TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.09.23 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending September 23, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding strike and weather:
Strike
While labor strikes may not last a long time, if your trucking job is severely impacted by one, you may wish to start looking for a different kind of trucking job.
- Auto workers expand strike to 38 locations in 20 states, targeting Stellantis and GM
- Check Call: Another day, another possible strike
- Experts warn of dire supply chain effects from prolonged UAW strike
- Lawmakers drag Buttigieg into UAW fight
- No Sign of Breakthrough in Strike by Auto Workers
- UAW Strikes Spread to 38 Locations in 20 States
- UAW Threatens Expanded Strikes
Weather
Please take needed precautions regarding predicted weather events.
If you need to replenish your stock of in-truck food, water, emergency provisions, etc., please do so.
In the USA, the coming months will bring colder temperatures and you may need some items anyway.
As the old saying goes: “forewarned is forearmed.”
- Expect rain and high winds along part of East Coast through weekend
- Low Mississippi River Limits Barges
- Low water levels limit barge traffic on Mississippi River, snarling harvest transports
- Safety Series: Be prepared to encounter a variety of weather and road conditions this fall
- Tropical Storm Ophelia threatens mid-Atlantic coast
2. Regarding business, economy, interest rates, lottery, recalls, and Yellow:
Business
- Heavy Duty Parts and Labor Costs Dropped in Q2
- How bad has truck owner-ops’ income loss been this cycle?
- How Estes is Using Data and AI to Revamp its LTL Operations
- How will dynamic pricing shape parcel’s future?
Economy
- ATA truck tonnage index for August shows slight increase from July
- August record month at South Carolina’s Inland Port Greer
- Costs for Truck Parts, Labor Fall in Q2
- Costs for vehicle parts, labor dropped in second quarter of ’23, data shows
- Cross-border freight hauled by trucks sees an increase in July
- Daily Infographic: Demand for freight transportation projected to rise 30% by 2040
- DAT shows truckload volume pricing mixed as line-haul rates tumble in August
- Economic Trucking Trends: Lots to digest in busy week for economic news in trucking
- FedEx Beats Quarterly Wall Street Profit Expectations
- FedEx cost cuts outrunning revenue weakness, for now
- For exporters, container shipping still far from pre-COVID ‘normal’
- Medium-Duty Truck Sales Spike 13% in August
- Parts and labor costs drop in Q2
- Playing the waiting game
- Port Volumes Decline in August
- Preliminary data show ‘weak’ trailer orders for August
- Sales of new Class 8 trucks strong, used truck prices declining
- Sequential uptick in August Cass data but comps to 2022 fall faster
- Tonnage Dips 2.3% in August
- Trac Intermodal CEO eyes continued growth for chassis industry
- Truck tonnage mostly flat from July to August
- Trucking conditions improved but remained negative in July
Interest rates
Lottery
Recalls
If you have equipment under a recall, please have it attended to as soon as possible.
Yellow
If you’re anything like me, the first paragraph of this article makes your blood boil:
Yellow Trucking Execs Pocketed $4.6 Million After Handing Out 30,000 Pink Slips.
The same leadership team that ran one of the largest less-than-truckload operations into the ground rewarded themselves with bonuses topping $4.6 million. As Yellow Trucking makes its way through the bankruptcy process, 30,000 workers lost their jobs. One trucker was reportedly stranded away from home and cut off from company per diem expenses.
The only thing is, what can be done about this?
Well, three of the articles below indicate that the Teamsters are asking for an investigation on Yellow’s bankruptcy.
Well, we’ll see if that takes place and what transpires.
Meanwhile, how are all of the former Yellow truck drivers doing on finding new jobs?
Please comment through the form below.
Thanks.
- Estes’ $1.525B stalking horse bid for Yellow’s terminals wins out
- Teamsters union calls on Senate to investigate Yellow Corp.’s bankruptcy
- Teamsters urge Senate to begin bankruptcy reform hearings on Yellow
- Teamsters urge Senate to investigate Yellow bankruptcy
- Yellow receives OK to sell its truck fleet
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I am most definitely opposed to 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 our readers.
- AI-Powered Self-Driving Semi Trucks To Deliver Loads Between Dallas And Houston
- California truckers ask governor to sign job-saving bill as self-driving big rigs are tested
- Driverless Carmakers Are Pivoting to Trucks
- Q&A with Stack AV autonomous trucking founder Bryan Salesky
- Q&A: The State of Autonomous Vehicle Development
- Teamsters call on Newsom to sign CA bill banning driverless trucks
- Truckers and Teamsters convoy to ask California to ban driverless trucks
- Uber Freight, Waabi Team Up on AI-Powered Autonomous Trucks
- Waabi partners with Uber Freight on autonomous trucks
- Waabi signs 10-year autonomous trucking pact with Uber Freight
- Waabi, Uber Freight Team up for Autonomous-Truck Deployment Model
Electric vehicles
If you’re looking at potentially obtaining an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence ahead of time.
- California’s dray truck ZEV mandate backfiring at the ports?
- California’s dray truck ZEV mandate backfiring at the ports?
- Coke Canada Bottling says VNR Electric is it
- Einride matches truck electrification and scheduled charging
- Electrification of trucking industry is ‘around the corner’
- Electrify America Navigates Patchwork of Rates, Regulations
- Equity must be considered in early stages of fleet electrification
- Exploring Volvo Electric Trucks in Sweden (Photos)
- Fleet Editors Roundtable to Look at Commercial EV Market
- Isuzu, ChargePoint ink EV infrastructure, training deal
- Love’s receives $4.8 million to add EV charging stations in PA and CO.
- Love’s Travel Stops Receives $4.8 Million to Build EV Chargers
- Our Next Energy looks to address three biggest issues facing EV batteries
- Prologis looks to lead on commercial EV charging infrastructure
- Tech advocate: Careful planning key to avoiding electric truck pitfalls
- The Best and Worst States for EV Charging Options
- Volvo Electric VNR debuts as part of Coke Canada Bottling’s iconic ‘Red Fleet’
- Volvo Energy Developing Second-Life Plans for Truck Batteries
- Volvo’s fuel cell truck advances but battery-electric is biggest push
- Wyoming panel pursues fee on certain out-of-state electric vehicles
Emissions
This is not going to be a popular statement among some, but when I looked at Wikipedia’s “definition” of “Net zero emissions,” I could not help but see global control all over it.
You may want to look at the following articles:
Now, here are recent articles about emissions from or concerning the trucking industry:
- ACT Research bullish on adoption of alternative zero-emission trucks
- Big Emissions Bills Are Coming for Ships Sailing in Europe
- Covenant Logistics’ VP outlines strategies to meet emissions targets
- Cutting emissions is affecting shippers’ modal choices
- Net-Zero: Charging, building and emissions solutions – WTT
- Sheer Logistics emissions dashboards aims to advance sustainable supply chains
- Voltera helps stand up zero-emission operations
- Volvo Details Net-Zero Technology Pathways Forward
Fuel
- Bosch sees clear skies for hydrogen as key to transport decarbonization
- Diesel Price Climbs 9.3¢ to $4.633
- Diesel prices still rising
- Diesel’s fuel surcharge benchmark is up, even as futures suddenly drop
- EPA’s Own Scientists Warn Ethanol Might Not Be Green Enough
- Georgia Suspends Diesel, Gas Taxes
- How will Russian ban on diesel exports impact global energy trade?
- Hyundai, Georgia Tech to Research Hydrogen Power for Trucks
- Methods of measuring fuel economy
- N.J. Diesel, Gas Taxes Go Up by Nearly 1¢ Oct. 1
- ProMiles, EIA reports show another week of diesel increases
- Sheetz extends diesel and DEF discounts through the end of September
- Upgrading Refuse Fleets to CNG: Three Considerations Beyond Economics
- Weekly Fuel Report: September 19, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: September 18, 2023
4. Regarding inspections, legal, maintenance, operations, and ports:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Keeping equipment in tip-top shape is key to passing DOT inspection
- Texas resumes truck inspections along Mexico border amid migrant surge
Legal
Please don’t tamper with what you should not.
Maintenance
Operations
- Nebraska noted as the most dangerous state for truck drivers
- Video Shows Semi Truck Losing Double Trailers In Minnesota Traffic
- VIDEO: Trucker takes an off-road shortcut
- WATCH: Forgetful driver causes dangerous situation with his tanker truck
Ports
5. Regarding clearance, crashes, DOT medical card, drugs, theft, and violence:
Clearance
Please make sure you know the height of your truck and load before you start out.
Even if you have a commercial motor vehicle-specific GPS unit, make sure that you have a truckers atlas with you for routing purposes.
Do not become involved in a preventable low clearance accident.
- N.Y. Deploys Tactics to Mitigate Bridge Strikes
- Semi Truck Hauling Helicopter Gets Stuck Under Bridge In Denham Springs, Louisiana
- WATCH: Car hauler takes the time to measure bridge height himself
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.
- 30,000 pounds of spilled bananas immortalized in song and story
- Highway horseback rider struck and killed by tractor trailer
- Minnesota traffic cameras capture fiery car vs. big rig crash at intersection
- New York Bus Crash Leaves One Dead, Dozens Of High School Students Injured
- Nissan driver with ‘forged tags’ arrested after crash that left trucker with life-threatening injuries
- Semi truck driver perishes after his truck was hit by a train
- Semi truck spills load of fish, smelling up Washington highway Thursday
- Video Shows Sand Truck And Semi Truck Rear-End Crash
DOT medical card
Drugs
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how much of an incentive you’ve been offered.
- $7.7 million methamphetamine seized from shipment of limes
- Agents seize nearly $10 million worth of marijuana from big rig at Texas border crossing
- Cops seize hundreds of pounds of pot from rig’s sleeper during west Tennessee traffic stop
- More than $9.9M in marijuana seized from big rig in Laredo, Texas
- Tennessee cops bust truck driver with $1M of marijuana in sleeper berth
Theft
Please be aware of the potential for theft of tractors, trailers, cargo, your personal possessions, or other things — and do what you can to prevent that.
- Daily Infographic: Mexico averages 58 cargo thefts a day in Q2
- Kentucky Cargo Theft Spike Echoes National Issues
Violence
- Kansas City truck driver arrested for the deaths of two women back in the nineties, is suspected serial killer
- Oklahoma Trooper And Truck Driver Physically Fought Before Fatal Turner Turnpike Shooting
- Truck driver shot and killed by Oklahoma trooper near toll plaza
- Woman Shot By Truck Driver in Van Zandt County, Texas
6. Regarding parking, retention, training, and truckers:
Parking
- 200 truck parking spaces added in Laramie, Wyo.
- Bost calls for more focus on creating truck parking
- FHWA’s Bhatt celebrates opening of Wyoming’s new truck parking along I-80
- If you’ve ever considered sleeping at the fuel island, this spoof is for you
- Illegally parked trucks, dropped trailers add to parking woes in Peel Region
- Love’s opens second travel stop off Interstate 30 in Prescott, Arkansas
- Love’s Travel Stops opens second store in Prescott
- New Love’s Truck Stop Opens In Prescott, Arkansas, With 84 Truck Parking Spaces
- San Antonio looking to ban overnight truck parking on city streets without offering drivers a solution
- San Antonio, Texas considers banning overnight truck parking
Retention
- America’s happiest employees work at this truck stop chain, Indeed says
- Love’s Travel Stops No. 1 on Happiest Employees List
Training
- Entry-level driver training issues aired; freight market drops and fuel rises – WTT
- FMCSA awards grants for increasing, improving CDL training
- Medical training school incorporates CDL training
- Streamlining driver coaching
Truckers
- Fleets share tips on maximizing truck driver potential
- Love’s, FedEx Freight on list of companies known for workers’ wellbeing
- White Paper: Drive Down Your Lodging Costs with This Helpful Guide
7. Regarding border, delivery, and triangles:
Border
- Borderlands: Mexico remains top US trade partner in July, Laredo No. 1 gateway
- Cargo processing operations suspended at Bridge of the Americas
- Cargo processing suspended at busy border crossing
Delivery
- Creating a new, nimble parcel world
- Daily Infographic: Consumer expectations: Delivery speed beats price
- Roadie launches same-day delivery from local warehouses
- Ryder survey finds faster online delivery back in modest vogue
- What is a Double Blind Delivery?
Triangles
Please make sure you know how to put out triangles when you need to.
Part of the Federal Code in the USA that covers this is here:
§ 392.22 Emergency signals; stopped commercial motor vehicles.
8. Regarding rates, sign-on bonus, surcharges, taxes, and tolls:
Rates
- Going down? Analysts debate how long freight rates will remain low
- Trouble ahead: Container shipping rates sinking further into the red
- Truckstop report reflects drop in spot rates for week of Sept. 10-15
Sign-on bonus
Surcharges
- No peak-season delivery surcharges, Postal Service says
- The parcel Santa surcharge wars
- When shippers battled against a new surcharge
Taxes
- House Committee Hears Arguments on Excise Tax Repeal
- Transportation tax questions on Georgia county ballots
- Washington Trucking Assoc. Sues Over Fuel Tax Exemption as Diesel Spikes
Tolls
- Highway Robbery: Rhode Island Asks Appeals Court To Reinstate Truck-Only Tolls
- Major toll hike coming on the New York State Thruway
- NY Thruway Authority says 2024 toll increase is the “responsible approach”
9. Regarding AB5, ELDs, politics, regulations, and technology:
AB5
ELDs
- Feds add revoked ELD back to approved list
- FMCSA restores KSK Group’s ELD to agency’s list of registered devices
- KSK ELD reinstated to FMCSA’s registered devices list
Politics
- “It’s the corporations,” say truckers opposed to bill proposing 91,000 lb trucks
- Freight Executives Press Congress on Trucking Priorities
- Transportation taxes on fall ballots in counties and cities
Regulations
- Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Factsheets and Compliance Planning Tool Available
- FMCSA complaint reporting system needs overhaul: GAO
- FMCSA launches grants to improve CDL licensing process
- FMCSA told to make all carrier complaint data public
- Report: FMCSA’s complaint database needs improvements
Technology
- 2024 FreightTech 100: Who leads the pack in freight innovation?
- ELD Company Orbcomm Hit With Ransomware Attack
- ERoad Enhancements Address Safety, Routing, Integrations
- FMCSA Proposes Way to Challenge DataQ Reviews
- Hapag-Lloyd to Install Satellite Internet on Containerships
- How large fleets can improve asset tracking and data analysis
- Hundreds of Flying Taxis to Be Made in Ohio
- Isaac Instruments Introduces Updated Video Camera System
- J.J. Keller Offers New Video Review Service
- Link Logistics using data to implement energy efficiencies at warehouses
- Mullen Adds In-House Fleet Telematics Solution
- Nodar’s camera software extends object detection range, reaction time
- Ticket cameras endorsed by California Legislature
- Ticket cameras under review at Pennsylvania statehouse
- Transparency, data are keys to driver buy-in for safety programs
- VMRS – The Best Kept Secret in Fleet Maintenance
- Why Now is the Time for Fleets to Prepare for Transformation
- Zipline secures key operational approval for drone package deliveries
10. Regarding solar and speed limiter:
Solar
Speed limiter
11. Regarding Amazon, food, and freebies:
Amazon
Food
Freebies
12. Regarding championship, competition, recognition, and skills:
Championship
Congratulations to all truck driving championship winners!
- Doug Nickles Crowned TMCSuperTech Grand Champion
- FedEx Freight’s Nickles Claims TMCSuperTech Grand Championship
Competition
Recognition
We recognize those who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
We also list here upcoming opportunities for folks to be recognized for their efforts along these lines.
- Bison Transport’s Chahal named TCA Highway Angel for helping crash victim
- Goodyear is now accepting nominations online
- Goodyear Seeks Highway Hero Nominations
- J.B. Hunt driver honored for aiding severely injured motorcyclist
- Trucker aids fellow drivers whose tractor-trailers had been blown over
- Trucker earns TCA Highway Angel wings for helping save injured motorcyclist
Skills
If there is anything that proves that truck drivers are not “unskilled labor,” it is the skill that they demonstrate on the job every day.
Please notice these demonstrations that either will take place or have already taken place recently:
- Elite Truckers to Test Skills at Fundraiser Sept. 23
- Peterbilt, Transition Overwatch work to help military vets transfer skills to diesel tech jobs
- Watch As Trucker Hauling Wind Turbine Makes Tight Turn
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: 2023.09.23 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
