Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024:
Smugglers in truck busted with $4 million in cocaine
Packages containing nearly 300 pounds of cocaine were seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations officers at the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Pharr, Texas, seized more than $4,000,000 in cocaine from a truck in a single enforcement action.
“This significant cocaine seizure underscores the reality of the drug threat our officers face every day,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo Port of Entry. “Our frontline officers maintain a forward leaning enforcement posture and this seizure reflects dedication to CBP’s border security mission.”
On Oct. 11, at the Pharr cargo lot, a CBP officer referred a tractor-trailer for secondary inspection. During a secondary examination, CBP Officers discovered 119 packages containing a total of nearly 300 pounds of alleged cocaine within the conveyance. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $4,003,296.
CBP seized the narcotics, tractor and trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
[Related: Meth bust in trailer floor frame at border]
Big meth shipment found in load of onions
West at the Calexico Commercial Facility in California, CBP officers seized more than 646 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of green onions earlier this month.
CBP Officers from the Calexico Port of Entry uncovered meth hidden in a shipment of green onions.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
In the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more closely.
CBP officers conducted a physical examination of the tractor-trailer’s floor and discovered 608 packages hidden within the shipment of green onions. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a weight of 646.61 pounds and an estimated street value of $775,000.
“This is truly an outstanding demonstration of our officer’s ability to think outside of the box and further exemplifies our adaptability to find illicit contraband no matter where narcotics are hidden,” said Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and commercial tractor-trailer while the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
[Related: $1.7M worth of cocaine busted in hidden flatbed compartment, load of avocados]
Hurricanes Helene, Milton impact on spot markets losing steam? | Snapping what would have been seven weeks of spot load volume increases, load posts fell in the most recent week, according to the weekly spot update from the Truckstop load board and FTR Transportation Intelligence. Rates eased down by just a fraction of a percent, as fuel prices fell further as well, but demand indicators fell to a larger degree. "The market disruption caused by two hurricanes in three weeks apparently has played out," FTR analysts noted with this update, though time will tell the full story in the coming weeks. Bright spots include that rates for flatbed equipment saw a modest gain -- the fourth in five weeks -- but dry van and refrigerated rates both lost steam. Despite week-over-week softness, total spot rates posted their strongest year-over-year comparison since June of 2022, as rates for all three equipment types were higher than those seen at the same time last year.
Drivewyze weigh station bypass integrated in another ELD
Drivewyze, by Fleetworthy, has announced it has partnered with EZ LYNK to provide EZ LYNK ELD mobile app customers with integrated access to the Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass system.
EZ LYNK will also offer Drivewyze Free, which provides safety notifications.
Drivewyze seamlessly integrates into the EZ LYNK ELD app -- no transponders are required. When activated, Drivewyze transmits safety scores, registration, and tax compliance information to weigh stations, which then calculates the information against the bypass criteria established by its state or province. If the carrier and vehicle pass the criteria, at one mile out, the driver receives permission to bypass the site. The better the fleet’s safety score, the more bypasses typically granted. Through Drivewyze PreClear, EZ LYNK customers can receive bypass opportunities at close to 900 locations in 48 states and provinces.
Drivewyze Free provides essential messaging, including heads-up warnings for High-Rollover risk areas, Low Bridges, Mountain alerts (steep grade ahead; chain-up/brake check stations; and runaway ramps), and Rest Area information (truck parking availability). It also provides real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks.
[Related: Bestpass-Fleetworthy acquire scale-bypass provider Drivewyze]
