TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2022.12.31 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending December 31, 2022, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding year end, predictions, winter, and parking:
Year end
Near year’s end, various authors always write articles summarizing:
- what wasn’t so good in the year wrapping up; and
- what could be better in the year to come.
Here are a few about the trucking industry:
- FreightWaves’ most engaging history stories in 2022
- From highway bottlenecks to cargo theft, here’s how the year sounded
- Most truckers had a good/excellent 2022, evenly split on 2023: Poll
Predictions
Winter
While I’m hopeful that we will not experience another “deep freeze” like the one from which we just emerged, please always take precautions in the winter.
- 13 dead after wintry weekend in Ohio, including 46 vehicle pileup, 1,300 total crashes
- Bad weather to delay more than 10 million holiday packages, consultancy says
- Frigid monster storm across US claims at least 34 lives
Here are a few articles on our website about the winter:
- Knowing When to Pull It Over and Just Stop Driving in Winter!
- Winter Clothing Items
- First Winter Driving Season
Parking
Safe and legal truck parking has typically always been tight, but it is even more so when all of the trucks have to shut down because of bad weather.
Winter storms are one of those rare cases in which I can understand how “reserved” parking may be acceptable.
2. Regarding accidents, fatalities, fatigue, smuggling, and hitchhiker:
Accidents
The first four articles in this section cover accidents caused by the truckers.
Endeavor never to repeat the actions that led up to them.
- Securement problem: 99,000lb crane leads to 8.5 hours cleanup after being dislodged from trailer
- Driving too fast for conditions: Dash cam shows trucker becoming part of 100 vehicle pileup in Ontario
- Potential DUI: Suspected DUI truck driver suffers medical emergency in another vehicle following deadly head-on wreck
- Eating while driving: Trucker passes out while choking on food, sends rigs plunging off I-10
- Motorist caused: VIDEO: Motorist makes sudden turn, causing near head-on collision with semi
Fatalities
We express our deepest condolences and sympathy to those who passed away.
- Maine highway fatalities hit 15-year high
- Man killed after crashing car into parked big rig at New York rest area
- POLICE: Truck driver arrested for homicide ran over locksmith he didn’t want to pay
- Truck driver facing 5 vehicular homicide charges after crash
- Trucker dead after tree falls on rig
- Trucker facing five charges vehicular homicide for holiday weekend crash
Fatigue
During the process of signing up to attend this webinar, I asked this question:
“How is it possible that ‘exercise’ can help combat truck driver fatigue when what they may really need is ‘sleep’?”
I hope that my question will be asked and answered during the webinar.
Smuggling
Never ever agree to haul human beings like they are cargo or cattle, no matter how much money you’ve been promised!
- 18 immigrants found under tarped trailer
- Tractor-trailer driver arrested for smuggling 18 people into US illegally
Hitchhiker
I would still like to have truckers’ opinions about how to prevent hitchhikers from jumping on the back of a trailer after one has completed a pre-trip inspection.
Please use the form below to comment.
Thanks.
3. Regarding economy, bankruptcies, fines, taxes, tolls, and UPS:
Economy
The following are some of the most recent articles having to do with the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective:
- ACT Research: Net trailer orders decline in November
- Class 8 tractor market remained negative in October
- Daily Infographic: Q4 Market Update and Outlook
- Eroding market factors, longer payment periods this season’s top carrier challenges
- Higher interest rates unlikely to dent warehouse demand next year
- November sales of Class 8 trucks seem to belie predictions of recession
- Transformational deals in trucking during 2022
- Used Class 8 retail volumes trend downward, according to ACT Research
- Used truck sales slide in November, ACT Research reports
Bankruptcies
Fines
- See which states have the highest fines for speeding by CDL drivers
- TrafficTickets.com study ranks Illinois top state with highest potential speeding fines for CDL drivers.
Taxes
Tolls
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge, other Washington tolls grace period to end
- Tolls on I-5, I-205 being explored in Portland; comments sought
UPS
Was hanging onto the surcharge just a little too juicy to give up right away?
How will this affect their business?
4. Regarding technology, ELDs, exemptions, and speed limiters:
Technology
ELDs
Exemptions
Speed limiters
Please read the article and comment through the form below on whether you agree or disagree with this trucker:
5. Regarding electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and fuel cell:
Electric vehicles
Beware of “tax credits” or other “incentives” to persuade you to buy an electric truck.
Consider the “deep freeze” weather from which we just emerged and please comment below regarding what you would have done had you been stranded far from a charging station.
- EV sales set to skyrocket with tax credit changes
- SAE International publishes new guidelines for wireless heavy-duty EV charging
- Treasury Signals Opening for Foreign Carmakers on EV Subsidy
Emissions
- EPA & Owner-Operator Group At Odds Over New Emissions Rules
- What do OEMs think of EPA’s new emission regs?
Fuel
- Although Diesel Costs Appear To Be In Retreat, Refinery Concerns Linger
- Benchmark diesel price down again but futures price turns higher
- Diesel price average keeps falling across the country
- Diesel prices continue falling over holidays
- Diesel Slips 5.9¢ to $4.537 a Gallon in Seventh Straight Decline
- DOE Boosts Hydrogen Efforts With $750 Million in Funding
Fuel cell
In a different vein, beware of “tax credits” or other “incentives” to persuade you to buy a fuel cell-powered truck.
6. Regarding banned, border, and violence:
Banned
This kind of ban refers to roads being closed due to severe winter weather.
- Buffalo roads reopen as search for storm victims continues
- Military police to enforce driving ban in snow-slammed Buffalo
- New York ends certain weather-related travel restrictions
- New York Thruway Authority announces changes to service areas ahead of modernization project
- Ohio Turnpike bans most trucks now through Christmas morning
- State and Military police working to keep people off roads amid catastrophic snow storm
- Two New York State Thruway service areas to close Jan. 1
Border
Violence
7. Regarding entry level, testing, and last mile:
Entry level
While I appreciate the time and effort that went into the preparation of “Training Provider Registry,” the FMCSA and DOT are unconstitutional entities according to The Constitution of the United States.
Testing
I’m glad that “hair testing” was not added to the “Clearinghouse” that already covers other kinds of tests.
- FMCSA denies carriers’ request to report hair drug testing results to Clearinghouse
- FMCSA Denies Trucking Alliance To Put Hair Testing Into Clearing House
Last mile
Be aware of potential changes in the trucking industry marketplace.
8. Regarding change and retention:
Change
Quote from the article:
Are there things you wish you could change in the trucking industry? Do you sometimes feel as if you’re the only one frustrated by some particular issue?
Chances are many others feel the same way.
But nothing will change unless someone speaks up. And that someone could be you.
We agree.
In fact, part of the way that I plan to help those in the trucking industries is by publishing ebooks.
Look for those to be published in early 2023.
Retention
9. Regarding inspections, HOS, violations, and maintenance:
Inspections
Quote from the infographic:
“13% of the commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related critical vehicle inspection item violations.
HOS
Here we go again with exemptions to the Hours of Service.
It may be one thing to provide heating oil to those who need it to survive ultra-cold winter weather.
But giving exemptions for fireworks?
Seriously?
- Fireworks haulers receive hours of service exemption
- FMCSA again grants hours of service flexibility for fireworks haulers around July 4
- Hours of service for poultry, feed transport waived in Kentucky
Violations
You are the “captain of the ship” regarding your truck and it is your responsibility to do pre-trip inspections on your truck.
If you find something that is not safe or legal on your truck, put it out-of-service until it is fixed.
And for heavens sake, remember that you are paid to safely transport freight while driving, not watch videos (a form of distracted driving)!
- Iowa DOT catches truck driver with big time wheel troubles
- Man in a stolen semi holds police at bay for hours in Orlando, Florida
- VIDEO: Ohio trooper catches semi truck driving down the middle of US 30, driver admits to watching video
Maintenance
The video embedded in the first article linked below was shocking to watch and we’re glad that the trucker was spared from being set on fire!
- WATCH: Garbage truck bursts into flames while picking up trash
- Winter shock maintenance critical for safety, driver comfort
10. Regarding rates and recalls:
Rates
- Shippers Remain in Control of Rates, but 2023 Could Bring Balance
- Spot freight rates surge heading into holidays
Recalls
11. Regarding shortages and supply chain:
Shortages
The first paragraph from the article reads:
Toyota Motor Corp. said its global output hit a record for November, thanks in part to solid consumer demand, though it warned of an uncertain outlook due to a persistent shortage of semiconductors and spikes in COVID cases in China.
Supply chain
Two sentences from the article linked just above are critical in my mind:
Even with the recent announcement that China is reopening, don’t expect the supply chain to go back to normal.
Why? Because the supply chain needs people. It takes people to make and move products.
There! I’m glad that someone finally stated that “the supply chain needs people… to make and move products.”
There’s been a big push to replace people with machines in many different sectors.
But here’s are some questions to answer:
- Even if many tasks are taken over by machines and automation, in the end, who is going to buy the products or services the machines covered?
- How will people buy the products and services if their jobs were taken over by machines?
- Will everyone be able to pivot to a new non-taken-over-by-machines jobs?
12. Regarding recognition:
The article in this section contains a long list of linked articles covering those who “were recognized during 2022; some for their driving skills, some for their commitments to safety and their communities, and some for selfless acts to aid others.”
Thank you, one and all!
My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
We also wish you a great end to 2022 and a prosperous 2023!
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2022.12.31 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.