TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2022.08.06 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending August 6, 2022.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding AB5, accidents, and fatalities:
AB5
I shouldn’t be surprised that the truckers who protested AB5 in Oakland are now being sued.
What legal recourse do they have?
Feel free to comment through the form below.
- Judge declines to grant temporary restraining order against truckers in AB5 protests
- Oakland truckers claim ‘small victory’ after judge seeks more time to review AB5 protest suit
- Port of Oakland Sues AB5 Protesters
- Port of Oakland sues protesters; restraining order put in place
- Private lawsuits may be crucial to enforcing AB5, labor attorney says
- What does implementation of California’s AB5 mean for the trucking industry?
Accidents
Please review these articles to see how the accidents described could have been prevented.
- Preventable low clearance accident: Connecticut troopers put truck driver out of service following can-opener crash
- No one injured in three-rig crash that shut down I-78 for eight hours
- North Carolina crash injures 13 on I-95
- Reckless driver sparks pile-up crash that injured 13 people
- Tractor-trailer hits toll booth, injures toll collector
- Preventable following distance accident: WATCH: Four-wheeler gets bounced around after cutting off car hauler
- Preventable load securement accident: WATCH: Load of concrete rolls off truck, onto line of parked cars
In the second article from the bottom, there is an embedded video which I’ve watched numerous times.
The author of the article made it seem like the accident was the fault of the four-wheeler.
I counted 5 seconds from the time the four-wheeler made his/her intentions clear that he/she was moving over and when the trucker could have backed off and given the motorist room.
I consider this accident totally preventable by the trucker!
Fatalities
We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those who died.
- Man dead, child injured, after tires came off a truck in Texas
- Plant worker killed after yard truck backs over him
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, and emissions:
Autonomous vehicles
I am 100% opposed to the use of autonomous vehicles, driverless, or self-driving commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help you stay informed on the topic.
- Aurora Adds Fleet Partner for Autonomous Pilot
- Aurora adds Schneider to autonomous freight customers
- Aurora Driver beginning weekly autonomous hauls
- Aurora, Schneider team up for Texas autonomous freight program
- Embark completes autonomous traffic stop
- Embark demos what happens when driverless rig is pulled over by police
- FMCSA Looks into TuSimple Accident
- Law Enforcement Pulls Over Embark Autonomous Truck in Demo
- Schneider Pilots Autonomous Freight Hauling in Texas
- Self-driving truck company responds to dash cam video of semi crashing into median
- TuSimple sees no change in business model in wake of safety probe
- You can now watch the ‘first-ever public demonstration of an autonomous truck being pulled over by law enforcement’
Electric vehicles
- Alaskans Help State Officials Prepare for EV Charging
- All 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico have submitted plans for national electric vehicle charging network
- Connecticut submits electric vehicle infrastructure plan to feds
- Emterra Group Orders Mack LR Electric
- Gabrielli truck sales becomes Volvo Trucks Certified EV dealer
- Lion Electric delivered 105 electric vehicles in Q2
- Mack Trucks Introduces First EV Dealer for New York
- RoadOne, IKEA Begin Electric Truck Pilot at Baltimore Port
Fuel
- Average Price of Diesel Sheds Another 13¢ to Reach $5.138 a Gallon
- Benchmark diesel price declines again, nears April level
- Downward diesel trend continues
- Drilling Deep: A turnaround coming in diesel?
- Natural gas truck sales increase, but more focus on electrification
- Natural gas truck sales jump
- Nikola announces 3 new California hydrogen dispensing stations
- Nikola announces plans to open three hydrogen stations in California
- RNG Is Decarbonizing Trucking Today
- Texas researchers’ new breed of peanuts may boost biodiesel production
- US diesel average continues downward slide as oil futures also see relief
- Weekly Fuel Report: August 02, 2022
- White House: Falling fuel prices mean more than OPEC numbers
- Why another upswing in diesel prices is inevitable
Emissions
Quote from article:
Teams that were developing engines knew they couldn’t meet targets and felt so pressured they falsified test results, Ogiso said. That led to more deception, as workers covered up their wrongdoing.
This makes me wonder if any other kind of data that is used in the transportation industry has been “faked.”
3. Regarding economy, rates, and capacity:
Economy
- ATA’s Chris Spear Optimistic About Trucking Economy, R.I. Tolling Verdict
- Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales gain 11%
- Class 8 orders fell sharply in July
- Class 8 truck orders slump in July despite strong demand
- Despite recession talks, US economy avoids full downturn due to strong jobs market
- Manufacturing Expands at Slowest Pace in Two Years
- White Paper: State of the Industry — August 2022
Rates
Capacity
4. Regarding inspections, brakes, and safety:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your truck in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Brake Safety Week enforcement blitz hits in two weeks
- Dozens of citations issued during Illinois ‘Trooper in a Truck’ detail
- Michigan troopers announce commercial vehicle crackdown on I-75
- Michigan troopers set to enforce ‘Stay Alive on I-75’
- South Dakota troopers find 8 out of service violations on ‘custom harvester out of Oklahoma’
- The toughest states for brake violations: 2022 update
- Trooper in a Truck’ initiative targets distracted driving
Brakes
Safety
5. Regarding technology and drones:
Technology
- Discover How Daily Operations Take Less Time With a Modern TMS
- Drivewyze, Verizon Connect partner to offer connected truck services
- How to turn your truck into an instant hybrid
- Tenstreet puts drivers in control of their own data
- Tenstreet’s new Application Transparency Tool: Drivers Control Their Data
- The Only Thing Constant in Telematics is Change
Drones
I include this section because drones are an option to deliver lower-weight objects.
Perhaps the items that can be delivered by drones are those that truckers don’t want to haul.
What are your thoughts about the use of drones?
Please comment through the form below.
- Daily Infographic: Amazon drone delivery crashes could cause another setback
- Ford’s ambitious new patent may be game-changer for drone delivery
- The world’s first smart mailbox is ready for drone deliveries
6. Regarding operations, HOS, weather, and fire:
Operations
- 10 tips to back up trailers like a pro
- Atchafalaya Bridge fines double for speeding, truck lane use State
- If you make it across the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge in under 18 minutes, you may pay double the speeding fine, starting today
- New York City’s 2000 speed cameras will now operate 24/7, starting tonight
- VIDEO: Pickup driver hauling a camper gives a trucker the fright of his life
- What should drivers expect at a weigh station stop?
HOS
- Appeals Court Denies Review of HOS Shorthaul, Driver Break Requirements
- Exemptions in place due to record flooding in Kentucky
- Flooding prompts hours of service waiver in Kentucky
Weather
- Heavy storms lead to 35 vehicle pileup
- Kentucky transportation secretary issues orders to help speed delivery of fuel, supplies, power restoration in flood-stricken counties
- NOAA Still Expects Active Hurricane Season
- Ohio trucking companies collecting donations for Kentucky flood victims
Fire
To learn about the direct and indirect costs of smoking, please review the information on this page of our site:
Truckers, Quit Smoking to Save Your Money and Improve Health
7. Regarding pay, tolls, rates, employment, and issues:
Pay
- Driver Pay Raise Trend Catches Crosswinds
- Receiver works to get truckers paid after CoreFund Capital’s abrupt closure
- Trucking company rolls out real-time earnings calculator for owner-operators
Tolls
- PA Turnpike Commission OKs 5% toll increase for 2023
- Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls go up 5% in January
- Tolls to increase by 5% on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Rates
Employment
- Employers Added 528,000 Jobs in July
- FMCSA announces $3.1M in grants to recruit veterans into trucking
- FMCSA awards $3.1 million to help veterans transition to trucking careers
- Non-traditional employers competing for drivers
- Overall US Class I rail headcount flat despite efforts to boost hiring
- Should recruiters pull back in this freight economy?
- Thinking of changing jobs? What size fleet would you prefer?
- Truck transportation job growth slows in July
- Understanding what motivates Millennial and Gen Z truck drivers
Issues
8. Regarding legal, smuggling, and border:
Legal
- Eight of the 23 charges dropped against CMV driver accused of killing seven members of motorcycle club in New Hampshire crash
- Eighth Circuit revives wage lawsuit against Werner
- Old Dominion Freight Line coughs up for hazmat settlement
- Trucker jailed after enticing fawns into cab, transporting over state lines
Smuggling
Never, ever agree to haul people as if they were cattle or cargo, no matter how much you are promised.
- Mastermind’ behind smuggling that left 53 migrants dead pleads ‘not guilty’
- Permanent memorial proposed for site where more than 50 migrants were found dead in sweltering trailer
- Trucker claims he smuggled migrants under threat
Border
9. Regarding prevention, supply chain, and sustainability:
Prevention
Supply chain
- Leaning on better tech to ease supply chain challenges
- Perspective: Flexibility Helps With Supply Chain Delays
- Rail and port labor issues adding to supply chain misery, expert says
- Supply chain surcharge
- Viewpoint: E-commerce is on the rise. Here’s how to adjust your supply chain strategy
Sustainability
10. Regarding taxes, business, and HHVUT:
Taxes
- Fuel tax relief once again extended in Georgia
- Georgia governor suspends gas taxes through mid-September
- Indiana lawmakers advance competing tax rebates, fuel tax relief
- Tax rebates sidelined in Massachusetts
Business
- Excellent! Is Your Trucking Business Losing Money? Know Your Numbers Series
- Trucking Looks for New Owner-Operator Strategies as Independent Contractor Model is Threatened
HHVUT
11. Regarding roads and parking:
Roads
Road closures can affect your Hours of Service, your delivery appointments, your fuel stops, and much more.
Depending on which routing software you use, it may or may not take into account road closures.
So, please be prepared.
- I-40 closure will add to Little Rock, Ark., traffic congestion –
- I-55 bridge inspections in Memphis to cause traffic delays
- I-70 through Topeka, Kan., closing for three weeks
- Six-day closure of Lewis and Clark Bridge planned
- Stretch of I-70 in Kansas to close for 3 weeks; detours planned
- Tennessee updates traffic information app to include pothole reporting
- Three-week closure of I-70 in Topeka begins soon
- Westbound I-70 in Topeka to temporarily close Aug. 15
Parking
12. Regarding recognition and awards:
We recognize those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Driver of 27 years honored for putting out trailer fire on I-81
- Minnesota traffic cams capture truck driver helping police stop a fleeing car driver
- VIDEO: Trucker helps rescue fellow driver after his big rig is blown over
We congratulate those who achieved a milestone or were awarded for their skill.
- Consistency Wins Championships, North Carolina’s Walker Says
- CVSA names Ruth McDonough as its International Driver Excellence award winner
- CVSA recognizes trucker who specializes in hauling nuclear/radioactive loads with four million safe miles
- FedEx Freight driver wins Texas driving grand championship
- It’s time to recognize good driver performance
- One mile at a time: Arkansas driver of the year recalls decades of service to industry, community
- Radioactive materials hauler earns top honor from CVSA | I-70 closure on tap later this month
- Top owner-op ‘in good shape’ for run toward the finish line
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: 2022.08.06 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
