The U.S. DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a regional emergency declaration that suspends hours of service regulations for relief loads and supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Barry.

Size and weight regulations have been lifted for truck drivers hauling relief loads and supplies to areas including surrounding states affected by the hurricane, which made landfall in Louisiana on Saturday.

The waivers apply to drivers of commercial motor vehicles “providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, equipment, fuel and persons into and from the affected states or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency in the affected states.”

The waiver applies to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. They will remain in effect until the emergency has been declared over, or until Aug. 10.

View the full Regional Emergency Declaration here.

Tropical Storm Barry will bring rainfall and wind hazards to the central Gulf Coast for several days affecting truck travel and some truck stop operations in the Louisiana area.

Due to the slow movement of the system, the area is expect to get hit with long duration heavy rainfall along the central Gulf Coast and inland through the lower Mississippi Valley.

Louisiana Governor held a press conference on Tropical Storm Barry and declared a State of Emergency for the state. For the latest information on Barry, click here. 

The Governor stated that state offices are expected to close on Friday July 12. Expect delays in any oversize truck permits as a result.

For a list of resources and information on the storm, click here, and for live weather updates, click here.

Road Closures

With the threat of severe weather and heavy rainfall that may impact areas of the state, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) advises motorists that the Pontoon Bridge at Humble Canal on LA 3147 in Freshwater City may need to be closed to traffic on short notice. DOTD anticipates the closure to begin as early as the morning of Friday, July 12, and continue until the high tides and storm surges recedes. All motorists should prepare for this contingency by early preparations. Motorists are encouraged to check the status of road conditions prior to beginning commutes to impacted areas by utilizing the following resources for the latest information regarding road conditions.

High Water LA 70 (Lower St. Martin Parish) LA 70 in Lower St. Martin Parish between milepost 7.6 and 8.1 has water across the roadway. No other routes are affected at this time. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes and avoid the high water areas.

Travelers can find information regarding road closures by visiting the 511 Traveler Information website at www.511la.org or by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region about which they are seeking information.

Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J has implemented daily operation calls regarding the tropical storm in the gulf coast region of the United States.    We will send out updates to our store operations as conditions warrant.

Store Operations:
All Pilot or Flying J locations in the current path of this storm are open and operational.

Supply Conditions:
Our supply and transportation teams are working hard to ensure that product remains available at the travel center locations.  Please expect high gas traffic into these areas as the storm approaches the coast.

Additional Storm Info & Resources

Important Information links:
National Hurricane Center (National Weather Service):   https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Storm Prediction Center (National Weather Service):  https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
Pilot Flying J (store locator map): https://www.pilotflyingj.com/store-locator/

Louisiana:
Louisiana Power Outage Info: https://poweroutage.us/area/state/louisiana
Louisiana Traffic Info/Cameras/Road Closures: https://www.511la.org/
Louisiana Emergency Info/Evacuation Orders: http://emergency.louisiana.gov/

It’s official, the Medallion Transport driver’s lounge is now open and available for owner-operators and truck drivers to take advantage of.

The lounge is located at the yard of Medallion’s affiliate heavy haul company, NHH Services  in Wallisville, TX just outside the Houston area. It offers the full amenities drivers need while on the road.

It’s equipped with a full kitchen where there’s always fresh coffee brewing, washer/dryer, restroom and shower, driver’s lounge with couch, seating and basic cable, office with printer/scanner and desk space, free wifi, and plenty of electrical outlets for charging phones and laptops.

The kitchen includes a refrigerator with ice machine, microwave and sink.

The laundry area will also include laundry detergent for drivers to wash while they relax in the lounge watching TV.

Drivers are welcome to shower and freshen up during their stay.

The office area includes a printer/scanner/fax drivers can use, a desk area for working, free WIFI and plenty of electrical outlets for charging devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops.

The NHH yard also has plenty of parking for truck drivers to pull in their tractor/trailers. In the yard, drivers will also have access to a forklift, air compressor and grease gun.

The Wallisville, TX dispatch office/yard is located at 24941 I-10 Wallisville, TX 77597.

Drivers and owner-operators in the Medallion network, and any drivers looking to sign on can contact Medallion at (765) 650-4164 or via email at info@medalliontrans.com for more info or to access the lounge after hours. Or visit NHH’s Owner-Operator Program page for more info.

All drivers in the Medallion Transport Holdings network will have access to lounge while traveling through the Wallisville, TX (Houston) area.

When truck drivers are placed out-of-service for a brake issue, there are some important facts to know in order to adequately repair to satisfy the OOS order.

If you are not DOT qualified to adjust brakes, then you are not DOT qualified to adjust them.  If you don’t have a brake certificate issued by the carrier, then you can’t repair them. An air brake endorsement does not qualify you to adjust your brakes.

In other words, if you are put out of service for your brakes not being in proper adjustment, unless you have a brake certificate issued by this company, the US DOT says you can not adjust your brakes to satisfy the OOS order.

You can adjust your brakes under the direct supervision of the inspector, have the officer inspect the adjustment, and ask that they initial your signature as the repairer to satisfy the OOS.

Or, you can call a certified mechanic to come out to the inspection location and perform the adjustment.

Don’t get caught jumping an OOS, it could mean your job and enforcement action from the US DOT.

For additional information please read the FMCSA’s FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on qualifications of brake inspectors. 

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion Transport & Logistics is committed to driver support and safety, especially when it comes to maintenance including regular inspections and repairs. We offer our freight agents and owner operators a national tire purchase program and emergency road service, although preventative maintenance for safety and to avoid any down time is always encouraged. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-840-0769 or send us an email to Roadsideinspections@medalliontrans.com.

With a recent increase in lane restriction violations, it’s important that all truck drivers be aware of the law on their routes.

Every state law is different, and some states do not allow for passing in the left lane, with most restricting the use of the left lane for trucks in some way.

“If you are behind slow traffic, be patient and wait it out.  A ticket on your safety record and ours is not acceptable,” said Medallion Transport Holdings Field Safety Coordinator Sharon Legendre.

States which don’t prevent trucks from using the left lane altogether, only allow use in certain circumstances. The definition of a “truck” also changes from state to state with some counting axles and other specifying weight limits or vehicle descriptions.

A lane restriction violation affects a carrier CSA score and is a 3-point violation.

In some cases, truck drivers are not aware they violated the law until they are being pulled over and violated. Be in the know of all; statewide laws and understand which prohibit trucks from the left lane entirely or in some way.

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion Transport & Logistics is committed to driver support and safety, especially when it comes to maintenance including regular inspections and repairs. We offer our freight agents and owner operators a national tire purchase program and emergency road service, although preventative maintenance for safety and to avoid any down time is always encouraged. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-840-0769 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.

Company management, including our VP of Heavy Haul and Director of Agent Development, will be at two different Travel Centers of America (TA-Petro) in Indiana Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 hosting a meet-and-greet to show appreciation for all truck drivers.

Vice President of Heavy Haul, Jesse Merrell and Director of Agent Development, Danielle Szerlik will treat drivers with new company gear as well as a free meal and hot coffee.

“We welcome the opportunity to show a token of our appreciation to our drivers out there on the road,” said Medallion Transport Holdings CEO Gary Weilheimer.

Medallion Transport Holdings is the parent company of NHH Services and Medallion Transport & Logistics.

The truck stop visits will be manned by Medallion’s VP of Heavy Haul and Director of Agent Development. You can’t miss them, they’ll be set up outside in the parking lot of the Demotte, IN TA-Petro located at 11166 West State Road on Wednesday, July 9.

On Thursday, July 9, they’ll be set up at a different Travel Centers’ location in Whitestown, IN. The address is 5930 East State Road 334, Whitestown, IN 46075.

Although the goal of the event is to show appreciation for existing company drivers, the meet and greet is open to all truck drivers passing through or in the area. The management team will have plenty of company gear to pass out and will offer all drivers a complimentary meal and warm cup of coffee.

The company is actively seeking owner-operators and can discuss all the owner operator program perks available to those interested.

The meet-and-greet event times are as follows:

• Tuesday, July 9 from 3 – 7 p.m. in Demotte, IN
• Wednesday, July 10 from 3 – 7 p.m. in Whitestown, IN

Don’t miss the opportunity to chat with our company leaders and enjoy a little extra for all you do out on the road each day.

Questions?

For questions about the upcoming meet-and-greet, contact Director of Agent Development Danielle Szerlik at danielle.szerlik@medalliontrans.com or at 704.235.0460, ext 1051.

The automatic slack adjuster (ASA) is an important part of keeping truck brakes operating at peak performance and up to regulatory standards and like other parts, inspection and lubrication are critical for optimal performance.

Slack adjusters can often be viewed as the part that can be forgotten, and according to an article in CCJ Digital, brake adjusters are very often not given the regular maintenance they need.

How does the slack adjuster work?

When the brake is applied, a rod pushes out on the slack adjuster, which then turns the S-cam to force the brake shoes apart to apply the friction necessary to slow the truck. The automatic slack adjuster is designed to compensate for brake lining and drum wear to maintain a constant actuator stroke.

Proper maintenance

Automatic slack adjusters often are not greased regularly during scheduled maintenance and inspections.

All too often, we see automatic slack adjusters that are not being greased regularly during scheduled maintenance and inspections,” said Frank Gilboy, product manager, automatic slack adjusters at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC, a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. “And slack adjusters that don’t perform properly through lack of lubrication can have a direct impact on both safety and regulatory compliance.”

Greasing the ASA serves two vital purposes: Forcing the new lubricant in purges the old grease from the adjuster, along with any water or contaminants that have found their way in; and it protects the adjuster’s internal gear sets, clutches, and other components from wear. Both are necessary to keep the ASA working properly to maintain correct brake stroke and provide optimal stopping performance.

Lubrication is a simple process, regardless of the adjuster’s manufacturer. Just locate the ASA’s grease fitting, attach the hose from a grease gun, and inject new grease until old grease is forced through the release opening. The release location varies depending on the maker – for the Bendix® Versajust® LS™, it’s on the boot; for others, it’s a hole in the casting – and manufacturer instructions will offer advice on how much grease to purge from the adjuster, and what lubricant to use.

It should easily take less than a minute per adjuster,” Gilboy said. “Bendix recommends greasing with an NGLI grade-2 lubricant every 30,000 miles, but you can also make things less complicated by greasing the ASAs every time you do a preventive maintenance inspection.”

Pre & post trip inspections

As part of pre- and post-trip inspections, drivers should check the slack adjuster for correct operation, lose or missing hardware, a missing cotter pin, bent or damaged components such as the control arm or attaching anchor brackets, and worn clevises, clevis pins and clevis pin bushings.

Fleets that run lightly loaded are more susceptible to vibration.

Once the ASA itself has been inspected, use the following checklist to examine other wheel-end components and fix any situations that can lead to overstroke. Where component replacement is necessary, Bendix stresses the use of OEM-equivalent equipment to ensure correct operation and best performance.

• Check for proper lubrication of the brake camshaft and cam tube.
• Inspect the cam head and rollers for abnormal wear.
• Evaluate the brake’s friction blocks for wear level and cracks, replacing the friction if necessary.
• Inspect the camshaft bushings for wear by checking radial and axial endplay, following the brake manufacturer’s guidelines. If necessary, replace the bushings.
• Check the brake drums for maximum diameter and surface finish, and replace if necessary.
• Check the brake shoe return springs to ensure a proper return to the “zero stroke” position.
• Inspect the return spring on the air chamber or on the service side of double diaphragm spring brakes.
• Inspect the clevis pins connecting the chamber to the automatic slack adjuster to ensure they turn freely and are coated with an anti-seize lubricant.

No manual adjustments

Proper maintenance of automatic slack adjusters also means no manual adjustments.

Manual adjustment may seem to temporarily solve the out-of-adjustment issue, but there may be other factors at play that must be addressed. As always, it’s critical to maintain, adjust, or replace slack adjusters.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced Brake Safety Week will be held Sept. 15-21, which law enforcement will conduct roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles (CMV) throughout North America in order to identify and remove critical brake violations from the nation’s roadways.

Brake Safety Week 2019 will place a particular focus on brake hoses and tubing.

Brake hoses and tubing needs to be properly attached, undamaged, leak-free, and flexible, says the association that governs roadside truck inspections.

Vehicles with critical brake or other critical vehicle inspection item violations will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected. Vehicles without critical vehicle inspection item violations are eligible to receive a CVSA decal indicating that the vehicle passed inspection.

Each inspection will serve the purpose of identifying out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake-system, antilock braking system (ABS) violations in addition to problems related to tubing and hoses.

In previous years, CVSA held a Brake Safety Day to help reduce the number of crashes caused by poorly maintained braking systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), but in recent years elevated the inspections to a week-long blitz. Inspectors will be advised to not only identify, but remove vehicles from roadways that have critical brake or other violations.

During the 2018 Brake Safety Week, just over 14% of inspected vehicles were placed out of service, according to the CVSA.

The ultimate goal of Brake Safety Week is to reduce the number of crashes caused by poorly maintained braking systems on CMVs.

This nationwide inspections comes just months after International Roadcheck and will take place a couple of months after Annual Safe Driver Week July 14-20. During Roadcheck, law enforcement stopped hundreds of thousands of CMVs to check for violations, specifically relating to steering and suspension.

Be Prepared for Brake Safety Week

Vehicle operators can prepare for the inspection by using performance-based brake testing, and ensuring vehicles are properly and regularly maintained.

Medallion Transport will continue to publish ways for its entire fleet to prepare for the inspection and continue to ensure vehicles are the safest possible for the roadways.

Brake Safety Week is sponsored by the CVSA in partnership with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Safety Tips

• Inspector’s will follow a seven-point plan through an inspection including: driver’s license, registration, low air warning device, pushrod travel, brake linings/drums, leaks and air loss rate and tractor protection system
• Specifically in regards to the brake system, inspectors are going to focus on eight specific features
  • Checking the air brake mechanical components
  • Checking the steering axle air brake mechanical components
  • Checking the brake adjustment
  • Building the air system’s pressure to 90-100 psi
  • Checking the antilock braking system (ABS) if applicable
  • Testing the air loss rate, if necessary
  • Testing the low air pressure warning device
  • Checking the tractor protection system
• Check for leaks and cracks, including air chambers, drum brakes and other linings that may have been oil-saturated

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion’s Safety Team is ready to assist with driver education and training to ensure the company’s fleet is safe on the road and compliant with the latest laws. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-235-0460 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.

Indiana has a reputation for having no mercy on speeders, including truckers.

According to a recent article in Transport Topics, over the past two years, more than 46,000 speeding violations were issued to truck drivers going too fast in Indiana.

The citations were mostly issued on interstates and rural highways.

This number of violations represents 15% of all violations and more than twice the number of violations recorded by any other state in the country, according to data provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Speeding violations were issued to truckers entering northwest Indiana from Illinois and those speeding on Indianapolis’ beltway interstate.

According to Indiana State Police, Indiana troopers who patrol the roadways focus on crash-causing accidents, which are primarily the result of speeding, following too closely and unsafe lane movement.

There are 250 or so sworn officers who patrol the Indiana roadways.

Police said they use helicopters, airplanes, laser technology and VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) to crack down on speeding truckers.

392.6 Schedules to Conform with Speed Limits

Brief reminder on 392.6 Schedules to Conform with Speed Limits: No MC shall schedule a run nor permit nor require the operation of any CMV between points in such a period of time as would necessitate the CMV being operated at speeds greater than those prescribed by the jurisdictions in or through which the CMV is being operated.

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion Transport & Logistics is committed to driver support and safety, especially when it comes to maintenance including regular inspections. We offer our freight agents and owner operators a national tire purchase program and emergency road service, although preventative maintenance for safety and to avoid any down time is always encouraged. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-235-0460 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.

Pilot Flying J announced its newest Flying J open now in Kermit, TX. The addition of this location brings the travel center’s Texas network total to 72 locations and adds over 81 truck parking spaces to Pilot Flying J’s more than 73,000 parking spaces for the trucking industry. 

The new location address is:

Flying J #1206
700 E. Hwy 302
Kermit, TX 79745

This location features driver-focused amenities such as high-speed fueling, PJ Fresh made in-house food offerings, premium coffee and everyday products for their needs while on the road, including:

• 8 Diesel Lanes
• 8 Showers
• 81 Diesel Parking Spaces
• PJ Fresh Deli

Click here for the location’s station codes. 

Pilot Flying J continues to expand our travel center network of more than 750 locations to deliver convenience, quality, great service and added value to your professional drivers traveling the nation’s highways.