U.S. Customs and Border Protection- As of April 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will indefinitely extend COVID-19-related land border entry requirements. Non-U.S. travelers seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.
These restrictions apply to non-U.S. travelers who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. In the latest Federal Register notices (forCanadaand Mexico), no industry-specific exemptions were granted, including trucking.
Talking Michigan Transportation- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been conducting a tolling study as requested in 2020 legislation.
This is not new and has a long way to go — MDOT continues to investigate the feasibility of relying less on fuel taxes in light of more fuel efficient vehicles and electric cars, which use no gasoline.
Transport Topics- Indiana motorists will be paying a total of 74.5 cents in taxes for each gallon of gasoline they purchase in May — the highest amount in Indiana history.
The Indiana Department of Revenue announced April 20 the state’s gasoline sales tax rate next month will be 24.1 cents per gallon.
Transport Topics- The trucking industry urged federal regulators to consider how a proposal to tighten emissions limits on engines will affect motor carriers, as they’re the ones who will ultimately deploy the equipment subject to the new rules.
MDOT- Effective Monday, April 25, 2022, 6 a.m., weight restrictions will be lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including the Mackinac Bridge.
Transport Topics- From coast to coast, trucking companies are becoming more prepared than ever to overcome the devastation of natural disasters. Fleets have worked through hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, tornadoes and many other extreme weather instances. The common thread found through their preparedness — excellent communication.
The Trucker- The latest poll taken by the Professional Driver Agency (PDA) shows that the top two most mentioned concerns among truck drivers are equipment and pay.
PDA compiled the data from thousands of phone calls with professional truck drivers during the first quarter of 2022.
FleetOwner-Saturday Night Live recently parodied truck drivers likely had the same reaction as our editorial team: “Wow. That was dumb.”
The problem with skits like this is truck drivers are up against these stereotypes all the time. Rather than being considered the professional and essential workforce they are, pop culture tells society it’s OK to undermine them and the work they do. But it’s wrong on so many levels.
