Trucking news and briefings for Friday, July 23, 2021:
Truck coalition supports the abolition of the heavy goods vehicle tax
The Modernize the Truck Fleet, an association of truck industry stakeholders – including the American Truck Dealers (ATD), American Trucking Associations, and other groups – have their strong support for bipartisan laws to repeal the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on the Sales of heavy trucks and trailers.
The Bill, p. 2435, tabled by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. And Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Both members of the Senate Tax Finance Committee responsible for transportation – Taxes – Will help modernize the American truck fleet and protect the 1.3 million jobs supported by the US trucking industry, the group claimed. The repeal of the FET allows fleets to replace older heavy trucks with newer, safer and more environmentally friendly trucks. The coalition calls on Congress to incorporate Young / Cardin legislation into bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
“With most heavy trucks over a decade old, passing this bill is critical to helping America modernize its aging truck fleet,” said Steve Bassett, chairman of ATD and chief executive officer of General Truck Sales in Muncie , Indiana.
First enacted by Congress in 1917 to fund World War I, the FET is the highest percentage consumption tax that Congress imposes on a product and often increases the price of a new heavy truck by more than $ 20,000. The tax, coupled with recent regulatory costs, makes it difficult for small businesses to afford a new truck.
Mark Parker, chairman of ATD NextGen of Linthicum Heights, Maryland, added that “The abolition of the FET will help small businesses replace older trucks with new trucks with the latest safety features that reduce accidents and increase highway safety.”
Volvo introduces contract service
Volvo Trucks North America has launched its Volvo Blue Contract service offering, a comprehensive maintenance program designed to improve uptime, optimize truck performance and simplify maintenance management for customers and dealers.
The new Volvo Blue Contract offers a single premium service plan that replaces existing maintenance plans that are currently being offered to customers, Volvo said.
With monthly or prepaid billing options, Volvo customers can either pay on a recurring basis or in advance when purchasing their truck, either directly or through their dealer. Volvo Financial Services (VFS) can bundle the Volvo Blue Contract with a truck payment on a single invoice. This total solution allows the customer to pay the cost of the maintenance contract interest-free over time, Volvo said.
“Well-maintained trucks increase the overall availability of the fleet and reduce the total cost of ownership. And a truck that is regularly and proactively inspected and serviced by professional, trained technicians at a Volvo Trucks dealership is likely to be a safe truck while in operation, ”said Ashley Murickan, Product Marketing Manager, Volvo Trucks North America. “In addition, the Volvo Blue Contract and its flexible billing options improve our maintenance offering while simplifying business transactions, which ultimately benefits both the customer and the dealer.”
Selected preventive maintenance is included in the Volvo Blue Contract to offer customers additional benefits. Volvo said the plan will allow customers to have full visibility into the service costs of their trucks in advance, reassurance that their fleet maintenance is fully included in the contract. Service plans are tailored to specific vehicle applications to help keep trucks in tip-top condition. This maximizes uptime, minimizes unnecessary stops at dealerships and reduces unforeseen repairs.
Volvo adds that its blue contract includes a 74-point inspection and oil analysis; all scheduled engine maintenance, including valve adjustments; all scheduled post-treatment maintenance, including DPF cleaning; all scheduled transmission and axle maintenance; any planned chassis maintenance; Replacement of V-belt tensioners and auxiliary drive belt tensioners; and alternator cover
Additional repairs such as warranty work or extended diagnostics can be done under one roof so trucks don’t have to be taken out of service for separate service visits, Volvo said.
Teamsters achieve another win in XPO
XPO Logistics drivers in Trenton, New Jersey ratified their first contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Saturday, July 17, a week after their counterparts in Miami did the same, and the two groups now have their rights and their protection for the first time a legally binding contract.
“For the second time in a week, XPO employees ratified their first contract with XPO even though XPO management said employees would never ratify a contract,” said Jim Hoffa, General President of Teamsters. “The positive contractual votes of these two groups give other XPO employees the hope that they too can fight and win a more secure future as Teamsters.”
The group of 34 riders at the XPO in Trenton voted to join Local 701 in April 2017, but negotiations had been delayed.
“I am excited to work with our brothers in Miami who have ratified their treaty, and I look forward to expanding and improving this two-year agreement that gives us a strong foundation to build on,” said Bruce Ryan , a route driver with the former Con-way Freight and XPO since 1996. “I am also looking forward to bringing more XPO members to the Teamsters Union so that they can assert their rights and protection in writing.”
The contract includes, among other things, protection for a “just cause”, a complaint procedure, successor language, occupational safety language and pension provision.