Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024:
Super load moving across Wyoming this morning
The Wyoming Department of Transportation is warning drivers of a slow-moving super load along I-80 Wednesday morning.
The load is traveling from Laramie to Medicine Bow with a top speed of around 25-30 mph. That speed will drop to 5 mph when crossing bridges.
Westbound I-80 traffic from Laramie to Arlington should expect delays, WYDOT said.
$48M in meth caught at Texas-Mexico border
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Pharr International Bridge in Pharr, Texas, recently intercepted 3,429 pounds of alleged methamphetamine, the largest such seizure ever in port history.
Packages containing 3,429 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a load of lettuce were seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
On Aug. 1, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor-trailer making entry from Mexico. The truck was selected for inspection, which included use of non-intrusive inspection equipment.
After physically inspecting the shipment, officers extracted 1,488 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 3,429.60 pounds concealed within the shipment of lettuce. This seizure of alleged methamphetamine is the largest methamphetamine encounter in the history of the Hidalgo Port of Entry and has a street value of over $48 million.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics and vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
Big cocaine bust at northern border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations intercepted 266 pounds of cocaine at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry in Port Huron, Michigan, on Aug. 1.
CBP officers found 100 packages of cocaine in a hidden trailer compartment.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The cocaine was seized, along with the truck and trailer. The driver, a Canadian citizen, will face local prosecution in St. Clair County.
“We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Port Director Jeffrey Wilson. “This seizure showcases the effectiveness of our layered approach to border enforcement, which is further enhanced by the assistance of our regional law enforcement partners.”
The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
Penske Truck Leasing adds eDVIR functionality to mobile app
Penske Truck Leasing recently launched an electronic driver vehicle inspection report (eDVIR) feature in the Penske Driver mobile app for its customers.
The new feature allows customer truck drivers to submit DVIRs electronically using the free app.
This new eDVIR functionality also provides fleet managers with immediate access to the submissions sent through the app using Fleet Insight, Penske’s real-time fleet management platform, the company said. This advancement aims to streamline inspection processes, enhance compliance and improve overall fleet management efficiency.
“Our new eDVIR capability represents a step forward in how we support our customers’ compliance and maintenance needs,” said Brandie Searle, vice president of digital product management for Penske. “By responding to customer feedback with this highly requested feature we enable electronic submissions and real-time visibility, helping fleet managers address issues quickly and effectively, reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency.”
The eDVIR feature is designed to help users stay compliant with Department of Transportation regulations and is exclusive to Penske leased, maintained, or rented vehicles. The upgrade streamlines the repair request process by automatically sending defect reports from the telematics system to Penske’s maintenance system.
As defects are resolved, mechanic notes and resolution statuses are communicated back to the telematics system, providing information such as repair shop locations, repair notes and contact details.
The Penske Driver app is used by approximately 20,000 commercial truck drivers monthly and offers a range of features including logging hours of service, submitting 24/7 roadside assistance requests, checking-in for service visits, submitting fuel receipts digitally and finding location rental, leasing, service, parking, EV charging and fueling locations. The app provides access to vehicle information, service history and 24/7 support.