This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending August 14, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding AB5, lawsuit and infrastructure:
AB5
The entire situation having to do with AB5 lies on the crux of every human’s unalienable rights as given by his/her Creator, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Even though AB5 is a “state’s right” issue — as is covered under Amendment X of the Constitution of the United States — when a state law attempts to override an unalienable right, the law needs to take a back seat.
Things get even stickier because AB5 — as it applies to the trucking industry — seems to run counter to something on the federal level.
What’s more, AB5 is totally at odds with the desire of thousands — perhaps tens of thousands — of Californians who desire to work as independent contractors, NOT employees!
AB5, in my opinion, should never have been passed to begin with.
If the Supreme Court agrees to take this case, I hope they strike it down.
- Calif.’s independent contractor rule heads to Supreme Court
- California Trucking Association asks Supreme Court to hear AB5 case
- California Trucking Association Takes AB 5 Case to Supreme Court
- California Trucking Association takes AB 5 fight to U.S. Supreme Court
- CTA Petitions US Supreme Court To Protect Owner-Operators
- CTA’s last hope to protect California trucking from AB5: US Supreme Court
- Live From Exit 24′ preview GBATS, updates AB5 and PRO Act
- The California conundrum: Independent contractor state of play
- The California conundrum: Independent contractor state of play
Lawsuit
- Trucker’s CBD lawsuit gutted after RICO claims dismissedBe extremely careful about using any product containing CBD while you’re in the trucking industry.
Infrastructure
One organization that follows politics from a constitutional point of view stated that only 9% of the infrastructure bills that have been under consideration by federal lawmakers actually addressed infrastructure.
The vast majority of what was in the bills was flat-out unconstitutional!
OOIDA was pressing for the infrastructure bill(s) to include provisions for truck parking.
Even though there needs to be more truck parking, because parking is not one of the powers granted to Congress in the Constitution, this is a matter that needs to be handled on the state level.
So, yes, I’m saying right here that OOIDA was pressing for something unconstitutional.
There are a lot of articles/videos linked below, but I’ve attempted to list only those that mention the trucking industry.
- Financial Expert: Infrastructure Bill Will Cripple Trucking Industry, Destroy America (link no longer online)
- How Will the Massive Federal Infrastructure Bill Effect Truck Driving Industry?
- Industry Applauds Senate Passage of $1 Trillion Bill to Modernize US Transportation
- Infrastructure bill includes path for long-haul drivers as young as 18
- Senate Hopeful Says Taxpayer Money to Promote Trucking to Women ‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’
- Senate infrastructure bill fails to add truck parking amendment
- Senate infrastructure bill: the good and the bad
- Senate on the Cusp of Approving $1.2T For ‘Infrastructure’ But $0 For Truck Parking
- Senate passes $1.2 TRILLION infrastructure bill — with some controversial trucking provisions
- Senate Passes $1.2T ‘Infrastructure’ Bill With Only $110B For Roads and Bridges
- Senate passes infrastructure bill; no truck parking money frustrates OOIDA
- Senate-Passed Infrastructure Legislation Includes Trucking Provisions
- Senate’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill loaded with trucking-related items
- Truckers cheer Senate passage of infrastructure bill
- Trucking organizations react to Senate’s passage of bipartisan infrastructure bill
2. Regarding accidents, near miss, alcohol and drugs:
Accidents
Please review these articles from the standpoint of looking to see what led up to the accident, so that you don’t get into a similar situation.
- At least two cars struck by flying semi tires
- CHP faces backlash for calling out an illegally parked trucker hit by a ‘sleepy’ car driver
- Motorist perishes after rear-ending parked semi hauling rebar
- Motorist’s failed attempt to pass semi truck ends with 8 people in hospital
- NTSB report says big rig failed to slow for traffic, triggering pileup crash that killed 10
- Police searching for culprit after yet another rental driver doesn’t get how tall their truck is
- POLICE: Trucker making a wide turn probably didn’t know he hit a person sitting in the median
- Truck Driver Killed While Standing Near Disabled Rig Along Shoulder of Ohio Interstate
- Trucker fatally pinned by teen driver while checking equipment malfunction
- Trucker fatally struck by own truck in mining-related accident
- Trucker Killed by Teenage Motorist While Inspecting Disabled Rig Along Mass Pike
Near miss
- Motorist’s poor turning choice earns them a punch to the faceIn watching this video, I have a couple of observations to make:- at the light, the left rear of the trailer was hanging over into the left turn lane even though most of the rig was in the right turn lane; and- when the trucker made his left turn, he did NOT track his trailer around the dashed line for the right lane as did the motorist whose dash cam was recording the video.So, clearly, the trucker was in the wrong on this.The author of the article said that what the motorist did was wrong, but I disagree!
Clearly, there were two turn lanes and when the motorist got into the left turn lane, there should have been no problems.
Furthermore, what the trucker did to the motorist was aggression and assault.
Frankly, if I was the motorist and saw that video, I would be suing the truck driver!
- VIDEO: Impatient truck pass is almost a ‘catastrophic head-on crash’
Alcohol
Why was someone with a history of DUI allowed to drive a commercial motor vehicle?
Drugs
Never agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you are promised!
- Border patrol makes historic seizure of drugs hidden in tractor-trailer
- Mexican Truckers Nabbed in Two Big Rig Cocaine Smuggling Busts
- Nearly 3 tons of meth and fentanyl seized from big rig on California border in historic bust
3. Regarding fuel, electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:
Fuel
- Are Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles a Realistic Path to Clean Energy?
- Diesel costs down in several locales
- Diesel Dips 0.3¢ to $3.364 a Gallon
- DOE/EIA diesel price edges down even as broader markets fall faster
- Fuel supply emergencies declared in Minnesota, Nebraska
- IEA Cuts Oil Demand Outlook on Virus
- Maersk’s Green Shipping Plan Runs Up Against Scarce Cooking Oil
- Trucking Industry Facing an Increase in Fuel Costs
- Weekly Fuel Report: August 10, 2021
Electric vehicles
This section covers not only electric vehicles but also charging stations.
- Breakthroughs and misconceptions: 9 questions with ChargePoint’s Rich Mohr
- Cold one: Manhattan Beer Distributors all in on electrifying beverage trucks
- Electric Yard Tractors go to Work in Port Newark
- Volvo delivers first VNR Electric to East Coast
- Volvo rolls out first VNR Electric truck on the East Coast and more are on the way
- Xos inks deal with FedEx ground for electric trucks
- Xos sells 120 electric vehicles to FedEx Ground ISPs
- Xos to Deliver Electric Trucks to FedEx Ground Contractors
- Xos Unveils Mobile Charging Station for Fleets
- Zero emissions, zero traffic: How an EV company is making delivery sustainable
Autonomous vehicles
I am totally opposed to autonomous, self-driving, and driverless vehicles — especially commercial motor vehicles that are on the road with other motorists.
I am providing these articles so that our readers can keep up with the latest news.
- Bridgestone, Einride Work Together on Electric, Autonomous Trucks
- Can Autonomous Vehicle Platooning Help With Increasing Driver Demand?
- Motional to begin testing driverless vehicles on streets of LA
- Nikola secures $2M grant to develop autonomous fueling system
- Nvidia will compute crushing loads of Embark Trucks’ autonomous data
- The Light Load: Whistling past the autonomous truck yard
- Truck Drivers Unlikely To Lose Good-Paying Jobs To Autonomous Vehicles
- TuSimple to use Ryder terminals for autonomous freight network
4. Regarding roads, congestion, bridge and border:
Roads
Please pay attention to truck routes, road closures, and detours.
- Arizona DOT reopens US 60 between Superior, Miami; advises caution in area
- CDOT is making progress on I-70 cleanup — but there’s still a long way to go
- CDOT working feverishly to reopen damaged area of I-70
- Colorado mudslides wreak havoc on major freight route
- Flood Damage Forces ‘Extended Closure’ of Highway 60 in Arizona
- Glenwood Canyon, I-70 in Colorado to reopen this weekend
- I-70 through Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon to partially reopen Saturday
- I-70 through Glenwood Canyon to reopen this weekend
- Mudslides force Colorado to waive HOS rules for truckers
- Pickup driver hauling trailer snagged by Smugglers Notch, smacked with $1197 fine
- Relief in sight: I-70 partially reopening this weekend | Hours exemptions granted in parts of Colorado
- Seventy mile, 10% grade detour in place due to ‘extended closure’ of U.S. 60
- Storm-damaged Arizona highway requires extended closure
Congestion
Bridge
Border
- Borderlands: Canada again beats Mexico, remains top US trade partner
- Canada border service workers end work-to-rule strike
- Quick end to border action, after chaotic Friday
- Strike by Canadian workers slows truck crossings at border
- Strike Ends at U.S.-Canada Border as Officials Prepare to Allow Entry to ‘Fully Vaccinated’Watch out for discrimination like this.
- Truckers Waiting Up To Five Hours at U.S.-Canadian Border Due to Labor Strike
5. Regarding technology and drones:
Technology
- Daily Infographic: Advanced driver assistance systems crash reduction rates
- Dash cams for fleets: Even for small fleets, in-cab video provides safety, training options
- DHE’s solar-powered microgrid powers electric equipment, building and still has a ’50-60% surplus’
- KeepTruckin’s new dashcam uses AI to drive safety and retention
- New software helps fleets compare, diagnose fuel efficiency
- Protecting Your Drivers and Fleet with Video Telematics
- Traffic cams capture semi truck jackknife in rain-slick Minneapolis tunnel
- Will your ELD be obsolete in 2022?
Drones
6. Regarding cold chain, supply chain, economy, surcharges, employment and HOS:
Cold chain
This week was the first time that I had ever heard the term “cold chain.”
- Cold Chain keynote: Lineage Logistics focused on automation, supply chain visibility
- Cold Chain Summit: Challenges in pharmaceutical logistics
- Cold Chain Summit: Changes in the cold chain and its impact on restaurants
- Cold Chain Summit: Choosing a cold storage site isn’t just about location
- Cold Chain Summit: Containerized ocean shipping tech undergoing major evolution
- Cold Chain Summit: Next-gen refrigerated boxes for air cargo
- Cold Chain Summit: Perishables e-commerce to keep growing despite delivery challenges
- Cold Chain Summit: Refrigerated carriers adapt to new food purchasing habits
- Cold Chain Summit: Regulators must do more to keep cold chain moving
- Cold Chain Summit: Wabash National’s composite tech chilling the trailer business
- Cold Chain Summit: Why hackers see cold storage as ‘prime target’
Economy
These are articles about aspects of the economy, as concerns the trucking industry.
- Biden Team Seeks to Address Rising Energy Prices
- Consumer Prices Rose in July but at Slower Pace
- Detroit Supplies Most Class 8 Engines Overall in 2021 First Half
- Hot M&A market plus delta variant equals unusual time in logistics
- July container volumes boom at South Carolina ports
- July US Trailer Orders Hit Lowest Level of 2021, FTR Reports
- Supply of new trucks lags demand
- The law of supply and demand: Good times continue for trucking, but could be slowing
- Trailer Makers Struggle to Meet High Demand
- Trailer orders plunge despite ‘desperate’ fleet demand: FTR
- Trailer orders tank in July as manufacturers struggle to find workers
- U.S. for-hire freight demand softens for first time in months
- Used truck demand surges, but buying considerations unchanged
- Wholesale Prices Rise in July
Supply chain
Surcharges
Employment
- Jobless Claims Near Pandemic Low
- Warehouse jobs go unfilled while former workers sit it out — report
HOS
If truckers can be trusted to safely deliver freight in an emergency, why can’t they be trusted to do so “the rest of the time”?
- North Dakota drought prompts HOS waiver for livestock haulers
- North Dakota latest state to waive hours of service regulations
- Some haulers get waivers in three more states
7. Regarding detention, pay, tolls, retention and household:
Detention
Pay
Tolls
Retention
- Safer disc brakes can help with driver retention efforts, experts say
- Safer disc brakes can help with driver retention efforts, experts say
Household
8. Regarding rates, postal service and last mile:
Rates
- Rejection rate down meaningfully but spot rates at all-time high — what gives?
- Spot volume falls in early August, rates change little
- U.S. Xpress report predicts high volumes, rates and labor issues
- Why is carrier compliance increasing along with spot rates?
Postal service
- Postal Service plans peak delivery surcharges; some products spared hikes
- Proposed USPS Surcharges May Mean Mail Will Cost More This Holiday
Last mile
- Last-mile delivery firms call lack of drivers their main concern
- Viewpoint: Driver screening for the age of last-mile trucking
9. Regarding inspections, patrols and weather:
Inspections
- Brake Safety Week begins Aug. 22
- Wisconsin Police Deploying ‘Aerial Support’ This Week to Crack Down on Traffic Violators
Patrols
- Expect to see stepped-up patrols on I-24 in Kentucky after deadly crashes in construction zone
- Troopers plan week-long aerial enforcement blitz on busy interstates
Weather
- Dixie Fire shuts down roads; I-70 still closed in Colorado
- Dixie fire spreading, now second biggest in California history
- Fire, drought and tight petroleum supplies spur more hours-of-service waivers
- Scorching heat waves this week in Northwest, heartland
- Snow and ice removal topic of Pennsylvania bill
- Tropical Depression Fred making likely comeback as tropical storm
- Tropical storm Fred could drench Florida starting this weekend
- Tropical Storm Fred eyes US landfall this weekend
10. Regarding COVID-19, theft and tips:
COVID-19
- Amazon Lottery Offers Vaccinated Workers Cars, $500,000 CashTurn on your critical thinking skills and ask yourself “why” people are being offered huge bribes to take a so-called “vaccine.”Before you get a jab, do your due diligence by researching the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) to see how many other people have been injured or died after getting one or more jabs.
- Pandemic set off deadly outbreak of speeding in 2020 — and it hasn’t stopped
- Truckers Express Outrage Over Mega Fleet Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination
- Trucking Leader Has a Message For Truckers Required to Get The Jab, ‘Your Body, Your Choice’
Theft
Tips
11. Regarding truck drivers, containers and trucking school:
Truck drivers
- 3 Myths About Working as a Truck Driver You Need to Know
- 3 Safety Strategies Newly-Minted CDL Holders Need To Know
- 3 Ways to Help Truckers
- The Evolution of Driver Acceptance
Containers
Trucking school
- The 3 Things To Expect From Truck Driver Training Schools
- Trucking school expansion aimed at getting “young people and people of all nations, colors, and creeds to be truck drivers”
12. Regarding award:
This is a huge “thank you” to those who helped out!
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: 2021.08.14 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
