TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.08.19 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending August 19, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Yellow, LTL, and meal and rest breaks:
Yellow
In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before an offer was made to acquire parts of Yellow’s old business.
I am wondering, though, about the situation about a company acquiring Yellow’s debt.
Why would they do that?
And what about the truckers whose jobs were eliminated?
If you have knowledge of this, please contact us through the form below.
- 3 Things to Know About the Aftermath of Yellow Trucking Collapse
- Apollo sells Yellow term loan to Citadel
- Citadel Acquires Yellow Debt Owned by Apollo, Other Lenders
- Estes bids more than $1B for Yellow’s terminals
- Estes makes $1.3 billion offer for Yellow’s shipping centers
- Estes Offers $1.3 Billion for Yellow Terminals
- Estes sets floor to buy Yellow terminals at $1.3B
- Former Yellow Logistics employees open new Radiant office
- Who is paying for Yellow’s bankruptcy; freight recession report; and a highway angel – WTT
- Yellow debt acquired by Citadel
- Yellow fallout apparent in Saia’s August numbers
LTL
It is only natural that the freight that was moved by Yellow should be hauled by others.
Meal and rest breaks
I find it hard to believe that this debate is still ongoing.
I understand the “need” to have some things being equal between states, but then again, the USA has a federalist type of government.
Federalism is the division of power between the national and state governments.
All powers not so delegated to the federal government — in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government within The Constitution of the United States — are retained by the states and the people.
If California wants to provide a different set of rules for their intrastate drivers, I believe under the Tenth Amendment that they should be allowed to do so.
- FMCSA solicits petitions regarding California, Washington break rules
- FMCSA Will Accept Challenges to Meal-Rest Break Pre-emption Ruling
- FMCSA Will Accept Meal-Break Rule Petitions; ATA Vows to Fight
- FMCSA will consider rollbacks to truck driver rest-break rules
- FMCSA’s erratic history on meal/rest break preemption
- Opposition mounting to FMCSA’s rest-break waiver proposal
- Teamsters lauds FMCSA’s efforts on rest break rules
- Teamsters praising FMCSA for looking at rest-break rules
- Trucker union supports meal, rest break waivers
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, and parking:
Autonomous vehicles
I thought that the entire reason to have autonomous commercial motor vehicles was to do without certain services, like those at truck stops.
So, why has an autonomous “truckport” opened at a truck stop?
Furthermore, I most decisively oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, and autonomous commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to our readers.
- Autonomous ‘truckport’ opens in Georgia
- Autonomous trucks, ticket cameras topics of California bills
- Briefly: ‘Truckport’ for autonomous trucks opens at Georgia Pilot
- Kodiak Robotics, Pilot Open Futuristic Truckport to Support Autonomous Trucks
- Loaded and Rolling: Kodiak Robotics, Pilot open 1st autonomous truckport
- Pilot opens first self-driving truck terminal in Georgia
- Pilot, Kodiak Robotics open first autonomous truckport
- Truckport for autonomous trucks opens in Georgia
- TuSimple Faces Report Deadline as Tucson Site Is Up for Sale
Electric vehicles
Some companies that make electric vehicles are experiencing financial difficulties.
If you plan to buy an all-electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence ahead of time.
- Daimler exec named to new government working group on EVs
- Driverless EV Shuttle Set to Debut in Downtown Orlando
- EV Maker VinFast Soars in Nasdaq Debut
- Lightning eMotors may hang a ‘For Sale’ sign
- Nikola BEV sales on hold amid fire-risk recall
- Proterra’s Bankruptcy Illustrates Challenges for EV Startups
- Schneider Adds Electric Terminal Tractors
- The rise of electric vehicles
- Volvo offering electric truck rides, demonstrations in Tacoma, Washington
- Who wants a piece or two of Proterra?
Fuel
- Average US diesel prices see continued spike
- Benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges up another 14 cents
- Certarus orders natural gas/hydrogen pipelines on wheels
- Cummins and Chevron sign MOU to help further production, distribution of low-carbon fuels
- Cummins, Chevron Add Renewable Fuels to Collaboration
- Diesel Price Up Another 13.9¢ to $4.378 a Gallon
- ExxonMobil expanding Canadian refinery
- Georgia Tax Revenue Rises on Restarted Motor Fuel Taxes
- Sanctions on Russian crude and diesel exports are failing
- Wait, is that a diesel-powered Tesla Inc. semi hauling Cybertrucks? Check out these photos from CHP
- Weekly Fuel Report: August 15, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: August 14, 2023
Parking
I am super glad that a group has started to identify other types of truck parking outside standard truck stops!
- Love’s adds 40 parking spaces at new Nevada store
- Online Truck Parking Club adds 143 rest stops in eight states
- Truck visits down at Target; truck parking solutions; and warehouse tech – WTT
- TruckParkingClub.com adds services in eight states
- TruckParkingClub.com expands to 8 US states
- TruckParkingClub.com unveils real-time parking availability in 8 states
3. Regarding AEBs, ELDs, environment, regulations, and speed limiters:
AEBs
Please give your feedback about Automatic Emergency Braking systems.
- CVSA petitions for more time to comment on AEB mandate proposal
- CVSA wants more time to comment on AEB mandate
- False-positive reports suggest AEBs not ready for prime time
ELDs
Environment
Please be watching out for any types of “scams” regarding elevating “the environment” about the needs of mankind.
- Driver Poll: How important are eco-friendly practices when choosing a company to work for?
- Mack’s Roanoke truck plant powered by renewable energy
- TIRF research connects eco-friendly driving and safety
Regulations
- Feds seek input on FAQs regarding hazmat regulations
- Feds waive hazmat regulations in Hawaii
- FMCSA seeking public input on CMV accident recordkeeping
- VIDEO: Trucker uses CB radio to help out fellow truck drivers
Speed limiters
- Bill to stop speed limiters picks up two more co-sponsors
- Repeat speed offenders would get speed limiters under New York bill
4. Regarding business, capacity, rates, and tolls:
Business
- Are your business investments doing enough?
- Calculate the Cost Per Mile for Your Trucking Business
- How to calculate detention rate for owner-operator business
- Understanding Independent Contractor Status in Today’s Trucking Environment
Capacity
Rates
- Cass: Freight volume, rates remain ‘under pressure’
- Economic Trucking Trends: Flatdeckers weigh on spot market rates, private fleets adding trucks
- Truckstop: Total spot rates see modest decline in latest week
Tolls
- 5 Requirements to Tame Toll
- Mackinac Bridge tolls target of Michigan House bill
- New Fee Structure Part of Pennsylvania Turnpike Tolling Plan
5. Regarding crashes, drowsy driving, fatalities, staged, and stuck:
Crashes
Please scan through these articles to see if you can learn how to avoid being involved in the types of big rig crashes described.
- Construction zone takes out five vehicles in failure-to-stop wrecks
- Rear trailer left on bridge as rest of rig plummets off roadway
- Storms blamed for 32 vehicle pileup on North Carolina interstate
- Teen struck by loose semi truck wheel while changing tire
- Truck driver charged following U-turn crash that injured two Pennsylvania troopers
- Truck driver shut down after train-derailing crash in Tennesee | Big I-10 lane closure getting under way
- Truck explosion closes Interstate due to flying debris
- Trucker cited for distracted driving in wreck that mangled pickup
- VIDEO: Car driver makes impressive correction after semi truck crash to avoid hitting second semi head-on
- VIDEO: Motorist arrested after making a very confusing choice to turn slowly in front of oncoming semi truck
Drowsy driving
Please see our article about drowsy driving.
Fatalities
We express our deep sympathy — and offer our condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these crashes.
Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent being involved in a fatal large truck crash?
- Driver dies when tractor-trailer leaves I-90, lands on stopped train in SD
- Elderly man exiting moving ambulance struck by semi truck
- Rig plunges off South Dakota’s I-90 onto parked train, killing driver
- Trucker killed in crash off bridge that ended on top of parked train
- Trucker killed in wreck with RV remembered fondly by family and friends
Staged
I hope that everyone who was involved in this scam is brought to justice!
Stuck
It is ultra important that truckers know how to navigate themselves according to truckers’ maps like a truckers’ atlas.
Do not become so dependent on technology, like GPS for Truckers.
6. Regarding escape ramp, inspections, and safety:
Escape ramp
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA’s Brake Safety Week begins Aug. 20
- CVSA’s Brake Safety Week begins Sunday, lasts through next Saturday
- CVSA’s Brake Safety Week enforcement blitz starts Sunday
- Don’t forget — nationwide brake inspection blitz starts this weekend
- FMCSA finds propane tankers were inspected by unauthorized personnel
- FMCSA uncovers nearly 200 improperly inspected hazmat tankers
- Video walks you through what happens during a Level I inspection
Safety
- ATA Kicks Off Annual Safety Showcase
- Colorado DOT issues travel alert for truckers: ‘Beware Wolf Creek Pass’
- Colorado officials offer safety tips for traversing mountain passes
- UPS tractor-trailer driver wins National Safety Council award
7. Regarding drugs, fines, fire, theft, violence, and weight:
Drugs
Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you may have been promised.
- 850 lbs. of cocaine seized in truck at western New York truck stop
- Canadian trucker arrested in Buffalo, New York, on cocaine charges
- Driver sentenced to 10 year in prison on smuggling, drug charges
- Truck stop surveillance operation leads cops to 850 pounds of cocaine in big rig
Fines
- Jagger Canada to pay $30K for failing to clean up oil, diesel
- Ohio trucker fined $2,347 after getting stuck on notorious VT road
Fire
Theft
Violence
- Fraud hearing set for trucking company owner convicted of killing her husband
- Motorist claims “pretty scary” truck driver angrily aimed laser pointer at them while tailgating
- Trucker’s gun threat to cops leads to Texas standoff
Weight
- Iowa troopers nab tractor driver for overweight violation
- Truck weight enforcement begins on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
8. Regarding economy and employment:
Economy
- Freight market staying ‘lower for longer,’ Cass says
- July backlog for Class 8 tractor orders falls
- July Trailer Orders Show Sequential Turnaround
- Medium-Duty Truck Sales Jump 10.9% in July
- Mississippi River crisis disrupted freight markets in 1976
- Preliminary net trailer orders rise as ’24 books open
- Takeaways from State of Freight: A surprising volume increase in July
- Used Class 8 tractor market downshifts in July
- Werner chief says worst has likely passed
Employment
9. Regarding Hawaii, HOS, infrastructure, ports, and roads:
Hawaii
- Daily Infographic: ALAN mobilizes in response to Hawaii wildfires
- Moving freight to fire-ravaged Maui proves difficult
- Spam joins recovery efforts in Maui
HOS
- Truck drivers who support wildfire relief will be exempt from Hours of Service regs
- Vermont extends emergency order for CMV HOS exemptions
Infrastructure
- Massachusetts trying to jump-start effort to replace Cape Cod bridges
- More than 220K US bridges in disrepair, study finds
Ports
- East and West Coast Ports Spar Over Who’s No. 1
- Hawaii Ports Tackle Relief Efforts, Container Congestion
Roads
- Expect delays on I-10 near Henderson, Louisiana this weekend & next
- I-16 westbound in Treutlen County, Georgia, closing temporarily at exit 78
- SH 130 offers reprieve from Central Texas bottlenecks
- USDOT Names 2 New Marine Highway Systems
10. Regarding parts, politics, recalls, and sharing the road:
Parts
- Electric drive axle trailers add new dimension to carrier decarbonization choices
- Peterbilt Adds Vocational Air Suspension System
- Suspensions 101: Cab Suspensions
Politics
- ATA Pressures Congress to Get Serious About Incentivizing Clean Diesel Engines
- Pro-Trucking Initiatives ATA Driving through Congress
Recalls
- Hino Motors recalls 8,025 trucks for inaccurate fuel readings
- Hino recalling 8,000 trucks for inaccurate fuel gauge readings
- Hino recalls more than 8,000 trucks
- Nikola issues voluntary recall for more than 200 electric rigs after fire
- Nikola recalling BEVs after investigation into battery pack fires
- Nikola recalls battery-electric trucks following fire investigation
- Nikola to Halt Sales, Recall Trucks After Battery Fires
- Nikola will recall 209 battery-electric trucks following 2 fires
Sharing the road
11. Regarding statistics and technology:
Statistics
- Daily Infographic: China leads the world in posted packages
- Daily Infographic: Higher energy prices push United States energy trade with Canada to record-high value
- Daily Infographic: In 2021, 87% of US truck freight tonnage was shipped less than 250 miles
Technology
- Data key to tackling forecasting challenges
- Eradicating data silos is crucial to unlocking power of today’s technology
- How to protect your business from enterprise and vehicle network breaches
- New dash cam uses AI to coach drivers in real time
- Ryder Silicon Valley Lab Developing AI-Driven Logistics Tech
12. Regarding recognition and awards:
Recognition
- Load One driver honored for actions at I-40 wreck of several cars
- Rig hauling piglets breaks down in sweltering Kansas heat; firefighters save their bacon
- Trucker Alerts Police to Human Trafficking, Caged Kids
- Trucker awarded ‘Highway Angel’ honor for chasing human traffickers hauling caged kids
- Trucker honored for thwarting child-trafficking attempt
- Trucker named Highway Angel for discovering human traffickers with caged children
- Trucker’s action leads to apprehension of traffickers with caged children
- Video shows Arizona construction crews rescuing flipped truck driver
- VIDEO: Illinois State Senator knocks out windshield to rescue overturned trucker
Awards
Congratulations to the winner(s) of the next Grand Championship!
- 2014 NTDC Grand Champion Langenhahn Ready for Encore
- Intricate Driving Course Vexes NTDC Field
- National Truck Driving Championships under way; winners named Saturday
- Past Grand Champion Dick Gillespie Stays Close to NTDC
- Werner driver travels 5 million accident-free miles
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: 2023.08.19 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
