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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.09.12

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.09.12 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending September 12, 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 9/11, Fuel, Iran, and Oil:

9/11

September 11, 2026, is the 25th anniversary of the events that happened on September 11, 2001.

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Special events are planned, so please be aware.

Fuel

These quotes are from the September 10, 2026, article entitled: “The Diesel Crisis Is Here: What the Gaslighters Won’t Tell You,” which I am sharing as a courtesy and ask you to do your own due diligence:

Diesel is the lifeblood of the American economy. It powers the trucks that deliver food to your grocery store, the tractors that plant and harvest your crops, and the generators that keep hospitals and data centers running. When diesel prices skyrocket, everything else follows — food, medicine, clothing, and shelter. …

The emerging diesel crisis is a direct consequence of the war on domestic fossil fuel production and the infrastructure that supports it. Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a systematic campaign to shut down domestic refineries, block pipeline construction, and burden energy producers with so many regulations that they simply cannot compete with foreign suppliers who often play by no rules at all.

Consider this: the United States now has diesel fuel reserves for just 25 days, which industry experts have described as “absolutely catastrophic”. Twenty-five days. That’s less than a month of cushion between normal operations and complete economic paralysis.

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:

Now this week’s articles on this topic:

Iran

Based on my limited reading, it seems to me that people around the world are reeling from the illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional war of aggression against Iran that was started by U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

Supply chains have been disrupted and the price of fuel, oil, other products, and various services have risen sharply, as shown in the articles in this section.

If this situation bothers you, please contact your federal elected officials.

Oil

2. Regarding Appreciation, Driver Perks, and Truckers:

Appreciation

FYI: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2026 takes place from Sunday, September 13, through Saturday, September 19, 2026.

This annual event led by the American Trucking Associations honors the millions of professional truck drivers who safely and securely move essential goods across the United States.

Driver Perks

Please be aware of the available discounts.

Truckers

3. Regarding ATRI, Border, Brokers, Business, Canada, Capacity, and Trade:

ATRI

Border

Brokers

Business

Canada

Capacity

Trade

4. Regarding Crashes, Distracted Driving, Drowsy Driving, Drugs, Ejected, Fatalities, and Fraud:

Crashes

Please look through these articles in this section to see if there is anything you can learn to help you prevent being involved in a similar crash.

I wish to draw attention to this article:

Truck driver parked on gore area to urinate prior to serious sideswipe crash, Indiana troopers say

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the “gore area” is “the space between a through roadway and an entrance or exit ramp” and it is shaped like a triangle.

That page on their website says:

  • “it is against the law to drive through a gore area”; and
  • “a law was passed making it illegal to cross or park in the gore area.”

Even if it is not explicitly illegal to park in a gore area everywhere you travel, it is very hazardous to do so because of:

  • vehicles whizzing by in the lanes of travel;
  • vehicles attempting to merge into traffic (entrance ramp); and
  • vehicles attempting to exit the roadway (exit ramp).

I understand the trucker’s need to remove waste from his body, but there were most likely better options on where to park.

Here are the other articles in this section:

Distracted Driving

For reference purposes:

Distracted Driving: Beware of Attention Diverters That Can Be Fatal

Drowsy Driving

For reference purposes:

Drowsy Driving: Dangers, Statistics, and No Substitutes

Drugs

Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.

Ejected

As I wrote in this post — Seat Belt Use and Seat Belt Laws For Truckers — I have “never read an article about a trucker being ejected from his/her truck in which the he/she was wearing a seatbelt.”

Both drivers and passengers in commercial motor vehicles are required to be properly restrained, per 49 CFR § 392.16 – Use of seat belts.

Now for the article:

Fatalities

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, as it concerns a “highway”:

Fatality means any injury which results in the death of a person at the time of the motor vehicle accident or within 30 days of the accident.

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?

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.

5. Regarding Injury, Scam, Smuggling, Theft, Thrown, Violations, and Violence:

Injury

May the Lord heal this trucker!

Scam

Please be aware of and speak out against these and other types of scams that can impact truckers and trucking companies.

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.

And don’t attempt to smuggle illegal products.

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.

Thrown

For reference purposes:

Items Thrown From Overpasses Smash Windshields and Hurt Truckers

Violations

A lot of violations are found during truck inspections while others are spotted on the road.

Make it your aim as a trucker to do everything in compliance with the law and regulations — even if your trucking company is trying to get you to compromise.

For your convenience, please review these posts:

Now for the news articles on this topic:

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.

6. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, and Emissions:

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

7. Regarding Economy, Employment, Inflation, Pay, Ports, Rates, Recovery, Strike, Tariffs, and Tolls:

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 6+ 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;
– exceeded $39 Trillion on May 18, 2026; and
– exceeded $40 Trillion on August 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

Ports

Rates

Recovery

I am glad whenever I read of stolen goods having been recovered!

Strike

Please be aware…

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…

Tolls

8. Regarding Enforcement, Inspections, Language, and Training:

Enforcement

Inspections

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

Language

In this section, I am lumping together articles on these topics:

  • English Language Proficiency (ELP); and
  • Non-Domiciled CDLs.

Here are the articles:

Training

9. Regarding Legal, Motus, Operations, Politics, Politics – Chameleon Carriers, Politics – Staged, and Speed:

Legal

Notice that the trucker who was at fault in the crash described in this article is being sued:

Family suing company and driver for failing to use measuring device in oversize bridge strike that killed one.

Also, I am very pleased that the legal fight described in the following article is taking place:

Truck driver takes concealed carry fight to Supreme Court.

Even though I am usually opposed to blanket national provisions because of the Tenth Amendment, I point out that the Second Amendment to The Constitution of the United States applies nation-wide.

May the Lord see fit to give a victory for the right of self-defense throughout the United States for all travelers and truckers!

Motus

No surprises.

Operations

Politics

Politics – Chameleon Carriers

For background on chameleon carriers, please read:

The Anatomy of a Chameleon Carrier Empire. How They Build It.

Politics – Staged

According to one source:

A “staged” truck crash is an intentional, premeditated collision orchestrated by fraudsters to fraudulently claim insurance money, often targeting commercial vehicles.

Criminals maneuver a car to force a truck into an accident, typically using tactics like the “swoop and squat” (cutting off and braking) or “sideswipe” to blame the truck driver.

Be on your guard regarding these kinds of maneuvers.

I am glad that this is being looked at legislatively, although I wish that every state would take care of it individually.

Speed

No matter how “hot” your load is, obey the speed limit in every jurisdiction where you travel.

10. Regarding Regulations, Road Rage, Roads, and Routing:

Regulations

Road Rage

Seek to avoid road rage incidents.

Roads

Routing

When it comes to truck routes, I have addressed this issue on this posts on this site:

Now for the articles in this section:

11. Regarding Supply Chain, Technology, and Weight:

Supply Chain

Technology

If you’re following the “Flock cameras” issue, please be aware that there are other companies that are installing surveillance cameras in lots of places.

Weight

12. Regarding Awards, Awards – Championship, and Awards – Recognition:

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.

The articles:

Awards – Championship

Congratulations to every professional truck driver who has desired to enter, has entered, has competed in, and has won a truck driving championship!

Awards – Recognition

Thank you to everyone who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether it was the trucker doing the helping or the trucker being helped.

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: 2026.09.12 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



Factoring that pays faster. Super fast funding speeds. DAT Outgo.
Truckers, for all that you do all year long... thanks!
Factor with more freedom. Non-recourse + no annual contracts. DAT Outgo.
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.