TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2021.03.06

This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending March 3, 2021.

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

 

1. Regarding speed limiters and underride guards:

Please be watching for attempts to install extra parts on trucks that will not improve efficiency or return on investment.

Speed limiters

• ATA, OOIDA Square Off on Speed Limiters
  
  
• ATA, Road Safe America Join in Speed Limiter Regulation Letter
  
  
• OOIDA rejects ATA's call for speed limiter mandate
  
  
• Truckers fire back after ATA asks FMCSA for speed limiter mandate
  
  

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Underride guards

• Bill to Require Front and Side Underride Guards on Big Rigs is Making a Comeback
  
  
• Senators introduce bill to require front and side underride guards on CMVs
  
  
• Stop Underrides Act reintroduced
  
  
• Underride Legislation Calls for Side, Front Guards
  
  

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2. Regarding economy, employment, prediction, and retention:

Economy

• Manufacturing Jumps to Three-Year High in February
  
  
• Orders for Class 8 vehicles continued strong in February
  
  
• US Trade Deficit Rises 1.9% in January
  
  

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Employment

• Old Dominion to Hire 800 Truck Drivers As Freight Demand Grows
  
  
• Trucking employment down for first time in nine months
  
  
• Trucking employment slipped in February -- but spot rates rallied
  
  
• Trucking jobs fell in February; follows stagnant January numbers
  
  
• US Adds a Strong 379,000 Jobs in Hopeful Sign
  
  
• US Jobless Claims Tick Up to 745,000 as Layoffs Remain High
  
  

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Prediction

• US Economy, Trucking Poised for Strong 2021, Economists Predict
  
  

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Retention

• Building empathy and respect is key to driver retention
  
  

 

3. Regarding inspection, safety, and accidents:

Inspection

Always be ready for an inspection.

• Arizona cops target commercial vehicles rest of the week
  
  
• CMV Enforcement Blitz Happening This Week Along Three Interstates in Arizona
  
  
• 'Major' commercial vehicle enforcement blitz starts today on 3 Arizona interstates
  
  
• Smoking tires tip off CMV inspector to jaw-dropping violation
  
  
• Surprise CMV Inspection Blitz Stirs Questions But Nets 43 Driver Violations and DUI Arrest
  
  
• Weigh station 'safety check' finds 45 violations in 26 inspections
  
  

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Safety

• An Introduction to Video-Based Safety
  
  
• Florida Highway Patrol is using their marked big rig for 'Operation Safe DRIVE' enforcement this week
  
  

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Accidents

Please learn what you can from these accidents and seek never to repeat what led up to them.

• Dump truck driver indicted on vehicular homicide charges in fatal highway sign strike
  
  
• Nevada Highway Patrol Has a Message For This 'Wrong Way' Amazon Trucker
  
  
• Officials, residents at a loss as Bank Street Bridge strikes continue
  
  
• Trucker flattens fuel island & speeds away, leaving small gas station in the dust
  
  

 

4. Regarding COVID-19, mobile vaccination sites, drugs, and smuggling:

COVID-19

There have been many, many reports of death and injury following being injected with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Even with all of the censorship that has been going on, some people are still publishing information about this topic.

According to a March 5, 2021, article:
"Between Dec. 14, 2020, and Feb. 26, a total of 25,212 total adverse events were reported to VAERS [Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System], including 1,265 deaths and 4,424 serious injuries."

That article also states:
"Data released today by the CDC confirm several ongoing trends, including that 47% of deaths occurred in people who reported becoming sick within 48 hours of receiving a COVID vaccine, and 20% of deaths were cardiac-related."

Please be on your guard: 5 ways they're trying to trick you into taking the Covid "vaccine"

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Mobile vaccination sites

I have my suspicions, but I don't think that truck stops are offering to be mobile vaccination sites for administering the "COVID-19 vaccines" out of the goodness of their hearts.

• Here's Why Some Trucking Groups Want Truck Stops to be 'Mobile Vaccination Sites'
  
  
• National Association of Truck Stop Owners urges CDC to use truck stops as mobile COVID vaccination sites
  
  
• Trucking groups ask CDC to designate truck stops as COVID-19 vaccine sites
  
  

Children's Health Defense "is calling on anyone who has suffered a vaccine side effect to do three things: file a report on the U.S. government's VAERS website, report the injury on VaxxTracker.com and also... on the CHD website."

Injured by a Vaccine? Here's How to Report It

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Drugs

• $24M in meth disguised as buckets of paint discovered inside semi truck
  
  
• Cattle Hauler Charged With DUI and Distracted Driving Following Accident
  
  
• Company owner admits to operating heroin and cocaine drug ring using tractor trailers
  
  

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Smuggling

• SUV Smuggling 25 People Entered U.S. Through Hole in Border Fence Before Deadly Crash
  
  
• Unlicensed truck driver caught smuggling 41 illegal immigrants inside trailer, all for $1,000 cash
  
  

 

5. Regarding vindication, violation, efficiency, and protest:

Vindication

• Company ordered to reinstate, pay back wages, to drivers who refused to operate trucks with unsafe tires
  
  
• Truck Drivers Awarded $116K After Being Fired For Refusing to Operate 'Unsafe' Semi
  
  

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Violation

• Georgia Officials Call Out Trucker for "Unattached Sliding Axle" With Fully Loaded Trailer
  
  

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Efficiency

• 3 Tasks to Delegate for More Efficiency
  
  
• Efficiency Gains Arise From COVID-Induced Contactless Delivery
  
  

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Protest

• Bill granting immunity for drivers that unintentionally hurt someone blocking a highway on the table in Tennessee
  
  

 

6. Regarding autonomous trucks, electric trucks, and carbon:

Autonomous trucks

I am sharing these strictly as a courtesy to help you stay abreast of the news on this subject.

• New Mexico Takes Steps Toward Embracing Autonomous Vehicles
  
  
• Survey: Young Women Will Consider Autonomous Trucking Careers
  
  
• The Daily Dash: TuSimple's public plans; diesel's hot
  
  

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Electric trucks

• A New Guide On How To Electrify Fleets
  
  
• Electric, hybrid vehicle fees topic of state legislation
  
  
• Kenworth's T680E Eligible for Zero-Emission Truck Voucher in California
  
  
• New Tool Helps Fleets Analyze EV Adoption Options
  
  
• Santa Monica to pilot delivery zones for zero-emissions vehicles
  
  
• Schneider sets 2035 net-zero-emissions goal for facilities
  
  
• Volkswagen Brand Doubles EV Share Target
  
  
• Volvo to Make Only Electric Vehicles by 2030
  
  

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Carbon

Cracking down on carbon is a scam because it is the universal building block for life.

Even so, be aware of what is happening regarding carbon in the trucking industry.

• American Petroleum Institute Mulls Embrace of Carbon Pricing
  
  
• Exxon CEO Eyes Money-Making Potential of Low-Carbon World
  
  
• FedEx Commits to Carbon-Neutral Operations by 2040
  
  
• FedEx Sets Plan for Carbon-Neutral Operations by 2040
  
  
• FedEx unveils plan to be carbon neutral by 2040
  
  

 

7. Regarding pay, AB5, purchase, fuel, taxes, tolls, and rates:

Pay

• 4 Factors Affecting Driver Pay in 2021
  
  
• Carriers could achieve record profits this year: ACT Research
  
  
• Cryptocurrencies gaining traction as e-commerce payment option
  
  
• Driver hiring: Balancing wages and benefits
  
  

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AB5

• If AB5 comes to California trucking, there may be a way out: the B2B exception
  
  

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Purchase

• New vs. used: There's much to consider when looking to purchase a truck
  
  

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Fuel

• Diesel Climbs 9.9¢, Tops $3 a Gallon
  
  
• Diesel Prices on the Rise, Hit $3.07
  
  
• Fuel prices rocket past $3 national average
  
  
• 'Inevitable' Diesel Prices Will Soon Soar Above $5 Per Gallon, Energy Analyst Predicts
  
  
• Oil Soars Above $66, Highest in Two Years
  
  
• Ongoing Fuel Shortages Prompt FMCSA to Extend Emergency Declaration in 6 States
  
  
• OPEC Production Plunges
  
  
• Survey: Fleets Check Fuel Economy as Top Truck Purchasing Consideration
  
  
• Weekly DOE/EIA diesel price cracks $3/gallon mark in 17th straight increase
  
  

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Taxes

• DOT: "We've Got To Come Up With Revenue," But Higher Fuel Taxes Aren't The Way Forward
  
  
• Minnesota Proposal Would Tax Electricity as Fuel
  
  
• Some sort of road usage levy necessary,' says USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg
  
  

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Tolls

• Lawmakers in seven states push toll changes
  
  
• Maryland discusses potential rates for new I-270 HOT lanes
  
  
• Pennsylvania Turnpike ranked world's most expensive toll road
  
  
• Truckers oppose PennDOT's bridge tolling plan
  
  

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Rates

• When will truckload contract rates peak in 2021?
  
  

 

8. Regarding chips and ELDs:

Chips

• Chip shortage pushing capacity-starved fleets to used equipment
  
  

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ELDs

• Canada ELD mandate still set to go into effect June 12
  
  
• Canada pumps brakes on ELD mandate enforcement
  
  
• Canada to Phase in ELD Mandate Enforcement
  
  
• Canadian ELD Mandate to go into effect in June 2021
  
  
• Enforcement of Canada's ELD mandate to be phased in over a year
  
  
• The Daily Dash: B2B exception, KeepTruckin's ELD dispute
  
  

 

9. Regarding roads, tires, and bypasses:

Roads

• Infrastructure report card gives roads a poor grade
  
  
• Infrastructure upgrade: US improves from D+ to C- FreightWaves
  
  
• U.S. Roads Get a 'D' on Engineers' Report Card
  
  
• US infrastructure gets C- from engineers as roads stagnate
  
  

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Tires

• Are Wide-Base Tires Still Worth the Effort?
  
  
• Michelin Wide-Base Trailer Tire for High-Scrub Operations
  
  
• New Tire Pressure Sensors Promise Long Life
  
  

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Bypasses

• PrePass Expands Bypass App in Missouri
  
  
• PrePass expands Missouri weigh station bypass network to include 19 locations
  
  
• The Top 7 Benefits of Weigh Station Bypassing
  
  

 

10. Regarding operations, negligence, food, and repair:

Operations

• Measuring to Improve: The Top 8 KPIs Fleet Managers Should Be Tracking
  
  

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Negligence

• This driver left an entire house behind on an Ohio highway
  
  

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Food

• Temperature tracking 'a no-brainer' to combat food spoilage and claims
  
  

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Repair

• Rethink Your Shop, Keep Your Fleet Healthy
  
  

 

11. Regarding regulations, lawsuit, legal, death, and warranty:

Regulations

• "May I See Your Title and Registration?"
  
  
• Biden administration formally delays independent contractor rule until May
  
  
• Bill Trucking Groups Warn Will Wipe Out Owner-Operators Expected to Pass House Next Week
  
  
• Survey: Sustainable trucking faces regulation and cost barriers
  
  

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Lawsuit

• Judge Reaches Verdict in $6 MILLION Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Trucker's Widow
  
  

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Legal

• Eight states taking steps to end ticket quotas
  
  
• Judge dismisses suit over trucker's 2017 death on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
  
  
• Ticket camera rules under consideration in 12 states
  
  

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Death

• NSC Data Reveals More Motor Vehicle Deaths, Fewer Miles Driven in 2020
  
  

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Warranty

• Navistar Offers Warranty For Used International LT, RH Trucks
  
  

 

12. Regarding: award and humor:

Awards

• Thoughtful family surprises drivers at truck stop with gift bags
  
  
• Trucker's impressive knowledge, attention to detail, and prominent mustache lands him the Driver of the Year Award
  
  

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Humor

• WATCH: A giggle-inducing take on a how-to trucking tutorial
  
  

 

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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Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2021.03.06 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.

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Recommended Trucker Accessories

• Portable Toilet
  
  
• Cold Food Storage Device
  
  
• Appliances to Cook in Your Truck
  
  
• Powering Your Appliances
  
  
• Navigation Tools
  
  
• Communication Tools

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