Letters: CSA 2010, NTA Clarification, Ray LaHood, Kansas & N.Y./N.J., Bendix & Mid-America
These Letters to the Editor appear in the April 12 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.
CSA 2010
I have been reading a lot about CSA 2010 and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s attempt to eliminate bad carriers. There also is talk about preventing carriers that have had their operating authority revoked from returning as new carriers.
I do see a problem with multiple carriers that are owned by a large umbrella company. A big company that owns and controls several carriers now can operate under different carrier authorities.
If any one carrier owned and controlled by one large company has a safety problem, and its operating authority is revoked by FMCSA, the complete operations of the unsafe carrier can be absorbed by the other carriers owned by these large-carrier holding companies. This happens when one carrier from a carrier group owned by a single company files for bankruptcy. All operations are generally absorbed into the other carriers they own.
Thus, in reality, the unsafe carrier is still operating.
I think that if CSA 2010 is going to work, multiple carriers owned and controlled by one large company should be combined and operated as a single motor carrier. This will prevent unsafe carriers from continuing to operate.
Richard Marsh
President
SpecializedCarrier.Com Inc.
Pahrump, Nev.
NTA Clarification
The Nebraska Trucking Association would like to clarify its position on a legislative bill described in “Nebraska Lawmakers Examine Status of Workers in Construction, Trucking” reported by The Associated Press in Transport Topics.
The pending bill seeks to curb the practice of misclassifying employees as independent contractors for purposes of avoiding tax and insurance obligations. The Nebraska Trucking Association negotiated to leave in place existing state law governing motor carrier contracts with independent contractors.
The Nebraska Trucking Association does not object to the bill in its current version, but that is not the same as actively supporting the bill.
Thanks for considering this clarification.
Nance Harris
Vice President, Member Services
Nebraska Trucking Association
Lincoln, Neb.
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press story the letter writer refers to appeared on p. 9 of the March 29 issue, in the State News section.
Ray LaHood
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood confuses the entertainment or relaxation value of walking and riding a bike with a transportation need (“LaHood Touts ‘Livable’ Transportation Plans, Says Goal Is to Remove ‘Gas-Guzzling’ Trucks,” 3-29, p. 5).
If people wanted to walk or ride to work, they would do it now. What the people want is an end to LaHood’s having anything to do with transportation, infrastructure or budget expenditures.
Roger Edwards
Owner
6 Sigma Logistics Solutions
Denver
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood needs to reconfigure his own Global Positioning System because he obviously is traveling in the wrong direction. For any governmental person to insinuate that “gas-guzzling trucks” need to come off the road is ridiculous, especially in these economic times.
To promote bike trails, light rail and streetcars, among other modes, over trucking because this “reflects the idea that people want more walking paths and biking paths” is sheer misguided judgment.
I, too, would like to see a merry-go-round on every corner, but big trucks brought in LaHood’s suits, food, durables and nondurables alike. The secretary also wants to see goods move on water and then rails for as long as possible until the last mile or so by truck. Nice thought, but it just isn’t realistic.
Trucking is the bellwether of industry and should be respected for the good it does in creating jobs and services. No other country on earth can bring it home better than American trucks can, and that’s something Ray LaHood had better come to realize fast as transportation secretary.
Chris Simmons
Senior Vice President
Craig Transportation
Perrysburg, Ohio
Kansas & N.Y./N.J.
Here are two thoughts on two issues:
The story “Kansas Governor Seeks Road Project Cuts; Proposes Taking 87 Mln. From Highway Fund” (3-15, p. 10; click here for online version) highlights the basic problem of the public sector: an ideal-world taste on a real-world budget.
Instead of simply moving money from one pile to another, our public servants need to be taking real steps toward efficiencies and getting more done with less — the way that the rest of us do.
Then, in “Industry Opposed to Quick Implementation of Clean-Truck Plan at Port of N.Y./N.J” (3-22, p. 5), the ongoing money-grab in the name of “environmentally sound” continues.
“Sustainable” means more than eco-friendly; it also means “staying in business.” Yet, with all of the finesse of a sledge hammer, a detached and disillusioned bureaucracy has dictated that tax dollars will be diverted to provide a quasi-incentive for truckers to replace otherwise good equipment.
When is our country going to start funding programs based on priority, not on the simple sniff-test of “is it good?” Of course we all want clean air, but at what price?
Can someone interject some common sense into the issue, and quickly, before we have clean air and no business, no jobs, no trade and very little else?
Danny Schnautz
Clark Freight Lines
Pasadena, Texas
Bendix & Mid-America
As part of its ongoing support of the full range of vehicle and engine manufacturers, energy management solutions from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems were included in an educational display at the recently concluded 2010 Mid-America Trucking Show (“MATS Exhibitors Display DEF, Options for Cutting Emissions” 4-5, p. 4).
The Bendix technologies — displayed alongside those of other nonaffiliated suppliers under the marketing name Innovative Trucking Solutions — were available solely to help increase general awareness and communicate alternatives to address the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 nitrogen oxide requirements. The collection of Bendix energy management technologies displayed is applicable for engine/vehicle strategies not using selective catalytic reduction, as well as those that do use SCR.
We commend the intent of the ITS marketing effort produced by Pure Power Technologies, a Navistar subsidiary. It is vital, however, to clarify that participation on the part of Bendix CVS in this activity was aimed exclusively toward demonstrating the capabilities of our technology for the wide range of EPA ’10 solutions. At this time, Bendix is not part of any organized group aimed at endorsing specific engine alternatives.
Continuing in its efforts to provide customers with the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly air management energy system, Bendix has developed three optimized components, which were displayed at Mid-America: Bendix PBS Air Injection Booster, Electronic Air
Control Dryer and Turbo-Clutch Air Compressor. Working together, they maximize engine efficiency and improve emissions. Together, the three components can bring up to 8% in fuel savings per commercial vehicle.
Steve Mance
General Manager, Charging Group
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
Elyria, Ohio
