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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.10.19

TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2024.10.19

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.10.19 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 19, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

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1. Regarding hurricane, Hurricane Helene, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and Hurricane Milton:

Even though these destructive weather systems have dissipated, the devastation that they left in their wake may be with us for months or years.

Please pay attention to road closures, appropriate detours, and do not be caught on routes that are not suitable for the type of truck you drive.

Although I always recommend using a hard copy trucker’s atlas, such a book will not help you in cases where interstate highways or other roads have washed away!

Double-check and, if necessary, triple-check your route to make sure that all is well.

For road information in targeted states, please see:

Yes, I know that with I-26 and I-40 having collapsed in the torrential rains and floods, that there will be long detours.

Please feel free to contact me to let me know what impact this has on you as a professional truck driver.

You may also want to see the section below about fuel taxes being suspended around the time of these hurricanes.

Hurricane

Hurricane Helene

Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Hurricane Milton

2. Regarding ATA – America’s Road Team, ATA – economy, ATA – leaders, and ATA – policies:

I know that some truckers can’t stand the ground that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) walks on.

Yet, there are times when they stand up for truckers (or at least their stances help truckers).

So, I am sharing this information with you as a courtesy.

ATA – America’s Road Team

ATA – economy

ATA – leaders

ATA – policies

3. Regarding AB5, legal, and legal – dog:

AB5

As I’ve mentioned before, I personally believe that AB5 should never have been passed into law in the first place.

California legislators should rescind this law, in my opinion.

Legal

Legal – dog

These are two different accounts of animal cruelty and the second article in this section does not say that the owner was a professional truck driver.

Proverbs 12:10 says, “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.”

Still, there can be legal consequences even for those who are “wicked” and “cruel.”

I address the issue of being in a hot truck, for animals, children, and adults.

I also have written about idling (actually a 9-post series) and a proposition for acquiring an APU in a company-owned truck.

4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, California, CARB, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and taxes:

Autonomous vehicles

I totally oppose to the operation of autonomous, driverless, or self-driving 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.

California

CARB

See the definition of CARB on my glossary.

Electric vehicles

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

Emissions

Fuel

Taxes

5. Regarding bankruptcy, economy, employment, pay, rates, tolls, and towing:

Bankruptcy

Economy

Employment

I find it very interesting from the article Walgreens to Close 1,200 Stores as US Pharmacies Struggle to Define a New Role:

  • “Walgreens is planning to close around 1,200 locations, as the drugstore chain and its rivals struggle to define their role for U.S. shoppers who no longer look to them first for convenience.”
  • “The boost they received from taking the lead on vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic has long since faded.”

I personally think that many American consumers have awakened to the injury and death that has resulted from the C0VID jabs and have turned to healthier options.

To see my choice of a healthier option, please see my Trucker Health post.

Pay

Quoting the article below:

Of course, carriers wouldn’t want anyone to know that paying drivers more is good for highway safety. That could disrupt the lucrative, albeit exploitative, truck driver pay structure that has been the status quo since 1980s deregulation. Lucrative to the carrier, not the driver, to be clear.

Rates

Tolls

Towing

6. Regarding border, business, Cascadia, leasing, recalls, regulations, and retention:

Border

Business

Cascadia

Leasing

Before you lease a truck, please read this post on my site:

Commercial Truck Leasing: Beware of Designed-to-Fail Schemes.

Recalls

If there is an active recall on your tractor or trailer, please have the work done as soon as possible.

Regulations

Retention

7. Regarding collapse, fires, and roads:

Collapse

The first two articles in this section address the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge near Baltimore, Maryland.

Fires

If you drive a commercial motor vehicle that is either powered by this kind of battery — or you are hauling these batteries — please be aware of the potential for fire!

Roads

8. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, fraud, 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.

Drugs

Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.

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.

Theft

Never take something that doesn’t belong to you unless you have permission from the owner.

With as much surveillance equipment in place in the 21st century, it’s only a matter of time before the thieves are apprehended.

Violence

It is never right to perpetrate violence upon someone in an unprovoked manner.

All perpetrators of violence must be dealt with in a just legal manner.

9. Regarding health, inspections, and operations:

Health

Inspections

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

Operations

Please prepare in advance of driving to make sure you understand your route and that your load will be able to fit under all bridges, tunnels, and the like.

I have written:

Low Clearance Bridges and Overpasses: How to Watch for and Avoid

Now for the articles…

10. Regarding issues, and parking:

Issues

Parking

11. Regarding technology, training, and weather:

Technology

Training

Weather

12. Regarding awards – competition, and recognition:

Awards – competition

Congratulations to all professional truck drivers who are selected to participate in any truck driving competition.

Furthermore, congratulations to all winners!

Recognition

I recognize those people who helped out 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.









Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2024.10.19 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



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