Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Dec. 29, 2023:
DOT increases fines to keep up with inflation
The Department of Transportation on Thursday published a final rule announcing increased fines for its agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration -- an annual move required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act.
The new fines were calculated, as required by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, by multiplying the penalty amount by the percent change between the October 2023 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the October 2022 CPI-U. This year, that percentage change is 1.03241.
The new fine amounts for FMCSA, which can be seen here as well as below, are effective immediately.
On-the-job fatalities increased in transportation in 2022
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported this month in its annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries that the nation's transportation and warehousing industry had the most on-the-job fatalities of any category of workers.
In 2022, 1,620 workers in what the bureau classifies as "transportation and material moving occupations" died. That's an 8% increase from 2021, when there were 1,523 fatalities.
In 2022, the number of fatalities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was 934 and for light truck drivers it was 95.
Of that number of heavy truck and tractor-trailer driver fatalities:
- 747 were from actual transportation incidents
- 56 were from exposure to hazardous materials or environments
- 29 were from violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 27 were from falls, slips or trips
In all, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded in the U.S. in 2022, a 5.7-percent increase from 5,190 in 2021, according to the bureau's census. That equates to a worker death every 96 minutes, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Averitt delivers more than 15,000 cards to overseas soldiers
Averitt employees signed more than 15,000 Christmas and holiday cards throughout 2023 as part of a Dallas radio station's Michelle’s “10,000 for the Troops” program.Averitt
Averitt (CCJ Top 250, No. 22) associates this holiday season by delivered more than 15,000 Christmas and Holiday cards to soldiers stationed overseas, the company announced.
The effort was coordinated as part of the Hawkeye & Michelle’s “10,000 for the Troops” program, organized by New Country 96.3 radio station in Dallas, Texas.
Averitt's commitment to supporting the U.S. military was showcased through the donation of 15,101 personalized cards, far surpassing the radio station’s goal of 10,000.
As part of Averitt’s year-round Team Up Community Challenge, associates based in the company’s locations in Texas actively participated in signing cards throughout the year. Averitt’s Team Up Community Challenge is an initiative where employees volunteer with organizations throughout their local communities – a process that’s served 220-plus organizations in nearly 100 communities so far.
Averitt’s involvement in the program dates back to 2022, when Averitt associates signed approximately 1,000 cards in one week after hearing about the card drive on a local radio broadcast. During the card drop-off, Averitt learned that the station was facing logistical challenges for delivering the cards. Without hesitation, Averitt’s Dallas team stepped in to help.
In 2023, Averitt became an official sponsor of the “10,000 for the Troops” program to continue to help spread holiday cheer to those serving our country abroad.
“Being far from home is challenging no matter the season, and these personalized cards serve as a connection to the warmth and love of home,” said Gary Sasser, chairman and CEO of Averitt, who served in the Marine Corps Reserves. “We want them to know that we are thinking of them and appreciate what they do for our country.”
