TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.02.17 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 17, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding bottlenecks 2024, explosion, fines for idling proposed, missing, Roadcheck, and weather:
Bottlenecks 2024
This is the annual report of the worst truck congestion bottlenecks — or choke points — in the USA.
And, yet, what is being done to relieve the problem?
- Fort Lee, N.J., Beat All Comers as Worst Truck Bottleneck in America, Again
- New Jersey Intersection Again Named Worst Truck Congestion Bottleneck
- New Jersey intersection is top U.S. freight bottleneck for sixth year in a row
- POLL: Which of these is the absolute worst freight bottleneck in America?
- Texas again has highest number of traffic bottlenecks for truckers
- Texas again leads nation in freight bottlenecks
- The worst truck bottlenecks in America deliver $95 billion in congestion costs
- Top truck bottlenecks concentrated in just a few cities
- Top Truck Bottlenecks Mostly the Same, Just More Congested
- Top trucking bottlenecks identified; add $95 billion to freight costs
Explosion
This is the first explosion that I’ve heard of or read about of its kind, where “a semi truck hauling pressurized cylinders caught fire and exploded.”
I wonder what caused the pressurized fuel tank to explode.
My analytical mind wants to know if it was:
- a malfunction;
- sabotage from someone inside the company;
- perhaps a planned situation to help push the trucking industry toward the electric grid; or
- something completely different.
I look forward to learning more over time.
- 9 Los Angeles firefighters injured after rig’s fuel tank explodes
- CNG-powered truck explodes in Los Angeles
- Semi truck explosion sends seven firefighters to hospital
Fines for idling proposed
Be aware of this situation and if you drive in Washington State, you may wish to contact elected officials about this proposal.
- Idling a semi truck for five minutes could cost you $1000 under new bill in Washington State
- Washington State Lawmakers to Put Truckers at Risk with $1,000 Idling Fine
Missing
If you know anything about it, please take action.
Roadcheck
The trucking event known as “International Roadcheck” has been scheduled to take place on May 14-16.
I know that in the past, some truckers have simply refused to drive on dates of announced heavy truck inspections.
While avoiding an inspection may seem like a temporary reprieve, it does not relieve truckers of the need to keep their rigs totally roadworthy.
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA sets May dates for International Roadcheck
- Dates set for International Roadcheck: May 14-16
- Inspectors to focus on alcohol, tractor protection systems, during Roadcheck blitz
- Mark your calendar: CVSA sets May 14-16 for International Roadcheck inspections
- Roadcheck set for May 14-16 with two focus areas
- Roadcheck to focus on tractor protection systems, alcohol and drugs
- What is CVSA Focusing on in 2024 Roadcheck Truck Inspection Blitz?
Weather
Please monitor weather conditions and take necessary precautions.
If weather conditions cause officials to shut down roads — or ban large trucks from traveling on certain ones — you may need to park safely and legally until conditions improve.
Remember that no load is worth your life.
- Major winter storm set to wallop Northeast
- Multiple states issue tractor trailer travel bans for winter storm
- PennDOT announces full CMV travel ban ahead of winter storm
- Pennsylvania issues CMV bans ahead of winter weather
- State troopers enforcing winter weather big rig travel bans
- Treacherous travel conditions reported in Texas Panhandle, central Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I most decisively disagree with the operation of autonomous, driverless, or self-driving commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public — but I share articles on this topic with our readers to help us stay current on the topic.
- ArcBest launches autonomous, remote-controlled forklift technology
- Autonomous trucks restriction under review in six statehouses
- California reignites driverless-truck ban | FMCSA lease-purchase task force wants your input
- GM Nearly Doubling Area Where Automated System Is Usable
- Mobileye CEO Shashua Expects Growth in Self-Driving Adoption
- Mobileye CEO Shashua expects more autonomous vehicles on road in 2 years
- Self-Driving Software Company Suffers Stinging Setback as Lawmakers Call for Driverless Truck Ban
- Waymo issues recall after two self-driving cars hit the same towed pickup truck
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence.
- Electric trucks find a sweet spot with inbound logistics
- Ford Sees ‘Colossal’ Competitive Threat in Chinese EVs
- How to electrify millions of trucks; doom spending and freight hangovers
- Kia Debuts First Georgia-Made EV at State Capitol
- Mack invests in manufacturing facility ahead of anticipated EV orders
- Oregon upgrading, repairing electric vehicle charging stations
Fuel
- Average US diesel price rises above $4 a gallon
- Benchmark diesel price jumps the most since October, back above $4
- Diesel Price Surges 21¢ to $4.109 a Gallon
- FBX Report: February 16, 2024
- Fuel prices are topic of Washington state repeal pursuit
- Fuel prices see big jump
- Weekly Fuel Report: February 13, 2024
- Weekly NTI Update: February 12, 2023
3. Regarding border, business, chassis, lease, and maintenance:
Border
Business
These articles cover a wide range of topics concerning trucking from a business perspective.
- Daily Infographic: Amazon’s profit rebounds as cost-cutting measures pay off
- Making the best safety, ops impressions: Now is truckers’ time
- New tax plan could ease investment burden for truckers
- Owner-op survival strategies, tactics to thrive in a down market
- The secret ingredient for near century of transportation success
- Time to Expand Your Trucking Business?
- Trucking authority correction accelerates
- US Small-Business Optimism Drops by Most Since End of 2022
Chassis
What impact will this have on the intermodal trucking sector?
If you care to comment, please do so through the form below.
- FMC upholds ruling upending current chassis pool system
- Intermodal truckers score major win in chassis provider dispute
- Intermodal trucking scores another chassis choice win
Lease
I will frankly admit that even though I am glad that one entity is taking on reviewing legal documents — purportedly to reduce the chance of fraud regarding truck leasing — I am also suspicious of this move, too.
Article I, Section 8, of The Constitution of the United States does not make provision for:
- either a U.S. Department of Transportation;
- or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The Tenth Amendment to The Constitution of the United States puts such matters on the shoulders of the states or the people.
How many more regulations will be rammed down the throats of truckers as a result of what starts as a “review” of trucking lease-purchase agreements?
Please share your thoughts through the form below.
- FMCSA to collect lease-purchase agreements for study, review
- Truck drivers: FMCSA wants to see your leasing agreement
Maintenance
4. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, smuggling, 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.
- NASCAR driver hospitalized after head-on crash with big rig, per statement
- Pileup crash shuts down I-70 in eastern Missouri
- SUV balancing on barrier wall after wreck with semi truck
- Trucker airlifted to hospital after crashing while avoiding prior wreck
Drugs
Never, ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how big the promised payout is!
- Feds charge 17 connected to San Diego trucking company’s drug trafficking scheme
- Shipments of scrap metal were used to disguise Mexico-U.S. drug trafficking
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?
Also, regarding the first article listed in this section, I posted this on our Facebook page on Saturday night:
This is the first time that we’ve seen documented that a co-driver — unrestrained in the sleeper berth — was ejected from a semi and then run over in a big truck crash.
So when it comes to team drivers, it isn’t only the driver behind the wheel who would do well to wear a restraining device.
Yes, we know that the restraining device/net on the back wall is a figurative “pain in the neck” to buckle into place before sleep — and may hinder sleep a bit — but if it saves your life…
Quote from article:
=====
“The co-driver of [the slow moving semi truck] was in the sleeper unrestrained and was ejected and subsequently ran over,” by another vehicle, a DPS spokesperson said.
=====
Now for the articles…
- Trucker ejected and run over in two semi truck wreck
- 2 dead after semi strikes back of Arkansas Highway Police unit
- 2 in Audi dead after head-on collision with FedEx 18-wheeler
- Authorities identify trucker killed in collision with Florida trooper
- One dead in vehicle fire at an Illinois Love’s truck stop
- Two dead in collision involving police cruiser and big rig on I-40 in Arkansas
Smuggling
No matter how big the promised payout is, never, ever haul illegal aliens — humans made in the image of God — as if they were cattle or cargo!
Violence
- Released prisoner assaults trucker, steals $1.25 million worth of sports cars, sheriff says
- Truck driver shot during argument with co-driver at Tennessee truck stop, police say
5. Regarding flee scene and fraud:
Flee scene
One must never flee the scene of an accident!
I’m not an attorney, but I think that legally, things will go worse for you if you do.
Leaving the scene of an accident or crash is a coward’s way out, at least temporarily.
In today’s surveillance-heavy society, it is likely that the perpetrator will eventually get caught.
Even if it is uncomforable, take responsibility for your actions.
Fraud
- Ohio trucking owner pleads guilty to wire fraud
- Salt Lake Trucking group owners guilty in fraud scheme
- Utah trucking group owners convicted in FedEx Ground fraud scheme
6. Regarding economy, employment, pay, rates, taxes, and tolls:
Economy
A number of these articles indicate that things may be looking up economically, at least in the short term.
Still, it is wise to prepare for hard times anyway.
- 2024 Class 8 production, sales forecast bumped up
- Class 8 Truck Sales Down 6.7% in January
- Consumer Sentiment Index Edges Higher in February
- Despite dim outlook, January imports grew at fastest pace in 7 years
- Economic Trucking Trends: Signs of freight market stabilization emerge in January
- Freight markets still bottoming out, Cass data shows
- Global trade receding? Tell that to shipbuilders
- Import demand growth robust leading into Lunar New Year
- Inflation Tops Forecasts in Blow to Fed Rate-Cut Hopes
- January cold snap leads to spot-market surge, DAT reports
- Logistics Index, Trucking Industry Gains Appear to Dismiss Notions of 2024 ‘Freight Recession’
- Mexico-bound Class 8 production to rise in 2024, says ACT
- Retail Sales Fall 0.8% in January After Busy Holiday Season
- RXO looked to be avoiding the worst of the freight market, but no more
- Universal Logistics sees potential back-half uptick in freight volumes
- Volvo’s Koeck: ‘Reset’ Coming for North America Trucking
Employment
- Driver labor market easing as vacancy rate drops, THRC report reveals
- Recruiting retired drivers as advisors
Pay
Rates
Taxes
- Here are six things truckers need to know heading into tax season
- Managing tax liability helps avoid unpleasant surprises when filing
Tolls
- Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge going toll-free
- Ontario legislation aims to ban tolls on provincial highways
- Toll fines in NYC not unconstitutionally excessive
7. Regarding inspections, insurance, near miss, and safety:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Iowa State Patrol stops trailer for ‘obvious structural concerns’
- Major CMV blitz coming to Arizona interstates next week
Insurance
- New Jersey Lawmakers Raise Minimum Insurance
- NJ insurers: Umbrella policies key to meeting new truck coverage minimums
- Trucker dives under trailer to avoid being directly hit by another rig
Near miss
Please be aware of situations like this.
- Broken down trucker dives under own trailer to avoid oncoming rig
- Highway pedestrian creates near-miss with oncoming trucker
Safety
- Drivewyze’s free safety service is unveiled Geotab Connect
- FMCSA questioned on studies added to safety fitness rulemaking
- Safety fitness determination shouldn’t be driven by tech, OOIDA says
- Transportation industry tech provider makes acquisition to expand safety portfolio
8. Regarding parking, ports, and Yellow:
Parking
- Incorrect use of ‘semi truck’ in parking ordinance may force county to pay resident truckers
- New North Carolina Sheetz to feature 41 free truck parking spots
- PA town considering building ‘trucker village’
- Paid truck parking opens at former Phoenix Yellow terminal
- Semi-Stow opens former Yellow terminal for parking
- Sheetz’s newest location in North Carolina includes 41 free truck parking spaces
- Truck parking is focus of legislation in multiple statehouses
Ports
- California Ports Deploying Air Pollution Capture for Ships
- Port of Los Angeles shines in January
- Portland Port Asks Oregon for $10M to Save Container Service
Yellow
- Knight-Swift Adds 10 More Leased Yellow Terminals to Haul
- Next Century’s bid for Yellow back on table
- Pension liability claims against Yellow may take months to settle
9. Regarding ELD waiver, legal, restrooms, trucker grievance, and underride guards:
ELD waiver
If they get an ELD waiver, why don’t all truckers get one?
- FMCSA grants ELD exemption to Motion Picture Association
- Movie production drivers get ELD waiver extended
Legal
- Colorado Files Lawsuit to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger
- Ex-VW Chief Sticks to Story on 2015 Diesel Testing Scandal
- Fleet owner pleads guilty after illegally consolidating loads, overbilling shippers
- Fleet owner pleads guilty after opening sealed trailers, illegally consolidating freight
- Hard Drive Express driver’s retaliation lawsuit proceeds
- Oregon Trucking Association Sues State Over Excess Taxation
- Trucker wins $12M as trucking company doesn’t respond to lawsuit
- Trucking company’s lawsuit could impact future regs
Restrooms
Trucker grievance
Don’t take your grievance out with anyone besides the person(s) who can help resolve your situation.
Underride guards
If you have thoughts on this type of truck part, please contact your federal and state legislators.
- Underride Committee May Ask for New Rear Guard Rule
- Will underride guards bounce cars back into traffic?
10. Regarding speed limiters and technology:
Speed limiters
Again, if you have thoughts on this type of truck part, please contact your federal and state legislators.
Technology
- In age of AI, data connectivity is more important than ever
- Kentucky will test wrong-way project this summer
- New GiraffeG4 Sentinel System takes guesswork out of height restrictions
- Ohio deploys new tech to stop ‘end-of-queue’ crashes
- ProvisionAi aims to take 180K trucks off roads in ’24 with load optimization
- Small jet crash captured by trucker’s dash cam
- Smart watch authorized by FDA to detect signs of sleep apnea
11. Regarding operations and strikes:
Operations
Regarding missed turns or detours, don’t attempt to shortcut making a proper “return” to the correct place.
The “shortcut” referred to in two articles in this section ended up with legal action against the trucker.
- Dash cam catches big rig running a car off the road with a dangerous pass
- Louisiana troopers call out trucker who missed detour, attempted U-turn
- Truck driver arrested for jackknifing during U-turn attempt after missing truck detour off I-20 in Louisiana
Strikes
After 6 overpass strikes, it looks like one trucking company has been permanently shut down.
It’s not like they didn’t have the opportunity to correct truck operations from within after the first 5 strikes.
Still, I wonder if Canada will forbid the same people from starting up under another name and starting the whole process all over again.
- After six overpass strikes, sixty-five truck fleet’s operating license is permanently cancelled
- B.C. cancels operations of multiple overpass hitter Chohan Freight Forwarders
- Trucking company canceled, loses ability to operate in British Columbia
12. Regarding recognition:
Recognition
We recognize those who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need — and those who were simply honoring a “fallen driver” (one who passed away).
Thank you!
- ABF Freight trucker named TCA Highway Angel following heroic actions
- Angie’s Transportation driver called ‘guardian angel’ by crash victim
- Family brings hot meals to truckers at Montana truck stop in honor of fallen driver
- Trucker who used rig to shield traffic from gunfire named a TCA Highway Angel
- Truckers Named Highway Angels in January for Selfless Acts
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: 2024.02.17 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
