TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2022.07.09 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending July 9, 2022.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding underride guards, limiters, AB5, business, 2290, and out of business:
Underride guards
Truckers in the USA, if you feel strongly about this, please get in touch with your federal elected officials as soon as possible.
- Critics slam new rear underride protection rule as inadequate; committee forming for underride crash study
- New trailer underride guards fall short, safety advocate says
- NHTSA Announces Canadian Underride Guard Standard
- NHTSA issues final rule on rear underride protection for semi-trailers
- NHTSA Issues New Underride Guard Rules
- NHTSA seeks advisers on truck rear-impact guards
- NHTSA to accept applications for underride protection committee –
- U.S. to study side guards, but Canada has already rejected them
Limiters
- FMCSA receives more than 14,000 comments on controversial speed limiter proposal — comment period ends soon
- Speed limiter comment period nearly over
According to the second article linked above:
“The public has through July 18 to comment and join the thousands who have already done so.”
AB5
According to this post on Telegram:
Another catastrophic trucking snafu caused by California Democrats: 70,000 trucks that carry cargo may be forced off the roads of California in just one week. This will be catastrophic for food, imports, exports, and more:
In this post — which followed the one linked above — the author wrote (in part):
Good luck trying to ship anything IN or OUT of Collapsifornia!
Perhaps you agree. Perhaps you disagree.
We welcome your comments through the form below.
- AB5 case denied by Supreme Court; what’s next?
- California truckers react to AB5
- California’s AB 5 Goes Into Effect, Leaves Questions for Carriers, Owner-Operators
- Three small fleets take stock of California AB 5 contractor law
Business
- New RFP landscape: Building strong contracts in 2022
- OOIDA Foundation announces monthly freight market update
2290
Out of business
There will likely be many more trucking companies to go out of business in the future, at least in part because of the price of fuel.
2. Regarding inspections, aggressive driving, accidents, and fatalities:
Inspections
If you and your rig are always ready for an inspection, you will never be caught off-guard.
- Anti-speeding enforcement blitz taking place now through early September in Connecticut
- CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week starts Saturday
- Enforcement blitz set for July 10-16
- Nationwide week-long driver enforcement blitz starts Sunday
- Operation Safe Driver Week 2022 starts Sunday
- Operation Safe Driver Week Starts July 10
- Reminder: Safe Driver enforcement effort begins Sunday, goes to July 16.
Aggressive driving
Accidents
Please review the accidents described in these articles and endeavor not to repeat the circumstances leading up to them.
- Driver injured after driving into hole at Houston construction site
- Slick and smelly ‘potato sludge’ spill ruined a trucker’s day, police say
- Tractor-trailer splits in 2, shuts down Alabama tunnel
According to the last article in the section above:
The tunnel has a 12-foot clearance, whereas the average height of an 18-wheeler is 13 feet, 6 inches.
Watch your low clearances!
Report any CMV-specific GPS situation that leads you to a low clearance.
Fatalities
We express our deepest sympathies to those who died.
- 2 die after Tesla rear-ends tractor-trailer at Florida rest stop
- Two people in Tesla killed after crashing into parked semi at Florida rest stop
3. Regarding fuel, fuel economy, fuel taxes, and oil:
Fuel
- All regions report lower diesel prices
- As diesel fuel prices see slight decline, EIA to resume price updates after technical issues
- EIA publishes 3 weeks’ worth of up-and-down diesel benchmark prices
- EIA report shows substantial drops in diesel prices
- EIA Reports $5.675 National Diesel Price After Three-Week Delay
- Weekly Fuel Report: July 05, 2022
Fuel economy
- Beyond MPG: How a Fleet Fuel Program Can Save Money
- Owners Guide to Saving Fuel & Tracking Fleet Productivity
- The importance of fuel economy for fleets
Fuel taxes
Oil
4. Regarding electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:
Electric vehicles
- Class 8 battery electric trucks not ready to replace diesel
- GE Appliances to power up electric truck test
- Navistar delivers first International eMV electric trucks to Canada
- Navistar Deploys eMV to Several Commercial Fleets
- NFI Adding Hyliion Hybrid-Electric Trucks to Green Fleet
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely oppose driverless, self-driving, and autonomous commercial motor vehicles being operated on the same roads as the motoring public, but share this article as a courtesy to keep you informed about this topic.
5. Regarding economy, inflation, employment, pay, stamp, and credit:
Economy
- Class 8 truck orders ‘quite solid’ in June 2022
- Freight demand takes summer dip as rejection rates tumble
- Logistics Gauge Shows Economy Downshifting
- New trucks order discipline won’t last
- Spot Market Decline Accelerates as Demand Softens
- Subdued Class 8 Orders Show Modest Gain
- Summer peak looks more like a plain for trucking
- Trade Gap Narrows to Smallest This Year
- Used heavy-duty truck, semi-trailer values decline as inventory grows
- Why Trucking May Not Be a Leading Economic Indicator This Cycle
- Will the correction in commodity prices boost CPG margins?
- Win streak continues: Container lines just posted more record results
Inflation
Employment
- June job growth solid but slowing in truck transportation sector
- Perspective: Winning Arguments to Attract New Drivers
- Some of LandAir’s 450 employees terminated via Zoom video call
- Trucking employment continues to rise
- US Employers Add a Solid 372,000 Jobs
Pay
Stamp
I went looking for the history of United States postage rates and specifically for a date that preceded the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
I found that as of July 1, 1898, the cost to mail a one-ounce letter was $0.02.
So, let’s use the handy-dandy CPI Inflation Calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and put in:
- .02 in January 1913 (earliest month in the year the Federal Reserve was created); and
- May 2022 (the month for the most recent inflation numbers as of this writing).
Indeed! The buying power of 2 cents in January 1913 has the same buying power as 60 cents in May 2022.
So, let’s further calculate the percent increase, and we find the increase from 0.02 to 0.60 is right at 2900%!
Let’s further check the weekly rate that truckers should be earning money based upon a figure cited in May 1977 of $500 per week.
According to the same inflation calculator:
$500 in May 1977, has the same buying power as:
$2,423.68 in May 2022.
And that’s just if wages kept pace with inflation, not even an increase!
Credit
It is best if one pays off one’s credit cards in full every month.
6. Regarding supply chain and capacity:
Supply chain
- Supply chain shortages continue to limit Class 8 truck orders
- Zero trust security creates a safer supply chain for all
Capacity
7. Regarding drugs, smuggling, violations, and theft:
Drugs
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much of an incentive is offered to you!
- Canadian authorities seize more than 50 kilograms of suspected heroin and cocaine from semi truck at border crossing
- Legal marijuana may reduce rate of truck crashes: Study
Smuggling
Never, ever treat people like they are cattle or cargo, no matter how much of an incentive is offered to you!
People are created in the image of God and we are expected to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
- Truck driver pleads guilty to charge related to smuggling 20 people in locked trailer
- Truck driver sentenced to federal prison for smuggling 26 people in locked refrigerated trailer set to 33 degrees
Violations
- New Hampshire State Police place 8 CMVs out of service during safety violation event
- PennDOT partners with 80 law enforcement agencies for enforcement focusing on heavy truck violations, aggressive driving
Theft
8. Regarding brakes, tires, and emissions:
Brakes
- Don’t Overlook Engine Brake Maintenance
- How to Make Automatic Emergency Braking Right For Your Fleet
Tires
- Maintaining proper tire pressure to maximize fuel economy
- Tire safety risks rise with the temperature
Emissions
- Emission reports by state DOTs, metro planners required under proposed rule
- FHWA Announces Plan for States, Localities to Track GHG Emissions
- Viewpoint: 1st steps toward reducing fleet’s carbon emissions
9. Regarding legal, HOS, CARB, and parking:
Legal
- $5M lawsuit filed against trucker who struck animal rights activist
- Group releases statement after truck and car convoys block traffic on D.C. area roadways
- Indiana woman sentenced to probation, fine for hazardous waste violation
- Maryland State Police arrest and charge alleged leader of truck convoy
HOS
- FMCSA extends HOS waiver for baby formula haulers – Walcott show kicks off next week
- FMCSA extends hours of service waiver to July 31 for baby formula haulers
- Hours waiver extended for baby formula haulers
CARB
Parking
- Arizona rest area to close to the public for months, but will remain open for commercial vehicle drivers
- Planning early the only way to ensure a parking spot
- Safe parking, highway maintenance should be top-priority issues
10. Regarding technology, drones, and ELDs:
Technology
- Cargo camera tech helps increase freight capacity
- E-commerce quickly becoming daily habit for many
- Logiwa raises $16.4M to bring new tech into e-commerce market
- New Garmin truck navigator offers built-in dashcam
- On-demand delivery platform Dispatch expands to California, New York
- States Adopt Digital License Plates for CMVs
Drones
- Drones and 10-minute delivery: Why these glimmers of last mile’s future will stay niche
- The Next Frontier for Drones: Out of Sight
ELDs
If you are a Canadian trucker, these articles may be important to you.
- January ELD deadline expected to hold firm: CTA
- More ELDs make Canada registry – Kelly regional drive tire recalled
- No more delays for Canada’s enforcement of ELD mandate
11. Regarding recall, roads, skill, Walmart, and weather:
Recall
Roads
- Bankhead Tunnel reopens following incident that tore a trailer in half
- Colorado DOT to temporarily close I-70 east next week for removal of crashed big rig
- Hazmat haulers banned from downtown Birmingham during World Games
- Hazmat loads banned on Alabama interstate July 7-17
- I-64 bridge on schedule to open to traffic this fall in WVa
- I-70 closure planned in Colorado for removal of wrecked big rig
- Reduced lanes, intermittent full roadway closures planned for Illinois Tollway through mid-July
- Road and bridge builders warn against Biden’s climate proposal
- Section of I-65 in Kentucky closed for bridge repairs
Skill
Congratulations to these truckers for having great skill.
- Trucker’s white-knuckle battle with powerful wind gusts caught on video in Iowa
- VIDEO: This heavy haul will make your palms sweaty
Walmart
Be aware of the impact that technology plays in their plans.
- Walmart Announces New Charges for Suppliers
- Walmart Expands Program That Delivers Right to Your Fridge
- Walmart wants to combine robot and drone delivery
Weather
Please prepare in advance for weather-related events.
- Bill requiring drivers to remove ice and snow from vehicles passes in Pennsylvania Senate?
- Possible derecho and wind speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. threaten drivers in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa
12. Regarding awards:
We recognize those who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Arkansas teacher helps rescue trucker from tanker fire
- Trucker helps save Indiana woman from burning Jeep
- Trucker honored for aiding motorist who hit the back of his truck
- Trucker honored for helping woman who jumped from bridge
Congratulations to those truckers who have been honored or have won competitions!
- ATHS announces newest inductees into hall of fame
- North Carolina carrier chosen to haul Capitol Christmas tree
- Publix Super Markets driver wins Florida driving championship
- Schneider honors 132 drivers for safety on the road
- XPO Logistics driver wins West Virginia driving competition
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: 2022.07.09 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
