This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending August 21, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding safety, accidents, and distractions:
Safety
Even though Brake Safety Week is coming up, it is imperative to have legal and compliant truck brakes at all times.
If you’re always ready for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Brake Safety Week Starts August 22
- Brake Safety Week starts Sunday, Aug. 22
- Brake Safety Week: What to Expect, How to Prepare – Maintenance
- How to combat rustjacking on brakes
- Is your truck ready for CVSA’s upcoming Brake Safety Week?
- Prepare for inspections to avoid delays, violations during CVSA’s Brake Safety Week
- Weeklong brake blitz starts SUNDAY
Accidents
Please learn from the accidents described in these articles and endeavor never to be involved in the same situations.
- Bulldozer falls off trailer and I-10 overpass, causing traffic backups in Baton RougeThis accident was preventable. Learn proper load securement.
- Officials thankful no one was in the passenger seat after large debris crashes through semi truck windshieldWill the trucker who lost part of his/her load come forward to take responsibility for this?
- Rainy weather sends third semi in two months dangling off overpassWhen precipitation falls, please adjust your speed accordingly.
- Top 5 US spots for truck-animal collisionsSome trucks have big front grills to help protect the engines whenever there is an animal strike up-front.
- VIDEO: Semi trailer trashed by train in OhioNever “play chicken” with a train, never change gears while crossing a railroad track, and never attempt to cross a “high” track.
- Watch as Arizona firefighters work to rescue a tanker truck driver submerged in raging floodwatersNever attempt to cross floodwaters in any vehicle, not even a commercial motor carrier.
Distractions
It is extremely important that you never distract yourself while driving any vehicle.
If you are driving a commercial motor vehicle, you are being paid to safely haul freight — not entertain yourself.
I am embedding below a great video to remind you of the reason why you should not be distracted while driving.
- 25 year sentence for trucker watching video on phone at time of fatal crash
- Truck driver sentenced to 25 years for fatal crash in Kentucky
2. Regarding weather and snow chains:
Weather
If you are or will be driving in an area where severe weather is forecast, please plan appropriately.
In some cases, it is better to wait while a storm passes over than attempt to drive into its teeth.
If you drive for a company, please seek the recommendation of your company regarding parking.
Your dispatcher or driver manager may say that it is up to you as to what you should do.
Remember, when you drive your truck, you are the “captain of the ship” and you can refuse to drive if it is unsafe.
If necessary, arrange to have your pick-up or delivery appointment changed ahead of time so that you will not be penalized in any respect.
- Drivers should prepare for damaging Hurricane Henri to hit New England over the weekend
- Henri Targets Long Island, New England
- Long view: Preparing logistically for extreme weather
- Tropical Storm Henri eyeing New England landfall this weekend
Snow chains
Remember that there are penalties for not having the proper traction devices on or in your vehicle in snow chain areas.
3. Regarding pay, self-dispatch, shortage, and employment:
Pay
- Heartland’s 50-cent special dividend 2nd by a carrier this week
- Increases to driver pay drive inflation, ATA says
- Marten Transport announces 50-cent special dividend
- Mega Carrier CEO Makes Bold Predictions About Freight Rates and Driver Pay Into 2022
Self-dispatch
This is an excellent idea!
For those truckers who will seek to earn as much money as they can, I urge them to remember to not overdo it and wear yourself out.
Pace yourself and remember to stay hydrated, get adequate nutrition, do appropriate exercise, and get your needed sleep.
Shortage
- Advisory Panel Urges Federal Action on Driver Shortage
- Fight against driver shortage claims not over
- StayMetrics driver data points to pandemic’s impact on retention
- The simple truth on trucking’s low retention rates
- Truckers In High Demand As Retail Imports Expected To Hit Record Highs
- Urgent Measures Needed to Decrease Pressure for Driver Demand
Employment
4. Regarding technology, hitchhikers, chip shortage, and emissions:
Technology
Hitchhikers
Unless one has a camera on the back of one’s trailer, how can this be prevented?
- Illegal immigrant dies after hitching a ride on a big rig, Texas police say
- Illegal Migrant’s Sneaky Ride on Tractor-Trailer Ends in Death
Chip shortage
- Global Chip Shortage May Last Until 2023, Infineon CEO Says
- Toyota Cuts Show Chip Shortage Ravages Even Best Supply Planners
Emissions
- California’s Clean Truck Fund to take a third of truckers’ income
- How fleets are clearing hurdles to reach zero emissions
- Trucking Outfits Test Newly-Created Carbon Emissions Capture Device
- Zero-emission trucks addressed at SC Ports and U.S. House
5. Regarding electric vehicles, fuel, and fuel prices:
Electric vehicles
Fuel
- In Pursuit of Green Hydrogen for Trucking
- NGVAmerica Commits to Natural Gas Fuel from Renewable Sources
- Oil down again in early Friday trade; pumps not feeling it yet
- RoadEx Adds Natural Gas Trucks Through Adopt-A-Port
- Starship and SuperTruck reveal diesel’s staying power
- TA rationing fuel at truck stops in Nevada, Arizona Land Line
- US Gulf ports to offer liquefied natural gas fueling option for ships
Fuel prices
- Average Price of Diesel Slips 0.8¢ to $3.356 a Gallon
- Decline in DOE/EIA diesel price is largest in 4 months
- Diesel prices lower for second straight week
6. Regarding artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles:
Artificial intelligence
This is a sensitive topic and very broad in scope.
Please comment through the form below how you feel about this.
- Daily Infographic: What are connected vehicles and why do we need them?
- Does Tesla Probe Signal a Get-Tough Era at NHTSA?
- Elon Musk unveils Tesla Bot, a humanoid robot that uses vehicle AIAs I posted on Facebook:”Watch out for technology like this to someday replace human truck drivers.
“If you have a problem with this, please contact your elected officials.”
- FTC Should Probe Tesla Autopilot Claims, Senators Say
- How AI helps fleets cut costs, generate revenue
- Tesla Autopilot system the subject of NHTSA investigation
- Tesla Swaps Year-Away Robotaxis for Year-Away Humanoid Robot
- US Opens Formal Probe Into Tesla Autopilot System
Autonomous vehicles
I totally oppose autonomous, self-driving, or driverless vehicles, especially commercial motor vehicles that share the road with others.
I am sharing these articles to help you stay current on what is going on with this topic as it concerns the trucking industry..
- NTSB’s Jennifer Homendy Says Automated Driving Claims Erode Public Trust
- Ryder storms deeper into trucking autonomy in tie-up with Waymo Via
- Ryder to maintain Waymo’s autonomous trucks
- Shares recover as autonomous trucking developer TuSimple’s lockup expires
- Waymo partnering with Ryder for autonomous truck maintenance
- Waymo Partners with Ryder on Autonomous-Truck Uptime
7. Regarding economy and rates:
Economy
These are some of the most recent articles about aspects of the economy from the perspective of the trucking industry.
- Are freight volumes hitting a high point? — #WithSONAR
- As a blockbuster holiday season takes shape, can the industry deliver?
- FTR: Trucking Conditions Eased Modestly in June
- July Medium-Duty Sales Clear 19,000
- Parts, supply chain and labor threats muddy trucking outlook
- Peak used truck prices persist as Class 8 production lags
- Trailer orders continue downhill slide, preliminary reports show
- Trucking conditions softened in June, but remain strong: FTR
- Used truck prices continue to rise: Ritchie Bros.
Rates
- No lull to see here: Spot rates post fresh all-time highs
- Recipe right for record rate increases’: ACT Research
8. Regarding roads, ports, and VMT:
Roads
- FreightWaves Classics: Fix U.S. bridges! (Part 1)
- FreightWaves Classics: Fix U.S. bridges! (Part 2)
- Glenwood Canyon could shut down again because of weather
- I-70 at Glenwood Canyon officially reopens in Colorado
- Interstate 70 in Colorado Partially Reopens
- New Report Reveals President Biden May Soon Require Vaccination for Interstate TravelThis is totally unacceptable and I strongly urge you to contact your federal elected officials to say “NO!”
- NYC Leaders’ Plan for Expressway Aims to Toughen Truck Enforcement
- Omnitracs report identifies most hazardous areas for truckers
- ‘Total closure’ of I-70 in Kansas City coming this weekend
Ports
- Are we looking at a ‘super’ peak season? — Great Quarter, Guys
- California congestion nears new high, East Coast gridlock worsens
- Port of Virginia sets all-time record for July
- Ports on Both Coasts Report Strong July Numbers
VMT
- Mileage tax proposal in Pennsylvania good for truckers?
- Miles-Based User Fee Among Options Outlined in Pa. Report
9. Regarding parking, taxes, and surcharges:
Parking
- Hear how one company wants to solve truck parking crisis
- TruckPark: Solving drivers’ No. 1 concern — Taking the Hire Road
Taxes
Surcharges
- FedEx peak surcharges pack wallop, but there may be loopholes
- Sendle CEO: Just say no to peak surcharges
10. Regarding lawsuit, drugs, and smuggling:
Lawsuit
Drugs
Never, ever agree to haul illegal drugs, no matter how much you are promised.
- $2 MILLION in Cocaine Seized From Big Rig Arriving From Mexico
- Border Patrol seizes more than $2 million in alleged cocaine from tractor-trailer
- Brampton trucker arrested in border drug bust
- Mexican Trucker Charged in Record Big Rig Drug Smuggling Bust at U.S. Southern Border
- Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Texas Trucker After Police Discover Narcotics in Sleeper
- Trucker’s excessively reckless driving attributed to swallowing meth
Smuggling
Never, ever agree to haul people like they are freight, no matter how high the incentive.
If people want to get into this country, let them do so legally.
11. Regarding insurance, ATRI, theft – accusation, and theft – unlocked:
Insurance
ATRI
- ATRI calls for driver input on job motivation, satisfaction
- ATRI Calls for Driver Input on Job Motivations, Satisfaction
- ATRI conducting study on what motivates drivers’ employment decisions
- ATRI Seeks Driver Input on Job Motivations, Satisfaction
- Why are you an owner-op? | I-70 closure in KC this week
Theft – accusation
- Feds sue fuel card company for allegedly charging truckers hundreds of millions in ‘mystery fees’
- FTC again accuses Comdata parent company FleetCor of bilking millions from customers
- FTC again files complaint against Comdata parent company FleetCor
Theft – unlocked
OK, this is a no-brainer: Never leave your truck unlocked!
Have two sets of truck keys made and have a set on your person at all times (except, obviously, when showering or sleeping).
- Thief just helps himself to unlocked semi truck, drives it away from Farmer’s Market
- Thief who just helped himself to unlocked big rig was deemed ‘unable to care for himself’ nearly a decade ago
12. Regarding award:
Congratulations to all of these truckers who reached safety milestones!
Woohoo!
- Challenger truck drivers go the 3-million-mile distance
- XPO Logistics drivers honored for reaching safety milestones
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: 2021.08.21 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
