The order grants motor carriers and drivers in these areas exemptions from the standard maximum driving time when they are directly involved in relief operations. This includes the transportation of critical fuels such as propane, heating oil, gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and heating fuel to the affected regions.

Initially issued on January 10, the emergency declaration addresses challenges posed by severe winter storms and freezing temperatures. These extreme weather conditions have heightened fuel demands while creating significant obstacles in the distribution process.

What Does “Direct Assistance” Mean?

Under the FMCSA’s directive, “direct assistance” refers to transportation and relief services provided by motor carriers or drivers that play a key role in the immediate restoration of essential supplies or services. However, this does not cover transportation intended for long-term recovery beyond the initial emergency phase or for reconstructing damaged infrastructure. Additionally, routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with only minimal emergency supplies, do not qualify for the exemptions provided.

Motor carriers or drivers who have been issued an out-of-service order are also not permitted to operate under the declaration until they meet all applicable conditions.

Returning to Normal Operations

Once emergency relief activities conclude, carriers and drivers must comply with standard driving time regulations while operating commercial vehicles. However, drivers can return empty to their terminal or their usual work reporting location without additional restrictions.

If a driver transitions from emergency relief efforts back to normal operations, they must take a 10-hour rest period if their total time engaged in relief efforts or combined relief and everyday driving exceeds 14 hours.

Additional State Declarations

Several states have also implemented their own emergency declarations to provide motor carriers and drivers with additional relief measures tailored to specific regional needs. To learn more about these state-level declarations, detailed information is available here.

Source: Land Line

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Estes Express Lines, a top player in the logistics sector has significantly expanded its operational network by acquiring seven former Yellow Transportation terminals. This strategic move underscores Estes’ commitment to enhancing operational capacity and improving service for its customers.

2024 Expansion Overview

In 2024, Estes has achieved a major milestone by increasing its terminal capacity by 508 doors, marking a 4.5% growth from the previous year. The company’s total door count now stands at 11,832, with plans to add 940 more doors within the next nine months. This expansion includes the acquisition of 29 terminals and the assumption of 10 leases from Yellow Transportation. Key new locations include Charlotte, NC; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Rockford, IL; South Bend, IN; and Eugene, OR.

“These acquisitions demonstrate our ongoing investment in resources to boost capacity and better serve our customers,” said Webb Estes, President and COO. He praised the team for the swift integration of these new assets, which include hundreds of shipping containers and trailers.

Growth of Network and Fleet

The recent acquisition has bolstered Estes’ coast-to-coast network with the addition of 290 new doors. The Charlotte terminal, now the largest in the network with 275 doors, highlights the scale of this expansion. Alongside increasing terminal capacity, Estes has also expanded its fleet, acquiring 6,800 additional trailers this year, bringing its total fleet to over 45,000.

This expansion reaffirms Estes’ commitment to scaling operations and enhancing service delivery, solidifying its position in the competitive logistics and transportation industry.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

Image: Commercial Carrier Journal

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“Some 10,000 people per year seek to obtain or renew their CDL licenses in Minnesota,” said Craig Beytien, strategic engagement vice president at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. “With just 26 testing sites in the state, they’ve been having to wait up to nine weeks, and sometimes travel hundreds of miles, to be tested.”

The previous law mandated that public postsecondary institutions provide 180 hours of instructional CDL training before they could conduct third-party testing. This requirement was challenging for many schools to meet, with only four state institutions managing to qualify. Consequently, this restriction not only limited the range of programs schools could offer but also reduced the number of testing sites across Minnesota.

In response, Minnesota legislators united across party lines during the 93rd legislative session to pass Senate File 4169, which eliminated the mandate. The bill was authored by state Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (R) and received support from state Sen. Robert Kupec of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), along with Republican state Sens. Jeff Howe, John Jasinski, and Michael Kreun.

Rasmusson emphasized the benefits of the bill during the legislative session, noting that it aids students and strengthens the state economy by increasing its workforce. Ultimately, the bill was incorporated into a larger bipartisan Transportation Policy Omnibus Bill, which Gov. Tim Walz signed into law in May.

Starting July 1, any Minnesota state institution offering CDL training can also administer CDL tests.

“I am grateful for the passage of this legislation that will allow more public higher education institutions to offer third-party CDL testing,” Rasmusson said on July 11. “This change will create more opportunities for Minnesota students to pursue in-demand careers.”

With the new law in effect, Beytien highlighted that his college, along with other public postsecondary institutions, can now conduct testing locally. This will help “move people through the CDL pipeline more quickly” and expand CDL programs to better serve student and workforce needs.

State Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL), who also supported the bill, praised the effort to facilitate the training and certification of more truck drivers.

“Our local higher education systems have the students and resources they need to produce quality CDL drivers, we just needed to break down the barriers prohibiting them from doing so,” Keeler said.

This legislative change marks a significant step forward in meeting the growing demand for qualified truck drivers in Minnesota.

Source: Transport Topics

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Minnesota

Minnesota has approved funding to boost truck parking facilities. As part of a large spending bill signed by Governor Tim Walz, $7.75 million is allocated in fiscal year 2025 for the construction and expansion of truck parking along Interstate 94, particularly at the Big Spunk Lake Rest Area in Avon and the Enfield Rest Area. Additionally, $4.8 million is designated for truck parking safety projects within the Minneapolis and St. Paul area to help drivers who are close to their driving limits. A report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) echoes this need, recommending that MnDOT consider both internal and external funding sources for truck parking improvements. Currently, MnDOT provides 677 truck parking spaces at 51 rest area locations across the state.

Georgia

Following Minnesota’s lead, Georgia has made strides on the same issue. A new law mandates a statewide plan for freight and logistics that includes truck parking as a key component. This 20-year plan, with annual progress updates, focuses on widening highways, improving intermodal capacities, and enhancing truck parking and safety. This legislation stems from a Senate study committee formed to explore how trucking impacts the economy and supply chains. Recommendations include collaborating with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to expand truck parking and curb unauthorized truck parking. The law highlights the importance of safe and efficient freight movement to Georgia’s economy and future growth.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, a proposed Senate bill seeks to ensure that new warehouse developments include sufficient truck parking. Bill A3370, introduced by Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, requires large warehouses to provide enough onsite parking to prevent trucks from parking inappropriately on local properties or rights-of-way during night hours. Municipalities would have the authority to adjust the required number of parking spaces through zoning ordinances. Introduced in February, the bill is under review by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. Concurrently, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is soliciting feedback from truck drivers on improving truck parking, with an open comment period until June 16.

New York

New York has proposed several bills focusing on truck parking. One bill, S518, proposes a $1,000 fine for semi-trailers or trailers left parked or unattended on New York City streets. The current fine is a $160 towing fee, which many consider insufficient to deter illegal parking.

Source: Land Line

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Under a newly formed partnership, 15 Tire Anomaly and Classification Systems (TACS) developed by International Road Dynamics will be supplied to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. These systems will be added to the existing Virtual Weigh Station sites, which are currently utilized by the state patrol for weight enforcement and traffic data collection.

Through IRD’s Virtual Weigh Station software, law enforcement will have access to web-based tools that allow for remote monitoring of vehicle records, including valuable insights obtained from weigh-in-motion sensors.

By utilizing advanced technology, the Minnesota State Patrol is taking proactive steps to ensure that vehicles on their roads are equipped with safe and properly inflated tires, ultimately enhancing overall road safety for all drivers.

This advanced system is capable of performing efficient screenings of commercial vehicles at highway and ramp speeds, and is comprised of the following components:

• In-road sensors for tire detection and measurement.
• Roadside electronics to capture information from the in-road sensors and pass this information to the weigh station.
• Weigh Station Work Station, Software and Graphical User Interface, to present information to weigh station operators.

The TACS system will seamlessly connect with the Virtual Weigh Station interface, providing real-time information on the exact whereabouts of vehicles with unsafe tires. Mobile enforcement teams located downstream from the checkpoints will be able to quickly spot trucks with tire issues, including flats, missing tires, or underinflated tires.

Based on the TACS screening, officers will give citations to drivers of vehicles that don’t meet safety standards, temporarily suspending them from service until any hazardous tire issues are fixed.

“MnDOT’s decision to upgrade their Virtual Weigh Station systems with TACS shows how important tire anomaly screening is for the state’s efforts to improve commercial vehicle safety,” said Rish Malhotra, IRD president and CEO, in a release.

Source: Trucking Info

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