This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending October 9, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding inspections and accidents:
Inspections
As I have often written, always be prepared for an inspection and you will never be caught off-guard.
- 72-Hour Traffic Enforcement Crackdown Set to Begin in These Six States
- Car drivers were ticketed three times more often than truckers during U.S. driver blitz
- CVSA releases Operation Safe Driver Week 2021 results
- Kentucky drops 40 ton bridge’s weight limit to 22 tons after inspection
- More Than 13,000 Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Were Inspected During CVSA’s Unannounced Five-Day Inspection Initiative
- More than 7,500 warnings, citations written to truckers during Operation Safe Driver Week
- Over 3,000 citations issued to U.S. CMV operators during Safe Driver Week
- Speeding, seatbelt use top offences during Safe Driver Week
- Troopers in multiple states to crackdown on drivers on I-70 starting Friday
- Speeding Drivers, Unsafe Motor Carriers Targeted in Operation Safe Driver
- Speeding Is Top Violation During Safe Driver Week
- Campaign encourages seat belts, safe driving practices
- Operation Safe Driver Week netted 7,500 warnings, citations to truck drivers
Accidents
Our deepest condolences go to the family of this trucker.
There is no indication in either article why the trucker who crashed did not slow down when traffic ahead was backed up.
Please do not get distracted when you drive.
Also, on May 11, 2021, the following article was written:
VACCIDENT ALERT: Vehicle accidents caused by vaccine side effects happening all over US roads and highways.
If you are involved in an accident, I encourage you to find out if the driver of the other vehicle has ever been vaccinated or was wearing a face mask at the time the accident took place.
2. Regarding capacity, supply chain, COVID-19, and Black Friday:
Capacity
Supply chain
The following is on the Federal Register and I encourage you to write and submit a comment before the deadline (10/18/2021):
America’s Supply Chains and the Transportation Industrial Base.
It is my personal opinion based on the recovery rate from COVID-19 that many supply chain issues are due to:
- A high rate of false positives from a test that was never meant to be used for diagnostic purposes, which are pushing people to be quarantined when they don’t need to be; and
- Adverse events and deaths from those who have gotten a CV jab (no matter who the manufacturer is).
Meanwhile, here are some of the most recent trucking-related articles about the supply chain.
- Christmas at Risk as Supply Chain Tightens
- Class 8 order pullback due to lack of supply, not diminishing demand
- Holiday season in peril: Disruptions could leave shoppers, retailers disappointed
- Holiday Shopping Season Will Test Supply Chain, Experts Say
- How supply chain chaos and sky-high costs could last until 2023
- Industry groups say ending China tariffs would offset supply chain pain
- Industry leaders chart future of supply chain visibility
- Off pattern: September Class 8 truck orders align to supply shortage
- Supply chain braces for peak retail returns: How companies should prepare
- Supply Chain Logjams Expected to Impact Children’s Toy Deliveries
- The freightmare before Christmas
- Truck orders drop, but ‘not a true indicator of 2022 truck demand’
- White Paper: Consumers Demand a More Sustainable Supply Chain
COVID-19
A careful reading of The Constitution of the United States reveals the powers granted to those in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the federal government.
While some would say that there is no “constitutional right” against getting an injection, I must remind you that:
- Our rights come from our Creator, not from the Constitution, man, or any level of government; and
- Nowhere in the Constitution is the power to give injections specifically granted to anyone!
Amendment 14, Section 1, of the Constitution reads (emphasis added):
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Those who say that we have to give up individual rights for the “collective good” forget that God didn’t give rights to groups but rather to individuals — and that those rights are unalienable.
Do not be intimidated, bullied or coerced into taking a jab that has injured hundreds of thousands of people and led to the deaths of many thousands.
- President Biden Mounts Defense of Vaccine Mandates Amid ‘Mass Firings’
- Prince Edward Island’s COVID-19 test mandate could impede supply chain
Black Friday
Well, the first Monday in October was the 4th and Black Friday 2021 falls on November 26.
So, this is jumping the holiday shopping season ahead by 53 days.
- Amazon makes Black Friday the 1st Monday in October
- Daily Infographic: Amazon makes Black Friday the 1st Monday in October
3. Regarding AB5, lawsuit, insurance, and business:
AB5
- California Trucking Association AB5 case still pending
- Supreme Court denies review of AB5-related case, but law still isn’t impacting California trucking
- Trucking’s AB 5 independent contractor suit still pending
- Trucking’s AB 5 independent contractor suit still pending
Lawsuit
Insurance
Business
4. Regarding fuel and autonomous vehicles:
Fuel
- Another set of highs in DOE/EIA diesel price
- Average Price of Diesel Surges 7.1¢ to $3.477 a Gallon
- Ballard hits 100M-km milestone with fuel cells
- Diesel prices up in all regions
- Diesel Stockpiles at 20-Year Low as Winter Nears
- National On-Highway Diesel Price Sees Largest Weekly Increase in Months
- Hydrogen heavyweights join forces to develop standard fueling equipment
Autonomous vehicles
I am adamantly opposed to self-driving, driverless, or autonomous vehicles — especially Commercial Motor Vehicles — on roads with the motoring public, but am sharing these articles as a courtesy in order to help our readers stay current with the news.
- Autonomous Trucks Take Off Rapidly in China’s Commercial Operations
- Driver shows off some surprising ‘self-driving’ truck tech in viral video
- Kodiak Robotics unveils next-gen autonomous truck
- Locomation Develops Autonomous Trucking Risk Management Plan
- Roger Nielsen Joins SafeAI Board
- Thousands of Level 2 autonomous vehicle crashes expected each year
Quote from article:
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that thousands of crashes involving Level 2 autonomous vehicles will occur each year in addition to 200 crashes involving Level 3-5 autonomous vehicles.”
5. Regarding economy, employment, and savings:
Economy
- Carriers grip pricing power firmly as Q3 comes to a close
- High costs will limit capacity growth in trucking
- September Class 8 Orders Decline
- Trade Deficit Hits Record $73.3 Billion in August
Employment
In my opinion, as more and more people become physically disabled or die from the CV jab, employment numbers are going to skew, as:
- Jobs will go unfilled; and
- Businesses scramble to stay afloat financially.
These are the most recent employment articles from trucking sources.
- US Companies Add Most Jobs in Three Months, ADP Data Shows
- Employers Add a Weak 194,000 Jobs
- U.S. and U.K. Compete to Onboard Foreign Truck Drivers
- Trucking employment continues rebound from pandemic-induced losses
- Pulling out the positive in the latest employment report
Savings
6. Regarding batteries, brakes, tires, and repair:
Batteries
Brakes
Caption of photo at top of page:
“As autonomous technology and electric truck adoption advance, brakes need to change.”
Tires
- Company announces price increase for truck tires amid ‘unparalleled rise of freight and operational costs’
- Cooper Tire Announces Fuel-Efficient Tire
- New Roadmaster RM832+ EM steer tire
- Yokohama Announces Another Price Hike on Commercial Truck Tires
- Yokohama launches two new all-position, all-season tires
Repair
7. Regarding technology, cyberattacks and chips:
Technology
- The Next-Gen DVIR: Beyond Paper and ELDs – Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
- Navistar sued over data breach affecting thousands
Cyberattacks
- Breaking: Marten Transport falls victim to possible cyberattack
- TSA to require air, rail operators to report cybersecurity incidents
- US to Sue Contractors Who Don’t Report Cyberattacks
Chips
Recently, my husband Mike and I went to our car dealership of choice in order to get our car serviced.
As soon as I rounded the corner into the waiting area, I asked where all the cars were.
Our Service Consultant said that they couldn’t get any new vehicles because of the “chip shortage.”
Well, as an analytically-minded person, I opined out loud that there had to be an American manufacturer who could supply the chips that are needed.
Knowing that my knowledge on this topic is limited, when I got home, I started to look up some information and I found these resources (among others):
- Category:Semiconductor companies of the United States
- USA Semiconductor Companies | Top 10 Semiconductor Companies in US
- Top Semiconductor Companies in USA and Internationally
OK, so if there are semiconductor manufacturing companies in the USA, why do we still have a chip shortage?
Here are the most recent articles on this topic from trucking sources:
- Category:Semiconductor companies of the United States – Wikipedia
- Despite Political Rhetoric, U.S. Could Be Years Away from Meeting Domestic Semiconductor Demand
- Fixes for DEF Sensor Failures Are Underway
- is a semiconductor the same as a chip – Google Search
- OEMs mostly quiet on Biden chip data request
- Paccar delivers 7,000 fewer trucks in Q3 because of missing semiconductors
- Top Semiconductor Companies in USA and Internationally
- USA Semiconductor Companies | Top 10 Semiconductor Companies in US
8. Regarding rates, tolls, and retention:
Rates
- AskWaves: What is a trucking spot rate? What is a trucking contract rate?
- Blame prices on congestion and not sky-high rates
- Dry bulk shipping rates hit $80,000 per day as buyers scramble for coal
- Rate guidance should drive TL estimates higher, Morgan Stanley says
- Spot volume edges higher as dry van loads rise
- There is never a bad load, just a bad rate
- Will high freight rates cause hyperinflation?
Tolls
Retention
- Fleet Operations Learn Increased Truck Driver Salaries About Retention, Not Working Overtime
- Perspective: How to Retain Drivers in a Tight Field
9. Regarding distracted driving and operations:
Distracted driving
You have control over the distractions inside your truck, so please do whatever is necessary to eliminate as many of them as you can!
- Distracted Driving Coalition Launches Effort For Drivers To Stay Focused On Safety
- The NoCell goal: Ending distracted driving by automatically shutting down the phone
Operations
Please pay attention to all aspects of your truck operation, including load securement.
- Girl critically injured after trucker’s wide turn onto sidewalk
- Motorist’s close-call with 2×4 sparks reminder of the importance of secured loads
10. Regarding hitchhiker, smuggling, and drugs:
Hitchhiker
While our condolences go to the family of the person who died, I’m sorry to say that it was only a matter of time until this happened.
If a person can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt inside one’s own vehicle, then it should be illegal to hop on the outside of any vehicle as a hitchhiker or stowaway.
- Man who fell from big rig on I-40 seriously hurt
- Semi stowaway ‘game’ leads to first reported death in Nashville
Smuggling
Never, ever agree to haul humans as you do cargo, no matter how much you are offered.
- Feds shut down tractor-trailer smuggling operation
- Man arrested for ongoing scheme that smuggled migrants across the border via semi truck
Drugs
Never, ever agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter how much incentive there is.
- Arkansas drug operation funded trucking company, feds say
- DEA ‘dismantles’ Arkansas meth and money laundering ring that funded trucking company
- Driver clearinghouse Tenstreet acquired by Providence Equity Partners
- FMCSA issues new driver-ban rules for drug and alcohol abusers
- FMCSA Rule Gives States 60 Days to Revoke CDLs for Drug Violations
- FMCSA seeks to close Drug/Alcohol Clearinghouse loophole
- FMCSA streamlines drug, alcohol reporting for states issuing CDLs
- Former fleet owner sentenced for involvement in meth, money laundering organization
- Marijuana Leads Rise In Failed Truck Driver Screenings
- Money laundering, meth operation leads to sentencing of former fleet owners
- New FMCSA rule cracks down on drug and alcohol violations with CDL non-issuance or mandatory downgrade
- Prudent Transport owner sentenced for meth ring
- Trucker Arrested After Traffic Stop Leads to Discovery of Meth and Cocaine in Her Truck
- Border agents stop trucks with $24.4 million in meth, 142 immigrants at border
11. Regarding roads and winter:
Roads
- I-10 in Arizona closed for fiery multi-vehicle crash
- Stretch of I-70 in Colorado closed following fatal 5 vehicle crash
Our condolences go to the family of the person who was killed.
Winter
12. Regarding awards:
It’s an honor to be nominated for a trucking award — and we congratulate all nominees.
- Goodyear Highway Hero nomination period open
- Goodyear Opens Nominations for Highway Hero
- Nominations open for Goodyear Highway Hero award
We extend our hearty congratulations to all truckers who achieved milestones!
- 20 small fleet truckers to be honored at NASTC Nashville gathering
- H-E-B Truck Driver Achieves Rare Safety Milestone
- Introducing Overdrive’s Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists
- Landstar truck winner Mike Lamb had a feeling
- Ruan honors veteran driver with more than 5 million miles
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: 2021.10.09 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
