TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.02.15 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 15, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding tariffs and weather:
Tariffs
Once again, a significant number of articles regarding tariffs were published within the last week or so.
As I mentioned last week, please feel free to read the February 6, 2025, article by Judge Andrew Napolitano, entitled “Tariffs and the Constitution.”
- A Timeline of US-China Retaliatory Tariffs
- Analyst: Shippers’ tariff fears could keep trans-Pacific container rates up during February ‘dip’
- Bank of Canada Lowers Rates as Tariff Concerns Grow
- Borderlands Mexico: Diverse supply chain can limit tariffs’ impact, expert says
- China’s 10% Tariff on US Cars Hits GM, Ford SUVs
- Deere Warns Tariffs Could Disrupt Farm Recovery
- EU Commission Vows Firm and Swift Reaction to Tariffs
- EU Trade Chief and Trump Officials Discuss Tariff Dispute
- EU Vows to Tax US Bourbon, Jeans, Peanut Butter, Motorcycles
- EXCLUSIVE: Gaia Dynamics uses AI to help shippers save on compliance, tariffs
- Ford CEO Says Tariffs Would ‘Blow a Hole’ in Auto Industry
- How New Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- Japan Asks for Exemption From US Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
- Machinists union: Tariffs on Canadian metals a ‘gut punch’ to workers
- Mexico to Start Talks With US on Steel, Aluminum Tariffs
- Revisiting the McKinley tariff
- Taiwan Pledges More US Investment After Tariff Threats
- Tariffs would be fatal for fleets hauling steel, CTA warns
- Trucking love stories; Trump’s reciprocal tariffs; Response’s $4M seed round |
- Trudeau says Canada will push back on U.S. tariffs with Trump administration
- Trump announces 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum
- Trump announces plan for reciprocal tariffs on all US trading partners
- Trump Considers Tariff Exemption on Australian Metals
- Trump pauses tariffs on millions of low-value packages from China
- Trump Readies Matching Tariffs on Trade Partners
- Trump Risks Inflation With Steel, Aluminum Tariffs
- Trump says he will announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs Monday, and more import duties are coming
- Trump Says He Will Announce 25% Steel, Aluminum Tariffs
- Trump Says Tariffs Are Saving US Steel
- Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty
- Trump Signs Plan for Reciprocal Tariffs on Trade Partners
- Trump steel, aluminum tariffs likely to drive up car costs, industry leaders say
- Trump tariffs see retailers boosting US container imports
- Trump tariffs set up potential ‘nightmare’ scenario for aircraft manufacturing
- Trump’s Latest Trade Move: Tariffs on Imported Cars
- UAE Aluminum Producer EGA Targets Deals in US Amid Tariffs
Weather
Please be aware that weather conditions can change rapidly, especially in the winter.
Heed all truck travel bans that apply to the class of truck you drive.
Also, even if the FMCSA issues some kind of waiver or exemption during extreme weather, do not feel compelled to drive outside the standard Hours of Service regulations if you are tired.
- California’s burn scars brace for flooding as freezing rain and snow head for Oregon
- Fast moving storms leaves fluffy piles of snow across New England
- Full commercial vehicle travel ban coming to multiple New Jersey interstates
- Heavy rain pummels slide-prone Southern California as crashes close roads in the Northwest
- Illinois Tollway prepared for impending winter weather
- NSP reminds drivers to not “drive like it’s sunny and 75′”
- Snow and freezing rain pummel the mid-Atlantic while California prepares for likely flooding
- Snowy weekend in store for Upper Great Lakes, Northeastern US
- Virginia governor declares storm emergency as snow and ice bear down on mid-Atlantic states
2. Regarding bankruptcy, employment, shortage, and shut down:
Bankruptcy
The articles in this section may be closely related to those in the “shut down” section below.
- Northvolt’s Bankruptcy Deals $531M Blow to Swedish Investors
- Pennsylvania trucking company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- Wheel OEM Accuride’s US Operations Emerging From Bankruptcy
Employment
- 2500 layoffs expected as car hauler Jack Cooper to wind down operations, per report
- ATRI seeking insights on motor carrier hiring practices
- Chevron Plans to Cut Up to 20% of Workers in Efficiency Push
- Driver Poll: Which best describes how you feel about your current driving job?
Shortage
- OOIDA Foundation calls driver shortage report ‘ludicrous’
- Truck driver shortage costs freight industry $95.5 million weekly
Shut down
The articles in this section may be closely related to those in the “bankruptcy” section above.
- Auto hauler Jack Cooper shutting down: CEO letter to workers
- Auto Hauler Jack Cooper to Shut Down After Losing Ford, GM
- In 3 months, Jack Cooper went from discussing new funding to closing its doors
- Jack Cooper shutting its doors in wake of losing Ford, GM contracts
- Jack Cooper Transport Shutting Doors After Nearly a Century
- Jack Cooper-GM Relationship Under Siege as Auto Transport Stalls
3. Regarding border, brokers, business, recalls, and regulations:
Border
Brokers
- Broker transparency comment period to reopen
- Feds taking another look at truck-broker contract rules
- FMCSA’s broker transparency comment period to reopen | HOS waivers for fuels emergency extended
Business
- 5 Key Features to Consider When Buying a Truck for Long-Haul Driving
- 5 Key Features to Look for in a Commercial Truck for Construction
- Do You Love Truck Maintenance?
- Freight Invoice Audits and Why They Matter
- How to Ensure Your Commercial Truck is Equipped for Your Industry
- Leasing vs. Buying Trucks & Trailers in 2024: A Fleet Strategy Guide
- Managing Cash to Keep the Wheels Turning
- Ryder not counting on stronger freight market in ’25, so it touts broader trends
- What to Know About Running a Moving Business with Trucks
- Why Cash Flow Is Critical to Running a Successful Business
- Why Your Truck’s Resale Value Matters and How to Improve It
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
- Freightliner Electric Trucks Recalled for Possible Loss of Drive Power
- Hazard Lights Cause Recall of 5,000+ Kenworth, Peterbilt Trucks
- NHTSA issues safety recalls for several models of big rigs
- Problem with lights leads to recall of over 5,000 Kenworths and Peterbilts
Regulations
- Executive Order Aimed at Reducing Federal Regulations
- Utah drivers with recent violent felony convictions would be barred from holding a CDL under new bill
- Why Compliance is Key to Staying in Business and How FMCSA Scoring Impacts Fleets
4. Regarding chickens and theft:
Chickens
This section has to do with chickens, eggs, the price of eggs, etc.
- Feds respond to egg shortage by easing truck driver work rules
- FMCSA enacts regional bird flu emergency
- FMCSA grants HOS waiver for chicken haulers due to egg shortage from bird flu
- FMCSA relaxes hours-of-service rules for live chicken haulers amid egg shortage
- Inside a $40K egg heist with cargo theft specialist Scott Cornell
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.
- More than $1 million worth of olive oil stolen from transport company in Montreal
- Thieves target in-transit cargo while the truck moves | Paccar, Daimler, Volvo: Latest truck recalls
- Three arrested in thefts targeting parked 18 wheelers, Texas sheriff says
5. Regarding congested and roads:
Congested
One definition says: “A bottleneck is a point of congestion, or a place where traffic or progress is slowed or stopped.”
This section of articles has to do with ATRI’s annual list of the 100 most congested bottlenecks.
- 3 Atlanta interchanges make ATRI top 10 list of most congested bottlenecks
- ATRI Releases 2025 Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks List
- ATRI: I-95 in Fort Lee, N.J., Still Worst Truck Bottleneck
- Fort Lee, N.J. interchange tops list of worst freight bottlenecks in U.S.
- G.W. Bridge intersection remains worst freight bottleneck
- New Jersey interchange remains nation’s top truck bottleneck
- Once again, I-95 in Fort Lee, NJ is worst bottleneck for truckers
Roads
We depend on roads to be open and in good condition.
- I-40 at North Carolina/Tennessee line to reopen in less than a month, officials say
- I-40 damaged by Hurricane Helene expected to reopen March 1
- Interstate 471 bridge between Ohio and Kentucky reopens Sunday
- States with the Top 10 roads for commercial drivers
- Stretch of North Carolina interstate that collapsed during Helene to reopen by March 1
- Tennessee governor proposes another $1B toward roads amid a $30B project backlog
6. Regarding crashes, drugs, DUI, fatalities, fires, and fraud:
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.
- DUI driver rammed parked rig so hard it flipped in the Love’s parking lot
- Fiery Wyoming tunnel crash kills at least 2, closes I-80 in both directions
- ‘Multiple fatality’ pileup and ‘explosion threat’ closes I-80 tunnels in Wyoming
- Police say motorist intentionally crashed into tanker truck in Arizona
- String of CMVs involved in 22 car pile up amid snowy conditions
- Watch crew finally remove semi truck cab from NC river 4 months after Helene
- Woman injured after loose semi truck tires send her car airborne outside of I-80 truck stop
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- Almost $20 million in drugs found in shipment of cucumbers and jalapeños
- Arkansas authorities make pot bust on I-40
- CBP officer facing drug and human trafficking charges in Texas
- Seattle CBP officers seize more than 1 pound of fentanyl
DUI
Never ever consume/use products containing alcohol prior to driving a commercial motor vehicle.
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?
- Semi truck driver killed after colliding with snowplow on Colorado interstate
- Truck driver arrested for murder of fellow driver fatally struck by big rig at Arkansas rest area
Fires
It seems to me that there are more truck and truck stop fires than their used to be.
Or perhaps it is the case that the fires are being reported in a more timely fashion than they used to be.
Personally, I think that part of the reason may stem from lithium batteries catching fire.
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.
- Insurance fraud: The growing threat and the tech solutions fighting back
- Overhaul FraudWatch’s layered approach to carrier vetting
7. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, fuel – DEF, fuel cards, hydrogen, and oil:
Autonomous vehicles
I very strongly oppose the operation of autonomous, self-driving commercial, or driverless 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.
- Aurora gets closer to fully driverless freight deliveries
- Aurora’s Driverless Trucks Prep for April Milestone
- Autonomous vehicles need safeguards, safety advocate tells House subcommittee
- Big Rigs Deliver Cargo With No Humans at the Wheel
- The autonomous yard dog gets an AI-powered upgrade
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- $5B in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funding frozen
- ArcelorMittal to Build $1.2 Billion Alabama EV Steel Mill
- Arkansas DOT suspends EV infrastructure deployment plan
- Bill Calls for Electric Vehicles to Pay Into Highway Trust Fund
- Bill would force electric vehicles to contribute to Highway Trust Fund
- Electric vehicles to pay their fair share for road maintenance under new bill
- GM and Ford Lobby to Save EV Tax Incentives
- Legislation would require light-duty EVs to pay into highway fund
- Legislators pushing bill to make EVs pay their SHARE
- New bill would make EVs pay into Highway Trust Fund
- Ohio’s EV Charger Expansion Stalls After Federal Freeze
- Trump is trying to halt the EV charger buildout. Experts say it’s not that easy
Emissions
Fuel
- All quiet on the diesel front: Second week of small increases in DOE/EIA price
- Casey’s partners with RoadFlex to deliver fuel savings
- Diesel Price Gains a Half-Cent to $3.665 a Gallon
- Diesel prices remain steady
- EIA forecasts inventory growth
- Fuel retailers speak out: The implications of NEVI Grant suspension
- Fuel, weather-related emergency orders issued
- Oil and gas advocate named by Trump to lead agency that manages federal lands
- ReVolt to debut diesel-electric hybrid
Fuel – DEF
Fuel cards
Hydrogen
- Hydrogen trucks to get fuel station near busy East Coast container port
- Short line eyes Cali market, buys hydrogen locomotive builder
Oil
- Petro-Canada Unveils Synthetic Heavy-Duty Engine Oil
- Trump’s Energy Council Looks to Fast-Track Oil Projects
8. Regarding economy, inflation, lottery, rates, scam, and taxes:
Economy
- Cass Freight Index tumbles again: What’s behind the decline?
- Cass TL linehaul index up y/y for first time in 2 years
- Check Call: 2024 quarterly earnings miss the mark on Wall Street
- Class 8 Truck Sales Begin New Year With 13% Drop
- DAT: Uncertainty looms despite a steady January for truckload freight
- December 2024 TSI down 0.1% from November
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Class 8 orders decline as buyers weigh impact of tariffs
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Equilibrium returning to freight market, vocational buyers lead pre-buy
- Falling freight volume and spending signal market reboot challenge
- First look: Ryder data offers mixed signals on strength of used vehicle market
- Freight analysts predict uncertainty could yield slow-growth ’25
- January Truck Orders Fall Back Below Prior-Year Results
- Powell Signals No Rush to Cut Interest Rates Further
- Reefer Demand Drop Fails to Cool Carrier Q4 Earnings Growth
- Small carrier market update: The freight market’s slow, steady climb toward tightening
Inflation
- Inflation Fears Grow With Tariff Uncertainty Looming
- Inflation Rose 3% in January on Sticky Price Pressures
- US inflation got worse with rising prices on groceries and gasoline
- Wholesale Prices Rose 0.4% in January, Hotter Than Expected
Lottery
I’m glad to see that this trucker plans to invest his winnings!
Rates
- FTR, Truckstop: Spot rates decline for all equipment types in Feb. 7 report
- Maximizing Spot Rates While Leveraging Direct Shipper Freight
- Spot rates slip 10%; licensed customs broker talks tariffs; stolen chassis ring |
Scam
Taxes
9. Regarding inspections, low clearance, operations, parking, railroad crossing, safety, and snow plow:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Briefly: Troopers from three states part of I-75 enforcement effort
- First impressions, documentation gaps key in roadside, facility inspections
- Troopers in three states to team up for I-75 blitz
- Troopers to conduct high-visibility patrols on Ohio Turnpike ‘through the rest of 2025’
Low clearance
You may wish to read these posts on my website:
- Low Clearance Bridges and Overpasses: How to Watch for and Avoid
- On GPS for Truckers: When GPS Routing Leads to Truck Accidents
- CMV GPS Low Clearance Report Form; Low Clearance Awareness Day
Remember that low clearance crashes are always preventable!
Now for the article:
Operations
There is a large truck operations section on this site.
- Driver’s roadside coffee break blocking highway ends in temporary OOO placement
- Fast-driving trucker accidentally saves driver hauling doubles from an icy jackknife
- Ohio cracks down on unsafe driving around commercial vehicles
- Ohio Turnpike targets unsafe driving behavior around commercial vehicles
Parking
- Another rebuilt rest area on New York State Thruway opens Upstate
- Arriba, Colorado rest area to get needed improvements including expanded parking
- Caledon, Ont., rolls out online map of illegal trucking yard complaints
- Truck Drivers Slow to Adopt Parking Apps, Study Finds
Railroad crossing
There are at least two kinds of problems that truckers get into when it comes to crossing railroad tracks:
- trying to get across the tracks before an oncoming train arrives (aka attempting to “beat a train” so that they don’t have to wait for the train to cross in front of them); and
- getting stuck when the trailer or landing gear cannot clear elevated train tracks (aka being called “high-centered”).
A video shows a train hitting a truck stuck on a railroad track.
You may wish to read the post:
Railroad Crossing Accident Prevention for Semi Tractor Trailers.
For your convenience:
- Section § 392.10: Railroad grade crossings; stopping required.;
- 6.3.9 Railroad Crossings (392.10—392.11); and
- The Minnesota Safety Council has published:
“Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Training for Professional Truck Drivers“.
Here’s the recent article:
Safety
Snow plow
Never attempt to pass a snow plow!
10. Regarding legal, politics, and speed limit:
Legal
- Family of driver who died hosing out toxic fumes from tanker sues WA trucking company
- Missouri truck company owner gets 9 years for PPP fraud, other felonies
- Truck driver arrested in shooting death of fellow trucker on Virginia interstate
- Trucking company owner charged in commercial bribery scheme in Colorado
- Trucking company owner sentenced to nine years for myriad of charges
- UPDATED: United Group of Companies CEO sentenced to jail time for contempt of court
- ‘Whiskey Dix’ trucking co. owner sentenced to 9 years for deleting diesel emissions controls, $3 million in fraud, witness tampering
- Woman awarded $21.3 M for wreck with semi after stopping in road without signaling
Politics
- Annexing Canada? At Niagara Falls, Trump’s idea gets eye rolls but not support
- Biden’s EPA issued $20 billion in green grants. Now Trump’s administration wants that money back
- Can the US consumer survive a trade war?
- Canada’s 13 Premiers Descend on Washington
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered to ‘cease’ activity
- DOT Secretary Duffy Outlines Highway Bill Priorities
- EPA Chief to Seek Return of $20B in Clean-Energy Grants
- Georgia governor’s tort reform package moves forward
- House Bill Would Require Transparency of Third-Party Payments in Litigation
- Lawmaker blames FedEx pressure, Trump bungling for de minimis U-turn
- Left lane use is topic of multiple statehouse bills
- License plate flippers topic of bills in multiple states
- OOIDA applauds bill to ensure funding fairness on the roads
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy announces newest political appointees
- Vail Mayor says truckers need even steeper fines for wrecks that block I-70 and cost CO $2M an hour
- Wisconsin Grants $100 Million for Ag, Forestry Road Repairs
Speed limit
- CHP nabs truck driver for going ‘well above’ California’s 55 MPH commercial vehicle speed limit
- Speed limit rule revisions considered in eight statehouses
- Truck speeds continue to decline at nation’s biggest highway bottlenecks
- Truckers could save 40 minutes through NC with potential speed limit increase
11. Regarding ports, technology, and truckers:
Ports
- A Georgia seaport becomes the largest US automobile port, surpassing Baltimore
- Duffy Says Texas GulfLink Oil Port Will Move Forward
- Report says ports need automation to boost efficiency; the evidence isn’t so clear
Technology
- AI, Shifting Supply Chains Dominate Discussion at Manifest
- Banyan and Overhaul join forces to improve logistics security
- BeyondTrucks’ latest smart scheduling features takes center stage
- Dash cameras and telematics are not mutually exclusive in insurance
- Enhancing Truck Safety and Compliance with Technology
- HDVI secures $40M for data-driven trucking insurance
- How AI Could Streamline Your Trucking Operations in 2025
- JJ Keller launches virtual reality safety and compliance training for employers
- Platform Science acquires Trimble’s global transportation telematics business units
- Pricing and Selecting Dashcams for Fleets
- Running on Ice: Big Tech comes to the cold chain
- Samsara Survey: Tech Investments Attract Young Workers
- Trucking Experts Link Cybersecurity to Company Culture
Truckers
- Health, Wellness, and Community Resources for Truckers
- The Hidden Costs of Driver Stress, and Why Fleets Have to Prioritize Driver Wellness
12. Regarding recognition:
Recognition
I recognize those people who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need.
Thank you, one and all!
- Bystanders wake driver asleep in his truck that was on fire
- Bystanders wake sleeping truck driver before he burns to death in truck fire
- Trucker recognized for rescuing accident victim who was on fire
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: 2025.02.15 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
