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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.06.13

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.06.13 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending June 13, 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 Fireworks, Low Clearance, Securement, and Security:

Fireworks

The first article in this section says (link preserved):

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The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) found multiple carrier and driver hazardous materials violations after a trailer caught fire while traveling on I-75 over the weekend, igniting the fireworks inside.

I do not understand how this kind of thing happens.

Are the carrier and driver not vetted before hauling this kind of load?

Further, I would be interested in knowing if the shipper was aware of all of this.

How much “check up” work needs to be done at each part of the pick-up and delivery?

Regarding the second article in this section, after all of the mess that we’ve seen with ELDs, I do not recommend “self-certification” at any stage of hauling hazardous materials.

Low Clearance

Regarding the article in this section, here are resources on this site:

Here’s the article:

Securement

It is the responsibility of every professional truck driver to make sure that their loads are properly secured.

If necessary, please see:

I wish that the article had gone into detail regarding the extent of the charges, particularly any legal action and monetary fines that may have followed!

Security

I thought about moving this article to a different section, but wanted to bring this to your attention from the article:

Cargo security provider Overhaul is warning shippers about a suspected new cargo theft tactic in which criminals deliberately separate escort vehicles from the shipments they are protecting.

If you are involved in hauling freight that requires a pilot vehicle or escort, please be on your guard!

2. Regarding Amazon – LTL, Border, Brokers, Business, Chameleon, Mack, and Recalls:

Amazon – LTL

The second article in this section says, in part:

Amazon is expanding its LTL freight offerings beyond its current inbound-to-Amazon offering, opening it up to any type of destination, as part of its Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS).

Be aware.

Border

Brokers

Well, this is interesting…

According to the first article in this section:

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) formally petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to provide a public list of trucking companies with risky safety records.

I researched “Transportation Intermediaries Association” on this website and found quotes here:

What do you think?

Business

Chameleon

For background on chameleon carriers, please read:

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

Mack

I thought about moving this article to the section regarding health (below), but comfort may be considered a tiny bit different.

Recalls

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

3. Regarding ATA, ATRI, Certification, Inspections, Politics, and Regulations:

ATA

ATRI

The article in this section says:

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has launched a new industry-wide survey aimed at gathering insights into the adoption, effectiveness, and future direction of onboard safety technologies used in commercial trucking.

…

The survey focuses on a wide range of onboard safety technologies, including collision mitigation systems, lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control, driver monitoring systems, speed limiters, electronic stability control, and onboard cameras. These technologies have become increasingly common in commercial vehicles as fleets work to reduce accidents, improve compliance, and manage risk.

Now let’s assume for a moment that a trucker doesn’t like all of the technology in a truck.

What can he/she possibly do about it in any meaningful way?

Thoughts?

Certification

The article in this section says:

The program will consist of 56 hours of training focused on teaching instructors how to effectively train commercial drivers. Adams said the curriculum includes adult learning, program development, effective communication, and working with multicultural students.

Is this enough?

Please share your thoughts through the form below.

Inspections

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

Politics

If these matters concern you, please contact your federal elected officials.

Regulations

Regarding the second article in this section, we read (links preserved):

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association warns that heavier trucks could pose greater safety risks and increase wear and tear on roads and bridges.

OOIDA cites research from the Transportation Research Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation that raises concerns about increasing truck weights rather than easing them.

I agree.

4. Regarding Auction, Consumers, Economy, Employment, Inflation, Miles, Rates, Tariffs, and Trade:

Auction

Consumers

The first article in this section says:

U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts.

Have you noticed this on the road?

Economy

Employment

Inflation

One source (pages 17 and 18) says that inflation is:

  • both “an increase in the amount of currency, resulting in rising prices”;
  • and “theft.”

Take a look at the M1 money supply — and what happened in early 2020 — and you’ll realize immediately what has happened to prices in the USA over the last 5+ years.

Although the dates may be shifting over time, according to FiscalData.Treasury.gov, the U.S. debt:
– exceeded $36 Trillion on November 21, 2024;
– exceeded $37 Trillion on August 11, 2025;
– exceeded $38 Trillion on October 21, 2025; and
– exceeded $39 Trillion on May 18, 2026.

Obviously, this is unsustainable and some people have indicated that the collapse of the U.S. dollar is imminent.

If you have not already done so, please make preparations regarding your financial future.

Miles

In TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.06.06, I stated:

“I seriously wonder if the powers-that-be plan to use humans for the ‘first mile’ and ‘last mile’ because they plan for autonomous vehicles to take care of all of the ‘middle miles’.”

Hmm…

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.

There’s also a short video on Telegram with this description:

Peter Schiff on Trump’s punitive tariffs against U.S. allies and why all tariffs are paid by the American people, not foreign manufacturers

Now for the articles in this section…

Trade

5. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Energy, 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

It could be that with the price of fuel being so high right now, that truckers and trucking companies are looking at alternatives.

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

Energy

I disagree with the use of these “big blade” wind turbines for generating electricity.

You can find lots of videos on YouTube regarding what I call cup shaped wind turbines that take up a lot less space and appear to me to be far less hazardous to birds.

Fuel

So that you can track the price of fuel:

In an effort to save as much fuel as possible, here are a few of the articles on this site dealing with aerodynamics:

Now this week’s articles on this topic:

Oil

6. Regarding Bridges, Containers, Ports, Routing, and Safety:

Bridges

Containers

Ports

Routing

Quoting the article: “GPS routes are not always accurate.”

Many times, I have encouraged truckers to learn how to navigate their trucks with a hard copy Truckers Atlas.

Safety

7. Regarding Alcohol, Crashes, Drugs, Fatalities, Fire, Fraud, Smuggling, Theft, and Violations:

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 this article 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

I wish that this article had gone into detail regarding whether the tractor was all-electric and other details.

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.

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.

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.

8. Regarding Delivery, Detention, Health, and Testing:

Delivery

Different kinds of deliveries are described in these articles.

Detention

Much has been written about detention on this website.

Health

Please be careful about applying to drive a commercial motor vehicle if you have had seizures in the past.

Also, I’m glad to learn that UPS is retrofitting their delivery vans to include air conditioning!

I go into detail in this article:

A Hot Truck: On Summer Heat, Truck Heat and Bake Oven Conditions.

Testing

9. Regarding Language, Legal, Maintenance, Parts, and Qualifications:

Language

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;

Now for the articles:

Legal

Maintenance

Parts

The caption under the photo says a lot:

Brighter, whiter LED headlights are confounding engineers, regulators, and the motoring public. The brighter light improves nighttime driving visibility, but the resulting glare annoys other drivers.

Do you agree or disagree?

Qualifications

The sub-title on the article in this section reads:

The drivers delivering America’s last mile and light-duty fleets get pulled off the road at nearly twice the rate and aren’t required to run drug tests.

Yikes!

10. Regarding Operations, Parasite, and Parking:

Operations

For your review:

Railroad Crossing Accident Prevention for Semi Tractor Trailers

Parasite

The problem continues…

Parking

11. Regarding Supply Chain and Technology:

Supply Chain

Technology

12. Regarding Awards, Recognition, and Champions:

Awards, Champions, and Recognition

The article in this section says:

PGT Trucking recognized 50 million-mile drivers and 109 safe drivers during its annual Million Mile Safe Driver Celebration held May 16 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Penn. …

Million-mile drivers are recognized for driving one million miles or more without a safety incident, while safe drivers have completed at least five years with the company without a safety incident.

Congratulations to all professional truck drivers so recognized and awarded!

Champion

Congratulations to “Paul Badgett of FedEx Freight Inc, took home the grand champion award at the 2026 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships (NTDC)” and Tony Johnson, “the winner of the Grand Championship at the Georgia State Truck Driving Championships (TDC)” — as noted in these articles:

Recognition

I recognize those who helped their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether the trucker was the one doing the help or receiving the help.

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: 2026.06.13 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



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