This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending December 18, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding supply chain, capacity, bottlenecks, ports:
Supply chain
This situation is multi-pronged and I have written a good bit below regarding what I feel is one big part of it.
- Big Box Retailers Leading Country Out of Supply Chain Bottlenecks
- Business Activity Softens Even as Supply Snags Ease
- DHL Doubles Robots as Humans Alone Can’t Handle Holiday Crunch
- JP Morgan Anticipates Supply Chain and Inflation Relief in 2022
- National summit to focus on supply chain challenges
- Snarled Supply Chain Ignites Economic Boom Along US-Mexico Border
- Understanding North America’s supply chain problems
- What’s Really Driving The Supply Chain Crisis?
Capacity
- In capacity crisis, fleets struggle to find equipment
- Loads surge, capacity tightens on Canadian spot market
- More spot loads move as capacity loosens
Bottlenecks
- Loaded and Rolling: Truck tech, component shortages, trucking bottlenecks
- New Jersey has once again earned the title of worst truck traffic bottleneck in America
- Worst bottlenecks in trucking announced
Ports
- Bill addressing detention, demurrage at ports passed by House
- Borderlands: Port Houston’s trade jumps 51% to nearly $17B
- Is U.S. Trade Deficit Disrupting West Coast Container Port Logistics?
- Los Angeles import volume sinks as shipping traffic jam worsens
- November another record month for Port of Savannah
- Oakland Port Imports Rebound in November as Chaos Roars in L.A.
- Port of Long Beach: On-water visibility requires supply chain information highway
- Port of Virginia sets November volume record
- Trucker satisfaction survey swerves around port congestion
2. Regarding closure:
It came as a huge shock to learn that after 96 years in business, Central Freight Lines is shutting down.
If you drive for CFL, please know that at least one other company is hiring their drivers.
- Autopsy report: How Central Freight fell into a 5-year ‘death spiral’
- Central Freight confirms Estes Express offering to snap up drivers, buy equipment
- Central Freight Lines’ closure puts quality drivers on market
- Central Freight Lines Shuts Down After Nearly a Century in Business
- Central Freight Lines shuts its doors
- Central Freight Lines to be shuttered this week
- Central Freight Lines to be shuttered this week
- Central Freight Lines to be shuttered this week
- Central Freight shuttering operations this month
- End of the line for Central Freight Lines
- Exclusive: Central Freight Lines to shut down after 96 years
- Exclusive: Central Freight Lines to shut down after 96 years
- EXCLUSIVE: CFL Driver Says It Was ‘Gut Punch’ to Learn Of Abrupt Closure on Social Media
- FreightCareers can help Central Freight Lines employees, others find work
- Loaded and Rolling: Holiday trucking closures, firings and driver hirings
- Texas trucking giant to abruptly close, more than 1300 truck drivers affected
- Trucking Giant Central Freight Lines to Close After 96 Years in Business
3. Regarding COVID-19, politics (trucking), and politics (staged):
COVID-19
Of all people whose word should be considered regarding what a product can do, it is the inventor, right?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Dr. Robert Malone is the “inventor of the core mRNA vaccine technologies (including the idea of mRNA vaccines) and RNA transfection…”
linkedin.com/in/rwmalonemd (no longer online)
A December 15, 2021, article written by Dr. Malone states:
Before you vaccinate your child — which is irreversible and potentially permanently damaging — find out why 16,000 physicians and medical scientists around the world signed a declaration publicly declaring that healthy children should NOT be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Please read that one phrase again regarding the jab:
“irreversible and potentially permanently damaging”.
Now, it is a well-known fact that children’s body systems are not as mature as adults’ body systems, but one has to admit that if these jabs are harmful for children, there is at least the potential for them to be harmful to adults.
And one need only look at the numbers on OpenVaers.com to see the impact that CV jabs have had (as of December 10, 2021):
- 965,841 COVID Vaccine Adverse Event Reports; and
- 20,244 COVID Vaccine Reported Deaths.
Now, back to the original question: What is the purpose for getting a CV-19 jab in the first place?
One reason why many people have taken one or more jabs is to protect them from dying from CV, right?
So, it is instructive to look to see the Infection Survival Rate of “C0V!D-19” from a Stanford University Study.
According to that study, the Infection Survival Rate ranged from almost 100% for youngest populations to over 94% for elderly populations.
With a survival rate so high, why is a jab even needed?
Do not fall for the lie that these CV jabs are for your health or anyone else’s health.
There are many problems with these particular jabs, so in my opinion, they are not acceptable for use; the cost of compliance is too high; and compliance will affect our brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.
Also, please understand that if some truckers are leaving their jobs because they value their health freedom more than their jobs, yes, that will add to the supply chain problem, but this issue is just as easily solved as it was started:
simply reverse the requirement to get jabbed!
Here are some of the most recent articles on this topic:
- ATA: Trucking Trends Report Shows Impact of Pandemic on Industry
- Biden Warned to Exempt Truckers From Looming Cross-Border Vax Rule or Risk Catastrophe
- Canadian Truckers Face Sweeping Vax Mandate as Trucking Groups Sound Alarm
- Coming driver vaccine mandates will disrupt ‘beleaguered’ supply chain: CTA
- Driver banned for blocking warehouse over mask-related concerns
- Group warns that up to 30,000 truckers will immediately quit over vaccine mandates in January
- Manufacturers join call to delay truck driver vaccine mandates
- Senators ask Biden to exempt truckers from border vaccine mandate
- Senators ask Biden to reassess cross-border COVID vaccine mandate for truckers
- Senators raise concern over cross-border vaccine mandate for truckers
- Senators request vaccine mandate exemption for cross-border truckers
- Three-Judge Panel to Decide Appeal of Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers
- Transport minister’s mandate includes vaccines, emissions, supply chain
- Trucking Groups File Appeal to SCOTUS After Circuit Court Upholds Vax Mandate on Businesses
Politics: Feds Trying to Help Trucking
First, there is nothing at all in the Constitution of the United States that addresses transportation.
Second, the Executive Branch of the federal government does not have the constitutional authority to try to “help trucking” recruit and retain drivers.
According to the Tenth Amendment, that is a matter for the states and the people to take up.
So, please bear these things in mind when you contact your elected officials.
- Biden Administration Plan to Help Trucking Recruit, Retain New Drivers
- Biden administration unveils trucking workforce plan
- Biden administration unveils trucking workforce plan
- Biden offers plan to build ‘stronger trucking workforce’
- Biden releases detailed ‘action plan’ to build a ‘stronger trucking workforce’
- Biden’s new ‘Trucking Action Plan’ does little to address the industry’s actual issues, says OOIDA
- OOIDA on improving retention: ‘Put it on the paycheck’
- Truckers Pan Biden’s ‘Totally Clueless’ New Plan to Solve Problems Plaguing Trucking Workforce
- Trucking and truckers react to Biden driver recruiting & retention plan
- White House laying foundation for ‘next-generation trucking workforce’
- White House releases plan to strengthen trucking workforce
- White House Rolls Out ‘Trucking Action Plan’ to Solve ‘Workforce Challenges’
- White House Unveils Plan to Recruit Truck Drivers
- White House unveils sweeping plan for trucking industry
Politics: Staged Accidents
- House Bill Boosts Staged Crash Protections
- Woman avoids jail time in latest sentencing for Louisiana staged accidents
4. Regarding accident, near miss:
Accident
Please learn what you can from these articles and apply the knowledge to your life so that you don’t get involved in the same situation yourself.
- Bridge serving WA closed indefinitely after semi loses load
- Driver okay after wind gust blows big rig off overpass
While we have written about driving in strong winds, how would you protect your rig in such a case?
This was completely preventable.
Quote: “Nebraska State Police said that Kratt was traveling at speeds of 75 to 78 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone when the crash occurred.”
How can you protect your rig when roads and bridges get slick?
Uh, the road sign in the photo clearly says 11’9″, so there was no excuse for this trucker trying to take a 13’6″ truck under there!
Since the “accident happened at around 4:35 a.m.,” I wonder if this was a sleepiness or fatigue issue — or if a jab or medical episode is to blame.
Near miss
Is it standard operating procedures for someone to be in the trailer while dried corn is being loaded?
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, emissions, smog:
Autonomous vehicles
I most vehemently oppose autonomous, driverless, or self-driving Commercial Motor Vehicles being on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help you stay informed on the subject.
- CEO Argues ‘Fastest, Safest’ Way to Deploy Self-Driving Trucks is ‘Tag-Teaming’ With Humans
- DHL Expands Autonomous-Truck Plans
- DHL latest to take on multiple autonomous trucking partners
- DSC chat: Autonomous freight hauling promises benefits for supply chain
- DSC keynote: Autonomous transport will spawn massive truckload consolidation
- Full Self-Driving system in Teslas face government scrutiny
- Torc Robotics takes the long view as Daimler Truck’s autonomous insider
- Uber to Pilot Driverless Food Delivery in California in 2022
Electric vehicles
- Canada threatens US with tariffs over EV tax credit
- Cutting through the heavy-duty e-trucks hype
- European Truck EV Charging Network One Step Closer
- Government impact on the electric vehicle landscape
- Major truck OEMs partner to build out EV charging infrastructure in Europe
- Nikola Delivers First Nikola Tre Battery-Electric Trucks
- Nikola Touts Battery-Electric, Fuel-Cell Truck Progress
- Rivian Stumbles in Earnings Debut With Miss on EV Output
- Truck availability, subsidies, and customer demands to drive electric truck uptake
- U.S. unveils plan for electric vehicle charging network
- USDOT Creates New Office to Deploy $7.5 BILLION to Build 500,000 EV Charging Stations
- VW to Spend $2.3 Billion on Battery Hub, Sets Up New Unit
- White House Unveils Plan for EV Charging Network
Fuel
- 4th consecutive decline posted in DOE/EIA diesel price
- Another 2.5¢ a Gallon Lopped Off National Diesel Price
- Clean Energy’s renewable natural gas to power an additional 611 trucks
- Daily Infographic: Average annual fuel use by vehicle type
- Daily Infographic: Strategies for fleet managers to conserve fuel
- Diesel prices main trucking conditions headwind: FTR
- Hydrogen hype? United Airlines says it could fly new-tech jets by 2028
- Truck Tech: Hydrogen safety whistle edition
- More drops in diesel prices
Emissions
- California to require twice-yearly emissions tests
- Global News Roundup: 15 Countries Pledge 100% Zero-Emissions Truck, Bus Sales by 2040
- New York City mayor unveils plan to push ‘oversized and polluting’ diesel trucks out of the city
Smog
Dictionary.com defines “smog” as “smoke or other atmospheric pollutants combined with fog in an unhealthy or irritating mixture.”
- California approves new smog testing regime, relying heavily on telematics
- California to Crackdown on Big Rig Owners With First-In-The-Nation ‘Smog Checks’ Rule
- CARB Passes Smog Check Regulation for Trucks, Buses
- Smog inspections ordered twice a year for California big trucks
6. Regarding sentencing, training, employment, shortage, predictions, question:
Sentencing
There is supposed to be “equal justice for all” in the USA, and yet, states have the right to set their own laws.
Some people are in favor of the sentencing and others are opposed.
Some say that the trucker should have known better and others say that the trucking company is to blame for not training him properly.
A sentence of 110 years will not undo the damage that this trucker did, and yet I don’t believe that he should get off completely scot-free.
What is a suitable punishment for this trucker?
Please comment through the form below. Thanks.
- Boycott Begins As Petition Demanding Release of I-70 Crash Trucker Nears 3 MILLION
- Driver in fatal I-70 crash gets 110 years in prison
- Millions sign petition to reduce 110-year sentence for truck driver who caused deadly crash
- More Than ONE MILLION People Demand RELEASE of Trucker Sentenced to Prison For 110 Years
- Petition seeks clemency for driver sentenced to 110 years
- Petition to reduce 110 year sentence for truck driver in deadly I-70 pileup reaches nearly 1.5 million signatures
- Truck driver convicted in deadly Colorado crash gets 110 years
- Truck driver sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for triggering fiery 28 vehicle pileup that killed four in Colorado
- Trucker Convicted in Deadly I-70 Crash Sentenced to 110 Years in Prison
- Trucker Convicted in Horrific I-70 Crash Set To Be Sentenced… What Should It Be?
- Trucker gets 110 years in prison after 2019 fatal crash | Groups urge Joshi’s confirmation
- Trucker Gets 110-Year Sentence for Fatal Runaway Truck Pileup
- Trucker in 2019 crash on I-70 in Colorado gets 110 years in prison
- Trucker sentenced to 110 years in prison for Colorado pileup deaths
- Trucking community reacts to 110 year sentence for driver in deadly Colorado pileup
Training
Employment
I believe that these “official numbers” are skewed because many people have been forced out of their jobs because of tyrannical demands.
Shortage
I became aware of some of these articles from setting a Google Alert.
- Driver shortage again No. 1 concern
- Infrastructure bill brings help for truck driver shortage
- New pilot program allows drivers 18-20 to earn CDLs to address trucker shortage
- Numbers tell story of strained supply chain—but also of opportunities for trucking
- Trucker shortage or shortchanged truckers?
- Video: Trucker Shortage Is a Long-Term Problem, Says Labor Secretary
Do you agree that the so-called trucker shortage is a lack of regulation and a shortage of “good union jobs”?
Please comment through the form below. Thanks.
Predictions
Question
7. Regarding consumers, inflation, economy, insurance:
Consumers
Inflation
Economy
- COVID-era economic boom just getting started
- Home Construction Rebounds a Strong 11.8% in November
- November Trailer Orders Hit Year High
- November Trailer Orders Near Year’s Best
- November trailer orders rebound but supply chain issues are likely worsening
- Record-setting used truck prices no deterrent to spot rate-chasing buyers
- Ritchie Bros. sets record as used equipment prices soar
- Should you wind down operations in a hot market?
- Trailer orders bounce as OEMs open more ’22 build slots
- Trucking conditions hit lowest point since July 2020
Insurance
8. Regarding CVSA, HOS, parking, dumping, drugs, and smuggling:
CVSA
- CVSA Adopts Educational Program to Prevent Driver Fatigue
- CVSA adopts program aimed at addressing driver fatigue
- CVSA fatigue management program unveiled for truck drivers and fleets
HOS
- FMCSA Extends HOS for Covid Load Haulers into 2022
- Teamsters, Safety Groups Challenge Hours-of-Service Rules in DC Appeals Court
Parking
- Feds hear from both sides about Philadelphia’s truck parking woes
- FHWA to host National Coalition on Truck Parking Workshop
- Truck parking bill picks up two more cosponsors
- Truck parking development handbook addresses shortage
- Trucker Path reveals truck parking trends in Canada, U.S.
- Truckers Pressure Lawmakers to Spend More on Safe Parking
Dumping
Drugs
Never, ever agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter how lucrative the promised pay-out is.
- Canadian Truck Drivers Arrested in $12 MILLION Cocaine Smuggling Bust
- Mexican Trucker Arrested in Record-Breaking Big Rig Meth Bust
- Record amount of meth seized from semi at border
- Search of truckload of auto parts leads to ‘record-breaking’ meth seizure at border crossing
Smuggling
Never, ever agree to haul people like cargo or cattle.
9. Regarding weather, tires, roads, chains, operations:
Weather
There has been a lot of bad weather lately: snowstorms, high winds, and tornadoes.
Please do your due diligence before starting out.
Remember that high profile vehicles are more likely to be flipped over on their sides in strong winds.
It’s also a good idea for truckers to have some kind of tire traction devices in their trucks, no matter whether they are in snow chain law territory or not.
If you were going to carry lightweight, non-bulky tire traction devices in your truck, what kind would they be?
Please comment through the form below. Thanks.
- 118 mph wind gusts, ice shut down two Wyoming highways over the weekend
- Big California storm dumps snow, drenches parched regions
- Blizzard conditions trucking across Great Lakes
- Blizzard shuts down highway linking California with Oregon
- Commercial driver restrictions temporarily lifted as part of tornado relief
- Dozens feared dead in Kentucky as tornadoes rip through several states
- Efforts to clear debris from Kentucky roads underway
- Emergency response ongoing after deadly tornadoes hit South
- Feds Probing Amazon Warehouse Collapse That Killed Six Workers Including Truck Driver
- High wind warnings stretch through large swath of nation
- Hours of Service and Weight Restrictions Waived For Truckers Hauling Tornado-Relief Supplies
- Hours-of-service rules waived for tornado relief efforts in Kentucky
- Icy interstate pileup caught on Minnesota DOT camera
- Iowa DOT says they won’t work scale houses due to high wind threat
- Iowa troopers confirm that trucker was killed in crash caused by high winds
- Major snowstorm trucking through Sierra Nevada
- Midwestern states on standby awaiting impact of Wednesday’s potential high winds
- Multiple semis caught in tornado’s path along I-55 in Missouri
- Nebraska troopers share scary dash cam video of winds toppling a big rig
- Officials warn of more snow to come after weekend of crashes spurs road closures
- Ohio Turnpike issues truck travel restrictions due to weather
- Semi truck blowover caught on camera on I-25 in Wyoming, blowovers reported in multiple states
- Some High-Profile Vehicles Banned From Ohio Turnpike Due to High Winds
- Storm-Chasing Trucker Recounts ‘Horrendous’ Scene After Deadly Tornado Batters Big Rigs
- Strong winds in Midwest whip up dust, blow over semitrailers
- Tornado death toll increases as recovery continues
- Tornado ravages Kentucky; truckers should avoid area
- Tornado threat heading to Midwest
- Truck driver among those killed at Amazon facility
- Truckers helping those in need after devastating storms
- Truckers involved in relief efforts exempt from HOS, weight restrictions in Kentucky
- Truckers Rally to Raise and Deliver Relief Supplies in Wake of Deadly Tornado Outbreak
- Trucks With Room To Spare turns chaos into blessings in the aftermath of deadly tornadoes
- Video shows snowy pileup on I-35 in Minnesota
- Weekend snowstorm to slam Pacific Northwest
- Winter storm warning, chain law in effect for Sierras as “unsettled weather” brings snow, rain
Tires
Roads
- Arizona completes rebuild of I-10/Houghton Road interchange
- Busy highway bridge in southern Maine to be rebuilt
- Indiana Officials Celebrate Opening of $14.5 MILLION Roadway Just For Big Rigs
- Minnesota wraps highway construction for ’21
- Rhode Island bridge needs $35M in repairs
Chains
Operations
How do you make sure that all of your trailer’s tires are turning while you’re rolling down the road in icy conditions?
Please comment through the form below. Thanks.
Don’t be a bully!
10. Regarding tolls, rates, recall:
Tolls
- New Jersey Lawmakers Launch Effort to STOP Toll Hikes Amid Growing Outrage
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolls targeted by lawmakers
- Turnpike Authority toll hikes topic of New Jersey bill
Rates
- Carriers maintain pricing power as rejection rates rise for the holidays
- Carriers not giving up pricing power during the holiday season
- Cass: High rates drive record freight costs
- DSC chat: Where will spot rates go in 2022?
- FedEx Surges After Higher Rates Boost Profit, Ease Labor Worries
- How far did that parcel shipment travel? Pay up!
- Looking up: Plentiful freight, high rates keep trucking conditions favorable
- Rates trending higher on dense lanes signal carrier maintain pricing power
- Shippers convert back to rail out of California as truckload costs continue to rise
- SONAR sightings for Dec. 14: TRAC spot rates, carrier and shipper updates, more
Recalls
- Certain Peterbilt, Kenworth car-haul, wrecker models recalled | Spot freight rates’ big drop
- Cummins recalls X12 diesel engines because of fire risk
- Cummins X12 engines recalled over fuel injection system issue
- Daimler recalls Freightliner chassis for faulty valve stems for 2nd time
- Hundreds of Freightliner and Western Star Trucks Recalled Due to ‘Non-Compliant’ Wheels
- Hundreds of Western Star and Freightliner trucks recalled for ‘unapproved tires’
- Paccar wreckers and auto haulers recalled for service brake issue
11. Regarding ELDs, health, holiday, violence:
ELDs
Health
Holiday
- 100 million holiday travelers will pack the highways Dec. 23 through Jan. 2
- Spot Market Bounces Back After Thanksgiving Slump
- UPS, FedEx, USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines Draw Near
Violence
This kind of behavior is never, ever acceptable!
12. Regarding recognition:
The following two articles are about those who helped truckers move down the road in snowy conditions.
This does not imply that I am in favor of truckers — especially company drivers — taking it upon themselves to use their trucks to push other trucks.
However, it is nice to know that kindness and a willingness to extend a helping hand still exist in our world today.
- Watch as CHP does whatever it takes to keep trucks moving
- WATCH: This poor cattle hauler just needed a little push
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: 2021.12.18 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.