Operations

Your Jan. 14 Pre-Trip: Police chase trucker across northeast Texas

Jan. 14, 2016

Here are five things worth knowing today.

Here are five things worth knowing today: 1. The man driving a tractor-trailer who allegedly led police on a chase across northeast Texas “surrendered peacefully” last night, according to WFAA ABC News. According to the report, the suspect driving the truck turned out to be the driver designated by the trucking company, and it is unclear as to why he didn’t initially stop for police. The chase ended when the suspect, identified as David Arnold, drove the truck down a dead-end road. According to the report, police surrounded the vehicle and engaged in a standoff with Arnold for more than an hour before he surrendered. WFAA has more.2. Delays over Canada’s damaged Nipigon River Bridge are causing delays and making it difficult for trucks to detour through the U.S., CBC News Canada reports. David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association and the Canadian Trucking Alliance, told CBC that on a typical day about 1,300 trucks carrying $100 million worth of goods cross the bridge. Ontario police temporarily closed the bridge on Sunday after a winter storm damaged the steel decking.3. According to a Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette report, John R. Rogers has been named president and CEO of USA Truck. Rogers, who was appointed on Wednesday, will replace Tom Glaser, who was named CEO in July. According to the report, Glaser became interim CEO when John Simone took medical leave. USA Truck chairman Bob Peiser said the company began a search for a long-term CEO after Glaser indicated he did not intend to remain in the role long-term, according to the Gazette.4. Arizona’s Department of Transportation is trying to see if it can change drivers’ habits in order to reduce congestion on freeways. According to the Business Journal, ADOT wants drivers to use “common sense and eliminate start-and-stop driving during rush hour.” The ADOT concept to manage traffic flow is to use real-time technology to find a constant speed to reduce traffic stuttering, according to the report. The Business Journal has more.5. ExxonMobil officials have submitted an emergency application to Santa Barbara County asking to truck oil from storage tanks at their facility, which has been dormant since a May 19 oil spill last year, according to a NoozHawk reports. The company seeks a temporary permit so oil can be trucked from the Santa Ynez facility’s tanks for safety reasons, according to the report.

About the Author

Cristina Commendatore

Cristina Commendatore was previously the Editor-in-chief of FleetOwner magazine. She reported on the transportation industry since 2015, covering topics such as business operational challenges, driver and technician shortages, truck safety, and new vehicle technologies. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.