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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.11.09

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2024.11.09 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending November 9, 2024, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding politics – DC, politics – election, politics – states, prediction, tariffs, and veterans:

This week in the USA, the 2024 General Election was held.

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In some circles, the races were extremely polarized and contentious.

Furthermore, there are some strongholds that insist that the outcomes of elections will not be known for some time.

In my home state of South Carolina, the state Constitution declares in Article II, Section 1: “All elections by the people shall be by secret ballot, but the ballots shall not be counted in
secret. …”

For this reason and for many years, I opposed the use of electronic voting machines that had no paper back-up and I insisted on using a paper ballot at each election.

Over time, the SC State Election Commission put in place a series of different kinds of voting machines, finally getting those that allow one to vote electronically and also print out a paper ballot that can be re-counted and audited later.

I served as a poll worker on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and saw for myself the benefit of having certain electronic devices in place, especially when there was a record turn-out of voters in the precinct where I worked.

Knowing first-hand how the “old system” worked — with flipping through a hard copy printout of voters — I believe that it would have been impossible for the voters to have been processed in such a timely manner without the advantage of certain electronic devices in place.

That being said, in my opinion, in the 21st century, when one can know the balance of one’s financial accounts at the flick of a call or text, in my opinion, it is ridiculous not to have accurate results of elections within an hour or two of the close of polls.

Furthermore, readers of this weekly trucking commentary know that I stand firmly for freedom and liberty — and that I rarely publicly back any political candidate.

May all of my readers remember the principles upon which our nation was founded and stand by:

  • the unalienable rights that our Creator endowed to us; and
  • the freedoms and liberties that our Founders put in place.

There are 3 sections of political articles here.

Politics – DC

Politics – election

Politics – states

Prediction

Tariffs

Veterans

If you are a veteran who has served honorably according to your oath of office, I thank you for the service you have rendered.

Please note the third article in this section regarding a freebie that has been offered to veterans.

2. Regarding chain laws, roads, roads – ban, roads – NC/TN, traveling, stranded, and weather:

Chain laws

Roads

Roads – ban

Roads – NC/TN

Traveling

I have broken out this article specifically because it is an advisory, not an actual ban.

Stranded

Truckers who travel in the winter need to be prepared for being stranded on snow-covered roads.

I saw an article on Facebook today in which one experienced trucker said that he has never seen the amount of snow that has fallen in some areas.

Please be prepared according to the articles on this website.

Weather

3. Regarding crashes, drowsy driving, drugs, fatalities, fraud, 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.

Drowsy driving

Please feel free to review my article:

Drowsy Driving: Dangers, Statistics, and No Substitutes

Drugs

Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.

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?

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.

Theft

Never take something that doesn’t belong to you unless you have permission from the owner.

With as much surveillance equipment in place in the 21st century, it’s only a matter of time before the thieves are apprehended.

Violence

It is never right to perpetrate violence upon someone in an unprovoked manner.

All perpetrators of violence must be dealt with in a just legal manner.

4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, hydrogen, and oil:

Autonomous vehicles

With every fiber of my being, I oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless 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 by asking some questions and getting answers.

Emissions

Fuel

Hydrogen

Oil

5. Regarding AB5, CARB, legal, and Tesla:

AB5

CARB

Legal

Tesla

6. Regarding brokers, business, insurance, recalls, and shut down:

Brokers

Business

Insurance

Recalls

Shut down

7. Regarding economy and efficiency:

Economy

Efficiency

8. Regarding downgrade and employment:

Downgrade

Employment

9. Regarding inspections, operations, ports, safety, securement, and testing:

Inspections

If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.

Operations

Readers of my trucking commentaries know that I regularly recognize those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.

The first article in this section addresses the reverse.

What is your opinion about stopping to help a trucker who overturned his/her rig, even if it was his/her own fault?

Does it depend on where the crash took place?

Please feel free to comment through the form below.

Ports

Safety

Securement

Testing

10. Regarding lottery, pay, and per diem:

Lottery

Let’s hope that the trucker who won this money has the financial discipline to spend it, invest it, or give it away wisely.

Pay

Per diem

Please document everything you need it in order to make any kind of financial claim.

11. Regarding supply chain and technology:

Supply chain

Technology

12. Regarding awards – voting, charity, and recognition:

Awards – voting

I find this interesting, that folks would be able to vote for someone to get a trucking award.

Charity

I recognize and thank those who have a spirit of giving to others.

Recognition

I recognize those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.

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: 2024.11.09 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.


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