Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, June 4, 2024:
FMCSA awards $480M in grants to states for safety initiatives
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Monday announced approximately $480 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant awards from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund initiatives aimed at preventing crashes, fatalities and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles.
As FMCSA’s largest grant program, the MCSAP awards funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Across the entire country, we are making our roadways safer and strengthening our national supply chains with resources made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The funding we’re announcing today will help our local safety partners invest in initiatives that will continue this important work and make our roadways safer.”
Funding through the MCSAP supports safety inspections of large trucks and buses, investigations of motor carriers in response to safety concerns, and audits of new motor carriers and bus companies to reinforce responsible operation and ensure the safe movement of goods and passengers. The funding also promotes outreach and education efforts that help combat human trafficking, distracted driving, and other roadway safety concerns.
The program’s funding amounts are determined by a formula and awarded annually to the lead agency of each state or territory upon completion of an FMCSA-approved Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan.
“Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant funding is an important tool for reducing crashes and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles,” said FMCSA Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless. “The number of fatalities on our nation’s roadways involving commercial motor vehicles decreased by an estimated eight percent from 2022 to 2023. We know the needle is moving in the right direction, but until we reach zero roadway deaths, there will always be more work to do. These grants help fund that work.”
Hendrickson acquires Reyco Granning’s suspension business
Suspension manufacturer Hendrickson on Monday announced the acquisition of the Reyco Granning suspension business, based in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, from Reyco Granning LLC and its parent MAT Capital, LLC.
Reyco Granning specializes in manufacturing and marketing suspension solutions for heavy- and medium-duty vehicles.
Reyco Granning's primary product lines include suspension solutions for motorhomes, commercial trucks, emergency response vehicles, specialty trailers, buses, and the aftermarket sector.
The Reyco Granning brand will continue to operate independently under its existing name for the foreseeable future, maintaining its market identity and ensuring continuity in operations and customer service.
“We are excited about this acquisition, as it provides a platform for Hendrickson to expand our reach and manufacturing footprint,” said Matt Joy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hendrickson. “Reyco Granning will enhance our overall product portfolio and ultimately better serve our customers in the commercial vehicle industry; we look forward to promoting the Reyco Granning brand as part of our ride solutions portfolio.”
Southeastern Freight Lines terminal celebrates milestone
Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 32) is celebrating 65 years of service at its Greenville service center located in Piedmont, South Carolina.
The original service center opened for business in 1959 with 10 dock doors and 16 associates. By 2007, it had expanded to include 112 dock doors. To continue the facility’s rapid growth trajectory, Southeastern relocated the service center to 516 Sagitairus Way in 2020, which now boasts 202 dock doors and 230 associates.
To commemorate the milestone, the Greenville service center is honoring five of its associates whose long-standing commitment to providing quality service has played a pivotal role in establishing Southeastern as a cornerstone of the Greenville area and its surrounding communities:
- 47 years of service: Pickup and delivery driver Jerry Pennington
- 40 years of service: Clerical associate Gigi Oliver
- 37 years of service: Driver mentor Marshall Cook, fleet services associate Robert Pickle and office manager Rosa Little
“The Greenville facility has forged a legacy of operational excellence over the years, largely in part due to the dedication our associates have shown to its steady growth since its humble beginnings,” said Kyle Hulsey, service center manager. “As we look to the future, we embrace the task to unlock new avenues of opportunity and continue providing world-class, timely service to our great customers, partners and the community."
Since its establishment, the service center has given back to the Greenville community through its Southeastern Serves initiative – a program dedicated to giving back to communities across Southeastern’s footprint by having associates of all levels get involved with providing for the less fortunate.
The Greenville service center was the sixth service center opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico and has undergone numerous upgrades in trucks and trucking technologies.
New York seeks I-84 truck parking feedback
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is asking for feedback from the trucking industry on locations to add freight parking facilities along Interstate 84 (I-84) in the vicinities of Route 9, in the towns of Fishkill and East Fishkill, and Route 747 interchange in Newburgh.
NYSDOT has set up two ways for fleets and drivers to provide feedback: an I-84 truck parking survey, and a mapping tool – both of which are available here.
The survey asks questions about truck parking preferences and challenges along certain routes. The mapping tool lets users add a marker on a map to share where they have issues with parking in the study area. The map tool also allows users to identify locations that lack parking, where there are safety issues, locations that lack amenities, places where unauthorized parking occurs, and places where there are parking restrictions.
