Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, March 12, 2024:
Bill lets Mississippi commodity haulers use the interstate
Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has secured a provision in the Transportation – HUD Appropriations Bill, signed into law last week, that allows unprocessed agricultural commodities, including raw or unfinished forest products like logs, pulpwood, biomass and wood chips – at current Mississippi state weight limit of 88,000 pounds – to use the interstate highway within Mississippi state lines.
"Removing these heavy trucks from Mississippi's state and rural roads is a matter of safety, and I think this needed change will improve public safety and commerce in our state," said Sen. Hyde-Smith, whos bill had the backing of the Mississippi Loggers Association, the Mississippi Forestry Association, and the Farm Bureau Federation of Mississippi.
The legislation does not increase the weight of trucks, or introduce heavier trucks to the roadways. It only allows trucks currently operating at the state authorized weights to access the safest route and allows them to divert from less direct rural routes that required them to drive through small towns, school zones, pedestrian areas, and residential neighborhoods. These trucks and weights have been legally operating on rural and state road systems across the state of Mississippi and other states.
Many states require these trucks stick to lower speed surface roads but there have been a handful of legislative reforms allowing operators to use federal interstate system where available when that is a safer, more reasonable option. New England states allow agricultural product trucks permitted for higher weights to transit the interstate systems. Minnesota allows agricultural products to be transported at state maximum weights along a 23-mile interstate transportation corridor. Wisconsin and North Carolina interstate segments, newly incorporated into the interstate system, are grandfathered in at the prior (higher) state weight limits.
DTNA UAW workers okay work stoppage
More than 7,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) union workers at Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) manufacturing sites in three states have voted to authorize a strike if necessary if-or-when their current labor deal expires April 26.
The measure passed by 96% and covers assembly workers in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built Buses. Work stoppage authorizations are a matter of routine in labor negotiations and simply allow a union's elected bargaining committee to call a strike if warranted.
DTNA declined to comment Monday but previously said it looked forward "to continuing good faith CBA negotiations with our UAW partners."
In a media campaign launched in late February, UAW workers at DTNA sites in Cleveland, Mount Holly, Gastonia and High Point, North Carolina, laid bare their frustration with a workplace that's "not like it used to be." Employees interviewed for the campaign by UAW cited the need to work additional jobs to make ends meet, wages out of synch with the pace of inflation, and a lack of job security, among other concerns.
UAW scored several high-profile labor contract wins across the U.S. automotive manufacturing sector last year, and also kicked off a nearly month-and-a-half long work stoppage at Mack Trucks facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
Westport, Volvo sign joint venture deal
Westport Fuel Systems on Monday announced the signing of an investment agreement to establish a previously announced joint venture with Volvo Group to accelerate the commercialization and global adoption of Westport's HPDI fuel system technology for long-haul and off-road applications.
As previously announced, Westport will contribute certain HPDI assets and opportunities, including related fixed assets, intellectual property and business, into the venture. Volvo Group will acquire a 45% interest in the joint venture for approximately $28 million, plus up to an additional $45 million as an earn out depending on the subsequent performance.
SEFL opens relocated Bowling Green facility
Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 32) has opened its relocated service center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Bowling Green service center opened for business in 2015 with 23 dock doors and 12 associates and now consists of 45 dock doors and 22 associates as well as enhanced office and dispatch spaces, updated conference and driver break rooms, roll-up garage doors, and more.
“The modern facility will not only inspire the ongoing innovation of our operational standards but empower all our great associates to continue the execution of best-in-class service,” said Alex Ayers, service center manager. “We could not be more excited for this milestone, and I look forward to all the new opportunities that await our team in this next chapter.”
