11-15-2022 | Issue 22

November 17, 2022 - Mongoose Method Training Course

November 24-25, 2022 - Thanksgiving, TTA Office Closed

November 29-30, 2022 - NATMI Hazardous Materials Training

More Events

John Toups, Safety Manager

Agmark Transportation, LLC

222 2nd Ave. North, Suite 311

Nashville, TN 37201

Phone: (615) 400-2567

Email: ATOps@agmark.com

https://www.agmarktransportation.com/

Chris Wells, Manager of Transportation

Lebanon Valley Logistics

10673 South Lee Highway.

McDonald, TN 37353

Phone: (423) 402-8731

Email: cwells@golvl.com

www.golvl.com

Cumberland International Nashville Branch Celebrated their Open House on November 15th. Formerly located at 1901 Lebanon Pike you can now find their new location at 640 Massman Drive, Nashville TN 37210. Cumberland is opening more opportunities for growth with their new 170,000+

sqft, climate-controlled, indoor facility.

Their dedication to world class customer service and growth can be seen with over 50 service bays, along with their new check in center, and dedicated EV (Electric Vehicle) segment. The facility will have an all-inclusive fully updated drivers lounge. Cumberland continues to show its commitment to keep the customer in mind in every part of their new location.  Congratulations again Cumberland and wishing you much success in your new facility.

Tennessee Midterm Election Report: Lee Cruises to Second Term; Tennessee Reaffirms Status as GOP Stronghold 

The national dynamic of election day drama and razor-thin margins was noticeably absent in Tennessee last night, as the GOP once again dominated elections at all levels and reaffirmed Tennessee’s reputation as one of the most reliably-red states in the country. The night was punctuated by Governor Bill Lee’s resounding 65-33 victory over Democrat Jason Martin, guaranteeing Lee a second term and improving significantly upon his 21-point landslide win in 2018. Lee’s victory means that it has now been eleven years since a Democrat occupied Tennessee’s Governor’s office, when Phil Bredesen served from 2003 until 2011. Indeed, Bredesen’s 2006 victory marks the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in the Volunteer State.

Pre-employment Investigations for Drug and Alcohol Program Violations 

Beginning January 6, 2023, a pre-employment Clearinghouse query will satisfy the requirement to investigate a prospective driver's previous drug and alcohol program violations, as established by 49 CFR 391.23(e). 

Employers of CDL drivers are required to conduct background investigations before hiring a driver. This process includes determining if the driver has violated the drug and alcohol regulations of any Department of Transportation (DOT) mode within the past three years (see 49 CFR 391.23(e)). Currently, this requires employers or their designated consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs) to conduct both electronic queries in the Clearinghouse and manual inquiries with previous employers to meet the three-year time frame.

Beginning January 6, 2023, when three years of violation data is stored in the Clearinghouse, prospective employers must not conduct manual inquiries. In accordance with §§ 382.413(b) and 391.23(e)(4), beginning January 6, 2023, prospective employers must conduct a pre-employment query of the Clearinghouse, as set forth in § 382.701(a), to comply with the inquiry requirement in § 391.23(e) as it pertains to FMCSA-regulated employers.

NOTE: The Clearinghouse contains only information about drivers employed by FMCSA-regulated employers. If a prospective employee was employed by an employer regulated by a DOT agency other than FMCSA (such as the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, etc.) during the three-year time frame, prospective employers will still be required to directly request drug and alcohol violation information from those DOT-regulated employers in accordance with 391.23(e)(4)(ii), since this information is not reported to the Clearinghouse.

Annual query requirements have not changed.

Employers of CDL drivers must conduct a query in the Clearinghouse at least once a year for each CDL driver they employ (see § 382.701(b)). This annual query requirement applies on a rolling 12-month basis, which means that if you conducted your last annual queries in December 2021, it is time to conduct the next round of annual queries.



Employers must obtain general consent from CDL drivers they employ before conducting limited queries in the Clearinghouse to view these drivers’ information (you can download a sample limited query consent form).

Are you up-to-date on your annual queries?

Log in to the Clearinghouse and visit your Query History page to see if your annual queries are due. For instructions on conducting annual queries, download the How to Conduct a Limited Query job aid.

Managing Your Business by the Numbers –

A TCA Profitability Program Seminar

December 8^th, 2022  Nashville, TN

Is Your Operating Ratio Performance Below 90?

As the trucking industry navigates rates, inflation, and an impending recession, running your business by the numbers has never been more important. TCA is hosting a series of one-day seminars to better prepare our members for the fluctuating cycle of the market and the consistent challenges to the carrier business world.

Register Now and join us at the Hilton Nashville Airport Hotel for this one-day event and learn the strategies to achieve a sub-90 Operating Ratio

• The critical metrics C-level executives observe and monitor to successfully navigate a turbulent market.
• Measuring your Operating Ratio and understand what it means for sustaining business during a down market
• Maximizing revenue per truck and revenue per driver
• Increasing driver utilization in a flat market
• Tracking the Gross Margin trends and identifying growth opportunities
• Monitoring the Maintenance Cost Per Mile and opportunities for reduction
• The top ten trends across the industry for sustaining profitability in today’s market

Speakers will include:

David Shelton

President and CEO Western Dairy Transport

Amanda Pearson

Profitability Program Consultant, TCA Profitability Program

Shepard Dunn

Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program

Who should attend?

This seminar is designed specifically for C-level Carrier Executives

Fees: $249 for TCA Members and $499 for non TCA Members

TN

Trucking Association Members reduced registration rate of $449

 December 8, 2022: Nashville, TN

Learn more about TCA's Profitability Program.

Flu Season? Yeah, it’s that time of year

As if being sick isn’t bad enough, being sick on the road is even worse. It’s no fun being sick in a moving truck with several miles remaining to get to your delivery. Obviously, you shouldn’t drive when you’re feeling sick. Know your limits, don’t ignore your body’s own alarm system, and don’t put yourself or others in danger if you’re too sick to react to certain situations. If you feel bad and are sick, it's best to park it. Find a safe place to stop, preferably a good truck stop, and notify your family and your dispatch immediately. Remember, DOT can and will shut you down and place you out of service if you are too sick to be driving.

Ways to avoid getting sick on the road

Get proper sleep. Your body needs quality sleep to keep its immune system strong. The exact amount varies by individual, but following your body’s ‘internal clock’ is a great place to start.

Choose healthy meals, snacks, and drinks when you’re on the road so you reduce the likelihood of getting sick. Selecting healthy trucker-friendly snacks will reduce the amount of unhealthy fast food you eat, which will help fuel your body with energy to fight off illness.

Take Supplements. Being on the road all the time can make it a little harder to get all your necessary vitamins and nutrients. Try a multi-vitamin every day to boost your immune system and help keep you healthy. Or, you can choose supplements based on what is lacking in your diet.

Stay well hydrated. Many illnesses are the result of dehydration, and thirst is a big sign. Keep a water bottle by your side and fill it up throughout the day so that it is readily available.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 30 seconds, and when you’re on the road away from soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60-90 percent alcohol. 

Be alert at truck stops. With drivers congregating around the country, even the cleanest stops can become places where germs spread easily. Wear flip-flops if you shower, sanitize your hands immediately after fueling and be smart about your interactions at truck stops and rest stops.

Get recommended vaccinations. According to the CDC, annual flu shots are your best protection against the latest seasonal strains of the flu virus. Consult your doctor about any concerns you have. Most companies have a medical professional you can speak to free any time or schedule a virtual visit from anywhere. It’s also a good idea to have a kit of common remedies, just stay away from those that cause drowsiness or impair judgment.



Stay in control as the ‘Captain of Your Ship”. If you’re feeling sick, know that you can make the call to shut down. Safety First !!

2022 ROAD TEAM UPCOMING EVENTS

We have one last event scheduled for 2022. Road Team Captains will be at Vanburen High School in Spencer, TN on Tuesday, November 22. They will be presenting to Freshmen through Senior students using a station to station set up for interactive teaching of about 250 students throughout the day.

A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THIS VERY BUSY YEAR FOR THE TN ROAD TEAM!

If you would like to get an event on the 2023 schedule, please contact

the TTA Office at (615) 777-2882.

Count them - 1, 2, 3 Chances to Win!

1st Prize Sponsored by Titan Transfer, Inc.

2nd Prize Sponsored by Goggin Warehousing, LLC

3rd Prize Sponsored by TCW, Inc.

Tickets continue to sell, but at the usual Holiday slow down. We are starting to reach out to those of you who have always come through for us as we approach the drawing deadline. If you have been waiting to save the day, please go online and purchase at whatever level of commitment you can. Over 400 tickets are left to sell. A couple of big hits would ease some of the stress as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.



Lives are saved through the support of our members. Please dig deep into your pockets and help support our safety programs. Tickets can be purchased right up to the day of the drawing, but please don't put off your support. Purchase today and help us reach our goal. This is the 11th year for this annual fundraiser. We have reached the goal every year. Help make this year another successful fundraiser!

If you need to get an invoice and pay by check, you can call the TTA office this week at (615) 777-2882 and Carol will generate an invoice you can pay from and save the 3.5% processing fee. You can also go to this LINK and purchase tickets. At the bottom of the payment page, there is a place for notes where you can enter the name of your favorite Captain if you choose to help with the contest. You may also DOWNLOAD a form and email it to cfoster@tntrucking.org. Tickets purchased will be mailed out weekly. 

(To help cover the cost of processing payments, we add a fee of 3.5% for credit cards. This fee is not more than the cost of accepting these cards.  There is no fee for debit cards.)

 Raffle proceeds benefit the Tennessee Trucking Foundation's Highway Safety Education Programs: Tennessee's Road Team and Teens & Trucks Share the Road Training Program!