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

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.10.10

TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.10.10 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 10, 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 Diesel, Fuel, Iran, Oil, and Weather:

Diesel

Having heard the doom and gloom about the shortage of diesel, someone suggested using “off road” and red-dyed diesel.

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

According to this October 7, 2026, article — Industry leaders warn that drivers, truck stops may be taxed later for using red dye diesel now — we read:

This week, President Trump signed an executive order “temporarily” promoting the use of red dye diesel, which is exempt from federal excise taxes and intended only for use in farm equipment and other off-highway vehicles.

And yet, the first sentence of the article says:

Fuel and transportation industry leaders say that using red dye diesel to save money in the short term may not be worth the risk of being taxed later.

In my typical forthright manner, I will say that this sounds hypocritical to me: save now only to have to pay later!

If you choose to use this “solution” — buying the “red dye” diesel — please be extra careful to:

  • document every drop of that fuel you use;
  • how much the extra cost would have been; and
  • save into a separate account the difference in taxes.

You don’t want to be caught in a financial mess later.

Meanwhile, based on what I’ve read, the diesel shortage that the world is currently facing stems from a series of political missteps that need to be addressed.

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:

The article linked in this section says, in part:

In practice, the fuel gap between two drivers comes down to accelerator pressure, gear selection, how early a driver anticipates a stop, and how much of the run stays on cruise control. Speed, especially, carries a known cost with fuel economy dropping about 0.1 mpg for every mile per hour above 60, a rule of thumb from Michael Roeth, Executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.

Feel free to read the rest of the article, especially the part about the “ISAAC Fuel Coach.”

Iran

Two quotes from the article in this section:

…Then there’s the largest expense, the added fuel costs for Americans back home. That comes to billions of dollars.

…All this adds up to more than $171 billion, a conservative analysis that doesn’t account for the expenses accrued after these reports were compiled and the additional costs for American consumers in food and everything else that become more expensive as a result of the fuel spike.

Oil

Weather

In my area of South Carolina, the weekly county farmers market will be closed on Saturday, October 10, “due to the threat of high winds and poor weather” [from Hurricane Isaias].

Please remember that high winds can cause tall commercial motor vehicles to overturn.

For your convenience, please review the info here:

On Driving in Wind — Strong Winds — in a High Profile Truck.

Do your due diligence regarding weather conditions and exercise caution when driving in bad weather.

2. Regarding ELDs, Emergency, HOS, and Industry:

ELDs

Finally, someone has a potential solution for the fiasco that the FMCSA foisted upon truckers and trucking companies regarding “self-certified” ELDs!

ELD Data Needs An Enforceable Standard

What are your thoughts?

Please share through the form below.

Thanks!

Emergency

Is this a good move or a bad move?

Please comment below.

HOS

What’s the point of having an Hours of Service (HOS) regulation if:

  • either exemptions can be made for this, that, or the other;
  • or the regulations change every so often?

Why doesn’t the FMCSA ask truckers for the best options?

Industry

This section groups a number of different kinds of articles having to do with the trucking industry.

I was pleased to read in this October 7, 2026, article — Trucking’s toughest problems won’t solve themselves — the following:

Some of the most meaningful innovations begin when someone stops asking “Who’s responsible?” and starts asking, “What can be done with the resources already within reach?” That distinction matters, because proximity has value.

Feel free to read the article.

3. Regarding Bottlenecks, Brokers, Business, and C.H. Robinson:

Bottlenecks

The first article in this section says, in part:

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Oct. 1 a $426 million investment in critical infrastructure projects in 12 states. The DOT says the projects will address traffic bottlenecks and “expand capacity for critical bypasses that serve thousands of freight trucks daily.”

Let’s hope that the “solutions” truly do what they claim!

Brokers

Business

C.H. Robinson

This October 6, 2026, article — Freight’s Next Move Matters More Than the Last 18 Months — says, in part:

C.H. Robinson’s acquisition of RXO is the largest truck brokerage merger-and-acquisition transaction in history, catching even veteran deal advisers off guard.

We’ll see what happens from here!

4. Regarding Containers, Intermodal, Military, Ports, and Recalls:

Containers

Intermodal

Military

Ports

Recalls

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

5. Regarding Crashes, Distracted Driving, and Drugs:

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.

6. Regarding Fatalities, Inattention, Theft, and Violence:

Fatalities

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, as it concerns a “highway”:

Fatality means any injury which results in the death of a person at the time of the motor vehicle accident or within 30 days of the accident.

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?

Inattention

Summarized from the State of Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles:

While both conditions lead to a loss of focus behind the wheel, distracted driving is caused by an external event or task drawing your attention away, whereas inattentive driving is an internal, passive loss of focus.

Please stay focused on the task of driving.

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.

Please bear in mind that, should the economy worsen, the temptation will increase for people to hijack trucks and steal the contents.

Desperate people do desperate things.

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 Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, and Tesla:

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.

Tesla

8. Regarding Economy, Employment, Pay, Rates, Tariffs, Taxes, Tolls, and Trade:

Economy

Employment

Pay

Has pay for your work as a professional truck driver risen?

If so, by how much?

Please comment through the form below.

Rates

Pay attention to rates and please make sure that the increased price of fuel is built into your calculations.

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…

Taxes

For reference purposes:

As diesel prices soar, how much relief is on the horizon?

Pay attention to fuel tax holidays and where they apply.

Tolls

Trade

9. Regarding Enforcement, Inspections, Roads, Tires, and Violations:

Enforcement

Inspections

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

Roads

Tires

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:

10. Regarding Language, Legal, Operations, Parking, Service Centers, Testing, and Training:

Language

I have lumped together in this section:

  • both English Language Proficiency (ELP);
  • and Non-Domiciled CDL.

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;

This needs to be the standard across the U.S. trucking industry.

Legal

Operations

Parking

Service Centers

Testing

Training

11. Regarding Supply Chain, Technology, Technology – Dashcam, Technology – Speeding, and Technology – Surveillance:

Supply Chain

Technology

Technology – Dashcam

Technology – Speeding

Technology – Surveillance

12. Regarding Appreciation, Awards, and Championship:

Appreciation

Even though National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2026 took place from September 13 – 19, I say — again — that I appreciate professional truck drivers all year long!

Thank you for what you do in order to help deliver freight or cargo safely. 🙂

Awards

There are different kinds of awards and recognition described in this section.

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.

Championship

Congratulations to all truckers who have made it to this point!

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: 2026.10.10 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.



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