Page 14 - ATR 4 2013

News iN brief, commercial vehicle safety and saving coUld TollS FUNd a NEW
Continued from page 13 lives. What’s more, the information, iNTErSTaTE SySTEM
techniques and experience they will
share with others help improve unifor-
mity in the enforcement of highway
safety standards throughout North
America,” says Stephen A. Keppler,
CVSA’s Executive Director.
FedEx Freight driver, Larry Rhein,
placed second in the Flatbed Class at
the NTDC. Rhein is from Harrison,
Arkansas, and has been with FedEx
Freight for 22 years. Rhein has logged
more than 2 million miles of accident-
free driving.

look No HaNdS… or drivEr?
Larry rhein, of FedEx Freight, accepts the first California legislators have given The nation’s interstate system is
place award for the Flatbed class from ATA’s
Shannon Newton at the Arkansas Truck driving the green light to allowing driverless nearing its 50-year design life mean-
Championship. cars on California roadways. The bill ing in the next couple of decades it’s
signed by Governor Jerry Brown allows all going to need to be replaced. This
corporal autonomous vehicles to operate on will, of course, come with a very hefty
derek state roads, but leaves the details to be price tag. A new study released by the
canard worked out by the DMV. The process Reason Foundation suggests allowing
is just getting started, but signs of ten- states to put tolls on interstate high-
sion have already emerged between state ways could provide enough to fund
regulators and carmakers who want massive upgrades to the nation’s roads
wide latitude to test their inventions on and bridges. Implementing all-electric
California roads. It seems everyone has tolling and charging cars 3.5 cents per
an opinion where the new technology mile and trucks 14 cents per mile would
is concerned. Silicon Valley companies, fund 99 percent of the $983 billion cost
the car industry and the public have needed to rebuild the nation’s existing
Highway Police District 2, was named begun telling DMV what rules of the interstate highways and widen certain
North American Grand Champion road they’d like to see. Techies are con- heavily trafficked corridors according to
after a stellar performance at the cerned about over-regulation stifling the study. “This study shows that alter-
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance innovation, while consumer groups native financing, via electronic tolling,
Championship during the NTDC. This worry about safety. Some say the tech- is a feasible way to transform the inter-
competition is the only international nology could be widely available in five state system,” said Robert Poole, the
event dedicated to recognizing and years while Audi says driverless cars foundation’s director of transportation
rewarding commercial vehicle inspector could be available to consumers by the policy. Although it is facing opposi-
excellence. end of the decade. tion, this innovative approach to solv-
“Corporal Canard is to be com- Personal transport will probably ing transportation funding could end
mended for this accomplishment and be the first driverless option, but up on the highway bill that Congress
the commitment he has made to com- commercial trucking would soon follow must pass sometime in the next year.
mercial motor vehicle safety and securi- suit. One analyst has calculated that Other suggestions for funding a new
ty in Arkansas,” says Chief of Arkansas the capital costs of a driverless truck infrastructure include increasing federal
Highway Police, Ronnie Burks. Corporal could be $150,000. For now though, the fuel taxes. As with any issue involving
Canard competed among 52 of the best DMV is tackling the multitude of issues funding and spending, lawmakers are
roadside inspectors from across North that would come with the absence of at a gridlock on how best to solve the
America. His award was based on his drivers like who is to be cited for a problem.
combined performances in six competi- wreck. Consumers can only wait and The full tolling study can be
tion elements. dream of the day when a chauffeur found on the website of the Reason
“The contestants’ enthusiasm and comes standard. Foundation at www.reason.org.
passion goes a long way in advancing

14 arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 4 2013