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Association Member Trust is excited to announce their upcoming webinar on December 6th at 12pm featuring Sleep Expert Kali Patrick. The webinar, titled "AMT Lunch and Learn: Stop Chasing Remedies: How to Finally Get Refreshing Sleep," will cover a range of topics related to sleep health.  

AMT’s goal is to provide More Options for More Health, and they want to supply our members with educational materials to improve their health in all areas of their lives. Kali Patrick is a Sleep & Well-being Coach who can help you prioritize rest & sleep in the context of your busy work life.  She especially has success with those who have a hard time sleeping due to stress & anxious thoughts. Kali struggled with sleep for 2 decades as she climbed the high-tech, corporate ladder. Healing from burnout taught her what it really takes to feel better. She now helps clients to be successful AND maintain a healthy mind-body.

We encourage all members to attend this informative and engaging webinar. Whether you're looking to improve your overall sleep health, increase your energy levels, or simply learn more about sleep science, you're sure to benefit from Kali's expertise. Mark your calendars for December 6th at 12pm and join Association Member Trust for this exciting event!

Register in advance for this webinar: Webinar Registration - Zoom

With an estimated 55.4 million people traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, the American Trucking Associations and professional drivers from ATA’s Share the Road program are encouraging Americans to practice safety on the roads.

In addition to congestion, Thanksgiving travelers may face wintry weather such as winds, snow and ice. Freezing temperatures can create treacherous conditions and reduce visibility on the road, so drivers must be alert in the face of unpredictable conditions. In addition, stress and revelry can put additional anxiety on drivers as they head home for the holidays.

“As a truck driver from Maine, I have been trained to deal with wintery road conditions,” said Share the Road Professional Truck Driver Ronald Round of Bison Transport USA. “It is important to make sure your vehicle is prepared for extended trips. Check your wiper fluid and antifreeze, and pack a few extra blankets before you pull out of the driveway in case of an emergency.”

“Given the high volume of travelers for Thanksgiving, it is important to implement safe driving measures so everyone can make it to the dinner table,” said Share the Road Professional Truck Driver Gina Jones of Werner Enterprises. “As a professional truck driver, I am delivering all the trimmings necessary for Thanksgiving. I hope my fellow motorists will consider these safe driving tips when traveling to their Thanksgiving destinations.”  
 

1.     Buckle Up: Safety belts save lives. Day or night – and even if you are riding in the back seat – wear your safety belt.  

2.     Slow Down: The chance of a crash nearly triples when driving faster than surrounding traffic. Icy conditions can make the roads slippery. Slowing down your vehicle will help you avoid losing control.

3.     Do not drive impaired: There is much to celebrate this time of year during the holiday season. With that said, driving is a great responsibility, and your fellow travelers are relying on safe and attentive drivers to respectfully share the road and make good decisions.  

4.     Be aware of truck blind spots: When sharing the road with large trucks, be aware of their blind spots. If you cannot see the professional truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the professional truck driver cannot see you.  

5.     Keep your eyes on the road: Distracted driving is a major cause of traffic accidents, especially among young drivers. Even just two seconds of distraction time doubles the chances of an accident. Never text while driving.  

6.     Do not cut in front of large trucks: Remember trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.  

7.     Prepare your vehicle for long distance travel: Check your wipers and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced. Simple maintenance before you leave your home can prevent many of the problems that might strand motorists on the side of the road.  

8.     Leave early and avoid risks: Leave early so you will not be anxious about arriving late. Road conditions may change due to inclement weather or traffic congestion.  

9.     Be aware of the vehicle in front of you: Leave extra room between you and the vehicle ahead.  

10.  Understand congestion patterns:High traffic volumes lead to greater opportunities for accidents, so plan your trip to avoid traffic bottlenecks and increased traffic volumes.

Washington – American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement on the introduction of the GOT Truckers Act:

“This proposal is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to boost trial attorneys’ fees. It would reduce drivers’ paychecks and decimate trucking jobs by upending the pay models that for 85 years have provided family-sustaining wages while growing the U.S. supply chain.

"Truckload drivers today are earning nearly $70,000 on average plus benefits, and wages across the board continue to rise at historic rates year-over-year – except at Yellow, where one party’s refusal to come to the table destroyed 30,000 jobs. The bill would not affect owner-operators, who, as independent contractors, are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
 
“To support this misguided legislation is a vote for supply chain chaos and the inflationary consequences for consumers. Rather than plaintiffs’ bar bailouts, lawmakers interested in actually supporting drivers could begin by fixing the nationwide truck parking shortage that costs drivers on average $5,500 in lost earnings annually.”

Myth v Fact Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that State Police will be conducting a bridge hit enforcement campaign across New York State from Sunday, November 5 through Saturday, November 11. Each year, commercial truck operators, as well as those driving rental box trucks and moving trucks, fail to recognize their vehicle’s height and collide with bridges and overpasses, colliding with bridges and creating public safety hazards, traffic delays and damage to bridges across the state. From 2021 through 2022, there were a combined 808 reported bridge strikes across New York State.   

“Bridge strikes are potentially hazardous to motorists and first responders and have caused needless inconveniences for local communities – but these incidents are 100 percent preventable,” Governor Hochul said. “While we have implemented measures and technologies across the state to help prevent bridge strikes, nothing is more powerful than knowledge. Drivers of overheight vehicles have a responsibility here as well: follow posted warnings, know the height of vehicles and most importantly pay attention.” 

New York State Police will patrol areas of known bridge hits and parkways in an effort to prevent commercial motor vehicles and oversized vehicles from colliding with an overpass. They will also coordinate enforcement details with local law enforcement commercial vehicle inspectors in areas that have high occurrences of bridge strikes.  

In coordination with the enforcement campaign, State Police, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Thruway Authority and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee will raise awareness through various social media channels throughout the week.   

The NYSDOT’s campaign, “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right,” is designed to ensure that drivers know the height of their vehicles so they know if they can safely make it under any and all bridges. It will feature numerous videos, graphics and photos, and social media messages. The aim of the campaign is to impress upon all drivers that it is their responsibility to know their height and avoid bridges that they are too tall for. Additionally, NYSDOT will continue to alert drivers of overheight vehicles that consumer GPS and cell phone mapping systems do not include warnings for bridge heights, which puts them at risk of collisions. 

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee will be visiting motor carrier inspection sites to hand out information on bridge strikes and how to prevent them. 

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “There have been far too many incidents of bridge strikes involving trucks and over-height vehicles in recent years, which are not only dangerous but completely preventable. While we will continue implement measures that alert drivers to potential low-clearance bridges, it is the responsibility of the operators to drive safely and pay attention to all warnings in place. I thank Governor Hochul and our agency partners for their work in keeping all everyone safe on New York’s roads.” 

DMV has proposed a set of regulatory amendments which include assigning point values on a driver’s license for striking a bridge or speeding in a work zone. Those proposed regulations are posted in the State Register and the public comment period runs through November 6.

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “It is so important that drivers of all kinds of trucks check the height of bridges on their planned routes to be sure their vehicle will safely fit. Mapping software can be useful in many ways, but it doesn’t always provide information on bridge heights so drivers must conduct their own checks before getting on the road.” 

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento said, “Commercial vehicle drivers must know their height, and must always be cognizant of any low bridges along their route.   Too many times have we had a commercial vehicle that thought they could squeeze under an overpass.  Avoiding these low bridges is crucial for the safety of all that travel New York’s roadways. Not only do bridge strikes cause significant damage and disruption to traffic but they have the potential to present additional hazards to other drivers and the communities wherein these low bridges are found. The State Police will continue to work with our state and local partners with the goal of eliminating these low bridge strikes and thus ensuring everyone’s safety.”

Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 91 reported bridge strikes on the New York State Thruway’s 570-mile superhighway, compared to a total of 63 reported bridge strikes in all of 2022, a 44 percent increase from the prior year. One of the most serious incidents included the South Broadway overpass in South Nyack, which was struck by an overheight tractor trailer on August 31, 2023. Due to the hit, all southbound lanes of I-87/I-287 were closed for 16 hours on Sept. 9 to facilitate the removal of two damaged girders to stabilize the overpass.

Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Frank Hoare said, “Bridge hits due to overheight vehicles are almost always preventable. The response and subsequent repairs not only disrupt traffic, but these incidents are also costly and prevent our maintenance and engineering teams from focusing on other essential duties to maintain a safe and reliable highway. The majority of commercial drivers follow the rules and ensure their loads are below the posted maximum height limits.  We urge all truck drivers to check their height before each trip.”

Trucking Association of New York President Kendra Hems said, “TANY is proud to work with our state partners on the Bridge Hit Mitigation Task Force to prevent bridge strikes in New York. Education is a critical component to ensure that drivers, both professional and those that drive rental trucks, take the extra step to check the height of their vehicle, know their route, and be diligent about paying attention to road signs. In conjunction with the education campaign, targeted enforcement sends the message about the seriousness of the issue. TANY looks forward to continuing to work on this important issue with our partners as we all strive to prevent bridge strikes in the future.”

Traffic congestion on U.S. highways added $94.6 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2021 according to the latest Cost of Congestion study published by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).  This is the highest level yet recorded through this ongoing research initiative.

ATRI utilized a variety of data sources including its unique truck GPS database to calculate trucking delay impacts from 2017 through 2021 on major U.S. roadways.  While year-over-year congestion costs decreased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they rose sharply in 2021 with a total of 1.27 billion hours of lost productivity.  This increase in costs reflects the dramatic post-COVID economic recovery, with high GDP growth and freight demand borne from record levels of consumer spending.  This level of delay equates to more than 460,000 commercial truck drivers sitting idle for one work year, and the 2021 figure represents a 27 percent increase from the report’s baseline year of 2016 – an increase that is twice the rate of inflation.

In addition to the national findings, ATRI’s analysis also documented state and metropolitan delays and related cost impacts.  The top 10 states each experienced costs of more than $3 billion, led by California ($9.00B), Texas ($7.26B) and Florida ($7.16B). Combined, these 10 states ultimately account for more than half (53%) of trucking’s congestion costs nationwide.  Additionally, the New York City metropolitan area ranked highest for cities, with costs approaching $5.5 billion annually.

The report also documents transportation investment by states through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which could provide as much as $350 billion in funding to address congestion.

“Over the last several years, our industry has experienced some of the most dramatic increases in operating costs, including fuel, labor and equipment,” said Michael Lasko, Vice President of EHS and Quality at Boyle Transportation.  “Imagine how those costs are magnified by sitting still in traffic. We all should keep in mind that those costs are passed down directly to consumers resulting in higher prices for goods and services throughout the economy.  Hopefully we can leverage the new infrastructure spending to get our supply chains moving again.”

ATRI’s analysis also found that the trucking industry wasted over 6.7 billion gallons of diesel fuel in 2021 due to congestion, resulting in more than $22.3 billion in additional fuel costs. A copy of this report is available on ATRI’s website here.

New Jersey’s statewide costs ranked seventh in the country at $3.8 billion in 2021, a 14.6 percent increase from 2016. 

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Join @Motive at Topgolf - Mount Laurel
November 1
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Register Now https://go.gomotive.com/TopGolf-NJ-2023.html

As proud members of the New Jersey Motor Truck Association, Motive invites you to join them for an afternoon of networking, laughs, and some friendly competition – all while discovering how Motive's fleet management solutions drive safety and success in your operations.

Here’s the course layout:
- Insights and best practices presented by Gary Johnson, Head of Safety & Compliance Strategy, Motive
- Plenty of food, drinks, and golf
- A chance to meet with Motive executives and network with industry peers

Bettaway Rolls Out All-Electric Yard Tractors for AriZona Iced Tea Logistics Operations

Specialized, all-electric tractors enter service in yard operations to position trailers, move them to and from docks to cross-dock freight, then reposition for dispatch.

EDISON NJ – SEPT. 26, 2023 — Bettaway Supply Chain Services has introduced all-electric yard tractors to its logistics and warehousing operations supporting AriZona Beverage Company’s production operations in Edison, NJ.

The battery-electric yard switching tractors are specialized units used to position trailers in the facility’s parking area, move them to and from dock doors where cargoes are cross-docked among trailers being unloaded and reloaded, and then reposition trailers in the yard where they are then mated with road tractors for dispatch.

The two EV yard switchers, which replaced diesel-powered units, can operate for nearly 24 hours before recharging, and take less than two hours to recharge. The specialized units also have ceramic solar tinting on all the cab’s windows to protect drivers from heat and UV ray exposure. In addition, the units were painted with a unique graphic design and color scheme developed by AriZona and promoting its flagship iced tea product.

They are domiciled at a state-of-the-art, AriZona Beverage Company iced tea factory that has one of the largest solar panel installations in the state of New Jersey.  On a sunny day, the solar array produces 5 megawatts of power, enough to supply 300 to 400 homes.

“The EV units have been performing flawlessly, the drivers enjoy the smooth quiet ride as well as no more exhaust fumes, which were an issue with the diesel units,” noted John Vaccaro, president of Bettaway, which provides high-performance supply chain services to major beverage and CPG companies and is a leader in pallet recycling and sustainable supply and management of national pallet networks.

“This is one of several steps we are taking to introduce EV units to different parts of our operations,” he added. “We have a deep commitment to sustainability in logistics, and we intend to continue exploring EV opportunities and deploying zero-emissions equipment as it becomes commercially viable.” Bettaway also has on order three of Tesla’s long-delayed electric semi-truck units.  

Among other sustainability initiatives, since 2008, Bettaway has been spec'ing light weight trucks and trailers for its 150-tractor, 900-trailer fleet, delivering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Over the past several years Bettaway also has been upgrading its fleet with fully automatic transmissions, further improving fuel economy.  

In addition, the company employs advanced transportation optimization software for route planning and management to ensure efficient delivery and minimum miles traveled and fuel used. Lastly, the company has installed motion-sensitive lighting in its warehouses to minimize electricity use.

About Bettaway Supply Chain Services: South Plainfield, NJ-based Bettaway is an integrated material handling, transportation, and supply chain management company. A family-owned business for 40 years, Bettaway is an industry leader in pallet supply and management solutions, providing a managed service incorporating a network of some 500 facilities and a centralized suite of pallet services. The company also provides quality transportation with its own dedicated fleets on both the east and west coasts, and national 3PL network. Value-added services include a full-scope warehouse operation with a variety-pack line, e-commerce fulfillment and distribution management for beverage and other CPG products, as well as supply chain consulting. Bettaway also is the founder and operator of PalletTrader, the supply chain industry’s first neutral, collaborative eCommerce marketplace for online posting, buying, selling and delivery of white wood pallets. Visit us at www.bettaway.com.

Media contact: Gary Frantz, Bettaway, gary@gnfcomms.com, (925) 594-1434

NJMTA would like to take a moment to thank everyone who sponsored the NJMTA Annual Golf Outing & Networking Event. Your support and partnership played a key role in the success of our event, and we appreciate your participation.  We hope to see you again next year.

2023 Golf Outing Winners

1st Place Team - Campbell's Express - Bill Messenger, Dave Sullivan, Frank Kohute & Joe Zulli.

2nd Place Team - Bergey's Truck Centers - Matt Huston, Lincoln Bergey, Chris Albright & Zach Clark

3rd Place Team - Eagle Systems - Dave Hensal, Mike McIndoe, Kevin Quigley & Mike Gomez

Closest to the Pin - Kevin Quigley, Eagle Systems

Longest Drive - Joe Kolkowsky, Cummins Sales & Service