TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.04.13 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending April 13, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding collapse, fatalities, and solar eclipse:
Collapse
The articles in this section again focus on different aspects of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore — and the ensuing aftermath.
In response to this article — Congressional Support Builds for Baltimore Aid — on a truckers Facebook group, I wrote the following comment on Friday, April 12, 2024:
Payment for the repair of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore needs to come from the entity that owns the ship that hit it.
Here is the principle from the Bible:
“If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal. But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring, yet its owner failed to restrain it, he shall pay full compensation, ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his.”
— Exodus 21:35-36If I may loosely adapt this passage to the situation at hand:
“If a company’s ship hits a bridge and the bridge is damaged or collapses, the company must sell the ship and divide the assets. But if the ship was known to have hit other bridges — or had known technical problems — then the company owning the ship shall pay full compensation for the replacement of the bridge.”
Now, for more articles:
- Alternate Channel Opens at Baltimore Bridge Site
- Anticipated Surge in Container Fee Disputes Following Baltimore Bridge Collapse
- Baltimore Bridge Collapse Disrupts East Coast Truck Fleets
- Baltimore bridge collapse relief haulers get hours of service break
- Baltimore bridge collapse: Emergency HOS waiver issued in Maryland, SBA loans available
- Baltimore bridge collapse: One week later – WTT
- Baltimore gets FMCSA waiver, timeline for first reopening is suggested
- Baltimore Port Closure Means 35% Drop in April Coal Exports
- Baltimore port preparing for first influx of goods since Key Bridge collapse
- Baltimore-Area Truckers Struggle to Find Loads
- Biden Tours Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Area
- Bill Coming to Clarify That Feds Pay for Baltimore Bridge
- Car Shipper Takes $10 Million Hit From Bridge Collapse
- Cargo Ship Owner Seeks $44 Million Liability Limit
- Check Call: Baltimore mounts a comeback
- Containers being removed from ship that caused collapse of Key bridge
- Crews carefully start removing first piece of twisted steel from collapsed Baltimore bridge
- Dali owner, manager seek to cap liability in Baltimore bridge collapse
- East Coast Ports Scramble to Absorb Cargo
- Effects of Baltimore bridge collapse felt across trucking industry
- FMC fears glut of container fee disputes after Baltimore bridge collapse
- FMCSA sees ‘significant impacts’ on truck drive times in Baltimore area
- FMCSA: Baltimore collapse commodity-related HOS waivers limited
- FreightWaves Infographics: Biden: US will pay to rebuild Francis Scott Key Bridge
- Grant Diverted to Add Vehicle Cargo Area in Baltimore
- Key Bridge collapse partially affects EIA outlook
- Key Bridge emergency extended, IFTA waiver in place
- Key Bridge emergency remains in effect through May 8
- Key Bridge partial, full reopening announced
- Limited-Access Channel Could Open in Baltimore by April 30
- Main channel in Port of Baltimore expected to be open by end of May
- Main channel to Port of Baltimore could reopen by end of May
- Maryland Key Bridge emergency remains in effect
- NTSB Eyes Ship’s Electrical System After Bridge Crash
- Ocean freight rates steady despite Baltimore bridge collapse
- Port of Baltimore calamity shows supply chain’s vulnerabilities
- Port of Baltimore reopening timeline proposed
- Rerouting trucks and ships away from Baltimore: What early data shows
- Second Channel Opens at Baltimore Bridge Site
- Trucking industry feels impact of Key Bridge collapse even as bypass channel opens
- U.S. Small Business Administration opens recovery centers after Key Bridge collapse
- Va. Port Onboards Baltimore Truckers Amid Cargo Diversions
- Work under way to remove bridge that collapsed in Baltimore harbor
- Workers Had Little Warning as Maryland Bridge Collapsed
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?
- CMV driver charged with homicide in the crash death of Illinois sheriff’s deputy
- Feds: Ford Driver Using Automated System Before Fatal Crash
- FreightWaves Infographics: NHTSA reports fatality, injury uptick in latest truck crash stats
- Kentucky ambulance driver, patient killed in collision with big rig
- NHTSA reports fatality, injury uptick in latest truck crash stats
- Patient, operator dead after semi truck turns in front of ambulance
- Rising Truck Accidents & Fatalities Draw Ire of Safety Groups
- Scooter rider rolls beneath trailer in fatal accident
- SUV sandwiched between two semi trucks in fatal crash
- Traffic fatalities down overall, but crashes involving large trucks up
- Trash truck driver dead after sliding off “slippery” ramp
- Truck driver shut down after fatal school bus collision
- Truck Safety Coalition calls latest stats on big truck fatalities ‘unacceptable’
- US Traffic Deaths Decline by an Estimated 3.6% in 2023
- US traffic deaths fell 3.6% in 2023, the 2nd straight yearly drop
- Wheelchair panhandler fatally struck by cement truck
Solar eclipse
I live in Aiken County, SC, and there was supposed to be about 80% totality on Monday, April 8, at the height of the solar eclipse.
I was outside at the time when the totality was supposed to have been at its peak.
While I noticed decreased sunlight, it was (in my opinion) nowhere near 80% blockage of the sun by the moon.
So, I was disappointed.
I hope that others were not disappointed and that all of the hoopla about the solar eclipse rose to meet their expectations.
At least we don’t have to be concerned about other such event for another, what, 20 years? 😉
- Eclipse halts oversize loads; rebuilding in Baltimore; Calvin University – WTT
- Eclipsemania: What you need to know
- Freightwaves Infographics: Some states urge truck drivers to avoid working during upcoming eclipse
- Oversize loads banned from 83 Texas counties for solar eclipse
- Solar eclipse waiver for fuel haulers in New York begins April 6
- States, Provinces Urge Drivers to Prepare for Solar Eclipse
- Texas enacts travel restriction during solar eclipse
- Texas halts transport of oversize loads during eclipse
- Truckers ought to expect exceptionally heavy traffic along path of Monday’s solar eclipse
- Vermont to declare solar eclipse emergency
- What Truckers Need to Know About Solar Eclipse Dangers
2. Regarding bridge strikes and bridges:
Bridge strikes
What is leading to all of these bridge strikes?
I’m going to throw out some potential reasons and I’d like to ask you which (or none) of these you think is responsible — through the form below:
- incompetence;
- laziness;
- deliberate harm sought;
- drowsiness;
- distracted driving;
- being bought off by another government; or
- something else.
So, please let me know what you think. Thanks.
- Higher fines haven’t stopped B.C. truckers from striking bridges
- Oklahoma highway reopens following shutdown after a barge hit a bridge
- Oklahoma State Patrol diverting traffic after barge hits bridge
- Philadelphia interstate closed for days after oversized load hits bridge
Bridges
It would be interesting to know the state of maintenance on the FSK Bridge before it fell. Hmm…
3. Regarding business, capacity, closure, insurance, lease, and REPAIR:
Business
- Did increasing workloads allow carriers to stay profitable?
- Dynamic freight spend management: Optimizing costs, embracing agility
- Maximizing Your Used Vehicle’s Resale Value: Do’s and Don’ts
- Owner Operator Trucker: Is It Time to Change?
- Owner-operators, don’t forget per diem deductions
- Trucking LLCs Must File New Federal Report Under Law
- Unlocking the value hidden in your fleet’s blind spots
Capacity
Closure
- 70-year-old California trucking company, freight brokerage closes abruptly
- California trucking company ceases operations after 19 years
- More than 500 laid off as Illinois Quaker Oats plant closes
Insurance
- Canada-wide spike in insurance claims calls for enhanced training, oversight: Report
- Managing insurance costs for growing operations
Lease
- OOIDA recommendations regarding lease-purchase problems
- Truck lease purchase deals come under heavy fire at MATS and in court
Repair
- Industry associations share views for and against the REPAIR Act
- REPAIR Act finding support from Republicans and Democrats
4. Regarding autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles:
Autonomous vehicles
I vehemently oppose the operation of driverless, self-driving, or autonomous 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.
- Autonomous trucking may descend the rabbit hole of local politics
- Autonomous trucks are a trending topic at statehouses
- Autonomous trucks the topic of bills in seven statehouses
- Bill clearing way for autonomous vehicles vetoed in Kentucky
- Briefly: Driverless truck company taps industry leaders for advice
- Self-Driving Startup Wayve Expands to Vancouver
- The world’s first road-to-rail autonomous solution? – WTT
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence.
- Charging conundrum: Just 4 states have federal EV charging stations
- Ford to Delay Production of New Electric Pickup, Large SUV
- Indiana begins construction on wireless truck charging highway segment
- Indiana to test in-motion EV charging on highway segment
- Obscure Energy Calculation Could Speed Up EV Future
- Research highlights vulnerabilities in ELD cybersecurity
- Rivian Beats EV Production Estimates
- Stellantis CEO Says EV Battery Weight Must Be Halved
- Trucking’s ‘Brewster’s Millions’ short of BEV goals
5. Regarding crashes, drugs, staged, theft, 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.
- Big rig hauling thousands of salmon overturns in Oregon
- Big rig hits, derails Maine freight train
- Concrete truck driver in bus crash deemed ‘imminent hazard’
- Cops: Driver intentionally crashes truck into Tennessee Kroger store
- Driver’s coughing fit sends rig plowing through lot
- Driver’s sudden stop causes three rig pile-up
- Five semi trucks involved in multi-vehicle wreck that injured two
- Most fish survive after tanker truck crashes near creek, spilling 100K salmon
- Truck driver crashed through a Kroger on purpose, officials say
- Truck driver in bridge rescue is “getting the help that she needs”
- Urgent Call for Foster Homes After Truck Crashes into West Virginia Animal Shelter
- Video shows big rig slamming into concrete barrier at highway speeds
Drugs
Never ever haul illegal drugs as a professional truck driver, no matter how much of an incentive you’ve been offered!
- $888K in cocaine seized from tractor trailer in Texas
- Decline in Positive Drug Tests Among Truck Drivers in 2023
- Driver admitted to consuming cocaine, marijuana prior to fatal school bus crash
- Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse 2023 numbers released
- Marijuana testing took thousands of truckers off the road in 2023, endangering supply chain, pro-pot group says
- Motorists pulled over for tailgating semi truck arrested for lots of drugs
- N.B. driver sentenced to nine years in prison for drug smuggling
- Over $888,000 worth of cocaine found in tractor-trailer crossing border
- Positive Drug Tests for Truck Drivers Down, FMCSA Says
Staged
I’m glad that the folks who conspired together to defaud truckers and trucking companies are being brought to justice!
Theft
Never ever take anything that doesn’t belong to you without first asking for permission ahead of time.
- $1M in stolen semi trucks still missing one month later
- 8 charged in beer heist targeting Northeast trains, distribution centers
- Box truck driver drove away without paying for almost $2k in repairs
- CHP recovers $218K in electronics during two day cargo theft operation in Bakersfield
Violence
Prepare as best as you can to defend yourself, your possessions, your tractor, trailer, and the cargo on board.
- Arrest made after truck driver shot on I-65 in Indiana
- Female truck driver shot in the leg in Memphis
- Female trucker shot in Memphis
- Man arrested for shooting truck driver on Indiana interstate
- Teens arrested for throwing rock, smashing CMV windshield
- Trucker shot by police after ramming cop car and hitting a house
- Trucker stabbed after big rig brake checking incident on I-65 in Indiana
6. Regarding employment, illegal aliens, retention, and shortage:
Employment
- 10 Reasons Why Truck Drivers Quit Their Jobs
- Driver Poll: What information is most important to you on a job listing?
- Employers Added a Robust 303,000 Jobs in March
- Over 1,300 layoffs hit logistics companies across US
- Tesla Sales Fall Way Short of Estimates
- Trucking jobs surge in March despite current downcycle
- US Companies Added 184,000 Jobs in March, ADP Data Shows
Illegal aliens
There’s a reason why illegal aliens should never be hired in the USA: they’re illegal!
Retention
- 5 Ways You Can Increase Retention With Modern Technology
- Key Strategies for Boosting Truck Driver Retention
Shortage
- The Big Rush For More Truck Drivers To Put Behind the Wheel
- The Fight Against Criminal Record Bias in the Trucking Industry
7. Regarding economy, scam, supply chain, and tolls:
Economy
- ACT Research: Class 8 truck order surge paused in March
- Class 8 Truck Orders End Two-Month Positive Streak in March
- Class 8 truck orders took a dip in March
- Descartes: Container import volume trajectory is strong
- Drop in Class 8 truck orders in March looks big but analysts aren’t worried
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Fuel prices eat into trucking conditions
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Spot market recovery continues, truck demand weakens
- Flow of trade always prevails
- Higher Gas and Rents Keep Inflation Elevated
- Insights from February’s Freight Market: Is Recovery on the Horizon?
- Plunging Pickup Truck Sales Threaten Detroit’s Profit Engine
- Producer Prices Rose 2.1% From Last Year, Most Since April
- Q1 Auto Sales Grow 5.1% Despite High Interest Rates
- Spot Market Rebalance Slows Amid Volatile Capacity
- Toyota, Honda Sales Up as Americans Seek Cheaper Cars
- Trans-Pacific container rates plunge again
- US Class 8 Truck Sales Fall Again in March
- US Manufacturing Activity Expands for First Time Since 2022
Scam
Please be on your guard against this…
Supply chain
- Biden-Harris Administration’s Supply Chain Initiative Marks Significant Progress
- FreightWaves Infographics: Investment surges in Mexico as companies shift supply chains, plan new factories
- House Passes Supply Chain Shipping Bill
- Supply needs to get back into balance with demand, experts say
Tolls
- PA Turnpike issues scam alert for E-ZPass users
- Toll upgrades include open-road option | Volvo truck plant on way in Mexico
8. Regarding legal, move over, operations, and politics:
Legal
- $1M lawsuit filed by teacher in recent school bus crash
- California sued, again, over Advanced Clean Fleets rule
- California trucking co. to pay $208K for fuel spill, EPA says
- California’s Clean Air Act Exemption Targeted in Lawsuits Challenging Truck GHG Rules
- California’s Clean Air Act waiver upheld by court
- Court upholds EPA’s ability to grant environmental waivers to California
- CRST settles sleeper berth pay dispute for $2.5 million
- Deportation hearing set for truck driver in deadly Saskatchewan hockey team bus crash
- Group backed by former AG Barr suing California over rule banning diesels
- Minnesota man pleads guilty to embezzling $1.3M from truck dealer
- Missouri court upholds nuclear verdict, blasts carrier’s safety practices
- MLK fought for garbage truck drivers’ rights just before assassination
- New West Virginia Law Countering Civil Suit Abuse Starts July 1
- Penske Sues Sacramento Over Environmental Plan
- Tesla Settles Suit Over Death in Crash Involving Autopilot
- Truck driver charged in deaths of 3 motorcyclists in Nevada
- Truck driver charged in fatal Texas bus crash
- Truck Driver Charged in Texas School Bus Crash Was Prohibited from Driving for Drug Testing Violations
- Truck driver convicted in crash that killed 5 in Colorado
Move over
- Move-over rule revisions approved, pursued at statehouses
- TA roadside technicians to be protected by ‘move over’ alert system
Operations
- Motorist too busy messing with trucker to notice cop
- MVR Monitoring: A Key to Reducing Distracted Driving and Other Unsafe Behaviors
- VIDEO: Who was right in this trucker vs. trucker merge fail?
- When Must Truckers Complete a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report?
Politics
- Damages related to truck crashes topic of vetoed Wisconsin bill
- DOT launches mapping project to guide government spending on freight
- Idling is the topic of a Colorado bill nearing passage
- Indiana cops step up enforcement due to truckers ‘blatantly ignoring’ no truck signage
- Left lane use is topic of Colorado Senate-approved truck bill
- Senate Apprenticeship Bill Targets Veterans
- Tax fairness bill would reinstate per diem for company drivers
- West Virginia Takes a Stand Against Lawsuit Abuse with New Reform
- Wisconsin, West Virginia split on capping damages in CMV accident lawsuits
- NFI Driver Earns Highest Recognition by Truckload Carriers Association
- TCA honors driver who aided mother and daughter whose car flipped
- Werner drivers Gina and Steve Jones honored with TA Citizen Driver Award
- AEB final rule projected for April, but release date still unknown
10. Regarding inspections, parking, safety, and speed limiter:
Inspections
- 6-State Trooper Project now underway
- Be prepared: CVSA’s International Roadcheck is especially important for truck owners
- CVSA’s 2024 Out-of-Service Criteria now in effect
- CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week on July 7-13
- CVSA’s Roadcheck to Focus on Tractor Protection Systems
- CVSA’s updated out of service criteria become effective as of today
- CVSA’s updated Out-Of-Service Criteria in effect starting April 1
- How to Get More Out of Commercial Driver Vehicle Inspections
- Mark your calendar: CVSA sets annual Operation Safe Driver for July 7-13
- Operation Safe Driver enforcement blitz: CVSA set dates | Autonomous vehicle bill stopped
- Reckless drivers to be targeted during CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week
- Roadcheck-ready resources: Live Q&A with CVSA coming May 1
- Troopers from six states team up for week-long traffic blitz
- Updated CVSA out-of-service criteria now in effect
- What happens during the driver portion of a CVSA inspection?
Parking
- 35 truck parking spaces open in Montana
- Indiana to allow ‘safe haven’ truck parking at weigh stations during eclipse
- Montana DOT to open rest area near Three Forks with Law Enforcement Office
- New rest area near I-90 in Montana opens today; 35 truck parking spaces
- New York cops unleash windhshield barnacles on illegally parked trucks
- Ontario adding 165 truck parking spots at ONroutes, building and improving rest areas
- Ontario Adds Truck Parking in Largest Rest Area Expansion
- Texas city bans truck parking
- Truck parking is the topic of bills in three statehouses
Safety
- March Madness-style driver competition improves safety
- Preventive Measures and the Future of Trucking Safety
- Safety Operational Excellence: How the Right Data Supercharges Fleet Performance
- Safety tips for drivers during total solar eclipse
- Trucking Association of New York working to improve fleet safety
- Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage
- Video proof of how a safe following distance can save a life
Speed limiter
- B.C. speed limiter mandate comes into effect April 5
- B.C. speed limiter mandate goes into effect
- Effort to stop speed limiters gains supporters
- Speed limiters required for commercial trucks in B.C. starting this weekend
10. Regarding technology, towing, and weather:
Technology
- ATBS launches enhanced mobile app
- Dash cam shows big rig running cars off the road in New Hampshire
- Don’t let AI replace the human element
- Driver-facing dash cam shows road rage shooting on California interstate
- ELDs easily hacked by researchers
- How IoT is revolutionizing the trucking industry
- How shipping document automation drives profitability
- Intangles InRoute Connect Uses AI for Faster On-the-Road Maintenance
- Magnus Technologies Adds AI Features to Truckload TMS
- NMFTA Establishes New LTL eBOL Standards
Towing
- New Florida law to protect drivers from predatory tow companies
- Towing reform is the topic of a Florida bill signed into law
- Towing reform is the topic of a Missouri House bill
- Towing reform is topic of Missouri House committee hearing
- Towing reforms enacted in Virginia
Weather
- Deadly severe weather roars through several states Tuesday, spawning potential tornadoes
- Multiple semi trucks flipped by tornado in Indiana
- Nor’easter topples semi trucks, causes dozens of crashes
- Severe storms topple 18-wheelers in Indiana, tear through other parts of US
11. Regarding emissions, fuel, and oil:
Emissions
- EPA releases strict new heavy truck emissions rule
- EU Approves Tougher, Broader Heavy-Duty CO2 Emissions Cuts
- FHWA’s greenhouse gas measurement rule blocked by federal court
- Heavy-Truck Emissions Rules: A Disaster in the Making
- House Transportation Leaders Tout FHWA Pushback
- Nova Scotia offers rebates for zero-emission vehicles
- Strict truck emission standards set by EPA
- Trucking associations push back on EPA’s GHG Phase 3 emissions timelines
- Trucking orgs skeptical of EPA’s latest heavy-duty emissions regs
- What Do Scope 3 Emissions Mean to Your Trucking Fleet?
- What Do Scope 3 Emissions Mean to Your Trucking Fleet?
- Zero emissions journey requires ‘making the impossible possible’
Fuel
- Benchmark diesel price heads higher; so do world oil markets
- Benchmark diesel price under $4 a gallon for first time in 8 weeks
- Diesel Price Falls Back Below $4 a Gallon at $3.996
- FBX Report: April 02, 2024
- Fuel costs show why transportation market is so challenging for providers
- Fuel payments providers boost theft protections
- IEA Warns Attacks on Russia Plants May Disrupt Diesel Market
- IEA: Can diesel keep dodging big impacts from attacks on Russian refineries?
- Officials dealing with diesel fuel leak at Pilot truck stop in Michigan
- Peterbilt introduces Cummins X15N natural gas engine
- US diesel averages drop below $4 a gallon for 1st time in 8 weeks
- Weekly Fuel Report: April 02, 2024
- Weekly Fuel Report: April 09, 2024
- Weekly NTI Update: April 08, 2024
Oil
- Energy Researcher: Peak Oil Won’t Happen Before 2030
- OPEC Says Oil Needs Monitoring Amid Summer Demand
- OPEC+ Sticks With Supply Cuts While Oil Nears $90 a Barrel
- Red Sea crisis nears boiling point, unable to heat up spot rates
- US Cancels Latest Oil Reserve Refill Plan Amid High Prices
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
I extend heartiest congratulations to all professional truck drivers who earned safety awards and have demonstrated a mastery of their trucking skill!
- Briefly: Nominations open for contest honoring exceptional drivers
- Continental Express ‘Feeding Families’ truck hits the road to honor truckers and farmers
- CVSA accepting nominations for International Driver Excellence Award
- JB Hunt driver Jodi Edwards earns WIT’s Driver of the Year honor
- Nevada Event Kicks Off NTDC Champ Wilson’s Goal to Repeat
- Regional truck driving championships return to Central Ontario
- Sheetz sponsors Ohio truck driving and technician skills competitions
- Toronto truck driving championships take place next month
Recognition
I am grateful for those who help out their fellow human beings in a time of need.
I wish all TDMST readers who are professional truck drivers safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road!
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2024.04.13 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
