CCJ Daily Dispatch, Dec. 23: Livestock haulers’ ELD exemption retained in government funding bill

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Updated Dec 24, 2020

Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020: 

Livestock, insect haulers retain ELD exemption
In addition to COVID-19 relief measures passed by Congress Monday, the massive bill passed by Congress – 5,593 pages, all told – also includes government funding provisions to stave off a government shutdown through September 2021. The government funding portion of the bill includes a provision that extends the ELD exemption for livestock and insect haulers.

Specifically, language in the bill bars any funds from the package from being used to implement, administer or enforce ELD requirements to drivers transporting livestock, as defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988, or insects.

The existing definition of “livestock,” from the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 as amended by the 2018 farm bill, include “cattle, elk, reindeer, bison, horses, deer, sheep, goats, swine, poultry (including egg-producing poultry), llamas, alpacas, live fish, crawfish, and other animals that are part of a foundation herd (including dairy producing cattle) or offspring.” FMCSA is currently in the process of updating the definition of livestock for the hours of service regulations.

The bill is in the process of being sent to President Trump’s desk to sign into law, but he threatened Tuesday night to veto the bill over certain provisions included in it.

Peterbilt 520EV eligible for Calif. voucher
The Peterbilt 520EV is now eligible for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Peterbilt 520EVs sold to customers in California are eligible for a $150,000 HVIP voucher. Customers and their participating dealers must meet all applicable project requirements identified in the HVIP Implementation Manual to receive a voucher.

“With the addition of the Model 520EV to the CARB HVIP Voucher program, all three Peterbilt battery-electric commercial vehicles sold in California are eligible for HVIP vouchers,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “This should dramatically help reduce purchasing costs for California-based companies looking to add Peterbilt EVs to their fleet.”

The Model 520EV is available for customer orders with deliveries expected to start in 2021.

ContainerPort Group acquires small fleet, opens new terminal
ContainerPort Group (CCJ Top 250, No. 89) acquired FSI, Inc., earlier this year and will formally welcome the company’s 120 independent contractors into CPG on Jan. 1, bringing CPG’s total truck count to over 1,300 independent contractors.

FSI operated several terminals in the Carolinas. These facilities, and the independent contractors that operate out of them, will consolidate and transition to the CPG brand as of Jan. 1.

Additionally, CPG announced the opening of a new terminal in Minneapolis on Jan. 4. The two-acre facility features secure storage and specialized equipment such as private 40-foot chassis and triaxles.

“With our existing network across the U.S., the expansion to Minneapolis just made sense,” says CPG President Richard McDuffie. “Our decision to open another location is a sign that our company is continuing to grow and add business, despite the circumstances that surrounded 2020. We would not have made this decision if we did not have support and commitment from our customers.”