TDMST Weekly Roundup: 2020.08.29

This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending August 29, 2020.

We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding storms:

According to an August 27, 2020, article, “Hurricane Laura slammed southern Louisiana early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, one of the most powerful to strike the Gulf Coast in decades. The storm made landfall at 1 a.m. near Cameron, La., about 35 miles east of the Texas border.”

The storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression and is still dumping rain far inland.

Much destruction was left in Laura’s wake and there will most likely be a lot of “picking up the pieces” and rebuilding in the days to come.

Please monitor travel advisories and road signs — as some roads may have been swept away by fast moving water (as pictured here).

Never drive through running water as you may not be able to see what is beneath it and your truck may be swept downstream.

Remember: Turn around, don’t drown.

Here are some recent articles about storms, including Hurricane Laura.

2. Regarding autonomous trucks:

I am distressed every time I read about professional truck drivers potentially being replaced with technology.

Still, to keep you informed, here are recent articles about autonomous, driverless, or self-driving trucks.

What is even more distressing to me is how the U.S. government seems to be on-board with replacing truckers, too!

The August 27, 2020, article entitled USDOT Secretary Addresses “Biggest Challenge” Facing Driverless Trucks opens as follows:

A recent interview with United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao is providing more insight into how the Department is working to bring about its goal of speeding the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) on American roadways.

If this distresses you, contact your elected officials to voice your concerns.

If you see your trucking job as being shaky in any respect, you may want to consider starting to earn a second income from the cab of your truck.

3. Regarding accidents:

My husband Mike once drove for a motor carrier which claimed that every truck accident can be prevented by the trucker.

Of course, we have debunked that over and over again, plus, it as been reported: “10 Crash Types FMCSA Says Could Be ‘Not Preventable.'”

I was grieved to learn of how a Teen Pickup Truck Driver [was] Ejected and [the] Passenger [was] Killed After Crashing Into [a] Disabled Big Rig.

Still, this type of accident underscores the need for truckers in disabled trucks to have everything on their end in order, including:

turning on flashers;
putting out hazard triangles at the correct distances;
updating logs; and
notifying one’s driver manager.

Sometimes justice does catch up with people.

Here are the most recent articles about the people who staged truck accidents in order to take money that wasn’t theirs.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave
when first we practice to deceive.

4. Regarding economy-related articles:

Border:

Transborder freight up 46% in June

Economy:

Employment and trucking jobs:

Brokers:

Think Brokers Should Be More Transparent About Rates? FMCSA Wants To Know!

Rates and spot market:

Cargo policy:

Double-check cargo policy for exposures and exclusions

Cargo theft:

COVID-19 slowdown drives cargo theft spike

Money, funding, loans:

5. Regarding supply chain, 3d printing, and tractors:

Supply chain:

Preparing Supply Chains For COVID-19 Treatment Distribution

3d printing

3D printing Desktop Metal going public, eyes manufacturing shake-up

Tractor record:

Navistar delivers 5,000th LT Series tractor to J.B. Hunt

6. Regarding FMCSA:

An August 24, 2020, article — Trucking Groups Urge Congress to Reform “Unlawful and Unethical” FMCSA — stated:

In a letter sent to key U.S. lawmakers on Friday, the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) and United Transportation Association (UTA) argued for the immediate need to hold Congressional hearings for the purpose of reforming the FMCSA. …

A continued criticism leveled at the FMCSA by the SBTC and UTA is that the Agency acts in the interest of large carriers and safety groups instead of small business truckers.

7. Regarding drugs and smuggling:

Do not attempt to haul illegal drugs or illegal aliens in any part of your tractor or trailer(s).

Drugs

Smuggling people

Mexican Trucker Convicted of Smuggling 83 People Into U.S.

8. Regarding electric and emissions:

Here are the most recent articles about electric trucks and emissions:

9. Regarding inspections:

Be prepared for a truck inspection at any time!

Here are the most recent truck inspection articles:

Under no circumstances should you put up with driving for a company that will not keep its equipment maintained, as was the case written about here:

Truck driver posts pictures of ‘dangerous’ equipment he was told to drive

10. Regarding protests and violence:

Whenever possible, avoid areas of protest and where violence is being perpetrated toward truckers.

Here are the most recent articles on these subjects:

I still want to know how it is possible for a trucker to protect himself/herself from being shot from outside his/her truck.

If you have any ideas, please share them through the form below.

11. Regarding technology:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a two-edged sword.

According to a December 6, 2016, article:

Artificial Intelligence is the broader concept of machines being able to carry out tasks in a way that we would consider “smart”.

Here are some recent articles about AI as it concerns trucking and technology:

Being connected and connectivity

Telematics:

The Three Biggest Trends in Telematics: What You Need to Know

Dash cam:

Trucker’s dash cam tells the truth after brake checker gets bashed

12. Regarding Hours of Service (HOS) and regulations:

It was 7 years ago this month that I predicted that the 2013 Hours of Service regulations change was about control, not saving lives.

It was one of those predictions that I was not happy to make, but did come true. {Sigh!}

Here we are in 2020, and the Hours of Service regulations is fixing to change again!

Here are some of the most recent articles about that:

Regulations

Snow chains

Colorado’s “Chain Law” Begins Next Week, Non-Compliance Could Cost You $1,000

13. Regarding nuclear verdicts:

I’m glad to see that at least one “nuclear verdict” was overturned!

14. Regarding truckers getting booted at a truck stop:

Ever since the Hours of Service regulation was changed to require truckers to take a 30-minute break, some truckers have rudely parked their trucks in the fuel island — and expected others behind them to wait!

Now, one truck stop has taken decisive action to curtail the practice at their fuel island lanes — and it is costly.