TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.11.04 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending November 4, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Daylight Saving Time, strike, TQL, and Yellow:
Daylight Saving Time
According to the third article in this section (with formatting changes):
In the United States, daylight saving time (DST), which began Sunday, March 12, 2023, ends Sunday November 5, 2023.
On that day, at 2 a.m. local time, clocks “fall back” one hour to 1 a.m., to what’s known as standard time.
While the original intention was that extending daylight hours during the summer would result in energy savings, research shows it’s not saving us any money, and is contributing to ill health.
Researchers have noticed a statistically significant increase in the number of car accidents, workplace injuries and heart attacks in the days after the time changes in the spring, which appear to be related to loss of sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions.
While the most adverse health effects are attributed to the springtime switch to DST, the switch back to Standard Time in the fall means your body has to get used to it getting dark earlier in the evening.
Tips to help your body adjust to the time change are included.
I would appreciate knowing if you notice as a result of the end of Daylight Saving Time:
– any changes in your health or well-being; and/or
– any increase (or decrease) in the number of crashes just after DST ends.
Please comment through the form below.
Thanks.
- As clocks change across most of nation, drowsy driving awareness begins
- Caution, awareness keep trucks rolling safely in the dark
- Health-Saving Tips for Transition to Standard Time
- Study: Transportation workers benefit most from Daylight Saving Time’s end
- Time to ‘Fall back’ as Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend
Strike
I sincerely open that all of this strike talk will soon be concluded with reasonable concessions that benefit all concerned.
- ADM Strikes Supply Deal for US Plant-Based Chemical Factory
- General Motors reaches tentative agreement with UAW, potentially ending 6-week strike
- GM Reaches Tentative Deal With UAW to End Strike
- Mack, UAW End Latest Labor Talks With No Deal
- Mack, UAW Still Not in Agreement
- St. Lawrence Seaway Reaches Deal to End Shipping Strike
- Stellantis Expects Strike to Cost It 750 Million Euros
- UAW Members at Michigan Ford Plant Approve New Contract
- UAW, Mack at impasse over strike | XPO’s new in-house OTR division
TQL
The situation that gave rise to these articles was completely avoidable, but it thrills me from the soles of my feet to the top of my scalp to know that the owner-operator finally got paid as he should have been paid much earlier.
- Owner-operator pays a visit to TQL’s office over nonpayment
- Trucker who showed up at TQL headquarters speaks out, says he was paid
- Video taken at TQL headquarters shows angry trucker using spray painted message to demand payment
Yellow
Well, it’s not over yet!
- Car-hauler Jack Cooper Transport makes bid for Yellow Corp.
- Court Approves Yellow Administrators’ Auction Plans
- Jack Cooper Making $2 Billion Bid for Bankrupt Yellow
- Jack Cooper Transport named as Yellow suitor
- Nations Capital, Ritchie Bros. to sell Yellow Corps’ rolling stock assets
- Politicians Back $2 Billion Jack Cooper Bid To Rescue Yellow Trucking Jobs
- Report: Jack Cooper working to save Yellow Corp
- Where did Yellow’s freight go?
- XPO ups growth spending after Yellow’s downfall
- Yellow Corp. approved to source vehicle sales to Ritchie Bros.
- Yellow is calling from beyond the grave
2. Regarding chains, inspections, and operations:
Chains
In addition to the article linked above, you may wish to see these articles from our website:
– Truck Snow Chains: Preparation for Winter Driving
– About Automatic Tire Chains and Automatic Snow Chains for Trucks
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- 102 vehicles placed out of service during Arizona enforcement blitz
- Arizona DPS inspects more than 600 semis during three day CMV blitz
- Arizona DPS inspects more than 600 semis during three day CMV blitz
- Expert Advice on Reducing Vehicle Out-of-service Violations
Operations
- Car squeezes by semi truck in video that leaves trucker “at a loss for words”
- Mastering cargo securement: Tips to prevent violations and ensure road safety
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, electric vehicles subscription, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I most strenuously disagree with the operation of driverless, self-driving, or autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles out of concern for our readers.
- Aurora opens 1st commercial-ready route for driverless trucks
- Aurora opens driverless trucking route in Texas as opposition grows
- Aurora to Open Autonomous Houston-to-Dallas Route
- Aurora, With New Autonomous-Truck Terminal, On Track for Commercial Launch
- ‘Autonomy Is the Future,’ Says California Gov. Newsom
- Cruise suspends driverless operations nationwide
- Driverless truck company Aurora opens first commercial lane between Dallas and Houston, Texas
- The leaders, followers and also-rans in autonomous trucking
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your do diligence.
- Electric trucks are the topic of a Michigan Senate bill
- Freightliner eM2 Medium-Duty Electric Truck Goes Into Production
- How Voltera is reducing risks to fleet electrification
- Loblaw deploys two Volvo VNR Electric trucks in Montreal area
- Mack MD Electric enters production
- Mack Trucks Showcases MD Electric Truck in California
- Mack’s MD Electric tackles California
- Nikola BEV recall hits bottom line in Q3
- Nikola electric truck recall price tag $61.8M
- TeraWatt Breaks Ground on First Heavy-Duty Truck Facility
- Understanding the Importance of Roadside Support for EV Trucks
- White Paper: Solving Power Procurement Challenges for EV Charging
In addition to these articles, here’s what I posted on our Facebook page recently:
If it costs this much to power an electric *car*, how much does it cost to power an electric *truck*, especially an electric commercial motor vehicle?
I’d like to see the comparison for diesel and other types of fuel, especially hydrogen.
Quote from the article linked below:
=====
The ultimate blow to the regime’s electric car debacle has to be this recent report that unveils the “true cost” of operating an electric vehicle. Brace yourself for this:
When you factor everything in, powering an electric car is akin to paying $17.33 per gallon at the pump.
That stings.
=====Short-circuited: Biden’s electric car dream hits its final outage…
October 29, 2023
Electric vehicles subscription
According to the second article linked just below:
Mack Trucks is offering an all-in monthly subscription and pay-as-you-go mileage program for its new medium-duty electric trucks, addressing concerns about high upfront costs of acquiring the zero tailpipe-emission vehicles.
Do you think this is a wise move?
- HDT Explores Mack’s Subscription Plan for the MD Electric
- Mack offers monthly subscription for medium-duty electric truck
- Mack showcases MD Electric, new Truck-as-a-Service subscription model
- Mack Trucks Launches Subscription-Based Leasing for MD Electric
Fuel
- Average US diesel prices see slight dip
- Cummins predicts huge growth in natural gas engines
- Diesel Price Drops 9.1¢ to $4.454 a Gallon
- Diesel prices vary by region
- Diesel, crude give up most of their gains since attack on Israel
- Nikola Focuses on Hydrogen; Battery-Electric Trucks on Hold
- Weekly Fuel Report: October 31, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: October 30, 2023
4. Regarding aerodynamics, business, capacity, economy, maintenance, and ports:
Aerodynamics
In addition to this article, you may want to see these pages from our website:
- Large Truck Air Resistance, Fuel Economy and Efficiency
- Aerodynamic Wheel Covers Help Trucks Save Fuel
- Reviews of Airtab Aerodynamic Fuel Economy Saver by Truckers
- Side Skirts for Tractor Trailers to Increase Fuel Efficiency
Business
Capacity
- DOT pumping more truck capacity into US ports
- Shipping braces for impact as Panama Canal slashes capacity
Economy
- Class 8 tractor order season continues
- Conditions for shippers fell negative in August
- Fed Keeps Benchmark Interest Rate at 5.4%
- For-hire demand outlook remains soft for winter, ACT reports
- Intermodal’s gain is trucking’s loss
- It is time to maximize profitability with a more streamlined customer experience
- Keep the ‘do more with less’ mindset during a tough economic freight cycle
- Secrets to Success: These tips can help carriers survive, maybe even thrive, during a freight recession
- September Container Volume Shows Ports on Rebound
- September Used Class 8 Sales Down 4.7% Year-Over-Year
- State of Freight takeaways: From the floor of a very weak trucking market
- Trucking bloodbath persists despite GDP growth
- US holiday spending to climb 3%-4% over 2022, NRF predicts
Maintenance
- Owner-operator John Schiltz: A keen eye on maintenance
- Why it’s a Good Time for Trucking Fleets to do a ‘Tune-up’ [Video]
Ports
- Biden administration awards $653 million in grants for 41 projects to upgrade ports
- Brunswick, Georgia, on track to become top US auto port
- East Coast vs. West Coast: More imports shift back to Pacific ports
- Georgia Port Expanding to Become Country’s Largest Auto Port
5. Regarding Convoy, ELDs, employment, regulations, and technology:
Convoy
- Convoy’s collapse: Was the tech worth the hype?
- Flexport acquires Convoy technology stack for undisclosed sum
- Loaded and Rolling: Flexport acquires Convoy tech stack
ELDs
- ELD technical standards under review, other challenges remain: PMTC chairman
- Harnessing the Power of Electronic Logging Devices
- Nova Scotia delays rollout of provincial ELD mandate
Technology
- Clarience Technologies brings its new data platform to fleets
- Cybersecurity experts say API security starts with company culture
- Greenscreens.ai launches Capacity On Tap to make load transactions faster
- How Trucking Can Fight Back Against Cyberthreats
- Melton Truck Line’s Kennedy Alvarez harnesses the power of social media
- Mitchell 1 TruckSeries Adds ABS, Engine, Transmission ID Help
- Optimizing logistics management with quantum computing
- Pedigree Technologies rolls out new trailer tracking technology
- Telematics: Utilizing Predictive Technology to Support Operational Efficiency
- There’s no remedy for a stolen fingerprint or retinal, voice or facial scan
- TMC Offers Fleet-Focused Cybersecurity Training
6. Regarding CARB, delivery, detention, and food:
CARB
- CARB facing more lawsuits over latest emissions regs
- CARB ‘smog check’ truck reporting system seminars upcoming | Big I-10, I-17 closures this weekend
- EPA Ready to Strengthen Southern California Air Rule
- Facing CARB deadline, port dray haulers learn from initial e-trucks
Delivery
Detention
Food
7. Regarding HDT Fact Book 2023:
HDT Fact Book 2023
- HDT 2023 Fact Book: Class 8 Truck Orders and Backlogs Among Key Equipment Concerns
- HDT 2023 Fact Book: Driver Pay Reflects Slower Freight Market
- HDT Fact Book 2023: Sustainability and the Decarbonization of Trucking
8. Regarding fraud and theft:
Fraud
In as many ways as you can, protect yourself from fraud!
- Be on the look out for police impersonator in “Booty Patrol” pickup, Florida Sheriff says
- Canadian Trucking Alliance wants drivers to report fraudulent carriers
- Ex-Prime dispatcher stole $300,000 from truck drivers’ fuel cards
- Fraud — The other F-word in trucking
Theft
- 4 face federal charges in theft of 2 million dimes from big rig
- Hacked: $300K Embezzled from 500 Truckers After Insider Attack
9. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, impaired, and routing:
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.
- FMCSA Grant Helps West Virginia Report CMV Crashes
- Part of northbound I-55 in Louisiana remains closed after huge pileup
- Rolling rim and tires pummel dash cammer’s big rig in video captured in Ohio
- Truck accidents up 71% and why ELDs may not be helping – WTT
- Truck driver blamed for train derailment after ignoring crossing signals
- Trucker says big rig lost its brakes prior to injury crash, but jury awards crash victim $6.1 million
- Watch As A Texas Trooper T-Bones A Big Rig During Police Pursuit In Katy
- Wreck between semi, train sends truck driver to the hospital
Drugs
Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you may have been promised.
- $2.3 million worth of cocaine found hidden in axles during semi truck traffic stop in Fayette County, Texas
- Driver busted when cop finds 50 lbs. of cocaine in trailer’s axles
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?
- Congress,Truck Safety Coalition call for change following ‘Deadliest Truck Crash States’ report
- Daily Infographic: New data shows 14% decline in large-truck fatalities
- Death toll lowered to 7 in Louisiana super fog highway crashes
- Head-on crash kills two truck drivers in Boone County, Indiana
- Indiana State Police say truck driver as killed after colliding with an overpass on I-74 near Batesville
- Iowa officials addressing fatality rate on highways
- Multi-county police chase through Florida ends with suspect fatally crashing into semi trailer
- Multiple truck crash on interstate off ramp kills at least one, Indiana State Police say
- One dead following pileup crash on I-80 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Trucker killed by big rig while standing next to his tractor on Florida’s I-95
- Trucker killed on side of road during two-rig failed pass attempt
- Turning semi fatally strikes man in South Carolina truck stop parking lot
Impaired
The article in this section mentions impairment due to alcohol, drugs (legal and illegal), and 3 types of distracted driving (visual, manual, and cognitive).
Routing
It is imperative that truckers obtain and learn to use a truckers atlas.
If they decide to use a GPS unit, it must be one that is specifically designed for commercial motor vehicles so that they are not involved in low clearance crashes.
10. Regarding parking, politics, taxes, underride guards, and weight:
Parking
- ATA urges states to access federal funds to expand truck parking
- ATA, state groups call on governors for truck parking funding
- Love’s Travel Stops opens locations in Louisiana, Missouri?
- New Love’s in Louisiana and Missouri add total of 189 truck parking spaces
- Truck parking topic of Pennsylvania House resolution
- Trucking Associations Urge State Governors to Provide Truck Parking
- Use Unspent Funds on Truck Parking, Governors Are Asked
Politics
- Safety Group Asks DOT for Aggressive Action on Speed Limiters and Automatic Emergency Braking for Semi Trucks
- Truck Safety Coalition makes another push for AEBs, speed limiters
Taxes
Underride guards
Weight
- WYDOT updates blow over messaging to include specific weights
- Wyoming DOT to add weight restrictions to wind warnings on I-80 and other blow over ‘hot spots’
11. Regarding shortage and shut down failure:
Shortage
Shut down failure
12. Regarding recognition and skill:
Recognition
We applaud and recognize professional truck drivers who help out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
Skill
Both of these articles include videos of truckers who hit their brakes hard to avoid a crash.
Please be aware, though, that weather and traffic conditions play a huge factor in how fast a trucker should be traveling.
Not every sudden braking situation will turn out well, especially in slick conditions.
Still, we recognize these drivers for the skill they demonstrated.
- Semi truck manages to stop before smashing pickup in illegal u turn
- This semi truck close call will have you amazed that the trucks didn’t collide
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: 2023.11.04 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
