TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.06.29 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending June 29, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding ATRI, drugs – marijuana, drugs – other, FMCSA – new boss, Independence Day:
ATRI
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released new research on June 25, 2024, about this:
“Industry Costs Increased More than 6 Percent During Freight Recession.”
I posted their press release on the TDMST Facebook page.
Other articles about this include:
- Insurance, driver pay, truck payments drove operational costs up in 2023: ATRI
- New ATRI research: Industry costs increased more than 6% during freight recession
- Per-mile cost of trucking hit all-time historic high in 2023
- Per-mile cost of trucking hit record high in 2023
- Trucking costs up, study says
- Truckload carriers’ costs rose in 2023 despite lower fuel costs
- With rates dropping, per-mile operating costs hit record high in 2023
Drugs – marijuana
There are two different kinds of articles in this section, the first being that the drug was found in a big rig and the second being about marijuana classification.
I can just about guarantee that no matter what decision is made on the federal level about marijuana classification, some group(s) of people will be upset.
Furthermore and from a constitutional point of view (Article I, Section 8), I must point out that decisions about drugs are not the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Per the Tenth Amendment, decisions about drugs are for the States or the people to make.
- $5.1 million in marijuana seized from commercial vehicle at World Trade Bridge
- ATA aims second letter at Buttigieg to raise alarm over relaxing marijuana classification
- Buttigieg: Marijuana Reclassification Should Not Affect DOT Drug Testing Rules
- Buttigieg: Marijuana rescheduling won’t impact DOT drug testing | Fleet owner convicted of lying to FMCSA
- Buttigieg: Rescheduling pot will not affect trucker drug testing
- CBP officers seize over 1,400 pounds of marijuana at the Pharr International Bridge
- Marijuana rescheduling will not alter DOT drug testing
- Marijuana screening should still be used in face of drug reclassification, DOT clarifies
- Texas CBP officers nab huge weed seizure
- Trucking Industry Urges DOT to Mitigate Safety Risks Posed by Marijuana Reclassification
Drugs – other
FMCSA – new boss
In response to this article being posted in a trucking group on Facebook, I responded:
Quote from article:
=====
White also serves as DOT’s acting chief artificial intelligence officer, where he oversees the development and use of AI based on administration policies and priorities.
Prior to joining FMCSA, he was responsible for coordinating DOT initiatives on emerging transportation technologies, including policies related to automated driving systems, drones and advanced air mobility systems. He also helped launch the department’s Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee.
=====
I sense a level of discomfort about this…
The phrase about his having coordinated initiatives about “automated driving systems” sounds a lot like “autonomous vehicles” to me.
If that’s true, I don’t think it’s right to have someone at the top of the FMCSA who wants to replace professional truck drivers with machines.
Just saying.
Here are other articles about this revolving door situation and who is the most recent person to fill the seat…
- DOT names new FMCSA boss
- FMCSA appoints acting administrator
- FMCSA gets yet another top administrator; third one this year
- FMCSA’s revolving door at top continues with new Deputy Administrator
- Vinn White Named FMCSA Deputy Administrator
- Vinn White Named FMCSA’s New Acting Leader
- White named Deputy Administrator of FMCSA
Independence Day
I am surprised there weren’t any articles about the proposed increase in traffic around Independence Day in any of the trucking publication news feeds this week.
I published one last week.
Perhaps there will be articles coming?
2. Regarding autonomous vehicles, “clean power”, electric vehicles, emissions:
Autonomous vehicles
With every fiber of my being, I oppose 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 my readers to help us stay current on the topic.
- Aurora Innovation, Uber Freight Launch Driverless Program
- DOL bill could block Biden contractor rule | More autonomous trucks in Uber Freight network
- FreightWaves Infographics: Tech giants invest $200 million in Waabi for fully driverless trucks
- Uber Freight and Aurora team up on autonomous Drivers-as-a-Service
- Uber Freight and Aurora’s Autonomous-Trucks-for-All Plan
- Uber Freight, Aurora launch autonomous program for carriers
Clean power
In my opinion, the phrase “clean power” has been chosen to help frame the narrative that certain kinds of power/fuel are as pristine as the driven snow with absolutely no downsides.
For example, there may be chemicals, minerals, parts, rare earth materials, or something else — that are needed to make solar panels — that may be toxic to human health at some stage of the procurement process.
Learn to discern.
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- BAE Systems, Eaton team-up on electric MD powertrain
- BEVs: Looking under the hood, into the future
- Can wireless EV charging become an infrastructure player?
- Could Cheap Chinese EVs Reach US From Mexico?
- Electrification Simplified, BAE Style – Part 2
- PITT OHIO plans to add 4 Mack MD electric tractors to its fleet
- Polestar Loss Deepens to $1.46B Amid Slowing EV Demand
- Rivian to Form EV Venture With $5 Billion From Volkswagen
- Salem Carriers to Use Pair of eCascadias in Carolinas
- The Right Utility Provider Is Key for Fleet Electrification
Emissions
- Clean Fuels Alliance Sues EPA Over Phase 3 Emissions Rule
- NEW White Paper — Reduction of lifecycle carbon emissions in fleets: why now?
- Perspective: EPA’s GHG Phase 3 Rule Needs Fixing
3. Regarding bankruptcy, economy, efficiency, inflation, “Missed Savings”, pay, shut down:
Bankruptcy
- Shuttered California LTL carrier files for bankruptcy
- Texas logistics firm files for bankruptcy liquidation
Economy
- Analysts: For-hire trucking market shows signs of slow recovery
- Economic Growth for Q1 Is Revised Up to a 1.4% Annual Rate
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Spot market continues to improve, trailer orders dive
- Fleets Persevere Through Down Market With Care and Creativity
- Load board numbers lowest since January 2022
- Securing your competitive edge: Preparing for the next market upswing
- Strong US Class 8 sales for May reflect atypical pattern for freight market
- VTNA: US Class 8 Retail Sales Running Below Expectations
Efficiency
Inflation
Missed savings
Pay
- Driver Poll: What type of pay do you find most attractive?
- Lease-on agreement pay disputes with large carriers
- Top 5 Most Popular Truck Driving Careers with the Highest Salaries
Shut down
- Texas Logistics Company Ceases Operations
- Texas Logistics Company with 500 Truck Drivers Abruptly Ceases Operations
- Texas logistics company with 500 truck drivers abruptly ceases operations
- When Freight Carriers Fold, CDL Holders Keep on Trucking
4. Regarding border, bridges, business, bypass, capacity, collapse, landslide, roads:
Border
- Cross-border freight experiences significant growth in April
- Trucking across borders continues to increase
Bridges
Please use a truckers atlas for routing that is specific for commercial motor vehicles so that you will not run the risk of hitting a low clearance.
If you drive a truck that has a raisable bed, please make sure that your procedure requires that you lower your truck’s bed before leaving the receiver’s property.
If you have an oversized load, make sure that you get a permit and follow the routing and instructions.
Business
Bypass
Capacity
Collapse
These articles address the situation concerning the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Dali Cargo Ship Leaves Baltimore for Virginia
- Dali cargo ship leaves Baltimore for Virginia, nearly 3 months after bridge collapse
- NTSB issues investigative update for Baltimore Bridge collapse
- White House wants $4 billion to rebuild Baltimore’s Key Bridge, respond to other disasters
Landslide
- FHWA releases $6M in emergency funding to WYDOT in wake of Teton Pass landslide
- Temporary route around collapsed portion of Wyoming’s Highway 22 will open Friday, officials say
- Teton Pass reopens to commuter, tourist traffic
- WYO 22/Teton Pass to reopen midday Friday with new detour
- Wyoming’s Teton Pass reopens after devastating landslide
Roads
- Expect delays as latest 900,000-pound super load travels through Ohio
- Hood River Bridge closed indefinitely after truck hauling excavator causes ‘severe’ damage
- Public meetings on Interstate 285 express lanes scheduled
- Weekend closure planned for Interstate 5
5. Regarding crashes, death, fatalities, hitchhiker, smuggling, theft, 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.
- CMV’s molten aluminum spill closes I-165 through next week
- Four-wheeler causes load shift in desperate attempt to make exit
- Multi-vehicle crash with semi trucks, manufactured home, and SUV ties up traffic in California
- Semi wrecker driver blames heat, police cite drugs in crash involving towed rig
- Tractor-trailer hit by train blocks Georgia railroad crossing for hours
- Truck driver wanted by Houston police for crash with bicyclist
- Trucker pays the price when box truck driver just forgets how to drive for a second?
- Video shows crash that got gravel hauler cited for ‘Careless Driving in a Construction Zone’
Death
I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these situations.
Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent death in the situations described?
- Driver found crushed between tandem trailers in mall parking lot
- Man crushed while loading scissor lift onto flatbed
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?
- Driver sentenced to 11 years for Colo. crash that killed family of five
- One dead in Interstate 70 accident in Putnam County
- Traffic fatalities continuing downward trend in first quarter of 2024
- Traffic fatalities declined about 3% in 1st quarter, according to NHTSA
Hitchhiker
How can a trucker help to prevent someone from jumping on his/her tractor or trailer?
Please comment through the form below.
Smuggling
Never ever transport people made in the image of God as if they were cattle or cargo — no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.
Theft
Never take something that doesn’t belong to you, unless you have permission.
In our day, there are many types of surveillance cameras, so be on guard!
- ATA thrilled with the introduction of bill to fight cargo theft
- Bill intends to address ‘rampant theft’ in U.S. supply chain
- California congressman introduces bill to address growing cargo theft problem
- California congressman proposes bill to tackle cargo theft
- FBI and Homeland Security to team up to combat freight fraud and cargo theft under new bill
- Just steal it: Why carriers avoid Memphis |
- Man steals mini semi truck from auto parts store
- Memphis cargo thieves target truck hauling Nike products at red light
- Thieves stole cargo, equipment worth $531 million since 2019 in Canada
Violence
How can violence be prevented against a trucker sitting in his/her truck?
Please comment through the form below.
- Briefly: 69-year-old trucker shot while parked on Chicago’s West Side
- Motive unclear after two men shoot trucker sitting in his cab on the West Side
6. Regarding classification, DOT medical, exercise, heat stroke, operations, points, ports, ride-along, towing:
Classification
DOT medical
Quoting the article in this section:
According to statistics from the FMCSA, 55% of all DOT medical cards issued are for one year or less, and 300,000 drivers are disqualified each year due to health reasons. Every day, clinic providers issue short-term cards because drivers’ declining health fails to meet DOT standards.
…
The top three reasons for short-term cards are 1) Hypertension; 2) Elevated glucose readings; and 3) Sleep apnea.
Exercise
Regarding the first article in this section, there is such a move called the “lymphatic pump” that truckers would do well to learn and do regularly.
- Did you know? Boosting your lymphatic system can help you keep on truckin’ for the long haul
- Squat challenge shines light on supply chain fitness
Heat stroke
Please refer to the page on my site entitled:
“A Hot Truck: On Summer Heat, Truck Heat and Bake Oven Conditions.”
Operations
OK, in my opinion, the title of the article in this section is misleading because the trucker doing the “evasive maneuver” was not able to completely evade a crash.
That being said, I would like to know what caused the truck that came across the median to flip over.
Based on the video, the weather was not a factor.
If you know more, please comment through the form below.
Points
Ports
- Georgia Ports Authority names new CCO, CFO
- Industries Fearing a Port Strike Urge Biden to Revive Talks
- Largest US Ports Report Volume Declines For May
- Port of Brunswick sets all-time record in May, adds 120 acres of storage space
- Texas Gulf Coast ports record strong freight movements in May
Ride-along
If more CEOs of trucking companies and truck stops would ride along with a professional truck driver for a while, they might be better able to understand what truckers go through on the job and on the road.
Towing
I am in favor of prohibiting predatory towing!
- FMCSA seeks comments from truckers on unfair commercial vehicle towing fees
- Towing companies dominate FMCSA session on predatory actions
- Towing reforms take effect July 1 in four states
7. Regarding congestion pricing, rates, taxes, tolls:
Congestion pricing
- Congestion pricing lawsuits gutted by federal court
- Federal judge rejects arguments against Manhattan congestion pricing plan
Rates
- Spot rate improvement in May: New trend or just another bounce along the bottom?
- The state of logistics in 2024: Low rates and excess capacity
Taxes
Tolls
- Georgia DOT schedules open houses on I-285 toll lanes
- Tolling industry group kicks off first Global Road Safety Week
8. Regarding inspections, insurance, parts, rear guard, recalls, safety, seat belts, securement:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
Insurance
- Future-proofing insurance with telematics
- How one state created chaos with $1.5M liability insurance minimum
- New Jersey offers clarification on minimum insurance law
Parts
Rear guard
- NHTSA denies crash victim families’ request for truck rear-guard probe
- NHTSA denies rear-impact guard reconsideration petition from safety coalition
Recalls
- Almost 4,000 Peterbilts and Kenworths recalled for steering issue
- Ford Recalls Over Half a Million 2014 F-150 Pickup Trucks
- Paccar Recall Advises Owners Not to Drive Until Steering Problem is Fixed
- Tesla Recalls Cybertrucks Twice in One Day
- Truckers told not to drive recalled Kenworths and Peterbilts due to risk of ‘complete loss of steering control’
Safety
- Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety — Part 3
- Super Bowl of Safety begins Friday in Arkansas
Seat belts
Securement
9. Regarding legal, parking, politics, politics – speed limiter:
Legal
- 3 logistics companies ordered to pay $840K for underpaying workers
- Bus driver at fault but won’t be charged for collision with big rig that killed 17, RCMP says
- Company fined $70K after trucker fell into vehicle service pit
- Don’t let risks of non-compliance stifle business growth
- Former New York trucking company owner convicted of lying to FMCSA
- FreightWaves Infographics: Michigan trucker gets 10 years in prison for setting semi-trailer fires
- Lawsuit settled in 2019 Golden Ray sinking off Georgia coast
- Motorist arrested after refusing to back up for turning semi truck
- NFI CEO among 6 indicted by New Jersey Attorney General
- Police won’t lay charges in Manitoba bus-truck crash that killed 17 seniors
- Supreme Court overturns ex-mayor’s conviction of taking bribe from trucking company
- Supreme Court ruling could boost freight carriers’ legal powers
- Trucking company owner convicted of lying to FMCSA about safety rating
- Werner driver trainees lose on pay issue again in lengthy litigation
- Wheeler Trucking to pay $65K to settle EEOC religious discrimination suit
Parking
- ATA hails $200 million for truck parking in House appropriations bill
- House funding legislation includes $200 million for truck parking
- Love’s adds 108 truck parking spots with new Ohio truck stop
- New rest area on New York State Thruway in Hudson Valley opens
- Newest Love’s on I-76 in Ohio includes 108 truck parking spaces
- Outpost adds 3 locations to bring network’s footprint to 10K-plus truck parking spaces
- Outpost adds more than 1,500 truck parking spaces to its network
Politics
- ATA commends House committee on blocking of Biden’s IC rule
- Colo. increases penalties for driving w/o CDL in wake of several dramatic crashes
- DOL appropriations bill would block new independent contractor rule
- House hearing to examine DOT budget, policies
- House Transportation Subcommittee Approves FY25 Bill
- How the debate impacts trade and bipartisan bill to fight freight fraud
- Idling and left lane use are among new rules in states
- THUD appropriations bill advances to full committee
Politics – speed limiter
- Approps bill includes truck parking funding, speed limiter prohibition
- Funding bill says no to truck speed limiters, yes to truck parking
- Funding bill supporting free truck parking, prohibiting speed limiters enters subcommittee markup
- Speed limiter block, $200M for truck parking in DOT funding bill
10. Regarding cold chain, technology, weather:
Cold chain
- Running on Ice: The cold chain needs a little warmup
- The industry cold chain is heating up: Are you ready?
Technology
- 20 of world’s biggest companies collaborate to modernize bar code
- BlackSuit Gang Blamed in Cyberattack on Car Dealers
- Bringing Fresh Eyes and New Technology to LTL
- CDK dealers share experience dealing with ongoing cyber event
- Dash cam shows SUV driver attempting to run big rig off Virginia interstate, trucker says
- Jarring dashcam shows truck plummeting down embankment after car’s sudden stop for deer
- Real-time traffic slowdown alerts set to aid Texas truck drivers
- Recruiting passive drivers via Seated Social
- Samsara unveils enterprise-grade Asset Tag to track high-value equipment
- Semi’s dash cam catches SUV veering into guardrail, sparking multi-vehicle crash
- Technology at your fingertips, experts by your side
- Top 5 carrier TMS software solutions for 2024
Weather
- Flooding concerns persist in Iowa, South Dakota
- Flooding emergency closes portion of Interstate 29 in South Dakota
- Iowa DOT continues to weather flooding issues
- More rain possible in deluged Midwest as flooding kills 2, causes water to surge around dam
- Rail Bridge Collapses During Midwest Flooding
- Rail bridge collapses during Midwest flooding as a heat wave persists across much of the US
11. Regarding engines, explosion, fuel, hydrogen, oil:
Engines
I could be wrong, but I think that some people have seen through the “electric truck” narrative and rejected it.
Explosion
Fuel
- Diesel benchmark up for second straight week
- Diesel Price Rises 3.4¢ in Second Straight Increase
- Diesel prices slightly up
- Renewable natural gas fueling station for CMVs opens in New Jersey
- Weekly Fuel Report: June 25, 2024
- Weekly NTI Update: June 24, 2024
Hydrogen
- Cellcentric Begins Pilot Hydrogen Fuel Cell Production in Germany
- Harnois Énergies to test Nikola hydrogen-powered truck in Quebec
- Walmart Canada deploys first Nikola hydrogen fuel-cell-electric truck
Oil
- Senate Probes Possibility of Collusion Between Big Oil, OPEC
- Shale Executives See Takeovers Squeezing US Oil Production
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
Congratulations to all professional truck drivers who were honored for their skills as a trucker or celebrated an achievement!
- Accident-free driver hits 4 million miles in 40 years
- Careful prep the name of the game for June Trucker of the Month
- Midland Transport wins team award at Atlantic Driving Championship
Recognition
I recognize those truckers who help their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Bison Transport driver Gillmore honored with second TCA Highway Angel award
- Estes Express Lines revamps its driver recognition program
- ‘You are never alone’: Knight driver Rosalinda Tejada works to help others
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: 2024.06.29 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
