Good day,
The only group of employees in C.R. England’s 8,000-plus workforce that is part of a union has voted to decertify Teamsters Local 705.
Drivers in C.R. England’s Chicago Intermodal division, which represented less than 1% of the company’s employees, voted on Sept. 20 to leave the union.
“We are pleased by this decision by our drivers to decertify,” said Zach England, COO. “This vote allows the company to work directly with drivers regarding their individual needs as opposed to working through a third party that often doesn’t concern itself with individual drivers or their circumstances. C.R. England drivers are critical to our company success and we appreciate their endorsement of an ongoing relationship fostered through mutual respect.”
According to a history of the union’s involvement with C.R. England posted on its website, drivers first reached out to Local 705 in 2012, citing high health insurance premiums and low pay due to long waits at pick-up locations. The approximately 70 drivers voted in the union in February 2013.
Did you know?
The trucking industry spends about $9.5 billion on safety, according to ATA, with investments in technologies, safety training, driver safety incentive pay, and compliance.
Quotable:
“We believe that extending the waiver is unnecessary to support the humanitarian relief efforts on the island. There is an ample supply of Jones Act-qualified vessels to ensure that cargo is able to reach Puerto Rico.”
– David Lapan, Homeland Security press secretary, on why the U.S. is let expire the Jones Act, which requires U.S. goods shipped to Puerto Rico to do so on U.S. flagged ships.
In other news:
Whatever happened to Big Red?
Back in the 1960s, Ford introduced a concept truck that included many features that have only recently been introduced to tractors. What happened to that vehicle? (Live Trucking)
Daimler to supply automated trucks to airports
Daimler Trucks is building automated trucks that will be provided to airports to clear snow, driving pre-defined routes along runways. (Financial Times)
Truck shortage hits potato shippers
A shortage of trucks made worse by truckers protesting the ELD rule have left potato shippers in the Northwest with loads and no trucks to move them. (Skagit Valley Herald)
GM buys lidar startup
General Motors has acquired Strobe, a lidar technology supplier. Strobe will be part of GM’s Cruise autonomous vehicle effort. (Transport Topics)
Recall expands to include nearly 20,000 trucks
A recall of certain Dana Spicer D- and E-Series steer axles now includes nearly 20,000 trucks, including models from Navistar, Paccar, Volvo, Mack and Autocar. (Overdrive)
Final Thoughts
ATA is preparing to launch a new cybersecurity service for members in 2018. According to a report, the service is designed to help fleets monitor and report cyberattacks of onboard data systems. The service is expected to be officially unveiled at ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando later this month.
Hammer down everyone!
