Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024:
FMCSA issues regional emergency declaration for Helene response
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined that an emergency exists in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene that warrants issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration and extension of emergency declarations issued by state governors to continue emergency relief granted from certain regulatory requirements.
Between Sept. 23-27, the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia issued emergency declarations related to Hurricane Helene; each declaration granting up to 14 days of emergency relief from the maximum driving time hours of service regulations in 49 CFR Part 395.3. President Joe Biden also issued major disaster and/or emergency declarations for the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Those declarations resulted in up to 30 days of emergency relief from federal regulations in 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399.
Now, FMCSA’s regional declaration for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia grants emergency relief from 49 CFR Parts 390-399 through Oct. 27 or until the end of the emergency, whichever is earlier.
The regulatory relief only applies to drivers and motor carriers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts in the affected states. The regulatory relief applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the affected states.
FMCSA noted that direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed, nor does it include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the declaration.
FMCSA also issued a notice of enforcement discretion to note that it has determined not to enforce the Temporary Operating Authority Registration fee provisions against motor carriers requesting Temporary Operating Authority Registration to provide direct assistance to emergency relief efforts in the affected states. The discretion does not apply to motor carriers whose operating authority registration is revoked.
[Related: Another major hurricane heading for Florida]
FEMA provides Helene loads update
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has responded to Overdrive questions regarding the freight activity surrounding the rescue and clean up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which left parts of I-40 and I-26 impassible for weeks, or even a year.
After a brief article from Overdrive on relief load postings in which FEMA said it only ships freight through approved government contractors, the agency has provided a further update on the situation.
"FEMA has never posted loads on load boards, and only does business with companies registered and vetted through the System for Award Management," a spokesperson for the agency said.
As of Friday evening, "FEMA shipped over 11.5 million meals, more than 12.6 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 400,000 tarps to the region. These numbers are fluid as we continue to ship commodities as we receive request from states," FEMA said. -- Alex Lockie
[Related: Hurricane Helene: Where are all the FEMA load postings?]
Trucks recalled in wake of Cummins engine recall
Last week, Cummins announced a recall of more than 9,000 X15 diesel engines with certain fuel pump barrels that can fracture and cause a fuel leak.
Following that recall notice published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, two truck manufacturers have issued recalls of trucks equipped with X15 engines with the potentially faulty fuel pumps.
Navistar, which recently announced it would be shedding the Navistar name in favor of International Motors, is recalling approximately 1,086 model year 2025 International LT and HX trucks with Cummins X15 engines.
International will work with Cummins to replace the fuel pump barrels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 22. Owners can contact International customer service at 331-332-1590 or Cummins customer service at 812-377-5000. Cummins' number for the recall is C7083. NHTSA’s recall number for the International recall is 24V-734.
Additionally, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling approximately 588 model year 2025 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 49X, Freightliner Custom Chassis XCM and Freightliner Custom Chassis XCP units equipped with the Cummins fuel pumps.
Cummins will replace the fuel pump barrels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 22. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000 with recall number F1010. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-736.
[Related: 9K Cummins X15 engines caught up in recall over fuel pump issues]
Shippers’ conditions mostly flat from June to July
Conditions for shippers in July were mostly flat from June, according to the latest Shippers’ Conditions Index (SCI) report from FTR.
FTR’s SCI for July ticked up ever so slightly to 0.5 from June’s 0.3 reading. Softer capacity utilization and slightly weaker freight rates led to a marginally better overall market for shippers during the month, offsetting less favorable fuel costs.
The outlook for shippers’ conditions over the next couple of years remains soft but not especially negative with index readings forecast to remain close to neutral territory. Fuel costs could determine whether the SCI is either slightly positive or slightly negative in any given month.
“Aside from disruptions caused by labor strife at the ports or by weather, shippers likely will not see much change market conditions during the months ahead,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “We expect an incremental tightening of capacity and, eventually, freight rates, but nothing that resembles the upcycles of 2017 or 2020, for example.”
