TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2023.11.18 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending November 18, 2023, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding brokers, pay, strike, and Thanksgiving:
Brokers
According to this article:
FMCSA published a final rule regarding broker and freight forwarder financial responsibility on Thursday, Nov. 16. The rule was published ahead of schedule as the agency had projected it to be released next March.
The part of the broker situation that concerned me most was not addressed in the article — even in OOIDA’s petition to the FMCSA — namely the inclusion in contracts that brokers have the right to refuse payment to carriers for the most spurious of reasons.
However, this article opened:
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will soon suspend the operating authorities of brokers that fail or refuse to pay carriers for legitimate services, or those who let available financial security fall below US$75,000.
That makes me feel at least a little better.
Here are some of the most recent articles about brokers:
- Brokers’ 3 a.m. calls: Absent a ‘death in the family, a text will suffice’
- Brokers, carriers may be targets of fake DAT site
- FMCSA aims at brokers who ‘do not intend to pay’ carriers with final rule
- FMCSA issues major new rule to crack down on unscrupulous freight brokers
- FMCSA tightens regulations to prevent fraud by brokers
- New app brings freight brokerage into the 21st century
- New FMCSA Regulation Targets Fraudulent and Insolvent Freight Brokers
- New FMCSA Rule Targets Fraudulent Brokerage Operations
- Weigh In: Why should brokers be allowed to call you at 3 a.m.?
Pay
If you feel strongly about bills regarding paying truckers overtime, please contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator to express your thoughts.
- Advisers to FMCSA waver on support for trucker overtime pay
- ATA Chief Voices Strong Opposition to ‘Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act’
- Bill promises overtime pay for truck drivers
- CEO fails to pay employees, carriers after Elite Transit collapse
- OOIDA encourages support for truckers’ overtime bill
- Overtime bill for truckers gets it right
- Proponents Tout ‘Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act’
- Truck drivers sound off on a bill that could give them overtime
- WOTAB’s final meeting sparks FLSA debate
Strike
If striking parties affect you, perhaps these articles will help:
- Agreement between Mack Trucks, UAW covers nearly 4,000 workers
- General Motors Union Workers Ratify New Labor Contract
- Honda Will Give Autoworkers 11% Raise After UAW’s Big Wins
- Mack’s UAW workers end strike after five-year deal reached
- Strike ends as UAW workers approve new contract with Mack Trucks
- Tesla Facing Strikes in Sweden Over Collective Bargaining
- UAW at Mack Trucks overwhelmingly ratifies earlier rejected deal
- UAW Workers Ratify Mack 5-Year Agreement
- UAW, Mack Trucks Ratify New Collective Bargaining Agreement
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 23, 2023, is Thanksgiving Day in the USA.
In order to help retailers and stores prepare for Christmas, this is the time of year when Christmas freight is moving and many OTR, long haul, and regional truckers will be working.
Since we have taken multiple Thanksgiving trips on the road as truckers, we understand what truckers on the road at this time of year are going through.
If you cannot be at home, please touch base with your home support team members sometime on Thanksgiving Day.
One option, which allows users to both hear and see each other, is the video conferencing Zoom cloud meeting app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices.
Just because you’re out on the road does not mean that you can’t enjoy a lovely Thanksgiving dinner right in your truck.
If you have a battery-connected inverter or APU in your truck, a crock pot or slow cooker, and a hot pot, you can create a meal complete with cooked turkey, sweet potato casserole, and the works.
You will need to do some advanced planning, but since you’re already skilled as a trucker in making on-time pick-ups and deliveries, planning a fancier-than-usual meal in-truck should be a snap!
If your company offers — and you plan to earn — holiday pay for driving through some part of the Thanksgiving holiday, make sure you understand and abide by all of the rules.
Once again, we are offering our Thanksgiving Prayer on behalf of truckers.
Here is a recent article about Thanksgiving 2023:
2. Regarding business, dynamic pricing, economy, holidays, parts, and Postal Service:
Business
- ELD Compliance for Your Trucking Business
- Managing Fleet Costs Amidst Inflation
- Prolonging the Life of Your Fleet: Protect Your Bottom Line by Protecting Your Assets
Dynamic pricing
Economy
- Annual LTL GRIs slightly ahead of schedule
- China and global trade: Why stimulus is MIA and risks are rising
- Class 8 tractor orders driven down in October
- Daily Infographic: US holiday spending to climb 3%-4% over 2022, NRF predicts
- Daily Infographic: What downturn? US imports still rising, highest since boom
- Economic Trucking Trends: Reefer rates improve on spot market, October trailer orders rise
- Forecast for dry van market pulled back, ACT reports
- Goodyear Q3 Tire Sales Fall on Commercial Trucking Weakness
- Groupe Robert opens new food distribution center
- Holiday Retail Sales Expected to Power Trucking Industry
- Is The Sky Falling on the Truck Transportation Sector? Or is Chicken Little at it Again?
- New logistics terminal opens along Texas Gulf Coast
- October Medium-Duty Sales Post First Decline Since March
- October shipments hit cycle low, Cass says
- Preliminary net trailer orders increase from September to October, ACT reports
- Preliminary reports show used truck sales contracted in October
- Producer Prices in October Drop Most Since 2020
- Retail Sales Slip in October With Holiday Season Ahead
- Survey: Public has positive outlook about truckers and what they do
- The ups and downs of logistics in 2023
- Third-Quarter Loss Widens for Truck Maker Hyzon
- Tis the season for no peak season, how truck sails work and the puppy king – WTT
- Trucking heads kick can further into 2024
- Two charts explain why we’re in a freight recession
- UPS unveils integrated supply chain platform
- Walmart Attracts Savings-Minded Shoppers, Posts Strong Q3
- White Paper: Big Picture 2024 Supply Chain Outlook — Delivering resilience in adversity
- Will there be logistics demand for all that dirt?
Holidays
Parts
Postal service
- How Benjamin Franklin changed the Postal Service
- Postal Service posts massive net loss in FY ’23
- Postal Service sets 2024 shipping rate hikes for 3 key services
3. Regarding crashes, fatalities, I-10, I-55, I-70, and low clearance:
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.
- Indiana State Police investigating crash involving semi, passenger cars
- Police searching for culprit after tractor trailer spilled cement near Massachusetts fire station
- Ten vehicle pileup on Georgia interstate blamed on a bad lane change.
- Trucker damages Georgetown, Colorado, properties, flees
- Wynn Logistics truck driver fired after destroying historic Illinois bridge
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?
- 18-wheeler rear-ends bus carrying students in Ohio, killing 3
- Feds investigating crash involving big rig, charter bus that left six dead in Ohio
- Iowa man struck, killed by semi-truck – driver charged
- Kansas teen killed after being hit by 2 semi-trucks
- New Jersey crash involving tractor-trailer leaves 1 dead
- Semi collided with bus carrying students on I-70 in Etna Township, Ohio, leaving three dead
- Semi-truck driver dead following rural Kansas crash
- Six reported dead in fiery bus crash on I-70 in Licking County, Ohio
- Texas truck driver sentenced for fatally striking Tennessee cop while under the influence of marijuana
- Tractor-trailer strikes, kills pedestrian in Massachusetts
- Truck driver arrested for fatally hitting tow truck driver in OWI incident
- Trucker killed crossing street to check on motorist who pulled into his path
- Trucker killed in Massachusetts shooting that resulted in a death and multiple injuries
- Trucker seriously injured in double fatality crash in Dallas, Texas
- Wisconsin woman dead after failing to yield to big rig
I-10
The articles in this section specifically address Interstate 10 in the USA.
- Damaged I-10 in LA to reopen next week, far earlier than first expected
- Fire Damage Shuts Down Interstate 10 Near Los Angeles
- Fire that indefinitely closed vital Los Angeles freeway was likely arson, governor says
- Fire-damaged I-10 in LA could reopen in 3 to 5 weeks; arson suspected
- I-10 Fire Near Los Angeles Caused by Arson, Officials Say
- I-10 Freeway in LA to Reopen Faster Than Expected
- I-10 in Los Angeles closed indefinitely for pallet yard fire, California officials say
- I-10 in Los Angeles remains closed; overpass heavily damaged by fire
- I-10 shut down: Huge fire underneath overpass prompted L.A. closure
- I-10 still shut down, yet California officials expect partial reopening next month
- L.A. Fire Damages I-10, Reopening Date Unknown
- Los Angeles’ I-10 bridge expected to reopen Nov. 21 as feds dole out millions to help with repairs
- Massive fire shuts down Interstate 10 in Los Angeles
- Repairs to fire-damaged I-10 in LA to take weeks, will slow freight movement from ports
- Speed limiters for cars? | Calif. now planning to reopen I-10 next week
I-55
I-70
- I-70 in Ohio closed for ‘mass casualty’ crash involving bus and semi truck
- I-70 shut down in Ohio after fiery crash
Low clearance
If you do not yet have one, please always use a truckers atlas and learn how to navigate yourself and your rig with it.
Also, make sure that if you prefer GPS navigation when you’re driving a big rig, you use only one that is specifically geared for commercial motor vehicles.
Do not risk a low clearance crash.
- Historic covered bridge struck by tractor-trailer; driver gets canned
- Trucking company plans to tarnish driver’s entire reputation after destruction of historic covered bridge
4. Regarding AI and technology:
AI
In your opinion, which forms of AI (Artificial Intelligence) are suitable and which are unsuitable?
Please comment through the form below.
Technology
- An inside look at Estes Express Lines’ cyberattack recovery
- Australia Cyberattack Leaves 30,000 Containers Stuck at Ports
- Dash cam video shows car brake check truck for driving in the left lane
- DataQs process broken, OOIDA says
- Dill debuts new bluetooth tire pressure monitoring system
- DOTsfty develops new software for trucking fleet safety managers
- DriverReach rolls out driver qualification checklist — Taking the Hire Road
- Estes execs recap hack experience in unusual video presentation
- How custom apps prevent fleet business disruptions
- Lazer Logistics’ latest deal adds yard management tech to network
- Top 5 Truck Dispatch Software Providers for 2024
- WATCH: CB comes in handy during near-miss on icy an highway
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I am decisively against the operation of self-driving, driverless, or autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public, but share these articles to help keep our readers informed.
- Autonomous truck policies highlighted in report
- Autonomous trucks cutting a path in forestry sector
- Autonomous Trucks Reshaping the Freight Industry
- Driverless, cabless trucks now in full time use at Tennessee warehouse, company says
- Einride Begins Regular Unmanned Moves for GE Appliances
- Einride making autonomous deliveries for GE Appliances
- Self-driving vehicles’ impact on labor force
- Texas can expect fully self-driving semi trucks by 2024, autonomous freight company says
- Torc Lays Out Road Map to Autonomous Truck Launch in 2027
- Torc tackles beyond-the-truck autonomous issues
Batteries
- Energy Department Announces $3.5 Billion for Battery Funding
- Volvo Buys Bankrupt Proterra’s Battery Business
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an electric commercial motor vehicle, please do your do diligence.
- ATA’s Chris Spear calls for sequencing method to BEV adoption
- BCTA’s Zeroing in on ZEV to be held Feb. 21
- Coca-Cola Bottler Gets First Heavy-Duty EVs for California Trucking Fleet
- Daily Infographic: Mack offers monthly subscription for medium-duty electric truck
- GM Absorbs Electric Van Subsidiary BrightDrop Into Company
- Orange EV builds 1,000th electric terminal truck
- Orange EV cranks out 1,000th electric terminal truck
- Orange EV rolls 1,000th electric terminal tractor off assembly line
- Peterbilt delivers electric truck to City of Roses Disposal and Recycling
- Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling adds 20 eCascadias to Downey, California, site
- Target sectors that are easier to electrify, ATA’s Spear urges
- UPS Broadens Search for Electric Vans Amid Arrival’s Woes
- Utah expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- VMC reports $150-million backlog for electric vehicles
Fuel
- Average US diesel fuel prices continue falling
- B.C. investing $16.5 million into hydrogen truck pilot
- Benchmark diesel price down, futures up; some physical markets stronger
- Diesel Price Drops 7.2¢ a Gallon to Reach $4.294
- Diesel tax increase pursuit paused at Wyoming statehouse
- Fuel prices down double digits in several regions
- Hyzon slows cash burn, closes in on larger fuel cell stack
- N.D. Opens Soybean Processing Plant for Renewable Diesel Oil
- Propane haulers covered by Indiana waiver
- USPS contractor adds propane trucks to fleet
- Weekly Fuel Report: November 14, 2023
- Weekly NTI Update: November 13, 2023
- Westport, Volvo Fuel System to Ink JV Agreements by January
6. Regarding border, containers, and ports:
Border
- Cross-border freight maintains growth streak for trucking
- Mexico remains top US trade partner, Laredo No. 1 gateway
Containers
- Container Shipping Seeing Major Cuts After $364 Billion Boom
- Greek owner to sell all container ships, spend $3B on LNG tankers
Ports
- How the Port of Portland saved itself from Mount St. Helens eruption
- Port of Savannah sees fourth-busiest October
7. Regarding drugs, predatory, protest, staged, and theft:
Drugs
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter the incentive to do so!
Predatory
The idea of having one’s rig immobilized against one’s will is horrible!
Please be on the lookout for signs regarding:
- “no parking”;
- “no truck parking”; and
- time restrictions on parking.
If you encounter “booting” or “immobilization” of commercial motor vehicles, please contact us.
Protest
Please be aware of the Hobbs Act:
18 U.S. Code § 1951 – Interference with commerce by threats or violence
(a)Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
While this is a matter for attorneys and judges to decide, in my opinion, any action by people on a road that “shuts down” or “completely stops” commerce is a violation of federal law and the perpetrators need to be held responsible for their actions.
Staged
I am glad that those who perpetrated fraud in this respect are being held responsible for their actions!
Theft
Please take reasonable steps to prevent theft in every respect as a trucker, of yourself, your tractor, your trailer, and the freight on board.
- Cargo theft continues to increase
- Daily Infographic: Don’t get taken for a ride! Beware of cargo crime.
- Dozens participate in Memphis FedEx tractor trailer break in and crime spree
- Florida man faces multiple charges for stealing $20,000 worth of diesel from a Virginia 7-Eleven
- Rolls Royce, Range Rover seized from big rig at Port of Buffalo
- String of cargo thefts continue in Philadelphia
8. Regarding employment and retention:
Employment
This section is about the employee side of the employment situation.
According to a November 16, 2023, article:
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased to a three-month high last week, suggesting that the labor market was gradually cooling in another boost to the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation.
I am aware that there are cycles within the trucking industry and for the last little while, we have been on a decline.
Seek to do more than you’ve been asked to do — but never outside the Hours of Service regulation — in order to help protect your trucking job.
What low-cost ways can you think of to make yourself more valuable to your trucking company?
Please comment through the form below.
- 10 Roads Express lays off 66 employees in Texas
- CargoM holds its eighth career day
- Driver Poll: What are companies doing with drivers in the 65-70 year age range?
- Layoffs and bankruptcies pile up in logistics amid shocking downturn
- Robots Outnumber People 15-to-1 at Massive New UPS Warehouse
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Retention
This section is on the employer side of the employment situation.
9. Regarding inspections, legal, legal – crush, parking, and safety:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Daily Infographic: CVSA releases 2023 Brake Safety Week results
- Lincoln, Ont., keeps eye on trucks bypassing inspection station
Legal
- Lawyers insist electric big rig company founder shouldn’t face prison time
- Police searching for truck driver who fled scene after load clipped second rig, causing chain reaction crash
Legal – crush
- EquipNet to pay trucker crushed by load $4.5 million
- Trucker crushed by load awarded $4.5M for incident involving “poorly trained” forklift operator
Parking
- Love’s brings additional truck parking to Georgia
- Love’s opens Georgia truck stop with 79 truck parking spots
- New Love’s location in Georgia offers 79 truck parking spots
Safety
- Democrat Senators Press Safety Initiatives
- GAO recommendations would improve motor carrier safety
- How to Run a Top-Notch Safety Program and Earn Drivers’ Respect [Video] – Safety & Compliance – Trucking Info
- Noegon Adds Safety and Compliance Check to JPro Diagnostic Tool
- ODOT partnering with Honda to increase safety, reduce costs
- Why Keller Trucking’s Drivers Love the Safety Department
10. Regarding hitchhiker and operations:
Hitchhiker
Please see the article on our website entitled:
Hitchhikers On Trucks; How Can Hitchhiking Be Stopped?
The most recent article on this topic that I’ve seen is:
Operations
Please do not take unnecessary risks or fail to prepare for exits ahead of time.
- Weather-related problem: Driver stays upright during snowy skid in confounding video
- Failure to plan problem: WATCH: Driver stops traffic to make his exit after staying in the hammer lane too long
- Being glad the sign changed: WATCH: Trucker passes scale in moment every driver hopes for
11. Regarding HOS, household movers, and lottery:
HOS
Household movers
- Household movers battle fake reviews, but there’s also room to improve
- Household movers should take ‘consultative’ approach, think beyond price: Kruger
Lottery
Let’s hope that this trucker has financial discipline in his life.
12. Regarding awards and freebies:
Awards
We congratulate every professional truck driver who got as far as the “finals” in any safe driver or “Driver of the Year” competition!
- 5 finalists named for ATA’ Safety Council’s Driver of the Year Award
- ATA reveals 5 finalists for National Driver of the Year
- Five drivers named finalists for ATA Driver of the Year award
Freebies
Please be aware of all rules or terms and conditions involved in trying to get freebies.
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: 2023.11.18 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
