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TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.07.18

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.07.18 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending July 18, 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 Costs, Inspections, Language, Trooper in a Truck, and Violations:

Costs

I posted ATRI’s press release sent by email on my TDMST Facebook page.

DAT TruckersEdge - Most Loads. Best Rates. Serving Owner-Operators Since 1978. 10% off your first 12 months. New customers only.

Inspections

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

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;

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

Trooper in a Truck

According to the first article in this section:

Wisconsin State Patrol troopers began riding alongside semi truck drivers this week in the annual Trooper in a Truck enforcement and education campaign.

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:

2. Regarding DEF, ELDs, EPA, IFTA, and Politics:

DEF

According to the first article in this section:

Truck drivers have received relief from DEF-induced headaches from the Environmental Protection Agency over the past year. But what happens if a new administration comes in and reverses everything?

Now for some of the most recent articles on this topic:

ELDs

According to this article:

In 2022, FMCSA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that sought feedback about potential revisions to the ELD rules.

…FMCSA received more than a thousand comments. Many of those comments came from truck drivers who argued that the ELD mandate wasn’t improving highway safety.

Nearly four years after reviewing those comments, the agency is targeting November for the release of a formal proposal.

I hope they fix this!

EPA

IFTA

Politics

3. Regarding Brokers, Canada, LTL, and Messy Middle:

Brokers

Canada

LTL

Messy Middle

4. Regarding Authorization, Cabotage, Exemption, Legal, Regulations, and Training:

Authorization

The article in this section says:

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) asked federal authorities for a new rule requiring written or electronic documentation of authorization for commercial vehicle passengers to be produced roadside for inspectors.

I don’t understand why this is coming back around in 2026, as if it is not standard practice across the trucking industry.

When I rode in the truck that my late husband Mike drove for an irregular route, regional trucking company many years ago, they required written authorization back then for me to be in the truck.

There was only one time when he made a sensitive pick-up that I was not allowed to be with him at the shipper.

Mike dropped me off at a good-sized truck stop — where I took many photos that are on this website — and then after his pick-up had been made, he came back to pick me up.

Easy peasy.

Cabotage

Exemption

Legal

Regulations

The second article in this section says, in part:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s final rule that will remove about 200,000 non-domiciled CDLs isn’t because foreign drivers have been proven to be less safe, the agency told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Instead, the rule focuses on FMCSA’s inability to conduct proper background checks into these drivers and the problems caused by allowing an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to serve as evidence of lawful presence in the U.S.

Why weren’t people following the laws and regulations on the front end of this?

Training

5. Regarding Bridges, Operations, Parking, Roads, and Securement:

Bridges

Operations

From the first article in this section, please read:
“Basic safety rules at railroad crossings.”

Parking

Roads

Securement

It is the professional truck driver’s responsibility to make sure that his/her load is secure before driving.

The Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 393 covers “Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation”.

Subpart I details “Protection Against Shifting and Falling Cargo”.

It covers everything from § 393.104 Standards for cargo securement devices and systems to very specific kinds of loads including boulders, containers, metal coils, etc..

If you have not been trained on how to secure your load, demand that your trucking company provide you with that training before you drive a single inch!

Why? Because you as the trucker will be held responsible for it if something goes wrong.

6. Regarding Crashes, Distracted Driving, Drugs, Fatalities, Fraud, Hazmat, Smuggling, Speed, Theft, Towing, and Violence:

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.

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?

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.

Hazmat

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.

Speed

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

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.

Towing

Predatory towing is a violation of the commandment to “love your neighbor” as you love yourself.

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.

7. Regarding Clearinghouse, Dalilah’s Law, and Motus:

Clearinghouse

Dalilah’s Law

In a nutshell, Dalilah’s Law would stop any state from granting CDLs to illegal aliens.

While this sounds like another one of those “states rights” situations, The Constitution of the United States says (in part) in Article IV, Section 4:

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion…”

There are immigration laws on the federal books to prevent an invasion from illegal aliens, laws which clearly have not been upheld.

Motus

No surprises

8. Regarding Economy, Employment, Inflation, Pay, Rates, and Tariffs:

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 6+ years.

According to FiscalData.Treasury.gov, the U.S. debt:
– exceeded $37 Trillion on August 11, 2025;
– exceeded $38 Trillion on October 23, 2025; and
– exceeded $39 Trillion on March 27, 2026 (as of one time when I saw it).

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.

Pay

According to the Inflation Calculator post on my site, a May 1977 article cited trucker pay at $500 per week.

Just to keep up with inflation — not a pay increase! — in June 2026, truckers would have to earn an equivalent of $2,769.09 per week.

Are truckers on average earning that much money today?

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…

9. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Fuel, Iran, 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.

Fuel

Iran

Oil

10. Regarding Robotaxis, Routing, and Runaway Truck Ramp:

Robotaxis

Just when you thought having an AI-powered car was a good thing…

Routing

According to the first article in this section:

On July 14, 2026, CHP’s Bridgeport Division reported that a semi truck driver “ignored numerous signs and warnings because his GPS said it was okay to take this route.”

Obviously, this trucker did not have or was not using a truckers atlas or a Commercial Motor Vehicle-specific GPS unit.

This situation was so preventable!

Runaway Truck Ramp

According to the first article in this section:

“Unlike other runaway truck ramps on Transmountain, this truck arresting system was constructed in the median due to the narrow footprint available at that location,” said TxDOT El Paso District Engineer Tomas Trevino. “It detains vehicles in tight roadway geometry, such as the area closer to I-10.”

Now for the articles…

11. Regarding Supply Chain, Technology, Tires, and Weather:

Supply Chain

Technology

Tires

Weather

12. Regarding Awards and Recognition:

Awards

Congratulations to all truckers who have:

  • demonstrated skill and achievement in their work as professional truck drivers;
  • been recognized for that skill and achievement, perhaps for safe driving;
  • been given a tangible reward; or
  • been nominated for or given an award.

Here are articles about some of the nominees for, finalists, and winners of awards.

Recognition

Thank you to everyone 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: 2026.07.18 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.