TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.09.09 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending September 9, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding appreciation:
While there is an emphasis for one week out of the year in which to appreciate professional truck drivers, we appreciate truckers all year long!
That being said, look to see if there are any reductions in price or freebies that you can gratefully accept at this time.
Some companies may be extending appreciation discounts or freebies all month long.
Appreciation
- Businesses offering National Truck Driver Appreciation Week specials
- C.H. Robinson to stage ‘Miles of Gratitude’ tour to thank truckers
- Deals, recognition for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Denny’s offering $6 breakfast special to truck drivers
- Free lobster roll lunch for truckers happening at Maine weigh station for Driver Appreciation
- Hearing on automation to be held during Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Industry celebrates transportation workers during National Trucking Week
- Maine’s Truck Driver Appreciation Week free lunch includes lobster rolls
- No inspections to occur during driver appreciation event hosted by CHP
- Ohio billboards will salute drivers for Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Pilot Company offering driver specials for Truck Driver Appreciation month
- Truck Drivers Saluted in Weeklong Celebration
- Truck stop chains announce deals for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Werner plans numerous events for Truck Driver Appreciation Week
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely object to the idea of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless trucks on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help you stay current with the topic.
- Argo AI founders turn to autonomous trucking with Stack AV
- Autonomous trucks topic of advancing California bill
- Shuttered Argo AI founders try autonomous trucking
- Stack AV announces plans for autonomous truck development
- Tyson Foods to deploy autonomous refrigerated box trucks in Arkansas
- Tyson Foods to deploy autonomous trucks in Arkansas
- Tyson Foods, Gatik Deploying Class 7 Autonomous Trucks
- Tyson partners with Gatik to deploy autonomous delivery trucks in Arkansas
Fuel
- Average US diesel prices rise for 8th straight week
- Biofuels could offer clean energy for trucking — but not yet
- Diesel Prices Up 1.7¢ in Seventh Straight Increase
- For diesel consumers, a day with lots of discouraging news
- Higher and Higher: Fuel prices top contributor to surge in operations costs
- ProMiles says diesel up as much as 18 cents
- Quantron hydrogen fuel cell trucks ready for delivery in Europe
- Weekly Fuel Report: September 05, 2023
3. Regarding electric vehicles, emissions, and fires:
Electric vehicles
If you are considering purchasing an electric commercial motor vehicle, please see the section entitled “Fire” in this week’s trucking commentary.
- Accelera by Cummins, Daimler, Paccar Team up to Advance U.S. Battery-Cell Production
- Battery Maker Clarios Expands Low-Voltage Systems
- California Charging Infrastructure Lags Behind Targets
- California Shows an Electric-Car Uprising Headed for the US
- Calstart Roadmap Would Speed Commercial EV Charging Infrastructure
- Cummins, Paccar and Daimler agree to battery partnership
- Daily Infographic: High prices, range anxiety holding back EV adoption
- Daimler, Cummins and Paccar Partner on EV Battery Plant
- Daimler, Paccar, Cummins’ Accelera investing up to $3B in U.S. battery plant
- ELeapPower Brings Integrated Inverter to Medium-Duty BEVs
- Electric truck battery fire requires multiple fire departments to extinguish
- Former Ford, VW Executives Start Stack AV
- How electric fleets can predict maintenance issues
- Kriete becomes first EV-certified Volvo, Mack dealer in Wisconsin
- Low-voltage batteries will play increasingly important role in electric trucks
- Mullen Automotive Formally Unveils Class 3 Electric Truck
- Scania Begins Electric-Truck Battery Assembly
- Tesla to Supply Hilton Hotels With 20,000 EV Chargers
- Trucking giants partner to make battery cells in U.S.
- Venture to invest as much as $3 billion in battery supply chain
- ZF Develops EV Motor That Cuts Out Rare Earth Materials
- ZF e-motor eliminates rare-earth magnets
- ZF showcases more sustainable magnet-free electric motor
Emissions
Have you ever considered that every living thing “emits” something?
Be watching for the use of the term “emissions” in conversations about “global warming” or “climate change” in order to push a narrative.
- Toyota will use fuel cell ’emissions’ to supply a car wash
- Trucking groups balk at efforts to apply California emissions standards across U.S.
Fires
- 3rd Nikola battery-electric truck catches fire
- Arizona firefighters respond to second Nikola electric semi blaze this week
4. Regarding detention time, economy, insurance, and supply chain:
Detention time
I’d like to see studies actually lead to something productive for truckers.
Economy
- A freight market turnaround in 2024?
- August Class 8 truck orders reach highest level since February
- August transportation prices decline at slowest pace in a year
- Check Call: Third Quarter losses on the rise
- Class 8 Truck Orders Fall 12% in August
- Could Mexico help Texas become the US’ largest economy?
- DAT One’s network sees load numbers fall in latest week
- Descartes posts record results at bottom of freight cycle
- Economic Trucking Trends: Continued weakness ahead, but spot market rates continue to improve
- How retailers foresee the holidays and Arctic Circle trucking – WTT
- July Used Class 8 Sales Decline 9.3% Year-Over-Year
- Markets clock out on Labor Day
- Trucking Experts Prepare for Lackluster Peak Season
- US Trade Deficit Widened by Less than Expected in July
Insurance
Supply chain
- AI Fused With Trade Data Could Smooth Clunky Supply Chains
- Creating a more cyber secure supply chain requires group effort
- Hurricane season could pummel American supply chains
- Truckers make supply chains stronger, Rodriguez says
5. Regarding fled, fraud, smuggling, theft, and violence:
Fled
It is cowardly to run from the scene of an accident, so please don’t do that.
If you’ve been involved in a crash, own up to your part of it.
Besides, with so many pieces of video surveillance equipment in use now, it probably won’t be long before you’ll be caught if you “hit and run.”
- Bus vs semi: Truck driver in custody after leaving scene of accident in Indiana
- POLICE: Truck driver who fled scene got himself some lunch after fatal crash
- Truck driver fled scene of deadly crash through intersection
- Truck driver jailed for ‘suddenly’ leaving the scene of injury school bus crash, Indiana troopers say
Fraud
This is one of those times when the technology is working to actively oppose, reduce, and eliminate fraud.
- Convoy reduces freight fraud by 90% across its network
- Convoy releases proprietary fraud detection software
Smuggling
In the article linked just below, the trucker was actively confronting someone who had “hitched a ride” on his truck.
If the hitchhiker had not been caught, he could have been smuggled.
This is a bold and courageous move.
Theft
- Card Skimming at Truck Stops Is a Huge Problem for Fleets
- Daily Infographic: Labor Day amplifies increase in cargo thefts in 2023
Violence
6. Regarding distracted driving, maintenance, and operations:
Distracted driving
Maintenance
Operations
7. Regarding AEBs, speed limiters, technology, and tires:
AEBs
- AEB mandate would ‘jeopardize’ truckers’ safety, OOIDA says
- Trucking Trade Groups Generally Support AEB Proposal
- Weigh the Benefits: Debate continues as agencies consider final ruling on AEB requirements
Speed limiters
Technology
- Axle aims to empower trucking companies using big data
- Carmakers Are Failing the Privacy Test
- Dash cam shows what led to gas tanker crash and massive fire on Connecticut interstate
- Dramatic cellphone video shows flames billowing from big rig’s trailer
- FAA Clears UPS Drones for Longer Flights
- Flock Freight partners with e2open for shared truckload capabilities
- Insurtechs outfit small carriers with telematics to save on insurance
- Listen: Doubling Down on Safety With Advanced Technology
- North Carolina addressing wrong-way driving with new technology
- Police blame faulty tools after reported height of oversize load off by multiple feet
- Technology can streamline driver performance coaching: Veriha president
- Trucker’s dash cam captures SUV hitting cable barrier in near head-on crash on I-80
- University of Tennessee Develops Fleet Sustainability Index
- Using AI and Video to Make Job Interviews More Efficient
- Walmart Teams with Wing to Bring Drone Delivery to Dallas
Tires
8. Regarding crashes and fatalities:
Crashes
Please look through these articles to see if there is anything you can learn to help you prevent being involved in a similar crash.
- Box truck reportedly strikes drive-thru awning, causes it to collapse on car
- Car fire causes two separate pile-up crashes, hospitalizing five
- Gasoline tanker overturns, burns on Interstate 84 in Connecticut
- Pipes pierce truck cab in wreck with motorist
- Route 17 “stinks to high heaven” after rig hauling trash overturns due to poor road conditions
- Semi truck’s intense crash through intersection filmed by local business
- Truck driver faces charges after allegedly striking six cars, dragging two under trailer
- Trucker uninjured after “unsafe speed” causes explosion in gas station parking lot
- VIDEO: Car driver who cut off one truck gets hit by two trucks
- VIDEO: Wrong way motorist causes a scary close call for a pair of truckers
Fatalities
Good news in the article linked just below:
Traffic fatalities are down in the first six months of 2023, according to a new report.
Hurray!
9. Regarding events, legal, and regulations:
Events
Legal
You may wish to scan through the titles of these articles to see if anything interests you.
- Deaf driver awarded $36 million after trucking company refused to hire him, feds say
- Dump truck driver’s widow files lawsuit for dangerous train crossing that she claims cost him his life
- Loaded and Rolling: Werner’s $36 million judgment
- U.S. Supreme Court May Decide the ‘Zen’ of Interstate Trucking
- Werner hit with $36 million verdict in disability discrimination case
- Werner hit with $36M settlement in disability discrimination suit
- Werner hit with more than $36M jury award for failure to hire deaf driver applicant
Regulations
- FMCSA’s ‘adverse conditions’ rule can be a valuable tool if used correctly
- Increasing gross vehicle weight and the future of transportation
10. Regarding ports, rates, taxes, and tolls:
Ports
- Daily Infographic: Port Houston reports record-breaking volumes in July
- Jaxport to Buy Two Ship-to-Shore Cargo Cranes
- New York’s Port of Oswego Wins $4 Million Federal Grant
- Port of Corpus Christi promotes interim CEO to permanent role
- Tri-gen’ System to Fuel Toyota Sustainability at Port of Long Beach
Rates
- FedEx keeps rate, surcharge increases relatively modest for ’24
- Total spot rates in Truckstop system rise for 2nd straight week
- UPS to Raise Average Prices by 5.9%
- UPS to raise tariff rates 5.9%, matching FedEx
Taxes
- New Jersey fuel tax rates increase starting Oct. 1
- New York state fuel tax suspension could bring additional costs
Tolls
11. Regarding shortage, strike, and trucking news:
Shortage
Strike
- Fain: Strike is ‘The Plan’ if Deals Not Reached Next Week
- UAW Shows Confrontational Style as Strike Deadline Looms
Trucking news
12. Regarding recognition and awards:
Recognition
We recognize those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need!
- Highway Angels | September/October 2023
- Trucker uses his first responder skills to help rescue fellow driver in crash
- VIDEO: Horse rescue group helps out truck driver with tipping load of hay
Awards
Whether you’ve made it past the first hurdle or the last, we extend our heartiest congratulations to truckers who demonstrated great skill and safety on the job as a professional truck driver!
- 17 drivers named ‘Transition Trucking’ semi-finalists
- 4.1-million-mile safe driver wins prestigious CVSA award
- AutoZone hauler earns CVSA’s 2023 driver excellence award
- Nominations being accepted for TravelCenters of America awards
- Nominations now open for annual Citizen Driver award
- Peter Perez drives away as winner of Landstar truck giveaway
- Semifinalists announced for 2023 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award
- Texas trucker fortunate to have attended Landstar gathering after all
- Transition Trucking semifinalists announced
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: 2023.09.09 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
