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May 4 on-road diesel price averages
change since last week
Nebraska $2.756 (+.011)
National $2.854 (+.043)
Midwest $2.715 (+.024)
Rocky Mtn. $2.764 (+.033)
CNG price average (GGE, gas gallon equivalent)
Nebraska $1.95
National $2.11
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FMCSA updates
There have been several FMCSA proposed rulings open for comment and a ruling.
Final rule on Medical Certification Integration: A rule was recently published to streamline transmission of drivers' medical certifications from medical examiners to the State Driver's License Agencies. The intent of the process is to further stave off medical card fraud. The new rules, effective June 22, 2018, require MEs to electronically provide the result of driver medical certification exams to FMCSA who will then transmit this information to the SDLA for prompt placement on the driver’s Commercial Driver’s License Information System record. Drivers will no longer be required to submit their med card to the SDLA or to maintain a physical copy of the med card. Motor carriers will still be required to obtain an MVR for their drivers indicating medical certification and place it in the Driver Qualification file. Of particular concern to some motor carriers: while the rule does not require that MEs provide the medical long form to employers, it allows them to furnish this information as long as the employer has a signed consent agreement with the driver. A one page summary is available here.
Requests comments on ATA's rest break exemption request for certain hazmat carriers:
FMCSA has published a notice and request for comment on ATA’s application to exempt motor carriers and drivers that transport Hazardous Materials requiring security plans to meet the 30 minute rest break requirements in the hours of service rules. Carriers hauling placarded HM and certain agents and toxins are required to have security plans which typically require drivers to be in constant attendance of their loads. This conflicts with the HOS rest break requirement that drivers be free of all responsibility from the vehicle and its cargo for 30 minutes of each 8 hour on-duty period. ATA has proposed that these carriers be permitted to count “attendance time” toward the rest break requirement, even though such time would be classified as “on-duty, not driving.” Comments must be received by June 1.
Comments requested on possible Beyond Compliance Program: FMSCA published a notice in the Federal Register requesting input on the substance, benefit, and feasibility of a program designed to reward carriers for voluntarily adopting certain safety technologies or safety program best practices. Prompted by industry and law enforcement requests for action, the notice asks stakeholders to respond to six specific questions about what technologies or safety program best practices should be included, what types of incentives should be offered, and how the program might be administered. ATA supports a program to recognize fleets that exceed minimum requirements and voluntarily adopt emerging safety tools and technologies, and plans to file comments in support. Comments are due June 22, 2015
Proposed rule to allow insulin-treated diabetics to drive CMVs: FMCSA requested comments on a proposal to modify FMCSA’s minimum medical qualifications to allow insulin-treated diabetics to operate commercial motor vehicles. Currently, insulin-treated diabetics are required to request an exemption from the medical requirements in order to drive a CMV, a process that is time-consuming and requires additional evaluation by several medical specialists. FMCSA has issued over 1,000 such exemptions in the past year and a half. Under the proposal, drivers with stable, well-controlled insulin-treated diabetes could be certified by any medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners for a maximum of one year provided their “treating clinician” provides documentation that the condition is stable and controlled. Comments are due July 6, 2015.
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Register for the Nebraska Trucking Board of Directors Meeting & PAC Golf Fundraiser
It's time to meet and have some fun!
Thursday, May 21
Iron Horse Golf Club
900 Clubhouse Drive, Ashland
This year's speaker is Chief Dave Lorenzen with the Iowa Dept. of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement. He will provide training on Truckers Against Trafficking and share the Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement model.
9 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting
9:30 a.m. Program
11:00 a.m. Lunch
11:45 a.m. Golf scramble
4:45 p.m. Prizes
Register by May 18!
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ATRI research finds truck operations and safety adversely impacted by 34-hour restart provisions
Last week the American Transportation Research Institute released the results of a new analysis of the safety and operational impacts from the 34-hour restart provisions. ATRI analyzed an extensive truck GPS database to identify changes in truck travel by time-of-day and day of the week that may have occurred after the July 1, 2013 change to the Hours-of-Service restart provisions. ATRI also examined several years of pre- and post-July 1 federal truck crash data to quantify safety impacts resulting from the HOS rules change implemented by the FMCSA.
The crash data analysis showed a statistically significant increase in truck crashes after the July 1, 2013 rule change, specifically with injury and towaway crashes. In particular, the increase in injury and towaway crashes would be expected based on the shifting of trucks to more congested weekday travel due to increased traffic exposure.
“After many years of crash decreases, everyone knows our industry has experienced an uptick in crashes,” said Dean Newell, vice president, Safety of Maverick USA, Inc. and a member of ATRI's Research Advisory Committee. “This latest analysis from ATRI validates both changes in operations and crash risk that seem to be associated with the restart rule. Regulations should serve to improve safety, not create additional safety risks.”
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Register your professional drivers for the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships
Registration has officially opened for the 2015 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships Competition, taking place June 5-6 in Grand Island!
All the details to register are in the 2015 NTDC Registration packet. Sponsorship and volunteer forms are also in the packet.
Don't hesitate, register your professional drivers today!
Check us out on Facebook!
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Upcoming CDL changes
There will be significant changes on July 8, 2015 regarding the testing and issuance of Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). Most of these changes are the result of the 2011 federal CDL Testing Rule. A brief overview of the changes can be found below:
• Beginning July 8, 2014, LPC will no longer be a valid term for Commercial Learner’s Permits. The proper acronym for these documents will be CLP.
• All LPCs issued prior to July 8, 2015, will expire on July 8, 2015 to make way for the new testing requirements.
• All CLP/CDL applicants are required to show proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful status. A list of acceptable documents for proof of citizenship, lawful status, identification and principal address can be found on the DMV website at www.dmv.ne.gov.
• The issuance of a CLP is a precondition to the initial issuance of the CDL and to the upgrade of a CDL if the upgrade requires skills testing (passenger and school bus).
• Applicants must successfully complete appropriate written test(s) for the class and any endorsement on the CLP.
• In order to take skills tests for a CDL, drivers must first have a CLP and hold it for at least 14 days.
• CDL skills tests will be administered by appointment only. In order to schedule an appointment, drivers must hold a valid Nebraska CLP and the appointment made must be after the mandatory 14-day waiting period. Drivers can contact the DMV at402.471.7983 to make skills tests appointments. Drivers also have the option of being tested by a CDL Third Party Examiner for a fee.
• If a CLP expires and all three segments of the skills tests have not been passed for the CDL, any skills tests previously passed are invalid and ALL skills testing must be retaken.
• Skills testing must be completed sequentially in this order: Vehicle Inspection, Basic Control Skills, Road Test. If any segment is failed, the next test cannot be administered.
• Two new CDL restrictions will go on a CDL as a result of the vehicle used for testing:
E – No Manual Transmission equipped CMV. If you complete skills testing in a vehicle that has an automatic transmission or in which the driver is not responsible for 100% of the shifting, an E restriction will be placed on the CDL. Current CDL holders who do not have this restriction will not receive it if upgrading their license in a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
Z – No Full Air Brake equipped CMV. This is commonly referred to as Air over Hydraulic systems. Any CMV tested that has elements of the air brake system, but is not the standard systems used in most CMV’s with a full air brake system will get the Z CDL restriction. Current CDL holders who do not have this restriction will not receive it if upgrading their license in a vehicle with this type of braking system.
• CDL Third Party Examiners for a Nebraska training school may only administer the CDL Skills Tests to those students they did NOT provide skills tests training for.
• CDL Third Party Testers who are training schools may administer the CDL Skills Tests to out-of-state CLP holders. They must hold an CLP from their home state for at least 14 days before any skills tests can be administered to them. Nebraska DMV will transmit the test results to the other state and the individual will return to their home state to have the CDL issued.
Additional information can be found on the DMV website at: www.dmv.nebraska.gov.
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May 7 webinar: Learn the ABCs of ELCs
Help extend the life of your fleet's engines for different operating conditions. Join the webinar on May 7, 1 p.m. Central, to learn about the basics of Extended Life Coolants.
Register here today.
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Trucking & the economy in Numbers
1.1%: Truck Tonnage Index increase in March 2015
5%: Tonnage was up over March 2014
4%: New orders for durable goods jump in March 2015
6.1%: Existing home sales increase in March 2015
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Register your professional technicians for Nebraska SuperTech
Registration for Nebraska's Premier Skills Competition for Professional Commerical Vehicle Technicians has officially opened!
The competition takes placeThursday, July 23 at Central Community College in Hastings.
And we've added a Student Competition for 2015.
All the details to register are available on the SuperTech website. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Register your professional CMV technicians today!
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Upcoming Events:
- May 14: SMC Event: Waverly Scales Checks, Waverly, I-80 Scales
- May 16: Student Truck Driving Championships, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha
- May 21: Nebraska Trucking Board of Directors Meeting & Foundation Golf Event, Iron Horse Golf Club, Ashland
- June 2-4: CVSA's annual International Roadcheck, throughout U.S., Canada & Mexico
- June 5-6: Neb. Truck Driving Championships, Fonner Park, Grand Island
- June 20: Down Home Truck Show, 10am-4pm, Humboldt
- July 23: SuperTech 2015, Hastings CCC
- Aug. 1: 11th Annual Iowa-Nebraska Classic Truck Show, Sapp Bros. (I-80 exit 440), Omaha
- Aug. 11-14: National Truck Driving Championships, St. Louis, MO
- Sept. 4: Nebraska Logistics Council Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Outing, Tregarron Golf Course, Bellevue
- Sept. 18-19: Nebraska Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, Hastings & Grand Island
- Sept. 24-25: Neb. Trucking Management Conf. & Annual Membership Meeting, Omaha Marriott
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Join the conversation at Nebraska Trucking...
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