Trucking news and briefs for Friday, March 29, 2024:
FMCSA hosting virtual stakeholder day on registration modernization
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will host its second “Registration Modernization Stakeholder Day” in May.
The first meeting, held in January, was an in-person meeting. Based on feedback, the agency said it will host this second meeting virtually.
The event is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, May 29.
“As we develop a more user-friendly registration system that manages the registration life cycle of regulated entities, we would like your input,” the agency said. “Please join us virtually to provide insight and feedback to improve your registration experience with FMCSA.”
While registration for the event is not yet open, FMCSA said space will be limited and early registration is encouraged. Keep an eye on this page, as well as CCJ, for updates on when registration opens.
FMCSA at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week admitted its system for motor carrier, broker and freight forwarder registration and updates had fallen behind and in part enabled rampant fraud, while pledging to completely overhaul its verification processes and improve the "customer experience." The changes include ending MC numbers and using USDOT numbers as the sole identifier for carriers, brokers, forwarders and others.
[Regulations: FMCSA to end MC numbers, overhaul registration system to stamp out fraud]
Fortune Transportation, Bison Transport named TCA Fleet Safety Award winners
Fortune Transportation Company Inc., of Windom, Minnesota, and Bison Transport Inc. (CCJ Top 250, No. 47), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, were recognized as grand prize winners for the 2023 Truckload Carriers Association Fleet Safety Awards. TCA announced the winners at its annual convention this week. The contest is sponsored by Great West Casualty Company and Assured Partners.
Fortune Transportation received the award in the small carrier division (annual mileage of less than 25 million), and Bison in the large carrier division (over 25 million miles).
Both companies, as well as all carriers that placed in the top three of their mileage-based divisions, will be recognized again during TCA’s 2024 Safety & Security Meeting, to be held June 2-4, at The Westin Indianapolis.
“TCA is proud to recognize Fortune Transportation, Inc. and Bison Transport, Inc. for their outstanding achievements in safety,” said TCA President Jim Ward. “This year, we received the most entries ever in the history of the Fleet Safety Awards, showing that TCA members are truly industry leaders when it comes to safety. Fortune and Bison are very deserving of the Grand Prize as a symbol of their amazing efforts to improve safety on our roadways.”
To be eligible for the TCA Fleet Safety Award Grand Prize, fleets must first submit their accident frequency ratio per million miles driven. The three carriers with the lowest ratios are identified as the winners for each of six mileage-based divisions. These carriers then undergo an audit by independent experts to ensure the accuracy of their results.
TCA announced the names of the 18 division winners in January and invited them to submit further documentation about their overall safety programs, both on and off the highway, to be eligible for the Grand Prize. After review by a diverse industry panel of judges, the winning companies were deemed to have best demonstrated their commitment to improving safety on North America’s highways.
WIT announces finalists for Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award
The Women in Trucking Association announced three finalists for the 2024 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award (DWLA). Sponsored by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and Truckstop, the award promotes the achievements of women employed in the North American transportation industry.
Finalists for the 2024 DWLA have demonstrated extraordinary leadership within their company as well as the industry. This year’s finalists are Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO, Garner Trucking, Inc.; Ramona Hood, president and CEO, FedEx Custom Critical, Inc.; and Sarah Ruffcorn, president, Trinity Logistics.
Garner Brumbaugh has more than 33 years of experience in the trucking industry, beginning her career at her family-owned and operated truckload carrier in 1991. She became owner of Garner Trucking, Inc. in 2012. This year, Garner celebrates 64 years in the industry. She has served the industry as a board member for the American Trucking Associations, the Ohio Trucking Association, and Indiana Motor Truck Association. She also served on the advisory committee on human trafficking for the Federal Department of Transportation.
Hood began her career with FedEx in 1991 in an entry-level position and worked her way up to hold various executive leadership positions at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain. She has been recognized for her excellence in thought leadership, responsibility, and passion-driven results.
Ruffcorn is responsible for leading a complex people-centric freight solutions company arranging freight for businesses of all sizes. She joined Trinity Logistics in 2002 following completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications from Western Illinois University. Her natural curiosity and commitment to excellence led to roles with increasing responsibility and leadership. She has continued her education with executive education programs focused on strategy, finance, and leadership. Ruffcorn currently serves on the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) Board of Directors, TIA’s Women in Logistics Committee, and Tidal Health Medical Partners Board of Directors.
The award highlights the crucial roles of leading women in the dynamic and influential field of commercial transportation and logistics, which encompasses logistics service providers as well as motor carriers.
The winner of the 2024 award will be announced during the TIA Capital Ideas Conference and Exhibition Thursday, April 11 in Phoenix.
[Related: Schneider exec named Distinguish Woman in Logistics]