This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending November 28, 2020.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding ELDs being hacked:
Prior to this week, I would have guessed that of all of the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) on the market, those devices manufactured by Rand McNally would be least likely to be hacked!
FWIW, many truckers warned transportation officials of the possibility of ELDs being hacked prior to ELDs being forced upon truckers.
Those officials would not listen.
ELD hacking is part of the fallout from ELD manufacturers needing only to “self-certify” their devices.
Furthermore, this is a preview of what may happen to autonomous trucks!
- Cyber attack takes Rand McNally ELDs offline
- ELD provider Rand McNally still searching for solutions after systems go down
- Problems with Rand McNally ELDs reported to OOIDA
- Rand McNally continues search for fix for ‘cyber incident’
- Rand McNally: ‘Cyber incident’ causes problems with ELDs
- What regulations and the FMCSA say about ELD outages
Please remember the regulations regarding needing to keep paper back-up log sheets or log books with you in your truck at all times — for times such as this.
2. Regarding economy and operational costs:
Economy
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index Declines 8.7% in October
- ATA’s October Truck Tonnage Index down 6.3% from September, 8.7% below October 2019
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index Falls in October
- Economic Outlook Bright for Holidays
- ECONOMIC WATCH: Truck tonnage slides in October
- Fleet owners have gone ‘from fear, to hope, to optimism’ as Class 8 sales decline slightly
- Innovative solutions for combating truck driver shortage
- Length of haul falls as freight shifts east NOW
- Thin inventories lengthen trucking demand runway
- Tight supply-demand balance reflected in ACT’s latest for-hire index
- Truck arrivals drop 1.8%
- US Consumer Confidence Falls as Virus Surge Dampens Expectations
- US Recovery More Tenuous as Jobless Claims Rise, Incomes Fall
- Used Class 8 Truck Average Price Finally Posts Increase
Operational costs
- Carriers’ operational costs fell from 2018 to 2019
- CCJ Daily Dispatch, Nov. 25: Carriers’ per-mile costs fell in 2019, ATRI finds
- Operational costs of trucking fell in 2019
- Trucking costs fell 9.3% in 2019 with industry contraction
- Operational Cost of Trucking Down 9.3%, ATRI Finds
3. Regarding accidents, drugs, and DUI:
Accidents
- Here’s a reminder on the importance of proper load securement“In the pictures, the big rig’s load of lumber has clearly pierced the cab; missing the driver’s seat, and presumably the driver, by an incredibly small margin.”Years ago, my husband Mike had a coworker who was cut off, which resulted in the load shifting badly.
Were it not for the headache rack or header board, there might have been very nasty consequences!
- Three trucks hit this 12’0″ Kansas City bridge in just five days
- Truck driver hospitalized after bridge strike
- VIDEO: This driver’s turn fail will make your head hurt
- Yet another reason why you should never skip the pre-trip.“Set of duals came off a truck going the opposite direction,” he wrote. “Tire came across the [median] and hit my friend and her husband’s truck. Luckily no one was hurt.”Please bear in mind that someone farther down the road would have needed to replace the “set of duals” that came off the truck, and that the trucker who was driving the truck may yet be held responsible for this wheel separation accident.
Drugs
Never haul illegal drugs.
- $25 million in liquid meth seized in Texas
- Border agents discover $25 million in liquid meth concealed in tractor-trailer hauling corn husks
- Feds seize $3.5 million in cash, plus drugs, body armor, and ammo from California truck yard
- Truck driver caught smuggling $25 MILLION worth of liquid meth in fuel tanks
- Two major drug busts tied to cross-border trucking
DUI
Never drive any vehicle — especially a semi-tractor trailer — while under the influence of alcohol.
- Truck driver arrested for DUI after driving the wrong way on I-5, colliding with another semi
- Wrong-way trucker collides with oncoming tractor-trailer on Oregon interstate, arrested on DUI charges
4. Regarding operations, inspections, maintenance, and weather:
Operations
- It’s better to be safe than sorry with cargo tank leaks
- More regulations, more problems? — Freightonomics (with video)“Regulations are a key piece in keeping the logistics industry moving smoothly, but Strickland said governments do not necessarily have a clear understanding of how the industry operates in real time and that can lead to too much oversight.”
Inspections
- Here are the dates for next year’s biggest truck inspection blitzes
- Oklahoma to post troopers every 15 miles on two major interstates
Maintenance
Weather
5. Regarding re-routing, roads, tolls, and brokers:
Re-routing
- Border officials to reroute northbound empty CMVs to cut down on congestion
- CBP pilot program to route empty CMVs entering U.S. from Mexico to Columbia-Solidarity Bridge
Roads
- America’s most dangerous roads for truckers: Part 2
- Detour of I-75/71 bridge expected through Dec. 23
- Hazmat was banned from I-75/51 bridge that burned
- Idaho transportation agency plans third bridge across Snake River near Twin Falls
- Northbound lanes of Illinois Tollway’s new Mile Long Bridge scheduled to open this week
- Proposed I-10 bridge construction spanning Alabama’s Mobile River, Mobile Bay back on table
Tolls
Brokers
- FMCSA is seeking comments on petition to eliminate freight broker transparency regulation
- FMCSA seeks comment on proposal to eliminate ‘bad-actor’ brokers
6. Regarding health care and vaccines:
This is going to be very controversial, but due to reports about ingredients in at least a couple of COVID-19 vaccines, I’m going to encourage professional truck drivers to never, ever:
- accept the vaccine or
- haul this freight.
I understand full well the conflict of interest that exists regarding hauling controversial freight.
An example of this is when truckers who refuse to drink alcohol are assigned to pick up and deliver loads of beer.
Some truckers will say, “freight is freight” and “what the consumer does with what he/she buys is his/her responsibility, not mine.”
The subject comes down to loving one’s neighbor as one loves oneself and not putting a stumbling block or “offense” before anyone.
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
— Matthew 18:4-6
“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,’ you are doing well.”
— James 2:8
According to what is written in Ezekiel 33, I have now fulfilled my duty by sounding a watchman’s warning on this kind of vaccine.
The subject of vaccinations is extremely complex and I simply ask you to do your due diligence before you haul this freight.
If you have questions, please ask through the form below.
Here are the most recent articles on this subject:
- CDC says truckers could be among the first in line for early COVID-19 vaccine
- Class I railroads grapple with COVID-19 as unions seek safety assurances
- COVID vaccine distribution plans for trucking industry
- COVID-19 Aid, Government Funding Lead Lame-Duck Agenda
- COVID-19 vaccine could be available to truckers in early 2021
- COVID-19 vaccine distribution could start in mid-December, official says
- Dozens of TA restaurants are closing again due to COVID-19 concerns
- Essential Workers — Truckers Among Them — May Get First Access To COVID Vaccine
- Foreign sourcing to delay Canada COVID-19 vaccine distribution
- I was on the road with a truck driver for 2 weeks during the first wave of COVID, this was my experience and what I fear they’ll face again
- Solving the dry ice challenge for COVID vaccine
- The Daily Dash: The price for vaccine distribution
- The Daily Dash: Truck drivers could be among the first for a COVID vaccine
- Truck drivers on list for potential COVID-19 vaccine priority
- Trucking Needs to Lead the Way as COVID-19 Cases Surge
- UPS Will Make Dry Ice, Offer Freezers for Vaccine Distribution
- We have arrived at the ‘Second Wave’ of COVID-19 and truck drivers are STILL on the front lines
7. Regarding money, recalls:
Money
- Buying out a lease-purchase agreement with home equity
- CCJ Daily Dispatch, Nov. 23: Ryder distributing $30M in bonuses to employees
- Digital analytics delivering cost-saving tire data
- What data says about consumer spending — WHAT THE TRUCK?!? (with video)
- Why carriers could see double-digit rate increases in 2021
Recalls
8. Regarding technology:
- 5.9 GHz spectrum and transportation technology, explained
- Innovative equipment procurement strategies for next year
- XPO Logistics helps carriers grow with new technology and rewards programs
9. Regarding fuel, electric vehicles:
Fuel
- Commentary: Is fuel efficiency a bad thing?
- Diesel prices climb for a third straight week
- Diesel Rises 2.1¢ to $2.462 a Gallon
- New York congressman asks DOT to reverse LNG by rail rule
- Oil Advances to Eight-Month High on Demand Optimism
- Oil Jumps Past $45, Dow Eclipses 30,000
- Weekly DOE/EIA diesel price rises 2.1 cents in last week
- Wyoming legislative panel supports fuel tax increase
Electric
- 2021 Expected to Be Pivotal Year for Electric Vehicles
- Electric Truck Fleets to Accelerate in 2021 and Beyond
- Electrified Trucking: Getting in Gear Should Begin Now
- Elon Musk: Tesla Semi may hit 621 miles of range
- Freight’s carbon footprint soaring
- Tesla battery aims to increase semi-truck range
- VIDEO: Simulated crash puts electric semi truck battery to the test
10. Regarding safety:
- Trucking Tip: Don’t forget to check your smoke detectors!Before reading this article, it never occurred to me to have a smoke detector in a semi-tractor trailer.Then again, if one’s truck is one’s home sweet home, it makes perfect sense!
- VIDEO: Motorist narrowly escapes T-boning from red-light-running truck driver“[W]as the truck driver unable to stop in the wet, slippery conditions; or were they just not paying attention?”Upon watching the video, I noticed how short the green light cycle was (at least from the video-taking direction), which makes me wonder how short the yellow light cycle is.
Hmm…
If necessary, review “The formula to calculate Total Stopping Distance” on our Safe Driving Tips page.
When roads are wet, you need to allow extra time and distance to stop.
Familiarize yourself with the concept of “stale green” and “stale red” lights — and prepare in advance for them.
11. Regarding documents, theft, times:
Documents
Theft
Time
- UPS slashes ground delivery transit times“UPS Inc… has reduced transit times by one business day on millions of parcels moving under its core U.S. ground delivery business, one of the most consequential service improvements the transport and logistics giant has implemented in years.”Please do not allow haste to cause you to be involved in an accident!
Shipping deadlines
- Daily Infographic: 2020 Holiday Shipping DeadlinesAgain, do not allow haste to cause you to be involved in an accident!
12. Regarding awards, charity, and thanksgiving!
Awards
My husband Mike and I extend our heartiest congratulations to those truckers who have made it either to the final round of — or have been named as the winner in — various competitions!
- 2 of 3 Driver of the Year finalists are women
- 2020 Owner-Operator of the Year award finalists named
- 3 finalists named for Company Driver of the Year Award
- Canadian among TCA Driver of the Year finalists
- Top company drivers, owner-operators competing for big money
- Transition Trucking field narrows to four new-driver military veterans
Charity
Thanksgiving
I gratefully acknowledge:
- all of those who have thanked truckers in some way, shape or form; and
- truckers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make Thanksgiving better for others.
Here are some of the most recent articles on this subject:
- 500 families-in-need will receive a Thanksgiving turkey thanks to this selfless trucker
- A message of thanks from Overdrive, and: A new recipe
- Daily Infographic: The turkey supply chain
- French-American Thanksgiving: CMA CGM donates 10,000 turkeys
- OTR Capital, Marquee hand out free lunches to truck drivers
- Several truck stops offer truckers free Thanksgiving meals
- Thankfulness for truck drivers
- Truck stops in Wyoming & California offering free turkey dinners to truckers who can’t be home for Thanksgiving
- Trucking companies team-up for Thanksgiving turkey giveaway
- What would Thanksgiving be like without truck drivers?
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: 2020.11.28 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
