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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.03.16

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.03.16 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending March 16, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding fee, fines, idling, and low clearance:

Fees

Quote from the article in this section:

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Paying to drive on roads is not a new concept, but new road pricing models are gaining traction. Today, more than 50 countries have a road pricing model in place and that number is expected to rise to 65 by 2025.

RUC is one of the latest pricing models under exploration. Today’s tolling model charges drivers a fee for each vehicle when entering a tunnel, crossing a bridge or entering a tollway. RUC, while often considered a new tolling form, is based on the number of miles driven rather than a single entry or exit point.

That being said, I do not know the difference between:

  • “Road Usage Charging” (RUC); and
  • (As defined for a long time on our glossary post) “Vehicle Miles Traveled” (VMT).

If anyone knows the difference, please comment through the form below. Thanks.

Fines

Previously, I probably surprised some folks when I stated that I was in favor of New York raising the penalty for truckers striking overpasses.

The reason for making that statement was so that truckers would understand the gravity of checking their routes to make sure that they would encounter no low clearances.

So it is with this situation in British Columbia that I applaud the powers-that-be for making the fine high enough to warrant attention and help prevent expensive bridge strikes.

Imagine for a moment that after a certain number of strikes, a bridge becomes so unstable that it becomes impassible.

At that point, folks who are traversing the bridge — as well as the road underneath it — are “inconvenienced” by having to shut down and replace the bridge.

So, if truckers will not take the time to consult a Motor Carriers Road Atlas (aka truckers atlas) for truck routes, they need to be prepared for huge consequences.

How else can governments protect taxpayers’ infrastructure?

Idling

This is somewhat dated, but I list here ATRI’s compendium of current idling regulations by state.

Please be aware that idling regulations, ordinances, and laws change continually, so please stay current.

Low clearance

Another low clearance crash!

I am still awaiting the first submission of a Report a CMV GPS Low Clearance per the details on the post.

2. Regarding alcohol, crashes, deaths, drugs, fatalities, fire, fraud, smuggling, theft, and violence:

Alcohol

While this involves the driver of a school bus, the application can be made to truck drivers.

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.

Deaths

We express our deep sympathy — and offer our condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these crashes.

Drugs

Never ever haul illegal drugs, no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.

There have been times when I have wondered if a trucker innocently hauled illegal drugs — and wound up in legal trouble — and such a situation has arisen:

Innocent driver pays price for drug charges.

I truly hope that this innocent trucker is vindicated and that true justice is done for him!

Here are other articles on this topic:

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?

Fire

Aside from arson, I wonder how many of these fires are due to the presence of electric vehicles?

Fraud

Smuggling

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

Theft

Do everything reasonable to help prevent theft from your person, your tractor, your trailer, or the freight on-board.

Violence

3. Regarding health, parking, safety, truck stops, and trucker:

Health

Parking

Safety

Truck stops

Trucker

4. Regarding business, exchange, human, lease, platooning, and tires:

Business

Exchange

Human

Lease

Platooning

Tires

5. Regarding automation, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, and fuel:

Automation

“Automation” is related to, but different from “autonomous.”

According to the second article listed below:

Most electronic systems that take on some driving tasks for humans don’t adequately make sure drivers are paying attention, and they don’t issue strong enough warnings or take other actions to make drivers behave, according to an insurance industry study published Tuesday, March 12.

I find this very interesting, because it is as if people are expecting for the systems to make life easier for them are not simultaneously checking to make sure that the people don’t rely upon them too much!

That being said, where do we draw the line in the driving sector of life between these two mutually exclusive thoughts:

  • either “it is the fault of the technology, which didn’t protect me from itself”;
  • or “it is my personal responsibility for how I operate the vehicle”?

Please feel free to comment on this through the form below.

See these two articles here:

Autonomous vehicles

In the strongest possible way, I disagree with the operation of driverless, autonomous, 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.

Electric vehicles

Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence.

Emissions

Fuel

6. Regarding inspections, legal, and trucking:

Inspections

Legal

Trucking

7. Regarding Convoy, economy, employment, inflation, pay, predatory towing, rates, scam, and taxes:

Convoy

This is a big legal tangle and I pray that all will be resolved in a manner that is just for everyone concerned.

Economy

Employment

Inflation

Pay

Predatory towing

Rates

Scam

According to the article linked in this section:

The New York State Thruway Authority said it recently learned of a SMS text message scam being presented as an attempt to collect Tolls on behalf of “NY Toll Services”.

The Thruway authority said, “Please be advised this is NOT an authorized communication from E-ZPass or the Toll Agencies associated with E-ZPass. We advise you NOT to access the website contained within the message if you should receive one.”

So, please be on your guard.

Taxes

8. Regarding parts, pollution, and recalls:

Parts

Pollution

Recalls

If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work done as soon as possible.

9. Regarding border, ports, roads, and weather:

Border

Ports

Roads

One of the questions I have about self-driving trucks is how they would know when a road is closed to truck traffic. Hmm…

Weather

10. Regarding CARB, delivery, FMCSA, politics, and USPS:

CARB

Delivery

FMCSA

Politics

USPS

11. Regarding technology and training:

Technology

Training

12. Regarding awards and recognition:

Awards

We congratulate every trucker whose skill leads him or her to receive recognition or an award from his/her company (and others).

Recognition

We appreciate those who help out professional truck drivers!

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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