What’s Happening in the Truck Transport Industry?

Truck transport professionals are getting a reprieve in certain areas of the U.S. that have been hard-hit with blizzards, while other areas of the U.S. have lawmakers considering increasing speed limits to allow for faster truck transport.

First, a winter storm in the Northeastern U.S. brought traffic to a standstill. On Monday, due to three feet of snow, New Jersey suspended rules regarding hour-of-service (HOS) for truckers, making it the sixth state to declare such a suspension. This allows truckers hauling heating oil, diesel, propone and gasoline to carry their loads to areas of the Northeast in dire need. The suspension is good through to 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13. Due to the millions affected in New York, the heating fuel haulers are observing an HOS suspension through Feb. 20.  Rhode Island issued a similar suspension through Feb. 13. Finally, HOS rules for heating oil, gasoline and propane haulers in Massachusetts are suspended through Feb. 16 as its residents dig out.

Emergency supplies transporters were also working around the international registration plan to get their vital cargo to areas in need in Connecticut. Main lifted its HOS rules through Feb. 12 for power repair trucks in an effort to get the many thousands without power back online.

As the northeastern states continue to dig out of the crushing white powder, the less heavily congested areas of the U.S. consider raising speed limits to allow truck transport to get to their destinations faster. But two eastern states are also considering legislation that would raise the speed limits there.

Utah’s Transportation Committee looked kindly to a House bill that will allow speeds of 80 mph on major highways, including Interstate 84, Interstate 80 and parts of Interstate 15. The legislature had already allowed the higher speeds on portions of I-15, but this latest bill would open up the entire stretch of road through the state.

Mississippi’s House of Representatives is also debating a bill that will up its current maximums from 70 mph to 75 mph.  The bill affects four-lane highways and interstates. One lawmaker said with the current speed limit at 70 mph, many travelers are already hitting speeds of 80 on average without any penalties, so he’s against the measure. However, a law enforcement official said troopers would likely take away that cushion from drivers should the law be enacted.

Proponents of faster speed limits say that time is money, and getting truck transport to their destinations faster increases the profit margin.