TEAMSTERS, SIERRA CLUB: FMCSA FAILS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT FROM MEXICAN TRUCKS

Call On FMSCA To Conduct Full Environmental Review Of Proposed Pilot Program

In comments submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Sierra Club raised serious concerns with the failure of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to adequately assess the environmental impacts associated with the proposed U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking pilot program.

On July 12, the FMCSA released its Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) of the cross-border trucking program. The narrow view of the scope was limited to the environmental impact associated with border inspections, ignoring the wider and more serious impact Mexican trucks will have on the environment.

“With this assessment, the FMSCA is recklessly ignoring the true environmental impact Mexican trucks will have if permitted to travel without restrictions throughout our country,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “We contend that the FMSCA has violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not addressing the full, cumulative effects on our environment prior to starting the cross-border pilot program.”

In the comments, the Teamsters Union and the Sierra Club cite the requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for agencies to provide environmental information to public officials and citizens on the environmental impact of any new program or initiative prior to moving forward. Since the FMCSA announced its intent to proceed with the cross-border pilot program on July 8, it clearly violated the requirements as outlined in NEPA.

The Teamsters and the Sierra Club also questioned why the FMCSA did not require Mexican carriers to certify that Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) was used in all their vehicles that will operate within our borders, and in turn require Mexico to have ULSD widely available on its highways. The scarcity of ULSD in Mexico is also another major issue that needs to be resolved before U.S. trucks that utilize the low-emission fuel exclusively can travel throughout the country.

“The FMCSA has been negligent in its duty to the American public,” Hoffa said. “Until the true scope and impact of this cross-border program is assessed, we cannot allow Mexican trucks to freely travel within our borders.”

Reddaway professional drivers capture top awards at the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships

Reddaway is proud to announce that two professional drivers captured top awards at the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) on Aug. 9–13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Jeff Payne, a Utah driver, placed first in the Twin Trailers Class competition. Payne has been in the transportation industry for 25 years and with Reddaway for the past 18 years. Payne was named the Utah State Grand Champion for 2003 and 2011.

John Lopez, a Colorado driver, placed third in the Straight Truck competition. Lopez has worked his entire 17-year career in the transportation industry with Reddaway. Lopez was named the Colorado State Straight Truck Champion in 2010 and 2011.

“We are very proud of our professional drivers who competed at the National Truck Driving Championships this past weekend,” said T.J. O’Connor, Reddaway president. “Jeff and John are championship drivers who are representative of the entire Reddaway team that makes safety and service the top priorities with each and every delivery.”

To compete at the national competition, drivers must be accident-free for the 12 months leading up to the event and place first in their state-level driving championships.

New Penn Motor Express, Inc. Celebrates 80th Anniversary

New Penn Motor Express, Inc., a subsidiary of YRC Worldwide Inc. celebrates its 80th anniversary serving the next-day LTL transportation needs of customers in the Northeast.

Founded in 1931 by Cloyd F. Erdley and Henry R. Arnold, the partners started the company with $300 in capital and an innovative idea: Provide next-day transportation for shipments moving between Eastern Pennsylvania and New York City.

"The Great Depression was a tough teacher. Our founders had to work extremely hard and pay close attention to customer service just to survive," says Steve Gast, president - New Penn. "It's a lesson New Penn learned well and an approach to business that's been passed down through the decades. Talk to any of our employees and you'll find a lot of pride in our company and the quality of service we provide our customers."

As an integral part of customer supply chains networks, New Penn operates 25 service centers and provides superior next-day service in the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. New Penn specializes in reliable on-time, damage-free service, and morning deliveries which accelerate customers' operations. In addition to its coverage throughout the Northeastern U.S. and between the Northeast and Canada, New Penn is the largest NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) in the Northeast serving Puerto Rico.

New Penn is regularly recognized by Logistics Management magazine, receiving its Quest for Quality award for Outstanding Performance 16 consecutive years. It's also ranked among the best as an Expedited Motor Carrier.

YRC Worldwide Professional Drivers Capture Top Awards at the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships

YRC Worldwide Inc. is proud to announce that four of its professional drivers captured top awards at this year's National Truck Driving Championships, held Aug. 9-13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. YRC Worldwide sent a team of 42 outstanding professional drivers from its Holland, Reddaway and YRC subsidiaries to the annual competition.

Jeff Payne, a Reddaway driver from Utah, placed first in the Twins Class competition. Payne has been in the transportation industry for 25 years and with Reddaway for the past 18 years. Payne was named the Utah State Grand Champion for 2003 and 2011.

Herschel Evans, a Holland driver from Georgia, placed first in the 5-Axle Class competition. Evans has been in the transportation industry for 23 years and with Holland for the past 17 years. Evans was named the 2006 Georgia State 5-Axle Champion and the 2008 State 5-Axle Champion and National Champion.

John Lopez, a Reddaway driver from Colorado, placed third in the Straight Truck competition. Lopez has been in the transportation industry for 17 years and with Reddaway for the past 17 years. Lopez was named the Colorado State Straight Truck Champion in 2010 and 2011.

Additionally, Larry Dumont, a YRC driver from New Hampshire, received the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award. Dumont was named the 2011 New Hampshire State 5-Axle Champion and 1994 New Hampshire State Grand Champion.

"We would like to congratulate all of our drivers who competed at the National Truck Driving Championships," said James Welch, CEO of YRC Worldwide. "Our professional drivers demonstrate remarkable skill and commitment to safety, which are essential to keeping our highways safe."

To compete at the national competition, drivers must be accident free for the 12 months leading up to the event and place first in their state-level driving championship.

2011 Bendix National Truck Driving Champions Crowned

Paul Phillips, a Con-way Freight professional truck driver from Coarsegold, Calif. was named the 2011 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion. Paul's driving skills and knowledge of transportation and truck safety information topped those of 428 other professional drivers from all across the United States in the National Truck Driving Championships, held in Orlando, Fla. The 74th annual "Super Bowl of Safety" is sponsored by the American Trucking Associations.

In route to his title, Paul has logged 35 years as a professional truck driver, with over 1.6 million miles behind the wheel. Paul began competing in his state truck driving championships in 2004, and this year he made his second trip to the National Truck Driving Championships.

The contestants were the state champions in nine truck types from all 50 states. Collectively, they have driven 595,155,665 accident-free miles.

In their respective classes, drivers tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition course inside the Orange County Convention Center challenged their knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tested drivers' ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicle exactly over scales, before barriers or around curves.

"The National Truck Driving Championships showcase the industry's commitment to safety," said ATA President & CEO Bill Graves. "I applaud all the competitors for their efforts in making our highways safe, and congratulate Paul for demonstrating how a dedication to safe driving skills can make you a Grand Champion."

Paul also won the individual straight truck driving competition. Joining Paul as champions in their respective classes:

Straight Truck: CA - Paul Phillips, Con-way Freight, Coarsegold, Calif.
Three-Axle: PA - John Hazlett, ABF Freight System, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
Four-Axle: KS - Gary Harms, Walmart Transportation LLC, Olathe, Kan.
Five-Axle: GA - Hershel Evans, Holland, Bremen, Ga.
Flatbed: OR - Edward Hawkins, Leavitt's Freight Service, Springfield, Ore.
Tank Truck: PA - Leo Flack, A. Duie Pyle, Inc., West Chester, Pa.
Twins: UT - Jeffrey W. Payne, Reddaway, Cedar City, Utah
Sleeper Berth: OR - Joshua Carr, Walmart Transportation LLC, McCall, Idaho
Step Van: TN - James Sheehan, FedEx Ground, Hendersonville, Tenn.

Paul Phillips succeeds Carl Krites, a professional truck driver also with Con-way Freight from Wapakoneta, Ohio, as the National Grand Champion.

ATA's Truck Driving Championships included top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 9-13 in Orlando, Fla. The Orlando NTDC annually attracted over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators.

2011 National Truck Driving Championship Winners:

Straight Truck Class

CA - Paul Phillips, Con-way Freight, Coarsegold, Calif.
AZ - Sean Saxon, FedEx Ground, Scottsdale, Ariz.
CO - John Lopez, Reddaway, Ranch, Colo.

3-Axle Class

PA - John Hazlett, ABF Freight System, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
VA - Michael Stickley, Con-way Freight, Middletown, Va.
MS - Virgil Boyanton, FedEx Freight, Florence, Miss.

4-Axle Class

KS - Gary Harms, Walmart Transportation, LLC, Olathe, Kan.
MA - Kenneth Ferencie, Norwell, Mass.
OK - Larry Kendall, FedEx Express, Tulsa, Okla.

5-Axle Class

GA - Hershel Evans, Holland, Bremen, Ga.
WA - John Enyeart, Safeway Stores, Inc., Ravensdale, Wash.
OK - Russell Beachler, FedEx Freight, Moore, Okla.

Flatbed Class

OR - Edward Hawkins, Leavitt's Freight Service, Springfield, Ore.
NH - Mark Bailey, Walmart Transportation LLC, Springvale, Maine
ME - Robert Magnuson, Hannaford Trucking Company, Portland, Maine

Tank Truck Class

PA - Leo Flack, A. Duie Pyle, Inc., Westchester, Pa.
SC - Thomas Winston, FedEx Freight, Greenville, S.C.
TX - Thomas Wilson, H-E-B, Katy, Texas

Twins Class

UT - Jeffrey Payne, Reddaway, Cedar City, Utah
NY - Gerald Thompson, Con-way Freight, Grand Island, N.Y.
CA - Gary Martin, FedEx Ground, Galt, Calif.

Sleeper Berth Class

OR - Joshua Carr, Walmart Transportation, LLC , McCall, Idaho
LA - Pat Rudesill, FedEx Ground, Hammond, La.
MT - Brandon Hicks, Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage, Helena, Mont.

Step Van

TN - James Sheehan, FedEx Ground, Hendersonville, Tenn.
WI - Timothy Cole, FedEx Ground, Muskego, Wis.
MA - Robert Ledoux, FedEx Express, Swansen, Mass.

Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion: Paul Phillips, Con-way Freight, Coarsegold, Calif.

National Rookie of the Year: Michael Andrews, HEB, Valley Mills, Texas

Team Trophy: The Michigan state truck driving championship team won honors as the highest scoring state team, followed by Pennsylvania and Utah respectively.

Vehicle Condition Award: Michael Barnes, Walmart Transportation LLC, Verona, Va.

Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award: Laurier R. Dumont, YRC, Rochester, N.H.