DC Velocity - March 2014

newsmakers
go figure …

$7.5 billion XPO Logistics’ projected 2017 revenue. The broker, expedited transport, and freight forwarding concern posted $702.3 million in revenue for 2013.

SOURCE: XPO LOGISTICS

rulemaking nor the public disclosure of SMS scores sits well with truckers, brokers, or shippers. For example, by making scores publicly available, FMCSA invites erroneous carrier-selection judgments based on inaccurate data, they argued. This, in turn, exposes shippers and brokers to significant liability risk in the event of a crash-related fatality or injury if a plaintiff’s lawyer argues they chose a carrier that they thought stood in good safety stead but actually didn’t, or that they declined to rely on CSA data that showed a history of one or two safety infractions, they said.

The best near-term remedy is “removing the scores from public view,” said Dave Osiecki, executive vice president and chief of national advocacy for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), a trade group of large carriers. The ATA has long supported CSA’s objectives but over the years, has grown increasingly uncomfortable with the validity of the process. The association said the GAO report confirms that the SMS scores don’t present an accurate assessment of the safety of many truckers. The group urged FMCSA to make immediate changes to the program.

In a statement on its website, FMCSA said the GAO report shows the SMS program has been more effective in identifying carriers for “targeted enforcement” than the old safety measurement program, known as “SafeStat,” which was replaced in 2010. According to the agency, researchers analyzed the links between historical safety data and future crash involvement by taking two years of pre-SMS safety information for a subset of carriers, running it through the SMS algorithms, and then following those companies’ crash records for 18 months. The results showed that the companies that SMS would have identified for intervention had a future crash rate of twice the national average, according to FMCSA.

In addition, 79 percent of the carriers that SMS would have ranked as high risk in at least one of the seven categories had higher future crash rates compared with those the system would not have identified, according to the FMCSA statement.

From 2009 to 2012, there were, on average, 125,000 crashes per year involving large trucks and buses, according to the GAO report. Those accidents resulted in about 78,000 injuries and 4,100 deaths per year, GAO said.

—M.S.

Seegrid’s automated GT10 tow tractor has been named a 2014 finalist for the Edison Awards, which recognize innovation, creativity, and ingenuity in the global economy. … Supply chain technology company Manhattan Associates has named the consulting firm Fortna to its Partner Performance Club for the sixth consecutive year. … The M&A Advisor research and advisory group has chosen Legacy Supply Chain Services Inc. as a “Deal of the Year” winner for the acquisition of Vitran Corp. Inc.’s supply chain operations division. … Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2014 “Dealers of Excellence” award. They are Altorfer Inc., Capitol Lift Truck Inc., Daily Equipment Co., Darr Equipment Co., Equipment Depot Kentucky, Equipment Depot Ohio, G&W Equipment Inc., Gregory Poole Lift Systems, Herc-U-Lift Inc., Hewitt Equipment Ltd., Independent Lift Truck of Alaska, Holt of California, Miami Industrial Trucks, Morrison Industrial Equipment Co., Quinn Lift, TRACSA S.A.P.I. de C.V., Towlift Inc., Tri-Lift Inc., Wiese USA Inc., and Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. … Knichel Logistics has been certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. … The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council presented the Chairperson’s Award to Emmett Walker, president and CEO of Walker International Transportation. … Dachser USA was honored with Lufthansa Cargo’s Quality Award for 2013. … Express palletized freight service provider Palletways has received the Global Freight Innovation Award–New Process for its Palletways Archway Scanning System. … The Traffic Club of Philadelphia has named Jeff Tucker of Tucker Co. Worldwide its Transportation Person of the Year.