The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is seeking motor carriers to participate in research on rising insurance costs and strategies for managing risk.
Trucking auto liability premiums rose by 36 percent per mile in the past 8 years amid persistent unprofitability for insurers, even as truck crashes declined over the past 4 years. In 2025, insurance cost/availability and lawsuit abuse, a primary contributor to rising insurance costs, were voted as the third- and second-greatest issues facing the trucking industry respectively.
In response to this financial pressure, fleets are reevaluating their total cost of risk by pursuing a variety of new technologies, training protocols, and insurance schemes, such as self-insurance or captives. Prior ATRI research detailed how fleets reduced coverage and raised deductibles from 2018 to 2020 in search of savings, self-incentivizing safety improvements but still experiencing higher premiums. ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) identified expanding upon this prior research as a top priority in order to better understand and assess industry-wide trends in the ongoing adoption and effectiveness of these strategies.
Motor carriers are requested to submit data on their coverage stacks for the years 2021 through 2024, in addition to information on their use of safety technology and alternative insurance arrangements. All data is kept completely confidential for analysis in aggregate form only, and ATRI will sign non-disclosure agreements as desired.
“The total cost of risk is growing annually for every fleet, regardless of size. While many carriers are cutting back on insurance coverage to control expenses, premiums keep climbing—and reducing coverage only heightens exposure to catastrophic litigation,” said Josh Hankins, J.B. Hunt Senior VP of Safety & Security. “Today, trucking faces a perfect insurance storm. Fortunately, ATRI’s insurance research will offer critical insights into strategies fleets can adopt to manage these costs and measure their impact.”
All participating carriers will receive a customized report that compares their fleet’s cost of risk to an anonymized peer group. Motor carriers can complete the survey by PDF or online here. The deadline is Friday, December 19.
NJ Election 2025 Postmortem
November 5, 2025
by Eric DeGesero
Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli 56%-43% in the 2025 race for NJ Governor. Going into election night Democrats controlled the NJ General Assembly 52-28. As a result of her strong coattails Democrats picked up at least four seats in the NJ General Assembly with a few races still too close to call. More than three million voters cast ballots for governor, an all-time high.
Sherrill’s win marks the first time the same party has won the governor’s office three times in a row since 1961.
The Framers of the 1947 NJ Constitution decided to have our state’s elections in odd number years so the national environment would not dominate state level issues. In 2025 everything is a national issue. And the national issue was President Donald Trump.
Trump loomed over the election beginning in the primary when Ciattarelli had to convince the MAGA base to support after his previous distancing of himself from the President. Trump endorsed Ciattarelli in the primary and he won it with 67%. Sherrill made clear in her primary night victory speech that opposition to Trump would be a hallmark of her campaign.
While each candidate threw a haymaker at the other – Sherrill that Ciattarelli profited from opioid deaths and Ciattarelli that Sherrill’s military record was tainted by a cheating scandal – neither had more than a few days legs. Everything reverted to Trump. In the last month of the campaign Trump as an issue was amplified by the federal government shutdown, cancellation of the Gateway Tunnel project, and the cessation of SNAP benefits.
The most telling result in last night’s exit polling was that two-thirds of the electorate was dissatisfied with the direction of the country and three-quarters of them voted for Sherrill.
In 2021 Ciattarelli won Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Morris Counties. Sherrill flipped all four. She is the first Democrat to win Morris County since Brendan Byrne in 1973 in the wake of Watergate. She cut 20,000 votes off Ciattarelli’s 2021 margin in Monmouth, a fire wall Republican county. And Sherrill overperformed Murphy’s 2021 showing in the following stronghold Democratic Counties: Camden +28k, Burlington +25k, Essex +35k, Hudson +23k, Middlesex +38k, Union +28k.
Republicans hoped that Trump’s closer showing in 2024 in New Jersey relative to 2020, was a precursor to good things in 2025. It was not. Trump voters come out for Trump, not those he endorses. Democrats pointed out that even with Trump’s improved showing in 2024 he still lost the state by 250,000 votes.
Sherrill’s win was large enough to have coattails in the election for NJ General Assembly. Going into the evening Democrats controlled 52-28. As of this morning Democrats retained every seat and have flipped four with two too close to call.
· District 2 (Atlantic): Incumbent Republican Don Guardian won. Democrats Maureen Rowan and Joann Famularo and incumbent Republican Claire Swift are within 300 votes of one another for the second seat.
· District 8 (Burlington/Atlantic): The district is one of two in the state with an Assembly member from each party, Republican Mike Torrissi and Democrat Andrea Katz. The 2025 election was a rematch of 2023 when incumbent Republican Brandon Umba lost unexpectedly to Katz and her running mate Anthony Angelozzi came in ahead of Umba. Less than 500 votes separated all four candidates. This time it wasn’t close. Torrissi came in 3,000 votes behind and Umba 5,000.
· District 11 (Monmouth): Republicans had hoped to flip these two seats back to their column as this was seen as a competitive district in a Republican county. The race wasn’t close. Incumbent Democrats Margie Donlon and Luann Peterpaul won by 9,000 votes. Sherrill shaved 20,000 votes off Ciattarelli 2021 Monmouth win. All aided by strong fundraising and their affiliation with Senator Vin Gopal, one of the best politicians in the state.
· District 21: (Union/Somerset/Morris): Incumbent Republicans Nancy Munoz and Michele Matiskouids were the most vulnerable Republican incumbents going into election night. Sherrill won all three counties that make up the district and challengers Andrew Macurdy and Vinnie Kearney ran competitive and well-funded campaigns, winning by 5,000 votes.
· District 25 (Morri/Passaic County) Incumbent Republicans Aura Dunn and Christian Barranco faced a challenge not only from their opponents Marisa Sweeney and Steven Pylypchuk but also Sherrill’s strong showing in Morris County. Dunn held the seat, but Sweeney leads Barranco by 245 votes for the second seat.
Public opinion polls of the “horse race” were of no value. All had a close race tightening in the closing days. 100% wrong. Sherrill won by 13% - over 400,000 votes - and the race was called less than 90 minutes after the voting polls closed.
The next NJ election will be 2027 when the Senate and Assembly are both on the ballot.
Please be advised that as of September 25, 2025 all New Jersey based motor carriers who are registered with the International Registration Plan{IRP – for interstate travel} must have proof of a physical address when opening an account, renewing a registration or changing an address. You must also have documentation of the hours of operation.
Click Here for more from the NJMVC. Be sure to review this checklist before going to transact IRP business.
Law enforcement officers in Canada and the U.S. pulled over 8,739 vehicles during this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week. Officers issued 2,504 tickets/citations and 3,575 warnings to commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and passenger vehicle (PV) drivers for unsafe driving infractions.
Operation Safe Driver Week is the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual, seven-day safe-driving initiative aimed at improving drivers’ behaviors through traffic-enforcement strategies, interactions with law enforcement, and outreach and awareness campaigns. CVSA’s jurisdictions devote time, personnel and resources to this driver safety initiative because driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving, etc., are a top cause of roadway crashes.
From July 13 to 19, officers issued 3,230 warnings and 1,839 tickets/citations to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and 345 warnings and 665 tickets/citations to passenger vehicle drivers for various unsafe driving behaviors.
A total of 20 citations and 53 warnings were given to drivers for reckless/careless/inattentive driving, the focus for this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week. Broken out by driver type, 12 citations and 47 warnings were given to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and eight citations and six warnings were given to passenger vehicle drivers.
Reckless/careless/inattentive driving was the focus of this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week. Any person who drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is driving recklessly. Careless/dangerous driving is defined as operating a vehicle without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other motorists or people on the road.
Speeding was the top infraction during Operation Safe Driver Week. A total of 1,249 warnings and 917 citations/tickets were issued for speeding, with commercial motor vehicle drivers receiving 1,073 warnings and 491 tickets/citations, and passenger vehicle drivers receiving 176 warnings and 416 citations/tickets for speed-related infractions.
Drivers who speed have less time to notice and respond to roadway hazards, such as pedestrians or slowed traffic. It’s also harder to steer safely around obstacles or in poor weather, and higher speeds mean greater impact during a collision, which makes a crash more deadly or likely to cause catastrophic injury.
In 2023, speeding killed 11,775 people and was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. In Canada, in 2023, there were 1,964 roadways fatalities, and speeding was cited as the leading contributing factor (25%).
Another top violation during Operation Safe Driver Week was failure to wear a seat belt. A total of 219 warnings and 264 tickets/citations were issued. Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 204 warnings and 248 tickets/citations for not wearing their seat belt. Passenger vehicle drivers were given 15 warnings and 16 tickets/citations for failure to wear a seat belt.
Nearly 9% of drivers in the U.S. do not wear their seat belt. When it comes to commercial motor vehicle drivers specifically, an estimated 14% do not wear their seat belt. In Canada, in 2023, approximately 33% of drivers and 32% of passengers were not wearing a seatbelt during a fatal crash.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seat belt is the single most effective thing drivers and passengers can do to protect themselves in a crash. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep everyone safe and secure inside the vehicle. Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives and could have saved an additional 2,549 people if they had been wearing seat belts, in 2017 alone.
Texting or using a handheld device was another frequently cited violation. A total of 129 warnings and 116 tickets/citations were issued to drivers who were texting or using a mobile device while driving. Passenger vehicle drivers received 22 warnings and 37 tickets/citations for texting/using a handheld device while behind the wheel. Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 107 warnings and 79 tickets/citations for texting/using a handheld device while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distractions all at once. Distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the road. In fact, studies show that the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while impaired.
In the U.S., distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023, and in Canada, distracted driving contributed to an estimated 22.5% of fatal collisions.
Fourteen commercial motor vehicle drivers received warnings and 22 were issued citations for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol. Four passenger vehicle drivers received warnings and five received citations for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol. Combined, 18 drivers received warnings and 27 were given a ticket/citation for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol.
Driving under the influence of prescribed or illegal drugs or alcohol impairs the brain and body functions needed to operate a vehicle safely. Effects include slower reflexes and reaction time, decreased coordination, poor judgement, blurred vision and/or dizziness, etc., all of which increase the risk of crashes, injuries and fatalities.
About 1 million arrests are made in the U.S. each year for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In Canada, police reported 71,602 incidents of impaired driving in 2023.
In the U.S., commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders with drug and alcohol program violations are identified in FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. CDL holders with “prohibited” status in the clearinghouse have lost their CDL or CLP and must complete the return-to-duty process to become eligible to have their license reinstated. More than 346,000 violations have been reported to the Clearinghouse since its inception on Jan. 2, 2020, to Aug. 6, 2025.
Outreach and Awareness
In addition to traffic stops, another important aspect of the Operation Safe Driver Week campaign is raising awareness of the dangers of unsafe driving behaviors in an effort to dissuade such behaviors.
CVSA mailed nearly 70,000 Operation Safe Driver Week postcards to inspectors and motor carriers for distribution in the weeks leading up to and during Operation Safe Driver Week.
CVSA worked with the Paramount/CBS network to educate passenger vehicle drivers about safely sharing the roads with large trucks. The campaign included videos, digital ad banners, and video and static awareness ads, which were featured on websites, social media and CBS’s digital streaming channels. The digital campaign delivered more than 15 million campaign impressions.
In addition, the identification and prevention of human trafficking is a priority for law enforcement jurisdictions throughout North America. During this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week, participating jurisdictions reported conducting 1,681 awareness and educational activities to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, indicators to look for and what to do when a victim of human trafficking has been identified.
The Operation Safe Driver Program, part of CVSA’s transportation safety programs, was created to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles due to unsafe driving behaviors.
Through initiatives like Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement jurisdictions, the motor carrier industry and federal agencies work together toward the same goal – preventing crashes, injuries and fatalities on North America’s roadways.
View the results from previous years.
Following Governor Phil Murphy’s proclamation recognizing October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) are continuing their initiatives for promoting cyber safety across the state, this month and into the future.
New Jersey’s observance coincides with the national Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign, “Building a Cyber Strong America,” which is marking its 22nd anniversary in 2025.
Observed annually in October and jointly led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), this global initiative is dedicated to educating individuals and organizations on best practices for online safety. CISA emphasizes the importance of individuals and organizations to actively engage in daily practices that mitigate risks when using the internet and connected devices.
“In today’s interconnected world, maintaining robust cyber hygiene practices is not just a necessity, but a fundamental responsibility for safeguarding our digital environments,” said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran. “We are committed to empowering individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools to protect their online assets against evolving threats. With cyberspace having no borders, embracing proactive measures is essential to ensure a secure and resilient environment for all.
In alignment with the national campaign’s objectives, the NJCCIC, a division within NJOHSP, strongly advises organizations and the public to adopt a range of cybersecurity measures to enhance resilience, including:
Furthermore, build on basic defenses and employ the following additional practices:
According to the NJCCIC, the most common threats and scams targeting individuals and businesses are:
“In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity is essential for safeguarding our global, national, and local interests. In New Jersey, we recognize the vital importance of protecting our digital infrastructure and ensuring the security of our residents’ online activities,” said NJCCIC Director Michael Geraghty. “The NJCCIC emphasizes the critical role of personal responsibility and proactive measures, urging the adoption of effective cybersecurity habits as part of our daily routines. As we progress further into the digital age, our collective efforts to bolster cybersecurity will be essential in creating a safer and more resilient New Jersey.”
For further information on cyber best practices and incident reporting or to sign up for a free NJCCIC membership, which includes cyber-related updates, advisories, and newsletters, visit cyber.nj.gov.
ATA's Intermodal Carriers Conference reported that yesterday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the World Shipping Council’s challenge of the FMC’s Detention and Demurrage Billing Rule. As we had expected based on oral arguments, the judges found the provision of the rule detailing which parties can be billed for these charges to be arbitrary and capricious. The Court found that “the Commission failed to explain the seeming inconsistency between its contractual-privity-based rationale and its categorical bar against billing motor carriers even when in privity with the billing party.”
While the Court allowed most of the rule to stand, it struck down the rule’s provision defining a properly issued invoice which permits the invoice to be issued solely to “(1) The person for whose account the billing party provided ocean transportation or storage of cargo and who contracted with the billing party for the ocean transportation or storage of cargo or (2) the consignee. “ While the challenge was based on the issue of whether charges assessed in carrier haulage could be billed to motor carriers, this provision of the rule makes no distinction. As a result it would seem that there are no limitations on who can be billed for both carrier and merchant haulage charges.
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act requires that the FMC address the issue of who can be billed for these charges and the Commission should revisit this issue in the future. The Court’s decision, however, would seem to permit ocean carriers to once again bill motor carriers for all detention and demurrage charges regardless of whether they are carrier or merchant haulage.
CLICK HERE for a copy of the ruling.
New York is often a bellwether for national policy. These updates may soon reach your state — business owners should prepare accordingly.
Senate Bill 1514: Independent Contractor Crackdown
A new bill passed unanimously in the NY Senate and now pending in the Assembly could dramatically change how businesses use contract labor.
What’s at stake:
If the NY Department of Labor determines that a business knowingly misclassified employees as independent contractors — or misreported employee counts to insurers — it can issue an immediate Stop-Work Order, halting operations.
Read the bill → https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1514
Key concerns for business owners:
Undermines due process protections
Introduces vague enforcement standards
Disproportionately impacts small and rural businesses
Immediate Work Stoppage at your place of business
What you can do:
Consultech and its partners are actively lobbying against this legislation. We are in direct contact with the lawmakers making these decisions.
Contact us to learn how you can support the effort or prepare your business for compliance.
Minimum Wage Increase
Effective 2027:
NYC, Long Island, Westchester: $17.00/hour
Rest of New York State: $16.00/hour
Action Step:
Review your labor cost projections and update budgets accordingly.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Rate Spike
The maximum weekly benefit is increasing from $504 to $869 — a 72% jump.
Why it matters:
Higher benefits = higher UI tax rates for employers and immediate impact on reimbursable employers.
Fight claims when possible. We can help you challenge questionable filings and reduce your liability.
⚠️ Sexual Harassment Training Compliance
New York mandates some of the strictest training requirements in the country.
We offer discounted, compliant training programs that protect your business and save you money.
Let’s Talk
If you have questions about these changes or want to schedule a compliance review, contact Consultech today. We’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve.
Effective September 30, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will no longer accept paper payments, such as checks and money orders, for any agency transactions, including fees for initial application of operating authority registration, reinstatement or legal name changes, civil penalty payments, and other fee-based transactions. FMCSA has actively engaged with stakeholders over the past several weeks to ensure broad awareness of this change and to support a smooth transition. The transition aligns with White House Executive Order 14247: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account, and advances a faster, more secure, and more efficient payment experience for the motor carrier industry.
What’s Changing
Beginning September 30, 2025:
FMCSA will not process paper payments (such as checks and money orders) for any transactions.
Stakeholders must provide debit or credit card information to make payment.
For financial responsibility (insurance filing fees, entities should refer to their monthly invoice for instructions
For operating authority registration related fees such as initial applications, name changes, and reinstatements, entities should visit the FMCSA registration website.
Assistance is available through the FMCSA Contact Center: 1-800-832-5660.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is FMCSA eliminating paper transactions, such as checks and money orders? This change supports White House Executive Order 14247. Electronic payments are faster, more secure, and more efficient, reducing errors and administrative burden.
2. What types of electronic payments will FMCSA accept? FMCSA will accept debit or credit cards via secure online payments on its website.
3. What happens if I mail a paper check after September 30, 2025? Checks received after September 30, 2025, will not be processed and will be returned, potentially delaying services.
4. Are there any exceptions? If submitting a paper application, the applicant must complete the credit card information at the bottom of the form before submitting.
5. Where can I get help transitioning to electronic payments? Call the agency’s Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660 (8am to 8-pm, Monday-Friday) for assistance.
The NJMTA would like to thank all of our generous sponsors for supporting the Association and helping make our Annual Golf Outing & Networking Event a success.
Your continued support allows us to bring together industry professionals for a day of connection, camaraderie, and fun. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to another fantastic event filled with golf, networking, and great memories.
Americold Logistics
Ancra Cargo
Anjer Inc
AssuredPartners
ARL Network
Association Member Trust
Atlantic Utility Trailer Sales
Becker LLC
Bergey's Truck Centers
Bill Westervelt Asphalt Paving
Campbell Supply Company
Campbell's Express
CG Tax, Audit & Recovery
CJS Violations
ContainerPort Group
Cottingham & Butler
Cummins Sales & Service
Daybreak Express, Inc.
ECBM
Edge Consulting
Elizabeth Truck Center
FedEx
Harbor Freight Transport Corp.
Hermann Services Inc.
Holt Logistics
Hudson County Motors
Hunter Truck Sales & Leasing
K.W. Rastall Oil
Linden Warehouse & Distribution Co., Inc.
McCollister's Global Services, Inc.
MJD Trucking, Inc.
NFI
NJM Insurance
NRS
PavXpress Trucking & Warehousing
Pilot Travel Centers
Pinnacle Freight Systems, Inc.
PNC Bank Equipment Finance
Reardon Anderson
Rodriguez Distribution, Inc.
Romark Trucking LLC
Safeway Trucking Corp.
US 1 Logistics
Veltri Inc.
VPV Transport LLC
Wabash
Wakefern Food Corp.
WEX, Inc.
Ensuring truck drivers can communicate with law enforcement and read road signs keeps American families on our roads safe
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced California, Washington, and New Mexico will lose federal funding unless they adopt and enforce English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The three states have 30 days to come into compliance before the Department will withhold up to 100% of funding from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP).
“States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking aggressive action to close these safety gaps, hold states accountable, and make sure every commercial driver on the road is qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle.”
An investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found significant failures by California, Washington, and New Mexico to properly place drivers out-of-service for ELP violations. In addition to the data, California Highway Patrol has also publicly stated it has no intention of following this important federal regulation.
These actions also come as Secretary Duffy advances its nationwide audit of non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) issuance – part of a broader effort to enhance safety on America’s roads and restore order to the trucking industry.
Additional Information:
California, Washington, and New Mexico today received notices, known as Notices of Proposed Determination of Nonconformity, which open a formal process that would result in the suspension of millions of dollars in federal funds through the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if the states do not demonstrate full compliance with federal English Language Proficiency standards.
An investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found significant failures by all three states to follow federal guidelines to properly place drivers out-of-service for ELP violations. From June 25 to August 21:
In May, Secretary Duffy signed an order announcing new guidance to enforce English proficiency requirement for truckers.
In June, Secretary Duffy announced and unveiled a package of new initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory updates designed to improve the lives of America’s truck drivers.
Elite Sponsors
!["The Voice of the New Jersey Trucking Industry...
Dedicated to Safety and Service"](/Content/ArtText/570f9.png?text=%22The%20Voice%20of%20the%20New%20Jersey%20Trucking%20Industry...%0ADedicated%20to%20Safety%20and%20Service%22&style=Site%20title%202&styleGroup=100&tc1=000000&tc2=000000&fn=PT%20Sans%20Italic&fs=40&sid=10784141140682184 ""The Voice of the New Jersey Trucking Industry...
Dedicated to Safety and Service"")
