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The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 13-15. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place over three days in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Law enforcement personnel will inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites and mobile patrols to verify regulatory compliance. Data from the 72 hours of International Roadcheck will be collected and the results will be released this summer.

Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a driver violation category and a vehicle violation category. During International Roadcheck, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. While all 37 steps will be completed, as usual, inspectors will also pay close attention to the driver’s record of duty status (RODS) and the vehicle’s tires.

Driver Focus Area

Hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are in place to safeguard transportation safety by limiting driving hours and mandating adequate rest breaks to ensure commercial motor vehicle drivers have the opportunity to get the rest they need, thereby preventing crashes and incidents caused by fatigue.

To ensure compliance with HOS regulations, drivers must accurately reflect their times and duty statuses in their RODS, which is a log that a commercial motor vehicle driver must maintain to record their driving activity. Failure to record, complete or retain the log, or knowingly falsifying logs or other related reports, is not only a driver out-of-service violation, it also makes the driver and/or carrier liable to prosecution.

During the driver portion of an inspection, inspectors check the driver’s documents, license or commercial driver’s license, medical examiner’s certificate and skill performance certificate (if applicable), record of duty status, Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status (in the U.S.), seat belt usage, and alcohol and/or drug impairment. If an inspector identifies driver out-of-service violations, they place the driver out of service, restricting that driver from operating their vehicle.

Vehicle Focus Area

The importance of proper tire maintenance cannot be overstated. Tire failure while in transit is a hazard to all motorists. It is also far more expensive and time consuming for motor carriers to repair an in-transit tire failure versus proactively maintaining tire health and addressing tire issues before the vehicle is on the road.

During International Roadcheck, inspectors will check tires’ tread depth and proper inflation. They will also be on the lookout for tire damage, such as air leaks, tread separation, cuts, bulges, sidewall damage and improper repairs.

During the vehicle portion of the Level I Inspection, inspectors ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, fuel and exhaust systems, frames, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, wheels, rims, hubs, and windshield wipers are compliant with applicable regulations. Inspections of motorcoaches, passenger vans and other passenger-carrying vehicles also include the examination of emergency exits, seating, and electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments.

A vehicle that successfully passes a Level I or V Inspection without any critical vehicle inspection item violations may receive a CVSA decal, which is valid for up to three months.

If out-of-service violations are found during an inspection, as outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, the vehicle is restricted from operating until all out-of-service violations have been properly addressed.

As part of International Roadcheck, inspectors may also be available to answer questions about tire health and violations, and to help drivers navigate the HOS regulations in their jurisdictions.

In case of inclement weather or other limiting circumstances during the three days of International Roadcheck, a jurisdiction or an inspector may opt to conduct a limited Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection or Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection, instead of a Level I Inspection. Level II and III Inspections are not eligible for a CVSA decal.

CVSA is a nonprofit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The Alliance aims to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities and believes that collaboration between government and industry improves road safety and saves lives. Its mission is to improve commercial motor vehicle safety and enforcement by providing guidance, education and advocacy for enforcement and industry across North America.

There’s labor peace at Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast ports — for another six years.

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to ratify the new master contract with port employers represented by the United States Maritime Alliance.

The union in a release said nearly 99% of rank-and-file members voted to approve the pact covering 24,000 workers in container handling at 14 ports from Boston to Texas.

The extension to the master contract is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024, and runs through Sept. 30, 2030.

The approval vote gives ILA members a 62% pay raise over the six years of the contract, accelerated raises and improved benefits. The pact allows terminal operators and ocean carriers to introduce limited automation equipment in container handling linked to guarantees that protect union jobs.

ILA President Harold Daggett, who the union said had been the target of death threats during the strike, earlier called the contract historic, and worth as much as $35 billion in total.

The ILA and USMX will formally sign the contract on March 11. 

Members of USMX unanimously approved the contract in January.

READ MORE FROM FREIGHTWAVES

BUTLER, PA, February 2025 – Hunter Truck is honored to have been recognized by Peterbilt Motors with several prestigious awards for 2024. These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our team, whose efforts continue to uphold the high standards we strive for year after year.

Looking Forward: Iconic Photo of Homer Hunter positioned behind Hunter Truck’s 2024 Peterbilt Awards

These awards are given to Peterbilt Dealer Groups that exceed expectations and go above and beyond for customers all year long. Hunter Truck has been awarded as a 2024 Best-in-Class Dealer Group, earned 2 Platinum Oval Awards, achieved 7 Platinum Service Awards, and honored with a 40th Anniversary Award from Peterbilt. Peterbilt announced these achievements in February at the 2025 Peterbilt Dealer Meeting that took place in Tucson, AZ.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire Hunter Truck team. We are honored to be acknowledged for our commitment to serving our customers and striving for excellence” said Jeffrey Hunter, President of Hunter Truck. “Every achievement we’ve earned is a direct result of the resilience, talent, and passion of our team members. It’s truly an honor to lead such a committed group of people.”

Hunter Truck’s Ownership and Leadership Team accept the ‘Best-In-Class’ Dealer Group of the Year Award for 2024

The Best-in-Class Dealer Group is awarded to Peterbilt Dealers based on a combination of Peterbilt’s Standard of Excellence scores, financial performance, parts and service performance, and utilization of PACCAR training programs. In 2024, Hunter Truck was able to train over 550 team members and host 63 classes, both on-site and virtually, at our Technical Training Facility in Butler, PA.

Hunter Truck also achieved 7 Platinum Service Awards for a selection of our locations. Peterbilt’s Platinum Service Award requires dealerships to achieve several key factors including world-class facilities and driver’s lounges, utilization of PACCAR Solutions Service Management, expanded hours of service, excellent parts availability, certified PACCAR MX engine technicians and lower dwell time for repairs, as well as performing RapidCheck triage.

Hunter Truck dealerships that were honored with this award include:
– Hunter Truck – Buffalo
– Hunter Truck – Butler
– Hunter Truck – Clarksburg
– Hunter Truck – Clearfield
– Hunter Truck – Lancaster
– Hunter Truck – Pennsville
– Hunter Truck – Wheeling

Seven Hunter Truck dealerships achieved Platinum Service Center Certification in 2024

“I want to extend my congratulations to our locations that earned Platinum Service Center status in 2024. Achieving this recognition is no small feat and requires tremendous effort from the entire service team,” said Jeff Walters, Senior VP of Service at Hunter Truck. “I’m incredibly proud of our teams for their dedication and the continuous improvement they bring to our service departments.”

Along with the Platinum Service Awards, our dealerships in Butler, PA and Lancaster, PA were honored with Platinum Oval Awards. The Platinum Oval is awarded to dealerships that achieved both Platinum Service Center Certification and had the highest scores in the 2024 Peterbilt Standards of Excellence program.

These dealerships represent the best in operational performance, financial achievement, facility presentation and customer satisfaction.

Hunter Truck was also honored to receive a 40th Anniversary Award from Peterbilt, recognizing our four decades of partnership and commitment to Peterbilt Motors.

Hunter Truck’s Ownership and Leadership Team is honored with a 40th Anniversary Award from Peterbilt Motors.

 

These awards are a testament to Hunter Truck’s unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. A heartfelt thank you goes out to every member of the Hunter Truck team—we couldn’t achieve this success without your dedication and hard work. Looking ahead, we remain focused on raising the bar, supporting our customers, and continuing to deliver the exceptional service that has become the foundation of our success.

 

TRENTON, N.J. (February 25, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board yesterday approved two programs aimed at putting more zero emissions vehicles on roads across the state. Together, Phase III of the New Jersey Zero Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP) and the New Jersey Zero Emission Vehicle Financing Program (NJ ZEV), aim to accelerate the adoption and use of commercial zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles within the state, while reducing harmful emissions.

“I am thrilled to see our state is moving closer to zero emission roadways with the approval of NJ ZIP and NJ ZEV,” said Governor Murphy. “This past December we hit a significant milestone of surpassing 200,000 electric vehicle registrations—leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and a cleaner, healthier New Jersey for all. The programs approved today by the NJEDA Board will continue to drive us forward in our mission of decarbonizing transportation, reducing consumer costs, and responding to market preferences.”

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey continues to advance programs and initiatives that support the state’s transition to clean energy, lower rates of harmful emissions, and create new economic opportunities for businesses across the state,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Through NJ ZIP and NJ ZEV, business owners will be able to modernize their fleets with environmentally friendly vehicles that reduce fuel costs and keep their businesses moving forward. New Jersey’s families, especially those living in communities historically disproportionately affected by environment issues, will reap the benefits of improved air quality as a result of more electric vehicles on New Jersey’s roads and highways.”

The Board approved Phase III of NJ ZIP, which will provide vouchers to businesses and institutional organizations to offset the cost of purchasing new, zero emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles. The size of vouchers awarded through Phase III, which is funded at $75 million, will vary depending on the class of vehicle being purchased, from a minimum of $15,000 for Class 2b vehicles to $175,000 for Class 8 vehicles. Bonuses will be available for school busses, small businesses; women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, 50 percent of funds will be set aside for applications from small businesses in Overburdened Communities (OBCs).

Originally created in 2021, NJ ZIP has awarded $54 million in vouchers to 155 applicants, supporting the purchase of 422 new zero emission vehicles.

During the meeting, the Board also approved a new, $25 million program known as the NJ ZEV Financing Program, which is a loan program to support businesses adopting medium and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles. The program complements NJ ZIP by offering financing for vehicle costs that may not be met by NJ ZIP vouchers or other available grant funding resources. Loans will also be available through the program for business not utilizing the NJ ZIP program. NJ ZEV will offer low-interest rate loans ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 for the purchase of one or more eligible vehicles. For more information on the program and for eligibility requirements, click here.

Funding for both NJ ZIP and NJ ZEV are from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). As part of the 2023-2025 RGGI Strategic Funding Plan, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and the NJEDA committed to investing in several clean energy initiatives, including catalyzing clean, equitable transportation in the state. The NJZIP and NJZEV announcements follow on the heels of last week’s $35 million announcement by the Murphy Administration for local government vehicle electrification projects, directly supporting the implementation of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule to achieve increasing percentages of annual electric vehicle sales.

“DEP is proud to partner with the NJEDA and BPU to support initiatives such as NJ ZIP and NJ ZEV that help achieve the Murphy Administration’s goals of cleaner air and healthier, more sustainable communities,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “These newly launched programs further complement work underway by DEP to increase the number of electric vehicles charging stations, electric school buses, electric garbage trucks and other EVs. When we work together to reduce the presence of air pollutants across the state, the result is a greener and better New Jersey for all.”

“The NJBPU is proud to work with our sister agencies to continue to advance smart, clean transportation initiatives that provide considerable health and environmental benefits to residents,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “NJEDA’s efforts build upon a variety of actions the NJBPU took to expand charging access for medium-and-heavy duty vehicles throughout the state. Establishing a backbone of essential charging infrastructure not only helps build confidence in and helps businesses make the switch to this clean transportation alternative, its benefits are especially vital to the overburdened communities that have borne the brunt of air pollution for far too long.”

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today called on motor carriers to participate in its annual Operational Costs of Trucking report.

ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking is the industry’s leading public benchmarking tool. ATRI collects data confidentially from for-hire motor carriers of all sectors, regions, and sizes – from 1-truck owner-operators to 10,000+ truck fleets – to document changing cost patterns in truck operations and how fleets can leverage the cost data to achieve higher profitability and improved operational efficiencies.

Cost metrics requested by ATRI include driver pay, insurance premiums, and equipment lease or purchase payments. Additional questions relate to key performance indicators such as non-revenue mileage, dwell time per stop, and miles between breakdowns.

Carriers can confidentially submit these data for the year 2024 on a per-mile or per-hour basis with an easy-to-use online data entry form or an emailed PDF form. A new, streamlined version of the form for owner-operators makes it easier than ever for one-truck companies to leverage the benefits of benchmarking.

All participating motor carriers receive a customized report that compares their fleet’s costs and operations to an anonymized peer group of the same sector and size, as well as an advance copy of the full report.

"With the industry cost data that comes from ATRI's Operational Costs of Trucking report, our fleet is able to apply the operational metrics to better manage our expenses," said Dr. Robert Howard, Dohrn Transfer Company President and COO. "This information will help every carrier benchmark their financials and prepare them for contract negotiations. Equally valuable are the customized insights into how our costs and performance measure up to our peers in this challenging freight market.”

For-hire motor carriers are invited to submit operational cost data by Friday, April 25.  ATRI’s data collection form is available online here, along with a sample customized report and support via Frequently Answered Questions. All confidential information is protected and published only in anonymized, aggregate form.

Today, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement thanking the Trump Administration for ending New York’s scheme to punish hard-working truckers who make essential deliveries to Manhattan businesses and residences:

“We commend President Trump and Secretary Duffy for terminating this disastrous tolling scheme.

"Truckers don't drive into Manhattan to sightsee. They do it because customers depend on them. The deliveries they make are essential to businesses and residents and keep New York City running.

“Truckers deserve our gratitude.  Instead, New York imposed a $21.60 toll — eventually climbing to $36 — each time they crossed south of 60th Street. Even worse, the proceeds of this shakedown were not dedicated to improving roads and bridges but rather subsidized a bloated and mismanaged transit bureaucracy that has proven unable to control spiraling costs. New York’s subways were never going to deliver the city’s freight.

“The American Trucking Associations was proud to support the Trucking Association of New York’s leadership in their successful fight against this unfair policy. We also appreciate the Trump Administration restoring the original intent of the Value Pricing Pilot Program, which does not give states carte blanche ability to toll.  Ending this program will remove an unjust hardship on truckers servicing New York.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration today terminated approval of the pilot for New York’s Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP). In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Department rescinded a November 21, 2024, agreement signed under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) that effectively ends tolling authority for New York City’s cordon pricing plan, which imposes tolls on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.

“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes. But now the toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It’s backwards and unfair. The program also hurts small businesses in New York that rely on customers from New Jersey and Connecticut. Finally, it impedes the flow of commerce into New York by increasing costs for trucks, which in turn could make goods more expensive for consumer. Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few."

The construction of federal-aid highways as a toll-free highway system has long been fundamental to the Federal-aid highway program. Except for limited exceptions allowed by Congress, highways constructed with Federal-aid highway funds cannot be tolled. The construction of Federal-aid highways as a toll-free highway system has long been fundamental to the Federal-aid highway program. The VPPP is one of the exceptions to the general prohibition against tolling.

As detailed in the letter, the Secretary is terminating the pilot for two reasons. First, the scope of the CBDTP is unprecedented and provides no toll-free option for many drivers who want or need to travel by vehicle in this major urbanized area. Second, the toll rate was set primarily to raise revenue for transit, rather than at an amount needed to reduce congestion. By doing so, the pilot runs contrary to the purpose of the VPPP, which is to impose tolls for congestion reduction – not transit revenue generation.

The Federal Highway Administration will work with the project sponsors on an orderly termination of the tolls.

You can view a full copy of the letter here.

Washington – Today, the American Transportation Research Institute released its 14th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, with the interchange of Interstate 95 and State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, ranking as the most congested freight bottleneck in the country. 

As Congress prepares to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, this timely analysis can help local, state, and federal governments target funding where it is needed most.  ATRI’s analysis also quantifies the value of infrastructure investment through a spotlight on Chicago’s Jane Byrne Interchange.  Once the number one truck bottleneck in the country for three years in a row, the recently constructed interchange saw rush hour truck speeds improve by nearly 25 percent after construction was completed. 

“Delays inflicted on truckers by congestion are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster. “These metrics are getting worse, but the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo.  Illinois was once home to the top bottleneck in the country, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago no longer ranks in the top 10.  This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth.”

The 2025 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at more than 325 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on an extensive database of freight truck GPS data, uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location.  ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation Freight Mobility Initiative.  The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 325 freight-critical locations.

For the seventh year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the top freight bottleneck in the country. The remaining Top 10 bottlenecks include:

2. Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88
3. Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59
4. Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)
5. Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
6. Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)
7. Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57
8. Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75
9. Houston: I-10 at I-45
10. Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)

ATRI’s analysis, which utilized data from 2024, found traffic conditions continue to deteriorate from recent years, in some instances due to work zones resulting from increased infrastructure investment.  Average rush hour truck speeds were 34.2 MPH, down three percent from the previous year.  Among the top 10 locations, average rush hour truck speeds were 29.7 MPH. 

In addition to squandering time and money, these delays waste fuel – with trucks burning an estimated 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel and producing more than 65 million metric tons of additional carbon emissions while stuck in traffic jams.

“As the Trump Administration and new Congress kick off the process of reauthorizing the federal highway bill, this report provides a precise blueprint on where to begin,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “These traffic bottlenecks not only choke our supply chains, adding $109 billion annually to the cost of transporting the everyday goods that Americans depend on, but they also impact the quality of life for all motorists who rely on the national highway system to commute to work, school, church, and other life events. Targeted investments to reduce this traffic congestion are exactly the kinds of projects, with a measurable return on investment, that taxpayers come to expect of their elected officials.”

For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, click here to view full list.  ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on its website.

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.

The California Air Resources Board has backed down on a regulatory proposal that would have required trucking companies to gradually add zero-emission vehicles to their fleets, a dramatic shift that was welcomed by trucking leaders.

Known as the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule, the law would have mandated for certain truck and bus fleets in the state a phased-in deployment of ZEVs in their operations. Separately, California also has proposed an Advanced Clean Trucks rule that requires manufacturers only sell zero-emission trucks in the state beginning in the 2036 model year. Both proposals require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant CARB a waiver of federal rules to proceed. The state has withdrawn its waiver request for the ACF law, but the ACT proposal remains. Manufacturers have negotiated independently with the state on that proposal, and currently have an agreement in place.

“The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation will still be in effect, [and] it will likely put the onus on truck manufacturers to continue to make zero-emission trucks,” said Mike Tunnell, California-based senior director of environmental affairs/research for American Trucking Associations. READ MORE