This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending November 13, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding COVID-19:
There has been massive confusion about whether or not professional truck drivers must be vaxxinated, partly because the information in trucking publications conflict with each other.
All you have to do is look at the information published on OpenVAERS to see that after getting one or more CV jabs, many thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands of people have experienced adverse reactions.
As of this writing:
- 18,461 COVID Vaccine Reported Deaths; and
- 875,651 COVID Vaccine Adverse Event Reports.
And those are just the ones that the C*D*C has allowed to be published on the site.
One source says: “We know VAERS only captures 1-10% of all adverse events.”
Please do not allow yourself to be bullied into taking a jab, because there are those who allowed that and then experienced major regret.
Here are the most recent articles from trucking sources on this topic.
- Appeals Court Hits Brakes on Biden’s Vax Mandate Citing Possible ‘Grave Constitutional Issues’
- Appeals Court Stays Vaccine Mandate on Larger Businesses
- ATA Files Lawsuit Challenging Biden’s ‘Devastating’ Vax Mandate
- ATA files lawsuit over Biden’s vaccine mandate
- ATA-Led Coalition Sues to Block Federal Vaccine Mandate
- Biden Team Defends Vaccine Mandate, Wants Cases Combined
- Biden’s OSHA vaccination mandate explained
- Could Some Drivers be Exempt from Vaccine Mandate?
- COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate On Hold
- Did trucking duck the vax mandate?
- Federal appeals court puts vaccine mandate on hold for now
- Fuel Retailers Warn Vax Mandate Could Force Truck Stops to Close, Limit Diesel Supplies
- Labor Secretary says vaccine rule won’t apply to most truckers
- Louisiana court deals blow to Biden’s vaccine mandate
- Momentum’ Building to Stop ‘Heroes’ From Being Fired Due to Vax Mandates, Senator Says
- Trucking Advised to Prepare for Vaccine Mandate as Courts Review Case
- Trucking associations take vaccine mandate fight to court
- Trucking Groups Challenge COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in Court
- Trucking groups file suit against vaccine mandate
- Trucking groups slap Biden Administration with lawsuit over vax mandate
- Trucking organizations join lawsuit challenging vaccination mandate
- Vaccination mandate may not apply to many solo truckers & court issues stay
- Vaccine mandate halted, for now, as lawsuits fly
- Vaccine mandate tied up in court as 26 states file appeals
- Werner CEO Voices Concern Over Vaccine Mandate
- Will team drivers need to be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19?
2. Regarding ports, containers, supply chain, and postal service:
The ports, containers, chassis, supply chain, and truckers issue is quite complex.
In my opinion, the federal government created this problem (in part, with agreement by certain states), so it needs to reverse course on everything that led up to it and then stay out of it!
Please see the Truckers section below.
Ports
- Briefly: Driverless Pods now in U.S.| Biden unveils port improvement plan
- Dorsey Intermodal Set to Deliver 5,000 Chassis to S.C. Ports
- Port investments will stabilize supply chains, Biden says
- Ports of Charleston and Virginia see record container volumes in October
- Ports suffering from communications gap with US Customs
- Savannah Port Gets Funds to Expand Container Storage
- White House announces plans to evaluate, upgrade US ports in light of supply chain issues
- White House Unveils Port Funding to Ease Supply Chain Congestion
Containers
- After container ships sped up, why did they just tap on the brakes?
- US senator proposes $125M in grants to reroute container ships
Why is this even an option?
Supply chain
- Biden unveils more supply chain improvement plans
- CEOs meet with Biden on supply chain challenges
- Congressional Republicans Attack Biden on Supply Chain Crisis
- Equipment Makers Counter Supply Chain Uncertainty
- F3 chat: Has technology improved the supply chain?
- F3 chat: Reducing waste in your supply chain approach
- F3 chat: Solving supply chain challenges through data solutions
- F3 chat: Supply chain crunch drives demand for greater transparency
- F3 chat: Supply chains need transparency, collaboration, agility
- F3 chat: Take politics out of 24/7 supply chains
- F3 chat: Why data, cloud storage are critical to supply chain
- F3 keynote: Fragmentation among biggest challenges in supply chain
- Hyliion delays Hypertruck ERX hybrid program, blames supply chain crisis
- Is the Supply Chain Disruption Task Force helping?
- President Biden’s Attempt to Explain ‘Confusing’ Supply Chain Crisis is a Must See
- Shipping’s extreme consolidation could prolong supply chain pain
- Snarled Supply Chain Makes Warehouse Shortage Worse
- Supply Chain Bottlenecks Prove BLS Was Wrong About Need for More Truck Drivers
- Supply chain challenges continue to weigh down Canadian economy
- Supply chain dislocation to last through ’22, transportation execs say
- Toyota December Production Outlook Shows Supply Woes Are Easing
- Trucking Associations Call on Biden for Supply Chain Solutions
- US House Panel to Examine Supply Chain Nov. 17
- White House announces additional steps to address supply chain
- White House Continues Efforts to Unsnarl Supply Chain
Postal service
3. Regarding fuel, fuel costs, fuel economy, fuel shortage:
Remember that the first law of thermodynamics, the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system.
So, even if trucks are powered by electricity, that electricity must come from somewhere.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the sources of U.S. electricity generation in 2020 are listed here.
Fuel
- F3 chat: Hydrogen as a fuel is finding new supporters
- PHMSA seeks to suspend transport of LNG by rail
Fuel costs
- 4 Top Ways Truck Drivers Can Reduce Diesel Fuel Costs
- Diesel Rises 0.3¢ to $3.730 a Gallon
- DOE/EIA diesel price rises for 8th straight week — barely
- Gas station sued for charging $9.99 per gallon reaches settlement with NC authorities
- Surging fuel costs are masking trucking spot rate decline
Fuel economy
- Daily Infographic: Why is winter fuel economy lower?
- Podcast: Is There a Better Way to Measure Fuel Economy?
Fuel shortage
- Diesel fuel shortage hits truck stops across America
- Diesel fuel shortages a mystery to fuel haulers
- Diesel supply remains tight in some markets
- Multiple TA truck stops rationing diesel due to supply issues
- Truck Stop Chain Reports Ongoing Diesel Shortages at Numerous Southwest Locations
4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, humans, and truckers:
Autonomous vehicles
I absolutely oppose the use of autonomous, self-driving, or driverless commercial motor vehicles on the roads with the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help you stay up-to-date on the topic.
- Driverless Tech CEO Tells Truckers: Prepare Now For ‘Transition’ to Self-Driving Trucks
- F3 chat: Can autonomous trucks end our supply chain woes?
- F3 chat: Fostering autonomous trucking regulation is team sport
- F3 Day One: Autonomous trucks and systems
- Gatik fully removes the driver from its autonomous trucks
- Gatik, Walmart Achieve Fully Driverless Deliveries
- How humans play a major role in autonomous driving
- Inspections and Maintenance for Autonomous Trucks
- Is the Real World Ready for Driverless Trucks?
- Kodiak Robotics to double autonomous trucking efforts with $125M in new capital
- Loaded and Rolling: Infrastructure bill, autonomous freight, sluggish November freight volumes
- Self-Driving Software Developer Aurora Goes Public
- SPAC merger collapses for autonomous trucking software developer Plus
- Walmart Accelerates Self-Driving Delivery
- Walmart Now Deploying ‘Fully Driverless’ Delivery Trucks
- Walmart takes safety driver out of autonomous middle-mile
Humans
Truckers
The second article in this section is extremely important as it concerns the ports and supply chain issue.
- How can truckers be scarce and under-utilized simultaneously?
- The Truck Driver Shortage is a LIE! Let me tell you how…
- Truck Drivers Are The Supply Chain Solution, Not Its Problem
- US Needs 80,000 More Truck Drivers, Association President Says
- Yahoo: A trucker explains the truck-driver shortage: We’re ‘tired of carrying the country on our backs’
news.yahoo.com/trucker-explains-truck-driver-shortage-180930699/ (no longer online)
5. Regarding accidents, drugs, smuggling, and animal strikes:
Accidents
Please learn from these articles what led up to the accidents and to the extent possible, endeavor not to repeat the circumstances that led up to them.
- Cameras catch the moment that a semi truck demolishes a pedestrian bridge
- Dump truck driver leaves entire truck bed behind
- Three dead including truck driver in crash caused by motorist running stop sign
- VIDEO: Semi pushes Tesla on Autopilot half a mile down the road, dash cammer says
Drugs
Never ever attempt to haul illegal drugs, no matter how big the promised reward is.
Smuggling
Never ever attempt to transport people like cattle or cargo, no matter how big the incentive is.
Animal strikes
You may want to see the Deer Collision page on our site.
6. Regarding consumers, economy, and rates:
Consumers
There’s a lot of variety covered in these articles.
- F3 chat: Using tech for ‘seamless’ deliveries from retailers to consumers
- Households Face Biggest Surge in Electricity Costs Since 2009
- Inflation Builds With Biggest Gain in Prices Since 1990
- Online Shoppers Face Increase in Out-of-Stock Goods
- US Producer Prices Climb 0.6%, Adding to Inflation Concerns
Economy
- Class 8 Sales Falter in October
- October Trailer Orders Fade
- Rivian’s Trading Debut Pushes Value to Almost $88 Billion
Rates
- Sluggish November start, but shippers haven’t taken back pricing power
- Weathering the storm: September freight rates stayed high as capacity remained constrained
7. Regarding emissions, empty miles, utilization, and fatalities :
Emissions
- Trailer manufacturers win appeal in emissions case
- Unenforced emissions regs ‘absolutely’ constraining drayage market
Empty miles
Utilization
Fatalities
- Despite Dangerous Interstates and More Semis, Truck Accident Fatalities Lower Than 1975
- FMCSA says fatal truck crashes increased from 2018 to 2019
- FMCSA: Large truck-involved fatal crashes increased in 2019
8. Regarding inspections, insurance, safety, and weather:
Inspections
Make sure that whomever is conducting your trailer inspection stays up-to-date on what is required.
- FMCSA adds to annual CMV inspection list
- FMCSA Announces Final Rule Requiring Annual Inspections of Rear Underride Guards
- FMCSA to require rear guards to be inspected annually
- FMCSA To Require Rear Underride Guards To Be Inspected Each Year
- FMCSA will require annual inspections of rear impact guards
Insurance
Safety
- From Facebook: SBTC TRUCKER SAFETY ALERT: The SBTC advises Drivers to exercise extreme caution in urban areas in upcoming wake of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Cities like Chicago are canceling police officers’ days off amid fear of mass social unrest over verdict…
- Unsafe driving behaviors down, but motorists feel police won’t catch them
Weather
Please be extremely careful when driving in strong winds, especially when you are deadheading (hauling an empty trailer).
- High winds tip over at least 10 trucks in South Dakota
- High winds topple 10 big rigs in South Dakota
9. Regarding surcharge, technology, tires, and tolls:
Surcharge
Technology
One thing about technology is that it is always changing and continuously needs to be updated.
- DTNA’s Virtual Vehicle Offers In-Cab Telematics, App Flexibility
- ELD compliance for many in jeopardy with 3G sunsetting
- FMCSA to update CDL requirements; mobile carriers plan ‘sunsetting’ of 3G networks
- How to Leverage Data as a Fleet Safety Tool
- Isaac, Trimble Among First to Receive ELD Certification in Canada
- Members of trucking industry among those concerned about FMCSA breaches
- New in Trucking? Here Is What You Need to Know About the ELD Mandate
- VIDEO: This futuristic concept truck is being pitched as ‘home away from home’
- WATCH: Truck trailer screen shows driver’s view of the road
Tires
Tolls
10. Regarding roads, roads – I-40, and roads – snow:
Roads
- Brent Spence Bridge May Finally Get Fix in $1 Trillion Bill
- Brent Spence Bridge reopens all lanes to traffic
- Early reopening for crucial Brent Spence Bridge
- FreightWaves Classics: New York State Thruway connects major cities in the Empire State
- New 400-series highway coming to Ontario
- Report: Interstate 40 bridge’s crack likely dates to 1970s
- Ribbon cutting set for last section of upgraded US 35 in WVa
- Road conditions forecast targets safety, on-time delivery
- USDOT Secretary Alleges ‘Racism’ Built Into Interstates and Ports, Vows $100B to Reverse It
- WSDOT Warns of Longer Traffic Delays, More Road Closures Due to ‘Pandemic Staffing Issues’
Roads – I-40
Regarding this article, I commented on Facebook:
Quote from article:
“NCDOT expects backups for more than eight miles. The Tennessee Department of Transportation suggests drivers take I-81 to I-26 to avoid the area. However, this route adds around 45 minutes to driving time.”
While the article says,
– “backups for more than eight miles”; and
– the detour route “adds around 45 minutes to driving time”;
it does *not* say how many extra miles the detour route requires. Many (most?) truckers are paid by the mile.
I would like to hear from truckers and trucking companies how or if truckers will be compensated for covering the extra miles. I would also like to know how the detour miles and time adversely impact loads being picked up and delivered.
If you are impacted by this, please feel free to comment through the form below.
Roads – snow
- Expect slow snow removal in Kansas this winter due to plow driver shortage
- Kansas faces staffing shortage for winter highway clearing
- WSDOT warns of longer road closures, slower response to winter storms due to ‘pandemic staffing issues’
11. Regarding employment, pay, retirement, and violence:
Employment
The body of the article does not address employer-pushed vaxxines, but I can’t help but wonder if that is part of what is responsible.
Pay
- Companies claim extortion as drivers protest unpaid wages
- Driver protests against unpaid wages continue in Peel
Retirement
As of the time that I access the poll results (101 votes cast):
No: 67.33%
Yes: 27.72%
Unsure: 4.95%
Would you like to learn how to earn a second income from the cab of your truck?
Violence
Quotes from article (links not included):
“Blue cities in America… are collapsing into lawlessness and chaos. Across NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Boston, St. Louis, Los Angeles and other blue cities, vehicle break-ins are skyrocketing, muggings are up and shoplifting is spiraling out of control to such a huge extent that many retailers (like Walgreens and CVS) are simply shutting down stores in blue cities.”
“Robberies are now so bad in Los Angeles that the LAPD is directly advising residents to ‘cooperate and comply’ with robbers.”
Please exercise extreme caution in traveling into, around in, and back out of these major cities.
You may wish to check out the information on our self-defense page.
12. Regarding awards and freebies:
Congratulations to all truckers who accomplished a trucking-related achievement, were nominated for an award, or were listed as a finalist for one!
- Marine vet Rose a ‘Driving for Excellence’ finalist
- Thomson’s Castaneda named Ontario Driver of the Year
- TMAF salutes: Alyn Jones’s 4.3 million accident-free miles
- TMAF salutes: Jeff Tetzloff’s attention to safety behind the wheel
- TMAF salutes: Ron Baird’s 7.3-million-mile safety record
A huge thank-you goes to truckers who selflessly helped others:
- Challenger’s McKnight named Truck Hero
- Female trucker honored for rendering aid in multiple ways at the scene of multi-vehicle crash
- Woman trucker honored for her actions at I-280 accident scene
Freebies
My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2021.11.13 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.