TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.06.22 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending June 22, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding emissions lawsuit, exemption, Independence Day, mileage based numbering, and Week: Operation Safe Driver:
Emissions lawsuit
In response to a post about the Freightwaves article in this section — in a truckers’ group on Facebook — I wrote on Thursday, June 20, 2024:
Quote from article:
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API and OOIDA, along with the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation, are asking the court to vacate EPA’s rule because it “exceeds the agency’s statutory authority and is otherwise arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and not in accordance with law,” according to the petition.
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A more fundamental issue is that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — according to Article I, Section 8, of The Constitution of the United States and the Tenth Amendment — is an unconstitutional entity!
In that respect, all authority supposedly wielded by this agency needs to be recognized as null and void.
Furthermore, environmental concerns need to be left up to the states and the people.
I would like to hear back from company drivers who have to pay to park the company-owned trucks they drive.
Please reach out to me through the form below:
Other articles have also been written about this:
- American Petroleum Institute Sues EPA Over Emissions Regulations
- Calstart aims to help EPA in lawsuits challenging Phase 3 GHG regs
- Calstart petitions to back EPA in lawsuits over latest heavy-truck regs
- Lawsuit filed against EPA Phase 3 emissions plan
- Lawsuit filed to stop EPA’s emissions rule for new heavy-duty vehicles
- OOIDA challenges EPA’s ‘unworkable’ truck emission rule in federal court
- OOIDA joins suit against EPA’s emissions standards
- OOIDA sues EPA over zero-carbon regulation
- There’s a Class 8 tractor pre-buying spree ahead of 2027 EPA rules, ACT reports
- Truckers and farmers join lawsuit over ‘unworkable’ EPA emissions rules
- Trucking and farm groups join lawsuit against EPA emissions regulations
Exemption
The articles in this section cover exemptions of different kinds.
- Alaska requests renewal of driver training exemption
- Comments on CDL exemption request due Monday, June 24
- FMCSA grants exemption renewal to custom harvester drivers under 21
- FMCSA grants provisional cargo securement exemption
- FMCSA renews exemption for U.S. Custom Harvesters
- Under 21 driver exemption renewed for U.S. Custom Harvesters
Independence Day
As is the case whenever a holiday rolls around, please continue to act as a professional in the face of impatient motorists around you.
Also, if you are eligible to Earn Holiday Pay as a Professional Driver, Don’t Lose It.
Mileage based numbering
Welcome to the 21st century, New York!
- New York changes to mileage-based numbering for Interstate 81 exits
- New York DOT making change to exit numbers
- New York DOT working to update interstate exit numbers
- New York State DOT to switch to mile-based exit numbering
Week: Operation Safe Driver
According to the article in this section:
This year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is set to take place July 7-13 across North America.
Please always keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, regardless of special events coming up.
2. Regarding inspections, low clearance, roads, routing, truckers atlas, and violations:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA Inspectors Pass 88% of Vehicles on Brake Safety Day
- Modern commercial vehicle inspection site opens in British Columbia
- Proper pre-trips and a little know-how can help you pass the next brake inspection
- VIDEO: Kitten discovered during pre-trip inspection rescued by Ohio State Highway Patrol
Low clearance
The articles in this section highlight the need for professional truck drivers of big rigs to route themselves and their rigs according to truck routes.
Related resources on my website include:
- Low Clearance Bridges and Overpasses: How to Watch for and Avoid
- CMV GPS Low Clearance Report Form; Low Clearance Awareness Day
Recent articles about low clearance issues include:
- Massachusetts DOT sues Alabama trucking company for 2021 bridge strike
- Massachusetts DOT suing Alabama trucking company after accident damages bridge
- Pennsylvania bridge struck by oversized load will be closed for months for $1-2 million repairs
Roads
- Missouri DOT to kick off 6 year project to expand 200 miles of I-70 to six lanes
- Temporary Teton Pass detour could be paved by next week
- Truck parking projects part of Iowa 5-year road plan
Routing
This is another example why truckers driving big rigs need to drive on truck routes only!
Truckers atlas
Violations
- Commercial vehicle driver cited for dangerous excavator haul
- Take a look at CMV violations spotted by the Iowa State Patrol this month
- Troopers sideline CMV hauling hay for multiple violations
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, hydrogen, and Volvo:
Autonomous vehicles
I very strongly disagree with the operation of self-driving, driverless, 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.
- Artur Express to Run 100 Kodiak Self-Driving Sleeper Trucks
- Artur Express to run Kodiak’s autonomous rigs
- California Lawmaker Pulls Bill on Autonomous Vehicles
- Tech giants invest $200 million in Waabi for fully driverless trucks
- Waabi rakes in $200M to launch fully driverless semis in 2025
- Waabi takes step closer to commercializing self-driving trucks
- Waabi to deploy fully driverless trucks in 2025
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- ChargeTronix’s new machine can charge 6 CMVs at once
- Electric Trucks a Fit for Innovator Blanchette at QCD
- Electrifying freight wirelessly; Covenant’s sustainability report; retail tech |
- Key EV Battery Material Can Come From Methane
- Maine’ First Electric Refuse Truck is a Mack LR Electric
- Senators Ramp Up EV Pushback
- Sitetracker: Speeding electric truck charging behind the scenes
- The $25,000 Electric Car Is Coming to US Soon
- VTNA Debuts VNL Electric in Evolution of Class 8 Flagship
Fuel
- A Waste-Oil Crunch Is Coming for Renewable Fuel
- Average US diesel price rises for 1st time in 10 weeks
- Diesel Price Climbs to $3.735 After First Gain in 10 Weeks
- FBX Report: June 17, 2024
- For first time since early April, key diesel benchmark price increases
- LNG Export Project at Center of Firestorm Set for Vote
- Weekly Fuel Report: June 18, 2024
- Weekly NTI Update: June 17, 2024
- Why Is My Pickup Truck Using So Much Fuel?
Hydrogen
- Fuel Cell Trucks: Is Liquid Hydrogen the Way to Go?
- HTEC to deploy 100 hydrogen fuel-cell-electric trucks in B.C.
- Red ICE and Blue: The Hunt for a Hydrogen Truck Engine Part 2
- UBC builds green hydrogen fueling station for trucks
Volvo
- Volvo already sees signs of pre-buy activity as truck market poised to strengthen
- Volvo Teases New Electric Truck for 2025
- Volvo Trucks celebrates 1st order of 50 VNLs by Legend Transportation
- Volvo Trucks provides glimpse of future battery-electric truck platform
- Volvo Trucks says it is well-timed for growth amid soft market conditions
4. Regarding crashes, distracted driving, fatalities, fraud, marijuana, smuggling, theft, and violence:
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.
- Dust storm triggers 23 vehicle pileup on New Mexico interstate
- Eight people hurt in semi vs. SUV crash
- Four semi truck chain reaction crash reported in I-70 construction zone
- Trucking company in wreck with deported driver had history of employing unlicensed drivers
Distracted driving
Please refer to the page on my site:
Distracted Driving: Beware of Attention Diverters That Can Be Fatal
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?
- Charges reduced to misdemeanors for CMV driver in fatal Colo. crash
- Driver dead, another injured in wreck due to slowed traffic
- Driver in Colo. crash that killed one deported 16 times prior to wreck, ICE says
- Teen ordered to serve 5 years in prison for killing truck driver in Virginia wreck
- Trucker arrested in fatal Colorado crash was deported 16 times before accident
- Trucker, in US illegally, to face only misdemeanor charges after fatal Colorado wreck
- Wife of trucker killed in crash with deported driver calls for “more accountability on the truckers”
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.
Marijuana
- ATA asks DOT about its position on possible reclassification of marijuana
- ATA pens letter of concern to DOT chief over proposed marijuana reclassification
- Truckers tell DEA they back Biden’s move to reclassify pot
Smuggling
Never ever transport people made in the image of God as if they were cattle or cargo — no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.
Theft
Never take something that doesn’t belong to you, unless you have permission.
In our day, there are many types of surveillance cameras, so be on guard!
- ATA Applauds House Appropriators for Taking Action to Fight Cargo Theft
- Man sentenced to 50 years for diesel fuel theft operation in Texas
- Police urge vigilance after rash of tractor-trailer thefts in Sarnia
- Truck thief caught after driving by truck owner’s daughter on highway by chance
- Trucker charged with theft after getting fired and then driving away in company’s semi truck
Violence
5. Regarding coaching, kiosks, operations, organization, and oversize load:
Coaching
Kiosks
- Company rolls out truck driver check-in kiosks to cut down on wait times at warehouses
- Olea Kiosks unveils new driver check-in method
Operations
Organization
You may appreciate these articles about organization and storage on my site:
- Food Storage Ideas for Truckers Living in Tractor Trailers
- Self Storage: A Guide for Use by Professional Truck Drivers
- Tips For Food Storage And Preservation For Truck Drivers
- Truck Organization in Your 18-Wheel Tractor Trailer for Savings
- Organization And Space
Now for the article that sparked me sharing those…
Oversize load
- Massive load will cause traffic delays on several NH highways tonight
- Oversize load to affect traffic on NH bridges and roadways Monday night
- Video shows trucking team guiding a 916,000 pound super load through a turn in Ohio
6. Regarding border, brokers, collapse, hitchhiking, infrastructure, leasing, and legal:
Border
- Borderlands Mexico: China-to-Mexico Freight Spurs Growth in Laredo, Texas
- Borderlands Mexico: Evans Transportation launches cross-border service amid trade boom
- Borderlands Mexico: Tropical Storm Alberto disrupting freight across Texas, Mexico
- Borderlands Mexico: US suspends avocado inspections in Mexican state after inspectors assaulted
- Borderless insurance coverage for shippers
Brokers
- Are double brokers committing perjury with dishonest applications?
- Check Call: Mo’ money, mo’ problems for brokers
Collapse
- Feds extend emergency declaration for Francis Scott Key Bridge
- FreightWaves Infographics: Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse moved back to port
Hitchhiking
Infrastructure
Leasing
- How to plan for variable charges on truck leases
- The costs — and broader considerations — to keep in mind when leasing to a carrier
Legal
- H-2A worker hired as trucker proceeds with lawsuit
- PayCargo awarded $16M in trademark infrigement case against CargoSprint
- PayCargo collects $16M from CargoSprint in FreightTech trademark case
- Trucker back on hook for lawsuit involving merge-lane crash
7. Regarding innovators, space, supply chain, technology, and weather:
Innovators
Space
Supply chain
Technology
- 6 Ways Technology is Supercharging Trucking Operations – Guest Voices
- Building the operating system for global and landside logistics
- Car Dealerships Disrupted by Pair of Cyberattacks This Week
- Custom Software Helps Roehl Stay Ahead
- Dash cam catches big rig plowing into Highway 401 barrier, going up in flames
- No More Late Invoices With Trucking Software
- Samsara Beyond lets industry stakeholders share best practices on data usage
- Transportation technology, offshoring, among keys to success: Heather Devine
- Trucking technology without borders
Weather
- Floodwaters threaten travel in parts of Minnesota, New Mexico
- Tropical storm warning issued as Texas braces for flash flooding
- US severe weather: Heat moves east, storms threaten Plains, snow falls in the Rockies
8. Regarding congestion pricing, Congress, predatory towing, and scam:
Congestion pricing
Congress
Predatory towing
- Buttigieg calls for policies to protect truckers against predatory towing
- FMCSA wants feedback on predatory towing
Scam
Please be on your guard against any and all kinds of scams, where predators may seek to separate you from your money or compromise you in some way.
9. Regarding parking, pets, retention, securement, truck drivers, and truck stops:
Parking
In response to a post of the last article in this section in a truckers’ group on Facebook, I wrote on Friday, June 21:
Interesting article and statistics.
One big gap in the article is what happens to company drivers:
– whose trucking companies don’t/won’t reimburse the truckers for paid parking; and
– who may not be able to (or don’t) write off the cost of truck parking on their taxes like owner-operators do.
On my truck drivers website, I have written about the problem my husband Mike and I personally encountered years ago with finding truck parking, particularly in the northeastern USA.
Further thoughts?
Now, articles regarding parking:
- Love’s adds 89 truck parking spots with new Missouri location
- Love’s opens truck stop in Missouri with 89 truck parking spaces
- Newest Love’s along I-44 in Missouri has 89 truck parking spaces
- Paid truck parking not utilized, resented by many truckers
Pets
I have on my website:
Truckers’ Pet Travel and Saving Money in a Big Truck
Now for the articles…
- Pets on the road: A look at some animal companions in trucking
- Truckstop introduces pet verification badge amid Take Your Pet to Work week
- Truckstop says: Beware of ‘im-paw-sters’ during Take your Pet to Work Week
Retention
- Trucking provides off time opportunities that can promote health and well being
- Wis. trucking company builds luxury headquarters in attempt to retain drivers
Securement
Truck drivers
Truck stops
10. Regarding maintenance, nearshoring, recalls, and REPAIR:
Maintenance
Nearshoring
Recalls
- PACCAR recall affects more than a dozen Kenworth and Peterbilt models
- Paccar recall prompts ‘do not drive’ order
REPAIR
11. Regarding economy, fees, pay, tolls, trucking conditions, and UCR fees:
Economy
- ACT Research: May Class 8 net orders unseasonally high
- ATA Reports Tonnage Turnaround for May With 1.5% Rise
- ATA’s Truck Tonnage Index sees May jump
- Fleets Persevere Through Down Market With Care and Creativity
- Freight market pressured again in May, Cass data shows
- Freight Recession Squeezes Top 100 For-Hire Carriers
- Freight upcycle could come in second quarter of 2025
- Industry Sector Rankings Reflect Market Downturn
- May Medium-Duty Sales Decline 6% Year-Over-Year
- Preliminary net trailer orders dip, ACT reports
- Preliminary net trailer orders dip, ACT reports
- Total spot rates remain steady, with some gains shown in May
- Trailer Orders Fall Again in May After Brief Rise
- Truck tonnage sees first year-over-year increase in 15 months
- US logistics inflation remains high despite 11% drop in costs
- US trailer demand under growing pressure, ACT reports
- Werner CEO Says Freight Market Is Returning to Normal
Fees
Pay
Tolls
Trucking conditions
UCR fees
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
Congratulations to every professional truck driver who is nominated for, competes in, and wins a truck driving skills championship.
- Publix Super Markets driver wins Florida driving competition title
- Transition Trucking award nomination deadline is June 20
Recognition
I recognize those truck drivers who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.
Thank you!
- Canadian driver named TCA Highway Angel for second time
- Pennsylvania governor honors those involved in response to I-95 fire and collapse
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: 2024.06.22 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
