TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.07.19 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending July 19, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding article spotlight, inspections, issues, OOIDA, and tariffs:
Article Spotlight
I’m speculating that the trucker referenced in the article in this section:
- either didn’t know about the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) known as § 392.5 Alcohol prohibition;
- or thought getting caught was a low risk.
The offense? According to the article:
[During an inspection], officers [found] 4 empty and 3 unopened bottles of beer … within the vehicle.
Getting caught led to being “placed out-of-service immediately for a period of 24 hours.”
Ouch! That’s a day’s pay that won’t be earned or received.
Assuming there was a load on the trailer, who knows how much trouble resulted from the trucker’s company, the shipper, or the receiver.
From time to time, it’s a good idea for truckers to spruce up on this part of the CFR: PART 392—DRIVING OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES.
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- $18K in fines handed out during two-day commercial vehicle safety check, B.C. cops say
- Arkansas and Tennessee authorities partner for weekend highway operation
- Authorities issue 22 charges after stopping 19 trucks in southwestern Ontario
- B.C. authorities put more than half of inspected trucks OOS during enforcement blitz
Issues
The article in this section includes:
The CTA delegation raised multiple issues contained in its recent trade barrier report, but the focus was on how truck safety, and the abuse and neglect of safety regulations by fleets are at the root of the problems facing the industry, the release stated.
OOIDA
Tariffs
- Alcoa CEO: Tariffs Force a Pause for Canada Growth Projects
- Alcoa Says Trump Tariff Added $115 Million in Aluminum Costs
- Canada to Curb Steel Imports to Soften Blow From US Tariffs
- Check Call: Cross-border volumes surge ahead of possible tariffs
- Freight and manufacturing struggle amid tariff risks
- How Latest Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- Tariffs cited for increased port business
- Trump Adds Tariffs on Industries Aug. 1 for Double Whammy
- US to Impose 93.5% Tariff on Graphite From China
2. Regarding economy, employment, and pay:
Economy
- ACT: Preliminary net trailer orders in June deliver upside surprise
- CEO Radstrom Calls Uncertainty Daimler’s Biggest Challenge
- Class 8 Truck Sales in June Increase for First Time in 2025
- DAT: Truckload Volumes Retreated in June Analysis
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Spot rates fall, freight fundamentals remain weak, but trailer orders get a lift
- How the Freight Recession Made Trucking Less Profitable
- PepsiCo Overcomes Lagging US Sales in Strong Q2
- The Impact of American Economy on Commercial Trucking
- Trade Uncertainty Clouds Outlook for Top 100 For-Hire Carriers
- Truckload market shows signs of recovery amid ongoing volatility
- Used Truck Retail Sales Volumes Increased in June
Employment
- Mass layoffs continue across freight-related companies in the U.S.
- UPS offers full-time drivers a buyout of $1,800 per year of service if they agree to resign
- Walmart Eliminates Hundreds of Store-Support, Training Jobs
Pay
- Averitt announces historic pay increases
- Averitt Announces Record Pay Increase for Hazmat Drivers
- Select Averitt Drivers Get Largest Pay Increase in Company History
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel, fuel surcharges, and Tesla:
Autonomous vehicles
I totally oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, or driverless 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.
- Fernride launches first driverless terminal tractor operations in Europe
- Outrider builds industry-first safety system for driverless yard operations
- Trump’s NHTSA Pick Promises Rapid Self-Driving Deployment
- Uber Partners With Lucid, Nuro to Launch Robotaxis in 2026
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- New EV Charging Infrastructure Booms in Q2
- WattEV Adds Three New Megawatt Charging Depots
- WattEV Unveils New Southern California Charging Depots
Emissions
- Amazon Emissions Climb 6% in 2024 on Data Centers, Fuel Use
- DEF solves emissions problems but needs its own maintenance
- Oregon ties itself closer to California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule, even though it may have no future
- OTRM report validates trucking’s efforts to reduce emissions
Fuel
- Cheap US Biofuels May Lead to Beer, Meat Shortages in UK
- Diesel, Gas Prices Creep Up as Summer Stretches On
Fuel surcharges
Tesla
- Tesla Failed to Stop Autopilot Misuse, Safety Expert Says
- Tesla Settles Over Autopilot Crash With Truck Crossing Highway
- Waymo Expands in Austin After Tesla Launches Robotaxi
4. Regarding ATRI, demographics, efficiency, exemptions, language, loyalty, and medical certification:
ATRI
- ATRI Research on Truck Driver Workforce Trends
- New ATRI Report Shows Trucking Profitability Severely Squeezed by High Costs, Low Rates
Demographics
- ATRI report examines evolving truck driver demographics
- ATRI says trucking sees ‘notable demographic shift’ in U.S.
- Trucking faces demographic changes; study suggests what to do about them
Efficiency
- Denver and Chicago lead U.S. cities in freight efficiency, Geotab report finds
- Study reveals top and bottom U.S. cities for urban freight efficiency
Exemptions
Language
Loyalty
You may wish to read this post on this site:
Truck Stop Rewards Program Information for Professional Truckers.
Medical certification
- Digital Driver Medical Card Rollout Hiccups? FMCSA Offers Temporary Fix
- Feds issue waiver during medical certification transition
5. Regarding crashes, cut off, drugs, fatalities, smuggling, 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.
- Authorities identify driver involved in Delaware Memorial Bridge crash
- Extended closure on I-95 after chain reaction crash site ignites during road repairs
- Northbound I-5 shut down for semi truck crash that spilled load of pipes
- Oversize concrete beam snaps in half during heavy hauler’s left turn
- Police dub driver “Truckzilla” after rig leaves behind trail of neighborhood destruction
- Truck driver hauling oversized load dies after crashing into Ohio River
- Trucker uninjured when tractor-trailer slams into church in Indiana
Cut off
This article describes a situation I knew of that happened within 100 miles of my home:
Cut Off Trucker Slams On Truck Brakes; Load Shifts
I wonder how often it happens.
Here is one such time…
- Driver cuts off semi in construction zone, truck loses load of hay bales
- Idaho troopers call out ‘reckless’ car driver who cut off semi truck, causing hay bale load shift
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- CBP seizes cocaine from tractor-trailer in Texas
- Troopers find $1.8 million in cocaine inside big rig that bypassed Michigan weigh station
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?
- Improperly permitted trucker found not guilty in crane-hauling incident that took life of motorcyclist
- One dead in multi-vehicle crash involving commercial truck
- One person dead in crash with semi truck in California
- Suspects flee armed with AK after fatal crash with bus on I-35
- Two dead in head-on crash in Wyoming
Smuggling
Never ever transport people made in the image of God as if they were cattle or cargo — no matter how large of an incentive you’ve been offered.
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.
- ATA urges Congress to act amid soaring cargo theft
- Cargo theft activity continues to increase
- Cargo theft continues to climb; up 10% from first quarter of 2025
- Cargo theft surges 13% in Q2, organized crime targets high-value freight
- Cargo Theft: A Crisis for the Supply Chain
- CargoNet: Cargo theft continuing to rise at blistering pace
- Democrats: Trump’s immigration focus undermines war on cargo theft
- Insider threat cargo theft cases rose in Q2, expert says
- Peel Police arrest three Brampton men connected to theft of truck, trailers
- Police nab truck driver hauling contraband tobacco worth millions of dollars
6. Regarding border, business, containers, LTL, and recalls:
Border
- Cross-border trucking company accused of labor violations
- Modernization of Cross-Border Trade event draws industry experts to Laredo, TX
Business
Containers
- Amid uncertainty, sliding Asia-US container rates are a sure thing
- FMC investigating Port Houston pacts with container carriers
LTL
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
7. Regarding FMCSA, infrastructure, roads, safety, and truck arrestor:
FMCSA
- FMCSA Administrator nominee takes step toward confirmation
- FMCSA nominee details safety, enforcement plans
- FMCSA nominee plans to take highway patrol experience into role
- FMCSA seeks comments on several exemption requests
- Nearly 14% of FMCSA staff to be eliminated as part of larger USDOT workforce reductions, per report
Infrastructure
- Duffy Pushes Infrastructure Fixes, Permitting Reform
- Duffy urges more American dollars invested in US infrastructure
Roads
Safety
- FMCSA Administrator nominee vows to make roadway safety his “highest priority” while valuing truckers
- FMCSA nominee tells Senate roadway safety will be his highest priority
- Mack Trucks Unveils Proprietary Safety System
Truck arrestor
8. Regarding shut down, stranded, and towing:
Shut down
- Illinois trucking company to close operations Friday
- Transloading Company MacMillan-Piper ‘Ceasing Operations’
Stranded
Towing
Predatory towing is a violation of the commandment to “love your neighbor” as you love yourself.
- New Indiana law addresses ‘predatory’ towing
- New law addressing predatory towing takes effect in Indiana
9. Regarding orientation poll and parking:
Orientation poll
Parking
- Dedicated truck parking funding among DOT appropriations bill provisions
- DOT appropriations bill includes dedicated truck parking funding
- DOT Secretary Duffy talks truck parking, self-driving tech, ELP
- Federal support paving way for millions in truck parking expansion
- MTO identifies site for White River, Ont., rest area
- Truck Parking Club teams up with Platform Science
- Truck Parking, Multimodal Projects Among $488M in DOT Grants
- West Virginia to spend nearly $25 million to increase truck parking at three existing facilities along I-81, I-64, and I-79
10. Regarding legal, politics, and ports:
Legal
- $90 million verdict against Werner Enterprises overturned more than a decade after fatal I-20 crash
- Commercial vehicle driver gets 24 hour ‘time out’ for speeding, throwing marijuana from cab, CHP says
- Mega carrier settles pay transparency lawsuit
- New Ohio law targets ticket quotas
- The Supreme Court must end the legal chaos threatening freight brokers
- Think Like a Lawyer, Part 2: What to do during and after a roadside stop
- Trucking company to pay $919K to settle OTR driver disability discrimination lawsuit
- Werner loses again on issue of deaf driver, but dollar amounts are a lot lower
Politics
- California bill looks to protect employee port truck drivers
- DOT seeks public ideas for next major transportation bill
- DOT seeks trucking input for 2026 highway bill
- DOT’s Sean Duffy vows to ‘build again’
- OOIDA to provide lawmakers ‘truth’ about trucking
Ports
- China could block sale of port terminals: Report
- Port of Long Beach Reports Downturn in June
- Port of Oakland containers off 10% as ‘recalibration’ hits ocean supply chain
- Port of Oakland Shipments Drop 10.1% in June
- Ports back bill to limit Customs charging for inspection services
11. Regarding technology, truck stops, trucks, and weather:
Technology
- ELogs and IFTA Integration
- Is AI, driverless tech coming for trucking faster than we think?
- New Ontario Safety League boss DiCicco eyes technology to drive compliance
- Running on Ice: GHX rolls out new AI capabilities to strengthen healthcare supply chains
- TextLocate transforms the driver communication landscape
Truck stops
I’m always looking for truckers to Review a Truck Stop for Best Value, Money Saving Opportunities”, specifically products, services, fuel islands, restaurants, and showers.
- Pilot announces new truck stops in Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, B.C.
- Study: Truck stops are supply chain lifelines, not luxuries
Trucks
Weather
12. Regarding recognition:
Recognition
I recognize professional truck drivers who help their fellow human beings in a time of need.
- Ehrl’s professionalism, work ethic yield reward
- Netradyne hits +100M milestone in positive driver recognition
- Texas sheriff praises trucker for quick thinking that ‘likely saved others from serious injuries’
- Trucker aids police in rescuing abducted woman; honored by TCA
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: 2025.07.19 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
