TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.05.17 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending May 17, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding border, inspections, Memorial Day, tariffs, and trade:
This section has two main foci:
- Inspections (due to an annual event) and Memorial Day (an upcoming holiday in the USA); and
- Border, tariffs, and trade, all of which can impact truckers and the economy.
It appears as though on the tariffs and trade front that there has been a bit of a reprieve, but who knows for how long.
Border
- Addressing the CDL issue takes cooperative regulation and multigroup efforts
- Borderlands Mexico: Businesses face supply chain hurdles amid Trump’s tariffs
- US imports of Mexican-made trucks plummet in April
- US trade with Mexico surges to $77B in March
Inspections
- Bendix offers tips to keep trucks and drivers Roadcheck-ready
- Blitz week blip or sizzlin’ summer freight market?
- CHP deploys 100 ‘discreet’ Dodge Durangos statewide to catch reckless drivers
- Driver and trucking company charged for bad tires, vice grips airline fix
- Log truck ‘placed out-of-service on the spot’ for being thousands of pounds overweight and leaning to the side, CHP says
- Preparing for Roadcheck 2025: What carriers and drivers need to know
- Surprise! International Roadcheck 2025 is here
- Take a peek at some of the violations uncovered during Roadcheck 2025
- Truckers prepare for International Roadcheck
- Video shows you what happens during a Level I commercial vehicle inspection in real time
- World’s largest targeted commercial vehicle blitz starts TOMORROW
Memorial Day
As I wrote in my May 10, 2025, issue of Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips Email Newsletter:
On Monday, May 26, 2025, many Americans will celebrate Memorial Day.
This holiday is known as the traditional start of the summer vacation season.
Historically, more people are on the roads at this time of year than at other non-holiday times.
Vacationers may be so intent on having a good time that they won’t be focused on driving.
Some people may be driving vehicles much larger than those they normally drive.
There’s also the possibility that some of these folks will be engaging in distracted driving!
What can you do?
While you should always drive defensively — and maintain a safe following distance behind other vehicles — please be alert to drivers and haulers of recreational vehicles and those transporting boats.
Also, if you have an appointment to pick up or deliver a load on Memorial Day, you may want to double-check your appointment.
Finally, if your company pays holiday pay over the Memorial Day weekend — and if you intend to earn it — make sure you know all of the terms involved.
Tariffs
- Canada’s New Tariffs on US Drop to ‘Nearly Zero’
- Companies Ramp Up Production to Hit 90-Day Tariff Window
- FTR analysts warn of economic volatility amid tariff-driven pre-buys and policy uncertainty
- Hess Blames Tariffs for Delaying Toy Truck Release
- How Latest Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- Inflation Slows, but Economists Say Tariff Impacts to Come
- Japanese Carmakers Face $19 Billion Hit From Trump’s Tariffs
- Ocean lines welcome tariff pause, but is the supply chain ready?
- Tariff Truce Boosts Global Shippers
- Tariff two-step: After pause, China-US container traffic increases
- Tariffs Start to Bite US Farmers and Ag Suppliers
- Tariffs temper Canadian National outlook
- US Businesses Relieved Over Tariff Pause but Still Anxious
- US businesses that rely on Chinese imports express relief and anxiety over tariff pause
- US Tariff Revenue Jumps in April Before China De-Escalation
- US, China Pause Tariffs for 90 Days
- US-China Tariffs Deal Eases Burden on Inexpensive Packages
Trade
- China Suspends Retaliatory US Export Controls, Sanctions
- CTA urges Carney’s new ministers to act on trade, compliance, emissions reform
- French Shipping Giant CMA CGM Hails US-China Deal
- GOP Bill Would End Duty-Free Imports of Cheap Foreign Goods
- Hapag-Lloyd CEO Sees ‘Huge Surge’ in Volume in Last Few Days
- Hapag-Lloyd expects swift China ramp-up after bookings jump 50%
- House considers universal de minimis ban as fees on China parcels ease
- How replaceable is China?
- Is US-China trade deal bullish for freight; FreightGuard: Fair or foul |
- Less China means more business for Port of Virginia
- Logistics firm buys $2M in Trump meme coins to boost US-Mexico trade
- Long Beach sees record TEUs on trade war effect
- SONAR unveils Trade War Command Center amid supply chain volatility
- SONAR’s Trade War Command Center; Nikola & CARB: Who killed the hydrogen truck? |
- State of Freight takeaways: Freight crash may turn into sudden revival
- State of Freight Takeaways: Freight Market May Bounce Back Sooner Than Expected
- State of freight: Markets marked by uncertainty, curtailing decision-making
- Trump trade war faces legal challenge as businesses, states argue his tariffs exceeded his power
- US and China reach comprehensive economic and trade agreement lowering tariffs
- US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs and agree to pause for 90 days for more talks
- White House says China trade deal reached after ‘productive’ talks
2. Regarding language and visas:
Language
I am glad that this topic is now getting some much-needed attention!
- Alabama semi crash shines light on non-English speaking drivers
- Charging documents confirm driver on work visa was trying to answer phone before plowing into stopped cars
- Drivers in U.S. who aren’t proficient in English to be placed out of service
- Is English proficiency enforcement the right focus for safer roads?
- Reports of stepped-up English language proficiency enforcement
- Widow of man killed by now-deported truck driver says new stricter English language requirements would have prevented crash
Visas
This topic needs more attention and I think that the “English Language Proficiency” requirement is helping to do that.
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, and oil:
Autonomous vehicles
With every fiber of my being, I oppose the operation of self-driving, driverless, or 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.
- Aurora Reverses Course, Puts Human Back in Driver’s Seat
- Driverless-truck lobby urges federal action toward full autonomy
- Feds Question Musk, Tesla on Safety of Driverless Taxis
- Grocery hauling truckers vote to strike over autonomous semi truck concerns
- Many obstacles remain for Aurora’s driverless trucks
- Plus Wraps Up Autonomous Truck Testing in Europe
- Teamsters Call on Texas Lawmakers for Driverless Bill
- Texas lawmakers considering driverless truck ban | NYC overweight cams/sensors expanding
- Texas proposes driverless truck ban
- Texas truckers threaten strike over autonomous trucks and benefits
- U.S., California Look to Accelerate Self-Driving Truck Deployment
- Werner and Aurora expand driverless pilot with new route
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- ‘As-a-service’ model, partnerships to boost truck electrification
- Carrier buys electric refrigeration tech company Addvolt
- Chinese EV truck maker Windrose launches long-haul tractor
- Class 8 electric trucks performing well, but incentives still required
- Electrifying vocational trucks more practical as technology advances
- EV charging funding freeze challenged by Democratic AGs
- GOP Wants to Phase Out Biden EV Credits to Pay for Tax Cuts
- Oregon will delay the electric truck sale mandate because it is “not functioning properly”
- Peterbilt’s New Electric Trucks
- Planning and partnerships key to choosing right charging infrastructure
Emissions
- Calif. Drayage Fleets Face Battery-Electric Truck Dilemma
- California to Officially Repeal Advanced Clean Fleets Rules
- Oregon Delays Enforcement of Advanced Clean Trucks Rule
- Senate GOP Seeks to Revoke California Emissions Powers
- Shippers, carriers need to share risk to drive zero-emission adoption strategies
Fuel
- CNG makes economic and sustainable sense, says Hexagon Agility’s MacDonald
- Diesel prices continue to drop
- Diesel prices trending down nationally
- Fifth straight drop in benchmark diesel comes as futures prices rise sharply
- Fuel-Saving Strategies Worth Trying in 2025 — Part 2
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks roll out across Georgia’s roads: Is this a solution that could stick? Or just a detour?
- ICE fuel savings with idle-reduction tech can rival ZEVs: Cummins
Oil
4. Regarding brokers, business, DAT, insurance, load board, rates, recalls, and shared truckload:
Brokers
Business
- 5 Rookie Mistakes Every New Owner-Operator Should Avoid
- How to Pass a DOT Audit in 2025 Without Losing Sleep
- Is Your MCS-150 Hurting Your Trucking Company’s Safety Scores?
DAT
- DAT acquires Outgo, enters race to become dominant freight exchange platform
- DAT Buys Invoice Payment Specialist Outgo
- DAT expands reach into factoring with Outgo acquisition
- DAT Freight & Analytics acquires Outgo
- DAT: Spot rates slip amid weaker demand for trucks
Insurance
- Insurance costs, fraud and cargo theft hit Landstar’s Q1
- OOIDA, others welcome demise of Nevada minimum insurance bill
Load board
This is interesting, that a truck manufacturer would launch its own load board!
- Mack launches Load Finder to help customers grow revenue
- Mack Trucks launches load board for carriers
Rates
- Freight Rates Set to Rise on Pacific Shipping Frenzy
- FTR, Truckstop: Spot rates fall sharply in the latest week
- How to Read Your Rate Con Like a Pro
- Pause and effect: Container rates await new demand
- Transportation rates likely to surge during tariff pause
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
Shared truckload
This may or may not be the same type of thing, but I know of an organization called Trucks With Room to Spare, Inc., which is described on its Facebook page (in part) as “Transporting supplies for disaster victims around the world!”
The article below seems to be similar, but non-disaster-related.
If you know about this, please contact me.
5. Regarding alcohol, crashes, drugs, fatalities, fraud, scam, staged, theft, and violence:
Alcohol
Never ever consume alcohol — or use an alcohol-containing product (such as mouthwash) — before beginning to drive a commercial motor vehicle!
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.
- 4 injured when tanker crashes into Utah home
- After nearly half a century, Houston ammonia ‘incident’ still one of most infamous trucking accidents in US history
- Brake failure leads to truck tipping load of dirt onto another vehicle, Oklahoma troopers say
- Cars left lined up in roadside ditch after car hauler mishap
- Crash involving big rig stalls traffic on Arkansas interstate
- Driver who flipped car hauler had non-US ID, no CDL, stole rig from unknowing owner
- Five hospitalized after tanker truck plows through 6 parked cars, intersection & ends up buried in side of house
- Four wheeler waiting to turn hit by tractor trailers on both sides of the highway
- Oklahoma crash involving semi and car hauler blocks traffic for hours
- Trucker and his dog recovering together after serious crash with DUI motorist
- Watch tires bounce after four wheeler hydroplanes in front of hyperaware trucker
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- Arkansas troopers make marijuana bust on Interstate 40
- Autopsy shows New Mexico sheriff died from effects of fentanyl and alcohol
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?
- 1 killed, 32 injured in collision of bus and SUV on Los Angeles area freeway
- 3 dead in crash involving semi trucks on I-75 in Georgia
- Death toll up to two after fiery 7 vehicle crash on Sunday afternoon
- Driver charged in fatal Mother’s Day crash; from trucker to AI dispatch founder |
- One dead in fiery crash involving a Kenworth truck
- Three people killed in I-75 cross over crash involving six vehicles
- Victims in deadly Georgia crash idientified
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.
- Check Call: TIA’s annual fraud report spotlights surge in incidents
- Fleet owner charged in $3M fraud scheme against Amazon | HOS relief in this state
- Fraudulent freight activity increased by 27% in 2024
- Last defendant in Polar Air Cargo fraud case sentenced to jail
- Massachusetts CDL Fraud: Guilty Pleas Uncovered
- Solutions for preventing freight fraud
- Texas’ role in the fraudulent CDL scheme
- Texas’ Role in Uncovering CDL Fraud Exposes Dangerous Gaps in Trucking Safety
- Trucking company owner charged in $3 million fraud scheme
- Trucking Industry Implores Trump to Act on Fraud
Scam
Be on your guard against scams of all kinds.
Staged
I am glad that this type of fraud is being given the attention it deserves.
- ATA praises efforts by Rep. Mike Collins to stop staged accidents
- House Republicans call for staged accident fraud task force
- Lawmakers call for task force to stop staged accidents
Theft
Never take something that doesn’t belong to you unless you have permission from the owner.
With as much surveillance equipment as is in place in the 21st century, it’s only a matter of time before the thieves are apprehended.
- Avocados, auto parts and ambushes: Inside Mexico’s cargo theft crisis
- California cops arrest four in $1.5 million cargo theft scheme
- Semi truck thief dumps bobtail into river in “final reckless maneuver”
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.
6. Regarding economy, employment, exemptions, HOS, pay, shortage, and tolls:
Economy
- ACT: Used truck market accelerates in April
- April Class 8 Truck Sales Slip 8.7% as Market Slump Persists
- April Medium-Duty Truck Sales Drop 8.8% From Last Year
- April sees mixed freight trends on path to recovery
- Economic and Policy Uncertainty Risk CV Market Trends
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Shippers optimistic about Q3 volumes, spot market to get Roadcheck rate bump
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Spot market shows signs of weakness
- Freight carriers scale back capex amid economic uncertainty
- Freight Expenditures Turned Positive in April
- Freight Is Moving — But So Is the Line Between Safe and Sorry
- Spot Truckload Freight Volumes Declined in April Trends
- UN Forecasts Slower Global Economic Growth
- US lost business travelers in April as economic anxiety and border detentions cooled demand
Employment
- Driver Poll: How do you decide if a company is trustworthy?
- Layoffs expected at U.S. Department of Transportation as early as end of May
- Layoffs hit BNSF tech staff amid restructuring
- Mass layoffs from freight-related jobs continue across US, Germany
- Microsoft lays off about 3% of its workforce in what one executive calls a ‘day with a lot of tears’
- New Driver Lands CDL and Job in Just One Week
- US applications for jobless benefits hold firm as layoffs remain low despite tariff uncertainty
Exemptions
I find it simultaneously interesting and frustrating that “exemptions” are made regarding the Hours of Service regulations and other matters.
HOS
The opening paragraph of the article in this section is:
Relaying concerns from truckers, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy recently told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that its hours of service are too rigid.
Do you agree or disagree?
Please comment through the form below.
Pay
The opening paragraph of the article in this section is:
Now is the time for truckers to insist on better driver pay.
I want to hear from truckers who have attempted to insist on better pay.
What was the response you received?
Please comment through the form below.
Shortage
As I have commented before, there are reasons why experienced truckers have left trucking, but mostly, it is a retention problem, as OOIDA has said.
Tolls
7. Regarding backup camera, speed limiter, technology, and weigh-in-motion:
Backup camera
I drive a Toyota Prius and I really like the back-up camera that is installed on it. 🙂
- Phillips Adds Installation Kits for Rear-Vu Backup Camera
- Phillips launches three installation kits for REAR-VU
Speed limiter
- Bills Would Kill Federal Speed Limiter Mandate
- Speed limit rule revisions adopted in two statehouses
- Speed limiter ban reintroduced in Senate
Technology
- 4 Ways Fleets Can Address Truck Driver Privacy Concerns About Dash Cams
- 5 Essential Features for Your Trucking Fleet’s Dash Cams
- 6 Navigation Apps For Truck Driving and Route Planning
- ArcBest’s mobile freight dimensioning technology moves forward
- CFTC embracing new technologies to train future drivers
- Dash cam catches semi truck and Kia drivers bullying each other on Washington interstate
- Doorbell cam catches footage of trucker arrested for driving along Ohio golf course
- DOT looks to AI as it prepares to cut workforce
- How Samsara is revolutionizing fleet management with data and AI
- Last-Mile Carriers Push Tech Providers Toward Innovation
- MyMack Driver App Connects New Pioneer Tractor
- Penske’s Catalyst AI powers new era of fleet intelligence
- PrePass and NECS Fleet Solutions join forces
- Q&A: What Volvo Connect Updates Can Do for Trucking Fleets
- Shell, NTT INDYCAR put eco-friendly innovation in the fast lane
- Steelmaker Nucor Shuts Down Some Output After Cyberattack
- Still searching for the perfect headset for long-haul drives?
- Toptekk Introduces Self-Maintenance Solutions for Commercial Vehicles
- Traffic Cam catches full year of trucks taking infamous Marion TN runaway ramp on I-24
- What Volvo Connect Updates Can do for Trucking Fleets [Video]
Weigh-in-motion
The opening paragraph of the first article in this section reads:
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) announced plans to combat infrastructure damage caused by overweight trucks by increasing the use of weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology.
- New York to add weigh-in-motion tech at 14 locations to crack down on overweight trucks
- NYC Expands Weigh-in-Motion Program for Trucks
8. Regarding chaining up, ELDs, politics, and regulations:
Chaining up
I think this is a marvelous idea.
One question, though: Will there be folks on the other sides of the ranges to take off the snow chains?
ELDs
I would like to hear from truckers who invested in a “self-certified” Electronic Logging Device, only to have that device “pulled” from the FMCSA Registry.
How much money and time has this cost you?
Please comment through the form below.
- 8 ELDs removed from FMCSA registered devices list
- Eight ELDs Pulled from FMCSA Registry and What Fleets Need to Know
- Feds pull 8 ELDs from approved list
- FMCSA drops 8 ELDs from registered devices list; replace them by July 11
- FMCSA Removes 8 ELDs from List of Registered Devices
- FMCSA Revokes 8 ELDs From Approved List
- FMCSA revokes eight ELDs, carriers have 60 days to replace
- FMCSA revokes registration of 8 Gorilla Fleet Safety ELDs
- FMCSA revokes registration of 8 Gorilla Fleet Safety ELDs
Politics
- Bill to allow milk haulers to bypass Pennsylvania’s weather-related truck bans
- Can immigration policy be linked to infrastructure funding?
- Colorado lawmakers pass commercial vehicle noise bill, non-compliant truckers to face $1000 fines
- DOT seeks panel members to advise on transportation reforms
- Georgia tort reform aims to change practices in judicial “hell hole”
- House Panel Weighs Input on Highway Funding Priorities
- Texas Senate Bill Would Limit Safety Records in Truck Crash Lawsuits
- Ticket quotas are topic of discussion at Ohio hearing
- Transportation Secretary Duffy Finalizes 76 Projects
- Transportation-funding plans differ at Oregon statehouse
- Trump Budget Includes Freight Interests, Cuts Green Programs
Regulations
- CVSA Pushes for FMCSA to Limit Truck Driver Conveyance Time
- CVSA to Urge FMCSA to Limit Truck Driver Conveyance Time
- FMCSA Rule Updates for 2025 and What Fleets Need to Know
- New trucking standards to streamline Metro Vancouver freight
- Reduce costly regulations, OOIDA says
- Trucking gives DOT an earful on unshackling freight market
- Trump to Ease Regulations With Three Executive Orders
9. Regarding DOT medical exam, move over, and survey:
DOT medical exam
Move over
Besides “the law” to that effect, what influences truckers to “move over” for emergency vehicles — or fail to do so?
Survey
- Spring 2025 Truck Driver Survey Reveals Insights
- Survey shows spot-market optimism among owner-operators
10. Regarding abandonment, legal, routing, and safety:
Abandonment
A long time ago, I wrote a post entitled:
Abandon a Truck? Abandon Your Future in Trucking!
It was written from a particular perspective, but the types of abandonment described in this section are new twists!
- Search for trucker cancelled after parked rig’s dash cam footage shows driver simply leaving in a car
- Thousands of baby chicks left abandoned in tractor trailer parked at distribution center for three days
Legal
- Amazon involved in legal action over deaths in 2 states, possible scam in 1
- Amazon, small trucking company both denying responsibility for driver’s actions in deadly I-75 crash
- CBP reports highest arrest rate in Maine in 24 years
- Commercial vehicle driver caught running stop sign cited for no CDL, no insurance, and more in Connecticut
- Motive says court has no basis to grant Omnitracs’ request for retrial
- Truck driver arrested for driving semi truck through back nine of golf course
- Truck driver charged with murder accused in other Alabama crashes
- Truck driver found guilty of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, cleared of all felony charges in fatal crash with HS marching band bus
- Truck driver gets 5 years in prison for human smuggling
- Trucker gets 60 months in federal prison for human smuggling
- Trucking company owner arrested for scheming to defraud Amazon Logistics of $3 million
Routing
I don’t care how sophisticated GPS units get — even ones geared for commercial motor vehicles — I think that it is important to have and know how to use a:
Truckers Atlas: Compare Cost Savings of Trucker Maps
If more truckers used a hard copy truckers atlas, I don’t think we would be seeing the kinds of stuck situations that some truckers get in!
Safety
- CAA, OPP mark national Slow Down, Move Over day with roadside safety push
- Essential Safety and Truck Driver Improvement Courses
- Fleet Advantage Safety Tracker Helps Private Fleets Prioritize Culture Of Safety
- Samsara Launches Recognition for Fleet Safety
11. Regarding parking and surcharge:
Parking
- Truck parking at I-80 rest area at mile marker 180 to close May 12
- Truck parking at I-80 rest area in Iowa closed for construction
Surcharge
The opening paragraph from the article in this section reads:
A group of truckers in Nevada are threatening to add a $500 delivery surcharge for loads to a specific county where multiple truck parking yards have been shut down.
Read the article to see the reason and you’ll probably agree!
12. Regarding awards and recognition:
Awards
Congratulations to every professional truck driver who has developed the skill to participate in a truck driving championship!
Congratulations, too, to this specific winner!
Recognition
I recognize folks who help their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether the trucker did the helping or someone helped a trucker. Thanks!
- Melton driver honored for aiding severely injured crash victim
- TCA names firefighting Bay & Bay driver Highway Angel
- Trucker rescued after striking power line, going into cardiac arrest with semi 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: 2025.05.17 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
