Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Oct. 16, 2020:
Hours waiver extended for wildfire relief haulers in California, Oregon
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Western Service Center has extended the emergency declaration for wildfire relief haulers in California and Oregon, thus extending the hours of service waiver for qualifying truck drivers.
Declarations were first issued by the governors of each state in August, and FMCSA issued an extension to the state declarations on Sept. 10.
“Because conditions have not abated in these states, FMCSA is again extending the emergency declarations and associated regulatory relief,” the agency said.
The waiver applies to drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, goods, equipment and fuel into the states, or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the wildfires.
The waiver is now effective through Nov. 19.
Shell expands E-Fluids for battery-electric vehicles to commercial trucks
Shell announced Thursday it is expanding its specialized fluids portfolio – Shell E-Fluids – to support battery-electric and fuel cell-electric powertrains for commercial light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Shell launched its E-Fluids products for passenger vehicles in May 2019. With this expansion, manufacturers of electric vehicles ranging from passenger cars to vans to larger trucks and buses can use the products.
The Shell E-Fluids range for commercial vehicles consists of e-transmission fluids, e-greases and battery thermal fluids.
“Once added to the sealed environments of BEV or FCEV commercial vehicles, the fluids need to perform at optimum levels over the vehicle’s lifetime; this is why first fill is so important for electric vehicles,” said Carlos Maurer, executive vice president of global commercial, Shell. “We have used Shell gas to liquid (GTL) base oil technology for the Shell E-fluids portfolio because its low viscosity properties allow for higher efficiency in the vehicle’s powertrain. Our lubricants research laboratories have focused on delivering cutting-edge fluid solutions to meet the specific electric drivetrain challenges of temperature control, oxidation, copper erosion and thermal conductivity.”
Landstar opens new facility in Georgia
Landstar has announced the opening of its new 8,000 square-foot facility in Carnesville, Georgia.
Located at Exit 160 off I-85, the new location includes classrooms, a conference room and several convenient amenities for owner-operators leased to Landstar, such as a business center with free Wi-Fi, laundry, showers and breakrooms.
“The location has easy truck access for our owner-operators with multiple driver-focused businesses at the same exit in Carnesville,” said Rocco Davanzo, Landstar Transportation Logistics executive vice president of capacity development. “Landstar maintains facilities focused on its leased owner-operators across the United States and in Canada. These locations are designated places for independent owner-operators to connect with Landstar, network with others, and participate in continuous professional education to keep their businesses running smoothly.”
Landstar owner-operators who visit the new center also have access to the facility’s secured parking lot with more than 120 tractor-trailer combinations and 70 additional passenger vehicle spaces.
