TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.12.07 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending December 7, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding acquisition, downgrade, MATS, and weather:
Acquisition
In the process of gathering articles for this week’s TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentary, I came across 16 articles about either acquisitions or mergers that will be, are now in process, or have been accomplished within the trucking industry.
I have a feeling that the economy is such that we may see more and more of these types of situations in the future.
Downgrade
Now that this “downgrade” of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) has happened — to those who have supposedly violated something that landed them on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse list — I’m going to be watching to see if there is a resulting decrease in the number of large truck crashes due to drug use and/or alcohol consumption by professional truck drivers.
That’s the point of the Clearinghouse, right?
MATS
“MATS” stands for Mid-America Trucking Show and his held annually in Louisville, Kentucky.
Weather
Professional truck drivers need to be aware of continually changing weather conditions and adjust their driving to compensate.
I recently read someone’s opinion that the earthquake off California’s west coast was a warning from another nation (which means that it could have been triggered due to political tension).
Please make sure that you have adequate provisions with you in your truck to help you through a hard time, including drinking water, an emergency kit, and an emergency fund.
- 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning
- A storm brings squalls to the Northeast; 2 people die from heart attacks after shoveling snow
- Great Lakes Region Prepares for More Snow
- Major winter storm Thursday prompts truck restrictions in Pennsylvania
- PennDOT commercial vehicle travel restrictions go into effect at midnight
- PennDOT urges caution in upcoming winter weather event; vehicle restrictions planned during storm
- State activates truck restrictions for winter storm | ‘False logs’ deliver jail time
- Storm blankets parts of the US during busy holiday travel weekend with more snow and cold forecast
- Tsunami warning issued for California and Oregon following powerful earthquake
2. Regarding border, brokers, California, Canada, customer service, and legal:
Border
- Borderlands Mexico: Texas bridge expansion focused on cross-border trucking
- Mexico opposed to potential ban on commercial vehicles at Bridge of the Americas
- There’s no substitute for the right cross-border insurance
- TriumphPay expansion makes it easier than ever to do business in Mexico
Brokers
- Carrier411: FreightGuardians of the brokerage galaxy or evil incarnate? |
- Vooma grabs $16.6M in funding as brokers prepare for market swing
California
- California bill would repeal Low Carbon Fuel Standard revision
- California lawmakers begin special session to ‘Trump-proof’ state laws
- California man dead in crash in Oregon
- California trucking company Kal Freight files for Chapter 11 restructuring
- California trucking company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
- California, EPA, and the Uncertainty of Truck Emissions Regulations [Listen]
Canada
- Canada Investigates Vietnamese Container Chassis Imports
- Canada Tells Trump Its Border Differs From Mexico’s
- Canada to Open Alaska Consulate to Deepen Arctic Partnership
- Canada Trade Surplus With US Narrows as Tariff Fight Looms
Customer service
- Automate operations but keep customer service personal
- Shipper CRM, Journey team up to improve customer experience
Legal
This week, there were 18 articles about trucking-related legal situations.
Truckers, please do everything in your power to take care of legal matters:
- on the front end (when it is free or low-cost);
- instead of on the back end (when it could cost you dearly and potentially be felt in multiple ways!).
Now for some of these articles…
- Beneficial ownership information struck down by federal court
- Driver arrested for brandishing weapon in threatening manner
- Fleet’s former ops manager gets prison time for embezzlement
- Lawfare: The Legal War on Trucking, Part 2
- Most important nuclear verdict in trucking history; trucker for FMCSA head |
- New Jersey AG fights effort to dismiss indictment that pulled in NFI CEO Brown
- Restitution ordered for Ohio trucking company owner involved in shipping fraud scheme
- Sparc Transport misclassification/lease-purchase lawsuit revived
- Texas dealer must pay $1.9M in taxes on Chinese-made tires, court rules
- Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Werner crash fatality case
- Trucking firm, director fined over diesel spill
- Werner argues nuclear verdict case before Texas Supreme Court
- Werner case at Texas Supreme Court: Did driver fail to perform a legal ‘duty’?
3. Regarding economy, pay, and tolls:
Economy
- 4 changes coming to US trade policy in early 2025
- Bracing for tighter truck capacity, shippers rebid contracts
- Class 8 Truck Orders Stumble Again in November
- Cyber Monday Shoppers Expected to Set a Record
- E-commerce to drive air cargo industry expansion through 2043
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Class 8 orders rise, and prospect of tariffs could drive further near-term gains
- LTL stocks sag on Q4 updates
- October Used Class 8 Truck Sales Rise 10.7% Year Over Year
- Positive signs of a freight market upcycle materializing
- Preliminary data reveals uptick in Class 8 net orders
- Reefer market shows signs of tightening
- Ryder Truck Rental Growth Hints at Freight Market Recovery
- Transportation pricing up again in November, sentiment survey shows
- Trucking CFOs, Leaders Eye 2025 Recovery With Tight Budgets
- Trucking Demand and Capacity Edge Closer to Equilibrium
- US Cyber Weekend Sales Rose 9%
Pay
The presence of the articles in this section do not constitute an endorsement of any trucking company for which to go to work.
- Barr-Nunn Transportation named Top Pay Carrier for 20th straight time
- TriumphPay’s LoadPay a new tool in fierce battle to get drivers paid faster
- Truck drivers want more money and time at home
- Will per diem be restored for company drivers in 2025?
Tolls
- Court rules that Rhode Island can resume controversial truck-only tolling program
- Ohio Turnpike increases rates for 2025
- Ohio Turnpike’s toll rates to increase for commercial, passenger vehicles
- Toll rate increases in New Jersey draw ire of state lawmakers
- Truckers to pay more as Ohio Turnpike tolls increase in 2025
4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and hydrogen:
Autonomous vehicles
I adamantly oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public — but I share articles on this topic with my readers to help us stay current on the topic.
- Ex-TuSimple CEO Hou Seeks to Liquidate Company’s Assets
- Volvo Sees Autonomous Trucks as an All-New Transportation Mode
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- 10 Steps to Fleet Electrification
- Bus, Truck Maker Lion Electric Sells Facility to Raise Funds
- EV Charging Firm Ideanomics Files for Bankruptcy
- Four more Canadian Mack dealerships become EV-certified
- Musket Transport proves electric trucks aren’t the only way to slash emissions
- Survey: EV Reliability Improves but Still Lags Gas models
- US commits to $7.54 billion loan for Stellantis venture to build 2 electric vehicle battery plants
- US Commits to $7.54B Loan for Stellantis EV Battery Plants
- Voltera taking Infrastructure-as-a-Service approach to electric truck charging
- Volvo VNR Electric passes 10 million-mile mark in customer use
- Volvo’s VNR Electric crosses 10-million mile mark
Emissions
- Trimac, MEDATech zero-emission Class 8 truck pilot project nears finish line
- Trucking Companies Leading the Charge to Lower Greenhouse Emission
Fuel
- Alternative fuels: Could they be a good fit for your trucking business?
- Average Diesel Price Rises Just a Tenth of a Cent to $3.540
- Benchmark diesel price up slightly as OPEC+ meeting looms this week
- Diesel rises by the smallest margin possible
- Fuel purchase fraud in eye of Motive card system updates
- Hyundai XCIENT fuel cell trucks hit the road in the U.S.
- On The Spot: Is CARB Snubbing RNG as a Truck Fuel?
- Rising Fuel Taxes to Hit Three States; California Warned
- Solving The Zero Emission Dilemma With Natural Gas
Hydrogen
5. Regarding employment and training:
Employment
- November trucking jobs see healthy rise; a one-time move or start of a trend?
- Shippers urge longshore union, employers to resume contract talks
- Truck driver vacancies drop 36% in Q2 2024 as non-driving roles lag behind
- Tyson Foods to close plants in Kansas, Pennsylvania, resulting in hundreds of layoffs
- US Added a Strong 227,000 Jobs in November
Training
- 5 Tips to Coach Drivers Using Video Telematics
- Ontario lawmaker introduces bill to add winter driving simulator training to MELT
6. Regarding politics, technology, and white papers:
Politics
- Davis-Bacon Act applies to truck drivers, DOL tells Fifth Circuit
- House and Senate Finalize Water Infrastructure Package
- House passes Prove It Act
- Shutdown Looms as Congress Debates Transportation Funding
- Transportation funding is focus of Michigan House pursuit
Technology
- CDOT expanding Express Lane camera usage to crack down on drivers ‘weaving’ across lanes
- Log truck driver’s account of Georgia accident differs from camera footage
- Technology packaging for the all-new Volvo VNL provides additional customer value
- US Agencies Issue Guide to Thwart Cyber Threats From China
- Waymo Unveils Plan to Bring Its Robotaxi Service to Miami
White papers
- White Paper: How to vet a carrier
- White Paper: State of the Industry — December 2024
- White Paper: How to Improve Driver Engagement and Reduce Turnover
7. Regarding ELDs, FMCSA, and regulations:
ELDs
Others within the trucking industry were speaking out against the Electronic Logging Devices “mandate” long before December 4, 2017, but you may read my commentary on the mandate.
In TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2017.12.09, I quoted Indiana’s Attorney General, Curtis Hill, regarding the self-certification provision regarding ELDs.
I also asked, “In what other industry besides trucking has the government ever mandated the purchase of a ‘self-certification’ product?”
So, I’m truly distressed for every trucker who invested in a “self-certified” ELD that used to be on the approved list, only to later have that certification revoked!
If you are such a trucker, I want to hear from you about how expensive this was for you.
Please comment through the form below.
FMCSA
- FMCSA Adds Four Crash Types to Non-Preventable List
- FMCSA clears up intentions behind broker transparency rulemaking
- FMCSA denies fleet’s request to install pulsating brake light module
- FMCSA denies requests to alter accident reporting procedures
- FMCSA looks to ease regulations for jet fuel haulers
- FMCSA moves on changes to crash preventability program
- FMCSA renews exemption allowing future school bus drivers to skip the under-the-hood component of CDL testing
- FMCSA wins $25,000 settlement against California HHG carrier
- Motor Carriers Get More Options to Get Non-Preventable Crashes Removed from Safety Scores
Regulations
8. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, fire, fraud, smuggling, violations, 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.
- Arkansas DOT cams catch flatbed truck rolling on a curve, spilling load all over interstate
- Deputy struck by jackknifing semi truck on Ohio interstate
- Four hurt in multi vehicle crash that sends tractor trailer into condos
- Freight truck crash destroys ’30 Rock’ actor’s home; 4 injured and 11 cars damaged
- Semi crash on Ohio off-ramp seriously injures deputy, one other
- Semi loses load of metal across Tennessee highway
- Seventeen vehicle pileup shuts down Michigan interstate
- Three drivers cited for careless driving in six-semi pile-up during snowstorm
- Truck driver’s checklist for post-accident documentation
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- $40M in cocaine seized from semi on Illinois/Iowa state line
- Arizona man who recruited truck drivers to transport drugs sentenced to prison
- Illinois police find $40M worth in cocaine in truck
- Illinois police nab two Ontario men with cocaine worth US$40 million in truck
- Illinois troopers bust pair with $40 million in cocaine in tractor-trailer
- Legendary Medellin cartel drug lord released from US prison after serving 25 years
- Proposed drug testing procedure requires ‘observed’ urine sample collection in some cases
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?
- “Suspicious male” fatally struck by semi truck in Detroit
- Bicyclist dies in crash with semi truck in Florida
- NHTSA estimates 3.2% drop in traffic fatalities during first half of 2024
- One dead after small car collides with semi truck in South Carolina
- One dead in Texas crash involving semi and small car
- Semi crosses median and strikes second semi truck head-on, killing two in Ohio
Fire
The second article in this section states:
The incident occurred early on the morning of November 21, as the truck descended Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road—routes closed to commercial truck traffic—when its brakes overheated, igniting the vehicle.
It is imperative that truckers know how to safely descend mountain grades without overheating their trucks’ brakes.
- Baltimore tunnel partially shutdown for semi truck fire
- Truck Carrying 44,000 Pounds of Chickpeas Catches Fire in Death Valley
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.
- 3 face federal charges of Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud
- Fresno Trucking Company Manager Sentenced in $1.6M Fraud Scheme
- Two plead guilty for defrauding factoring companies, freight brokers and disaster fund
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.
Violations
If you or your rig are put out of service, do not try to drive commercially in spite of it.
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 business, lease, maintenance, recalls, and tires:
Business
- Losses in China lead to $5 billion charge for General Motors as it cuts the value of its assets
- Nippon Steel Confident It Can Close Widely Opposed US Deal
- Nippon Steel Eyes Overseas Market in Bid for US Steel
- Notes on a new start for your trucking business
- XPO, Old Dominion waiting for market turn
Lease
Maintenance
- 4 Common Truck Troubleshooting Questions Answered
- How to Shield Commercial Trucks From Road Salt and Corrosion in Winter
- MyMechanic exec looks to streamline maintenance for small fleets
- Tech tips: Four common questions answered by the team at Bendix
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
Tires
- Continental HDL 3 EP Long-Haul Tire Balances Efficiency, Durability
- Michelin spins off Energy Guard business, will continue to distribute
10. Regarding containers, parking, ports, roads, routing, and Thanksgiving:
Containers
Parking
- Former Davis Travel Center reopens as a TA Express location in Virginia
- Sheetz opening new West Virginia location with 5 lanes offering high flow diesel fuel and DEF
- Sheetz opens new store next Thursday in Marmet, West Virginia
- TA opens Wisconsin location with 50 truck parking spaces
Ports
- Chicago intermodal no longer a bridge too far for Indiana port
- Infrastructure for Georgia Ports Authority is target of federal monies
- Port Operators Threaten to Halt Talks Over Automation Issue
- Predictions platform says longshore strike not a sure bet
- Union, employers resume war of words in East Coast port contract dispute
Roads
- Interstate 30 improvement project wraps up in Arkansas
- Smugglers Notch officially closed for the winter season
- Two exit ramps closed indefinitely after I-10 oversize load bridge strike
Routing
Thanksgiving
Congratulations to every professional truck driver who safely navigated his/her truck through higher congestion times associated with this holiday!
11. Regarding truckers and trucking companies:
Truckers
- Focus on drivers sets the best carriers apart
- Trucker hands out all of his gear to drivers in need before final trip home
- Trucker tells the story of his near half-century trucking with his wife
Trucking companies
The presence of the articles in this section do not constitute an endorsement of any trucking company for which to go to work.
- Briefly: J.B. Hunt named to Newsweek’s list of Most Reliable Companies
- J.B. Hunt among Newsweek’s America’s Most Reliable Companies 2025
12. Regarding awards, awards – recognition, and freebies:
Awards
If you know of someone who deserves this award, please nominate him or her.
Awards – recognition
I recognize truckers who help out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
Freebies
Thanks to the owners/managers of this truck stop for giving free Thanksgiving meals to truckers!
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: 2024.12.07 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
