TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.11.25 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending November 25, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding economy, explosion, pay, predictions, strike, and theft:
Economy
These are some of the most recent articles about the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective:
- ACT Research: Slow going on truckload cycle bottoming process
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index increases 1.1% in October
- Canadian Trucking Alliance criticizes Fall Economic Statement
- Current freight recession doesn’t fit traditional patterns
- Freight Recession: Signs of Improvement?
- Leveraging associations and networking in tough economy — Taking the Hire Road
- October cargo volumes decline at Texas ports, rise in New Orleans
- October Truck Tonnage Up Month-to-Month, Down Year-to-Year
- Sales of new Class 8 trucks continue slow decline from 2022 numbers
- Specialty trailer orders show strength as vans and reefers lag
- Trailer order season continues to show strong bookings, ACT reports
- Trailer Orders Continue to Rise Sequentially in October
- Truck tonnage ticked up in October
- Truck, trailer orders closing the year on strong trend
- Trucking conditions remain difficult despite September improvement
- Used Class 8 value stabilization still in flux, says ACT
- White Paper: Mixed Signals – Industry Expectations for 2024
- White Paper: The State of Freight — November 2023
Explosion
I find it most interesting that after an explosion near the U.S.-Canada border, a number of northern border crossings were closed for a period of time.
Meanwhile, the southern border of the USA remains open for illegal aliens to come into the USA, in clear opposition to what is written in Article IV, Section 4, of The Constitution of the United States:
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Here are some of the most recent articles on this topic:
- Briefly: 3 of 4 U.S.-Canada bridges reopened following Wednesday crash
- Explosion prompts closing of four bridges between New York and Canada
- FBI ends investigation of car wreck at Niagara Falls bridge, no indication of terrorism
- FBI investigating after vehicle explosion leaves multiple people dead at New York border crossing
- No terrorism link in Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge explosion: FBI
- NY governor says no sign of terrorism in car crash, explosion at Rainbow Bridge border crossing
- NY-Canada Bridges Reopen: No Indication of Terrorist Threat
- Rainbow Bridge car explosion shuts down bridges
Pay
Predictions
This is another list of predictions for the end of the current year going into the new year coming up:
- 2024 Fleet Tech Trends: Tackling Challenges, Achieving Goals and Preparing for What’s Next
- Freight rail execs seeing some ‘green shoots’ for beleaguered sector
- LMI showing transportation market flip is coming
- Major Shippers Don’t Predict Issues Meeting Holiday Demand
- Shippers anticipate being able to meet holiday demand
Strike
I am glad the strikes are over and I hope there will never be anything like these again.
- Ford, Stellantis Finalize Strike-Ending UAW Contracts
- Mack Trucks strike ends with 93% ratifying contract
Theft
While numerous sources predicted a lot of theft over the Thanksgiving weekend — and there probably was some — please do not let down your guard against possible:
- theft of tractors,
- theft of what’s in them,
- theft of trailers, and/or
- theft of what’s in them.
Secure them all with the best possible and most reasonable theft protection products or services you can get.
- Already increasing cargo theft expected to accelerate this holiday period
- Be wary of ‘extremely high’ cargo theft this Thanksgiving
- Cargo security and the holiday weekend
- Cargo theft risks ‘extremely’ high amid U.S. Thanksgiving
- CargoNet: ‘Extremely high’ cargo theft threat looms for Thanksgiving
- CargoNet: Risk of Cargo Theft Extremely High this Thanksgiving
- Freight transporters should be on high alert for would-be thieves this Thanksgiving
- Trucker left without his load after Philadelphia thieves stole from tractor trailer
- Virginia Sheriff catches suspect who stole hundreds of semi truck side mirrors in Stafford County
2. Regarding AB5, CARB, ELDs, HazMat, Move Over, politics, and routing:
AB5
- U.S. District Court hears AB5 arguments
- Why trucking should be exempt from AB 5 law: Judge hears new arguments
CARB
- CARB Approves $94M in ZEV Truck Funding for Fleets
- CARB OKs incentive funding plan
- CARB rules impacting fleet engine choices
- HDT Q&A: Peterbilt’s Patrick Wallace on CARB Regulations
ELDs
HazMat
- Ambassador Bridge owners look to carry more HazMat
- Hazmat team responds to grocery store parking lot in Mansfield, Arkansas, for report of body in semi truck
Move over
Politics
Routing
- Daily Infographic: Houston may restrict cargo truck movements inside city limits
- Houston considering citywide truck route plan
- New York City’s truck routes to be revamped for 1st time since 1970s
3. Regarding booting, border, brokers, business, and succession:
Booting
If you are aware of other situations in which professional truck drivers are held hostage against their will due to “booting” or immobilizing commercial motor vehicles, please let us know about the details.
- A-1’s Towing is “holding our truck hostage” says trucking company hauling $70k pharmaceutical load
- Notorious A-1’s Towing responds to backlash over booted big rigs at truck stops
Border
- New Truck Lanes Opened at Calexico Border With Mexico
- Trucks carry $36.6B in goods across Canada-U.S. border in September
- U.S.-Canada border crossings closed after vehicle explosion
- UPDATED: Niagara border crossings closed following Rainbow Bridge explosion
Brokers
- Biggest freight brokerage layoffs, shutdowns in 2023
- Check Call: Hackers hunt for brokers
- Will Supreme Court resolve conflicting rulings on broker liability?
Business
Succession
- How FIU is preparing the next generation of logistics leaders
- The key to successful succession planning starts with transparency
4. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, load shift, low clearance, and trafficking :
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.
- Motorist killed slamming into semi truck making u-turn on Florida highway
- Rig obliterated in Maryland traffic circle wreck, trapping driver
- Texas Sheriff says big rig hauling green beans crashed into a creek
- Truck driver ‘miraculously’ walked away from crash that completely crumpled cab in Maury County, Tennessee
Drugs
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter the incentive to do so!
- Federal Officials Mull Adding Fentanyl to Drug Test Panel
- Toronto couple charged after drug-laden truck stopped at border
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?
- 2 dead after big rig, passenger vehicle collide in Virginia
- Fatal shooting at Caledon property used for illegal truck parking
- FedEx driver dead in Virginia I-95 crash
- Motorist flees ambulance after deadly wreck that took the life of a trucker
- New York troopers seek white Volvo involved in a fatal pedestrian hit and run in Bath
Load shift
Low clearance
Please feel free to read the information on our site here: Low Clearance Bridges and Overpasses: How to Watch for and Avoid
Trafficking
- CVSA announces dates for North American human trafficking awareness campaigns
- CVSA sets dates for 2024 human trafficking awareness events
5. Regarding carbon, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and fuel economy:
Carbon
As a reminder, please look at the sections entitled:
- “Carbon” on this page and this page;
- “Decarbonizing” on this page;
- “Emissions” on this page;
- “Fuel electro” on this page, and
- “Supply chain” on this page.
Here are some of the most recent articles on this topic.
- DOT finalizes rule requiring states to track vehicle CO2
- Shippers to Europe Facing $3.6 Billion Carbon Bill in 2024
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your do diligence.
- Agora aims to improve EV roaming
- Briefly: Schneider’s eCascadia fleet eclipses a million miles with freight
- Electric trucks are topic of Michigan Senate-approved bill
- Electrifying at Scale: What Fleet Managers Need to Know to Overcome Charging Infrastructure Complexities
- Hyundai Unveils Robot-Powered EV Plant in Singapore
- Range Energy touts new electric trailer’s fuel savings
- Reyes Coca-Cola to Deploy 20 eCascadias in California
- Schneider reaches 1 million electric miles
Emissions
I suggest for anyone who is serious about learning about emissions to do more reading here.
- ATA’s Spear: Emission Reduction Timelines Unrealistic
- USDOT Orders States to Create Emission-Performance Metrics
- White House finalizes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Tool
Fuel
- Another decline in average diesel pump prices; OPEC+ meeting looms
- Average US diesel prices sliding down ahead of Thanksgiving
- California Gas Prices Dip Below $5 for First Time Since July
- Clean Energy opens RNG fueling station in Baltimore
- Diesel Price Drops Another 8.5¢ a Gallon to Reach $4.209
- Diesel prices hit lowest average since summer
- Neste Deal to Bring Renewable Diesel to Midwest
- Recent fuel trends continue this week
- Weekly Fuel Report: November 21, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: November 20, 2023
- Western Canadian projects raise hydrogen hopes
Fuel economy
The article cited just below states:
Range Energy, a developer and manufacturer of electric-powered trailers, … cited preliminary testing that showed its technology enables up to 36.9% fuel efficiency gains (+3.25 mpg) for semi-trucks.
If this impresses you, please do your due diligence before investing.
6. Regarding drones, technology, trucks, and underride guards:
Drones
Technology
- Cameras Help Fleets Reduce Liability, Gain Operational Value
- Carriers must act now to avoid FMCSA portal lockouts
- Estes Express Says It Is Doing Well Post-Cyberattack
- How Logistics Can Transform With AI — and Not Lose Its Way
- How To Sell Your Commercial Vehicle Using AI
- Logistics gets a digital makeover: Automation as a service steals the spotlight
- Rapid TMS integration transforms freight logistics efficiency
- Transparency, Privacy Features Help Boost Camera Acceptance
Trucks
- A Closer Look at Volvo’s Super-Efficient SuperTruck 2
- Owning the Wheel: Are chrome, custom details worth the expense?
Underride guards
7. Regarding employment, health, micro-credentials, and protests:
Employment
The fourth article in this section states:
As a group of researchers led by Stephen Burks of the University of Minnesota Morris found in a 2023 paper, high turnover among truckload carriers is “likely structural.” They found that paying drivers more in an effort to reduce costly turnover was ultimately less profitable than paying drivers less and having higher turnover.
That likely means trucking will be caught in a toxic pattern of training, hiring, and losing people for the foreseeable future.
That is truly regrettable!
What can truckers do to help ensure that they will have pay that is at least keeping up with inflation?
Please comment through the form below.
- 3 million truck driving jobs sit unfilled in 36 countries: IRU
- Loaded and Rolling: Trucking turnover and retention debate rages on
- Postal Service contractor to cut 450 jobs, close 2 facilities in California
- Why trucking accepts alarming turnover rates
Health
Micro-credentials
The article linked just below says:
Micro-credentials offer training on specific skills or knowledge areas and take less time to complete than degrees or diplomas, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities says.
What are your thoughts on this?
Protests
8. Regarding fines, Panama Canal, and rates:
Fines
- Oil spill from former trucking yard leads to $70K fine
- Repair shop fined $55,000 because injured worker wasn’t wearing eye protection
Panama Canal
Does the information in the article linked just below imply at all that increases in the cost of shipping are an excuse to keep trucker wages lower?
Rates
- Are we in an unprecedented parcel rate war?
- Dire’ scenario for shipping lines more likely as spot rates fall back
- Spot rates lag seasonal expectations heading into Thanksgiving
9. Regarding speed limiters, training, and weather:
Speed limiters
This is hilarious!
For a long time, the talk of speed limiters has been restricted to commercial motor vehicles.
I wonder how well the news of speed limiters on cars will go over.
Will people just accept it or will there be blowback?
- Federal agency recommends steps to limit the speeds of new cars
- Speed limiters on cars? NTSB makes recommendation
Training
Weather
- Idaho begins winter driving awareness event
- Snowy Weather in Northeast Looms Over Holiday Travel Rush
10. Regarding parking, poll, safety, and self-defense:
Parking
- Can an AirBnB-Style Phone App Solve the Truck Parking Shortage?
- Locals push for truck parking enforcement in Charlotte, NC but offer no solutions for drivers
Poll
- Driver Poll: What type of trucking job do you primarily work in?
- Nearly half of Americans say they respect truckers for their hard work and sacrifice, according to CloudTrucks survey
- Truckers viewed in positive light by Americans
Safety
- ATA’s Share the Road program encourages highway safety this holiday season
- Black Friday Kicks Off Holiday Truck Driving Challenges
- How to Run a Top-Notch Safety Program and Earn Drivers’ Respect [Podcast]
Self-defense
11. Regarding I-10, inspections, law enforcement, lease, legal, and states’ rights:
I-10
- Fire-damaged section of I-10 in Los Angeles opens ahead of schedule
- I-10 in Los Angeles Reopens Eight Days After Fire Closure
- I-10 reopens in Los Angeles after arson fire
Inspections
- CMV blitz in Savannah results in hundreds of truck inspections, dozens of out of service orders
- Iowa State Patrol calls out truck driver for 21 violations discovered during inspection
Law enforcement
Lease
Legal
- Canada Judge Reverses Acquittal of Freedom Convoy Protestor
- Covenant Logistics to pay $700,000 to settle discrimination allegations
- Daily Infographic: Supreme Court denies UPS driver’s request for vehicle accommodation
- Iowa Trucking Companies Sued for Allegedly Exploiting South African Workers
- Lawsuit: Iowa trucking companies exploited South African workers for cheap labor
- Lawyers Argue Trevor Milton Shouldn’t Face Prison for Fraud
- Tennessee trucking firms settle federal allegations of hiring discrimination
- Truck drivers lose case against fleet over Calif. labor laws | I-10 back open
- Wisconsin trucking company settles with state over environmental issues
States’ rights
This is yet another example of the struggle between the “federal” control of trucking — something that was never supposed to happen under Amendment X to The Constitution — and states’ rights.
12. Regarding recognition and freebies:
Recognition
We recognize this trucker for his assistance to a fellow human being in a time of need.
Freebies
We also recognize the trucking company named in the article linked just below.
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: 2023.11.25 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
