Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024:
Connecticut begins $31M truck parking expansion
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) on Friday announced it launched a $31 million statewide project aimed at expanding truck parking facilities at five locations across the state.
The first phase of the project is underway at the Middletown rest area on Interstate 91 northbound, which will add 11 new truck parking spaces, increasing capacity at this location by more than 40%.
By the end of the decade, CTDOT plans to add more than 180 new spaces in Middletown, Madison, Southington, Southbury, and Vernon. Connecticut currently has around 420 parking spaces at public service plazas and rest areas. This expansion project will increase the state’s public capacity to about 600 spaces, an increase of 44%.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we heard truckers loud and clear when they called for more places to safely park along state highways,” said CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “We are excited to begin these projects to improve safety for the trucking community, who keep our economy moving.”
The statewide project will be completed in phases over the next several years, significantly improving parking availability, CTDOT said.
“The Motor Transport Association of Connecticut wholeheartedly applauds Commissioner Eucalitto and the Connecticut Department of Transportation for addressing the truck parking shortage issue head on,” said Motor Transport Association of Connecticut President John Blair. “The truck parking shortage has plagued the trucking industry for decades, and the consequences of insufficient capacity are as wide ranging as they are severe. The scarcity of truck parking spaces across the country decreases safety for all highway users, exacerbates the industry longstanding workforce challenges, diminishes trucking productivity, and results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. The effort here in Connecticut will undoubtedly make our roads safer.”
[Related: Trump II and the outlook for parking, speed limiters, broker transparency]
DOT proposes interim change to drug-testing rules
The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to revise its drug testing procedures rule, which became effective on June 1, 2023, to provide interim provisions to require employers to conduct directly-observed urine tests in situations where oral fluid tests are currently required, but oral fluid testing is not yet available.
The DOT said it’s proposing the rule “to address unforeseen circumstances rendering it impossible to comply with requirements” in the rule finalized last year to allow for oral fluid drug testing. Last month, the DOT published an amended final rule addressing other issues identified in the 2023 final rule.
DOT regulations require that a collection be directly observed in certain circumstances, such as if the original sample was invalid without adequate medical explanation or the test is for a return to duty.
In the 2023 final rule, DOT required an oral fluid test to be conducted in certain circumstances where an observed collection is required. But because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not yet certified any labs for oral fluid drug testing, that has not been possible. HHS must certify at least two laboratories, one to serve as a primary lab and a second to serve as a split specimen lab, before oral fluid drug testing collection can begin.
Because oral fluid testing is not yet available, DOT is proposing to amend its final rule to require the conduct of directly observed urine collections in those circumstances for an interim period.
“We intend this provision to require directly observed urine tests in situations where an oral fluid collection is required, but is not yet available,” DOT said, “to be a temporary, short-term solution because there are currently no certified oral fluid laboratories.”
The proposed provision will sunset one year after HHS publishes a Federal Register notice that it certified the second oral fluid drug testing laboratory. DOT said it will publish a Federal Register notice itself specifying the date the second oral fluid laboratory is certified by HHS.
If, during the interim period, a collection site is able to conduct an oral fluid collection (HHS has certified at least two oral fluid drug testing laboratories, and both a qualified oral fluid collector and a conforming oral fluid collection device are available at the collection site), an oral fluid collection would be required to be conducted.
FMCSA will accept public comments on the proposal through Jan. 8.
[Related: DOT amends oral fluid drug testing procedures]
Ohio-based fleet owner ordered to pay $261K for fraud scheme
Trucking company owner Gurtej Singh, also known as Gary Bhullar, was sentenced on Oct. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for a fraud scheme in which he overbilled shippers and illegally consolidated loads.
The court ordered Singh to pay $261,752 in restitution.
From April 2018 to May 2022, Singh charged shippers a premium rate to reserve an entire trailer, ensuring their cargo would not to be mixed with cargo from other shipments. After receiving the premium payment from customers, Singh and others opened sealed trailers and removed goods to illegally consolidate loads and reduce their own costs. The company also often failed to deliver many goods to their final destination, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General said.
In addition, Singh made false statements on an application filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stating that he had no relationships with other FMCSA-regulated entities.
[Related: Fleet owner pleads guilty after illegally consolidating loads, overbilling shippers]
Electric medium-duty International trucks recalled due to windshield defrost system issue
International Motors is recalling approximately 22 model year 2025 eMV trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. Affected trucks were built between May 21 and October 21, 2024.
A circuit breaker may be missing, causing the defrosting system to be inoperative. As such, the trucks are out of compliance with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.”
Dealers will install a 5A circuit breaker and a label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 25, 2025. Owners can contact International customer service at 1-800-448-7825 with recall number 24518. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-906.
Service brake issue prompts recall of severe-duty International HX
International is also recalling approximately 57 model year 2022-‘25 HX severe-duty trucks in which the service brake may take longer than expected to release.
As such, the trucks may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, “Air Brake Systems.”
International will install larger air lines or a quick release valve (QRV) as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 13, 2025. Owners can contact International customer service at 1-800-448-7825. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-880.