Sep
4
Trucking Safety Initiatives Show Results
New reports show that statistically, the trucking industry has been safer than it has ever been with truck-involved fatalities down by 21% over the last 10 years. Credit goes to the numerous safety initiatives the industry has implemented over the years, and Congress plans to do the same this year. Congress has moved to increase tandem trailer length from 28 to 33 feet which is predicted to prevent around 900 accidents annually. To explain, the increase in tandem trailer length would remove the need for 6.6 million truck trips and 1.3 billion miles of travel, thus eliminating the chance for a crash. Additionally, Congress is discussing legislature that would allow young drivers to travel between states but with limits. Routes would be restricted, cargo limited and advanced technology in place to prevent accidents and increase safety measures fort young drivers. Read more…
Female Drivers Hit the Road to Relieve Driver Shortage
In the midst of a record-breaking driver shortage, the transportation industry is tapping into a large pool of potential candidates – female drivers. Industry recruiters are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to relieve the massive driver shortage and get more women behind the wheel. Experts are predicting that by 2017, women drivers will have increased by around 400,000 and could make up as much as 10% of all truck drivers. In an attempt to attract females to the industry, recruiters are redefining what it means to be a trucker by offering cleaner terminals, flexible schedules, safer truck stops and automatic transmission. Last year, female drivers accounted for 5.8% of the 3.4 million drivers in America and with this new campaign, we’re expecting to see gradual increases every year. Read more…
Blue Bell Creameries Back in Production
After months of being off the shelves due to a massive Listeria outbreak, Blue Bell Creameries are back in action. Since March, Blue Bell has been managing a tremendous recall and only this week did they reopen a second production plant, based out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Blue Bell has come back from the outbreak with better employee training, new procedures and facility enhancements to ensure a recall never happens again. Coming back from an outbreak of this scale is a slow process, with only 5 flavors actually returning to the stores at this time. Alabama Department of Health has just approved Blue Bell to restart production in the Sylacauga plant and the main plant in Texas will follow shortly after some renovations. Read more…
Diesel Prices Dip Below Unleaded
For the first time in over a decade, diesel prices have actually dips below the price of unleaded gas. North Dakota drivers have seen as high as a 24 cent difference between diesel and unleaded, coming in at around $2.55 a gallon. Not only is diesel lower than gas, it’s the lowest it has been in 6 years, with prices still consistently dropping. As the trucking industry heads into harvest season, drivers are pretty ecstatic to see such low prices with many of them stocking up now to hold them over in charge of a change. Read more…