TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.07.15 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending July 15, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding CARB, emissions, and near-zero:
Please be discerning regarding the issue of emissions and so-called “climate change.”
The powers-that-be may want to benefit themselves at the expense of people whom they hold hostage to their agenda.
CARB
Emissions
- 25 Republican attorneys general across US speak out against new EPA emissions regulations
- Daily Infographic: Survey: Cutting emissions a top 2024 priority in transportation sector
- Daimler Cites Flexibility as Key to Zero-Emission Future
- Low-emission diesel tech use grew 10% in 2022
- Michigan Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Limit EPA Emission Rules
- Trucking Interests Ask Biden to Reduce Emission Rule
Near-zero
- 57% of Diesel Trucks Near-Zero Emissions Models
- Near-zero’ diesel equipment now powers 57% of Classes 3-8 U.S. trucks
- Report: 57% of all commercial diesel trucks are near-zero emissions models
2. Regarding economy, fines, inflation, pay, retirement, and taxes:
Economy
- ACT Research: Retail sales, production forecasts follow economic expectations higher
- ACT Research: US freight market ‘bouncing along the cycle bottom’
- Analysts: Walkout at UPS Would Have Deep Impact on Economy
- Daimler Truck forecasts sunny conditions
- Economic Trucking Trends: U.S. holiday brings positive signs for freight, equipment demand
- Forecast Upped for Class 8 Registrations as Fears Ease
- Freight markets saw no ‘boom’ during Fourth of July holiday
- Has the freight bubble burst?
- Industrial real estate cools but remains healthy
- June Class 8 Orders Continue Rebound
- June Class 8 Sales Rise 7.7% Year-Over-Year
- Monthly Cass report suggests freight market bottom may be near
- Packaged food volumes remain weak
- Produce Season Fails to Boost Struggling Freight Market
- The ‘peak’ of peak season is here
- Trucking Enters Late Down Cycle
- US containerized imports still outpacing pre-COVID levels
- Used Car Prices Fall Most Since Pre-Pandemic
Fines
The article just below references Canada.
Quote from article:
Pre-set Hours-of-Service fines are grouped into minor, moderate, and severe categories. Minor infractions include fines of up to $600, while severe infractions include fines as high as $2,000.
Inflation
When some figures are for short periods of time — to try to keep the people ignorant of the long-term effects of inflation — you need to understand that as of this writing, the buying power of $1.00 in the United States is $0.03 compared to what it was in 1913, when the unconstitutional Federal Reserve Act was passed into law.
Pay
- DOL seeks misclassified Arizona delivery drivers who are owed millions
- Driver Poll: Have you experienced wage increases in your trucking job in the past year?
- Feds are trying to find more than 1300 drivers who are owed $5.6 million in back pay and damages
Retirement
Quote from article:
While 37% of survey respondents said they want to keep driving because they like their jobs, almost an equal amount – 34% – said they had to keep driving because they need the money.
Taxes
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel, oil, and Run on Less:
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely oppose the operation of any self-driving, driverless, or autonomous commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles to help you stay informed on the topic.
- Chorus grows in opposition of California’s driverless truck ban
- PlusDrive-Equipped Iveco Truck Begins Autonomous Road Tests in Germany
- Pressure Mounts to Put Driverless Tractor-Trailers on California Roads
- The State of Autonomous Vehicle Development [Video]
- TuSimple delisting threat delayed by Nasdaq
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence.
- Arizona expands its electric vehicle charging station corridor plans
- California Sees Huge Battery Storage Spike Over Three Years
- Daimler Stresses ‘Transition’ to Green Energy
- >> Electric Cars Might Not Even Lower Carbon Emissions, Report Finds
- ‘Green Bank’ Opens for Clean Energy Projects Like EV Charging
- Hawaii Ahead of the Pack in Contracting for EV Fast Chargers
- How High Temperatures Break Down Electric Car Batteries
- Nikola’s Latest Bid to Secure Funds to Advance FCEV Fails
- SolCold wrap reduces HVAC use, improves EV range
- Supercharging driver coaching with insights powered by machine learning
- Toyota, Stellantis Blast Biden’s Plan to Boost EV Sales
- Trucking Industry Works to Make Electric CVs More Affordable
Fuel
- AAA retail diesel average now $3.837 Fuel prices
- Average US diesel prices on the rise, EIA reports
- Bosch ramps up hydrogen-fuel-cell production
- Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation highlights recent advancements for biodiesel
- Daily Infographic: Biofuels are displacing petroleum-based distillate fuel oil consumption on the West Coast
- Daily Infographic: For the past six months average nationwide monthly gasoline prices have been below $4 per gallon
- Diesel Prices Jump an Average of 3.9¢ to $3.806 a Gallon
- DOE/EIA diesel price higher after more bullish trend in oil markets
- Natural Gas Truck Engines Could Reduce Fuel, Maintenance
- New Energy Information Administration report shows diesel prices hovering just below $4 per gallon through most of ’24
- Nikola, Caltrans secure grant for hydrogen fueling stations in Calif.
- Robert Bosch going all-in on hydrogen technologies
- Weekly Fuel Report: July 11, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: July 10, 2023
- West Coast Swapping Diesel for Biofuels
Oil
- Crude oil to increase through 2023, EIA says
- EPA Denies Oil Refineries Seeking Biofuel-Blending Exemption
- Key oil report sees global demand increases moderating in 2nd half
- Russian crude prices have breached the G-7 price cap. Now what?
- US to Buy 6 Million Barrels of Oil for Emergency Reserve
Run on Less
- Purolator to participate in Run on Less – Electric Depot demonstration
- Two Fleets Join Run on Less – Electric Depot Trial
4. Regarding drugs, fraud, smuggling, and theft:
Drugs
Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how large of an incentive you’re offered.
Fraud
- DAT steps up fight against fright fraud, but is it enough?
- FMCSA administrator: Agency ‘making great progress’ in continued effort targeting moving fraud
- FMCSA continuing crackdown on HHG moving fraud
Smuggling
No matter how much you are offered, never ever haul people — who are made in the image of God — like they were cargo or cattle!
- Man convicted of setting up smuggling trip that killed 13 in California gets 15 years in prison
- Mastermind who stuffed 25 immigrants into SUV in smuggling attempt sentenced to 15 years following fatal wreck with big rig
Theft
5. Regarding inspections, safety, speed, and speed limiters:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CHP calls out truck driver for ‘ALL’ flat outer tires on left side
- Minnesota Adding Tire Enforcement Tech
- Texas cops take trucker out of service after finding beer during inspection
- ‘Trooper in a Truck’ patrols taking place in Nebraska this week
- Truck enforcement topic of three new laws in Texas
- Truck tire anomaly sensors at Wyoming Port of Entry lead to out of service order, citation
- Wisconsin troopers are patrolling in semi trucks this week to spot driver violations
- Wisconsin troopers riding in big rigs to catch violations as part of Operation Safe Driver Week
Safety
- ATA’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board supports Operation Safe Driver Week
- Campaigns aims to boost safe driving around commercial vehicles
- IIHS, Travelers: Truck safety improving but there’s still work to be done
- NATSO Foundation partners with HAAS Alert to enhance roadside safety
- Pennsylvania Police Launch I-81 Truck Safety Initiative
- White Paper: How a safer fleet delivers a stronger bottom line
Speed
- AAA urges caution when states consider raising speed limits
- Cracking down on speed: CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week is underway
- Teen arrested for doing 91 while hauling improperly secured skid steer with no license
Speed limiters
6. Regarding crashes and fatalities:
Crashes
Please scan through these articles to see what led up to each crash, so that you can do everything reasonable to avoid being caught in the same situation.
- Banana blaze: Big rig hauling fruit catches fire on I-75 in Sumter County, Florida
- Big rig hauling cars collides with Amtrak train in Lakeland, Florida
- Big rig trailer carrying powdered chicken poop overturns on I-85 ramp in North Carolina
- Dump truck takes down highway sign with raised bed
- Fiery crash involving multiple 18-wheelers closes I-70 near Teutopolis, Illinois, for hours
- Five semis involved in fiery crash in I-70 construction zone
- Flipped tractor trailer strikes school bus
- Massive fuel tanker fire closes I-10 in New Mexico
- Second semi pileup reported in same I-70 construction zone as fiery 5 truck crash
- Transport truck-related crashes at 10-year high in Ontario
- Trucker ticketed after rear-ending two vehicles, striking illegally parked tow truck, Michigan troopers say
- Two truckers hospitalized after truck axle detaches
- Unclear who is at-fault in intersection crash that injured police officer, overturned semi truck
Fatalities
We express our deep sympathy — and offer our condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these crashes.
- 3 dead and 14 injured in Illinois crash involving Greyhound bus and tractor-trailers, police say
- Both drivers, passenger die in head-on collision of 2 tractor-trailers in Oregon
- Man in golf cart dead after crossing highway in front of semi truck
- Medics unable to save life of man pinned against wall by semi truck
- Oregon man struck, killed by 18-wheeler while standing on Indiana Toll Road
- POLICE: Trucking company owner’s fatal late-night fall from shipping container “not suspicious” despite links to gang activity
- Sleeping driver helped pull passengers from burning Greyhound bus in fatal accident
- Three dead, 14 injured after bus crashes into rigs parked outside of rest area
- Tire blowout reported as cause for trucker’s fatal crash off CBBT
- Two drivers, passenger killed in head-on semi truck crash
7. Regarding events, parking, shortage: drivers, and trucking industry:
Events
- Iowa 80 Truckstop celebrates America’s truckers with 44th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree
- Walcott Truckers Jamboree opens July 13
- Walcott Truckers Jamboree set to celebrate Mack’s 100th birthday
- Walcott Truckers Jamboree takes over Iowa 80 Thursday through Saturday
- Walcott Truckers Jamboree; building MacroPoint; and a true FreightTech rock star – WTT
Parking
- 102 new truck parking spaces added at 2 new Love’s locations
- Company Targets Old Drive-In Theaters for Truck Parking
- Lack of safe truck parking takes center stage as NTSB investigation into deadly Greyhound wreck begins
- Love’s Travel Stops adds 102 truck parking spaces with new locations in Arizona, Mississippi
- New truck parking business opens in Las Vegas
Shortage: drivers
- OOIDA’s Spencer explains ‘mythical driver shortage’
- Watch as the mainstream media admits that the truck driver shortage isn’t real
Trucking industry
- Step Up Push to Bring Veterans Into Trucking
- Trucking’s State of Surveillance: Inside the costs, benefits
8. Regarding leasing, maintenance, and securement:
Leasing
Please be ultra careful to do your due diligence before you sign documents or a contract about leasing.
- FMCSA advisory panel targets predatory leasing contracts
- Loaded and Rolling: FMCSA truck leasing panel drafts recommendations
- Truck Leasing Task Force set to begin
Maintenance
- Brake Maintenance, Done Right
- How to Measure and Improve Your Truck Brake Maintenance Program
- Maintenance telematics new battleground for OEMs, aftermarket
- Ryder debuts new retail mobile maintenance service
- Ryder intros new mobile maintenance service for trucks, trailers, more
- Ryder Rolls Out Mobile Maintenance Service
Securement
9. Regarding ports, strike, Teamsters, and UPS:
Ports
- Dockworker Strike Disrupts Supply Chain, Sidelines Canadian Truckers
- Dockworkers Take On South Carolina’s Governor in Labor Fight
- It’s over: Labor deal ends strike at Vancouver, Prince Rupert ports
- O’Regan calls on mediator for terms to end port strike
- Over 20 ships wait off Canada ports as dockworker strike drags on
- Port Charleston Freight Tied to Averitt Express Expansion
- Striking port workers, employers mulling mediator’s recommendations
- Tentative deal reached in nearly 2-week port strike on Canada’s west coast
- Tentative deal reached to end port strike
- Viewpoint: Data shows Canada port strike impacting US logistics
- Viewpoint: Impact of Canada ports strike to be felt for weeks
Strike
- Consultant: Strike could cost UPS 30% of diverted volume
- Strike That Snarled Canada’s Ports to End as Deal Is Reached
- UAW Strike Threats Heat Up Before Detroit Negotiations Begin
- UPS begins ‘business continuity’ training to prep for strike
Teamsters
- Teamsters Add Shop as Big Trucking Outfits Increase Bandwidth
- Teamsters Playing Hardball with Over 350,000 Union Jobs
- Teamsters settle EEOC suit after business agent pleaded guilty to sexually harassing female UPS worker
- TForce Freight reaches tentative deal with Teamsters
- TForce Freight, Teamsters agree to five-year deal
- Truck drivers sound off on Yellow, Teamsters
- UPS-Teamsters Negotiations Remain Stalled
UPS
- UPS Schedules Later Release of Midyear Earnings
- UPS to Train Nonunion Employees to Deliver Packages
- Yellow’s last stand; cost of UPS strike; and why peak season is screwed – WTT
- Video: UPS Strike 2023: The Heat Is On!
10. Regarding roads, towing, and weather:
Roads
- 80+ miles of Penn. Turnpike to close Saturday night for cleanup of DUI tractor trailer crash
- Arizona to Standardize Truck-Restriction Highway Signs
- Expect delays on I-81 near Salem, Virginia from Sunday through Tuesday
- I-470 multi-bridge project underway in Topeka, Kansas
- I-49 worst road for washroom breaks in U.S., study reveals
- Lane closures coming to I-470 in Kansas
- Ontario starting work on Highway 11’s 2+1 roadway
Towing
- Man faces robbery charge after allegedly illegally towing big rig
- OOIDA welcomes Maryland towing rule changes
- TikTok trucker sounds the alarm on alleged tow scam targeting big rigs in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia
Weather
- Daily Infographic: 10 ways to prepare your car for hot weather & summer travel
- Relentless rain floods roads in Northeast, leads to evacuations, rescues
- Truck drivers face additional challenges on the road as US faces dangerous heatwave
If you’re a trucker in the USA, watch out during these “dog days of summer” for potentially scorching hot temperatures — when it comes to:
- your own body,
- any authorized passenger(s) you may have in your truck,
- any pet(s) you may have aboard, and
- your truck.
You may benefit from reading about:
- dealing with a hot truck,
- empowerment,
- drinking water, and
- how to stay cool without an APU.
11. Regarding technology and video:
Technology
- Automation is the next step beyond data insights
- NMFTA council developing API road map for end-to-end data
- Robot sentries beef up security at Hactl air cargo terminal
- Will multi-robot orchestration platforms transform warehouse logistics?
Video
OK, I feel compelled to share about some of these videos…
No information was shared about how heavy these rigs were going up the hill!
Thank God that this trucker was alert!
In my opinion, this video ended too soon.
I would have liked to have seen if the trucker was able to open the truck door, jump in, and stop his truck in time to avoid an accident.
Please remember to set your truck’s parking brakes before you get out!
This situation was downright ridiculous and I feel compelled to ask these questions (as a starting point):
- How could the trucker have possibly seen the road through that much water?
- How much damage was this trucker doing to his/her truck engine and other electronic components?
- How much damage was done to other parts of the trucker’s rig?
There is no excuse for what this trucker did.
I hope that this trucker’s company sees this video and disciplines him for his road rage.
In my opinion, this video ended too soon to see what happened.
This was downright frightening and could have ended very badly for the trucker whose truck was struck.
What is shown in this video is a very real reminder of how critical pre-trip inspections are.
We make available a Pre-Trip Inspection Combo through our Free Downloads page.
Also, look at our page “Reviews of Lug Nut Torque Indicators by Truck Drivers” for information about “wheel off” and “wheel separation” situations.
Finally, I will not be surprised if somewhere down the road, the trucker whose truck lost the wheel is found and he/she and/or his/her trucking company will be held financially responsible for the damage that the lost wheel caused.
12. Regarding awards, recognition, and skill:
Awards
Congratulations to all truckers who demonstrated skill on the job!
- Briefly: Ryder adds three more truckers to its Driver Hall of Fame
- Ryder recognizes Drivers of the Year
Recognition
We recognize those truckers who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.
Skill
We recognize this trucker:
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: 2023.07.15 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
