TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.02.08 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 8, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding tariffs, snowplows, and weather:
Tariffs
I think that this is the single-largest group of articles I’ve ever gathered for one topic in a multi-topic TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentary.
To get some background information about this topic, please feel free to read the February 6, 2025, article by Judge Andrew Napolitano, entitled “Tariffs and the Constitution.”
- Air cargo industry jolted by Trump tariffs on Chinese e-commerce
- Automakers taken for a spin following tariff announcements
- Borderlands Mexico: Tariffs won’t stop soaring cross-border trade, experts say
- Breaking down Trump’s tariffs
- Check Call: 3PLs’ role in preparing for tariffs
- China counters with tariffs on US products. It will also investigate Google
- China Renews Threat to Counter US Tariffs
- China to Impose Tariffs on US Products, Including Oil
- Chinese Tariffs on US LNG Set to Reroute Global Trade Flows
- Could tariffs ‘wreck’ trucking recovery? Trump effort sparks retailiation
- Despite U.S. tariff pause, uncertainty remains over Canada
- Energy markets panic over tariffs, but then relax
- Ford Expects Big Profit Drop as Trump Tariff, EV Threats Loom
- FreightWaves fulfills duty to cover tariffs
- Hong Kong to file complaint with WTO on US tariffs
- How New Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- How New Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- Logistics Agents Put 30% Levy on Shein, Temu Retailers
- Looming tariff threat hampering new truck orders
- Making sense of Trump’s new trade war
- Manufacturers Scramble Under Trump’s Looming Tariffs
- Market stable to close January; tariffs signal wild ride for February
- Mexican border cities are in limbo as tariff threats spark fears of a recession
- Mexico and Canada strike back with retaliatory tariffs on US
- Mexico tariffs see their shadow: Delayed; are load boards listening to truckers? |
- Mexico, Canada both delay tariffs after Trump meetings
- Mexico, Canada get 30-day delay on tariffs
- Mexico’s Sheinbaum Says Tariffs Delayed for One Month
- Running on Ice: Chinese tariffs’ impact on the pharmaceutical supply chain
- Stock markets around the globe tumble in response to Trump tariffs
- Tariff Impact Threatens Critical Trucking Sectors
- Tariff plans could disrupt truck production and pre-buying activity
- Tariff threat hits CPKC with cross-border trade disruption
- Tariffs could push trans-Pacific container rates to 2024 highs: Freightos
- Tariffs loom over freight market, may shift supply chains, SONAR experts say
- Trucking industry reacts to Trump tariffs, agriculture and middle class to be hit hardest
- Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico after they pledge to boost border enforcement
- Trump kept his pledge on tariffs. Is he ready for the fallout? Are Americans? Here’s what to know
- Trump Maintains Duty-Free Exception on Chinese Goods
- Trump orders steep tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China
- Trump Pauses Mexico, Canada Tariffs; China Plans in Place
- Trump puts tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, spurring trade war as North American allies respond
- Trump says Americans could feel ‘some pain’ from his new tariffs
- Trump Tariffs Concern Trucking Industry as Threat Looms
- Trump: Tariffs Could Cause ‘Some Pain’
- Trump’s tariff tactics carry higher economic risks than during his first term
- U.S. tariffs panned by trade, trucking groups on both sides of border
- U.S., Canadian trucking associations react to Trump’s tariffs
- UPDATE: Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, but import taxes still in place for Canada and China
- What effect will Trump’s tariffs have on the trucking industry?
- White House pauses de minimis ban on Chinese e-commerce
Snowplows
Weather
Please practice discernment about traveling in the winter.
If a state has issued a travel ban to commercial vehicles, find a safe and legal place to park until the ban is lifted.
And, yes, I know that sometimes it can be a challenge to find a safe parking place in some areas.
- A Minnesota bridge that almost collapsed under heavy rains has been demolished
- All commercial vehicles banned from certain New Jersey interstates for winter weather
- Atmospheric river impacting northern, central California
- PennDOT issues updated and expanded list of roads for full commercial vehicle travel bans
- PennDOT to ban all commercial vehicle travel on several interstates ahead of winter storm
- Truck restrictions planned in Pennsylvania ahead of ice storm
- Winter storms bring commercial vehicle travel restrictions
- Winter weather expected to hit the northern part of US starting on Wednesday
2. Regarding brokers, Canada, collapse, and congestion:
Brokers
Canada
- Canada Retaliates on Tariffs; Mexico Response in Limbo
- Canada’s Oil Exports to US Jumped in December
- Canada’s Purolator buys Livingston to boost cross-border trade capacity
- Canadians Support Using Oil as Weapon in Trump Trade War
Collapse
- Design for new Francis Scott Key Bridge announced
- Designs unveiled for replacement of Baltimore bridge almost a year after deadly collapse
- Designs Unveiled for Replacement of Baltimore’s Key Bridge
Congestion
3. Regarding crashes, death, drugs, fatalities, fraud, scams, 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.
- Train collides with tractor-trailer blocking roads near Atlanta
- Truck strikes Gilmore overpass on Hwy. 1 in B.C.
- Watch the world’s slowest rollover as it happens
- Who’s crying over spilled milk? Borden rig wreck spoils more than 4,000 gallons in Florida
Death
I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the family of the trucker who died in this situation.
Please review safety procedures and follow them.
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- $1.6 million in cocaine seized from semi truck hauling soft drinks
- $1.6 million of cocaine found in truck loaded with soft drinks
- Arkansas troopers seize 2,872 pounds of illegal marijuana from big rig on I-40
- Border seizures of fentanyl, drug central to tariff war, fell in FY 2024
- CBP finds cocaine in tractor trailer in Texas
- Federal Officials Approve Fentanyl Testing for Truck Drivers and Other Safety-Sensitive Workers
- ‘Mixed narcotics’ worth over $19 million seized from semi truck hauling cucumbers and jalapenos
- No charges for car hauler after cops find 62 pounds of drugs in BMW load
- South Carolina authorities arrest 2 in fentanyl trafficking case
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, 3 injured in weather event with ‘possible tornado,’ officials in Tennessee say
- Houston PD says motorist to blame for fatal crash, not hit-and-run semi truck as originally stated
- Houston police seeking semi truck suspected in fatal six vehicle hit-and-run
- Missouri traffic fatalities down, preliminary data shows
- One dead after car hits rear of semi truck
- Truck driver dead in road rage shooting on Virginia interstate, fellow truck driver suspected
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.
- Bill would give FMCSA ‘teeth’ to combat freight fraud
- Former trucking company owner charged in $4M billing scheme
Scams
Please be aware of potential scams and triple verify everything before you proceed.
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.
- Cargo Theft in Trucking Hits Record High in 2024
- Cargo theft tactic sees thieves boarding trailers in-motion
- Cargo thieves are now stealing from trucks while they are still moving
- Combatting Cargo Theft
- Four trucks, 63 trailers, and more seized from $2.6M theft operation
- Ontario police recover stolen trucks, trailers, vehicles worth $2.6 million
- Pennsylvania troopers investigating after 100K eggs stolen from trailer
- Stolen chassis ring busted at Port of LA
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.
- Arizona sheriff warns drivers of I-10 rest stop robbery schemes
- Big rig driver shot and killed in crash involving two tractor trailers
- Iowa trucker accused of attempted murder in I-80 road rage shooting
- Man angry about Jake Brakes arrested for using gun to ‘frighten’ truck drivers, Tennessee sheriff says
- Rifle aimed at semi truck on Texas interstate leads to federal charges for undocumented Guatemalans, officials say
- Truck driver faces attempted murder charge for I-80 big rig shooting
- Truck driver sentenced to prison for shooting at semi truck on NYS Thruway with female driver, sleeping child inside
- Woman arrested after filling semi truck with bullet holes outside seafood restaurant
4. Regarding economy, employment, inflation, and rates:
Economy
- ACT Research, FTR see decrease in January Class 8 numbers
- Cummins Posts Lower Q4 Profit on Weak Truck Demand
- LTL Players Eye Freight Market Turnaround, Industrial Upturn
- Old Dominion poised to take share when market turns
- Q4 freight data shows market reboot slower than anticipated
- Q4 freight market continues to face headwinds
- Savannah containers up 11.4% in first-half FY2025
- Slow market tightening apparent in spot-to-contract spread
- Truckers don’t need to worry about the economy
Employment
- A Checklist for Avoiding Costly Driver Hiring Mistakes
- ADM Plans to Cut Up to 700 Jobs
- BLS revision: Far fewer workers in truck transportation than earlier estimated
- Driver Poll: How likely are you to ignore a job posting if it doesn’t include pay?
- Employers Added 143,000 Jobs in January
- GM’s Cruise to Slash 1,000 Jobs as Robotaxi Service Shutters
- Layoffs hit more than 7,100 workers tied to freight industry in US, Canada
- Trucking jobs reset to pre-pandemic levels
Inflation
- Inflation, Pivot to Healthier Snacks Weigh on PepsiCo in Q4
- Sysco Profit Dips as Avian Flu-Induced Inflation Bites
- US Inflation Ticked Higher in December
Rates
- DAT: Spot market rates dip despite demand for trucks
- FTR, Truckstop: Spot rates mixed but follow seasonal expectations
- Pricing index logs fastest growth rate since freight recession began
5. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and oil:
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely oppose the operation of autonomous, driverless, 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.
- Briefly: Colorado legislation requires CDL holder in autonomous trucks
- Colorado bill to require a human driver with a CDL inside automated commercial vehicles
- Volvo and Waabi drive innovation in autonomous trucking with partnership
- Volvo Autonomous Solutions taps Waabi for virtual driver
- Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Waabi partner for autonomous truck development
- Volvo, Waabi Partner to Produce Autonomous Trucks
- Waabi and Volvo Autonomous Solutions Announce Partnership
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- A purr-fect fit: Pet Valu adds two Volvo VNR Electric trucks to its fleet
- ACF Rule Withdrawn: Will Electric Trucks Still Dominate the Future?
- First of 40 bp pulse EV charging hubs opens at TA truck stop in Florida
- Ford Puts Ford Blue, EV Division Under One Leader
- Funding for electric pickup trucks helped drain Quebec’s Écocamionnage program
- Nikola Considers Bankruptcy, Capping EV Maker’s Wild Ride
- Perspective: A Case Study on Building EV Charging Networks
- Pet Valu adds two Volvo VNR Electric trucks to fleet
- Port of Baltimore claims a first with battery-electric railcar mover
- ReVolt to debut retrofit diesel-electric hybrid Peterbilt 379
- Rizon hands over first electric dump truck in Canada to B.C. company
- Scout Motors Can’t Sell Directly to Buyers in Home State
- Toyota Announces EV and Battery Push in China and US
- Trump Halts Program to Expand EV Charger Network
- ZF-Range Energy Announce Electric Trailer Partnership
Emissions
- Advanced Clean Trucks delay being considered in Oregon
- Diesel OEMs Working to Meet 2027 EPA Standards
- New York could be latest to turn back on CARB clean trucks rule
- Oregon’s adoption of CARB clean trucks rule under fire
- TMC Deals With California on ‘Clean Truck Check’
- Trump administration ends greenhouse gas measurement rule lawsuit
Fuel
- Benchmark diesel up a tiny bit; futures markets on tariff-driven wild ride
- Cargill Buys Biofuels Supplier to Grow Beyond Grains
- Diesel Price Stays Flat at $3.66 a Gallon
- Diesel prices level out after January surge
- Fuel tax is topic of legislation in nine statehouses
- In a rare instance, diesel prices are largely unmoved
- International Approves Renewable Diesel for S13 Powertrain
Oil
- OPEC+ Sticks to Supply Plan as Trump Seeks Oil Price Cut
- Quebec Says It’s Open to LNG, Oil Projects After Trump Threats
6. Regarding inspections, insurance, intermodal, and ports:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
Insurance
Intermodal
Ports
- Florida port official fears Trump’s funding freeze
- ILA sends longshore contract to rank-and-file for approval
- ILA sets wage review as longshore contract nears ratification vote
- Panama Considers Canceling Port Deal With Hong Kong Firm
- Panama Leader Denies Trump Claim of Free Canal Passage
7. Regarding legal, MVR monitoring, recalls, and regulations:
Legal
- ACLU sues over Trump shutting down asylum access at the southern border
- Amazon to Face Legal Action After Layoffs in Quebec
- Aurora sues FMCSA over exemption denial
- Charges dropped after driver charged in fiery Connecticut crash that killed truck driver dies of cancer
- Driver sentenced to eight years for intentionally crashing rig through grocery store entrance after causing a disturbance
- Driver tased, arrested for refusing to move parked truck at Alabama Love’s
- Lawsuit Blames Deaths on 2023 Train Derailment in Ohio
- New Jersey trucking company owner charged in $4.6M overbilling scheme
- Petition banning semi trucks from school zones in FL county gets 1.5k signatures in a week
- Semi driver cited for careless driving in crash that left snowplow driver with serious injuries
- Texas truck driver convicted in kidnapping death of 25 year old woman
- Truck driver charged ‘careless’ after flipping snow-plow truck in North Dakota
- Truck driver faces charges in alleged $4.6M overbilling scheme
- Trucking owner-operator charged in multi-million dollar overbilling scheme targeting Williams-Sonoma
- Trump admin’s DOT legal team takes shape
- Video shows truck pushing car through two intersections, resulting in charges for truck driver, Georgia cops say
MVR monitoring
Recalls
Regulations
8. Regarding NACFE, NMFTA, and OOIDA:
NACFE
NMFTA
OOIDA
9. Regarding politics and USPS:
Politics
- Arizona lawmaker wants big signs and $500 fines to keep slow pokes out of the left lane
- License plate readers are topic of bills in seven states
- Mississippi House tax bill would boost transportation funding
- Second life for bills more broadly defining hazmat trains
- Two Tort Reform Bills in Georgia Could Curb Nuclear Verdicts
USPS
- US Postal Service begins accepting parcels from China again
- US Postal Service places embargo on parcels from China
- US Postal Service Resumes Accepting Packages From China
10. Regarding parking, PCH, and protests:
Parking
- Arizona installs truck parking availability system on Interstate 10
- Rest area on I-70 in Colorado closing until June 2025
- Truck parking is focus of legislation at statehouses
- Truck parking survey seeks truck drivers’ feedback
- Truckers Get Real-Time Parking Info on Arizona’s I-10
PCH
- Pacific Coast Highway reopens nearly a month after devastating Southern California wildfires
- Pacific Coast Highway Reopens Nearly a Month After Wildfires
Protests
For more on this topic, please see these search results on my site:
Now for the articles:
- Marchers protesting planned deportations block LA’s 101 Freeway
- Protests against Trump and Project 2025 are planned in cities across the US
11. Regarding health, safety, securement, and technology:
Health
- Answers to 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Driver Medical Exams
- Leveraging Technology for Driver Health and Wellness
- Liability Nightmare: Your DOT Medical Exam Forms Probably Have Errors
Safety
- K&B Transportation tackles truck driver safety, weather challenges with technology
- Netradyne partners with All My Sons Moving & Storage to enhance safety and customer experience
Securement
Technology
- 3 Reasons to Use Trucking Software to Organize Your Trucking Business
- Cybersecurity concerns for trucking in 2025
- Dash cam shows Minnesota school bus driver taking evasive action to avoid head-on crash with big rig
- Ontario Cancels Deal With Musk’s Starlink
- Tampering with technology: how fleets can prevent drivers from disabling safety systems
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
Congratulations to all truckers who have demonstrated skill and achievement on the job!
- Briefly: Pilot trucker named 2024 Driver of the Year by AMTA
- Walmart driver is organization’s Member of the Month for February
Recognition
I recognize and appreciate those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Trucker enters burning tractor-trailer to move it away from fuel island
- Trucker moves burning big rig away from diesel pumps at Connecticut truck stop
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: 2025.02.08 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
