Newspaper about trucks, cars, and ground transportation. Published monthly and distributed in Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.
New trucking laws have trucking companies concerned
New federal regulations cut down on the number of hours truck drivers can spend on the road. The rules are meant to increase safety, but a couple of area trucking companies and their drivers are concerned.
The new law, put into place on July 1st by the US Department of Transportation reduces the maximum work week to 70 hours, down from 82. This comes out to a maximum of 14 hours of work each day, 11 of which can be spent driving. Drivers who reach the maximum are required to rest for 34 consecutive hours, which must include two nights between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. Also included in the new law, drivers must take a half hour break after the first 8 hours of work.
The goal of the program is to prevent driver fatigue, and reduce trucking accidents.
Zach Meiborg, Owner and Operations manager of Meiborg Trucking Company says, "We have no interest in over dispatching our drivers. We have a safe and compliant company but we feel that the regulations are over burdensome in our industry. "
Meiborg adds, the changes will be bad for business. "I anticipate each of our trucks to probably lose about 12 hours of productivity per week."
He already sees his drivers frustrated by the regulations. "We have a driver on his way back from Jacksonville, Florida, to Rockford, Illinois. He will run out of hours at Bloomington, Illinois. The law indicates that truck will have to stop in Bloomington. Where is the driver going to get better sleep? At home in bed with his wife? Or on the road sitting in Bloomington recapturing his hours?"
Jeff Wilmarth, President of Silver Arrow, another local trucking company, says these changes effect his business similarly. "We'll probably have to add 5 to 8 % more equipment, more drivers," he predicts.
Wilmarth explains, these additional trucks on the roads will service the same number of clients, passing the cost of doing business on to the consumer.
Trucking companies could face severe fines up to $11,000 if they allow their drivers to exceed the new limits. The drivers themselves could be fined too, nearly $3,000.
Con-way Truckload Driver Logs 4 Million Miles Behind the Wheel
Con-way Truckload, a full truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., recently held a special recognition event to honor Professional Driver Bill Compton for surpassing 4 million miles driving for the company...
JOPLIN, MO - Con-way Truckload, a full truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., recently held a special recognition event to honor Professional Driver Bill Compton for surpassing 4 million miles driving for the company. A 33-year veteran with the same carrier, Compton bucks the industry driver turnover trend to become the first Con-way driver to reach this significant milestone.
Con-way Truckload Driver Logs 4 Million Miles Behind the Wheel
Over the years, Con-way Truckload has taken a number of steps to combat the troubling pattern of driver turnover in long-haul trucking. While, according to American Trucking Associations, the average turnover rate in the industry is between 95 and 100 percent annually, Con-way Truckload's turnover rate hovers below 70 percent. Con-way attributes its strong retention to regularly seeking driver feedback on a variety of operations and work-life issues, including the adoption of new technologies, tractor models and job satisfaction. Long known for its company-wide open-door policy, the company has developed a reputation for listening to and acting upon driver feedback, working hard to resolve conflicts and ensure drivers, fleet managers and route planners are working in unison to address drivers' needs and fulfill the needs of Con-way's customers.
"Bill is the Cal Ripken of drivers," stated Saul Gonzalez, president of Con-way Truckload, referring to the former Baltimore Oriole who set a major league baseball record for consecutive games played. "His loyalty and dedication is the gold standard, not only for Con-way drivers, but the entire industry."
To put Compton's feat in perspective, consider that if a person drove that distance in their car, they would need to change the car's oil 1,333 times.
"I drive a truck for a living. I like my job. I never thought about reaching any milestones," said Compton. When asked about what kept him at Con-way Truckload, Compton replied: "For 33 years, Con-way has treated me and my fellow drivers like family. I hope that my reaching this milestone serves as an example of how important it is for drivers to choose a company that values them every day."
The event was attended by Douglas W. Stotlar, president and CEO of Con-way Inc.; Saul Gonzalez, the current president of Con-way Truckload; and former Con-way Truckload Presidents Herb Schmidt and Glenn Brown. "Bill outlasted Glenn and me," remarked Schmidt. "The way he's going, he'll be logging miles for Con-way long after Saul retires as well."