Trucking News and Briefs for Wednesday, June 19th 2024:
The truck tonnage recovered in May
In May, the ATA’s Truck Tonnage Index experienced its first year-over-year increase in 15 month with a 1.5% rise over May 2023. ATA
According to the American Trucking Associations, the amount of freight hauled in trucks in May increased after declining in April.
The ATA’s advanced seasonal adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index grew 3.6% in May, after declining 1% in April. In May, the index was 115.9 (2015=100), compared to 111.9 in April.
Bob Costello, ATA’s Chief Economist, said that May was the first time since February 2023 when tonnage both increased sequentially and compared to a year ago. “While there was a clear increase in freight prior to the Memorial Day holiday it is too early to tell if this is the beginning of the long-awaited truck freight market recovery.”
The index increased 1.5% compared to May 2023. This is the first gain year-over-year in 15 months. In April, the index fell 1.3% compared to a year ago.
The index that is not adjusted for season, which represents tonnage hauled by fleets prior to any seasonal adjustment, was 120.4 in may, 7.1% higher than April. The For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index of the ATA is dominated more by contract freight than spot market freight.
Alaska renews waiver for entry-level Training Relief
The state of Alaska has requested the extension of a waiver which allows the state to waive certain portions of the CDL skill test for drivers who live in 14 geographical areas defined that lack the infrastructure to complete the full skills tests. The state has an exemption that lasts until Dec. 30, 2024.
Alaska originally requested an exemption from the part of the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), which requires applicants to demonstrate proficiency with proper techniques for initiating a vehicle movement, executing right and left turns, changing lanes at speed, navigating curves while driving at high speeds, entering and exiting on the interstate highway or controlled-access highway and stopping the car in a controlled way. The state claimed that complying with this requirement would have “devastating impacts on rural Alaskans’ movement of people, prescriptions, and other goods.”
Drivers who are granted a restricted CDL in accordance with the exemption under the exemption may not operate beyond the 14 geographical areas defined.
FMCSA is seeking comments on the renewal request. Comments can be submitted here until July 18.
FMCSA renews the under-21 exemption for U.S. Custom Harvesters
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration renewed an exemption allowing U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., (USCHI), is exempt from the intrastate restriction on drivers under 21.
The FMCSA regulations currently allow drivers of commercial motor vehicle engaged in custom harvesting in interstate commerce to be exempt from the minimum age requirement. Under the CDL regulations of the agency, states may impose a restriction (or “K”) that only applies to drivers who are driving within their state.
On Oct. 11,2023, FMCSA announced that it would provisionally renew USCHI’s exemption for a period of two years. This decision was made pending the review of any comments submitted in response to this notice. After reviewing the four comments that were submitted to the docket FMCSA stated that it believes drivers who qualify for this exemption will achieve a safety level that is equal to, or even greater than the safety level that would be achieved if they adhered to the “K” restriction.
The exemption was granted originally in October 2018. FMCSA noted that “no special action or processing is required” by the states, who will continue to place the restriction “K” when requested. However, enforcement officers will disregard it if drivers can demonstrate eligibility for a custom harvester exemption.
USCHI stated that it employs many drivers under 21 years of age who have CDLs with a “K” restriction. It also said that despite the exemption they are “frequently cited at roadside inspections due to the presence of the “K’ restriction on the license.” USCHI claims that this issue negatively affects the safety records of both drivers and employers.
The waiver will remain in effect until Oct. 3, 2025. Custom harvester drivers who are under 21 years old can display the exemption notice to “help explain that they may operate outside of the state issuing their CDL, even though the CDL has an ‘K’ restriction (intrastate-only).
To verify that drivers are operating legally as custom harvesters, they must provide three of the methods for verification found here.