This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending May 15, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding cyberattack: closure, consumer, DOT/HOS, gouging/prices, politics, ransom, responsibility, restoration, restrictions, routes, shortage, trade, and wake:
The biggest news over the past week has been the “cyberattack” of Colonial Pipeline and the subsequent shortage of fuel in the southeastern USA.
On our TDMST Facebook page on May 10, I posted:
Vicki received a Google alert as follows about the trucker shortage on Friday, May 7, 2021:
Trucker shortage could make it harder to fill your tank this summer – CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/trucker-shortage-could-make-it-harder-to-fill-your-tank-this-summer/Then, on Saturday, May 8, 2021, I got the link to this article:
‘Jugular’ of the U.S. fuel pipeline system shuts down after cyberattack
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/cyberattack-on-critical-pipeline-freezes-deliveries-to-us-east-coast/ar-BB1gvwaDDo you think there is a connection?
Please comment below.
Thanks.
Although I have looked at numerous articles (many of them listed below) about this situation, I will be very frank in saying that the timing of this is too convenient.
There are some things that I feel are missing from this “narrative.”
Among them are these:
- Where is the response from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding this so-called professional hacking group?
- Where is a replica of the so-called ransom note?
- Where is the official apology from the head of Colonial Pipeline to customers inconvenienced by the shortage?
- Unless it was planned, how would Colonial Pipeline know when they would have their pipeline reopened?
- Why wasn’t the head of the IT Department at Colonial Pipeline fired for incompetence?
I posted online elsewhere:
- “In my opinion, no company — with such a big share of the fuel market — is so stupid as to ‘allow’ their controls to be hacked.”
- “In my opinion, this fuel shortage situation was an inside job that was designed to make the people panic and more afraid than they were already.”
- “Remember the 3 stages that have happened over and over again:
Problem, Reaction, Solution.”
I have told people that I personally believe that the Colonial Pipeline “cyberattack” was an inside job, deliberately planned and executed.
I am not the only person who feels this way. (link, link)
We will find out in the coming weeks if there is some massive piece of federal legislation that is pushed down the throats of the American people in response to the Colonial Pipeline “cyberattack” — just as the PATRIOT Act was foisted upon us after 911.
Be that as it may, here are some articles about this “cyberattack” from trucking publications, broken into topic areas:
Closure
Consumer
DOT/HOS
- DOT Issues Further Allowances for Haulers in States Affected by Colonial Pipeline Attack
- FMCSA Issues Emergency Declaration to June 8 Due to Pipeline Cyberattack
- FMCSA issues temporary HOS exemption in response to shutdown of Colonial Pipeline
- FMCSA responds to Colonial Pipeline cyberattack with HOS exemption
- FMCSA suspends HOS for fuel haulers in 17 states after hackers shut down pipeline
- Fuel haulers get HOS relief as pipeline hit by cyberattack
- H.O.S. Suspended For Fuel Haulers in 17 States After Cyber Attack Forces Major Pipeline to Shut Down
- Hours of service waiver issued because of pipeline cyberattack
- Hours-of-service waiver issued in wake of pipeline cyberattack
- Kentucky lifts limits on petroleum haulers to aid pipeline issues
- More regulatory relief for fuel haulers in 10 states affected by pipeline shutdown
- Regs waived in North Carolina for truckers to aid fuel supplies
- U.S. DOT takes additional steps to address Colonial Pipeline situation
- USDOT allows flexibility for overweight truck permits in 10 states following pipeline shutdown
- USDOT announces additional help for fuel haulers in 10 states affected by pipeline shutdown
- USDOT Waives Interstate Size/Weight Regs for Fuel Haulers Making Emergency Deliveries
- West Virginia added to FMCSA’s emergency exemption following interruption of Colonial Pipeline
Gouging/Prices
- Biden Warns Against Gas Price Gouging After Cyberattack
- Colonial Pipeline outage: What to watch for in diesel markets Monday
Politics
Ransom
- Colonial Pipeline Paid Hackers Nearly $5 Million in Ransom
- Colonial Reportedly Pays $5 MILLION Ransom to Restart Critical U.S. Pipeline
- Ransomware Attack Shuts Down Biggest US Gas Pipeline
- Ransomware gang blamed for Colonial Pipeline attack expresses regret
- The Daily Dash: Colonial Pipeline shutdown special
One man who is well connected in the trucking industry remarked on Facebook regarding this article:
“So now we negotiate with terrorists. Got it.”
Responsibility
- Biden Says Russia Has ‘Some Responsibility’ in Colonial Attack
- Cyberattack on US Pipeline Linked to Criminal Gang
- Cybercrime Group Claims Responsibility For Colonial Pipeline Hack… “Our Goal is to Make Money”
Restoration
- Colonial Pipeline Could Be Back Up Within Days
- Colonial Pipeline Initiates Restart, Expects Return to Normal Supply in ‘Several Days’
- Colonial Pipeline pointing to week’s end for resumption of operations
- Colonial Pipeline restarts operations days after major hack
- Colonial Pipeline Restarts Operations, but Normalcy Days Away
- Colonial points to rapid return to normal
- Diesel outages starting to rise in Southeast on back of Colonial closure
- News Alert: Colonial Pipeline announces restart; operations coming back Wednesday
- Pipeline Service Could Be Back by Weekend
Restrictions
Routes
Shortage
- Colonial Pipeline attack beginning to result in diesel shortages
- Colonial Pipeline crisis results in diesel, gas shortages at truck stop chains
- Colonial Pipeline update: Gasoline shortages developing; diesel issues less clear
- Fuel begins to flow through Colonial Pipeline; some diesel, gas shortages persist
- Fuel shortages reported in multiple states in the wake of cyber attack on pipeline
- Fuel supply concerns reasonable but not necessary in wake of pipeline cyber attack, experts and truckers say
- Gas Stations Report Shortages
- Pipeline cyberattack starting to prompt fuel shortages
- Reports of Fuel Outages Begin in Wake of Colonial Pipeline Shutdown
- Some Gas Pumps Run Dry Due to Panic Buying
- The Daily Dash: Pipeline shutdown comes calling on diesel supplies
- Truck Stop Chains Reporting Fuel Outages at Stores Across Multiple States
- UPDATED: Fuel shortages reported at Love’s and Pilot truck stops in the East
Trade
- Colonial Pipeline’s Silence Has Energy Traders Nervous
- Gas Futures Shrug Off Cyberattack on Pipeline
Wake
2. Regarding roads: I-40 bridge and Indianapolis interstate
Another huge news item this week was the closure of I-40 at the Arkansas/Tennessee state line because a crack was discovered in a bridge support.
I commented on Facebook:
“These bridges are supposed to be inspected regularly.”
“Thinking of how this could have happened:
– this crack happened ‘all of a sudden’;
– the bridge was neglected during so-called inspections; or
– an inspector somehow didn’t do his job right (or got paid off).
Any other options I overlooked?”
Meanwhile, here are some articles about this:
I-40 bridge
Prepare for months of detours.
- All lanes of I-40 bridge at Arkansas-Tennessee state line shut down
- Crack Closes I-40 Bridge Between Arkansas, Tenn.
- Crack in I-40 bridge shuts down traffic between Tennessee, Arkansas
- DOT Official Says Emergency I-40 Bridge Closure Averted Potential ‘Catastrophic Event’
- Emergency I-40 bridge closure causing supply chain disruptions and headaches for truckers
- I-40 bridge between Arkansas, Tennessee remains closed until further notice
- Interstate 40 bridge between Arkansas and Tennessee shut down
- Major Delays After I-40 Mississippi River Bridge Shut Down For ‘Emergency Repairs’
- Officials order emergency shutdown of I-40 bridge after a crack is discovered
- Repairs to I-40 bridge over Mississippi could take months, not weeks
- Repairs to Interstate 40 bridge over Mississippi River could take months
- Significant’ crack in I-40 bridge still being investigated; no timeline for reopening available
Indianapolis interstate closure
Don’t allow yourself to be involved in road rage.
- An 18 month interstate closure in downtown Indianapolis starts in just a few days
- Indiana’s 2nd Busiest Interchange Set to Close for 18 Months For $320M Project
3. Regarding inspections and insurance:
Inspections
Always be prepared for an inspection — at any time.
- 125 Drivers Sidelined, 709 Violations, 1 Arrest Reported in NH During Last Week’s Blitz
- Flatbed Trucker Learns a Lesson He’ll Never Forget After Inspection Doesn’t Go So Well
- The Daily Trucker | May 12, 2021
- The first Roadcheck results are in — 709 violations discovered in 356 inspections
- What will CVSA inspectors be checking during Operation Safe Driver Week?
Insurance
If you’re concerned about this, please contact your elected officials.
4. Regarding drugs, smuggling and illegal:
Drugs
Never agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter how big the promised payment.
- Driver Drug Positives Continue at Last Year’s Rate
- Speeding Truck Driver Arrested After Traffic Stop Leads to Discovery of 162 Pounds of Meth
- Truck driver faces federal charges after troopers discover 162 lbs of meth during traffic stop
Smuggling
Never agree to haul humans like they are cargo, no matter how big the promised payment.
Illegal
Don’t get involved in things like this.
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, and emissions:
Autonomous vehicles
In that I am 100% opposed to autonomous, driverless and self-driving vehicles, I am sharing these articles to help you stay current with the news.
- Daily Infographic: Self-Driving Trucks
- New NTSB Report on Deadly ‘Driverless’ Tesla Crash Asserts Texas Investigators Are Wrong
- NTSB: Autopilot ‘not available’ in fatal Tesla crash last month
- Photos of Man Riding in Tesla With No Driver Prompt California Police to Investigate
- The Daily Dash: Big boys of autonomous trucking
- These Mega Carriers Are Among The First to Pre-Order TuSimple’s Self-Driving Trucks
- TuSimple says it has orders for nearly 7,000 driverless trucks
- VW Plans to Have Autonomous Microbus Ready in 2025
Electric vehicles
Fuel
These are non-Colonial Pipeline fuel-related articles.
- Diesel Rises 4.4¢ to $3.186 a Gallon
- Neste opens new renewable diesel fueling stations in Southern California
- Reports show higher diesel prices
- South Korean firm Hypower Lab pushes hydrogen-powered drones
- US Shipping Rule Waived so Foreign Tanker Can Deliver Fuel
- Volvo sees a greener future in hydrogen fuel cells
- Weekly DOE/EIA diesel price up 4.4 cents, but trails moves on CME and wholesale
Emissions
- Diesel Engine Makers Need to Innovate to Meet Stricter NOx Emission Standards
- Emissions reduction plan proposed in New York State
- The journey to zero emissions transport won’t be fast or easy
6. Regarding accident and ELDs:
Accidents
Please learn from these accidents and do what is reasonable never to be involved any anything like what is reported.
- Explosive-hauling semi truck forced off road by brake-checking motorist
- Stray duckling causes double semi crash
- Trucker ‘Did Not Stop’ Causing 3-Vehicle Crash Killing Child and Injuring Another, Police Say
- VIDEO: ‘I thought he was going to pull over onto the shoulder but he went straight to the ditch’
ELDs
7. Regarding economy, employment and shortage:
Economy
- April Class 8 Sales Jump 52.8%, Clear 19,000 YOY
- April freight trends jump, 2021 to be ‘extraordinarily strong year’
- Carriers enjoying ‘strongest freight market ever’: ACT Research
- Commodity price spikes slow logistics warehousing activity but don’t stop it
- Convoy Puts Up Caution Flag For Heavy-Duty Truck Purchases
- Is 2021 a peak year for earnings? — Great Quarter, Guys
- Packaged goods shippers want transport regulators to deal with rising costs
- Preliminary Class 8 truck orders for April down from March but still far ahead of 2020
- Trucking conditions hit record levels in U.S.
- U.S. economy back on track, but labor market, inflation are concerns<b” “r>
Employment
Shortage
Remember that there is no shortage of people obtaining Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs); what we have is a retention issue.
- Daily Infographic: Statistics on Driver Shortages
- Disruptions Add More Stress to Already Strained Capacity Market
- The Truck Driver Shortage in 2020 – The Dirty Truth No One Talks About
8. Regarding recalls:
9. Regarding operations and rates:
Operations
Pay attention to what is around your truck as you drive — and seek to install mirrors or cameras on your truck so that you can see all around.
Rates
- Latest dry van, reefer spot rate surge may be short-lived
- Rates have peaked, spending is slowing — does it matter?
10. Regarding taxes and politics:
Taxes
Politics
[Since this trucking commentary was written, H.R.842 – Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 did not advance in the 117th Congress.]
11. Regarding training:
12. Regarding award:
Congratulations to the two truckers mentioned in the articles that follow for having been recognized!
- For Maryland Driver of the Year Bill Nearhoof, safety is where it’s at
- Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association Names 2020 Driver of Year
Keep striving for safety and better skills as a trucker.
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: 2021.05.15 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
