TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.03.15

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.03.15 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending March 15, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding emissions, EPA, events, politics, and weather:

Emissions

I believe that each one of us needs to be a good steward of the resources put into our safe-keeping.

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However, depending on the source, the term “emissions” can mean anything and everything:

  • from the air we breath out;
  • to the gases produced by various kinds of machines.

In a nutshell, I believe that much of the focus on “climate change,” “emissions,” “carbon credits,” and the like are nothing more than mechanisms of control by a global elite intent on owning us and making us slaves.

In my speeches before Aiken County Council (in Aiken County, South Carolina), I have quoted Galatians 5:1 from the Bible numerous times:

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

So, please be on your guard against those who would enslave you.

EPA

It is extremely interesting that now that there has been a change of administration in the White House, there has been a change of mind and action regarding “emissions.”

Events

Politics

Weather

Please pay attention to constantly changing weather and drive according to conditions.

Keep your rig well-maintained for handling different weather scenarios.

2. Regarding aerodynamics, ELDs, idling, operations, and tires:

Aerodynamics

I am glad that someone has been working on a device about which I wrote years ago:
Gap Connector Idea for CMVs Based on Articulated Bus Design.

ELDs

Idling

Years ago, I wrote a 9-post series of articles about:
Truck Idling: Need, Problems, Cost and Alternatives Overview.

Operations

Tires

3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, fuel, NATSO, and oil:

Autonomous vehicles

I totally oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, and autonomous 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.

Batteries

Electric vehicles

Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.

Fuel

NATSO

The National Association of Truck Stop Owners (NATSO) says of itself:
“We Are the Only National Trade Association Representing the Truck Stop and Travel Center Industry”.

Oil

4. Regarding border, brokers, containers, lease, maintenance, NACFE, and repairs:

Border

Brokers

Containers

Lease

Maintenance

NACFE

Repairs

When it comes to “heavy-duty repair,” I wonder how many of these repair shops are capable of repairing electric vehicles and those that use alternative fuels. Hmm…

5. Regarding consumer, costs, economy, fines, inflation, pay, rates, and tolls:

Consumer

Costs

Economy

Fines

Inflation

Pay

A quote from the second article in this section:

“The Fair Labor Standards Act denies truck drivers guaranteed overtime pay,” OOIDA wrote. “Unlike nearly all other blue-collar employees, this exemption means truckers aren’t guaranteed time-and-a-half pay if they work more than 40 hours a week because of traffic, bad weather or delays at loading docks. Since many truckers are often only paid for the miles they drive, they don’t get fair pay for all of the hours they work. The FLSA exemption only serves to devalue a trucker’s time.”

That article also answers the question:
“Why was an exemption granted in the first place?”

The original intent of the motor carrier exemption in the 1938 act was to prevent truck drivers from being encouraged to work excessive hours. However, the opposite has happened. It is common for truck drivers to work 70 hours in a week while receiving a base pay similar to what someone would make in a 40-hour week.

If you are in favor of the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act — H.R. 1962, S. 893, Repeal the FLSA Overtime Exemption for Truckers! — please contact your federal elected officials (U.S. House and U.S. Senate).

Rates

Tolls

6. Regarding crashes, death, drugs, dumping, fatalities, fraud, scam, and theft:

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.

Death

Drugs

Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.

Dumping

The article in this section says:

According to the Moundville Times, police say that Terry was rejected when he tried to fill up at a local fuel depot because he still had fuel in his tanker and fuel depot employees were not permitted to mix the new fuel with the old fuel.

I have never before heard of a rule like this.

The article goes on to say, “The nearest fuel dump site to Moundville is in Meridian, Mississippi.”

I looked up the distance between Moundville, Alabama, and Merdian, Mississippi, which is about 89 miles or 1 hour, 30 minutes, to travel.

This does not justify the dumping, but is certainly understandable how a trucker might be tempted to do such a thing.

I think that the rule of mixing old fuel with new fuel needs to be revisited.

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.

Scam

Be on the alert for scams and how clever some scam artists are in making people become their victims.

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.

7. Regarding tariffs:

Tariffs

The first clause of Article I, Section 8, of The Constitution of the United States reads:
“The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,…”

According to Wikipedia:
“A tariff is a tax imposed by the government of a country or customs territory, or by a supranational union, on imports (or, exceptionally, exports) of goods.”

So, I hold to the premise that:

  • The President of the United States does not have the authority to put tariffs on any other nation; and
  • The Congress (U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senators) is not doing its job in opposing the President for doing what is their job constitutionally!

Do you agree or disagree?

Please comment through the form below.

8. Regarding health, injury, legal, and parking:

Health

Injury

Legal

Parking

9. Regarding FMCSA, language, law enforcement, regulations, and speeding:

FMCSA

Whether it is called “bird flu” or “avian influenza,”
chicken expert Joel Salatin answers how to respond to it.

Language

If a professional truck driver is driving in the United States of America — where road signs are in English — I believe that he/she must be proficient in English.

Law enforcement

Regulations

Speed

This section includes speeding, speed limits, and speed limiters.

10. Regarding ports, roads, safety, technology, and Tesla:

Ports

Roads

Safety

Technology

Tesla

11. Regarding employment, shortage, and shut down:

Employment

Shortage

Shut down

12. Regarding anniversary, awards, and recognition:

Anniversary

Awards

Congratulations to professional truck drivers who have been nominated to receive — or have actually received — an award for their work as truckers.

Recognition

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

In this case, the rescue was of cattle following a truck crash.

I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.






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