Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024:
Climate United, Forum Mobility intro new drayage EV leasing program
The new program will begin for fleets operating at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.Forum Mobility
Climate United on Tuesday announced a new program to offer affordable leasing options to small fleets and independent operators to lower operational costs and reduce air pollution in port communities, beginning at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles with the intention to expand nationally.
Leveraging a $6.97 billion award from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean Investment Fund, Climate United Fund intends to invest up to $250 million to purchase up to 500 Class 8 electric trucks, making it the largest single order of electric trucks in U.S. history. This program will accelerate the growth of electric truck manufacturing and battery technology innovation that is needed to deploy zero-emission, heavy-duty vehicles in communities across America, the organization said.
Forum Mobility Vice President Jacqueline Torres said small fleets are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] to get pre-qualified for the program. Fleets with between 5 and 20 trucks will get priority, Torres noted, but fleets outside that range are encouraged to reach out, as well.
"Electric drayage trucks cost less to operate, but high upfront costs make it difficult for independent owner-operators and small fleets to transition to all-electric," said Beth Bafford, CEO of Climate United. "Through tax credits, incentives, and attractive financing, we are significantly reducing a cost barrier to sustain small businesses and help them lead the transition to electric vehicles.”
Climate United is partnering with California-based Forum Mobility to develop a program that meets the needs of small fleet operators. Forum Mobility is building a network of staffed and secure electric truck charging depots in California ports and along common freight routes, and provides charging services to help fleets navigate the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Elemental Impact, a non-profit investor in climate technologies, is further assisting Forum Mobility with policy support, community engagement, and additional wrap-around program services.
California regulation requires all of California's drayage fleet of approximately 33,000 trucks to be zero-emission by 2035. Forum Mobility's partnership with Climate United will help ensure small operators are not left behind in that transition.
"For zero-emission battery-electric truck deployments to scale, cost has to be at the forefront of any discussion," said Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association (HTA). "HTA appreciates innovative solutions that can help support fleets in this push for zero-emission. It is always encouraging to see a program that reduces upfront costs by pairing both infrastructure and the truck together. They are inexorably intertwined, you can't have one without the other and when the two are combined, it solves a lot of challenges for carriers."
Former HHG moving company owner ordered to forfeit property
A member of a nationwide moving company scam was recently ordered to forfeit property as part of a court settlement.
On Oct. 3, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio entered into a settlement agreement with Andrey Shuklin for a Final Order of Forfeiture. The order requires Shuklin to pay $36,481.58, which will be substituted for real property.
According to the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, an investigation revealed that from April 2013 until July 2018, Shuklin, along with other members of the enterprise, controlled several moving companies that defrauded, extorted, and stole customers' household goods.
After loading customers' goods onto a moving truck, the moving enterprise would increase the price of the move and hold the goods hostage until customers paid the inflated prices. Some customer loads were not delivered at all.
The enterprise also charged customers for moving more cubic footage of household goods than they actually used.
Shuklin was one of 12 individuals charged in 2018 for their roles in moving company scams. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to conspiring in a racketeering enterprise to defraud individuals throughout the U.S.
Drivewyze weigh station bypass integrated in another ELD
Drivewyze, by Fleetworthy, has announced it has partnered with EZ LYNK to provide EZ LYNK ELD mobile app customers with integrated access to Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass.
EZ LYNK will also offer Drivewyze Free, which provides driver safety notifications.
Drivewyze seamlessly integrates into the EZ LYNK ELD app -- no transponders are required. When activated, Drivewyze transmits safety scores, registration, and tax compliance information to weigh stations, which then calculates the information against the bypass criteria established by its state or province. If the carrier and vehicle pass the criteria, at one mile out, the driver receives permission to bypass the site. The better the fleet’s safety score, the more bypasses typically granted. Through Drivewyze PreClear, EZ LYNK customers can receive bypass opportunities at close to 900 locations in 48 states and provinces.
Drivewyze Free provides essential messaging, including heads-up warnings for High-Rollover risk areas, Low Bridges, Mountain alerts (steep grade ahead; chain-up/brake check stations; and runaway ramps), and Rest Area information (truck parking availability). It also provides real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks.
[Related: Bestpass-Fleetworthy acquires Drivewyze]
