In post-crash litigation in which juries order trucking companies to pay multi-million-dollar settlements, who actually foots the bill? Mostly, it depends on the fleet, their size and their type of insurance. Many larger fleets are self-insured up to a point, meaning they are on the hook for a certain amount of liability before their insurance […]
Indiana judge dismisses lawsuit over increased truck tolls The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says it is “likely to appeal” an Indiana court’s ruling to dismiss its lawsuit over toll increases aimed at Class 3 and larger trucks in the state. The group filed the class action lawsuit in January 2019 after Indiana instituted a 35% increase in […]
Organizers of the Mid-America Trucking Show announced Thursday afternoon they are cancelling the 49th annual event, which was scheduled for later this month, due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the U.S. Show management, in a note on the show’s website, said the decision was made after consultation with exhibitors and Kentucky officials. […]
Just four years after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a sweeping set of regulations aimed at cutting emissions from heavy-duty trucks and tractors by 25% by 2027, EPA is eyeing new federal regulations to further tighten heavy-duty truck emissions and to create a so-called “50-state program” that harmonizes emissions standards nationally. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Monday […]
Celadon was the largest fleet to go bankrupt in 2019, but hundreds of other carriers left the industry. Overall, the number of trucking bankruptcies increased by 300% from 2018, according to industry data tracked by Broughton Capital. Economic signs indicate the trend may continue through 2020.
While praised for cutting emissions and improving cetane levels, another incentive that may draw fleets to renewable and biodiesel is the potential rise in ultra-low sulfur diesel prices this year brought on by mandated maritime use. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) ruled that starting on Jan. 1 vessels traveling in international waters would have to reduce […]
Beware and prepare. Tractor-trailer insurance rates saw an uptick this year, brought on by a rise in truck crashes and massive settlements and judgements. The worst possible rate surge could come from Washington, D.C. where U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Penn., 8th District, is sponsoring a bill (H.R. 3781) to raise the minimum liability coverage on semis […]
Sport trophies in a hallway cabinet at Smith Transport’s maintenance building look nothing like the awards for customer service and safety displayed in its main office. The trophies go back to the early 1980s for winning sled pulls and drag races. Company founder Barry Smith’s custom V-12 semi, the “Black Tornado,” beat Corvettes on the […]
Temperatures nationwide are beginning their downward trend and some parts of the country are already seeing snowfall. In extreme temperatures, Petro-Canada Lubricants OEM Technical Liaison Brian Humphrey says lubricants can harden or become too viscous, possibly causing equipment to seize up or fail. “To avoid this situation, fleet managers and owner-operators need to use a lower viscosity oil, one […]
