Mileage Matters | March 22, 2022

Modern Shipper- Defining whether a worker is an independent contractor (IC) or an employee got a little more confusing over the past week with a federal court reimplementing a Trump administration rule that the Biden administration thought it had killed.

In a decision handed down in the Eastern District of Texas, the U.S. District Judge said the Biden administration had not followed proper procedure in killing the Trump administration rule on IC status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As a result, the Trump rule, which was seen as being more favorable to allowing a company to classify a worker as an IC rather than an employee, will be implemented retroactively to March 8.

Government

Freight Waves- The Federal Highway Administration is leaving open the time frame for its next update evaluating the ability of states to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for truck drivers.

Known as Jason’s Law, it requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to “periodically” update the survey. However, FHWA has not yet confirmed when the next survey will be conducted.


Transport Topics- In an effort to open up the nation’s clogged supply chains, the Biden Administration on March 15 announced a pilot program under which trucking companies, ports, retailers and major ocean carriers would share data with one another to improve the overall flow of goods.

Operations
Recruitment & Retention

MDOT- Effective 6:00 a.m. Friday, March 18th, 2022 weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunk line highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including US-2/US-141 at the Menominee River bridge west of Iron Mountain, then east on US-2 to St. Ignace.

However, Effective 6:00 a.m. Monday, March 21, 2022 weight restrictions will be LIFTED on all state trunk lines from the southern Michigan border north to and including M-43 in the City of South Haven east to US-131 in Kalamazoo County then south to I-94 in Kalamazoo County then east to I-69 in Calhoun County, then north to Lansing then continuing east on I-69 to Port Huron in St. Clair County.


Transport Dive- Home time is drivers' top concern, according to trucking consultant WorkHound.

However, more home time isn't necessarily the solution, but more predictable home time is.

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