TANY’s Legislative Agenda FIRST QUARTER 2023 Vol. 11, No.1 MILEPOST THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK > Recruiting Younger Drivers > TANY’s Upcoming Safety Symposium > Metro Region Update > ATRI’s Top Ten Industry Issues
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MILEPOST FIRST QUARTER 2023 • VOL. 11 NO. 1 CONTENTS ON THE COVER: 16 TANY Gets to Work on 2023 Legislative Agenda Highway Use Tax, environmental issues, congestion, truck parking, lawsuit abuse, and oversize/ overweight permits are hot priorities for this year’s legislative session By Kendra Hems, TANY President 10 TANY’s 2023 Safety Symposium By Steve Brawner 13 ATRI’s New Bottlenecks Report Empire State makes list of nation’s worst truck bottlenecks By Rebecca Brewster 20 Notice of Change in HUT Filing Reminder: New York state Highway Use Tax filing threshold changes By NYS Department of Taxation & Finance (NYSDTF) 21 Recruiting Younger Drivers TANY works to ease search for younger drivers By Steve Brawner 26 ATRI’s Top Ten Critical Issues By Steve Brawner FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 6 Chairman’s Message by Mark Giuffré 6 TANY’s Board of Directors 7 President’s Message by Kendra Hems 9 New York Metro Update by Zach Miller 30 New TANY Members 30 Calendar of Events 30 Advertising Resource Index Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 5
6 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chair Mark Giuffré UPS Vice Chair Joe Fitzpatrick Lightning Express Delivery Service, Inc. Secretary Terry Borwegan Borwegan Trucking, Inc. Treasurer Chris Mix Mr. Bult’s, Inc. Immediate Past Chair Barry Panicola Sprague Operating Resources LLC REGIONAL VICE CHAIRS Western Region Joe Berti Speed Global Services Genesee Region Sean Dubman Wegmans Food Market Central Region Stephen Erwin Clinton’s Ditch Co-Op, Inc. Eastern Region Andy Laing DeCrescente Distributing Co., Inc. Metro Region Steven Levy Sprague Operating Resources LLC REGIONAL SECRETARIES Western Region John Stewart HazMat Environmental Group, Inc. Genesee Region Robert Peckham Tenstreet Central Region Colleen Rejman Venice Enterprise, Inc. Eastern Region Eric Ryan TD Bank Metro Region Ken Tirone Hub Truck Rental Corporation COUNCIL CHAIRS Maintenance Chair Swede Oun O & K Truck Repairs, Ltd. Safety Chair Joe Peplinski Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc. Safety Group Chair John Simon Grand Island Sales and Service, Inc. AT-LARGE MEMBERS Helen Brooks FedEx Corporation Cate Eagan Cason Transport, LLC JoAnn Hayes George Hildebrandt, Inc. Penny Husted Charles J. Husted, Inc. ATA STATE VICE PRESIDENT Stephen Wadhams Wadhams Enterprises, Inc. TRUCKING ASSOCIATION OF NY LET’S MOVE OUR INDUSTRY FORWARD TOGETHER I had the privilege of becoming TANY’s chairman last September at the Annual Meeting. That’s a huge honor. As I said then, I especially appreciate the groundwork laid under the leadership of our previous chairman, Barry Panicola of Sprague Operating Resources. We will continue building on that foundation. Everything we do will be focused on serving our members, strengthening our association, and moving our industry forward together. Over the next two years, we will update our strategic plan and set clear goals and expectations for our leadership team and staff. We will finalize our office space and building needs. And we will accelerate the development of our service bureau to create new ways for TANY to serve our members and entice potential members to join our ranks. Strategic plans, clear goals, abundant office space – all of those are good. But none of it will mean much without the active participation of our members. We need you to get involved, and if you’re already involved, we need you to stay that way. How? Participate in the TANY Safety Council’s safety events, including its Truck Driving Championships and SuperTech competitions. These are fun ways to spotlight and celebrate our industry’s backbone – safe drivers and skilled technicians. Come with us to the Call on Albany and legislative events in New York City. That’s when we present a united front to state and city policymakers. Those efforts have helped lead to big wins such as protecting the independent contractor model and prohibiting indemnification clauses from being included in shipping contracts. Get involved in our Touch-A-Truck and other community events that help the public better understand and connect with our industry. We’re not just the big truck in the rearview mirror. We’re friends and neighbors who proudly and safely deliver the goods everyone depends on. Finally, watch for new services our association is offering. I’m especially excited about TANY’s Young Leaders program. Emerging professionals over the course of a year participate in training events where they learn communication and management skills, and they also have access to seasoned industry veterans who can share their expertise. If you have upand-coming leaders on your team, it’s one of the best investments you can make. It’s often said that you get out of something what you put into it. That’s definitely true with TANY. If you only pay your dues, then TANY will mostly be an obligation, although not a particularly expensive one. But if you’ll get involved, your company will be served, our association will be strengthened, and we’ll move our industry forward together. That’s a pretty good deal. See you down the road. Mark Giuffré, VP State Government Affairs, UPS TANY’s 2022-2023 Chairman of the Board CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 7 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE MEMBER PARTICIPATION Dear Members, As I write this it seems hard to believe that we are already mid-way through February. When you read this, it will be March. It seems every year the time just seems to go by faster, a direct correlation, I believe, to the fact that we just seem to get busier every year. In the trucking industry, busy is good. While TANY may not operate a trucking business, we advocate for and represent our members, and that keeps us busy. Particularly this time of year. In New York, the state legislature meets every year from January through June. Less than two months into the session and TANY is already monitoring more than 100 pieces of legislation that could impact the trucking industry in some manner, both positively and negatively. TANY’s team of lobbyists, which includes two paid staff and two contract lobbyists, work hard to ensure the interests of the trucking industry are represented, and more importantly, heard. Over the course of the next six months countless meetings and calls will be had to push TANY’s priority issues as well as to push back on those issues that TANY opposes. In March, the association will hold our annual Call on Albany where TANY members join our lobbyists to visit key legislative offices. This is truly one of the most important events that TANY hosts each year. TANY’s lobbyists work to tee up the issues, but legislators want to hear from their constituents. It’s important they understand how various pieces of legislation will impact your company and your employees. These visits matter and can make a huge difference in shifting the momentum on key issues. Over the years TANY has been successful in stopping truck route restrictions in the state from being implemented, protecting the independent contractor model in New York, passing legislation to prohibit absolute indemnification clauses in contracts, and most recently, passing legislation to allow drivers between 18 and 20 years of age to obtain a CDL-A for intrastate operation. The key to getting these things done? Member participation. It’s important, it’s meaningful, and it’s a proven path to success. So, let’s get busy! Over the next months you may be asked to participate in TANY’s legislative efforts by making a phone call, sending a letter, or coming to Albany to attend the Call on Albany program. Please make it a priority to engage in the way the best works for you, and together, we can continue to ensure the voice of trucking is heard. Stay safe, Kendra Hems, TANY President “The Trucking Association of New York is the VOICE of Trucking – creating jobs, supporting the economy, driving safety & delivering a sustainable future for our members.” MILEPOST THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK Milepost is owned by the Trucking Association of New York and is published by Matthews Publishing Group. To request additional copies, order reprints of individual articles or to become a subscriber to Milepost, please contact TANY at (518) 458-9696. To inquire about advertising, please contact the publisher at (501) 690-9393. Publisher Jennifer Matthews-Drake [email protected] Executive Editor Kendra Hems Production & Managing Editor David Carnevale Creative Director Fran Sherman Graphic Designer Bárbara Negrón CadÍz Photographers Mark Davis Al Ferreira Contributing Writers Steve Brawner Dan Calabrese David Lee Cullen Eric J. Francis Renee Miller David Monteith Jack Roberts John D. Schulz TRUCKING ASSOCIATION OF NY STAFF President Kendra Hems [email protected] Vice President Kate Kennett [email protected] Communications & Marketing Manager David Carnevale [email protected] Membership Relations Manager Dennis Carroll [email protected] Metro Region Operations Manager Zach Miller [email protected] Office Manager Rebecca Ackner [email protected] Program & Evens Manager Steven Bobarakis [email protected] Workforce Development Coordinator Rusty Stetzel [email protected] Administrative Assistant Mary Harwood [email protected] For more information, contact TANY at: Trucking Association of New York 3 Corporate Drive, Suite 101 Clifton Park, NY 12065 Phone: (518) 458-9696 FAX: (518) 458-2525 www.nytrucks.org Trucking Association of New York is an affiliate of the American Trucking Associations. TANY is a New York corporation of trucking companies, private carrier fleets and businesses that serve or supply the trucking industry. TANY services these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.
8 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 Milepost reaches more than 10,000+ leaders in transportation throughout New York and beyond. Our highly targeted audience of transportation executives contemplates purchasing decisions every day. That makes promoting your company in Milepost an excellent business decision. If you want to reach this highly targeted and influential group of industry decision-makers and ask them to consider purchasing your products or services, then you’ll want to place an ad in every edition of Milepost. Questions? Need more details? Please contact our publisher, Jennifer Matthews, at [email protected] or call (501) 690-9393. MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND READERS STRONG FIRST QUARTER 2019 • VOL. 7, NO. 1 IN THIS ISSUE Adirondack Beverages Steps in to Help Community Trucking Day at the Capitol Creating Connections in an Online Space Destination Collaboration FIRST QUARTER 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 1 TANY TAKES THE WHEEL ON A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IN THIS ISSUE Eric Hoxsie Identifies Second-Year Priorities TANY Takes its Message to the Capitol Celebrating a Half Century with TANY FIRST QUARTER 2021 • VOL. 9, NO. 1 SmarT AN URBAN DRIVING INITIATIVE STREET ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Strategic Plan Update Entry-Level Driver Training Rule Marijuana Testing FIRST QUARTER 2022 • VOL. 10, NO. 1 NY MARIJUANA LAW: IMPACT ON THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Truck Safety & Education Symposium Preview Truckers Against Trafficking Implementing an Effective Training and Education Program SECOND QUARTER 2019 • VOL. 7, NO. 2 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2019 NYS Truck Safety and Education Symposium Fleet Safety Awards Workforce Development Attracting Potential to the Transportation Industry SECOND QUARTER 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 2 IN THIS ISSUE The Bridge from Crisis to Recovery Taming the Surge: TANY Member Collaborations Safeguarding Your Company from Cyber Attacks Sprague: Fueling Business in New York and Beyond COVID-19 AN INDUSTRY RESPONDS SECOND QUARTER 2021 • VOL. 9, NO. 2 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Stopping Bridge Strikes Canadian ELD Enforcement Disconnecting Distracted Drivers and Devices The Road SAFELY SHARING SECOND QUARTER 2022 • VOL. 10, NO. 2 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: TANY Calls on Albany and NYC The Future of Diesel Mitigating Bridge Strikes Truck Safety and Education Symposium ENSURING THE SAFETY OF YOUNG DRIVERS THIRD QUARTER 2019 • VOL. 7, NO. 3 IN THIS ISSUE Drive Safe Act Infrastructure Funding Saving I-81 Truck Driving Championship and SuperTech Awards Driver of the Year and Golden Wrench Awards Advocacy Matters THIRD QUARTER 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 3 IN THIS ISSUE TANY Keeps On Trucking Lobbyist Updates The Truck Parking Problem TANY Unveils New Brand Identity THIRD QUARTER 2021 • VOL. 9, NO. 3 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Legislative Session Updates Time is Ticking on I-81 Committee Profile: Government Affairs For Young Drivers, NY Businesses LEGISLATION CLEARS THE WAY THIRD QUARTER 2022 • VOL. 10, NO. 3 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Legislative Session Updates A Closer Look at the I-81 Viaduct Project Single Credential Legislation TDC/SuperTech Awards NYC CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM MOVES FORWARD FOURTH QUARTER 2018 • VOL. 6, NO. 4 IN THIS ISSUE Annual Conference & Membership Meeting SMMC Trainings & Public Outreach Meetings and Regional Events 2018 TANY YEARBOOK FOURTH QUARTER 2019 • VOL. 7, NO. 4 IN THIS ISSUE NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Transportation and Climate Initiative Annual Conference Highlights TRANSPORTATION ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOURTH QUARTER 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 4 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Chairman Barry Panicola Virtual Safety Symposium TANY Salutes Safety WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TANY’S PATH FORWARD MATCHING SUPPLY WITH DEMAND FOURTH QUARTER 2021 • VOL. 9, NO. 4 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Shay Foundation Honors Family’s Legacy An Interview with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo Big Rig Week WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Industry Faces Challenges of Labor Shortage Head on FOURTH QUARTER 2022 • VOL. 10, NO. 4 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Q & A with TANY Chair Mark Giuffré Growing – and Keeping – Your Workforce Annual Management Conference CREATING A ROADMAP FOR A SECOND CHANCE ‘JAILS TO JOBS’ 10,000+
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 9 Welcome to the inaugural “View from New York City”. This space will provide updates on key events, issues, and legislation from New York City. Before diving into some specific topics, I want to set the landscape for 2023. Eric Adams completed his first year as Mayor and must navigate a frustrated constituency and looming budget crunch. City agencies have a better grasp on his leadership style and priorities and are adjusting accordingly. Also, due to redistricting the City Council is up for election again this year, while the mayor isn’t. Certainly, we have an interesting year ahead. One of the biggest issues we face right now is the Citizen Engine Idling Program. For those unfamiliar, in NYC a citizen may issue a summons to a truck that is idling for longer than 3 minutes. The citizen is then awarded 25 percent of the fine. This is a deeply flawed program which robs companies of their right to due process. Worse, the city is looking to raise fines on an escalating basis for repeat offenders. TANY is looking to restore due process and mitigate the administrative burden for many companies by allowing for a transfer of liability. We are also working on exempting trucks that are equipped with certified clean idle, as the State of California does, from this regulation. There is also an opportunity to shift significant funds from going to citizens to going back to the industry for those wishing to transition to zero emission vehicles. As you can see, we are pushing to reform this program on multiple fronts. Another major concern in NYC is what will happen with the BrooklynQueens Expressway (BQE). For more detail I encourage you to read our blog post on this topic. The notion of removing highways, which began in Syracuse with the I-81 viaduct, is a national initiative and eliminating the BQE is a major goal for many advocacy groups. However, the BQE is a major freight corridor, not just for NYC but the entire East Coast. Over 17,000 trucks utilize the highway daily. TANY is a member of the BQE Community Vision Council as well as the freight focus group to ensure that the needs of commerce and the safe, and efficient transportation of freight remains viable on the BQE. Please reach out if you are interested in joining the Metro Region Government Affairs Committee. I look forward to working together on improving conditions for the industry in New York City. MP View from New York City By Zach Miller, Metro Region Operations Manager New York Metro Update
10 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 One of TANY’s biggest annual events, the New York State Truck Safety and Education Symposium, will take place April 3-5 in Saratoga Springs, NY with a focus on workforce development. The event brings together fleet safety managers, owner-operators, and management of all levels to learn from and meet with industry experts and agency representatives. “We have a committee that convenes several times throughout the year, and from a staff perspective, this is one of the largest events that we have,” said Steve Bobarakis, TANY’s program and events manager. “It’s months and months of planning, and then especially in the month or two leading up to the event, it’s allhands-on-deck getting ready and just making sure everything is good to go for a smooth event.” The attendees work for competing companies but have common interests. Safety benefits everyone. In addition to protecting lives and property, it also lowers insurance rates across the industry and improves trucking’s image. For safety managers, the symposium is a resource. “They need a network of folks that they can call with questions,” said Bobarakis. When it comes to safety, there are so many little details that having the right contacts to bounce ideas and questions off can save By Steve Brawner, Contributing Writer Safety Symposium Focusing on Workforce Issues, Digital Security Feature
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 11 safety managers a lot of time and resources.” This year’s event will have three dedicated times for participants to check out exhibit booths where vendors demonstrate their products and where agency representatives are available for one-on-one discussions. The state Department of Transportation will have two representatives available with whom members can sign up for “DOT One-on-Ones,” or 30-minute personal conversations. Kendra Hems, TANY’s president, said the symposium is a partnership between TANY and the state agencies. It initially was a Department of Motor Vehicles event focused on drivers, but through the years TANY has taken the lead, and the program has transitioned away from driving to operational training. Three sessions are planned for workforce development, including one led by Christopher White, the New York Department of Labor’s deputy commissioner for workforce development. Bobarakis said White has spoken at past TANY events and is knowledgeable about the department’s funding available for various programs, including driver training. He noted the symposium planning committee identified the workforce shortage as a significant challenge for most fleets, making it an important topic to focus on this year. The symposium will conclude April 5 with a “Digital Safety Session” led by Steve Stasiukonis, founder and president of Secure Network Technologies. He is an expert in what he calls “digital kidnapping,” where hackers steal a company’s files and hold them for ransom. He will give an update from last year and will dig deeper into the subject of how fleets can keep their files and network secure. Stasiukonis’s presentation on that subject last year received the participants’ top reviews. “Steve came and spoke last year at our event, and people were so blown away that we thought it would be a good idea to have him back and do a little bit of a spin on what he talked about last year,” said Bobarakis. Early check in for the event is available on site beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, April 3. A welcome mixer at the Spa City Tap and Barrel will begin at 5 p.m. An additional training program, You: The Inspector, being held Monday from 3 to 8 p.m., is offered at a discounted rate for symposium attendees. The next day starts with registration and breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by welcoming remarks. The keynote speaker, Marianne Angelillo, will speak at 8:30 a.m. about impaired driving. Angelillo tragically became an expert on the subject after her 17-year-old son, Matthew, got into a car with a drunk driver and was killed in a high-speed car crash on Father’s Day in 2004. Matthew was planning to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy after graduation. Angelillo, a married mother of four, speaks to NEW YORK STATE Truck Safety and Education Symposium and Safety Exhibition April 3-5, 2023 Saratoga Springs, NY Register online at: nytrucks.org/events Registration closes March 3! continues
12 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 schools and traffic safety groups about the subject. She authored a book about her experiences titled, “Sharing My Stones.” New York State Police will also present information on impaired driving from an enforcement perspective. Following that session, symposium attendees will have time to visit exhibitors and government agencies. The session led by White, the first of the three scheduled workforce development sessions, will come next, followed by lunch and the annual TANY Safety Council Awards ceremony. The awards ceremony will honor this year’s Fleet Safety Award winners selected by a committee that reviews applicants’ safety and accident information. The judging committee also selects five applicants to be eligible to apply for the Grand Champion Trophy. The Grand Champion is selected after careful analysis of information about the company’s training, safety programs and performance over the previous three years. That afternoon will feature a live North American Standard Level l Inspection by Larry Johnson of the New York State Department of Transportation, followed by a workforce development session featuring information on training and educational resources, and the final workforce development session where member fleets share how they successfully recruit and retain their workforce. The first speaker on Wednesday, April 5, is tentatively scheduled to be Jack Van Steenburg, executive director and chief safety officer with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Van Steenburg served 25 years with the New York State Police, where he started as a trooper and eventually became staff inspector. He will give an update on his agency’s activities. His remarks will be followed by a presentation by the FMCSA’s Timothy Grimley about the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Time for participants to visit exhibitors will follow. Kristin Reif, director of government relations for Philip Morris International, also will speak that morning on the topic, “Prevention of Illicit Trading.” The session will inform carriers how they can keep their fleets from being used to transport stolen goods. Her remarks will be followed by the annual “Fun” Lunch, which features prize giveaways. It will be followed by a session led by Tracey Wheaton, motor vehicles program manager for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Her remarks will be followed by Stasiukonis’ presentation. TANY’s next big event is its annual Call on Washington in April, followed by the Truck Driving Championships and Step Van Competition June 9-10. The SuperTech Competition for technicians will be held on the same dates. The Annual Management Conference will be Sept. 25-27 at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton. MP We are dedicated to meeting all your trailer, truck body & liftgate needs! North Jersey Trailer & Truck Service has been a trailer dealer and repair facility for over 28 years. We are a full service dealer with two fully equipped shops and a mobile service fleet, serving the entire New Jersey and New York metropolitan area, including Long Island. Our sales force has over 100 years of combined experience and will work with you to develop custom specifications on dry vans, reefers, flat beds and truck bodies. 24 Cannon Hill Drive, New Hampton, NY • 975 Belmont Avenue, North Haledon, NJ www.njtts.com • 800-689-1109 As a full service dealer we offer: New & Used Trailer Sales, Service & Parts • Mobile Service • Liftgate Sales, Installation & Service Transport Refrigeration Service • Two Full Service Shops Now a Stoughton Dealer!
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 13 By Rebecca Brewster, Guest Writer Empire State Makes List of Nation’s Worst Truck Bottlenecks The American Transportation Research Institute released its 12th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America earlier this month, and the state of New York placed six locations on the list. “As the most populous city in the U.S., New York City generates tremendous demand for all the goods delivered by truck, including food, clothing, and fuel,” said Trucking Association of New York President Kendra Hems. “Unfortunately, when traffic congestion brings trucks to a standstill, everyone pays the price. Addressing congestion must be a key component of New York’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ATRI’s analysis provides a roadmap of where infrastructure investment will have the most impact.” The 2023 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truckinvolved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on an extensive database of freight truck GPS data, uses several customized Feature continues For the fifth year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey is once again the No. 1 freight bottleneck in the country.
14 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 New York State Woman Owned Business Enterprise, NYSWOBE #53310 National Women’s Business Enterprise, WBENC #2005121673 Women Owned Small Business, WOSB #180165 www.accesscompliance.net | 518-782-2200 | [email protected] At Access Compliance, we have many services to keep you in compliance: DOT Medical Testing • DOT Examinations performed by DOT Certified Providers • HAZMAT Medical Clearances • HAZMAT training for drivers handling hazardous materials • Customized written program for your Drug and Alcohol Testing Program • Drug and Alcohol random pool for your random testing needs • Drug and Alcohol testing is done by trained collectors • Medical Review Officer (MRO) Services • After-hours Drug and Alcohol collections • Designated Employee Representatives (DER) training in what they need to know • Reasonable Suspicion Training Drug and Alcohol Testing DOT rules state that any motor carrier, interstate or instrastate operating a vehicle over 26,001 lbs, or transporting 16 or more passengers including the driver, or any vehicle transporting hazardous materials, must participate in a compliant Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, regardless of size. Program must include: Pre-employment, random and post-accident testing 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 numerous U.S. DOT freight mobility initiatives. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 300 freight-critical locations. The six New York bottlenecks are: 1. No. 27 Brooklyn: I-278 at Belt Parkway 2. No. 36 Queens: I-495 3. No. 46 Bronx: I-678 4. No. 75 Manhasset: I-495 at Shelter Rock Road 5. No. 84 Nyack: I-287 6. No. 96 Elmsford: I-287 at I-87 For the fifth year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey is once again the No. 1 freight bottleneck in the country. Although located in New Jersey, this bottleneck has great impact on TANY members as well. While the nation’s top bottleneck location is not technically in New York, it has a significant impact on New York motor carriers as it is the entrance to the George Washington Bridge connecting Ft. Lee, NJ to Northern Manhattan. The bridge is managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is in the top three of the most expensive bridges to cross in the United States. Congestion on the bridge not only impacts the cost of goods as drivers burn additional fuel and lose hours trying to enter Manhattan, but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Over $2 billion has been invested in the bridge just to maintain a state of good repair. The Port Authority needs to prioritize finding solutions to the congestion issue at the bridge, rather than focus on maintaining the status quo. ATRI’s analysis, which utilized data from 2022, found traffic conditions continue to deteriorate from recent years as more Americans returned to work post-pandemic. Consequently, supply chain bottlenecks occurred throughout the country. Average rush hour truck speeds were 36.3 MPH, S ince 2002, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has collected and truck GPS data in support of numerous U.S. DOT freight mobility initiatives. Utilizing a database of freight truck GPS data, ATRI develops and monitors a series of key p measures on the nation’s freight transportation system. Among its many GPS ana converts its truck GPS dataset into an ongoing truck bottleneck analysis that is used to impact of traffic congestion on truck-borne freight at over 300 specific locations. While o analyses may identify congested corridors, no dataset available today specifically identifi chokepoints in the nation’s truck freight transportation system. Measuring the performance of freight movement across our nation’s highways is criticstanding where and at what level investments should be made. The information provided research empowers decision-making in both the private and public sectors by helping s better understand how congestion and delays constrain mobility on the U.S. highway tra system. ATRI’s annual bottleneck list provides a clear roadmap to guide investment deci nation capitalizes on the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address the nat chain challenges. ATRI’s bottleneck analysis incorporates and synthesizes several unique components, massive database of truck GPS data at freight-significant locations throughout the U.S., a volume algorithm that quantifies the impact of congestion on truck-based freight. In a annual reports provide a chronological repository of mobility profiles, allowing congesti to be assessed over time. This allows both transportation analysts and planners to conmance benchmarking and identify influential factors contributing to congestion and t consequences on freight mobility. CA WA TX Texas ....................... 13 Georgia.....................9 California.................8 Tennessee ...............7 Connecticut............6 New York .................6 Washington............6 Illinois.......................5 STATES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS: THE NATIONS TOP TRUCK BOTTLENECK I Atl I-20 at I-2 Houston, TX #3 I-45 at I-69/US 59 San Bernardino, CA #10 I-10 at I-15 Los Angeles, CA SR 60 at SR 57 #7 Los Angeles, CA #8 I-710 at I-105 Chicago, IL I-294 at I-290/I-88 #2 For more information on ATRI’s Top Truck Bottlenecks analysis, including a detailed description o As the most populous city in the U.S., New York City generates tremendous demand for all the goods delivered by truck, including food, clothing, and fuel.” —Kendra Hems, president, Trucking Association of New York
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 15 EPIC Transportation and Logistics offers a range of coverage types to clients in the trucking industry: COMPETITIVE COVERAGE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY Trucker's Liability Physical Damage Motor Truck Cargo Workers' Comp We also offer programs that include guaranteed cost and loss sensitive options. Our relationships in the global insurance marketplace, strengthened by our collaborative business structure enable us to deliver the right coverage at the right value for our clients, who include: General Commodities Hazardous & NonHazardous Haulers LP Gas Transporters Waste & Recycling Truckers Specialty Carriers Members of TANY, ATA, NYPGA, PGANE, ESEA. MICHAEL REILLY Managing Principal 518.479.7244 [email protected] Contact us today to experience the expertise, personal service and attention to detail you deserve. down more than six percent from the previous year. Among the top-10 locations, average rush hour truck speeds were less than 30 MPH. “The past year-plus has shone a spotlight on our supply chains, and how congestion and other pressures can hurt the American economy and consumers,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “ATRI’s bottleneck report highlights the areas of our transportation network in need of investment so we can get goods and people moving. The cost of doing nothing is felt in needless delays, wasted fuel and time.” For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, please visit ATRI’s website at TruckingResearch.org. ATRI is also providing animations created with truck GPS data for select bottleneck locations, all available on the website. MP _______________ Rebecca Brewster is COO of ATRI, the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) notfor-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. d processed an extensive performance alyses, ATRI quantify the other outside fies granular cal to under through this stakeholders ansportation isions as the tion’s supply including a and a speed/ addition, the ion changes nduct perforhe requisite GA TN NY CT STATES WITH AT LEAST 1 30 TOP 100 BOTTLENECK AVERAGE PEAK HOUR TRUCK SPEED: 36.3 mph TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS WITH AVERAGE TRUCK SPEEDS <45 MPH: BY THE NUMBERS KS 2023 L DOWN 6.1% YEAR-OVER-YEAR 49% Fort Lee, NJ I-95 at SR 4 #1 Chicago, IL I-290 at I-90/I-94 #6 Atlanta, GA I-285 at I-85 (North) #4 lanta, GA 85 (West) #5 9 Nashville, TN I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East) #9 of the methodology, visit www.TruckingResearch.org. “The past year-plus has shone a spotlight on our supply chains, and how congestion and other pressures can hurt the American economy and consumers.” —Chris Spear, president & CEO, American Trucking Associations
Cover Story 16 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 TANY Gets to Work on 2023 Legislative Agenda By Kendra Hems TANY President Highway use tax, environmental issues, congestion, truck parking, lawsuit abuse, and oversize/ overweight permits are hot priorities for this year’s legislative session
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 17 As the only organization in New York that represents the interests of the trucking industry, the Trucking Association of New York works all year long to advocate on behalf of the industry in front of legislators, regulators, and the general public. However, when the legislature convenes each January, TANY’s advocacy efforts are ramped up for the next six months until the end of the legislative session in June. Already this year, TANY is monitoring over 100 pieces of legislation that would impact the trucking industry in some manner, both positively and negatively. New York is a challenging state in which to get things done. Add in the New York City element and it becomes even more complex. To ensure that the industry’s voice is heard, TANY has a highly respected team of lobbyists which includes TANY President Kendra Hems and TANY’s Metro Region Operations Manager Zach Miller in addition to TANY’s two contract lobbyists – Catalyst Government Affairs which works on statewide issues and CMW Strategies which focuses on New York City.
18 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 In 2023, environmental issues will likely consume much of TANY’s focus as we continue to advocate for a reasonable approach to shifting the trucking industry to zero-emission vehicles. While TANY isn’t opposed to the concept of shifting to greener vehicles, we’re gravely concerned with the aggressive policies that the state has put forth. A measured approach that includes providing for the use of alternative fuels, investing in infrastructure build out, creating grant and financing mechanisms, and recognizing the diversity of the trucking industry is needed. The state must begin to recognize that electrifying the trucking industry isn’t the sole pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is also important to recognize the strides the industry has already made in reducing emissions. An issue that has been a long-standing priority for TANY remains at the top of the list in 2023: repeal of the state’s onerous Highway Use Tax (HUT). Assembly member William Magnarelli (D-129) has sponsored legislation (A24) that would repeal article 21 of the tax law which imposes the HUT. TANY is working on securing a Senate sponsor for the legislation. This year TANY feels there’s an opportunity to make some progress on this legislation. Revenue from the HUT is deposited into New York’s Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, which has created challenges for TANY as repeal of the tax would remove approximately $140 million from the fund. However, if New York takes full advantage of the federal infrastructure funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) the impact of the loss of revenue from HUT repeal could be mitigated. Additionally, with the ever-increasing costs the trucking industry is expected to bear, including fuel, labor, tolls, NYC congestion pricing and more expensive equipment related to the shift to near-zero and zero-emission vehicles, there must be some financial relief provided to the industry. The NYC Congestion Pricing proposal is currently still being reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). TANY previously submitted comments on the proposal outlining our concerns and opposition. The association has requested that a full environmental review of the program be conducted rather than just an assessment. While we await FHWAs decision on the program, we continue to advocate for a full exemption for commercial vehicles from the program given their essentiality to the New York City economy. TANY will continue to work with the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York to advocate for legislation designed to reign in lawsuit abuse that has led to nuclear verdicts in the trucking industry across the nation. TANY is supporting legislation introduced by Assembly member Magnarelli and Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-56) (S4146/A115) that would enact consumer protections related to consumer litigation funding. Additionally, TANY is opposing legislation that would expand New York’s Wrongful Death Act. Governor Kathy Hochul recently vetoed this legislation (S74/A6770) that had passed the legislature in 2022 due to concerns about the impact on small businesses and the state’s www.haylor.com Is my insurance advisor an expert in my industry? Call us anytime: Scott Wichmann at 315-383-6626 Joe Peplinski at 315-373-9996 Viewing insurance as off the shelf commodity is a costly mistake!
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 19 economy. However, we fully anticipate the sponsors of the legislation to reintroduce it this session and TANY will continue to advocate against it. Truck Parking remains a top priority for TANY. Across the state, and particularly around New York City, drivers continue to struggle to find safe and secure places to park. TANY feels that access to truck parking should be treated as a right for drivers, not as a luxury. Add the complexity of the move towards truck electrification and we question how the state feels they can meet the charging needs of the industry when they lack adequate commercial vehicle parking. New funding mechanisms have been made at the federal level for states to access to invest in truck parking. TANY plans to leverage this funding to ensure the state makes improved truck parking a priority. TANY members that utilize oversize and overweight permits continue to struggle with inefficiencies in the permitting process and burdensome regulations. TANY is working on legislation to address four issues that TANY members have identified as problematic in the permitting program: (1) allow the use of smart lift axles, (2) allow for the use of wide base tires, (3) provide for the permitting of a single tractor with multiple trailers and (4) provide for the ability to use an electronic permit rather than having a paper copy in the truck. TANY is also working on other initiatives including 53-foot trailer access, protecting the independent contractor model, and right-torepair legislation to protect our small independent repair facilities, among others. Specific to New York City, TANY is focused on addressing truck parking (overnight and curb access), idling issues, truck routes, bike lanes and improving the efficiency of freight movement. TANY also works closely with a number of other business groups and trade associations in New York to address general business issues including workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, minimum wage issues and others. A key to TANY’s legislative success is member involvement. TANY’s Government Affairs Committee and Metro Region Government Affairs Committee meet bi-weekly to set the association’s legislative goals and strategy, as well as to review and take positions on proposed legislation and regulations. The Committees work to set the legislative agenda for the association. Participation in TANY’s Call on Albany program is also a key component of TANY’s legislative affairs program. If you’re interested in any of the issues on TANY’s agenda please plan to join TANY staff and members in Albany on March 13 and 14, 2023. More information can be found at www.nytrucks.org. MP TANY feels that access to truck parking should be treated as a right for drivers, not as a luxury. Because advertising works. No matter what size ad you choose to run in Milepost, you’re guaranteed the potential for getting noticed by our impressive audience of more than 10,000+ leaders in transportation. And getting noticed means your ad is working for you. HEY! ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT ME?
20 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 I n 2022 the NYS Department of Taxation & Finance (NYSDTF) enacted changes to the threshold amounts that determine the frequency of filing Highway Use Tax (HUT) returns. The changes were a result of legislation that passed in the State Budget intended to reduce the burden associated with filing the returns. NYSDTF has notified TANY that although they have sent notices to motor carriers whose filing frequencies have changed, they are finding that carriers continue to file as they previously had. The updated frequency thresholds are: • $1,200 or less and you were subject to HUT for the entire preceding calendar year – annual filing • More than $1,200 but not more than $12,000 – quarterly filing • More than $12,000 – monthly filing The filing frequency may change each year depending on your total HUT liability for the preceding calendar year. NYSDTF will annually review the total HUT liability for the preceding calendar year and notify carriers whose filing frequency requirements have changed. Letters will be sent to carriers in early March notifying them if their filing frequency has changed. Returns are due by the last day of the month following each reporting period. HUT returns are required to be filed even if there is no tax due. More information can be found on the NYSDTF website (www.tax.ny.gov) and searching for “HUT”. MP Feature Reminder: New York State Highway Use Tax Filing Threshold Changes Notice of Change in HUT Filing By NYS Department of Taxation & Finance (NYSDTF)
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 21 TANY Works to Ease Search for Younger Drivers Feature By Steve Brawner, Contributing Writer New York carriers now can fill driver seats with younger drivers – but the trucking industry must first find them, recruit them, train, and then retain them. More drivers are available because a state law that went into effect last year lets individuals ages 18-20 earn their CDL-A and drive tractor-trailers within the state, while a federal pilot program will allow up to 3,000 at a time nationally to cross state lines. New York became one of the last states to allow drivers under the age of 21 earn their CDL-A when lawmakers in 2021 unanimously passed legislation which became effective in May 2022. The legislation follows federal standards but increased the behind-the-wheel training required of those younger drivers before they take their road test. Kendra Hems, TANY president, said the legislation wasn’t a hard sell. The association began having conversations with legislators in 2019. The Legislature is typically supportive of labor issues, and it understood the industry was having trouble finding drivers. Hems believes the legislation probably would have passed in 2020 had it not been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic then helped raise trucking’s profile as an essential industry before the 2021 session. Rusty Stetzel, TANY’s workforce development coordinator, said the New York law will help attract younger people into the industry. “The students that are either 17 and three-quarters or 18 now know that they can get a CDL-A,” he said. “The difficult part is finding them a job, but they know they can get a license and it’s something they’ve always wanted.” Stetzel said many larger carriers won’t hire drivers until they have two years of experience because of insurance concerns. One source of experience is agriculture, which tends to be more welcoming of younger drivers than other industry sectors. The American Trucking Associations estimates the driver shortage to be 78,000 – a number that could reach 160,000 over the next decade. The industry would need to hire almost 1.2 million new drivers during that decade to replace those leaving. Hems said TANY’s membership has been supportive of hiring younger drivers to help fill that void. A couple of members had safety concerns, but those were addressed by the increased behind-the-wheel training. “Our position has always been that as long as they’re trained, and they’re trained appropriately, then we can address the concerns from a safety perspective,” Hems said. A study by the American Transportation Research Institute, “Predicting Truck Crash Involvement: 2022 Update,” indicated that the stereotype of younger drivers being unsafe isn’t consistent with reality. Researchers analyzed 583,805 truck drivers involved in 38,797 FMCSAreported crashes between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2018. The study found that drivers under age 21 were statistically less likely than drivers over age 24 to be involved in a crash. It found 42 of the 1,723 drivers under age 21, or 2.4%, were involved in a crash, compared to 6.9% of the continues
22 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 475,052 drivers over 24 years old. Drivers ages 21-24 were not included to create a buffer between the two groups being compared. The results invite further study because the sample size of younger drivers is small. However, the research shows promise. Hems said she was not surprised by the results, which she shared with TANY’s membership. “If somebody really wants to drive a commercial truck, it’s a different mindset than driving a passenger vehicle, right?” she said. “If you have an individual and they are younger and they’re starting their career and they want to be successful, I think they’re going to be much more cognizant of their actions on the road.” TANY Chairman Mark Giuffré, UPS vice president, state government affairs, said the legislative initiative will make it easier to attract young people to trucking as a first career rather than making them wait until they are 21 and have already entered another field. Giuffré said carriers have made big investments in trucks that are sitting parked because they don’t have drivers. The legislative initiative “will give us a chance to start really getting out there and trying to recruit people into this industry and be able to tell the story of what a great industry this is and how great the people are,” he said. In addition to working on the legal end, TANY is also looking for ways to develop the younger driver workforce. The association is participating in career fairs and is working with technical schools/ institutions to implement CDL and diesel tech programs. TANY recently purchased a mobile driving simulator it will use to recruit high school juniors and seniors. TANY partnered with the Charter School for Applied Technologies in Buffalo to implement a logistics program, which has now been accredited by the state education department. TANY is now working with the state’s association of charter schools to bring the program to other schools and add CDL training as another component. Stetzel said he has reached out to more than 3,000 young people since the beginning of the school year and attended a dozen career fairs from Buffalo to Albany. He tells young people about the different kinds of jobs available in the industry, not just driving. “To be honest with you, most of them are quite surprised,” he said. “Most of them are city kids, and they really have no idea what the transportation industry has to offer them. That’s why I think being able to talk about transportation with these students really is eye-opening to a lot of kids.” More than 300 young people sat in one simulator over a twoday event. Most were excited to see what a driver experiences. Stetzel has brought TANY members’ sleeper berth tractors to career fairs surprising students by how well the trucks are equipped. “They really like the interior of the truck,” he said. “When we gave them trucks to get into, seeing TVs, microwaves and refrigerators and the comfort of the seats and the bunks, they’re like, ‘Wow, we had no idea. This is pretty amazing.’” In addition to driving, Stetzel has been encouraging young people to consider careers as diesel technicians. He’s working with three colleges in upstate New York. Two want to start a program in late 2023 or early 2024. One has an off-highway diesel program but wants to gear it more towards transportation. Hems said education is the key to attracting younger people to the industry. “I think we have to get them to view it as more than just a truck going down the road, and really look at how much the industry has evolved, how it’s continuing to evolve, the amount of technology that’s now in these trucks, how comfortable these trucks are today versus what they may have seen in years past or in movies from years ago, and stressing how important this industry is to our economy, to our nation, and then the career paths that it can provide,” she said. “We often say driving isn’t just a job; it’s a career because it can lead into so many other opportunities for individuals if they so choose, and we’ve seen that even among our own membership,” she continued. “So many of our midlevel management and into upper-level management started their careers as drivers or technicians. We do a lot of that kind of education when we’re speaking to high school students, and just really start to get them to look at it from a different perspective.” Giuffré is an example. After graduating college, he went to work for a company in the fashion industry, but his paycheck was bouncing. He wanted to work for a stable employer while he determined his next step, so he went to work for UPS delivering packages in New York City at age 25. He found he enjoyed the job, which
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 23 often made him the “spreader of good will.” A manager offered him a chance to join the management team, and he never left. He maintains his CDL license to this day. “I thought I was just going to do this for a couple of months while I was figuring out what I was going to do, and 35 years later, I’ve had a career,” he said. “I’ve worked in operations. I’ve worked in human resources. I’ve worked in communications and media relations and government affairs. I’ve been able to do it all at the same place being given opportunities, having had that experience in the front line as well.” TANY is also working with the Department of Corrections to provide CDL training to incarcerated individuals to prepare them to reenter society. The department has placed driving simulators in six facilities across the state, including a women’s prison. Once the individuals are released, they will be placed in a driving school or with TANY members who conduct driver training. The American Transportation Research Institute recently completed a study, “Integrating Younger Adults into Trucking Careers,” that identified strategies for recruiting, training and retaining younger employees. The study found that pay, of course, is one factor. Younger drivers said they were attracted to trucking because of the potential income over • Long Island’s Largest Full Service Rental and Leasing Commercial Truck Fleet • ESOP - Employee Owned and Operated Company • Commercial Vehicle Specification Specialists • Driver Safety Programs • CSA and Regulatory Guidance • Fuel Tax and Permitting Service • Fueling and DEF at HUB Locations • 24/7 “LIVE” HUB Employee Staffed • National Network of Affiliated Reciprocal Service Providers • Local Ownership Nationwide Protection • Used Truck Sales Specialists • Global Positioning Technology SERVICE LOCATIONS LONG ISLAND Farmingdale – 631-391-1044 81 Allen Blvd 99 Allen Blvd 94 Gazza Blvd – Corporate Office Holbrook – 631-391-1030 444 Central Avenue Garden City Park – 631-391-1040 2121 Jericho Turnpike Calverton – 631-391-1030 4195 Middle Country Road Long Island City – 718-729-1653 BRONX Bronx Market – 718-328-2980 1160 Worthen Avenue Bronx NY NEW JERSEY Newark – 908-862-0414 126 Frelinghuysen Avenue www.hubtruck.com STRAIGHT TRUCKS • TRACTORS • REFRIGERATED TRUCKS • FLATBEDS SOLUTIONS continues New York became one of the last states to allow drivers under the age of 21 earn their CDL-A when lawmakers in 2021 unanimously passed legislation which became effective in May 2022.
24 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 the course of a stable career. Fleets reported that raising pay was the most effective retention strategy. But 60% of younger drivers interviewed said another factor was as much or more important, said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI’s president and chief operating officer. The most common additional factors were a stable career path, love of driving, and a schedule conducive to a work/ life balance. Regular home time can help attract people to the industry. Eighty-four percent of the younger drivers said a company’s culture is important. They said carriers can promote supportive managers, ensure employees understand each other’s roles, and establish opportunities for employees to interact casually, among other suggestions. Younger drivers should feel comfortable communicating their concerns directly with a superior or through company-wide surveys. Respondents said more transparency would help attract younger drivers. They suggested job postings that explicitly describe job expectations. They also recommended posting content such as “day in the life” videos that describe what a trucking job is like. Asked how to improve training, 20% 888.863.2101 www.CDLAssociates.org Personal, Commercial, Life, Health, Employee Benefits and Commercial Trucking in 43 States LET US HANDLE ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS AND SAVE YOU $$$ Call us We often say driving isn’t just a job; it’s a career because it can lead into so many other opportunities for individuals if they so choose, and we’ve seen that even among our own membership.” —Kendra Hems, president, Trucking Association of New York Vincent A. Berretta, C.P.A | [email protected] 527 Townline Road, Suite 201 Hauppauge, NY 11788 Phone: 631.876.5160 • Cell: 516.972.9475 FAX: 631.876.5163 Berretta & Costigliola, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 25 of the younger drivers recommended better training for the instructors, while 14% suggested more driving time and variety. They said driver recruitment and retention could be improved by training programs that included non-driving duties associated with the freight process, including conflict resolution, loading and yard work. Carriers with a driver apprenticeship program found more success with retention among their graduates than their non-graduates. The study found that young graduates believed their carrier was invested in their continued development. It said both younger and more experienced drivers liked learning from each other, so carriers should establish mentorships and opportunities for drivers to interact. MP OEM • NEW AFTERMARKET • REMAN • REFURBISHED DPF FILTERS • DOC CATALYSTS • ONE BOX UNITS • SCRs EGR COOLERS + RECORING • AIR CHARGE. COOLERS • RADIATORS GASKETS • BUNGS CLAMPS • SENSORS • TURBOCHARGERS DPF REGENERATION IS YOUR ONE SOURCE FOR DIESEL FILTER CLEANING, REPAIR AND EMISSION SUPPLIES. 800-634-3010 • 203-549-8606 • 203-510-2837 info@dpfregeneration www.dpfregeneration.com Detroit Diesel Cascadia Unit One-Box Eighty-four percent of the younger drivers said a company’s culture is important. —ATRI’s 2022 report, “Integrating Younger Drivers Into Trucking Careers Call on Albany Make your voice heard! Join TANY as we meet with members of the New York State Legislature to discuss issues of importance to the trucking industry March 13-14, 2023 This is an important event that will give you the opportunity to advocate on behalf of our industry in an intimate, in-person setting. l Registration for this event is FREE l Discounted hotel rates available For information, registration and hotel accommodations, please visit nytrucks.org/events
26 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 Fuel prices were the top industry concern in the latest American Transportation Research Institute’s “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry – 2022” survey of drivers, motor carrier personnel and other industry stakeholders. The issue replaced the driver shortage, which fell to number two after five years as the top concern. The results of the 18th annual survey were released Oct. 22 at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego. The survey was open for responses from Sept. 6 through Oct. 7, 2022. Respondents were asked to choose between 28 critical issues. Those ranked as most important were valued at three points, while those ranked second were assigned two points and those ranked third received one point. Respondents also ranked three preferred strategies for each issue that also were selected by ATRI. They could write in their own preferred strategy. The top issue, fuel prices, was ranked in the top three by 27.5% of respondents and was ranked number one by 11.7%. More than 4,200 people responded to this year’s survey, the most ever. Last year, more than 2,500 responded. Professional truck drivers represented 47.2% of the respondents, while motor carrier executives and personnel were 38.8% and other industry stakeholders were 14%. Those ATRI Survey: Fuel Prices Trucking’s Most Critical Issue By Steve Brawner, Contributing Writer Feature
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 27 HazMat Environmental Group, 60 Commerce Drive, Buffalo, NY 14218 716-748-8267 | www.hazmatinc.com/equipment-service-maintenance • Fully Licensed Repair and Inspection Shop - Repair vessels, Test and Certify - VIKs, Pressure and Thickness Tests - Welding and Fabrication - National Board R Certification • Build Frames & Replace Suspensions • NYSIs • All Types of Mechanical Repairs • Over 30 Years of Excellence TANKER MAINTENANCE Buffalo, NY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, INC. BUFFALO, NY included industry suppliers, driver trainers and law enforcement. This year’s survey saw a significant increase in commercial drivers, who in 2021 represented only 24.1% of respondents – about half of this year’s percentage. With more driver respondents, issues such as fuel prices and truck parking ranked higher than they have in the past. Many of the respondents were owner-operators, who have been especially hard hit by high diesel prices. ATRI President and Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Brewster was pleased to see more drivers taking part in the survey. “I believe where we can see the number of motor carrier personnel and the number of professional driver respondents more closely represented, I think that’s good,” she said. “They’re both big parts of the equation. So any time we see more than 50% of one group, I feel like we’re not getting representation from the other one. So I was good with this mix.” Brewster said the increased number of drivers may have been the result of several factors, including the fact that drivers may see the survey as a tool for amplifying issues such as truck parking. She said ATRI has a strong relationship with OOIDA, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which serves on its Research Advisory Committee. Four issues appeared in the top 10 among both motor carrier personnel and commercial drivers. Fuel prices were second among drivers and third among motor carriers, while the economy was fifth among motor carriers and sixth among drivers. Truck parking was ranked by drivers as their top concern, and its growing importance to the industry was reflected in its number 10 ranking by motor carriers. The other shared concern was detention/delay at customer facilities, which was fourth among drivers and ninth among motor carriers. Brewster noted that workforce issues continue to be top of mind for motor carrier personnel, with the driver shortage and driver retention at numbers one and two and the diesel technician shortage at number eight. That was similar to continues The top 10 issues were as follows: • Fuel prices • Driver shortage • Truck parking • Driver compensation • Economy • Detention/delay at customer facilities • Driver retention • CSA • Speed limiters • Lawsuit abuse reform Results among motor carrier personnel were as follows: • Driver shortage • Driver retention • Fuel prices • CSA • Economy • Lawsuit abuse reform • Insurance cost/availability • Diesel technician shortage • Detention/delay at customer facilities • Truck parking Among commercial drivers, the results were as follows: • Truck parking • Fuel prices • Driver compensation • Detention/delay at customer facilities • Speed limiters • Economy • Hours-of-service rules • Electronic logging device mandate • Driver training standards • Transportation infrastructure/ congestion/funding
28 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 last year’s results, when the driver shortage and driver retention were the top two among motor carrier personnel while the diesel technician shortage was seventh. Neither of those three issues appeared in the drivers’ top 10. Fuel prices, which had not been in the top 10 since 2013 when it was number eight, jumped to the top of the list as fleets and owneroperators dealt with record-high fuel costs. Commercial drivers ranked it as their second highest issue, while owner-operators ranked it as their top concern for the second year in a row. Motor carrier executives and personnel ranked it third. “It’s interesting because the very first one of these surveys we did in 2005, the number one and number two issues overall were fuel costs and driver shortage,” Brewster said. “Fast forward to 2022, that’s the same top two issues.” She noted that the inaugural survey came after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Fuel supplies were down and prices had increased. A majority of respondents, 54.7%, said their preferred strategy for addressing the problem is for the trucking industry to “Advocate for federal actions that help stabilize the supply of fuel and minimize price volatility.” Second at 23.2% was “Research potential factors that may be affecting fuel availability and pricing volatility.” The least preferred strategy at 6.8% was “Promote financial incentives for alternative and renewable fuels to support growth and reduce costs during development and market expansion.” ATRI’s 2022 Operational Costs of Trucking report found only 7% of respondents used some form of alternative fuel. While the driver shortage was no longer the top-ranking critical issue, it remained number two and received a higher percentage of first-place votes at 12.2% than fuel prices. It was number one among motor carriers but was not in the top 10 among drivers. The American Trucking Associations says the industry currently is short 78,000 drivers, an amount that could reach 160,000 by 2031. The most preferred strategy at 39.1% was “Support outreach initiatives targeting high school students and young adults.” The report notes that a third of truck drivers are over age 55. The second most preferred strategy at 24.6% was related to the first: “Work with industry insurers to identify ways to expand coverage for younger drivers as part of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program.” That program allows up to 3,000 18-20-year-olds to engage in interstate freight commerce, but ATRI has found that 50% of small fleets and 30% of large ones said insurance costs are a significant barrier. The third-ranking preferred strategy was, “Advocate for regulatory changes to allow a state to administer a driving skills test to any out-of-state commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicant, regardless of where the applicant received driver training.” That strategy was selected by 23.3%. Truck parking, which has been a top five issue since 2015 and was fifth in 2021, was the third ranking issue. It was the top concern among truck drivers. Both company drivers and owner-operators/independent contractors ranked it second, with company drivers ranking driver compensation first while owneroperators/ independent contractors chose fuel prices. Motor carrier personnel ranked it 10th. The most preferred strategy, selected by 38.1%, was “Encourage local and regional governments to reduce the regulatory burdens limiting the construction and expansion of truck parking facilities. Second, selected by more than 35%, was “Create a new dedicated federal funding program designed to increase truck parking capacity at freight-critical locations.” The thirdranking strategy was “Research the relationship between truck parking availability and highway safety.” It was selected by 10.8%. Brewster noted that truck parking reached number 10 among motor carrier personnel after long being ranked high by drivers. “That, I think, is a reflection of the fact that they realize this is a big issue that’s impacting their ability to find and keep drivers,” she said. “We talk about wanting more women in the industry, but if we can’t provide safe parking, it’s not going to attract a lot of women into the industry.” Driver compensation was the fourth-ranking critical issue. The issue entered the top five in 2019 and hasn’t left. It was ranked third by commercial drivers but was not in the top 10 among motor carriers. Company drivers ranked it first while owner-operators/independent contractors ranked it third. Ranking fifth was the economy, which made its first appearance in the top 10 since 2020. Brewster said the economy’s high ranking was the result of a number of factors: inflation, fuel prices, and, as demonstrated by many of the writein comments, difficulties in obtaining
Issue Q1 2023 • MILEPOST | 29 equipment and parts because of supply chain issues. The sixthranking issue was detention/delay at customer facilities, which entered the top 10 in 2019 and has remained there since. Number seven, driver retention, fell five places from its number two ranking in 2021. However, motor carriers ranked it second behind driver shortage, as they did last year. Number eight was the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability measurement system. CSA first appeared in 2010 as the number two issue, was number four in 2011, and was number one in 2012. It has never left the top 10 since. At number nine was speed limiters, which entered the top 10 for the first time after being ranked there by drivers for several years. Drivers this year ranked it fifth, and more than one out of five ranked it as their top concern. The ranking comes after the FMCSA earlier this year issued a notice of intent to move forward on a speed limiter rulemaking in 2023. Number 10 lawsuit abuse reform was in the top 10 for the third year in a row, dropping from fourth in 2021. Motor carrier respondents ranked it sixth after ranking it third in 2021. They ranked seventh a closely related issue, insurance cost/availability. That issue fell just outside of the overall top 10 at number 11 after ranking ninth last year. Also falling out of the top 10 were the diesel technician shortage, which last year was 10th, and transportation infrastructure/congestion/funding, which ranked eighth last year. It was number 10 on the driver list but didn’t make the motor carrier list. “Maybe that is a reflection of the fact on the carrier side, they feel like, well, we now finally have a signed infrastructure law in place, and so now we’re going to finally start to address the issues,” Brewster said. “And maybe on the driver side, it’s well, we’re still sitting stuck in traffic congestion.” MP
30 | MILEPOST • Issue Q1 2023 ADVERTISING RESOURCE INDEX Access Compliance 14 American Transportation Research Institute Inside back cover Berretta & Costigliola 21 BestPass Inside Front cover CDL Associates Insurance Agency 24 DPF Regeneration 25 EnVue Telematics 3 EPIC Insurance 15 Haylor Freyer & Coon 18 HazMat Environmental Group 27 Hub Truck & Lease 23 Milepost 8, 19 Modern Disposal Services 4 New Jersey Truck & Trailer Solutions 12 Regional International Truck & Trailer Back cover TANY Safety Symposium 11 TANY Call on Albany 24 TANY Truck Safety & Education Symposium 11 Truckers Against Trafficking 29 This edition of TANY’s Milepost was made possible by the support of these corporate advertisers. These generous companies support the trucking industry by enabling TANY to provide this publication to its members, prospective members, elected officials and the business community at large. They deserve your consideration and patronage when making your corporate purchasing decisions. Please visit nytrucks.org to see the digital version of Milepost with live links to advertisers’ websites. MILEPOST Calendar For more information and to register, please visit https://members.nytrucks.org/events New Members Allegiance Trucks Allison Transmission, Inc. BYD Motors Capital Solutions, Inc. DMC Insurance, Inc. Ellido Logistics, LLC High Point Logistics LLC LEC Lifeway Express Trucking LLC Logistics One Transport, Inc. Motive RNG Transportation LLC March 2023 13-14 Call on Albany Albany, NY April 2023 3-5 Saratoga, NY June 2023 8-10 Syracuse, NY 21 Darien Center, NY Upstate Golf Outing Safety Symposium TDC/SuperTech July 2023 19 Central Region Clambake Syracuse, NY 24 Clean Trucks NY Pearl River, NY August 2023 3 Lake George Dinner & Fireworks Cruise Lake George, NY September 2023 25-27 Annual Management Conference Clayton, NY
IMPROVING SAFETY AND LOWERING RISK On topics as wide-ranging as predicting future crash involvement to safety technology cost-benefit analyses to obstructive sleep apnea, ATRI’s research provides a blueprint for managing risk and improving roadway safety. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ATRI This year ATRI celebrates 20 years of leadership in critical data and analysis to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. From the truck stop to the executive suite, to the state house and Capitol Hill, ATRI’s reputation for providing objective industry analyses means data-driven decision making on the industry’s biggest issues. We rely on YOU to make our research successful. Help secure ATRI’s future for the next 20 years with a charitable contribution from you or your organization! Visit us today online at TruckingResearch.org to learn more about our research and commit to supporting ATRI through a charitable contribution. LEADING WITH DATA, NOT EMOTION ATRI’s research uses data and analyses to dissect the true impacts of policies and regulations across a range of critical topics including Hours-of-Service, autonomous vehicles, CSA, tolling, and nuclear verdicts. WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD ATRI has a long history of research focused on the issues and concerns of professional truck drivers. From involvement in over 40 national, state, and regional truck parking studies to quantifying the impacts of detention, ATRI’s analyses provide a key input to advancing the safety and productivity of the industry’s workforce. OPERATIONAL DATA YOU CAN COUNT ON Whether you’re looking to route your drivers around congestion or benchmark your costs against your peers in the industry, ATRI’s analyses combine real-world data with a deep understanding of industry operations. THE NATION’S TOP TRUCK BOTTLENECKS 2021 Since 2002, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has collected and processed truck GPS data in support of numerous U.S. DOT freight mobility initiatives. Using truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks, ATRI develops and monitors a series of key performance measures on the nation’s freight transportation system. Among many GPS analyses, ATRI converts its truck GPS dataset into an ongoing truck bottleneck analysis that is used to quantify the impact of traffic congestion on truck-borne freight at over 300 specific locations. While other datasets may identify congested corridors, no dataset available today specifically identifies granular chokepoints in the nation’s truck freight transportation system. ATRI’s annual Top Truck Bottleneck Analysis uses a full year of truck GPS data to calculate the top chokepoints. However, 2020 was by all definitions a different year with pandemic-related impacts intersecting with traffic patterns. In a March 2020 analysis using its truck GPS dataset, ATRI found average truck speeds at some of the worst truck bottlenecks improve by 100% or more as car drivers sheltered in place and trucks kept moving to deliver essential goods. In a separate analysis in April 2020, ATRI found state-level truck activity increased in early February as panic-buying drove consumer demand, followed by a decrease in truck activity as more businesses were closed. However, by April and into May, ATRI’s Truck Activity Index began to improve across the states analyzed, signaling a return to pre-pandemic freight demand. An additional impact on traffic congestion in 2020 was the number of roadway construction projects that were able to commence and/ or advance at a faster pace due to fewer vehicles on the road during the pandemic. Once traffic levels increased in the second half of 2020, those construction projects became even more congested. As such, this year’s Top Truck Bottleneck list reflects a rise in ranking in a number of locations impacted by roadway construction. CA WA TX GA TN PA NY CT 2021 TOP TRUCK BOTTLENECKS • BY THE NUMBERS 33.9% year-over-year Texas.................. 12 California............. 8 Washington......... 8 Connecticut......... 7 Georgia................ 7 Pennsylvania....... 7 New York.............. 6 Tennessee ........... 6 STATES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS: For more information on ATRI’s Top Truck Bottleneck analysis, including a detailed description of the methodology, visit www.TruckingResearch.org. TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS WITH AVERAGE TRUCK SPEEDS <45 MPH: NUMBER OF STATES WITH AT LEAST ONE 25% TOP 100 BOTTLENECK: 29 AVERAGE PEAK HOUR TRUCK SPEED: 43.0 mph San Bernardino, CA I-10 at I-15 #10 Houston, TX I-45 at I-69/US 59 #5 Chicago, IL I-290 at I-90/I-94 #6 St. Louis, MO I-64/I-55 at I-44 #8 Fort Lee, NJ 1-95 at SR 4 #1 Rye, NY 1-95 at I-287 #9 Cincinnati, OH I-71 at I-75 #2 Chattanooga, TN I-75 at I-24 #7 Atlanta, GA I-285 at I-85 (North) #3 Atlanta, GA I-20 at I-285 (West) #4 up ANALYSIS
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