Trucking news and briefs for Friday, May 5, 2023:
U.S. ending COVID-19 border restrictions
More than seven months after Canada ended its cross-border COVID-19 vaccination requirements, the United States has followed suit, with the White House announcing May 1 it is ending border vaccination requirements for non-U.S. travelers entering the country.
The requirements will be lifted at the end of the day on May 11, when the COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security announced that they will start the process to end their vaccination requirements for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities and certain noncitizens at the land border.
“Beginning May 12, 2023, DHS will no longer require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request,” the department said. “DHS intends to rescind these Title 19 travel restrictions in alignment with the end of the Public Health Emergency and the termination of the Presidential Proclamation on air travel.”
The Biden administration said its “vaccination requirements helped ensure the safety of workers in critical workforces, including those in the healthcare and education sectors, protecting themselves and the populations they serve, and strengthening their ability to provide services without disruptions to operations.” The White House added that, “while vaccination remains one of the most important tools in advancing the health and safety of employees and promoting the efficiency of workplaces, we are now in a different phase of our response when these measures are no longer necessary.”
Cummins-Meritor relaunches Core Management System
Cummins-Meritor announced Wednesday the relaunch of its Core Management System – an updated platform that offers core return scheduling, detailed core eligibility reporting, core return reporting, core policies and core inspection criteria that enables worn-out parts to be reconditioned or remanufactured and sold again in the secondary market.
In the enhanced core system includes new dashboard features, simplified core return scheduling and updated help tutorials, among other feature enhancements to boost performance and create a more user-friendly experience.
Doug Dole, Cummins-Meritor General Manager of Product Strategy said Cummins’ 2022 acquisition of Meritor allowed for strengthened capabilities in the manufacturing space.
J.B. Hunt recognizes multi-million-mile safe drivers
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) recently celebrated 84 company drivers for achieving two-plus million safe driving miles in 2022 at its annual Million Mile event in Lowell, Arkansas.
The company awarded the elite group of drivers a total of more than $1.2 million in safe driving bonuses for their career-defining achievements.
“These drivers are the pride of our fleet,” said Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of contract services at J.B. Hunt. “The amount of hard work, commitment and attention to detail that goes into achieving a million safe miles is such an impressive accomplishment, and these drivers have surpassed that at least twice. Our drivers never cease to amaze me."
This year’s class includes four drivers who achieved four million safe miles and one driver – only the second in company history – who surpassed five million. Since the inception of the Million Mile program in 1996, more than 4,600 drivers have been recognized for achieving at least one million safe miles. Each driver’s name is etched into the Million Mile Wall at corporate headquarters. On average, it takes a driver approximately 7-10 years to reach one million safe miles.
In total, J.B. Hunt has awarded more than $37 million in safety bonuses through the Million Mile program. Bonus amounts start at $5,000 for achieving one million miles and double for each million after that, up to $50,000.
