Pilot/Flying J has released a severe weather update for Hurricane Irma. 

Here are the following closed locations:

The following locations in Florida now closed:

• Cocoa, FL – #088
• Ellenton, FL – #089
• Ft Pierce, FL – #090
• Punta Gorda, FL – #094
• Yeehaw Junction, FL – #096
• Ft Myers, FL – #352
• St Lucie, FL – #622
• Miami/Medley, FL – #873
• South Bay, FL – #1046
• Miami, FL (dealer) – #874
• Miami, FL (dealer) – #897
• Tampa, FL – #625
• Dade City, FL – #624
• Haines City, FL – #471

The following locations in Georgia are now closed:

• St Mary’s, GA – #575 & #4562
• Brunswick, GA – #627
• Savannah, GA – #072
• Port Wentworth, GA – #07

The following locations will be closing today at the times noted:

• Ocala, FL #293 & #424 – 5:00 pm EST
• Ocala, FL – #092 – 5:00 pm EST
• Wildwood, FL – #095 & #4556 – 5:00 pm EST
• Hardeeville, SC – #4569 – 6:00 pm EST
• Cocoa, FL #1096 – 7:00 pm EST

All other Florida, Georgia and South Carolina locations are operational at this time for diesel fuel purchases.
Central and North Florida locations are experiencing high demand for gasoline, please expect heavy car traffic going into the locations. Please check Pilot Flying J’s Facebook or Twitter social media outlets for up to date information on store closures.

Road Conditions:
There are currently no road closures or contraflow.

Supply Conditions:
All terminal locations in Florida are now closed. This includes the following:

• Jacksonville
• Port Canaveral
• Everglades

Our Supply & Transportation team is working hard to ensure all locations have as much fuel as possible prior to the storm’s landfall.
The EPA has issued a waiver on the use of Red Dyed diesel fuel in the state of Florida. For more information on this waiver, please visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-approves-emergency-fuel-waiver-florida.
The USDOT has issued an exemption on HOS in advance of Irma.

Hurricane Irma, already one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever develop in the Atlantic, is making landfall and state and federal agencies are gearing up. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has temporarily suspended several trucking regulations in the states in and around the expected path of Irma. However, carriers and drivers including oversize loads, in direct support of relief efforts related to Hurricane Irma are granted emergency relief. An Emergency Road Use Permit Letter was issued by the Florida Department of Transportation. By lifting regulations, FMCSA aims to ease the flow of emergency goods, fuel, and aid to and from the region.

The suspended regulations include those concerned with hours of service, inspection, repair, and maintenance, hazardous materials transportation, driving, parking, and other health and safety standards.

States covered by Irma’s temporary suspension currently include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FMCSA has also set up a webpage with all the latest transportation updates related to Irma.

The same suspension was declared for Hurricane Harvey.

On Sept. 5, President Trump declared an emergency in the state of Florida, Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida Governor Rick Scott also declared an emergency in the state and ordered the Florida National Guard to report for duty.The governor also issued an executive order number 17-235. 

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week will be celebrated September 10-16, 2017 across the United States. 

At this time, America, including Medallion Transport & Logistics will honor all professional truck drivers who safely deliver America’s most essential goods.

Medallion Transport & Logistics strives to recognize all drivers everyday, whether you are a driver or an owner-operator pulling flatbed, dry van or over-dimensional loads.

At Medallion, the professional driver is one of our most important customers.

“[Our drivers] dedication and commitment to safety and service continues to make us one of the safest trucking companies on the roadways,” said Medallion Transport Holdings Inc. VP of Safety, Melissa Phillips.

The over 3.5 million professional truck drivers – both men and women – in America move our economy from the daily essentials we see at stores to heavy-transport goods for construction and other projects.

America will honor the hard work and commitment of all drivers by extending a special thanks during this week-long celebration.

Medallion urges everyone to always be thankful and courteous toward truck drivers, not only during this week.

“We realize [being a truck driver] is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs out there and we truly appreciate everything that [they] do.” said Phillips.

Truck drivers work relentlessly for weeks and sometimes months at a time without seeing their families. Share your pics of your favorite truck driver on social media with #ThankATruckDriver in the caption, and join the conversation.

Medallion Transport Holdings Inc. is the parent company to Medallion Transport & Logistics, and their affiliate oversize load transport companies, NHH Services and Ace Heavy Haul.

“Make sure you thank a trucker,” said Phillips.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Brake Safety Day is happening next week on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, which law enforcement will conduct inspections on large trucks. 

Each inspection will serve the purpose of identifying out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake-system and antilock braking system (ABS) violations as part of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, according to a CVSA news release.

Brake Safety Day was created by the CVSA to help reduce the number of crashes caused by poorly maintained braking systems on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Inspectors will be advised to not only identify, but remove vehicles from roadways that have critical brake violations.

This nationwide inspections comes just months after Roadcheck 2017, in which law enforcement stopped hundreds of thousands of CMVs to check for violations, specifically in load securement.

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

The one-day inspection replaces the seven-day Brake Safety Week campaign from previous years.

Brake Safety Day 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).

Click here to read the CVSA press release.

According to the cargo theft recording firm, SensiGuard, fleet and cargo theft will see more activity over Labor Day weekend. 

The firm cited date from Labor Day weekends between 2012 and 2016, which 39 percent more thefts occurred than normal, non-holiday weekends.

In 2016, 14 cargo thefts totaled more than $2.5 million.

Truckers and trucking/transportation firms are advised to cut down on unsecured parking times. Also, GPS tracking of high-value loads is recommended.

Some significant Labor Day weekend thefts include, a sporting goods facility theft in 2016 in California worth $1.5 million and facility theft of cell phones in Tennessee worth $1.5 million in 2014.

Texas Governor, Gregg Abbott’s permit waiver and President Trump’s Declaration of Disaster has lifted some restrictions on the movement of oversize/overweight loads that are aiding in disaster relief in and around southeast Texas, according to a Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) release.

As a result of both, a special Emergency Relief Permit is available, and Governor Abbott’s declaration waives all permitting requirements, including curfews and normal escort requirements. 

Additional oversize restrictions have been overwritten. Vehicles up to 10-feet wide may also travel at night without an escort, and with front and rear escorts if the load exceeds 10-feet wide. To view and print the TxDMV’s Waiver Notice and important restrictions, click here.  

The announcement with details made by the Texas DOT and TX DMV also says if your load is overheight, you may use the “Bid Route” feature in the Texas Permitting and Routing Optimization System (TxPROS) to route loads safely. Enter height only, and leave all other fields blank. For information on other oversize load permit restrictions, click here. 

The TxDMV will not issue oversize/overweight permits for travel into disaster areas for loads not related to relief efforts.  Only oversize and/or overweight vehicles involved in the relief efforts will be allowed to travel in the Hurricane Harvey affected areas. Active permits issued prior to the disaster will be extended as needed for travel at a later date.

President Trump’s Declaration of Disaster allows the self issuing of a MAP-21 Emergency Permit through the Texas Permitting and Routing Optimization System (TxPROS). Permit is not valid for loads leaving the area with exception of those removing debris.

A copy of the President’s declaration must be carried with the permit. The declaration can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/08/25/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-texas.

The Map-21 Emergency Permit allows for ravel on all state and federal roads, including the interstate highway system. The permit may not be used for overwidth, overlenght or overheight loads.

Medallion Transport & Logistics parent company, Medallion Transport Holdings has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

With much of southeastern Texas in shambles, the company’s GoFundMe campaign, will help provide aid to families directly affected by the storm. The campaign’s goal is to raise $15,000 as soon as possible so the money can be dispersed to families in need.

Medallion Transport’s sister company, NHH Services, has offices and a truck yard in Baytown, TX. The exact condition of the offices and yard are unknown as the area cannot be accessed due to flooding at this time.

NHH Services’ VP of Heavy Haul, Jesse Merrell plans to drive to Baytown once he is able and roads are open to bring supplies and provide help to friends in and around Baytown.

“Let’s all come together to raise money and help as many families as we can. People need food and water, and basic everyday necessities,” said Merrell.

Medallion Transport Holdings’ CEO & President,Gary Weilheimer pledged an initial $1,000 to get the campaign going. The company plans to get involved as well as they work to reach their goal of $15,000.

Medallion is looking to donate this money directly to families in dire need, instead of donating to a large organization, so they can see the direct effect they have on a family or individuals.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday off the coast of Corpus Christi and is the worst hurricane to hit the United States in over a decade. Thousands were affected by the storm and more than 30,000 individuals have been displaced so far.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to our fellow Americans and their families. I also send thanks and prayers to the many first responders who are saving lives and will be doing so for days to come,” said Weilheimer.

The state of Texas and other federal agencies have issued warnings, including travel advisories that will impact commercial and oversize transportation as Hurricane Harvey hits land.

Drivers in the storm’s patch should be aware of severe flooding as the category 2 – potentially category 3 – makes landfall. Storms of this capacity have the ability to cause structural damage up to 25 miles from the eye of the storm.

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) issued a statement, noting commerce disruptions and a safety warning, as well as opportunities for people to help via the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). 

Texas Governor, Greg Abbott declared a disaster for 30 Texas counties.

All oversize/overweight permit requirements have been suspended, however, for any vehicles providing disaster relief for the storm as of Wednesday, August 23. Click here to view the state’s notice.

Any other oversize loads – non emergency or disaster relief related – will not be issued permits until further notice.

Strong winds, heavy rain and extreme flooding is the worst the state will have seen in over two decades.

Meteorologists predict very bad conditions for several days as the storm rolls in, with as many as 35 inches of rain in some areas.

Fuel prices could also be affected from the storm. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, there was an overnight 40-cent increase.

Follow @TxDOT_CRP on Twitter for up-to-date conditions and travel advisories.

The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that by 2019, rest areas along Iowa’s Interstate 80 freight route will include technology to assist truck drivers traveling the highway to track parking availability.

Iowa’s DOT July I-80 planning study includes a chapter on automated corridors and how vehicle technology can improve safety issues, with truck driver parking the biggest issue.

The state agency is working alongside some Midwestern states to develop a “smart” truck parking system along I-80, which is an east-west freight corridor that runs from San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ.

The project includes the installation of devices in rest areas that scan for vacant spots for the 300-mile Iowa section. Drivers will also have mobile apps which can help them determine where and how many available spaces there are at a specific location.

The state’s plan is for the technology, including mobile apps to be used by 2019. This will allow drivers to understand the parking at public rest areas and private truck stops. Also, equpping rest areas with the technology for drivers is a goal of the plan.

Iowa DOT’s plan includes parking technology at 21 public rest areas and at at least 16 private truck stops along I-80. The state is at the point where it has submitted request for proposals to get the project off the ground, and gather initial feedback.

Private rest areas are perhaps the most important reason for adopting this technology. While public rest areas offer 100 truck spaces, private truck stops can have over 1,000 spaces.

Hands-free applications are encouraged by the Iowa DOT, including Iowa 511, which provides commercial drivers with traffic updates.

It is apparent that driver’s cannot open various apps due to safety concerns. And the overall objective is not for drivers to use phones while driving.

There are times during the week which I-80 is bumper-to-bumper with commercial trucks. Motorists and those in the trucking industry are all complaining, so this is the state’s biggest effort to show sympathy and effort to fix the problems.

The states – and any states – limited parking resources for commercial vehicles is a huge safety concern. According to the American Transportation Research Instittue, truck parking was the industry’s fourth most pressing issue in 2016.

ATRI President, Rebecca Brewster said the main concern is for a driver’s rest and there just aren’t enough places for them to do that at. 

DAT will be performing server maintenance to their live servers on Saturday, August 12 from 3 p.m to 11 p.m. (PT). 

During this time, the live servers for DAT Power web and DAT RateView will be unavailable and FTP/Connection requests will fail. None of Medallion’s freight agents will be able to access the system during that time.

The goal of the maintenance is to deploy the lasted updates for DAT products. DAT customer support can be reached at 800.547.5417.

Click here to access DAT’s customer support page.