Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alongside U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr., U.S. Representative Rob Menendez, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, celebrated the award of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars ($250 million) to the Clean Corridor Coalition. This landmark grant, funded through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, will fund the electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along the Interstate-95 freight corridor. Standing at the Vince Lombardi Service Area in Ridgefield, New Jersey with climate and freight industry leaders, Regional Administrator Garcia highlighted the transformative impact this grant—part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act—will have on the region’s clean energy infrastructure.
"Today marks a pivotal investment in our efforts to address climate change and promote environmental justice along Interstate 95," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "This $250 million grant will reduce harmful air pollution along one of the nation's busiest freight corridors, create jobs, and deliver health benefits to communities along this key transportation route."
“Today’s announcement of $250 million to electrify the I-95 freight corridor, secured through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, will create a vital network of charging infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles to help reduce harmful pollution along one of our nation’s busiest highways,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “Prioritizing clean, sustainable infrastructure and technology protects our environment and public health, creates thousands of good-paying jobs, and brings us one step closer to building a resilient, green economy that works for everyone. I am proud that New Jersey continues to be a leader in our collective efforts to combat air pollution and climate change through promoting sustainable infrastructure.”
“The leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Murphy Administration on climate initiative will have a positive impact on New Jerseyans for generations to come. Decarbonizing the transportation sector, which accounts for more carbon emissions than any other in the United States, is critical to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Transitioning America’s trucking fleet to zero emissions will help to drastically reduce air pollution and our carbon footprint, and this crucial funding will help expedite that process. Not only will this money help protect our environment, but it will also create clean-energy jobs and training for underserved communities,” said U.S. Senator George Helmy. “I applaud President Biden, Vice President Harris, EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia, and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette for their continued efforts to safeguard our environment.”
“This $250 million grant to build out electric vehicle infrastructure along the I-95 corridor is exactly the kind of transformative climate investment we envisioned when we passed the Inflation Reduction Act. As a key author of this program, I’m proud to see it bringing medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle charging infrastructure to New Jersey, creating good-paying jobs, and training workers in underserved communities,” said U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06). “This project will cut harmful pollution that causes asthma attacks and climate change by making the I-95 corridor cleaner and more efficient. It’s a major step forward and a testament to the lasting impact of the Inflation Reduction Act.”
"I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act to help fund electric vehicle infrastructure across the nation and make charging stations more accessible to Americans," said U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01). "The $250 million New Jersey will be receiving for I-95 is an important step in the right direction toward combatting climate change and will help us cut down on carbon emissions. Electric vehicles are the future, and our infrastructure investments must reflect that."
“This grant brings us a significant step closer to meeting our critical clean energy goal of helping New Jersey lead the charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along one of the nation’s busiest corridors,” said U.S. Representative Andy Kim (NJ-03). “I’m proud to have helped secure this funding through the Inflation Reduction Act to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure in our region and pave the way for more zero-emission vehicles. I look forward to seeing this investment bring good paying jobs, continued economic growth, and look after the long-term health and security of local communities.”
“It’s essential that we use every tool available to fight the climate crisis and protect our environment,” said U.S. Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “This nearly $250 million investment is a crucial step in the right direction, fulfilling the promises we made in the Inflation Reduction Act. It was great to join my state and federal colleagues today to celebrate this investment and further understand its impact. I remain proud that New Jersey is continuing to lead the way in building a green economy and investing in resilient infrastructure, and I thank the Environmental Protection Agency and the Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership.”
“I’m glad to see the Clean Corridor Coalition is fighting to reduce air pollution across the Garden State. This federal investment will help us build electric truck charging stations along I-95, bring good-paying jobs to New Jersey, and combat the negative health effects of air pollution on our children,” said U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11).
“I am so happy to celebrate this $250 million federal grant to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to support the Clean Corridor Coalition project,” said U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). “This investment from the Biden-Harris Administration and the EPA will help reduce climate pollution along the I-95 corridor, create new high-paying green energy jobs, and help modernize our infrastructure to support commerce that runs on renewable energy. It’s a win-win-win for New Jersey and the nation. Thank you to the EPA and the Biden-Administration for making this possible.”
“Expanding our charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is key to lowering emissions and improving air quality in our communities,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “I’m proud to celebrate building out charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor, which will help us facilitate New Jersey’s transition to an electric vehicle future, support workforce development, and provide benefits to our overburdened communities. We are thankful to the Biden-Harris Administration and the members of our congressional delegation who voted for the Inflation Reduction Act for securing this critical funding."
“We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and our federal partners at the EPA for supporting the Murphy Administration’s commitment to a zero-emissions future that combats climate change and protects public health,” said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Trucks and buses account for only four percent of all vehicles on the road but generate nearly 25 percent of our transportation-sector greenhouse gas emissions. Charting a path to electrify these vehicles is critical. This award of nearly $250 million for truck charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor is a critical down payment for zero-emission freight movement and will catalyze the deployment of zero-emission freight trucks in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. The DEP is proud to be spearheading this effort.”
“Electrification of freight transport is essential to improving public health and protecting communities from the impacts of climate change,” said Kate Zyla, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center. “By building the foundation for a regional charging network for zero-emission freight-hauling trucks, New Jersey and its partners in Delaware, Connecticut, and Maryland are continuing to lead the way in tackling climate change and one of the biggest sources of the pollution that causes it. The Georgetown Climate Center is proud to have supported New Jersey DEP and the team that prepared this proposal, and we look forward to continued work with these states and partners in the region to help implement this transformative investment.”
"NACFE believes that having enroute charging is a key for the deployment of battery electric heavy-duty tractors in long haul routes," said Mike Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency. "The work we have done in our Guidance Reports on battery electric trucks and through our Run on Less demonstrations has shown that lack of a charging infrastructure is a significant barrier to adoption of battery electric vehicles. This announcement by the EPA is a step toward developing a nationwide charging network."
“The Clean Corridor Coalition’s efforts will help power cleaner truck fleets with zero exhaust stack emissions hauling goods in the Northeast,” said Paul Miller, executive director of NESCAUM, an association of eight northeastern state air quality agencies. “These investments will deliver needed reductions in climate-disrupting greenhouse gases and in health-damaging black soot and other air pollution emitted by diesel trucks, especially in communities located close to busy ports, warehouses, and truck routes.”
“Interstate-95 is the transit and trucking backbone of the northeast region, and we are so pleased that the NJDEP has been awarded $249 million to lead a collaborative effort to deploy charging infrastructure for medium and heavy-duty trucks along this critical corridor. As one of the most densely populated states in the country and commuter hub on the East Coast, New Jersey’s transportation sector is one of our largest sources of carbon emissions and air pollution. Electrifying I-95 is an extraordinary effort that will deliver long lasting public health benefits for New Jerseyans and the region. This is a massive win for climate action, regional air quality, and the communities experiencing roadway pollution,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, director of the NJ Sierra Club. “We thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their investment in paving the way toward a cleaner and safer roadway for generations to come.”
The Clean Corridor Coalition, led by NJDEP, includes the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Transportation. Under the project, the state agencies will install extensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission vehicles along the I-95 freight corridor, providing critical technical assistance for workforce development and corridor planning across New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland.
With $248.9 million in awarded funds, the project will establish 24 freight truck charging sites, equipping them with 450 charging ports across four states. This infrastructure is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2050.
The initiative will also train 400 workers, focusing on providing opportunities for low-income communities. By driving emissions reductions in the transportation sector, this project will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits, setting a new standard for clean energy initiatives nationwide.
Learn more about the Clean Corridor Coalition.
Learn more about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
Today, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, released its 20th annual Top Industry Issues report that identifies the trucking industry’s leading concerns. This year’s list includes the Economy, Truck Parking, Lawsuit Abuse Reform, Insurance Cost and Availability, and rising four spots from last year, Battery Electric Vehicles.
“Without question, this has been another tough year for the trucking industry,” said Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking President. “Our costs continued to climb while freight demand struggled. But each year we can count on ATRI’s analysis to not only quantify the issues, but more importantly, what we can collectively do as an industry to address each.”
This year saw the state of the Economy and the lack of available Truck Parking retain their #1 and #2 rankings on the overall list, respectively. However, growing concern over the proliferation of nuclear verdicts led to Lawsuit Abuse Reform rising to the #3 spot this year. The largest climb in ranking this year came in Insurance Cost and Availability, which rose 8 spots to be the industry’s #4 concern overall. Rounding out the top five this year was Driver Compensation.
The continued focus on transitioning the nation’s truck fleet to battery electric – and the aggressive timelines and significant cost for doing so – drove Battery Electric Vehicles into the industry’s 6th overall concern, up four spots from last year.
Over 45 percent of the survey respondents were motor carrier executives and personnel, while truck drivers represented 31 percent. Among truck driver respondents, Truck Parking, Driver Compensation and the Economy were the top three concerns, while motor carriers ranked the Economy, Lawsuit Abuse Reform, and the Driver Shortage as the top three concerns. The report also includes a ranking of the top concerns of motor carrier enforcement personnel.
Over 3,700 trucking industry stakeholders participated in this year’s survey, including motor carriers, truck drivers, industry suppliers, driver trainers, and law enforcement among other groups.
The complete results of the annual survey were released as part of 2024 American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition. The full report can be found at ATRI’s website here.
ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.
Certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 16,725 inspections on commercial motor vehicles as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) North American Brake Safety Week, Aug. 25-31. Approximately 87% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected did not have out-of-service violations and were deemed safe and permitted to proceed on roadways.
Out of the 16,725 commercial motor vehicle inspections conducted, 2,149 of those vehicles had brake-related out-of-service violations, which is a 12.8% out-of-service rate. A vehicle is placed out of service when critical vehicle inspection items are identified during an inspection as conditions found in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC). When a vehicle is placed out of service, it is restricted from further travel until all out-of-service violations have been corrected. CVSA’s out-of-service criteria identifies critical vehicle inspection items and details the criteria that prohibit a motor carrier or driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle until the violations have been addressed.
Of the 2,149 commercial motor vehicles placed out of service, 1,355 (63.1%) had stand-alone out-of-service brake violations and 217 (10.1%) had steering axle brake out-of-service violations. Also, 1,216 (56.6%) failed the 20% defective brakes criterion, which states that a vehicle is out of service if the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination. Note: a vehicle may have more than one violation type.
The focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week was on lining/pad violations. Throughout the week, inspectors looked for loose, missing or worn brake lining/pads, as well as cracks, voids or contamination. Inspectors found 382 lining/pad violations on power (tractor) units and 272 on towed (trailer) units, for a total of 654 brake lining/pad violations.
Sixty-one jurisdictions participated in this year’s Brake Safety Week.
Eighteen states with performance-based brake testers (PBBT) participated in this year’s Brake Safety Week by conducting 452 inspections using their PBBTs. There were 26 failures, which is a 5.75% out-of-service rate.
Brake Safety Week is part of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, a comprehensive program dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to reduce the number of crashes caused by faulty braking systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.
Next year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 24-30, 2025.
View the results from CVSA’s previous brake-safety inspection and enforcement initiatives.
ALAN is monitoring the National Hurricane Center forecast for Hurricane Milton and stands ready to support our members and partners if needed. As of Sunday, October 6 at 5pm EDT, Hurricane Milton is forecast to quickly intensify while it moves eastward to northeastward across the Gulf of Mexico and to be a major hurricane when it reaches the west coast of the Florida Peninsula mid-week.
“In an ideal world we’d have plenty of time to focus all of our efforts on Hurricane Helene clean-up and recovery,” said Kathy Fulton, ALAN’s Executive Director. “But in the real world, major hurricanes don’t always wait for their turn. As a result, we are officially activating for Hurricane Milton.”
While it is too soon to specify the exact magnitude and location of the greatest impacts, there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Areas of heavy rainfall will impact portions of Florida Sunday and Monday ahead of Milton, with heavy rainfall more directly related to the system expected later on Tuesday through Wednesday night. For more information on evacuation zones in Florida go to Know Your Zone Map.
As of Sunday, October 6, 2024, no evacuations have been ordered.
STATE
EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS
Florida Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-215 on October 6, 2024, amending Executive Order 24-214.
Florida Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-214 on October 5, 2024, in preparation for Tropical Storm Milton impact to Florida.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION WAIVERS
Title: FMCSA Regional Emergency Declaration No. 2024-008 and Extension of Emergency Declarations Pursuant to 49 CFR 390.23 and 390.24
Effective: 10/04/24 | Expires on: 10/27/24
Description: The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declares that an emergency exists that warrants issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration and extension of emergency declarations issued by State Governors, to continue emergency relief granted from certain regulatory requirements in Parts 390-399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). This Declaration is in response to Hurricane Helene and its effects on people and property, including immediate threats to human life, public safety, and public welfare from heavy rains, strong winds, storm surge, high surf, and flooding. This Declaration addresses the emergency conditions creating a need for immediate transportation relating to the restoration of essential supplies and essential services and provides necessary relief. Affected States included in this Declaration are: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The Presidential Declarations issued provide regulatory relief for up to 30 days of emergency relief from Federal regulations in 49 CFR 390 through 399. FMCSA issuing this Declaration and granting regulatory relief in accordance with 49 CFR 390.23 and 390.25, as set forth herein.
STATE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY RESOURCES
State of Florida
· Florida Division of Emergency Management
· Florida ESF 18 Office (Business and Industry) esf18@em.myflorida.com and Private Sector hotline (850) 815-4925 (Daily 7am-7pm EDT). Updates can be found at Florida Disaster Business
· Florida Public Radio Florida Storms Mobile App
TRAC Intermodal is monitoring the contract negotiations between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and preparing for a potential work stoppage following the expiration of their master contract at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024.
If a work stoppage does occur, port facilities in the following locations may be impacted:
TRAC Intermodal continues to repair chassis in anticipation of increased demand in these impacted locations. In the event of a work stoppage, details regarding the locations accepting bare TRAC chassis will be available daily on www.tracintermodal.com beginning October 1st.
TRAC Intermodal will offer per diem relief to motor carriers in markets where all return locations have reached full capacity and are no longer accepting returns. To request per diem relief, motor carriers should contact customerservice@tracintermodal.com. To be eligible for relief, a motor carrier must demonstrate that it was in possession of a bare TRAC chassis at the time of the attempted return. If granted, relief will commence on the day following the date on which motor carrier attempted the return and continue until the date on which any in-market location resumes accepting bare TRAC chassis. Additional details will be available on www.tracintermodal.com.
TRAC Intermodal will continue to monitor the situation in an effort to minimize the impacts on its customers and other stakeholders. TRAC Intermodal reserves the right to modify its policy regarding per diem relief as the situation evolves.
Jake Gilene
EVP and Chief Commercial Officer
TRAC Intermodal
We are now 4 days from the ILA-USMX contract expiration on September 30. As reported over the past few days, there have still been no formal negotiations between the parties.
USMX filed an unfair labor practice charge against the ILA with the NLRB for failure to bargain in good faith.
Ports seek order to force dockworkers to bargaining table as strike looms at East and Gulf ports, AP (9/26)
Articles of Interest
Maher Terminals Management
Sunday Gate 9-29-24
In preparation for the possible work stoppage on 10/1, Maher Terminals will have gate operations on Sunday, 9/29 from 7am – 3pm as follows:
Note: Maher’s Empty Depot operated by Columbia will be closed on Sunday, 9/29.
In addition, on Monday, 9/30 we will have abbreviated gate processing from 6am – 5pm for all moves.
We strongly encourage you to maximize the utilization of our extended gate hours for import pick-ups, especially refrigerated cargo.
PNCT
REEFER GATE closing at 4:30pm 9/23-9/27 + SATURDAY GATE: 7AM to 5PM Reefer cut at 4:00 PM Double move till 5 PM No exports or OOG
APM Terminals
Gate will be OPEN Saturday 9/28 6AM-4PM, reefers included (No exports or OOG).
Contingency Measurers for Potential Work Stoppage
Due to rain, flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Helene, several states have issued Emergency Declarations that affect the commercial motor vehicle industry. Visit https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations#by-State to see if there is a declaration in your area.
Copy of Coalition Letter to President Biden
The ILA had issued a statement before the coalition letter was sent – ILA Rank and File Members Ready To Take Ultimate Stand To Win A Fair Contract; They Will Strike On October 1st For Wages and Benefits They Believe They Deserve. According to the statement, “A strike at all ILA ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast at 12:01 am on October 1st seems more likely as time is running out to get a new Master Contract Agreement settled with USMX.” In addition, “A sleeping giant is ready to roar on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, if a new Master Contract Agreement is not in place,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “My members have been preparing for over a year for that possibility of a strike.”
USMX RESPONSE TO JOINT ASSOCIATION COALITION LETTER
“USMX is in strong agreement with the 177 trade associations who are calling for the immediate resumption of negotiations with the ILA to work out a new Master Contract agreement that recognizes their vital contributions, while avoiding an unnecessary and disruptive strike that would be harmful to all parties. We have tremendous respect for the ILA and its members, but it is disappointing that we have reached this point where the ILA is unwilling to reopen dialogue unless all of its demands are met.
The only way to resolve this impasse is to resume negotiations, which we are willing to do at any time.
We understand and appreciate the concern from these trade associations, who realize what is at stake if negotiations are unable to progress, and we call on the ILA to return to bargaining so we can reach a new deal before the expiration of our current agreement, something we continue to believe is possible if the other side is willing to meet.”
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today released a new report that quantifies the major consequences that truck driver detention at customer facilities has on industry productivity and safety. The research quantifies the direct costs for fleets, truck drivers and supply chains in general. It also corroborates previous research that detained trucks drive faster both after, and before, a detained trip occurs.
While driver detention has decreased slightly in the last few years, the overall costs of being detained at customer facilities for more than two hours is substantial. In 2023, drivers reported being detained in 39.3 percent of all stops. The frequency of detention was even higher among women drivers (49.1%), refrigerated trailer drivers (56.2%), and among fleets that operate in the spot market (42.5%).
Based on industry-reported data, truck drivers were detained between 117 and 209 hours per year, depending on the sector. In for-hire trucking alone, the total time lost to truck driver detention exceeded 135 million hours in 2023.
While 94.5 percent of fleets charge detention fees, they are paid for fewer than 50 percent of those invoices. As a result, the trucking industry lost $3.6 billion in direct expenses and $11.5 billion in lost productivity from driver detention in 2023. Additional ATRI impact assessments quantified supply chain inefficiencies, lost driver pay and driver turnover resulting from detention.
Finally, an analysis of ATRI’s large truck GPS data at different customer facility types found that detention contributes to higher truck speeds. Trucks that were detained drove 14.6 percent faster on average than trucks that were not detained. Interestingly, trucks also drove faster on trips to facilities where they were detained, indicating that truck drivers know which firms and facilities will likely detain them.
“Detention is so common that many industry professionals have accepted it as inevitable without realizing the true extent of its costs,” said Chad England, C.R. England CEO. “ATRI’s report puts real-world numbers to the true impact that truck driver detention has on trucking and the broader economy.” A full copy of the report is available through ATRI’s website here.
The purpose of this current project, funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is to gain an in-depth understanding of detention time, what causes it, and its impacts on safety and operations in the trucking industry. Specifically, the objectives of this study are threefold:
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Telematics and Video Services, and Scopelitis Transportation Consulting are seeking support from providers of transportation management systems (TMSs), telematics service providers (TSPs), and motor carriers to collect the required data to complete the study and for participating in the interviews.
CLICK HERE for more information about the study and how you can participate.
Elite Sponsors
New Jersey Motor Truck Association | 160 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 | 732-254-5000