This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending October 30, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding COVID-19, containers, ports, and supply chain:
All of these topics are intertwined, what with people falling ill or dying as a result of the jabs or people being fired for not accepting one or more jabs.
COVID-19
Let’s hope that truckers hold firm and are not bullied or coerced into taking a potentially life-altering jab.
- ATA among businesses set to meet with WH officials over delay of vaccine mandate
- ATA to Meet With White House Over Concerns Vaccine Mandates Will ‘Create Workforce Crisis’
- ATA: Mandatory vaccines could ‘cripple the supply chain’
- ATA’s Spear gets specific on vaccine mandate: Trucking should have an exemption
- ATA’s Spear sees vaccine mandate as ‘weaponizing public health’
- Biden’s vaccine mandate will face legal challenges
- Bill would exempt truckers from COVID-19 vaccine mandate
- Drilling Deep: Trucking begins to push back against vaccine mandate
- ‘Heroes’ bill would exempt truckers from Biden vaccine mandate
- New Bill Aims to Stop ‘COVID-19 Heroes’ From Being Fired Due to Biden’s Vaccine Mandates
- Norfolk Southern sues unions over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
- Senator files bill to exempt truckers from vaccine order
- Spear: ‘It’s Time to Get Loud’
- Vaccine should be a choice for essential workers, Sen. Blackburn says
Containers
To the best of my knowledge, the only water-related things that Congress has the power over are:
- “To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;” and
- “To provide and maintain a Navy”;
not to oversee containers, the ports, or the supply chain.
Certainly, The Constitution of the United States does not give the President of the United States of America this power.
- Biden-Manchin Meeting Makes ‘Progress’ in Bid to Break Deadlock
- City of Long Beach allows logistics companies to stack containers higher
- Containergeddon: How did we get here?
- Daily Infographic: $22B worth of cargo now stuck on container ships off California
- Domestic intermodal to the rescue?
- Exclusive: Congested Port of LA receiving empty containers from Gulf, Southeast
- Florida’s JAXPORT handles record container volume in 2021
- Lawmaker to propose legislation discouraging purchases of Chinese container cranes
- Long Beach Relaxes Container-Stacking Rule
- National Guard, state of emergency may be needed to clear port backlog
- Ocean carriers will pass on fines for lingering containers to importers
- Traffic headache: Container trucks jam neighborhood
- UP, BNSF offer incentives to move containers away from LA, Long Beach
Ports
- Are California Port Crane Operators “Lazy” Or Being Used As Scapegoats?
- Biden Port Envoy Vows Alliance Will Help Break California Logjam
- Carriers must move 60K containers out of LA/LB by Halloween
- Confidence Remains Low About Port of LA’s 24-7 Operations After White House Announcement
- First Woman Tapped To Take Over South Carolina Ports Authority
- National Guard, state of emergency may be needed to clear port backlog
- Port of Long Beach sets up rail relief valve in Utah
- Ports of L.A., Long Beach to Fine Firms Over Container Backlog
- Ports of LA, Long Beach to fine firms over container backlog
- Shippers fear ‘catastrophic’ fallout from ‘crazy’ California port fees
- SoCal ports could fine carriers for tardy containers by Nov. 15
- The port problem isn’t for lack of truckers, port driver claims
- Will East Coast Ports Suffer Supply Chain Bottlenecks Next?
Supply chain
- 2021 is supply chain technology’s ‘Lehman Brothers moment’
- Amazon Tries to Calm Fears Over Supply Chain Woes
- Daily Infographic: Manage Your Supply Chain Risk
- FMCSA’s Joshi discusses recruiting, supply chain challenges, more in meetings with Midwest trucking groups
- Major Retailers Reassure Customers About Supply Chains While Amazon Hires 150,000 Workers
- People are gonna be pulling their hair out’: Supply chain execs predict chaotic holiday peak
- Supply Chain Woes Threaten to Drive Up Clean-Power Costs
- Supply chain-mageddon? Economist Miller says, ‘Relax!’
- White House Pressures Retailers, California Ports to Ease Supply Chain Bottleneck
2. Regarding accidents, accidents – hearing, and fatalities:
Accidents
Please learn from these articles what preceded each large truck accident and determine to the extent possible never to get involved in the same set-up.
- Driver cited for failing to yield to pedestrian during demonstration about the dangerous crosswalk
- Pickup driver’s illegal U-turn puts trucker in danger in dash cam video
- Rollover alleys: 5 Interstate stretches that pose greatest risk
- Truck driver followed GPS into path of train
Accidents – hearing
- Lawsuit: Trucker in Pa. Turnpike crash that killed 5 wore noise-canceling headphones
- Truck driver’s noise-cancelling headphones a factor in pileup that killed five, lawsuit claims
OK, so a trucker has been blamed for being in an accident while wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
In other words, supposedly because he couldn’t hear, he is being blamed for being involved in a fatal accident.
How is this any different from deaf individuals being allowed to get Commercial Drivers Licenses, news of which includes the following:
- Feds sue Werner Enterprises for refusing to hire deaf truck driver (July 12, 2018)
- Deaf truck driver achieves dream and passes CDL test (May 10, 2018)
- Deaf man gets CDL in New Mexico (October 13, 2017)
- Historic Victory for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Truck Drivers (February 1, 2013)
Hmm…
Fatalities
- Highway fatality ‘crisis’ unfolding as numbers hit 15-year high through first half of 2021
- Record number of traffic fatalities reported
- Traffic fatalities spike to largest six-month increase in reporting system’s history
According to an April 28, 2021, article: “Vaccidents” now wrecking roadways with stroked-out vaccine takers who lose brain function behind the wheel:
As post-vaccine deaths are now ravaging India and Brazil, across the United States people are noticing a sudden surge in automobile accidents on roadways. People are driving off the roads and striking trees. They’re veering into other cars for head-on collisions. And they are apparently losing cognitive function while behind the wheel.
If this is true, then prepare for an even heavier number of traffic-related deaths this fall and winter as “ant!b0dy dep3ndent enh@ncement”* ramps up in earnest.
* purposely misspelled
3. Regarding technology, cyberattack, and cyberattack – FMCSA:
Technology
- Current Driver-Assist Tech Effective, Experts Say
- Experts Tout Advanced Safety Technologies for Trucks
- Rand McNally GPS software updated
- Rand McNally Rolls Out Navigation Device Upgrade
- Survey: Do you use your cell phone while driving?
Cyberattack
- Marten Transport discloses cyberattack, warns employee data could be at risk
- Mega Carrier Admits Truckers’ Personal Data May Have Been Stolen in Cyberattack
Cyberattack – FMCSA
If the FMCSA cannot protect itself against cyberattacks, what business does the organization have with telling others how to protect themselves against cyber threats and attacks.
- IG Audit: FMCSA Systems Vulnerable to Hacking, Malware
- Is your fleet data safe with FMCSA?
- U.S. DOT audit reveals problems with FMCSA’s cybersecurity
4. Regarding ATRI, drugs, and smuggling:
ATRI
Results of how their most recent set of questions were answered:
- Annual List of Top 10 Biggest Trucking Industry Concerns Revealed
- Carriers and truck drivers have very different concerns in annual top ten ranking
- Driver Shortage Again Tops ATRI Top Industry Issues List
- Driver Shortage Tops ATRI Top 10 Concerns Survey
- In ATRI survey, truckers tell fleets how to fix turnover problem
- In ATRI top 10 list, some big differences between drivers and management
- Pay, parking top drivers’ list of 2021’s critical issues
- Report: Lack of parking a top concern for truckers
Drugs
Never, ever agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter the incentive or promised payout.
- $5 million in pot found in bathroom vanity shipment
- More than $590K of meth seized from semi at border
- Northern Border Officials Seize 2,250 lbs. of Marijuana Hidden in Big Rig
Smuggling
Never, ever agree to haul people like cattle or cargo, no matter the incentive or promised payout.
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, fuel economy, carbon, emissions, and Tesla:
Autonomous vehicles
I adamantly oppose self-driving, autonomous, or driverless vehicles — especially Commercial Motor Vehicles sharing the roads with the motoring public — but share these articles as a courtesy to keep you informed.
- A Road Trip With Autonomous Truck Company Plus
- Autonomous truck scaling: Is TuSimple competing with its freight customers?
- DHL plans to deploy autonomous trucks
- Trucker supervises autonomous rig as it cruises around Tucson
Electric vehicles
- Charging Infrastructure Key Factor for Electric Truck Deployments
- Daily Infographic: Bay Area Uber EV drivers can get discounts on Wallbox chargers
- Electric vehicles almost ready but supporting infrastructure lags behind
- Fleets servicing Volvo’s truck plant going electric
- GM to Install 40,000 Public EV Chargers
Fuel
- Biden Says No Relief in Sight as National On-Highway Diesel Prices Rise AGAIN
- Diesel Remains on the March, Rising 4.2¢ to $3.713 a Gallon
- DOE/EIA diesel price now up 30 cents in a month
- Fuel costs, parking among owner-ops’ top trucking concerns
- Natural gas truck sales get a boost
- Streak of higher diesel prices reaches six weeks
- Truck Talk: Hydrogen conundrum edition
- Volvo: Fossil-Free Future Includes Electric, Hydrogen, Internal Combustion Engines
- Weekly Fuel Report: October 26, 2021
Fuel economy
Carbon
Emissions
- Net-zero emissions quest needs ‘radical collaboration’
- OODIA: Emission standards must not price truckers out of business
- Solving the Zero-Emission Dilemma With Natural Gas
- Volvo sees clear road ahead to zero tailpipe emissions by 2050
- Why is reducing emissions in freight so hard?
Tesla
Please bear these things in mind regarding autonomous vehicles.
- NTSB chair wants Tesla to limit where Autopilot can operate
- NTSB Wants Tesla to Limit Where Autopilot Can Operate
6. Regarding employment, pay, lottery, rates, and tolls:
Employment
- ATA: Truck Driver Shortage Hits Record High of 80,000
- Driver shortage remains industry’s top concern: ATRI
- Florida Trucking Jobs in High Demand
- Truck driver shortage trucking’s top concern
- Trucking CEO suggests ‘more immigration’ as key to solving perceived truck driver shortageI totally disagree with this notion, particularly on the grounds of citizenship and being able to speak, read and write English.
- U.S. driver shortage worse than ever: ATA
- Universal Logistics illegally fired truckers for unionizing
Pay
Please also see the section on this page about ATRI’s findings regarding pay.
- Cargo Transporters announces 3rd pay increase for drivers
- United Road Expands Guaranteed Pay Benefit
Lottery
Let’s hope that the winner has the financial discipline to spend the money wisely.
Rates
- Are historically high shipping rates causing consumer price inflation?
- Canada freight pricing to jump, Mullen Group CEO says
- No relief from ‘ridiculously expensive’ container shipping rates
- Shippers claw back some pricing power but rates are still elevated
Tolls
- Get ready for a toll hike on the Maine Turnpike starting in November
- Maine Turnpike Authority Increases Toll Rates
7. Regarding economy, ELDs, and IFTA:
Economy
These are some of the most recent articles about the economy from the perspective of the trucking industry.
- Cross-border freight remains near record high levels in August
- Obstacle course: Freight levels, constrained by numerous factors, rise anyway
- Retail Spending Key to Trucking Activity, ATA’s Costello says
- September Shatters Already High Used Class 8 Prices
- Trailer OEMs pushing 2021 orders into 2022
- U.S. Trailer Manufacturers Backlogged into 2022
- U.S. trailer orders grow, though still down from 2020
- Used truck prices high but Ryder’s inventory low
ELDs
- Canada ELD tester investigated as video claims device can be cheated
- ELD certification body ComDriver Tech refutes allegations of wrongdoing
IFTA
8. Regarding inspections, insurance, and visibility:
Inspections
If you’re always ready for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Inspections find thousands of hazardous material haulers in violation
- Inspectors Park More Than 5,600 CMVs During Brake Safety Week
Insurance
Visibility
9. Regarding driving, cargo theft, parking, and Navistar:
Driving
Cargo theft
Please do your utmost to reduce the chance for cargo theft happening to your rig.
Parking
Navistar
- Feds slap Navistar with $52 million fine, order company to buy and destroy old engines
- Navistar Agrees to Pay $52M Fine and Destroy Engines to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
- Navistar settles EPA violations with $52M fine, destruction of engines
- Navistar to pay $52M to settle long-lasting EPA suit
- Navistar will destroy old engines, pay $52M to settle federal complaint
10. Regarding protests, roads, and weather:
Protests
Even though I am not in favor of the federal government having these departments or agencies, where are the DOT and FMCSA on these events?
- Climate Activists Block NY Highway For Hours, Clash With Truck Driver
- Watch as climate protesters harass a truck driver while shutting down NYC streets
Roads
Weather
- Landslides close California highway
- Maintaining your coolant system as winter approaches
- Mudslides Close California Highways After Record Rain
- Watch as high wind levitates a semi trailer on a California bridge
11. Regarding trucks and washroom:
Trucks
Washroom
Last week, there were articles about this topic that I did not include in my trucking commentary.
For local truckers driving daycabs, “washroom access” is of big importance.
For regional and OTR truckers, assuming their trucking companies permit them, we strongly recommend having a well-kept portable toilet in-truck.
I list here one such portable toilet from Amazon.com, with which we have an affiliate relationship:
12. Regarding awards and freebies:
Awards
Congratulations to every nominee and winner of a trucking-related award, recognition, or designation!
- ATA Celebrates Range of Trucking Leaders
- ATA Recognizes SmartWay Honorees
- ATA Recognizes Trucking Industry Works With Awards Luncheon
- Help Choose The Top Rookie Military Veteran Truck Driver!
- Here are the finalists for Overdrive’s Small Fleet Champ award
- Truckers Tragically Killed While Rendering Aid to Crash Victims Posthumously Honored
- Truckers who died helping accident victims named Highway Angels
Freebies
- Pilot offers free meals on Veterans Day, supports vets charity
- Pilot to offer free meal to active duty military and veterans
- TA to honor active and former military members with free meal
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: 2021.10.30 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.