Wild Stories You Won’t Want To Miss
Get ready for a wild ride in the trucking industry this week! From a daring theft of 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs to a call-out of a speeding trucker on Twitter, the headlines are packed with unexpected events.
But that’s not all, as new bills take aim at outdated taxes and regulations, while rest stops in Missouri are getting a makeover to provide safer parking for commercial vehicles.
Buckle up and join us as we dive into the latest news from the world of trucking.
New Bill Takes On Outdated Trucker Taxes
Senators Ben Cardin and Todd Young have introduced the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2023 to repeal the outdated federal excise tax (FET) on heavy trucks and trailers. The bipartisan bill has garnered support from industry groups such as the American Trucking Associations, American Truck Dealers, and Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA).
The FET, established over 100 years ago to support World War I efforts, is now the highest percentage excise tax on any product and acts as a barrier to investment in cleaner and safer trucks and trailers. Repealing the tax will promote growth, competitiveness, and cleaner technology, while creating jobs and reducing emissions.
Over 90% of truck drivers are men. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, over 95% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and 84% of delivery truck drivers were men.
FMCSA Wants To Ensure Drivers Get Paid On Time
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the comment period for its proposed rules to regulate broker and freight forwarder financial responsibility.
The NPRM, which covers areas such as immediate suspension of operating authority and surety or trust responsibilities in cases of financial failure, was set to expire on March 5th, but has been extended until April 6th to allow for a public listening session.
The session will be held on March 31st in Louisville, KY, and will run concurrently with the Mid America Trucking Show. The FMCSA hopes that this extension will encourage public input on the proposed rules.
Source: L: Anastasia Stewart ; R: Roy Linderman via Google Maps
Missouri Closes 2 Rest Stops for Safer Truck Parking
The Missouri Department of Transportation will be closing two rest areas, the southbound Platte County Interstate 29 and Clinton County Interstate 35, to all motorists next week as work begins to convert them into commercial vehicle parking.
The $3.8 million project, expected to be completed by the end of October 2023, aims to meet the needs of commercial vehicles, which make up an estimated 35% of the annual daily traffic on Missouri’s interstates.
By converting traditional rest areas, MoDOT hopes to decrease the costs of upkeep while ensuring safer parking for commercial vehicles.
U.K. Man Steals 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs
A man has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs worth an estimated £40,000. Using a metal grinder to break into an industrial unit in Telford, the 32-year-old from West Yorkshire used a stolen cab to drive off with the chocolate goods.
He was stopped by police and will be sentenced on March 14. The prosecutor described the crime as requiring some “significant planning” since the defendant was the leader in the offense, including using a stolen tractor unit. All the stolen items have been recovered in good condition.
Nebraska State Patrol Calls Out Speeding Trucker on Twitter
A trooper from Nebraska State Patrol called out a “Peterbuilt” driver on Twitter for traveling at 101 mph. The post asks if a Peterbilt can actually reach that speed and encourages drivers to slow down, as speed is a factor in many crashes and their severity. The post doesn’t note the highway the driver was caught on, but a photo shows the truck running bobtail.
You’re All Caught Up!
We hope you enjoyed this week’s roundup of important trucker news! We definitely won’t be forgetting about the theft of 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs any time soon! From the proposed financial responsibility rules all the way to the introduction of a new bills and closing rest areas, there’s always something happening in the world of trucking!
We want to hear your thoughts and opinions on these stories, so be sure to leave your opinion in the comments below. Together we can stay informed and engaged . Don’t forget to check back next week for another edition of our weekly trucker news roundup.
If you made it to this part of the article, we’d just like to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to read it. Be safe out there and as always, If you’re in search of CDL A, B, or warehouse positions, check out our open positions. And if you need staffing solutions for commercial driving or industrial positions, be sure to explore our offerings.
