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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.09.30

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.09.30 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending September 30, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding shutdown, speed limiters, and strike:

Shutdown

According to a September 28 article:

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As of Thursday, Congress still had not passed any of the 12 appropriations bills that set discretionary spending levels. With the new fiscal year beginning on Sunday, lawmakers have until Saturday night at midnight to enact legislation to fund programs covered by the appropriations process — or there will be a full government shutdown.

The article also goes on to list “the basic plans of 10 federal government agencies involved with freight in the event of a full shutdown,” including the FHWA, the FMCSA, and the NHTSA.

Finally, the article states, “Because goods movement is considered a pillar of the U.S. economy, the supply chain should be relatively unscathed — assuming a shutdown ends sooner rather than later.”

What do you think?

To what degree do you think that a shutdown of the federal government will impact the trucking industry?

Please comment through the form below.

Speed limiters

According to a September 29 article:

Federal regulators surely ruffled some feathers this week after publishing on Monday the FMCSA’s intent to pursue a speed limiter mandate at 68 mph, and then quickly [retracted] it before the end of the day.

What are your thoughts about speed limiters on big trucks?

Please comment through the form below.

Thanks.

Strike

What impact has the autoworkers’ strike had on freight that you haul?

Has it been more plentiful, lacking, or about the same?

Please comment through the form below.

Thanks.

2. Regarding autonomous vehicles:

Autonomous vehicles

First, I strongly oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, and driverless commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public.

Second, I share these articles as a courtesy to help our readers stay current with the topic.

Third, I was greatly surprised to find that the California governor vetoed the bill to require autonomous trucks to have a human in them.

Hmm…

3. Regarding electric vehicles:

Electric vehicles

Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence.

4. Regarding drugs, fraud, smuggling, and theft:

Drugs

Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how large an incentive you’ve been offered.

Fraud

The article below indicates that the owner of a Tennessee truck stop feels stuck that he can’t get out of a contract with a “fraudulent semi truck towing company.”

However, I believe that there are legal moves that can be made, if only he will use them.

In the meantime, beware of parking in truck “no parking” zones.

Smuggling

Never ever haul human beings as if they were cattle or cargo, no matter how big of a payoff you’ve been offered.

Each person is made in the image of God and needs to be treated with respect.

Theft

Do your best to keep thieves from stealing anything ranging from your tractor to your trailer, and from the cargo you’re hauling to your personal possessions.

5. Regarding business and ELDs:

Business

ELDs

I don’t recall ever seeing before how an ELD removed from the official list was put back on it. Hmm…

6. Regarding delivery, inspections, and parking:

Delivery

Inspections

According to the first article linked in the section just below, “the focus area for this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week” was speeding.

While I encourage you to read the entire article, two other quotes are:

  • “Speeding accounts for nearly one-third of all fatalities on roadways”; and
  • “A total of 4,592 warnings and 2,634 tickets/citations were given to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and officers issued 1,164 warnings and 1,860 tickets/citations to passenger vehicle drivers.”

Please remember that if you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.

Parking

7. Regarding crashes, fatalities, and fires:

Crashes

Please look through these articles to see if there is anything you can learn to help you prevent being involved in a similar crash.

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?

Fires

Is it just me or do more truck fires seem to be happening these days?

How many of these are electric trucks?

Hmm…

8. Regarding Run on Less and technology:

Run on less

Technology

9. Regarding economy, pay, and tolls:

Economy

Pay

Tolls

10. Regarding fuel and oil:

Fuel

Oil

11. Regarding brokers, ports, and selling:

Brokers

Ports

Selling

In the top article listed in the section just below, we read:

Know what red flags for sellers to be aware of when selling commercial trucks to fight fraud. Here are some more tips for spotting a scam.

That’s great advice and I encourage you to read the whole article.

12. Regarding awards and recognition:

Awards

We applaud every trucker who is in the running for a trucking award.

Recognition

We recognize those truckers who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need.

My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.



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