TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2021.09.04

This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending September 4, 2021.

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

 

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

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1. Regarding Hurricane Ida and weather:

Hurricane Ida

Even though Hurricane Ida has dissipated and moved off the eastern coast of the USA, Wikipedia states (as of this writing) that this was the 6th costliest Atlantic hurricane.

I have provided below a list of articles from trucking sources regarding this storm.

Please note that there are still almost 3 entire months left of “hurricane season” (which runs through November 30).

So if you travel near the Gulf Coast or eastern seaboard of the USA, please monitor the weather and take necessary precautions by having the following in place: food, drinking water, emergency kit, emergency fund, first aid kit, etc.

Also, be extremely careful about driving in high winds, heavy rains, and areas where the roads may have washed out.

Never, ever drive on flooded roads.

Also, please thoroughly understand all of the terms and conditions before you haul any FEMA loads.


Weather

Bad weather, stormy weather, and extreme weather can happen at any time.

Please stay safe.

 

2. Regarding snow chains, inspections, and theft:

Snow chains

There are a number of different kinds of traction devices, including snow chains, automatic snow chains, snow cables, snow socks, truck claws, etc.

Before you use any one of these, make sure that they are approved for use where you plan to use them.

Some trucking companies let truckers put chains on their trucks and keep driving, while others insist that their drivers park until the conditions pass that would otherwise require “chaining up.”


Inspections

Be ready for an inspection at any time and you’ll never be caught off-guard.


Theft

The Labor Day weekend — as of this writing — is upon us.

Would-be thieves are eager to take advantage of truckers who do not take precautions to keep their trucks and freight safe.

 

3. Regarding brakes, maintenance, and tires:

Brakes


Maintenance


Tires

 

4. Regarding accidents, death, and smuggling:

Accidents

Please review these article titles and endeavor to ensure that you do not get in the same situations that lead to accidents.

We’d also like to know more about the accident that resulted from a truck having a blown steer tire.

Could this blow-out have been prevented — and if so, how?


Death


Smuggling

Never, ever haul people the way that you do any other freight.

 

5. Regarding fuel, fuel cell, fuel economy, energy, Run on Less, and final mile:

Fuel


Fuel cell


Fuel economy


Energy


Run on Less

This is an interesting take on the previous “Run on Less,” because the whole point was “running on less diesel.”

How can one determine how much “less” one can run on, when one is using electric power?

Hmm…


Efficiency


Final mile

Some people prefer to call them “final mile” deliveries and others like to call it “last mile” — but as far as I know, they all refer to the same thing.

FWIW, I spoke briefly with a “final mile” type driver once, outside a Walmart.

I asked her if she literally just drove the “final mile” of the trip — and she laughed, “No!”

Before you take on this kind of work, learn exactly for what you’ll be responsible.

 

6. Regarding economy and employment:

Economy

These are some of the most recent articles about the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective.


Employment

 

7. Regarding carbon, climate, and facts:

Carbon


Climate


Facts

 

8. Regarding electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:

Electric vehicles

Please be aware that there is a huge push — politically and supposedly environmentally — to get people driving electric vehicles instead of those powered by fuel.

Previously, I quoted at least one article that indicated that electric vehicles are not really as helpful as manufacturers or others claim..

As “bad” as diesel and other fuels may be, the infrastructure is already in place for diesel distribution.

Unless truckers are ready for someone to “turn off the electricity” at powering stations, always be ready for what comes.


Autonomous vehicles

I adamantly oppose self-driving, driverless, and autonomous vehicles — especially commercial motor vehicles — on the same roads as the motoring public.

I share this information as a courtesy to help our readers stay informed.

 

9. Regarding technology, aerodynamics, and HOS:

Technology


Aerodynamics

I’m just wondering how many of our readers use more than one aerodynamic device on the truck they drive to improve fuel economy.


HOS

Why does the FMCSA have to keep changing the Hours of Service regulation every single time there is a major weather event or some other special situation?

Why not let truckers decide when to drive and when to park to get good sleep?

I guess that federal bureaucrats (FMCSA and DOT) love to feel important through their endless regulations.

 

10. Regarding surcharges, pay, rates, and signing bonuses:

Surcharges


Pay

  • Barr-Nunn expands Assured Pay program to drivers in more states

    Quotes from article:

    “…drivers hauling regional loads primarily in [states named in the article] earn $265 for on-duty shifts and $90 for each load hauled during that shift.

    “Drivers work 21 days on and are home for seven whole days. In addition to receiving safety bonuses and transition pay, drivers hauling seven loads and completing seven shifts earn $2,485 per week.”

    Would you be willing to work for 3 weeks straight and get the 4th week off?


Rates


Signing bonuses

 

11. Regarding consumers, protests, and tolls:

Consumers


Protests


Tolls

 

12. Regarding awards/recognition and NTDAW:

Awards/Recognition

Congratulations to all truckers who are looking to be nominated for a contest, have been narrowed down as a finalist in a contest, or have won some recognition or award!

Congratulations also to the trucker who drove 8.7 million trucker miles until he was 90 years old!


NTDAW (National Truck Driver Appreciation Week)

Be watching for special discounts, prizes, and more, that are set up (or will be) to help celebrate truckers during this special week.

Personally, I wish that people would value professional truck drivers all year long (as my husband Mike and I do).

 

My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.



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