TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2021.07.24

This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending July 24, 2021.

We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.  

1. Regarding weather and insurance:

Weather

Please be ultra careful regarding driving in severe weather.

Never attempt to drive in floodwaters, through fires, in dense smoke, or during blizzards.

• 6 ways truckers can spot potential severe storms
• Elevated wildfire risk sweeping across the West
• Flood risk for truckers across Southwest
• Hot Shots: Wildfires, floods, lucky landing and more
• Large wildfires still burning millions of acres out West
• Largest wildfire in US nearly 400,000 acres in size
• Oregon’s Bootleg fire now as big as New York City
• Wildfires and mudslides causing highway closures

Insurance

• Coalition amps up pressure to stop minimum insurance increaseIf the thought of increased minimum truck insurance concerns you, please get in touch with your federal elected officials immediately.Calling their Washington, DC, offices may be best.
• Lower Your Insurance Rates and CSA Scores

2. Regarding electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:

Electric vehicles

There’s an aspect about pushing more trucking companies and other businesses to buy electric vehicles that I haven’t seen discussed in a while (possibly ever):

How to pay for road maintenance and repair.

If a lot of states are currently getting fuel taxes to pay for road maintenance and repair — and if electric vehicles by their very nature don’t use fuel — their operation represents fuel tax not charged or collected.

Some states may charge a special tax or fee for hybrid or electric vehicles up-front at the time of purchase, but we don’t see that offsetting an entire vehicle’s lifetime worth of fuel tax “missed.”

I see the push toward electric vehicles as a means to implement electronic tracking of all miles driven — AKA “Vehicle Miles Traveled” (VMT) — for the purpose of implementing a VMT tax.

Once those in positions of power know where vehicles are being driven, don’t you think that will be a step toward controlling where vehicles can can be driven — if they can be driven at all?

Before you invest in an electric vehicle, please consider the potential privacy and tax implications.

• Indiana Gives Utilities $5.5 Million to Build EV Charging Network
• Sustainable Fleets: 2020 ‘Transformative’ for Battery-Electric Growth
• Toyota Adds Suzuki, Daihatsu to Commercial EV, Autonomous Push

Autonomous vehicles

I am totally opposed to driverless, self-driving, or autonomous trucks, but am sharing this information to help you stay current on the topic.

As I have stated before, I am in mortal dread of the time that there is a fatal crash involving a driverless truck and motorist.

• CVSA considers how to enforce safety on driverless trucks

3. Regarding accidents, near miss, roads, and bridge:

Accidents

This week, it seems as though numerous truck accidents were caused by other motorists.

Please do your best to anticipate the actions of others so as to avoid accidents.

Also, numerous reported truck accidents were totally preventable by the trucker.

Here are some basic trucker safety tips:

• Stay on truck routes as are marked in a Motor Carriers Atlas (aka truckers atlas).
• Do not neglect low clearances.
• If you are driving/hauling an overdimensional truck, trailer, or load, stay on your permitted route.

Now, for the articles about accidents…

• Motorist’s unsafe merge sent a semi careening under an overpass
• Oversized load strikes bridge, gets wedged underneath
• Recent rise in accident attributed to ‘people wanting to get out and drive fast’
• Trucker responsible for striking a bridge so hard it shifted had expired license
• VIDEO: Red SUV causes chaos by pulling out into traffic

Near miss

This is another example of a motorist making a poor decision.

Even though we don’t know how fast the trucker was going, one can clearly see the ramp speed limit sign in the video.

Our kudos to the trucker who was able to avoid an accident!

• VIDEO: Pickup hauling boat is lucky this trucker was bobtailing

Roads

Kudos to everyone involved in fixing the I-16 bridge so quickly!

• All lanes of I-16 reopen ahead of schedule after bridge demolition
• FreightWaves Classics: I-16 connects Georgia’s ports to the Southeast
• GDOT: Stretch of highway closed for bridge demolition has reopened “a lot quicker than we ever thought it would”

Bridge

Just wondering… If the bridge/overpass over I-16 was able to be rebuilt so quickly, why is the Memphis bridge taking so much longer to repair?

Are things complicated because the Memphis bridge is bigger, more extensive, over water, what?

• Trucker traffic woes continue as Memphis bridge repairs inch closer to completion

4. Regarding economy, capacity, taxes, tolls, and inflation:

Economy

• Boosting Real-World Fuel Economy in Trucks: How the Right Engine Oil Can Help
• Good stuff gone: Older used trucks show up in June auctions
• June trailer orders up slightly from May but down year over year
• Loaded imports, empty exports boost Port of Virginia’s FY 2021 volumes
• Truck Tonnage Rises Slightly in June

Capacity

• Truck tonnage slips due to lack of capacity

Taxes

If this topic concerns you, please contact your federal elected officials to express your concern.

• Bill to repeal federal excise tax introduced in Senate
• Industry organizations support repeal of tax on new trucks

Tolls

If these tolls are instituted and collected on the state level — and if this matter concerns you — contact the right people on the state level to let your voice be heard.

• Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in North Carolina considering tolls
• Capital Beltway toll project revived by regional planning board

Inflation

• Extending Truck Driver Emergency Hours of Service Waiver Could Combat InflationQuote from article:”Although the agency was tasked with reviewing the hours exemptions on July 1, a non-decision could spell trouble for rising inflation. Part of the reason that families are getting stung by high prices involves a supply chain logjam. With communities largely reopened, the increased demand for goods continues to lag. Not re-approving extended hours for vital truck drivers beyond August will only exacerbate soaring inflation. American families need medical supplies, paper goods, and groceries such as meat, poultry, and produce, moving quickly to meet demand and combat inflation.”

  Questions:

  1. Is the only reason for a “supply chain logjam” and inflation due to the Hours of Service regulations?

  2. If the Hours of Service waiver has been needed this long, why not just make the waiver permanent or let truckers guide themselves regarding when to drive and when to park for sleep?

5. Regarding technology, chips, and maintenance:

Technology

Please regularly evaluate — and increase as needed — the level of security as it concerns your technology.

• 2021 Trailer Trends: Lighter, Smarter, Tougher
• Can 3D printing help the US prepare for the next pandemic?
• Cyberthieves say they have ‘moral principles’
• Dash cam crime solvers
• Digitization of Freight
• FMCSA sets 2024 deadline for all-electronic on CDL info exchange
• Homeland Security orders pipeline operators to beef up cybersecurity to protect fuel supply chain
• New Cybersecurity Order Issued for US Pipeline Operators
• New Gamification Software to Improve Driver Fuel Efficiency
• Newly released sensor assigns, organizes, and helps connect trailers to tractors, tech company claims
• The value of simulation training for truck drivers, owners

Chips

The White House does not have the constitutional authority to insert itself in the chip shortage situation.

• After Chip Crisis, Is Battery Shortage Next?
• Biden Team Plans for Chips Funding Before Congress Acts
• Chip Relief on Horizon for Vehicle Makers
• Chip shortage driving more truck leasing and rental interest

Maintenance

• Is More Frequent Overhead Maintenance Worth the Trouble?

6. Regarding fuel and fuel in South Dakota:

Fuel

• Cummins, Chevron sign MOU to collaborate on hydrogen projects
• Diesel prices highest in the West
• Diesel Rises 0.6¢ to $3.344 a Gallon
• Emergencies declared in Wyoming, S. Dakota; fuel haulers get hours break
• Fuel cell truck maker Hyzon Motors’ shares drop 20% in market debut
• Fuel forecast offers signs of relief Fuel prices Land Line
• Fuel haulers get hours relief in Wyoming, South Dakota
• Tale of two markets: DOE/EIA diesel is up, CME diesel is way down
• Trucking not to blame for Quebec fuel shortages
• Weekly Fuel Report: July 20, 2021
• World’s Road Fuel Demand to Peak Earlier Than Expected

Fuel in South Dakota

• Fuel haulers get hours reprieve in South Dakota, Wyoming
• South Dakota waives hours of service to help petroleum resupply

7. Regarding retention, detention, and employment:

Retention

• After MCSAC, retention focus shifts to Driver Subcommittee
• Is There a High a Demand for Truckers?
• MCSAC Day 1: A possible solution to driver retention problemQuotes from article:”One of the key problems identified by Belzer’s research is something that should be obvious to anyone familiar with the trucking industry: drivers work long hours for low wages, especially when most don’t receive any compensation for nondriving duties.”

  “Half of all truck drivers work more than 60 hours a week. Twenty percent of drivers work more than 4,000 hours per year — more than two full-time jobs. Most truck drivers earn little or nothing for non-driving labor, which averages out to about 25% of their work time.”

• Safety panel: Government conflict on pay rules hurts driver retentionQuotes from article:”A long-standing gap between how the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Labor view driver wages must be bridged before the trucking industry will have a shot at curing its chronic driver retention problem, according to a university researcher.”

  “MCSAC took up the discussion because driver pay and retention can have a direct effect on driver safety. At a low pay rate, drivers work as many hours as necessary to reach target earnings that allow them to pay their bills, Belzer said. Drivers earning higher pay will rest rather than work extra hours that damage their health, risk their safety or keep them away from their families, he pointed out.”

Detention

• MCSAC Day 2: ‘Truck drivers need to be paid for their time’ Land LineQuotes from article:”Other members of the committee expressed their support for paying truck drivers for more than just the miles they drive, a position advocated by economist Michael Belzer, who presented to the committee on Monday.”

  “Costello said ATA’s research has found instances where drivers are taking jobs that pay less per-mile but provide a more consistent schedule with predictable home time. He also noted that some of those fleets are offering guaranteed minimum weekly pay models to entice drivers.”

Employment

• Jobless Claims Rise to 419,000 From a Pandemic Low

8. Regarding inspections and safety:

Inspections

You’ll never be surprised if you always keep your truck in a perpetual state of readiness for an inspection.

• 1,273 CMVs taken off roads in a day during brake check blitz
• Brake Safety Week
• Brake violations put 1,200 trucks out of service in surprise inspection blitz
• CVSA Sidelines 1,273 Vehicles for Brake Violations
• More than 1,200 vehicles removed from North American roadways during surprise brake check
• Nearly 1300 trucks taken off the road during surprise single day brake blitz
• Nearly 90% of Trucks Pass CVSA Brake Inspections
• Over 1,100 trucks placed out of service in one-day brake inspection
• Police in five states team up for ‘Operation Southern Shield’ through Saturday
• Unannounced brake inspection blitz sidelined over 1,100 trucks

Safety

• FMCSA urges safe driving behaviors by truckers, other motorists
• Indiana’s ‘Trooper in a Truck’ patrol lets officers see traffic hazards from truckers’ point of view
• OOIDA: Improving highway safety shouldn’t fall to trucks alone
• Safety check: It’s better to be proactive than reactive

9. Regarding emissions, lawsuit, AB5, and last mile:

Emissions

• J.B. Hunt’s sustainability report finds rising emissions, lower carbon intensity
• Trucks must cut 18% emissions to meet Ottawa target: report

Lawsuit

It’s always good to read when a trucker whistleblower is vindicated!

• $95K awarded to truck driver in unsafe truck whistleblower case

AB5

• California Association Takes Independent Driver Lawsuit To Supreme CourtGood! Let’s hope the SCOTUS judges take on this case and rule justly!

Last mile

• Last-mile provider lays off more than 300 in Texas

10. Regarding shortage, HOS, and investigation:

Shortage

• Driver Shortage Linked to Lifestyle Considerations, Costello Says

HOS

• The Dangers of Reducing Hours-of-ServiceQuotes from article:”As for drivers who work for a company, the danger is that the company could order a tired driver to deliver a load outside of the driver’s hours or risk losing his or her job.”

  “In addition to making driving more attractive with better benefits, companies should look at their own driving rules and make sure that their rules, combined with federal and state regulations, are not so overbearing that it makes it difficult for truckers to do their jobs.”

Investigation

• Feds launch investigation into brakes after trucks catch fire; as many as 500K semis may be affected
• NHTSA probes overheating brakes that could cause fires in 500,000 semis

11. Regarding distraction and smuggling:

Distraction

• Study: The Dangers of Distracted Truck DriversQuote from article:”The most distracted truck drivers are nearly 72% more likely to be involved in a ‘near collision’ than other drivers, according to new data insights released July 22 by Omnitracs.”

Smuggling

Never transport people like they are livestock, no matter how much money you are promised!

• Trucker charged after Texas troopers find 115 people smuggled in refrigerated trailer

12. Regarding award:

Congratulations to all truckers who have been recognized and rewarded!

• Holy moly!’ Landstar driver wins new Volvo
• Holy moly!’: Dennis Bramblett wins 2022 Volvo in Landstar’s All-Star Truck Giveaway
• Missouri-based owner-op wins truck from Landstar | Tennessee driver shut down
• Pilot Co. surprises 40-year driver with custom Peterbilt

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: 2021.07.24 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.