Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024:
FMCSA grants fleet’s pulsating brake light waiver request
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration approved a request from Encore Building Products, which operates a fleet of 24 trucks out of Springdale, Arkansas, to allow the fleet to operate trucks with the Intellistop brake light module installed.
The module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity four times in two seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady-burning state while the brakes remain engaged.
The Intellistop module requires an exemption for use because current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations require that installed brake lamps, whether original or replacement equipment, be steady burning.
FMCSA previously denied an industry-wide exemption request from Intellistop and instead asked individual carriers looking to use the module to apply.
In its request, Encore stated that previous research demonstrated that the use of pulsating brake-activated lamps increases the visibility of vehicles and should lead to a significant decrease in rear-end crashes. In support of its application, Encore submitted several reports of research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the issues of rear-end crashes, distracted driving, and braking signals. This same research was also referenced in Intellistop’s industry-wide exemption application.
Relying on these studies, Encore said the addition of brake-activated pulsating lamps would not have an adverse impact on safety and would likely maintain a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption.
FMCSA granted the waiver and said it will monitor the performance of Encore’s trucks with the modules installed to determine whether they were involved in a crash and whether they appear to be overrepresented in crashes compared to a control group. The waiver is effective through Sept. 24, 2029.
[Related: Four fleets get waiver for Intellistop brake light module]
Progressive awards truck to USMC veteran
Retired USMC Gunnery Sgt. Ondrae Meyers, shown here with family, was awarded the keys to a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia as part of Progressive's Keys to Progress program.Progressive Insurance
Progressive Insurance this week awarded a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with the keys to a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia, along with $50,000, as part of the company’s 12th annual Keys to Progress program.
The program is part of Progressive's ongoing commitment to driving progress on the road by providing reliable transportation to military veterans and their families.
Progressive said the vehicles awarded in the program empower veterans to make the transition from being a driver to an owner by assisting with the largest capital expense of starting a business.
"We are celebrating the 12th year of our Keys to Progress program in November and our third semi-truck giveaway -- and our impact only continues to grow," said Karen Bailo, Progressive Commercial Lines President. "We are committed to giving back to our veterans who have given so much to our country. This program not only helps to shape the lives of veterans but also gives them the tools and ability to grow their small businesses. We are proud to be a part of an initiative that is critical to accelerating their journey."
The recipient of this year's truck is 22-year veteran U.S. Marine Corps Retired Gunnery Sergeant Ondrae Meyers, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. His specialty was USMC Motor Transport, where he specialized in heavy and medium motor transport, which sparked his passion for truck driving. Following his time with the military, Meyers obtained his CDL through "Troops in Transportation," a military program where he planned his future endeavors after his service.
"What started as a passion of seeing countries around the world and in the United States from behind the wheel can be turned into providing for my family," Meyers said. "I am so grateful to this program for allowing me to get my fleet and career started."
TMC announces 17 scholarship program winners
The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council recently awarded scholarships to 17 students from across the country to pursue careers as commercial vehicle technicians or engineers.
“Finding innovative solutions to our industry’s ongoing technician shortage is a priority for TMC, and the Council is pleased to be able to partner with WyoTech, Western Technical College, Lincoln Tech, University of Northwest Ohio, Universal Technical Institute and SAE to bring these scholarship opportunities to fruition,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “These initiatives provide greater choice for deserving scholarship-seeking students looking to prepare for a career as a commercial vehicle technician.”
Scholarship recipients for this year are as follows:
Aaron Lanter of Richmond, Kentucky; Thomas McNamara of West Springfield, Massachusetts; Asher Dunn of Lancaster, Kentucky; and Tucker Brown of Barbourville, Kentucky, all received the TMC/Lincoln Tech/NADC Diesel Truck Technician Scholarship, which covers half the tuition for a 1,200- to 1,560-hour training program at one of six Lincoln Technical Institute/Lincoln College of Technology schools across the country.
Shaliah Mae Kohlenberg of DuBois, Pennsylvania, was named the 2024 TMC/University of Northwest Ohio Scholar, which consists of an award for tuition in the amount of up to $20,000.
The TMC/WyoTech Diesel Truck Technician Scholarship, which consists of a partial scholarship of up to $5,000 each, was awarded to Wesley Bihn of Portland, Indiana; Eric Culley of John Day, Oregon; William Gallacher of Carrizozo, New Mexico; and Jayden Walker of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.
Maggie Bockenstedt of Farley, Iowa; Cooper Hambright of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Juan Carlos Palacios of The Bronx, New York; and Bryan Perpuli-Ochoa of Las Cruces, New Mexico, all received a half-scholarship for UTI’s diesel technology program or the combined automotive/diesel technology program.
Raul Vega Jr. of Tornillo, Texas, was awarded the 2024 TEC/Western Tech Scholarship, covering 50% of the tuition to pursue a degree in diesel mechanics and diesel technology at Western Tech.
Finally, TMC announced that Zachary Been of Bakersfield, California; Bryan Edgar of Huntsville, Alabama; and Josh Cassell of Worcester, Massachusetts, all had been awarded the TMC/SAE Donald D. Dawson Technical Scholarship, consisting of three $1,500 scholarships, which can be renewed for three years and used for tuition or any other incidental school expenses while pursuing an undergraduate degree in automotive engineering.
A complete list of scholarship rules is featured on the application and can be found on TMC’s website. Completed scholarship application packages for 2025 must be received by the TMC office by April 15, 2025, and winners will be notified by May 15, 2025.
