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News
Friday Focus: Driver Wages
and The Driver Shortage
Results from TCP’s fourth quarter Business Expectations
Survey explore the inevitable issues of rising driver wages and driver shortage.
They have found that the key is
balance; balancing available trucks with rising freight volumes and balancing
driver wages with existing rates through strategy and incorporating additional
programs.
APL to Stop Providing Chassis at Ports
The Singapore-based carrier, APL, is following
suit of many other carriers and will begin phasing out its U.S. fleet of
container chassis in the first half of 2012 in efforts to reduce costs. Pilot
programs will soon be introduced in Denver and Salt Lake City and the
divestiture will continue nationwide until the expected completion as early as
2014.
New Jersey bill would
reclassify port, parcel truckers
The New Jersey State Assembly has introduced
legislation to reclassify drayage truck operators and parcel drivers as
employees, following the successful lawsuit in the U.S court of Appeals for the
9th Circuit brought by the American Trucking Association over similar
issues in the Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program.
Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar
Yacht
A city owned Yacht used for Public Relations
purposes is a topic of controversy with many LA residents arguing its costs of
maintenance could be going to more dire city costs like job creation.
Representatives from the city respond stating the Public Relations in result of
the yacht’s contribution benefit the city.
Teamsters Ramp Up Organizing Efforts at
Seattle Rally
The Teamsters have continued to Rally outside Port Operators in Seattle but business seems to be
functioning as normal as it can. While there are some spot shortages in drivers,
the biggest concern for Seattle port officials are “that continued
demonstrations and driver shortages could lead to cargo diversion.”
Ports Face Drive For More Drivers
The LA Clean
Trucks program has been successful in its mission to make the industry for
green, however
“as trade
is picking up, trucking companies fear there won’t be enough drivers for the
peak summer shipping season.” There are a number of factors that contribute to
the shortage, cost of new equipment, change in owner operator classification,
and new standards for drivers.
Machining Company Makes Tracks Beyond Defense
TRADE & TRANSPORT: Clean Cut looks to carve off piece of
high-speed rail business
By
JAMES RUFUS KOREN
Still in Court
The
Long Beach port recently submitted an environmental report to a federal judge
who in July ordered the port to see if changes made to its landmark Clean Truck
Program would lead to more pollution.
The
port in 2009 rolled back truck program rules that called for port officials to
monitor maintenance logs of trucks serving the harbor. That was part of a
settlement the port reached with the trucking industry, which had sued over the
program.
But
the Natural Resources Defense Council has argued that the new clean trucks now
at the ports will become gross polluters if not maintained properly.
The
report submitted to the judge, prepared by a paid outside consultant, concluded
that the change wouldn’t hurt air quality because the new trucks will shut down
if not maintained properly – supporting the port’s previously stated position.
The judge is expected to review
the report and decide whether any further action, including a full environmental
impact report, is required. It’s unclear when a ruling will be issued.
As the obstacles continue to strain progress for
the Panama Canal project, southern California
Maritimers are growing wary of the possible repercussions of how the Project
will evolve depending on the influence from different interests
What Happens
When Dock Workers Don't RSVP?
Protesters of the Occupy Movement fall short of influence
as their protesting failed to recognize the real issues that ports are facing.
The protesters were hoping to close down any of the port operators but many did
not identify with the protest’s mission.
Occupy Protests Calls for West Coast Ports
Shutdown
The Occupy Movement is calling for a shutdown of all West
Coast ports on Dec. 12, but they will have to pursue their goal
without the cooperation of the powerful International Longshore
and Warehouse Union. The movement's declaration comes about
three weeks after thousands of Occupy Oakland protestors halted
nighttime operations at the Port of Oakland on Nov. 2. The ILWU
voiced support for the Oakland protest, but a letter from the
ILWU Coast Committee in San Francisco to all longshore locals on
the West Coast shows a position shift.
Click here to
read the story.
The DOL Has a New Wage Enforcement Auditor
. . . Right in your Employee’s Back Pocket!
The phrase “I’ve got an app for that” has taken on a whole new
meaning as the U.S. Department of Labor has rolled out its new
mobile timesheet app. This new app allows employees to
independently track hours worked (separate from the records
maintained by their employer). Employees can also track their
breaks and overtime. The app provides employees with easy access
to DOL contact information and is available in both English and
Spanish version.
This new technology presents yet another minefield for employers
to maneuver as the DOL envisions using app data against
employers during wage and hour investigations.
Even an innocent payroll mistake can quickly escalate to an
expensive problem. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to ensure
that your workforce is paid correctly and that wages are
calculated accurately.
Currently the app is only available for iPhone and iPod Touch
users so breathe a sigh of relief if your workforce are heavy
android users.
Click here for more from the Department of Labor.
Dana Smith, Senior Account Executive
Exalt Resources LLC
Port of Long Beach Container Volume Drops
in October
Container trade volume at the Port of Long Beach dropped 20.5%
in October from a year ago due to a departure of a major
operator and due to retailers taking a cautious approach to the
holidays, according to a port report issued on Thursday. Imports
were down 20.8% and exports fell 21.4%, representing the largest
overall percentage drop so far this year comparing monthly
periods from a year ago.
Click here to
read the story.
Long Beach bridge Jobs Sought for Local
Workers
Construction workers, port authorities and city leaders are
working on a sweeping proposed labor agreement covering the $950
million Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project, with a vote
by harbor officials expected Dec. 12. Construction on the new
span, scheduled to begin in mid-2012, is forecast to employ more
than 4,000 engineers, builders, painters, electricians,
ironworkers and others annually through late 2016 or early 2017.
Click here to read the story.
Long Beach World Trade Center Sale Stalled
Plans by the Port of Long Beach to buy the Long Beach World
Trade Center office complex have stalled. The due diligence
period of the planned transaction expired last week without the
Board of Harbor Commissioners agreeing to complete the
$130-million deal, effectively killing it.
Click here to read the story.
California Tightens Class 7 Truck Emission
Rules
The California Air Resources Board’s order of all Class 7
drayage trucks to meet the same emission standards that have
been in effect for larger Class 8 trucks is intended to close
loopholes in the state’s clean-truck regulations.
Click here to read the story.
Trucking Companies Sue EPA Over Emissions
Regulations
Four small California trucking companies are suing the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency over new emissions regulations.
The suit comes despite approval of the regulations by the
trucking industry’s largest trade group, the American Trucking
Associations.
Click here to read the story.
A Hard Turn: Steering Away From Bad Diets
After driving hundreds of miles, the last
thing Roy Williams, a truck driver from Denton, Tex., wanted to
do was exercise. After a day trapped in the cab, stopping only
to gorge on greasy fare at truck stops, who could think of
working out?
Click here to read the story.
Newton: L.A. needs this job generator
Proposed Railroad Yard Near Elementary
School a Health Hazard
Cal
Cartage Operations May Be 'Casualty' of BNSF Rail Yard
Project
Federal District Court Finds FAAAA
Preempts California Meal and Rest Break Rules
Important Notice For Any Trailer Owner with Trailers
Operating in California
Cal Cartage Operations May Be
'Casualty' of BNSF Rail Yard Project
Pollution czars' plan to choke
California business
Leasing Could Be Roadblock for
Trucking Companies
Contracting May Squeeze Employers
NLRB delays poster
requirement until Jan. 31, 2012
Richard Steinke To Be Honored With Connie Award
August 15, 2011 President's Message |
