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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.06.27

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.06.27 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending June 27, 2026, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding ELDs and Independence Day:

ELDs

Finally, based on this article — The Hidden Problem Behind FMCSA’s ELD Revocations — I now know why so many ELDs have been removed from the official list!

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… While this is a sign of a concerted effort to remove non-compliant devices from the registered list and get them out of trucks, there is an even more significant issue, according to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association: Many ELDs marketed under different brand names share the same underlying software.

FMCSA may be pulling devices from the list, but if the underlying software lives on in dozens of related products that remain registered, the compliance and safety problem is not being solved.

… In the carrier compliance world, a “chameleon carrier” is an operation that closes up shop and re-registers under a new MC number the moment it accumulates too many safety violations or is caught engaging in fraud.

These families of ELDs operate on the same principle and can fairly be called chameleon ELDs.

… Unsafe and non-compliant ELD devices are in trucks across the industry. Devices that permit unauthorized log editing or enable drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits could create significant safety risks.

In my opinion, this whole issue could have been prevented if the FMCSA had simply:

  • created standards,
  • required all ELD manufacturers to submit their devices for testing,
  • tested each model,
  • provided certification on those that passed the test, and
  • then let the ones that passed be put on the market.

Or, as Benjamin Franklin once opined:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Right now, we’ve got a mess like a box full of feathers that was opened on the top of a breezy mountain, the result of which is feathers everywhere!

Given that the FMCSA and DOT don’t even know who all of the “chameleon carriers” are — a fact that I find hard to believe — I sincerely doubt that they know where all of the “non-compliant” yet self-certified ELDs are.

I am open to feedback on the best way to fix this mess.

Please comment through the form below.

Independence Day

According to the article in this section:

AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel at least 50 miles by car over the July 4th week, nearly the same number as last year.

Please also note that because July 4, 2026, is the 250th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence, many drivers will have their minds on things other than driving.

For reference purposes on related topics, you may want to review the info in these pages on this site:

My advice: Drive defensively and stay alert!

2. Regarding Cabotage, DACA, and Language:

Cabotage

According to the second article in this section:

The visa revocations come as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly defended the administration’s efforts to crack down on cabotage violations and other regulatory infractions involving foreign commercial drivers.

During a recent visit to Phoenix, Duffy said Mexican truck drivers are permitted to transport freight into the U.S. and return to Mexico but cannot legally haul loads between points entirely within the United States without proper authorization.

What are your thoughts?

Please comment through the form below.

DACA

In my June 6, 2026, and June 20, 2026, TDMST Weekly Round-Ups, I have gone into some detail on this topic.

Finally, through the article linked in this section, I now know where comments may be submitted:

FMCSA will continue to accept comments on the Class B exemption request through July 2. To submit a comment, click here or go to Regulations.gov and enter Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0886.

If you feel strongly about this topic, please comment.

Language

This is part of “General qualifications of drivers [who drive a commercial motor vehicle]” 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2):

Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;

Any questions?

3. Regarding Amazon, Border, Brokers, Business, Capacity, Carrier Safety, Industry, and Webinar:

Amazon

Border

Brokers

Business

Capacity

Carrier Safety

Industry

Webinar

4. Regarding Crashes, Drugs, Fatalities, Fines, Fraud, Hijacking, Injury, Road Rage, 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.

Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent being involved in a fatal large truck crash?

Fines

As I mentioned last week:

Some readers will be absolutely baffled, but I totally agree with this [huge fine] because of the problems that each “stuckage” causes.

I wish that the law requiring GPS providers to update their systems had been passed.

But more importantly, I want to know why trucking companies are still “allowing” their truckers to use non-CMV GPS units or apps that route them this way.

If one has all of the pertinent data, one can estimate the cost to tow a big rig out of Smugglers Notch.

But now with the law being changed to a $10,000 fine, how many CMV-specific GPS units can be purchased for that?

It would be interesting if the folks in Vermont erected a sign saying something like:

“Regardless of what your GPS unit says, if you are driving a big truck and you proceed on this road, you WILL be fined $10,000!”

Feedback?

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.

Hijacking

I’m glad that the “alleged perpetrators” have been caught and are facing “criminal charges”!

Injury

May the Lord heal these people!

Road Rage

Seek to avoid road rage incidents.

Theft

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

With as much surveillance equipment as is 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.

5. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Fuel, Hydrogen, Iran, and Oil:

Autonomous Vehicles

I totally oppose 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 my readers to help us stay current on the topic.

Electric Vehicles

It could be that with the price of fuel being so high right now, that truckers and trucking companies are looking at alternatives.

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

Emissions

Fuel

So that you can track the price of fuel:

In an effort to save as much fuel as possible, here are a few of the articles on this site dealing with aerodynamics:

It is my understanding that the reason why the price of fuel has come down in my area of late is because the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves have been tapped, as can be seen here.

I am not in favor of this “strategy” to make Americans think that everything is OK between the USA and Iran at this time, when it is not.

From this post on Telegram, we see an image and this description:

The U.S. government is draining Strategic Petroleum Reserves to keep oil prices (artificially) low, while diminishing the emergency supply that will be needed more dearly in the months ahead… not good!

Now this week’s articles on this topic:

Hydrogen

Iran

Oil

6. Regarding DAT, Economy, Employment, Inflation, Pay, Rates, Tariffs, Surcharges, Tolls, and USPS:

DAT

Economy

Employment

Inflation

One source (pages 17 and 18) says that inflation is:

  • both “an increase in the amount of currency, resulting in rising prices”;
  • and “theft.”

Take a look at the M1 money supply — and what happened in early 2020 — and you’ll realize immediately what has happened to prices in the USA over the last 5+ years.

Although the dates may be shifting over time, according to FiscalData.Treasury.gov, the U.S. debt:
– exceeded $36 Trillion on November 21, 2024;
– exceeded $37 Trillion on August 11, 2025;
– exceeded $38 Trillion on October 21, 2025; and
– exceeded $39 Trillion on May 18, 2026.

Obviously, this is unsustainable and some people have indicated that the collapse of the U.S. dollar is imminent.

If you have not already done so, please make preparations regarding your financial future.

Pay

Rates

Tariffs

For a much better and more thorough explanation about the problems with Trump-issued tariffs, please search for the word “tariffs” in Peggy Hall’s Substack archive.

There’s also a short video on Telegram with this description:

Peter Schiff on Trump’s punitive tariffs against U.S. allies and why all tariffs are paid by the American people, not foreign manufacturers

Now for the articles in this section…

Surcharges

The article in this section asks:

Are you paying twice for soaring fuel price increases driven by the Iran war?

Tolls

Yikes!

USPS

7. Regarding DEF, Inspections, Maintenance, Operations, Securement, and Shortage:

DEF

In case this explanation is needed:

Derating software refers to engineering tools used to analyze, define, and verify the operating limits of electronic or mechanical components. It helps engineers ensure that parts are not operated at their maximum rated capacity—like voltage, current, or temperature—significantly prolonging the lifespan and reliability of a system.

Inspections

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

Maintenance

Operations

The person doing the filming obviously had a camera device in his/her hands at the time of the filming, which represents distracted driving.

Securement

Yep! Partially losing one’s load is completely preventable!

Shortage

8. Regarding Dolly Parton Truck Stop, Parking, Recalls, and Restroom:

Dolly Parton Truck Stop

The “beaver” comment was spot-on!

Parking

Recalls

If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.

Restroom

In my opinion, the issue with OTR truckers using restrooms could be solved by allowing them to keep a well-maintained portable toilet in their trucks.

I have written about this:

Just saying…

9. Regarding Legal, Motus, Ontario, Politics, and Regulations:

Legal

Motus

According to the third article in this section:

The rollout of Motus that fully began May 14 had problems almost immediately.

I can’t say I’m surprised.

Ontario

Politics

Regulations

10. Regarding Ports, Rail, Safety, Speed Limit, and Strike:

Ports

Rail

Safety

Speed Limit

Strike

11. Regarding Technology, Testing, Training, Weather, and Weight:

Technology

Testing

Part of the trucker’s petition — according to the article in this section — is:

“Forcing a driver to proceed immediately to a collection site when they are off-duty ignores common sense and impacts a driver’s rest periods, along with their hours-of-service (HOS) clock.”

Do you agree?

Training

Weather

Regarding the first article in this section, Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, so why is funding “availability” being announced now?

FWIW, there is no authorization in The Constitution of the United States for a Department of Transportation, much less funding for problems associated with a weather event.

Weight

12. Regarding Awards:

Awards

Congratulations to all truckers who have:

  • demonstrated skill and achievement in their work as professional truck drivers;
  • been recognized for that skill and achievement, perhaps for safe driving;
  • been given a tangible reward; or
  • been nominated for or given an award.

Here are the articles this week:

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: 2026.06.27 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



Rate Match Guarantee. We'll meet or beat your current rate. DAT Outgo.
Factor smarter, faster, and save. Keep more of what you earn. DAT Outgo.
Factor with more freedom. Non-recourse + no annual contracts. DAT Outgo.
Factoring that pays faster. Super fast funding speeds. DAT Outgo.