Author: Steve Guglielmo

No Change to FMCSA Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Rates for 2023.  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s various modal administrations revise their random drug and alcohol testing rates for each calendar year based on the positive test rate for regulated workers in the prior year.  For 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced there will be no change to its random drug and alcohol testing rate for CDL drivers. Thus, in 2023 companies will still be required to give drug tests to 50% of their drivers and alcohol tests to 10% of their drivers.  These tests must be…

Haun Welding Supply and Specialty Gases announced on its company LinkedIn page that it has opened its 22nd store location in Allentown, PA. The new location is: 1438 Chestnut Street Emmaus, PA 18049

In an open letter from President Glenn Bliss on the company’s LinkedIn page, General Distributing Company announced that 2023 marks its 75th year in business.

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Joyce Pierce, who passed away on Friday, January 13th. To read a full obituary, click here or read below: Joyce McElhaney Pierce 86, a resident of Daphne, AL passed away peaceful at her home after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Joyce was born, along with her twin sister Judy, on January 5, 1937 to Gerald and Virginia McElhaney in New Castle, PA. Growing up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Joyce graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and attended Kent State University. While there she met and married the love of her…

AWISCO announced that it had acquired Oxygen Supply Co., Inc. The company says that the new acquisition “will allow AWISCO to enhance our product offerings and serivces to all of our amazing customers!” The new AWISCO branch is located at: 1889 US-9 Unit 116 Toms River, NJ, 08755 The company says, “We are excited about our new presence in Toms River and the opportunity to show you, our valued customer, the benefits of now being part of AWISCO. A special welcome to Jim McElroy, Daniel Romano, and Fabio Fernandez, who will be joining the AWISCO team.”

Preemployment DACH Query Now Satisfies Investigation Requirement for Prospective Drivers’ Drug and Alcohol Violations.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that as of January 6, 2023, a pre-employment query of the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse satisfies the requirement to investigate a prospective driver’s previous drug and alcohol program violations, as set forth in 49 CFR 391.23(e)(4) and 382.413(b). Employers of CDL drivers are required to conduct background investigations before hiring a driver. This process includes determining if the driver has violated the drug and alcohol regulations of any Department of Transportation (DOT) mode within the past three…

According to an article from the Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR): Eric Nordman a supervisor at Toll Gas and Welding Company recently received the Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employee serving in the Army National Guard. Although the nominator of the award, Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel Benson was not present, Benson was appreciative of the support, assistance and care packages he received from his Toll Gas and Welding Company supervisor Eric Nordman and his team while on deployment. Benson especially wanted to honor Nordman with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve…

Linde announced that it had acquired the remaining interests of nexAir, LLC. Linde’s wholly owned subsidiary Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. (LG&E) has held a minority interest in nexAir since 2012. LG&E has now purchased the remaining 77.2%. The acquisition complements Linde’s existing packaged gas business and expands its footprint in a core and fast-growing geography across the southeastern United States.

Encore Gas & Supply, a Southern California based independent gas and industrial supply distributor, rang in the new year by launching a completely redesigned website which can be accessed by visiting www.EncoreSupply.com. According to president Ben Anderson, “while we always received compliments about our old website, the new site more accurately reflects the company as it is today – in particular the ‘mission critical’ nature of the industries we serve and the products and services we provide.” Encore serves a wide variety of industries, the operations of which are too vital to be disrupted by delays, inaccuracies and interruptions with…

EPA Issues Final Rule on Heavy Duty Engine Emissions.  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that will impose further restrictions on NOx and other hydrocarbon emissions from heavy duty trucks beginning with the 2027 model year. According to EPA, the final rule includes new, more stringent emissions standards that cover a wider range of heavy-duty engine operating conditions compared to today’s standards, and it requires these more stringent emissions standards to be met for a larger portion of the time these engines operate on the road. This final rule is one of three major actions being taken…