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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.05.18

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.05.18 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending May 18, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding age, bridge strike, collapse, and Memorial Day:

Age

According to the first article in this section:

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FMCSA officially removing driver-facing camera requirement from under-21 pilot

I am going to speculate that one or more truckers are going to cry foul, saying that if that group of truckers can go without driver-facing cameras, then so can they.

I speculate that this is going to result in a lawsuit and legal action.

We’ll see if I’m right.

Bridge strike

What is the likelihood that two water-traveling vessels should strike bridges in the USA so close together date-wise accidentally?

I am going to speculate that this is either extreme negligence or has been done by design.

In either case, this situation needs to be investigated immediately and prevented in the future.

Collapse

The articles in this section have to do with the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

Memorial Day

On Monday, May 27, 2024, many Americans will celebrate Memorial Day.

This holiday is known as the traditional start of the summer vacation season.

Historically, more people are on the roads at this time of year than at other non-holiday times.

Vacationers may be so intent on having a good time that they won’t be focused on driving.

Some people may be driving vehicles much larger than those they normally drive.

There’s also the possibility that some of these folks will be engaging in distracted driving!

What can you do?

While you should always drive defensively, please be alert to drivers and haulers of recreational vehicles and those transporting boats.

Also, if you have an appointment to pick up or deliver a load on Memorial Day, you may want to double-check your appointment.

Finally, if your company pays holiday pay over the Memorial Day weekend — and if you intend to earn it — make sure you know all of the terms involved.

Here are other articles about Memorial Day travels in 2024:

2. Regarding economy, pay, ports, rates, and tolls:

Economy

Pay

Ports

Rates

Tolls

3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and trucks:

Autonomous vehicles

I am completely against the operation of driverless, self-driving, or autonomous commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public — but I share articles on this topic with our readers to help us stay current on the topic.

Electric vehicles

Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.

Emissions

According to the fourth article in this section:

In the latest show of opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new truck emissions standards, 24 Republican state attorneys general Monday, May 13, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C. a request for review of the regulations finalized earlier this year.

In a separate action, 17 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule.

Fuel

Trucks

4. Regarding politics, roads, and supply chain:

Politics

Roads

Supply chain

5. Regarding brokers, business, inspections, parts, and tires:

Brokers

Business

Inspections

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

Parts

Tires

6. Regarding parking and truck stops:

Parking

Be aware of any reduction in truck parking — for whatever reason.

Truck stops

7. Regarding crashes, fatalities, fraud, and near miss:

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

I express my deep sympathy — and offer my 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?

Fraud

Never attempt to deceive, misrepresent something, intentionally pervert the truth, or pretend to be someone else for the purpose of trying to get something valuable.

This kind of action may result in a lawsuit.

Near miss

The video embedded in this article shows a close call by a four-wheeler with a large truck!

8. Regarding routing, theft, and violence:

Routing

Always know how to route your truck on truck routes according to a Motor Carrier’s Road Atlas (aka trucker’s atlas).

Theft

Do not take something that isn’t yours without first asking for permission.

Violence

9. Regarding drugs, and drugs – reclassification:

Drugs

Never ever agree to haul illegal drugs anywhere on your rig’s tractor or trailer, no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.

Also, never use illegal drugs.

Drugs – reclassification

I have a feeling that this “reclassification” of marijuana is going to result in legal action as well, possibly a lawsuit.

10. Regarding staged, technology, technology – dashcam, and weather:

Staged

Technology

Technology – dashcam

The articles below are evidence behind why I wrote this post on our website: How a Truck Cam, Smart Cam or Dash Cam Can Save Truckers Money.

Weather

11. Regarding retaliation against fellow trucker?

Today on Facebook, I read the following post in a truckers’ group:

I was sleeping quietly at a truckstop when a reefer pulled up and parked next to me, [OBJ] I solved the problem, though, I just turned the reefer off.

As soon as I saw that, I posted this comment:

This may have been written to cause a laugh.

However, if this was serious, you may have just destroyed:
– tens of thousands of pounds of food; and
– the ability of the driver to be paid.

Never ever mess with another trucker’s rig or load!

Instead of taking revenge on reefer haulers, please get yourself a pair of good quality ear plugs and perhaps a white noise machine.

As of the last time that I checked, I had gotten 50 “likes” or “hearts” on my comment.

Now, that being said, other comments (including back to mine) have ranged all over the place, including:

  • saying that the post is “click bait”;
  • causing laughs;
  • calling me stupid;
  • citing the law (generically in 18 U.S.C.);
  • threatening violence against the other trucker; and
  • threatening retaliatory action against the other trucker’s rig.

One trucker indicated that it was crime to tamper with another trucker’s truck.

I asked for specifics, got a general idea of where the law is written, and then asked someone whom I thought would know.

I was directed here:
18 U.S. Code § 1365 – Tampering with consumer products

I have seen other posts by truckers, including those who wanted to do something to the rig of someone parked for too long in a fuel island.

Be aware of:

  • both the legal consequences of retaliation;
  • and the fact that surveillance cameras are installed in many places (including on many trucks).

12. Regarding awards and recognition:

Awards

I congratulate all professional truck drivers who have been honored for their safe driving accomplishments and truck driving skill!

Recognition

I also recognize those who help their fellow human beings in a time of need.

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









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