DAT adds drug testing compliance services

DAT adds drug testing compliance services

Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Nov. 6, 2020:

DAT now offering drug testing compliance servicesDAT Freight & Analytics has partnered with CleanFleet to offer drug testing compliance services for owner-operators and fleets.

CleanFleet provides immediate proof of compliance with federal regulations and enrollment in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, as well as a full range of screening services.

CleanFleet partners with more than 5,000 collection sites across the U.S. Each site follows the same set of strict chain-of-custody and reporting procedures to protect the integrity of the testing process, driver privacy and the accuracy of the results.

iMoving.com hits million-mile milestone for HHG movesThe iMoving company signed its 500th household-goods-moving partner company, EkoMovers of Cincinnati, Ohio, and passed the threshold of a million miles moving families and individuals. The company, an online moving-services marketplace, opened in 2015. It operates in more than 160 U.S. cities, the company says.

Randy Smith, president of EkoMovers, currently in a growth phase, singled out the utility of the iMoving platform in connecting with customers in new local markets. “They are thorough, very professional and a real pleasure to work with. This has also been a very profitable relationship for us,” he said.

iMoving serves as something of an online vetting platform for moving companies, helping consumers ensure that moves go smoothly, costs are agreed to up front, and customers are satisfied, the company says. Those interested in connecting with potential customers through the platform can scroll to the bottom of this page.

TCA Annual Convention, Owner-Op of the Year announcement delayedThe Truckload Carriers Association announced it is postponing and moving the site of its 2021 Annual Convention from January to April due to lingering COVID-19 concerns, therefore also postponing the announcement of the Owner-Operator of the Year winner. TCA still plans to announced finalists for the award later this month, a spokesperson for the group says.

The 2021 event was originally scheduled to be held Jan. 23-26 in Nashville, Tennessee. It is now set to be held April 17-20 at the enlarged, newly-designed meeting space at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel.

According to a TCA spokesperson, the change was made because the association was “not going to be able to deliver the same experience we normally do due to restrictions within the hotel and Nashville due to COVID.”

Trucker named Highway Angel for second time this yearNew Jersey-based truck driver Chris Delancey, for the second time in six months, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association. The first time he received the recognition, it was for helping an unresponsive child. This time, Delancey is being recognized for helping stop and apprehend a reckless driver who was found to be carrying cocaine.

Chris Delancey

According to TCA, just before midnight on June 14, Delancey was on I-65 North in Tennessee, just about to pass the Kentucky state line when a pickup truck entered from an on-ramp and swung wildly across the three-lane highway.

“He almost hit the concrete barrier, then swerved back to the right shoulder, nearly colliding with another vehicle,” Delancey said. “Then he stopped dead in front of me.”

Delancey activated his dashcam and watches as the male driver and female passenger got out and urinated in the middle of the highway. He said they got back in their vehicle, drove another 300 yards, and got out and did it again. He called 911 to report what he thought was a drunk driver, then positioned his rig to prevent a passing motorist from rear-ending the pickup truck.

At this point, the driver took off again, and Delancey lost sight of him as he went over a hill. When he crested the hill, he saw the vehicle was stopped up ahead, now partly on the shoulder and right lane. Delancey now positioned his truck in front of the pickup to prevent them from driving away again, and shortly after, he heard sirens approaching.

The trooper arrived and handcuffed the driver, put him in the squad car and had the passenger lean against the squad car as he searched their vehicle. As this was happening, the passenger opened the squad car door.

“She was trying to stuff a two-ounce packet of cocaine into the driver’s mouth to swallow,” Delancey said.

Delancey restrained her until the trooper could handcuff her, and the trooper told Delancey there was a little girl who looked to be about 4 years old asleep and unrestrained in the front seat. Delancey learned both the driver and passenger were using fake IDs and vehicle tags. They were charged with multiple counts, including driving while intoxicated, possession of cocaine, wanton disregard for public safety and child endangerment.

Later, Delancey received a phone call from the Kentucky State Police Commissioner who commended him for his actions that likely saved many lives that night.

For his willingness to help, TCA presented Delancey with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. His employer, Hirschbach Motor Lines, also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. EpicVue sponsors the TCA Highway Angel program.

New Love’s opens in OregonLove’s Travel Stops this week opened a new location in Madras, Oregon, along U.S. Highway 97. The new store offers 82 truck parking spaces.

In addition to parking, drivers will also have access to an Arby’s restaurant, six diesel bays, five showers, laundry facilities and more.

The location is the company’s sixth in Oregon.

Importing and managing the logistics of your precious freight is no easy task. Compliance to U.S. Customs & Border Patrol is essential to your cargo clearing customs. Use a freight forwarder to lower your chances of having shipment delays and to oversee all of your international freight logistics. Contact a customs broker to file your ISF and issue any pre-alerts to avoid penalties and delays, and arrange your ocean freight and imports customs clearance.