Earlier today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of the US Department of Transportation published its long-awaited Final Rule on Truck Driver Hours of Service. Key elements of the new final rule are:

Retained Under the New Rule

The current 11-hour daily driving limit is retained. FMCSA had raised the possibility (some would say the preference) for maximum daily driving time to be reduced to 10 hours;
The maximum driving window will continue to be 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty;
The 60 hours in 7 days and 70-hours in 8 days cycles stay the same.

Major Changes

The 34-hour restart provision is: (1) Being limited to once per week (every 168 hours); (2) Will require anyone using the provision to include within it two night periods between 1:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. of rest;
Truck drivers will not be allowed to drive after having been on-duty for 8 consecutive hours without first taking an off-duty break of at least 30 minutes. Drivers can however take the 30-minute break before 8 consecutive hours are up. The break will count against the 14-hour driving window.

Compliance

Compliance is required no later than July 1, 2013.

CTA will provide further analysis on the Final Rule in the New Year

The American Trucking Associations says it’s going to court to overturn the new hours of service rule announced late last year.

The ATA has filed a petition with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia asking the court to review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s recently published final rule affecting the 34-hour restart provision and daily rest time.

“We regret that FMCSA and the Obama administration have put ATA and its member companies in a position to take this legal action,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said in a press release, adding that the rules currently in place “have contributed to unprecedented improvement in highway safety” and there is no scientific justification to change them.

“The law is clear about what steps FMCSA must undertake to change the rules and we cannot allow this rulemaking, which was fueled by changed assumptions and analyses that do not meet the required legal standards, to remain unchallenged.”

Although the current 11-hour daily driving limit was retained, FMCSA is limiting the 34-hour restart to once per week (every 168 hours) and will require anyone using the provision to include within it two night periods between 1:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. of rest. Truck drivers also will not be allowed to drive after having been on-duty for eight consecutive hours without first taking at least an eight-hour off-duty break.

Compliance with these rules will take effect by July 2013.

More immediately, a handful of changes are scheduled to take effect on Feb. 27 of this year, including fines for egregious violations ($2700 for drivers and $11,000 for carriers, for each offence) and new definitions of what constitutes off-duty periods versus sleep berth periods. (click here for details).

Graves reiterated that FMCSA’s own analysis shows the costs created by their rule still outweigh any perceived benefits. “We need this issue to be resolved in a credible manner, taking into account the undisputed crash reduction since 2004, so we can focus limited government and industry resources on safety initiatives that will have a far greater impact on highway safety.”

For example, says ATA, “traveling too fast for conditions,” is a “far greater highway safety concern than fatigue,” according to FMCSA’s own data.

In the meantime, ATA will continue to support FMCSA’s move toward mandated electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) to ensure greater compliance with the current, HOS rules, said Graves.

The association is also following the lead of the Ontario Trucking Association in calling for mandatory speed limiters in the U.S. (Ontario and Quebec are the only jurisdictions in North America to require speed limiters on all trucks).

© 2011, Canadian Trucking Alliance

The forecasted dates represent the most likely schedule for the beginning and ending of each of the three zones for the thaw period.

Zone 1 is tentatively slated for March 5. Zone 2 on March 12 and Zone 3 on the 19th.

Depending on changing weather conditions, the beginning and ending of the thaw period can be forestalled or delayed, says the ministry.

To visit the “thaw zones and periods” page of the ministry website, click here.

Meanwhile, Manitoba announced that heavy truck operators will see a shorter period of spring road restrictions as a result of changes to provincial policy.

According to an announcement from Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton, the new policy will take changing weather conditions into account in determining when spring road restrictions are set rather than using pre-set start and end dates.

Road restrictions could be in place as early as March 11, but will not last more than 56 days — down from 70 days previously.

Because of increased funding being directed toward highway and bridge upgrades, greater weights can be allowed on a number of roads, Ashton said.

“Manitoba is a major trade route and our recent upgrades to highways and bridges are now helping trucking firms, industries and farmers reduce hauling costs so they can operate more efficiently,” he stated in a press release. “This latest improvement, prepared in consultation with stakeholders and heavy truck operators, will also benefit other truckers and farmers using our roads and highways.”

The province rolled out 17 patrol units equipped with the devices. Officers with mobile units recently received training and certification to operate speed enforcement radar devices from the RCMP.

“Our officers are our eyes and ears on provincial highways, working with the trucking industry to keep the roads safe for all travellers,” said Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Robert Trevors. “They are already enforcing weight restrictions on the highways. Giving them the tools to enforce speed limits is a logical next step.”

The Department of Public Safety’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit has 58 officers who enforce provincial weight and dimension restrictions, speed limits, and conduct commercial vehicle safety inspections on provincial highways.

Following a FAST lane pilot project (which opened the lane to all commercial vehicles) and consistent with recommendations from the B.C. Trucking Association, the design plans restore a dedicated FAST approach lane and include extensive upgrades to the holding area for commercial trucks at the Port of Entry.

Construction of the new approach lane and holding area is expected to be complete by March 31, 2012, with other potential upgrades to follow in the near future.

The new holding area will undergo a complete redesign, including an increase in holding capacity to accommodate up to 36 commercial tractor trailers, sensor activated signal lights directing trucks to the next available primary inspection booth, a queue-jump lane for FAST trucks, and closed-circuit cameras to monitor and enforce against unauthorized use of the FAST queue-jump lane.

More efficient use of space within the holding area will eliminate backup of commercial trucks onto the Pacific Highway (Highway 15). While FAST trucks will no longer have a dedicated primary inspection booth, they will be given priority to proceed to the next available inspection booth ahead of non-FAST trucks waiting in queue.

The existing commercial truck approach lane behind the West Coast Tax and Duty Free between the holding area and 2nd Avenue will be twinned, with one lane becoming a dedicated approach lane for FAST trucks and the other for non-FAST trucks.

As a result of the added capacity in the holding area and with all three primary inspection booths open, the maximum peak period queue of non-FAST trucks will not extend onto 2nd Avenue, meaning that there will be unimpeded access for FAST trucks to the dedicated lane behind the Duty Free.

BCTA says the redesign strikes a balance between maintaining benefits for FAST trucks and reducing border wait times for non-FAST trucks. Compared with the southbound approach lane and primary inspection booth configuration prior to the FAST pilot, average maximum wait time for FAST trucks is expected to increase by 3 minutes while the average maximum wait time for non-FAST trucks is expected to decrease by 47 minutes.

Planned Future Upgrades

The Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recognize the potential need for additional upgrades as cross-border truck volumes increase, including restoring a dedicated FAST approach lane on Highway 15, which MoTI planned in conjunction with upgrades to the holding area, and dual approach lanes behind the Duty Free.

However, restoring a dedicated FAST lane on Highway 15 at 8th Avenue with a connection to the dedicated lane behind the Duty Free will necessitate the widening of Highway 15 and changes to the intersection at 2nd Avenue.

The Ministry has initiated the process of acquiring land for this purpose, reports BCTA.

At BCTA, Trace is responsible for all communications regarding BCTA policies and advocacy on behalf of the trucking industry, and for identifying ways of further advancing the association’s stated mission: to promote a prosperous, safe, efficient and responsible commercial road transportation industry that contributes to the economy of British Columbia.

Trace brings considerable experience in transportation to BCTA following over a decade of service as a director at BCAA; six years as Manager of Communications & Media Relations for TransLink and BC Transit; and five years as Manager of Communications for the Vancouver Port Corporation.

Trace has an MBA from Simon Fraser University and a Diploma of Technology in Broadcast Communications (Journalism) from the BC Institute of Technology.

BCTA looks forward to having Trace apply his formidable skill set to the wide variety of issues that commercial freight and passenger transportation carriers face daily on roads and highways throughout BC.

BCTA is the recognised voice of the provincial motor carrier industry, representing over 1,200 truck and motor coach fleets and over 250 suppliers to the industry. BCTA members operate over 13,000 vehicles, employ 26,000 people, and generate over $2 billion in revenue annually in the province.

Month-over-month, December orders were up 46 percent, with a year-over-year increase from December 2011 of 11 percent, reversing November’s disappointing drop in orders.

“The rebound in orders to finish 2011 reaffirms our confidence that new truck demand will not wane in 2012,” said Jonathan Starks, FTR’s director of transportation analysis.

However, “the final ruling for trucking’s hours-of-service regulations negates any possible positive impact for truck demand in 2012. We expect to see orders ease late in the first quarter as trucking operations prepare for the start of the freight season.”

ਪ੍ਰੀ ਇਨਸਪੈਕਸ਼ਨ– ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਵਧੀਆ ਨਿਯਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਨਾਰਥ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਰਹੇ ਸਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਤੇ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਇਕ ਵਾਰ ਜਾਂਚ ਪੜਤਾਲ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦੀ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਜਾਂਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣੀ ਪਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸਦਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਟਰੱਕ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਪੜਤਾਲ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਕਸਟਮ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨੇ ਕਰ ਲਈ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੈੱਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਸੇ ਤਰਾਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਤੋਂ ਆੳਣ ਵੇਲੇ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।
ਪ੍ਰੀ ਕਲੀਅਰੈਂਸ–ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਕਸਟਮ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਉੱਪਰ ਸਤੰਬਰ 2012 ਤੱਕ ਪ੍ਰੀ ਕਲੀਅਰੈਂਸ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਛਭਫ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾਖਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਪ੍ਰੀ ਕਲੀਅਰ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਹੋਵੇ, ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਪੀਸ ਬਰਿਜ਼ ਤੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਟਰੱਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਭੀੜ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
ਬਾਰਡਰ ਕਰਾਸਿੰਗ ਫੀਸ-ਦੋਵੇਂ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਤੇ ਲਈਆਂ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਵਾਧੂ ਫੀਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਪੜਤਾਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਵਚਨਵੱਧ ਹਨ।
ਰੇਡੀਓ ਫਰੀਕੁਇੰਸੀ ਆਈਡੈਂਟੀਫੀਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਤਕਨਾਲੋਜੀ (੍ਰਾਂੀਧ) ਨੂੰ ਫੰਡਿੰਗ ਦੇਣ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਆਖੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਾਂੳੰਠ ਲੇਨ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਵਧਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ।
ਵੁੱਡ ਪੈਕਜਿੰਗ ਮਟੀਰੀਅਲ-ਇਸ ਸਮਝੋਤੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਕੋਈ ਹੱਲ ਲੱਭੇ ਜਾਣ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਲੱਕੜੀ ਦੇ ਪੈਲਟ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਪੈਕ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਮਾਨ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਪੜਤਾਲ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਤੋਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੂਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਦੇ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਕੰਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਵੇ।