This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending June 19, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding automatic brakes, inspections, and parts:
Automatic brakes
One of the things that really bothers me about “automatic brakes” is the fact that some people think that technology is foolproof and “knows” better than humans do what is needed in particular situations.
Here’s an interesting question:
Instead of putting “automatic brakes” on large trucks, why not simply put some kind of warning sound and lights on the truck to let the human know when to apply them?
Or is it the case that the time that it takes for a human to respond is too late?
What happens, though, in wet or slick conditions?
Will automatic braking lead to jackknifing situations?
At what decrease in miles per hour (or kilometers per hour) — over what time frame — will “automatic brakes” slow down a big truck?
Could automatic brakes ever lead the driver onboard to have whiplash or spinal issues?
Could the pressure by any stretch of the imagination be considered “hard braking” or lead to the shifting of a load?
If the idea of having more regulations on commercial motor vehicles bothers you, please contact your federal elected officials: House and Senate.
- Automatic Emergency Braking on DOT Agenda
- Automatic emergency braking, Clearinghouse update, more on DOT’s regulatory radar
- OOIDA opposes AEB mandate in Senate highway bill
- US regulators to seek automated braking requirement for heavy trucks
- US to Seek Automated Braking Requirement for Heavy Trucks
Inspections
Always be ready for a truck inspection — at any time.
- Safe Driver Week looms; this year’s focus is speeding
- The next big driver-focused enforcement blitz is just weeks away
- Troopers only inspected 26 trucks but found 124 violations during surprise blitz
Parts
- Mack Anthem day cab gets new roof fairingSeek for the most cost efficient aerodynamic enhancements — with the biggest return on investment — you can get.
- Metal semi truck document holder mistaken for pipe bomb leads to evacuationWell, it’s been a while since people understood the different parts of a truck, huh?
2. Regarding economy, employment, pay, and tolls:
Economy
These articles show different aspects of the economy from the trucking industry perspective.
- ACT reports May net trailer orders down 39% from April but up nearly 170% year over year
- Canada’s spot market freight levels remain strong
- FTR: Trucking conditions continued record-setting pace in April
- May Medium-Duty Sales Climb 36% From 2020 Period
- May Trailer Orders Mark Year’s Low Point
- Most B2B businesses plan to expand online buying post-pandemic
- Retail sales remain strong in May; future freight flows look promising
- Trailer builders get respite in May as orders edge back toward normalcy
- Trailer orders drop, reflecting lengthy backlogs
- Trucking Turns From Pandemic to Prosperity
- US Industrial Production, Factory Output Climb in May
- US Retail Sales Drop, Hinting at Shift to Spending on Services
Employment
There is a lot at stake regarding trucking jobs and recruiting lines.
- Jobless Claims Rise for First Time Since April
- Predicting your future workforce
- Should fleets screen drivers for cognitive impairments?
- Truck driver jobs rebound to pre-Covid levels
Pay
Tolls
3. Regarding electric vehicles, Lordstown, autonomous vehicles, emissions, and carbon:
Electric vehicles
Don’t forget that in order to run an electric vehicle, it has to have a minimum charge and thus a way to be charged.
- Battle Motors, PositivEnergy Partner to Install Charging Stations
- Electric vehicle production key to economic recovery
- Electric-powered trucks rule clears Pennsylvania House
- Exclusive first ride: Nikola electric truck can turn on a dime
- GM to Spend More on Electric Vehicles, Add Battery Plants
- TrovaCV launches diesel-to-electric program to electrify existing diesel tractors
- Utilities step up to educate fleets, ease electric truck transition
Lordstown
- In Reversal, Lordstown Says It Has No Firm Orders
- Lordstown Motors charges ahead with electric pickup despite major setbacks
- Lordstown Motors Jumps on Forecast for 11 Months of Cash on Hand
Autonomous vehicles
I totally oppose autonomous, self-driving, or driverless trucks — and am sharing these articles to help you keep up with the topic:
- Amazon’s ‘expendable workforce’ echoes trucking’s biggest issues
- Autonomous vehicles still face legal, legislative hurdles
- Bridgestone invests in autonomous trucking firm Kodiak Robotics
- Bridgestone Invests in Kodiak Robotics
- Bridgestone Kodiak Investment to Enable Smart Tire Tech in Autonomous Trucks
- FedEx rolls out Nuro autonomous delivery vehicle in Houston
- FedEx to Test Nuro Autonomous Delivery Vehicles
- GM’s Cruise Unit Starts Preproduction on Autonomous Shuttle
- PGT Trucking To Deploy Automated Convoy Technology
- Refraction AI sees big opportunity in Texas
- Rep. Bob Latta Reintroduces Self-Driving Vehicle Bill
- Shipwell: Reducing food waste one on-time shipment at a time
- TuSimple: Autonomous freight network 6 months ahead of schedule
- VIDEO: How truckers really feel about the impending self-driving semi trucks
- Waymo hauls in $2.5B from current investors for autonomous expansion
Emissions
Be watching out for more and more talk about the environment and emissions.
- How CDA Works to Cut Emissions, Improve EfficiencyCDA = cylinder deactivation
- Seattle goes zero emissions with last-mile delivery zones
- Zero-emission truck incentive vouchers available in California
Carbon
- John Kerry: Carbon Capture ‘Key Tool’ to Curb Factory Emissions“Carbon capture”? Where? In what? For how long? Hmm…
4. Regarding fuel, fuel cell, fuel consumption, fuel efficiency, and idling:
Fuel
Please seek to get the very best fuel economy you can get.
- 9 Ways Innovative Fleets Save Fuel
- Biggest Foreign Buyers of US Fuel Are About to Step on the Pedal
- Daily Infographic: How Much Gasoline Does The United States Consume?
- Diesel Average Is Up 1.2¢ in Seventh Consecutive Increase
- Diesel prices largely up from a week ago Fuel prices Land Line
- UPS sets sights on 30% sustainable aviation fuel by 2035
- US Trucking Boom Contributes to Rising Demand for Diesel
- Weekly Fuel Report: June 15, 2021
Fuel cell
Fuel consumption
- KeepTruckin Launches Tech to Help Fleets Analyze Fuel Consumption
- Tweak Engine Settings To Save Fuel
Fuel efficiency
Idling
- Bid Goodbye to Engine Idling & APUsThis is a link to a white paper.
5. Regarding ports, trade, and containers:
Ports
- FreightWaves Classics: Port of Los Angeles is the nation’s busiest!If you as a trucker can take advantage of this, go for it safely!
Trade
Respect the border and those securing the borders.
- Borderlands: Mexico remains top US trade partner, Canada No. 2
- Congress drafting law barring ocean carriers from refusing US exports
- Daily Infographic: Mexico Remains Top US Trade Partner
Containers
- 1 month, 1 million-plus containers at Port of LA
- Container rates rocket even higher — and there’s no end in sight
6. Regarding accidents, staged accidents, and drugs:
Accidents
Please learn what you can from these accidents and seek never to be set up in one.
- Failure to yield to tractor trailer leads to death of motorist, young son
- Strap failure blamed for big rig lumber spill in Georgia
- Watch as this train barrels helplessly towards a stuck semi truck
- WATCH: Motorist forced off road by aggressive cabover
Staged accidents
Those who prayed for vindication got an answer to their prayers.
- Attorney Danny Keating Pleads Guilty in Staged Accidents With Trucks
- More guilty pleas announced in New Orleans staged-accident fraud scheme
- Personal injury lawyer is the latest to plead guilty in New Orleans staged truck crash ring
- Three more enter guilty pleas in connection to Louisiana’s ‘Operation Sideswipe’ insurance scam
Drugs
Never ever agree to haul illegal drugs for pay!
7. Regarding technology, drones, congestion, and parking:
Technology
Please do not allow yourself to be distracted by technology while you drive.
Use automation in your truck whenever it is safe and reasonable to do so, but do not put too much trust in mechanical devices.
- Canada ELD Mandate Deadline Passes with No Certified Devices – Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
- Canada ELD mandate now in effect despite no devices, soft enforcement
- Canada’s ELD mandate now in effect — kind of
- CloudTrucks offers drivers Road to Independence
- Get an up close look at that all-digital cockpit in the 2022 Freightliner Cascadia — what’s your take?
- Ransomware gang behind Utility, CSX attacks feels heat in Ukraine
- Second company approved to certify Canada ELDs
- Second ELD certification body announced
- Ticket camera rule changes pursued in six states State
- Truck of the Future Project to Address Blind Zones in AI Pilot
- Trucking Business Owners: How an ELD Can Help You Reduce Expenses
- Video technology offers safety and savings in litigious society
Drones
Congestion
What’s your best tip for avoiding congestion?
- Can banning left turns improve traffic congestion and safety?
- Rep. DeFazio to Highlight Road Congestion Remedies
Parking
Since truck parking is not one of the enumerated powers listed in the Constitution of the United States, this part of life is left up to the states or the people.
If you use an app to help you find truck parking, would you please let us know — through the form below — which one is your favorite or which gives you the most accurate information?
Thanks.
- ATRI: Young Drivers Most Likely To Use Apps to Find Truck Parking
- Lack of nationalization on parking data may be confusing drivers
- Study calls for national truck-parking standards
- Study shows truckers find truck parking information systems useful
- The Daily Dash: A call for truck-parking standards
- Truck Parking Information Needs to Be Functional, Accurate, ATRI Research Says
8. Regarding AB5, fulfillment, and lease:
AB5
If you live or work in California and AB5 affects you negatively, please speak out!
Fulfillment
Please treat others better than you would want to be treated and watch out for any opportunities for people to take advantage of you behind your back.
- Becoming (and staying) a shipper of choice in a volatile market
- Can retailers’ marketing efforts reach the right consumer 90% of the time?
- FedEx Freight customer dump shows LTL carriers in driver’s seat
- FedEx Freight prunes 1,400 customers to protect service levels
- Fulfill as fast as accurately possible
- Porch pirates pose a greater threat than burglars, and consumers are paying the price
Lease
- POLL: Leased owners, what’s your preferred compensation structure?You may want to review this page on our site:
Commercial Truck Leasing: Beware of Designed-to-Fail Schemes.
9. Regarding health, issues, and sleep apnea:
Health
- Here’s what truckers need to know about heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat strokeYou may want to review this page on our site:
A Hot Truck: On Summer Heat, Truck Heat and Bake Oven Conditions
Issues
- 14 things we learned about private truck fleets
- Pandemic response dominates this year’s Top 10 legal issues for private fleets
Sleep apnea
10. Regarding lawsuits, records, theft, and tires:
Lawsuits
- New Texas law revises truck injury liability rules
- Prosecutors agree to drop charges against tanker driver swarmed by protesters on Minneapolis bridge
Records
Theft
Tires
- How Proper Truck Tire Pressure Saves Fleets Fuel
- Kodiak Robotics getting more than tire data from Bridgestone partnership
- Michelin broadens tire retread lineup with launch of two new pre-molds
- Remain on the case with a formal tire program, speakers stress
11. Regarding weather:
- Transportation Com”
“panies Prepare for Hurricane SeasonYou may want to review these pages on our site:– Truck Drivers Emergency Kit: What Truckers Need to Survive
– Your Emergency Fund Protects You from Unexpected Expenses, Loss
12. Regarding award:
Congratulations to all truckers who have been recognized by their trucking companies — or other organizations — for trucking skill, company longevity, or being a kind and helpful human being.
- Averitt Express recognizes longtime employees during anniversary
- Clark Transfer driver recognized for actions at multi-car crash scene
- Former longtime owner-op recognized as top tanker driver
- G&D/Hoffman’s Ronald Baird named Tank Truck Driver of the Year
- Landstar System Announces Recipients of Company, Individual Recognition
- Longtime tanker driver named NTTC Tank Truck Driver of the Year
- Talley awed by Citizen Driver dedication ceremony
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: 2021.06.19 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
