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TMHA Annual Meeting Well Attended, Covers Key Topics
There was an outstanding turnout at The Machinery Haulers Association's Annual Membership Meeting on April 3 when several important industry issues were discussed at the O'Hare Courtyard Marriott in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Ill.
With 35 people in attendance and 20 companies represented, there was plenty of great conversation about key issues impacting trucking, including the recent proposed rule for Electronic Logging Devices; GPS tracking technology for trailers; independent contractors; and energy. The latter two -- independent contractors and energy -- were both supplemented by presentations from speakers Rick Flaaen (Relevant Business Solutions) and Dan Gunderson (American Petroleum Institute), respectively.
Flaaen ran through the most impactful independent contractor bills brought up in state and federal legislation this past year while Gunderson updated the group on the energy transformation that is occurring in the United States and other countries throughout the world.
"These were two great presentations for our membership," said TMHA President Jon Coca. "Our segment of trucking employs a large number of independent contractors, so to be updated on the changes some states are making or considering is extremely beneficial. And you can never go wrong with hearing what's on the horizon with energy since petroleum is a key commodity for our industry."
In addition to these presentations, there was a general membership meeting held in the morning, which was sponsored by Comdata and Quality Trailer Sales. The day concluded with a third presentation from Brian Fielkow (Jetco Delivery), who spoke about building a strong and positive business culture that enables employees and companies prosper. Each person in attendance was given Fielkow's book, "Driving to Perfection," to reference strategies and methods for developing a suitable culture.
"That was possibly the best speaker we've had who was not focused on a particular industry topic," Coca said. "Brian's message was on point for our industry and how to create a culture in which everyone feels like a valued part of the business. His ability to relate to us as a fellow trucking company owner was very beneficial in personalizing the message for our group, too."
Appreciation is extended to all TMHA members who took time away from their daily jobs to attend and participate in the meeting. Additional recognition is also given to Lockton Insurance and Great West Casualty Company for sponsoring the cocktail reception and dinner, respectively, on April 2 to welcome early arriving members.
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TMHA Board
of Directors
President
Jon Coca
Diamond Transportation System, Inc.
First Vice President
Aaron Tennant
Tennant Truck Lines
Second Vice President
Mike Connell
Bennett Motor Express
Past President
Jim Towery
Steelman Transportation
Clayton Fisk
Warren Transport
Dave Gallano
Gallano Trucking, Inc.
Jeremy Ihle
Ihle Transport, Inc.
TMHA Mission Statement
To provide an ongoing forum for education, networking and advocacy for flatbed, step-deck and lowboy (RGN) carriers that specialize in the transportation of machinery and machinery-related commodities throughout the United States and Canada.
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Survey: Drivers Getting Older, Less Experienced
The average age of the nation's truck drivers is increasing while their amount of experience is falling.
These are some of the results released by transportation software management company Sylectus during the Truckload Carriers Association Annual Convention Monday.
Data collected over the past eight years using its transportation management software shows the average age of male drivers went up by two years, from 46 to 48 years old, while the average age of the females increased by three years, from 48 to 51 years old.
Other key findings from the analysis include:
- Female drivers are about one to three years older than their male counterparts.
- Post-recession, the tenure of male drivers decreased to less than two years at a carrier. Similarly, the tenure of female drivers has decreased to about one year and three months. The parallel fluctuation in tenure is due in part to husband and wife teams, in which one spouse resigns after the other, according to Sylectus
- Remains largely male dominated, with 92 percent male drivers and just eight percent female drivers.
Read more about this article at www.heavydutytrucking.com.
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Ferro Discusses Split Sleep Study, CSA, Hours of Service, Electronic Logs at MATS Fleet Forum
While encouraging audience members to file their comments on recently proposed legislation for mandatory electronic logs and the agency's research into new-entrant requirements, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro also noted that the agency is going ahead with a pilot study of split sleep, a provision of revised hours of service regulations that has been sorely missed by some team operations.
Speaking at the Mid-America Trucking Show Fleet Forum event prior to the Mid-America Trucking Show last week, Ferro noted that the agency does respond to feedback and criticism, whether it's from the trucking industry or oversight agencies like the General Accountability Office or the Department of Transportation's own inspector general.
Talking about the Compliance, Safety, Accountability enforcement program, Ferro said, "We've got a strong program out there but it's a program that can always improve. We have an analysis from the GAO, that said we're using too much data and the National Transportation Safety Board did a scathing analysis and said we're not using our data enough. We're in a little bit of a Goldilocks situation." "Congress has mandated that we reduce commercial motor vehicle crashes, regardless of fault," Ferro emphasized.
Read more about this article at www.truckinginfo.com.
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Plan to Attend the Next TMHA Member Meeting in July
Be sure to reserve Wednesday, July 30, and Thursday, July 31, on your calendars to be in Lake Geneva, Wis., for the TMHA Summer Safety Meeting at The Abbey Resort.
An outstanding list of presentations is currently being finalized with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance both having committed to provide speakers.
Additionally, a portion of the event will be used to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the lake with a boat cruise and cocktail reception being hosted on the water, courtesy of HNI Truck Group.
More information will be forthcoming as meeting and hotel details are finalized in the near future. Look for your opportunity to register very soon as well!
Contact the TMHA office at (515) 244-5193 or [email protected] with questions.
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In Case You Missed It ...
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FMCSA Officially Publishes SNPRM on ELDs, Now Taking Comments
On March 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officially published its Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to mandate the use of Electronic Logging Devices in the Federal Register. The agency had released a preview of the proposal on March 13.
The SNPRM specifies that carriers presently subject to logging would be required to install Electronic Logging Devices. Carriers and drivers that are presently exempt from completing driver logs would be exempt from the requirement.
Comments on the proposal will be accepted until May 27. A final rule is expected to be out by the middle of 2015, with carriers being required to install ELDs by sometime in 2017.
To access the Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, please visit www.gpo.gov.
You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2010-0167 using any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Follow the online instructions for submitting comments at www.regulations.gov.
- Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
- Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of the four methods to submit comments.
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HNI Offering TMHA Members Special Registration Rate for Driver Recruiting Summit
Any TMHA member interested in attending HNI Truck Group's Driver Recruiting Summit in Milwaukee, Wis., on Tuesday, May 13, can get $100 off the regular registration fee.
The full cost to attend the one-day summit at the Harley-Davidson Musuem is $249. Using the promotional code MACHINERYMEMBER will deduct $100 from the registration when signing up to attend through HNI's online event page.
Titled "The Risks & Opportunities of Filling Your Fleet," HNI's Driver Recruiting Summit will consist of five sessions covering employment law; best practices for owner-operator programs; the current state of the owner-operator landscape; building a driver-centric culture; and a question and answer panel discussion.
For more information, visit www.hni.com.
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Per-mile spot market rates in all three segments -- flatbed, reefer, van -- soared upward in March. Flatbed and dry van rates hit all time highs in the time Internet Truckstop has been keeping records, since 2005.
This is the second straight month rates in all three segments surged, coming on the heels of February's rebound in rates after each segment saw a small fall in January, likely due to severity of the year's winter.
Dry van rates in the month hit $2.19, besting July 2013's previous record of $2.09 a mile and rising 11 cents from the month prior. Dry vvan first hit the $2 mark in July 2012 and were only above that threshold twice in all of 2013, but March was the fourth consecutive month van rates were higher than $2.
Read more about this article at www.ccjdigital.com.
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Welcome New TMHA Members
We'd like to take this opportunity to announce the companies that have joined
The Machinery Haulers Association in the recent past. Please help welcome these new members and be sure to introduce yourself at the next membership meeting you attend.
Badger Utility
Madison, Wis.
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FMCSA Reinforces Authority to Shut Down Carriers Alive and Well
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently published in the Federal Register that it has an important role in keeping unsafe carriers and drivers off of our nation's highways by rescinding their operating authority. So far in 2014, the FMCSA has declared five passenger carriers, two property carriers (trucking companies) and four drivers to be imminent hazards to the public, prohibiting them from conducting operations in interstate commerce.
The FMCSA has exercised that authority several times in just the past few weeks. On March 19, the agency announced it had shut down two bus companies and two trucking companies. The bus companies were forced to cease operations due to a lack of maintenance procedures, lack of drug and alcohol testing processes, hour-of-service issues and using unqualified drivers.
When you think about it, operating an unsafe bus, or allowing drivers to operate buses outside of compliance with the federal regulations is a scary thought. While not downplaying the importance of truck safety, bus companies transport a precious cargo -- human lives.
Read more about this article at www.machineryhaulers.org.
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National Trucking Associations Launch Image Campaign
The trucking industry announced Wednesday the launch of an industry-wide image and education campaign, Trucking Moves America Forward, at the Mid-America Trucking Show with support from a diverse group of industry influencers, including leading executives, professional truck drivers and technicians.
Trucking Moves America Forward is an industry-wide image and education initiative informing policy makers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry to help build a ground swell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry.
Groups involved in Trucking Moves America Forward include the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT 1), which includes various trucking industry suppliers, along with the American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Truckload Carriers Association, as well as trucking companies and other industry suppliers who are not members of ACT 1.
The goal is to raise $5 million over the next five years to fund their efforts, with organizers saying they are halfway to meeting this year's $1 million goal.
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The Machinery Haulers Association
717 E. Court Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 244-5193
Fax: (515) 244-2204
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