TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.05.25 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending May 25, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding events, HHG, inspections, Memorial Day, operations, and road rage:
Events
In this section, I have listed articles about one or more recent trucking events, particularly those that have to do with info for truckers looking to save money and/or time.
- 3 things I learned at Uber Freight’s Carrier Summit
- ACT Expo 2024: World’s top transportation executives have common messages
- ACT Research: Spot rates remain below year-ago levels
- Kenworth Reveals SuperTruck 2 Concept at ACT Expo
- Kenworth showcases its futuristic SuperTruck 2
- Kenworth shows off energy-efficient SuperTruck 2 during ACT Expo
- Kenworth: SuperTruck 2 is ‘The Driver’s Truck’
- Latest Clean Truck Tech: Ride-and-Drive Sneak Peek [Photos]
- PACT, made up of America’s top transportation companies, introduces founding members at ACT Expo
- Peak investment, innovation shape sustainable future: Report
- Volvo introducing next-gen technology at Vegas conference
HHG
As I list on the glossary on this website, “HHG” is an acronym for “Household Goods.”
- Bill to empower FMCSA to crack down on scam household goods movers with civil penalties
- FMCSA cracking down on fraudulent household goods movers
- FMCSA cracks down on fraudulent HHG moving companies, brokers
- FMCSA launches 2024’s Operation Protect Your Move
- FMCSA to crack down on scam household goods movers and brokers
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
Please be aware that a truck inspection can take place at any time, not just during announced blitzes!
- 101 drivers and 183 trucks placed out of service during AZ’s Roadcheck effort
- Arizona law enforcement uncovered over 3000 violations during 72 hour trucker inspection blitz
- Delaware Creates Police Unit Focusing on Interstate Drivers
- Get a glimpse at the safety violations discovered during Roadcheck 2024
- Industry welcomes proposed enhancements to roadside enforcement, driver training
- New commercial vehicle inspection station opens on I-495
- Pennsylvania troopers to disguise themselves as road workers for traffic blitz
- Roadcheck fails 2024: Inspectors clock the best of the worst?
- Roadside Inspection Station Opens on Long Island Expressway
Memorial Day
As of the time of this writing, we are in the midst of Memorial Day weekend 2024.
Please be alert to the very real possibility of the attempted theft of your tractor, trailer, and/or anything from either of those.
If you approach looking at your rig from the perspective of a thief, you may be able to spot vulnerabilities to theft that you can tighten up.
For example, if you plan to drop your trailer somewhere, cheap “insurance” is to install a king pin lock so that someone can’t just back up to the trailer and haul it off.
- Gear up for heaviest Memorial Day weekend traffic in nearly 20 years
- With a potential increase of cargo theft amid Memorial Day, experts offer mitigation insights
- With a potential increase of cargo theft amid Memorial Day, experts offer mitigation insights
Operations
Be aware of people like the one recorded in the video in the article linked in this section, who think that laws apply only to them.
You can’t teach people like this decent manners on the road.
It’s always satisfying to see justice being done so quickly.
Remember that as a professional truck driver, you are supposed to be “professional” toward other motorists, even when they act in an ugly way.
Road rage
Of all the various kinds of road rage, the “trucker vs. trucker” kind is the worst, in my opinion.
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, electric vehicles challenges, emissions, fuel, oil, reserve, and vehicle age:
Autonomous vehicles
With every fiber of my being, I oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, 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 trucks are topic of bills in three statehouses
- Hyundai, Plus to build 1st autonomous fuel cell Class 8 electric tractors in US
- Volvo reveals first autonomous new VNL
- Volvo says it’s ready to produce autonomous Class 8 trucks en masse
- Volvo, Aurora Unveil Production-Ready Autonomous Tractor
Batteries
These are among the first articles I’ve seen about what to do with spent electric vehicle batteries.
My understanding prior to these articles was that once spent, electric vehicle batteries are un-redeemable.
Perhaps they can be redeemed somehow?
- Daimler Truck rolling out ‘second life’ program for BEV batteries
- DTNA outlines plans for expired battery packs
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- Alm: Heavy-Duty EV Adoption Must Include Carbon Pricing
- ChargeTronix Introduces 480 kW Charging System
- EV startup Harbinger snags $400M in commercial vehicle chassis orders
- EVs bad week; Biden’s resurfaced quote; Target’s woes; semi truck buyer demos |
- Expert Panel Critical of Regulatory Push for Electric Trucks
- Fleet Forward Port of Los Angeles: Medium- and Heavy-Duty EV Lessons Learned
- Food Forward Inc. fights food insecurity with Volvo VNR Electric
- Heliox unveils new 60 kW EV charger for electric big rigs
- Hexagon Purus debuts Tern electric Class 8 truck
- Hexagon Purus launching new Class 8 BEV under new brand with Hino
- Hino, Hexagon Purus Launch Class 8 Battery-Electric Truck
- Lion Electric debuts Class 8 truck
- Lion Electric Introduces Battery-Electric Class 8 Tractor
- Lion Electric Unveils Class 8 Electric Tractor
- Lion Electric’s new Class 8 tractor roars onto the scene
- Motiv launches new Argo electric truck
- Navistar Aims to Simplify Battery-Electric Truck Transition
- New Class 8 Electric Truck from Hino and Hexagon Purus
- New Penske Energy to Help Commercial Fleets with Electrification
- Prologis, Maersk launch heavy-truck charging hub near SoCal ports
- Ryder: Can we Bridge the Cost Parity Gap Between Electric and Diesel Truck Operations?
- Tico launches new electric terminal tractor
- Truck Maker Execs Hopeful on BETs Despite Slow Adoption
- Truck OEMs aligned on path to decarbonization
- Unsteady EV Demand Drives Automaker-Supplier Tension
- Volvo Launches on Demand to Ease Electric Truck Adoption
- Volvo on Demand’ initiative aims to help fleets adopt Class 8 BEVs
- WattEV CEO Challenges Truck Makers on Megawatt Charging
- ZM Trucks to manufacture BEVs, FCEVs in Canada
Electric vehicles challenges
I think that these are the first articles I’ve seen from where a “mover and shaker” within the trucking industry who has expressed concern about commercial motor vehicles “going electric.”
I would appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this development — through the form below.
- Electrification Has Its Challenges, J.B. Hunt’s Simpson Says
- J.B. Hunt president casts doubt on electrification, shares more cost-effective ways to decarbonize
- J.B. Hunt President: Cutting Carbon Emissions Now — Without Electric Trucks
Emissions
The term “emissions” is meant to sound “dirty” — and some of them are — but even humans and all living things emit “something” in the process of growing and living.
Humans and many animals breathe in oxygen and “emit” carbon dioxide.
Plants and trees breathe in carbon dioxide and “emit” oxygen.
This is the way that our Creator designed things to work!
So, be on your guard about thinking that “all emissions” must be tightly regulated by some super-authority somewhere.
There is a time and place for being a good steward of the resources that our Creator gave us, without being held hostage to a no-win goal of globalists.
- Emissions regulatory patchwork ‘a nightmare to deal with’
- Expert help’ key in navigating uncertain emissions regs
- FHWA propelling zero-emission truck adoption at the ports
- Magical Thinking Won’t Take Trucking to Net Zero Emissions
- Shell Investors Back Weaker Emissions Targets
- ZM to Bring Zero-Emission Work Trucks to North America
Fuel
- Accelera launches new hydrogen and electric products at ACT Expo
- Accelera Launches Next-Gen Hydrogen, Electric Solutions
- Accelera Shows off Next-Gen Hydrogen, Electric Solutions for Commercial Vehicles
- Average US diesel price continues downward slide
- Benchmark diesel price near lows last seen in July
- Can Hydrogen Actually Work for Trucking Operations?
- CIB, HTEC launch $337M initiative to accelerate hydrogen network in Western Canada
- Could hydrogen be the future of zero-emission trucking? Research predicts leap in number of stations worldwide by 2030
- Cummins X15N raises the profile of natural gas
- Diesel Price Drops 5.9¢ to Hit $3.789 a Gallon
- Forvia’s hydrogen storage solutions energize clean mobility goals
- Fuel Cell Maker Symbio Unveils Class 8 FCEV Demonstrator
- Honda rolls out hydrogen-powered Class 8 concept truck
- Volvo announces plans to build hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines
- Volvo Plans Trucks With Hydrogen-Powered Engines by End of Decade
- Volvo to start testing hydrogen combustion engine
- Weekly Fuel Report: May 21, 2024
- Weekly NTI Update: May 20, 2024
Oil
- Big Oil Investigation Sent to Justice Department by Dems
- New Castrol Program for Greener Used Oil Disposal
Reserve
If I understand this situation correctly, the USA has “sold its soul” regarding selling its own Gasoline Reserve, which may not be much different from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve!
Vehicle age
This particular article addresses “Cars, trucks and SUVs” — not large trucks like semi-tractor trailers — but I think that as go smaller vehicles, so may the same economic consideration be put toward larger vehicles sometime in the future.
Please feel free to share your thoughts through the form below.
3. Regarding bankruptcy, border, brokers, business, economy, efficiency, fees, lottery, rates, and tolls:
Bankruptcy
Given the economy and over time, I think that we’ll see more of this type of thing happening.
- Former FedEx Ground contractor files for bankruptcy liquidation
- Illinois trucking companies file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
Border
- Borderlands Mexico: DP World launches Mexico-to-US intermodal rail service
- Borderlands Mexico: Mexican ports’ 2024 cargo volumes up 18% through April
- Borderlands Mexico: Nearshoring to continue boosting cross-border trucking in 2024
- Borderlands Mexico: Widening technology gap a threat to US-Mexico trade, experts say
- Cross-border freight drops in March, snapping three-year growth trend
Brokers
- Broker group takes on trucking’s crime epidemic, double brokers
- New bill would let FMCSA fine double brokers $10,000
Business
- 4 Tips For Selling a Customized or Modified Work Vehicle
- How to move truck-financing terms more to your favor
Economy
- ACT’s final April numbers on Class 8 tractor orders show uptick
- April Trailer Orders Up After Six Months of Declines
- ATA reports April slide for Truck Tonnage Index
- ATA Reports More Tonnage Declines for April
- DAT and SONAR to square off for a good cause in Great Freight Debate
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Truck tonnage dips, and Roadcheck rate bump underwhelms
- Ongoing freight recession pressures Schneider’s Q1 earnings
- OOIDA Foundation market report reiterates new cycle not here yet
- State of Freight webinar for May: Not an inflection point yet but a benchmark turns higher
- Trailer orders still on the upswing, ACT says
- Truck tonnage continued to fall in April
- Trucking Faces ‘Peak Complexity’ on Road to a Greener Future
- Truckload carriers hopeful but not calling cycle turn yet
- Used truck prices plunged from February to April, J.D. Power finds
Efficiency
Does this apply to you?
Fees
The article linked in this section opens as follows:
According to a recent survey by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University, 58% of respondents to a recent survey said that they would be in favor of mileage fees for delivery and freight trucks.
Feel free to read info on this site about VMT or Vehicle Miles Traveled.
Lottery
I hope that this trucker has financial discipline in his life!
Rates
- Historic trucking rate disparity could cripple service in late ’24
- Historic Trucking Rate Disparity Could Cripple Service in Late ’24
- Industry Index Signals Freight Rates Are Bottoming Out
- Spot rate gains during Roadcheck ‘were weakest in years,’ Truckstop reports
Tolls
4. Regarding hazmat, health, politics, and ports:
Hazmat
Health
- 5 Tips to Protect Your Hearing Health as a Truck Driver
- Driver health epidemic highlighted by failed driver fitness program
Politics
- Colorado governor signs bill to ban truckers from left lane on parts of I-70, expand chain law
- Florida enacts transportation laws to protect, use road funds
- Michigan lawmakers pursue road-usage tax
Ports
- Georgia’s Auto Port Has Its Busiest Month Ever
- Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach receive $112M for maintenance, repair
- Surprise port closures leave truckers without pay in South Carolina
5. Regarding bridge strike, collapse, crashes, death, and fatalities:
Bridge strike
One paragraph from the article linked in this section — which did not list the height of either the overpass or the truck — said this:
With the Tuesday incident under investigation, the other 12 were attributed to driver or carrier errors, with the most common ones being failures to measure loads, follow approved routes, as well as operating without a permit or failure to follow permit conditions.
It is imperative — in my opinion — that all professional truck drivers obtain and learn how to use a Road Carriers Atlas (aka truckers atlas).
Collapse
OK, if the ship that hit and collapsed the Francis Scott Key bridge had been known to have problems, why wasn’t it escorted on the way out of the port such that it couldn’t hit the bridge in the first place?
Who was responsible for this?
- Maryland governor says work won’t be done until Key Bridge stands again
- Ship returns to port after March Baltimore bridge collapse
- Ship That Caused Baltimore Bridge Collapse Escorted to Port
- Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse moved back to port
- Tugboats escort ship that caused deadly Baltimore bridge collapse back to port
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.
- FreightWaves Infographics: Crash data involving new truck, bus drivers getting worse
- Gallons of milk flood highway in tanker rollover
- Mack tanker truck backs over pedestrian
- Pea peril: Rig hauling vegetables overturns in Virginia
- Semi cab somehow ends up on top of 20 ft highway wall
- Semi truck stopped on I-5 to corral chickens escaping from trailer
- Semi trucks behaving badly ends in serious fender bender for all
Death
I extend my condolences to the family of the trucker who died in the accident described in this article.
Fatalities
I express my deep sympathy — and offer my 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?
- 2 dead, 2 hurt in chain reaction involving big rig, box truck
- Missing truck driver found dead after crash into Utah reservoir
- NHTSA Investigates After 4 Die in Crash of VinFast EV
6. Regarding left lane, legal, speed, and spying:
Left lane
Legal
- 850 murders linked to truckers in book by former FBI agent
- Misclassification lawsuit thrown out over technicality
- Supreme Court rules in favor of consumer bureau
Speed
- K&B Transportation utilizing dynamic speed technology
- New Cars in California Could Alert Drivers to Speeding
- PennDOT sign warns truckers of speed on Route 74’s 8% downhill grade
Spying
By “spying” when it comes to this section, you need to be aware that there are surveillance cameras in many places, including “truck cams” in the vehicles driven by other motorists.
As long as you continue driving a truck, be aware that you will be watched!
- Tennessee and Georgia cops bring their marked patrol big rigs to safety event
- Tennessee issues black bear warning for motorists
7. Regarding ELDs, solar, supply chain, sustainability, and technology:
ELDs
Here we go again!
- Blue Star ELD back on FMCSA registry
- Feds remove electronic logging devices from approved list
- FMCSA reinstates Blue Star ELD to list of registered devices
- FMCSA reinstates Blue Star ELD to registered devices list
- FMCSA removes two ELDs from list of registered devices
- FMCSA removes two ELDs from registered devices list
- FMCSA revokes 2 ELDs from approved list
- Truckers using these two ELDs should switch to paper logs immediately, FMCSA says
Solar
Supply chain
- Convergence’ key to efficient supply chain systems, Gartner exec says
- FreightTech Friday: Collaboration is the answer to supply-chain woes, says Beacon
- OPEC+ Expected to Extend Supply Cuts
Sustainability
Technology
- A New Wave of AI Is Coming to Trucking
- Arkansas Joins States Offering Free Traffic Congestion Alerts to Truck Drivers
- Building trust in an automated freight industry
- Embracing the Possibilities: Trucking’s AI Transformation
- Felony charge dropped after dash cam shows Texas cop injuring himself instead of getting hit by a car
- Maximizing Efficiency: Strategic Technology Investment
- Streamline bulk liquid operations with control tower logistics management
- Uber Freight Expands Procurement Platform With Spot Freight
8. Regarding roads, safety, and securement:
Roads
- I-95 in Philadelphia fully reopens one year after catastrophic tanker fire, collapse
- Is widening busy Atlanta freeway enough to curb drivers’ safety concerns?
- Pelican Island Bridge reopens to traffic
- Plans to spend billions on a flood-prone East Texas highway may not solve the problem
- Shoulder on part of I-95 open to traffic part-time in NH and ME to ease congestion
- Texas bridge connecting Galveston and Pelican Island reopened after barge collision
Safety
- Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety — Part 2
- Samsara Releases Guide on Driver Safety
Securement
If you do not know how to properly secure your load, take some time to learn!
9. Regarding drugs, fraud, smuggling, and theft:
Drugs
Never ever agree to haul illegal drugs anywhere on your rig’s tractor or trailer, no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.
Also, never use illegal drugs.
- $18M worth of meth found hidden in squash shipment
- $5.4 million in meth seized from semi truck hauling papayas
- Agents squash drug shipments at California border
- CBP makes big drug bust at Texas border
- Cocaine, meth found in tractor-trailers during California border searches
- Mexican man sentenced in cocaine trafficking case
- Special fuel tank compartment found filled with cocaine
Fraud
Never attempt to deceive, misrepresent something, intentionally pervert the truth, or pretend to be someone else for the purpose of trying to get something valuable.
This kind of action may result in a lawsuit.
- Bipartisan bill introduced to combat freight fraud
- House lawmakers introduce bill to combat freight fraud
- OOIDA backs bipartisan bill to fight freight fraud
- OOIDA encourages support of bill to stop freight fraud
Smuggling
Never ever attempt to transport people made in the image of God as if they were cattle or cargo!
Theft
Do not take something that isn’t yours without first asking for permission.
- Card-skimming, diesel theft ring busted in Florida
- Cargo theft increase expected for Memorial Day | New recalls from Freightliner, Mack
- Cargo theft spike expected over holiday weekend
- Cargo theft, misdirection fraud risks increase amid Memorial Day
- Cargo thefts trending up, could get worse this weekend
- Five charged in multi-state fuel pump skimmer and diesel theft conspiracy
- Increased cargo theft expected for Memorial Day weekend
- Ramp thief offers to “put them back on” after trucker wins tug-of-war
- Thieves at large after breaking into a semi truck at Florida Pilot
- Tips on preventing cargo theft during upcoming holiday weekend
10. Regarding LTL, nearshoring, parking, and parts:
LTL
Nearshoring
See this site’s “glossary” for the definition of this term.
Parking
- Canadian drivers rally for truck parking
- New Jersey seeks input on truck parking from drivers
- Truck Parking Club Hits 400 Locations, Saving Hundreds of Millions in Development Costs
Parts
- Divided Panel Recommends Side Underride Guard Rulemaking
- Divided underride committee to draft recommendations for NHTSA
- Don’t take your fifth wheel for granted
- Why Aren’t Airbags Standard Safety Equipment in Class 8 Trucks?
11. Regarding Tesla, training, violence, weather, and worst drivers:
Tesla
Please familiarize yourself with these reports as you desire.
- PepsiCo set to expand Tesla Semi fleet across California
- PepsiCo to add 50 Tesla electric semi-trucks to California fleet
- Tesla Posts Jobs for AI, Autopilot After Weeks of Staff Cuts
- Tesla Semi program manager gives Semi update
- Tesla Semi Update Still Leaves Questions
- Tesla Signals Pullback on Goal of 20 Million Cars by 2030
- Tesla to trucking industry: Step up your electric game
- Tesla’s Priestley to EV Fleets: Now Is the Time to Scale
Training
- CDL truck driving school shutters operations, files for bankruptcy
- FMCSA asked for another student driver exemption
Violence
- Driver shot while holding knife to woman’s throat connected to murder of different woman last fall
- Oklahoma trooper accused of sexually battering female trucker
- Oklahoma trooper charged with sexual battery of female semi truck driver during traffic stop
- One dead, one hurt, in shooting at Tennessee truck stop
- Trucker shot near semi ID’d as cowboy, third generation livestock hauler
Weather
- Extreme hurricane season could trigger ‘carrier revenge’
- Latest Iowa weather declaration effective through June 20
- More severe weather expected through Memorial Day weekend
- Tornado swallows tanker truck, leaves path of destruction in Iowa
- Video shows tornado toppling big rig on an Iowa highway
Worst drivers
Just sharing…
- New Mexico tops Forbes list of states with nation’s worst drivers
- See in which states you must share the roads with the worst drivers
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
I commend all professional truck drivers who demonstrated skill and safety on the road and also achieved a milestone worth celebrating!
- PGT Trucking honors drivers, others; million mile driver wins new pickup
- PGT Trucking honors more than 150 safe drivers
- Trucking Moves America Forward members honored for being industry cheerleaders
- Walmart driver hits 5 million safe miles
Recognition
I recognize those who help their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether helping a trucker or a trucker helping someone else.
Earlier this week as I was walking into a local grocery store, I saw a teenage girl standing near parked vehicles, who was holding a hand up to her head.
I asked her if she was OK.
A man walking in the opposite direction said to me that he had wondered the same thing — but he hadn’t asked. Hmm…
I am an introvert, so I understand not wanting to bother someone if a situation appears not to be any of my business.
Even so, I double-checked.
I said something like, “Are you sure? You were holding your head.”
After she replied that she was just tired, I let it go.
It would greatly bother my conscience if I later learned that I could have done something to help someone and didn’t do it!
That being said, there are other situations that occur around truckers which they need to be aware of, like human trafficking, where people are pressed into “service” against their will and they need a helping hand.
Consider this quote:
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.
— John Wesley
Now for the articles:
- Trucker rescues flooded teen while heading to wife’s hospice leave
- Trucker rescues girl from flooded car, continues to make his deliveries
- Watch a group of people try to help a driver in an overturned rig
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: 2024.05.25 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.