This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending May 1, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding charging stations, hydrogen, fuel, and electric vehicles:
Charging stations
Be watching for more of these electric vehicle “charging stations” to be built.
I wonder with all of the stuff going on behind the scenes with electric vehicle production, building construction, etc., if there is truly a net gain in the direction that backers want.
- First-of-its-kind Charging Site For Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks Officially Opens – Transportation Nation Network
- Lawmaker proposes billions in grants for truck charging stations
- World’s Largest Truckstop’ now offers EV charging stations
Hydrogen
I stated in my April 24, 2021, issue of TDMST Weekly Round-Up:
Until there is some environmentally-friendly device that allows electric vehicles to “self-charge” — perhaps through solar power or an on-board ability to purify hydrogen out of the air — there will always be issues regarding energy usage and emissions.
Of course, a “self-contained” hydrogen extractor and purifier could be quite large and expensive.
Could such a hydrogen device be condensed to fit on a tractor to power it?
Here are the most recent trucking articles about hydrogen use as fuel:
- Nikola, TA-Petro plan to open nation’s first hydrogen fueling stations for heavy-duty trucks
- Travel center company collaborates on hydrogen fueling
- TravelCenters of America to Install Hydrogen Fueling Stations For Big Rigs in California
Fuel
- Average Price of Diesel Stays at $3.124 a Gallon
- DOE/EIA weekly diesel price holds steady
- Fuel tax rate increase advances in Missouri
- No change in national average diesel price
- RNG Gains Momentum as Trucking Fuel
- Volvo, Daimler on path to fuel cell electric trucks
- Weekly Fuel Report: April 26, 2021
Electric vehicles
I was aware that California was cracking down on diesel-powered trucks and now it seems other states are jumping on that bandwagon.
How do you feel about making all trucks electric by a certain date?
- Biden Releases Money in Push to Modernize US Electric Grid
- Electric trucks the future of zero emissions transport, but more immediate action needed
- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s Executive Order Aims to Electrify Transportation, Buildings
- N.Y. Bill Orders All-Electric Truck Sales by 2045
- The Daily Dash: Trucking’s place in electric vehicle expansion
- Volvo Forecasts Rapid Growth for Electric Truck Adoption
2. Regarding inspections, equipment, insurance, and safety:
Inspections
Always be ready for a truck inspection at any time.
Roadcheck may spur you to take needed action.
- Check lights and logs before next week’s safety blitz
- CVSA’s Safe Driver Week July11-17; focus on speeding
- Grote Industries experts share tips to help drivers prep for CVSA’s International Roadcheck
- Here’s Your ‘Cheat Sheet’ to Get Ready For CVSA’s Upcoming Three-Day Inspection Blitz – Transportation Nation Network
- Last Chance For A Tune-Up Before Next Week’s Inspection Blitz
- More Than 250 Citations Issued, 45 CMV Drivers Sidelined During Three-Day Enforcement Blitz
- Tires and brakes — perpare for Roadcheck inspections with these steps
- Troopers to hide in plain sight during statewide crackdown called ‘Operation Hardhat’
Equipment
In my opinion, the video linked below should be mandatory training for every flatbed hauler who uses straps to tie down loads.
Insurance
- ATRI needs motor carrier input on rising insurance costs
- Transportation Construction Coalition opposes minimum insurance hike
- White Paper: 10 Actions You Can Take Today to Avoid Skyrocketing Insurance Premiums
Safety
- FMCSA Encourages Drivers to Practice Work Zone Safety
- Safety violations can lead to criminal penalties
3. Regarding AB5:
Will there be another lawsuit or legal challenge?
What else do those who oppose AB5 have in mind?
- AB5 not preempted; Ninth Circuit lifts injunction
- Federal court deals blow to California owner-ops with AB 5 ruling
- Federal court rules California’s AB 5 applies to trucking
- News Alert: AB5 free to be enforced in California’s trucking sector
- The Daily Dash: Trucking loses reprieve from California independent contractor law
- Truckers fall under California gig economy law, court says
- With AB5 about to roil California trucking, industry ponders next step
4. Regarding accidents and vaccidents:
Accidents
When you read about a large truck accident or crash, please see what you can glean from it and apply to your skills so that you will avoid getting into the same situation.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- Daily Infographic: Work Zone Crashes in the South
- Detached Big Rig Tires Crush Passenger Vehicle Along California Interstate
- Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes Interstate 15
- FMCSA Chief Calls Out Truckers For ‘Absolutely Preventable’ Rise in Fatal Work Zone Crashes
- FMCSA focused on work zone crashes in Florida, Georgia and Texas
- FMCSA says large trucks are involved in 33% of fatal work zone crashes
- FMCSA: Large trucks are involved in one-third of all fatal work zone crashes
- Sleepy trucker unhurt after dozing off on highway
- Truck driver perishes after plunging off PA Turnpike bridge
- Trucker makes it out of semi left hanging off of bridge
- Trucks involved in growing share of work zone fatalities
- Two people seriously hurt in ‘unusual accident’ involving tandem wheels/tires
- VIDEO: Car driver’s illegal U-turn forces truck driver into a crash
Vaccidents or Vaxxxidents
In my April 10, 2021, issue of TDMST Weekly Round-Up, I wrote:
It could be that reporting of truck accidents is simply better than it used to be — or it could be that there truly are more truck accidents happening.
Well, I’m not the only one who has noticed an increase in accidents — or the fact that some of them have happened “out of the blue” with no other contributing causes. “Vaccidents” now wrecking roadways with stroked-out vaccine takers who lose brain function behind the wheel
The author describes “vaccidents” as “vaccine-induced accidents” in which the driver’s cognitive function has been diminished.
Quoting the article:
Recently, I have noticed a massive uptick in [seemingly] bizarre accidents. Vehicles of all kinds, usually singular, running off the road and crashing. Not in bad weather. Not in the middle of the night. Just all of the a sudden.
…
I’ve driven in the local market for a very long time and I have not seen this kind of behavior before. Wondering if its the beginning of Vaxxed brain damage of some kind???
As of April 28, 2021, (the date the article and video were published), some 140 million people — or about 43% of the population in the USA — have had one dose (CV jab) and about 30% have had two doses.
Multiple sources have shared that some recipients of a CV jab have experienced heart-related problems and blood clots.
The author states that some 40% of people may be driving around with a growing blood clot or mini-stroke about to happen.
A source video goes by the name:
Vaxxxidents – What happens when you inject a billion people with a mind destroying gene therapy.
According to this April 28, 2021, article — COVID-19 Injected People Becoming a Threat to Public Health and Safety — “Man has seizure and Crashes Vehicle Coming Back from COVID Injection”.
In light of this, be watching out for people:
- driving erratically,
- drifting from lanes,
- being involved in near-misses (“almost accidents”),
- driving much slower or much faster than the speed limit or the traffic around them,
- seeming to drive in a “dazed” way,
- weaving in and out of traffic, etc.
As time goes on, the frequency of such bizarre behavior on the roads may increase.
Please be aware of this and seek to use reasonable crash avoidance techniques.
In the meantime, if you are an independent trucker or owner-operator, please make sure that your insurance policy is up-to-date to meet your needs.
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles and technology:
Autonomous vehicles
I am 100% opposed to autonomous, driverless, or self-driving vehicles.
I am sharing these articles only as a courtesy to help you stay up-to-date about this technology.
- First round of Tesla semis to be delivered in 2021 despite battery constraints, Musk claims
- More Top Trucking Execs Now Advising Self-Driving Truck Company With Goal to ‘Remove Drivers’
- Navistar, Goodyear join TuSimple advisory board
- Policymakers Keep Autonomous Vehicles Bill on Senate’s Radar
- Tesla mum on Semi progress as it posts record income
Technology
- ELD Data Shows Effectiveness, Expert Says
- Fleets likely aren’t compliant with Canadian ELD regs
- Fleets take layered approach to prevent cyberattacks
- Global chip shortages accelerate fleet 3G migration plans
- Transmission: Chip shortage hits EV production; specific tires for performance EVs
6. Regarding deliveries, economy, and ecommerce:
Deliveries
I hazard a guess that this is most likely driven by consumer demand.
Economy
- New Class 8 truck sales aren’t expected to continue at March pace
- Orders for Durable Goods Rebound in March
- US Goods-Trade Deficit Widens to Fresh Record in March
- Volume Continues to Surge at UPS to Start the Year
- Yellow takes delivery of 1,200 tractors as part of Treasury relief loan
Ecommerce
7. Regarding drugs and smuggling:
Drugs
Never haul illegal drugs, no matter the incentive dangled in front of you.
- 2 truckers face prosecution after $4.5M marijuana seizure at US-Canada border
- Suspicious officers seize $700k from trucker’s cab
- Texas Border Agents Seize $11 MILLION of Narcotics From CMVs in Three Days
Smuggling
Never treat people like inanimate objects.
8. Regarding carbon, emissions, and recalls:
Carbon
In my March 27, 2021, issue of TDMST Weekly Round-Up, I covered the topic of “carbon” in a good bit of detail.
- Are carbon offsets effective?
- Daily Infographic: Best Practices – Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
- Using intermodal for carbon neutrality can get complicated
Emissions
I covered the issue of emissions in greater detail in my April 24, 2021, issue of TDMST Weekly Round-Up.
- Biden Moves to Restore California’s Power to Fight Vehicle Pollution
- California Drayage Fleets Face Potential Zero-Emission Mandate
- E-Commerce Boom Will Speed Zero-Emission Truck Adoption
Recalls
9. Regarding legal, politics, and maintenance:
Legal
If you feel strongly about any of these issues, please contact your elected officials and share your thoughts.
- Appeals Court Clears The Way For Enforcement of California’s I/C Wipeout Law
- Biometric info center of truckers’ lawsuit against Union Pacific
- Do NOT Include These 7 ‘Anti-Trucking’ Measures in Highway Bill, OOIDA Warns Congress
- DRIVE-Safe Act gains co-sponsors; OOIDA opposes bill
- Highway bill should exclude ‘harmful’ policies for truckers, OOIDA says
- Trucker Charged With Vehicular Homicide Following Deadly Accident on MA Turnpike
Politics
Maintenance
- Survey finds varied roadside maintenance intervals
- The right engine oil can lower trucking cost per mile
10. Regarding hiring, shipping, and sale:
Hiring
An online poll allows truckers to give their feedback.
Shipping
Sale
11. Regarding theft, tolls, and violence:
Theft
Please do what you can to minimize the risk of loss.
- Cops make ‘$1 MILLION’ recovery after truck hauling laptops was stolen while driver showered
- First-quarter cargo theft mostly flat year-over-year, firm reports
- Maryland man pleads guilty to forgery for numerous CDL applicants
- Theft of vehicles, cargo drops slightly, report says
Tolls
Violence
- Truckers REACT to Latest Attack on Big Rig… ‘Let’s See If They Want to Riot When Stores Are Empty!’
- Trucking Group Demands ‘Justice’ in Wake of Mob Attack on Big Rig in Minneapolis
12. Congratulations!
We recognize and congratulate all of those named below.
Achievement
Driver of the Year
- FedEx Freight company driver is WIT’s Driver of the Year
- Nikki Weaver earns WIT’s 2021 Driver of the Year award
- Nikki Weaver wins WIT Driver of the Year award Land Line
Citizen Driver Award
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: 2021.05.01 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
