This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending October 22, 2022.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding HOS, Black Friday, economy, and bonus:
HOS
In my opinion, the “emergency declaration” regarding the Hours of Service regulation — for the C0VID-19 sc@mdem!c — lasted far too long.
Others may disagree with me, but I think this whole episode was “cooked up” in order to compel people through fear to submit to getting a jab that has been far more harmful than helpful.
Be that as it may, now that the HOS declaration has expired, can we now go back to “normal”?
Feel free to comment through the form below.
- COVID hours of service declaration expires
- Emergency declaration for COVID-19 expires after 2-plus years
- FMCSA cancels emergency hours of service waiver
- FMCSA Lets COVID-19 Exemptions Expire
- FMCSA terminates historic 50 state COVID-19 Hours of Service waiver
- FMCSA’s pandemic emergency declaration ends
Black Friday
Due to consumer push, “Black Friday may never be the same.”
Economy
These are some of the most recent articles regarding the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective.
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index rises 0.5% in September
- Classes 4-7 Sales in September Hit Ups and Downs
- Competition Heats Up Among Class 8 BEV Truck Manufacturers
- External pressures drag out typical cycle for trailer orders
- Invoice sizes down, but at TriumphPay, other growth indicators point up
- Net big rig trailer orders see September bump
- New Class 8 tractor orders rising as used units show decline
- Report finds trucking rebounded in 2021 after decline in previous year
- September Trailer Orders Highest Since March
- SONAR Sightings: Dallas loses market share; rates from China to US take another drop
- SONAR Sightings: Milwaukee reefer demand plummets; Atlanta market share trickles down
- Truck freight bounced back slightly in 2021 from 2020
- U.S. truck tonnage grows y-o-y for 13th straight month
Bonus
Article subtitle: “Fleet executive: It’s important to recognize all good driving, not just top performers”.
I agree.
2. Regarding accidents, staged, fatalities, predictions, and drugs:
Accidents
Please scan through these articles to see what led up to the accidents and do your best to avoid getting into the same set-up.
- Crashes, injuries and fatalities up since the FMCSA’s ELD mandate
- Fiery three rig wreck refuses to extinguish as firefighters battle the blaze
- Michigan troopers share wild dash cam video of multi-vehicle crash caused by speeding and distraction
- Semi truck struck by passenger train while fleeing scene of previous wreck
- Truck’s failure to stop at stop sign sends school bus, truck into ditch
- VIDEO: Freight train drives through inferno caused by fuel tanker truck crash
- White Paper: The Unacceptable Increase in Truck-Involved Crashes and Fatalities
Staged
I am so pleased that those who conspired to trap truckers into fake accidents have been coming forward to confess their dishonesty.
I’m hopeful that others will learn from this long drawn-out situation and never repeat the practice.
Fatalities
We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who passed away.
Please learn what you can from the articles below so that you are not caught in the same kind of situation.
- Driver involved in fatal gas station explosion is C.R. England employee, company admits
- Fatal seven semi truck pileup crash reported amid heavy fog in Oregon
- Semi truck driver killed in secondary crash in traffic backup from 60 vehicle pileup in Oregon
- Standing trucker struck and killed by second driver after parking in center turn lane
- Trucker dies in crash on I-5 near Wednesday’s 60-vehicle pileup
- Trucker killed on drive home from Hurricane Ian cleanup
- Two dead after motorist attempts u-turn in front of oncoming tractor trailer
- Vigil attended by hundreds for family killed by ex-driver at their company
- Oregon troopers confirm 60 – 65 vehicles involved in massive I-5 pileup
Predictions
Please learn what you can about these predictions so that if there is something you can do to improve your driving so as not to be involved in an accident, you can.
- FMCSA aims to get better at identifying, removing dangerous motor carriers from service
- Future of Freight Festival will be epicenter of freight world — Day 2
- Top 5 Truck Driver Behaviors Linked to Future Crashes
Drugs
Never, ever agree to haul illegal drugs in your tractor or trailer — no matter how much you are promised!
- 45 pounds of fentanyl found in tractor-trailer at Texas border crossing
- Border agents pull in record fentanyl bust at Texas port of entry
- US Treasury clamps down on trucking companies associated with drug cartels
3. Regarding electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, fuel, and oil:
Electric vehicles
I have severe reservations about electric vehicles, but share these articles as a courtesy to keep you informed.
- A startup’s big bet on a Southwest electric truck corridor
- Automakers Weigh the Electrification of Pickups
- Electric semi pulls 40-ton load through Austrian Alps
- Electric vehicle fires bring on new lessons in firefighting
- Electric, Hydrogen Station Designed for Trucks at Swedish Port
- Michigan to Test Roads With Coils for EV Charging
- Next Run on Less to Focus on Scaling Electric Trucks
- South Florida Container Terminal orders 12 electric gantry cranes
- String of electric semi chargers planned for I-10 corridor between LA and El Paso
- TeraWatt Announces Heavy-Duty EV Charging Network
Autonomous vehicles
I am 100% opposed to autonomous, self-driving, and driverless commercial motor vehicles sharing the public roads with the motoring public — but share these articles as a courtesy to keep you current on the topic.
- 11 More Crash Deaths Are Linked to Automated-Tech Vehicles
- Autonomous vehicles topic of Pennsylvania bill
- Driverless Car Development Taking Longer Than Anticipated
- Furniture giant latest company to use driverless trucks in Texas
- IKEA Begins Autonomous Freight Delivery
- Ikea working with Kodiak Robotics on autonomous trucking project
- Kodiak, Ikea Partner on Autonomous Freight Delivery Pilot
- New self-driving truck lane operating daily in Texas could improve quality of life for drivers, company says
- Waymo’s Self-Driving Taxi Service Expands to L.A.
Fuel
- California Alliance to Apply for Hydrogen Grants
- Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales see gains through August
- Decarbonizing transportation with renewable natural gas
- Diesel prices continue to rise
- Diesel Up 11.5¢ to $5.339 a Gallon
- Forget Oil, The Real Crisis Is Diesel Inventories: The US Has Just 25 Days Left
- Fuel prices spike interest in truck, trailer aero
- National diesel average climbs to $5.339 per gallon Fuel prices
- Natural gas truck sales rise, but public CNG stations decrease
- New England May Face a Gas Shortage This Winter
- Nikola plans 60 hydrogen stations by 2026
- Sales of natural gas trucks up, number of stations down
- Weekly Fuel Report: October 18, 2022
- Weekly NTI Update: October 17, 2022
Oil
I believe that releases of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at this time is politically driven to try to win votes.
I also believe that it is dangerous.
Just saying.
- As fuel prices climb, Biden set to release 15M barrels from oil reserve, more possible
- Biden Says More Oil Releases Possible to Cut Gas Prices
- White House to Tap Oil Reserve Again Amid High Fuel Prices
4. Regarding barge, winds, operations, and LTL:
Barge
Be aware of the connection between water-carried vessels and the trucking industry.
- Intermodal Shallow Barge Dock Opens in Mississippi
- Low water disrupts industry along lower Mississippi River
- Mississippi River Drought Closes Portion of Waterway Again
Winds
Please see our article:
On Driving in Wind — Strong Winds — in a High Profile Truck
- High wind warning issued for Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge
- High winds whipping across Mackinac bridge today
Operations
Please take a few moments to learn what is — and what is not — a demonstration of good operations when it comes to a commercial motor vehicle.
- “Box should be down when you’re driving” suggests trooper following dump truck wreck
- Car hauler’s improper u-turn kills log truck driver
- This is the ‘wrong way’ to transport a bunch of vehicles from Minnesota to Texas, Iowa DOT says
- VIDEO: Chaining vs. Strapping — When To Chain, When To Strap
- VIDEO: How To Strap A Load
- VIDEO: Motorists try to warn dump truck driver about raised bed, but big bridge strike happens anyway
LTL
5. Regarding Canada, safety, inspections, speed limiter, road rage, parking, and ports:
Canada
- Canada Supply Chain Task Force Calls For 21 Actions
- Driver Inc. threat approaching point of no return: CTA
- Trucking group says Canadian government has ‘fallen short’ in addressing ‘Driver Inc.’
Safety
- 5 Steps to Create a Safer Trucking Fleet
- ATA Petitions Governors, DOTs For Safe Truck Parking Solutions
- DOT Issues Report Card on National Roadway Safety Strategy
- InDoT temporarily suspends oversize, overweight loads on I-65 bridge
- USDOT Updates National Safety Strategy
Inspections
Speed limiter
I believe that imposing a top speed limit on commercial motor vehicles is a wrong-headed way of trying to deal with all of the causes of large truck crashes on the road.
One of the things that I do not see is an endeavor to limit the top speed of four-wheeled vehicles — even though the non-truck vehicle in a vast majority of truck/car crashes was mostly the fault of the driver of the car.
Just saying…
- FMCSA expected to revive speed limiter regulation next year
- FMCSA plans to push out speed limiter mandate proposal in summer 2023
- FMCSA set to roll out final speed limiter proposal in June 2023
- FMCSA’s Hutcheson talks speed limiters on Land Line Now –
- WYDOT to try out automated variable speed limit signs
- Wyoming DOT to try out automated variable speed limit program on I-80, Highway 28
Road rage
Parking
- FMCSA Chief Robin Hutcheson Prioritizes Parking
- Iowa DOT urges truckers to park at scale houses, promises no inspections or waking drivers
- Local truck parking bans: How operators can fight back
- Lytx Unveils Safety Solution for Parked Commercial Vehicles
Ports
6. Regarding employment, shortage, supply chain, and technology:
Employment
- DOL independent contractor definition could pose problems for truck fleets
- GXO Logistics to Hire 4,000 for Holiday Season Across US
- Have you ever left orientation at one company for another job?
- Labor Department worker classification rule draws feedback
- NPTC Report: Driver Turnover Spikes at Private Fleets
- Truck Drivers Heavily Recruited As Freight Sector Deals With Shortages
Shortage
Supply chain
- Chip Delivery Times Shrink in Sign That Supply Crunch Is Easing
- Consumers Expecting Issues in Survey on Holiday Supply Chain Issues
- How engines disrupted the manure supply chain
- Supply chain worsen automotive sales, inflation
- Unlocking the value of supply chain integration
Technology
7. Regarding maintenance, recalls, and repair:
Maintenance
Recalls
Repair
8. Regarding insurance, last mile, regulations, and violations:
Insurance
Last mile
This initiative is also referred to as “final mile.”
- Fleet Enable Helps Forecast Final Mile Future
- Logistics firm HyperTrack introduces last-mile metaverse
Regulations
From the article:
While FMCSA plans to issue a proposal next June to require speed limiters on most commercial motor vehicles, a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding automatic emergency braking systems is expected even sooner.
Violations
- EPA: UPS to pay fine, correct hazardous waste violations
- Troopers catch DUI motorist at weigh station with eight guns and a backpack full of drugs
- Unfit motor carriers targeted by proposed rule Federal
9. Regarding private fleets and shut down:
Private fleets
Shut down
While this is sad and regrettable, I think that — based on the economy — this kind of thing will only increase in the days to come.
10. Regarding purchase, rates, surcharges, and tolls:
Purchase
Let the buyer beware.
- 5 Benefits of Online Reviews When Buying Commercial Vehicles
- Used truck sales down considerably as prices remain mostly stable
- Used truck tractor prices up 17% over three months
Rates
- Auctane reaches deal with Postal Service on shipping rates
- Here’s how container shipping lines can escape a crash in 2023
Surcharges
- Peak parcel surcharges likely to stick despite slowing demand, carrier overcapacity
freightwaves.com/news/despite-slowing-demand-peak-parcel-surcharges-arent-going-anywhere (no longer online)
Tolls
11. Regarding move over, nuclear verdict, and legal:
Move over
Please be aware of “move over” laws — and as often as possible, practice good courtesy when someone is parked on the shoulder.
Nuclear verdict
Legal
- BNSF to pay more than $200M for trucker biometric violation
- Truckers Win Over BNSF in Case Regarding Illinois Biometrics Law
12. Regarding free lunch, veterans, and recognition:
Free lunch
Veterans
- Progressive donates truck to retired 30-year Marine Corps veteran
- Progressive gifts truck to 30-year Marine Corps veteran trucker
Recognition
- TCA remodels driver recognition program
- Truck driver pulled from burning rig on Pennsylvania Turnpike
- VIDEO: ‘Superheroes’ pulled a trucker hauling mail to safety just before his big rig exploded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
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: 2022.10.22 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
