Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024:
Huge meth shipment in load of peppers intercepted at border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas intercepted $31,169,000 in methamphetamine concealed within a shipment manifested as serrano peppers.
On Sunday, Nov. 10, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor-trailer making entry from Mexico. The truck was selected for inspection, which included utilization of non-intrusive inspection equipment.
Bundles of methamphetamine are shown here commingled with a shipment of serrano peppers discovered by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
“Our CBP officers continue to remain vigilant and intercepted this massive methamphetamine load, preventing it from reaching American streets,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
CBP-OFO seized the narcotics and vehicle, while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
[Related: Border officials bust another truck-involved drug smuggling attempt]
PS Logistics acquires 45-truck Louisiana fleet
PS Logistics has acquired 45-truck and 150-trailer, Hammond, Louisiana-based flatbedder and heavy-hauler Fluker Transportation. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Fluker, PS Logistics' fourth acquisition this year, will operate under the name of Blair Logistics, a subsidiary of parent company PS Logistics.
Fluker Transportation was founded in 2011 by James Watson and primarily moves steel, construction equipment, and military defense-related freight across the southeastern United States. Scott Smith, chief executive officer and co-founder of PS Logistics, said Fluker’s freight mix and geographic coverage are highly complementary to Blair’s and are expected to provide immediate opportunities to realize operational synergies.
“We are excited to welcome Fluker’s flatbed and heavy-haul drivers and employees to the PS Logistics family,” he said. “Fluker has continued to grow in a broadly challenged freight market, which is a testament to the company’s commitment to its drivers and service to its customers. Fluker aligns nicely with our desire to partner with founder- or family-owned trucking companies that put their drivers first, and PS Logistics is looking forward to the growth opportunities that will result from this acquisition.”
Founder and co-owner of Fluker Transportation James Watson called Blair and PS Logistics "great partners for this business," adding, "I’m excited that Fluker will now be a part of a larger organization that will provide greater freight choices to our drivers and more capacity to our customers, and bring operational expertise to the business.”
Partnering with PS Logistics represents a "transformative step forward" for Fluker, noted Peter Walker, Fluker co-owner.
"This collaboration will fuel significant growth and enhance our drivers’ experience, positioning the business for long-term success," he said. --Jason Cannon
[Related: ELS sells flatbed division to PS Logistics]
Fleet owner elected mayor of major West Coast city
Titan Freight founder Keith Wilson (right) was elected mayor of Portland, Oregon.
Titan Freight Systems President Keith Wilson has been elected Mayor of Portland, Oregon, where his 47-truck LTL carrier is based.
Wilson, a founder of Titan Freight, ran on a platform of solving Portland's homelessness issue.
Since 2020 he has been one of the biggest supporters in bringing renewable diesel fuel to the Pacific Northwest. Wilson and Titan Freight were named a CCJ Innovator in 2021 by the Overdrive sister publication. Titan Freight is also an early adopter of electric trucks, having secured in 2021 more than $1.2 million from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) -- part of $8.1 million in funding for projects designed to reduce diesel emissions across the state and among vulnerable populations.
Wilson, who has never before been elected to office, in 2020 unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Portland City Council with a focus on traffic safety.
[Related: Owner-operator -- and small fleet owner's son -- for Congress in Indiana District 2]
New Love’s opens in Southwest Missouri
Love's Travel Stops is growing its network along I-49 in Missouri with the addition of a new travel stop in Jasper, which recently opened. This store is Love’s second new location in Southwest Missouri this year, following the opening of a store off Interstate 44 in Sarcoxie in June.
The Jasper travel stop, located off I-49 at 651 E. Mercer St., adds 61 truck parking spaces and other amenities for professional truck drivers, including laundry, showers and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) fueling for cardless payments.
In addition to Love’s Fresh Kitchen with food offerings prepared daily, the new location also includes a Dunkin’ Donuts and a Subway.
As a new Love’s, this location has space for EV chargers allocated to be able to quickly partner with local utility companies to install EV charging stations should there be customer demand.
