Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Oct. 28, 2022:
ATA elects Ruan president, CEO as new chairman
Dan Van Alstine
“I am humbled and truly honored to be here and to serve as your chairman of this great organization,” Van Alstine said. “It is an absolute privilege to represent the millions of Americans who move our country as part of the transportation and logistics industry.”
Van Alstine succeeds Harold Sumerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines out of Birmingham, Alabama, as ATA chairman.
“Dan is perfectly suited to be ATA’s next chairman. He listens, asks questions and then takes action – that’s leadership,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “His ability to get the best out of people by challenging and inspiring them is why he makes a difference, and we are fortunate to have him as our chairman.”
The Board also elected Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation as ATA first vice chairman and, Darren Hawkins, CEO of Yellow Corp. (No. 6) as ATA second vice chairman.
In addition, the Board named Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters (No. 170) and Wes Davis, CFO of Big M Transportation as ATA vice chairmen.
Finally, the Board re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of CRST International Holdings (No. 22) as secretary and John A. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Ground (No. 1), as treasurer.
FMCSA modifies, extends Hurricane Ian-related HOS waiver
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has modified and extended the hours-of-service waiver intended to help recovery efforts in Florida and South Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
On Sept. 28, due to heavy rain, high winds, flooding, and storm surge resulting from Hurricane Ian, FMCSA issued a Regional Declaration of Emergency for eight affected states, which expires on Oct. 28.
FMCSA said that because emergency conditions are still ongoing in Florida and South Carolina, the agency is extending the emergency declaration through Nov. 28, or until the end of the emergency, whichever is sooner.
Under the waiver, drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts related to Hurricane Ian are exempt from Part 395.3 — maximum driving time — in the hours-of-service regulations.
FMCSA clarified that “direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure or routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration, after the initial threat to life and property has passed.”
Expedite All load board launches reefer network
Expedite van load board Expedite All has announced the launch of its Reefer Van Network, a nationwide transportation network that gives shippers on demand access to refrigerated small vehicles.
Reefer Van Network gives more visibility to small-vehicle expediters with refrigerated sprinter vans, box trucks and straight trucks in the U.S., all through a single online platform. Reefer Van Network will operate as a division of Expedite All.
“We created Expedite All because we recognized that shippers had a need for dedicated and expedite small vehicle transportation that was not being met in the fragmented expedite marketplace,” said Alex Winston, president of Expedite All. “With Reefer Van Network, our goal is to bring the same spirit of innovation and convenience to the refrigerated space.”
Reefer Van Network specializes in refrigerated transportation and works exclusively with refrigerated vehicles. All vehicles must be less than 10 years old and meet stringent temperature control and monitoring requirements to be on the platorm. Every vehicle available on Reefer Van Network undergoes periodic temperature control experiments to ensure that refrigeration capabilities are never in doubt.
Additionally, each vehicle in the network is required to install a temperature data logger provided by Reefer Van Network to ensure the reefer unit keeps loads at the appropriate temperature.
Reefer Van Network vehicles are most commonly used to transport pharmaceutical products, non-hazmat chemicals and adhesives, ingredients and perishables including flowers and foods including meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and juices.