TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.10.14 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 14, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding ATRI, ban, inspections, routing, and strike:
ATRI
- ATRI Top Issues, Spear State of the Industry Lead MCE Agenda
- Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry – 2023 – TruckingResearch.org
- Economy Leads ATRI’s 2023 Top Industry Issues List
Ban
Please pay attention to all signs saying that large trucks are banned in certain areas.
- Kentucky aims to steer long-haul big rigs away from rural roads
- Kentucky police crack down on commercial vehicles
- Kentucky State Police Warn Truckers To Avoid Shortcuts On Rural Roads
- Kentucky wants to keep trucks off of the commonwealth’s rural roads
- NO TRUCKS ALLOWED: Kentucky Ousts Truckers From Secondary Routes
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA Releases 2023 Brake Safety Week Results
- Georgia Department of Public Safety Calls Out A Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver For 15 Violations
- Halton blitz puts 31% of inspected trucks out of service
- Iowa Troopers Call Out Truckers For Unsecured Equipment Hauls
- Mexico to send diplomatic note protesting Texas border truck inspections causing major delays
- Speeding Top Reason for Warnings During Operation Safe Driver
- Texas resumes cargo truck inspections at Laredo port of entry
- Texas resumes state inspections of commercial vehicles crossing Mexico border
Routing
Please remember to always route yourself by reliable sources of information, such as a truckers atlas.
- Officials Respond To Stuck Truck In Pittsburgh Neighborhood
- Semi Truck On The Moki Dugway Near Mexican Hat, Utah
Strike
What impact are proposed and actual strikes having on your trucking income?
Please comment through the form below.
Thanks.
- Auto workers escalate strike, walking out at Ford’s largest factory
- Canadian Auto Workers End Strike After Tentative Deal With GM
- Commentary: How Socialist agitating helped tank Mack-UAW deal
- Mack employees go on strike after rejecting tentative agreement
- Mack Trucks facing UAW strike
- Mack Trucks UAW workers reject contract, walked off jobs this morning
- The auto workers’ strike enters its 4th week
- UAW Breaks Pattern of Adding Factories to Strikes on Fridays
- UAW employees will strike at Mack Trucks after rejecting contract
- UAW Members Walk Out at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant
- UAW Rejects Mack Offer: Strike Begins
- Workers at Mack Trucks Go on Strike After Rejecting Deal
- Workers at Mack Trucks go on strike after rejecting tentative contract deal
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, emissions, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I most decisively oppose the operation of autonomous, self-driving, and driverless commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles as a courtesy to help our readers stay current with the topic.
- 7 Roadblocks to the Widespread Adoption of Autonomous Trucking
- Automated driving systems proposal targeted for late 2023
- Cruise to Upgrade San Francisco Driverless Cars
- Waymo Comes to Southern California, and It’s a Hot Ticket
- Who’s Comfortable with Driverless Tractor-Trailers?
Batteries
Electric vehicles
If you plan to buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your due diligence.
- China’s CATL, BYD Dominate EV Battery Market
- Dragonfly Energy Introduces All-Electric APU
- Emterra Group to deploy Ontario’s first electric refuse truck
- Isuzu Taps ChargePoint for EV Charging Solutions
- Megawatt Truck Charging Hub in Ohio
- Mercedes Unveils Longhaul Electric Truck
- Mercedes unveils new electric Class 8 rig
- Paper truck myths
- Small fleet owner predicts long-term ROI with battery-electric
- TeraWatt Acquires 2 Heavy-Duty EV Charging Sites
- The Future of Electric Vehicles Looms Over UAW Strike
- Truck electrification is much more than picking a charger
- Will Electric Trucks Have to File IFTA?
Emissions
- Shell Starship 3.0 Demo Runs Produce Lower Emissions
- Zero-emission trucks insurance rule approved in California
Fuel
- Average diesel prices drop across US
- Benchmark retail diesel price falls, but Israeli conflict boosts futures
- Biden Awards $7 Billion for Clean Hydrogen Hubs Across US
- Diesel Price Drops 9.5¢ to $4.498 a Gallon
- Diesel prices continue to trend downward
- Shell’s Starship 3.0 improves freight efficiency using RNG
- Small trucking company “robbing Peter to pay Paul” as high fuel prices refuse to fall
- U.S. hydrogen hubs receive $7B in funding
- Weekly Fuel Report: October 10, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: October 09, 2023
- Which Type of Fleet Fuel Economy Test is Right for You?
3. Regarding economy and pay:
Economy
- ACT Research issues moderate forecast for Class 8 tractors, trailers
- Business as usual?
- Class 8 Sales Fall in September for Second Consecutive Month
- Daily Infographic: Logistics warehousing construction starts plunge to near 10-year low
- Del Monte exec reflects on dramatic market shift of 2022
- Economic Trucking Trends: Canada’s spot market volumes strengthen, but U.S. rates fall further
- EIA expects a dip in some winter costs
- How long will used trucks be a buyer’s market?
- India offers wealth of opportunities for manufacturers seeking to expand
- Inflation Eased Slightly in September
- Loaded and Rolling: Morgan Stanley sees freight industry move ‘deeper into limbo’
- Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 600 foreshadows next Freightliner eCascadia
- Perspective: The Past Year Has Proven the Value of Trucking
- Some positive signs but trucking market moves ‘deeper into limbo’
- Truck costs likely to skyrocket in coming years
Pay
4. Regarding AB5 and Tesla:
AB5
Tesla
I’m adding this article in this week’s mix because more Teslas on the road could impact truckers.
5. Regarding crashes, fatalities, fires, and violence:
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.
- Big Rig Crash on Wyoming Mountain Road Near Buffalo Spills Thousands of Pounds Of Bentonite
- Corvette driver survives after car crushed by 18-wheeler
- Major Crash Involving Semi Trucks Closes I-10 In Arizona
Fatalities
We express our deep sympathy — and offer our condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these crashes.
Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent being involved in a fatal large truck crash?
- 1 dead in Arizona crash involving 2 big rigs
- Child dies after riding dirt bike into semi-truck’s path
- Fuel Tanker Truck Driver Dies in Crash On Utah Interstate
- Man killed after falling from truck cab in Texas
- Man Who Was Clinging To Moving Semi Truck Falls Off And Is Fatally Struck In San Antonio, Texas
- Tanker truck drivers dies in Park City, Utah, wreck
- Teen Fails To Stop At Stop Sign, Two Fatally Struck By Truck City Of Wood
- Truck Driver Killed After Hitting A Toll Booth Near Richmond, California
- Trucker dead after domestic violence suspect police chase ends in head-on collision
Fires
Please regularly check the fire extinguisher in your truck to make sure it is fully charged.
Also, learn how to avoid having an engine fire in the first place.
- Semi Truck Crash Causes Massive Structure Fire In Newton, Kansas
- Watch this fuel island truck fire video and try not to feel too alarmed
Violence
How could this situation have been averted?
Please comment through the form below.
6. Regarding border and containers:
Border
- Borderlands: Cargobot sees big opportunities with global cross-border trade
- Cargo processing resumes at busy U.S.-Mexico border crossing
- Daily Infographic: Ending US-Mexico tomato pact could raise prices
- Inspections Halt 19,000 Trucks at Texas-Mexico Border
- Mexican president blames Texas-run border inspections for delays
Containers
- Canada Invests $150 Million in Container Terminal in Quebec
- Feds contribute to construction of Montreal’s Contrecoeur container terminal
- US container imports still rising, topping pre-COVID levels
7. Regarding regulations and sustainability:
Regulations
- Ag exemption extended in Iowa
- Custom harvester drivers get exemption renewal from FMCSA
- FMCSA cuts back on relief for drivers during emergencies
- FMCSA expects to issue broker final rule in March
- FMCSA extends protections for under-21 harvest haulers
- FMCSA issues final rule on emergency declarations
- FMCSA Publishes Final Rule Cutting Regulatory Relief For Truckers Hauling Relief Supplies
- FMCSA renews exemption for harvest workers
- FMCSA updates emergency exemption requirements for CMVs
- Ohio improves CDL services
- OOIDA questions need for emergency relief reduction
Sustainability
Following the objective of “sustainable development,” the proposed global regime would monitor, oversee, and strictly regulate all land, all bodies of water, and the atmosphere of planet Earth and would cover every person on the planet with global programs for healthcare, nutrition, agriculture, education, labor, energy, production, consumption — in short, everything.
So, please be aware of this before you jump fully in to supporting the concept of “sustainability.”
8. Regarding future, rates, taxes, and tolls:
Future
- Innovators, Inspiration, Networking at HDTX 2023 [Photos]
- New Frontiers for the Shell Starship
- Volvo SuperTruck, Shell Starship projects detail progress in new reports
- Volvo’s SuperTruck 2 exceeds efficiency targets
Rates
- Total spot rates are lowest since July 2020, Truckstop reports
- Truckload spot and contract rate spread remains unnaturally wide heading into bid season
Taxes
Tolls
9. Regarding truck parts and truck stops:
Truck parts
- How to spot failures in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler
- Hunter: New Hawkeye XL Alignment System Designed for Speed
- New all-electric APU from Dragonfly Energy
- Primer on EGR cooler failure | Solar eclipse traffic, NYC I-278 shutdown expected over weekend
- Understanding purchase options for the powertrains of tomorrow
- Volvo’s SuperTruck 2 Goes Long on Aero, Lightweighting; Ups Freight Efficiency 134%
- Volvo’s SuperTruck 2 adopts European rigid chassis design
Truck stops
- Burr Ridge Residents Are Speaking Out Against A New Truck Stop
- Kansas truck stop converts to TA Express; has 40 truck parking spots
- Love’s rebrands EZ GO location in Belle Plaine, Kansas
- Russell’s Travel Center Reopened As A TA Truck Stop in Glenrio, New Mexico
- TA opens a pair of new truck stops
10. Regarding employment, shortage, and shut down:
Employment
- Flexport lays off 600 workers amid difficult freight market
- Time for truckers to stop giving two-week notice?
- Trucking jobs rebound after big hit in August
Shortage
Shut down
There are at least two definitions of “shut down” when it comes to trucking:
- one in which a trucker shuts down his/her truck and refuses to drive because it is not safe and legal to do so; and
- one in which a trucking company ceases operations in some respect.
Please bear this in mind regarding the articles in this section.
- 40-year-old Montana trucking company, freight brokerage shutters operations
- At least 273 truckers out of work as Montana trucking company closes doors
- Sudden Closure Of Michigan Trucking Company Sunset Logistics Leaves 90 Truck Drivers Stunned
- Truckers: Shuttered Sunset Logistics still owes final paychecks, escrow
- Trucking Companies Continue Callous Treatment of Drivers
11. Regarding last mile and technology:
Last mile
What are your thoughts about “last mile” or “final mile”?
Please share your thoughts through the form below.
Technology
- Aifleet raises $14M to continue improving driver utilization rates
- Camera Rule Slammed Because It Doesn’t Include Freight Rail
- DAT Freight and Analytics introduces new risk assessment engine to public
- Estes Rating, Quoting System Returns to Action After Cyberattack
- Georgia expands deployment of Drivewyze Smart Roadways Service
- How it’s delivered: Wing gives glimpse of a future with drone delivery
- New ways to measure driver cellphone use could yield better data
- PCS Software: How a carrier TMS transformed itself into a digital freight network
- RXO adds drop trailer capacity with Flex Fleet Program
- Shippers, regulators tap into technology to ferret out illicit imports
- Taking stock of what happened at Estes
- Telematics to be offered on MAC Liquid Tank Trailers
- Tesla Taps European Stainless Steel Producer for Cybertruck
- Thermo King To Provide Tracking Telematics as Standard
- Uber Freight’s new solutions: Rebuilt TMS, procurement, wide AI use
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
We congratulate Kirl Tartt for his tremendous achievement!
Recognition
We recognize and applaud those who have helped their fellow human beings when they are in a time of need.
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: 2023.10.14 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
