This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending September 12, 2020.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding inspections:
As I write this, one of the CVSA’s International Roadcheck is fixing to wrap up today.
Here are some of the most recent articles about not only the event, but about preparing for truck inspections (which can occur at any time):
- Are you ready? CVSA’s International Roadcheck gets rolling
- Be prepared: CVSA’s International Roadcheck scheduled for Sept. 9-11 with focus on driver requirements
- Driver charged after police make string of atrocious equipment, documentation discoveries
- Roadcheck got rolling today — did you thank your inspector?
- Roadcheck starts tomorrow — Here’s what officers will be looking for
- This is what they’re looking for in enforcement blitz
- Three-day International Roadcheck inspection blitz begins Wednesday
- What they’ll look for during this week’s Roadcheck
2. Regarding insurance:
The following is a list of the most recent articles addressing insurance in trucking:
- Battle rising insurance costs with data and safety cultures
- Sen. Daines leads push against minimum insurance increase
- Seven senators fight back on plan to hike trucker insurance requirements to $2 MILLION
If you feel strongly about this, please get in touch with your
3. Regarding trucking jobs, the economy, AB5, and buying used:
Trucking Jobs
- CCJ Daily Dispatch, Sept. 8: Trucking added back 10,000 jobs in August, still lags pre-pandemic levels
- Daily Infographic: The road to a freight industry career
- XPO promotes logistics veteran to lead last-mile unit
The Economy
- CFTC: Climate change could significantly impact financial markets
- Commentary: The enabling technologies for the networks of the future
- The Daily Dash: Finding drivers; an improving LTL market; Roadcheck kicks off
- Truck arrivals rise 7%
- Trucking Conditions Dropped in July, But Stayed Positive
- Worst impacts of COVID-19 in ‘rearview mirror’ for commercial vehicle engine demand but regulations continue to affect industry, report says
- Opportunities and hurdles after the holiday NOW
AB5
- Judicial panel hears why AB5 should be kept out of California trucking sector
- The Daily Dash: GM, Nikola and fuel cells; why trucking’s AB5 exemption could be in jeopardy
Buying Used
4. Regarding accidents, bad routing, and safety:
Accidents
Just because you’re not in your truck doesn’t mean that you can let down your guard regarding safety.
It seems as though more and more people are trying to get killed by big trucks.
Protect yourself in every way possible.
Bad routing
The article didn’t identify the app that the trucker used, but here’s what happened:
Safety
- New driver training tech helps fleets compile safety data
- Werner Edge with Microsoft Azure offers safety and savings
5. Regarding autonomous trucks, drones, technology, recall, tires, training:
Please stay up-to-date on these matters:
Autonomous Trucks
- Digging into Autonomous Truck Tech on HDT Talks Trucking Podcast
- U.S. DOT launches online tool to help public track testing of automated vehicles
Drones
Technology
- Colorado DOT installing high-tech avalanche-mitigation system at Lizard Head Pass
- Eleos, Drivewyze team up to offer PreClear weigh station bypass integration
- Bestpass Launches New National and Regional Toll Transponders for Commercial Fleets
- Massive Toll Hikes in New Jersey Set To Go Into Effect This Weekend
The last paragraph of the article entitled NACFE Revises Tractor, Trailer Aero Reports states:
The per-vehicle fuel economy benefit of trailer aerodynamic devices can be high, ranging from 1% to more than 10%, depending on the devices chosen with priority given to underbody devices followed by rear devices and then tractor-trailer gap devices. The revised study concluded that while trailer aero devices have matured, they will continue to improve and become lighter, more robust and less expensive thereby improving their payback.
In the article The ever-changing freight industry and the “new” normal, we read:
It’s an exciting time to be in the freight industry. Never before have we faced such a diverse set of technologies to facilitate change, and perhaps never before have there been so many challenges facing the industry.
Recall
Tires
Training
6. Regarding trucking and speaking out:
Trucking
- ‘Old school’ disruption shakes trucking industry
- COVID-19 Disruption Continues to Affect Freight, Rates
Speaking Out
7. Regarding drugs, smuggling, theft, perceived to be illegal:
Never engage in illegal activity, no matter how much you may have been promised.
Drugs
Smuggling
- Commercial drivers involved in human smuggling face stiff penalties under ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ initiative
- Mexican Truck Driver Arrested in Major Big Rig Human Smuggling Plot
Identity theft
Perceived to be illegal
8. Regarding Fact Book and FAST Act:
Fact Book
- 2020 Fact Book: Drivers [Photos]
- 2020 Fact Book: Parts & Service [Photos]
- 2020 Fact Book: Safety [Photos]
- 2020 Fact Book: Sustainability [Photos]
- 2020 HDT Fact Book
FAST Act
9. Regarding fires, wind, snow, and visibility:
Please take extraordinary care when you encounter hazardous driving situations and park in a safe and legal parking place until conditions improve, particularly if it appears as though bodily harm could come to you or if harm will come to your truck or the freight you are hauling.
Fires
- FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration for Three Western States as Wildfires Rage On
- Record-setting wildfires shut down highways in California, Oregon, Washington
- Wildfires on West Coast shuts down numerous highways
High Winds
- 45 Big [Rigs] Toppled by High Winds in Utah, Multiple Truckers Injured
- 45 trucks toppled by hurricane force winds in Utah
- ATS has wind energy at its back
- Dozens of Big Rigs Toppled by High Winds Prompt Ban on Travel in Multiple Utah Counties
- Semi truck travel banned in multiple Utah counties
- Trucker Making a Delivery During Windstorm Killed in “Freak Accident”
- Trucker perished after Utah windstorm caused trailer door to slam into him
- UDOT: ‘Hurricane Force’ winds topple 3-dozen semi trucks in 20 minutes
- Utah truck travel ban lifted, trooper’s dash cam catches wild blow-over
Snow in September in Wyoming
- Heavy Snowstorm Forces Closure of Stretches of I-80 and Dozen Highways in Wyoming
- Major early season snowfall to hit Rockies next week
- Some Truckers in Violation of Colorado Chain Law Amid Early Season Snowstorm
- Winter shows up early in Wyoming, elsewhere
- Wyoming roadways shut down for 10 inches of September snow
Headlights for visibility
10. Regarding Hours of Service:
The following articles are the most recent regarding the Hours of Service regulations:
- FMCSA extends emergency declarations for drivers providing relief to California, Oregon, Washington State due to wildfires
- FMCSA extends HOS waiver for truckers providing relief to states ravaged by wildfires
- Split-duty rest break: A lever for boosting capacity?
11. Regarding spending and trucker pay:
- Divided consumer spending habits drive freight imbalances
- Aaron Ramirez: ‘Works so hard to provide for our little family’
- Spot rates above $3/mile in 46 of 100 lanes
12. Regarding trucker appreciation:
According to a September 11, 2020, article:
In celebration of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, the Maine Professional Drivers Association (MPDA) will host a driver appreciation event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at the northbound scale facility on Interstate 95 in York.
My husband Mike and 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: 2020.09.12 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
