Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023:
Shippers’ conditions turned positive in September
Declining diesel prices helped swing FTR's Shippers Conditions Index into positive territory in September.FTR
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) moved into positive territory in September to a reading of 0.35 from the previous -2.7 in August. The slowing of the recent surge in diesel prices helped shippers as market conditions otherwise were mostly stable, the firm said.
“The neutral reading just above zero shows a relatively stable result, but it moves the index back into positive territory on an easing of diesel price,” said Todd Tranausky, vice president of rail and intermodal at FTR. “Otherwise, the market is little changed. Moving forward, it is likely that diesel prices will determine what the change in the index will be for the next few months.”
[Related: Trucking conditions remain difficult despite September improvement]
Michigan’s ‘Eyes on 94’ enforcement blitz ongoing this week
Michigan State Police (MSP) motor carrier enforcement officers will be focusing their enforcement on I-94 in a coordinated enforcement operation this week.
Michigan’s operation, dubbed “Eyes on 94,” seeks to reduce commercial vehicle crashes along the I-94 corridor. The statewide effort is taking place through Friday, Dec. 1.
During this initiative, motor carrier officers will focus on violations by commercial vehicles that are most likely to contribute to a crash, including speeding, following too close, improper passing, distracted driving and improper lane use.
“This enforcement effort is a great example of the commitment by the MSP to reach crash reduction goals while increasing traffic safety,” said Capt. Richard Arnold, commander of the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. “We hope to increase awareness by means of high visibility enforcement on the I-94 corridor, which is prone to weather-related crashes involving interstate commercial vehicle drivers this time of year.”
The “Eyes on 94” initiative is part of a statewide Drive Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety campaign, which is based on a national strategy on highway safety that seeks to reduce the number of traffic deaths nationwide.
J.J. Keller launches individualized compliance update service
J. J. Keller & Associates announced Tuesday the launch of its new Live Regulatory Update Service aimed at helping fleets understand compliance changes that impact their business.
The service provides companies with a customized, interactive, virtual presentation delivered by a J. J. Keller subject matter expert who helps staff understand compliance, in addition to trends and best practices.
“Now it’s easy for safety professionals to educate themselves, their employees and even management on the evolving regulatory landscape that could be putting their operation at risk,” said J. J. Keller Director of DOT Consulting Sean Nebert. “Based on the popularity of the live seminars we’ve been conducting for years, this new service’s convenient virtual presentation format allows our subject matter experts to have an interactive discussion on specific compliance topics that are important to an organization.”
The service can cover regulations in the areas of fleet transportation, workplace safety, environmental hazards, human resources and more, depending on a company’s needs.
In addition to the live presentation, companies also receive a copy of the presentation with transcripts, a recording of the presentation for those who can’t attend, and access to J. J. Keller’s Expert Help service.
“Staying on top of regulatory changes isn’t just complicated, it’s time consuming,” Nebert added. “Now safety professionals can be sure they’re aware of new requirements, share that knowledge with employees and save time doing it.”
FedEx again delivering Christmas trees to military families
For the 19th year, FedEx Freight will deliver Christmas trees for the Christmas Spirit Foundation's annual Trees for Troops program.FedEx
This year, FedEx Freight (CCJ Top 250, No. 1) will deliver the 300,000th tree for the Christmas Spirit Foundation’s annual Trees for Troops program.
The milestone tree is set to arrive at Fort Liberty on Dec. 1, alongside nearly 16,000 trees slated for families at over 90 military bases across the United States this December.
“Every year, the FedEx Freight team puts in tireless effort to support Trees for Troops and the Christmas Spirit Foundation. This milestone 300,000th tree delivery is a direct reflection of our dedication to both causes,” said Lance Moll, President and CEO, FedEx Freight. “Through our industry-leading transportation network, we are honored to give back to local communities and military families whose values have always been closely tied to the core mission of our company.”
Since 2005, FedEx Freight has supported the Trees for Troops program, an initiative that delivers farm-grown Christmas trees to domestic and international U.S. military bases. This long-standing collaboration has become a cherished tradition for FedEx Freight, with drivers logging over 600,000 miles for tree deliveries over the years.
“This program started on a crazy idea and started small. We delivered 4,300 trees to only five bases that first year,” said Wendy Richardson, Chair of the Christmas Spirit Foundation Board of Trustees. “It’s hard to believe we’re now going to exceed 300,000 total trees since we began working with FedEx 19 years ago. The commitment and dedication of all involved is truly inspiring. We love providing Christmas spirit to the men and women and their families in our military, one tree at a time.”
