This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending May 13, 2023.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Regulations.gov: Side Underride Guards, ATRI, inspections, maintenance, safety, and securement:
Regulations.gov: Side Underride Guards
If you feel strongly about “side underride guards” on trucks, please take action on this:
An Advance Notice of Proposed RuleMaking (ANPRM) has been issued for Side Underride Guards.
It was posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 21, 2023.
Summary
This ANPRM responds to Section 23011(c) of the November 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which directs the Secretary to conduct research on side underride guards to better understand their overall effectiveness, and assess the feasibility, benefits, costs, and other impacts of installing side underride guards on trailers and semitrailers.
The BIL further directs the Secretary to report the findings of the research in a Federal Register notice to seek public comment.
In addition, this ANPRM also responds to a petition for rulemaking from Ms. Marianne Karth and the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC).
Dates
You should submit your comments early enough to ensure that the docket receives them not later than June 20, 2023.
ATRI
According to the email that we received from the American Transportation Research Institute on Monday, May 8, 2023:
The 2023 ATRI top research priorities are:
Expanding Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas. The lack of available truck parking is perennially ranked by drivers as their top concern. This research will identify and map truck driver needs to rest stop attributes, develop best practice case studies and utilize truck driver data to identify strategies for expanding truck parking capacity available at public rest areas.
Identifying Barriers to Entry for Female Truck Drivers. Female truck drivers represent less than 10 percent of the truck driver workforce, yet ATRI research documents that female drivers are safer than their male counterparts. This research will identify gender issues and proactive steps that the industry can take to make truck driving careers more appealing to women.
Complete Streets Impact on Freight Mobility. Complete Streets is a U.S. DOT program designed to make transportation accessible for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. However, planning decisions to deploy complete streets often negatively impact freight transportation and those who rely on truck-delivered goods. This study will quantify these impacts and recommend approaches for transportation planners to better facilitate freight movement.
Examining the Diesel Technician Shortage. The industry’s challenges in recruiting and retaining technicians is often cited as being as critical as the driver shortage. This research will work with government and industry to identify the factors underlying the shortage, including mapping career attributes to workforce needs, and assessing high school-level vocational training availability, industry recruitment practices and competing career opportunities.
The Cost of Driver Detention. Truck drivers and motor carriers consistently rank driver detention at customer facilities as a top industry concern. This research, supported by shipper groups, will include quantitative data collection to identify detention impacts, costs, and strategies for minimizing detention.
Of these five, I am most interested in the cost of driver detention.
The research on the cost of detention was done in the past, but I am not able to find a link to it on their website.
It will be interesting to see how the cost of detention has fallen or risen since the last study was done.
- ATRI Announces Top Five Research Issues for 2023
- ATRI identifies detention, diesel tech shortage, more as 2023 top priorities
- ATRI identifies trucking research priorities for 2023
- ATRI reveals top research priorities
- Truck parking, detention costs, tech shortage are ATRI research topics
- Truck parking, diesel tech shortage among top research topics for ATRI this year
- Women Drivers, Truck Parking Among ATRI Research Priorities for 2023
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in a perpetual state of readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA issues inspection bulletins on tire inflation systems, braking aids
- Daily Infographic: International roadcheck is May 16-18 with emphasis on ABS and cargo securement
- Georgia police discover a slew of violations during nighttime house move
- International Roadcheck inspectors start the blitz Tuesday –
- International Roadcheck inspectors will be out next week –
- Loaded and Rolling: International Roadcheck is next week; shipping execs weigh in on rates
- Troopers hid in PennDOT trucks as part of ‘Operation Yellow Jacket’ crackdown
Maintenance
Safety
- FMCSA launches inaugural safety week with focus on reducing speeding big rigs
- FMCSA Running Inaugural Safety Week for Truckers and All Road Users
- Georgia police conduct ‘concentrated commercial vehicle patrol’ following double fatality crash
- Platform Science, Motive partner to improve fleet safety
- VIDEO: Speedsters on right shoulder have to zip around semis to avoid crash
Securement
No matter what you haul — or on/in what kind of trailer — your cargo has to be secured.
If you have not been provided with instructions and training on how to properly secure your load, ask for it!
You as the driver are the one whose job and livelihood are on the line if you don’t secure your load properly.
- 5 Cargo Securement Articles to Prepare for CVSA Roadcheck
- Oklahoma trooper helps out with trucker’s pallet problem
- Toughest states for securement violations, more Roadcheck preps
2. Regarding AB5, HOS, operations, and vaccines:
AB5
HOS
I find it both funny and sad that the FMCSA reported that the results of the 2020 changes to the Hours of Service regulation are “inconclusive.”
In my opinion, there were too many variables at play.
It is also possible that government officials purposedly added other variables in the mix to keep from owning up to the fact that the 2020 HOS rules hurt truckers (compared to previous HOS rules).
What do you think?
Please comment through the form below.
- FMCSA reports 2020 hours of service changes inconclusive
- FMCSA to Congress: Impacts of 2020 HOS changes inconclusive so far
- Nebraska, North Dakota Governors Issue HOS Waivers
- Nebraska, North Dakota temporarily waive hours-of-service regulations for fuel, ag-related deliveries
- Report finds higher hours-of-service violation rates since 2020 revisions
Operations
Lest someone tell you that large truck crashes are always the fault of the truck driver…
- VIDEO: Clueless car driver sneaks (slowly) off left shoulder right into the path of a big rig
- VIDEO: Motorhome driver cited for trying to sneak in front of semi, resulting in serious crash
Vaccines
In my opinion, the jabs should never have been required to begin with.
Boost your God-given immune system.
And note to the government: stop funding “g@in of funct!0n” research!
3. Regarding fuel, hydrogen, hypertruck, and Run on Less:
Fuel
- AAA retail diesel average now $4.048 Fuel prices
- Average US diesel price drops below $4
- Benchmark diesel price falls below $4/gallon mark
- Diesel Tumbles 9.6¢ to $3.922 a Gallon
- Fuelmakers Hoping for Higher-Than-Expected Demand in Summer
- NATSO, Sigma testify on critical role fuel retailers play in nation’s supply chain
- Neste, PetroCard Expand Access to Renewable Diesel in Pacific Northwest
- Nikola: Fuel-Cell Tre Production to Start in July
- Oil prices to drop below $80 per barrel, EIA Fuel prices
- Renewable fuels feedstock facility opens on CSX network in Mississippi
- Weekly Fuel Report: May 09, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: May 08, 2023
Hydrogen
- Hyundai unveils Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric big rig
- Volvo conducts first hydrogen fuel cell truck tests on public roads
- Volvo driving forward with batteries, hydrogen
- Volvo Road Tests Hydrogen-Powered Truck
Hypertruck
Run On Less
4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, decarbonization, electric vehicles, and emissions:
Autonomous Vehicles
I totally oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, or autonomous commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles to keep you up-to-date about the topic.
- C.R. England, Torc Robotics plan autonomous trucking pilot program
- FMCSA Seeks Input on Regulating Autonomous Commercial Vehicle Safety
- POLL: Taking the driver out of the autonomous truck — should it be banned?
- Self-driving trucks to haul temperature-controlled loads for C.R. England as part of long-haul pilot
- Tesla shouldn’t call driving system Autopilot because humans are still in control, Buttigieg says
- Torc Robotics Partners with C.R. England on Level 4 Autonomy Pilot
- Torc Robotics, C.R. England to pilot autonomous trucks
Decarbonization
We have to have carbon to live, so why are we so concerned about “de-carbon-izing” the planet?
Electric Vehicles
- Charging infrastructure delays temper rollouts of battery-electric trucks
- Electric Truck Options Expand
- EPA Seeks Comment on Electric Truck Costs, Charging
- EPA wants comment on e-trucks’ availability, support infrastructure
- Establishing heavy-duty EV charging infrastructure was a key theme at ACT Expo
- Mack, Volvo Add EV-Certified Dealers
- NACFE hosting electric truck event to gleen data on green equipment
- New EV Models Drive Up North American Factory Production
- New Georgia Laws Address EV Chargers, Max Truck Weight
- Nikola to Pause Battery-Electric Truck Production
- Rivian Reports Better-Than-Expected Loss, Affirms EV Plans
- Tortoise and hare approaches to electric trucks
- Volvo Trucks continues push toward electrification
- WattEV to Open Charging Depot at Port of Long Beach
- White Paper: Planning Your Fleet’s Electric Future
- Zeus Showcases Terex All-Electric Class 5 Bucket Truck
- ZF Launches AxTrax 2 Next-Generation Electric Powertrain
Emissions
Be careful about jumping on-board the “zero emissions” bandwagon, because whatever replaces petroleum-fuel vehicles may be dirtier yet!
- Clapping back against CARB and carbs – WTT
- EPA seeking feedback on costs, availability of zero-emission trucks, infrastructure
- Kenworth accepting deposits for its 1st zero emissions Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck
- Three Companies Charged With Emission Device Tampering
5. Regarding business, employment, insurance, pay, retention, and shortage:
Business
- Profit Per Mile: Trucker Stats for the Fleet Manager
- Samsara Launches Sustainable Fleet Management Features
- When financing equipment, knowing your business has never been more important
Employment
- U.S. Xpress lays off staff, reports significant loss to SEC
- XPO Confirms Job Cuts to Reduce Labor Costs
Insurance
It doesn’t hurt to “shop around” for insurance every couple of years.
Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt to form a relationship with an insurance “broker” who can shop around for insurance for you.
Pay
The posting of these articles is not an endorsement of any of the companies mentioned.
Retention
Shortage
It has been said over and over again that there is no such thing as a truck driver shortage, meaning that there are plenty of people who have valid CDLs, but that there is a trucker retention problem.
- As efforts to ease the driver shortage continue, safety remains a top concern
- Global Trucking Trends: Europe’s driver shortage a focus during Year of Skills
6. Regarding accidents, fatalities, smuggling, and theft:
Accidents
Please learn what you can from the articles listed below so that you can avoid being involved in a similar accident yourself.
- Big rig’s crash off overpass leave driver with serious head injury
- Dump truck crashed through semi trailer after driver failed to yield, Georgia cops say
- Four-wheeler blows stop sign in fatal, fiery wreck with semi truck
- Michigan troopers say car cut off truck hauling steel coils, causing trailer to detach and hit bridge
- Motorist’s driver-swap causes collision with big rig
- POLICE: “Unfamiliarity” with roundabout blamed for wreck that left driver with “significant injuries”
- Sleepy trucker plows straight into federal courthouse
- Snoozing trucker plows big rig into Dublin, Georgia, federal courthouse
- Truck driver found at bottom of ravine following police pursuit, manhunt, in Ohio
- Two semi trucks hit in collision with train
- WATCH: Helicopter rescues tanker driver from intense floodwaters
- Witnesses blame overgrown trees for double-semi wreck with train
Fatalities
We express our deepest sympathy and extend our condolences to the families who lost a loved one as reported in the articles below.
Please learn what you can from these articles so that you are not set up to be in a similar situation yourself.
- 2 killed after big rig obliterates Cadillac in Lake Wales, Florida
- 2 killed after car smashes into big rig during Yankton, South Dakota, police chase
- Illinois State Police finally identified all seven people killed in I-55 dust storm pileup
- Kia rear-ended fuel tanker, triggering crash and explosion that killed truck driver, Florida troopers say
- Two killed in South Dakota after car driver fleeing police hits big rig
Smuggling
Never ever treat human beings like they are cargo or cattle — no matter how much incentive you’ve been offered.
Theft
I’m glad to read of a bust of a cargo theft ring!
- California Highway Patrol arrests 40 connected to cargo theft
- California investigators bust $150 million cargo theft ring
- Cargo theft operation nets 40 arrests, millions in recovered goods
- CHP arrests 40 connected to $150 million cargo theft ring
- Fired worker accused of stealing semi, leading Indiana State Police on multi-county pursuit
- Operation Overload’ leads to bust of $150 million cargo theft ring in CA
7. Regarding discrimination, parking, and want to be a trucker:
Discrimination
Parking
- Briefly: Sixth updated NYS Thruway rest area opens in Hudson Valley
- Illinois to Add Truck Parking at Three Rest Areas
- OOIDA dares workers in other industries to “try to get any work done if you didn’t have a safe place to rest at night”
- Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act picks up more support
Want to be a Trucker
8. Regarding speed limiter, supply chain, and technology:
Speed Limiter
In an online action alert against speed limiters, the last paragraph of my feedback was as follows:
Again, I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 3039 and support its passage because:
– there is no provision in The Constitution for limiting trucks’ speed;
– limiting trucks’ speed will negatively impact highway safety;
– limiting trucks’ speed will negatively impact driver retention;
– limiting trucks’ speed will negatively impact supply chain efficiency; and
– speed limits set and enforced by the states are already in place and are in keeping with the limitations of The Constitution and the Tenth Amendment.
If you feel strongly about this topic, please send your feedback.
- Capitol Hill panel debates truck speed limiters, broker fraud
- Congress gets an earful on brokered freight fraud, speed limiters
- FMCSA Truck Speed Limiter Plan Turns Into Political Football
- House Bill to Thwart Truck Speed-Limiters Not Likely to Gain Traction
- Number of speed limiter comments delays proposal
- OOIDA: Support effort to stop speed limiter mandate
- Trucking, safety groups line up against anti-speed limiter bill
Supply Chain
Technology
- Borderlands: AI’s rising impact on cross-border trade focus of new report
- Carrier Logistics AI Helps Fleets with Accounts Receivable
- Cost and benefit of using AI in fleet operations
- Daily Infographic: Dude! Where’s my trailer? Outrider can find it
- Daimler Truck makes variety of new-tech advances
- DOT and Supply Chain Firms Launch New Data Exchange
- EY Americas leader: 70% of supply chain digital transformation efforts fail
- Global Trade Data Shows Early Signs of ‘Reglobalization’
- GM’s Cruise to Expand Robotaxi Service to Dallas and Houston
- How Fleets Are Using Trailer Telematics
- New product uses AI to help safety managers identify drivers who need ‘coaching’
- Transflo Partners With Comdata to Streamline Fuel Advances
9. Regarding containers, ports, recalls, road rage, and trailers:
Containers
- Jaxport welcomes largest container ship to call
- Truckers paying price for lower Vancouver container volumes
Ports
- California’s Container Ports to Develop Shared Data System
- California’s Port Dominance Is Slipping as Cargo Shifts East
- Feds announce $4B to upgrade ports, including money for clean heavy-duty vehicles
Recalls
Road Rage
- Motorist’s armed road rage turns deadly when “semi truck literally smacked his car”
- VIDEO: SUV brake checker insists on punishing trucker for not letting her merge in front
Trailers
Read the article about the limitations.
10. Regarding economy, taxes, fraud, and future:
Economy
- ACT Research: Analysts forecast strong Class 8 production, sales
- Another sign of profound box demand weakness appears
- April Class 8 Sales Up 19.4% Year-Over-Year
- Consumer Long-Term Inflation Expectations Hit 12-Year High
- DAT Truckload Volume Index: April declines make May a pivotal month for truckload freight
- Driver Poll: How is the economy shaping your job outlook?
- Economic Trucking Trends: Pent-up truck demand remains, why May matters to spot market
- Even CPG volumes are slowing for brokers
- Flatbed carrier Daseke says no ‘clear visibility’ into recovery, lowers 2023 outlook
- Flatbed keeps riding post-pandemic wave
- Hapag-Lloyd: Higher costs will inevitably push up shipping rates
- High Consumer Prices, Inflation Pressures Persist in April
- May is a critical month for freight volumes, DAT says Business
- Sagging freight volume, economy hit used truck values
- Shipping stock sell-off: Shares down double digits since March
- Truck orders fall for sixth time in seven months
- Trucking could — maybe — become less volatile
- Trucking in a post-COVID world
- US imports up again in April as market mirrors pre-COVID ‘normal’
Taxes
- Bestpass to help fleets, owner-operators during HVUT tax season
- Daily Infographic: US motor fuel taxes are lower than in other developed countries
- File Form 2290 today with help from the ExpressTruckTax team
Fraud
Please stand firm against fraud.
- Man who applied for Covid-19 relief money for fake trucking company sentenced to prison
- Man who asked for PPP funds for fake trucking company sentenced to prison
- NC man goes to jail for receiving loan for fake trucking company
Future
11. Regarding distracted driving, violations, and violence:
Distracted Driving
Violations
Violence
- Heavy gunfire with casualties reported near key US-Mexico trade bridge
- Sixteen year old in custody for rock throwing incident that knocked out FedEx truck driver
Legal award
- B.C. top court awards $317K to driver tasered by RCMP
- Trucker awarded more than $300K after he was Tased by police while sleeping in cab
12. Regarding awards:
Awards
We extend our heartiest congratulations to the truckers who were recognized for their safety achievement or skill!
- Briefly: Yellow driver recognized for logging 4 million safe miles
- FedEx Freight Driver wins South Carolina Driving Competition championship
- Lewis Center, Ohio, truck driver honored by state police for safety record
- Ohio State Highway Patrol recognizes trucker for 4 million mile achievement
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: 2023.05.13 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
