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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.02.28

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.02.28 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending February 28, 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 Dalilah Law, Integrity, Language, SCAC, Skilled Labor, and Tariffs:

Dalilah Law

The third article in this section states:

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On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., introduced the Dalilah Law, which would stop any state from granting CDLs to illegal aliens.

… Earlier this month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a rule that is expected to remove about 194,000 non-domiciled CDLs.

My response:

  • There should never have been any kind of “non-domiciled CDLs” issued in the USA;
  • CDLs should never have been issued to those who have not demonstrated “English Language Proficiency” (ELP);
  • Immigration laws on the books must be upheld across the board;
  • Since The Constitution of the United States does not cover transportation, according to The Tenth Amendment, the issuance of drivers licenses — including Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) — is a state matter, not a federal matter;
  • Neither the FMCSA nor the USDOT are constitutional in nature; and
  • The states individually need to come together to do what is right on this topic.

Did I leave out anything important?

Please comment through the form below.

Integrity

According to the article in this section:

While many of these actions will still need to go through the rulemaking process, FMCSA provided an overview of some of the ways to improve driver standards and clean up the industry.

I will list just the main bullet points:

  • English-only standards
  • New registration system
  • Fraud crackdown
  • Strengthening driver safety

Is this enough? Please comment below.

Language

SCAC

The article in this section reads in part:

Freight fraud and cargo theft often succeed for one simple reason: It’s too easy to pretend to be someone you’re not. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association is working to address that.

Several new initiatives that the NMFTA has initiated are listed in the article.

Will these initiatives help?

Skilled Labor

The first article in this section clearly refers to a situation in Alberta, Canada:

Alberta will launch a trade designation for Class 1 commercial drivers in June 2027, offering journeyperson certification for truck driving.

Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said commercial driving should be recognized as a skilled trade.

According to a December 23, 2018, article, in the United States: Truckers are classified as ‘unskilled labor’? Nope

What do you think?

Even if truckers are classified as skilled or semi-skilled, are they treated and paid that way?

Please comment below.

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.

This past Tuesday, I attended a meeting during which the guest speaker was a candidate running for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.

During his comments, he said that tariffs were hurting our state.

I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if others are noticing this, too.

2. Regarding 2025, 2026, Age, Politics, and Regulations:

2025

The article in this section says, in part:

From English language proficiency (ELP) to non-domiciled CDL requirements to training regulations, the federal government finally pushed states to enforce certain fundamental rules — and put real consequences on the table for those who might ignore those enforcement efforts.

What are your thoughts on this?

2026

Age

According to an article updated on Sept. 8, 2025, entitled “Auto insurance rates by age in 2025“:

18-year-old drivers on their own policy pay the highest car insurance premiums out of the age groups Bankrate analyzed.

Given this kind of statistic, I wonder how elected officials, insurance executives, and trucking company owners can seriously think that hiring under-21 truckers is a good idea.

Politics

Regulations

3. Regarding ELDs, Towing, Technology, and Training:

ELDs

Oh, so now the FMCSA is putting one ELD back on the approved list?

According to the first article in this section:

In December 2025, the ELD was placed on the FMCSA’s revoked list for “failure to meet the minimum requirements” outlined in Title 49 CFR Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 395, which establishes functional specifications for all electronic logging devices. At that time, carriers using the device were given until March 1 to replace the unit with a compliant ELD from the approved list.

Despite the revocation, the agency allows manufacturers to have their devices added back to the approved list if “the ELD provider corrects all identified deficiencies.” While the agency did not disclose the exact reason the device was placed on the revoked list, it appears the manufacturer has satisfied the FMCSA’s requirements to be returned to the approved list.

Huh!

What about all of the other ELDs that have been revoked?

Towing

Technology

Training

4. Regarding Adjustment, Economy, Employment, Lottery, Pay, and Rates:

Adjustment

Economy

Employment

Lottery

I hope that the trucker who won this jackpot has financial discipline!

Pay

So, the corporate staff get bonuses.

Will the truckers get bonuses, too?

Rates

5. Regarding Alcohol, Crashes, Death, Distracted Driving, Drugs, Fatalities, Fires, Fraud, Theft, Violations, 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.

Death

I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died as reported in these articles.

Distracted Driving

For reference purposes:

Distracted Driving: Beware of Attention Diverters That Can Be Fatal

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?

Fires

According to the article in this section:

According to information from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) on its Facebook page, the reason for the closure was that a series of grass fires were burning along the highway and smoke was blocking visibility which necessitated closure of lanes going both directions of Interstate 12.

The road was closed after approximately 3 hours.

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.

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.

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:

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 ATRI, Border, Bridges, Brokers, Business, Chameleon Carriers, and Recalls:

ATRI

Border

Bridges

Brokers

Business

Chameleon Carriers

For background on chameleon carriers, please read:

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

Recalls

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

7. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Energy, EPA, Fuel, and Oil:

Autonomous Vehicles

I totally oppose 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.

Electric Vehicles

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

Energy

EPA

Fuel

Oil

8. Regarding Inspections, Insurance, Ports, and Supply Chain:

Inspections

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

Insurance

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

Ports

Supply Chain

9. Regarding Leasing, Legal, Operations, Parking, Parts, and Snow Chains:

Leasing

There are numerous mentions regarding truck leasing on this site.

One article is entitled:

Commercial Truck Leasing: Beware of Designed-to-Fail Schemes

Legal

Operations

You may also want to see the post “Making Large Truck Operations as Frugal as Possible” on this site.

Parking

Parts

Snow Chains

The article in this section says, in part:

Under Oregon law, all truck drivers must carry chains “whenever road conditions might require their use during your trip and signs are posted.”

ODOT said that truck drivers can be fined up to $880 for not having an appropriate set of chains.

The article also listed the length of the “recent chain check operation” and the number of warnings and citations issued.

Regarding the cost of failing to have/use snow chains:

ODOT said that delays caused by trucks failing to follow Oregon chain laws cost the trucking industry and other road users more than $8 million each year.

Please be prepared!

10. Regarding Truck Roofs, Truck Stop, Truckers, Trucking, and Trucks:

Truck Roofs

Truck Stop

Truckers

Trucking

Trucks

11. Regarding Trump, USMCA, USPS, Weather, and Wyoming:

Trump

Also, something not covered in the trucking industry news that I saw prior to gathering articles for this trucking commentary, but may greatly impact trucking from a fuel perspective:

U.S. Strikes Iran in Unconstitutional Attack, Breaking Major Trump Campaign Promise of No More Foreign Wars

USMCA

USPS

I totally disagree with this Supreme Court ruling as all levels of government:

  • are instituted among men to secure their Creator-endowed and unalienable rights; and
  • derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, meaning that there must be a way to hold them accountable.

The articles:

Weather

Wyoming

12. Regarding Awards and Recognition:

Awards

Congratulations to the trucker who earned this designation!

Recognition

I recognize and thank those who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether it was the trucker doing the helping or the trucker being helped.

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: 2026.02.28 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



Rate Match Guarantee. We'll meet or beat your current rate. DAT Outgo.
Factoring that pays faster. Super fast funding speeds. DAT Outgo.
Factor with more freedom. Non-recourse + no annual contracts. DAT Outgo.
Factor smarter, faster, and save. Keep more of what you earn. DAT Outgo.