on your annual queries?

Log in to the Clearinghouse and visit your Query History page to see if your annual queries are due. For instructions on conducting annual queries, download the How to Conduct a Limited Query job aid. LOG IN TO THE CLEARINGHOUSE.