This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending March 12, 2022.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding inflation, fuel, and energy:
Policies on the USA’s national level have led to rampant inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices, and America’s energy dependence.
If these issues concern you, please get in touch with your federal elected officials.
Inflation
Fuel
- ATA Pens Letter to Biden Warning Record Fuel Prices Will Soon ‘Decimate Trucking Capacity’
- ATA Urges Biden to Increase Oil Production
- California Pump Prices Hit Records
- ConocoPhillips CEO sees no quick resolution to oil price crisis
- Diesel prices at all-time high as feds mull banning Russian oil
- Diesel prices jump a quarter per gallon from a week ago
- Diesel prices skyrocket to more than $5 per gallon in some states
- Diesel sees highest price, biggest increase in history of DOE/EIA benchmark
- Diesel Skyrockets 74.5¢ in One Week to All-Time Record High
- Flatbed capacity at its tightest due to surging oil prices, construction boom
- Fuel cell maker CEO boosts use of hydrogen on the rails
- Fuel Prices to Climb Higher as US Bans Russian Oil Imports
- Gas Prices Prompt Newsom to Seek Rebate for California Drivers
- Get Ready for $5-$6 Diesel Fuel
- Granholm calls for more oil production while diesel plunges for the day
- Hydrogen fuel cells ready for work in work trucks
- Hydrogen’s future: Decide end uses and supply will follow
- It’s pretty rough’: Diesel, gasoline prices rise even higher as Biden bans Russian oil
- Key State Department official defends Biden administration role in US oil production
- National diesel price average nears $5
- New Jersey Drivers Still Don’t Want to Pump Their Own Gas
- Officials warn about price gouging as diesel prices continue to skyrocket
- Oil Executives Urge Biden to Unleash Shale
- Oil Traders Jump Into Action as Europe Screams for Diesel Supply
- Pilot announces $1B “New Horizons” overhaul, warns about diesel price volatility
- Record diesel prices call for fuel surcharge Fuel prices
- Russia-Ukraine: Retail diesel prices starting to spike following commodity moves
- Soaring diesel prices may force smaller trucking companies to shut down, group tells White House
- State official calls for investigation into high fuel prices
- States Pitch Tax Cuts, Rebates to Ease Gas Price Surge
- Trucking companies, schools passing on diesel costs to customers
- Trucking industry to Biden: Increase domestic oil production now
- Union Pacific to test higher biodiesel blends on Wabtec locomotives
- Viewpoint: That pain you’re feeling won’t be restricted to the gas pump
- Washington state drops fuel export tax
- Weekly Fuel Report: March 08, 2022
- White House Considering Ban on Russian Oil Imports to US
- Why Nearly Empty Auto Lots Make This Pump-Price Shock Different
- Will Russia-Ukraine Conflict Cause Long-Term Impact on Diesel Prices?
Energy
- $1B in grants secured for clean energy medium, heavy duty trucks
- ATA calls for more U.S. energy production, less reliance on ‘genocidal tyrant’
- ATA President Spear Pushes Energy Independence
- Davidson Environmental turns organic waste into green energy
- Top Energy Analyst Warns Truckers to Brace For ‘Dark Spring and Summer’
2. Regarding economy, employment, testing, and convoy:
Economy
- ACT Research: Class 8 CMV orders flat over past month
- Class 8 Orders Remain Flat in February
- Decisiv Notes Labor Costs Rose 14.2% in Q4
- Economic forecasts cut as energy, agriculture prices surge
- February Class 8 Sales Down 2.9%
- Yellow’s February tonnage drop sours streak of positive LTL updates
Employment
- Employment follow: Run of increasing truck transportation jobs nears 2 years
- How Fleets Are Winning the Race to Hire Drivers
- US Added Robust 678,000 Jobs in February
- US job growth includes trucking industry
Testing
- FMCSA Nixes Proposed Changes to Out-of-State and Third Party CDL Testing Rules
- FMCSA rescinds pair of CDL testing proposals
Convoy
- Convoy laps D.C. Beltway, another round expected Monday
- Convoy protesting COVID-19 mandates does beltway circuit
- Executive director of fundraising arm of People’s Convoy has criminal history
- Freedom Convoy Organizers Say Protest ‘Ignited a Flame’ While Decrying ‘Violent End’
- GiveSendGo to Refund Millions of Dollars to Supporters of Freedom Convoy
- Maryland State Senate Candidate Brags About Brake Checking ‘Fascist’ Trucker Convoy
- Multiple trucker convoys roll through midwestern states
- People’s Convoy to meet with Republican Senators to “discuss harmful effects” of recent mandates
- Sen. Ted Cruz joins ‘People’s Convoy’
- Truck Convoy enters final leg, plans to loop D.C. Saturday
- Trucker Convoying to D.C. Left ‘Speechless’ By Touching Letter From 11-Year-Old Boy
- U.S. Senator Goes For Ride in Big Rig to Support Truckers Convoying Around D.C.
- VIDEO: U.S. Senator joins People’s Convoy from the passenger seat of a big rig
- Wednesday’s Convoy lap canceled due to rain after successful meeting with Senators
3. Regarding accidents, fatalities, and clearinghouse:
Accidents
Please read these articles to see if there is anything you can do to avoid being involved in these kinds of accidents.
- Semi tire blowout crash sends four wheelers flying
- VIDEO: Concrete chunk shoots through windshield mere inches from driver’s head
- WATCH: Driver gets heckled by media after seriously misjudging bridge height
Fatalities
Mike and I extend our condolences to the families of all who died in traffic accidents.
- At least one dead after 8 vehicle crash involving four semi trucks shuts down Virginia highway
- Fatal truck crashes drop as overall traffic fatalities surge in U.S.
- FMCSA Orders Trucking Company Out-of-Service After Unlicensed Driver Kills Police Sergeant
- NASCAR hauler driver killed in East Texas crash
- NHTSA traffic crash data shows decrease in fatal large-truck crashes
- One child dead, 7 injured after semi truck slams into packed car stopped on side of road
- Racing hauler driver killed in crash on I-20 in Texas
- Racing hauler involved in crash in Texas
- Semi truck’s 50 foot plunge into river kills driver, injures others
- Traffic Cam Captures Deadly Wrong-Way Crash Between Motorist and Truckers
- Two-rig crash claims lives of both drivers
- Young driver fatally ejected in northeast Texas crash
Clearinghouse
4. Regarding electric vehicles, emissions, and ports:
Electric vehicles
Please be aware that those who support electric vehicles may not be sharing the negatives associated with them.
Here are some of the most recent articles about electric vehicles and related topics.
- Amerit Fleet Solutions Rolls Out EV Maintenance Programs
- Canada Forges New EV Supply Chain Path
- E-Commerce Will Drive Electric Heavy-Duty Truck Adoption
- Electric Terminal Tractors: Stepping-Stone to a New Era?
- Experts Offer Advice on Spec’ing EVs for Fleets
- Global electric truck market not going anywhere, says Green Truck Summit speaker
- Goodyear Rolls Out EV-Ready Commercial Tires
- Hino packaging electric vehicle offerings and services
- Honda, Sony Join Forces on New Electric Vehicle
- Industry Experts Tell Fleet Managers to Be Proactive With Electrification
- Juice Technology predicts top electric vehicle trends for 2022
- Motiv EV Truck Battery Exceeds 150-Mile Range in Testing
- NACFE says terminal tractors a great place to begin electrification journey
- New Task Force Seeks to Establish EV Efficiency Practices
- New TMC Chair Randy Obermeyer Sees Bright Future as Electrification Advances
- SAF-Holland’s European e-axle being prepped for North American market
- Shyft Group shifts into EV space with Blue Arc van and charging station
- Study Confirms EVs Save Big on Carbon Emissions
- TMC Considers Recommending EV Coolant, Lubricant Practices
- TMC Study Group Tackles Considerations for Adopting Electric Trucks
- US energy officials: Electric trucks will be cheaper to buy, operate by 2030
- US Zigs While Rest of the World Zags on EV Subsidies
- Volvo Leads BEV Trucks in EU as Startups Scramble for Mass Production in 2022
- When upfitting electric work trucks, don’t just drill baby drill
- With Pump Prices High, Buy an EV? ‘Lots of Luck’
Emissions
- California’s Power to Set Auto Emissions Rules Restored
- ConMet partners with Carrier, Great Dane on zero-emission reefer trailer
- Electric Pickups Reduce Emissions the Most of Passenger Vehicles
- Emission standards for trucks may get stricter
- EPA Proposed Emissions Rules Would Cut NOx 60%
- EPA proposes stricter zero-emission standards for trucks
- EPA Proposes Stronger Pollution Limits on New Trucks
- EPA proposes stronger standards to reduce truck emissions
- EPA’s Targeting of Semi-Truck Emissions May Spike Freight Rates, Inflation
- PepsiCo gets A for net-zero emissions efforts
- Trucking organizations react to EPA’s emissions reduction plan
- White House announces sweeping plan to slash emissions from ‘dirty diesel trucks’
- Zero-emission truck, bus models increasing 26% from 2020 through 2022
Ports
- February another record-busting month for SC Ports
- FreightWaves Classics/ Infrastructure: Port of Greater Baton Rouge is a Top 10 US port
- How invasion of Ukraine could ease shipping logjam off US ports
- Port of Halifax gets CA$7M to build container examination facility
- Port of Savannah 60-Percent Capacity Expansion Requires More Truck Drivers
- Port of Virginia Attracts Industrial Development
5. Regarding reporting and windshield:
Reporting
- Briefly: FMCSA changes drivers’ traffic violation requirement
- FMCSA eliminates rule requiring truck drivers to submit list of traffic violations to employers
- FMCSA ends requirement for traffic violation lists
- FMCSA nixes driver reporting of annual violations
- FMCSA removes convicted violations reporting requirement for drivers
Windshield
- FMCSA expanding allowable windshield area for mounting safety tech
- FMCSA expands windshield area for vehicle safety technology
- FMCSA increases the allowed area for mounting devices on interior CMV windshields
- FMCSA increases windshield area for mounted safety technology
- FMCSA to Expand Definition of ‘Vehicle Safety Technology,’ Modify Mounting Regs
6. Regarding business, taxes, and tolls:
Business
Taxes
Tolls
7. Regarding technology, drones, ELDs, efficiency, and automation:
Technology
- Artificial intelligence makes automated document processing a reality
- Daily Infographic: Manufacturers Are Adopting a Wide Array of Vehicle Technologies that Improve Fuel Economy and Reduce Emissions
- Expeditors reports ‘meaningful progress’ in cyberattack recovery
- FreightWaves app update creates interactive experience
- Hapag-Lloyd faces cyberthreat after criminals create fake website
- How predictive analytics can improve fleet maintenance operations
- LaCroix manufacturer sees 900% faster tendering times digitizing operations with Convoy
- Tips from other fleets on switching telematics providers
- Utility Trailer Launches Telematics Platform With Phillips Connect
- Volvo Trucks introduces route planning, connected technology tools
- Volvo Trucks to offer new advanced roadside assistance service tracking feature
Drones
ELDs
- Canada delays ELD enforcement until 2023
- Canada delays ELD mandate enforcement until 2023
- Canada pushes back ELD Mandate enforcement to 2023
- Full ELD enforcement delayed until Jan. 1, 2023
Efficiency
Automation
On March 9, 2022, I published this on our Facebook page and other trucking groups on Facebook:
The video linked below has the title “Take a look inside Alibaba’s smart warehouse, where robots do 70% of the work, with 300% more efficiency”.
No doubt, this is what some of the movers and shakers in the trucking industry want for the movement of big trucks:
complete automation.However, there are some large differences between what’s shown in the video and the realities of trucking.
Let’s see if we can name them.
[I] will start:
All of these robots are working in a controlled environment where individual robot movements are precise and automated, whereas vehicles on the road operate where the environment is not controlled and individual movements are far from precise.
Your turn, please.
8. Regarding Daylight Saving Time:
- Daylight saving time bills considered in many statesQuote: “The U.S. Department of Transportation states that daylight saving time is observed because it saves energy, saves lives and prevents traffic injuries, and reduces crime.”
I absolutely disagree with the USDOT’s statement and provide these resources to provide more depth of understanding on this topic.
- Daylight Savings Time Pros and Cons – Top Advantages and Disadvantages
- The Pros and Cons of Daylight Saving Time
- The Pros and Cons of Daylight Saving Time – Daylight Saving Time
9. Regarding last mile, maintenance, repairs, and tires:
Last mile
Maintenance
Repairs
- Repair costs climbing, but so is mileage between repairs
- Repair shops struggling with parts, labor shortages
Tires
- Aperia’s Halo Connect 2.0 Revs up Predictive Tire Management
- Michelin X One Energy D2 Drive Tire Designed for Fuel Efficiency
- New X One Line Energy tire from Michelin
- Truck tire maintenance includes balancing
- Zonar announces addition of bird’s eye-view for tire pressure management
10. Regarding operations, parking, safety, and spill:
Operations
- CDL Truck Driver Skills Tips + Knowledge — For All Truckers
- Locomation operating model helps fleets run longer, gain efficiency and increase profitability
- Sheriff shares close call video with warning to ‘drive to conditions’
- Virginia Lawmakers Push for Right-Lane Truck Driver Restrictions
Parking
- Buttigieg Reaffirms Efforts to Increase Parking
- Florida considers creating more truck parking along I-4
- Georgia town responds to backlash over residential big rig parking rule
- Love’s Shows Truckers Appreciation By Increasing Safe, Overnight Parking
- Small Town Apologizes After Backlash From Truckers Over Ordinance Banning Big Rig Parking
Safety
Spill
Truckers, if you haul anything liquid that can leak, please be sure that you following all sound operating practices so that you will never have a spill.
- Trucking company facing liability for 23,000 gallon diesel leak into Ohio creek
- When oil is spilled: What happens next?
11. Regarding violations, theft, and pollution:
Violations
Theft
- Borderlands: Cargo theft down 26% across US during fourth quarter
- Cargo theft activity dipped but remained high in 2021
- Florida-based moving company operators indicted for $12M fraud scheme
- Truck-driving thieves steal ATM
Pollution
Please be aware of positions and regulations put in place by organizations like CARB.
12. Regarding awards:
We congratulate truckers who have demonstrated great skill in the operation of their trucks and recognize truckers who have helped their fellow human beings in need.
Congratulations
- 3 finalists named for WIT’s driver of the year award
- Company Driver of the Year finalist got his start haulin’ spuds
- CVSA seeks nominations for annual driver’s safety award
- Women In Trucking names 3 Driver of the Year finalists
- Women in Trucking picks finalists for driver of the year award
Recognition
- Bison driver recognized for aiding couple that crashed in bad weather
- Goodyear names 37th Highway Hero winner
- Goodyear names Highway Hero
- Goodyear names Highway Hero award winner
- Goodyear names Highway Hero award winner
- Highway Hero’s response: ‘It’s what we do’
- Illinois driver wins Goodyear Highway Hero Award
- Illinois Truck Driver Is Goodyear Highway Hero
- Truck Driver Who Braved Flames Named Highway Hero
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: 2022.03.12 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
