This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending September 4, 2021.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Hurricane Ida and weather:
Hurricane Ida
Even though Hurricane Ida has dissipated and moved off the eastern coast of the USA, Wikipedia states (as of this writing) that this was the 6th costliest Atlantic hurricane.
I have provided below a list of articles from trucking sources regarding this storm.
Please note that there are still almost 3 entire months left of “hurricane season” (which runs through November 30).
So if you travel near the Gulf Coast or eastern seaboard of the USA, please monitor the weather and take necessary precautions by having the following in place: food, drinking water, emergency kit, emergency fund, first aid kit, etc.
Also, be extremely careful about driving in high winds, heavy rains, and areas where the roads may have washed out.
Never, ever drive on flooded roads.
Also, please thoroughly understand all of the terms and conditions before you haul any FEMA loads.
- A Hurricane Ida Unknown: Economic Impact on Region, US
- As Ida Leaves Gulf, Modest Economic Damage Foreseen
- Avoid all travel’ warns Louisiana State Police in wake of Hurricane Ida
- Category 4 Hurricane Ida nears Gulf Coast; Biden coordinating response
- Colonial Pipeline Resumes Operations After Shutdown for Ida
- Energy Companies Begin to Assess Damage From Ida
- Exxon Taps Strategic Oil Reserve After Ida
- Federal Response to Ida Includes Regulatory Relief for Truckers
- FEMA trucks in service for Ida relief: ‘1,571 and counting’
- Fuel disruptions reported from Hurricane Ida Land Line
- Here are the major chain truck stops that are closed due to Hurricane Ida
- How-to on hurricane relief efforts
- Hurricane Ida blowing wobbly market further off-kilter
- Hurricane Ida expected to be dangerous Category 4 storm
- Hurricane Ida nears Gulf Coast; evacuations underway
- Hurricane Ida Prompts Refinery Shutdowns, Limited Truck Service
- Hurricane Ida strongest storm to hit Louisiana, flooding roadways
- Hurricane Ida to Raise Gas Prices
- Ida causing widespread road closures in Louisiana
- Ida death toll rises in Northeast
- Ida dumps deadly flooding rain on Northeast
- Ida eyes trucking markets
- Ida leaves behind $15 to $20 billion in damages; heads north with heavy rains expected
- Ida update: oil markets open higher; ALAN gives guidance
- Ida wreaks havoc on Gulf Coast highways
- Ida’s flood threat keeps trucking across US
- Ida’s remnants close roads, prompt concerns of dam failure
- In Ida’s Aftermath, No Quick Relief in Sight
- Port of New Orleans reopens following closure from Hurricane Ida
- Road collapse caused by heavy rain leaves two dead, ten injured
- Roads and bridges close and collapse in wake of Hurricane Ida
- Roads closed after Ida makes landfall in Louisiana
- Roundup: Ida’s impact on the supply chain; drivers needed
- Truckers Face Challenges in Ida’s Wake
- Trucking pitches in to help victims of Hurricane Ida
- Vehicles Plunge Into Hole in Mississippi Road Caused by Ida
- Will Hurricane Ida cause carriers to chase FEMA relief loads?
Weather
Bad weather, stormy weather, and extreme weather can happen at any time.
Please stay safe.
- Flooding closes roads, kills dozens in northeast
- Pennsylvania tornado tosses truck like a toy in terrifying video
- Raging wildfire inches closer to Lake Tahoe
- Trucker Caught in Tornado Recounts Rescue From ‘Scariest Experience of My Life’
- Trucker largely unscathed after tornado flips rig three times
- WATCH: Trucker Gets Caught in Treacherous Waters Amid Historic Flooding in Northeast
2. Regarding snow chains, inspections, and theft:
Snow chains
There are a number of different kinds of traction devices, including snow chains, automatic snow chains, snow cables, snow socks, truck claws, etc.
Before you use any one of these, make sure that they are approved for use where you plan to use them.
Some trucking companies let truckers put chains on their trucks and keep driving, while others insist that their drivers park until the conditions pass that would otherwise require “chaining up.”
- 5 states with toughest chain laws for truckers
- ALERT: Colorado’s ‘Chain Law’ Now in Effect, Violators Could Pay As Much As $650
- Chains required in Colorado beginning Sept. 1
- Colorado chain law requirement begins Wednesday, Sept. 1
Inspections
Be ready for an inspection at any time and you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Drivewyze demonstrates automated roadside inspections
- New products decrease inspections, expand shipment tracking
- Watch as troopers hassle a trucker about his blown tire … while he’s waiting in line at the repair shop
Theft
The Labor Day weekend — as of this writing — is upon us.
Would-be thieves are eager to take advantage of truckers who do not take precautions to keep their trucks and freight safe.
- Can a driver get compensation after a truck break-in? That’s a hard ‘maybe’
- Cargo theft threat looms on Labor Day
- Long Labor Day weekend increases chances of cargo theft
3. Regarding brakes, maintenance, and tires:
Brakes
Maintenance
Tires
4. Regarding accidents, death, and smuggling:
Accidents
Please review these article titles and endeavor to ensure that you do not get in the same situations that lead to accidents.
- Female Motorist Killed When Excavator Falls Off Big Rig With Blown Front Tire
- SUV squashed after excavator rolls off tractor trailer
- Tanker spill snarls I-10 on West Coast
- Teen’s attempt to pass big rig ends in fatal crash with second truck
- UPDATE: Rig that lost excavator blew steer tire
- Watch as a truck hauling a wind turbine blade gets pulverized by a train
We’d also like to know more about the accident that resulted from a truck having a blown steer tire.
Could this blow-out have been prevented — and if so, how?
Death
- Man Dies From ‘Toxic Fumes’ While Cleaning Semi-Tanker Hauling Chicken Byproduct
This was a preventable accident and we express our condolences to the family.
- New NHTSA Report Shows Continued Alarming Rise in Traffic Crash Deaths
We would like to know if there is a correlation between accidents/fatalities and drivers wearing masks that limit their oxygen intake and therefore reduce their cognitive function.
If you know where this information can be found, please write to us through the form below. Thanks.
Smuggling
Never, ever haul people the way that you do any other freight.
- 100 Illegal Immigrants Including Unaccompanied Children Found in Abandoned Big Rig
- 29 immigrants discovered in back of ‘nervous’ trucker’s trailer
- Sixty-four people captured by Border Patrol near abandoned, burnt trailer
- Trucker Nowhere to be Found When Dozens of Illegal Migrants Discovered Near Burned Reefer
5. Regarding fuel, fuel cell, fuel economy, energy, Run on Less, and final mile:
Fuel
- Daily Infographic: US petroleum consumption decreased to a 25-year low in 2020
- Diesel fuel faces pricing pressure in Ida’s wake
- Diesel Price Rises; Refinery Closures Cause Uncertainty After Ida
- For the first time in August, diesel prices are higher
- FTC Targets Oil-and-Gas Deals, Franchises
- Fuel shortages grip Louisiana
- Reducing fuel costs: Aftermarket aero products finding wider acceptance in trucking
- Upward move for DOE/EIA diesel price after three down weeks
- Weekly Fuel Report: August 31, 2021
Fuel cell
- Hino debuts fuel cell Class 8
- Hino Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Heavy-Duty Truck Debuts at ACT Expo
- Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Providers to Develop Class 6 Fuel Cell Electric Trucks
- Nikola licenses Bosch fuel cells for module assembly in Arizona
Fuel economy
Energy
Run on Less
This is an interesting take on the previous “Run on Less,” because the whole point was “running on less diesel.”
How can one determine how much “less” one can run on, when one is using electric power?
Hmm…
- NACFE kicks off Run on Less Electric to evaluate electric truck capabilities
- NACFE’s Run on Less Goes Electric
Efficiency
- PIT Group studies the efficiency of refrigerated trailers and reefer units
- The 3 Main Factors That Affect Fleet Fuel Efficiency
Final mile
Some people prefer to call them “final mile” deliveries and others like to call it “last mile” — but as far as I know, they all refer to the same thing.
FWIW, I spoke briefly with a “final mile” type driver once, outside a Walmart.
I asked her if she literally just drove the “final mile” of the trip — and she laughed, “No!”
Before you take on this kind of work, learn exactly for what you’ll be responsible.
- Final Mile fleets eye electric vehicles, but charging infrastructure ‘elusive’
- Last-mile provider AxleHire announces East Coast expansion
- OneRail raises $9M Series A to scale last-mile delivery network
- Surface Transportation Board seeks input on first and last mile
- What does Walmart’s GoLocal service mean for last-mile delivery?
- Will the Last Mile be Electric?
6. Regarding economy and employment:
Economy
These are some of the most recent articles about the economy from the trucking industry’s perspective.
- Class 8 Orders in August Hit Five-Month High
- Discount duress: Dollar Tree says high freight costs will dent earnings
- Growing backlog: Long wait times for tractors and trailers hold back carrier growth
- Intermodal Summit: Sales, trends, capacity going into 2022
- No end in sight to strong trucking environment: FTR
- Trucking Recruitment Firms See Business Surge
- US Trade Deficit Narrows Slightly to $70.1 Billion in July
Employment
- Employment in trucking nearing pre-pandemic levels
- Employment report: Surge in hiring at warehouses and for courier drivers
- Half of Small Businesses Have Unfilled Positions
- Hiring Slows to 235,000 Jobs After Strong Months
- Kenworth to lay off at least 350 workers as hundreds of semis sit idle
- Pandemic spurs more freight-related job cuts across the country
- State, Local Job Recovery Stalls
- US Companies Add Fewer Jobs Than Forecast, ADP Data Shows
7. Regarding carbon, climate, and facts:
Carbon
- Capturing carbon from semi trucks — Net-Zero Carbon
- FreightWaves improves its carbon intelligence data
Climate
- Convoy survey: Trucking divided on sustainability, climate change
- Daimler Rejects Groups’ Climate Demand
- Volvo Gets Serious About Climate Change
- Volvo Trucks president sounds alarm on climate change, urges electrification
Facts
- 2021 HDT Fact Book: Sustainability Focus Not Slowed By Pandemic
- The Numbers That Define the State of Trucking
- Trucking facts roundup
8. Regarding electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles:
Electric vehicles
Please be aware that there is a huge push — politically and supposedly environmentally — to get people driving electric vehicles instead of those powered by fuel.
Previously, I quoted at least one article that indicated that electric vehicles are not really as helpful as manufacturers or others claim..
As “bad” as diesel and other fuels may be, the infrastructure is already in place for diesel distribution.
Unless truckers are ready for someone to “turn off the electricity” at powering stations, always be ready for what comes.
- 4 Ways to Accelerate Electric Truck Adoption
- ACT Expo: California subsidies make battery-electric trucks a sweet fleet deal
- ACT Expo: NFI installing super-fast chargers for Southern California electric fleet
- Allison Expands Electric Axle Portfolio
- Bison running electric trucks on cross-border route
- California’s Performance Team Places Largest Order of VNR Electric Trucks
- Charging solutions: California’s first electric truck stop in the works
- CityFreighter introduces electric van for final mile deliveries
- Dana Launches E-Axles for Class 7 and 8 Electric Vehicles
- Electric Truck Project Deploys 100 Trucks in California
- Electric trucks ‘the work of our lifetime’
- First all-electric fleet and supporting service center becoming a reality for NFI Industries
- Fleetmaster Works With Customer, OEMs to Add Electric Trucks
- Former USDOT Secretary Lands New Gig to Cash In On Push to Electrify Big Rigs
- Hino debuts Class 8 fuel-cell-electric prototype
- Hino, Allison to collaborate on electric axles
- Hyliion Launches Improved Hybrid Truck Powertrain, All-Electric HyperTruck ERX
- Ideanomics acquires EV maker Via Motors in deal worth as much as $630M
- International rolls out all new electric eMV Series truck
- Largest Electric Truck Deployment in California
- Navistar introduces International eMV electric truck
- Navistar Launches Electric International eMV Medium-Duty Truck
- NFI, Electrify America Announce Electric-Truck Charging Project
- Peterbilt’s Skoog identifies steps to support electric trucks
- Thermo King Commits to All-Electric Reefer Product Development
- Two New Electric Trucks from BYD
- Who brought a diesel intruder to an electric truck show?
- Workhorse Group latest electric truck maker under SEC scrutiny
Autonomous vehicles
I adamantly oppose self-driving, driverless, and autonomous vehicles — especially commercial motor vehicles — on the same roads as the motoring public.
I share this information as a courtesy to help our readers stay informed.
9. Regarding technology, aerodynamics, and HOS:
Technology
- How ELDs Are Improving the Supply Chain for Trucking Operators | Blog
- Improving sustainability through automation – Net-Zero Carbon
- Myth vs. Reality: Learn the Truth about Video-Based Safety
- NHTSA Solicits Input Ahead of Information Collection
- Prime turns to social media to boost reach of its drivers meeting
- Trucking Attorney Offers Tips to Maintain Top CSA Scores
Aerodynamics
I’m just wondering how many of our readers use more than one aerodynamic device on the truck they drive to improve fuel economy.
HOS
Why does the FMCSA have to keep changing the Hours of Service regulation every single time there is a major weather event or some other special situation?
Why not let truckers decide when to drive and when to park to get good sleep?
I guess that federal bureaucrats (FMCSA and DOT) love to feel important through their endless regulations.
- CDL waiver extended; emergency HOS exemptions narrowed
- Delta Prompts FMCSA to Extend COVID-19 Exemptions
- FMCSA Cites ‘Lagging Vaccination Rates’ in Extension of 50-State COVID-Relief Waiver
- FMCSA continues to prioritize COVID relief
- FMCSA explains changes to emergency declaration
- FMCSA extends CDL, med certification COVID waivers
- FMCSA extends emergency declaration through November
- FMCSA extends historic 50 state COVID-19 Hours of Service waiver, fuel haulers now covered
- FMCSA extends pandemic-related HOS waiver through November
- FMCSA seeks information on trucks operating under COVID emergency declaration
- Hurricane Ida Prompts 6-State HOS Waivers
- Hurricane Ida prompts HOS relief for emergency haulers in six states
- New reporting requirement in FMCSA extension of COVID HOS waiver
- New reporting requirement in FMCSA extension of COVID HOS waiver
- Should FMCSA Make Emergency Hours-of-Service Expansion Permanent?
- Six states covered by hurricane-related emergency declaration
- Six states get hours of service waiver as Ida makes landfall
- Time management is key to maximizing hours of service
10. Regarding surcharges, pay, rates, and signing bonuses:
Surcharges
- C.H. Robinson announces drayage congestion surcharges
This is the first time I’ve ever read about a “congestion surcharge.”
If you know about this, please contact us.
- Pitney Bowes announces peak-season delivery surcharges
Pay
- Barr-Nunn expands Assured Pay program to drivers in more states
Quotes from article:
“…drivers hauling regional loads primarily in [states named in the article] earn $265 for on-duty shifts and $90 for each load hauled during that shift.
“Drivers work 21 days on and are home for seven whole days. In addition to receiving safety bonuses and transition pay, drivers hauling seven loads and completing seven shifts earn $2,485 per week.”
Would you be willing to work for 3 weeks straight and get the 4th week off?
Rates
- Refrigerated spot volume sets a record, rates climbing
- Spot rates edge higher with load posts surging last week
Signing bonuses
- 3 Things Truck Drivers Need To Consider About Signing Bonuses
- Companies Compete Over Truck Drivers with Increasingly Lucrative Signing Bonuses
11. Regarding consumers, protests, and tolls:
Consumers
Protests
- South Australia drops vaccine requirement for truckers in wake of protests, freight delays
- Truckers plan Aug. 31 protest against mandatory COVID vaccines
- Will the U.S. trucker anti-vax shutdown look like the Australian version?
Tolls
12. Regarding awards/recognition and NTDAW:
Awards/Recognition
Congratulations to all truckers who are looking to be nominated for a contest, have been narrowed down as a finalist in a contest, or have won some recognition or award!
Congratulations also to the trucker who drove 8.7 million trucker miles until he was 90 years old!
- 10 finalists chosen for Transition Trucking contest
- Fastport announces 10 finalists for Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award
- Finalists for top rookie military driver announced; winner will receive a Kenworth T680
- Ninety year old truck driver hangs up his keys after 8.7 million miles
- Nominations sought for Pilot’s annual Road Warrior contest
- OOIDA named to American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame
- PFJ seeks Road Warrior nominations through September
NTDAW (National Truck Driver Appreciation Week)
Be watching for special discounts, prizes, and more, that are set up (or will be) to help celebrate truckers during this special week.
Personally, I wish that people would value professional truck drivers all year long (as my husband Mike and I do).
- Love’s to appreciate truckers throughout September
- Oregon truck stop to show appreciation with free BBQ, more
- Truck Driver Appreciation Week deals, events ongoing throughout September
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: 2021.09.04 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
