TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.03.04 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending March 4, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding inspections, operations, and congestion:
Inspections
This section contains articles that describe inspections that have been done or are scheduled to take place.
- 106 vehicles, 135 drivers placed OOS during Arizona enforcement effort
- 13-state SafeDRIVE enforcement effort on now through Thursday
- 2,238 violations discovered during Arizona DPS CMV blitz ‘Operation Southern Shield’
- ABS, cargo securement emphasis of Roadcheck blitz in May
- Anti-lock brakes, cargo securement to be Roadcheck’s focus
- CVSA International Roadcheck Event Set for May 16-18
- CVSA’s new out-of-service criteria: What owner-ops need to know
- CVSA’s Roadcheck to target ABS, cargo securement
- CVSA’s Roadcheck will focus on anti-lock brakes and load securement
- Driver’s actions, attitude during traffic stop have significant impact: Part 2 of 2
- Fleet Focus: Thorough pre-trip inspections help reduce maintenance costs and increase safety
- Roadcheck 2023 CMV blitz to emphasize ABS violations, cargo securement
- Safety first: CVSA’s International Roadcheck set for May 16-18
- Thirteen state commercial motor vehicle crackdown starts today
Please bear in mind that if you keep yourself and your rig in a perpetual state of readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
Also, bear in mind that it is the driver’s responsibility to do pre-trip and post-trip inspections — and that it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure that his/her rig is safe, legal, and compliant with the law.
For your convenience, here are some resources on our website that you may find helpful:
- Refuse to Drive a Truck When These Situations Happen
- Captain of the Ship Policy and Unsafe Working Conditions
- Safe Driving Tips for Drivers of Large Trucks
- Whistle Blowing Truckers: STAA Law on Retaliation, Vindication
- Out of Service Truck: Trucker Stages a Showdown
Operations
- ATRI Calls for Carriers to Participate in Operational Costs Report
- ATRI seeking participants in annual costs survey
- ATRI seeks carriers’ ops cost data for annual report
- ATRI updating annual Operational Costs of Trucking report
- Briefly: Researchers seek operations data from carriers, owner-operators
Congestion
According to the article, these are the 3 worst cities for congestion:
- New York City: 24 minutes, 30 seconds (average travel time per 10 km)
- Washington D.C.: 20 minutes, 40 seconds
- San Francisco: 20 minutes, 30 seconds
2. Regarding accidents, routing, fatalities, crash study, and weather:
Accidents
Please scan through these articles to see what led up to the accidents described and see to avoid being involved in one similar.
- Train: Amtrak train strikes big rig in Vermont; no injuries reported
- Power line: Crash involving CMV pulls down seven utility poles, leaves downed wires on multiple vehicles
- Low clearance: Multiple vehicles damaged after car hauler crashes into viaduct in Ohio town
- Securement: Semi driver lost ‘she-shed’ load, Washington DOT says
- Blowout: Tire blowout sends semi truck into water along I-55
- Train: Tractor-trailer driver ticketed in collision with train
- Train: Video shows moment train demolishes tractor-trailer stuck on New York tracks
- Train: VIDEO: CSX train plows into flatbed hauling heavy equipment in Georgia
Routing
These is the first time that I’ve seen where GPS manufacturers are being targeted for their part in causing Commercial Motor Vehicles to take a non-truck route.
I’m eagering awaiting the decision by the legislators.
- GPS providers could face $2000 fine when trucks get stuck in Smugglers Notch under new bill
- Smugglers’ Notch bill would fine GPS providers for stuck trucks
Fatalities
We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those who died.
Please review these articles to make sure that you don’t wind up in similar situations.
- REPORT: Trucker reported missing found deceased under own semi at North Carolina truck stop
- Semi truck driver cited following collision with Amtrak passenger train
- Three dead in crash involving two big rigs in New Mexico
- Three dead in five vehicle crash after southbound semi crossed into northbound Route 33
- Truck driver killed in accident while delivering load of lumber
- Two dead in fiery crash involving pickup, two big rigs, in Texas
Crash study
Weather
According to the calendar, the Spring Equinox is slated to begin on Monday, March 20, 2023.
However, in some parts of the country, there’s still a lot of winter weather still to negotiate.
It if is not safe to proceed, please park your truck in a safe and legal place and wait for the weather to improve.
- Icy roads in SoCal cause 8-car pile-up involving semi truck
- New York City’s Biggest Snowfall of Season Grounds Flights
- Winter storm creates emergency in Wisconsin
3. Regarding maintenance, recalls, and repairs:
Maintenance
- Decisiv Report Shows Maintenance Cost Increases Are Slowing
- Gear Head Debuts Soy-Based Grease Pads for Fifth Wheel Lubrication
- Gear Head Lube offers convenient soy-based lubricant pads
- Mitchell 1 puts TMC Recommended Practices into service program
- TMC Recognizes Four Trucking Maintenance Leaders With Highest Honor
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer has a recall, please have it serviced as soon as possible.
- Freightliner trucks being recalled for steering issue
- PACCAR issues recall for certain Kenworth, Peterbilt models over faulty braking system
- Paccar recalls medium-duty trucks for sudden brake failures
Repairs
- Heavy-Duty Repair Revenue Recovers to Pre-COVID Norms
- Total Solutions for the Commercial Vehicle Industry
4. Regarding economy, bonuses, taxes, fees, tolls, and costs:
Economy
The following are articles about the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective:
- 2023 US recession now expected to start later than predicted
- A year for growth: Despite challenges, 2022 saw numerous acquisitions and mergers of note
- ACT Research: US trailer backlog-to-build ratio reaches 9.9 months in January
- ATA’s Bob Costello Presents Mixed Picture on Economy
- Class 8 tractor orders see modest jump in February
- Class 8 truck orders belie shaky economy
- Despite economic headwinds, January saw increased sales of Class 8 trucks
- February spot metrics show cooling for van segments
- Heavy-Duty Repair Revenues Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels
- Manufacturing Shrinks at Slower Pace in February, Prices Gauge Jumps
- Old Dominion says shipments ‘have largely stabilized’
- Seasonality can’t save a battered market
- ‘State of Freight’ for February: Excess capacity still a damper on rates
- Trailer demand to outstrip production all year: ACT Research
- Truck orders stabilizing at healthy levels
- Used Class 8 Prices Down 16% Year-Over-Year in January
- Used Class 8 truck sales increase in January
- Used truck sales climb, prices dip in January: ACT Research
- White Paper: State of the Industry — March 2023
- White Paper: The State of Freight – February 2023
Bonuses
Taxes
According to American Trucking Associations leader Chris Spear — in the article linked just above — “The antiquated federal excise tax on heavy-duty vehicles, created by Congress to fund America’s participation in World War I, adds an additional 12% to the cost of every new truck.”
According to Wikipedia, World War I ended on November 11, 1918 (well over 100 years ago).
Yes, it is past time for any tax used to fund a war that has been over for a century, to be ended!
Fees
Tolls
- Rhode Island’s truck toll appeal gets international group’s support
- Top Five Ways to Save Money on Toll
According to the top section of the last section above: “Take advantage of volume discounts.”
If you have experience with this, please comment through the form below to share how it works.
Costs
5. Regarding fuel, emissions, decarbonizing, electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles:
Fuel
- 4th consecutive weekly drop posted for benchmark diesel price
- AAA retail diesel average now $4.414
- Biden Sets in Motion Gasoline Policy Shift to Boost Ethanol
- Diesel prices continue downward trickle as inventories rise
- Diesel Sheds Another 8.2¢, Falling to $4.294 a Gallon
- Weekly NTI Update: February 27, 2023
- Weekly Fuel Report: February 28, 2023
Emissions
- ATA’s Spear Blasts “Mad Dash” CARB Emissions Timelines
- ATA’s Spear Highlights New FHWA Memo, Emissions
- CARB clear on lack of changes in California Clean Fleets rule
- Carrier Transicold new reefer unit cuts emissions
- How a SoCal Warehouse Emission Rule Could Affect Truck Fleets
- Immediacy, partnerships key to zero emission ‘messy middle’
- Journey to net-zero emissions is already underway
- Sen. Fischer calls EPA truck mandate ‘excessive’
- Truck Business, Policymakers Will Need to Tag Team Against Emissions
Decarbonizing
The articles in this section describe a process that some in the trucking industry are taking seriously, regarding “decarbonization.”
- But based on this article, carbon is the 4th most common element in the Milky Way Galaxy, and
- based on this article, “Carbon is the second-most abundant element, making up 18% of the [human] body.”
So, I feel compelled to ask:
“Since when did carbon become an enemy that must be reduced and eliminated?”
- Blueprint to decarbonization: Battery-electric power is the frontrunner for zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles
- Fleets Should Act Now in Decarbonizing Trucking, NACFE Says
- NACFE offers guidance for navigating the “messy middle”
- NACFE Releases Report on ‘Messy Middle’ for Decarbonization of Trucking
- NACFE releases report on trucking’s ‘messy middle’
Electric vehicles
- Electric Trucks Seem Far Down the Road for Fleets Dealing with Today’s Maintenance Challenges
- FHWA declines to set truck standards in EV charging rule
- FHWA Issues Requirements for EV Chargers — but Not for Trucks
- Ford earns Postal Service’s latest EV contract
- TMC panel offers safety guidance and tips regarding battery electric vehicles
- USPS Buys Electric Vans, Charging Stations in Bulk
Autonomous vehicles
I adamently oppose the operation of autonomous vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles with you as a courtesy to help you stay current with the topic.
- Autonomous truck insurance questions remain
- Autonomous Trucks Could Reshape How We Think About Insurance
- Feds close TuSimple autonomous crash probe
- Most Americans are afraid of fully self-driving vehicles
- New study shows majority of people fear automated vehicle technology
- Self-driving truck tech company to lay off hundreds of workers in effort to cut costs
- TuSimple Cleared by FMCSA Over 2022 Arizona Incident
- 5 Ways to Increase Trailer Utilization
6. Regarding business, borders, capacity, and insurance:
Business
- 5 Ways to Increase Trailer Utilization
- 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Commercial Truck Online
- Carriers, railways and shippers tackling costs in a post-pandemic market
- Difficult times provide chances to grow and flourish
- How this owner-operator team earned success
- Trailer demand remains high as used big rig sales see gains
Borders
- Borderlands: Nearshoring creates booming demand for border logistics facilities
- Upgrades Speed Up Truck Traffic at Border Crossing in Texas
Capacity
Insurance
- A truck insurance agent is your partner in business
- How safety can be the key to lowering insurance costs
7. Regarding drugs, violence, and theft:
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you’ve been promised.
- $1.9 million worth of cocaine seized from semi hauling sofas in Texas
- 5 arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking using UPS packages
- Drivers’ use of illegal substances is changing — and so is the reporting process
- Oklahoma trooper nabbed a semi driver for speeding, then discovered multiple substance use violations
Violence
Theft
Is there any kind of device that can keep catalytic converters from being stolen?
8. Regarding events, HOS, legal, and parking:
Events
HOS
- Trucker asks FMCSA for ‘permanent’ exemption from HOS due to his record of safe driving
- Trucker cites emergency order driving in hours of service request
- Trucker seeks FMCSA okay for 5/5 sleeper berth split
Legal
Parking
- Game changing service is revolutionizing the way truckers find and book parking
- Making spaces: DC takes aim at the truck parking problem, but will they hit the target?
- Truck parking funds listed in White House’s fact sheets on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law spending
9. Regarding recruiting and truckers:
Recruiting
- Panel Uses Root Cause Analysis to Assess Recruiting, Retention
- Truck Makers Recruit Their Own Employees to Combat Driver Shortage
Truckers
10. Regarding regulations and supply chain:
Regulations
Supply chain
- 6 ways fleets are dealing with supply chain issues and parts shortages
- Manufacturers move away from China in light of supply issues, cost increases
- Supply Chain Envoy Says Automating Ports Doesn’t Have to Cost Jobs
- Supply Chains Have Healed, Yet Their Mark on Inflation to Endure
11. Regarding technology, tires, and trailers:
Technology
Tires
- Goodyear adds second commercial truck tire to its EV line
- Goodyear unveils first drive tire for electric trucks
Trailers
These innovations sound interesting to me and I’d like to hear from any truckers who have used them
Please comment through the form below.
- ArcBest touts system for loading, unloading trailer in one motion
- Doleco Takes Trailer Double-Decking Systems to a New Level
12. Regarding recognition and awards:
Recognition for Longevity
Although the trucker’s safety record over his entire trucking career was not described, we wish to recognize a 44-year trucking veteran whose last load before returnement was involved in a truck fire possibly caused by the truck’s turbo.
Recognition and Awards
We recognize the following truckers (and others) for their positive impact in the trucking industry, whether based on skill or a willingness to help out their fellow human beings in a time of need. 🙂
- 50-year trucking veteran earns Wall of Fame honor
- Goodyear names 38th winner of Highway Hero Award
- Goodyear recognizes Highway Hero
- Goodyear’s Jenny Paige named a 2023 Women Make America Award honoree
- J. David Walters Claims Mentor Award at TMC
- J.B. Hunt Driver Andrew Waits Named Goodyear Highway Hero
- J.B. Hunt driver wins Goodyear’s 38th annual Highway Hero Award
- Late driver earns Mid-America Trucking Show Wall of Fame honor
- OOIDA life member named finalist for trucking award
- Plow driver delivered tacos and sandwiches to truckers stranded by storm in Wyoming
- Three finalists named for WIT’s 2023 Driver of the Year Award
- Trucker honored for coming to the aid of a fellow driver having a stroke
- VIDEO: Electric pickup yanks out stuck semi in Utah
- Volvo I-Torque Powertrain wins Jim Winsor Technical Achievement Award
- Women In Trucking Association announces 2023 Driver of the Year finalists
- XPO named National Less-Than-Truckload Carrier of the Year by MODE Global
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: 2023.03.04 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
