Category: News

ATRI Launches New Survey to Understand Impacts of Marijuana Legalization

Posted on by carol

 

 

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2023

Contact: Jeffrey Short

(770) 432-0628 ext. 2

JShort@trucking.org

 

ATRI Launches New Survey to Understand Impacts of Marijuana Legalization

 

Washington, D.C. – The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today launched a survey seeking motor carrier input on the impact of marijuana legalization on the trucking industry’s workforce. This research was identified as a top priority in 2022 by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee and will expand on ATRI’s 2019 study on the impacts of marijuana legalization on roadway safety.

 

Motor carrier staff and executives familiar with driver recruitment, retention and drug testing practices and trends are asked to share their input through the online survey. This timely research will provide insight into the specific challenges motor carriers face as the use of recreational marijuana grows in the U.S. The findings should also provide insight into approaches the industry can take to address these challenges.

 

“States are moving quickly to legalize recreational marijuana use,” said Fred Fakkema, Vice President of Safety and Compliance at Zonar Systems and Chairman of the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board. “This rapid change directly impacts fleets and their workforce; ATRI’s research will help quantify those impacts.”

 

ATRI’s confidential survey is available online here and will remain open through March 17, 2023.

 

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

 

 

 

Atlanta, GA • Minneapolis, MN • Washington, DC • Sacramento, CA

 

TruckingResearch.org

TENNESSEE PLACES SEVEN LOCATIONS ON LIST OF NATION’S WORST BOTTLENECKS

Posted on by carol

 

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

7:00 a.m. ET

Contact: Rebecca Brewster (404) 247-8787

rbrewster@trucking.org 

February 8, 2023


TENNESSEE PLACES seven LOCATIONS ON LIST OF NATION’S WORST BOTTLENECKS

 

Washington, DC – The American Transportation Research Institute today released its 12th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, and the state of Tennessee placed seven locations on the list, including one in the top 10.

 

“The trucking industry is a vital part of Tennessee’s economy, delivering the goods we need in our everyday lives, from food to fuel to clothing,” said Tennessee Trucking Association President and CEO Donna England.  “But when congestion brings those trucks to a standstill, we all pay the price.  ATRI’s bottleneck analysis provides a roadmap for infrastructure investment to address the most critical chokepoints and improve mobility for people and freight.”

 

The 2023 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system.  The analysis, based on an extensive database of freight truck GPS data, uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location.  ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support numerous U.S. DOT freight mobility initiatives.  The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 300 freight-critical locations.

 

The seven Tennessee bottlenecks are:

  • 9 Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
  • 37 Nashville: I-40 at I-65 (East)
  • 39 Chattanooga: I-24 at US 27
  • 51 Nashville: I-65 at I-24
  • 59 Chattanooga: I-75 at I-24
  • 63 Knoxville: I-40/I-75 at I-140
  • 72 Knoxville: I-40 at I-275

 

“The past year-plus has shone a spotlight on our supply chains, and how congestion and other pressures can hurt the American economy and consumers,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “ATRI’s bottleneck report highlights the areas of our transportation network in need of investment so we can get goods and people moving. The cost of doing nothing is felt in needless delays, wasted fuel and time.”

 

For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, please visit ATRI’s website at TruckingResearch.org.  ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website.

 

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

Truckload Carriers Association and Carriers Edge Announce 2023 Best Fleets to Drive For

Posted on by carol

15th anniversary edition of the program will see 30 fleets honored at the TCA Convention in Orlando

 

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia and NEWMARKET, Ontario:

 

Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and CarriersEdge today unveiled the 2023 Best Fleets to Drive For®. The Top 20 winners are comprised of for-hire trucking companies from across North America that are being recognized for providing exemplary work environments for their professional truck drivers and employees.

 

To be considered for the Best Fleets program, for-hire companies operating 10 or more tractor trailers had to receive a nomination from one of their company drivers or owner-operators. The fleets were then evaluated using a scoring matrix covering a variety of categories, including total compensation, health benefits, performance management, professional development, and career path/advancement opportunities, among other criteria. Driver surveys were also conducted to collect input from drivers and independent contractors working with the fleets.

 

Last year, TCA and CarriersEdge expanded the program by adding a Hall of Fame category. This recognition level is above the regular Top 20 and honors fleets demonstrating Top 20 performance for extended periods of time. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, fleets must be named as a Best Fleet for 10 consecutive years, or 7 years with at least one overall award, and must continue to qualify as a Top 20 to be eligible. While the fleets inducted last year have maintained their exemplary status, two additional fleets have earned the honor this year and will be inducted into the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame, sponsored by EpicVue.

 

“This year we saw 165 fleets nominated by their drivers for this program and a record-breaking 95 finalists,” said CarriersEdge Chief Executive Officer Jane Jazrawy. “This year’s Top 20 and Hall of Fame fleets rose to the top with a range of inventive and effective programs, that reflect true innovation and creative thinking.”

 

“The Best Fleets to Drive For has made a substantial impact on drivers and the carriers they work for,” shared TCA President Jim Ward. “During Truckload 2023: Orlando, we’re eager to recognize 30 fleets who are focused on providing a great workplace for their professional truck drivers. Be sure to attend this year’s awards presentation in March where we honor these Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For.

Congratulations to this year’s Top 20 winners:

  • American Central Transport – Kansas City, MO
  • C.A.T. Inc. – Coteau-du-Lac, QC
  • Challenger Motor Freight Inc. – Cambridge, ON
  • Chief Carriers, Inc. – Grand Island, NE
  • Continental Express, Inc. – Sidney, OH
  • Decker Truck Line, Inc. – Fort Dodge, IA
  • Erb Transport – New Hamburg, ON
  • Fortigo Freight Services Inc. – Etobicoke, ON
  • Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc. – Fremont, NE
  • Jetco Delivery a GTI Company – Houston, TX
  • K & J Trucking, Inc. – Sioux Falls, SD
  • Kriska Holdings Limited – Prescott, ON
  • Leonard’s Express – Farmington, NY
  • Nick Strimbu, Inc. – Brookfield, OH
  • PGT Trucking, Inc. – Aliquippa, PA
  • Thomas E. Keller Trucking Inc. – Defiance, OH
  • TLD Logistics Services, Inc. – Knoxville, TN
  • Transland – Strafford, MO
  • Veriha Trucking, Inc. – Marinette, WI
  • Wellington Group of Companies – Aberfoyle, ON

 
 

Returning Hall of Fame recipients are as follows:

  • Bison Transport Inc. – Winnipeg, MB
  • Boyle Transportation – Billerica, MA
  • Central Oregon Truck Company, Inc. – Redmond, OR
  • FTC Transportation, Inc. – Oklahoma City, OK
  • Grand Island Express – Grand Island, NE
  • Halvor Lines, Inc. – Superior, WI
  • Nussbaum Transportation Services, Inc. – Hudson, IL
  • Prime Inc. – Springfield, MO

New Hall of Fame recipients are as follows:

  • Garner Trucking, Inc. – Findlay, OH
  • TransPro Freight Systems Limited – Milton, ON

 

In addition to the Top 20, TCA and CarriersEdge identified five Fleets to Watch (honorable mentions):

  • Crete Carrier Corporations and its Shaffer Trucking Division – Lincoln, NE
  • Mill Creek Motor Freight LTD – Ayr, ON
  • Skelton Truck Lines – Sharon, ON
  • Steve’s Livestock Transport – Blumenort, MB
  • USXL – Foristell, MO

Two overall winners, in large and small fleet categories, will be named during TCA’s Annual Convention — Truckload 2023: Orlando — set for March 4-7 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Centre, Kissimmee, FL. The overall winner awards are sponsored by Eleos Technologies and TruckRight.

 

To learn more about the Hall of Fame category, the nomination process, or additional information on the Best Fleets to Drive For program, visit www.bestfleetstodrivefor.com. Be sure to follow the hashtag #BestFleets23 on social media to follow this year’s contest.

 

About Best Fleets to Drive For

Launched in 2008, Best Fleets to Drive For® is the only annual program dedicated to uncovering the best workplaces in the North American trucking industry. Produced by CarriersEdge, in partnership with Truckload Carriers Association, Best Fleets to Drive For recognizes the for-hire fleets providing exceptional workplace experiences for their company drivers and independent contractors.

 

About CarriersEdge

CarriersEdge is a leading provider of online driver training for the trucking industry. With a comprehensive library of safety and compliance courses, supported by advanced management and reporting functions, CarriersEdge helps over two thousand fleets train their drivers without sacrificing miles or requiring people to come in on weekends.

About Truckload Carriers Association

Located in Alexandria, Virginia, TCA is the only trade association whose sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal container carriers operating throughout North America. Founded in 1938, the TCA represents operators of over 220,000 trucks, which collectively produce revenue of more than $40 billion in annual truckload revenue. www.truckload.org

 

 

Haulin’ for the Holidays 2019 – That’s a Wrap!

Posted on by Holly Czuba

We’ve concluded the first Annual Haulin’ for the Holidays Toy Drive!

We are thankful for all the folks who helped make this event a success. Across the state, we’ve tallied SEVERAL THOUSAND TOYS collected for our partner organizations. HUGE HUGE thanks to everyone.

Haulin’ for the Holidays is a state-wide Toy Drive by the Tennessee Trucking Association and its Young Professional Council in partnership with TTA members and local charities to make holidays brighter for Tennessee children, teens and families.  We’re thrilled to be partnering with a wide range of organizations to make a real difference for this holiday season.

Toy Collection Start Date: October 28, 2019
Toy Collection End Date: December 6, 2019
Distribution of Toys: Week of December 9, 2019

A Special Thanks to those that Organized the Toy Drive 

  • Troy Dickens, Rush Truck Center Nashville, TN
  • Patrick Mendenhall, Cumberland International Trucks, Inc.
  • Holly Czuba, Cumberland International Trucks, Inc.
  • Jessie Merritt, Capacity Southeast Agency

 

JACKSON, TN

A Special Thanks to: MHC Kenworth & Milan Supply Chain Solutions 

——————–CHARITY——————–

Hands Up Jackson
Hands Up Jackson is a preschool serving low income 2.5 – 5 year olds. The toys and supplies will be used for the school and classrooms.

KNOXVILLE, TN

A Special Thanks to: The Peterbilt Store – Knoxville & Skyline Transportation

——————–CHARITY——————–

Marines Toys for Tots

Below are some pictures from collection and drop-off in Knoxville! Craig Kendall with The Pete Store shared this on Saturday, December 7, 2019:

Happy Saturday!

We had a great event today at The Pete Store Knoxville with 40+ tow trucks caravanning to us and donating toys for the Tennessee Trucking Association Young Professionals Council Haulin’ For The Holidays and Toys For Tots. Several thousand toys were donated.

Josh Ray, Pete Store Knoxville & TTA Young Professionals Council and Josh from Dan’s Towing did a great job organizing the event. Several Pete Store people and local companies helped:

  • Dan’s Towing
  • Skyline Transportation furnished a new trailer & donated toys
  • Chestnut Street/Cedar Bluff Towing
  • Clinton Highway Towing
  • Thermo King of Knoxville
  • Donna England from TTA joined us
  • Total Transportation
  • Miller-Motte Technical College
  • Cummins of Knoxville
  • Pate Summers GM
  • Josh Ray’s wife, son and his friend
  • Alicia Bowling solicited donations
  • Rodger Pitts, Service Mgr
  • Rob Stone
  • Raquel Shackleford from Pete Store Marketing made up a killer flyer

There are many others who helped

Thanks everyone, you guys rock

MEMPHIS, TN

A Special Thanks to: Rush Truck Center and Ozark Motor Lines

——————–CHARITY——————–

FedExFamilyHouse Santa’s Village
Shopping Venue for parents with a child being treated at LeBonheur children’s hospital and staying at FedExFamilyHouse the week before Christmas.

NASHVILLE/MIDDLE TN

A Special Thanks to: Rush Truck Centers, MHC Kenworth, Neely Coble, Cumberland International Trucks, Inc. Western Express, & TCW

——————–CHARITY——————–

Youth Encouragement Services Teens
YES operates two youth centers that offer educational and recreational programs as alternatives for kids 6-18 during after school hours and summer break. The YES Christmas Store will provide over 600 underprivileged children with new clothes and toys.

Community Care Fellowship
Community Care Fellowship serves Nashville’s homeless and underserved populations by providing a daytime haven of safety, acceptance, and love. Through the compassion of Christ, we meet basic needs — like meals, laundry, and showers — while also offering individualized counseling and support, and fellowship to empower our community and break the cycle of poverty.

Collecting & Assembling!

YES Christmas House

CCF Toy Delivery

LIVE DRIVE