America’s Big Game, Delivered by Trucks

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota – With America’s biggest game of the year headed to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota this weekend, millions of Americans are already planning their gameday parties. While planning the menu, have you thought about how all those classic football foods get to your table? The answer is simple: trucks.

To illustrate just how big of an impact the trucking industry has on the big game, the Minnesota Trucking Association and American Trucking Associations created an infographic to show the role trucking will play in delivering perhaps one of most important parts of the game… the snacks. On February 4, Americans will consume over 100 truckloads of popcorn, 350 truckloads of potato chips, 668 truckloads of avocados, 1,562 truckloads of chicken wings, and over 36,166 truckloads of beer. That’s a lot of food!

While the food and drinks are arguably one of the best parts of the big game, trucking also plays a vital role in delivering products that impact every part of the big game. In addition to the thousands of truckloads of construction materials it took to build U.S. Bank Stadium, trucks will deliver everything from sports equipment, production equipment, paper products, fuel to get everyone to the game, and much more! Not to mention all the truckloads of materials for the events and experiences leading up to the big game across the Twin Cities.

So, when you sit down to watch football on February 4, take a minute to think about all the trucks it took to deliver America’s biggest game.

If you’ve got it, a truck brought it!

The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) is a non-profit trade association representing 650 member-trucking companies and allied firms from across the state. Its mission is to serve as the voice for a safe and successful Minnesota trucking industry. It does so by developing innovative and research-based policies that promote highway safety, educating policymakers and the public about the essential role that trucking plays in the economy, and promoting responsible policies that advance the trucking industry’s environmental goals. The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) is a non-profit trade association representing 650 member-trucking companies and allied firms from across the state. Its mission is to serve as the voice for a safe and successful Minnesota trucking industry. It does so by developing innovative and research-based policies that promote highway safety, educating policymakers and the public about the essential role that trucking plays in the economy, and promoting responsible policies that advance the trucking industry’s environmental goals.

Hours of Service of Drivers: National Asphalt Pavement Association, Inc.; Application for Exemptions 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

 ACTION: Notice of final disposition; grant of application for exemptions.

 SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to grant the National Asphalt Pavement Association, (Inc.) (NAPA) request for exemptions from two requirements of the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for all drivers of certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs): 

(1) The 30-minute rest break provision and (2) the requirement that short-haul drivers utilizing the record of duty status (RODS) exception return to their work-reporting location within 12 hours of coming on duty. The first exemption will enable drivers engaged in the transportation of asphalt and related materials to use 30 minutes or more of on-duty ‘‘waiting time’’ to satisfy the requirement for the 30- minute rest break, provided they do not perform any other work during the break. The second exemption will allow these drivers to use the short-haul exception but return to their work reporting location within 14 hours instead of the usual 12 hours. 

DATES: This exemption is applicable January 26, 2018 and expires January 25, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; Telephone: 614–942–6477. Email: MCPSD@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366–9826. 

Read the full report HERE.

FMCSA Regional Emergency Declaration for Heating Fuels has been extended until February 11^th, 2018.  

Any questions, please contact Alex Keenan.

Alex Keenan
FMCSA Emergency Coordinator
202-366-0177 

Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency

Extension of Regional Declaration of Emergency Under 49 CFR 390.25 (01-24-2018)
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/extension-regional-declaration-emergency-under-49-cfr-39025-01-24-2018

Governor Raimondo will be closing all RI interstates to all commercial vehicle traffic momentarily.  This is expected to remain in effect through this evening. Please inform your drivers accordingly.

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, announced his intention Tuesday to  step down at the end of his term, ending a 17-year House career and a more  than four decades of a Shuster in the seat.

Read the full story HERE.

With the Pennsylvania Turnpike ready to raise tolls for the 10th year in a  row Sunday, state Auditor General Eugene DePasqaule announced Wednesday  he’s beginning another audit of the agency to look at its debt and  contracting practices.

Read the full story HERE.

Exit 7 of I-190 (the Skyway) has been closed in both directions until further notice due to high winds and low visibility from blowing snow.

The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) will provide updates as they receive them.

In accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 390.23, the Regional Field Administrators for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Eastern Service Center, Southern Service Center, Midwestern Service Center, and Western Service Center hereby declare that an emergency exists that warrants issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration and an exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), except as otherwise restricted by this Emergency Declaration. Such emergency is in response to anticipated home heating fuel shortage due to Winter Storm Frankie severe weather and the demand for increased usage. 

Affected States and jurisdictions included in this Emergency Declaration are: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, DC, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

This Emergency Declaration responds to emergency conditions created as a result of Winter Storm Frankie, including anticipated fuel shortages in the Affected States and jurisdictions, which will create a need for immediate transportation of propane and home heating oil and fuels, into and from the Affected States and jurisdictions and provide necessary relief.

To read the full declaration, please click HERE.

On November 13, 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule which will be effective January 1, 2018. 

Here is a notice for transportation safety-sensitive employees regarding the opioids final rule https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/Part_40_DOT_Employee_Notice_2017.  

New Castle - (New Castle County) – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that lanes along both I-95 and I-495 northbound will be closed for patching beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, December 15 until 5 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2017. At all times, one lane will remain open to traffic. This work was previously scheduled to begin on Friday, December 11; however, it was postponed as a result of the snowy conditions.

This closure is necessary to patch the deteriorated concrete in the center lane of I-495 northbound  just past the split. Significant potholes have formed and have elicited complaints from motorists. There is concern that these potholes could worsen over the winter with multiple freeze and thaw cycles. With colder temperatures approaching, multiple crews will be working this weekend to repair the worst potholes. Due to the potholes being in the center lane, it is necessary to close two lanes for the safety of the workers.

WHERE: I-95 northbound before the I-95 northbound/I-495 northbound spilt and I-495 northbound after the I-95/I-495 northbound split in Wilmington.

For further information visit www.us301.deldot.gov, or contact DelDOT Community Relations at 302-760-2080.