In truck driver lore it was common for truckers to be thought of as Knights of the Road. That sobriquet might not be so common these days, but drivers are increasingly being enlisted to aid damsels in distress by spotting and reporting instances of human trafficking.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 24, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul top shippers are named, insurance rates increase, wheel spikes are questioned and Women in Trucking seeks candidates.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 21, 2019
The $800 billion U. S. trucking industry, considered by many insiders to be the canary in the coal mine in regard to the health of the nation's economy, is getting some worried glances by some of those insiders. According to recent figures, freight rates and loads on the spot market, were down by 62.6 percent in May compared to previous years' May numbers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 19, 2019
In a move that might at first glance appear to be counter-intuitive in light of the driver shortage, a trucking group is calling for the purging of at least 300,000 drivers -- but their main concern is public safety, as this is the number of drivers they estimate are un-caught illicit drug abusers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 17, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a community college offers a first-ever self-driving driver certificate, engineers look at truck platooning, and SoCal ports are stacked up with cargo.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 14, 2019
A specific segment of the trucking industry is just two weeks away from enjoying the benefit of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver mandating the use of electronic logging devices and observance of the 14-hour rule.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 12, 2019
Driver detention time is coming under the scrutiny of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and drivers and other interested parties are being asked to submit comments regarding this important area of the truck freight-hauling industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 10, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Boxbot steps up the game with autonomous last-mile deliveries, FMCSA updates HOS rules changes progress, hundreds forced to retake CDL tests.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 7, 2019
During the annual compliance event called International Roadcheck 2019 being conducted Tuesday through Thursday this week commercial vehicle drivers throughout North America will find themselves undergoing Level I inspections – at the rate of nearly four trucks every minute during the 72-hour period.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 5, 2019
In response to the large amount of publicity given to a truck driver being arrested in Idaho for legally transporting a hemp load the United States Department of Agriculture released a statement last week clarifying that hemp is no longer subject to the Controlled Substance Act and thus can be legally transported.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 3, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Waymo announces Phoenix test of self-driving big rigs, Iowa troopers conduct a "move over" sting, and comments continue for FMCSA's under-21 pilot program proposal.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 31, 2019
In response to the extreme weather, particularly flooding, that has continued to plague the central part of the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its Regional Emergency Declaration of March 19 to July 2.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 29, 2019
Memorial Day weekend is something to look forward to for a large segment of the United States population, including truck drivers, but it's that time that drivers are away from their trucks and their loads that makes Memorial Day weekend prime time for cargo thieves.
Dave Wickenhauser on Sat, May 25, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a driver is arrested for hauling hemp, carriers lose a $26.5 million lawsuit, and FMCSA is looking at new rules for autonomous vehicles.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 24, 2019
TuSimple, a San Diego-based self-driving truck company, announced on Tuesday that the United States Postal Service will be a test bed for a first-ever, long-haul regular delivery route across state lines.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 22, 2019
A Swedish company named Einride that defines itself as, "The intelligent movement company -- part commercial enterprise, part revolutionary movement," says it is "bent on a complete transformation of the transportation industry." And May 15 marked a milestone in that company's mission as it is the day the first cab-less electric truck was allowed to drive on a public road.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 20, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA's under-21 comments open with a bang, a Tesla crashes under autopilot, and 24,000 drivers sign contract with YRC
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 17, 2019
After running a pilot program for the last 10 months allowing under-21-year-old drivers with military experience to drive big rigs interstate, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced this week it is seeking public comment on potentially opening up interstate highways to non-military drivers 18 through 20 years old as well.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 15, 2019
Five of the professional commercial drivers who were announced earlier this year as American Trucking Associations' American Road Team for 2019-2020 have something unique in common. They are all active members of the Trucking Buddy International organization.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 13, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a Texas driver was awarded $80 million settlement, an Old Dominion driver won SC contest, and industry leaders talk about a loading dock "black hole."
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 10, 2019
Like a visiting brother-in-law who doesn't realize he's overstayed his welcome, a giant "winter" storm is blowing through the Midwest this week bringing blizzard conditions with winds of 40-50 mph, record snowfall of 10-15 inches, and more flooding as warming weather melts off what this storm deposits.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 8, 2019
With the ongoing driver shortage and the capacity problems that the shortage creates for shippers truck industry watchers are seeing an increase in manufacturers and retailers starting up their own private fleets – or signing with carriers for a dedicated operation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 6, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA announces HOS rules report date, locals protest proposed new Love's, and Falcon drivers get hired.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 3, 2019
Truck drivers normally give little notice of bugs in the areas they drive through except for having to deal with the occasional bug swarms dirtying up their windshields. But beginning today truckers delivering or picking up loads in certain counties of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia need to know they could face severe penalties for not carrying a Spotted Lanternfly Permit.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 1, 2019
Training simulators have been in use for aviation and military purposes for some time, but these training devices are now catching on in truck driving schools across the country.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 29, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we hear a recommendation to think about electric trucks, Penske opens an electric charging station, prices might increase because of the border crossing crisis, and railroads are taking business away from trucking companies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 26, 2019
Now, into its second year of full mandatory use, there are concerns in the industry that not only have ELDs not reduced accidents, but that the devices are causing some to question whether the wall of separation between independent contractor and employee status is disappearing.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 24, 2019
Truck drivers arriving at a distribution center in the very near future could be greeted by the sight of yard trucks running around the facility as usual -- hooking, unhooking, pulling trailers and hitting docks – but with one major difference … all that without a human being behind the wheel.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 22, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Nikola announces new big rigs, WIT welcomes Peterbilt to Gold Level, we learn about Oregon crash numbers, and update border crossing issues
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 19, 2019
A number of trucking companies lately are reaping the financial benefits of putting their drivers up in hotels overnight rather than having them spend the night in sleeper cabs.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 17, 2019
Uber, the ride-hailing giant that gives taxi companies headaches has set its sights on competing against the top players in the freight brokerage business.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 15, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we hear about a CDL examiner arrested, learn about a new toll recommendation, and discover marijuana testing for more positives
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 12, 2019
With electronic logging devices now mandatory and enforced, and with more than half of American trucking companies in its customer base, a relatively new technology company called KeepTruckin is now entering the load board field with a new app called Smart Load Board.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 10, 2019
Trucking companies and U.S. manufacturers breathed a collective sign of relief late last week when President Trump backed off from his threat of closing the southern border. But problems still remain for cross-border truckers as they face increasingly longer lines and wait times to get across.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 8, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we discuss how state laws concerning marijuana affect truck drivers, learn about a new ATA campaign against crumbling road infrastructure, and hear FMCSA explain personal conveyance rules.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 5, 2019
Volvo Trucks has upped the ante in electronic connectivity with its new Parameter Plus Package addon to its existing Remote Programming feature; which now allows over-the-air updates to a large number of functions, all within the time a driver takes to eat a meal.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 3, 2019
Fuel pump scammers are busy, but there are ways to avoid being a victim of card-skimmers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 1, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we look at the new semi-autonomous Freightliner Cascadias, see the results of a motorist survey about truckers, learn about a U.S. Xpress award, and view the rollout of new technology that helps drivers find parking spots.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 29, 2019
On March 5 both the United States Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills requiring trucking companies to install underguards on trucks and trailers that will prevent vehicles from riding underneath the truck or trailer in the event of a crash.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 27, 2019
The "It's a convoy!" of lore and ballad is morphing into an entirely new concept for truck transportation on America's highways. But, it's doubtful that movies and songs will spring forth in honor of what motorists may soon be encountering along this country's interstates.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 25, 2019
In this week's Friday Short Haul we announce the WIT survey, learn why a motorist is irate at truckers, report FMCSA's easing of HOS for flood states, and announce a new ball cap for truckers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 22, 2019
According to some industry spokesmen, trucking companies are performing more poorly in the area of unscheduled roadside repairs than they should be, resulting in higher overall maintenance costs and affecting their customer experience.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 20, 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in a news release on March 14 that a new website is available for persons wanting more information about the soon-to-be-implemented mandatory new drug and alcohol clearinghouse program for drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 18, 2019
In this week's Friday Short Haul we report on the $100 million Prime-Swift settlement, see why Barron's thinks the driver shortage is a myth, and announce the TCA Best Fleet to Drive For award.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 15, 2019
Distraction is the nemesis of anyone trying to observe safe driving practices. We all know that. Cellphones, GPSs, ELDs, lane-change warnings, etc., all contribute to taking away a truck driver's attention while on the road. But what many don't realize is that the problem goes much deeper than being distracted by gadgets and such. There is actually a science behind this, and it has a name – inattentional blindness.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 13, 2019
A spate of fake accident claims against commercial vehicles in the New Orleans area highlights a growing problem for trucking companies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 11, 2019
In the Friday Short Haul for March 8 we see the results of failure to sweep snow off the roof, catch truckers bypassing a new toll road, and see what NYPD is up to concerning Google's Waze app.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 8, 2019
At what point is the American public going to stand up and take notice of the truck driver shortage? According to spokespeople for the retail industry, that time is right about now.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 6, 2019
Researchers at MIT have found a way to turn a driver's lowly smartphone into a tool that they tout as being able to reduce fuel consumption by 5 to 10 percent, monitor tire pressure and even monitor wheel alignment.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 4, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we look at possible changes in the way freight rates are calculated, find out about new HOS rules possibly coming soon, and get January's tonnage report.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 1, 2019
Fleet drivers, like a lot of other company workers who have un-reimbursed expenses, and whose income is reported on a W-2, can no longer deduct their daily expenses of meals, cell-phones or other common expenses used in doing their jobs that were deductible until this year's new tax laws went into effect; which results in decreased refunds this year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 27, 2019
Late last year the FMCSA announced their Under 21 Military CDL Pilot Program, allowing carriers to put drivers under 21 to work driving outside of their home states.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 25, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we see why Connecticut trucking companies are riled, we look at what's happening with hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, and discover the roads with the worst cell phone use.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 22, 2019
That America's roadways are a deteriorating mess is no surprise to anybody who has sat behind a wheel any time recently. But the problems of our nation's crumbling infrastructure go far beyond just the discomfort of a jarring ride. Simply put, our country's economic health demands that our roads get an upgrade.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 20, 2019
In a report recently released by SensiGuard Supply Chain Intelligence Center the number of cargo thefts were down by 19 percent across the United States last year, but the value of goods stolen is about the same.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 18, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we look at a successful program to improve the safety of trucks crossing over from Mexico, report on the State of California suing FMCSA over meal and rest-break rules, and follow opponents as they lobby against larger truck-trailer combinations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 15, 2019
Detention, the on-duty but not-driving time a driver spends waiting at a shipper or receiver, is a necessary evil in the trucking industry, but the consensus among drivers is that there should be compensation to the driver for his or her non-driving, on-duty time.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 13, 2019
Since 1997, the TCA Highway Angels program has honored hundreds of professional drivers -- several every month -- for "the exemplary courtesy and courage they have shown others while on North America’s roadways." They announce the Feb. 1 honorees.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 11, 2019
In this Friday's Short Haul we report on C.R. England's driver pay raises, the effect that eCommerce has on the trucking industry, and announce TCA's Best Fleets to Drive For.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 8, 2019
In the ongoing effort to alleviate the driver shortage trucking companies are beginning to consider a new strategy to entice new drivers – they are taking a hard look at their reasoning behind sign-on bonuses. They are asking whether they should ditch them entirely in favor of offering guaranteed pay.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 6, 2019
The trucking industry is looking at a new tactic in the battle to alleviate the ongoing driver shortage problem. The problem, according to a recent release from the Commercial Vehicle Training Association is that long delays in some states' CDL testing programs are resulting in almost a quarter million potential drivers annually having to delay their entrance into the driving workforce … or, they give up entirely and take other jobs.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 4, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we discuss Walmart's hiring and salaries, Uber's new Facilities Ratings app, a proposed speed-limiter law, and introduce members of this year's America's Road Team.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 1, 2019
A researcher with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries teamed up with researchers from North Carolina State University to put to the test something that most truck drivers do every day … sometimes several times a day. Their goal was to find out what is the safest, least injurious way to crank the landing gear on a trailer.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 30, 2019
Appeals against California's low-carbon fuel standard by transportation industry interests failed this month at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals level. Judges in the case stood on their belief that the state legislature reasoning behind the stricter California standard was concern that climate change, and particularly global warming, presented a risk to California.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 28, 2019
In today's "Friday Short Haul" of news we discuss highway robbery in Mexico, will autonomous trucks replace drivers, and fleets of new trailers coming soon.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 25, 2019
A North Carolina startup that specializes in lithium battery technology is giving big-rig truck drivers the same portable jump-start capability enjoyed by car and light truck drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 23, 2019
Despite an economic decline in some sectors in 2018, particularly in December, the transportation industry continues to show economic expansion.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 21, 2019
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