Punjabi Trucking Magazine - October - December 2023

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October - December 2023

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October - December 2023

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FROM THE EDITOR Raman S. Dhillon

I

n these challenging times, our hearts go out to the resilient trucking community grappling with the profound impact of the pandemic and economic uncertainties in our industry. The trucking industry, a backbone of the American economy, faces additional complexities due to economic fluctuations and soaring fuel costs. However, truckers, the unsung heroes of the highways, have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability.

They've navigated unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of essential goods. We extend our deepest gratitude to every trucker who has bravely faced these difficulties. Economic uncertainties have led to supply chain disruptions, but the trucking community has demonstrated collective strength by adapting to change, diversifying cargo types, and embracing technology.

Rising fuel costs add another layer of complexity. The community's compassion and understanding in these

moments are crucial, emphasizing the importance of standing united and supporting one another. Amidst the challenges, the digital transformation within the trucking industry offers hope with online tools enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Government support has played a vital role, and it's crucial to stay engaged in the political process to ensure our voices are heard. Looking ahead our industry must remain compassionate, adaptable, and forward-thinking, emphasizing diversification, ongoing education, and a continued focus on safety.

The trucking community, standing resilient against economic waves and rising fuel costs, acknowledges difficulties, expresses compassion, and celebrates the strong spirit of our truckers. Together, we'll navigate these challenges and contribute to the economic prosperity of our nation.

EDITOR Raman S. Dhillon

GRAPHIC DESIGN Orangebox Media Group

press@punjabitruckingusa.com

Official Magazine for: North America Punjabi Trucking Association

ASSOCIATE-EDITOR Satnam Bussan

sales@punjabitruckingusa.com

CONTRIBUTORS Rhea Randhawa Pash Brar Michael Smith Ravinder Dhillon Rupinder Kaur Satnam Bussan

MAGAZINE LAYOUT Ranjit Singh Bhamra

CIRCULATION MANAGER Jessie Dhillon

CONTENT MANAGER Rupinder Kaur Published quarterly by Primetime Multimedia Company LLC 143 Darcy Parkway, Lathrop, CA 95330 Tel: 001 877 806 2525 | Email: info@punjabitruckingusa.com

All Rights Reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be printed without the written consent of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: Primetime Multimedia Company LLC assumes all advertisers to be reliable and responsible for any and all liability for their claims. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement it may find unfit for publication. The opinions expressed in articles and features are of the writers and may not be those of the publisher.

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October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

CONTENTS

Connect with Us

Apollo Tires .................................................. 05

ARTICLES

Automann ....................................................... 45

08

AWAKO...........................................................07 Big Rig Tires & Alignment ............................. 39 BP Lab Services ............................................ 28

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New CEO Named at Coyote Logistics

CDL Jobs Guru ............................................ 12 Gillson Trucking Inc. ..................................... 11 Golden State Peterbilt ................................... 03 Golden Land Trans. Insurance .................... 21 Jagdeep Singh Insurance Agency ................ 36

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26

Jessie Dhillon ............................................... 35 Kam-Way Transportation Inc .................... 41 Load Broker 411 ........................................... 25 Load Stop ..................................................... 13

Maxx Printing ............................................... 19

38

NAPTA .................................................... 29, 43 NEXA Mortgages ........................................ 15 Prime Drug Testing ...................................... 47

Primelink Express ........................................ 02 Revolution Capital ................................. 11, 17 SimbaQuartz ................................................ 21

Walmart and Wing Will Partner for Drone Deliveries in Texas

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Lotus Benefits Corp ..................................... 39

Punjabi Trucking 360 ................................... 27

House Votes to Stop California from Banning Internal Combustion Engines

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FMCSA dw nvW pRsqwv nvIN durGtnw fwtw pRikirAw pRdwn krygw

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Lacking a Solution to Battery Fires, Nikola Recalls Tre BEV to Arizona Plant

Singh Financing .......................................... 23 Sonsray Parts & Service .............................. 24 Volvo Trucks ................................................. 48 Zoom Financial ............................................ 44

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More Engineers are Turning from Perfecting Driverless Cars Toward Developing Autonomous Trucks www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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October - December 2023

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COVER ARTICLE

iek~ly tr~k clwaux vwly frweIvrW leI AB5 dy ivru~D ij~qx dI Aws hY[ iek~ly tr~k clwaux vwly vIr jI bVI musIbq iv~c pey hoey hn, ijnHW qy ieMkuAYrI ho rhI hY[ kYlIPornIAw dy igg kMm vrkr kwƒn AB5 iv~c Psy hoey hn, auhnW leI ie~k nvW rsqw Ku~ilHAw hY[ ieh ivcwr kYlIPornIAw tr~k AYsosIeySn dy v~loN nhIN AwauNdy, ieh mwlk Eprytr frweIvr AYsosIeySn 8

October - December 2023

(OOIDA) ijnHW ny ies kwƒn ƒ rokx leI pUrw zor lgwieAw hY, blik ieh kys AmrIkw dy izlHw kort Aw& swauQrn kYlIPornIAw iv~c suxwieAw jw irhw hY[ ies sB ƒ pwsy r~Kdy hoey, ies kwƒn ƒ rokx leI iek hor kys hoieAw hY, ijsdw nwm Elsn kys hY ijsdy ip~Cy

aUbr Aqy postmyts swQ dy rhy hn[ ies iv~c v~fy kort dw jo &Yslw sI, ausƒ ault kr id~qw hY, ijs iv~c auhnW ikhw hY ik ieh kYlIPornIAw leI ie~k hwr hY qy ieh kwƒn bybuinAwd hY ikauNik ieh auQoN dy brwbr sur~iKAw kwƒn AB5 dI aulMGxw krdw hY[

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COVER ARTICLE

ies ivc iek hor Kulwsw huMdw hY jo ik Coty Adwlq ny PYslw ilAw hY[ EQo dy AKbwr lws eyNjls tweImz dI Kbr nwl pRBwvq ho igAw hY ikauNik AKbwr ivc ijsny iliKAw hY, Ehdw nwm hY loryNzw goNzwlyz, jo ik AB5 kwƒn dw lyKk irhw hY[ hux auh kYlIPornIAw ivDwn sBw ivc kYlIPornIAw dy mzdUr AwgU hn[ jyfo goNzwlyz ƒ ies kwƒn dy bwry pu~iCAw igAw ik ies ivcwr dIAW kI kiTnIAW qy CotW hn[ auhnW ny jvwb id~qw ik auh iesdy iv~c bdlwv krn leI iqAwr hn, ijvyN ik gIqkwrW ƒ Cot dy skdy hW, pr aubr, AYmwzon, forfYS, ilPt vrgIAW kMpnI ƒ nhIN dy skdy[ auQoN dy Adwlq ny ikhw ik

Elsn kys iv~c ieh Apmwinq hY[ auQoN dy Coty kort dy &Ysly qy auQoN dI srkwr ny ieh ikhw ik pUry 9 j~j hoxy cwhIdy hn, jd iesdI suxvweI hovy, qW ik iesdI suxvweI iksy nIcy vwly kort ƒ nw id~qI jwvy[ jo vkIl ies dy iKlwP lV rhy hn, jo pihlW suxvweI auhnW dy iKlwP hoeI sI, dovy pwrtIAW &Ysly dI aufIk iv~c hn[ Coty kort dy &Ysly iv~c CTA qy OOIDA ƒ ikhw igAw ik auh Awpxy kys iv~c bdlwv krn ik goNzwlyz dy Sbd vI ivc dwKl kIqy jwxgy[

auh AB5 dy iKlwP lV skdy hn Aqy AwpxI kMpnI ƒ mzbUr kr skdy hn ik auhnW ƒ kMpnI Awpxy krmcwrI r~Ky[ CTA te OOIDA ny Coty kort ƒ ikhw ik ijsny SUrU ivc &Yslw suxwieAw sI ik ieh kwƒn tr~kW vwly kMpnIAW qy lwgU nw hovy[ iek cIz qW swP hY ik kYlIPornIAw dI suprIm kort qy XU.AYs dy suprIm kort ƒ Awps ivc bihs kr ky iehƒ sulJwauxw pYxw hY AB5 (Prop. 22) qy hor CotW vI id~qIAw jwxgIAW[

PYslw cwhy jo vI hovy iek~ly frweIvrW kol hux izAwdw Aslw hY ik

If you want to be featured on the Punjabi Trucking Magazine or Punjabi Trucking 360 Podcast or Raman Dhillon Show Please contact us, info@ramandhillonshow.com or text us at 559-701-8000

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October - December 2023

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Independent Drivers May Now Have the Winning Argument Against AB5

I

ndependent truck drivers, who have been left in limbo by litigation regarding California’s gig worker law, AB5, may have found a new opening to avoid the impacts of the law. The argument, however, does not come from the California Trucking Association (CTA) and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), who have filed an injunction to stop AB5 from implementation.

That case is currently being considered in the U.S. District Court of Southern California.

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October - December 2023

Rather, in another suit against AB5, known as the Olson case (other plaintiffs include Uber and Postmates) an appellate court reversed a lower court decision, handing California a defeat by ruling that AB5 was unconstitutional because it violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution which says a state cannot “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

It seems the appellate court was influenced by a statement in the Los Angeles Times made by Lorena

Gonzalez, who was the original author of AB5 in the California Assembly but is now a leader of the California Labor Federation.

When asked about the many exemptions to the law and other problems with it, Gonzalez said she was open to changes in AB5, including an exemption for musicians, “but not for app-based ride-hailing and delivery giants.”

(Obviously referring to Uber, Lyfft, DoorDash, Amazon, etc.). The court also agreed with the allegation in the Olson case that a number of statements www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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by Gonzalez “disparaged” the app-based industry.

Not surprisingly the appellate court ruling prompted the CTA and OOIDA to amend their filing noting that Gonzalez’s words should also be applied to trucking.

In any case, independent drivers may now have more ammunition to fight against AB5 forcing them to become company employees. The CTA/OOIDA has asked the lower court of Judge Roger Benitez, who passed down the original injunction blocking AB5 from impacting trucking, to issue another injunction until the courts indicate where the different cases will end up.

One thing seems certain, the California Supreme Court and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court will end up having to sort out the different arguments involving AB5, Prop. 22 and the many exemptions that have been offered for other gig work.

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Trusted by our clients

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In response to the appellate court ruling, the state asked the case should be heard in a full “en banc” (all nine judges present) hearing of the 9th Circuit instead of returning to the lower court. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are arguing against that because that court had originally ruled against them. Both sides are awaiting a decision on whether they will hear the case.

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October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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October - December 2023

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October - December 2023

13

INDUSTRY NEWS

U New CEO Named at Coyote Logistics

nited Parcel Services (UPS) subsidiary Coyote Logistics has named Sandeep Pisipati its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing Jonathan Sisler, who had been the company’s CEO since 2018.

Pisipati had been Coyote’s chief financial officer.

About Pisipati, a news release on the company’s website said, “Sandeep has been with Coyote for five years and has been an integral leader with a track record of delivering strong business results through a unique approach to corporate strategy, financial management and people leadership.

With over 18 years of financial leadership experience across the public and private supply chain and healthcare sectors, he brings a depth of skill, knowledge, and passion to the role.”

Pisipati takes over at a challenging time for the brokerage business. Coyote has seen three rounds of layoffs this year, including one in September. In February, at least 200 Coyote workers were let go.

In the news release, Pisipati said, “We are in an incredibly privileged

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October - December 2023

position in this industry with our talent, relationship with UPS and network of shippers and carriers. This is what attracted me to Coyote in 2018 and remains the driving force behind my passion for the business and vision for the future.”

According to the news release, Sisler leaves the company “to pursue other opportunities.” He follows in the footsteps of Bob Biesterfeld, former CEO of C.H. Robinson who was also replaced earlier this year.

Also in the news release, UPS President of Supply Chain, Bill Seward said, “I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Sandeep and believe in his strategic vision for the future of Coyote.

I look forward to working with him and the entire Coyote leadership team as we collaborate even further to deliver what matters.”

Pisipati joined Coyote in 2018 as senior vice-president of finance and accounting before ascending to the role of CFO in 2019. Prior to coming to Coyote, Pisipati was vice-president of finance and accounting at the healthcare company Stericycle. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

jykr qusIN G~t qoN drimAwnI-Awmdn vwly pihlI vwr Gr KrIddwr ho qW dyKo ik qusIN zIro kloizMg lwgqW jW loVINdy fwaUn pymYNt nwl Awpxw Gr ikvyN KrId skdy ho[ This program is only available for California residents for limited time.

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October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY ARTICLE

House Votes to Stop California from Banning Internal Combustion Engines

A

imed directly at California state lawmakers who have made easing the effects of climate change a primary policy issue, Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed legislation that would limit any effort to ban the sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines.

Passed on a strictly partisan vote (222-192), the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from authorizing California regulators to limit the sale or use of new cars and trucks with internal combustion engines. Last year, the California Air Resources Board mandated that by 2035 100% of all new cars and light trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles.

CARB is currently using Clean Air Act waivers granted from the EPA that are specific to the sale or use of new vehicles with gas-powered engines, including diesel engines. These

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October - December 2023

waivers had been discontinued under the Trump Administration EPA. Republicans argue the bill is essential to preserve consumer choice and free market competition.

“This bill would prevent the EPA administrator from granting a waiver to any regulation that would limit the sale or use of new vehicles with internal combustion engines,” said the bill’s author Rep. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania).

“We cannot expect vehicle manufacturers to build one car in California and another one for Pennsylvania. In areas like my district in central and western Pennsylvania electric vehicles are unable to perform in the mountainous terrain and lose range in high heat and in extreme cold,” added Joyce.

A Senate version of the bill has been introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) has yet to be

assigned to a committee and may not get far under the Senate’s Democratic leadership.

“We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families,” said Mullin just after the House bill passed.

The “Green New Deal” refers to a label given to any legislation that has a goal of mitigating the damage done by climate change.

“Our bill, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, is an important step in rejecting the far-left’s attempt to control every aspect of Americans’ lives, including what car they drive.

I’m thrilled that my colleagues in the House recognize the importance of protecting consumers and maintaining competition in the automotive industry, and I look forward to this bill’s consideration in the United States Senate,” concluded Mullin. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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Broker Rulemaking Set for Next Year, Infuriating Small Business Truckers

A

lthough broker transparency has plagued small and independent trucking businesses for several years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been slow to react. Finally, the agency has set a date for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on the issue, but not for more than a year from now, and that has stakeholders fuming.

Spencer added, “We understand that not all low rates are the result of unscrupulous brokers, but it can be difficult for carriers to identify legitimate brokers with the ineffective transparency regulations currently in place.”

In response, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, which represents brokers, has argued that the OOIDA/SBTC petition is based on an antiquated legal provision. They say the trucking marketplace is a different place than it was in 1980 and that the regulation cited to ask for the rulemaking is out of line.

“The continued delay is BS—transparency has been required since 1980,” said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) President Todd Spencer.

We support over 1,000 businesses with invoice FMCSA had originally said they would move forward on management, credit and collection services. By offering dedicated support and broker transparency earlierunderwriting, this year. transparent access to the factoring process, we help our clients grow their operations, maintain their competitive edge, and become leaders in their

industries.

On its latest regulatory agenda, the Department of Transportation has set the NPRM on broker transparency for Oct. 31, 2024, which is more than four years after the OOIDA, and Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) petitioned the FMCSA to change the way brokers and carriers establish contracts.

OOIDA and SBTC want important changes to the relationship between brokers and carriers. First, the petition requested that brokers provide transaction documentation within 48 hours of delivery and completion of a contract.

Second, brokers should be prohibited from including any provision that requires a carrier to waive their rights to access transaction records. This is important because fraudulent brokers will often charge a shipper more than what they indicate in the contract with a carrier.

SBTC has accused brokers of consistently waiving carrier transparency rights and market manipulation that may violate U.S. antitrust laws. The petition from OOIDA and SBTC originated in 2020 at the height of the pandemic when brokers were accused of taking more of the rates than they disclosed.

“As freight rates have declined throughout 2023, we have heard small-business truckers voice their frustrations about broker fraud,” wrote Spencer in a letter to the FMCSA in August, asking for a status update on the rulemaking. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Volvo Trucks Sets Targets for Zero Emission Future

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iming at reaching net-zero emissions from its entire global fleet of heavy-duty trucks by 2050, Volvo Trucks is pushing to continue its role as the leader in batteryelectric big rigs. To that end, Volvo currently produces six different battery electric trucks (BEVs) through its various brands, including Volvo, Mack, and Renault and expects to lead the way toward decarbonization.

The company has sold more 6,000 BEVs in 42 different countries. In the U.S., Volvo has tripled the number of dealerships that sell its electric trucks from just 12 in May 2022 to 36 in 19 states this May. According to a post on the Volvo Trucks website in May, the company “has delivered 251 VNR Electric trucks from the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia and continues to lead the shift toward decarbonized freight transportation.”

“Having a supporting EV Certified Dealership is critical to a successful deployment of battery-electric vehicles.

Once a customer expresses interest in adding a VNR Electric truck to a specific region, we immediately engage the local servicing dealer to ensure certification process is completed or underway and will be ready to support

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October - December 2023

the Volvo VNR Electric upon delivery,” said Alexis Clemons, electromobility sales manager, Volvo Trucks North America.

Volvo Trucks intends to make 50% of its global truck sales BEVs by 2030 and 100% net-zero-emission vehicles by 2040. By 2050, as BEVs and other zero-emission trucks replace diesel, the company wants all Volvo trucks on the road anywhere in the world to be fully electric.

Part of the strategy to produce a fully net-zero fleet in the next 27 years also includes electric fuel cell and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The new powertrains under development by Volvo would run on non-fossil fuels such as liquid natural gas, hydrogen, hydrogen and what they call renewable diesel, also known as green diesel, which is made through a thermochemical process and is zero-emission.

Volvo is testing hydrogen fuel cell technology at its plants in Sweden. It’s also developing hydrogen fuel cells in a joint venture with Daimler Trucks called Cellcentric. On its website, the company says, “Cellcentric’s ambition is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel-cells and thus help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable

transportation by 2050.”

Jessica Sandström, Volvo Trucks head of product management, notes that battery technology will continue to develop and should be the main fuel source for heavy-duty trucks while fuel cell technology may be best applied to other applications.

“As in many technology developments, there are pros and cons with different types of fuel,” said Sandström. “For instance, I think we are learning and are trying to find the best trade-off by looking at the entire ecosystem. Because what could look best from a truck perspective is not necessarily what looks best when you take a step back, and you look at how you need to get the fuel to the fueling station.”

At a time when it is developing zeroemission trucks, Volvo is also investing in the fuel infrastructure it will take to reach its goals. The company is collaborating with several companies to work on building battery charging stations in California which stretches from the Port of Long Beach to the Bay Area. Volvo is also partnering with Pilot Co. to put charging stations at Pilot Travel Centers across the U.S.

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October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Fuel Card Skimming a Problem, But Could Be a Thing of the Past With New Technologies

T

here’s nothing worse than getting an alert on your phone from your credit card company that they believe your account has been used by scammers to purchase merchandise or take cash advances.

You scramble to call and get your cards canceled and make sure Visa or Mastercard know the charges are fraudulent. Of course, the charges are written off or you are reimbursed, but that leaves you with the problem of getting new cards and making sure any automatic payments are set up for those new card numbers.

For most of us, this is maybe a once in a lifetime occurrence, but for independent drivers and trucking companies this can happen quite frequently. The culprit is the tiny device that thieves place over the credit card slot on a gas station pump. With fuel prices already sky-high, it adds insult to injury for a driver to also have his credit card number skimmed and used fraudulently.

Financial losses from skimming across all businesses are estimated to 20

October - December 2023

total more than $1 billion a year. Truck stops and gas stations are particularly vulnerable to card skimming because truck drivers often still swipe cards at pumps on a regular basis.

Company fuel cards are a primary form of payment in the trucking industry, leaving card skimmers the ability to collect information to create fake fuel cards. Scammers will then use the cards to “purchase” fuel and resell it for their own personal profit.

While carriers and fuel-card issuers often set daily spend caps to limit fraud risk, scammers have various ways of working around these limitations.

Card skimming causes problems for both large and small truck stop chains.

And the problem is only growing with credit services companies estimating that skimming increased over 350% in 2022. Not only is skimming an obvious financial loss but it can also be an office manpower loss for companies that need to spend time and energy resolving fraud. The problem can also keep drivers without fuel cards for weeks at a time, leaving them to deal with cash, which presents another issue.

The obvious and simplest solution is to pay digitally with contactless technology such as smartphones. Many Pilot Travel Centers have begun using Relay Payments’ digitized diesel pay platform. Without a physical card, it’s impossible for thieves to get their hands on credit card numbers.

“Digital payment technologies like Relay provide fleets with enhanced anti-fraud capabilities and improve the ease of commercial diesel transactions.

We are excited to offer Relay Payments across our extensive travel center network and to bring cutting-edge technologies to the trucking industry,” said Pilot Senior Vice President David Hughes on X. Other benefits to contactless, digital payments for fuel include merchant loyalty programs that drivers can use to garner the same rewards they had with their physical card. And some digital payment providers give sizable discounts for specific locations, adding up to added savings.

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October - December 2023

21

INDUSTRY NEWS

Idaho Diesel Shop Pleads Guilty for Emissions Tampering

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business owner and his diesel retail parts shop in Rexburg, Idaho have pleaded guilty for conspiracy and tampering with an emissions device in violation of the Clean Air Act.

The company, GDP Tuning and Custom Auto, also known as Gorilla Performance, and the owner, Barry Pierce, have agreed to pay $1 million in fines and agree to establish compliance programs to not manufacture, sell or install any part that would “defeat” a vehicle’s emissions systems.

The shop faces possible additional fines of $500,000 per charge or twice the amount of money they made on installing the tampering devices. Pierce could also face up to two years in prison.

Sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 8 in the U.S. District Court of Idaho.

“Nearly a decade after EPA began cracking down on illegal defeat devices that violate the Clean Air Act, there is no excuse for companies to be continuing to cheat on vehicle emissions and putting the health of the environment and our communities at risk,” said David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

“EPA will continue to pursue criminal charges against companies like Gorilla Performance, which broke the law brazenly and repeatedly, until this egregious criminal activity comes to a stop once and for all,” concluded Uhlmann.

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GDP Tuning and Pierce conspired to purchase, sell, and install several thousand “defeat” devices. Defeat devices are aftermarket parts or software such as modified exhausts or chip tuning products that inhibit or bypass a vehicle’s emissions controls.

The device will trick a vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system into thinking that all is functioning accurately when, in reality, the vehicle’s emissions control equipment has been removed.

This removal is typically referred to as a “delete” and is accompanied by a “delete tune.”

Back in April, a diesel shop in Illinois was found guilty of the same crime and sentenced to pay a $600,000 penalty.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Walmart and Wing Will Partner for Drone Deliveries in Texas

A program using aerial drones for delivery services takes flight in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area in a few weeks as retail giant Walmart partners with Alphabet’s Wing to deliver meals, groceries, over the counter medicines and household goods. Wing has been delivering via drone to stores and rooftops in the area since 2021.

president of innovation and automation for Walmart U.S.

Deliveries will take 30 minutes or less and the drones will land in customer’s driveways, yards, or any other suitable location. The service will be provided by two Walmart Supercenters in the area, beginning at a store in the northern suburb of Frisco.

The drones have a range of about 60,000 homes. Residents can determine if they are in the delivery zone by downloading the Wing app. Customers simply enter their address and if the website says, “Coming Soon,” they are eligible as soon as the program begins.

A second nearby store will join the program before the end of the year.

“Working with Wing directly aligns with our passion for finding innovative and eco-friendly last-mile delivery solutions to get customers the items they want, when they want them,” said Prathibha Rajashekhar, senior vice

“With drones that can fly beyond visual line of sight, we’re able to unlock on-demand delivery for customers living within an approximate 6-mile range of the stores that offer the service,” said Rajashekhar.

“This is a major milestone for Wing as we continue down our path toward building capabilities to support some of the most significant delivery operations

in the world,” said Shannon Nash, chief financial officer of Wing on the company’s website.

“Our technology is designed to complement existing delivery offerings, making overall systems more efficient and able to meet real customer needs,” added Nash.

Wing has expanded its hours of operation (10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) to cover early evening times. It will also offer the service for six days a week, closed on Wednesdays.

Wing launched its first delivery services in 2019 in Christianburg, Virginia. Wing is also making aerial deliveries in Australia, where it makes about 1,000 deliveries a day in the suburbs of Brisbane.

Knight on the Hook for Just $400k in Class Action Lawsuit A class action lawsuit filed in 2016 involving California’s worker meal and break requirements has been settled in the U.S. District Court for Eastern California, with a ruling that Knight Transportation, now Knight-Swift, has to pay just $400,000.

the lawsuit alleging that Knight had not provided meal breaks required

by California law, didn’t pay him or other drivers for rest breaks, did not provide accurate wage statements, did not provide termination pay, and had engaged in “unfair business practices.”

The ruling requires Knight to pay off 5,648 drivers and cover court costs and attorney fees. In total, each driver will receive $127.61. The original plaintiff, Robert Martinez, also receives $10,000 in the settlement. Attorney’s fees came to $120,000, much less than was expected for seven years of litigation.

In turn, Knight argued that Martinez’s claim was “dubious,” considering he was not a resident of the state. They also questioned which laws applied to the lawsuit. In 2017, Eastern District Court Judge Dale Drozd disagreed with Knight’s arguments and ruled the case should go forward.

Martinez, who did not live in California but drove in the state, filed

The final settlement, however, was decided by another Eastern District

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October - December 2023

Court judge, Sheila Otero. As of August 16, only 899 claims had been received by drivers.

California law requires a 30-minute meal break if the number of hours worked in a day exceeds five. A 10hour shift brings another 30-minute meal break. Each four hours of work also earns the driver a 10-minute rest period.

These requirements, which had been “preempted” for interstate drivers by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2018 under the Trump Administration, are again under scrutiny by the agency which is looking to give states more flexibility. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Electric Vehicles Surge in Sales In 2023 with Tesla Still on Top

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oncerns about climate change and sky-high gas prices have prompted an unprecedented number of Americans to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) in the last year.

In fact, nearly one million all-electric cars were purchased, representing more than 7% of all new cars sold between June of 2022 and June of 2023. There are now over 3 million EVs on the nation’s roads.

The second quarter of this year saw nearly 300,000 EVs sold, an increase of 48% over the same quarter in 2022.

Once again, Tesla leads the field as the largest EV seller in the nation. In Q2 the company sold 175,000 EVs. It took 10 years for Americans

to buy one million EVs, two years to reach the second million, and just over a year to reach the third. If this pace is maintained, about one-half of new cars sold will be EV’s by 2030. As EV’s decline in price, about 20% year over year, that number could be much higher.

While California has been the leader in new EV sales, states such as Florida, Texas, Washington, and New Jersey are cutting into that margin. In recent surveys, more than 50% of new car shoppers said they would consider buying an EV. Although Americans have sometimes been skeptical of transitioning to EVs, that’s not true for

the rest of the world as fully electric vehicles now represent 19% of the global market. Add in hybrid vehicles (combining gas and battery) and that number soars to over 30% of all cars.

Tesla’s Model Y is the top selling EV in the world with the Model 3 in second.

Together the two models represented over 479,000 units worldwide in Q2.

Chinese auto manufacturer BYD has five of the top ten best selling EVs. In the U.S. market Hyundai Motor Co. (which includes Kia) has overtaken GM as the second leading EV seller.

Hyundai increased its sales 11% year over year. Hyundai Motor features the battery-electric Ionic and the Kia Kona.

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October - December 2023

29

INDUSTRY ARTICLE

GAO Audit Asks FMCSA to Improve Complaint Data Transparency

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new audit from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) add more transparency to its database of complaints to make it more useful for truck drivers. The report contends that the agency doesn’t make all categories of complaint data public, which is a violation of Department of Transportation policy.

“Specifically, FMCSA does not make public any information on complaints against truck companies, bus companies, or electronic logging device providers,” said the 60-page report. “As a result, FMCSA may be missing the opportunity to improve transparency and collaboration with industry partners.”

Despite the recommendation, however, the FMCSA has not made the release of more information about

complaints a priority but did tell the GAO that it “may consider doing so in the future.”

The top recommendation in the 14-part audit that was conducted over the last 16 months is that the FMCSA “make data on all categories of complaints available to the public, as appropriate, and in line with DOT’s Data Management Policy.”

In the audit, GAO noted that during a six-year period starting in 2016 about 37,700 complaints were against trucking companies, 29,400 against moving companies and moving brokers and 200 against bus companies.

The GAO discovered that FMCSA used detailed internal guidance on how its staff should review and respond to some categories of complaints but not for all. The agency also provided supplemental guidance about coercion

and harassment complaints made by drivers against trucking companies, including examples of what a complaint must allege for it to be considered valid.

But extra guidance was not given for a series of other complaints. The GAO said, “the complaint review guidance for safety, hazardous materials, household goods, and other commercial complaints does not contain step-bystep instructions on how to respond, review, and close complaints.”

The FMCSA has claimed it is important to provide outreach about its complaint database to its targeted audiences, yet the GAO found that the agency provided more transparency to people who were looking for a household mover than to truck drivers. In fact, when interviewing representatives from major trucking associations, the GAO found that they were unaware of outreach concerning the website that the FMCSA uses to record complaints.

The GAO also found that the complaint website “is not consistently easy to view on mobile devices,” which seems to contradict the FMCSA’s stance that it is trying to provide outreach to drivers.

In response, the FMCSA “stated it plans to modernize the complaint website to ensure it follows industry standards for design and integrates user feedback.”

Although the GAO audit said that modernizing the website would be a good idea, it also said, “we maintain that testing the website with external users—a leading practice for federal websites—would provide FMCSA with critical insight on how useful the website is for its target audiences before launching any changes to the complaint website.”

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October - December 2023

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GAO Awift ny FMCSA ƒ ikhw ik iSkwieq fytw iv~c pwrdrSqw lY ky Awaux ie~k nvyN AOfIt qy XU. AY~s. ey srkwr AkwaUNtIibiltI Awi&s (GAO) ny slwh id~qI ik PYfrl motr kYrIAr syPtI AYfminstRySn (FMCSA) ƒ Awpxy fwtw bys ijs iv~c iSkwieqW AwauNdIAW hn, aus iv~c hor pwrdrSqw dyx dI loV hY, qW jo tr~k clwaux vwly vIrW leI &wiedymMd ho sky[ irport Anuswr iehI slwh id~qI geI ik eyjMsI swrIAW iksmW dIAW iSkwieqW ƒ aupl~bD nhIN krwauNdw, jo ik ifpwrtmYNt Aw& trWsportySn pwilsI dI aulMGxw hY[ Kws qor qy, FMCSA koeI vI jwxkwrI, iksy vI iSkwieq bwry jo ik tr~k kMpnIAW iKlwP, b~s kMpnIAW jW Pyr ielYktRwink lOigMg ifvweIs suivDw dyx vwly hn[ 60 pMinAW dI irport d~sdI hY ik FMCSA mOkw KoA rhI hY, jykr auh AwpxI pwrdrSqw hor vDIAw krn qW auh hornW kMpnIAW nwl iml ky Awvdw kMm hor vDIAw kr skdI hY[

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sI eyjMsI auhnW ƒ izAwdw pwrdrSqw pRdwn kr rhI sI nw ik ijnHW ny tr~k frweIvrW ƒ bdlxw sI[ jd GAO ny tr~k AOrgnweIjySnW nwl g~l kIqI qW pqw l~gw ik auhnW ƒ jwxkwrI hI nhIN sI ik FMCSA ikhVI vY~bsweIt qy iSkwieqW drj krdy hn[

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ਆਪਣੀ ਿਰਪੋਰਿਟੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਿਨਕਾਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੋੜਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਾਣੋ arb.ca.gov/cleantruckcheck October - December 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Trucking Industry Struggles with Lack of Safe and Inexpensive Parking

R

esearch indicates that finding a place to park is one of the chief complaints of long-haul truck drivers. A recent study concluded that it can take as long as 56 minutes to find suitable parking, depleting a driver’s time and fuel.

The shortage of good parking has long been a problem for the industry.

Solutions are few and far between, and while the public’s perceptions of truck drivers are very positive, not many Americans realize that drivers struggle on a regular basis to find safe parking.

One solution is provided by commercial truck centers and other private parking lots which provide lighting, fencing, guards and often food and showers. These amenities can come at a steep price, anywhere from $10 to $50 per night. This can really add up for drivers and fleets that are already working on thin margins.

Public rest stops are also widely available (though these stops will sometimes be closed due to renovation) across the nation, but these do not offer hot food or shower facilities and may only provide restrooms, a parking space and vendor machines. Parking overnight is allowed in most states, but these stops can also be heavily impacted. In some states, signs will alert drivers to just how many spots are available at upcoming stops.

Unfortunately, many drivers have to settle for the shoulders of freeways, in open lots or other unsafe areas. 58% of drivers say they park in unauthorized areas on a weekly basis. In 2009, truck driver Jason Rivenburg was killed after he parked at an abandoned gas

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October - December 2023

station. In response, Congress passed Jason’s Law to study and hopefully find a solution to the parking problem.

No definitive law or funding has been passed so far.

In a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by trucking technology service Cloudtrucks, a majority of respondents with an awareness of the problem said, “the federal government should address the crisis with increased funding and other government-led initiatives.”

Many of those surveyed, however, also noted they would prefer not to see truck parking spaces located in their neighborhoods.

A bill currently working its way through the House of Representatives “would authorize the appropriation of specific amounts, totaling $755 million over the 2024-2026 period, for the Department of Transportation to provide competitive grants to build or improve public parking facilities for commercial motor vehicles.”

Experts on federal legislation predict the bill has a less than 50% chance of passing at a time when Republicans are in control of the House and are trying to roll back much of the money that had been earmarked in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. In most cases, Republicans would rather provide tax incentives for commercial entities who are interested in investing in parking areas.

Entrepreneurs lured by the potential of a private-public partnership and a chance at some government cash are jumping into the parking discussion.

Some are buying or leasing their own

lots. One such entity is Nashvillebased We Realize Inc. that runs three truck parking lots in the Las Vegas area and are hoping to establish lots across the country. A 24-hour stay in one of Realize’s lots will cost $35, but that includes stadium lighting, showers, and security guards.

Using technology, some entrepreneurs have set up apps linking drivers to lots. Truck Parking Club’s app boasts 155 locations nationwide and has served thousands of drivers since going online last year. Drivers typically pay $15 to $20 a night to park and can easily determine which lots feature important amenities.

The newest such app on the scene is FinPark which launched in September as part of the Canadian freight company Finloc 2000. The platform already features more than 250 locations and a growing number of active users.

Another option floated by many in the industry is that retailers and manufacturers pay for truck parking.

But at a time when retailers are trying to ship more goods as cheaply as possible, it’s unlikely they would be willing to provide the millions of dollars it would take to solve the issue. Any trucking company that would risk charging its customers for the cost of parking would probably lose those customers.

In the meantime, the estimated 1.8 million drivers will basically have to fend for themselves and hope that those coveted spots at the Interstate truck stop are open.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tesla Semi Stats Impressive in ‘Run on Less’ Event

A

lthough it currently has only one customer in the Central Valley of California, the Tesla battery-electric Semi is still one of the most hyped new trucks on the road.

But before now, there has been little in the way of formal reviews of the truck other than anecdotal evidence by those who have driven one.

Some of that has changed with a recent event held by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s (NACFE) Run on Less Program. Far from a comprehensive review of the truck, the event details mileage, stops, speed, and charging details.

According to its website, the NACFE is an “unbiased and fuel agnostic organization” which seeks to demonstrate “the benefits, challenges and payback of investing in various fuel-efficiency options summarizing the confidence fleets should have in adoption.”

The Run on Less event showcased three Semis over an eighteen-day period at the PepsiCo facility in Sacramento.

Results are posted on the “Run on www.punjabitruckingusa.com

Less” website. So far, according to Dave Mullaney of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Green Energy nonprofit, the “early results look impressive.”

The biggest takeaway may be that the truck can indeed get nearly 500 miles at 81,000 pounds in a single workday. One of the Semis traveled 416 miles with only a 20-minute charging period taking the battery from 17.5% to 30%.

Another Semi in the study went 377 miles at an average speed of 62 mph leaving the battery virtually exhausted before it got a three-hour charge. The truck then added another 165 miles during the same day. The best was yet to come, however, as one of the Semis reached nearly 800 miles on about a two-hour charge.

In other words, Semis may be the best long-haul rig ever produced.

Drivers will be able to get relatively far into their journey before a short meal or rest break when the truck is charged and ready for another set of miles.

As far as performance, weight

appears a question. NACFE data does not quantify exact weights for these trucks, yet it is apparent in the data that the Semis are heavy. Class 8 EVs can weigh as much as 82,000 pounds. Tesla has indicated it will get as close to this weight as possible.

Of the Sacramento event, NACFE Director Mike Roeth said they have tracked various beverage shipments.

He said, "It's impressive, a fairly heavy haul at nearly 80,000 pounds. It goes to one location and drops off soda, but maybe picks up some water, goes to another location to drop off water but picks up Gatorade."

He added, “NACFE has verified that these are fairly fully loaded when they leave and stay fairly loaded. They're not out there gaming ‘Run on Less.’"

The biggest problem with the Semi is that there just aren’t many of them.

PepsiCo is the only current company using the trucks with 36 in operation and they are not exactly rolling off the assembly line, despite their future potential.

October - December 2023

33

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October - December 2023

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skdw hY[ FMCSA dy Anuswr, isstm "aupBogqwvW ƒ ieh mOkw idMdw hY ik FMCSA duAwrw bxweI Aqy pRswirq kIqI geI jwxkwrI ƒ pRwpq krn jW shI kr sky[ ieh swry aupBogqwvW ƒ ieh AiDkwr vI idMdw hY ik FMCSA phuMc fytw-sMcwln sur~iKAw pRxwlIAW dI Su~Dqw iv~c suDwr kry, jo ik CMV (vpwrk motr vwhn) nwl sbMiDq durGtnwvW, s~tW qy mOq ƒ rokx iv~c mddgwr hovy[ nvW FMCSA pRsqwv ie~k Awzwd ApIl pRikirAw ƒ ivkisq krn leI hY jo ik DataQs ƒ ie~k FMCSA ApIl dI bynqI krn dw mOkw dyvygI jykr SurUAwqI smIiKAw Aqy RDR muV-ivcwr pRikirAW dy dovW duAwrw ƒ r~d kr id~qw jWdw hY[ FMCSA ny ikhw ik "nw qW bynqIkrqw Aqy nw hI d&qr ƒ ies qIjy Aqy AMiqm ApIl iv~c nvyN q~Q jW sbUq pRdwn krn dI loV hovygI,"[ eyjMsI ny ApIl leI svIkwr kIqy gey RDRs ƒ aunW bynqIAW q~k sImq krn dw pRsqwv id~qw hY, eyjMsI ny ikhw ik "jo kwƒn ivAwiKAw jW inXmW ƒ lwgU krn qy sbMiDq hY[" www.punjabitruckingusa.com

TRUCKING NEWS

New FMCSA Proposal Would Establish New Crash Data Process

A

new proposal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would allow drivers to request a review of crash and inspection data from federal and state sources. The appeals process would involve the Requests for Data Review (RDR) which is submitted to the federal agency through the online DataQs system.

Recently, the FMCSA published a public notice asking for comments from the trucking industry on the process which would make the agency the final judge of any inaccuracies in crash or inspection data, especially data submitted by the states. The 60-day public comment period started on Sept. 14.

The proposed changes in the review process stemmed from concerns about transparency and consistency in the way RDRs are handled at state motor vehicle safety offices—and specifically, RDR Reconsiderations.

In the public notice and request

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for comments, the FMCSA said, “The proposed review process would provide users with an opportunity to have their requests reviewed by FMCSA after the request has been reviewed and denied after reconsideration by the State agency.”

The notice also said, “Stakeholders note that program offices do not have a uniform process for initial RDR reviews or for handling RDR Reconsiderations.

They have also noted concern that RDR Reconsiderations are, in many instances, reviewed and decided by the same reviewer as the initial request. Users are calling on FMCSA to ensure an opportunity for an independent review, with consistently applied standards, for data correction requests.”

The DataQs system is used to request and track a review of safety performance data stored in the FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) that could be incomplete or inaccurate.

According to the FMCSA, the system “provides users an opportunity to seek and obtain correction of information maintained and disseminated by FMCSA. It enables all users to improve the accuracy of FMCSA’s data-driven safety systems that help prevent crashes, injuries, and fatalities related to CMVs (commercial motor vehicles).”

The new proposal is to develop an independent appeal process that will let DataQs users request an FMCSA appeal if the RDR is denied through both the initial review and the RDR Reconsideration process. “Neither the requestor nor the program office may submit new facts or evidence at the time of this third and final appeal request or during its review,” FMCSA said.

The agency proposed to limit RDRs accepted for appeal to requests that “pertain to significant matters of legal interpretation or implementation of enforcement policies or regulations,” the agency said.

October - December 2023

35

INDUSTRY NEWS

Lawmakers and Trucking Industry Experts Discuss the Future of Autonomous Trucks

A

utonomous trucking took center stage at a recent hearing in the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Trucking industry representatives and traffic safety experts discussed several issues with lawmakers, including jobs, safety, and regulations.

A major concern of some in Congress is potential job losses and displacements created by a move to automated transportation.

Democratic representatives were the most concerned about jobs.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Delaware) quoted academic research that shows that long-haul drivers would be the first to go and that there would not be enough short-haul jobs to make up the difference. Holmes said that compared to cross country driving, local jobs would “pay less and drivers would need to relocate to find these jobs.”

Republicans also voiced concerns about the potential loss of truck driving jobs. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois), a former truck driver, said, “I’m not opposed to it, but I want to make sure the important role of human drivers is not lost because of that innovation.”

“My big concern is the only ones who will have access [to

automated trucks] are the mega trucking companies and/or those who can make the major investments, and that it will strangle the small trucking companies out of business,” Bost added.

Bost was also concerned with cyberthreats to a fleet of trucks that are autonomous. He said regulations would need to be passed to safeguard new technology from malign actors.

“We have enemies around the world that know how to tap into technology and can cause major concerns if we have a lot of automated trucks running up and down our roads,” Bost said.

“We can’t guarantee what hackers might be able to get into and put autonomous trucks at risk to our people.”

Doug LaMalfa (R-California) was concerned that the nation was rushing too fast toward using unproven technology in the transportation sector because of the threat of climate change.

He said, “We shouldn’t run too headlong, too fast into this autonomous situation…It’s really seeking a solution to a problem that isn’t as huge as would be sold to us.”

American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear, who represents some of the largest trucking companies in the nation, attempted to quell some of Congress’s skepticism. Spear contended that the trucking industry is short on drivers and automation will not cause job losses.

He said, “If we didn’t have a shortage [of drivers], we would be having a discussion about people losing their jobs. That is not the case here. I can assure you, [job] displacement is a myth.”

On the contrary, Spear indicated that new technologies could improve the industry and actually bring in more drivers.

Spear said, “Innovation has a role to play there, and developing driver assist technologies into fully autonomous vehicles—we don’t view that as a threat. We’re still going to have to meet that demand somehow, whether we add 1.2 million drivers over the next 10 years or supplement it with technology. Either way, I would look any driver in the eye and say I do not believe your job is at threat.”

One thing that was agreed on by all attending the hearing was that safety should come first and that federal regulators need to continue to formulate regulations aimed at autonomous truck safety.

Jeff Farrah, executive director of the Autonomous wants to see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issue relevant autonomous truck rulings.

“There are certain open questions in the industry that we would like to see clarified that would give a lot of confidence so that our members can continue to make significant capital investments to make sure this technology moves forward in the U.S.,” said Farrah.

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October - December 2023

www.punjabitruckingusa.com

TRUCKING NEWS

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pRqIinDI AYlynor homs nOrtn (fIfylwvyAr), Akwdimk Koj dw hvwlw idMdy hoey, ny ikhw ik lMbI dUrI dy frweIvr sB qoN pihlW pRBwivq hoxgy Aqy CotI dUrI vwly frweIvrW leI loVINdIAW nOkrIAW nhIN rihxgIAW[ ausny ikhw ik krws kMtrI frweIivMg dy mukwbly, sQwnk nOkrIAW "G~t Bugqwn krngIAW Aqy frweIvrW ƒ iehnW nOkrIAW ƒ l~Bx leI Awpxy GrW qoN dUr jwx dI loV pvygI." irpbilkn pwrtI ny tr~k frweIvrW dIAW nOkrIAW leI sMBwvI Kqry bwry vI icMqw pRgtweI hY[ pwrtI dy pRqIinDI Aqy swbkw tr~k frweIvr mweIk bost (Awr-ielInoies) ny ikhw, "mYN ies tknwlojI dw ivroD nhIN krdw, pr mYN ieh vI XkInI bxwauxw cwhuMdw hW ik ieh nvIN tknwlojI mnu~KI tr~k frweIvrW dI mh~qvpUrn BUimkw ƒ Kqm nw kry[" bost ny A~gy ikhw, "myrI sB qoN v~fI icMqw ieh hY ik svY-frweIivMg tr~k www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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37

INDUSTRY NEWS

ATA President Lobbies Congress for National Guidelines on Autonomous Vehicles

C

iting potentially increased traffic safety, workforce, and supply chain improvements from the use of driverless cars and trucks, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President Chris Spear told lawmakers recently that a national policy on the vehicles would help them to gain greater acceptance and nationwide adoption.

In comments to the U.S. House panel on highways and transit operations, Spear said he feared that if left to the states, a patchwork quilt of laws and regulations would arise making it difficult for autonomous trucks to function. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom is mulling a bill passed in the legislature which would require an operator in the cab of any driverless truck.

“What’s needed first is a national framework that encourages development, testing and deployment of technology, in direct support of interstate commerce,” said Spear.

He further said, “Federal guidance 38

October October--December December2023 2023

should treat commercial and passenger vehicles equally and require automated vehicles to achieve an acceptable level of safety and performance, rather than requiring the use of specific technologies. The ATA and its members commit to working with this subcommittee to help shape this framework, blending technological value with operational realities that reduce highway injuries and fatalities.”

Spear also pointed out that modernizing the trucking industry would require “the next generation of talent” be brought on board to develop the transportation technologies of the future.

Congress members listening to Spears’ testimony had concerns and questions. Democrats on the panel were concerned that fully autonomous trucks would eliminate otherwise good paying jobs. Spear addressed this by saying that the industry already cannot find enough drivers.

Some had questions related to safety, believing the high number of

traffic fatalities in recent years could be cut with more autonomous vehicles on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 40,000 Americans died in motor vehicle accidents last year.

“We are experiencing a startling rise in roadway fatalities,” said Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Delaware).

“Autonomous vehicles have the potential to save lives by reducing traffic crashes caused by human behavior, but that potential is not a guarantee. Potential safety benefits must be carefully weighed against risks, especially when public roads are being used as testing grounds for new technologies,” she continued.

Recently, however, deployed autonomous taxis in San Francisco have been involved in crashes and reckless driving, leading officials to cut in half the number of such vehicles it will allow on the city’s streets.

Congressional action on nationwide regulations for autonomous vehicles is currently working its way through the legislature. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

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October - December 2023

39

INDUSTRY NEWS

Small Fleets Benefit from New Calstart Incentives for Green Trucks

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ith battery-electric or other zero emission Class 8 truck prices anywhere from $150,000 to $450,000, it is unlikely that many independent owner-operators or small fleets can afford them. But, in California, that may not be the case.

Calstart, which oversees hundreds of millions of dollars from the California Air Resources Board, is tasked with building a high-tech renewable energy transportation sector. One way to do this is by giving incentives to small trucking companies that become “truck as a service” (TaaS) businesses Beginning in August, California’s Hybrid Vehicle Incentive Program is offering major incentives for small trucking businesses. According to the HVIP website, “privately-owned or non-profit trucking fleets with 20 or fewer trucks and an annual revenue of less than $15 million can access flexible financing options for zeroemission trucks through the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) 40

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Innovative Small e-Fleet Pilot (ISEF).

This funding allows small fleets to request enhanced vouchers for standard purchases or flexible financing, lease, rental, and truck-as-a-service options, and fueling support.”

In fact, the ISEF program offers twice the standard $120,000 voucher that is applied to larger fleets. Fleets or small businesses with fewer than 20 trucks account for about eight in ten California trucking companies.

Small fleets lacking the capital to purchase an electric truck that costs as much as three times as much as a diesel-powered truck can sign on with a startup like WattEV, Zeem Solutions or Forum Mobility which will assign their enhanced voucher to the TaaS as part of a contract.

These companies then can purchase a truck or trucks, get access to charging infrastructure and a chance at getting spot or contract loads from shippers who are sustainability focused.

Originally, Calstart had several

stringent qualifications for vouchers, but the ISEF has waived some of those requirements for small fleets after surveys of small fleets found that flexibility was more important than financing and education ranked at the top of most company’s concerns.

Because of that, Calstart hosts frequent ride-and-drive programs for small fleets. Dealing with the flexibility concern required altering some of the HVIP rules. TaaS businesses that wanted to qualify as HVIP providers had to pledge transparency and promise to work only with small fleets.

While significant funding is available for small fleets, there is still $28 million remaining for larger fleets, but this money will not last long as HVIP concentrates on smaller businesses. By 2025, a fleet of more than 50 trucks will no longer qualify.

One result of this could be that larger fleets will do more contracting with small company’s so that they remain in compliance with California emissions rules. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

TRUCKING NEWS

Lacking a Solution to Battery Fires, Nikola Recalls Tre BEV to Arizona Plant Rather than dealing with repairs in the field, embattled electric truck maker Nikola Corp. has asked dealers and customers to return trucks under a recall notice to the company’s Coolidge, Arizona plant to repair faulty batteries that could burst into flames.

One problem, however, is that the company has yet to find a solution to the issue. Even after the recall, two more Nikola 209 Tre BEV Class 8 trucks caught fire, one at the Coolidge plant and another in nearby Tucson.

According to company officials, nobody was injured in the fire at the plant which affected a pre-production unit that had been undergoing battery fire investigation. While investigating an earlier fire, third-party investigators believed that a coolant leak inside a

battery pack caused the fire.

In August, Nikola announced a safety recall for trucks in dealer or customer possession following a second battery fire. The recall said the trucks were safe to drive as long as the main battery disconnect switch was in the “on” position which allows Nikola to monitor the trucks remotely.

Nikola told owners to park the vehicles outside to allow for easier monitoring and the National Highway Safety Administration repeated that request so that possible fires wouldn’t spread to other vehicles or property.

The company indicated that its software systems are monitoring over 3,100 battery packs in real-time.

owners that the trucks should be returned to the plant as soon as possible.

“This will allow repairs to be made in the most efficient manner and under the supervision of the Nikola engineering team,” said the letter.

Not surprisingly, the Nikola stock price dropped below $1 per share, closing at 88 cents on Sept. 15. Shares have fallen from $3.99 in early August to their lowest point ever.

Investor pullback is probably caused by dilution of the stock from 800 million shares to 1.6 billion. Many investors are betting the share price will continue its fall. About one in five Nikola shares are in possession of short sellers, according to the investing site Seeking Alpha.

The recent letter told dealers and

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Paccar Recalls Medium-Duty Trucks with Faulty Fuel Filter Hoses

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early 900 medium-duty Paccar trucks are now under recall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 871 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks have a potential problem that could cause the engine’s remote Stage 2 fuel filter hoses to fail.

Units included in the recall are model year 2023-’24 Kenworth T280, T380 and T480 models, and Peterbilt 536, 537 and 548 models.

The recall indicates the hoses may have been damaged in production, causing them to leak or disconnect.

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A disconnected hose will result in an engine stalling, increasing the possibility of a crash. In addition, a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire, according to the recall.

Another recent Paccar recall involves about two dozen model year 2023 Kenworth K270’s and K370’s as well as Peterbilt 220 trucks. The driveshafts in these trucks can break under certain loading conditions.

Dealers will replace the hoses, free of charge with owner notifications to be mailed by Nov. 4. The NHTSA recall number is 23V-617. The Owners can contact Kenworth’s customer service at 1-425-828-5888 with recall number 23KWF and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 with recall number 23PBF.

Dealers will replace the driveshafts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by Nov. 4. Owners can contact Kenworth's customer service with recall number 23KWG and Peterbilt's customer service with recall number 23PBG.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

More Engineers are Turning from Perfecting Driverless Cars Toward Developing Autonomous Trucks

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tories of Waymo driverless cars constantly turning down a dead-end city street, autonomous GM Cruise taxis stalling in the middle of downtown San Francisco traffic and Tesla’s in self-driving mode running head long into emergency vehicles have all been publicized in recent years, raising doubt in the general public about the future of such vehicles.

Instead of continuing down an uncertain path with driverless cars that

will seemingly take years to perfect enough to consistently maneuver the urban landscape, some engineers and technicians have decided to take their expertise to the trucking industry where they may envision large driverless boxes running up and down the freeway as in the 2017 science fiction movie Logan.

In fact, technology and robotics experts are saying that automating trucking systems, especially on highways, is a more achievable goal than creating cars that can safely drive on surface streets.

One such group has come to that very conclusion. In early September, three veterans of the driverless taxi industry formed Stack AV, an autonomous trucking business which has made one of its major goals to improve efficiency and safety in 46

October - December 2023

the industry while taking on supply chain challenges.

Brayan Salesky, Peter Rander and Brett Browning have formed the new company after working with Pittsburgh robotaxi company Argo AI, a company that was developing automated technology for Ford and Volkswagen. Already, Stack AV has garnered a potential $1 billion investment from Japanese information technology company SoftBank.

The Japanese company may understand that driverless trucks are a viable option for solving logistical issues.

A series of pro-worker laws in Japan have also limited any advance of driverless trucking technology in that nation.

Stack AV’s leaders will follow the path of fellow Pittsburgh entrepreneur Chris Urmson, who was educated at Carnegie-Mellon University and was the lead technician of Google’s driverless car team X. Urmson teamed with former Tesla engineer Sterling Anderson and Uber’s autonomous lead Drew Bagnell to form Aurora Innovation which is today worth $2 billion.

Auroroa has been testing its wares in Texas where it will officially launch completely driverless deliveries between Dallas and Houston by the end of next

year.

On its website, Aurora said it has incrementally increased the "performance, safety, and reliability" of its systems while making more than 1,000 pilot runs between the two Texas cities since September 2021 for FedEx, Schneider, and Uber Freight.

Aurora claims its technology will eventually filter down to smaller vehicles on city streets. Both groups of engineers started out trying to use driverless cars in Pittsburgh where there are a myriad of problems such as brick, cobblestone, and even wooden roads as well as imposing infrastructure challenges.

The pattern seems clear. Engineers and technicians who pioneered driverless car startups are seeing that the trucking industry provides more opportunity.

It may simply be easier to design autonomous systems that don’t have quite so much information to process as cars in city conditions.

Another good reason is money.

Experts predict that autonomous trucks are the wave of the future because they will provide trucking companies with a cheaper way to move goods across the country. Large firms such as KnightSwift, J.B. Hunt, and Schneider, who employ many drivers, could be looking to cut labor and increase profits in the near future.

Recently, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President Chris Spear was on Capitol Hill lobbying lawmakers for concrete regulations for autonomous trucks. ATA represents the largest truck companies in the U.S. When asked about job losses, Spear argued that there are severe driver shortages and automation would not lead to out of work drivers. www.punjabitruckingusa.com

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