Trucking Index Moves Higher, Debt Ceiling, Regulations Shadow Projections

Trucking Index Moves Higher, Debt Ceiling, Regulations Shadow Projections
Posted: Oct 11, 2013 03:29 PM | Last Updated: Oct 11, 2013 03:29 PM

BLOOMINGTON, IN. — FTR's Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for August moved a full point higher from July.

"The increase moves the index to an expected peak this fall before conditions deteriorate somewhat as the industry absorbs the impact of the Hours of Service rule changes," FTR said.

Based on FTR's projections, conditions for truck fleets are slated to stabilize in 2014 — at least until more FMCSA regulatory plans are made public.

The coming regulatory environment aside, the U.S. government shutdown and debt ceiling deadline is what FTR is watching closely.

"Prior to the government shutdown on October 1st, economic and industry data was pointing to a possible uptick in demand as we head into the final stretch of 2013. The length of the shutdown and the outcome of the debt ceiling fight will play a big part in deciding if that acceleration is realized," said Jonathan Starks, director of transportation analysis for FTR.

"We continue to expect a resolution to both issues prior to the debt ceiling being reached on October 17; however, the longer this plays out the more difficult it becomes to see a solid agreement taking shape. While the shutdown is a tough pill to swallow in a slow-growth economy, the effects of not raising the debt ceiling would be much more dramatic and devastating. We are hopeful that a compromise solution can be crafted before that occurs"

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Are unnecessary trucking regulations burdening our industry and our economy?

By
Richard Wilson of Trans Products and Services

Physical year 2010 saw the highest upswing in regulatory costs in our country’s history. This Administration has singlehandedly increased regulatory spending by 1.75 trillion Dollars. (US Chamber of Commerce figures) In these tough times of economic rebuilding we need to cut spending and utilize our current regulations as they have proven to work and reduce highway deaths, serious injuries, and improve loss ratios of companies for damage to equipment.

CSA was developed and introduced in December 2010, to improve and make drivers accountable for their personal actions. The FMCSA guaranteed that Driver Data would be held in the strictest confidence so only current or prospective employers would have access to this information. We now find out that that was a LIE! John Hill, the former FMCSA Administrator said,” The agency intended years ago to go public with driver data.” Currently the FMCSA has requested with the submission of the Highway reauthorizations’ bill that it grant FMCSA the authority to release publicly the Drivers DSMS information.

When asked if the intention was to create a public driver ranking system similar to the agency’s CSA motor carrier percentile ranking system, FMCSA spokeswoman Candice Tolliver said, “The Department of Transportation is committed to working with Congress to address this issue as part of a comprehensive push to update transportation programs and maintain the highest standards of safety for the American public.”When asked to clarify her answer, as usual dead silence!
With the FMCSA putting committees together of Law enforcement, Safety Advocacy, groups, Trucking organizations (representing only a small fraction of regulated commercial carriers, the very large ones), and a few token of so called representatives from the trucking side; (remember the organization, that represented the large carriers? Those carriers) to set regulations on the requirements of how to obtain EOBR Data from the on boards of the mandatory EOBR’s that EVERY, that’s right EVERY Commercial vehicle that is currently required to, or has ever done a log.

This would include vehicles 10,001 or greater that went outside of the 150 air mile exemption to travel to sites to do construction or other service related to their profession, not for hire or private revenue generated motor carriers. In essence, companies using commercial motor vehicle to move manpower and supplies not FREIGHT! The additional cost factors of installation and the additional cost of either internet, or satellite base data transfer with no way to recoup costs. This equipment doesn’t generate revenue off of hauling.
So, again we need more regulations that will cost more money with no way to recoup it, we need more regulations that the FMCSA will have to be appropriated more money from the working Americans to enforce and lose drivers because of the information that will be plastered all over the DATA network. These are solutions to decrease the already declining accident rate, and or fatality rate of our industry. Messing with what works, costing more money without increased revenue to help replace costs, no new tax breaks for small or medium carriers to install EOBR’s, sounds to me like a disaster waiting to happen, not a cure for a struggling economy! Andy Card, former White House Staff for the Bush administration put it in perspective, “every new regulation will cost the American small business employer, with less than 20 employees, $10,000 per employee.” I say every new regulation the FMCSA sneaks by will cost the American Small Trucker as well as the largest freight company and average of $250,000 in equipment, Training, and qualifying of new employees to replace those lost to the new regulations.

NOTE:  Richard Wilson is the well known speaker on DOT regulations who will be presenting at the 2011 Truck Driver Convention in October. Richard will be a part of the expert panel that will also be taking questions as part of the 3 Hour Open Forum Discussion at the convention.

© 2011, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: CSA, DOT, EOBR, FMCSA regulations, Richard Wilson, Trans Products, truck drivers, trucking, trucking regulations

Tagged with: CSA • DOT • EOBR • FMCSA regulations • Richard Wilson • Trans Products • truck drivers • trucking • trucking regulations

Filed under: DOT • FMCSA • Politics • trucking

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