Reminder: Chains Required on I-70

Colorado State law requires that trucks traveling on I-70 through the mountains between Dotsero (MP 133) and Morrison (MP 259) must  carry chains beginning on September  1.  CMCA strongly encourages all commercial carriers to comply with this law.   

The State maintains several chain up areas and Autosock is legal as an alternative to chains in Colorado.

 

This inaugural Great West Fleet Executive Conference was developed in conjunction with the California Trucking Association and is designed to provide fleet managers with strategies for doing business to today's complex environement.   Topics include:

• Changing environmental regulations
• Equipment specs to meet Western operational needs
• emerging buisness trends in the west
• Financing environmentally compliant vehicles
• Navigating alternative fuel options.

The two and a half day conference is focus clearly on western transportation needs, challenges and opportunities.  It is part of the Great West Truck Show and runs Jun 13 and 14.  Registration is now open.

 

The upcoming Great West Truck Show offers a host of truck events from the Executive Conference (above) to the Pride & Polish Truck Beauty contest.  There is also a complete schedule of seminars produced in cooperation with the California Trucking Association.  These include mini-courses such as "Five Ways to Reduce Your CSA Scores, Drug & Alcohol Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion Training, OSHA in trucking, etc.  The seminars have fees attached to each.

The primary reason for visiting a truck show such as this one is to checkout the exhibits and talk with various manufactures, dealers and service providers.  There are plenty of exhibiting company at the Great West show.  You can find a complete list of exhibitors on their website.

 

2012 Safety Award Winners Announced at Record Breaking Awards Banquet

This year's safety award winners have been announced. Check the April 27 hotsheet for pictures.  This year's event sets a CMCA record for the most attended Safety Banquet in the Association's History.   Thanks to all sponsors and congratulation to all award recipients that continue to make Colorado's trucking industry the finest in the country.

 

2012 Colorado Truck Driving Championships Set for June 2th.

This year's Truck Driving Championships will take place on June 2th at the Adams County Fairgrounds. 

An extremely popular event, the Colorado TDC is a chance for drivers to show off their skills and enjoy a fun family day of free food and friendly competition.   Winners of the Colorado roadeo will advance to the National TDC event, which is set for Minneapolis, Minnesota between August 8-11, 2012.

For all entry forms and other details, jump over to the truck roadeo page on this website.

 

New CAFE Fuel Standards will Cut Highway Trust Fund Tax Revenue

 

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has calculated that the new CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards) fuel efficiency standards now being proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency would drop fuel tax revenue flowing into the highway trust find by up to $57 billion when fully implemented in 2025.

The standards, which focus on light-duty vehicles would increase fuel economy standards for 2017 to 2025 model year cars and light trucks.  Average vehicles fuel efficiency would move for 34.1 mpg (2016 standard) to 49.6 mph by 2025.  The CBO anylsis shows that this would gradually lower gasoline tax revenues (a 21% reduction).

EPA estimates that by 2040, the new CAFE standards would reduce annual gasoline consumption by 25% from 160 billion to 119 billion gallons.

Long before any of this occurs, the growing impact of electric vehicles. both truck and automobile, and high fuel prices will also cut sharply into fuel tax revenues.  It seems clear enough that the Highway Trust Fund will need a new funding mechanism and strategy to keep the highway infrastructure fully functional.

A copy of the CBO CAFE study can be seen here.

 

FMCSA Cracks Down on "Reincarnated" Bad Actor Motor Carriers

One ongoing problem in motor carrier safety enforcement is preventing unsafe companies from simply reincarnating themselves under a new name, but with the same controllng owners.  This occurs after these "problem carriers" have been subject to enforcement proceedings and shut down as unsafe operators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has just issued a final rule in 49 CFR Part 386 designed to make it more difficult for poor operators to reincarnate themselves.  If determined that new companies are reincarnations of other entities with a history of failing to comply with the regulatory requirements, FMCSA can now move to an administrative review and, in some cases, consolidate agency records of the reincarnated companies with their predecessor entities.

While relatively rare, reincarnated motor carriers, are a serious threat to highway safety, exploit drivers, and offer unfair competition to the mainstream carrier industry.

Dallas Convention Center to Host Great American Trucking Show

August 23-25 will see the Nation's second largest trucking trade show as the Great American Trucking Show comes to Texas.  The show offers attendees a wide variety of industry exhibitors and informational sessions.  There will be free safety and business educational seminars, job recruiting, exhibits of the latest trucks and truck related products and systems.

A long time favorite at GATS is the Custom Rigs Pride and Polish Truck Beauty Contest.   Registrations are still open for those who wish to compete.

The Midnight Truckin Radio Network will have a booth at GATS providing live entertainment and daily prize drawings.   The MTRN has been part of the fabric of the trucking industry for over 40 years.  Their nightly five hour programs are broadcast from midnight to 5 a.m. (CST) as the trucker's friend during the wee hours.

Thinking about attending?  Check it out on the GATS website.

 

Schneider National Replacing 3,000 Trucks in 2012

Schneider National has announced plans to replace one-third of its 10,000 truck fleet this year at a rate of 75 per week.

The new fleet will be mostly Freightliners with the OnGuard collision mitigation system (Meritor WABCO) to assist drivers in responding to potentially dangerous driving scenarios that could lead to rear-end collisions.  The forward looking radar system monitors distance, speed and deceleration and will provide driver warnings and deactivate the cruise control, shut down the engine and even apply the brakes to avoid a collision.

The new tractors are also fuel efficient with aerodynamic fairings to optimize fuel efficiency.  Schneider expects to save almost 2 million gallons of fuel per year as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 22,000 tons.

In addition the new fleet with offer increased reliability to reduce performance and maintenance delays.  Courtesy Schneider National.