TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.02.21

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.02.21 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 21, 2026, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

1. Regarding Chameleon Carriers, Congestion Bottlenecks, FreightValidate, Future, and Language:

Chameleon Carriers

For background on chameleon carriers, please read:

The Anatomy of a Chameleon Carrier Empire. How They Build It.

Congestion Bottlenecks

According to the first article in this section:

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is releasing its 15th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America.

To get a feel for the cost of these bottlenecks, the article quotes Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president, COO:

“Congestion delays inflicted on truckers are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year. … While these congestion metrics are getting worse, the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo. Illinois has been home to the country’s top bottleneck before, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, its previous #1 bottleneck at the Jane Byrne Interchange no longer ranks in the top 25. This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth.”

So, it appears as though this list is helping states to understand the need to fix real problems.

Let’s hope that true progress for each and every one of these bottlenecks is forthcoming… soon!

FreightValidate

Quoting from the article in this section:

The [FreightValidate] platform will not accept or publish negative comments about carriers, brokers, or drivers. Instead, it is creating space specifically to celebrate professionalism, integrity, and reliability across the industry.

That distinction matters.

This is not about ignoring problems. Fraud detection and compliance monitoring remain central to the platform’s mission. Identity verification is stronger than ever. Objective compliance visibility is front and center. Tools designed to detect and prevent cargo theft continue to expand.

But alongside those protections, FreightValidate is choosing to elevate excellence.

This sounds great to me!

Shining a Light on Industry Excellence: Why FreightValidate Is Flipping the Script

Future

I would like it if the future of the trucking industry was positive for a long while!

Language

I am glad that this topic is getting the attention it deserves.

This is part of “General qualifications of drivers [who drive a commercial motor vehicle]” 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2):

Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;

Here are at least some of this week’s articles on this topic:

2. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Fuel, and Greenhouse Gases:

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 my readers to help us stay current on the topic.

Electric Vehicles

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

Fuel

Greenhouse Gases

According to the article in this section:

On Thursday, the Trump Administration revoked the long-standing Endangerment Finding, which has been the standard for the government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

…

It rescinds a 2009 government declaration that determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.

Yay! Whomever decided that one of the “gases” that humans breathe out is a “greenhouse gas” that needs to be eliminated must not understand what our Creator told the first couple, Adam and Eve:

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”
— Genesis 1:28

Reactions mixed after Trump announces repeal of greenhouse gas rules

3. Regarding Bridge Departure, Crashes, Drugs, Fatalities, Fire, Low Clearance, Smuggling, Theft, and Violence:

Bridge Departure

I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the family whose loved ones died.

Please be careful when crossing bridges in a large truck, especially if it is elevated in a place where there are strong winds.

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.

Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent being involved in a fatal large truck crash?

Fire

It seems to me that there are a lot more truck fires than there used to be and I wonder if that is because more electric trucks with lithium batteries are in use.

Low Clearance

When it comes to truck routes, I have addressed this issue on this posts on this site:

Now for the article in this section:

New York rolls out flashing signs and more to stop trucks from hitting low-clearance Parkway bridge

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.

Mexico’s Fuel Smuggling Crackdown Hobbles Automakers

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.

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.

Truck driver accused of murdering fellow driver over parking dispute waives preliminary hearing

4. Regarding CVSA, Fines, Inspections, Roadcheck, and Violations:

CVSA

Please review the list before the results of any truck inspection(s) take you off the road.

Fines

The article in this section reads, in part:

The Town of Caledon, in Ontario’s Region of Peel, on Feb. 11 secured a successful prosecution resulting in a $60,000 fine tied to an illegal truck depot along The Gore Road.

A prohibition order was also granted, preventing the future parking or storage of commercial motor vehicles weighing more than 4,500 kilograms (9920 pounds) on the property, the town said in a news release.

Now this raises the question as to how a trucker would know that a particular “truck depot” is illegal or not.

And one wonders why only large trucks of sufficient weight would be prohibited while others are allowed access.

Hmm…

Caledon, Ont. secures $60,000 fine, prohibition order against illegal truck depot

Inspections

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

Roadcheck

The subtitle of the first article in this section says:

What fleets need to know about CVSA’s 72-hour inspection blitz and this year’s enforcement priorities.

The article states:

From May 12 to 14, enforcement personnel throughout North America will inspect commercial motor vehicles and their drivers for compliance with vehicle, cargo, and driver regulations.

That being said, it is my opinion that truckers need to have themselves and their rigs in continual compliance with these things every day, not just in anticipation of a special “blitz” of inspections.

Violations

A lot of violations are found during truck inspections while others are spotted on the road.

Make it your aim as a trucker to do everything in compliance with the law and regulations — even if your trucking company is trying to get you to compromise.

For your convenience, please review these posts:

Now for the news articles on this topic:

5. Regarding Brokers, Business, Capacity, and Insurance:

Brokers

Broker Transparency, Accountability, and the Freight Market Conversation We Need to Have

Business

Capacity

Capacity Overhang Begins to Clear, But Fleets Aren’t Ready to Spend

Insurance

Please regularly review your truck insurance to see if it is just right to meet your needs without being too expensive.

6. Regarding Economy, Inflation, Pay, Rates, Tariffs, Taxes, and Trade:

Economy

Inflation

Well the headlines in this section certainly seem to be at odds with each other, unless they are focusing on periods of time that differ.

Pay

I found myself intrigued by the title of the second article in this section, so I quote from it…

A lawsuit filed this week accuses a trucking company of violating California labor law by paying truck drivers only for miles driven and not for hours worked.

Another quote:

Stevenson argues that Forward Air required drivers to perform non-driving duties, including truck and trailer inspections, waiting time, and other on-duty time, but failed to ensure that they were compensated for hours worked at minimum wage.

How many truckers reading this trucking commentary are paid for their “non-driving duties”?

Please comment through the form below.

Rates

Tariffs

For a much better and more thorough explanation about the problems with Trump-issued tariffs, please search for the word “tariffs” in Peggy Hall’s Substack archive.

Taxes

Trade

US Notches One of Its Biggest Trade Deficits Since 1960

7. Regarding ELDs, EPA, Snow Chains, Supply Chain, and Towing:

ELDs

From the first article in this section:

[Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT)] requested the exemption arguing that paper logs remain enforceable and are understood by enforcement officers nationwide, and that small carriers face disproportionate financial burdens from the ELD requirements.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is accepting comments on that request here through March 11.

CEO Michael Cobb described that FOPT was “built intentionally as a trucker-based organization.”

FOPT focused first on logs/ELDs primarily on the cost burdens of Electronic Logging Devices, contrasting:

A 31-form paper Driver’s Daily Log book from J.J. Keller that lists for $6.35 on their website versus around $50 a month for his ELD service, although costs vary based on provider.

If you agree with this “pushback,” please feel free to share your thoughts through the comment page linked above.

You may read my commentary on the ELD mandate.

EPA

Snow Chains

The first article in this section lists the first time I’ve ever read of a trucker who attempted “to avoid chain control requirements amid winter weather conditions” and certainly the first time that I’ve ever heard such a person referred to as a “chain runner.”

Meanwhile, the second article reads: “The Utah Department of Transportation is blaming truck drivers who skipped chain-up stations for traffic issues during Wednesday’s winter storm.”

If you’re going to drive a large truck in places where snow chains are required:

have the equipment,
know how to install it, and
install it whenever required.

For more information on this topic, you may wish to review:

Now for the articles:

Supply Chain

Towing

Quoting from the first article in this section:

“We had evidence that the defendant broke price gouging laws and engaged in racially targeted towing” said [ North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson]. “This judgment will force him to pay back the victims and it will set a clear precedent: If you run a towing company that breaks that law, we are going to take you to court, and we’re going to stop you.”

Yay! Vindication!

8. Regarding Legal, Operations, Politics, and Regulations:

Legal

Operations

Please pay attention to signs regarding where U-turns are and are not allowed!

Do not set yourself up for causing a fatality!

Politics

Regulations

If indeed the FMCSA has reduced regulatory burdens on truckers, I rejoice! Yay!

9. Regarding Detroit, Search Map, Technology, Tipline, and UPS:

Detroit

Search Map

SearchCarriers unveils interactive Search Map to visualize trucking carrier discovery

Technology

Tipline

Tip line targets unauthorized commercial motor vehicle operators

UPS

10. Regarding Parking, Ports, and Recalls:

Parking

Ports

Recalls

If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.

11. Regarding Bridges, Emergency, Training, Weather, and Weight:

Bridges

Emergency

As I’ve done in the past, I am going to question why the FMCSA:

is willing to “waive” Hours of Service regulations for some truckers during so-called emergencies,
but isn’t willing to trust truckers regarding Hours of Service “the rest of the time.”