TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.04.29 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending April 29, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding acquisition and news:
Acquisition
Quote from the first article in the section just above:
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings has signed a deal to acquire U.S. Xpress Enterprises. This would unite the Nos. 3 and 20 fleets on the FleetOwner 500: Top For-Hire list, creating a carrier with a $10B revenue run rate.
The title of the second article just above makes me wonder if that’s why the acquisition is going through.
News
- Freight recession, port report and the art of supply chain
- Global Trucking Trends: Electrification, upgraded tachographs, and a parking fight
- Liability limit proposed for crash lawsuits in two South Carolina bills
Quote from the last article in the section just above:
Right now under South Carolina law, a driver or driver’s company can be held 100% responsible to pay damages even though other parties were at fault.
For example, in a three-vehicle collision in which one party suffers significant injuries and sues the other parties, the other parties might share culpability. However, if one of the parties has lower insurance coverage or no insurance at all, the other is on the hook for the whole amount. That is the case even if the other party is found less at fault than the underinsured party. What’s more, an attorney defending the insured driver being sued by the injured plaintiff can’t inform the jury about the underinsured party’s fault in the collision.
2. Regarding economy, inflation, pay, taxes, tolls, and UPS:
Economy
- ACT Research: For-Hire Trucking Index freight rates lowest since April 2020
- Are Trucking Share Prices an Accurate Economic Predictor?
- Box demand slumps amid consumer slowdown
- Box shipment trends worst since Great Recession
- Contract season post-pandemic: Why would it be normal?
- Economy Grew at Weak 1.1% Rate in Q1
- Freight pattern shifts threaten intermodal growth potential
- Landstar sees April step down but says bottom is near
- March sales of new Class 8 trucks reflect best March since 2006
- March Trailer Orders Down 55.7% Year-Over-Year
- Rebalancing act: Hard times are in store for the trucking industry as shipment numbers continue to fall, analysts say
- Shippers experiencing mostly ‘favorable and stable’ conditions
- Trucking fleets report negative sentiment in Q2
- US-China Tensions Amplify Global Trade Shifts
Inflation
Pay
Quote from the article just above:
Did you know that according to our poll of more than 800 leased owner-operators and company drivers that:
…two of the top three concerns among drivers are pay related: paying bills each month (no. 1) and saving for retirement (no. 3). Health was no. 2 among all respondents.
Taxes
Tolls
- New road allowing big trucks better access to Illinois’ CenterPoint Intermodal Center opens
- Privately built toll bridge designed to ‘help truckers maximize driver hours’ opens in Illinois today
UPS
- Shares drop as UPS posts weak Q1 results
- Tough quarter starts the year for UPS
- UPS downshifts flight activity as volumes deteriorate
- UPS Reports Lower Earnings as Consumer Spending Slows
3. Regarding fuel, emissions, parts, and Run on Less:
Fuel
This section has been separated from “parts” that take different kinds of fuel.
- 2023 DOE Regional Diesel Fuel Prices
- AAA retail diesel average now $4.167
- Benchmark diesel price on its way down again after 1-week increase
- Daily Infographic: Retail gasoline prices for summer 2023 forecast to be lower than last summer
- Diesel prices dip again as rates softness continues
- Diesel Resumes Decline, Sheds 3.9¢ to $4.077 a Gallon
- Nikola Trucks Join Alberta Hydrogen Demo Program
- Oil producers’ cuts could boost fuel prices even higher
- Sales of natural gas-powered vehicles were mixed
- Tenstreet Acquires TruckMap, Launches Reward, Fuel Programs
- Topsy-turvy diesel prices land down – for now
- Truck Stops Continue Juicing Alternative Fuel Options
- Uber Freight, AtoB partnership launches fuel card
- Weekly Fuel Report: April 25, 2023
Emissions
- $400 million in federal grants targets truck pollution at ports
- ATA Warns Congress vs. California on Emissions Rules
- California Passes First-in-Nation Locomotive Emission Rule
- Carbon Deal Targets Pipeline Seeking to Tackle Ethanol Emissions
- Charges Filed in Michigan Over Diesel Engine Tampering
- Colorado adopts new zero-emission big truck rules
- Colorado promotes access to zero-emissions trucks with new rule
- Colorado to Adopt Advanced Clean Trucks Rule
- Eleven men and three companies face federal charges for ‘deleting’ emissions controls from hundreds of semi trucks
- FHWA Makes Grants Available to Lower Emissions at Ports
- Maryland Clean Trucks Act receives praise from industry groups
- Multiple companies, 11 people in Michigan charged after altering big rigs’ emissions systems
- Rule passes to drastically cut locomotives’ emissions in California
- Senate Advances Truck Emissions Rule Rollback
- Senate Overturns Biden’s Anti-Smog Rules for Big Rigs
- Senate to vote on resolution to overturn EPA rule
- Senate votes to overturn EPA rule
- Senate votes to overturn EPA’s regulations for truck emissions
- Senate votes to roll back Biden-EPA emissions standard
- Senate votes yes on overturning stringent EPA regs
Parts
Some of the articles in this section are separated from the fuel on which they run.
- AMTA orders Nikola Tre battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell trucks for demonstrations
- CARB approves Toyota’s Class 8 fuel cell kit
- NHTSA Revives Effort to Require Side Impact Guards
- Toyota aiming heavy-duty fuel cells for sale in 2023
- Toyota Gets CARB Executive Order for HD Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain Kit
- Werner set to test Cummins’ 15-liter nat-gas engine
Run on Less
- California fleets to dominate Run on Less — Electric Depot
- NACFE Run on Less to Focus on Electric Depot Trucking
4. Regarding electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please make sure you do your due diligence.
- Colorado to Put More Electric Trucks, Semitrailers on Roads
- Daimler partners to build commercial EV charging network
- Daimler Truck adds Rizon medium-duty EV brand
- Daimler unveils new Rizon electric trucks for U.S. market
- DOE Funds Electrifying 7 Major Freight Corridors
- Electric truck maker Nikola expands into Canada
- Electric, hybrid vehicles topic of statehouse bills
- Fleet Advantage Unveils Fleet Electrification Analytic Tool
- Freight Routes to Get Electric, Hydrogen Infrastructure Aid
- Funding to support electric, alternative options at Prince Rupert
- GM, Samsung Plan New EV Battery Cell Factory in US
- How Government Incentives Drive Electric Truck Adoption
- NACFE to Study Scaling Electric Truck Fleets at 8 Companies
- Schneider Completes First EV Delivery for Frito-Lay
- Smart energy planning saves EV costs down the road
- Sysco Corp. envisions Riverside Electric Vehicle Hub
- Sysco Invests in Planet With New EV Hub
- The Unanswered Questions About BEV Trucks [podcast]
- Utah’s PaperBox buys state’s1st Volvo VNR Electric Truck
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles to help you stay current on the topic.
- Aurora, Continental announce partnership to develop self-driving truck systems
- Autonomous truck tech company Waabi creates driver advisory panel
- Bill outlawing self-driving trucks without a human driver on board advances in California
- California lawmakers looking to ban automated trucks with no driver
- Continental to build Aurora’s autonomous hardware
- Continental, Aurora announce autonomous driving partnership
- FMCSA to study automated, advanced driving systems for CMVs; comments sought
- Forward Air and Kodiak Have Teamed Up to Develop an Autonomous Route
- How TuSimple’s Autonomous Driving Tech Works
- Teamsters praise California legislation that would require human operators in autonomous big rigs
- Veteran drivers help guide Waabi in autonomous journey
5. Regarding drugs, smuggling, thrown from overpass, and violence:
Drugs
Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how large the “carrot” that is dangled in front of you.
- Brampton driver charged after 70kg of suspected cocaine seized from truck
- Colorado officials use unofficial ‘marijuana day’ to stress dangers of driving under influence
- Man without CDL sentenced to prison for tractor trailer cocaine smuggling attempt
Smuggling
Never ever transport human beings as if they are cargo or cattle, no matter how big of an incentive you are offered.
Thrown from overpass
We have written about this elsewhere on our site.
- Briefly: Driver suffers head injury by rock thrown from I-74 overpass
- FedEx semi truck driver knocked out by thrown rock while driving through Indiana
- Trucker says someone threw ‘two big rocks’ at his semi from an overpass in Texas
Violence
Do everything reasonable to avoid being involved in a violent encounter.
- Man arrested for shooting at semi truck on Indiana interstate
- Road rage incident leads to trucker being shot at in Tippecanoe County, Indiana
6. Regarding accidents, fatalities, and impatient:
Accidents
Please review the articles below so that you can learn what led up to the accidents, so that you can avoid being involved in the same situation yourself.
- Semi truck driver ejected during collision with train
- Texas interstate closed for fatal tanker crash
- Traffic snarled along Interstate 40 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, after dump truck overturns, spilling diesel fuel
- Truck spills load of glue on Michigan roadway after being cut off, troopers say
- Two injured in major big rig crash on I-95 in Florida
- VIDEO: Big rig violently jackknifes while hitting pole amid possible road rage incident
- VIDEO: Report argues trucker was not at fault in crash with rookie Washington trooper, even though he was ticketed
- VIDEO: Semi slams into ‘Blocker’ protecting first responders while passing another truck
Fatalities
We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those who died in these accidents.
Please do everything reasonable to avoid being involved in a fatal crash.
- FMCSA declares driver an imminent hazard after killing 4 with big rig
- FMCSA orders truck driver off the road following DUI crash that killed four in Tennessee
- FMCSA shuts down New York trucker after I-81 accident kills 4
- FMCSA shuts down truck driver after fatal crash, DUI
- Tanker truck hauling fuel bursts into flames on Nolanville, Texas, interstate, killing driver
- Tractor-trailer driver dies in Refugio County, Texas, after train strikes rig
- Traffic fatalities fell in 2022, NHTSA estimates
- Traffic fatalities involving trucks are worse in these states
- Truck driver banned after crash kills four Crime & Courts
- Truck driver shut down following fatal crash, DUI
- Vehicle fatalities rise alongside cell phone use
Impatient
Other than riding on the shoulder as well (which isn’t legal), is there anything that a trucker can do to prevent this?
7. Regarding border, business, and ELDs:
Border
- Cross-border freight continues 24-month growth streak
- CHP hopes video will convince truckers to stop at brake check area
Business
- Breaking the myth of the embattled small trucker
- Expenses Per Day: Trucker Stats You Need to Know
- Frugality, focus on costs pays off for owner-operator Jay Hosty
- Trucking expert: Control your variable expenses
- White Paper: Fleets should consider the cost of inaction
ELDs
Other articles that have been written about this topic indicate that ELDs are not making trucking safer.
In my opinion, the narrative put out and/or followed by many is to regulate truckers to drive them from the industry so that machines will take over their jobs.
8. Regarding trailer length, trailers, inspections, parking, and ports:
Trailer length
Trailers
Inspections
If you keep your truck and yourself in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Hundreds of trucks inspected during Georgia blitz targeting container drivers, distracted drivers
- International Roadcheck just weeks away, but are your drivers ready?
Parking
- Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, leaders say they aren’t keen on truck parking lot in their community
- Iowa DOT issues reminder about scale house parking for truckers
- Parking for truckers ‘encouraged’ at Iowa scale locations
- Truck parking bills gain additional support
- Truck Parking Club pilots hourly truck parking at Kentucky McDonald’s
Ports
9. Regarding climate change and weather:
Climate change
Follow the money trail.
Weather
10. Regarding purchase, rates, and spot market:
Purchase
- $200K financed at 9% for a new truck: Deal or no deal?
- Used Class 8 truck volumes exceed seasonal expectations
Rates
Spot market
11. Regarding recalls, speed limiter, speeding, and technology:
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer has an issued recall, please have it repaired as soon as possible.
- Daily Infographic: Daimler Truck recalls trucks for possible windshield wiper defect
- GM recalls 40,000 Navistar-built trucks for fire risk
- Volvo VNR Electric trucks recalled for ‘aggressive’ braking with use of adaptive cruise control
Speed limiter
Speeding
- CHP nabs trucker for going 94 m.p.h. on I-5
- Oklahoma troopers ticket trucker for going 64 in a 35 m.p.h. work zone
Technology
- Electronic inspection technologies pose more questions than answers
- How technology can help owner-operators manage costs, compliance
- The Biggest Commercial Vehicle Technology Advancements Over the Last 10 Years
12. Regarding recognition, awards, and championship:
Recognition
We recognize those truckers who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- CHP sends ‘heartfelt’ thanks to truckers who parked under bridge ‘to shorten the drop’ for person in crisis
- Trucker honored for assisting driver, first responders at truck rollover
Awards
We applaud truckers who have exemplified skill and safety on the job.
Quote from article just above:
[David] Wolford recently celebrated 19 years of service with Continental Express as a dedicated driver. In addition to driving, Wolford is a certified driver trainer, mentors drivers new to the industry, produces safety materials for Continental’s YouTube channel, and hosts Continental’s official podcast, Driving the Future. He has accumulated over 2.5 million consecutive safe miles in his tenure.
Championship
Please note that this is a “small fleet championship,” which is different from a truck driving championship.
We mention it because there may be fleets of drivers who deserve to be recognized.
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: 2023.04.29 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
