Trucking News and Briefs for Thursday, May 23rd 2024:
FMCSA reinstates ELD
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has reinstated the Blue Star ELD from its list registered devices, announced the agency on Thursday.
Truck drivers and motor carriers who had stopped using the Blue Star ELD since Tuesday can now use the device to comply with the electronic log device mandate of the agency.
The FMCSA did provide no information as to why the device had been revoked, but stated that if the ELD provider corrected the deficiencies in the devices, they would be added back to the list of registered devices.
The ELD Mandate Plus, which was placed on the revoked device list Tuesday, is still revoked. ELD-Mandate CEO Ratan Baid said on Tuesday the company is working to “remedy and get our software restored.”
[ Related to Two ELDs removed from the FMCSA’s Device List]
TA launches St. Christopher Fund campaign
TravelCenters of America’s annual Round Up campaign is in support of St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF).
From Friday, May 24, through July 31, drivers who stop at TA and Petro locations can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar. This extra change will directly benefit professional drivers who are out of work because of illness or injury. Last year’s Round Up campaign raised over $120,000.
Since 2010, TA has raised over $3 million for SCF through campaigns and initiatives.
“This organization provides professional drivers with a safety net when they are going through a difficult period in their lives,” said Debi Booffa, CEO of TA. “We are grateful for our generous guests, who recognize the value SCF provides to these hardworking men and woman in their time of need.”
SCF offers a variety of benefits to professional drivers, including free vaccines and cancer screening tests, as well as programs for smoking cessation, health and wellness advice, and free vaccinations.
Donna Kennedy, Executive director of SCF, said, “We are grateful for the support TravelCenters of America gives to our driver community.” “Our safety net can only be as strong as the amazing partners and sponsors we have, and we are lucky to have them.”
New Oversize/Overweight Routing Service to Help States with Permit
AASHTOWare, a division of AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), announced a new alliance with ProMiles Software Development Corporation and released AASHTOWare’s PermitRoute powered ProMiles. The goal: increase accuracy, compliance, and oversize/overweight-permit turnaround time for customers.
The product is a cloud based automated technology that is tailored to meet the real-time routing and oversize/overweigh permit needs of state and municipal transportation agencies. The companies said that the alliance between AASHTOWare & ProMiles would offer users integration with all major load rating software, including AASHTOWare Bridge Rating. This will provide a convenient, efficient and compliant load rating process in accordance to Federal Highway Administration regulations.
Ryan Fragapane is the product director for AASHTOWare. “AASHTOWare’s PermitRoute powered By ProMiles analyzes factors such as route restrictions, load attributes, jurisdiction preferences, equipment types, and commodities to provide real-time guidance and permits to state transportation agencies,” Fragapane said. “That helps ensure increased safety and efficiency for trucking communities nationwide.”