The Trucker News Staff

READING, Pa. — Penske Truck Leasing has opened its sixth heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Southern California, the company announced Aug. 10. Penske's latest EV charging station, located in Ontario, California, is equipped with an innovative battery energy storage system manufactured by Fluence Energy LLC a Siemens and AES Company. The energy storage system is designed to offset demand on the electricity grid during peak charging times. “We continue to expand our heavy-duty electric vehicle charging network while also challenging ourselves to test new solutions like the battery storage component,” said Drew Cullen, senior vice president of fuels and facility services...

PORTLAND, Ore. — Locomation, the world’s first trucking technology platform to offer human-guided autonomous convoying, announced yesterday (Aug. 12) the successful completion of its first-ever on-road pilot program transporting commercial freight. The pilot program, first announced at this year’s Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) annual conference in March, is the result of a partnership with Wilson Logistics, a family-owned transportation logistics company based in Springfield, Missouri. The pilot program is a significant step for both companies as they pursue the most direct path to delivering commercially viable autonomous technology to the trucking industry. In this phase of the deployment, two Locomation tractors,...

PETERSBURG, Fla. — Looking to address Ohio’s high unemployment rate and a shortage of truck drivers, Roadmaster Drivers School is opening a new training facility in Columbus. Columbus’ new custom-built school will open its doors and host its first class Aug. 17. The 10,000-square-foot facility sits on 12 acres in the state capital and will be able to serve approximately 750 students each year. Roadmaster has operated training facilities in Columbus since 1995. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Senate is considering a bill that would increase training opportunities to meet the state’s growing demand for additional truck drivers. House Bill 222, which...

WASHINGTON — Commercial drivers transporting grocery and paper products for emergency restocking related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been reinstated in the latest extension of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hours-of-service (HOS) waiver. The extension, issued Aug. 11, extends Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 through Sept. 14, 2020. The declaration, initially enacted in March after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was previously set to expire Aug. 14. Under the extension, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 crisis are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal...

On this edition of the Dart Network Podcast, you’ll meet Scott Draper, the new driver behind the wheel of Dart’s Breast Cancer Awareness Truck. As you’ll hear, Scott felt a strong call to submit an application to fill the open seat of this special truck within the Dart company fleet. Scott’s new ride features decals of the iconic pink ribbon that has become the symbol of American Cancer Society’s ongoing Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. For Scott, the opportunity to drive this truck provides him with a rolling tribute to his mother and his sister. As you’ll hear Scott tell PodWheels Network...

In this edition of the Dart Network Podcast, we will begin a series of segments introducing you to Dart’s award winners for the Company Driver of the Year and the Independent Contractor of the Year. We are going to begin our series by placing the spotlight on Anthony Thomas. Anthony recently earned the award as the Independent Contractor of the Year for the Dart Network fleet. You’ll hear how his younger brother inspired him to become an owner-operator and how he encouraged Anthony to join the Dart Network. You’ll also hear Anthony discuss the relationship he’s built over the past decade...

In this edition of the Dart Network Podcast, we'll meet Guled as we continue our series of segments introducing you to Dart's award winners for the Company Driver of the Year and the Independent Contractor of the Year. Guled earned the title of the Independent Contractor of the Year for the Dedicated fleet. A native of Somalia who found the trucking industry in 2005, Guled became an owner-operator and, in 2012, he brought his talents to the Dart Network. Guled has been running in the Dedicated fleet and serving the same customer during his entire time with Dart. Also,...

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Schneider National Inc. released results for the second quarter of 2020 in late July, reporting drops in both operating revenue and income compared to 2019. The company’s operating revenues for April-June of this year were $1 billion, down from $1.2 billion in 2019, and adjusted income from operations dropped to $63.6 million for 2020 compared to $83.8 million last year. “During the second quarter, operating conditions varied across our diverse portfolio of services largely due to the differing effects of COVID-19,” said Mark Rourke, president and CEO of Schneider. Enterprise income from operations for the second quarter of...

In this edition of the IN-SITE 2020 podcast, we connect with ES President Jason Williams and Jeff Tacker, who is the Chief Operating Officer at ES. Jason and Jeff will be discussing how ES is making the necessary adjustments to meet the challenges and pursue the opportunities that have emerged as the trucking industry operates within the COVID-19 era. This interview also provides Jason and Jeff the opportunity to go into depth on the core principles of the programs and opportunities offered through ES. They discuss how ES works with professional drivers, owner-operators, contract drivers and fleet owners to...

In the second edition of the IN-SITE 2020 Podcast Series, we’ll be talking with Leah Shaver, the President & CEO of the National Transportation Institute. Leah is one of the trucking industry’s leading experts on compensation for professional drivers and owner-operators. For our IN-SITE 2020 Podcast interview, we talked with Leah to get her perspective on the impact of COVID-19 on the trucking market, and we also discussed the prospects for the future within the trucking market as we move forward. In addition, we asked Leah about the considerations for becoming an owner-operator in the current market, and we...

WILLISTON, N.D. — Wallwork Kenworth has relocated its Williston, North Dakota, operation to a larger full-service facility to meet the growing demand for Kenworth trucks and services in the western part of the state. The new facility rests on 8 acres at 14058 James Drive, just north of U.S. Route 2 on State Highway 85. The new dealership is just 7 miles west from its previous location. The new 27,000-square-foot building features a 12,000 square-foot service department with 12 service bays and a 10,000 square-foot parts department. According to Curry Quenette, vice president of Wallwork Kenworth, the new dealership is nearly...

In this debut edition of the IN-SITE 2020 Podcast Series, we will focus on some of the added business considerations and challenges that owner-operators, independent contractors and fleet owners must address as part of operating during a global pandemic. Colton Lawrence, the CEO of Equinox Business Solutions, will be our featured guest. Colton is an industry expert in the areas of tax, accounting and business advisory within trucking. As you’ll hear, Colton has a firm grasp of the key topics that are impacting trucking business owners and the professionals behind the wheel in 2020. In addition to discussing the CARES Act...

GREENBELT, Md. — This year’s International Roadcheck will be Sept. 9-11, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The Roadcheck, initially set for May, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. International Roadcheck is a 72-hour high-volume, high-visibility inspection and enforcement initiative in which CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conduct commercial motor vehicle and driver inspections at weigh or inspection stations, at designated fixed locations or as part of roving mobile patrols. During the three-day Roadcheck, law-enforcement personnel will inspect commercial motor vehicles for compliance with federal regulations and use the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria to identify...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — YRC Freight, part of YRC Worldwide, has expanded its regional next-day service to the mid-South region of the U.S. as well as to Waco, Texas. This addition of two-day shipping lanes is the latest step in YRC Worldwide’s enterprise network optimization strategy. “Through regional next-day service, our customers in Texas and the mid-South can access just-in-time scheduling that offers benefits of lowered inventory cost and fewer supply chain interruptions,” said Scott Ware, chief network officer. “Results have been very successful since we launched regional next-day service in Texas last fall, and it’s exciting to be expanding the service in six new...

WILMINGTON, N.C. — On Aug. 7, Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) celebrated a milestone for 19 students as they successfully graduated from the school’s truck-driver training program. Truck-driver training, formerly a curriculum program at the college, is now part of the school’s continuing education division, making it a more affordable and accessible option for prospective students. The truck-driver training program prepares students to drive tractor-trailers rigs, teaching them proper driving procedures, safe driver responsibility, commercial motor-vehicle laws and regulations, and the basic principles and practices for operating commercial vehicles. Graduates of the program are qualified to take the commercial driver’s...

In this episode we cover: Wild Ride in Florida | SuperRigs | Remembering Bill Mack Tucker Russ: Hey, truckers. I'm Tucker. A Florida man causes a stir as he takes a nine-mile ride on the hood of a semi truck. And the annual SuperRigs contest is going virtual and calling for entries. Is your rig super? Also, we'll pay tribute to the Midnight Cowboy, a longtime radio personality and friend to truck drivers, who passed away at the end of July. That's just a quick look at the stories we're covering on this edition of The Trucker News Channel. Tucker Russ:...

LOWELL, Ark. — J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. announced Aug. 11 that it has completed its first delivery using the Freightliner eCascadia, an all-electric Class 8 truck produced by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The transport, a 120-mile intermodal haul for Walmart, kicks off a three-month testing phase in which J.B. Hunt will integrate the eCascadia with its day-to-day fleet operations in Los Angeles. The eCascadia that J.B. Hunt is testing is part of the Freightliner Customer Experience Fleet, an initiative to provide DTNA customers with first-hand experience implementing electric vehicles within their operations. “J.B. Hunt is continually exploring innovative solutions such as...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Landstar System Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) reported revenue of $824 million for the second quarter of 2020, along with diluted earnings per share of 63 cents. That’s a 21% drop from the $1,045 million recorded during the second quarter of 2019 with diluted earnings per share of $1.53. Gross profit (revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) was $113.1 million during the second quarter this year, inclusive of the impact of the special pandemic relief payments made to Landstar’s business capacity owners (BCOs) and agents in April and May of 2020. Gross profit was $158.0 million in the...

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Kleinschmidt Inc., a provider of EDI (electronic data interchange) and supply-chain-integration solutions, has announced a technology partnership with Convoy, a digital freight network that uses machine learning and automation to connect shippers and carriers to move millions of truckloads. The collaboration, announced Aug. 5, provides Convoy with EDI connectivity solutions to more deftly satisfy the electronic document requirements of the digital freight process, such as shipper tenders, offer acceptance and invoicing. Through this business connection to shippers and shipping partners, Convoy can refine and expedite sending, receiving, and interpreting documents and data to help carriers find a...

PLOVER, Wisc. — Women In Trucking (WIT) has named Rochelle Montes as its August member of the month. Montes is chief import operations officer for Terminal Transfer Inc. in Portland, Oregon, as well as a military wife and the mother of two boys. Montes gained an interest in the logistics industry as a child in Yakutat, a commercial fishing community in southeastern Alaska that was accessible to the outside world only by boat or plane. Because of this, she said, her hometown was frequented mainly by fishermen and locals, and supplies were anxiously awaited by the community. “You grow up to...