AUTODECO 33Pcs Car Wash Detailing Kit Cleaning Kits with Foam Gun Sprayer Brush Large Wash Mitt Towels Complete Interior Exterior Car Washing Supply Set Blue. Buy now. #ad

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.01.28

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.01.28 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending January 28, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.

We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding economy, rates, trends, and AB5:

Economy

This section contains some of the most recent articles about the economy from the perspective of the trucking industry:

DAT TruckersEdge - Most Loads. Best Rates. Serving Owner-Operators Since 1978. 10% off your first 12 months. New customers only.

Rates

Trends

AB5

Quote:

After being denied its day in court by the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Trucking Association made a last-ditch effort to prevent the controversial AB5 law from impacting owner-operators.

2. Regarding pay, bonuses, home time, employment, and gig:

Pay

Quote from third article in the section just above:

Another 18% said they would guarantee pay, loads or mileage to make take home pay more predictable.

Bonuses

Home time

Employment

Gig

The infographic in the article linked just above says (in part):

The latest gig economy statistics tell us that times aren’t just changing – they’ve already changed.

Gone are the days of working from 9-5 in a cradle-to-grave job. Nowadays, it’s increasingly common to piece together an income from several different sources and work when you want, not when your boss tells you to.

I wonder how long it is going to take for the gig economy to greatly affect the trucking industry.

Yes, I know that many truckers can make decisions about which loads to take from load boards.

DAT TruckersEdge Load Board: Most Loads. Best Rates. Serving Owner-Operators Since 1978.

Consider also “last mile” and “final mile” pickups and deliveries.

3. Regarding accidents, accident – dragged, accident – plane, fatalities, and drugs:

Accidents

Please scan through the articles in this section to learn what you can about how the accidents occurred, so that you don’t wind up in the same situation yourself.

Accident – dragged

Even though it may not be possible to prevent someone from driving up under your truck, isn’t there a way to prevent not knowing for 8 miles that a vehicle is wedged up underneath?

Accident – plane

I don’t know that there’s any way for situations like this to be prevented.

Do you?

Fatalities

We express our deepest sympathy and extend our condolences to the families of those who died in these accidents.

Please use great caution when weather conditions are bad.

Quote from the second article linked just above (topic the same as the last article in the section):

The force of the crash caused the truck’s windshield to dislodge, and the truck’s cab filled with snow as it slid down the embankment, according to the WHP. The snow became a solid block of ice overnight, trapping the two men inside the cab, which was lying on the driver’s side.

Drugs

Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you are promised.

Also, do not use or take illegal drugs prior to driving a commercial motor vehicle (or any vehicle).

4. Regarding fuel, emissions, electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles:

Fuel

Emissions

Quote from article:

“If small-business truckers can’t afford the new, compliant trucks, they’re going to stay with older, less-efficient trucks, pass along upgrade costs to consumers, or leave the industry entirely,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said on Dec. 20 when EPA first announced that a rule was forthcoming. “Once again, EPA has largely ignored the warnings and concerns raised by truckers in this latest rule.”

What are your thoughts on this?

Please share through the form below.

Thanks.

Electric vehicles

Autonomous vehicles

I most definitely oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, and autonomous vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but I share this article to help you stay current on the topic.

The article linked just above ends with this statement (with which I totally agree):

The post serves as more proof that you just can’t replace truck drivers.

This situation where the truck’s “autopilot had been disabled by bird poop on the camera” raises an interesting point about how else these technical devices can be rigged to malfunction.

In an episode of MacGyver called “The Heist,” at one point, Mac rigs up a mirror in front of an oscillating video camera to misdirect what is being recorded, so that he can pull off the recovery job.

Just saying…

The episode described above is in this package, the link being provided by Amazon.com, with which we have an affiliate relationship:

MacGyver Season 1.

5. Regarding auction, consumers, and event:

Auction

Are there other truck auctions listed online?

Consumers

Event

6. Regarding custom, parking, and traffic:

Custom

While this is impressive, I wonder:

  • how many gallons of water it will take for someone to actually benefit from using the in-truck jacuzzi;
  • how much all of that water weighs; and
  • how much wear and tear on the truck and tires the water weight takes.

Hmm…

Parking

Traffic

7. Regarding technology, ELDs, and snow removal:

Technology

ELDs

Snow removal

In my opinion, the title of this article is misleading because there is nothing “automatic” about the operation described.

If one wants truly automated snow removal, someone needs to design my idea:

No Snow Roof – A Solution for Eliminating Snow and Ice on Trailer Roofs

See also:

8. Regarding operations, maintenance, parts, HOS, and politics:

Operations

Maintenance

Parts

HOS

Politics

9. Regarding theft and fire:

Theft

Fire

10. Regarding border, brokers, ports, and containers:

Border

Brokers

Ports

Containers

11. Regarding road closures, roads, and tolls:

Road closures

Please don’t be a dunce!

If a road is closed, do not proceed!

Also, make sure that you have enough room to proceed before you cross a railroad track in a large truck.

Roads

Regarding the second article in this section, if the seaport is successful in raising the bridge and letting “larger cargo ships” enter, that means more trucks will be needed to haul away the cargo.

Tolls

12. Regarding business, inflation, and insurance:

Business

Inflation

Quotes from this article:

With the release of the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, we received confirmation of a trend that started in October: Inflation across the country is indeed beginning to subside. But is it too early to declare victory?

Fourth-quarter freight was underwhelming, largely as companies worked to correct too-large inventories. While spot rates pulled back aggressively over the summer, they seem to have leveled out by year-end and are exhibiting more regular seasonality.

Insurance

Quote from this article:

Fleets using Motive’s Driver Safety Solution are eligible to save up to 5% on their Sentry Insurance insurance premiums for sharing its electronic logging device and dashcam data from the Motive platform with the insurer.

One of my concerns regarding this technology is the potential for the invasion of privacy.

Please do your due diligence before you invest in it.

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: 2023.01.28 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.


Levi's Men's 550 Relaxed Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall). Black Friday Sale Pricing May Apply. Sizes up to 60W x 34L. Buy Now. #ad