A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
We decided to continue in the effort of spreading good news from the transportation by making last week’s blog a series. Automotive manufacturing plants are turning their manufacturing plants into production lines creating resources to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and the FMCSA is doing their part to ensure truck drivers don't go hungry. See how Americans come together during this time of need.
Truck Parts Manufacturer Turns Facility into N95 Mask Production Line
https://www.ccjdigital.com/transportation-supply-chain-operations-support-medical-professionals/
As we continue to see truck and automotive manufacturing decline to an abrupt halt, Dana, Inc. found a way to put its Maumee, Ohio axle and drive shaft plant to good use. The company has shifted the use of 10 3-D printers to make parts for approximately 500 masks per week. Learn more about how the small plant is doing what it can here.
Love’s Travel Stops Donates $100,000 to Truckers Charity
https://www.loves.com/en/news/2020/april/loves-donates-100000-to-st-christopher-truckers-fund
Love’s Travel Stops recently made a generous donation to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF). As an organization, SCF helps drivers out of work due to illness or injury and their families with expenses like rent, insurance utilities and more. The contribution should be a much-needed assist during this COVID-19 pandemic, where there might be a spike in drivers out of work due to illness. Read more about this act of kindness here.
FMCSA to Allow Food Trucks in Rest Areas
In response to the unique demand and challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, the FMCSA has been quick to waive or update regulations that limit drivers’ time on the road. Now they have waived a regulation that might have impacted drivers’ comfort, by allowing Food Trucks to serve truckers at roadside rest stops. The move is a direct countermeasure to the vast majority of restaurants being closed nationwide, which has severely limited truckers’ ability access to quick and convenient food options. Read the notice from the FMCSA here.
Cummins Using Materials to Produce Much-Needed N95 Masks
https://freightwaves.com/news/cummins-repurposing-engine-filtration-material-to-make-n95-masks
The diesel engine filtration manufacturer has enough resources to produce millions of masks each month, and has been looking for other ways to make use of the materials and plant long before the pandemic. Read about how their filtration materials meet the stringent requirements of an N95 designation here.