Selected COVID-19 and trucking industry news that may impact your business.
As of April 1, 2020:
FMCSA Issues Guidance for Drug Testing During Emergency
Transport Topics
Federal trucking regulators have issued “reasonable flexibility” guidance for motor carriers and drivers to follow for drug and alcohol testing during the COVID-19 emergency. Read More
The guidance available: FMCSA’s emergency hours of service exemption
Overdrive
As most of you know, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has in recent weeks issued a series of emergency hours of service exemptions for those hauling relief loads to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus as it spreads throughout the United States. The definitions of just what constitutes an emergency relief load is expansive, of which plenty readers have taken notice — it includes food to grocery stores struggling to restock their shelves after panic buying (ongoing in some instances) by consumers. Read More
US-Canada trucker border crossings plunge
FreightWaves
Almost 24% fewer truck drivers entered Canada from the U.S. last week than a year earlier, a sign that COVID-19 is hurting cross-border freight. Read More
Slowdown hitting small fleets hardest, survey sample shows
Overdrive
The late March decline in freight appeared to be hitting small carriers harder than larger fleets, and a bigger share of the smaller operations expect things to get worse, based on a survey of Commercial Carrier Journal readers. Read More
Tips for Cleaning and Sanitizing Truck Cabs
HDT Truckinginfo
Just about every surface inside the cab, even the door handles and glad-hands, could be a source of transmission. Even though CDC stresses that physical contact with surfaces is not considered the primary line of transmission, it won’t hurt to be cautions and wash up frequently. Read More
Coronavirus Truck Stop Protocol
FreightWaves
The coronavirus has shut down many stores and restaurants, making truck stops the only option for many truckers’ essentials. TA & Petro, Pilot Flying J, and Love’s truck stops have issued statements regarding safety during the global COVID-19 outbreak. Read More
Truckers face restroom restrictions when delivering to businesses afraid of coronavirus
WUSA9 CBS
The American Trucking Association is working with state governments to ensure drivers going through states sheltering in place are exempt from 14-day quarantines. Read More
Coronavirus turns Utah truckers into heroes
Salt Lake Tribune
John Evans, a long-haul truck driver based in Salt Lake City, loves how children in South Carolina held signs saying, “We love you, truckers.” He tells how his partner tried to buy a sandwich in Kentucky but was told someone left a gift card there to provide free food for any truckers. Read More
Ford, GM and Ram report uptick in van sales amid pandemic
CCJ
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought production freezes along with huge sales losses for major auto manufacturers, at least three industry giants are reporting increased demand for vehicles that don’t exactly play starring roles at local dealers. Ford, GM and Ram have seen increased demand for vans that support pickup and delivery, which got a nice boost from increased ecommerce sales through growing shelter-in-place directives. Read More
Mack offers new financing options during COVID-19 pandemic
Overdrive
The truck financing arm of Mack Trucks, Mack Financial Services, is offering four finance options to help truck buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs are available until June 30. Read More