This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending September 3, 2022.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding NTDAW, Labor Day weekend, theft, and violence:
NTDAW – National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
In 2022, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week will be held September 11 – 17.
- Deserving Driver Spotlighted for Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Love’s celebrates professional drivers in September
- Loves to celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week all of September
- National Truck Driver Appreciation Week brings offers, rewards
- Truck stop chains announce Truck Driver Appreciation deals
Labor Day weekend theft
Always take precautions about where you stop, where you park for sleep, how you secure your rig, and more.
Keep your eyes and ears open on all holidays.
- Labor Day cargo theft: tips to avoid being a target
- Upcoming long Labor Day weekend prime time for cargo theft
Theft
According to the TruckNews.com article linked in this section:
“…this year [thieves will] also be targeting expensive and hard-to-find CPC (common powertrain controller) modules from the trucks themselves.”
How can truckers prevent theft of these parts if they can be lifted from under an unlocked hood?
- Big rig stolen from Indiana truck stop, tractor and trailer recovered separately
- Man arrested in underwear after murder, car-jacking, assaulting trucker in cab
- Semi and three trailers worth of meat stolen from Iowa pork processing plant
- Thefts of Freightliner computer modules continue
- Thieves grabbing expensive, hard-to-find truck parts, CargoNet warns
- Tractor-trailer stolen at Indiana truck stop, suspect arrested
Violence
Regarding the road rage article below, I prefer to think of it as endeavoring not to bait or tempt someone to perpetrate violence.
2. Regarding AB5, legal, and HOS:
AB5
The article from TheTrucker.com linked in the section below states:
However, many independent contractors across the nation say they prefer to be independent contractors because of the flexibility and autonomy they enjoy. The new ruling could result in the death of the owner-operator and independent contractor business models in California.
If the law firm president cited in the article is correct — and companies will be “looking out-of-state for independent contractors instead of those whose live in California” — all kinds of interesting repercussions could result.
What do you think?
Will AB5 have a significant impact on prices, routes, or services in California?
Please comment through the form below.
- AB5 injunction dissolved as courtroom battles continue
- AB5 Injunction Lifted, but CTA Plans to Renew Challenge
- AB5 law at heart of Universal-Teamsters labor deal in Southern California
- California court lifts trucking’s AB 5 injunction
- California Trucking Association’s battle over AB5 returns to court Monday
- Drilling Deep: Truck insurance and the changes AB5 is bringing
- Judge lifts preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of AB5
- Lower court formally lifts injunction against AB5 in California trucking
- The great AB5 debate: California’s gig worker rules spark protests, leave freight companies wondering about next step
Legal
- Court: Drivers who leased through Pathway are independent contractors
- Drivers leasing trucks through Pathway again ruled independent contractors
- How does the concept of ‘stare decisis’ impact the Supreme Court’s rulings?
- Man arrested after hurling insults at trucker over parking job
- P.A.M Transport agrees to $4.75 million settlement for improper payment of truckers
- Police in Arkansas town banned from writing speeding tickets for one year
HOS
- Chicago-area refinery shutdown prompts hours of service suspension
- FMCSA again extends nationwide HOS waiver for COVID-19 relief haulers through the fall
- FMCSA declares regional emergency after refinery fire
- FMCSA extends 50-state hours-of-service waiver through Oct. 15
- FMCSA extends emergency declaration through Oct. 15
- FMCSA extends hours of service waiver for Kentucky flood relief
- FMCSA extends severe-weather emergency declaration in Kentucky
- FMCSA Issues temporary hours of service waiver in response to refinery shutdown
- FMCSA once again extends COVID-19 hours of service waiver for haulers of some goods
- FMCSA waives HOS rules for fuel haulers after oil refinery fire threatens supply in four midwestern states
- Kentucky extends order temporarily lifting restriction on commercial vehicles providing vital services
- Michigan trucking company seeks work-rule exemption for food products
3. Regarding inspections, maintenance, prevention, regulations, and animals:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in inspection-ready condition at all times, you will never be caught off-guard.
- California screened more than 1200 trucks during ‘smog check’ enforcement event
- CARB unveils ‘smog check’ for trucks at enforcement event at Port of Los Angeles
- CARB Unveils ‘Smog Check’ for Trucks at LA Enforcement Event
- Proper prep: When it comes to DOT inspections, the best possible news is that there’s no bad news
- The Top 20 Trucker Hours of Service Violations & How to Avoid Them
- Why do Brake Defects Put so Many Trucks Out of Service?
Maintenance
There’s an old saying:
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
- Breakdowns cost more than just dollar amount on maintenance invoice
- Vehicle Maintenance Best Practices To Survive Shortages
Prevention
There’s another old saying:
“A stitch in time saves nine.”
- Cellphone laws may reduce rear-end crashes
- Federal grant aims to prevent wrong-way interstate crashes
Regulations
Why do these underride guard articles come in clusters?
- Crash protection: Feds roll out new underride guard law for big rig trailers
- Safety critics argue new U.S. underride guard rules are not tough enough
- Safety Groups Petition NHTSA to Reconsider Rear Underride Rule
- Safety groups urge NHTSA to reconsider underride guard rule
Animals
- 5 tips to avoid wildlife collisions
- VIDEO: Trucker smashes through flock of sheep crossing dark road
4. Regarding economy, pay, rates, surcharges, taxes, tolls, and UCR fees:
Economy
Pay
We do not necessarily endorse any trucking companies listed in this section.
- Fleet locks in owner-op pay as recruitment strategy
- FourKites releases details of latest raise
- Truck driver pay not a simple fix to recruiting
Rates
- 10 steps to lower shipping rates
- New survey shows higher contract rates surpass lower demand for brokers
- Newly launched Expedite All targets 10% cut in expedited shipping rates
- Race to the bottom’ in truckload contract rates sets in
- Shippers’ revenge is coming for truckload carriers
Surcharges
- Dear Santa: Could I please not have some more delivery surcharges?
- UPS peak surcharges will hit big shippers hardest
Taxes
- Fuel tax relief extended in Georgia, again State
- New Jersey fuel tax rates down again starting Oct. 1
Tolls
- Congestion Tolling Likely in New York City Business District
- Illinois tollway prepared for Labor Day weekend travel
UCR fees
UCR stands for “Unified Carrier Registration”.
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles:
Autonomous vehicles
I oppose with every fiber of my being the operation of autonomous, self-driving, or driverless trucks on the same roads as the motoring public, but provide these articles as a courtesy so that you may stay current with what’s going on in the trucking industry.
- Autonomous Firm Gatik to Begin Deliveries in Dallas
- Gatik & Pitney Bowes Partner on Medium-Duty Autonomous Trucks
- Locomation signs 8-year autonomous relay convoy deal
- Pilot announces plans for autonomous truckport
- Stevens Trucking goes autonomous trucks with Locomation
- Stevens Trucking Selects Locomation to Deploy its Autonomous Truck Service; Will Boost Capacity, Increase Market Share, Reduce Emissions
Electric vehicles
A September 1, 2022, article entitled, “California asks residents to avoid charging electric vehicles during a Labor Day weekend heat wave” underscores the point that “electric vehicles” do not generate their own energy and are as “dependent” on a “recharging station” as a vehicle operating on “fuel” is on a “fuel station.”
Are electric vehicles more dependent on recharging stations than fuel-dependent vehicles are dependent on fuel stations (because the latter can potentially carry extra fuel with them)?
Please share your thoughts through the form below.
- 3 questions to ask before buying an electric truck
- All-Electric in Transport Refrigeration Fleets Is Here To Stay (link no longer online)
- BEV truck cost of ownership, $30k Volt bill and the great sauce spill
- Bosch investing $200M in U.S. fuel cell production
- Bosch to Spend $200 Million to Make Its First US Fuel Cell Stacks
- Breaking Down Your No. 1 Concern with Electric Work Trucks: Lack of Infrastructure
- GM Venture Starts Building Battery Cells
- GoBolt orders 170 electric delivery vehicles from Lightning eMotors
- LG-Honda Joint Venture to Make EV Batteries
- Lightning eMotors to deliver 170 EVs to GoBolt
- Toyota Invests in EV Battery Production in US
- West Michigan International Adds State’s First Public Fast Charger
6. Regarding fuel, fuel – hydrogen, fuel – options, fuel prices, refinery, carbon, and emissions:
Fuel
- Diesel Supply Below Average in Northeast
- Path to natural gas supported by larger engines, renewable fuels
- RNG Is Decarbonizing Trucking Today
- Tankers could profit if US restricts gasoline and diesel exports
- Tradeoffs and fuel economy specs
Fuel – hydrogen
Fuel – options
- Bosch investing $200M in fuel cells for electric trucks
- HDT Fact Book 2022: Attention Shifts Away from Diesel Trucks
Fuel prices
- 9-week decline in DOE/EIA diesel price ends on big jump
- Cost of Truck Diesel, Home Heating Oil Rises as Stockpiles Decline
- Diesel prices surge back above $5/gal national average
- Diesel prices: All regions see significant increase Fuel prices
- Diesel Surges 20.6¢ to $5.115 a Gallon
- HDT Fact Book 2022: High Fuel Prices, Market Shifting Mark Industry Trends
- Shippers’ conditions improve slightly as diesel prices slide
- Weekly Fuel Report: August 30, 2022
- Weekly NTI Update: August 29, 2022
Refinery
- Midwest BP refinery may be up and running by Wednesday, sources say
- Refinery shutdown pushes FMCSA to temporarily lift hours-of-service rules
Carbon
- 5 (more) ways to reduce a fleet’s carbon footprint
- How Will FedEx’s Delivery Operations Go Carbon Neutral by 2040?
Emissions
Just be aware that anything that “breathes” has “emissions.”
- California moves to accelerate to 100% new zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035
- CARB announces funding for small fleets to transition to zero-emission trucks
- Diesel Emissions Reduction Act delivered $8B in health benefits in 10 years
- EPA report highlights results of Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program
- Inflation Reduction Act Incentives Zero Emissions Truck Purchases
- Link Logistics’ path to slashing emissions
- Truck manufacturers continue investing green technology
7. Regarding accidents, fatalities, drugs, smuggling, and shut down:
Accidents
- Fleet drivers average 4.5 accidents yearly, according to Fleet Safety Report
- Motorist tries to pass car stopped in traffic, sparks crash with beer truck that closes interstate for 14 hours
- Motorist’s dash cam catches semi truck blowing over on top of car during storm
- Pickup’s missed stop sign ends in dramatic explosive crash with tanker
- Tractor-trailer strikes, kills 2 on US 52 in North Carolina
- Truck stuck under I-95 overpass in Jacksonville
Fatalities
- One student dead, six injured when semi truck rear-ends school bus in slowed traffic
- Truck driver killed in crash on steep mountain highway in Wyoming
- Trucker charged with reckless driving in December 2021 fatal pileup in Minnesota
Drugs
- $7.6 million in cocaine seized from big rigs in Laredo, bringing four day total to $19 million
- ‘Colossal, record setting seizure’ — $11.8 million worth of cocaine seized from truckload of baby wipes
- Trucker arrested as part of $500,000 cocaine bust in Massachusetts
- Two arrested, big rig seized, following FBI investigation into drug deal at Massachusetts service plaza
Smuggling
Shut down
8. Regarding business, buying, parking, and same-day delivery:
Business
- Holtkamp Transportation sees explosive growth
- LTL business is facing a radical transformation
- Private Fleet Sector Rankings Reflect Growth, Acquisitions
- Private Fleets Sharpen Focus on Driver Satisfaction
- Trucking Companies Expand Despite Stalled Economy
- What Are Your Expenses Per Mile? Know Your Numbers Series
- White Glove Delivery Allows Trucking Companies to Increase Services
Buying
The article linked just below opens with this short paragraph:
A new report issued by ACT Research has found that a significant “prebuy” of Class 8 trucks is likely before the Environmental Protection Agency’s next round of emissions regulations targeting diesel exhaust emissions become law in 2027.
Let’s just hope that the powers-that-be don’t consider that actions done to get ahead of a curve don’t bounce-back on those taking action now.
Parking
- New Jersey city bans heavy trucks, tractor-trailers from parking on streets
- Stakeholders Grapple With Shortage of NYC Parking
Same-day delivery
The article linked just below opens with:
Changes in consumer demand paired with global supply chain disruptions present a unique challenge for businesses. Consumers expect increasingly faster delivery and companies of all sizes must compete for their attention.
Please do not allow the push for “same-day delivery” to cause you to get involved in an accident!
9. Regarding roads, escape ramp, and weather:
Roads
- Florida Launches Alert System for Lane Closures
- I-30 traffic to shift onto new Arkansas River bridge starting in September
- Officials hope to reopen flood-damaged LA to Phoenix highway soon
- TDOT: No lane closures for Labor Day holiday
Escape ramp
- Truckers urged to use ‘extreme caution’ during two month runaway ramp closure in Colorado, expect brake checks
- US 50 Monarch Pass in Colorado to undergo emergency truck ramp closure
Weather
10. Regarding operations, ports, and hemp:
Operations
There are points beyond which freight should be hauled and the article linked just below points out one of them.
Ports
- Containership Backlog at L.A. Ports Almost Clear
- East Coast, Texas Ports Gain as Retailers Skirt Pacific Gridlock
- Only 8 ships waiting off Southern California — but 41 off Savannah
Hemp
The article linked just below opens with this:
Since passage of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing the cultivation and sale of hemp and its derivatives, a lack of guidance governing how the cargo is transported has been a potential barrier for trucking companies looking to take advantage of this emerging business.
Kevin Schultz, who is co-founder and president of 357 Hemp Logistics, was quoted as saying:
“I also think drivers need to be aware that if they’re using hemp products, there is some risk when taking a drug test, because although our rules are below 0.3% THC, there is some THC in the product.”
Bear in mind that truckers can be required to undergo a urinalysis at any time.
11. Regarding technology, testing, and training:
Technology
- Data overload: Modern technology offers wealth of information — whether we need it or not
- How to Better Manage Change When Implementing New Technologies
- Illumination station: LED lighting gives truck owners more options than ever before
- Private Fleets, Shippers Harness Digitization to Improve Operations
- Shippers can save big by utilizing facility-level data insights to bolster performance
- Viewpoint: More efficient payments today, more efficient supply chains tomorrow
Testing
Training
“There is no such thing as a ‘free lunch.'”
So, if the CDL training described in the articles below is “free,” what’s the catch?
Please see our article:
Free CDL: What to Know in Advance of Getting a CDL for Free
- Second tuition-free CDL program launches at Florida college
- St. Louis agency offers free CDL training through end of the year
12. Regarding recognition and awards:
Recognition
We recognize these folks for helping out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Highway Angels | September/October 2022
- Stevens Transport driver recognized for aiding tanker driver who crashed
Awards
We extend our heartiest congratulations to truckers who have demonstrated skill in their trucking careers — and/or who have gone on to win awards!
- 12 drivers in the running for award honoring rookie veteran truckers
- Safe drivers receive much-deserved fanfare at Truck Driving Championships
- Top 12 finalists named for Top Rookie Military Veteran Driver
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: 2022.09.03 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
