Ryan Witkowski

Kansas City

Staff Writer at Land Line Media Magazine

I'm a man who doesn't know how to sell a contradiction #RooUp

Featured in: Favicon

landline.media Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

stateways.com Favicon

audacy.com Favicon

ourcommunitynow.com

Articles

Commercial vehicle traffic eliminated at U.S.-Mexico border crossing

1 week ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

Officials in Texas are moving forward with plans that would eliminate commercial vehicle traffic at the Bridge of the Americas Land Port on Entry in El Paso. On Friday, May 2, the U.S. General Services Administration released its final environmental impact statement for a “modernization project” of the U.S.-Mexico border crossing.
Rep says federal government ‘needs to be a better partner’ in fighting cargo theft

2 weeks ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

With the federal government taking a keen interest in cargo theft, industry stakeholders are calling upon lawmakers to increase prosecution for cargo thieves and create uniform standards for reporting the crime. On Tuesday, April 29, industry stake holders were given an opportunity to discuss what measures the federal government should be taking to curb the rising rates of cargo theft during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee roundtable.
Scammers continue to strike with unpaid toll texts

2 weeks ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

You can add Kansas and Oklahoma to the list of states warning residents about text scams looking to collect unpaid tolls. On Wednesday, April 23, the Kansas Department of Transportation issued a notice to the public about text messages “that falsely claim to be from KDOT and demand payment for unpaid tolls.”Not only does the department not request or collect payments via text message, it also is not the agency in charge of collecting tolls in the state.
U.S. cargo theft following a 'unique and concerning pattern'

3 weeks ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

The United States is facing a “unique and concerning pattern” when it comes to cargo theft, according to a recent report. TT Club – a London-based global logistics insurer – recently released it’s 2024 Cargo Theft Report, which the company says offers “strategic analysis of global cargo theft data to uncover criminal activity and emerging threats to the supply chain.”According to the report, the U.S. accounts for 11% of total cargo theft worldwide, behind only Brazil (23%) and Mexico (13%).
LAPD recovers nearly $4 million in stolen freight

3 weeks ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

Police in California have arrested two “prominent members” of a South American crime ring in connection to nearly $4 million in cargo theft. On Tuesday, April 22, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Division announced the arrests of Oscar David Borrero-Manchola, 41, and Yonaiker Rafael Martinez-Ramos, 25, following an investigation that included multiple search warrants at storage units in the San Fernando Valley.
States begin implementing new federal requirements for CDL medical certification

4 weeks ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

With the compliance date approaching regarding federal medical certification requirements, some states have already begun operating under new regulations. Originally published to the Federal Register by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in April 2015, the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration final rule set out to accomplish two things.
State DOTs across the country see spike in toll scam texts

1 month ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

If you are breathing and have a cellphone, chances are you have received at least one scam text message about unpaid tolls. The popular text scam has been around for some time already but has seen a noticeable uptick since the calendar turned to 2025. During a recent episode of Land Line Now, host Mark Reddig discussed the issue with spokespeople from Departments of Transportation in numerous states across the country.
FMCSA provides vague answers to possible changes to regulations

1 month ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration failed to provide concrete answers about possible regulation changes during a listening session at the Mid-America Trucking Show – citing a new administration, a new Secretary of Transportation and newly nominated administrator of the agency.
Guilty verdicts for two men charged in deadly smuggling incident

1 month ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

Two men charged following the death of 53 migrants during an attempted human smuggling incident have been found guilty for their roles in the deadly event. On Tuesday, March 18, a San Antonio jury returned guilty verdicts for Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega. The two were charged in connection to a 2022 human smuggling attempt that resulted in the deaths of 53 migrants – including six children and a pregnant woman – and injuries to 11 others.
Arkansas increases penalties for cargo theft

1 month ago | landline.media | Ryan Witkowski

New legislation in Arkansas aims to slow the rise in cargo theft by creating stiffer penalties for individuals convicted of the crime. On Tuesday, March 18, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law SB301, which enhances the penalty for those convicted of “organized theft of cargo” by adding up to 10 years to the sentence. Individuals convicted of theft under the new legislation are not eligible to receive earned release credits for the enhanced portion of the sentence.