This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending August 29, 2020.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
According to an August 27, 2020, article, "Hurricane Laura slammed southern Louisiana early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, one of the most powerful to strike the Gulf Coast in decades. The storm made landfall at 1 a.m. near Cameron, La., about 35 miles east of the Texas border."
The storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression and is still dumping rain far inland.
Much destruction was left in Laura's wake and there will most likely be a lot of "picking up the pieces" and rebuilding in the days to come.
Please monitor travel advisories and road signs -- as some roads may have been swept away by fast moving water (as pictured here).
Never drive through running water as you may not be able to see what is beneath it and your truck may be swept downstream.
Remember: Turn around, don't drown.
Here are some recent articles about storms, including Hurricane Laura.
I am distressed every time I read about professional truck drivers potentially being replaced with technology.
Still, to keep you informed, here are recent articles about autonomous, driverless, or self-driving trucks.
What is even more distressing to me is how the U.S. government seems to be on-board with replacing truckers, too!
The August 27, 2020, article entitled USDOT Secretary Addresses "Biggest Challenge" Facing Driverless Trucks opens as follows:
A recent interview with United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao is providing more insight into how the Department is working to bring about its goal of speeding the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) on American roadways.
If this distresses you, contact your elected officials to voice your concerns.
If you see your trucking job as being shaky in any respect, you may want to consider starting to earn a second income from the cab of your truck.
My husband Mike once drove for a motor carrier which claimed that every truck accident can be prevented by the trucker.
Of course, we have debunked that over and over again, plus, it as been reported: "10 Crash Types FMCSA Says Could Be 'Not Preventable.'"
I was grieved to learn of how a Teen Pickup Truck Driver [was] Ejected and [the] Passenger [was] Killed After Crashing Into [a] Disabled Big Rig.
Still, this type of accident underscores the need for truckers in disabled trucks to have everything on their end in order, including:
Sometimes justice does catch up with people.
Here are the most recent articles about the people who staged truck accidents in order to take money that wasn't theirs.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave
when first we practice to deceive.
Border:
Economy:
Employment and trucking jobs:
Brokers:
Rates and spot market:
Cargo policy:
Cargo theft:
Money, funding, loans:
Supply chain:
3d printing
Tractor record:
An August 24, 2020, article -- Trucking Groups Urge Congress to Reform "Unlawful and Unethical" FMCSA -- stated:
In a letter sent to key U.S. lawmakers on Friday, the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) and United Transportation Association (UTA) argued for the immediate need to hold Congressional hearings for the purpose of reforming the FMCSA. ...
A continued criticism leveled at the FMCSA by the SBTC and UTA is that the Agency acts in the interest of large carriers and safety groups instead of small business truckers.
Do not attempt to haul illegal drugs or illegal aliens in any part of your tractor or trailer(s).
Drugs
Smuggling people
Here are the most recent articles about electric trucks and emissions:
Be prepared for a truck inspection at any time!
Here are the most recent truck inspection articles:
Under no circumstances should you put up with driving for a company that will not keep its equipment maintained, as was the case written about here:
Whenever possible, avoid areas of protest and where violence is being perpetrated toward truckers.
Here are the most recent articles on these subjects:
I still want to know how it is possible for a trucker to protect himself/herself from being shot from outside his/her truck.
If you have any ideas, please share them through the form below.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a two-edged sword.
According to a December 6, 2016, article:
Artificial Intelligence is the broader concept of machines being able to carry out tasks in a way that we would consider "smart".
Here are some recent articles about AI as it concerns trucking and technology:
AI
Being connected and connectivity
Telematics:
Dash cam:
It was 7 years ago this month that I predicted that the 2013 Hours of Service regulations change was about control, not saving lives.
It was one of those predictions that I was not happy to make, but did come true. {Sigh!}
Here we are in 2020, and the Hours of Service regulations is fixing to change again!
Here are some of the most recent articles about that:
Regulations
Snow chains
I'm glad to see that at least one "nuclear verdict" was overturned!
Ever since the Hours of Service regulation was changed to require truckers to take a 30-minute break, some truckers have rudely parked their trucks in the fuel island -- and expected others behind them to wait!
Now, one truck stop has taken decisive action to curtail the practice at their fuel island lanes -- and it is costly.
According to this article, "This year's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 13-19, 2020..."
My husband Mike and I appreciate truckers all year long, so we don't have to make an emphasis just once a year.
Even so, there are special emphases done to recognize or reward truckers at this time.
The most recent articles about truckers' driving records, appreciation and awards are below:
Cleaner driving records
Appreciation:
Awards
Woohoo! Thanks for doing a great job, y'all!
My husband Mike and 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: 2020.08.29 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.