Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, March 6, 2024:
New pilot program launching for electric-truck rentals at SoCal ports
Two Volvo VNR Electric trucks will be used to launch the ONE Electric Truck Program pilot.Volvo Trucks
Two Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks will be utilized to launch the pilot ONE Electric Truck Program, which offers small drayage fleets in Southern California a three-month lease on the zero-tailpipe emission Volvo VNR Electric trucks.
The ONE Electric Truck Program was developed by Ocean Network Express (North America) Inc., (ONE) a global container shipping company that services the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, to facilitate the transition to zero-emission vehicles for small drayage fleets which are essential to the operation of the ports.
Volvo Trucks North America customer BoxLinks (member of LX Pantos) is ONE’s regional partner and purchased the two Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks. BoxLinks will manage the leasing contract and operations on the program that will provide small fleets the opportunity to experience the benefits of the battery-electric truck and determine if it is an operational fit for their fleet prior to making a purchase decision.
The ONE Electric Truck Program will manage the short-term rentals of electric trucks that are inclusive of charging, insurance, and the vehicle lease agreement. This comprehensive package is designed to make the transition to electric vehicles as seamless as possible for both independent operators and small fleets, Volvo said. Maintenance will be handled by Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer TEC Equipment – La Mirada and covered under the Volvo Gold Contract.
This new program will deploy two enhanced Volvo VNR Electric trucks that feature a six-battery pack configuration with a total battery capacity of 565 kWh. The battery-electric truck offers up to a 250kW DC charge rate that can achieve an 80% charge in about 90 minutes.
The two Volvo VNR Electric trucks were funded in part by CARB’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).
Goodyear names 2023 Highway Hero award winners
Timothy VanNostrand (left) and Elijah Ramos (right) were named the 2023 Goodyear Highway Heroes.Goodyear
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on Monday announced two winners in the 40th anniversary Goodyear Highway Hero program. Since 1983, Goodyear has recognized commercial drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to keep the highways safe by acting courageously for the good of others on roadways across the U.S. and Canada.
In June 2023, Timothy VanNostrand, an owner-operator of his own logging transport company from Northville, New York, turned hero. During a New York State Trooper traffic stop that escalated into a shootout, VanNostrand sprang into action. He used his logging truck to block the suspect’s escape, preventing a potentially disastrous situation.
In those intense 12 minutes, gunfire exchanged between the trooper and the assailant. The suspect fled into nearby woods, pursued by police. Thanks to VanNostrand’s swift response, the impact was contained, sparing motorists and pedestrians.
"I’m just grateful to have been in the right place at the right time and place to prevent the situation from being much, much worse, as my seemingly normal Friday route turned something that you only see on television,” VanNostrand said.
In September 2023, Elijah Ramos, a driver for Ryder System (CCJ Top 250, No. 12), was on his morning route in Victorville, California. As he drove through a remote desert area, he witnessed an SUV lose control, cross multiple lanes of traffic and crash into a field. Ramos jumped to respond, assessing the situation and promptly alerting his dispatcher. He stayed with the injured young woman until help arrived, ensuring a swift response in the isolated location.
“Since it was such a remote area, it could have been a long time until help arrived,” Ramos said. “I was glad to be there when it happened and to call for help quickly.”
Afterward, he went back to work and resumed his route.
VanNostrand and Ramos will receive prizes from Goodyear in recognition of their heroic actions. After a review from a panel of judges, two additional finalists were recognized as runners-up and receive their own Goodyear prizes. The runners-up are:
Joshua Day, an ABF Freight driver from Potsdam, Ohio, sprang into action when a motorist’s truck and camper spun out of control, flipped and landed on the side of a busy road. Day swiftly pulled over, assisted the injured driver and ensured their safety by moving them away from a hazardous propane leak until first responders arrived.
Russel Peasley, a Brakebush Transportation driver from Necedah, Wisconsin, witnessed a car veer off a busy interstate, flip and land in a field. He stopped and joined other drivers to lift the car and rescue the trapped driver. After freeing her, Peasley stayed by her side, providing comfort until emergency medical services arrived.
Bill introduced to extend weight limit waivers during emergencies
U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota) and Jim Costa (D-California) recently introduced the Modernizing Operations for Vehicles in Emergencies (MOVE) Act to provide flexibility and certainty to our supply chains in times of emergency.
In times of emergency or disaster, states have the authority to waive federal weight limits on the interstate system, allowing the expeditious delivery of relief supplies.
Many companies used waivers during the pandemic to secure the supply chain and help American families access food, water and products important to COVID-19 prevention, like cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products. Waivers are similarly used during natural disasters to provide much-needed relief supplies to impacted communities.
Under current law, special permits may be issued if the President has declared the emergency to be a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Many emergencies that require shipper flexibility do not meet that standard, including COVID-19, which didn’t meet that test and legislation was needed to grant flexibility.
The MOVE Act modernizes the authority for vehicle weight waivers in cases of natural disasters, disease, and other emergencies that negatively impact commerce and supply chains. Specifically, the legislation would:
Expand the circumstances under which the federal government would allow a state to waive federal weight limits on the interstate system to include declarations by governors, including declarations regarding disease and declarations regarding challenging supply chain conditions
Allow declarations to remain in effect for 270 days to allow for time needed to respond to emergencies and challenging conditions, compared to the 120-day maximum under current law
“When hospitals and nursing homes are low on medicine, families are running out of food and water, and electricity is nonexistent, the last thing communities responding to natural disasters should have to worry about is bureaucratic red tape delaying truck drivers from moving relief supplies as quickly as possible,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “We commend Congressman Johnson on introducing this commonsense measure that will allow trucks to expedite the delivery of relief wherever and whenever it is needed.”
