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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.11.11

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.11.11 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending November 11, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.

We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding brokers, low clearance, loads, pay, prediction, and theft:

Brokers

Quotes from the fourth article in the section just below:

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Two carriers spoke to Overdrive about TQL withholding tens of thousands of dollars on loads that had no claims against them. The common issue among all of them, as well as Scott’s, stems from language in TQL’s carrier contract that stipulates their right to “offset” cargo claims.

…

Attorney Hank Seaton has warned against this kind of clause, telling carriers to avoid it like the plague and suggesting some brokers use it for a little free hauling, as it were.

So, please be on your guard against this!

Low clearance

Please refer to this resources on our website:

Now, for the most recent articles on this topic…

Loads

While J.B. Hunt is free to pursue the kinds of business it wants, I anticipate that this move may eventually backfire on them.

When Mike and I were in long haul trucking, it was common knowledge that the only thing that could beat a train was a team.

So, we’ll take a “wait and see” approach on this.

Pay

From time to time, the topic of trucker pay comes up.

The article entitled How does the Fair Labor Standards Act affect truck driver pay? states:

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Included in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is an exemption that applies to interstate trucking allowing employers to avoid paying drivers for overtime work.

The exemption was established in 1935 with the intent of preventing drivers from taking on too many hours, but some in the industry believe the law has evolved into an excuse for keeping driver pay low.
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A November 10, 2023, article entitled “Bipartisan bills would guarantee overtime for employee truck drivers” quoted ATA President Chris Spear as saying, OTR drivers in truckload today “are earning nearly $70,000 on average plus benefits”.

He made it sound like it was such a huge amount of money!

However, when this article was posted in a trucking group on Facebook, Vicki responded to provide some perspective on this issue (edited below to provide the reference links):

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Questions:

1. Are all OTR truckers — including all company drivers — earning this much money?

2. When one divides $70,000 per year by all of the hours truckers work (on and off the clock), what does that come down to on an hourly rate?

3. When one considers that truckers were cited as earning $500 per week in May 1977 and that adjusting for inflation, that pay rate should be (as of September 2023) $2,552.15 per week, truckers should be earning $132,711.80 per year, should they not?
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Now bear in mind that that $132K figure is just keeping up with inflation, not a pay increase!

On one of the pages of our site, we provide the calculation regarding how much money ($300,000) one would have to have sitting in a bank account earning 2% interest in order to earn $500 per month in interest income.

Needed in bank to earn $500 per month at a certain percent interest.

Personally, we don’t know of any truckers who:

– have that much money on the bank; or
– can survive financially on only $500 per month and nothing else.

Just so you know, there are other ways to earn this income — or even more — apart from truckers keeping their trucking jobs.

Learn more about how to earn a second income as a trucker.

Now, here are the most recent articles on this topic…

Prediction

The trucking industry has ever been a good predictor of the economy.

Some prognosticators say things will be good while others say that it will take time for the trucking industry to snap back.

Prepare yourself for hard times, perhaps by requesting my free report: “Protecting Your Purchasing Power with Silver Rounds: Pros, Cons, and Tips“.

Part of Cover of Free Report 'Protecting Your Purchasing Power with Silver Rounds: Pros, Cons, and Tips' by Vicki Simons

Theft

Be proactive regarding the possibility of theft.

2. Regarding emissions, fuel, fuel costs, fuel efficiency, and oil:

Emissions

Fuel

Fuel costs

Fuel efficiency

Oil

3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and Proterra:

Autonomous vehicles

I firmly oppose the operation of autonomous, self-driving, or driverless Commercial Motor Vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share this article to help keep our readers informed.

Electric vehicles

Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your do diligence.

Proterra

4. Regarding crashes, crashes – animal strikes, explosion, fatalities, and smuggling:

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.

Crashes – animal strikes

Please feel free to review our article: “Avoiding Deer Collision, Other Animal Collisions in a Big Truck“.

Explosion

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?

Smuggling

Never, ever haul humans made in the image of God as if they were cattle or cargo!

5. Regarding AB5, employment, operations, parts, and recalls:

AB5

Employment

Operations

Parts

Recalls

6. Regarding drug testing and drugs:

Drug testing

Drugs

Never, ever haul illegal drugs!

7. Regarding aerodynamics, business, economy, leasing, and taxes:

Aerodynamics

Business

Economy

Leasing

You may wish to review the article on our site: Commercial Truck Leasing: Beware of Designed-to-Fail Schemes.

Taxes

8. 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.

Insurance

9. Regarding parking, routing, and technology:

Parking

Routing

Please see the Truckers Atlas page on our site.

Technology

10. Regarding strike, supply chain, and weather:

Strike

Supply chain

Weather

11. Regarding tires, tolls, and training:

Tires

Tolls

Training

12. Regarding awards, freebies, and veterans:

Awards

Freebies

Veterans

My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.









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