Perspective

By now, most of us have seen those TV commercials shown during the buildup to April 15 in which consumers realize their tax “professional” is actually a store clerk or a plumber.

Most have heard the outcome of MAP-21, the current highway funding law, for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which has said repeatedly that MAP-21 requires it to complete 29 new safety regulations within 27 months.

A slow economic recovery, volatile diesel fuel prices, more stringent environmental controls and increased focus on food safety and load security put enormous pressure on every link in the “cold chain.”

In today’s America, money wins out over sound judgment, and politics are used by powerful lobbies to secure laws and regulations favorable to them and their interests.   Take, for example, the $75,000 property broker bond, commonly referred to as the “freight broker” bond.

Carriers that seek the ability to “rebroker” freight without separate broker authority and bond will keep the door open to marketplace fraud and nonpayment. Worse still, the practice will expose carriers to the ever-increasing risk of liability for accidents they did not cause.

The following is a letter sent to the motor carrier members of American Trucking Associations by ATA President and CEO Bill Graves on May 2, 2013, regarding the ongoing investigation of alleged discrepancies in a fuel purchasing rebate program by federal authorities into Pilot Flying J.

Our industry must adjust to major changes in government regulations. We know that changes are coming, but it’s still not clear precisely when they will go into effect, nor do we know exactly what the changes will be.

American Trucking Associations recently released a report citing numerous studies showing that passenger vehicle (car) drivers are principally responsible for between 70% and 75% of fatal car-truck crashes.

It’s no secret that the mechanic shortage is as prevalent as the driver shortage, and the fleet that manages to retain its service technicians — and keep them content and productive for the long term — has a huge financial advantage.

Lighting is already responsible for 19% of the world’s electricity consumption, and its technological advancements are changing the world in fascinating ways, including some that are becoming increasingly more evident in the trucking industry.