The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an IFR (Interim Final Rule) on hours of service regulations for truck drivers.  Effective December 27, 2007 the current regulation will be maintained permitting 11 hours of driving with a 14-hour period with at least 10 hours off duty after that.  The commercial vehicle fatality rate in 2006 was the lowest on record since the DOT began tracking it.  "Overall, large truck safety has not been compromised by the 11-hour limit" stated the FMCSA in their interim ruling.  The Teamsters and several safety groups have filed a court order hoping to reduce the maximum driving time down to 10 hours.  Comments on the interim ruling will be heard through February 15, 2008 and a final ruling is expected after that. 

 

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles passed a $35 per TEU box fee (or $70 per FEU fee) which will take effect June 1, 2008.  It's all part of their Clean Air Action Plan whereas the collected fees would help replace old trucks with new trucks that meet new strict emission standards.  From what we are hearing, the terminal operators will collect the fees from cargo owners on all loaded containers that move by truck in or out of the terminals (containers moving via rail are exempt).   On top of that, the LA and LGB harbor commissions will hold a joint meeting on January 14 to consider a new cargo fee that will fund roadway and rail infrastructure projects.  Initially the fee would be $15 per loaded TEU and would be adjusted as the projects received environmental approval and construction proceeds.   There are many details and procedures to be worked out so everyone  is keeping an eye on these two issues.

 

 

Every January we all contemplate and deliberate over the same issues...starting fresh...setting new goals...and re-organizing our lives.  Okay, that's a lot to tackle in a short newsletter article so let's focus on organizing a small slice of our work life for now.  I don't know if you are like me but I like lists.  Lists keep me organized and on track.  Here is a quick reference guide or list that might be helpful to you as you start the New Year.  Add these websites to your "favorites" or post them in your office.  

 

www.cornerstone-systems.com     

Cornerstone Systems       A personal favorite of mine...

 

www.aar.org  Association of American Railroads

www.truckline.com   American Trucking Association

www.cbp.gov  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

www.dot.gov  U.S. Dept of Transportation

www.eia.doe.gov  U. Dept of Energy/ Diesel Fuel Costs

www.fema.gov  U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

www.intermodal.org  IANA-Intermodal Assoc N. America

www.phmsa.dot.gov  U.S. Dept of Transportation Haz Mat 

www.tianet.org  TIA - Transportation Intermediaries Assoc 

www.uschamber.com  U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

Union Pacific Example:

1/07/08                                          1/14/08

27.5% (Intermodal)                        28% (Intermodal)

21.5% (Railcar)                               21.5% (Railcar)

 

1.  click on the bar at the top that states "click here to download pictures.  To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of some pictures in this message."

2.  click on "add sender to safe senders list"

3.  click on "ok"

 

This will now allow you to receive the full email with photos from that particular sender.  You should only have to do this once and all emails from that particular sender will come through just fine.