Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024:
FMCSA grants ELD waiver for movie production drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has made a final decision to grant a waiver from the electronic logging device mandate to the Motion Picture Association (MPA) for all drivers providing transportation to or from a theatrical or television motion picture production site.
The waiver allows the drivers to keep paper logs instead of using an ELD.
In November 2022, FMCSA provisionally renewed MPA’s waiver, pending a review of any comments received in response to that notice. The agency received four comments on the notice and after review, believes the waiver allows for an equal or greater level of safety than without it.
The waiver was originally granted in 2018, and in its request for renewal, MPA stated that approximately 8,300 CMV drivers operate CMVs on a full- or part-time basis for the motion picture industry and few qualify for the short-haul driver exceptions in the HOS regulations. Additionally, MPA said that according to HOS data developed by third-party compliance services, these drivers spend an average of two hours driving each day, and drive about 40 miles per day.
The logs they generate are often very complex, MPA said, as are the driver HOS records that employing motor carriers must keep. Through close cooperation, MPA asserted that the industry has been able to manage the extensive interchange of paper logs that this work pattern requires.
MPA noted that the industry’s success in HOS management is based on a system that is driver-based, rather than vehicle-based. Each time a driver operates a CMV for a different studio or production company, the motor carrier and driver must reconcile the driver’s HOS record for the past week. Drivers manage the necessary paper logs, carry them to each new CMV, and transfer paper copies to each new motor carrier as needed. When a roadside inspection occurs, a driver can produce paper logs for review by the enforcement official.
FMCSA is granting the waiver renewal for five years, effective Jan. 19, 2023, through Jan. 19, 2028.
[Related: Movie production haulers' ELD exemption renewed]
Former U.S. Xpress, Werner exec joins TCA
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has hired Steve Phillips as a facilitator for the TCA Profitability Program.
Phillips has more than 30 years of experience in transportation management, including many years in senior leadership at Werner Enterprises (CCJ Top 250, No. 13) and as Senior Vice Presdient of OTR Operations at U.S. Xpress.
"We are excited to welcome Steve Phillips to our team as TPP Facilitator," said TCA President Jim Ward " We are confident that his wealth of experience, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence will be invaluable to our team as we continue to drive profitability forward in the truckload industry."
As Program Facilitator, Phillips will bolster the TCA Profitability Program’s efforts to help Best Practice Group participant carriers identify strategies to improve their operations through benchmarking and in-person meetings.
In addition to his leadership roles within carriers, Phillips has also served on numerous boards promoting prosperity in the transportation industry, including the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Trucking Profitability Strategies (TPS).
"TCA’s ability to provide robust performance platforms and benchmarking opportunities through programs such as TPP, make them the premier resource for any company looking to improve,” Phillips said. “I am thrilled to be joining an organization that has such a positive impact on the trucking industry."
[Related: Knight-Swift, U.S. Xpress acquisition closes]
Arrive opens new office in Mexico
Arrive Logistics, a multimodal transportation and technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas, has opened a new office in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Guadalajara location signifies the company's dedication to its growing customer base in Mexico and leverages the rich talent pool of industry expertise and resources in the region, Arrive said.
Arrive has invested heavily for three consecutive years in expanding its cross-border operation and technology, providing solutions to its customers requiring multimodal services. Increased trade activity between the U.S. and Mexico has also raised the demand for localized resources to service the growing number of companies establishing manufacturing and transportation operations in Mexico.
"The opening of our new office in Guadalajara marks a significant milestone for Arrive as we continue to expand our footprint in Mexico,” said Scott Sandager, Chief Administrative Officer at Arrive Logistics. “This investment in our team and technology solidifies our position as a leader in cross-border logistics solutions."
Jess Billedo, Arrive Logistics' General Manager of Mexico, leads the Guadalajara office. Billedo expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, stating, "We look forward to strengthening relationships with local partners and providing a seamless connection to our entire North American operation at Arrive."
The office is 18,000 square feet, sized to accommodate the more than 100 employees with room to triple headcount in years to come. It is located in the city's central financial business district. Both business development and carrier-focused teams specializing in cross-border solutions are based out of the office, in addition to members of Arrive's Global Services team and technology organization.
