TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.10.28 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 28, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding congestion, Convoy, detention, and vandalism:
Congestion
We received from The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) an email on October 25, 2023, with this subject line:
Trucking’s Annual Congestion Costs Top $94.6 Billion
The first paragraph read:
Traffic congestion on U.S. highways added $94.6 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2021 according to the latest Cost of Congestion study published by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). This is the highest level yet recorded through this ongoing research initiative.
Other articles on this topic include:
- ATRI: Trucking’s Annual Congestion Costs Top $94.6 Billion
- Congestion Cost Trucking a Record $94.6 Billion in 2021
- Loaded and Rolling: ATRI finds congestion cost trucking $94.6B
- Traffic congestion cost trucking a record $94.6 billion in 2021 | I-17 speed limit increasing
- Traffic congestion cost trucking industry $94.6 billion in 2021; new record
- Traffic congestion costs trucking industry nearly $95 billion in 2021
- Trucking congestion costs hit record $94.6B
Convoy
This company is/was a digital freight broker.
The details on the “shut down” and possible takeover have not yet been settled.
- CEO of digital freight broker Convoy working on a business deal with former employees following shutdown
- Convoy finds buyer for tech stack, source says
- Convoy sold; theft of 2 million dimes; escalating truck insurance – WTT
- Convoy’s shutdown exposes the desperate state of trucking
- Convoy’s tech focus may have obscured importance of human element
- Death from overfunding: An obituary for Convoy
- Flexport in conversations to buy Convoy’s technology stack
- Former Employees Looking to Buy Convoy, Report Says
- Rich Men Can’t Truck: Start-Up Backed by Bezos, Gates Shutters Abruptly
Detention
Vandalism
Eventually, the “ice pick tire slasher” in Florida and Georgia will be caught.
In the meanwhile, if you travel in that area, please be ultra-careful about where you stop and park.
If you have the wherewithal to purchase, mount, and operate mini-cameras to record in various places around your rig, this person might be able to be caught sooner.
- Ice Pick Bandit strikes multiple times in two nights in Georgia, Florida
- Serial semi tire slasher sought by Florida police after truckers report at least 10 incidents
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I emphatically disagree with the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless Commercial Motor Vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles out of concern for our readers.
- California Stops Cruise From Operating Without Drivers
- Cruise Grounds Robotaxi Fleet After California Suspension
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your do diligence.
- Daily Infographic: EV Infrastructure: South Korea leads the charge
- EV Battery-Recycling Pioneer Li-Cycle Pauses Construction
- EV investments ramp up across the American South
- Freightliner kicks off production of electric eM2
- Honda Halts Plans With GM to Develop Smaller EVs
- Rizon Electric Trucks Receive EPA and CARB Certification
- Screwdrivers and electric trucks
- Solving Power Procurement Challenges for EV Charging
- TeraWatt Buys Two California Sites for Heavy-Duty EV Charging
- Whatever became of those splashy electrification startups?
- Where to find power
Fuel
- Average US diesel prices rising as war roils Middle East
- Diesel Price Rises 10.1¢ to $4.545 a Gallon
- Hexagon Agility Expands CNG/RNG Capabilities in North Carolina
- Meet ‘Topsy,’ Edison Motors’ diesel-electric vocational prototype
- Peterbilt Displays Hydrogen Combustion Engine Demonstrator
- ProMiles says national diesel average up for first time in a month
- Tesla’s Semi may blow past diesels uphill, but truckers see limits
- Weekly Fuel Report: October 24, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: October 23, 2023
3. Regarding being mean, operations, and recalls:
Being mean
The article in this section was posted on the website’s Facebook page — and as of the time that I saw it, there were already many comments in reply.
Some truckers were of the opinion — without having any facts to back it up — that the trucker whose fifth wheel pin was pulled basically deserved the treatment because he had parked for too long in the fuel island.
Regardless of driver’s behavior, this kind of activity is dangerous and can be damaging.
If the truck stop where this took place had video surveillance cameras rolling and the perpetrator was recorded, I hope that he/she will eventually be caught and dealt with.
Meanwhile, for the sakes of safety and saving time, please remember to always check certain things — including your fifth wheel pin — before you pull out.
Operations
Never attempt to take a truck that is 13’6″ high through a tunnel or on a bridge where the clearance is lower than that.
- Reckless motorcyclist survives being run over by semi truck in jarring video
- Video shows big rig ‘scraping’ through Sumner Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts
Recalls
If you have the kind of tractor described here, please take your truck to an approved service location as soon as possible.
4. Regarding business, carbon, and economy:
Business
The articles in this section concern the business of trucking.
- Activity-based costing helps carriers improve bottom line
- Ask these questions before leasing to a carrier
- Navigating Inspections and Test Drives When Selling Your Used Truck
- NLRB joint-employer rule triggers fears of higher trucking costs
- Set aside cash for taxes, maintenance, more
- There’s a lot more to running a successful trucking business than just owning a rig
Carbon
Economy
- ACT Research data suggests gradually improving freight market
- ACT Research: For-Hire Survey Suggests a Gradually Improving Freight Market
- ACT’s For-Hire Survey suggests improving freight market
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index falls 1.1% in September
- Daily Infographic: By value, motorized vehicles topped the list of commodities shipped by rail in 2022
- Economy Accelerated to a Strong 4.9% Rate Last Quarter
- Growth vs. stability: Is it time to rethink your approach?
- HDT Fact Book 2023: Industry Adjusts to the Downside of the Freight Cycle
- Landstar sees continuation of soft freight market in Q4
- North American peak inventory levels balanced, DHL unit CEO says
- Rush Enterprises keeps momentum in softening Class 8 aftermarket
- Ryder CEO sees freight market nearing ‘bottom’
- September Trailer Orders Spike With Order Book Openings
- Taking market share from trucks will require cross-industry collaboration: CN
- TFI Third-Quarter Profit Dives 45.6% on Weak Freight Market
- Tonnage Dips 4.1% in September
- Truck sales remain strong but there may be a crisis on the horizon
- Truck tonnage dipped in September after slight August gain
- Trucking’s peak season off to a ‘muted start,’ say analysts
- Warehouse warning: Inflationary winds brewing
- Weathering the market highs and lows in a career in freight
5. Regarding crashes, DataQs, 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.
- “Superfog” blamed for Louisiana pile-up crash that killed seven
- Crews clear wreckage after ‘super fog’ near New Orleans causes highway crashes, killing at least 7
- Crews Clear Wreckage on Highway Near New Orleans
- Foggy conditions cause pile up crash involving multiple semi trucks in Louisiana
- I-55 in Louisiana partially reopens following 168 vehicle pileup that killed 8 people
- Man thrown from boom lift after bump from semi truck in Minneapolis
- Mysterious fog caused one of Tennessee’s deadliest crashes 33 years ago
- Police searching for suspect after truck driver takes out multiple signs
- Truck Pile-Up On Kentucky Shoulder Raises Overnight Parking Issue
- VIDEO: SUV cuts off semi truck and starts a chain reaction crash
- What To Do If You Hit A Deer With Your Company Vehicle
- Wild dump truck vs. pickup crash caught on Minnesota DOT traffic cameras
DataQs
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?
- At Least 7 Dead in Massive Louisiana Pileups Due to ‘Superfog’
- Daily Infographic: NHTSA estimates traffic fatalities continued to decline in the first half of 2023
- Death toll in Louisiana’s massive I-55 pileup increases to 8; 63 others injured
- Loose semi truck tire kills two women, injures three more on I-94 in Minnesota
- Toll rises to 8 dead, 63 hurt from Louisiana pileup blamed on fog, smoke
- Trucker killed in crash near runaway ramp in Idaho that spilled load of lumber
6. Regarding fact book and FMCSA:
Fact book
- HDT Fact Book 2023: Fatal Accidents, Driver Abilities Among Key Safety Concerns
- HDT Fact Book 2023: Logistics Experiences “Great Reset”
FMCSA
- FMCSA extends comment period for potential carrier rating system revamp
- FMCSA extends comment period on Safety Fitness Determination regulations
- FMCSA making security changes to Portal account system
- FMCSA Portal users must act by Dec. 1
- FMCSA still seeking comments on revamp of carrier safety rating system
7. Regarding deliveries, holidays, and weather:
Deliveries
It appears to me that Roadrunner is so sure of on-time deliveries that the company is willing to provide “free” shipping for late deliveries.
Wow!
- Daily Infographic: Roadrunner’s new service waives shipment costs on late deliveries
- Roadrunner Offers Free LTL Delivery on Late Shipments
Holidays
This is the first holiday-dates-related article I’ve read so far this season.
Weather
If you haven’t already, prepare for cold temperatures now!
- Bendix Issues Tech Tips for Harsh Winter Weather
- Bendix Tech Tips: Don’t wait to prepare for winter
- Prepare your body’s ‘engine’ for cold and flu season
8. Regarding pay, ports, and rates:
Pay
Ports
- Cargo volumes a mixed bag for Gulf Coast ports in September
- Port of Los Angeles ready for bountiful container volumes
Rates
9. Regarding shut down, smuggling, strike, and theft:
Shut down
- Briefly: California-based Certified Freight Logistics shuts down
- California trucking company to close down after 93 years in operation.
- Fraud, theft and abuse’ force Texas freight brokerage to shut down
Smuggling
Strike
Let’s hope that all strikes are soon resolved.
- Analysis: How costly is Mack Trucks’ stridency with striking UAW?
- Ford Pulls Profit Forecast on Strike Impact
- Ford, UAW Reach Tentative Deal
- Mack says UAW’s new contract demands ‘surprising’ and ‘unrealistic’
- Mack Trucks balks at union’s “unreasonable” demands
- Mack Trucks releases statement on UAW strike negotiations
- Mack Trucks, UAW remain at strike impasse
- Mack Trucks, UAW Return to Negotiating Table
- Strike Halts All Shipping on St. Lawrence Seaway
- UAW Adds Key Stellantis Pickup Truck Plant to Strikes
- UAW Strikes GM SUV Plant in Texas
- UAW, Stellantis Reach Tentative Agreement
Theft
Do not become a willing participant in any theft!
- Charges unsealed after men steal truckload of dimes in Philadelphia
- Former Prime Inc. dispatcher admits stealing social security numbers from 500 truck drivers in $300K fuel scheme
- Four indicted following rash of cargo theft
- Police won’t help after semi trucks stolen in Florida, drivers say
- Velociti, CATrak join forces to combat surge in catalytic converter thefts
10. Regarding taxes and technology:
Taxes
Technology
- Action required: Updates to FMCSA account logins coming | Latest truck, chassis recalls
- Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Trucking
- Brokers should use technology to stand out this RFP season
- Cummins Collaborates on Open Telematics Framework
- Cyberattack response plans need to be in place to avoid chaos
- Drivers Beware: Hackers Targeting the Trucking Industry
- Echo Global Logistics goes beyond AI to drive value
- Estes Express IT System Fully Restored, COO Says
- Estes Express IT System Fully Restored, COO Says
- FBI Analyst Stresses Trucking Cybersecurity Importance
- Feds announce millions for smart transportation technology
- Fighting back in a cybersecurity world where bad guys are getting bolder
- Fleet Advantage unveils new brand mark, visual identity
- Fleets Learn to Utilize In-Cab Technology
- How GPS tracking is revolutionizing fleets
- Look beyond the flash to unlock the potential of AI in supply chain
- Netradyne Launches Driver-i One to Streamline Fleet Management and Safety
- Ports Consider Digitization Strategies to Track Cargo
- Tracking fleet metrics can be tricky
- Trucking Faces Increasing Threat of Cyberattacks
11. Regarding inspections and insurance:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- 12.6% of Inspected Vehicles Removed from Service During CVSA Brake Safety Week
- About 12.6% of Vehicles Inspected Placed Out of Service
- Expert Advice on Reducing Truck Out-of-Service Violations [Video]
- Texas halts mandatory state inspections of all commercial vehicles entering U.S.
Insurance
- Think that you can’t afford commercial truck insurance? OOIDA says think again.
- Trucking company uninsured for years prior to Colorado I-25 crash that killed five
- What’s behind rising insurance costs?
- What’s up with downtime insurance?
12. Regarding awards, freebies, and skill :
Awards
Congratulations to these truckers for their achievements and designations.
- 3 Frito-Lay OTR truckers honored for driving over 3 million safe miles
- ATA names 36 finalists for America’s Road Team Captains
Freebies
Skill
The title of the article on the page says:
“WATCH: Trucker successfully threads the needle through potential truck pile-up”.
“Threading the needle” in trucking terms means basically driving one’s truck through an ultra thin area unscathed.
We are glad that this trucker had the wherewithal to avoid what could have been a nasty crash!
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: 2023.10.28 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
