Business

Nationalized ABC test would ice trucking’s independent contractor model

A bill making its way through the U.S. House would follow in the footsteps of California’s A.B. 5 law passed in late 2019 by severely curtailing the ability of owner-operators to haul freight for larger motor carriers.

March 8, 2021

The so-called ABC test institutes a three-point criteria for determining whether a worker can be classified as an independent contractor. For trucking, that relates to loads that motor carriers can contract to independent contractor drivers, such as leased owner-operators. The B portion of the ABC test is widely interpreted as prohibiting motor carriers from contracting with such owner-operators. The PRO Act, introduced in Congress last month in both chambers of Congress, would institute a national ABC test criteria for determining worker classification.

Trucking employment slipped in February -- but spot rates rallied

Trucking saw its first dip in payroll jobs since last April, but rates on the spot market rallied again in February. Also, TMC Transportation founder Harrold Annett passed away this week; Mack, Volvo will now allow unlimited OTA parameter updates; more.

March 5, 2021

Truck Highway Jobs

Small-fleet owners charged for log app tampering, lying to investigators after fatal crash

Two owners of a small Massachusetts-based fleet were charged for tampering with logs and lying to investigators after a fatal crash. Also, CARB vouchers for three battery-electric Kenworth trucks; new freight on Loadsmart; and Averitt boosts driver pay.

March 4, 2021

Ntsb Newhampshire Motorcycle Crash

Canada plans soft enforcement of ELD mandate beginning June 12

Canada's Transport Minister announced a "progressive enforcement period" for the country's ELD mandate beginning June 12. Also: Diesel prices top $3 for first time since early 2020; legislation would help bring women to trucking; and more PrePass sites.

March 3, 2021

Connectivity, rapid fulfillment services help carriers fill market gaps

The disruption caused by COVID-19 exposed how important it is to have a supply chain that is agile, and that can respond as needs change.

March 2, 2021

A. Duie Pyle has seen an increase in the amount of service-sensitive B2B freight needing smaller vehicles for residential deliveries.

Workforce development

Improve communication skills to de-stress, retain drivers

Driver survey comments mostly focus on dispatchers and 'it isn't likely to be positive.'

March 2, 2021

Quimby Truck Shot I 40

TCA's annual convention rescheduled for later this year

Truckload 2021: Las Vegas will now be held in September instead of April. Also, Michigan enacted its spring weight restrictions on March 1; Dana acquired a software firm to boost electrification; Hydrogen fuel cell assembly line in the works; and more.

March 2, 2021

Michigan's spring weight restrictions took effect in the shaded areas on March 1.

Safety groups' challenge of HOS changes on hold

A petition challenging the hours of service regulations that took effect at the end of September 2020 is on hold after a court granted a request by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to hold the case in abeyance.

March 1, 2021

Hours Highway Truck

Tech insurance startup seeking to streamline process for fleets

Koffie Labs bills itself as "a digital insurer purpose-built for the next generation of trucking and transportation, and "the first insurtech to integrate safety technology into underwriting, pricing and loss control."

February 28, 2021

Koffie COO Mike Dorfman and CEO Ian White founded an insurtech focused on reinventing the trucking and transportation markets and have raised $4.5 million in venture financing.

Konexial intros new AI-powered dashcam system

Konexial launched a new video system that features road- and driver-facing dashcams, live telemetry data and more. Also: A former Navistar exec has joined a self-driving truck tech firm; and Werner opened a new Florida terminal.

February 26, 2021

Konexial's new My20 LogiCam Ai provides views of both the driver and the road, along with live telemetry data.

12 months in, two fleets recall the ups and downs of trucking in a pandemic

Last spring, CCJ talked to dozens of fleets about how the COVID-19 outbreak was impacting their daily operations, their business opportunities and their personnel. We’re catching up with some of those same fleets a year later to see how they’re faring.

February 26, 2021

Bee-Line Transport operates a 60-truck regional fleet out of Houston, Texas. When we caught up with safety director James Jeter this week to recap the past year, the fleet was fresh off dealing with last week's torrential weather across Texas and other parts of the Southeast. 'It was almost a total shutdown,' he said. 'We got people home or to a place where they could ride it out. Everybody's safe -- no accidents, no problems. We were pretty worn, though. We spent hours on the phone and through messaging systems keeping up with everybody.'

Randall-Reilly appoints Matt Reilly as new CEO

Matt Reilly is a three-time CEO who brings more than 25 years of relevant experience in technology and business services to his new role. Most recently, he led a data science company in the marketing technology industry.

February 25, 2021

POLL: Were you audited in 2020?

Was it conducted off-site? Did you receive a safety rating or a non-ratable outcome? Weigh in here if you have as yet to participate in this poll looking at audit outcomes among Overdrive readers amid the FMCSA's new off-site focus for audits.

February 24, 2021

Offsite Audits 2020

Yellow looking to hire 1,500 drivers, open trucking school network

Yellow Corporation announced its plan to hire 1,500 truckers and open 12 driving schools in the coming months. Also: AscendTMS integrates with Uber Freight digital freight network; and Wilson Logistics gets a waiver for certain pre-CDL drivers.

February 23, 2021

Mack makes driver-activated OTA updates standard on select models

The driver download activation feature is factory-equipped on models built beginning Nov. 30, 2020 at Lehigh Valley Operations, in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

January 14, 2021

Mack-OTA-update-2021-01-14-08-13

Workforce development

Roadmaster staying ahead of driver turnover trends

Driver turnover was down in 2020. One carrier is attacking turnover in a hot freight market to continue the trend.

February 23, 2021

Tri-State Motor Transit has developed strategies to lower driver turnover at important milestones.

New HOS regs a boon for short haul segment

One of the bigger changes left behind by the Trump administration for trucking has opened up more opportunities for short haul trucking – allowing them more time on the road and relieving some carriers of ELD requirements.

February 20, 2021

FMCSA suspends HOS regs for winter storm relief haulers in 33 states, D.C.

FCMSA has suspended hours of service regs for carriers providing direct relief to 33 states and Washington, D.C., impacted by recent winter storms. Also: A carrier announced a new pay program allowing drivers to keep seniority from prior fleets.

February 19, 2021

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The so-called ABC test institutes a three-point criteria for determining whether a worker can be classified as an independent contractor. For trucking, that relates to loads that motor carriers can contract to independent contractor drivers, such as leased owner-operators. The B portion of the ABC test is widely interpreted as prohibiting motor carriers from contracting with such owner-operators. The PRO Act, introduced in Congress last month in both chambers of Congress, would institute a national ABC test criteria for determining worker classification.

Nationalized ABC test would ice trucking’s independent contractor model

A bill making its way through the U.S. House would follow in the footsteps of California’s A.B. 5 law passed in late 2019 by severely curtailing the ability of owner-operators to haul freight for larger motor carriers.

This Freightliner Cascadia is one of more than 50 that Zeller Transportation uses in its East Coast and midwest runs hauling refrigerated loads.

50-truck fleet owner, and still driver, recounts a strange, tough year

Fleets are using new online platforms to collaborate, even with competitors, to find new markets for unused trailer space and equipment.

New tech creates 'sharing economy' for fleets

Efficient document management and digitization are becoming vital to the survival strategy of motor carriers.

Digitizing paper for trucking success

GOODYEAR BRINGS ADVANCED TIRE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TO NORFOLK SOUTHERN

GOODYEAR BRINGS ADVANCED TIRE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TO NORFOLK SOUTHERN

Get all the info on the top 250 trucking companies in America

View, sort and download the trucking industry’s most comprehensive ranking of for-hire carriers in North America, based on a blend of metrics including fleet size, annual revenue and number of drivers.

Take Control of Toll: How Violations Work and How to Minimize Fleet Impact

With the rapid adoption of cashless tolling across the country and the associated benefit in transponder deployment for operations and the company’s bottom line, it is now more important than ever for fleets to develop an informed toll management strategy