Road Scholar Transport is providing you with the latest trucking news. This month, we take a closer look at hours-of-service, 2021’s International Roadcheck, and trucking rates/capacity.
Hours-of-Service Waiver Extended
Last March, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a waiver to the Hours of Service Rule for those truckers “transporting goods related to the COVID-19 outbreak,” going into effect through April 12th, 2020 or until the President declares an end to the emergency.(1) The agency later extended the waiver to February 28th, 2021. With the deadline closing in, the FMCSA announced this week that the waiver would now be extended through May 31st.
The exemption would apply to only to those shipments directly assisting COVID relief efforts, not routine commercial deliveries. These include:
· Livestock and livestock feed
· Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
· Vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19
· Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
· Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores
2021 International Roadcheck
This year’s 72-hour long safety Roadcheck will take place from May 4th through the 6th across the country and will involve both Level 1 and Level V inspections to ensure compliance. These include “vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims, hubs and windshield wipers.”(2)
The Roadcheck this year will pay extra attention to hours-of-service as well as lighting, which was the top violation last year accounting for 12.24% of vehicle violations.(2) Carriers are encouraged to prepare for the Roadcheck and get their fleet maintenance up to par in the upcoming months.
Road Scholar Transport’s equipment is well-maintained and both pre-trip and post-trip inspected. In fact, we have never been cited for a piece of faulty equipment involved in an accident!
Trucking Rates
The DAT load board seen a 68% increase in spot load postings in January 2021 compared to January 2020, so it comes as no surprise that the demand for trucks has led to a rise in spot rates of nearly 26% YoY for vans and 16% for reefers. In fact, shipping costs were actually up over 12% YoY in the last quarter, according to the Coupa Business Spend Index, with contract rates exceeding spot quotes.
Stay tuned as we keep you updated with the latest trucking news.
Do you have business critical freight? Whether it is food grade transport, hazmat shipping services, pharmaceutical transport or expedited freight services, we can help. Contact us today for a rate quote.
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/truck-capacity-loads-spot-xpo-yrc-pandemic/595010/
