TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2021.01.30

This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending January 30, 2021.

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

1. Regarding pipeline, politics, and employment:

Pipeline

Thousands of people — including truckers — may be thrown out of work if the new President’s Executive Order about the pipeline is allowed to “stand.”

There are some important things that need to be remembered:

• According to Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
• That means that only Congress (the legislative branch of the federal government) can make the laws — and that they do not proceed from the President (the executive branch).
• Also, Executive Orders — if they are constitutional at all — are supposed to be limited to the Executive Branch of government.
• The President does not have dictatorial authority over an entire nation or industry.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the energy sector, to which the Keystone pipeline belongs, is never mentioned in the Constitution of the United States, meaning that this is really a states-only issue, not the federal government’s issue.

That being said, here are two of the most recent articles on this topic.

• Senator Grills USDOT Secretary Nominee Over Biden’s Order to Cancel Keystone XL Pipeline
• Teamsters Blast President Biden’s Decision to Cancel Keystone XL Pipeline

Politics

• Biden’s ‘ambitious’ climate initiative targets oil, coal, natural gas sectors

Employment

• Department of Labor rescinds worker classification opinion letter
• How 2020 changed the job outlook from the driver’s seat
• Jobless Claims Fall by More Than Expected

2. Regarding detention, technology, and autonomous trucks:

Detention

• Driver detention review considered likely in Biden’s FMCSA

Technology

• Telematics help maximize existing capacity and decrease driver dwell times

Autonomous trucks

It is distressing that several major trucking companies have jumped on the autonomous trucks bandwagon.

Still, I’m sharing below — as a courtesy — some of the most recent articles on this topic.

• Follow the Money if You’re Tracking Autonomous Truck Technology
• Three Mega Fleets Buy Ownership in Driverless Tech Company to “Accelerate Adoption”
• U.S. Xpress Latest to Invest in TuSimple
• US Xpress makes ‘significant’ financial investment in autonomous trucking

3. Regarding economy, taxes, tolls, rates, and predictions:

Economy

• December Used Class 8 Price, Sales Climb
• Economy Grows 4%; Transportation Services See Small Drop
• Foodservice closures take bite out of reefer demand
• Freight Transportation Undergoing Uneven Recovery, Panel Says
• Oil industry workers, truck drivers, concerned about ‘total economic devastation’ in wake of recent Biden Executive Orders
• Ontario dump truck market sizzles
• Shortages, Economy Top Aftermarket Sector Concerns
• Truckable’ Economy on the Rise, but Faces Challenges
• Used Class 8 truck sales up in 2020, signaling good year for trucking

Taxes

• The Daily Dash: Buttigieg supports raising fuel taxes; a truck driver’s life-or-death decision

Tolls

• Pennsylvania tolling proposal could “destroy” trucking companies, industry experts argue
• Pennsylvania Truckers Object to Bridge Tolling Plan

Rates

• As a spot rates sag might loom, truckers would be wise to seek alternatives
• Spot van rates, volumes continue monthlong slide
• Van rates continue their winter slide

Predictions

• 2021 freight insights; future plans for this owner-operator
• Commentary: Observations on strategy, operations, finance and logistics for 2021
• Former CFO sees ‘better path’ for Forward Air
• Landstar sees spot market cooling in second half of 2021
• Top Trucking Analysts Predict Biden’s USDOT Will Impose These New Mandates

4. Regarding accidents:

Please learn from these accidents — “what to do” and “what not to do” — so as not to be involved in one yourself:

• Police Release Terrifying BodyCam Video of Big Rig Crash to Send a Message
• Speeding Truck Driver Hit With Felony Charges After Police Make Disturbing Discovery
• VIDEO: Box truck driver pays the price for coming in a little too hot
• VIDEO: Semi cuts off another semi, immediately flips in spectacular fashion

5. Regarding COVID-19:

As if it isn’t enough to entice people to take a CV jab voluntarily, now one company — a truck stop — has stated that they will pay their employees to take it.

• Love’s to pay employees to get COVID vaccination
• Popular truck stop chain to pay employees who voluntarily take COVID-19 vaccine

Oh, it’s supposedly a good thing, they will claim, to keep you safe from “the rona.”

How much is your good health worth to them?

A measly $75!

Please be aware that a healthy 56-year old OB/GYN physician took the jab and died 16 days later.

It is far better, in my opinion, to boost your immune system with natural products than to be injected with an experimental biological, part of which is designed to take over your DNA.

6. Regarding DOT medical card and drugs:

DOT medical card

• Drivers must know and follow medical requirements to maintain CDL

Quote from article:

The requirement for drivers of commercial vehicles to obtain a valid medical examiner’s certificate hasn’t changed for many years; however, the method of obtaining one has become more difficult.

Drugs

• Canadian Trucker Charged in Record $28.5 MILLION Big Rig Meth Bust

7. Regarding operations, same day delivery, and speed:

Operations

• Bills in six states address left lane use

Same day delivery

• The case against same-day delivery

Speed

• Bills in seven states would alter speed limits

8. Regarding safety, inspections, and fuel:

Safety

• How In-Cab Cameras Help Fleets Improve Safety

Quote from article:

… focusing on hard-braking events without the context of what was happening on the roadway at the time can lead to false positives. A video system can show whether, for instance, a car suddenly switched lanes and caused the driver to hit the brakes. Or, an inward-facing camera can identify driver behaviors that may have led to the hard braking, such as looking down at a cell phone or reaching for a drink.

Inspections

• Results of Surprise Hours of Service Enforcement Blitz Stirs Strong Reactions
• Troopers find an unusual number of HOS violations during surprise blitz

Fuel

• 6 alternative fuel vehicle questions for Ryder’s CTO
• An even dozen: DOE/EIA diesel price higher for 12th straight week
• Diesel Up 2¢ in 12th Consecutive Increase
• Drilling Deep: What 2020 meant for more efficient fuel and freight trends
• Fuel tax rate changes pursued in seven states
• Natural gas truck sales down 9% in 2020
• Navistar and GM Developing Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

9. Regarding maintenance, recalls, and emissions:

Maintenance

• 4 Ways to Prevent Truck Wheel-Offs

Recalls

• Freightliner Cascadias Recalled for Steer Tire Problem

Emissions

• Why GM’s zero-emissions pledge matters to trucking

10. Regarding roads, ice, and weather:

Roads

• Mississippi looks at penalties for blocking roadways
• Portion of California’s Highway 1 washed away in major storm

Ice

• Radioactive Waste from Oil and Gas Wells Used to De-Ice Streets in 13 States. Ohio Bill Aims to Protect This.

Weather

• Torrential Rains Send Part of California Highway Plummeting Into the Ocean

11. Regarding HOS and breaks:

HOS

• These Hours of Service Rules Could Be In Jeopardy As Opponents Plan New Challenges
• Yard moves guidance comments due Feb. 3

Breaks

• Real Concern Over Possible FMCSA Reversal on California’s MRB Rules

12. Regarding events:

It’s encouraging to see that at least one trucking event is scheduled to be held this year!

• ACT Expo Announces Return of Live Event for 2021

My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.

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