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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.05.24

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.05.24 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending May 24, 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 inspections, language, Memorial Day, and theft:

Inspections

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

DAT TruckersEdge - Most Loads. Best Rates. Serving Owner-Operators Since 1978. 10% off your first 12 months. New customers only.

Language

I am so glad that this situation is receiving the attention it deserves!

Memorial Day

The article in this section states:

Memorial Day also marks the start of the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, during which traffic crashes and fatalities spike between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

So, please prepare appropriately.

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.

At all times, be aware that others seek opportunities to steal tractors, trailers, and the contents from within.

Learn to look at your tractor and trailer for places and procedures that can lead to theft — and then make it harder to steal from them!

2. Regarding tariffs and trade:

Tariffs

Trade

3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, batteries, electric vehicles, emissions, and fuel:

Autonomous vehicles

I am totally opposed to 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 my readers to help us stay current on the topic.

I am glad that at least in one geographical area, the power-that-be have seen fit to allow an actual human to be in the tractor!

Batteries

Electric vehicles

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

Emissions

I am super glad that the issue having to do with emissions is finally heading back toward common sense!

Fuel

4. Regarding alcohol, crashes, drugs, fatalities, fraud, 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.

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.

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.

5. Regarding AB5, ATA, border, business, CSA, trucks, and weight:

AB5

The first article in the section below states:

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents small-business truckers, told the Ninth Circuit that AB5 violates the Commerce Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

From a constitutional point of view, I am disappointed with this legal decision.

ATA

The ATA (American Trucking Associations) says of itself:

ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. We are a 90-year old federation with state trucking association affiliates in all 50 states. …

Even though the ATA comes out on the side of truckers from time to time, the ATA does not represent professional truck drivers.

So, one must bear that in mind when reading articles about the organization and their stands.

Note: I do appreciate their industry data!

Border

Business

CSA

Trucks

Weight

6. Regarding benefits, employment, and strike:

Benefits

Please see this page on this site:

Employee Benefits and Bonuses for Professional Truck Drivers

It is sad when any employer removes an employee benefit.

I don’t want to borrow trouble, but it would be worth watching this company’s financial data for a while.

As a reminder, there have been too many trucking companies over the years that have “suddenly shut down” due to financial trouble.

Bear in mind:

  • “The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.”
    — Proverbs 22:3

  • “The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
    — Proverbs 27:12

If you drive for this trucking company, it would be worth your while to keep your options open.

Employment

Strike

7. Regarding bridges, roads, routing, safety, and weather:

Bridges

This business of another ship hitting another bridge makes me very suspicious of those who might be seeking to undermine and destroy the United States’ infrastructure!

Roads

Routing

If you’re a professional truck driver, it is your responsibility to safely navigate your commercial motor vehicle on approved truck routes.

Too many truckers are trusting non-CMV-supported GPS units, which is a huge mistake.

I totally recommend getting and using a regularly updated hard copy of a Motor Carriers Road Atlas (aka Truckers Atlas: Compare Cost Savings of Trucker Maps).

Safety

For reference purposes:

Distracted Driving: Beware of Attention Diverters That Can Be Fatal

Weather

8. Regarding abandonment, ELDs, health, and parking:

Abandonment

A long time ago, I wrote a post entitled:

Abandon a Truck? Abandon Your Future in Trucking!

Regarding the second article in this section, I am glad that the chicks were adopted, but they never should have been abandoned in the first place!

ELDs

In my opinion, the problem with ELDs being kicked off the list of which units were acceptable — because their manufacturers “self-certified” them — is completely the fault of the unconstitutional federal authority in charge.

Note: ELDs should never have been mandated in the first place!

The entire idea of an “ELD mandate” was “sold” to the powers-that-be as a means to increase safety on the road, but that simply hasn’t happened.

Further thoughts on this:

Now for the article in this section…

Health

Parking

I love the idea proposed in Truck Parking Solutions for American Drivers:

“Americans are paying for the lack of truck parking every day, both in lost wages to the driver and higher prices to the consumer—even though America has more parking than the rest of the world combined,” says Tra Williams, founder and CEO of ParkPro. “ParkPro can solve this problem with instant scale and without spending a single dime of taxpayer dollars.”

The statistic in the article cannot be ignored: [according to the American Trucking Association], “12% of annual productivity… is lost while searching for truck parking.”

Wow!

9. Regarding economy, lottery, and rates:

Economy

Lottery

Let’s hope that this trucker has financial discipline!

Rates

10. Regarding legal, politics, ports, and regulations:

Legal

Politics

Ports

Regulations

11. Regarding supply chain, and technology:

Supply chain

Technology

12. Regarding awards and recognition:

Awards

Congratulations to all truckers named who were named Driver of the Month and were “recognized for their customer service, advancement of safety, and positive attitude”!

The article says:

Each driver has received a $1,000 bonus and is now eligible for 2025 Driver of the Year recognition and the $10,000 bonus that is awarded to the winner.

The one thing I don’t understand is how there can be a “driver of the year” competition for 2025 when we’re not even halfway through the year yet.

Maybe this article is simply building anticipation? Hmm…

I wish all truckers safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road!

Recognition

I recognize truckers — and those who helped truckers — 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: 2025.05.24 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



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