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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.07.08

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.07.08 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending July 8, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.

We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.08

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding AEB, freight shortage, HOS:

AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking)

According to the third article listed in the first bulleted section below:

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The comment period for a proposal to require new heavy vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds to be equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems is now open on the Federal Register.

Of course, the powers-that-be claim that this device on large trucks will “save lives.”

How many times have we heard that before?

For example, back in 2017, we heard that Electronic Logging Devices would save lives.

Then, an ELD mandate was issued.

Anyone who has been following the ELD situation knows that after that mandate was issued, trucking fatalities went up!

Swinging back to the issue with AEB devices, problems have been reported.

Personally, I am against any device being installed in a vehicle that has the potential to override the actions of a human driver.

So, if the thought of having Automatic Emergency Braking systems installed on large trucks bothers you, please write and submit your comments before the deadline.

Feel free to read the rest of the articles in this section — or join CDL Drivers Unlimited to help fight AEB systems on large trucks with others.

Freight shortage

How long have the American Trucking Associations (ATA) been talking about a “trucker shortage”?

A long time!

Well, the pendulum has now swung in the other direction.

I first heard about this on Facebook, that the trucking industry in the USA had become flooded with truckers, to such an extent that there is now what I call a “freight shortage.”

I asked if this situation wasn’t just inflation affecting the buying habits of people, lowering their need for goods, and therefore the number of loads being lower.

I was told “no.”

Well, I trusted the couple who told me “no,” but — analytical person that I am — I wanted documentation.

I was sent the link to this article.

Truckers flooded the market during Covid. Now they struggle to pay their bills.

The article states:

After supply chain problems offered an incentive for new truckers, demand has dropped, and now drivers struggle to find work.

That made me want to get the documentation even more!

So, through my own efforts, I found this article with the numbers I sought:

Long-Distance Freight Trucking in the US – Number of Businesses

I took the liberty of creating a spreadsheet to see what was going on for myself during the timeframe 2018-2023, a screenshot of which you’ll see here (click for larger image):

Number of trucking companies 2018-2023.

Furthermore, the resource shows that between 2018-2023, there has been in the USA:

  • an increase of 113,111 trucking companies;
  • which is an increase of 24.7%!

Naturally, the COVID rate of the freight was unsustainable for the long term, so now there is — for the larger number of trucks — a “freight shortage.”

How have you been affected by this?

Please comment through the form below.

Thanks. 🙂

Meanwhile, here are more articles on this topic.

HOS (Hours of Service)

2. Regarding backing up, crashes, fatalities, fatalities – TikTok:

Backing up

While we have this article on our website — Safely Back Up Your Tractor Trailer; Truck Backing Situations — we don’t recall having ever read (before this week) situations in which trucks in reverse ran over motorcycles!

Please exercise due caution in all situations, including backing up your tractor-trailer combination.

Many truckers may turn on their flashers before backing up.

This is not legal advice, but depending on

  • the situation you’re in,
  • the type of truck you drive, and
  • your location,

you may also choose to sound your air horn or city horn a couple of times to indicate that you’re about to back up.

Crashes

Please do everything reasonable to avoid being involved in a crash.

Fatalities

We express our deepest sympathy and offer our condolences to the families who lost a loved one in a trucking fatality.

Please review these articles to see what you may be able to do differently to avoid a fatality.

Fatalities – TikTok

Of all fatalities, the ones that are the saddest to me are the ones that were completely preventable.

The articles in this section describe a trucker who was on the social media platform TikTok when he was involved in a crash.

Remember: you are paid to drive a truck safely — to pick up and deliver freight — not to be on social media!

3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles:

Autonomous vehicles

I absolutely oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help you stay current on the topic.

Electric vehicles

If you are looking to purchase or lease an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence ahead of time.

4. Regarding emissions, emissions – CARB, fuel:

Emissions

Emissions – CARB

Fuel

5. Regarding inspections, legal, politics, securement:

Inspections

If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.

Legal

Politics

Securement

Take a look at how poorly secured the load was that is described in — and is shown in the photo of — the article linked just below.

If you were in charge of transporting such a load, what would you have done differently?

Please comment below.

Thanks.

6. Regarding acquisition, border, business:

Acquisition

What do you think will happen as a result of this acquisition?

Border

Business

7. Regarding economy, pay, rates, truck prices, Yellow:

Economy

Pay

Rates

Truck prices

Yellow

Way back on April 4, 2020, I wrote regarding small business loans due to coronavirus (COVID-19):

With the strongest possible caution I can possibly give, I’m going to encourage you to NOT take out this kind of loan.

For those folks who thought I was crazy, perhaps this article will vindicate me.

8. Regarding insurance, routing, technology, weather:

Insurance

Routing

When you’re driving a commercial motor vehicle, remember that if you use a navigation device like a GPS unit, it must be geared for motor carrier truck routes.

Read how expensive it is to not use truck-specific routing along one route.

For more information on this topic, see:

Technology

We do not necessarily endorse any of the technology described in the articles linked below.

Weather

Hot weather can affect you!

Think of some things that can happen in the summer when temperatures get hot:

  • Some roads (especially asphalt) can develop ruts;
  • Air conditioners work harder; and
  • Truckers need to stay hydrated and be aware of the impact of working and resting in a hot truck

What spurred this reminder was this article:

9. Regarding smuggling, theft, violence:

Smuggling

Never ever haul human beings like they are cattle or cargo, no matter how much you’ve been offered.

Theft

Stealing is a violation of one of God’s commandments.

No matter how you may think that you can get away with theft, there is always the chance that it will bounce back on you.

Violence

Minimize your risk of being involved in a situation potentially leading to violence.

10. Regarding hitchhikers, operations, ports, recalls:

Hitchhikers

I am going to have to address separately this issue of hitchhikers, no matter how they attach themselves to the back of a truck.

Meanwhile, keep your eyes open regarding anyone stepping onto your trailer’s bumper or attaching himself/herself to the back of the trailer you’re hauling.

Operations

Ports

Recalls

11. Regarding Teamsters, testing, tires, truck stop:

Teamsters

Testing

Tires

Truck stop

12. Regarding awards:

Awards

The look is on!

Search is on for America’s top rookie military veteran driver

Meanwhile, we congratulate every professional truck driver who qualifies for, competes in, or wins a trucking championship, including these:

My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.






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