Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024:
NHTSA sets next four underride advisory committee meetings
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced the dates for the next four meetings of its Advisory Committee on Underride Protection (ACUP), which is tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on safety regulations to reduce underride crashes and fatalities related to underride crashes.
The next four ACUP meetings will be held Feb. 8, March 13, April 24, and May 22 -- each from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern. Pre-registration is required to attend each online meeting. A link allowing access to each meeting will be distributed to registrants within 24 hours of the meeting start time.
Each meeting will be open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom. Information and registration for the meetings will be available on the NHTSA website at least one week in advance of each meeting, NHTSA said.
The committee during the Feb. 8 meeting will discuss rear underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies, and the committee’s recommendations to the DOT. The March 13 meeting will cover side underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies and the committee’s recommendations.
The April 24 meeting will cover front underride crashes and prevention and mitigation technologies, and the final scheduled meeting on May 22 will cover underride data needs.
NHTSA last year published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking exploring possibly requiring side underride guards on trailers.
[Related: Side underride guards the costliest trucking mandate ever?]
Nebraska waives HOS regs for heating fuel haulers
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Jan. 12 issued an executive order temporarily waiving the maximum driving time limits (49 Code of Federal Regulations 395.3) for drivers hauling residential heating fuels and oils or fuel used to generate power for residential heat into or within the state.
Pillen’s order said the state “is experiencing extreme cold weather creating unexpected demand for heating fuel and oils needed to support the health and welfare” of residents.
Drivers utilizing the waiver are required to carry a copy of the order as evidence of their direct support to the state during the emergency.
Pillen said the order “will help reduce delays to ensure power districts have the fuel reserves needed to keep up with surging demand.” It is effective immediately and will remain in effect through Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m.
Western Star trucks recalled for parking brake issue
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling approximately 149 Western Star trucks in which a defect in the inversion valve may delay the engagement of the parking brake, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents said this causes the trucks to fall out of compliance with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Affected units include certain 2023-’24 Western Star 4900 trucks and 2023 Western Star 6900 trucks.
The remedy to fix the issue is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 10. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL992. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-013.
Polaris names next president
Polaris Transportation Group, CCJ’s 2020 Innovator of the Year, has named Richard Kunow as the company's President.
Richard Kunow
Dave Cox will hold the position of Polaris CEO. In this role, he will be at the forefront of leading the company's growth and visionary initiatives, sustainability efforts, workplace culture, community-focused programs and technological advancements.
Over his years with Polaris, Kunow has made significant achievements in establishing the company's operational resiliency, including maintaining rapid growth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, improving visibility, warehousing efficiencies and the overall customer experience through digitization and an Energy Savings plan that has resulted in approximately 30% savings across all service locations.
Kunow brings over 35 years of senior management experience to his new position as President. Since beginning his professional career with the Canadian Coast Guard, he has dedicated his career to strategic business development and execution with some of the most prominent worldwide organizations including PepsiCo, Maple Leaf Foods, DHL and Walmart.
[Related: CCJ’s 2020 Innovator of the Year: Polaris Transportation Group using technology to automate paperwork, customs]
Odyssey Logistics names new Chief Commercial Officer
Multimodal logistics provider Odyssey Logistics has appointed Omar Shamsie as its Chief Commercial Officer.
Shamsie will focus on driving strategic sales growth, vertical market development and cross-sell initiatives to deepen customer relationships and drive new business.
“Bringing Omar on board is a significant step for us,” said Hans Stig Moller, CEO of Odyssey Logistics. “His expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate our enterprise clients’ operations and serve them more strategically. Omar’s approach is not just about technology; it’s about understanding and solving the real-world complexities our clients face. With his leadership, we’re poised to deliver more holistic solutions and proactive support, helping our clients navigate market challenges with confidence.”
Shamsie’s appointment is a capstone on Odyssey’s recent advances in maximizing its multimodal offering and making strategic investments in technology, the company said.
Before joining Odyssey, Shamsie worked at Maersk, holding several senior international leadership positions in 10 different countries during his three decades of service with the company. He was most recently the Area Managing Director of Maersk in Canada and prior to that the President of Maersk Line’s North America region based in New Jersey.
3PL ODW Logistics merges business units
Third-party logistics provider ODW Logistics on Tuesday announced the strategic merger of its Transportation Management business unit with its Contract Logistics business unit.
Now under common ownership, this cohesive integration marks a pivotal move to provide clients with an integrated logistics offering, emphasizing operational efficiencies and supply chain transparency, the company said.
With a legacy dating back to 1971, ODW Logistics has been a trusted provider of warehousing, distribution and asset-based transportation solutions, serving leading brands across the United States. In 2009, the company expanded its portfolio through a joint venture, establishing ODW LTS (Logistics Transportation Services) specializing in freight management, brokerage, and managed transportation solutions.
Now, ODW LTS, co-founded by John Guggenbiller, enters a new chapter by merging with ODW Logistics under a unified ownership group, recognized as ODW Logistics, Inc. Having guided ODW LTS through 15 years of remarkable growth, John Guggenbiller is set to retire in 2024.
Ted Nikolai, president of ODW Logistics, has been named Group President of ODW Logistics and will oversee both business units. Dave Giblin, Vice President of ODW Logistics, has been appointed Executive Vice President to lead the transportation management division.
