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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.02.22

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.02.22 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 22, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding congestion pricing, Nikola, and weather:

Congestion pricing

While I’m glad that “congestion pricing” has been struck down in New York, I must point out that according to Article II of The Constitution of the United States, the President of the United States does not have the authority to strike it down.

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According to The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

So, states and jurisdictions within them may set their own local regulations as they see fit, with the “consent of the governed” in those jurisdictions.

Nikola

It is sad that Nikola has filed for bankruptcy and is winding down operations.

Then again, this is an example of how the free market works.

Weather

Please be mindful of continually changing weather conditions as you drive and work.

Pay attention to existing or modified instructions to traffic, especially trucks.

2. Regarding crashes, death, drugs, fatalities, fraud, low clearance, smuggling, and theft:

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.

Death

I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the families of whose loved ones died.

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.

Low clearance

I am still awaiting the first submission of a Report a CMV GPS Low Clearance per the details on the post.

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 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.

3. Regarding Wyoming – crashes and Wyoming – fatalities:

There were so many articles written about this particular situation that I decided to break it out to its own section.

Wyoming – crashes

Wyoming – fatalities

4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, and emissions:

Autonomous vehicles

I decisively 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 our readers to help us stay current on the topic.

Batteries

Electric vehicles

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

Emissions

5. Regarding fuel, fuel card, and hydrogen:

Fuel

Fuel card

Hydrogen

6. Regarding BOI, border, brokers, business, events, and leasing:

BOI

Border

Brokers

Business

Events

Leasing

There are numerous mentions regarding truck leasing on this site.

One article is entitled:

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

Now for the article…

7. Regarding AEBs, chain up, roads, and strikes:

AEBs

The article in this section states:

Automatic emergency braking systems on heavy-duty trucks are not ready for a mandate, a member of Congress said at a recent House subcommittee hearing.

The House Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 12 focused on several trucking issues, including efforts to require AEBs and electronic stability control systems on new vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

The member of Congress cited is “Rep. Mike Collins, who owns a trucking company” with “a little over 100 trucks.”

Chain up

According to the article in this section:

A bill has been introduced in the Colorado legislature that would allow roadside businesses to install and remove chains or other traction devices on the tires of vehicles for a fee.

This sounds like a really good idea to me.

I remember the first and only time that Mike and I “chained up” while driving a big rig.

It was a most unpleasant experience.

I wonder if the “chain installers” would also sell snow chains to truckers.

The article further states:

The legislation comes in response to the mandatory chain law the state enacted last year. The law requires trucks over 16,000 pounds to carry four snow chains or similar traction devices if they are traveling on [the roads named].

What do you say about this proposed cottage industry?

Please comment through the form below.

Roads

Strikes

8. Regarding economy, employment, rates, tariffs, tolls, and turnover costs:

Economy

Employment

Rates

Tariffs

Tolls

Turnover costs

Wow!

One would think that trucking companies would be doing all they can to keep the truckers they have!

What do you think?

To which aspects of trucking do trucking companies need to pay attention for greater trucker retention?

9. Regarding age, FMCSA, and inspections:

Age

FMCSA

Inspections

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

10. Regarding legal, PRO Act, and protests:

Legal

PRO Act

According to the second article in this section:

The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which was introduced in the previous session, would utilize the ABC Test to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. It also would make it easier for workers to join a union. Opponents of the PRO Act contend that the barrier to becoming an independent contractor is too high.

Protests

For more on this topic, please see these search results on my site:

Now for the article:

11. Regarding technology:

Technology

12. Regarding recognition:

Recognition

I recognize those who helped 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: 2025.02.22 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.


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