Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/873209
16 | Overdrive | September 2017 Logbook VIRGINIA-BASED TRUCKER Carlos Alber- to Garcia was shut down after being involved in a fatal accident on June 24 when he drifted into a caution-striped paved median on I-495 near Washington, D.C., and struck two individuals who were securing a boat on their trailer, killing one and seriously injuring the other. DRIVEWYZE ROLLED OUT its PreClear weigh station bypass service in North Dakota at 13 different approaches to seven fixed weigh stations, as well as eight mobile sites. The company also added PreClear service in Ohio at six new sites, bringing its total sites in the state to 16. Drivewyze also introduced PreClear in Arizona at seven locations. SEVENTEEN MI- GRANTS from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Romania survived after being found locked inside a hot tractor-trailer parked at a Flying J Travel Plaza in Edinburg, Texas. Police arrested two Cuban nationals who were re- sponsible for the truck. BENDIX ANNOUNCED that its EverSure Spring Brake with No Touch Power Spring and its Versajust LS Slack Adjuster with WearMax Clutch now can be spec'd as factory-in- stalled options through Peterbilt's Class 8 databook. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last month signaled it intends to re-evaluate truck and trailer emissions standards enacted by the Obama adminis- tration that are scheduled to take effect in the coming years. EPA said it will "revisit" the Phase 2 emissions standards related to trailers and glider kits, citing "significant issues raised" by stakeholders in the trailer and glider industry. The Phase 2 rule, finalized last year, requires truck, engine and trailer manufac- turers to make significant gains in boosting tractor-trailer fuel economy as a means to cut industry emissions of greenhouse gases. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are requiring model-year 2027 tractor-trailers to achieve up to roughly 25 percent lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption versus an equivalent model-year 2018 rig. EPA's intentions to alter the rule apply only to the portions related to glider vehi- cles and trailers. "In light of the significant issues raised, the agency has decided to revisit the Phase 2 trailer and glider provisions," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who did not provide a timeline for the review. The Phase 2 rule was the first time EPA called on trailer manufacturers to play a part in reducing trucking emissions. The Truck and Trailer Manufacturers Asso- ciation filed a lawsuit against the rule last year, arguing that efforts to boost trailer aerodynamics should be done on a volun- tary basis, not as a requirement. The rule's glider kit restrictions would have forced glider vehicle makers to alter their operations to meet the Phase 2 stan- dards. Glider manufacturers have tried to engage Congress on the issue, arguing they make up such a small percentage of truck sales that they should be exempt from the Phase 2 regulations. – James Jaillet EPA eyes change to emissions regs EPA has said it will "revisit" emissions regulations related to trailers and glider kits that the agency itself finalized last year. TRUCKING'S MASCOT NAMED "Safety Sammy" was introduced at last month's Great American Truck- ing Show in Dallas as the mascot of Trucking Moves America Forward, an industry-wide movement to improve trucking's image. American Trucking Associations Chairman Kevin Burch introduced the mascot. Safety Sammy's name was chosen out of five finalists through a voting process. The other finalist names were Axle, Bob Tail, Seymour S. Miles and Wheels.