TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.07.11

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.07.11 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending July 11, 2026, written by Vicki Simons.

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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up

Urgent: Please see some important info in Section 6, at the top of the Fuel section, below.

1. Regarding DEF and EPA:

DEF

When I researched DEF, one overview said:

DEF stands for Diesel Exhaust Fluid. It is a non-toxic, colorless liquid composed of 32.5% high-purity urea and 67.5% deionized water. It is injected into the exhaust stream of diesel vehicles to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by converting them into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapor.

When I asked if DEF is effective, another overview says:

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is highly effective, reducing up to 90% to 95% of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in diesel engines when combined with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system. It converts these dangerous pollutants into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapor.

When I asked if there is an alternative to DEF, another overview said:

There is no safe, direct substitute for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in modern diesel engines. DEF is a precise mixture of 32.5% high-purity urea and 67.5% deionized water. Using alternatives, water, or unapproved additives will damage your Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and trigger engine “limp mode”.

And when I asked why so many large trucks are diesel-powered, another overview said:

Large trucks use diesel primarily for their massive torque (pulling power) at low engine speeds and superior fuel efficiency. Because diesel fuel is denser than gasoline, it contains more stored energy per gallon. Additionally, diesel engines lack spark plugs and rely on extreme compression to ignite fuel, requiring a highly durable, long-lasting build.

According to the Engine Technology Forum, roughly 97% of heavy-duty freight trucks (Class 8) and 76% of medium-duty commercial trucks run on diesel.

Now for the articles in this topic this week:

EPA

This section deals specifically with the EPA while other articles below address emissions.

2. Regarding Border, Brokers, Business, Canada, Trade, and USPS:

Border

Brokers

Business

Canada

Trade

USPS

In case you think this is the first time that the U.S. Postal Service has been in trouble financially, this article from September 6, 2011, says otherwise.

3. Regarding Discount, Economy, Fine, Forced Labor, Fuel Taxes, Pay, Rates, Retention, Tariffs, and Tolls:

Discount

The article in this section says:

Progressive has ended new enrollments in its commercial trucking dashcam program with Motive, marking the end of a partnership that many fleets have used to improve safety and qualify for insurance discounts.

If you have insurance with this company and desire to know more, please contact them.

10% discount Gone? Progressive Ends Motive Dashcam Enrollments, Signals New Telematics Program

Economy

Fine

I’m not sure why the title of the article in this section reads one amount while this paragraph says a much higher amount:

Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch, also known as Vermont Route 108, a seasonal road winding between Cambridge and Stowe, will now cost unauthorized vehicles up to $40,000 if they attempt to cross it.

$10,000 fines for attempting Vermont’s infamous Smuggler’s Notch

Forced Labor

Fuel Taxes

Truckers need a break. Some states deliver, others raise fuel taxes

Pay

Rates

Retention

One paragraph from the article in this section reads:

The biggest driver retention takeaway for trucking companies from this year’s Best Fleets to Drive For program isn’t about pay or perks. It’s about trust and communication.

Do you agree?

Driver Retention Insights from Top Fleets

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…

Tolls

Yay!

Governor blocks toll hike that would have hit truckers hard

4. Regarding HOS, Legal, Motus, Politics, and USMCA:

HOS

Two companies, on same day, ask for relief from HOS rules

Legal

Motus

No surprises…

FMCSA pauses deactivations as it works on Motus issues

Politics

USMCA

5. Regarding Alcohol, Crashes, Drugs, Fatalities, Fraud, Scam, Smuggling, Theft, 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.

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.

Fake IDs are Everywhere! How AI Makes Fraud Scarily Easy | Intellicheck CEO

Scam

Please be aware of and speak out against these and other types of scams that can impact truckers and trucking companies.

Smuggling

I’ve always wondered just how costly it is to attempt to smuggle people in a tractor trailer.

Well, according to this article — X-ray scan of commercial truck at New York Port of Entry leads to two arrests — we read the following:

Two people have been arrested and charged after an X-ray scan at a Port of Entry in New York uncovered a smuggling attempt.

… Khvicha Chalisuri, 63, a Canadian citizen and native of Georgia, was charged with alien smuggling, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Wow!

Another article on this topic this week:

Truck driver charged after alleged human smuggling attempt at Peace Bridge

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.

6. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Fuel, Fuel Efficiency, Iran, and Oil:

Autonomous Vehicles

I most definitely 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.

Emissions

Fuel

I mentioned last week my response to a Facebook post about the drop in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

A July 11, 2026, post on Telegram from Health Ranger says in part:

If you’re following the crack spreads on petroleum, you already know that DIESEL and JET FUEL are going to become extremely scarce and expensive over the next several months, even in the USA.

…Without diesel, the economy doesn’t function. And unless the Strait of Hormuz opens soon, the diesel shortage is going go wreck the U.S. economy, cause food inflation, disrupt supply chains and result in a wave of business bankruptcies across America.

Anyone saying “we have plenty of oil” doesn’t understand anything about the different types of oil and how distillates are created from different oil grades, or how oil refineries are set up to produce specific products from specific oil grades.

I urge you to do your own due diligence on this matter.

Some of my research has revealed about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve:

You may draw your own conclusions.

If the situation regarding diesel concerns you, please contact your federal elected officials to urge the president to stop his illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional war with Iran forever.

The reason why this war was even started was on behalf of a foreign nation!
(See articles dated: March 2, 2026, March 19, 2026, and May 15, 2026.)

Meanwhile, 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:

Articles from this week:

Fuel Efficiency

The article in this section says, in part:

Take this 3-question assessment to get your personalized fuel-efficiency score and find out where you can save.

I am very interested to know how taking this quiz helps any of my readers!

Please comment through the form below.

What’s Your Fleet’s Fuel-Efficiency Score?

Iran

Oil

7. Regarding Inspections, Insurance, Regulations, and Tires:

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.

Regulations

Tires

8. Regarding Carrier Transicold, Containers, and Messy Middle:

Carrier Transicold

Containers

Messy Middle

Maintenance in the Messy Middle Part 4: Renewable Natural Gas

9. Regarding Parking, Pilot, Ports, Roads, and Speed:

Parking

Pilot

Ports

Roads

Speed

No matter how “hot” your load is, obey the speed limit in every jurisdiction where you travel.

Florida sheriff shares video of driver arrested for hitting 110 MPH while ‘trying to pass semi trucks’

10. Regarding ICE, Language, Operations, Violations, and Weight:

ICE

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;

Operations

Violations

Weight

Always observe weight limitations!

11. Regarding AI Data Center, ELDs, Supply Chain, and Technology:

AI Data Center

There has been a HUGE amount of news on social media about AI (Artificial Intelligence) Data Centers of late — and with good reason.

In my June 2, 2026, speech before the Aiken County (SC) County Council, I said (in part) and referring to The Declaration of Independence:

Given that AI data centers have infringed on citizens’ life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they have every right to be concerned about “water shortages, farmland destruction, skyrocketing electricity costs, noise pollution, and the unchecked expansion of AI infrastructure.” (1)

I find it interesting that this topic is now making it into a transportation-related publication.

Why One Cancelled Data Center Matters to Every Supply Chain Executive

ELDs

As I mentioned in my June 27, 2026, trucking commentary:

Finally, based on this article — The Hidden Problem Behind FMCSA’s ELD Revocations — I now know why so many ELDs have been removed from the official list!